COVER STORY There are bright days to come on the horizon for Wayne State Athletics. As the sun sets on another successful Fall season, the roosters crow for continued prosperity in Midtown Detroit.
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Swimming & Diving Preview
The Warrior basketball teams will be looking to rebound from seasons in which both teams lost vital players to injury. Add a transition to the North Division of the GLIAC and these coaching staffs have their hands full as they enter the 201213 campaigns.
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Wayne State Athletic Director Rob Fournier spearheaded efforts to improve the Athletic complex yet again with the addition of lights at Tom Adams Field and an expansion of the Softball upgrades that began last year.
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Joique Bell used Saturday’s to become well known around Detroit, now he’s using Sunday’s to become a household name in the NFL.
Duane Burleson, Associated Press
WWW.WSUATHLETICS.COM
A.J. the Juice Man
CONNECT WITH THE WARRIORS
Akron Roots
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From the Director
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Fall Recap
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Dacia Schileru
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Fab 50
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News and Notes
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Locker Rooms
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Club 38
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Donors
WARRIOR WITHIN Compiled and edited by the WSU Sports Information Office ROB FOURNIER JEFF WEISS JUSTIN ARBOGAST MATT CUNNINGHAM LISA SEYMOUR KYLE STEFAN
Director of Athletics Associate A.D./Media Relations Sports Information Graduate Intern Athletics Development Director Assistant Athletics Director Contributing Writer
PRINTING Inland Press - Detroit, Mich. PHOTOS Mark Hicks (WestSide Photo), Ron Harper, Duane Burleson, Jason Clark, Rick Cummins, Justin Arbogast, Andrew Stoll, and Tom Gorman
FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
REMARKS AT THE SWIMMING AND DIVING NATIONAL CHAMPION RING CEREMONY I want to thank the parents, special guests and student-athletes who are here today for a singular occasion – to recognize the national championship women’s swimming and diving team and the men’s Conference champion swimming and diving team. Their remarkable, consistent record of achievement has made this program one of the elite in the country. That sustained success is laudable and not only a credit to our current student-athletes, but to their predecessors, who have done so much to elevate this program to a national stature. And that certainly includes our coaches. It is said that some people succeed in life because they are destined to…but most people succeed in life because they are determined to. Our special guest today, Olympic medalist Peter Vanderkaay is just an example of one of those individuals determined to succeed. He is a fitting representative for the kind of determination and commitment it takes to win a national championship. Peter has won medals in three different Olympics but you would not have imagined those achievements if you look back on where he started in high school. He did not qualify for the state meet in high school but has now gone on to captain the US Olympic swim team. That is quite an accomplishment – most importantly because it means you were recognized by your teammates who see your work effort every day and endorse that commitment by voting you as captain. One of those exemplary performances was his participation on the 4 x 200 relay team in Athens that was the first to break the 7 minute mark. He also won six (6) NCAA titles at Michigan and fourteen (14) Big Ten titles. Nice compliments to various gold, silver and bronze medals won at Athens, Beijing and London. I read in an article about Peter that he strived for consistency… but wanted to be “uncomfortable”. He wanted to test his limits. He did so…and the results speak for themselves. That same kind of consistency in our men’s and women’s programs has made our opponents uncomfortable. The women’s teams after three consecutive years as the national runner-up went on to win the national title. They have also won the GLIAC title six of the last seven years. Our men have finished in the top eight in the country in the past eight years and have now won seven (7) of the last ten (10) GLIAC championships. The “other” years, they were second. Two of our coaches were National Coaches of the Year last season – Sean as the Coach of the Meet and Kelly as the Diving Coach of the Meet. We had twenty (20) All Americans. All of that is the end result. The hard work and sacrifice, well that kind of gets overlooked when passing out awards --- except for the ones who did the morning and afternoon practices, the long grueling workouts and the winter conditioning. They know and appreciate what it takes to be a champion. You must overcome a lot…and still you might not reach the pinnacle of your sport. But they did. Metaphorically, on the road to success, there’s a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps which can be your friends’ interests and distractions and some red lights – which are usually your opponents.
A champion, a national championship, must handle all of those obstacles. We have some good drivers in this room who handled all the “road hazards”. And along the way, I am sure learned something about themselves. Intercollegiate athletics has a way of creating that maturity. It is one of its most valuable lessons. I was reading a story about another London Olympian Carli Lloyd. Her story is also one of perseverance…and a life impacted by tragedy that she was determined to make positive. It started many years ago. Carli was a member of the Rutgers women’s soccer team on September 11, 2001. The team would practice in the mornings at their field across from lower Manhattan. On that fateful day, they witnessed billows of black smoke rising over the New York City skyline. They went inside and turned on their television to witness the devastation of that fateful morning. It impacted her perspective.
‘some people succeed in life because they are destined to…but most people succeed in life because they are determined to.’ As the years went by and she developed into one of the country’s premier women’s soccer players, she earned her way onto the Pan American team and the Olympic team. She had scored the game winning goal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as one of the team’s starting midfielders but over time had lost her starting position. Four years later as the US Olympic team headed to London, she was a backup. That is where the story takes an unusual twist. Some would have brooded over their loss of playing time, or outwardly sulked or blamed her status on “coaches”. But Carli was different. She worked, and worked to earn her spot back. How refreshing…and maybe a larger metaphor for society. The perseverance paid off. When injury impacted the lineup, Carli was inserted. She took advantage of her “second chance”. Before the largest crowd ever to witness a women’s soccer match (80,203) she scored two goals that propelled the United States to a 2 – 1 win over Japan (the same team previously won the Pan American World Championship Game over the U.S.). As captain Abby Wambach stated: “She had every opportunity to pout, turn her negativity into some sort of drama, and she didn’t. She did the right thing. She kept her head down and as luck has it, she got to play a lot of minutes in the tournament.” She did, and the US Olympic team was the beneficiary. But her example was even more illuminating in an era where we celebrate the result and less of what got us to that point. But that is not the end of Carli’s story. It was always more than the gold medal. Events like 9/11 will do that to you. She has worked to create a day of “thanks” that is memorialized on that day of remembrance. Carli has made it her mission to have people reach out on that day to thank others who had had an impact on their lives, who have made a difference, whose relationship has positively influenced their life. She has dedicated that memorial to good rather than evil. Not surprisingly for a person who has not let life’s obstacles alter her outlook. A good lesson for all of us. It is why today even when we celebrate the accomplishments of so many; we should still take the time to acknowledge the many others who helped us get here – coaches, parents, friends and professors. We did not get to this recognition without the help of many others. Carli Lloyd knows that. We should too…and remember those opportunities that present themselves to us. We should always remember that life is written in pen…there is no erasing what you’ve already written. Congratulations on a national championship…let’s keep writing.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
Last year’s Wayne State team recorded eight consecutive wins after a young men.” season-opening loss to Bellarmine, and concluded the regular-season by Martin, a 6-8, 210-pound center along with freshman Joel Ndondo are ready to help make up for the loss of Udanoh down low. being victorious in eight of nine matches. In between, the Warriors went Martin tallied 29 blocked shots in his two seasons for the Braves, while 1-6 and ended the GLIAC slate with a 14-5 record, which tied for second. Ndondo, a 6-8, 218-pound freshman from Ajax, Ont. played his last year Wayne State posted an 84-77 triumph over Northwood in a GLIAC of high school at Christian Faith Center Academy in Creedmoor, N.C., quarterfinal contest before falling on a last second shot, 63-61, to Findlay in the league semifinals. where he averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocks per game. The Warriors finished 18-9 despite losing the GLIAC Pre-Season Player of Coach Greer and his staff will be looking to junior guard Chene Phillips, the Year (Mike Hollingsworth) six games into the season. Hollingsworth a transfer from Liberty University, to provide some quality minutes in the received a medical redshirt for 2011-12 and will be a redshirt junior this backcourt. year. Phillips played in 58 games for the Flames totaling 56 assists and 101 Three starters and key contributors to last year’s points. Wayne State Men’s Basketball squad have graduated including all-region center “Chene is an outstanding young man that played 2013 Home Schedule at Renaissance. He is an outstanding defensive Ike Udanoh, who nearly averaged a double-double player,” added Greer. at 16.7 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per The remaining two transfers - guards Jeff Hugan contest. Jan. 3 Hillsdale 6:00 and Kevin Cassidy - will provide additional depth “Losing Ike will be really tough to replace,” said Jan. 5 Findlay 1:00 and options in the backcourt for the Warriors. Greer. “He had an outstanding year and was one of Northwood 6:00 Ragland, a forward, scored over 200 points the premier big men in the region. He had a lot to Jan. 10 Jan. 12 Saginaw Valley 1:00 during his Alcorn State career including a doubledo with our success last year.” Also gone are guard Stacey Waters, who averaged Jan. 26 Grand Valley 1:00 double against Mississippi Valley State. In addition to Ndondo, three other freshmen 10.0 points per game and led the team with 39 Feb. 2 Lake Superior 1:00 have joined the WSU program. triples, and backcourt mate Dale Brundidge, who Michigan Tech 6:00 Forward Michael Lewis helped the Ann led the team in minutes played and steals (40), Feb. 14 Feb. 16 Northern Mich. 1:00 Arbor Huron River Rats to four straight district while ranking second in assists (94). The cupboard is not bare for 12th year head Feb. 21 Ferris State 6:00 championships, and a state finals berth in 2010. Lewis averaged 17.7 points and 11 rebounds per coach David Greer as senior forward Ian Larkin game as a senior. returns after averaging 12.6 (ppg) and 5.9 (rpg) a year ago. Guard Gavin Toma averaged 17 points, six rebounds and six assists as a Larkin was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team and was also a recipient senior for the Southfield Christian Eagles to earn Associated Press Class D of the Winter 2012 GLIAC Commissioner’s Award for excellence both in First Team All-State accolades. the classroom and on the field of play. Guard Rob Andrews was a three-year starter for the Chandler Park “We expect Ian to have a great year. He does a great job of stretching Academy Eagles. He scored in double figures 17 times as a senior. An the defense and is one of the premier three-point shooters in the league.” exceptional athlete, he also competed in the high jump and long jump Prior to his injury, Hollingsworth was averaging 17.