Going on Offense
March 3, 2015
I was a defensive back on my college football team, but I refuse to be put on the defensive about the game of football.
The game is good for students, their schools and our communities. High school football is character-building for students, spirit-building for schools and community-building for cities and towns. Local school football programs ought to be part of the development plans and place-making strategies of all communities of Michigan.
The school-sponsored game has never been safer to play. The equipment has never been more protective, coaches have never had more safety training, the rules have never been more safety-oriented, and game officials have never had more encouragement to enforce those rules. The result is fewer injuries of all kinds – from nicks and bruises to ankles, knees and necks.
When the game of football has faults, we find and fix them. To continue doing so requires that we be honest with ourselves about where the game has weaknesses and be constantly alert to effective ways to improve the game.
Defensiveness gets in the way of discovering ways to go on offense. It blocks innovation and sacks aspirations before they can be launched.
I want our public to know that school-sponsored football is a great game. I also want the public to know that we aspire to keep improving the game and to exceed legal mandates. We will continue to do more than what is required and, in fact, we intend to do what’s unexpected to assure football remains a positive influence on students, schools and communities.
Performance of the Week: Detroit Cass Tech's Alex Graham
October 25, 2024
Alex Graham ♦ Detroit Cass Tech
Senior ♦ Football
Graham, a senior receiver, caught a 28-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 72 yards for a score as Cass Tech downed Detroit Martin Luther King 30-14 at Ford Field to claim the Detroit Public School League Blue City championship. In doing so, the Technicians also avenged an 18-12 overtime loss to the Crusaders from Week 4. They are 6-2 and ranked No. 7 in Division 1 in this week’s state coaches poll.
One of the top college football prospects in the state, Graham has committed to continue his career at Colorado. He has considered studying mechanical engineering but is leaning toward something geared more toward coaching as he’d like to remain in football when his playing days are complete. Graham also ran track previously for Cass Tech.
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Alex Graham #football #CassTech #score #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Alex Graham #tiktalk #questiontime #trumpet #laughing #emoji #pizza #saucegardner #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
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Previous 2024-25 honorees
Oct. 11: Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4: Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26: Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19: TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12: Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6: Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30: Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report
(Top photo by Olivia B. Photography.)