The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2014 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 103 might have stuck with the sport he thought was his calling. He never watched college football, only college basketball and the NBA. There are no memories of Braylon Edwards or Chris Perry from his youth. Ask about LeBron James, though, and the former Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison standout will rattle off memories from James' losses in Cleveland to the hometown Detroit Pis- tons — the only time he ever rooted against the NBA star — as though they happened yesterday. "I'm with whoever LeBron is with," he said, without apology. But the hoops knowledge doesn't stop with the Miami Heat's famed No. 6. He rips through the memories one by one, and even he as a James fan knows the reality of it — another player deservedly won the MVP this season. "I love Kevin Durant, too," Funchess added of the Oklahoma City Thunder star. "He's a freak of nature. To be seven feet tall, dribble like a guard, shoot like a two guard? Have 40-plus games with 30 points? LeBron knows he slacked off, and he tried to make up for it at the end of the season, but Durant was too strong." Strong physically and emotionally, the lat- ter on display when Durant opened his heart and told his story to the world upon accepting his league MVP trophy, earning widespread respect. He spoke of the adversity he and his family faced when he was younger, how his mother would sacrifice meals so her children could eat, and how they thought they had it As a sophomore, Funchess was named the Big Ten Tight End of the Year after hauling in 47 receptions for 727 yards and six touchdowns. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 102-105.Devin Funchess.indd 103 6/19/14 8:53 AM