Orchard Lake Saint Mary Prep School has had a long proud tradition of academic and athletic excellence going back many decades.The school campus is situated in the lily white Village of Orchard Lake on the shores of that body.
For the greater part of its existence, the was a bastion of first rate education established originally for students of Polish extraction - kids who were students first and athletes second. The High School draws from the cream of Catholic scholastic achievers from across metropolitan Detroit. Its reputation always stood at the highest level. Graduates went on to many of the top colleges in the country and then on to successful careers.
The school once drew a large number of their student body from the families of the large upper middle class Polish Catholic population in the tri county area of Detroit.The academic curriculum always took precedence over athletics. The Eagle teams were often compared to those from Notre Dame with its traditions and attitudes. They played in the toughest division of the Catholic League and usually fared quite well.
AS competition among rival schools intensifies, OLSM found itself becoming overwhelmed by the competition for talent around the area. As a remotely situated school, powerhouse teams like Brother Rice, Catholic Central and others were attracting players from the huge pool of Detroit athletes.
For the most part these players are primarily African Americans, non Catholic and certainly not Polish. They come to the school without the benefit of strong family backgrounds or a decent educational foundation, but boy, they sure can play football.
Those who would argue that opportunities should be open to all regardless of background or color disregard the truth in those instances. Exposing, then expecting a young man to adapt to an alternative society, where their new classmates are essentially upper middle class whites who by comparison are pampered and mostly genteel, not to mentioned better prepared academically to meet the demands of OLSM.
Grant Mason played football for OLSM and graduated in 2001. He was an all state two way player who was also named Michigan's top athlete. He went on to play for U of M then made his way to the NFL. Grant was arrested this week for his role in stolen car plot after he was caught trying to sell a stolen Audi on Craigslist for thirty grand.
With his conviction and sentencing, his impossible dream came to an end. With it, hopefully the demise of a system of athlete recruitment that truly fails to fit the standards established a century ago by the school: He could never fit the profile. He was not caucasion, Polish nor Catholic. He had no strong family background and support system, nor a propensity for learning and advancement. How he made it through the tough curriculum at the school is a mystery, but not really difficult to figure. He could play football
If the goal of the school is to turn out a well rounded young man, the plan has gone awry. They won a few games but tarnished their reputation. Step back and take a good look at yourself OLSM. Is It worth bringing in mercenaries for 3 months of high ratings?
Truthfully, OLSM is not alone in this folly. Catholic Central, Brother Rice, and the list goes on. U of D, a school that stayed in the D and is surrounded by 700,000 Afr-ams, is at least recruiting local talent from the huge black population that encompasses their campus in Detroit.
If schools are set on bringing in black athletes,why not pay them to entertain the wealthy alumni and boosters from the high class suburbs of the D. Give them some chump change to at least prepare them for what their future will undoubtedly bring after they leave their host schools.
Ask Grant Mason
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