LaSalle High School's Nick Montie to Attend Adrian College in Michigan

Today is the National Signing Day for high school athletes on their way to college. As I girl, I certainly did not play football back in the 1970's, but I've always LOVED the sport.

I even chose Michigan State University because of their Big Ten football program and the campus. I managed to graduate in the same ceremony as professional football kicker, Morten Andersen, way back in 1983.

Today, I interviewed Nick Montie, a superlative senior player whom I've admired for the many years I've watched him throughout Junior Varsity and Varsity years as a Middle Linebacker with the Saint Ignace Saints.

KH: So Nick, where do you intend to go to college? Did you get a scholarship?
NM: I'm going to Adrian College. They offered me a $7000 (academic) scholarship.

KH: Why did you pick Adrian College? Are any of your teammates playing there?
NM: No, none of them are going to Adrian. Adrian ... the fact that they put school work and academics before football. The coaches really talk to you there, find out what's going on. (I) talked to the linebacker coach, he showed me the facilities on December 1st.

KH: Were you able to see them play, go to a game this year?
NM: No, we were in the play-offs and I couldn't do that.

KH: So what position do you play?
NM: I'm a middle linebacker. I've played Guard in the past.

KH: What do you intend to study at Adrian College?
NM: Criminal Justice.

KH: Really! That was my major. Will you be focusing on law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, or something else?
NM: Law Enforcement.

KH: Tell me about any coaches and players who influenced you during the past years.
NM: (Coach) Les Therrian taught me the most in reading the opposing teams and what to call on the plays. James Peterson (Tight End) keeps me motivated ... if I get down, he says, just wait...next play.

KH: What other sports do you play when you're not in football?
NM: Basketball and Track. Forward and Center in basketball.

KH: When I was in High School, the coach encouraged our football players to wrestle rather than play basketball. Why did you choose basketball? Your height?
NM: Yeah, my height. And I get good height on the jumps. (Basketball/Track) keeps me in shape year round. I find they're mutually productive. Might try to play basketball in college.

KH: Can you recap your awards for me?
NM: Coaches Award, First Team Defense, All Conference, First team defense, All U.P. (Upper Peninsula) Class A/B/C, First Team Defense, All State Division 7 Captain, Selected for the All-UP Game. National Honor Society and Student Council.

KH: Besides basketball and track, what's helped you achieve these outstanding results in high school?
NM: Weight-lifting classes. Have to weight-lift.

KH: Do you know how you came to the attention of Adrian College?
NM: My coach's recommendations.

KH: Can you give me your parents' names for the article?
NM: Brenda and Kevin Montie.

Nick Montie is an extremely articulate, intelligent, and motivated young player. He maintains an informative (slightly risque'--but hey, he's 18 years old and on his way to college!) page on My Space, where you can read more about this amazing athlete. Check out my links for his page. He was very helpful and personable during this interview, fitting me into his busy academic day and hectic sports schedule on short notice.

During the years I watched my son play junior and JV level football, Nick was always there, at the next level. What I noticed is his sheer size and the force of his hits. You could always tell when Nick stomped over the opposing team, and his contributions were critical to the Saint Ignace Saints' gaining a play-off berth in 2007. I'm reminded of the fact that Nick never gave up and how he worked with his team to keep the opposing offensive line in check. Because of logistics and distances in our rural community, Saint Ignace faces teams from schools two to four times their own size within the Straits Area Conference. When the JV worked with the Varsity team in practices, I remember that my son (who played Center) did not enjoy facing this imposing figure on the defense. My son actually sports a scar on his leg with which to remember Nick Montie! LaSalle High School will definitely feel the loss of Nick Montie, his good friend James Peterson, and other outstanding players like Derek Marshall, Jessie Becker, Shawn Cowell, and others.

Coach Jeff Hancock, from Adrian College, returned my call to elaborate on Adrian's plans for Nick Montie. Because of their Division III status, players DO NOT sign a Letter of Intent at this level. He was very helpful and patient in explaining to me the critical difference between the larger colleges (NCAA Division I and II) and their Letters of Intent/scholarships, as opposed to Adrian College's (Level III) admissions department accepting Nick's application and offering an ACADEMIC scholarship. Here's a recap of my conversation with Coach Hancock:

KH: How did Nick Montie come to your attention? Have you seen him play?
JH: Through his application for admission. Nick filled in an application on-line. We don't offer athletic scholarships or sign Letters of Intent at this level. We request and review films of the players and evaluate their potential. Coach Haines talked to Nick during our Scholarship Days. We're excited to have him!

KH: Nick played MIddle Linebacker here in Saint Ignace. Will you have him at that position or do you host try-outs or what?
JH: It's our intention to start him off in the linebacker position. Adrian has both JV and Varsity levels. We let the students choose their positions, but we might suggest other positions where we see (other) talent. We intend to bring him (Nick) in as a linebacker.

KH: When I talked to Nick, he said he's going into Criminal Justice.
JH: One of our local police officers here graduated from Adrian College, is from the U.P., played football here (at Adrian.) Randy Spence.

KH: Can you tell me a bit about Adrian College?
JH: (very enthusiastically) We've got a very successful program. A new administration came in about 2 years ago and they've put a lot of dollars toward athletics and new facilities: New Track, New Yockey Arena; New Tennis Courts, New (Football) Stadium. (A review of Adrian College's website indicates a new baseball stadium is coming soon!) We've got a growing enrollment. (Coach Hancock came from Grand Valley State and communicates great pride in the offerings at Adrian College from an academic AND athletic perspective.)

KH: What's your student enrollment and about how many football players do you field in the season?
JH: Eleven thousand students, and because we have both JV and Varsity football, we have around 130-140 players.

KH: Will you attend the UP All-Star playoffs this Spring? Nick's been selected for a team.
JH: This is the first I've heard of it.

After promising to link Coach Hancock this story, I told him to check out the UP Football dot com website, which is located in my links. Their forum contains details of this upcoming game, as well as an impressive array of information on players, teams, and football results.

KH: Thanks for calling me back on such short notice! I really appreciate your taking the time for this.
JH: No Problem!

I'd like to dedicate this story to the 2007 LaSalle Varsity and Junior Varsity Teams. It's often a challenge for smaller, rural schools to compete at higher levels. These teams (like many others) travel great distances to play during a long season. Often, Saint Ignace has more players in the away stands than the home teams they oppose. Due to changing enrollments, the Saint Ignace Saints face teams from schools much larger than their own. As a parent, I've enjoyed many years of watching practices and games played by these outstanding and talented young men. I know women aren't as technically oriented as the men who played football in their youth, but I've enjoyed writing this particular article. I'd also like to mention Coach Bob White, from the Thornapple-Kellogg High School Trojans of my youth in Middleville, Michigan. Coach White was my Algebra and Geometry teacher, and he inspired my long-standing passion for the game.