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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Football, basketball seasons coming soon

PUBLISHED: July 17, 2008

It seems like pretty soon the excitement of high school football will be in the air, again. I am not saying that I don't love the summer. Sure I get to spend time with my family and take vacations but when it comes to sports the fall in the time for all the action.

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I love driving to a football game on Friday night and feeling the excitement in the air. It isn't just the players and the game that I enjoy. It is also the people who come to watch the games. The parents, the fans, the alumni are all on hand to watch their teams play.

I love the support groups as well. The cheerleaders are on the track and cheering on the team and the school. The bands, and we do have some very strong bands in the area, are there to cheer on the team.

I love to watch the Ypsilanti Lincoln band as well as the Belleville High band perform. In high school I didn't play football but I hung around the jocks and the band people. I know it is hard to imagine that football season is going to be here again but teams will be practicing in a few works and by the end of August everyone will have one game under their belt.

I am looking forward to some strong showings this season. I really do believe that Ypsilanti High will do very well again. I am excited for wide receiver Donald Spencer and quarterback Terrance Moore. I have the feeling I will be writing that combination in the paper quite a few times this season.

I look forward to some tough games this year with Melvindale on the road and Highland Park at home. Maybe they can repeat that perfect season in the Mega Blue again this year. The Phoenix beat Melvindale at home last year in a great game but Melvindale went far into the playoffs losing to Orchard Lake St. Mary. Maybe roles can be reversed this season and the Phoenix will play far into the post season.

I want to see what Belleville High can do this season. I don't anticipate another 0-9 season. Bob LaPointe is too experienced and too good of a coach to let that happen again. He has had some good years in the past and I have a good feeling that he will return to his winning ways again very soon. Plus I am excited because they will have real lights this season at home instead of those generators and the God-awful smell of gas they put on the field.

Willow Run could be interesting this season. All they need is a couple more wins from last season and they can make the playoffs. Look for them to get better this season and maybe crack into the playoffs. They don't have Inkster in their league this season so that knows maybe they can chase down Dearborn Heights Robichaud and make some noise in the Mega Gold. The Bulldogs and Flyers were not that different of teams last season.

Lincoln will once again be looking for a win. At the varsity level they haven't had a win in over three years. This could change. Coach Chris Westfall is very optimistic and the team may get some wins this season.

Volleyball will be starting soon and it is still weird having it in the fall but coaches seem to like it and it gives the players a chance to show what they learned in AAU volleyball over the summer.

Cross country will be getting underway as well. Harriers will be everywhere running wild as they always do.

With that being said I look forward to bonfires and football games as well as bands and cheering fans. The fall is definitely the best time of year. I look forward to this exciting time and hope the readers do as well.

If there are any sports you wanted covered at the high school varsity level or any features written please contact me an let me know so I can see what we can do. I will get back with you in two weeks after I finish my exciting fishing trip Up North.

Dave Merchant is a staff writer for the Ypsilanti Courier and View newspapers. He can be reached at 734-697-8255 or at dmerchant@heritage.com.