The Diary of Michael Coleman

[buckeyeryan]

December 21, 2007 –

I’m still putting in a lot of community service time – after school, weekends, you name it. I came home today and grabbed the mail today just like always, and mixed in there was a Christmas card addressed to me. The return address said: M. Coleman, Sr. with no location.

Dad.

I opened it up, knowing that it would probably do more harm than good. I didn’t care though. The curiosity got to me.

Tre' –

Hope you are doing well. I read about your team’s loss in the playoffs, but hang in there. Things are still looking up for you…You’re a great kid, and I know that you will make me and your momma proud!

As for me, I’m doing okay now. I’m on my own again, and I’m working through some things in my life. I’ve stopped drinking, and I’m really working towards becoming a better person.

I miss you and all of the other kids very much.

Merry Christmas,

Michael Coleman, Sr.


I ripped the card in half and threw it in the trash. I’m not sure why Dad even writes. He walked out on us, he left us here poor as hell, and he didn’t do a thing with us kids while he was even here. I could tell that he’s trying to straighten out his life and make some of the wrongs he had done right, but it was too late in my book. I couldn’t forgive him for ruining this family.

[slimbrady12]

as much as i disliked Michael taking that money...he is a high school kid...come on give him another chance!!! Pacman and Chris Henry are grown men and i can even count how many chances they are getting...

[buckeyeryan]

December 25, 2007

Christmas Day. We all got up, went into the living room and exchanged the few presents we had. Momma had been saving every bit she could to make sure we all least got something on Christmas morning. I had gotten really small gifts for my momma, brothers, and sisters with some money I had scraped together (legally, I might add). I had one more gift to give out, so I left the house, and started walking down the sidewalk towards Mr. Jackson’s grocery.

I hadn’t spoken to Mr. Jackson since everything had happened. I had been real embarrassed about it all, but I figured enough time had passed that maybe Mr. Jackson wouldn’t be angry with me. I knew the store would be closed today, but Mr. Jackson practically lived there, so there was a good chance I would see him….

He was a tall, middle-aged man with a slight belly. You could tell he was pretty athletic back in his day, but he enjoyed eating a little too much to maintain his physique. I walked up to the front door, put my face up to the glass, and saw Mr. Jackson organizing some boxes. I knocked on the window, and he walked over to the door and let me in.

“Tre, where have you been, boy? I haven’t seen you in a while! Merry Christmas….” He didn’t seem to even remember the incident, or at least he had forgiven me enough that it wasn't the first thing on his mind.

“Hey, Mr. Jackson. Merry Christmas. I wanted to give you this present, and to apologize again for everything. I’m really sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Tre’, all is forgiven. I just don’t understand why you needed to steal that money when I would have just given you some if you needed it that badly. Have you finished up all of your community service hours?”

“Almost, sir.”

“And what are your plans for college? Are you still planning on trying to play football somewhere?”

“I’d like to, but the offers have kind of stopped because of the incident. I’ve had some calls from some smaller schools, but no Division One yet.”

“Well, good luck, Tre’. I watched a few of your games, and you are a special talent. You’ve got speed like I have never seen."

We talked for a bit more before I told Mr. Jackson I better be getting back hom. "Listen, don’t be a stranger," he said. "Come by here and talk with me whenever you get a chance, okay? Mr. Jackson gave me a handshake, and I walked back home. I felt better about everything. Maybe things were going to be okay.

[buckeyeryan]

December 29, 2007


I got a call today from Western Michigan. It turns out they are willing to take a shot on me! I didn’t give them any kind of commitment, but they are my number one for now. When only one Division One school calls, it definitely puts them in the lead…

[slimbrady12]

nice...Mid American Conference rules!....im a big Kent State guy though

[buckeyeryan]

January 5, 2008

The highlight reel must have been doing something right. I got two more offers this past week – from Miami of Ohio and Akron. That gives me three D-1 offers to choose from. Signing Day is about one month away, so I’ve got a tough decision to make. Coach Robertson thinks that Miami of Ohio would be a good choice and that I should make a verbal commitment, but Mr. Jackson says to keep waiting to see if anything else comes up. The two of them are like my inner circle now, I guess. I talk to both of them all of the time, and they are trying to help me keep in the right frame of mind. It’s amazing how both of these guys have forgiven me for everything. I’ve done everything thing I could in the last few months to get over my mistake, and although Michigan and Notre Dame aren’t calling, I’ve still got a chance to make a D-1 roster and try to make my mark in college….

[G-Men72]

make him go to rutgers. he would be great in the system and the starting halfback is only a sophomore so you could easily overtake him.

[buckeyeryan]

Originally Posted by G-Men72

make him go to rutgers. he would be great in the system and the starting halfback is only a sophomore so you could easily overtake him.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've already got a school picked and begun the season last night. The next two or three posts will take Tre' through the end of the recruiting process and into signing day, so the school will be revealed shortly. Stay tuned...

[buckeyeryan]

Feb 1, 2008

After thinking long and hard about everything, I thought I have made my mind up about school: Miami of Ohio. I talked to momma, and she wished that I would stay closer to home, but I think that Miami would be the best place for me. I’ve got a good chance to show up and make some contribution right away. I wouldn’t be the starter right off the bat or anything, but I probably could work my way into getting a good number of carries my freshman year.




I was getting ready to walk out of the door when I heard the phone ring.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Yes, this is Tim Brewster, Head Football Coach at the University of Minnesota. Is this Michael Coleman?”

I was speechless. None of the other teams’ Head Coaches had called me, and definitely not one from a Big Ten program.

“Um, yes. Yes, this is Michael.”

I couldn’t remember everything he said on the phone. I mumbled “yes” a lot as he asked me different questions about my college hopes and my high school career, and tons of other things. His basic premise was that he had a few players change their minds on scholarships in the last few weeks, and that he would be very interested in having me as a member of his 2008 recruiting class. He had no intentions of redshirting me, and he thought that I could be a contributor from Day One.

“We have some returning players that would be in front of you on the depth chart, but you would have every opportunity to earn playing time from our first practice.”

We chatted a few more minutes, and I wanted to say “Yes” immediately, but I knew I should probably talk to Coach and to Mr. Jackson first. After I hung up, I was so pumped I sprinted all the way to Mr. Jackson’s grocery.

[buckeyeryan]

I ran into the store and found Mr. Jackson in the back office at his desk.

“Minnesota just called and offered me a scholarship!”

“Is that so? Well, congratulations, Tre’,” Mr. Jackson said. “That’s a huge accomplishment for you. What do you know about their program?”

I started thinking about it, and realized I didn’t know much at all. I think they ran the spread offense, but wasn’t sure. I couldn’t remember if Coach Brewster mentioned that on the phone. I didn’t even know what their record was last year, or if they went to a bowl, or heck, even what city the school was in. Minneapolis, probably, but I wasn’t positive. All I knew was that they were in the Big 10, and that carried more clout that the MAC schools that were looking at me. This was a BCS conference. I would be lining up against Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State – all of the big name schools that didn’t even give me the time of day. I was already thinking of how I would show all of them that they should have paid more attention to me during recruiting.....

“I…I don’t know much yet, but I’m excited. I better go read up on it. I am gonna go see Coach Robertson and tell him the good news…”

And with that, I was off, sprinting down the road back towards home to call Coach Robertson.