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MICH (15-1, 9-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14
CU (15-2, 9-0) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10
MICH QB CJ Carr: 17-21, 186 yds, sacked 3 times
MICH HB Kamaldeen Seidu-Harris: 27 car, 150 yds, TD, 6 rec, 64 yds
CU QB Ryan Staub: 8-15, 105 yds, TD, sacked twice
CU HB Brandon Hood: 16 car, 99 yds
Season Stats 425 car, 3146 yds, 26 TD, 37 rec, 446 yds, 5 TD
Career Stats 1196 car, 6835 yds, 48 TD, 6 fumbles, 219 rec, 2080 yds, 11 TD
Records CFB, Big Ten, Michigan Rush Yds in a Season, Michigan Rush Yds in a Career
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Season 8, Episode 29
“You did it, Kam. You really fucking did it,” Kam muttered to himself as he looked up at the jumbotron at the back of the endzone.
Confetti rained down, a blizzard of navy and maize, as his teammates swarmed around him. Hands clapped his back, voices shouted his name, but Kam felt oddly detached from the chaos.
What if he had went to dinner that night with them? He thought of his mother and step-father, would they really be proud?
What if it had been him instead of Marcus? He thought of Johnny and Marcus, of nights spent running wild through Tampa's streets, adrenaline and anger fueling their reckless adventures. He wondered what they'd think of him now, standing on this field bathed in glory.
What if he had been slow on the draw and Boog had gotten the better of him? He thought of Kyrie, the news recently reaching his timeline. How many people were left bruised, bloodied and battered in his path to this exact moment, standing on top of the world? Was it all worth it?
“I told you!” Desmond’s voice cut through Kam’s trance as he engulfed him in his embrace, “A fucking natty bro! And we all know you won the Heisman for real!”
Kam managed a smile, grateful for the distraction from his spiraling thoughts. "Couldn't have done it without y’all man.”
As his teammates continued to celebrate around him, Kam felt a curious mix of emotions wash over him. Joy at their accomplishment, pride in how far he'd come, and a deep, aching sadness for all that he'd lost along the way.
Kam's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. Through the sea of navy and maize, he spotted Jamal pushing his way towards the field. Jamal's eyes were wide with excitement, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Kamaldeen!" Jamal shouted, bringing Kam in for a bear hug, “You did your thing, bro. You’re not done yet, though.”
Kam looked down at the object in Jamal’s hands, bringing a genuine smile to his face. They would have been proud of him. He had turned it around, Ann Arbor serving as the incubator and fostering bosom that he had been searching for since that fateful night. There was good in him, as long as there was good around him and he was desperate to hang on to it.
…
The roar of the crowd was deafening as Kam stepped up to the microphone. He took a deep breath, his eyes sweeping across the sea of faces before him.
"I want to start by thanking my family," Kam began, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands. "My mom, Macie, and my stepdad, Cory, my sister Anna - I know you're watching over me. To my dad, Kwame, my stepmom, Taylour and my little sister, Katie and my brother Manu - your love and support mean everything to me."
He paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "To my teammates, my brothers on and off the field - we did this together. Every grueling practice, every late-night film session, every moment of doubt and triumph - we shared it all. This victory is ours."
Kam's eyes found Coach Reeves in the crowd. "To our coaching staff, especially you, Coach. You saw something in me when I couldn't see it in myself. You pushed me to be better, not just as a player, but as a man. I can't thank you enough. The real Big Blue Nation, y’all took a chance on me when few people wanted to and y’all took those arrows and for that, I’m forever indebted to y’all."
The stadium erupted in cheers as Kam acknowledged the fans, their unwavering support a constant source of motivation throughout the season.
As the applause died down, Kam's voice softened. "And to Yassy..." He trailed off, emotion threatening to overwhelm him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he searched the crowd for her face. "Yassy, you've been my rock, my conscience, my heart. You've seen me at my worst and loved me anyway. You've helped me become the man I am today."
Kam's voice cracked as he continued, "Yassy, can you come up here, please?"
Yassy's eyes widened in surprise as she heard Kam call her name. She hesitated for a moment, looking around as if to confirm he was really asking her to join him on stage. Encouraged by the nods and smiles of those around her, she made her way through the crowd.
As Yassy approached, Kam felt his heart racing. The roar of the stadium seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of his pulse pounding in his ears. He watched her climb the steps, her curls bouncing with each movement, her brown eyes fixed on him with a mix of confusion and anticipation.
The stadium lights caught the delicate gold chain around her neck – the one he'd given her on their first anniversary. It glinted against her skin, a reminder of all they'd been through together.
Kam took her hand as she reached him, feeling the softness of her skin against his calloused palm. He could see the questions in her eyes, the slight furrow of her brow that always appeared when she was trying to read his intentions.
"Yassy," he began, his voice low and intimate despite the thousands of spectators. "When I met you, I was lost. Angry. Scared. You saw through all of that, saw the man I could be. You've been by my side through the darkest nights and the brightest days."
He squeezed her hand, drawing strength from her presence. "You've seen me stumble and fall, and you've helped me get back up every single time. You've celebrated my victories as if they were your own, and you've shouldered my defeats without complaint."
With trembling fingers, Kam turned around towards a staffer behind him and was handed a small velvet box. The crowd gasped collectively as he lowered himself to one knee, still holding Yassy's hand.
"Yasmine Charaf," he said, looking up at her with eyes full of love and hope, "you've been my teammate in this game of life and I want that to be a forever thing. Will you marry me?"
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salute to Kam
