Nebraska Eight Man Football Coaches Assn. 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee-Andy Zeisler - Butte High School

We spotlight our 18th individual to be inducted into the Nebraska Eight Man Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Mr Andrew Zeisler, Butte High School. More on Andrew below his bio.

ANDREW ZEISLER – BUTTE HIGH SCHOOL

In high school, Andrew dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage for legendary Coach Steve Colfack. His dominance as a blocker and a defender helped lead The Wildcats to State Runner-Up finishes in both 1995 and 1996, as well as an appearance in the state quarter finals in 1997. As a defensive tackle, he accounted for 221 tackles, 21 sacks, 3 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveries and 11 blocked punts. Andrew was also honored by multiple media outlets as a junior and senior as he was selected 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-Area, and 1st Team All-State as both an Offensive and Defensive Lineman. After his senior season, he was invited to play in the 1998 Shrine Bowl, The Eight Man All-Star Game, and was later named to the Class D1 All-Decade Team for the 1990’s by Huskerland Prep Report. The NEMFCA is honored to welcome him into the Eight Man Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019.

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The final 2019 NEMFCA Hall of Fame inductee is a Lineman!

Bottom line here is, you have to be an awful good football player to be inducted into any Hall of Fame that includes skill position players. Incidentally, if you ever saw Andy play live, you may even be calling his O-Line or D-Line slot a “skill” position.

The dude was that good.

Butte’s Andy Zeisler played at a lean, mean 6-2, 225 pounds back in 1996 when the Wildcats were D-2 runner-ups. Going into that ‘96 championship rematch with Humphrey St. Francis, Zeisler had 98 tackles. Okay, pretty impressive, but when you find out 72 of those stops were solo tackles, two things happen.

*First off; If you are one of the coaches in charge of choosing who plays in the Shrine Bowl or the Sertoma 8-Man All-Star game, you immediately find out the Andy Zeisler address and phone number. No questions asked, you know this guy is a gamer, a pure football talent even though both games are a year away.

*Secondly; When you find out Andy Zeisler is only a junior, you faint.

Oh, and don’t bother doing the math on Zeisler’s tackle stats above, I’ll do the honors. Out of all the 98 tackles Andy made up in 1996 up to that championship game, nearly 75% were all by himself, and we’re talking about a lineman here that had to double-teamed at times. Good lord.

In 1997, Butte had another great season but was derailed by a great Dodge team in the D-2 semifinals. Andy Zeisler was still 6-2 but was up to a playing (punishing) weight of 245 pounds and was just incredible.

Andy repeated at All-State offensive lineman in the Omaha World-Herald, but was the first All-State Defensive Lineman listed in the Lincoln Journal-Star in 1997.

Honestly, when I saw Zeisler play in person, it was his defense that knocked me out, but when you consider that he protected and blocked for Butte’s All-State QB Adam Lechenberg, you know the lad was a jewel of an O-Lineman.

One more thing…...remember who Andy Zeisler was rubbing elbows with on that ‘97 D-2 All-State team; Steve Kriewald and Casey Hughes from North Loup/Scotia, Aaron O’Grady and Brandon Sells of Falls City SH, and Nick Hunke and Brian Pieper of Dodge, and we’re not even talking about the Shrine Bowl picks like Jon Bowling, Chris Loos, Ty Gifford of Lincoln SE, DeAnte Grixby of Omaha Central, Aaron Golliday of York, Bo Bienkowski of Hastings……..you get the picture.

Can you tell how thrilled I am about the selection of this remarkable two-way lineman, Andy Zeisler of Butte?

By the way, we will be calling him “Sir” at the festivities at Hastings College on Saturday.