Parents pay price with emotions, not dollars, on football signing day
National college football signing day is a dream come true for some high school student athletes, but the parents tend to pay the price, in emotions, not dollars. Smiles and tears were prominent at Celebration Cinema North on Wednesday morning as football players, their families and coaches came together to mark the next step in their playing careers.
Westly Johnson remembers all the time spent with his son, Grand Rapids Christian standout Wes Johnson, who is headed to Ball State University in the fall to play football. "It's unbelievable, a dream come true. You start out and think that, maybe one day. But you never really plan on it, you never really expect it. I just keep telling him: hard work pays off. I'm real proud of him."
Johnson remembers his son coming home from school when he was 7, expressing his need to play football. He remembers going to the park, roughing around in the dust and mud, the long hours. Both father and son gained plenty from the time spent.
"It's kind of bittersweet, you know, it's the end of a chapter," he said. "We spent a lot of time together on the weekends, going to practices, going to camps. Watching him take off and be on his own, it kind of stings a little bit. But he's very mature for his age, and I know he'll do well. But it is a double-edged sword.
Grand Rapids Christian's Kavon Frazier uses hard work to fulfill football dream
Kavon Frazier can't tell you about all the hard work that went in to take him to this point.
The Grand Rapids Christian senior running back/linebacker was one of 35 football players representing 15 West Michigan high schools who signed letters of intent to play college football at WBBL-FM 's Signing Day Celebration at Celebration Cinema North on Wednesday.
“This day is a day I have been looking for all my life,” Frazier said. “Ever since I started playing when I was a little kid. I don't know how much work went in, but I do know it was a lot of work, a lot of extra time.”
The other Grand Rapids Christian players who signed Wednesday were defensive tackle Robert Cuba (Ferris State), defensive end Wes Johnson (Ball State), wide receiver/defensive back Christian Benn (Northwood) and defensive lineman Nate Mitogo (College of the Canyons).
“This is the first time we have had two Division I kids in one class in school history,” Grand Rapids Christian coach Don Fellows said. “That's now 12 kids in the past two years that have gone on to play college football. These kids are making me look like a good coach.”
Fellows, like all the high school coaches present Wednesday, introduced their players to the parents, fans and media in attendance. He thanked parents for all the hard work they put in behalf of their sons.
Like Frazier's mom, Ida Frazier.
“I also have a daughter (Kia Frazier), who plays basketball at Davenport, and since both were young, it's been non-stop,” Ida Frazier said. “It's been a lot of driving, taking them to events.”
And it hasn't been easy for Ida Frazier, who has Multiple Sclerosis and is in a wheelchair.
“When they were in middle school I was diagnosed, and started out with a cane but my doctors said it may be easier following my kids around in a wheelchair,” she said. “I'm like a gym-rat mom. I've spent a lot of time in a gym or at a field, but if you put in the time, it does pay off.”
Frazier won't be driving her children to sporting events anymore, but she will be driving to watch both play college athletics now. One game she may want to take in is when Central Michigan plays Ball State, and friends and teammates get to lineup. “There's already been some bragging going on,” Kavon Frazier said. “They (Ball State) beat us (Central Michigan) by four on a last-second throw. So there is already some bragging rights, but it's all fun.”
