One great thing that has come from creating this blog is every once in a while you come across something that really touches a lot of people. Please check out http://www.agloveoftheirown.com/ and consider helping out in anyway you can. Here is the Mission Statement from their website.
Beyond the words of this book is a deeper meaning of the mission behind “A Glove of Their Own.” We are eager to teach the next generation the importance of giving back by becoming aware of those around us who would otherwise go without. This book is the vehicle that will drive us to deliver new and used sporting goods equipment or funds to children in need.
These fundraising efforts will range from schools to book fairs, baseball venues to retail events. We will be hosting such events including visits by professional players with surprise giveaways, family fun and entertainment. Through these events we anticipate fulfilling our goal of spreading the word of this story as well as raising both awareness and funds for children across the nation. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to join forces with any organization sharing our vision. As a result of that collaboration, we will donate proceeds from the sale of each book to their own organization or children’s charity of their choice.
We are hopeful we have inspired your desire to join us and “Play It Forward.”
Sincerely,
Bob Salomon President, Danjulie Associates, LLC agototellus@aol.com
You can help out the cause just like Bernie Williams!
We're about a week away from Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers reporting to Lakeland, Fla. for spring training. What I'm wondering is if that's when we can officially forget about the 2009 season.
More specifically, have you gotten over that Game 163 loss? Maybe some of you are already there. I thought I was.
Throughout the offseason, I've talked to some people who kept the AL Central tiebreaker between the Tigers and Minnesota Twins on their DVRs, or downloaded it from iTunes, and intended to watch it at some point.
That intention came with a qualifier, however. "But I don't know if I can bear to go through that again." And, while I understood, given the painful nature of the Tigers' loss and the changes that have taken place because of it, that sentiment made me roll my eyes.
Come on, I thought, it was a classic. Probably one of the best baseball games we've ever seen. Even if the Tigers lost, at least your team was involved in something special. Appreciate that, relive the experience, celebrate the battle, and move on toward 2010.
Sure, I spent the morning of Oct. 7 in kind of a daze. I read virtually every game story and blog post I could, just to make sure it all happened. (Plus, my car was in for repair that day, and I really had nothing better to do.) And once the playoffs began, I wondered how the Tigers would've fared against the Yankees. But after that, I was over it. No sense dwelling on something that can't change.
It sounded good. And I believed it. That is, until a couple of weeks ago, when I noticed MLB Network was showing a one-hour special counting down the best games from the 2009 season. I had a feeling I knew which game would be No. 1, so I recorded the show, figuring I'd fast-forward through the nine others on the list. My only concern was whether or not the highlights would do justice to a five-hour, 12-inning, emotional thrill ride.
The three to five minutes devoted to Game 163 were more than enough. Actually, they were too much. I thought I could handle reliving the game, especially in condensed form. But I could feel my stomach clench all over again.
Twenty-year-old rookie Rick Porcello starting the Tigers' most important game of the season. Miguel Cabrera's somewhat redemptive third-inning home run that gave Detroit an early 3-0 lead. Jason Kubel's homer in the sixth that cut the lead to 3-2. Orlando Cabrera's giving the Twins the lead in the seventh with a two-run shot. Magglio Ordonez coming back with another homer to tie the game in the eighth. Going to extra innings.
Ryan Raburn botching Michael Cuddyer's sinking liner in the 10th, resulting in a triple. Raburn making up for the mistake three batters later by throwing out Alexi Casilla at home to keep the game tied at 5-5.
And then, that 12th inning. Gerald Laird striking out, completing an 0-for-6 night. Fernando Rodney inexplicably pitching his fourth inning. Alexi Casilla smacking a single past Placido Polanco into right field, the hit that was sure to score the winning run. And Carlos Gomez crossing home plate, then jumping into the air before landing in the arms of his victorious teammates.
I don't even remember if MLB Network showed all that. Probably not. But my memories filled in the blanks. Very effectively.
I couldn't watch the rest. I didn't want to see Denard Span talking on the field or Ron Gardenhire in his office. No smiling Joe Mauer. I deleted the recording, turned off the TV, and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. I was spent. And surprised.
I thought I could handle it, but I couldn't.
If you haven't been able to watch Game 163 again, I recommend doing so. And, if you did watch it again, I'm curious if you had a similar experience. I'm glad I put myself through it again. The whole thing was cathartic. I got the bad stuff out of my system, and am ready to jump back in for a new season. Bring it on.
