AAYA member tackles questions about the gridiron

Observer Staff

11/26/2003 12:00:00 AM

(Editor's note: Anishnabe Athletic Youth Association Committee member Hunter Genia recently interviewed Saginaw Chippewa Tribal descendant L.E. Reed, a Mt. Pleasant High School senior, on his final season playing prep football for the Oilers.)

Hunter Genia: I watched your game against Alma, you appear to be the lineman on your team that people rally around, what's that all about?

L.E. Reed: I'm a senior and try to be a leader, I see myself as leader on the team.

Genia: I bought one of the programs for your game and looked at your size and it says, 6'2" and 300 pounds, what thoughts are going through the opposing teams lineman when they see you?

Reed: When we play another team with 300 pound guys, I don't know what they think. I guess it could be intimidating to them. I talk to the opposing player all throughout the game, but it's not anything you can print.

Genia: Is it a fluke or does your coach love having the running backs run behind your side of the offensive line?

Reed: Our coach runs a pretty balanced offense and believes in all of our team so the ball is run equally to both sides of the offensive line.

Genia: Any predictions for your team's run in the football playoffs?

Reed: One game at a time, we can't be looking ahead, one week at a time. I'd like to see us win the district title which means beating Gaylord and the team after that.

Genia: This past May you came to the Anishnabe Athletic Youth Association banquet and received an AAYA jacket, how did you feel about being a part of the banquet and recognized in front of the community?

Reed: I thought it was neat and a good experience.

Genia: There are a lot of young Anishnabe youth struggling today with risky health behavior, such as alcohol and drugs, how do you avoid that and stay focused?

Reed: I've never been around it, but in high school your around it. I avoid those situations as much as possible. Our coach tells us to be smart on the weekend and that we don't need that stuff.

Genia: Is there any one particular message that you would like to send out to the young people who want to play sports in rockets or high school?

Reed: Go for it, try your hardest. If you want to do it, do it, don't sit back and watch other people do it.

Genia: What is it about sports that attracted you to participate?

Reed: I'm really competitive, and any sports you play you want to win, especially football.

Genia: Can you share about some of your goals in the near or distant future?

Reed: I'd like to go to college and play football as many years as I can. I've gotten letters to play football at every Division III school like Alma, Hope, Albion, Kalamazoo, Adrian, and schools in New York. Grand Valley State University a Division II school also sent me a letter.

Genia: Do you have any other tips for youth?

Reed: It's a great experience to be a part of a team. Now we're going to the playoffs and it's great to be a part of that. All it takes to be a champion is the opportunity, and being involved is giving yourself the opportunity.

Genia: What has helped you to shape some of your values and stay on a good path?

Reed: My parents and giving myself the opportunity. If you get involved in the negative stuff then you take away the opportunity. It's the choices that you make.

Genia: Are you going to join us during the 3rd Annual Anishnabe Athletic Youth Association Banquet in May, 2004?

Reed: Yes.