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Hillsborough High tight-end earned Bill Minahan Award on, off gridiron

 
Martha Minahan, left, and Hillsborough High senior Wilson Morse share a hug after Morse received the fourth annual Bill Minahan Award. Morse, a Hillsborough tight-end and long snapper, was a straight-A student in the school's International Baccalaureatte program. [SCOTT PURKS   |   Special to the Times]
Martha Minahan, left, and Hillsborough High senior Wilson Morse share a hug after Morse received the fourth annual Bill Minahan Award. Morse, a Hillsborough tight-end and long snapper, was a straight-A student in the school's International Baccalaureatte program. [SCOTT PURKS | Special to the Times]
Published Jan. 17, 2018

TAMPA — Martha Minahan didn't just shake hands or give pats on the back to the award winners Monday night at the Columbia Restaurant.

She gave the winners big, sincere, heart-felt hugs, much like her husband, the late legendary football coach Bill Minahan, did back in the day.

Bold. Compassionate. Energized.

That's the way Minahan lived and that's the way it felt during the fourth-annual Bill Minahan Awards ceremony, held in honor of the man who coached high schools in the area for 38 years, including 28 for Jesuit, where he led the Tigers to a state title in 1968.

"I know Bill would have loved this," Martha Minahan said, "and he would have loved coaching this year's award winner."

Meet Hillsborough tight-end Wilson Morse.

The way Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia tells the story, Morse came into the Terriers' locker room four years ago as "a scrawny, 140-pound freshman with no experience and said, 'I want to play football.'"

Garcia said, "Okay, sure, now here's the weight room, which is a good place to start."

Four years later, Morse had grown tremendously stronger, put on 80 pounds and started as a tight-end, often blocking some of the most highly touted defensive lineman in the country. They include such as major Division-I recruits Malcolm Lamar of Armwood, with offers from a slew of top-20 universities, and Plant's Judge Culpepper, who signed with Penn State.

And yet there's more.

Morse was also a force in the classroom, never earning less than an A on his report card despite participating in the demanding International Baccalaureate program.

And then even more.

In between his football and studies, Morse created, planned and executed a monthly program with Hillsborough coaches and players called "Terrier Time" to help mentor kids at Robles Park Elementary. And, oh yes, he also found time to tutor fellow students in various subjects.

In the end, Garcia, a tireless coach of 44 years, was left no less than "amazed."

"Wilson Morse is a Heisman trophy winner in the game of life," Garcia said. "He's everything you want in a person. He's compassionate, industrious, intelligent, punctual, thoughtful, dependable and always has a smile on his face. There was never a doubt that he would be a unanimous choice for captain of our team from our players and our coaches."

Garcia paused and said: "As a coach you hope that you can make your players better people, but in the case of Wilson Morse, well, he is the one that made me a better person."

Morse was humble in accepting the award, which included a $2,500 scholarship.

"I am so honored and appreciative," said Morse, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania next fall and will most likely pursue a major in business. "My high school days have been hard, but so great. I learned so much on the academic side, but I learned more about life playing football. I wouldn't trade any of it."

Morse said his football playing days are probably over, but he wouldn't rule out a walk-on.

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Scolarships of $1,500 go to each of the other four finalists for the award — Berkeley Prep offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere, Gaither offensive lineman Camden Roth, Steinbrenner linebacker Charles Stephens and Bloomingdale linebacker Zach Warhul.

Martha Minahan announced that more scholarships would be given out next year, this time to girls flag football players, as well.

"Bill was always a huge supporter of girls' athletics," she said. "He would be so excited to include the girls."

Contact Scott Purks at hillsnews@tampabay.com.