Samson picks Western Michigan
Ben Samson likes to spend time at his parents' summer home in Sawyer, Mich., just relaxing and swimming in the backyard pool.
Come future falls, the atmosphere at Roger and Dawn Samson's summer place figures to be a little different -- a little louder.
"My parents said every Friday night the house will be rocking," Ben Samson said.
Sawyer is a 45-minute drive from Kalamazoo, where Big Ben will be attending college after the 6-foot-6, 315-pound incoming Stevenson senior made a verbal commitment Monday to continue his education and football career at Western Michigan University.
"I think it's going to be a great place for me," Samson said.
A starting offensive lineman on Stevenson's varsity since his sophomore year, Samson said he also received interest from Ball State, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern and Michigan State.
Samson said Western Michigan was the first school to offer him a scholarship, which it did two weeks ago. He attended a one-day camp in Kalamazoo on Monday and afterward gave a verbal commitment to head coach Bill Cubit.
Samson met before the camp with offensive line coach Bob Stanley and fellow assistant coach Mike Sabock, formerly of NIU.
"They're just genuine coaches and I felt really comfortable there," Samson said. "It's a beautiful place, beautiful weightlifting facility."
Samson has four siblings, including older sisters Ashley and Amanda, both of whom graduated from Stevenson. Ashley and her husband, Joe, have a 7-month-old daughter, Abby.
"My niece already has a Western Michigan shirt -- and bib," Samson said.
Samson's brother Zach plays hockey at the University of Arizona, and little brother Jake will be a freshman football player for Stevenson in the fall.
In accepting Western Michigan's offer, Samson bypassed the potential opportunity to play at a Big Ten school. But his decision to commit prior to his senior season means he won't have to worry about the whole recruiting process, including sending out tapes of himself to prospective colleges.
"It's not something I wanted to be worried about going into my senior year," he said. "I was more than comfortable at this school and I can't wait to go. Now I can worry about winning a state championship at Stevenson."
Harboring state-title expectations should not be unrealistic for the Patriots, whose returning group includes Samson, quarterback Zach Wujcik, wide receiver Mike Bilton, linebacker Austin Self, and defensive backs Scott Diamond and Josh Vravick.
Samson played left tackle as a sophomore but will anchor right tackle for the second straight year to protect the lefty Wujcik's back side.
"He's worked so hard the last two years he's been on varsity," Stevenson coach Bill Mitz said of Samson, who was named honorable mention all-conference as a junior.
"I think his best days are still ahead of him, not only this year but in (college). He has some size and moves OK for a big guy. If his work ethic stays the way it is, he's going to be a player for (Western Michigan) in the future."
WMU went 5-7, including 3-4 in the Mid-American Conference's West Division, last season. The Broncos' season included an upset of Iowa at the Hawkeyes' Kinnick Stadium.
Western Michigan won eight games the previous season, earning its first bowl bid in 18 years, as it played Cincinnati in the inaugural International Bowl.