Safety Kenny Pettis (#21) didn't follow in his older brother, Tomar, to Gannon./Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News
It’s not always a given a school is going to recruit the younger brother.
Gannon coach Jim Kiernan had a chance to go after Kenny Pettis, but didn’t even though he had his older brother, Tomar, there.
“We had five safeties and we just weren’t going to take one,” Kiernan said. “That’s tough. You got the one (brother) and other doesn’t fit at that moment.”
Despite Kiernan’s outlook on the situation, Kenny Pettis, visited Gannon and said he was prepared to compete for playing time there.
“I went to visit Gannon before I came to Edinboro,” said Pettis, a Massillon, Ohio native who redshirted his first year at Edinboro in 2008. “I stayed two nights in Erie at Gannon. I didn’t stay the night here (at Edinboro).”
Tomar Pettis, who had 54 tackles as a senior in 2008, made sure his brother visited Gannon.
Tomar Pettis did all he could to get his younger brother to come to Gannon./Photo by Janet B. Kummerer/Erie Times-News
“He was pushing for it,” Kenny Pettis said. “Gannon didn’t give me any money to get there or give me any food or take care of me. He took care of me. He really wanted me to go there so he drove home on a school night to get me and drove back to Gannon. He was dead serious. He took me back home, too. He was just trying to let me know that I could come there. This is what they do. This is how they do it. He introduced me to other guys on the team. He gave me the full recruit rundown. It came out of his pocket because he wanting me to play with him.”
After that experience, Kenny Pettis chose No. 21 because his brother, Tomar, originally wore 21 at Gannon. Tomar later changed his number to No. 2.
“He changed his number to No. 2 before I told him I had 21,” Pettis said. “He didn’t know, but that’s why I wear 21.”
As a result, Kenny Pettis has extra fire when Edinboro takes on Gannon.
The four-year junior 3-0 against the Knights. In 2010, Petttis returned an interception for a score.
“I make sure I give my best effort,” Pettis said.
Pettis said his older brother cheers for him and Edinboro every time – except when the Scots face Gannon.
“I respect that,” Kenny Pettis said.
These two young men sure do make their mother proud. Tomar has been playing football since second grade and Kenny has been playing since kindergarden. The sport is like second nature to them both. I also thought that Gannon would at least give Kenny a look but for their own reasons they didn’t and that kind of hurt initially but I do feel that Edinboro is a better fit for my younger son, Kenny. Gooooooo Boro is my weekly chant these days. Unlike Tomar, I totally cheer for Edinboro when they play against Gannon other than that I am still a Golden Knight fan.
I am thankful to both programs for the opportunity my sons have gotten to play football and to continue their education.