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg and for CPA. nearly two steals per contest. He was able to get back to action over the “Making the adjustment summer as WSU played a from high school to college three-game Certified Foreign ball is always a challenge. All Tour series in Ontario and four freshmen are working Quebec. extremely hard and are very “Mike is a very good talented.” basketball player. He had The Warriors have moved an outstanding sophomore from the GLIAC South year and we expect big Division to the North Division things from him.” with the addition of two new Senior guard Cole Prophet member schools (Malone and started all 26 games played Walsh) in the South Division. in 2011-12 and tallied a “The GLIAC is always a team-high 101 assists, while tough basketball league. averaging 10.7 ppg. Findlay is a perennial power, David Greer’s “We expect Cole to have while both Michigan Tech team was an outstanding year. He is and Ferris State return the selected to very quick with the basketball majority of their teams. and is an outstanding scorer. nish second He is really fun to watch.” It will be a challenge and n the GLIAC Junior swingman Bryan Coleman averaged in double figures after that’s the fun part of it. You never know how it is going to shake out.” The conference schedule has increased to 22 games leaving only a few North by the getting into the lineup at mid-semester break. He led the squad in free non-conference dates. conference throw percentage (86.1) a year ago. Wayne State will open the 2012-13 campaign at Bellarmine on Nov. 15 “Bryan is a very talented basketball player and could be a starter this coaches year. He has great size and presents problems because he can play inside before hosting Lewis on Nov. 19. despite “We have some return games with very good basketball teams in and out.” actually Bellarmine and Lewis, both NCAA teams,” commented Greer. Providing additional depth up front is junior Gerald Williams-Taylor, who “We always try to play a competitive schedule.” collecting was solid off the bench last season. WSU’s goal is to be playing in the conference tournament with an “Gerald is probably our most improved player. He played outstanding more first opportunity to qualify for the NCAA tournament, which the Warriors have in Canada and can play inside and out. He will have to do a great job done three times in Coach Greer’s tenure. rebounding.” Five transfers, two of which redshirted at WSU last season, and four David Greer’s team was selected to finish second in the freshmen complete the 15-player roster. GLIAC North by the conference coaches despite actually Both Michael Martin and Jamar Ragland, local players who played their collecting more first place votes than Michigan Tech who first two collegiate seasons at Alcorn State, redshirted at WSU a year ago. “They (Martin and Ragland) play extremely hard and are very good was chosen to win the Division
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The 2012-13 Wayne State women’s basketball team is poised to build on the strong foundation built last year by Coach Carrie Lohr and her staff. Coach Lohr guided the 2011-12 squad to a 9-6 record with some eye opening victories before an injury to lone senior and starting guard Stefani Munro (9.3 pts./game, 5.0 asst./game) derailed the season. “It’s not just the five assists a game that we lost, she also gave us nine points of her own. You’re looking at a loss of nearly 20 points a game with the loss of Stefani and it definitely played a role in the way we finished the season.” That injury led to a 2-8 finish and a sixth-place finish in the GLIAC South Division. This year, Wayne State moves to the North Division of the GLIAC and that presents an entire new set of challenges. New rivalries will be built in a division that featured only two teams with winning league records (Ferris State and Michigan Tech) last year. “It provides an interesting change in terms of seeing other players the girls are familiar with from High School and AAU teams. It also gives us a different look from recruiting, scouting, and team travel.” This year’s team returns six letterwinners including the very strong senior class of Paige Sickmiller, Phaebre Colbert, Deanna Crumpton, Amelia Davis, Juanita Cochran and Talisha Bridges. Bridges joined the Warriors last January so although she hasn’t played a game for Wayne State she has nearly a year of experience working with this team. This veteran group will be led by Sickmiller who according to Lohr “hasn’t had an offseason” due to her participation with Team USA for the Italy Continental Cup. Sickmiller was one of 11 Division II players selected for the 10-day trip. The USA went 4-1 on the trip with Sickmiller averaging 13.8 points a game Wayne State Women’s Basketball including a high of 25 in the opening game. 2012-13 Home Schedule Phaebre Colbert led the Warriors in scoring Dec. 28 UMSL 3:00 last year at 12 points Dec. 29 Urbana 3:00 a game to go along Jan. 3 Hillsdale 8:00 with six-and-a-half Jan. 5 Findlay 3:00 rebounds per contest, Jan. 10 Northwood 8:00 good for second on the team. After Jan. 12 Saginaw Valley 3:00 being recognized last Jan. 26 Grand Valley 3:00 preseason as a player Feb. 2 Lake Superior 3:00 to keep an eye on in Feb. 14 Michigan Tech 8:00 the league Colbert Feb. 16 Northern Mich. 3:00 failed to receive a single weekly or yearly Feb. 21 Ferris State 8:00 award for GLIAC play
which seemed to motivate her going into her senior year and she is poised to raise her play to the top of the league in 2012-13. Juanita Cochran led the lady cagers with 8.5 boards a game and was second on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game. Cochran fought some nagging injuries for much of last season but Coach Lohr indicated that those issues have been resolved and Juanita is in the best shape she has been in since she arrived at Wayne State. Providing more depth for the Warriors are seniors Deanna Crumpton, Amelia Davis and Talisha Bridges (who will make her Warrior debut this year) as well as junior Imari Redfield. Senior leadership isn’t all this Warrior team features however. With the graduation of Munro there was a vacant spot in the starting lineup at point guard with a couple of girls having their eye on those minutes. Kristen Long comes in as a freshman and looks to turn some heads right away. Coach Lohr was excited talking about Long, “Kristen is coming in not as a typical freshman, and she will contribute right away.” Lena Thomas will be looked at as the incumbent of sorts as she enters her third year at WSU. Her experience will be vital in GLIAC play as well as in the development of the younger guards. Sophomore Kayla Bridges and redshirt freshman Stephanie Lock will be fighting hard for playing time along with freshmen Madison Stoyka and Brittany Streetman joining the fray as Lohr’s newest recruits. 2012-13 arrives with a year’s worth of stability from this coaching staffs first year at WSU and more familiarity with the system from the players being asked to run it. Building off of last year’s start and making Wayne State a force in the GLIAC will be a point of pride for this team.
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DACIA SCHILERU
Schileru’s Splash Still Resonates, 40 Years Later Wayne State landscape highlights a landmark moment in NCAA women’s athletics prohibiting women from competing for a national championship in 1973. Coach Roberts could identify talent, and Schileru stood out at Wayne State. Her power, grace, and sheer talent on display at that open swim session carried Schileru through the season. She participated in dual meets with the men throughout the 1972-73 season, and posted scores good enough to merit consideration for the national championship meet. Wayne State was hosting that meet, and Roberts – with the help of former WSU Athletic Director Vern Gale – pushed Schileru’s entry through the NCAA. The NCAA’s revocation of its 75-year-old rule paved the way for Schileru to become the first woman to compete in an NCAA Championship. “I’m sure when Dacia stepped on that platform, she was thinking about making a great dive,” Fournier said. “But Dacia’s contribution is more than Wayne State athletics. Someone had to be the first to knock on the door and move in.” She qualified for both the one- and three-meter events during the March 15-17 championships. Though she did not make it through the preliminary rounds of the one-meter event, she just missed earning a spot in the threemeter final round of 12 by placing 13th of 50 divers. Schileru returned to the WSU squad for the 1973-74 season and lettered a second year. There was more postseason success with a return to the championship meet. According to Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd, where she appeared on February 18, 1974, Dacia and Traian There’s no disputing that women’s athletics has exploded onto the national landscape in a relatively short Schileru (pictured below) became the first sister-brother combination to qualify for an NCAA championship, the amount of time. From household collegiate names, professionals and Olympians, and legendary collegiate 1974 Division II event at Long Beach, California. programs, NCAA women’s sports now garner significant attention and respect across the country. Dacia again qualified for the three-meter event in 1974, on the heels of her 13th place showing in 1973, while It’s also well-documented that was hardly the case 40 years ago. her younger brother Traian – a freshman and the team’s leading scorer – qualified at both one and three meters. Shortly after the passing of Title IX in 1972, landmark reform requiring gender-equity in higher education, the After the family originally moved to Detroit, her father completed his residency work, and Schileru was NCAA rescinded an archaic ban barring women from competing in post-season championships. motivated to head down the same career path in medicine. For a time, her athletic career and landmark moment Before there were dynasties on the hardwood at Tennessee or Connecticut, before powerhouse programs across fell into relative obscurity. all sports regularly started producing Olympians and professionals, and before participation rates could soar to Her accomplishments were first lauded with a spot in WSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Inducted