NORMAL — Illinois State redshirt freshman center Garrett Hirsch made his college debut late in the Redbirds’ season-opening win over Butler on Sept. 2.
When starting center Dean Helt suffered a first-quarter ankle injury, the Normal Community High School graduate entered the game and played several series of ISU’s 44-13 win over Eastern Illinois.
“That was definitely my first collegiate game where the plays actually mattered,” Hirsch said. “It was a great experience. At that moment, you really just strap up and play. You can’t really freak out about anything. Just do what you practice.”
“He played well.