CFB: Loyalty Is What Matters Most
In recent years, the sports world has seen a lot of athletes, coaches, and executives jump ship and leave for other places. Johnny Damon ditched the Boston Red Sox for their hated rival, the New York Yankees in 2006. Brett Favre decided to sign with division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, after the Green Bay Packers moved on. Lebron James took his talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat in 2010, spurning his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. And Kevin Durant bolted from the Oklahoma City Thunder in favor of the 73-win Golden State Warriors in 2016.
It's become obvious in sports that loyalty doesn't matter much. But with Tariq Reid, it's the complete opposite. The 5'10 running back out of Davison, MI, had a tough decision on his hands when deciding what college to attend, and it only complicated matters when Jim Harbaugh and the University of Michigan jumped into the conversation. However, Reid decided to stay with his original commitment and head to Grand Valley State University, despite the late offer from the Wolverines. "(GVSU) have been with me throughout the recruiting process so I (figured) that would be the best move for me," Reid said.
But it wasn't an easy choice by any means. "The hardest part was when Michigan came to the table last minute and offered a preferred walk-on. That shook things up a little bit at the end of the process," Reid told me. It's certainly not the easiest decision to turn down such a high-profile school. Michigan has 11 claimed national titles and is the winningest program in the nation with 943 wins. Grand Valley State, a Division II school, is known for it's winning tradition as well, though. The Lakers have four national titles, most recently in 2006, and are coming off of an 8-3 (7-2) campaign.
Reid also mentioned that he strongly considered the Air Force Academy because they would be able to give him a quality opportunity after his football career was over. But he noted that Grand Valley State felt like the better fit for him and his family. "I see this decision helping me in football because at GVSU, I can put in the work and buy into what they are doing. I can grow as a player and a person," he explained. "In the next four years I want to help GVSU win national championships. I also want to break records." In the end, Reid made the decision that he felt was best, and that was Grand Valley State.
Photo Credit: 247 Sports.
