Brookwood’s Andre Sims sticking with Michigan State, Mark Dantonio
Andre Sims was actually in East Lansing, Mich., the day Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio suffered a heart attack. Talked to him and everything. The Brookwood High senior was on an unofficial visit and watched as the Spartans beat Notre Dame 34-31 in dramatic fashion.
It wasn’t until Sims was back home, safe and sound in Snellville, that he learned his future coach could have died that night.
“I heard the day after when we came back,” said Sims, a wide receiver and defensive back who has been committed to the Spartans since early this summer. “Coach [Dave] Warner called and told me about it. First he said they were calling to make sure I made it home safe. Then he told me Coach Dantonio had a heart attack.”
Sims could not have been more surprised. He saw Dantonio like most everybody else did: A fitter-than-usual 54-year-old who had energy enough to fuel an entire college football program.
The truth was, Dantonio had a blockage in one of the arteries to his heart. He began experiencing symptoms — “a squeezing in his chest” — late Saturday night after the game. He was in surgery by morning.
“He’s going to be fine,” Sims said. “They said they actually took him to the hospital before he had it. They said he was having headaches and other symptoms and they got it early.”
Dantonio’s heart attack has brought attention to the stress associated with being a major college football coach. Last December, Florida coach Urban Meyer was hospitalized in Atlanta after complaining of with chest pains following the Gators’ loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. A short time later, Meyer resigned citing health concerns, only to change his mind a day later.
Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser died suddenly of a heart attack at age 56 in 2007. Northwestern football coach Randy Walker died similarly in 2006 at age 52.
Sims said Dantonio’s recent health problems won’t deter him from going to Michigan State to play for him.
“No, not at all,” he said. “From what they told me, he’s very healthy actually. He works out all the time. He’s very active. I guess there is a lot of stress being a college coach, with recruiting and trying to win and all that. But I’m not really worried about it. I’m just praying for him every night.”
Meanwhile, Sims said he is enjoying his senior season at Brookwood. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound athlete has been staying busy as a wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner and kick returner for the Broncos. He had more than 200 all-purpose yards in last week’s 37-0 win over Archer. As a junior last season, Sims set school records for receptions, (56), receiving yards (915), TD catches (9), receiving yards in one game (167) and catches in one game (10).
To this point, the Spartans remain Sims’ only major college offer. He’ll go back for a second unofficial visit for their Homecoming game against Illinois, then an official visit after the season.
Sims said he is open to hearing other overtures but none have come and he’s not worried about it.
“At this point it doesn’t matter to me,” he said. “I’m happy with Michigan State.”
And that goes for Dantonio as well.
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116 comments Add your comment
dawgster
September 22nd, 2010
12:11 pm
The Truth…while i agree Lowndes25 does a great job with the recruiting info regarding the dawgs and i for one hope he continues, and i appreciate what Dhip does also, he trys to provide info on many of the teams where i believe that Lowndes25 provides the dawg faithfull with up to date info and we appreciate it…I follow recruiting alot also, but have nowhere the info that Lowndes25 does…Again its great to be able to read these blogs and although we may not always agree, we can be civil…This one today has been a pleasure thanks to the Classy bloggers on here..go dawgs
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
12:12 pm
ryan, Wooten has had to deal with a lot of injuries while at UGA. He will find his groove in the next few weeks and be a big cog in our offense down the stretch.
naganole
September 22nd, 2010
12:15 pm
@The Truth That’s harsh. As a journalist, there are certain things Chip is not allowed to say. He’s obviously a UGA fan, wither he admits it or not, and he does his best to give you the info he can. Guys like me, Lowndes25, Tide Rising follow recruiting closely through contacts at the university and/or multiple websites. Chip can plant the seed in his articles and allow the others to expand in the comments section. He’s doing a fine job…
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
12:15 pm
Chip does an outstanding job trying to keep up with all of the recruits in the state of GA…GA is loaded year-in and year-out and it is hard to stay on top of the recruitment for each and every kid, but Chip does his best to do that and bring the information together on one site for recruiting fans like us. Like dawgster said, I predominately deal with UGA recruiting information since I am a huge UGA fan, but I also keep up with places like FSU, Bama and UF to name a few…I just love college football period…
The Truth
September 22nd, 2010
12:16 pm
Dawgster just having some fun at Chip’s expense – I do appreciate his updates. I wholeheartedly agree with your comment regarding this blog today. It would be nice if they could cut all the other garbage out of these blogs.
