BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Brandon Randle's situation sounds like a Sandra Bullock film: A high school football star taken in and living with his head coach and family and soon to play Division 1 football.
Brandon's friends jokingly call him "The Blind Side." But the outside linebacker for Battle Creek Central High School says life is more than just a movie. It's been his dream to play Division 1 football at Michigan State University, and, with the help of his coach and family, that dream is coming true.
"Well, it's not really 'The Blind Side,' but I try and chuckle it up a little bit," said Brandon.
Hailing from North Carolina, Brandon left home in eighth grade to live with his grandfather. When he attended Battle Creek Central, head coach Lorin Granger recognized Brandon's talent and passion for the sport as soon as he walked on the field.
"He was in that group freshman year, my first year as head coach," said Granger. "I really wanted to put all my effort into those freshmen and make sure they were as successful as can be."
Over the coming years, Brandon and Granger developed a close relationship.
During the summer between his sophomore and junior years, his grandfather was in a car accident. Brandon was felt he had to leave football and the team he considered a brotherhood, so he called his coach to tell him.
"After I talked with him, I hung up the phone, I went and told my wife what was happening," said Granger, and the first thing out of her mouth was, 'Why can’t he just stay with us?'"
Her offer was the beginning of a new relationship between Brandon and the Grangers as Brandon became a big brother to the Grangers' two children and began calling Mrs. Granger "Mamma-G." He has been with them two years.
"It's a real blessing, and I think God’s just looking down on me cause all this is just crazy," said Brandon.
Brandon is excited to represent the city of Battle Creek while playing for MSU next year, saying if it wasn't for his coach, friends, and family, this dream would only be just that a dream.
