A story of light for Sooners' Reed OU linebacker has dreams of playing in the NFL and being a good father OU's Reed has dreams of playing in the NFL and being a good father
NORMAN — Monrina Reed walked into St. Thomas More Catholic Church a few months back. She needed help with her rent.
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She and her husband have two small children. Monrina had been sick, unable to work, and even then who would take care of the kids? Her husband's check brings in $616 a month. Their rent and electric bill averaged $630 a month.
You do the math.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was willing to help. The volunteer organization is the world's most distinguished friend of the poor, helping the needy since 1833.
But a de Paul member first checked with the OU athletic department and was asked to refrain from helping. Aiding Monrina Reed with her rent was a possible violation of NCAA rules.
Monrina's husband is Mike Reed, a Sooner linebacker.
This is the shadowy underside of big-time college football. The sport of multimillion-dollar coaching contracts and multimillion-dollar bowl payouts and multimillion-dollar television deals, is built upon the backs of people like Mike Reed, who borrows soap from neighbors to take a shower and speed-trains 23-month-old daughter Makhya on the potty because he can't afford the Pampers and who slept on the floor of their west Norman apartment until his parents came from Florida in September and scrounged enough money to buy some second-hand furniture.
But Mike Reed's life is not a story of darkness. It is a story of light.
Mike Reed is in Oklahoma chasing two dreams. The football, you know about it. He wants to play on Sundays. Wants to be an NFL linebacker.
The other dream is less glamorous but richer in spirit. Mike Reed wants to be a father to his children and a husband to his wife.
In a sport filled with players, including Mike Reed himself not so long ago, who have children living hundreds of miles away, Reed has decided he will be absent no more.
So with a ready smile and a cheery heart, he lives in virtual poverty with Monrina and Makhya and 3-year-old Mike Jr.
"It's hard for me to live without 'em,” Reed said. "I need to see they're OK. I don't need to hear it over the phone.
"If we're going to struggle, we're going to struggle together.”
Mike Reed makes us ask: Who's the real all-American?
• • •
Eddie and Willie Mae Reed raised their grandson. He calls them his parents. They raised him to be God-fearing. Raised him to be a family man.
Mike Reed hasn't always listened. While in a California junior college, Reed was arrested for possession of stolen property and spent 30 days in jail. Monrina was back in Florida with Mike Jr.
But good raising usually takes. It took to Mike Reed.
Reed transferred to a different school, stayed out of trouble and became one of the nation's top recruits. He signed with OU because of defensive coordinator Brent Venables and the Sooner linebacking tradition.
And last spring, after spending a semester alone at OU, Reed heeded the words of Willie Mae.
"I raised him that you've got your children and you love the mom,” Willie Mae Reed said.
"They were talking about shacking up. Marriage is honorable. You be married, and God will bless you.”
So in May, Mike and Monrina married, and he brought his family to Oklahoma.
Venables wasn't thrilled when he found out. Venables knew what such a load could mean, but what kind of system encourages a man to be apart from his family?
"He's a terrific person,” Venables said. "The way he has handled himself, you have so much respect for him.
"The biggest issue for him, he's been overwhelmed. A lot on his mind. Slowed his transition here. He came with a lot on his plate.”
You'd be overwhelmed, too, if your wife was pregnant and had an appendectomy and there was no money to feed your kids.
Reed was supposed to be the next Torrance Marshall, the next Lance Mitchell. Both linebackers came to OU from junior college, became stars and went on to the NFL.
Reed was more highly touted than either. Some rated him the No. 2 juco player in America last year. Most wrote him in as the starting middle 'backer as soon as he hit campus last January.
Reed is a monster physically; 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, good speed. Delivers vicious hits.
But Reed didn't pick up the defensive calls so quickly. And middle linebacker Curtis Lofton exploded into the 2007 Big 12 defensive player of the year.
Monrina was sick all summer and eventually hospitalized, so Reed missed workouts, taking care of his children. Monrina had surgery in October. It all became too much for Reed to carry.
"She was going through hell,” Reed said of Monrina. "I had to stay home with them.”
OU dropped Reed's class load from 15 hours to six, making him ineligible to practice or play. He hadn't been playing anyway.
"I've talked to Coach V about that,” Reed said. "I'm sure he felt he's not comfortable with me in there. In meetings, he asked me questions, and I had to think too long. You have to be sharper than I was.”
Reed is not a knucklehead. If he was, he'd have been long gone. Coaches have little patience for a guy who can't make it to summer workouts, much less practice. They would have run off Reed if they didn't believe he was a good person.