-This article was on Mlive.com February 11th, 2010 Original article can be found @ http://blog.mlive.com/cutoffman/2010/02/have_you_gotten_over_game_163.html
Tonight we will have one of my two favorite All-Star Contest's. As a little kid I always looked forward to both the Home Run Derby and the Slam Dunk Contest. Although we will not be able to watch true stars in this years competition like Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, it will still be a magical Slam Dunk Contest. This years Contestants will be.
"I'm not a scratch golfer. I don't know how to bowl. I can't read the stock market. Heck, I have a hard time remembering my wife's cell phone number. But I can call 'Flip Right Double X Jet 36 Counter Naked Waggle at 7 X Quarter' in my sleep." Jon Gruden
By Jeremiah Juncker | THE EASTERN ECHO By Ryan Remstad | THE EASTERN ECHO
Without a winning record since 1995 and a 12-47 record over the past five years, there has been a lot of talk from the public about Eastern Michigan University dropping its football program down to a lower level of competition.
In a letter written to The Echo in October from Zachary Jones — an adjunct instructor and research assistant at EMU — he suggested what many associated with the university have said.
“Maybe our school could do without a football team,” Jones wrote. “Maybe we could go down to Division II football so we could be more competitive?
“We could compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Here we would be very competitive, we are the same size as Grand Valley State University and smaller than Wayne State University; both schools are in that conference.”
But many who suggest the positives of dropping down are in the dark about what advantages the athletic department sees from playing at a Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, status.
“If you’re going to drop down a level in football, that’s going to affect our conference status first and foremost,” EMU athletic director Derrick Gragg said. “And that’s not something we’ve ever discussed on any level since I’ve been here and I don’t think they’ve had that discussion otherwise.”
A team like Eastern Michigan, which has had six full-time head coaches in the last 20 years, might be more competitive against smaller teams, but it would be at the cost of other sports at the university — many of which are very successful against current competition.
Often people will see Eastern taking on a big-time program, like a Michigan or an Ohio State, and wonder why EMU would ever play said schools, knowing full well the chances of being competitive are a long shot.
Part of the reason why Eastern plays the high-level opponents is money.
“Of course it’s an economic thing,” Gragg said. “What you don’t want to do is have four non-conference, BCS-type games. You can make a lot of money but then you’re looking at a great competitive disadvantage. But we’re trying to develop it where we’ll play two BCS opponents a year, a ‘like-opponent’ — an Army — and hopefully every year, or every other year a 1-AA opponent.”
The 2009 season saw the Eagles earn $1,774,500 from the three non-conference road games against Arkansas, Northwestern and Michigan. The addition of a $62,500 reimbursement payment Eastern is receiving from the Mid-American Conference for a broken contract agreement in past seasons with Idaho brings the 2009 revenue to $1,837,000.
Eastern Michigan is set to play big-revenue games next season against Ohio State, Vanderbilt and Virginia. With the addition of a $62,500 payment from the MAC for a broken contract agreement with Idaho, 2010’s total revenue for those three games is $1.8 million. Army is scheduled as an EMU home game for the second straight year at the cost of $150,000.
Guaranteed contracts have also been signed with road games at Michigan and Penn State for the 2011 season, at a total revenue of $1.15 million. With two more non-conference games that year yet to be scheduled, the department might look for another “like opponent” — a Division I-A team the Eagles could stay competitive with and possibly beat — which based on past figures could pay around $150,000.
Football Championship Series team Morgan State has agreed to play a road game at EMU in 2011 at a cost of $300,000. Purdue is set to pay Eastern Michigan $750,000 for a 2012 game in West Lafayette, Ind., and Penn State, Rutgers and Army’s contracts total $1.4 million in 2013. Florida will pay $850,000 for a 2014 game in Gainesville, Fla.
Of the revenue earned from big-ticket football games, 10 percent is invested directly back into the football team. For the 2010-11 athletic season the football program is projected to receive $113,550 from its four scheduled non-conference opponents.
Some of the rest of that guaranteed money is dispersed throughout the university’s other 20 teams — which include both men’s and women’s cross country. The men’s cross country team, for example, is a 14-time MAC champion, with its latest championship in 2008.
“That’s money that’s being used to support the entire department,” Gragg said. “In particular some of the women’s sports programs. Everyone knows that generally, men’s basketball and football are the only sports across the country that produce any revenue.”
