BY ANDREW IVINS
Pittsburgh Central Catholic three-
star defensive tackle Kurt Hinish can
remember the days when he sat in
his living room watching Penn State
football with his family on Saturdays.
He can also remember a time when
he flipped the TV over to NBC to
watch Manti Te'o lead Notre Dame
into the BCS National Championship
Game.
Hinish calls himself a fan of both
schools. So when he found himself
with offers on the table from both the
Irish and Nittany Lions in late Febru-
ary, he knew that a difficult decision
was on the horizon.
"I grew up watching Penn State a
lot," Hinish said. "I really liked them
as a kid, but I also liked Notre Dame."
Turns out, Hinish liked the Irish
just a little bit more than the Nittany
Lions once he got a behind-the-scenes
look at both schools. Hinish was in
South Bend for Notre Dame's mon-
ster Junior Day March 19. He arrived
Notre Dame Steals Defensive Tackle
From Penn State
Hinish — who is rated as the No. 9 player in the Keystone State by Rivals — grew up watching the
Nittany Lions, but he also liked the Irish and, along with his parents, was sold on going to South Bend
after seeing the school's academic presentation.
PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS
COMMITMENT PROFILE
KURT HINISH
