Wow, I'm always amazed, though I should know better, whenever I get the chance to actually sit down and watch a full day of college football (yes, I ate an entire large pepperoni pizza and washed it down with a two-liter of Pepsi while sitting in my Lazy-Boy for almost 12 hours straight -- who doesn't??) how many Michigan kids are playing in the games I get a chance to watch (or see highlights of).
I'm not even going to comment on the MSU or U-M games, there are just too many Michigan players to mention. Though senior WR Aaron Burbridge (6-1, 195, Farmington Hills Harrison) had quite a day for No. 4-ranked MSU catching three touchdown passes, including one of the best TD receptions of the young college football season. That being said, it was enjoyable to watch junior OT Chauncey Briggs (6-6, 300, West Bloomfield) start for SMU in the Mustangs' 56-37 loss to No. 3-ranked TCU. Briggs is a three-year starter for SMU (1-2 overall).
Staying on the O-line, I watched junior OG Steve Elmer (6-5, 315, Midland) start for No. 8-ranked Notre Dame (3-0) in the Irish's 30-22 victory over Georgia Tech. Elmer is a three-year starter for Notre Dame. On the sidelines, West Bloomfield native and Wayne State grad Brian Van Gorder was barking out instructions and flashing signs as defensive coordinator for the Irish.
In the Northern Illinois-Ohio State game, it was interesting to see redshirt junior OG Ron (formerly Daron) Brown (6-3, 345, Detroit Mumford) start for the Huskies (2-1), who gave the host No. 1-ranked Buckeyes a scare before falling 20-13. In the coaches booth, I believe I spotted Chelsea native and Northwestern grad Joe Tripodi. Tripodi, in his sixth season with NIU, is an assistant coach/offensive line coach for the Huskies. Tripodi was a two-year starter at OG for Northwestern in the early 2000s.
In Penn State's 28-3 win over Rutgers, senior DT Anthony Zettel (6-4, 285, West Branch Ogemaw Heights) started for the Nittany Lions (2-1). A returning All-Big Ten player, Zettel, a three-year starter, should be playing on Sundays next year.
In Iowa's thrilling 27-24 win over Pittsburgh, junior CB Desmond King (5-11, 200, Detroit Crocket, now Detroit East English Village) started for the Hawkeyes (3-0). King, a three-year starter, had a terrific game finishing with two interceptions, eight tackles and one tackle for loss. For Pitt, another former Detroit Public School League standout, sophomore CB Avonte Maddox (5-9, 170, Detroit King) started for the Panthers. Maddox, a two-year starter, had a strong game, as well, ending up with nine tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass break-up. On the coaching side, Maddox is mentored by PSL legend Renaldo Hill (Detroit Chadsey, MSU-where he was All-Big Ten and a Spartan captain, NFL-10-year career as a DB), who is Pitt's defensive backs coach.
In Tennessee's 55-10 victory over Western Carolina, freshman RB John Kelly (5-9, 215, Oak Park) is the Volunteers' No. 2 back, seeing plenty of action in his inaugural season in Knoxville. Against Western Carolina, Kelly had a team-leading 13 rushing attempts for 59 yards for Tennessee (2-1). A noticeable omission from the Vols' line-up is redshirt junior DT Dan O'Brien (6-2, 305, Flint Powers Catholic), a two-year starter and leader upfront for Tennessee. For undisclosed reasons, O'Brien has been suspended by the Vols for the past two contests. Let's hope everything clears up -- O'Brien has an NFL future. On the sidelines, Tennessee is led by head coach Butch Jones, a Saugatuck native and Ferris State grad.
Finally, in the CMU-Syracuse contest, the visiting Chippewas (1-2) battled hard before falling 30-27 in OT to the Orangemen (3-0). Junior QB Cooper Rush (6-3, 225, Lansing Catholic Central) finished 37-of-51 passing for 430 yards and two TDs for CMU. Senior TE Ben McCord (6-4, 240, Warren Cousino) had an outstanding game for the Chips with 10 catches for 147 yards and one TD. At running back, sophomore Devon Spalding (5-11, 205, Westland John Glenn) had a fine, all-around performance for CMU ending up with 185 total yards (rushing and receiving) and one touchdown. The Chippewas could be one of the best 1-2 squads in the country, losing to Oklahoma State 24-13 and defeating Monmouth 31-10. CMU's two losses have come by a combined 14 points. Of Central's 22 starters, 18 come from the state of Michigan. The Chippewas are led by head coach John Bonamego, a Paw Paw native and CMU graduate. For Syracuse (3-0), redshirt junior DE Ron Thompson (6-3, 255, Southfield) finished with five tackles and three tackles for losses for 21 yards. Thompson, another NFL prospect, is a two-year starter for the Orangemen. Also starting for Syracuse was sophomore LB Parris Bennett (6-0, 215, U-D Jesuit). Bennett led the Orangemen with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss.
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