Rockford, MI. (WZZM) Former Rockford Ram Bryan Anderson is about to go where no NCAA football player has ever gone before. And he'll have a grand stage for his record-breaking catch.
The senior wide receiver of the Central Michigan Chippewas on Wednesday night caught a ten yard touchdown pass from Dan Lefevour in the first quarter against Ball State, the 25th touchdown catch of his collegiate career. And the 51st consecutive game in which Anderson has caught a pass. That ties him with two other players for the NCAA all-division record. "I guess we kind of anticpiated it," said Anderson's father Gordon Love. "He usually catches several passes each game." His mother Pam wasn't as sure. "I was worried when we first got there because I thought, 'throw him the ball, throw him the ball! Let him get a catch!' Then Dan finally threw him the ball and it was a touchdown."
Pam and Gordon have been regulars at Anderson's games throughout his CMU career. They've traveled to Arizona, Kansas, Georgia, and Kentucky among other places to see him play. And all the while, his consecutive games streak has grown. Next Friday, Anderson can take the record all to himself with his 52nd straight game with a catch. And it will be emotional. It will be Senior Day at Kelly-Shorts Stadium as the Chippewas face Northern Illinois for the MAC West title and a berth in the conference championship game. For Pam and Gordon, Bryan's career has gone by in a flash. Gordon recalled a conversation with the parents of Rockford native, CMU alum and current San Francisco 49'er Joe Staley. "They said, 'Enjoy it because it goes fast,' and that was when (Bryan) was like a freshman and we go, ' Yeah, we've got a lot of time,' but all of a sudden it's here and it's almost gone."
Win or lose against Northern Illinois, the Chips will head to their fourth straight bowl game. Mom Pam is hoping for a fourth straight trip to Detroit to play in the newly-renamed Little Caeser's Pizza Bowl. In whichever bowl the Chips land, it will be the end of brilliant college careers for quarterback Lefevour and his favorite receiver Anderson. And both will have left a permanent mark on the program's record books.
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