Doucette family sees third generation Saugatuck football player: 'Small-town USA written all over'
SAUGATUCK - Will Doucette heard all kinds of football stories growing up.
There was nowhere to escape from them.
The Saugatuck senior's father Mike Doucette Jr. played football at Saugatuck, as did both of his grandfathers (Mike Sr. and Don Beery), making him a third-generation player for the Trailblazers.
It has created a very special bond for the family.
"Since there are multiple generations of my family who have played Saugatuck football, I know that each former player understands why football is already a special sport, and that having a small team makes it even better. I feel like having that mutual experience gives us a little bit more of a bond than other family members," Will said. "Knowing that family members who are also former Saugatuck football players will be watching me on Friday nights is all the reason I need to do my best in practice every day. I feel the need to impress them with my performance and the Saugatuck football program."
Will's family take an extra layer of pride watching him play, not just because he is one of the best running backs in the area, but because they know what it was like to be on the field.
"I feel blessed, and very lucky to have the family I do. Having my son, and now my grandson in the same program experiencing the same range of emotions in the same place is icing on the cake, it brings us closer," Mike Sr. said. "I would like to give credit to the Saugatuck athletic program, and the many improvements made over the years, and the way coaches work at pulling the teams closer together."
Will has experienced the playoffs with Saugatuck, but after last year, is hoping to lead the team back to the postseason. His father played in Saugatuck's first playoff game in school history in 1997.
"The excitement of the team and the community made that moment in life very memorable," Mike Jr. said. "As I matured I began to realize the value of teamwork, role fulfillment, resilience, adaptability and determination. While I still love the primal aspect of the game, the life lessons and lasting relationships built with teammates are what makes the sport special."
Especially for his family.
"It has small-town USA written all over it, and I love it," he said.
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Beery said that is what makes Saugatuck football special.
"Football is special because it does involve the whole community to make it succeed. It has been a part of my life as far back as I can remember," he said. "It makes me proud to have my family carry on the tradition of Saugatuck football. My brother played from 1963-1967 and me from 1971-1974, so I've been following Saugatuck football for 60 years. This new stadium is a huge change - but the tradition continues."
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Doucette family sees third generation Saugatuck football player