in 2000, Schileru all-time highs throughout all Divisions, there was a recently-immigrated, immensely talented woman attending is recognized for her championship appearance, her pair of varsity letters, the 1972-73 Wayne State Swimming Wayne State University – Dacia Schileru – taking advantage of an opportunity to compete at her childhood passion. Coaches Award, and her trio of degrees – two in biology, one in medicine – from the University. Schileru set the stage for women’s athletics – at least on the NCAA level – by becoming the first woman to But the championship feat – which was underpublicized for some time – later earned significant notoriety compete in an NCAA Championship on March 15, 1973. when named to the NCAA’s 25 Defining Moments List in 2006 – a collection of 25 events that shaped the NCAA’s Now, nearing the 40th Anniversary of that landmark event, looking 100-year history. back at the evolution of women’s sports from that moment can be “It really came to fruition then,” WSU associate athletic director Jason equally humbling and inspiring. Clark said. “Being named to that list really brought it full circle.” “I’ve always said that when Dacia takes that dive off the three-meter The list includes an impressive blend of competitive and societal board,” WSU Athletic Director Rob Fournier noted, “the ripple that she feats. Included is the 1906 NCAA reform required by president Theodore spread through the waters transcends women’s athletics.” Roosevelt, the 1963 basketball game between Loyola and Mississippi Schileru, a native of Romania, began diving in her homeland at age State that brought down racial barriers, along with UCLA’s seven 13, and captured the Romanian national championship at 16. That win consecutive basketball championships and Iowa State wrestler Cael earned her a chance to compete among the world’s best at the 1968 Sanderson’s undefeated career. Olympic Games in Mexico City, which she would decline. Wayne State was one of only two Michigan schools to have a moment There was political unrest at home, and Schileru’s father secured included on this list – the other being Michigan State’s memorable 1979 passage out of the country for the whole family – first, in Turkey, then, to basketball showdown with Indiana State. Canada, and finally – the United States, settling in Detroit. This defines the pro-active approach of coach Roberts and Gale, She continued to dive during the worldwide travels, but stopped the perseverance of Schileru, and ultimately, the events of the 1973 once she reached the United States for fear of injury. She had no formal Swimming and Diving Championship that provided a dramatic precedent coach in the U.S., and according to an NCAA News article published in just before the NCAA began establishing its women’s championships in 2006, was unaware of any championship opportunities in the country. the mid-1970s. Wayne State would become a place for Schileru to rekindle her “It’s always nice to look backwards and look at how we got here,” competitive spirit. Fournier said. “I’m sure if we wait another 100 years, the progress It took former Wayne State swim coach Peter Roberts to convince will be significant, because this whole phenomenon is a very recent her to join the men’s team, spotting her during an open swim period at the University Dacia Schileru and her brother Traian competed phenomenon. To look at what it has evolved to today, it takes those pioneers – and pool. WSU had no diving team, or diving coach, but Schileru agreed to join the squad – on the same team during the 1973-74 season. Dacia certainly was one of them. becoming the first woman to compete on a men’s varsity team in Wayne State history. “She competed during a time where women’s athletics really didn’t have much. It There was little precedent for a woman athlete succeeding on the intercollegiate level. There was certainly no was not like it is today. Credit not just Dacia, but all the student-athletes. Despite every reason for them to stop, championship history, as the NCAA did not sponsor women’s championships for the first 75 years of its existence. every reason telling them to give up their dreams, they kept going.” There were no NCAA women’s championships in 1973, and the first wouldn’t be held until the fall of 1980. The rule barring women from competing in men’s events was still on the books. Kyle Stefan is a former Editor In Chief of the South End, Wayne State University’s student newspaper. He is a Organized championships in the fledgling Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women were similarly frequent contributing writer to the WSU Sports Information office. scarce. The AIAW saw the NCAA as male-dominated, and fought for total control as a governing body. But as the NCAA reformed itself through the 1970s, the AIAW slowly faded away. However, one year after Title IX was enacted, under the advice of its legal counsel, the NCAA rescinded its rule
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SWIMMING AND DIVING
Expectations High For Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Teams The WSU women’s swimming and diving team are the defending Division II National Champions By Adam Bouton Sports Information Intern
Rochester) both earned All-American status last season on the diving boards and are back for WSU. Both the Wayne State University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have finished either first Among the main newcomers are freshman Kristina Novichenko (Seversk, Russia) and senior Sarah Maraskine or second in the GLIAC conference in each of the past seven seasons. (Midland, Mich./Dow), who each have already made significant contributions in 2012-13 for the Warriors. Additionally in recent seasons, the Warriors also became perennial powers in the Division II national title race “Great things can come from a freshman,” Peters said. “Certainly, they might not have as much experience as with the women’s swimming and diving squad breaking through in the 2011-12 season for WSU’s first national someone that has been there for two or three seasons, but you can get results from anybody.” title in any sport since 1989. Out of the gates strong on the men’s side in 2012-13 is sophomore Piotr Jachowicz (Lodz, Poland). Jachowicz WSU swimming and diving head coach Sean Peters believes that the consistency within the program has was a six-time All-American as a freshman and finished helped drive the men’s and women’s squads to success. second in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 breaststroke at “Everyone knows what to expect everyday,” said Peters, 2011-12 Division II NCAA Championships. who entered his 16th season as head coach of WSU’s team Other experienced swimmers returning on the men’s this fall. “There’s no major surprises here. Everyone comes in squad for WSU are junior Kristian Larsen (Fredericksberg, realizing when they step foot here in this program that this Denmark), senior Joaquin Abascal Gallegos (Madrid, Spain), is the way things run. Lucas Fernandez Vilanova (Valencia, Spain) and senior “The seniors and upperclassmen do a very good job trying Nathan Hesche (Jackson, Mich./Jackson). to help the younger swimmers along and I have the coaches “Abascal Gallegos, he’s a very versatile guy who has around to help everybody. I’ve had great consistency with been here and you really can put him anywhere and he’ll my coaches, Bryce (Pitters), Kelly (LaCroix) and A.J. (Erard) do a fantastic job for you,” Peters said. “Larsen was an and they’ve been around for five-plus years. Everybody All-American in the 200 free, 500 free and 1,000 free and knows what to expect every year. I really think that could be Vilanova is a really good 200 backstroker.” the biggest (for our success).” Adding to the speed of the men’s team are freshmen Ben With several key components from last year’s title runs, Winn (Washington, Mich./Romeo) and Ivan Udalov (SaintWayne State is looking to be a threat once again this season. Petersburg, Russia). “I’ve always gone into the season where each team is “They are already coming in and providing speed to our different that the year previous,” Peters said. “I don’t believe program,” Peters said. “They are both sprinters who are in the defending champion motto. I always believe that it’s coming in and helping the relays and doing a great job.” a vacant spot and you have to earn it. I always look at each On the diving platform, 2011-12 national championship season as a new challenge.” qualifiers Darrin Driesenga (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa) The Warriors return several key members from last year’s and Dylan Szegedi (Oregon, Ohio) highlight an experienced women’s national title squad. team that also features three-year letter-winners Jeff Grant Carol Azambuja (Sao Paulo, Brazil), who won five national Wayne State Swimming and Diving coaches Bryce titles including relays in 2011-12, returns for her junior season. Junior Kayla Pitters and Sean Peters celebrate the Women’s National (Belleville, Mich.) and Cody Narlock (Bay City, Mich./Central). Overall, the outlook is once again high for the Warriors. Scott (Rochester, Mich./Adams), the national record-holder and champion a Championship last year in Mansfield, Texas “We always try to have high expectations for our athletes, but that comes year ago in the 100 breaststroke, is back for the Warriors. Senior diver Carly with a reason,” Peters said. “We certainly work very hard in the pool and certainly set our goals and standards Sevald (Royal Oak, Mich./Mercy) also returns after winning a national title last season. very high. I go into every practice with that attitude. I expect every athlete to achieve great things on a daily Other key contributors coming back are senior Ashley Corriveau (Metamora, Mich./Lapeer East), who swam basis. It may not happen that way everyday, but I certainly go into everyday with that expectation and certainly, on three national championship relays in 2011-12, sophomore Kei Cze Prentis (Shelby Twp., Mich./Eisenhower) we’d love to see that everyday on a daily basis.” and senior Alex Malfroid (Shelby Twp., Mich./Eisenhower). Junior Paige Kortman (Holland, Mich./Holland) and senior Emily Mitzelfeld (Rochester Hills, Mich./ WAYNE STATE 2012 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Carol Azambuja 200 Freestyle (1:48.16; school record) 200 Backstroke (1:57.08; school record) Kayla Scott 100 Breaststroke (1:02.16) NCAA record in prelims (1:01.58) Carly Sevald 3-Meter Diving (503.40) Andrey Seryy 50 Freestyle (19.47) 100 Freestyle (42.61; NCAA record) 200 Freestyle (1:35.61; NCAA record*) *Reset in 800 Freestyle Relay (1:35.05)
Carol Azambuja, Catherine Leix, Kaylee Dolinski, Kei Cze Prentis Women's 800 Freestyle Relay (7:22.27; school record) Alex Malfroid, Kayla Scott, Gloria Martinez Perez, Ashley Corriveau Women's 200 Medley Relay (1:42.94) Carol Azambuja, Kayla Scott, Gloria Martinez Perez, Ashley Corriveau Women's 400 Medley Relay (3:41.20)
Ashley Corriveau, Gloria Martinez Perez, Kayla Scott, Carol Azambuja Women's 200 Freestyle Relay (1:32.02; school record)
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CLUB 38
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CLUB 38
Jennifer (Logue) Bryant and Fawne Allossery were four-year volleyball letterwinners during their time at Wayne State. While Allossery earned four more letters in basketball.
WEEK
WSU Student Athletes worked all week long on Donation efforts
April 13-19
Then junior basketball players Juanita Cochran and Phaebre Colbert (right) took part in the Basic Needs Drive.