Reed will be back to full-time academic status in January. He plans to go through spring practice and crack the lineup next autumn, though middle linebacker seems safely taken unless Lofton turns pro.
"I just hope he gets a chance to play football, see what he's got,” said Eddie Reed, Mike's grandfather. "Play in one of those big games at Oklahoma. He's trying to fulfill his dream.”
But how will 2008 be any easier than 2007?
• • •
OU asked the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to hold off on helping the Reeds while it explored other avenues.
It would not have been an NCAA violation for the church to help the Reeds. Former NCAA investigator Brent Clark, now a Norman lawyer, cited Section 16.11.2 of the NCAA manual, which addresses non-permissible extra benefits.
The rule prohibits extra benefits from school employees or representatives of schools' athletic interests. Neither describes the de Paul society, which began helping people before Amos Alonzo Stagg was born, much less Mike Reed.
OU said no because most schools live in fear of violating NCAA rules; the answer is no before the question is asked. The Sooners, particularly, are gun-shy, because of recent sanctions after Rhett Bomar and J.D. Quinn were paid by Big Red Sports & Imports for work they did not do.
Last August, Houston high school player Herman Mitchell, who had committed to OU, was murdered. A Sooner fan in Houston began raising funds to help with funeral expenses, but the NCAA warned OU that could be a rules violation. OU asked for a waiver and was allowed to administer a fund that could provide the family up to $10,000.
OU compliance director Jason Leonard said the school would have asked the NCAA for a waiver to help Reed, had other options not materialized.
The department steered Reed toward a little relief. Federal grants provide him $4,300 a year, plus a $500 clothing allowance out of a student-athlete special assistance fund. OU also had Reed apply for food stamps.
There's the $616 monthly scholarship check. His grandparents pay his car insurance and telephone bill and send $60 every two weeks to help out.
"I don't look for too much more help than I'm getting,” Reed said. "They're my responsibility. They're my kids. I love 'em to death. And my parents do it because they love us.
"I don't get down on the system. We're going to be all right regardless.”
Eddie and Willie Mae Reed are not affluent people. Eddie, 61, drives a truck for the city of Vero Beach, Fla. Willie Mae, 59, is disabled.
"We promised him if he would do the right thing, get his education, we'll go all the way, even if we have to borrow money,” Willie Mae said.
Reed says he's 24 hours shy of his sociology degree and hopes to graduate next December.
OU could apply for an extra year of eligibility for Reed; if granted, he says he would start working on a master's degree.
"I hope they continue to weather the storm they're going through financially,” said Willie Mae. "He keeps a positive attitude. He's never negative. I just love that so much.
"He told me, as long as he can get his education, take care of his wife and children, me and his granddaddy, that's the most important thing. That makes me feel good.”
• • •
Mike and Monrina were high school sweethearts in Vero Beach.
Monrina was raised by her father; her mother was a junkie and now is in prison.
Mike Reed never knew his father. His mother wasn't around much; he went to live with his grandparents in second grade.
"When I was a little boy, I always wanted my dad in my life,” Reed said. "I didn't know he didn't want to see me. I figured that out, it hurt me.
"With my kids, I never want them to feel I'm neglecting them.”
The Reeds stay broke. They borrow a little money here or there. They scrimp. They do without. They endure. Reed could obtain permission to work while on scholarship, but lack of time already has hindered his football hopes, with school and weight-room workouts and taking care of two little kids and a pregnant wife who is better but still not well.
There are no easy answers for Mike Reed.
"We made some decisions that we have to accept responsibility for,” Reed said.
"I don't ever think about sendin' 'em back. I've been without 'em too much. I wanted us to be together.”
He still holds that football dream. Monrina said her husband won't be disappointed if his football career falls flat, but you don't really believe her.
He talks about all the obstacles. Not making his ACT scores out of high school. The trouble in California. His family being sick. Being in Oklahoma a full year without even getting to play.
"I just want to go out there and have a super season,” Reed said. "Have a great year on the field.”
Monrina doesn't dream so much. In this sparse apartment 1,500 miles from home, with little to her name and no prospects for quick relief, she says she has what she wants.
"I have us,” said Monrina Reed. "My kids being with their father every day. This is what makes me happy. We don't have much, but we have us.”
