Kleinsasser retiring?

[Johnny Five]

That would be sweet if they got him the ball. Better yet would be if someone like Percy took a knee at going into the endzone and they gave Jimmy K. the ball to score.

Details are a little fuzzy but isn't it kind of ironic that his final game is against the Bears? Isn't that the game where he fumbled a couple times his rookie year and it sent the fanbase into a frenzy?

[fightingsioux4life]

He was certainly a talent. Like Greg Mask, another tremendous athlete from Central, he unfortunately didn't manage to fufill his full potential at UND.

Mask didn't like going to class. I believe he was kicked off the team because of academic issues. What a waste of talent and potential.

[fightingsioux4life]

Wasn't Brooks Bollinger a star football, basketball and baseball player? I believe he was drafted late late late in the MLB draft, but still a great accomplishment.

Brooks Bollinger doesn't get enough credit for his accomplishments and for putting Grand Forks on the map. He lead Wisconsin to two Rose Bowls and had the chance to start for a couple of NFL teams. But because of the presence of that overrated stiff Jim Sorgi as Bollinger's back-up at Wisconsin, Brooks does not get the level of credit and recognition he deserves. Some know-it-alls (namely Justin Gaard on KFAN radio) think "Jim Sorgi should have been the starter when he was at Wisconsin." Sorgi has hung around the NFL for seven years by signing with teams that are secure in the QB position (Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and Eli Manning in New York), so he doesn't have to play and get the crap beat out of him. This web site named Sorgi the most overrated player from Wisconsin during the BCS era (some interesting names on that list btw):

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/915860-the-most-overrated-player-of-all-time-for-every-bcs-college-football-team#/articles/915860-the-most-overrated-player-of-all-time-for-every-bcs-college-football-team/page/68

Anyway, in closing, thanks for the memories Brooks and good luck with your high school coaching career.

[iramurphy]

kliensasser was an average nfl player.

Joe Mays & Craig Dahl started as many games as him and made more of an impact in the last 2 years.

This is the comment one would expect from someone whose only athletic experience was being on the JV dance line his second year of being a Soph in HS. FB experience was watching the guys with helmets walk through the gym when he should have been practcing high kicks.

Kleinsasser started more games than these guys combined. Mays is doing a good job for the Broncos but he he just now playing as a starter and career is still getting started. Give him credit for hanging around. Same for Dahl. His injuries hurt his career but he started for the Rams for a couple of years. Don't know if he is hurt but didn't play much last time they were on TV. He was good special teams guy and backup for Giants til hurt and has been decent for Rams. Was great safety for AC and MAys was a beast at LB. Neither of them have anything to do with an assessment of Kleinsasser nor does he with them. Give them credit but that doesn't take away from JIm. He was one of the best HS athletes in the country. He set state records in the shot put and discus and ran the 200 meters. At 6' 3" and 275 he ran a 4.5 40. He was all-state in BB and played a year of BB at UND. He was recruited by Duke University because he was also an excellent student.

Kleinsasser was best blocking TE in league while playing long and successful career. He was a beast and also played FullBack, HalfBack. Read what his teammates and opponents say about him. Was better than average NFL player. He was more versatile than the average NFL player, played longer and was the best at one of his responsibilites. In addition he was a class act.

[jimdahl]

That would be sweet if they got him the ball. Better yet would be if someone like Percy took a knee at going into the endzone and they gave Jimmy K. the ball to score.

Details are a little fuzzy but isn't it kind of ironic that his final game is against the Bears? Isn't that the game where he fumbled a couple times his rookie year and it sent the fanbase into a frenzy?

Final game plan has Kleinsasser's number on it

"No doubt about it," Frazier said. "I'm not letting out any secrets there. If we get down to the 1 [yard line], Chicago, you better stop number 40. We're going to find a way to try to get him into the end zone if we can."

Hopefully no one on the Bears' staff reads the STrib...