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CONSTRUCTING A POWERHOUSE
Constructing a Powerhouse Athletic Campus bolstered again under Fournier Football stadium lights, softball field upgrades highlight latest facility enhancements By Kyle Stefan
Building a national program takes more than the dedication and work ethic of players, coaches, staff and administrators. It requires a vision and strong leadership from the top to reach those lofty goals and aspirations. Crafted over the 12-year tenure of Athletic Director Rob Fournier, Wayne State Athletics has produced consistent results on the playing field and in the classroom – and that ascent to national prominence is showcased by the constant upgrades, renovations and new construction across the athletic campus. The “look,” “feel,” and infrastructure of the WSU Athletic Campus has again been upgraded entering the 2012-13 school year. And there’s not a better time to take stock of all the progress than Homecoming, a week where WSU Athletics annually welcomes back hundreds of former players, coaches and alumni. In what has become commonplace under the Fournier administration, WSU student-athletes, boosters and fans can expect significant improvement to the facility infrastructure each year. “I’ve been pretty lucky in my time here,” said softball senior Stephanie Foreman, who in her four years has seen the construction of the Athletics Multi-Purpose Building, modernized locker rooms, a renovated training room, an updated weight room, and new Matthaei Center seating – among a host of other projects. “The multi-purpose building was completed last year,” Foreman said. “The swimming and diving area was totally redone. The tennis courts were renovated. The football stadium had additions. And now, our softball project is ready to be finished. There are a lot of great things happening here.” The Athletic Multipurpose Indoor Facility, WSU’s first new construction on the athletic campus in 46 years, has opened to rave reviews and is in full use, housing the tennis team and a variety of other sports for off-season workouts and practice. “Last year, we opened a new building for the first time since 1967,” Fournier said. “The multi-purpose facility certainly improved opportunities for our student-athletes just across campus.” Teams no longer battle for court time in the Matthaei Center, and have dedicated practice space for the winter months and inclement weather. “I think Rob’s done an excellent job in refurbishing facilities, and adding buildings that make us stand out,” said veteran softball coach Gary Bryce., who enters his 32nd season at the helm of the Warriors this spring. “It certainly also helps in recruiting. We’ve had several kids in already, and the facility has helped us sell Wayne State and our program.” Fournier hardly rested on the success of last year’s construction. He went to work on his football stadium, home to last year’s NCAA National Runner-Up, and pushed for the completion of locker rooms and indoor practice space at the WSU Softball Field. “We added lights to the football stadium this year, which certainly was a big addition for us. The first week, we were getting ready to play Ashland under the lights. In the past, we wouldn’t have known what that was like unless we went to Ashland. “It creates other opportunities on campus,” Forunier added. “This year, we hosted the Prep Showdown Classic for the first time. Here was an event that was at Eastern Michigan for 10 years. Now, they’re all coming to our campus. They’re coming to Detroit. It’s a recruitment tool, an enrollment tool, it has a residual benefit that goes beyond the immediate site.” Coach Bryce knows the latest softball upgrades will help his program in competition. As a perennial
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contender for the Women’s College World Series, Wayne State softball already has established a foundation of success. Currently in place, Phase One of the new softball construction saw the addition of a dedicated building with locker rooms, coaching offices and team meeting space. “The new facility has been great, even in just the Fall season,” said Foreman, who helped the Warriors to a pair of wins over Division I Toledo and Michigan State to end the fall campaign. “We have our own place to meet before practice and games. It makes everything easier. We don’t have to run back and forth. It’s been a real asset.” Phase Two, scheduled for completion in December, will add indoor pitching and hitting tunnels for extra work before and after practice and competition, along with sport-specific off-season practice areas. “In general, we’re beyond most schools,” Bryce said. “[Our players] will be able to come in and set up a combination of hitting and pitching. Facing the field will be two garage doors, and on the backside we will put in four outdoor pitching mounds. “Inside, there is a cutout in the concrete, so our pitchers can throw off dirt instead of cement. There will be a lot of time where we can go in and teach individually, and the players can get extra work in.” Several new aesthetically pleasing additions now line the campus. The tennis courts received new scoreboards last year, and the Matthaei Center seating was redone for the start of last season. “We’ve also redone Parking Lots 40 and 50,” Fournier said, which are the main spaces for athletic events, deliveries and daily athletic department Above image is of the Multipurpose Building grand visitors. opening in the summer of 2011. Image below was When discussing the future, Fournier taken after members of the 2012 softball team were doesn’t hold back. He wants to continue blindfolded and led into the locker room and placed in expanding the baseball stadium – recently front of their lockers for the first time in March 2012. bolstered with new dugouts and the historic left field scoreboard from Tiger Stadium. He also envisions a 10,000 square-foot weight room that houses the entire athletic program, and especially benefits a larger sport like football by accommodating bigger lifting groups. “We have to build this baseball stadium, and we have to build the weight room,” Fournier said. “We need that weight room infrastructure to make football more efficient and better.” “It’s been my goal to provide each student-athlete with a championship experience,” Fournier added. “I think the legacy is that championship experience for the young men and women that come through here. “It’s great to have nice facilities. It’s also important to have quality coaches, and excellent academic resources at their disposal. We know it’s a great academic institution. All this allows that kid to have that enjoyable experience, and in turn go on and maintain that connectivity to the athletic department.” Kyle Stefan is a former Editor In Chief of the South End, Wayne State University’s student newspaper. He is a frequent contributing writer to the WSU Sports Information office.
FALL SPORTS REVIEW WOMEN’S TENNIS ›› The Wayne State University women’s tennis squad entered the 2012 GLIAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed and winners of 13 straight matches, 12 of those were league contests. The Warriors disposed of Saginaw Valley 5-0 in the quarterfinals before falling 5-3 to Grand Valley in hard-fought semifinal match. WSU rebounded to defeat Ferris State 5-0 and place third in the league tournament. WSU’s lone setback during the regular season was a 5-4 decision to Northwood University in the second match of the season (Sept. 12). A very young squad at the top of the lineup with two freshmen and two sophomores playing the top four singles flights. Sophomore Yahsha Moore (West Bloomfield, Mich.) went 11-4 in league play at No. 1 singles, while newcomer Julia Kamenko (Thornhill, Ont. / Vaughan S.S.) compiled a 15-0 record at second singles. Freshman Alex Poissant (Laval, Que. / Vanier Prep) and sophomore Anne Li Briand (Repentigny, Que. / École Secondaire Félix-Leclerc), pictured left, both recorded unblemished league records (15-0) at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Upperclassmen Jessica Kruczek (Detroit, Mich. / Lakeview) and Tanya Joseph (Northville, Mich.) round out the Warrior lineup. Kruczek had a 8-6 GLIAC record at fifth singles, while Joseph won nine of her 14 conference matches (1-0 at No. 5 and 9-4 at No. 6). Head coach Sheila Snyder is in her 24th campaign leading the WSU women’s tennis program. The Warriors have finished in the top four at the GLIAC tournament each of the last five years with the 2011 squad placing second. The netters resume play in March with the hopes of qualifying for the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five seasons and seventh time in the last nine years.
VOLLEYBALL ›› The third year was the charm for volleyball; a 3-2 victory over second seeded Ferris State in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament supplied some vindication for the previous two seasons in which the Bulldogs ended the Warriors season. WSU would fall in the Semi-Finals to Grand Valley however after making the conference tournament for a fifth consecutive season. The Wayne State volleyball team has finished with a .500 record or better and qualified for the postseason in each of head coach Phil Nickel’s five seasons at the helm. Wayne State (18-13 overall, 11-8 GLIAC) was one win short of tying a season high for wins under Nickel (19 in 2009) a strong 6-3 showing in Detroit was a major reason for that success as injuries to major contributors really hurt the Warriors campaign. 2010 All American Katarzyna Sak was lost to a knee injury after missing the 2011 campaign with a separate knee injury. Junior outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz was selected to the All-GLIAC First Team, while senior libero Lindsey Graciak grabbed second team honors. Fellow senior Cydney Biessel earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention accolades. Bulkiewicz finished among the top five in the GLIAC in kills (381) and kills per set (3.63). Her kill total was the highest by a WSU player since 1997. Graciak moved into second alltime in digs (1,4??) and fifth alltime in digs per set (3.78). This was Graciak’s first time being honored by the conference while Bulkiewicz and Biessel each received the same distinctions last year. Biessel had the ninth-best assists average (9.36) in the conference and finished three assists short (1,039 assists) of setting a career-high in helpers for the second straight season. She became the third player in WSU history to reach 4,000 career Junior, Kristen Bulkiewicz assists. Wayne State will return an experienced group of student-athletes next fall including juniors Bulkiewicz and Jessica DeLeeuw, sophomore outside hitter Candice Ottey, and freshman middle blocker Kelsey Bonewits.
CROSS COUNTRY ›› Sophomore cross country runner Amanda Brewer (Ionia, Mich.) who was strong all year for WSU was again at the NCAA Midwest Regional placing in a time of 21:34. With that finish Brewer qualified for the national meet, where she would place 25th in the Nation, becoming just the second WSU female runner to ever qualify as an individual joining Rachelle Malette. The only male ever to qualify as an individual for the national championship meet was Brian Goodwin. The women’s cross country squad won the Mack Cooper classic (Slippery Rock, Pa.) back in September while placing second in three other meets (Detroit Titan Invitational, Wisconsin-Parkside’s Lucian Rosa Invite and the OCC Raider Run). The Warriors were third at the GLIAC Championship with Brewer earning First Team All-GLIAC accolades after placing third.
2012 Cross Country All-American Amanda Brewer finished 25th in the National Championship Meet.
The men’s cross country team also won the Mack Cooper classic (Slippery Rock, Pa.) back in September while finishing as runners-up in two other meets (Detroit Titan Invitational, and the OCC Raider Run). The Warriors placed fifth at the GLIAC Championship as senior Jimmy Maloney (Wyandotte, Mich. / Roosevelt) led the way with a fifth-place finish (24:29) to earn First Team All-GLIAC honors.
