Throughout the state of Michigan, high school football is played at the highest level. Pick any section of the state and there will be old-timers talking about when "so and so played" and "you should have seen so and so back in the day." Every so often I'll take a look at a certain area or city in Michigan and list its top 10 prep football players/legends and also mention a few other standout gridders, as well as providing a brief write-up about the location being discussed. Today, I'll open this series with a look at the city of Saginaw.
Saginaw, a hard-scrabble, blue collar, working-man's kind of town located just north of Flint, south of Bay City, east of Alma and west of Michigan's Thumb region is one of the state's most fertile high school football playing regions steeped in tradition and legendary, "I was there when he played" talent.
While Saginaw has produced its fair share of football blue-chippers, it's also home to numerous other accomplished athletes, personalities, entertainers and iconic figures. Saginaw natives include singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, the rock band ? and the Mysterians (famous for the song "96 Tears"), and the two housewives who invented the cleanser Spic and Span. Country crooner Lefty Frizzell sang about the town with a No. 1 single in 1964 aptly titled, "Saginaw, Michigan," while hometown heroes Bob Buhl and Curt Young both pitched in the World Series and had extensive Major League careers.
While Saginaw is filled with football lore, it might be even better known for its high school basketball talent. Not many cities its size have produced more big-time players than Saginaw. Future NBA players from Saginaw include Mark Macon, Darvin Ham, DeeAndre Hulett, Anthony Roberson, Draymond Green and Jason Richardson, to name but a few off the top of my head.
It's football, however, where Saginaw truly excels. College Football Hall of Fame coach Bob Devaney, who led Nebraska to two national titles (1970 and 1971) is a Saginaw native and one of Michigan's greatest coaches, while two of the state's best teams, the 1999 Saginaw High Division 2 state championship squad (featuring five future NFL players on its roster, including receiver Charles Rogers, tight end Tory Humphrey, linebacker Ronald Stanley, linebacker Roy Manning and linebacker/defensive end LaMarr Woodley) and the 1973 Class A state champion Saginaw Arthur Hill team, which was undefeated and unscored upon dominating its opponents 443-0 for the season, are still talked about in the area. Arthur Hill averaged 49.2 points per game, while allowing only one team past the 50-yard line into its own territory the entire year. Head coach George Ihler was named the National High School Football Coach of the Year, while players quarterback Ron Rummel (CMU), offensive lineman Terry Murphy (Notre Dame), running back Terry Eurick (Notre Dame) and offensive lineman Paul Walderzak (Nebraska) were each named All-State and went on to play collegiately. The 1973 Arthur Hill squad is largely regarded as Michigan's greatest high school football team ever.
Here are the top 10 high school football players from Saginaw-
1. Charles Rogers-WR-Saginaw-No. 2 overall pick in 2003 NFL draft by Detroit Lions
2. Terry McDaniel-CB-Saginaw-Five-time Pro Bowl player, 34 career interceptions
3. LaMarr Woodley-LB-Saginaw-All-Pro LB with Steelers, Super Bowl champ
4. Marvin Wright-QB-DB-Saginaw Arthur Hill-Dynamic two-way star led Arthur Hill to state title
5. Terry Eurick-RB-Saginaw Arthur Hill-Leader of 1973 Arthur Hill team, Notre Dame tri-captain
6. Shonte Peoples-LB-Saginaw Arthur Hill-Standout at Arthur Hill and U-M in early 1990s
7. Stu Schweigert-S-Saginaw Heritage-Four-year starter at Purdue, five-year NFL career
8. Sam Sword-LB-Saginaw Arthur Hill-Four-year NFL career, national champion U-M 1997
9. Calvin O'Neal-LB-Saginaw-Saginaw County Hall-of-Famer, U-M co-captain, NFL player
10. Tom Slade-QB-Saginaw-Led U-M to 11-0 regular season record and 1972 Rose Bowl
Other top players-Paul Walderzak-OL-Saginaw Arthur Hill, Terry Murphy-OL-Saginaw Arthur Hill, Ron Rummel-QB-Saginaw Arthur Hill, Jerry Patton-DT-Saginaw (NFL), Bennett Lewis-RB-Saginaw Nouvel Catholic, Blair White-WR-Saginaw Nouvel Catholic (NFL), Shawn Thompson-TE-Saginaw Nouvel Catholic, Alfonso Boone-DT-Saginaw Arthur Hill (NFL), Martin Buchanan-LB-Saginaw Arthur Hill, Brian Thompson-TE-FB-Saginaw Nouvel Catholic, Cliff Ryan-DT-Saginaw Arthur Hill (NFL), DeAnthony Arnett-WR-Saginaw, Ronald Stanley-LB-Saginaw (NFL), Monquez Wedlow-S-Saginaw, Tory Humphrey-TE-Saginaw (NFL), Jerome Jackson-RB-Saginaw, Otis Washington-FB-LB-Saginaw, Terry Jackson-RB-Saginaw, Roy Manning-LB-Saginaw (NFL).