dawgster
September 22nd, 2010
12:25 pm
Thanks Lowndes…i forgot about T. King…I should have known better since i know his dad very well and see him alot during the spring over in Habersham County…I think he can be the go to guy and i think that he has learned his lesson…as a matter of fact i think you can bank on that for the rest of his career..and i’ll leave it at that…I did see some of Crowell’s runs and play, he will fit in the dawgs backfied and is one of the key pieces of the puzzle that we need…Also, whille this play may be obvious, if we set it up right, wouldn’t you think and end around with Logan with the option to pass would be a great call at some point…I’m sure teams know that could be in our package but stopping it might be difficult…a former QB running this play would be something to watch if executed properly..I’m quiet sure that the dawgs have that in their playbook and it might come out sometime this season..just a thought…go dawgs
james
September 22nd, 2010
12:29 pm
Lowndes25– you are the MAN!! thanks for all the info
like everyone else, i’m very happy that reading the comments section today was not like trudging thru a cesspool like it usually is. go dawgs!
james
September 22nd, 2010
12:31 pm
and btw, i really really really hope crowell signs with us.. wasn’t too crazy about wilder jr even before he pulled those immature self-absorbed shenanigans..
RxDawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:31 pm
dawgster, I think AJ is a 10-20 year type of player. In other words, no body on the roster will command the defensive attention that AJ does.
dawgster
September 22nd, 2010
12:36 pm
The Truth…I didn’t think you were being harsh…Chip does do a fine job(sorry about the misspelling above Dhip)….Lowndes25…i too believe we get Crowell..do you think any of the other RB’s we are recruiting will commit to us or are they waiting on Crowell…
ryan
September 22nd, 2010
12:38 pm
Yea just like when can talk civilized even when we get after each other on who has the best team
naganole
September 22nd, 2010
12:38 pm
UGA looking good for Crowell, but he isn’t a Dawg lock by any means. Bama feels very good about him, too…
dawgster
September 22nd, 2010
12:43 pm
Agree RxDawg…Green is that type of player…still hjope someone can step up and at least command a little special attention as that will open up alot things on offense next year…I have felt from the very beginning that next year was going to be our year more so than what alot of people thought in the bulldawg nation this year mainly due to the defensive changes and our young offense expecially in the skill positions…of course we lose AJ, but there is some great talent coming in and next year we will have a seasoned QB…We do need that special RB…and i believe that is going to happen…go dawgs
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
12:46 pm
Naganole…do you guys think you have any chance of turning Clinton-Dix from Bama?
ryan
September 22nd, 2010
12:49 pm
Crowell is a good kid Wilder Jr i thought acted immature because trying to pull a Lebron stunt .
#1 BAMA FAN
September 22nd, 2010
12:54 pm
Only a gut feeling but I predict Dickson to BAMA for sure and a stong probable for Crowell. Either way BAMA has a strong 2011 class. RTR
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
12:59 pm
naganole, Crowell is a very BIG UGA lean and has been for a while…he is not the only Carver player committed to us right now either…don’t you just love silent commitments
Dawgster, we are not going to take another RBs commitment as long as things stay the same with Crowell. We have other offers out there to some RBs, but they all know that Crowell is our number one target and unless he tells us that he has changed his mind and is committing to Bama (which is very unlikely to happen unless Richt is fired) then we won’t take their commitment.
ryan
September 22nd, 2010
12:59 pm
#1 Bama fan i think your going to be disappointed with the decision on Crowell but with Dickson could have an edge .
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
1:02 pm
#1 Bama Fan, I wouldn’t hold my breathe on Bama securing either Crowell or Dickson…not going to happen…sorry…actually, not really
? for Lowndes
September 22nd, 2010
1:02 pm
First, thanks for the insight and opinions. Have you actually seen the Bailey kid out of East Hall play? I can tell you that I saw him play a couple of weeks ago and I never noticed that he was on the field. Now I know that he is playing on a bad team but I saw no fire or energy. Physically he looked good but that was it. He never struck anybody. Do our coaches actually watch game tape of these kids are do they simply pass judgment on kids based on their performance at these camps (where they are not allowed to strike anyone?) Not trying to knock the Bailey kid. Just worried that we are recruiting kids that simply do not have that football, knock-your-helmet-off mentality. Comments?
naganole
September 22nd, 2010
1:08 pm
Mr I’m 85% Bama? lol He was quoted as saying ‘I’m liking FSU right now”, but I don’t see it. Saban has been all over him, and will fight for him. It’s easy to see the appeal. Our safety play isn’t real good right now. We only have three good safeties in the fold(Nick Moody, Gerald Demps, Chad Abrams) after this year. Our staff has shown a willingness to play true freshmen (16 so far this year). Of the 4 DBs we have committed, Stoops has said that Smith and Brutus will be CBs, and that leaves only Hunter and Williams at S. Adding HaHa would be awesome and there is mutual interest, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Bama isn’t real deep at S either, and the stunt Saban pulled having Julio Jones playing at S (indicating no talent/depth at that spot) in spring ball during HaHa’s visit was gold. I expect him to go to Bama….
