Greyhound gridders visit Michigan State

Written by: Kanon McVicker '12

ERHS Varsity and Freshmen football players pose for a photo after  tough practice

Practicing in a Division 1 College environment is a rare opportunity for any high school athlete. However, the Eaton Rapids football program was given the privilege to utilize this once in a lifetime experience. Anticipating playing on turf against Dearborn Edsel Ford on October 7^th, head varsity football coach Bob Ribby pulled some strings at his college alma mater in East Lansing. At about 5:40pm on October 5^th, the Eaton Rapids Varsity and Freshmen football teams piled on two buses and headed out to Michigan State University.

As they filed off the bus, each individual, including the coaches, seemed to have an altered mind-set. The atmosphere outside radiated with a new kind of focus and determination brought on by the sheer power and size of the MSU football facilities. The Varsity captains led both teams, two-by-two, into the Duffy Daugherty Building. This was far from just another practice.

Defense set the tone for the rest of practice, starting off the day with the usual warm up run and stretches. Getting used to the unbelievably flat and soft turf was tough at first, but soon the players seemed to be flying around faster than the day before.

The players definitely felt the change in intensity.

According to Jacob VanVliet, being in a college environment for football, especially a nationally ranked team like Michigan State really raised the intensity and level of everyone’s game. “Everyone was excited about going there to practice and play on the new turf. I feel it really brought the best out of everyone’s game and if we could we would practice there every day after school,” said VanVliet.

All in all, practicing at MSU was a great, once in a lifetime experience for the Eaton Rapids football players.