Gophers kicker Justin Juenemann's scholarship delivered by t-shirt cannon
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - With the help of a University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital patient and a t-shirt cannon, Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck delivered a scholarship to senior backup kicker Justin Juenemann. The scholarship reveal was posted by Fleck on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, and Juenemann has already received national media attention, including a SportsCenter segment.
The scholarship reveal started with Fleck introducing a Gophers fan and Children’s Hospital patient named Kyle, who identified Juenemann as his favorite player and a regular hospital visitor.
Fleck then handed an air cannon loaded with a t-shirt to Kyle, and told him to fire a shirt at Juenemann. Kyle hit the mark, delivering a shirt to the kicker that said, “Justin, congrats on earning a scholarship!” WATCH THE VIDEO
“I’ve never seen anybody serve and give more than that guy, who is not a star player, who hasn’t played, or his face is recognizable” Fleck said in the video. “He could easily just not do it and nobody would ever say anything. All he does is continue to keep his oar in the water.”
After his Gophers teammates lifted him into the air in celebration, Juenemann shared the moment with his mother in a FaceTime call.
Juenemann is a fifth-year senior. He has never appeared in a game in his Gophers career, but will never forget this moment.
“Than you Coach Fleck, Kyle, and everyone who was involved in setting this up,” Juenemann posted to Twitter. “This was truly an experience I will never forget!”