Magnetic is what Eastern Michigan University head coach Ron English remembers Demarius Reed most for.
“He was a guy that was magnetic,” English said at the weekly Mid-American Conference head football coaches teleconference today.
“The team really gravitated towards him and was a really competitive, smart and tough football player.”
Reed was found dead on Oct. 18 at University Green Apartment complex, located at the 700 block of West Clark Road.
The next day, EMU players carried his number two jersey during their procession into Rynearson Stadium before their game against Ohio University.
“It was certainly a hard past couple of days, (but) I thought our coaches did a good job of leading,” English said.
“They came out wanting to do well for Demarius and his memory. I thought they played hard which is what I asked them to do and all of those (other) things.”
English felt that the program did the best possible job of handling the trying circumstances.
“Although, it was a tough time, I think the program did a nice job of handling it,” English said.
English also mentioned how Reed improved after each season from an attitude standpoint.
“We are certainly going to miss one of the great young men I have been around in terms of turning his life around,” English said.
“Demarius really turned his life around from one year to the next in terms of his attitude, leadership ability, positivity and being consistent. A good football player, but (Demarius) really turned into a great person.”
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