In 2013, the talent continues to flow through Saginaw as top prep football players in the city include the state's No. 2 junior prospect Brian Cole, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver-defensive back from Saginaw Heritage who's being recruited by all the major college powers, as well as the No. 13-ranked junior Alex Grace, a 6-0, 195 running back from Saginaw Swan Valley who runs a 4.4 40 and exploded for 2,091 yards and scored 27 touchdowns last season. The top senior prospect in Saginaw is Tyler Jacqman, a 6-1, 215 linebacker who is a three-year starter at small school power Saginaw Nouvel Catholic. Jacqman is a top 15-ranked linebacker for the class of 2014.
While producing top individual talent, Saginaw also has been home to some of the state's best teams throughout the years. Besides the 1973 Arthur Hill and 1999 Saginaw squads, other legendary teams from the city include Saginaw MacArthur (Class B state runner-up in 1975 and 1977), Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (Class D state champion in 1986), Saginaw Arthur Hill (Class AA state runner-up in 1990 and state champion in 1991) and Saginaw Nouvel Catholic (Division 7 state champion in 2011, Division 6 state champion in 2007 and 2006, Division 6 state runner-up in 2003 and Class C state runner-up in 1987).
Next, I'll look at the talent-rich city of Flint. From quarterback Rick Leach (Flint Southwestern), to wide receiver Andre Rison (Flint Northwestern), to future Heisman Trophy winner running back Mark Ingram Jr. (Flint Southwestern) to legendary linebacker Carl Banks (Flint Beecher), Flint is overflowing with high school football greatness.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Remembering Pete Gent and Don Moorhead in Bangor, South Haven
I'm definitely not like other people. When other people, more normal than I, go on a road trip, I imagine they drive through a new town or city and marvel at the architecture, the unique shops and parks or the tasty, out-of-the-ordinary restaurants or cafes. I, on the other hand, think of none of those aforementioned subjects. When I drive through a new town in Michigan, I always think of the great athletes, especially football players, that have, at one time or another, called it home.
So it was this weekend when I traveled out to the west side of Michigan. My aim was to make it out to Lake Michigan, sit on the beach and watch an amazing sunset, among other things. My destination was South Haven. After passing Kalamazoo on I-94, I decided to get off the beaten path and visit a town I have always wanted to see, but never had the opportunity or time to check out, and pay homage to one of Michigan's finest all-around athletes ever. I made my way to M-43 just north of Kalamazoo and headed west toward South Haven. After a few uneventful miles of farmland on either side of the road, I finally saw the tops of buildings in the distance. As I rolled into downtown Bangor I smiled and gave a nod to Pete Gent -- one of the all-time greats in this state.
I'm sure many people aren't aware such an accomplished athlete and author grew up in tiny Bangor. Gent was a four-sport star in high school, leading the Vikings to the 1960 Class C basketball state championship. He went on to play basketball at Michigan State University earning All-Big Ten honors in 1963 and 1964 and leaving the Spartan program as their second-leading scorer all-time. After graduating from MSU, Gent tried out for the Dallas Cowboys making the team as a 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver. He started and played opposite future Hall-of-Famer Bob Hayes. Gent helped lead the Cowboys to the NFL championship game in 1966 and 1967, losing both seasons to the Green Bay Packers. After five years in the NFL, injuries forced Gent to leave the game for good. He later chronicled his life in the NFL in a widely successful book and later movie of the same title, "North Dallas Forty."
