Many Cass Tech football dads are present for their sons, on and off the field
By Kayla Cockrel, Ebony Tyson, Chante’ Campbell and Sam Trotter Staff Writers
Although Cass Tech’s reputation puts a lot of pressure on the football players, the young champions continue to keep their heads up, and find refuge in the support of their families in the stands.
Many of the young champions can look into the stands to see a familiar and comforting face and say “Look at me, Dad!”
Last football season, ESPN.com published an article about a neighboring DPS football team, which noted that only three players of a 45-member team had fathers in their household.
That is not the case for the 2014-2015 Cass Tech football team.
There’s Mike Weber Sr. (Big Mikey) and little Mikey; Andre Gregory Sr. (Big Andre) and little Andre; Tim Walton Sr. (Big Tim) and Little Tim; and Corey Tucker Sr. (Big Corey) and little Corey.
Cass Tech’s football dads have not only been advocates for their son’s academic successes, but most fathers with sons on the varsity football team played organized football, coached their sons in little leagues, trained with them in the gym and participated in practices and camps during the summers and weekends.
Mike Weber Sr., was a running back who played football for King in the early 1990s. His son, Mike Weber Jr., is the star running back on the current Cass Tech team.
“I go to every game,” Weber Sr. said. “I make sure I support him every step of the way.”
As a former football player, Weber Sr. has taken a lot of his experiences and turned them into lessons for his son both on, and off the field.
“I had a pretty good run; I played for King but you know I made some mistakes down the line,” said Weber Sr. “Yet, now we have the chance to make sure nothing similar happens to Mikey.”
In late September, Weber Jr. was selected to join the All- American football team for the U.S.; he credited much of his success to the support of his family, especially, his father.
“My dad’s always been there for me, he just always supported me,” Weber Jr. said. “I probably wouldn't have gotten here without [him].”
Another father-son team is Big Andre and Little Andre. Andre Gregory Sr. played basketball for Central and Northern High School, but son Andre Jr., settled on football as his sport.
“Growing up my life was basically surrounded by sports,” said Gregory Jr. “I tried to be a basketball player since my dad was a basketball player but it just didn’t work out, and football ended up becoming my main sport.”
While Gregory Sr. and his son may have played different sports, today their love for athletics have helped them connect with each other.
“My dad just does it all,” said Gregory Jr. “From implementing diets, being my personal trainer, to still being my dad.”
Another father-son duo is Big Corey, a former Henry Ford High School football player and little Corey, a current defensive lineman for Cass Tech. Corey Tucker Jr. is especially motivated by his close relationship with his father.
“My dad, he comes to every game, has been coming since my PAL days,” Tucker Jr. said. “My relationship with my father is really close, I talk to him about any and everything be it good or bad. He’s my best friend.”
Another involved father in the Cass Tech football program is Timothy Cheatam Sr. who played Osborne team. Cheatam Sr. is the on-field videographer for the Cass Tech varsity football team. His son Timothy Cheatam Jr. is a sophomore varsity fullback.
Cheatam Sr. has been coaching, training, and motivating his son’s football career since he was 8 years old and he has also played an active role on all of his teams.
“I think me coming to the games motivates my son,” Cheatam Sr. said. “I know he likes to see me up there. He’ll give me a little nod or wave [after a good play] telling me ‘Look dad, see what I did.’ and all that hard work pays off.”
Damien Oliver, a right tackle for the team, receives this same motivation from both ends of his blended family.
“My dad was never really into sports but he always motivated me to do my best,” said Oliver. “My step-dad taught [me] all the technical parts of the game, like how to throw, and fix my stance.”
Like many of the other players on the team, football seemed to be a tradition handed down to Oliver. Damien’s stepfather Tremayne Oliver played defensive end and linebacker for Tiffin University, and it only seemed natural that at age 6, he’d be put in a pee-wee program. However, like his biological dad, Damien never felt an immediate attraction to football.
“At first I didn't want to play football and my step dad really let me be my own person for a while so after the first year I quit, but one year over the summer I started playing again,” said Oliver. “I was really good, and I became team captain at 13.”
With the coaching of his step-father and the motivation of his biological father Damien Grace, Oliver opened up to the idea of football as a mainstay in his life.
“When I was 13 I really fell in love with the game,” Oliver said. “The adrenaline rush ... it really helped me find my confidence.”
Although many of the fathers on the team played organized football, not many have had the fortune of having a former NFL player for a dad.
Timothy Walton Sr., a former linebacker for the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, and Philadelphia Eagles, is also a Cass Tech football dads.
Timothy Walton Jr., a new linebacker for Cass Tech's team, might have a bit of an advantage receiving tips from a pro.
“Me and my father go over film together and we study my position because it’s the same one he used to play,” said Walton Jr. “Football is something we can relate to.”