The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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amazing. "Getting to meet all of the coaches and meet some of the most fantastic players that have come out of Michi- gan was pretty breathtaking." MAKING IT HAPPEN Make-A-Wish representative Jamie Sandys noted Loszewski's wish cen- tered on just knowing what it was like to be recruited by Michigan foot- ball. That was always his dad's team, and it became the family's program. On football Saturdays in the Lo- szewski household, you wear maize and blue — or you get out. Certain Ohio State rooters have been ushered from the premises when Saturday got serious. So the 18-year-old — whose leuke- mia is in remission — wanted just a taste of what it might be like to be a Wolverine. He received a banquet. "From the time we met him at 9 a.m., he's had players that served as his personal tour guides through- out the entire campus," Sandys said. "He's met with almost everyone at the executive level in the football department. He had a one-on-one meeting with coach Brady Hoke to discuss his recruitment, what they found interesting about him as a player and the skills he possesses. "He actually broke down some defensive schemes with the defen- sive coach, to talk about if he were to come what his role would look like and where he could benefit the team." A lunch break included a trip with players to Mr. Spots, the hallowed food hangout on State Street. Then came a visit to the stadium, and even a press conference. "The whole thing has been mind- blowing," noted Kristi Loszewski, Stephen's mother. "I think we're all going to go home and say, 'Did that really just happen to us?' It truly, truly has been a whirlwind. Every- thing they have done has just gotten better. "You get to a place where you just say, 'Can it really get better than this? Can it get much bigger?' We love the school, we love the program, and to meet everybody we have met today … just seals it." She paused before choking out the final words, beginning to cry. This truly was living a dream, amid an ongoing battle. The Make-A-Wish sojourn — which will be broadcast on ESPN as part of the "My Wish" series in July — began in early June. Loszewski entertained a rather physically imposing visitor in former Wolverine Jake Long. Long brought greetings from the Michigan football family to Grain Valley, and Loszewski couldn't be- lieve what was happening. "When they were able to bring Jake Long to my house, I left myself open to just about anything that could happen," he admitted. "Even then, it was pretty amazing. "It was really just a casual time. And it was amazing to have someone like Jake Long sitting in my house, talking football with me." Loszewski was going through a time when he needed a lift. He'd made three trips to the emergency