[Cratter]

Give JK the ball all three? times on the goal line. The Vikings got nothing to lose.

[WYOBISONMAN]

Hard to believe I am sitting here watching the final game for #40. Best of luck to a great player. This Bison fan will miss seeing Kleinsasser playing for my NFL team on Sundays.

[MadScout03]

Hard to believe I am sitting here watching the final game for #40. Best of luck to a great player. This Bison fan will miss seeing Kleinsasser playing for my NFL team on Sundays.

I second that!

[Let'sGoHawks!]

You get the impression Jimmy could play for another couple years easily. Smart guy walking away while he is healthy.

[Teeder11]

North Dakota student named Vikings scholarship winner during Minnesota-Chicago football game

The end of University of North Dakota alum Jim Kleinsasser’s professional football career might also mark the start of Jacob Greenmyer’s career in medicine.

Today in Minneapolis during the final game of the regular season between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, Greenmyer, a 17-year-old senior from Stirum, N.D., who attends North Sargent High School in Gwinner, N.D., was named the recipient of the Vikings $10,000 academic scholarship to UND.

It was the final game for Kleinsasser, a native of Carrington, N.D., who recently announced his retirement after playing 13 years as a tight end for the Vikings. The former UND star and his wife, Christa, started the scholarship, which was presented to Greenmyer during pre-game activities at the Mall of America Field.

In his essay, Greenmyer, a cancer survivor, recounted his medical battles since age 9, how he overcame them and how those experiences led to the idea of pursuing a career in medicine.

“Reflecting on the early stages of my life and the virtues of hard work and perseverance I had based my ethics off of, I realized that the University of North Dakota was the only possibility for my college education,” he wrote. “It has a top tier medical program, and just as importantly I believe it embodies the same values and beliefs that are home grown in North Dakota, attributes I have used on the farm and to fight for my life.”

Attending the game with Greenmyer were his parents (Ron and Chelie), grandparents (Connie and Jerry Zetocha), two brothers (Andrew and Joseph) and his sister (Annah) who watched from a private suite.

Kleinsasser, was one of the best players ever to suit up for UND. Following a four-year career at the University from 1995-1998, he was drafted by the Vikings as a tight end in the second round of the NFL draft. He is the longest-tenured pro athlete in the Twin Cities and was inducted into North Dakota High School Hall of Fame in 2008.

The scholarship – intended for an incoming freshman in 2012 -- attracted more than 250 applicants from eight states and the United Kingdom.

Greenmyer was also selected based on his high school GPA and standardized test scores, as well as his personal statement highlighting his career goals, achievements, how he overcame adversity and what the opportunity to study at UND would mean to his future.

Kleinsasser participated in promotional television and radio spots to promote the scholarship. In them, he talked about his love for UND and how his years at the University have helped him in life.

Off the field, Kleinsasser has worked extensively with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, serving with his wife to host the annual fundraising ball in the Twin Cities. He participates annually in the Epilepsy Foundation Clothing Drive and the North Dakota Special Olympics Games.

[PhillySioux]

Anyone see Chris Kuper's ankle injury?

Yikes

Its not for the squeamish so look it up on your own, if you are in to that sort of thing.

[MadScout03]

There's a nice tribute video dedicated to Jimmy on vikings.com. Definitely worth a look.

Here's his presser...first one ever

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/Kleinsasser-Presser---11/b225794e-8ca3-4b18-9266-20d132833cd8

[Hambone]

Peter King has a little writeup on Kleinsasser in the MMQB on CNNSI this morning.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/01/01/week.17/1.html

[Sodbuster]

There's a nice tribute video dedicated to Jimmy on vikings.com. Definitely worth a look.

Here's his presser...first one ever

http://www.vikings.c...66-20d132833cd8

Nice shirt! Also, Jimmy was on the FSN Gameday Show wearing a green t-shirt with a large Fighting Sioux logo on it. He sure did his best to promote UND on his final day as a Viking.