I caught up with Dennis Alexander, father of new Michigan linebacker commit Aaron Alexander, to get his thoughts on the Wolverines and more.
On why the family decided to end the process and commit to U-M:
"Me and his mom were talking about it. Aaron is actually heading towards a 4.1 GPA. This football thing is something he loves. I started him in football at four years old. He was actually the mascot. When he turned five, he was able to play because you have to be five to play. His coach, Corey Williams, was instrumental in helping him. Aaron said his dream was to eventually play for Michigan. We knew he was going to be a monster on the field, but he's been reading fluently since the age of three. He read the bible at three. He's a smart kid. I couldn't ask for a more perfect kid. He's a perfect son. I just wanted to give a little background on Aaron. But he went down to the Michigan camps, and we saw how interested (Jim) Harbaugh, (Mike) Macdonald, (Steve) Clinkscale and all the coaches were. They showed him love. He did his thing out there, and he called me on his way back. He said he wanted to commit to Michigan. I told him to make it live and make it public. I told him 'Michigan has been your dream, so live your dream.'"
On why Michigan was the right school:
"Aaron wants to be an engineer. They have an excellent engineering program. I have a very good friend that works for Ford Motor Company. He's a manager for engineering and has always talked to Aaron about being an engineer or being a doctor. Michigan has a really well-put-together engineering program. Coach Harbaugh and Coach Macdonald really took a liking to Aaron. I like when other people treat my son a certain way. When he was young, I wouldn't let anybody babysit him. I'm very protective of him. The way Michigan approached him was great. It's like they saw what I saw my whole life. I like it being up the street, so I can see all his games. His momma is really high on academics. She can be right there if he needs help. He can always come home if he needs to come home. Michigan is an elite school. We wanted Aaron to go where he was happy, and he had the biggest smile on his face when he walked down that tunnel at Michigan. He lost his grandmother four years ago — my mother. She was behind him from Day 1. Yesterday was her birthday. I said 'your granny is smiling down from heaven.' He told me he was ready, so I told him to make it known."
On the Michigan coaching staff:
"I met (Ron) Bellamy last year when (Belleville) played West Bloomfield. He has a really good spirit. He's really warm. When we found out Bellamy was going to Michigan, I told Aaron 'man, I really like Bellamy.' I met (Donovan) Edwards, too. He's a great kid. When we visited U-M, they just laid it out. It was about how they treated him. They treated him like they cared. It turned the switch on in my son. The world hasn't seen what he's capable of. This boy has been born to do this. U-M is going to bless him, and he's going to bless U-M. He's also going to get a great education at the same time. But the coaching staff is wonderful. All of them are excellent. Every last one of them. They knew what they were talking about, too. They did their own individual talks with him. Clink, Macdonald, (George) Helow... all of them have been phenomenal. They treated him really well. Mike Hart is wonderful. I watched him play at U-M. He was a beast. I'm excited about the coaching staff."
On his thoughts on their visit for Detroit Day:
"Michigan is top notch. I visited a few campuses when Aaron was younger. I have family members at Notre Dame and Texas A&M, but there is just something about Michigan. I love the facilities. The weight room, the pools and even the nutrition part is great. They have fresh fruit everywhere. His mom really liked it also."
On how Alexander will fit in at Michigan:
"Aaron isn't the type of kid you have to watch over. He's very independent. I think he'll be a leader and a standout individual at U-M. We already know he's going to excel in the classroom. He'll be at the top of his class like he is in high school. On the field, I call him a quiet stalker. He's quiet, but he's a machine. I'm excited to see what they are going to do with my son. I'm excited to see Aaron smile and live his dream. I think he's going to do well on the field and in the classroom. The U-M degree goes a long way. It's world-wide. It's a brotherhood. I'm just excited to see him live his dream."
On why the family decided to end the process and commit to U-M:
"Me and his mom were talking about it. Aaron is actually heading towards a 4.1 GPA. This football thing is something he loves. I started him in football at four years old. He was actually the mascot. When he turned five, he was able to play because you have to be five to play. His coach, Corey Williams, was instrumental in helping him. Aaron said his dream was to eventually play for Michigan. We knew he was going to be a monster on the field, but he's been reading fluently since the age of three. He read the bible at three. He's a smart kid. I couldn't ask for a more perfect kid. He's a perfect son. I just wanted to give a little background on Aaron. But he went down to the Michigan camps, and we saw how interested (Jim) Harbaugh, (Mike) Macdonald, (Steve) Clinkscale and all the coaches were. They showed him love. He did his thing out there, and he called me on his way back. He said he wanted to commit to Michigan. I told him to make it live and make it public. I told him 'Michigan has been your dream, so live your dream.'"
On why Michigan was the right school:
"Aaron wants to be an engineer. They have an excellent engineering program. I have a very good friend that works for Ford Motor Company. He's a manager for engineering and has always talked to Aaron about being an engineer or being a doctor. Michigan has a really well-put-together engineering program. Coach Harbaugh and Coach Macdonald really took a liking to Aaron. I like when other people treat my son a certain way. When he was young, I wouldn't let anybody babysit him. I'm very protective of him. The way Michigan approached him was great. It's like they saw what I saw my whole life. I like it being up the street, so I can see all his games. His momma is really high on academics. She can be right there if he needs help. He can always come home if he needs to come home. Michigan is an elite school. We wanted Aaron to go where he was happy, and he had the biggest smile on his face when he walked down that tunnel at Michigan. He lost his grandmother four years ago — my mother. She was behind him from Day 1. Yesterday was her birthday. I said 'your granny is smiling down from heaven.' He told me he was ready, so I told him to make it known."
On the Michigan coaching staff:
"I met (Ron) Bellamy last year when (Belleville) played West Bloomfield. He has a really good spirit. He's really warm. When we found out Bellamy was going to Michigan, I told Aaron 'man, I really like Bellamy.' I met (Donovan) Edwards, too. He's a great kid. When we visited U-M, they just laid it out. It was about how they treated him. They treated him like they cared. It turned the switch on in my son. The world hasn't seen what he's capable of. This boy has been born to do this. U-M is going to bless him, and he's going to bless U-M. He's also going to get a great education at the same time. But the coaching staff is wonderful. All of them are excellent. Every last one of them. They knew what they were talking about, too. They did their own individual talks with him. Clink, Macdonald, (George) Helow... all of them have been phenomenal. They treated him really well. Mike Hart is wonderful. I watched him play at U-M. He was a beast. I'm excited about the coaching staff."
On his thoughts on their visit for Detroit Day:
"Michigan is top notch. I visited a few campuses when Aaron was younger. I have family members at Notre Dame and Texas A&M, but there is just something about Michigan. I love the facilities. The weight room, the pools and even the nutrition part is great. They have fresh fruit everywhere. His mom really liked it also."
On how Alexander will fit in at Michigan:
"Aaron isn't the type of kid you have to watch over. He's very independent. I think he'll be a leader and a standout individual at U-M. We already know he's going to excel in the classroom. He'll be at the top of his class like he is in high school. On the field, I call him a quiet stalker. He's quiet, but he's a machine. I'm excited to see what they are going to do with my son. I'm excited to see Aaron smile and live his dream. I think he's going to do well on the field and in the classroom. The U-M degree goes a long way. It's world-wide. It's a brotherhood. I'm just excited to see him live his dream."
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