Thomas Rush (8), a graduate of Marysville High School, is pictured playing linebacker for the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers will play Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26.
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Former local athletes are members of college football bowl squads
Is everybody well into the college football bowl season?
The two-plus week television glut of post-season games began on Saturday with a handful of illustrious games such as the Cure Bowl, Camellia Bowl and the New Orleans Bowl.
The bowl campaign will continue into the first of the year with the standard New Year’s Day contests and deciding who will be the National Champion.
There will be a couple of Union County-area connections to this year’s bowl season.
It will start the day after Christmas when the University of Minnesota will face Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit.
The Golden Gopher squad includes freshman linebacker Thomas Rush, a former Marysville High School gridder.
Rush has four tackles on the defensive unit for the season heading into the bowl game, including one for a loss.
He has primarily played on special teams this season.
The connection will conclude on New Year’s Eve when Northwestern faces Utah in the Holiday Bowl that will be played in San Diego.
Trey Pugh, a former Jonathan Alder standout, is a sophomore backup tight end for Northwestern.
Pugh has caught three passes for 29 yards this season.
Both Rush and Pugh earned All-Ohio honors during their respective high school careers at MHS and JA.
Both also had the opportunity to play The Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2018 regular season.
While neither has risen to the ranks as a starter on their respective units, both have gained valuable experience that will enable them to compete for top spots in the ensuing years.
Both young men had similar types of high school athletic careers.
They gave their respective high school fans plenty to cheer about in not one, but two sports.
Not only were they standout football players, but also were key contributors to their school’s basketball programs for a time.
Both sat out their senior seasons of hoops after graduating high school early and signing with their respective college teams.
These bowl experiences are something that will last a lifetime for both young men. They join former OSU defensive back Donnie Nickey (also from JA) as earning that opportunity.
Hopefully, there will be additional post-season contests in their futures.
So, if you’re one of those avid fans who will try to watch as many of the bowl games as possible, try to tune into these two games in particular.
When you do so, keep an eye out for Minnesota’s No. 8 and Northwestern’s No. 80.