Money earned from high-profile opponents is paid to the MAC in support of post-season bowls for conference teams. That amount is $130,000 annually, per university, and at EMU is taken from the money the football program receives.
But does an institution like Eastern, with its lack of success in football, really need to play those games?
“I think you’d find that any institution like ours, whether it’s the Mid-American Conference, Sun Belt Conference, Conference USA, they’re very necessary because they help us with our overall budget,” Gragg said. “You simply wouldn’t have that revenue if you didn’t play those games.”
And money is especially hard to come by for EMU. When Gragg was hired, the budget was cut by 15 percent.
“Honestly, we do a lot here with nothing,” said associate athletic director of internal affairs Mike Malach, who handles the athletic department’s finances.
What Malach was referring to was running a department for 21 teams, the most of all MAC teams. Compared to its two Michigan MAC counterparts — Western and Central Michigan — that have 16 each, there is less money to go around. The record number of teams has also been a topic of conversation that resulted in the idea of cutting a few sports in 2007 as a possible way to save money.
Ohio University cut men’s outdoor track and field, men’s indoor track and field, men’s swimming and women’s lacrosse to bring its total number of intercollegiate sports in the MAC from 21 to 16. The move was done by then-AD Kirby Hocutt, strictly to save money, allowing more money to be allocated for scholarships and equated in increased competitiveness.
Gragg shrugged off potential for the elimination of sports in 2007 at EMU as a very preliminary discussion that didn’t hold much water, citing talks may have stemmed because of the fact he was a new hire and cuts Ohio had made.
“We’re pretty much at our minimum level as far as being able to operate,” Gragg said. “I think on the level that we’ve operated on in the past few years, I don’t think there’s any room for cuts, unless you’re talking about elimination of sports programs, which is the last thing you ever want to do.”
The Underdog Role
Though in the program’s 118 years of existence there has not been a recorded win against any team from a power conference — the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Pac-10 and SEC — recent triumphs by MAC teams over their big-conference counterparts give hope to the Eagles looking forward.
Central Michigan was paid to play at Michigan State this season and upset the Spartans, 29-27. Two other MAC teams pulled fast ones in 2009, as Northern Illinois beat Purdue, 28-21, and Toledo clobbered Colorado, 54-38.
And the Eagles have had their recent close-calls on the road at Northwestern, as they were beaten 27-24 on a 49-yard field goal with six seconds left in September. Eastern had also kept things close, 14-6, on the road in 2006.
In past years Eastern Michigan used Ford Field, a 65,000-seat stadium in Detroit, as a selling point to host higher-profile teams, Northwestern and Navy. But with the advent of the 12-game schedule and successful pressures on large programs from small conference teams, Gragg believes he can get a team from a power conference to agree to play in Ypsilanti.
“It’s very difficult for BCS schools to schedule football games because of the addition to the 12th game,” Gragg said. “Though it helps them revenue-wise, they all want to play seven or eight home games and it’s getting to a point where we can see that and we can leverage getting them into our home field. We’ve had conversations with Big Ten and Big 12 institutions about playing football games here at Rynearson Stadium — not even having to go to Ford Field.”
Gragg declined to comment specifically on what teams Eastern Michigan might entertain because discussions are ongoing. An agreement has been reached with Michigan State and the three MAC schools from Michigan in what is being dubbed the “Celebrate the State” football series. Besides the 2012 game, EMU locked in two additional games against the Spartans in East Lansing — in 2014 and 2016 — and a home game in either 2018 or 2020.
It is also likely the Eagles will host MSU in men’s basketball as a part of the contract, and that there are strong possibilities of the EMU women’s basketball hosting the Spartans at the Convocation Center, as well.
Eastern lost a great coach yesterday while they are trying to rebuild their program.
-Michigan Sports Guy
Former Michigan standout Tyrone Wheatley is headed to Syracuse as running backs coach, the same position he held at Eastern Michigan last season.
Wheatley brings four years of coaching experience to the Orange. At EMU, he mentored the running backs, served as the recruiting coordinator and was responsible for the team's high school football camps. He also has coached at Ohio Northern University and Dearborn Heights Robichaud High.
The Inkster native was named the 1992 Big Ten Player of the Year and earned the 1994 Rose Bowl and the 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl Most Valuable Player awards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from U-M in 2008.
A three-time All-Big Ten running back, Wheatley enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL with the Giants and the Raiders.
