Stranded M Football Players Place The Team First
Over at MGoBlue.com, Bruce Madej tells the story of four stranded Michigan football players who made team decisions as they struggled to make their way to Jacksonville in the face of this past weekend's east coast winter storm.
Starting offensive lineman Patrick Omameh finally arrived in Jacksonville on evening flight Monday, Dec. 27. He and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint were both in Columbus, Ohio, and when their flight though Washington, D.C., was canceled, they had to fly to Philadelphia.
There was only one seat on the direct flight from Philly to Jacksonville. The players had to decide who would take that one seat and get to Jacksonville on time for the first practice. Tousaaint knew Omameh, a starter on the offense, needed to be on that flight. Toussaint made the decision to put Omameh on the direct flight. He would take the long road to Jacksonville through Charlotte, thinking he was getting his teammate to Jacksonville first.
Ah, but the best laid plans sometimes go awry. The flight from Philly was cancelled and Omameh was stuck, and the Wolverines were without their starting right guard for two practices in Jacksonville. Toussaint, on the other hand, made [it] to Jacksonville late on the 26th.
Junior safety Mike Williams and freshman [defensive lineman] Quinton Washington also tried to make necessary moves to help the team when they reached their connecting flights in Atlanta. Williams' flight on Delta was leaving as scheduled, getting him into Jacksonville on time for the Sunday practice. Washington's flight was delayed. Williams, who played in two games this past year, knew it was important to get Washington, a nose tackle who has played in all 12 games, to Jacksonville first.
The players pleaded with Delta to switch the tickets, but in this day and age of travel, the airline's hands were tied. Williams made it to the Sunday practice, while Washington came in later that evening and was ready to go on Monday.
Decisions on the fly are something football players need to make on the field. These four players had to make decisions about how they would fly and the value to the team of their fellow teammates.
Echoing Madej, these stories show how these Wolverines first consider The Team in their decision making. Quite a contrast with some other behavior we've seen lately.
Nicely done, fellows.
December 29th, 2010 at 8:49 AM ^
They certainly lack some of the selfish egos we see around the CFB landscape these days. I really do think that this group has greatness in their near future based on that fact alone.
December 29th, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^
Didn't QW plays as an offensive lineman in most or all of those games? His switch to the DL was very late in the season, IIRC.
Great story though.
December 29th, 2010 at 8:54 AM ^
...details. Of course, you're correct. It's possible that he's still on punt and kick block teams, so if that's the case, he's a starter in a sense.
December 29th, 2010 at 8:56 AM ^
technically, the way the article was worded is correct (although misleading).
December 29th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
stand in the way of a good story.
December 29th, 2010 at 8:52 AM ^
not many people would give up a ticket out of Columbus!
December 29th, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^
...yourself for your B/R MGoPost. Very well done.
December 29th, 2010 at 8:57 AM ^
When I read that I had this image in my mind of this Black Hawk Down-type scenario, where Toussaint gives Omameh the best of the equipment and is forced to hole up somewhere with a pistol and a beaten-up old leather skullcap-helmet until reinforcements arrive.
December 29th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^
I love the leadership and unselfishness of this team. Go Blue! Can't wait to watch the Gator Bowl on Saturday.
December 29th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
with my luck, i would get the seat between omameh and q wash.
December 29th, 2010 at 9:45 AM ^
and the problem is????
December 29th, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^
You must have some awesome luck if that would happen to you. That would be seriously awesome.
December 29th, 2010 at 9:42 AM ^
in Atlanta. Williams' flight on Delta was leaving as scheduled, getting him into Jacksonville on time
That's impossible. No Delta flight, much less a flight to or from Atlanta is ever on time. Out of the 7 or so flights through ATL, I've never had one on time, and 4 times I've been forced to spend the night due to canceled flights.
December 29th, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^
BROTHER!
December 29th, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^
weird, I usually fly Air Tran out of Flint and there major hub is in Atlanta, besides one late gate change everything has always been great @ Atlanta. Metro on the other hand....
December 29th, 2010 at 10:24 AM ^
December 29th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
Yeah, I call shenanigans.
December 29th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
if I knew there Omameh and Touissaint were at the Columbus airport, would have gladly gone over to help, drive them to another airport, etc. Would have done it without requesting autographs or providing Tattoos as well. Glad they are with The Team, The Team, The Team......
December 29th, 2010 at 10:26 AM ^
"I would have dominated that gate agent."
-- Terrelle Pryor
/deadhorse
December 29th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
Type in conspiracy + columbus + tOSU + Wolverines in youtube.
December 29th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
Anyone of you who have been trapped at airports know that giving up your seat is truly a honorable act.
December 29th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
but I do it for the selfish reason that allows me to continue to consume, as much Panda Express and as many Cinnabons, as humanly possible, while I wait for the next flight....
December 29th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
...Dulles terminal: they have a Chipotle.
December 29th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^
These guys show the kind of character that makes us all proud of them.