The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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12 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2023 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MICHIGAN FOOTBALL HONOREE DAMETRIUS 'MEECHIE' WALKER PASSES AWAY Dametrius "Meechie" Walker — a for- mer Muskegon High School football recruit and Michigan honoree this past season — passed away Dec. 9 after a two-year battle with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer in his leg. Walker was a 2022 recruit that had to quit football due to his cancer and eventually had his left leg amputated. Dating back to this summer, he was in hospice care when Michigan brought him in during fall camp to score a touchdown on the field at The Big House. "It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we share that Dametrius 'Meechie' Walker has passed away after a courageous fight with osteo- sarcoma," Muskegon football said on social media. "Thank you all for your suppor t. Please continue to send prayers and positive vibes to his fam- ily during this time." Michigan honored Walker during its game versus Maryland Sept. 24, and he received an ovation from the home crowd. The team helped set up a GoFundMe to pay for his medical ex- penses and helped him score a touch- down during Michigan's fall camp. His story was also featured this fall on FOX and ESPN pregame shows. Head coach Jim Harbaugh pushed the wheelchair when Walker scored his touchdown with the Wolverines in camp. He was asked to explain the team's relationship with Walker during a press conference this summer. "It was just an instant bond there, an instant click with our team," Harbaugh said this summer. "The love that he gives out, you feel that, and you want to give that. Our players, they've got big hearts. It's a very spiritual team that we have in many ways. "It came to me: the most spiritual place maybe in this town or in this community campus is right here in Schembechler Hall in terms of how many players are just so rock solid in their faith. I also want to honor Robby Emery who is our team chaplain. "Specifically with Meechie, our team, they just have an open heart for oth- ers. They don't just care about them- selves. They really care about others. He's just somebody that you meet and just exudes a spirit of spiritual- ity, a love that you're drawn to. It was instant — it was that instant click with all of us in our team. "We want him around. We want him to want to get the treatment that will give his life more longevity. If we can help make that quality of life better, we want to do that. That's just how our team felt." Walker's funeral was held in Mus- kegon Dec. 21. — Anthony Broome McNAMARA GOES ON RECORD ABOUT MICHIGAN IN POST- TRANSFER INTERVIEW Cade McNamara was a Big Ten championship-winning quarterback at Michigan in a season that defined his career. Then, he lost his job to sopho- more J.J. McCarthy in the early stages of the 2022 season. McNamara, now an Iowa Hawkeye along with tight end Erick All, spoke with Jordan Palmer and Kyle Allen on "The Room" podcast to discuss his time at Michigan and much more, giv- ing an inside look at what transpired from his perspective. It was a time of highs and lows, he said. "I mean, I thought a low was a red- shirt freshman year — then, here I am with just a completely new perspec- tive," McNamara said. "Last year was the highest high. There was some at- tention going the other way, but it kind of forced me to play my best ball. "Especially when it came down to it was third down. I grew a ton in that area. Obviously not being a solidified starter until the year before, then even if I got taken out on first and second down for run plays if that's how they used [McCarthy], it would force me whether I liked it or not… you started a drive so you still have to finish it. "O verall, last season was awe - some. There are times where I think I shouldn't have gotten pulled. There are times when I could have helped the team in a better way. Those are some of the lows." McNamara will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Hawkeyes. — Anthony Broome MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK Walker, a former Muskegon High School football recruit, developed a close bond with coach Jim Harbaugh and members of the U-M team dating back to preseason camp. He was honored by Michigan during its Sept. 24 game against Maryland. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS