Tyrone (and Terius) Wheatley video/ feature in Buffalo News
Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and his brother Terius (soph. 5' 11 1/2" 170) were on the front page of the Buffalo News sports section today.
Can't find the online version yet, but there is a video and an older article about them deciding to attend Canisius High School. I hadn't heard of Terius, but they also have a brother in the eighth grade.
If I go to a Canisius game to see the Wheatleys play, what is the proper protocol?
1. Wear a throwback Tyrone Wheatley Sr. Michigan Jersey.
2. Make a "go to Michigan banner."
3. Blend in with the crowd and just enjoy the game.
BTW--my wife thinks it is weird to go to a HS game where you didn't attend or know anyone.
EDIT: Added the link to the article now that the Buffalo News put it up. As mentioned below there are some good quotes in it. It was interesting that Rob Gronkowski called up TJ (Tyrone Junior) and tried to get him to attend Williamsville North where Gronk had gone.
August 18th, 2013 at 8:55 AM ^
It is weird to go to a high school game at a school you didn't go to and/or that you don't know anyone. It's also weird to go to a kid's high school game and hold up a banner for his dad's alma mater, or wear his dad's college jersey. He's not his dad, and you're not a recruiter for Michigan.
But it's your choice.
August 18th, 2013 at 9:02 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 9:45 AM ^
if you live in a town where you did not grow up and it has a talented high school football team, because you don't know anyone who goes there...you can't go watch their games?
Sorry. Not buying it.
Banner, yes. Bad idea. VERY bad idea. I think the jersey idea is somewhat subtle enough to work, but you're on a thin line.
August 18th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^
There is nothing "creepy" about enjoying high school football. You get to see a football game, have a hot dog and a coke or coffee, and spend less than ten dollars. All of the seats are between the 20-yard lines in most high schools.
I am getting ready to move to New Orleans in a couple of weeks, and will definitely take advantage of any opportunity I have to watch Leonard Fournette, no matter where he ends up. Also, anyone who pounds the pulpit about amateurism should go watch high school ball or a lower division of college, where most of the players truly are amateurs.
August 18th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^
I would "pay" one million "MGoDollars" for you to move to a "part" of New Orleans that does not have access to the "internet."
August 18th, 2013 at 2:50 PM ^
My general rule of thumb and rationale is that it's creepy to go watch legal minors play a sporting event if you don't have any personal connection whatsoever to the town or one of the athletes. Especially if it's to watch a potential recruit. There's nothing worse than listening to sports radio when some middle-aged guy calls up to talk about driving an hour to go watch a 16-year-old running back or 15-year-old point guard because there's a chance they could end up at the guy's favorite college program.
This guy isn't talking about going back to his alma mater for a dose of nostalgia or to check out his cousin. There isn't a "for the love of the game" angle, either. He's talking about scoping out recruits, who also happen to have a famous dad. To me, that's weird.
August 18th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 1:03 PM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^
Another banner comment by Bando...
August 18th, 2013 at 9:03 AM ^
Here's the video segment from the Buffalo News, including interviews with each Wheatley:
TJ talks about his offers, his excitement for being at Canisuis and people still expressing love or hate for his father depending on their fandom. Terius focused a little more on school-related topics.
August 18th, 2013 at 9:21 AM ^
But if you want I think a mix of Option 1 and 3 could work out. Wear the jersey but don't yell "GO BLUE!" When they make a good play just blend in. Definitely not option 2 that starts getting a little weird/creepy.
August 18th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^
Makes me nervous. Just sayin'. If you turn up in a gorilla suit on a random sea freighter, don't be looking my way.
August 18th, 2013 at 9:38 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
In my defense, I was mostly joking with the Wheatley jersey and banner, though if I go to a game, most of my football watching gear has Michigan emblazoned somewhere on it. As maizenbluenc and Clarence Beeks point out, it isn't weird to watch a football game. Football is a cool sport and it is fun to watch almost any competitive game.
In ten years, when Wheatley is an all pro TE or DE in the NFL, how cool would it be to say I saw him play in HS? Back in ~99-00 a buddy told me that Santa Monica Community College had a really good team and that we should catch a game.(He lived within walking distance of the stadium.) We made plans a couple of times, but never made it. That team had Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh on it. I regret not going.
If I still lived in Ann Arbor, I think it'd be cool to watch Cass Tech versus [Southfield] or whatever Lawrence Marshall's school is.
August 18th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^
TJ and Chad played together at Santa Monica before both transferring to Oregon State.
August 18th, 2013 at 11:59 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
There is nothing wrong with attending a HS football game regardless of any previous affiliation. It's a football game fer godsakes.
August 18th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
I've been to Tigers' games in spite of never having played on their team and not being from Michigan. They didn't check for ID.
There is nothing wrong with going to local high school games if you enjoy the sport. You might avoid trying to get in the locker room though.
August 18th, 2013 at 12:26 PM ^
Wear all the ohio/sparty/nd/eseecee garb you can muster. Then encourage (cajole) the young Wheatleys to attend any of those fine institutions.
August 18th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^
You should also stalk the players on twitter, take photos with them at every opportunity, and take a bunch of tilted head photos.
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:33 PM ^
The Wheatleys should tear it up. Western New York is not a football-talent-producing area at all
August 18th, 2013 at 7:24 PM ^
August 18th, 2013 at 4:09 PM ^
Why not? No one honestly thinks you're going to be obnoxious and creepy. If it's going to be good football why not check it out? Nothing wrong with checking out a game if it has a top rated player playing. Not like you're stalking them. I've had a great opportunity going back to my kid days to get to see some awesome players in my area. You see them on the news, read about them, go see a game. Give the school some of your money and have a few hours of entertainment. Catching games here in Pensacola i've had chances to see: Emmit Smith (when I was a kid), Alfred Morris (my h.s.) RB for Wsh RS, Derrick Brooks, and Trent Richardson.
August 18th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
Can't believe no one posted the link to the article yet...read the posts 3 times because I didn't want to be that guy, but it's great with points on:
1) Parenting
“My dad, he’s a funny guy — he’s a football player, but he knows everything about every sport,” TJ said. “No matter what sport we played, he knew exactly what to say and what to do. I wouldn’t listen to him sometimes, but then I’d think about it and do it … and I’d get so much better. And he’d be like, ‘I told you.’ ”
2) Classy-ness
Coach Wheatley prefers for his sons to enjoy their own high school football careers (he declined requests by The News to be interviewed for this story).
3) Recruiting (the HS variety) GORDON BERENSON THIS IS FOR YOU
At one point, TJ’s phone rang. It was Williamsville native and New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who attended Williamsville North before transferring to Pittsburgh-area Woodland Hills for his senior year.