Baker’s Anderson picks Western Carolina
Ida Baker senior Mike Anderson gave a short speech in the school auditorium Tuesday before signing his Division I football scholarship with Western Carolina. His most prevailing words were: “Thank you.”
He directed them at just about everyone, including his family, his Bulldog teammates, the coaches and administration, as well as the school environment itself.
“Coach (Brian Conn) and the administration, my mom and dad, my friends, they all helped me,” Anderson said. “They kept me motivated and on track.”
It wasn’t a smooth journey for the 5-foot-9, 160-pounder, but over the past year he found the right fit at Baker High – a place where he could display his talent on the football field and focus more in the classroom.
It all came together, helping Anderson become the first Bulldog football player to sign a Division I scholarship. The Catamounts play in the Southern Conference of the Football Championship Subdivision, which includes Appalachian State.
Anderson was joined at the signing ceremony by his mother, Vanessa Alexander; father, Mike Anderson Sr., and grandmother, Martha McGriff.
“It’s obviously great for us to promote the school,” Conn said, “but to promote him to higher education and get that paid for is the main goal.”
Anderson’s football talent was obvious during his days of Pop Warner in Fort Myers. He decided not to play, though, during his freshman year of high school and had some problems with grades after that.
He attended South Fort Myers for half of his junior year, then moved to Cape Coral and enrolled at Ida Baker.
Anderson said the environment at Baker was an all-around better fit to achieve his goal.
“Playing Division I football was my goal since day one when I stepped on the high school field,” he said. “When I transferred to Ida Baker I got away from my friends. Being a young kid I realized you’re going to try to follow them and get into some trouble. When I moved to Cape Coral everything changed for me.”
His impact for the Bulldogs last year was felt in a variety of ways.
In a 35-28 win over Fort Myers, Anderson caught a touchdown pass and scored on a 39-yard fumble return to lead a second-half comeback.
He continued to be an explosive player at defensive back, wide receiver and kick returner, including five fumble recoveries and four receiving touchdowns. He is expected to play defensive back at Western Carolina, but there remains the possibility of playing some offense.
“We would’ve loved to have him for three or four years, but we’ll take the one year,” Conn said. “He was definitely our big playmaker.”