‘AN EYE-OPENER’
Michigan Collegiate coach, players offer food for thought
It’s ironic that every box of food contained a frozen whole chicken.
The captains of the rugged Michigan Collegiate football team were helping distribute food to the less fortunate.
Eggs, canned goods, pasta that sort of thing.
Ohyeah, anda frozenchicken. If there is anything that describes these young men, it is not chicken.
The definition of chicken is a domestic bird used formeat and laying eggs. However, chicken is also a slang term for someone who is fearful or cowardly.
That slang does not fit anyone on this season’s teamor any others who have suited up during the program’s 13-year history. The Michigan Collegiate Cougars have failed tomake the playoffs only once, and that was in their inaugural 2008 season.
“The main thing with our captains is they pave the way for the youngsters just like all of the other captains in the past have done,” said John Guth, the head football coach and athletic director at Michigan Collegiate.
“They are tough leaders, but they are humble. They just want to get the job done,” continued Guth.
The 2020 captains are seniors DeMarco Black, a running back/ linebacker; Zachariah Thompson, another running back/linebacker; Daveon Harris, a fullback/linebacker; Ryan Muse, a
tight end/defensive end; and Jamar Willis, a running back/defensive back.
“This is a special group. These kids have been in the programa long time. They have seen us in the semifinals in 2017 and they are some of the toughest kids I have ever coached. We’ve won districts and regionals and we feel this is our year towin it all,” continued the Cougars’ coach.
The 2020 team is 3-0 heading into Friday night’s Charter School game against Chandler Park. Michigan Collegiate has put up 160 points and not allowed any in wins over Detroit Leadership, Detroit Community and Detroit Voyager.
They also put up a win of another
sort this season.
The senior captains helped with food distribution at both Conner Creek Academy East in Roseville and atMichigan Collegiate, which is located on Ryan Road just north of 13 mile in Warren.
“Gleaners dropped the food off. We got it separated into boxes and people pulled up in their vehicles. We brought it to them,” began Guth. “When you do something like that, you quickly find out that people in need of food come from all demographics. There are so many people in need right now, especially with the pandemic. It can be an eye-opener for the kids.
“Some of our kids are from
families that struggle. Others come from very stable homes. I just want all of them to realize that people from all demographics, of all nationalities and ethnicities, can struggle. It is part of everyday life for a lot of people.
“We are not just preparing our kids for football. We also try to prepare them for life. Life isn’t always easy. It is important to get an education. It is important to have compassion for all people. I want my captains to do something to give back. I want them to do something good, to pay it forward,” continued the coach.
This is a crazy time in education. School lessons limited to the classroom are often delivered over the internet these days. Masks aremandatory, and that does not just mean masks that come as standard equipment on football helmets. Who had ever heard about social distancing before last spring?
Education can also occur in school parking lots. Important lessons can also be delivered along with boxes filled with canned goods, eggs and boxes of pasta.
Oops, don’t forget frozen whole chickens. Very tough young men can have compassion, too.