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As a huge sooner fan and following recruiting, I was wondering about Mike Reed last year and his status for this year. I was very moved by the story and my heart and best wishes go out to him and his family. This MAN made the best decision he could for his family just looking to afford the bare minimum that many of us don't give a second thought to. I really hope he is able to someday show what he can do on the field. By the way Bob, your a complete ass!!!!
Boy Willima your temper is showing. Maybe you should pray for a little patience. and I agree with Howard, Reed should concentrate on a degree, which will do him more than a pro career, if he can even get there, which is not a sure thing.
Thanks Bob for reminding us how sad and pathetic some of you OSU fans are. You can't have one story here about OU without at least one of you crawling out from under a rock and spewing your hateful bile. It makes me glad to be a Sooner fan. That being said, God bless Mike and his family. I wish him the best and admire him for trying to do the right thing.
I am impressed by the item missing from Reed's goals; college degree. In the long run that will do him more good than anything else. Remember Marshall and Calmus are out of footballbefore they wwere 28 years old.
Bob, you are a sad, pathetic little man...try writing something that makes sense instead of spouting out idiotic things and making everyone's head hurt with you sophmoric use of CAPITOL LETTERS. I am sure that you have never made a mistake in your life and I'm also equally sure that no one you have ever associated with has done the same. When he got in trouble in California, he was a kid...really he still is now. Have some compassion for someone trying to be a good father and husband. By the way, people like you who are jealous about the "special" treatment athletes get make me sick. I'm sure you were a member of the band who never played sports before...go read the arts section and quit commenting about things you don't understand.
Poor ME, Poor ME :-( Your story is about a selfish child in a mans body.
Mention what a FULL football scholorship is worth. 100K ? More ?
Mention how he was allowed in OU with "special" conditions, and others are turned away with BETTER grades and character.
Mention the resitution made to the person in Calif that was ripped off.He was a THIEF :-(
And LAST........mention how YEAR AFTER year OU football is at the BOTTOM the list of kids graduating in SIX years
OU......and the NCAA uses kids, and the KIDS use the NCAA.
Greed.....selfish
Mention those with HUGE student LOANS paying for decades
By the way, how about an update on the OU football kids stealing GAS from a Norman gas station. He is allowed to practice ? Are we still paying him ?
How about an update of the "walk on" kid that got MORE money at Big Red Sports than Rhett Bomar.Remember he was kicked off the team for being in a casino !!!! Ha Ha ! 85 scholorship limit cab be beat, just as Big Red Sports and OU FOOTBALL :-(
Good points, Grant. As I mentioned there would have to be refinements. We can't describe or address all the points of an entire program in this space. Having said that plus the issue there is never a perfect solution to any problem this complex, let me add a little more fuel to the fire. This may require some sort of cost sharing or distribution among schools of different levels. Then taking that one step there may have to be a realignment of divisions. Then etc., etc. This could be improved on, but the basic premise is to share the huge coaching salaries with the players. Then on the other hand if anyone has a solution that none can find some flaw, let's see it?
D, the only problem with that idea, is that, while OU makes a lot of money, many schools don't. OU prides itself on the fact that there are no student fees for athletics (like the "I.T." fees and such that squeeze money out of students). Many schools, including OSU, have this fee among the list of fees every student (I'm sure there are exceptions) pays. Many athletic departments struggle to make money, relying heavily on boosters and such to come up with the money to pay coaches, etc. Think about this... at OU, with all of the athletic department's success, only football makes money. Men's basketball does as well (barely, and I don't believe it does each and every year). That's it. Even with all of the success, women's basketball loses money, as does women's softball. OU's very successful gymnastics teams are money pits. Baseball loses money. Golf loses money. Wrestling loses money. Women's soccer and volleyball lose a lot of money. And, OU is being forced (by Title IX) to add an additional women's sport, knowing full well it will lose money (possible sports include women's crew (rowing), and bowling). OU will never add men's soccer (sorry short-panters) or any other men's sport, because to do so would mean a commitment to at least 3 money-losing sports (the men's sport, the off-setting women's sport, and the other sport that I've already mentioned). I'm getting off subject here. The point is, OU is a hugely successful program. There are many solutions that OU could conceivably make work, but other schools (including OSU, if it weren't for Mr. Pickens - who would likely step in to help - and I have no problem whatsoever with that) would have a hard time doing it.
