CHRISTOPHER DABE: West Brook's Michael has playoffs, All-American Bowl in sight
By CHRISTOPHER DABE
November, 8, 2008
Christine Michael might have let the cat out of the bag a bit early, but any follower of high school football knows he's among the nation's best running backs.
So there should be no surprise to learn that Michael, a West Brook senior, will play Jan. 3 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, he said Saturday.
The bowl is a showcase of the nation's best high school football talent, and that's where many players - Michael included - will announce college selections in front of a national television audience.
Bowl organizers prefer player selections to remain secret until rosters are announced, one player per day. The selection tour is ongoing, and Michael said he has known of his selection for months.
Past Southeast Texans in the game are linebacker Dravannti Johnson of Nederland (in the 2008 game), cornerback Deon Beasley of West Orange-Stark (2006), running back Jamaal Charles of Memorial (2005) and defensive lineman Jorrie Adams of Jasper (2003).
Michael's college options today are Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, he said. He would include the University of Texas on that list if the school hadn't cooled on him.
"After I went to A&M and LSU, I made the mistake of saying those are my only two schools," said Michael, who made that statement to The Enterprise. "(UT coaches) got the wrong idea and kind of backed off for a little while and haven't been back since."
Michael initially eliminated UT from consideration after Madisonville senior Chris Whaley, a 6-3, 232-pound running back, committed to the Longhorns. Michael (5-11, 202) said Saturday he regretted dismissing UT.
"After thinking about it, I thought: 'I'm kind of competitive,'" said Michael, rated the No. 25 high school senior nationally by recruiting Web site Rivals.com. "I like competition. I wouldn't mind getting to compete with him."
For what it's worth, Whaley is rated No. 99 nationally by Rivals.com. Among running backs in Texas, Michael is No. 1 and Whaley is No. 2, but Rivals.com lists Whaley's position as "athlete," meaning he could play other positions.
If Michael does not get a chance to beat Whaley for a starting job, he'll have to outshine him as an opposing running back, as two of Michael's final four teams play with UT in the Big 12.
Until then, Michael's main focus is getting West Brook at least three rounds deep into the playoffs. Doing that, he said, would help make up for the three games canceled this season by Hurricane Ike and give him and 28 other West Brook seniors a full slate of 10 games.
Those canceled games were against Class 5A state powers Spring Westfield, Aldine Eisenhower and Katy. Playing those games would have prepared West Brook well for what it saw Friday in a 41-13 loss to mighty North Shore.
The Mustangs extended a state-record regular season winning streak to 78 and preserved their No. 2 slot in the Class 5A Associated Press state poll with the victory.
If nothing else, North Shore's fast and blitzing defense prepared West Brook well for a playoff run that begins Saturday against Pasadena Memorial. The Bruins (6-1) beat Memorial (4-5) in the first round of 2006, Michael's sophomore season.
"They may not be what North Shore brought to the table, but we still have got to go out there and face them like they are North Shore or (Euless) Trinity or whatever," Michael said in reference to the only school ranked ahead of North Shore.
Should West Brook advance far in the playoffs - a state championship is the goal, of course - the spotlight will get brighter and that televised announcement Michael plans to make in San Antonio will get more attention.
As for why he has chosen to wait until then, the reason is simple: "My mom wanted me to."
Fair enough, Christine.