- Courtesy of Freep.com, written by JAMES JAHNKE
Here is an article from syracuse.com with their perspective
Former Michigan star Tyrone Wheatley fills opening on Syracuse football staff By Dave Rahme / The Post-Standard February 09, 2010, 10:29PM
Syracuse, NY -- Doug Marrone wasted little time in filling an unexpected opening on his staff, hiring former Michigan All-America tailback Tyrone Wheatley to coach running backs at Syracuse University. The hiring was announced earlier this evening, a day after Roger Harriott resigned following a change of heart.
Wheatley, who spent last season coaching running backs at Eastern Michigan, had relationships with two members of Marrone's staff. He was a player for the Oakland Raiders (1999-2004) when special-teams coordinator Bob Casullo coached there, and he did a coaching internship for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006 when quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hackett was there.
In addition, Wheatley’s credentials as a three-time All-Big Ten back and a 10-year NFL veteran with the New York Giants, who selected him in the first round, and Raiders should give him name recognition and respect with recruits.
"He’s played the position, been on the field at the highest level and seen in through the eyes of a player," Marrone said. "Plus, he played in a system I’m familiar with and believe in. His learning curve should be a lot easier."
That noted, Marrone said neither the endorsement of his assistants nor Wheatley’s playing pedigree was the main reason he joined the club.
"The first question I ask any candidate is, ‘What are you going to do for these players outside of football?’" Marrone said. "I’m interested in how a coach is going to help a kid become a better man, a better member of society. Tyrone has the same core values I have. That was the most important thing."
Those values were why Marrone took a chance on Harriott recently even though he lacked Division I college coaching experience. Harriott, a former back at Villanova and the father of four girls under 10 years of age, decided to step down from the post and return to a Florida less than a week after Marrone introduced him to the media during the team’s annual letter of intent signing day news conference.
Marrone, following a policy he set soon after arriving as head coach in December 2008 in which he refuses to comment on anyone no longer with the team, had nothing to say publicly regarding Harriott’s decision other than, "Everything happens for a reason." Instead, he focused on Wheatley and the future.
"He is the right fit," Marrone said. "God, family, school and football. Those things matter to me and to him."
In Wheatley, Marrone once again displayed a flair for the unconventional. The new assistant has only marginally more coaching experience than Harriott. Since retiring from the NFL in 2004 he has worked hard at getting into coaching, serving minority fellowships with the Bucs and Steelers, spending two years as a head football coach at a Michigan high school and finally coaching backs last season at Eastern Michigan. He also was the team’s recruiting coordinator and was responsible for running its high school camps.
The Michigan native was named the 1992 Big Ten Player of the Year and earned the Rose Bowl and Hall of Fame Bowl MVP awards. A three-time All-Big Ten selection (1992-94), Wheatley was also an All-Big Ten honoree in track and field from 1993-95. He ranks fourth on the Michigan career rushing yards record list (4,178 yards on 688 carries) and is second in career rushing touchdowns (47). He holds the Michigan single-season yards per carry record (7.34 in 1992) and averaged a school-record 15.7 yards per carry in the 1993 Rose Bowl victory over Washington.
Wheatley earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Michigan in 2008. He and his wife, Kimberly, have three sons and two daughters.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Head Football Coach Ron English traveled the entire country and Canada to sign his second recruiting class for the Eagles.
“This recruiting class is big on size,” English said. “We addressed our needs up front on both sides of the ball. We also have several players in this class with explosive speed. “
The 2010 Class of 23 recruits includes five junior college players, 13 incoming freshmen and six players that are already enrolled at EMU.