Bringing scholar students into this mix seems far stretched. The difference is the NCAA. The NCAA restriction is the hardship and unique to the athletic. Athletic departments make a ton of money off these athletics, and that is where the money should come from. Here is a thought that may get me tarred and feathered. The NCAA put a limit on coaches' salaries. Take what they save and share that with the players. Schools are not out anymore. Bob Stoops is worth every dime he is getting, compared to all coaches. USA Today ran an article within the last year or so demonstrating that based on the relative increased in OU revenue since Stoops arrived. Having said that, diverting $1 million of Stoops' salary to players would give each of the 85 scholarship players approximately $12,000 per year. There would have to be refinements to this concept, but you get the idea.
I've never been big on paying college athletes. It's such a gray area. True, they work so hard at their craft that they can't have a legit job (like working at the mall or as a waiter or waitress), but the same could be said for majors in other areas who are on full scholarship. There are many "levels" of scholarships. Some are "full" paying for (almost) everything. Some are "tuition only," or may pay a fraction of the tuition cost (I had one designed to pay about half). I could support a "cost of living" addendum being permissible. Factors may include a "cost of living" assessment - it's different in Norman than, say, Los Angeles. I would also support a "needs assessment," which shouldn't be hard. Many scholarships are need based. I would make sure that as much of the support as possible was in a form that is not cash (such as cards that are good for supplies food and grocery items on or near campus, but not necessarily good for a night in Bricktown - I've seen a system like this in action. The "money" on the card was good only through the end of the semester, but because of the limited use caveat, the closest thing to taking advantage of the system that my friend could do was go to the bookstore and buy a dozen packs of AA batteries for her cd player). And, finally, I'm ok with some cash. Anyone deserves some freedom. However, I would supply that in the form of a debit card so that there would be some accountability. The school would have the right to mandate that the money not be used at, say, strip joints, or anywhere they deemed was detrimental to the image of the school. After all, it is their money.
Just like Switzer said in his book *the players in college athletics should be paid. Not money like the pro's get. Just money to get them by*......and with guys like reed that are doing the right hing, they especially need the pay and his case and cases like his, maybe even a little more than others. Mike, you are a good man and father, stay strong, even if football doesnt come on sundays at least you will have graduated and jobs will come you're way, just hang in there. The sooners need more players with the heart of Reed and the other guys who have similar problems. May GOD be with you Mike Reed.
Great Story. I wish Mike Reed and his family the very best. I had been wondering why he wasn't on the field. I knew that he had some trouble picking up the schemes defensively, but his priorities were in order, obviously. As Richard said, that is a man. Mike, I wish you the very best. I hope that ALL of your dreams come true.
Now that is a man. This story should be all over the national headlines so as to overshadow the creepy things athletes such as Vick and Clemens have done as well as bring to light the unfairness of a multi-million dollar operation's relationships with the players. Any other student at the University would be able to get aid, the players are treated way too differently to the point that we have this unfortunate situation.
Boz had it right - National Communist Against Athletes. On the one hand, the NCAA allows a school to go over all over the country or world to recruit kids. On the other hand, when those kids have legitimate needs, the school, alumni, and community are prevented from meeting the most basic needs. It's particularily sad when a kid like Mike Reed gets caught in that trap. The NCAA should be ashamed.
Barry,thanks for this. I'd like to hear more of these types of stories. This is the real world of college football. I have just become a HUGE Mike Reed fan!
Here's to Mike Reed's success. The Sooner Nation is pulling for you. Really makes you think about the structure of college football. Billion$ of dollars involved but none of it to the personnel who are actually generating it. Perhaps in my lifetime we will see some sort of compensation for the college athlete. Long overdue.
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Mention what a FULL football scholorship is worth. 100K ? More ?
Mention how he was allowed in OU with "special" conditions, and others are turned away with BETTER grades and character.
Mention the resitution made to the person in Calif that was ripped off.He was a THIEF :-(
And LAST........mention how YEAR AFTER year OU football is at the BOTTOM the list of kids graduating in SIX years
OU......and the NCAA uses kids, and the KIDS use the NCAA.
Greed.....selfish
Mention those with HUGE student LOANS paying for decades
By the way, how about an update on the OU football kids stealing GAS from a Norman gas station. He is allowed to practice ? Are we still paying him ?
How about an update of the "walk on" kid that got MORE money at Big Red Sports than Rhett Bomar.Remember he was kicked off the team for being in a casino !!!! Ha Ha ! 85 scholorship limit cab be beat, just as Big Red Sports and OU FOOTBALL :-(
Sad, NO charcter, anywhere
hope he has a stellar carreer at OU.
Thanks. This is the best piece you have done in a long long time. Mike deserves the good press. I too am now a huge Mike Reed fan.