November 5, 2010
By now you’ve heard of Desmond Morgan, and if you’ve attended a Holland-West Ottawa contest this year then you have surely been a party to the punishing hits that he delivers on a play by play basis. These hits and amazing tapes that Desmond racks up weekly are drawing Division One attention as we reported last week.
But I wanted to learn a little more about Mr. Morgan than is shown on the statsheet or highlight reel. So I got inside the head of this 6’ 1” 225lb monster linebacker, a guy who is living the dream of every person who has ever strapped on a helmet. And now I share what I found.
Desmond came to the Lakeshore in the third grade when his father Scott Morgan took the Principal Job at West Ottawa. It was Scott who helped teach the game to Desmond from his experience of playing and coaching at Ferris State University, followed by many years in the High School coaching ranks. Mr. Morgan still helps his son break down film at home and provides another set of eyes through which to see the opposition. It was clear how much Desmond has learned and appreciates from his father, “Everything I’ve learned has been from my Dad, he’s had a great impact on my life, as well as the rest of my family,” Morgan said. “Going off to college it will be different because you won’t have that guy to lean on anymore, that guy to point out stuff when you might not see it.”
Following last season the Panthers were left licking their wounds and pondering the future, coach Jim Caserta sat down with some of the key returning players and talked about their concerns and goals for this season. It was then that the quarterback concern came about, following the graduation of quarterback Evan Vasilauskas. Desmond showed his leadership and selflessness to Coach Caserta when he offered to quarterback the offense, just as he had with the defense the year before. It was really meant as a joke. “I just try to do what Coach asks me to do,” said Morgan. “He brought me up as a freshman and I’ve been on board with his strategies, his mindset, and he’s known from the first day I stepped onto the varsity field that I’ll do whatever it takes to win for him, I’ll do whatever is going to help the team get the job done.”
All joking aside, with some tweaking of the offense, moving away from their passing attack of the past to a more punishing ground game, Desmond has been able to take over that role and lead West Ottawa back to the playoffs. The move could have backfired on Morgan who was already considered a Div 1 prospect following his junior campaign. If moving to quarterback caused his performance to slip on the defensive side of the ball he may not have gotten the call from the University of Michigan offering him the scholarship that he had worked so hard for.
That thought never seemed to cross his mind, as he worked hard in the winter and spring to take over the signal calling role for the Panthers offense. “I put the recruiting thing to the side and focused on this season, I knew that if we had a good season and we could do the things that I hoped we could do, that possibly would fall into place after the season or towards the end of it,” said Morgan.” “I tried to keep that in my mind that it wasn’t the most important thing then and I don’t think it’s the most important thing now. I think the most important thing is to finish out this season and to be part of this team ya know ever since two a days started that’s what I really made sure I focused on.”
Morgan’s success comes at a price, most of us can relate to being a High School Senior, it can be a full-time job in itself. Going to school, having a social life and, oh yeah, figuring out “what you want to be when you grow up,” can be a very hard time in a young man’s life. Now toss in a handful of recruitment letters a day, major responsibility on both sides of the ball for a program you’re trying to get back to the playoffs, holding a 4.0 GPA with honors classes and still fitting in as one of the guys, and you have Desmond’s life.
Balancing this full plate is something Morgan has learned to deal with. “You learn to put your priorities straight, you realize you gotta put in the time for school above sports and things like that and the social life has to come after school and sports.” After school it’s off to practice to prepare for the next opponent. For most kids the work ends there, but when Desmond gets home he makes time for a family dinner followed by that film session with Dad. Once they have a handle on the film its time for some of the recruiting and the media calls that Morgan has been getting a lot of (and with his play who could blame us). I personally can’t say enough about Desmond’s willingness to help us out with this interview, for a kid with so much going on his only request was that he could finish dinner with his family first.
At times in high school classes are your escape. You’re forced to think about academics, and in Desmond’s case you can move some of the film breakdown and game planning aside. With his academic scores through the roof Desmond has given himself this opportunity to have collegiate coaches drool over him. “Finding a program that will fit you well and a team that you can feel part of and things like that is all fine and dandy and it’s definitely an important part, but I think academics is first and foremost,” he said. Staying grounded and seeing the big picture has proven to be no problem for Morgan, who understands what it really takes to find the right college program for him; “You have to find a school that fits you academically. Also a school that you can earn a good degree from and get something out of, because there is life after football and I plan on getting a degree first and then playing football and whatever happens from there happens from there.” Desmond explained how he has had to grow up and mature faster than some of his peers but he saw it as a willing sacrifice because, “Your gonna have to deal with it at one point or another so I just think I’m getting the hang of it a little quicker than some others.”
Morgan said he has no intent to make any rash decisions with his selection process; he intends to take his time and talk with his family to help him make the best decision for him. Although he grew up a Michigan fan he understands what this choice is all about. “One of the big things I picked up from the recruiting process and with visiting different schools is that it’s not so much where you’re a fan of, but where you fit in and what place fits you best for the next four or five years.” Desmond spoke of wanting to be part of a family with his decision process and understood how important that would be once he embarked on the next chapter of his life and football career.
Desmond Morgan is living the dream. He told me about his past, present and future. Morgan’s future may add some level of teaching to his resume, as he acknowledged that it ran in his family; his father and grandfather before him serving as both educators and coaches. I think it is clear that he is teaching already, with the way he has handled this senior season for the West Ottawa Panthers. He has shown us all what it takes to live out that dream that every child has when they pick up a football. Family, hard work academically then athletically, and sacrifice.
You better believe that Mr. Morgan plans to leave it all on the field this Friday to help his Panthers avenge an early season loss to Rockford, in which he sat out with a shoulder injury. After all, was there ever any other choice?
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