In my research on mental toughness, I’ve interviewed a
number of Michigan Wolverine football players as well as coach Gary Moeller.
One of the Michigan players that I interviewed, is Jim Brandstatter. Jim, was
an offensive tackle , and played from 1969-71. Jim has been doing color, on the
radio, for all the Michigan Wolverine football games as well as for all the
Detroit Lions football games since the 80s. He is the voice.
How would you explain an 18-year-old’s decision, in 1968, to
attend and play football for his families and communities arch rival ? Not only
that, this 18-year-old’s father was an All-American fullback at Michigan State .
Moreover, his father Art Brandstatter
Sr. was a faculty member and headed(director) the School of Criminal Justice
. This well-respected, worldly traveled
Brigadier General educator was appointed
by none other than John Hannah, president of Michigan State University. Oh yeah, the oldest son Art Jr. about 6’3”
and weighed 220 pounds and was the
starting-defensive- tight end in 1959, 1960, in 1961 for these same Michigan State Spartans. Yes, the youngest Brandstatter, Jim, did just
that.
Growing up in East Lansing, Jim attended East Lansing High
School. He was the last of the athletic
Brandstatter boys and periodically heard “you have big shoes to fill, and you
are the last of the Brandstatters.” Besides , older brother Art Jr. Allstate in both football and
basketball (East Lansing , and Lansing
Hall of Fame) ; there was the
all tournament basketball player John ; middle linebacker, big game(
wild boar, caribou) bow and arrow hunter-fisherman Bill; Mike , a star, on the
state champion football team . Wow! This family, I would say, is the epitome
of sport junkies. Did they ever like
sports cannot be denied nor their excellence. And ,you can bet that both
parents were supportive of that fact.
This highly
competitive athletic Brandstatter family was, of course, well known by
administrators, coaches and city residents
as a result of their strong presence and decades of community involvement. It was not unusual, at
all, to see Mrs. Mary Brandstatter driving her boys, at times, to
the various practices as well as seeing them in attendance of all the many games
with her husband. Just think of her full-time job taking five sons to their
various sports activities. Would she have time for anything else, let alone
herself? Jim’s mother was so well known, respected and supported the coaches
that even Art Jr.’s high school football
coach Vince Carrilott asked Mrs. Brandstatter
who was her favorite coach? It
could’ve been. Gus Gunakas Art Jr.’s basketball head coach( he later became Michigan
State head basketball coach) however, Vince was surprised when she replied, “
Bo Schembechler.”
More about the “ voice” on a later blog. In any event, I
completed my 35K trail run yesterday and I must admit that it was tough,
especially as the temperature rose. Although I started cramping up, I was
pleased that my Achilles didn’t bother me. I saw familiar faces during the run
and after.
In any event, keep moving, smiling, laughing, deep breathing
and bonding because it’s good for you.
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