OT: Kirk Cousins's speech at the B1G luncheon
MSU and Dantonio hate aside, this is worth listening:
He spoke about the privilege/honor of playing college football in the Big Ten, and then he got a long standing ovation by all the attendees (yes, including Michigan players/coaches).
Edit: He also had a nice joke (a complimentary one) about Denard Robinson, but I won't ruin it for you.
he's a good rep from my hometown of holland, he has come a long way since his HS days at HC, where they had hardly had any kind of football program in place before he got there.
Cousins is a class act, too bad he went to the Sparties. He was a great ambassador for the Holland Christian program and MHSAA football in general in high school, glad to see he's continuing to do so in the NCAA.
Cousins would be a guy that itwould be great to hate given that he plays for a rival, but everything I've read about him talks about how he's a great person. Also, it's hard not to respect a guy that had hardly any offers coming out of high school, was pretty much an afterthought at State (behind Nick Foles and Keith Nichols among others) and is now one of the top qbs in the B10 and an AA candidate.
Given the recent dubauchery in the NCAA, every D1 football team should be forced to watch this the night before their season openers--kind of like a PSA. It's a five minute video that might actually resonate with a few players.
Completely agree.
To quote Joe Posnanski's (SI Writer) twitter:
"College football has flaws, problems. Then Mich. St. QB Kirk Cousins speaks and you think: Damn, they're doing something right."
I grew up in Hudsonville and Holland Christian was just starting to play varsity football around the same time my highschool started their program as well (Unity Christian). I graduated before he was in HS, but I can remember taking in a game that he played in and being pretty impressed already way back then.
My uncle is or was (I can never remember what he's doing these days) one of the coaches at Holland Christian, Cousins' high school, and he and his family all say Cousins is a fantastic young man. You might not believe me but it is what it is.
My uncle teaches at HC and had Cousins in a class once. He said the same thing. Great guy but unfortunately goes to MSU. Wish him the best except on football Saturdays.
I have a lot of respect for Cousins. He'll rightfully go down as one of the best QBs that school has ever seen. Unfortunately, he plays for State, and for that, I hope he falls flat on his face this season and leads them to another sub .500 record.
He makes it hard for me not to like him.
there's plenty of other guys that make it easy.
Reminds me of Tim Tebow, except without as much talent. The question is whether he is just putting on this Tim Tebow like front because he knows what it does for his image/future, or if he learned from JT how to manipulate the press into thinking he's a saint.
I know, probably flamebait, I just have this hate for green and white.
I personally know Kirk Cousins from before he was ever famous (he was still battling with Nick Foles for the #2 spot behind Brian Hoyer at MSU) and I can tell you this is not an act. Kirk is one of the nicest guys I've met and certainly the nicest college football player I've met. The last time I saw him (3 months ago or so), he was playing basketball with a kid with Down syndrome on a Friday afternoon (no cameras or microphones around, in case you're wondering).
above, I've got this hate for all things MSU. Doesn't mean he's a bad person, in fact I'm impressed with some of the things he's done, but can I still hate him for being a Spartan regardless of how genuinely good he might be?
I would say that Peyton Manning is a good person, but I still dislike him and his pompous attitude.
Denard >> Cousins = Clark >>>> Pryor = Schlichter
Looks like UM and MSU have something we can agree on. We both have terrific leaders at QB.
Sounds like a kid they can be proud of.
Here's the video from the Big Ten Network website (better quality than the one in the original post):
Interesting that he used the word privilege and made no mention of needing to pay players.
now break his legs MM or BWC!
sarcasm/
Best speech I've ever heard from a Spartan.
I don't mind cheering for him this year as long as we beat them and they realize that they will always be little bro.
And seemingly great guy. After watching, I can't wait to see Cousins suited up as the third string QB for my Detroit Lions!
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<br>In all seriousness, watch/listen to the speech if you haven't already.
...done. MSU fans have much to be proud of as do fans of the Big Ten and CFB in general.
Definitely a class act.
But I heard he only got the opportunity to speak because Terelle Pryor was unavailable....
What was the joke about denard?
He was talking about how kids idolize B1G athletes, and then he said something along these lines:
"Like that kid today, who asked me if I wish I was as good as Denard Robinson... I said yes... but then I told him that Denard wishes he could run like me. The kid looked a little confused, understandably."
Everyone laughed.
or is Cousins the Tebow of the B1G?
one hell of a classy speech.
Well done Mr. Cousins.
Hard to believe a scum-bag like Valenti went to the same school as this well spoken young man.
looking at mike valentis twitter feed makes me want to gouge my eyes out
Everything I've heard about Cousins from people who have played with him or grew up around him indicates that he's a class act, despite being a Spartan. He's one of those rival players that I genuinely like to see do well in every game except one.
Really good speech. What a fine young man.
That was a heck of a speech. Privilege, responsibility, courage. Very well said.
Awesome speech, sounded very sincere and expressed a lot of the sentiments I hope many M players will embody.
I love that Hoke turned around and clapped in his face at the end.