2010 Eastern Michigan University Football Recruits
Name Pos Ht Wt Class Hometown-High School-Previous School Tyler Benz QB 6-3 213 Fr.-Fr. Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine Township South Jeremy Curry LB 6-1 215 Fr.-Fr. Bolingbrook, Ill.-Bolingbrook Jeramy Cutler PNT/DT 5-10 274 Jr.-Jr. Lakewood, Calif.-Lakewood-Cerritos (Calif.) J.C. Jordan Erbes OL 6-4 263 Fr.-Fr. Kettering, Ohio-Fairmont Doniel Gambrell TE 6-6 248 Fr.-Fr. Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville Kelip Goodwin SAF 6-1 190 Fr.-Fr. South Haven, Mich.-South Haven Terrance Gourdine WR 6-0 179 Fr.-Fr. Miramar, Fla.-Miramar Jasper Grimes DT 6-2 310 Jr.-Jr. Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-Dwyer-Fort Scott (Kan.) C.C. Lincoln Hansen OL 6-6 309 Fr.-Fr. Valley, Neb.-Millard North Desdan Hester LB 6-2 221 Fr.-Fr. Atlanta, Ga.-McNair Robert McFadden OL 6-7 260 Fr.-Fr. Swartz Creek, Mich.-Carman-Ainsworth Darius Moffett LB 6-3 225 Fr.-Fr. Chicago, Ill.-Hubbard Garrett Parker OL 6-5 322 Fr.-Fr. Tinley Park, Ill.-Tinley Park Andrew Marcus Penn SAF 6-0 194 Fr.-Fr. Columbus, Ohio-Whetstone Keondric Reynolds WR 5-10 178 Jr.-Jr. Woodbridge, Va.-Hylton-College of the Sequoias (Calif.) Donald Scott WR 6-0 179 Fr.-Fr. Apopka, Fla.-Apopka Latarrius Thomas SAF 6-1 206 Sr.-Sr. New Smyrna, Fla.-New Smyrna Beach-Louisville Malcolm Thomas SAF 6-0 175 Fr.-Fr. McColl, S.C.-Marlboro Colin Weingrad LB 6-0 230 Fr.-Fr. Woodlands, Texas-College Park-The Hun School (N.J.) Jabar Westerman DL 6-2 292 Jr.-Jr. Brampton, Ontario, Canada-Notre Dame Catholic- Dodge City (Kan.) C.C. Willie Williams CB 6-0 195 Jr.-Jr. Los Angeles, Calif.-Dorsey-Glendale (Calif.) C.C. Josh Woods OL 6-5 299 Fr.-Fr. Cocoa, Fla.-Cocoa Kevin Wheeler WR 6-0 179 Fr.-Fr. Woodbridge, Va.-C.D. Hylton-Hargrave Military Academy
2010 Eastern Michigan University Football Recruits Bios
Tyler Benz QB 6-3 213 Fr.-Fr. Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine Township South Starting quarterback who led his team to a state title in 2009...Completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,650 yards and 26 touchdowns while also running for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns...Named first-team All-Area and All-State...High school team was ranked sixth in the nation by ESPN...Was a Rivals.com Illinois Top 50 selection...Was a two-time Central Suburban League pick ...Led his team to back-to-back Class 8-A Illinois championships...Has not lost a football game since the seventh grade...Father, Al, played at Northwestern University while one brother, Couri, plays baseball at Long Island University and another brother, Erek, played at Northern Illinois University...Son of Al and Carol Benz...High School football coach was David Inserra.
Jeremy Curry LB 6-1 215 Fr.-Fr. Bolingbrook, Ill.-Bolingbrook Honorable mention All-State and an All-Area selection...Two-time All-Southwest Suburban Conference selection...Recorded 104 tackles, nine sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss as a senior...A competititve weight lifter with a 650-yard squat...Father, Eddie Curry, played professional baseball for the Houston Astros and Uncle, Roy Curry, played professional football for the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers...Son of Eddie and Barbara Curry...Played high school football for Head Coach John Ivlow.
Jeramy Cutler PNT/DL 5-10 274 Jr.-Jr. Lakewood, Calif.-Lakewood- Cerritos (Calif.) J.C. All-Conference punter with a 44.7 average as a sophomore at Cerritos J.C....Also earned first-team All-League honors as a freshman...In addition to punting he played on the defensive line at Cerritos...On defense he had 40 tackles seven tackles-for-loss, five sacks, one forced fumble and one interception as a sophomore...Son of Kevin Cutler and Angie Samuels...Played high school football at Lakewood (Calif.) for Head Coach Thadd MacNeal and played at Cerritos C.C. for Head Coach Frank Mazzotta.
Jordan Erbes OL 6-4 263 Fr.-Fr. Kettering, Ohio-Fairmont Team captain as a senior...Started every game for three years...Named an All-Division and All-Greater Western Ohio Conference selection as a senior...Son of Tray and Rhonda Erbes...Played high school football for Head Coach Brian Blevins.
Doniel Gambrell TE 6-6 248 Fr.-Fr. Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville Already enrolled in the winter semester at EMU...One of Northeast Ohio’s top high school linemen...Son of Tracey Irving...High School football coach was Ted Ginn Sr.
