The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/111015
football recruiting issue an asset to Dawson on the field, reconsidered his options over the whether it was his two years at course of the summer. He remained Cass Tech, or the junior season he committed to Michigan for several spent playing in Houston at Cypress months before pulling the plug Oct. Ridge High School. It���s a hallmark 14. Everything in Southeast Michiof his game, and something that has gan ��� including his commitment defined him. to the Wolverines ��� aggravated the In early April, something hap- pain that Dawson was feeling. pened in Dawson���s life that would Eventually, an official visit to change him forever, and more than Florida was one factor that helped just as a football player. him realize that running away from On that day, his father, David, a the pain was not going to solve his courtesy patrol technician with the problems. He wanted back in at Michigan Department of Transpor- Michigan. The trick was doing it. tation, was helping a mo��� Cass Tech head coach torist change a tire on Interstate 75 in downtown ��Thomas Wilcher Detroit. Though he was on the shoulder of the ���I think when the family stood and got road, he was struck by a behind him, he saw that it was and is vehicle traveling down strength in numbers. He had to come the highway. He passed to grips that it���s what his family also away April 17, 2012, at wanted to do.��� the age of 58. Whereas Dawson had become so used to dishing out pain ���He didn���t want to be there beon the football field, he learned that cause he had troubles with the loss day what true loss is like. of his father,��� Wilcher explained. ���It made Dave understand what it ���He wanted to run away from the is to hurt and how pain feels,��� Cass effects of what was going on here. Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher He wanted to run away from all of said. ���He was just always this tough the things that he saw and felt. Get guy, ever since I���ve met him. ���I don���t away from the family and all the care��� type of guy. He had an oppor- hustle and bustle they put in front tunity to understand how pain felt, of him, too. He just wanted to run and how hurt felt. He had the op- away. portunity to embrace a different side ���I think when the family stood of him.��� and got behind him, he saw that it That pain and hurt also led Daw- was and is strength in numbers. He son to reconsider his recruitment as had to come to grips that it���s what a football player. Although he had his family also wanted to do. A famcommitted to Michigan Feb. 18, he ily bond is stronger than anything.