Eric Gordon: The Quiet Star

It doesn’t take much time around Eric Gordon to figure him out. After a win when he has played well, he gives answers like this one from the Michigan victory

It doesn’t take much time around Eric Gordon to figure him out. After a win when he has played well, he gives answers like this one from the Michigan victory last season, “I am just enjoying this win. My teammates played great.” After a tough loss like Ohio State, “I just think it is really hard to not focus on the plays and mistakes I made that may have helped us win.”

 

In both circumstances this humble, yet emerging star, took far too little credit and way too much blame, but that is how he does it. He credited his parents, Mike and Kim, for that humility and loves to talk when given the chance to brag on them, “They’ve always been there for me and always followed me…they mean everything to me.”

 

Gordon never was anything other than a Spartan. His maternal grandfather Don Dohoney was a center at MSU and played from 51-53. He was the Captain, in fact, of the 1954 Rose Bowl team that had an impressive 28-20 win over UCLA.

 

Gordon isn’t one to pump his chest or to draw attention to himself, but his play does. LB Greg Jones, who is getting a lot of attention (deservedly), joins the red-shirt junior in the middle, but Gordon will get his share of attention this season as it progresses. “Eric is a very good backer for us,” was LB Coach Mike Tressel’s comments recently when talking with me about his young star. “He is ready for a big year. We expect a lot out of him, but obviously it is because he has it to give. Eric is such a super kid.”

 

Gordon certainly isn’t a recluse; he just doesn’t like talking about himself. “That just isn’t me. I love football so much. I love everything about it. I have learned to really love all the parts of it and not just the games. I can talk about my teammates and coaches and the games, that is a lot easier than me.”

 

Gordon’s passion for the game is rivaled only with his passion for his family. He knew his Grandpa Don, who died in 1993, but how deep was the connection between the Grandfather he loved and lost and the game he plays so passionately today? His father told me a moving story for this article.

 

“Last year before the Wisconsin game we went out to the cemetery where Eric’s grandpa’s urn is at. It is right there in Mid-Michigan. We found that before each game Eric goes out and places in the urn his goals for the next game.” I stated the obvious that it had to be an amazing thing to find. Mr. Gordon agreed, “It was very moving and once again he didn’t tell us.”

 

It wasn’t a surprise to the Gordons. They are used to their son not sharing his exploits and accomplishments. Mr. Gordon told me another story that illustrates beautifully the humility of his fine son. “We walked into the stadium two years ago (freshman season) with the thought of him maybe possibly playing. There he was listed as a starter on the big board at the end of the stadium and he never told us. It was quite a shock to us. He never mentioned it. He was quiet about it.” How many 19-year-old young men starting as a freshman would have not told everyone they knew, let alone their family?

 

When you talk to Eric Gordon he is never far from a smile and when he talks about football it shows up fast. It also makes an appearance when he talks about his parents. “I have such a great family. I am really fortunate to play football and to play it at the school I always loved. This is such an honor, but the bigger honor is to be my parents’ son. They are such good people.”

 

Eric has a great example of humility in his father. Axel Hoyer started the Parents’ Association and Gordon now serves the Spartan Nation parents as the Vice President of the group and President for the 2010 season. That commitment to service has rubbed off on his son. “At first I was immature and didn’t always get excited about community service, but now it is a great feeling to give that extra second to a kid. It is just as much a part of the game and like coach D says, if you just take that one extra second with a kid or someone it can just make their day. I love that.”

 

Gordon also has embraced his new coach. He brightened up when talking about his head coach, “I don’t think you could have a better head coach than him (Coach Dantonio). He is phenomenal.  He is such a great guy.”

 

The Spartan Nation may not be able to tell that Gordon is a great star by me-first-antics that have permeated today’s Sportscenter highlights. That is quite OK with him. Whether it is Eric Gordon in East Lansing, or his parents in Traverse City, these people are the best at representing the Spartan Nation.

 

Other than calling them Spartans, the next best accolade you can give these parents and their son is to simply acknowledge that they truly have one awesome quality that stands out among many, CLASS!

 

This article is reprinted from the July 2009 Spartan Nation Magzine