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AJ THE JUICE MAN
A.J. the Juice Man Team-first “Apple Juice” Vaughn thrust WSU into football spotlight
Simply mentioning the name – Apple Juice – provides Wayne State loyalists a flashback to what many consider the golden era of college football. During the 1960s, Michigan State and Notre Dame dueled for a national championship in the Game of the Century, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes re-ignited a dormant rivalry, and O.J. “Orange Juice” Simpson was running roughshod over defenses across the country. Not to be outdone, Wayne State football had its own dynamic playmaker of the late 1960s – A.J. “Apple Juice” Vaughn. While “Orange Juice” Simpson was winning the Heisman Trophy at Southern California, “Apple Juice” Vaughn was dismantling defenses in the NCAA Small College Division for head coach Vern Gale and the then-Wayne State Tartars. And his legacy, and famed nickname, lives on to this day. “At the time, it was great,” Vaughn said. “I was noticed a little around campus, got some boxed apple juice, had some commercials with the [NFL’s Atlanta] Falcons. I would run into people after Wayne, and they always brought it up. “It has since lost some luster, because I was not in the class of O.J. Simpson, and he has since had some hard times. But it’s always nice when people remember you, and at the time, it was pretty neat.” Flashy nicknames aside, Vaughn was hardly all show and no substance. Setting 15 individual game, season and career records as a running back, quarterback and punter, he left his mark on the Wayne State football program after a lauded three-year college career. Vaughn was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985, and remains very proud of his metroDetroit roots that instilled competitiveness and teamwork for a record-setting career – along with a very productive life after football. “I always played team sports, and I was always around great coaches. It was gratifying to be part of something bigger than yourself. You can’t replace that family-type feeling. We had that at [Dearborn] Fordson, and we definitely had that at Wayne.” Strong Upbringing Vaughn grew up in Dearborn, playing summer baseball in the long-running Adray Leagues, hockey in the outdoor rinks of Ford Woods, and, of course, football for Dearborn Fordson, long considered one of the state’s traditional power-running teams and standout prep programs. “We lost two games my senior year, and we were considered trash,” joked Vaughn. “That’s just how it was. You really didn’t play much until you were a senior – the guys ahead of you were just better. You learned from those ahead of you, and we had some good players, good quarterbacks – and exceptional coaches.” Over time, Wayne State has forged an identity of grit and toughness on and off the football field. Players like Vaughn have contributed immensely, which he credits to the people in his hometown and the area mentality. “Coming from the area, Detroit, and Dearborn, are tough towns,” Vaughn said. “Fordson has always been known as a tough football team. Athletes from there are expected to be tough, and are expected to be good. That’s just the mentality. “I can’t tell you how many national championship teams I played with, growing up with baseball, football, and
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hockey. We were expected to win. Some places, you aren’t, but when you come from that area – Dearborn and Detroit – you are expected to win. You grow up with that mantra.” Dearborn Fordson has a legacy of tough, running quarterbacks, and Vaughn added to that as an All-Border Cities prep player. He knew he wanted to pursue football at the next level, and found a solid program – albeit a little up and down at the time – close to home that was more than happy to have him. “I knew I wanted to play football, and I knew I wanted to get an education. Wayne was a great opportunity for me. I had the chance to sign and play baseball, like a couple of my friends, but I knew I wanted to keep playing football.” Team Oriented To glance at Vaughn’s career records and accolades – most plays and total yards in WSU history – and then dissect his 1967 season, where he set single-season marks in total offensive yards and touchdowns thrown, one might categorize “Apple Juice” as a one-man wrecking ball. Vaughn essentially quoted longtime ESPN analyst Lee Corso: “Not so fast, my friend.” Former teammates like Mitch Ritter, Bob Schroeder, and Ron Solack are now renowned football names around the WSU athletic campus, and Vaughn still remembers their individual contributions to the team as much as anyone. “We had a lot of other good players out there,” Vaughn said. “I would go back and watch tapes of my games, and I would see guys that made two blocks in one play. We had lots of guys out there doing their jobs, and doing them well.” Vaughn started his Tartar career in 1965-66 as a running back and punter, but when Gale switched to the Wing-T offense, “Apple Juice” took control under center. “I played quarterback in high school, but it was a maturing thing once I got to college. I understood the game better; I saw lots more things happening in the game. If you don’t have good players, if you don’t block, don’t tackle, you don’t win. That’s just how it is. I was fortunate to learn that early on, and fortunate we were in a good place.” Block and tackle, the Tartars did. In a 39-31 win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1967, Vaughn set the NCAA individual total offense record with 555 yards – 271 rushing and 284 passing, shattering a mark that stood for 25 years prior. Life After Football Vaughn’s highlight show and offensive prowess earned him a NFL draft selection and tryout with the Atlanta Falcons. But it wasn’t a good fit, as the fledgling franchise was struggling with leadership and management. “Professional sports are strictly business, and it’s a different state of mind,” said Vaughn, no doubt swayed from his team-first approach. “It sours you if you don’t have the right environment. In that situation, it was real bad.” Fueled by his passions as a youth and college standout, Vaughn embarked on a successful postplaying career. He taught secondary education and coached high school football in Michigan, and worked privately in sporting goods and transportation industries. Most notably, Vaughn returned to his hockey roots, playing competitively for a season in Hamilton, Ontario before landing the head coaching position with the Detroit Junior “A” Red Wings, where he coached Mark and Marty Howe – the sons of “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe. “As a hockey player,” Vaughn said of being around the Howes, “there’s nothing better.” Currently living in Delaware, Vaughn hasn’t forgotten his roots – or his alma mater. “That athlete philosophy, the team approach -- through everything I’ve done as a coach, teacher, and trainer – it works,” Vaughn said. “Athletics focuses people. People build their foundations playing sports. I was blessed to have a good career, good education, and be around so many good people and professional athletes. “It was all a byproduct of athletics. You run into people occasionally, from Fordson, from Wayne, and it’s like we haven’t missed a beat. Wayne has built some real traditions – and it’s a lot tougher in football – through some great people and coaches, that I was fortunate enough to be around.” Kyle Stefan is a former Editor In Chief of the South End, Wayne State University’s student newspaper. He is a frequent writing contributor to the WSU Sports Information Office.
FAB 50
Our generous supporters come from many different eras and backgrounds but share one common trait – they want to see WSU Athletics continue to provide a first-class experience for student-athletes. The Fabulous 50 will feature 50 valuable contributors that have bought into the mission of WSU Athletics at the Captain’s Club level or above and are helping to advance the goals of WSU Athletics through their support. See the back cover for more information about becoming a member of the Capitan’s Club or head to wsuathletics.com!
Getting to know our Fabulous 50
Jim and Carol Hayes Men’s tennis 1957-1961 Why they give? “Coach Mulhausser helped me get into Wayne and recieve my undergraduate degree. The University gave me the skills to become a physical education teacher. The athletic department employed me throughout the school year and that allowed me to pay for my books , tuition and travel.” -Jim Hayes
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AKRON ROOTS
From the Heart of the Rust Belt Akron Drives WSU’s Resurgence
to the Motor City
By Kyle Stefan Call it a coincidence or maybe just sheer fortune. But the fact remains that Akron, Ohio has produced some of the world’s premier athletes – and some of Wayne State Athletics’ most decorated leaders. From current athletic director Rob Fournier, who earned a trio of degrees from the University of Akron, to head football coach Paul Winters, who was the UA athlete of the year in 1980, WSU has benefited greatly from a connection with a similar blue-collar city that relies on Midwest grit and toughness. Legendary coach Dick Lowry, the last Warrior football coach to win a GLIAC championship before Winters’ 2010 team grabbed the GLIAC South Division title, was a native of the area, growing up in Berea, Ohio, coaching 13 seasons of high school football in Cleveland and serving three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Zips. WSU’s Akron pipeline was recently bolstered on the field with the recruitment and addition of Jason and Nick Thomas. The brothers prepped at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School – the same school as Winters and LeBron James, among others. “It’s probably something in the water,” joked Jason Thomas. “The connection between Detroit and Akron is not lost on me,” Fournier said. “It's been strong for a long time. Detroit built cars, while Akron built tires. They were dependent on each other. The relationship between the two cities, industrially and athletically, has always been special." ____________ Lowry came to WSU after his stint as offensive coordinator at Akron after successfully coaching Cleveland high school football – he earned Coach of the Year honors in 1963, 1964 and 1969. His progression to college coaching came naturally. Akron was coming off a 9-1 season in 1969, where the Zips finished No. 3 in the final AP poll. The team stayed steady under Lowry’s play calling, finishing 7-3 and 8-2 the next two years. When Lowry arrived in Detroit, he made an instant impact on a dormant program – leading the Warriors to a 7-3 mark after years of sub-.500 ineptitude. Like at Akron, his next seasons were similar – 8-3 and 8-2 overall – marking one of the most successful three-year runs for WSU football under any head coach. “We had some real fine wins when I was there,” Lowry said, “although I’m sure the way the players have gotten bigger and stronger, and the coaching has become more advanced, the teams Paul Winters puts on the field could have handled us. “When I was there, the GLIAC was just getting started. But we had, at the time, one of the best weight programs in the area, and what I considered a top-notch coaching staff. “We also had great student-athletes. There were so many high schools in our area that we could be in, and just 30-40 minutes away, we were also recruiting into Ohio.” Singling out former Warriors Phil Emery, the current GM of the NFL's Chicago Bears, and Ed Skowneski, a WSU Hall-of-famer, Lowry lauded the people at Wayne State during his time as head coach. He went on to a successful 17-year head coaching stint at rival Hillsdale College. But the foundation for his future success was built during his three-year WSU tenure, including the 1975 GLIAC Championship season. "One of the first things I did here was reach out to Dick Lowry," Fournier said, "because I knew how much he meant to the success of this place. He wasn't even in the Hall of Fame. Now, he comes back once a year with his wife. He is a proud part of our history." ___________________ More than 30 years later, not much has changed from Lowry’s winning formula. Wayne State has returned to the top of the GLIAC by stabilizing its local recruiting base, with strong ties to all the Detroit metropolitan area high schools. And with 10 players from Ohio bolstering the 2012 roster, recruiting forays “down south” remain beneficial. The Warrior strength and conditioning program is widely considered Division I level. Intense summer workouts have become commonplace,
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with high participation rates. And the WSU coaching staff is again first class, under Winters, a UA alum. “You can just come by at any time during the day, and his car is there. The players see that, and they realize that he just cares so much,” said Jason Thomas, who was recruited by Winters in 2004 out of his own high school alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, to overhaul a program mired in turmoil and neglect. There was a personal connection, with Thomas’ father playing with Winters on the St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Ohio high school state championship team of 1972. But Thomas doesn’t dispute the idea of Detroit and Akron sharing a common identity, and some of the similarities that makes the Motor City a draw for recruits and an ideal fit for winning athletes and coaches. “They’re very similar cities,” Thomas said. “Both are ‘Rust Belt’ cities that were very prosperous at one time. All you have is people that were there and have lived through it. Those involved with football, many were brought up in a championship environment. “It’s a family thing. My high school cared. At St. V’s, we went to games from being little bitty kids. It’s a close-knit community, and it’s what is talked about and going on around town. With the guys Coach Winters brings along, it’s becoming the same thing here.” After securing Jason Thomas, Winters made sure to bring along another standout recruit from back home -- his brother, Nick, who joined the Warriors in 2008. “Coach Winters let me know (during recruiting) that I always had a home here,” Nick Thomas said. “He’s always made a big point of changing the whole mind set of Wayne State, and getting the whole athletic department on board.” Nick Thomas echoed his brother’s feelings toward their hometown and high school, and passion for his new proving ground. “They’re both blue collar cities, and there’s also a lot of pride in both cities. You hear people talk about how bad Detroit is, or all the negatives about the city, but you get there and it’s not really true. It’s the same with Akron. The people who live there have a strong relationship with the teams, schools and community.” _______________ Wayne State’s overall leadership has peaked since Fournier came on board in 2000.
The Akron-WSU connection is evident throughout the Warrior football program, from legendary coach Dick Lowry to current coach Paul Winters and athletic director Rob Fournier (pictured above). Winters was the 1980 Athlete of the Year for the University of Akron, and Fournier holds three degrees from the school.
