Football finals at Ford Field

Michigan's high school football season is over. Last weekend, eight teams in eight divisions were crowned state champions at the two-day finals at Detroit's Ford Field. It's been three years or so since the state championships were moved to Ford Field from the Pontiac Silverdome where the finals were held for over 25 years. Though I enjoyed going to the "Dome," I think the overall atmosphere and comfort level is much better at Ford Field.

First off, I don't have to wear gloves and a ski cap to keep warm while watching the finals at Ford Field. At the Silverdome, the temperature was so low icicles formed on the beams supporting the building -- or so it seemed. It's never good when you can see your breath when exhaling and you're indoors! At Ford Field, it's nice and balmy. I can actually work up quite a lather just walking around inside the downtown Detroit stadium. In fact, at this year's finals, I timed how long it took for me to walk one lap around the Ford Field concourse. Now mind you, this was just a saunter. I wasn't power walking or training for the Olympics. Heck, I was balancing two hot dogs and a large, slippery pop as I made my around the concourse. That being said, it took me 10 minutes to make one lap. I was somewhat surprised at how long it actually took. It's a good time-waster between games or at halftime or, if you're like me, you want to try and work off that Big Boy double-decker with fries you just inhaled. For whatever reason, taking a walk around the Ford Field concourse is a good idea.

At the Silverdome, if you tried doing a lap, you'd probably have frostbite by the time you arrived back at your seat, or your nose would be so cold and red you'd rival Rudolph for front of the pack on Santa's sleigh.

Of course, Ford Field is an absolutely stunning complex. From a beautiful brick facade outdoors to first class seating and views inside, Ford Field has to be one of the best football stadiums in the country. It's nice kind of having it to myself during the finals. I love the downtown Detroit location. After last Saturday's finals were complete, I was able to take a ride around downtown and see the gigantic Christmas tree all aglow in Campus Martius Park and watch the skaters make their way around on the rink below. Downtown is on its way back and it's nice to see so much activity happening in Detroit.

Now if Ford Field could only do something about the prices at the concession stands. Whoa, $6.50 for a bratwurst? Five dollars for a large pop? I'd have to walk quite a few laps around the stadium to work up that type of an appetite.

Football season is over

Well, football season is over. Chelsea's 2007 campaign ended last Friday night losing 24-16 against upstart East Lansing (9-3). The Bulldogs, unbeaten at 11-0 and ranked No. 1 entering the Division 3 state regional final (the state quarterfinals to all the old-school gridders out there), battled high winds and rainy conditions in the first half, falling behind 17-0 at the break. The last time Chelsea was behind 17-0 at halftime was...well...I couldn't tell you the last time, now that I think about it. Since I've been covering Chelsea (2000), the only instance I can recall a Bulldog team trailing by 17 points or more at halftime was their state playoff games against Farmington Hills Harrison in 2000 and 2001. Those Hawk teams, led by Drew Stanton, Agim Shabaj, Marcus Woods and Terrill Mayberry, all players who would go on to compete at Division I colleges, won state titles and ended up nationally ranked at the end of the season. If I'm remembering correctly, the 2001 Harrison team finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation by USA Today.

Anyhow, enough about Harrison, my point is that last Friday's 17-0 halftime deficit was something most Chelsea football fans (at least during the Brad Bush era) aren't accustomed to witnessing, especially at Jerry Niehaus Field. Of course, as one would expect, the Bulldogs, showing the heart of a champion, fought back in the second half and, with a minute left on the clock, had the ball at their own 40-yard line, trailing by eight points with a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime. Alas, the drive fell short, but it certainly didn't diminish the fact Chelsea had another stellar season on the gridiron. Losing for the second straight season in the regional final hurts, but I bet there are a couple hundred or so teams out there that would trade places in a heartbeat with the Bulldogs, simply for the chance to play in such a big game.

It was a great year. Is it August yet?

What a week in Chelsea, Dexter

What a week it's been athletically in Chelsea and Dexter. Over in Dexter, the Dreadnaughts competed for a state championship in two different sports on the same day last Saturday. What an accomplishment for the Dreadnaught athletic department. Though both the boys' cross country and soccer teams finished as state runner-up last Saturday, the fact both squads even had the chance to hoist the state championship hardware, is something worth noting.

In Chelsea, the top-ranked and undefeated Bulldog football team takes on East Lansing in the Division 3 state regional final tomorrow. Chelsea has never advanced past the regional final in football. A year ago, the Bulldogs lost on a last-second touchdown to Fowlerville in the regional championship game. Will history repeat itself, or will Chelsea break through the regional final barrier tomorrow? There is no clear cut favorite in Division 3 this season, so the Bulldogs' chances of reaching Ford Field are the best they've been in years.