2008 Woodie Awards
Freshmen engulfed into rivalry
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
They've been playing all season, these freshmen.
But what awaits them Tuesday night in Kalamazoo is in a totally different category.
It's the group's first game against Western Michigan, and it's at Waldo Stadium, a place in which CMU hasn't won in 14 years.
"You can't prepare (as a freshman), but you can set yourself up mentally," said senior Red Keith, who is 2-2 against the Broncos. "It's another game, but you've got to let the outside hype go away."
Freshman linebacker Nick Bellore has started in all nine games this season. As a high school recruit, he attended two Central-Western games.
"I can just tell from the way all the seniors and upperclassmen have been treating this that it's a big-time rivalry," Bellore said. "They take it very seriously, and I know they want to go out with a victory."
Bellore is one of five true freshmen who have started this season. Tight end J.J. Watt, safety E.J. McLaughlin, and receivers Antonio Brown and Taylor Bradley have also gained experience.
Watt said he's expecting an intense atmosphere when he steps on the field.
"I've never played in a game this big - I know that," he said. "I've been in high school rivalry games, but nothing to this extent."
There have been big crowds at Kansas, Purdue and Clemson, but not with the intensity of the Central-Western game, Keith said.
"It was tougher to play (at Waldo) than to play here," Keith said. "Their crowd is right on top of you, and going into that game you can't really feed off their energy because it's their crowd. It's definitely a lot tougher going on the road."
Bellore is second on the team with 68 tackles, and said the game should be looked at like any other.
"I think just due to how the crowd surrounds you and the crowd size around you in big-time games, I think that will help me," Bellore said. "But there's an aspect I don't think I'll get from any of those. The heated rivalry - we haven't experienced anything like that."
Watt said the upperclassmen have helped the younger players for what's in store.
"They've just told me the week leading up to it is your hardest week of preparation, and the records don't matter - they always come out as hard as they can and we're coming out as a hard as we can," Watt said. "The best team that night will come off the field with a win."
sports@cm-life.com
But what awaits them Tuesday night in Kalamazoo is in a totally different category.
It's the group's first game against Western Michigan, and it's at Waldo Stadium, a place in which CMU hasn't won in 14 years.
"You can't prepare (as a freshman), but you can set yourself up mentally," said senior Red Keith, who is 2-2 against the Broncos. "It's another game, but you've got to let the outside hype go away."
Freshman linebacker Nick Bellore has started in all nine games this season. As a high school recruit, he attended two Central-Western games.
"I can just tell from the way all the seniors and upperclassmen have been treating this that it's a big-time rivalry," Bellore said. "They take it very seriously, and I know they want to go out with a victory."
Bellore is one of five true freshmen who have started this season. Tight end J.J. Watt, safety E.J. McLaughlin, and receivers Antonio Brown and Taylor Bradley have also gained experience.
Watt said he's expecting an intense atmosphere when he steps on the field.
"I've never played in a game this big - I know that," he said. "I've been in high school rivalry games, but nothing to this extent."
There have been big crowds at Kansas, Purdue and Clemson, but not with the intensity of the Central-Western game, Keith said.
"It was tougher to play (at Waldo) than to play here," Keith said. "Their crowd is right on top of you, and going into that game you can't really feed off their energy because it's their crowd. It's definitely a lot tougher going on the road."
Bellore is second on the team with 68 tackles, and said the game should be looked at like any other.
"I think just due to how the crowd surrounds you and the crowd size around you in big-time games, I think that will help me," Bellore said. "But there's an aspect I don't think I'll get from any of those. The heated rivalry - we haven't experienced anything like that."
Watt said the upperclassmen have helped the younger players for what's in store.
"They've just told me the week leading up to it is your hardest week of preparation, and the records don't matter - they always come out as hard as they can and we're coming out as a hard as we can," Watt said. "The best team that night will come off the field with a win."
sports@cm-life.com
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