My City January 2023

IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE HELPING TEACH THOSE GUYS AND MOTIVATE THEM ALL SEASON. IT WAS JUST AS EMOTIONAL TO WIN A NATIONAL TITLE

AS A COACH.” NIC MATIERE-BEY

"That meant everything to me and Deron was the only one I cried with this time,"says Matiere-Bey who has Irving-Bey's name tattooed on his skin. "We've always been close. It seems like just yesterday we were playing football in front of our grandmother's house on Hamilton Avenue in Flint. We've both shown we can go through things and finish strong." Irving-Bey was inspired by watching his older cousin turn an all-state senior season at Southwestern (66 tackles, 14 sacks) into an offer from Austin Peay. Matiere-Bey made an immediate impact at Austin Peay with 66 tackles, including 13 for loss, in 23 games his first two seasons. When he became uncomfortable with a change in head coaches, he returned to Michigan and the school he originally committed to while in high school – Ferris State. He wasted little time making an impact in his first season with the Bulldogs in 2016, finishing fifth on the team in total tackles (58) and fourth in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (three) in 15 games as Ferris reached the national semifinals.

COACH MATIERE-BEY (CENTER) CHILLS BETWEEN POSSESSIONS ON GAMEDAY WITH LINEBACKER NICK THOMAS (LEFT) AND DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ALEFOSIO SAIPAIA.

who earned his associate degree the same week. “It was such a pleasure help ing teach those guys and motivate them all season.They did what they had to do to dominate. It was just as emotional to win a national title as a coach.” Matiere-Bey was indeed emotional as the game ended, first embracing Shad errick Bradford, one of the linemen he had played alongside and was now coaching, and then hoisting quarterback Mylick Mitchell into the air. Among those thankful he stuck around for another season with the team was defensive line coach Tesfa Smith. "Nic was such a valuable asset because he bridged that gap between the older coaches and younger players and helped them see we always have their best inter ests in mind," Smith says. "Guys listened to him because of how he played the game and how he related to them and for

him to have that instant credibility with players really helped the other coaches. As a player, Nic was a great technician and super talent and he was able to teach the techniques and fundamentals that helped him excel to others." Matiere-Bey became most emotional, however, celebrating with defensive line man Deron Irving-Bey, his cousin and fellow former Southwestern standout. Their college football journeys were sim ilar as Irving-Bey was part of Michigan’s 2017 recruiting class before transferring to Central Michigan and eventually leaving school and welcoming a child. He relaunched his career at Ferris this season and was the only Genesee Coun ty player to participate in this year's national championship. Irving-Bey did not register any statistics, but contribut ed 29 tackles in nine games throughout the season.

Continued on pg. 109

77