Ernie Bock, #16: Shamrocks All About Perseverance

Detroit Catholic Central High School students and alumni love the school, and the football parents love and support their Shamrocks. While the team played on the field, Patch went into the stands to tell the stories of the parents who help make everything possible. 

Name: Ernie Bock

Hometown: Novi

Second-generation talent: Bock, a former University of Michigan walk-on football player, said that he has a deep understanding of what it took for the team to get to the state finals. "This team is all about perseverance, whether it's on the road, in the locker room, or on the field. Coaches, captains, all the way down the roster." 

No love lost: Does a parent from a team in the ever-present Detroit Catholic Central League — including powerhouses Brother Rice and St. Mary's, who each beat the Shamrocks this season — feel a sense of pride when other teams do well? Bock seemed coy in his reply: "It's neat to see the Catholic League do well, because their success validates this run. But we'll be sure to get them back next year, just the same."

Check out other Shamrocks in the Crowd:

•  'There's Only One Game'
•  Thinking of Sal Cipriano
•  It's What You Don't Do Wrong
•  Always Been the Underdogs
•  'It's About the Team'
•  'It's Been a Long Road to Ford Field'

To read more about these dedicated parents, check out the Shamrocks in the Crowd on Patch.