Kelip Goodwin SAF 6-1 190 Fr.-Fr. South Haven, Mich.-South Haven Recruited in 2009 and will have freshman eligibility in 2010...Two-way player as a senior and had 224 yards rushing with three touchdowns to go along with 29 receptions for 460 yards and five touchdowns...On the defensive side of the ball he had 64 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions...Son of Nate and Meril Goodwin...Played high school football for Head Coach Sam Nichols.
Terrance Gourdine WR 6-0 179 Fr.-Fr. Miramar, Fla.-Miramar Recruited in 2009 and will have freshman eligibility in 2010...Turned in 10 catches for 146 yards and one touchdown as a senior at Miramar...Son of Terrance and Brenda Jackson...Played high school football for Head Coach Rodney Gray.
Jasper Grimes DT 6-2 310 Jr.-Jr. Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-Dwyer-Fort Scott (Kan.) C.C. Third-team All-State selection as a senior high schooler...Recorded 45 tackles with 22 tackles-for-loss, 11 sacks, and four forced fumbles as a senior...Son of Shannell Grimes...Played high school football for Head Coach Jack Daniels and played at Fort Scott for Jeff Sims.
Lincoln Hansen OL 6-6 309 Fr.-Fr. Valley, Neb.-Millard North Team captain as a senior...Named a Nebraska All A District 4 player and was an All-Metro Conference selection as a senior...Son of Marshall and Jamie Hansen...Played high school football for Head Coach Fred Petito.
Desdan Hester LB 6-2 221 Fr.-Fr. Atlanta, Ga.-McNair Named the Captain in the Community Award winner for Oct. 26 as sponsored by the Atlanta Falcons...Had 93 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, two sacks and three forced fumbles as a senior...All-Region selection as a senior...Named ESPN’s No. 2 inside linebacker in Georgia as a senior...Recorded 60 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss as a junior... Son of Titus and Tracey Hester...Played high school football for Head Coach John April.
Robert McFadden OL 6-7 260 Fr.-Fr. Swartz Creek, Mich.-Carman Ainsworth Named an All-Area selection by The Flint Journal...Son of Robert and Julie McFadden...Played high school football for Head Coach Nate Williams.
Darius Moffett LB 6-3 225 Fr.-Fr. Chicago, Ill.-Hubbard Recruited in 2009 and will have freshman eligibility in 2010...Rated the 16th best player in the state of Illinois as a senior...Recorded 146 tackles with 10 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions as a senior...Named the Chicago Public School League Defensive Player of the Year in 2008...Son of Michael Holmes, Sr. and Larissa Moffett...Played high school football for Head Coach Elton Harris.
Garrett Parker OL 6-5 322 Fr.-Fr. Tinley Park, Ill.-Tinley Park Andrew All-Conference as a junior...All-Area selection as a senior...Two-time Southwest Suburban All-Conference pick...Son of Brian and Elaine Parker...Played high school foortball for Head Coach Jim Zimmer.
Marcus Penn SAF 6-0 194 Fr.-Fr. Columbus, Ohio-Whetstone Four-year starter...Team captain and offensive MVP his senior year...Three-time All-City selection at defensive back and running back...First-team Central Ohio District selection as a running back...Rushed for 1,570 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense and recorded 94 tackles and four sacks as a defensive safety...Son of Tim Penn and Victoria Howard-Penn...Played high school football for Head Coach Jim Worden.
Keondric Reynolds WR 5-10 178 Jr.-Jr. Woodbridge, Va.-Hylton-College of the Sequoias Named first-team All- Conference first-team All-California Region II as a sophomore...Rushed for 314 yards on 54 attempts, caught 39 passes for 405 yards and averaged 16.1 yards per kick return.
Donald Scott WR 6-0 179 Fr.-Fr. Apopka, Fla.-Apopka Played wide receiver for a run-oriented offense...Selected No. 48 on The Orlando Sentinel Central Florida Top 100 players in 2009...Caught 12 passes for 300 yards and nine touchdowns...Rushed seven times for 67 yards and three scores...Has tremendous speed including earning 2009 USA Youth Track and Field All-American status, as well as honorable mention All-State accolades...2009 USA Youth Track Triple Jump Champion along with being a finalist in the 400-meter dash...Won the 2009 AAU Triple Jump National Championship while also finishing as a finalist in the 400-meter hurdles...Son of Teresa Powell...High School football coach was Rick Darlington.