With Bangor in my rear view mirror, I headed a few miles up the road to South Haven. Upon reaching South Haven, I gave a second nod to another player unknown to most casual high school football fans in this state, but one who made an indelible mark on the gridiron throughout his career. South Haven, a bustling town along the shores of Lake Michigan, is the former hometown of Don Moorhead. In 1969 and 1970, Moorhead (6-2, 200) quarterbacked the University of Michigan to a Big Ten title, a Rose Bowl appearance and a No. 4 national ranking. In his senior year (1970), Moorhead was named All-Big Ten and Wolverine co-MVP, along with Detroit King defensive tackle Henry Hill. Moorhead ended his U-M career as the Wolverines' all-time leader in total offense and in yards passing. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL draft. Instead, Moorhead decided to play for the British Columbia Lions of the CFL (Canadian Football League). He started for the Lions from 1971 through 1975, leading BC to the Grey Cup playoffs twice. Though not very well known in his own state, Moorhead truly was one of Michigan's best high school quarterbacks ever.
Incidentally, another South Haven native, Isiah Grimes (6-6, 240), currently the starting quarterback for Division II college powerhouse Grand Valley State University, might eventually rival Moorhead as the town's best quarterback. A two-year starter, Grimes is already a Division II star and a NFL prospect. However, no matter what Grimes ends up accomplishing, Moorhead, Bo Schembechler's first quarterback at U-M, succeeded at the highest level and will forever be linked to Schembechler and to Michigan football greatness.
So, if you're ever driving through Bangor or South Haven on your way to view a Lake Michigan sunset, take a minute to remember the athletic and personal exploits both on and off the field of Pete Gent and Don Moorhead, two of Michigan's greatest high school football players.
So it was this weekend when I traveled out to the west side of Michigan. My aim was to make it out to Lake Michigan, sit on the beach and watch an amazing sunset, among other things. My destination was South Haven. After passing Kalamazoo on I-94, I decided to get off the beaten path and visit a town I have always wanted to see, but never had the opportunity or time to check out, and pay homage to one of Michigan's finest all-around athletes ever. I made my way to M-43 just north of Kalamazoo and headed west toward South Haven. After a few uneventful miles of farmland on either side of the road, I finally saw the tops of buildings in the distance. As I rolled into downtown Bangor I smiled and gave a nod to Pete Gent -- one of the all-time greats in this state.
I'm sure many people aren't aware such an accomplished athlete and author grew up in tiny Bangor. Gent was a four-sport star in high school, leading the Vikings to the 1960 Class C basketball state championship. He went on to play basketball at Michigan State University earning All-Big Ten honors in 1963 and 1964 and leaving the Spartan program as their second-leading scorer all-time. After graduating from MSU, Gent tried out for the Dallas Cowboys making the team as a 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver. He started and played opposite future Hall-of-Famer Bob Hayes. Gent helped lead the Cowboys to the NFL championship game in 1966 and 1967, losing both seasons to the Green Bay Packers. After five years in the NFL, injuries forced Gent to leave the game for good. He later chronicled his life in the NFL in a widely successful book and later movie of the same title, "North Dallas Forty."
With Bangor in my rear view mirror, I headed a few miles up the road to South Haven. Upon reaching South Haven, I gave a second nod to another player unknown to most casual high school football fans in this state, but one who made an indelible mark on the gridiron throughout his career. South Haven, a bustling town along the shores of Lake Michigan, is the former hometown of Don Moorhead. In 1969 and 1970, Moorhead (6-2, 200) quarterbacked the University of Michigan to a Big Ten title, a Rose Bowl appearance and a No. 4 national ranking. In his senior year (1970), Moorhead was named All-Big Ten and Wolverine co-MVP, along with Detroit King defensive tackle Henry Hill. Moorhead ended his U-M career as the Wolverines' all-time leader in total offense and in yards passing. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL draft. Instead, Moorhead decided to play for the British Columbia Lions of the CFL (Canadian Football League). He started for the Lions from 1971 through 1975, leading BC to the Grey Cup playoffs twice. Though not very well known in his own state, Moorhead truly was one of Michigan's best high school quarterbacks ever.
Incidentally, another South Haven native, Isiah Grimes (6-6, 240), currently the starting quarterback for Division II college powerhouse Grand Valley State University, might eventually rival Moorhead as the town's best quarterback. A two-year starter, Grimes is already a Division II star and a NFL prospect. However, no matter what Grimes ends up accomplishing, Moorhead, Bo Schembechler's first quarterback at U-M, succeeded at the highest level and will forever be linked to Schembechler and to Michigan football greatness.
So, if you're ever driving through Bangor or South Haven on your way to view a Lake Michigan sunset, take a minute to remember the athletic and personal exploits both on and off the field of Pete Gent and Don Moorhead, two of Michigan's greatest high school football players.
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