The story of Saginaw's Charles Rogers is a sad one. I had the pleasure of watching him play in high school. In 1998, the team traveled to Muskegon and defeated the Big Reds 36-29.
The Trojans won the Division 2 state title in 1999. Quarterback Brandon Cork connected on a 60-yard TD to Rogers in the first quarter. Running back Terry Jackson scored on a 17-yard run, then broke the plane for the two-point conversion in the fourth quarter as Saginaw downed Birmingham Brother Rice 14-7 for the Division 2 state title. Rogers was something special. After starring for MSU, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions. But injuries and three failed drug tests meant his playing days were over.
As usual,
Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press nails it.
In September he was arrested and charged with assault and battery and later pleaded no contest to trespassing charges and received a deferred sentence. But he tested positive for Vicodin and has now been ordered to enter the sobriety-court program in which he will undergo daily drug testing.
Charles Rogers is only 27 years old.
It’s all so disappointing. I genuinely liked Rogers. I thought he was a good kid.
But they all start out as good kids.
Why this blog about Rogers?
Well, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, the players on the Free Press All-State Dream Team will be honored at the Dearborn Inn at our banquet with the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
The 23 youngsters will be dressed in tuxedos and treated like kings.
They should remember that in 1999, Charles Rogers was one of them.
Speaking of the Free Press, word is big news will be coming out of Detroit next week, and this time it won't focus on the Auto Industry. This will relate to the News and Free Press.
Hard to imaging that one day, newspapers as we know them will no longer exist.
In Friday's prep edition, Mick also told the tale about
Davison football coach Jeff Putnam stepping down. I hope the
Cardinal's mascot is crying again, as this is truly sad news. The Flint Journal's Bill Khan broke the story on Monday, December 8.
Putnum has led two varsity squads (
Lapeer West 1985-1997;
Davison 1999-2007) duing his varsity coaching career, posting a 159-77 record. His
Lapeer West squad won the
MHSAA state title in Class A in 1995. At
Davison, he finishes with a 76-34.
Davison has lost a good one. As many know, his team had
Muskegon on the ropes in the Division 2 semifinal this year. The Cardinals were an outstanding squad, and were led by a stellar sophomore quarterback in Jake Thompson. (I hear he's a
pretty good golfer as well.) I was looking forward to seeing what Putnum's team would do next year.
In true 21st century, politically correct fashion, the word from the district was direct, positive...and said absolutely nothing.
Athletic Director Scott Thurlow said Putnam will be missed.
"Jeff has developed a winning tradition and has done a wonderful job taking our football program to the next level," Thurlow said. "He takes the game beyond the X's and O's and instills values and good character in his players. We wish him the best."
On a
sports talk show, Khan spoke more on the subject, and indicated that Putnam has no issues with Thurlow. Apparently, the issues is higher in the ranks.
Is it Putnam? Is it administration? I honestly don't know.
But, I am amazed at the challenges that high school athletics face from some high school administrators, school board members and parents. The issue of the importance of sports within the education process has always been with us. Dig back in the archives, and you'll see the same questions raised in 1908. It was no different in 1800's.
Like most involved with athletics, I, believe they are a
privilege. I also believe prep sports are an
extension of the classroom. They taint how students look at themselves. They taint how school districts are perceived. The taint how a villages, towns, cities and
metro statistical area view themselves, and how others view them. They are the foundation of may traditions that we know.
I'm a graduate of
Muskegon High School, with children who are enrolled in the district. I have seen the important lessons that are taught by participation. I know the importance that they play in the lives of many kids. I understand the role that they can play within a school district. And I completely understand the importance of finding quality coaches to lead.
Ask Terrence Taylor - now a graduate of the University of Michigan. For those counting, he's out in three and one half years.
Ask Ben Evans, a graduate of Colgate.
Check with Jason
Ruud, a student at Hope College and Dwight Quinn, now a teacher within the Kalamazoo Public Schools district.
Ask Andrew
Jados, now working in New Jersey. Check in with Grand Valley State University graduate,
Callistus Eziukwu.
Ask Elan Banks, the quarterback who led this year's team to the state title,
whose father is currently stationed in Korea as a member of the U.S. Army.
Ask
Jason Hannett. His mother is staying in Texas.
Ask my oldest son, who wants to play baseball at
Muskegon. Ask his best friend, Terrance Spears, who wants to play the game as well.
For some, prep athletics meant a chance to go to college. For others, their athletic careers are only now beginning to reveal their role in life.
Those I mention are all kids enrolled in or who are recent graduates from
Muskegon High School. I could go on for hours if I begin speaking about the former athletes that I met from across the state.
Whether the
district is urban or suburban, I still believe some of life's most valuable lessons can be found on a districts playing surfaces. Just because a child lives in what we call a "traditional family," it doesn't mean that he has nothing to learn from such an experience.
I seen the studies.
From Fortune magazine - 95% of Fortune 500 executives participated in high school athletics. 47% of Fortune 500 executives were National Honor Society members.
From Minnesota - Student-athletes have a higher grade point average (2.84) than non-athletes (2.68).
From North Dakota - Students who participate in athletics missed an average of 4.9 days of school per year, including 0.7 days for athletic contests. Non-participants missed an average of 10.8 school days per year.
From the National Federation of State High School Associations - 96% of dropouts in 14 school districts in seven regions of the nation were not participating in an athletic program.
More importantly, I've talked to the people who have participated.
It's sad to see quality coaches step
aside.
It's sad to learn about those few, statistically, who made it, but were unable to handle the pressures of the limelight.
And it's sad to see the media headlines again focused on the fall of one, instead of the success of so many others.
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