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Friday, April 26, 2013
1ST PICK
NFL DRAFT
FIRE UP FISHER Eric Fisher highest MAC player ever drafted
VICTORIA ZEGLER /PHOTO EDITOR
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and Central Michigan University left tackle Eric Fisher, right, hold Fisher’s new Kansas City Chiefs jersey after being selected as the number one pick Thursday night during the 2013 National Football League Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Fisher will join San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl tackle and CMU alum Joe Staley as the only players in school history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
‘Honestly, I had no idea I was going to Kansas City’
Stay up to date with Eric Fisher’s NFL journey on »cm-life.com
JOE STALEY SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS CHRIS KAMAN LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS CHRIS KNAPP CHICAGO WHITE SOX
NEW YORK — Eric Fisher said on Wednesday he thought he had a “really good chance of going No. 1 overall” to the Kansas City Chiefs. On Thursday night, it became a reality, being the first player to hear his name called at the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. “I’m really excited to be a Kansas City Chief,” Fisher said, trying to hold back his excitement. “What a dream come true and what an amazing opportunity this is for me. It’s hard to process right now what just happened, but I’m so excited to be a part of this organization.” The 6-foot-7, 306-pound offensive tackle said he was unaware the Chiefs would be drafting him until he received the phone call. “I think a lot of people knew more than I did,” he said. “When that phone rang, it was just so surreal. But, honestly, I had no idea I was going to Kansas City.” His mom, who has never fallen short of giving him full
support, could not hold back the tears when she heard her son’s name called. “I think I saw some tears there,” Fisher said. “I knew she was probably going to cry, but she’s been my biggest supporter for everything in my life. She’s been behind me in everything I wanted to do in life and sacrificed so much to help me get here. She’s worked for 33 years, so hopefully she’ll retire now.” Fisher said he cannot wait to be able to help her out and return the favor. “She’s getting up at five in the morning to go to work and coming home at four,” Fisher said. “I’m so happy to have the opportunity to let her just enjoy the rest of her life.” Fisher is the first Mid-American Conference player to be drafted first overall and only the second Chippewa to go in the first round. “Not only for CMU, but for the whole MAC conference, I think it shows we’re making a name for ourselves,” Fisher said. “Central Michigan has a lot of guys in the league right now, and I’m the next one. I just hope the program can grow from all of this.” A FISHER | 7A
DAN MAJERLE PHOENIX SUNS
By Ryan Zuke Staff Reporter
ALL-TIME TOP CMU PROFESSIONAL DRAFT PICKS w NFL - JOE STALEY, OFFENSIVE TACKLE 2007 FIRST-ROUND 28TH OVERALL, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Staley was the first CMU football player selected in the first round of the NFL draft. He has helped lead San Francisco to the 2012 NFC Championship game and 2013 Super Bowl. w NBA- CHRIS KAMAN, CENTER 2003 FIRST-ROUND SIXTH OVERALL, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Kaman is the highest-drafted basketball player in CMU history. Picked by the struggling Clippers, Kaman has had a successful NBA career, named to the 2010 Western Conference All-Star and helped lead the Clippers to the postseason in the 2005-06 season. w MLB - CHRIS KNAPP, PITCHER 1975 FIRST-ROUND 11TH OVERALL, CHICAGO WHITE SOX Knapp is the only pitcher taken in the first round of the MLB draft in CMU history. In his career, Knapp had a 36-32 record with an ERA of 4.99 in 604.1 innings pitched. His career finished in the minor leagues in 1983. w NBA - DAN MAJERLE, SMALL FORWARD 1988 FIRST-ROUND 14TH OVERALL, PHOENIX SUNS Majerle had a career in the NBA that culminated in his No. 9 being retired by the Suns, who he played for from 1988-95 and again 2001-02. During his professional career, Majerle 10,925 points (11.4 per game) and played on three all-star teams.
On
Twitter Joe Staley @jstaley74 So pumped for @Big_Fish79 right now. Congrats big man now get to work!! Jamaal Charles @jcharles25 Nice to have @Big_Fish79 blocking for me! Good pick #ChiefsNation JJ Watt @JJWatt Fire Up Chips #CMU
Jeff Daniels @Jeff_Daniels Congratulations to fellow Chippewa Eric Fisher! #CMU #DraftDay Antonio Brown @AntonioBrown84 CMU #1 added to fye ! #fb Dwayne Bowe @DwayneBowe82 Congrats to Eric Fisher @Big_Fish79 newest member of the KC Chiefs ... Lets do work #kcchiefs #nfldraft