Much has been written and discussed about the athletic department’s resurgence to the cusp of the top-10 nationally, according to the Division II NACDA Director’s Cup standings. But it is the framework of mentoring student-athlete success through the department, taking an active role with academic support, and bolstering involvement in the community through volunteer service and outreach events, which have endeared WSU to the greater Detroit area. Not surprisingly, an Akron man leads the transformation. Fournier has made inroads in Detroit since his hire in 2000 – no doubt bolstered from educational and community experience with his hometown Ohio community and alma mater. "Many times in life, you have those strange intersections that bring you together. Literally in the case of Akron, getting into athletics was just a strange coincidence. I was in grad school and wasn't going to work in the athletic department. I was in speech, forensics, debate -athletics wasn't even on my mind. "I was asked to write an article about the dean, who at that time oversaw athletics. I saw people that really enjoyed athletics. One thing led to another, and then I was running into Jim Tressel and Paul Winters. It seems like yesterday we were in the Rubber Bowl talking, and now here we are." Fournier noted that men's basketball coach David Greer, from nearby Canton, Ohio, could easily be included in the pipeline -- a definite success story, as Greer has revitalized another of WSU's nationally-competitive programs. And he lauded that, over the years, WSU has been fortunate to keep most of the talent lured from the Rubber City in Detroit. "People have migrated from Akron to here for years," Fournier said. "But when the calls and offers come to head back, they have stayed here. It says a lot about where we are as an athletic department and that championship experience we seek for the student-athletes."
LOCKER ROOMS
With your tax-deductible gift, payable over four years, you can personalize a locker in any of our three new locker room facilities by purchasing a locker plaque. The plaque will be engraved with your chosen personalization that is then affixed to a current studentathlete’s locker.
The Wayne State Department of Athletics prides itself on offering a first-class experience to our student-athletes. Our new and renovated facilities are helping do just that. Conceived as a way to help fund the top-notch facilities for the student-athletes of today and tomorrow, our supporters can leave their permanent mark on the Warriors’ new facilities and help the department continue to offer our student-athletes the tools to make them successful in the classroom, on the field, and in the community.
HITTING STREAKS Generally we think of hitting streaks as a personal achievement. Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak comes to mind as one of the greatest sports feats ever. In the case of the new locker rooms for baseball and softball, we are looking to string our hits together as a team to achieve the success necessary to be the best. For each person that steps up to the plate and delivers a hit by securing a locker in the new facilities, a hit will be added to the total goals of 20 games for softball and 40 games for baseball, based upon the number of lockers in each facility.
WSU ATHLETICS LOCKER ROOM PROJECTS __________________________________________________________ Name (As you wish to appear for athletics donor recognition) __________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________ City State Zip
Development Director Wayne State Athletics 5101 John C. Lodge 101 Matthaei Detroit, MI 48202 (313) 577-0587 mc10@wayne.edu
20-Game Hitting Streak • Softball Locker Room Project - $1,000 40-Game Hitting Streak • Baseball Locker Room Project - $1,000 Football Locker Room Project - $2,000
__________________________________________________________ Employer
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(Payable to WSU Athletics)
Please include in reply envelope in this magazine or send to address indicated
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DONORS The Wayne State University Department of Athletics would like to thank the following donors for their generous support of Warrior Athletics. These gifts help to provide scholarships, upgrade equipment and facilities. This list includes donations of $100 and more made to the Department of Athletics between July 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012. There are numerous financial opportunities to make a difference in the exciting and promising futures of Wayne State’s student-athletes and athletic programs. Please see the inside back cover of this magazine for gift-giving clubs and the benefits associated with supporting athletics. For more information, please call the Athletics Development Office, at 313-577-0587.
ALL-AMERICAN CLUB ($5,000+) American Football Coaches Association AT&T Gary Bryce Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund James and Carol Hayes Mr. Jack Keating Michigan First Credit Union Oakwood Healthcare, Inc. Robmar Precision, Inc. SG Construction Services LLC Stoltenberg Turner Construction Company FoundationMichigan Walbridge Waste Management of Michigan Inc Thomas and Gail Wiseman
DIRECTOR’S CLUB ($2,500-$4,999) William and Kimberly Avery Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Inc. Blaze Contracting, Inc. DAC Foundation Dearborn Sausage Company Mr. Kevin P. De Bear DeMaria Building Company, Inc. Gregory and Phyllis Demars Evangelista Corporation Mr. Vernon D. Foss G T J Consulting Mr. Angelo Louie Gust Sanford and Linda Simons Turner Construction Company
CAPTAIN’S CLUB ($1,000 - $2,499) AIREA, Inc Ally Paul and Shirley Andrews Automated Benefit Services Inc Mr. & Mrs. Barry Becker Mr. Thomas G. Bomberski Clifford A. Brown Compuware Corporation Ms. Robin Coolsaet Matthew Cunningham Detroit Thermal LLC Ms. Denise N. Devey Mr. & Mrs. Phillip D. Emery Ernie Harwell Foundation Ms. Chelsie Fuller Mr. Gerald P. Gagnon Mr. David L. Greer Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc. Harley Ellis Devereaux Mr. James J. Hopson Mr. and Mrs. Michael Horn Mr. John Jambor Johnny Mac’s Sporting Goods Ms. Samantha Kaufman F. John Keogh, III Robert Kohrman Miss Karen S. Lafata Ms. Ann M. Lapointe Legacy Foundation Mr. Mark E. Limback Mary I. McLeod Foundation Abdel-Wahab I. Meri, M.D. Michael F. Green Mr. Thomas S. Milanov
James H. Mulchay, III Mr. Philip E. Nickel Phi Gamma Chi David and Julie Ripple Roth Electrical LLC S. Gary Spicer, Sr. Foundation Robert & Marietta Samaras Jim R. Sears Mr. Christopher A. Stevenson Suntel Services LLC Mr. Steven S. Toth Mr. Alexander R. Townsend Mr. Nick G. Tumbarello Robert D. Uhrin, D.D.S. Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program William and Linda Watt Jeffrey L. Weiss Mr. Paul J. Widdoes Wing Industrial INC. Women of Wayne Alumni Association Mr. Robert A. Yousey
VARSITY CLUB ($500 - $999) Mr. & Mrs. George F. Adams Mr. Philip Baldick Ms. Rachel Bandrow Mr. Travis M. Barczak Barton Malow Company Gary & Wendy Bice Ms. Audrey J. Boyes Mr. Matthew J. Carey Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Carlson Pam and Frederick Cavataio William C. Cirocco, M.D. Jason E. Clark Mr. Christopher A. Coolsaet Mr. Rick Corriveau Mr. Wrex R. Diem Robert J. Fournier Mr. James A. Fuller Mr. Greg J. Gargulinski Denise G. Kelley Gray, M.D. Green Electrical Supply, LLC Mr. Cameron T. Hill Logan Hughes Mr. Randy Jackson Mr. Michael R. Johnson Blake Johnson Mr. Phillip H. Johnson Leit & Linda Jones Bino Joseph Mr. George P. Juszczyk Mr. Arthur H. Ketelhut Ms. Olivia A. Kwiatkow Dr. Steven M. Lash Ms. Crystal L. Lemke Mr. Martin Letzmann Carrie Lohr Mr. Douglas Mack Mr. & Mrs. Richard M. Marsack Masco Corporation Donald and Lila McMechan Ms. Tina Marie Miller Miotech Orthopedics Fred & Irene Mulhauser Matthew and Tracy Muscat Ms. Courtney R. Noble Mr. Michael R. O’Hara Ms. Jamie Palmer Ms. Amanda M. Jennings Mr. Christ Petrouleas & Judy Petrouleas Charlie and Lois E. Primas Sharon K. Progar
14 | WARRIOR WITHIN WINTER 2013
Mr. Dennis A. Purgatori Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Raetzke Mr. Mitchell L. Ritter Ms. Jennifer Rock Mr. Douglas A. Rowe Mr. Jim Saviano Ms. Victoria Hollingsworth Mr. Clay L. Sheckels Shunkwiler Chiropractic Health Center, Inc. Jordan Sinclair Ms. Beverly S. Smith Mr. Jason Earl Smith Mr. Angus W. Sutherland Mr. Jay G. Thompson Mr. Todd D. Vydick W. R. Steele & Associates Inc.
GREEN AND GOLD CLUB ($250-$499) Mr. Thomas E. Abdenour Advantage Group Benefits, L.L.C. Mr. Jonathon Alandt Sarmad Attala Mr. Mark Avery Mr. John R. Bellefleur Mrs. Annette L. Bielecki Mr. Steven M. Booth Rex Alfred Boyce, Jr. Gloria Lynn Bradley Ms. Anne Li Briand Lynne M. and Arthur W. Bryant, Sr. Bob Butler & Earlene Nunes Mr. Calvin C. Chen Ciennik Financial Group, Incl Mr. & Mrs. Clark Jennifer K. Culberstson Mr. John J. Dailey Mr. Raymond E. Dean Mr. Matthew J. Deighan Fred and Nancy Delcomyn Mr. Daniel Devey Mr. Thomas Ducret Farm Bureau Insurance Ms. Nancy E. Finkbeiner Richard A. Fischer, Jr. Mr. Mattheew P. Fisher Mr. David Fisher Mr. Jeff Fontecchio Mr. Oscar Gamarra Mr. Joseph A. Garcia Candace Beutell Gardner Iderjit Gill Andrey Goranskiy Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Green Mr. Wayne Griffith Mr. John Groszek Abdulfattah Ahmed Hadarah Ahmed Hadarh Mr. Kenneth F. Halfacre Mr. Ryan Hankins Dawn and Matthew Hansen Mr. Daniel Hauser Mr. Zachary Houghton Ms. Nancy A. Juszczyk Mr. Ryan Kelley Mr. and Mrs. John Kinch Kold Pack, Inc. Mr. Michael Komor Ms. Pamela Kruczek Mr. Robert F. Langas Law Offices of Mark S. Bilkovice PLLC Ms. Rosalind Lewis Mr. David R. Lutz
Mr. Robert C. MacDonald Mr. David H. Mattingly Barb & Mike Mohner Ms. Yahsha Moore Mr. Robert M. Mutch National Realty Centers Nicolson Associates Mr. Chris Nolan Ms. Suzanne Donnenwerth Nolan Dave and Lisa Nowinski Brien O’Shell Palmetto Investments LLC Carl Papa, D.D.S., P.C. Mr. Alexander M. Prentice Mr. and Mrs. James Prentis Mr. Joshua Priehs Ms. Celia Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Russell Mr. John J. Samonie Mr. Charles J. Schneider Ms. Sara Shunkwiler Ms. Peggy A. Shunkwiler Ms. Sheila A. Smith Mr. Brian G. Stuard Mrs. Virginia Theaker Mario M. Trafeli, Jr. Trenton Total Health Care Center PC Jeanine R. Vincent Mr. John Walus and Mrs. Deborah Walus Mr. Salvatore J. Warner Ms. Gwendolyn V. Wheat Ms. Elizabeth G. White Mr. & Mrs. Claude W. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Terrance S. Woods
LETTERWINNER’S CLUB ($100-$249) Mr. John B. Aird Allegra Print & Imaging Ms. Mary A. Allen Ms. Fawne N. Allossery American-Zyker Tool Repair Andiamo Riverfront Mr. David Andrus Taylor J. Arancibia Ms. Nicole J. Arends Mr. John C. Armstrong Mr. William T. Avery Bacmar LLC DBA Northville Sports Den Mr. Naif Baidoon Ms. Kayla Balfour Mr. David Barczak Anthony Bass Ms. Barbara J. Bates Ms. Joan Beach Mr. Daniel L. Bedogne Mr. Mark Benvenuto Mr. Dave Bernard Mr. Richard J. Berryman Mr. John L. Bertolini Mr. & Mrs. Biessel Mr. Mark S. Bilkovic Mr. Frank E. Bitonti Mrs. Kathleen Bitonti Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Bochenek Fatime Bogdani Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Michelle Brecht Mary B. Passanante Mr. Stan Bulkiewicz Burke’s Sport Haven, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Buter Ms. Clara Callebs Mr. Tom Campau Mr. Ruben Cardenas, Jr.
