Orion Sang Detroit Free Press Published 10:00 p.m. UTC Aug 19, 2018 The 2017 season wasn’t a banner year for Michigan football’s wide receivers. The group tallied three touchdowns — the Wolverines threw for just nine total — and their leader in receiving yards, Grant Perry, had just 307 yards on 25 receptions. Perry is back for his final year with Michigan. And he wants to ensure better results this go-around. “I just take it upon myself to set a good example for these guys,” Perry said. “There’s times where I could rest my (head) and fall asleep in meetings but I stay awake and stay alert, just knowing my duty as well on the field. I help guys get lined up, just knowing the plays. When I was a freshman, (Amara) Darboh and Jehu (Chesson) did that to me, so when I’m gone I want these guys to be setting the standard.” More: Michigan football's Josh Metellus works to improve coverage at safety More: Ask Nick: Why … [Read more...] about Michigan football’s Grant Perry striving to be good example for WRs
Football
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame: T.J. Duckett finds happiness after football
George Stoia Detroit Free Press Published 10:00 p.m. UTC Aug 19, 2018 T.J. Duckett remembers the play vividly. It was Nov. 3, 2001. Michigan State trailed Michigan, 24-20, with just 1 second remaining. On the game's final play, Duckett caught a one-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the end zone to lift MSU over the Wolverines and create one of the most famous moments in Spartan history. Now, 17 years and seven NFL seasons later, Duckett will be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 28 at MotorCity Casino in Detroit. "It wasn't a goal of mine or something I thought about often," Duckett said about the Hall of Fame. "It's a great feeling, it was a surreal feeling. And then to see some of the names I'm joining, I grew up watching them play and idolizing those guys. It's an honor." But life after football hasn't always been smooth for Duckett. He fought depression after retiring in 2009, struggling to find his purpose in life. "It was an … [Read more...] about Michigan Sports Hall of Fame: T.J. Duckett finds happiness after football
Michigan high school football: Son of Swami predicts 2018 season
Mick McCabe Special to the Detroit Free Press Published 10:00 p.m. UTC Aug 19, 2018 Football is back and so is the Son of Swami... barely. You see, this summer SOS took a 14-day Baltic cruise with Mrs. SOS, the unquestioned selection as Luckiest Woman on the Face of the Earth. At great peril to himself, SOS heroically led the search and rescue team after Mrs. SOS accidentally fell overboard. Three times. She may no longer be able to handle a hip check, but she certainly is buoyant. Naturally, SOS took his crystal ball along with him and is ready to give his faithful readers a look into the 2018 season. Week 1 There are so many good matchups the first week it’s crazy. Games like West Bloomfield at Birmingham Groves, Grand Rapids Christian at DeWitt, Utica Eisenhower vs. Oak Park, Chippewa Valley at Saline, Walled Lake Western vs. Novi Detroit Catholic Central, Warren De La Salle at Muskegon and River Rouge vs. Detroit Cass Tech are tremendous openers. But the best one in … [Read more...] about Michigan high school football: Son of Swami predicts 2018 season
Advertiser’s prep football top 5: Quarterbacks
Kamarri Darrington Montgomery Advertiser Published 8:45 p.m. UTC Aug 19, 2018 With the high school football season kicking off, the Advertiser is continuing its series of highlighting the top five players at each position. This time, we look at the quarterbacks. (It's updated after Wetumpka quarterback J.D. Martin tore his ACL, keeping him out for the season. Martin has offers from Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss and Tennessee.) No. 1 — Tripp Carr, Sr., Autauga Academy Carr has already laced up this season for the Generals, finishing with a touchdown pass and touchdown run in a 30-8 win over Bessemer Academy on Thursday. Carr has offers from UAB and Army. No. 2 — Reece Solar, Sr., Alabama Christian Solar is known as "The Shepherd" by ACA coach Nate Sanford. Solar missed three games due to injury last season, but still helped lead the Eagles to their first 10-win season and the Class 4A state quarterfinals with his 2,327 total yards … [Read more...] about Advertiser’s prep football top 5: Quarterbacks
Football club: Big plays pay
TOUCHDOWN BREAKDOWN: With the Little Rock Touchdown Club kicking off its season Monday, we asked president David Bazzel what it takes to bring in speakers like Mean Joe Greene (Sept. 4), Ed "Too Tall" Jones (Sept. 24) and Larry Csonka (Oct. 8). Bazzel says, "What's happened over the last 15 years, is we sort of created a monster -- in a good way. Membership has become really big ... and we've started bringing in bigger names and these are the biggest in NFL history and the biggest in college football history." And big names require big bucks. Except for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks coach, who always comes for free; Chad Morris will make a sold-out appearance Monday (see full lineup at lrtouchdown.com/about). Bazzel says, "It's a business, most of them have agents. ... These guys know their time is valuable, so where we started in the first few years of paying someone maybe $500, we have speakers who are $15,000, $20,000, $25,000." Then there's the travel component, Bazzel … [Read more...] about Football club: Big plays pay