Latarrius Thomas SAF 6-1 206 Sr.-Sr. New Smyrna, Fla.-New Smyrna Beach-Louisville Transfer from the University of Louisville who will have one year of eligibility left...As a senior at New Smyrna Beach hewas named to play in the Florida-California All-Star Game...Was a Florida 4-A All-State selection and the No. 17th ranked player in the state of Florida...Started as a true freshman at Louisville in 2006.
Malcolm Thomas SAF 6-0 175 Fr.-Fr. McColl, S.C.-Marlboro Joins his brother sophomore wide receiver Kinsman Thomas...Intercepted two passes, including returning one of the picks for a touchdown...Rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns...Caught four passes for 63 yards and two scores...Son of Russell and Andrea Thomas...High School football coach was Dean Boyd.
Colin Weingrad LB 6-0 230 Fr.-Fr. Woodlands, Texas-College Park-The Hun School (N.J.) Selected All-Prep as a linebacker at College Park (Texas) High School, as well as The Hun School (N.J.)...In 2009, recorded 82 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles, two interception and a pair of fumble recoveries...A three-time All-Texas 5A District selection his sophomore, junior and senior seasons...Son of Michael and Eilen Weingrad...Played for Head Coach Richard Carson at College Park High School...Played for Head Coach Dave Dudeck at The Hun School.
Jabar Westerman DL 6-2 292 Jr.-Jr. Brampton, Ontario-Notre Dame Catholic-Dodge City C.C. A defensive lineman...Ranked fifth in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference with 10 tackles for loss...Son of Peter and Angela Westerman...High School football coach was Darrio Pretto...Played for Head Coach Bob Majeski at Dodge City Community College.
Kevin Wheeler WR 6-0 179 Fr.-Fr. Woodbridge, Va.-C.D. Hylton-Hargrave Military Already enrolled in the winter semester at EMU...Standout football player as well as a track competitor... Caught 23 passes for 309 yards and seven touchdowns...Second-team Northwest All-Region wide receiver as a junior...Anchored the 4x100-meter relay team to the county championship in the 2009 outdoor track season...Son of Kevin and Janet Wheeler...High School football coach was Lou Sorrentino...Played for Head Coach Robert Prunty at Hargrave Military Academy.
Willie “Max” Williams CB 6-0 195 Jr.-Jr. Los Angeles, Calif.-Dorsey-Glendale College A cornerback and kick returner...Recorded 36 tackles, two interceptions and a tackle-for-loss...Also recovered a fumble and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown...Posted a kick return averaged of 21.8 yards on four tries...Son of Willie Williams and Marlette Byrd...High School football coach was Paul Knox...Played for Head Coach John Rome at Glendale College.
Josh Woods OL 6-5 299 Fr.-Fr. Cocoa, Fla.-Cocoa An all-around athlete as a three-year starter and letterwinner in baseball, football and basketball...Helped his team win back-to-back state championships in 2008 and 2009...Member of the Brevard County North/South All-Star Game...Selected All-Area, All-District and All-Conference in football...Son of Richard and Tina Woods...High School football coach Johnny Wilkinson.
One Michigan sports we do not talk a lot about is fishing. Being in Michigan we take for granted the great lakes that are surrounding us. Please take some time to watch this video and consider going to this website and voting to keep our great lakes safe.
http://stopasiancarp.com/
Most of the people from MI that read this may already be aware of the threat that the invasive fish species "asian carp" poses to the great lakes region. There is currently a very heated fight in DC and the Supreme Court to close the "Chicago Canal" that serves as a major pathway for asian carp to enter the great lakes. It is a well known fact that this species would wipe out the entire fishing wildlife ecosystem and destroy the 7 billion dollar fishing and boating industry that represents almost 1 million jobs thru out MI, WI, MN, and IN and every other state and even Int'l in Ontario, Canada. Currently the entire MI Congressional Delegation are pushing bills thru both the house and senate to close the canals along with the Governors of the respective great lake States.
A friend of mine who is an avid hunter and fisherman sent me the link to an online petition for the closing of the canal that is to be submitted as evidence to the Feb 18th Supreme Court briefing along with DNA evidence of where asian carp have already been spotted well past the canal's opening.
Please go to StopAsianCarp.com where you can sign the petition and even forward to others that may be concerned about this as well.