dawgster
September 22nd, 2010
1:09 pm
You’re right Lowndes…i wish some of these so called dawg fans calling for Coach Richt to be fired would just find another team to support..I think Crowell will be a dawg along with some others yet to be named….just visited another blog and the uga bashing of coaches is going strong and unfortunately, at least by there posts, they are dawg fans…Most of them have never seen a football field up close and personal and basically are fair weather fans..back to recruiting..i think this will be a special year and to me the dawgs future looks to be in good hands..I will admit i still have some concerns at OC but i want to see how the rest of the season plays out when we are at least close to full strength..go dawgs
#1 BAMA FAN
September 22nd, 2010
1:28 pm
If BAMA gets one or both it is a plus but we will play with what we have. We are five to six deep on RB’s but would really like to have Dickson. If I am not mistaken BAMA was recruiting him early.Naganole…not true on depth at S, wait until you see a couple of the Freshman….Jarrick Williams, etc. RTR
naganole
September 22nd, 2010
1:32 pm
@#1 BAMA FAN Couple of freshman? That’s not a lot of depth. It’s not quality Saban is lacking, it’s quanity…..
ryan
September 22nd, 2010
1:34 pm
I have a good felling about next year i still have hope this year to get a least a New Years day bowl i know people will say i am out of my mind but who cares what they think .
#1 BAMA FAN
September 22nd, 2010
1:39 pm
Lowndes……I have heard that J.Rome was impressed with BAMA. Do you have anything to add? RTR
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
1:43 pm
naganole, yeah, I was pretty confident that Clinton-Dix was going to stay committed to Bama but wanted to know what you were hearing on your side.
? for Lowndes, I have not seen Sterling Bailey play in person, but I have seen his highlight film and the kid can play. Now, do I think he is going to start right away, absolutely not. He needs to work on building some strength and on his technique, but he has the tools to play either LB or DE in our scheme. Just as a word of caution, don’t ever base your opinion on whether a player is good or bad off of just one game. Take for instance Jeff Driskell, the QB that is committed to UF. In the very first game of the year, he went 4-17 with 40 yards passing and an INT…not very good stats and would lead you to think initially that he is overrated (some sites have him listed as a 5-star recruit and the #1 QB in the nation). However, he plays on a horrible team that has never made it to the playoffs…plus, his stats since that one game have been off the chart. Bailey had scholarship offers from every major college in the Southeast…that should give you a good idea of what people think of his talent level.
DawginVirginia
September 22nd, 2010
1:48 pm
http://pricezack.wordpress.com/
naganole
September 22nd, 2010
1:49 pm
I’m still praying Willie Downs makes it back from JuCo in 2011. Very long shot…
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
1:52 pm
#1 BAMA FAN, Rome thinks very highly of Bama, but he is UGA’s to lose. His current top 3 are UGA, Tennessee, and Bama in that order going into official visits. We did a very good job of getting on Rome early and making sure that he understood how not only he would fit in our offense, but that he was our #1 target at TE and that he was the only commitment that we would take at the TE position in this year’s class (even at the expense of possibly landing Nick O’Leary who I think goes to either FSU or Miami). Bama has a lot of things going for it right now, but they just don’t showcase a TE in their offense too much. UGA is known for putting TE’s in the NFL and Rome understands that. The crazy part about his recruitment is that Clemson (his dad’s alma matter) is not in his top 3…shows you just how bad they dropped the ball with his recruitment.
GTax
September 22nd, 2010
1:57 pm
*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***
(((( 45 – 42 ))))
GT Sambo
September 22nd, 2010
2:08 pm
GTax,
I got a better idea. Let’s drop the Nesbitt for Heisman campaign, and let’s focus on beating UGA this year!
Rick S
September 22nd, 2010
2:31 pm
Michigan State- Really? Is he from Michigan or the Northeast?
ryan
September 22nd, 2010
2:43 pm
Rome could be Clemson lost and UGA or Bama’s gain but still can not count Clemson yet .
Chip Towers
September 22nd, 2010
3:19 pm
The Truth: Actually Lowdnes25 and I am one in the same!!! . . . Nah, but I appreciate Lowndes25’s interest and insight into recruiting. The fact is, I’m not sitting in front of my computer all day where I can answer each question as it comes down the pipe. That’s why I hired Lowdnes25 to do it for me. . . . Kidding again. But generally the best way to direct a question to be is by including “Chip” in the question as I search on that through the comments a couple or few times a day. Also you can direct specific questions to AJCrecruiting@yahoo.com, which I will answer in the semi-regular feature, “The Mailbag.” . . .
Seriously, though, this is an open recruiting forum and I sincerely appreciate Lowndes25, The Truth, naganole, Flo-ri-duh, RxDawg, GT GRAD, GTSambo, The General, dawgster and all you guys who conduct civil and reasonable discussions without being vitriolic or pushing an agenda. Thanks to all.