DONORS Jason Carpenter Casa Calabria Chameleon Power Inc. Mr. Michael J. Charlow Mr. & Mrs. Anthony J. Cibor James J. Ciennik, III Dr. & Mrs. William Colovas Mr. Matthew D. Conley Mr. & Mrs. Michael W. Cornelia Mr. Richard F. Corona, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Cosner, Jr. Coughlin Land Services, LLC Ms. Lauren M. Kessler Mark D. Cowan, M.D. Mr. Daniel T. Craig Creative Insurance Planning Inc. Mr. David C. Crespi Ms. Kathy Culberson Ms. Kathryn C. Culbertson Ms. Lori Cunningham Mr. & Mrs. Cushard Daniel A. Lepri, D.D.S., PC Elizabeth J. Darga Ms. Maribeth December Ms. Marie Jo DeFrancis Mr. David Defrancis Mrs. Sharon L. Deleeuw Mr. Kenneth E. Demps Mr. Douglas E. Dendooven Detroit Athletic Club Mr. Roger Dickerson Mr. & Mrs. Donald S. Didlake Mr. Angelo Dimaggio Dr. & Dr. John D. Dinka Diane & Gerald Dipaola Diskomp Computer Sales, Ltd. Mr. Lawrence E. Dockham Mr. Herbert C. Doebler Mr. Maurice Dozier Driker Family Foundation Mr. William J. Ellison Mr. Adam Erard Mr. Christian R. Erard Mr. Steven Fedewa Mr. Dominic R. Ferri Mr. & Mrs. John Filip Mr. Chad C. Finkbeiner Mr. Gerald F. Fischer Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Fishburn Ms. Amy Fisher Mr. Scott A. Fisher Mrs. Nancy Fitzgerald Daniel Fleming Mr. Michael H. Flynn Mr. Terrance S. Flynn Ms. Candyce L. Foreman Mr. Daniel J. Fortune Ms. Kimm Fuller Kanye Gardner Mrs. Ann Lane Gates Mr. Phillip Gawel Mr. Thomas George Ms. Kathryn Paige George Mr. Joseph Gerow Mr. Thomas R. Gijsbers Dr. Jean Sinkoff and Dr. Bernard Goldstein Mr. Jorge A. Gomez Kirk Goodlow, Ph.D Mr. Richard H. Goranowski Mrs. Annette Gorecki Walsh Mr. Wayne B. Goryca Ms. Andrea Goryca Mr. Davis S. Graciak Frederick Graf Mrs. Marilee Griffith Mrs. Caroline Grimaldi Mr. Paul C. Grondin Dr. Kye H. Ha, Ph.D. Ms. CCarol Haksluoto Hall Transportation, Inc.
Mr. Sean P. Harrinton Mr. Charles C. Harris Hartwick Realty Group Mr. Kevin M. Heck Ken and Lisa Hesche Mr. Dennis Heselschwerdt Kyle Hill Mrs. Kathy Histed Mr. Kurt L. Hofner Ms. Elaina Hogle Lora Holcomb Mr. & Mrs. William P. Holleran Mr. Robert L. Holmes Mr. Timothy J. Homrich Honest John’s Bar And No Grill Inc. Mrs. Susan Hough Mr. Frank Hunt Robert E. Inman, D.O. Invenergy Wd North America LLC Ironwood of Plymouth LLC Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Mr. Leonard E. Jacosky Mr. Paul J. Janas Mr. Mark E. Jatich JBBC 17 Mr. Ken Johnson Ms. Shelley Johnson Huston Laverne Julian, Ii Mr. Lawrence G. Kaluzny Ms. Karen D. Kasprzyk Philip Kazmierski Mrs. Beverly S. Kelley-Smith Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kent Mr. George H. Klaetke Mr. Walter A. Koepke Ms. Bela J. Kogler Mr. Edward Komph Ms. E. Joyce Krause Nicholas Krol Ms. Caroline R. Krynak Drs. Anil and Marjorie Kumar Clara A. Kuntz Urszula Kwiatkowski Mr. & Mrs. Daniel W. La Rosa Mr. Steven K. Lambert Mr. Alexander Glen LaSerra Mr. Craig Lather Mr. Thomas W. Leadbetter Mrs. Kelly LeBlanc Judith Lechvar Ms. Alma Lee Kathleen Leniczek Mr. Peter C. Leonhardt Mr. Daniel Lepri, D.D.S. Ms. Annette M. Lepri Reverend David M. Lillvis Livnoia Automatic Inc. Mr. Curtis H. Loehr Mr. Dale Lohrmann Ms. Christine F. Lohrmann Kory Lohrmann Louie’s Ham & Corned Beef Mr. & Mrs. Richard B. Lowry M & H Auto Sales Inc. Mr. & Mrs. C. Ross MacDonald Mr. Lester M. Mack Mr. Angus J. MacKenzie Mr. James P. Maloney Mr. Jeffrey A. Maloney Ms. Stacy Maloney Gerry Megenity Metro Foodland Ms. Christy Coyte Meyer Kelsey Meyers Mr. & Mrs. Ciro J. Minnella Ms. Nancy Mitroka Monroe’s Original Hot Dogs Ms. McCall Monte Mr. Larry J. Moore Morgan Stanley Matching Gift Program Mr. Timothy Morris
Mr. Bryan L. Morrow Ms. Sharon L. Murphy Mr. Thomas S. Nantais Lorenzo M. Neely Mr. Steven Neshloff Mr. Thomas C. North Mr. Enrico Odorico Professor Frank Okoh Ms. Lola Okonowski Olympic Grille Mrs. Eunice Orton Jamie Ostrander Mr. Gordon A. Otto Mrs. Jane E. Otto Mrs. Rita Otto Mr. Michael J. Paciorek Mr. Matthew Pauwels Ms. Valerie M. Peavy Mr. George Petrouleas Mr. Bryce D. Pitters Mr. & Mrs. Allen R. Poppenhager Mr. Warren F. Priehs Mr. Steven M. Ramaekers Ms Michele Ranck John E. Rehberg Renaissance Fencing Club Mr. Daniel Renel Brian Rilley B. R. Roberson Mr. & Mrs. Peter Roberts Rochester Sales Inc. Rockland Networks Inc. Mr. Christopher J. Romano Kara Anna Kessler Mr. Eric M. Ruth Salem Communications Julie Sanders Mr. Robert Schaffer Mr. Robert J. Schroeder Mr. Gary A. Schultz Mr. Richard Schulz Mary Schwarz & Lyla Dor-Ghali Mr. Christopher R. Sciotti Mr. Kenneth L. Semelsberger Sherman & Associates Realty PC Stanley J. Simek, Jr. Mr. Christopher Simpson Ms. Karen L. Sinclair Mr. Raymond L. Skwiers Mr. Robert J. Sliwa Tip Smathers Mr. David E. Smith Mr. Kevin P. Smith Ms. Jo Ann Snyder Mrs. Bonnie Solden St. Clair College of Applied Arts Mr. Donald Stange Mr. Frank Stanicek Star Capital Advisors, LLC Kyle Stefan Mrs. Cynthia Stevenson Mr. Ty Douglas Stevenson Mr. Michael P. Stretlien Summit View Partners LLC Ms. Patricia S. Sutherby Mr. Stanley Sylvester Mr. Andrew Szegedi Mr. & Mrs. William Telford Matthew Thalgott The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. The UPS Store 4573 Ms. Martha J. Thomas Ms. Joanna Thompson Ms. Allison K. Tookes Total Cleaning Systems LLC Meghan Misiak Mr. & Mrs. Frederick E. Tyner University Food Center, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Donald K. Urban Ms. Anne-Lee Vandenbussche Mr. Charles VanRobays
Mr. Ethan Vasiliauskas Ms. Diane E. Vesey Mr. Bradley J. Vincent Mr. & Mrs. Richard D. Warchol Mr. and Mrs. Larry Weiss Wiener Associates Mr. John R. Wilczynski Ms. Rachael Williams Winston and Lauretta Williams Ms. Patrice G. Wilson Mr. & Mrs. Scott J. Wooster Pat “Whizzer” Wyka Bob Wyman Ms. Laura Young Mr. Michael W. Zalucki Mr. Gregory A. Zawalski Kevin Zeleji Ms. Tammie Zimmerman Bold indicates Anthony Wayne Society member
------------------------------------------------------------------Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. We apologize for any errors or omissions. Please call the Athletic Development Office at (313) 577-0587 for corrections.
THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS Abdenour Family Tom Adams Football Mark “Doc” Andrews Paul Andrews Bob Brennan Justin Chapman Dr. Nick Cherup The Croskey Family Karen DeGrazia Mel DeGrazia Maria A. Valle DeMasse Memorial Cal Dilworth Dorothy Dreyer Vernon K. Gale Memorial Joe Gembis Ivan C. & Elizabeth A. George Joseph L. Gualtieri Vic Hanson James Hayes John Hussey Patricia Kent Rodney C. Kropf Dr. Steven M. Lash Leo Maas Dr. William Markus Joel G. Mason David Mendelson Frederick A. Mulhauser Chuck Peters Bill & Dave Peterson The Petrouleas Family Dr. Steven T. Plomaritis and Family President’s Commission Bill Prew Charlie Primas Nicholas & Mary P’Sachos Yuri Rabinovich Dr. Thomas W. Roberts Ryan Scratch Les Seppala George B. Sherman Patricia D. Smith Jeann Ann Stanicek Dr. Mike Stoltenberg David and Lois Stulberg Foundation Irv Swider Tartar Gridiron Club Tartar Gridiron Club II Dr. E. John Valle WSU Academic & Athletic Women’s Basketball Christopher Wouters
WINTER 2013 WARRIOR WITHIN | 15
JOIQUE BELL
Getting to know Joique Bell the man, not just the football player MARSHAL SIMONS | The South End Joique Bell is a man of balance. With a career that has been supercharged by recent on-field success like Sunday’s 13 carries, 73 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Detroit Lions’ win; keeping his life in order is a top priority, along with…well, winning. Bell is no stranger to success. His time at Benton Harbor High School was filled with it. He was named First Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection in 2004 after rushing for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns. Fast forward to his time at Wayne State University. In 2009, he was selected as the recipient of the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is the Division II equivalent of the Heisman. While it’s clear that ‘accomplishment’ is a perfect word to describe Bell’s 26 years of breathing, it wouldn’t be fair to exclude ‘persistence.’ After going undrafted in 2010, he signed with the Buffalo Bills and made the practice squad. Then, after just a few weeks, he was waived and re-signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, and then waived again shortly thereafter. In fact, 2010 was a busy year for Bell. He likely racked up scores of frequent flyer miles, playing brief stints with four different teams. Without a doubt, 2010 was not Bell’s best year, dealing with injuries and the ups and downs of the NFL’s business backbone. But at the very end of 2011, things changed. Dec. 26 at 3:19 p.m., Tim Twentyman, Lions’ insider, tweeted that Bell was “no longer on anyone’s practice squad.” He was coming back home to Detroit and would be taking the field in Honolulu blue. Going into week nine of the season, Bell’s 227 receiving yards on the season rank second in the NFC, and he has averaged almost 22 offensive snaps per game. With the numbers he is producing, it’s no surprise the former Wayne State player, once again, has the spotlight. Last week I spoke with Bell, not just to talk strictly about football — if you want that, check out any media outlet that covers sports — but to talk about Joique Bell, the man off of the gridiron. We sat down at The Social Club, a local WSU barbershop, where Bell still comes each week to have his hair lined up. The first thing I noticed was the large green-and-gold headphones he had on. What kind of music do you like? “Oh man, music has always been a part of me. I like classical music. After a long day, I like to relax to classical music; it always calms me down. I started in marching band when I was really young. I started in fifth grade and continued all through high school.” What instrument did you play? “I started out playing the baritone horn, then switched to the tuba. We did a lot of band competitions; it was really, really big at my high school. Our band wasn’t the traditional military style band because we did a lot of modern dance, hip-hop and R&B. When I was growing up, my friends and I would go down to the football games to see the band, everybody wanted to be in band.” Tell me about growing up in Benton Harbor. “I was really a blessed, lucky kid. Growing up in Benton Harbor, times were rough. I would never get new shoes or new clothes. My mom worked all types of hours. My dad was a pastor and also worked for the police department in St Joseph, Mich., right across the bridge. My parents divorced when I was 11, and my dad moved to Louisville, Ky. My mom
came very close to moving to Indianapolis. I didn’t want to go, but I went down there and looked at a few schools. We ended up not moving; I think coaches in Benton Harbor convinced her to stay.” Were you close with your parents? “I’m very family-oriented. We are all very close, especially on my mother’s side. My parents gave me a good foundation. I still talk with my dad, but our relationship is not as strong because of the distance. He’s just not able to be here. It motivates me to be around my son as much as possible. He just turned seven, and I try to be with him every chance I get. I feel it’s very important to be around him, and I love just teaching him little things here and there. My parents did a good job with me, and I want to be able to pass that along to him. My parents taught me that money doesn’t define you. I was always told that ‘The money doesn’t make the man. The man makes the money.’ I was taught to put God first, family first, and growing up we were never focused on being poor. I feel blessed to make it out.” Can you tell me about some of your accomplishments that are not sports related? “Academics have always been important to me. I graduated high school with a 3.0, and I have my degree in criminal justice from Wayne State University.” Does it feel good to have your degree? “Yes it does! Although I haven’t really used it yet…(laughing). “But yeah, coming from working for the Wayne State Police Department, working Lions’ security, football, school full-time, making sure my son has what he needs, making sure rent and bills are all taken care of. You know, it’s hard, but I think that is an accomplishment, learning to budget my time, money and taking responsibility for that as an adult. You learn real quick out here that there is always a consequence for everything you do, whether it’s good or bad. I never want to put myself in a position where I do something and my children have to deal with that. My son has to go to school every day, and his dad is in the spotlight. My image is important to me, and I need to protect it. I understand that when I’m out in public I represent where I’m from: my parents, my church, my city, WSU and now the Detroit Lions organization.” Can you tell me what it’s like to be back playing in Detroit after bouncing around the league in 2010? “Detroit is home for me. It means a lot more to be playing here in Detroit. I have family, my fans and my Wayne State family is here. To be on the platform that I’m on is really an amazing feeling, and being able to represent myself and my teammates and be a part of something like this. God has really blessed me, and I will never take it for granted but I will take advantage of it.” What’s the most important advice someone has given you throughout your journey? Who was it from? “Yeah, my godfather, Maurice Burton, told me that when I got to the league a lot of people were going to start asking me for things, which I kind of knew was coming. You have people coming out of the woodwork asking for things. The people who really care about you are usually the ones who aren’t asking for anything; they’re just happy you made it. But there are always some delicate situations with family members.” Do you feel like you owe certain people something?
16 | WARRIOR WITHIN WINTER 2013
“My mother and my godparents. My mom made a lot of sacrifices for me growing up, and even though I feel like I owe a lot to her, she hates to take anything from me. She’s just a proud mom, and I can’t blame her for that.” What does an average postgame Sunday evening look like for you? “Depends. I like family to come down. There is always family at every game. I like them to come down, and we usually get something to eat. I’ll have my son, my girlfriend and her son come to the games. My son has been to every home game.” Has he met some of your teammates? “Yeah, he came down to opening day practice, I brought him over to meet Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson, and we all took a picture. Calvin gave him one of his gloves. He loved it. My son is very kind-hearted. When I ask him who his favorite player is, he always says ‘Calvin Johnson and my daddy’(using high-pitched, little kid voice) just to make me feel good. He gives me that spark when I know he’s in the crowd. It’s just a wonderful feeling. I know that he will always cherish these times and experiences. I will, too.” Getting back to this national attention you are getting, how does it feel to have years of hard work finally pay off? “Of course I work hard, but I am only able to be effective because of the other 10 guys on the field. Calvin is, in my opinion, one of the very best receivers in the league, and I’m not saying that because he’s my teammate. I’ve felt that way for some time now. We have Brandon Pettigrew, who you have to respect his production. Stafford has great pin-point accuracy, and a great offensive line that is really stepping up, giving the QB time to make plays. All I have to do is catch it and run with it. Because of those guys, I am able to be effective.” Last thing, I noticed you are pretty active on Twitter… “Ugh…a little bit. I get on there every once in awhile. I really don’t have too much to say. I get on there now and again and say something stupid (laughing), say something inspirational or copy a quote and put it on there. I don’t really tweet like that. I check it from time to time if I’m at home, maybe done studying and get on there. I’m like, umm, ‘what am I going to talk about?’ I see some of the silly things people put on there like ‘I’m watching TV’…like we care if you’re watching TV… (laughing). I don’t want to be that guy.” After asking my prepared questions, we sat in the tiny back room for a couple of minutes making small talk. Bell answered most of my questions in a steady, calm voice, with the exception of him talking about his son. He couldn’t have been humbler throughout the interview, that although he is tasting success this season, it’s just the beginning for him. With almost every answer, he included his goal of staying balanced and level-headed, especially now. He coolly deflected my question about personal success and referred to his teammates on the field. Bell is a player who just now is beginning to find his place in the league. If Bell is able to maintain this type of production and humbleness each week, there is a good chance he will be calling Detroit ‘home’ for a long time.
Traveling the Road to Success By Athletic Director Rob Fournier It took us awhile (actually 94 years) but the wait only added to the heightened atmosphere. Five playoff contests in a row culminating in the National Championship game broadcast across the country on ESPN. For Tartar or Warrior it was a magical run that for many long–suffering supporters was a measure of redemption and certainly a salute to school pride. The campus…and the city was different. About a week after that National Championship game folks started asking me a question that I had never heard before on this campus, “how good are we going to be next year?” An early promising signal was when head coach, Paul Winters, turned down a lucrative contract to continue to develop our program. That was a big step...but getting to a national championship takes a series of steps. And we all have to (pardon the expression) step up to continue that success. I am asking each supporter to give $94 dollars—basically one dollar for every year it took us to get to the NCAA postseason. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to accept checks larger than that, but if each person after reading this note would take that five minutes and send in that amount it will go a long way to solidifying our future. Did you know that only 13 current NCAA institutions have competed in the Division II national championship game? That’s pretty select company. And traveling around the country gave us a better sense of the upgrades we need in order to stay at that elite level. You can get us there. Join us in that development. Help us keep moving forward. No one wants to wait another 94 years.
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