Post by Banana Cat on Jul 15, 2010 8:43:04 GMT -5
MVP would be a good way to go out, and he can do it too.
billingsgazette.com/sports/high-school/football/article_780cea76-8fdb-11df-8270-001cc4c002e0.html
billingsgazette.com/sports/high-school/football/article_780cea76-8fdb-11df-8270-001cc4c002e0.html
Defensive star Mike Bazemore ‘99% sure’ he’ll retire after Saturday’s United Bowl
MIKE ZIMMER Gazette Sports Editor
July 15, 2010
The Billings Outlaws will be looking for a new defensive line leader next season.
Mike Bazemore, the centerpiece of Billings’ defensive line since 2008, said he’s “99 percent sure” his football career will be finished after Saturday’s United Bowl championship game against the Sioux Falls Storm.
The 27-year-old, who was a double major (public relations and sociology) while playing football at Michigan State, is one year away from finishing his master’s degree in sports management at MSU Billings.
“I’m going to miss it. This has been a very positive experience for me, but with my school schedule it’s just going to be tough to keep playing,” Bazemore said before Wednesday’s practice at the Outlaws SportsPlex. “I have three more classes to take this fall, then in the spring I’ll be doing my thesis and internship. … It would be tough to do that and play football at the same time.
“Based on my (school) schedule, I kind of knew coming into this season that this would be my last year. I haven’t changed my mind yet. I’m 99 percent sure it’s a done deal, but I guess you never know. Coach O (Heron O’Neal) is working hard on that one percent.”
Indeed, O’Neal’s recruiting effort on Bazemore has begun.
“I’m already sending out resumes to try to get Baze an internship in Billings next spring,” O’Neal joked. “If we can keep him in town, maybe we can work out some kind of deal where he can at least play home games. That would give our guys even more incentive to get home field in the playoffs.”
It’s easy to see why O’Neal does not want to see Bazemore go. After having his rookie season in Billings cut short by a knee injury in 2007, the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder has recorded 32 sacks and 46ƒ tackles for loss over the past three seasons.
“He’s the best defensive end we’ve had since I’ve been here, and we’ve had some great ones,” O’Neal said. “Eugene Phillips, Rod Kelly, Michael Landry … I’d put Baze at the top of the list ahead of all of them. Landry (the IFL defensive player of the year in 2009) was a dominant player, but he wasn’t always at defensive end — he got about half of his sacks at nose guard.
“Baze has been the leader of this defense for the last three years. He’s been either first- or second-team all-league every year. That’s not only consistent, that’s dominant. I guess the best way to describe Baze is when we’ve needed a big play on defense the last three years, he’s stepped up and given it to us.”
This season, Bazemore has also taken on the unofficial title of defensive-line coach. Along with fellow veteran Chris Turner, Bazemore has helped mold newcomers Jervonte Jackson, Tyrrell Herndon and Anthony Degrate into one of the IFL’s best defensive fronts.
“I’ve enjoyed that,” Bazemore said. “We’ve got some great young guys on the line this season, so it’s been fun taking along more of a coaching role with Chris Turner and teaching them the tricks of the trade.
“It feels kind of weird to be considered the older, veteran player now. … I still think of myself as a young guy. But I have been playing football for two decades now, so I guess I’ve learned a thing or two that I can pass on to the younger guys.”
When he’s finished with his masters and internship, the Philadelphia native would like to become an athletic director at the high school level and, eventually, the college level.
“I want to work with student-athletes,” he said. “I had a great experience as a student-athlete in high school and college, and I want to help other kids have that same experience.
“You never know where you’re going to end up, but I’d like to be within a day’s drive of Philly so I can get home for holidays and family events.”
As for Saturday’s IFL championship game against rival the rival Sioux Falls Storm, Bazemore said he won’t get caught up in the emotion of playing his last professional game.
“Nah, I don’t think that will happen,” he said, smiling. “Right now I’m focused on the game. I’m trying not to let any distractions keep me from getting prepared to play the best game possible because we’re playing a great opponent. During the game, I’m sure I’ll be worried about the X’s and O’s and trying to figure out what Sioux Falls is doing on offense.