K-Town Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
This may be the single most informative blog I have ever seen on the AJC and with the exception of the Nesbitt for Heisman guy, it has been the most civilized as well.
Kudos to all.
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
3:35 pm
Chip, don’t give away all of our secrets…I didn’t want people to know that we are one-in-the-same
Also, I will be expecting my check in the mail by the weekend…I can’t keep doing your job for free, you know (j/k). Fortunately, I am blessed enough to have a job in this economy, and that job affords me the opportunity to be in front of a computer most of the day so I am able to check this blog pretty frequently and I try to answer every question that I can in as thorough a manner as I am able to without revealing my sources. But, like Chip so eloquently stated, I am glad that we were able to hijack this thread (sorry MSU fans) and keep the posts both civil and highly informative…thanks guys!
GT Sambo
September 22nd, 2010
3:43 pm
Lowndes25, your sources have been good so far, and I’ll be interested to see if it continues to go that way. I wish I had some sources like that in the Tech program and for Tech recruiting. Its funny but I am actually friends with a couple of guys who played football and UGA and UF, so I probably have more insight into the inner workings of those programs than my own alma mater.
ryan
September 22nd, 2010
3:50 pm
I think after Mckinley death we should tone it down because life to short to angry about everything and even at each other .
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
3:51 pm
GT Sambo, if I had any good sources at Tech I would try to hook you up, but unfortunately I don’t…sorry…I Providentially came across my sources and they do a bang up job providing highly factual information…big kudos to those guys as well…
ryan
September 22nd, 2010
4:05 pm
Hey Lowndes 25 were do you think Clowney will end up i know he not going to UGA what school will he choose SC or Bama .
RxDawg
September 22nd, 2010
4:13 pm
naganole
September 22nd, 2010
12:15 pm
Well said Naga
Lowndes25
September 22nd, 2010
4:14 pm
ryan, I think he will go to USCe, personally…especially if they continue to have a good year on the gridiron. However, I truly think he is torn between the schools and this has the potential to go down to the wire and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he decides to go to Bama…Saban and Co. have been all over him.
Gary
September 22nd, 2010
4:19 pm
Sorry Amsterdam Sam, I could not dissagree with you more. If you are given the opportunity to leave home and experience another part of the country: GO! I am glad local kids go to Georgia, but it is sort of depressing to me how many kids will never get to experience what it is like to go away to college. It is not the same when you can drive home in two hours. I grew up down here but always felt like New England offered something special for college. I love the Dawgs but that was not where I wanted to go to school. I already knew too many people there. Would see my parents every weekend at gameday. My cousins were there. I went North. I met new people made new friends and had a great time. I loved every minute of it. I still go to Athens on Gameday with my family and consider myself a dawg, but I had already experienced Athens before college came around. I commend this kid for taking a chance and steeping out of his comfort zone. I am sure win or loose he will love his experience.
Michael
September 22nd, 2010
4:28 pm
I have seen S. Bailey play several games the last two years and he IS a player.
Level-Headed Individuals
September 22nd, 2010
4:31 pm
Continue to Enter your comments here.
Pago Pago Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
4:43 pm
We were actually tailgating with a Spartan/Vol fan. He flew both flags, but wore a UT cap and had several UT chairs. And a great game. The fake field goal on our end of the stadium.
shane#1
September 22nd, 2010
4:43 pm
There is a QB here at Lee County High that is really making news locally. I was wondering if Chip or any of you guys had heard of him. The kid’s name is Justin Walker. He has thrown 15 TDs in his first three games this year with no INTs. Walker is 33 0f 43 for a .767 completion percentage and a QB rating of 312.8. Since all of LCHS’ games have been blow outs so far Walker hasn’t played much in the second half. Last week against Terrell County Walker threw for seven TDs, six in the first half! Walker is 6′3″ and is also a pitcher on Lee County’s baseball team. Lee County is baseball crazy, producing a lot of college and pro baseball players, but has never done very much at football. New Coach, new hurry up, no huddle, spread offense, and a kid that can really throw the ball around. This could be a fun year for us. I don’t think anyone is recruiting Walker very heavy now, but with stats that gaudy it won’t be long.
Chip Towers
September 22nd, 2010
5:06 pm
shane#1: I can’t say I’ve heard of QB Justin Walker but he certainly sounds like a good one. A quick google told me he’s not getting a lot of recruiting attention. I’ll check into him and see what I can find out. Thanks for the heads up.
Bluto
September 22nd, 2010
5:21 pm
Surprised to see the Spartans recruiting down here. When Dantonio took over MSU he made it a point to go after the best players in Michigan. So far he has done it , of course Dick Rod has helped him by almost abandoning the state of Michigan and going after national recruits.