“It’s great that I’m going out in a championship game. There’s nothing like going out on top. When it’s done, your career is defined by what you won. Winning the championship last year was sweet, and going out with two in a row would just be that much sweeter.”
MIKE ZIMMER Gazette Sports Editor
July 15, 2010
The Billings Outlaws will be looking for a new defensive line leader next season.
Mike Bazemore, the centerpiece of Billings’ defensive line since 2008, said he’s “99 percent sure” his football career will be finished after Saturday’s United Bowl championship game against the Sioux Falls Storm.
The 27-year-old, who was a double major (public relations and sociology) while playing football at Michigan State, is one year away from finishing his master’s degree in sports management at MSU Billings.
“I’m going to miss it. This has been a very positive experience for me, but with my school schedule it’s just going to be tough to keep playing,” Bazemore said before Wednesday’s practice at the Outlaws SportsPlex. “I have three more classes to take this fall, then in the spring I’ll be doing my thesis and internship. … It would be tough to do that and play football at the same time.
“Based on my (school) schedule, I kind of knew coming into this season that this would be my last year. I haven’t changed my mind yet. I’m 99 percent sure it’s a done deal, but I guess you never know. Coach O (Heron O’Neal) is working hard on that one percent.”
Indeed, O’Neal’s recruiting effort on Bazemore has begun.
“I’m already sending out resumes to try to get Baze an internship in Billings next spring,” O’Neal joked. “If we can keep him in town, maybe we can work out some kind of deal where he can at least play home games. That would give our guys even more incentive to get home field in the playoffs.”
It’s easy to see why O’Neal does not want to see Bazemore go. After having his rookie season in Billings cut short by a knee injury in 2007, the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder has recorded 32 sacks and 46ƒ tackles for loss over the past three seasons.
“He’s the best defensive end we’ve had since I’ve been here, and we’ve had some great ones,” O’Neal said. “Eugene Phillips, Rod Kelly, Michael Landry … I’d put Baze at the top of the list ahead of all of them. Landry (the IFL defensive player of the year in 2009) was a dominant player, but he wasn’t always at defensive end — he got about half of his sacks at nose guard.
“Baze has been the leader of this defense for the last three years. He’s been either first- or second-team all-league every year. That’s not only consistent, that’s dominant. I guess the best way to describe Baze is when we’ve needed a big play on defense the last three years, he’s stepped up and given it to us.”
This season, Bazemore has also taken on the unofficial title of defensive-line coach. Along with fellow veteran Chris Turner, Bazemore has helped mold newcomers Jervonte Jackson, Tyrrell Herndon and Anthony Degrate into one of the IFL’s best defensive fronts.
“I’ve enjoyed that,” Bazemore said. “We’ve got some great young guys on the line this season, so it’s been fun taking along more of a coaching role with Chris Turner and teaching them the tricks of the trade.
“It feels kind of weird to be considered the older, veteran player now. … I still think of myself as a young guy. But I have been playing football for two decades now, so I guess I’ve learned a thing or two that I can pass on to the younger guys.”
When he’s finished with his masters and internship, the Philadelphia native would like to become an athletic director at the high school level and, eventually, the college level.
“I want to work with student-athletes,” he said. “I had a great experience as a student-athlete in high school and college, and I want to help other kids have that same experience.
“You never know where you’re going to end up, but I’d like to be within a day’s drive of Philly so I can get home for holidays and family events.”
As for Saturday’s IFL championship game against rival the rival Sioux Falls Storm, Bazemore said he won’t get caught up in the emotion of playing his last professional game.
“Nah, I don’t think that will happen,” he said, smiling. “Right now I’m focused on the game. I’m trying not to let any distractions keep me from getting prepared to play the best game possible because we’re playing a great opponent. During the game, I’m sure I’ll be worried about the X’s and O’s and trying to figure out what Sioux Falls is doing on offense.
“It’s great that I’m going out in a championship game. There’s nothing like going out on top. When it’s done, your career is defined by what you won. Winning the championship last year was sweet, and going out with two in a row would just be that much sweeter.”