Football: Michigan State

Larry Caper's dad: 'I can't go against my son'

David Goricki / The Detroit News

Larry Caper will be watching the Michigan State-Western Michigan game Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium with mixed emotions.

Caper, 49, played for WMU, where he led the Mid-American Conference in rushing 30 years ago. His son, Larry, now is a running back for the Spartans.

"I'm following my heart," Caper said while taking a short break from his work with the Battle Creek school district Wednesday afternoon. "I'll be cheering for green and white. I can't go against my son. Inside, I'm still brown and gold though.

"My time at Western Michigan was great. It was a great opportunity for me and I took advantage of it. I played after Jerome Persell and he took me under his wing. I led the nation in rushing for two games that year (1979). It was a great time for me."

Caper played for Elliott Uzelac at WMU, and led the MAC in rushing (844 yards) after Persell led it the previous three seasons. Caper had 2,449 career yards, eighth-best in school history.

Persell's son, Jerome Harrison, now is playing in the NFL for the Browns. Caper hopes his son gets the chance to play at the next level.

Caper admits he had dreams of playing in the NFL. He still wanted it to become reality in his mid-30s.

"I called Elliott and said I want to still go after my goal of playing in the NFL," Caper said, recalling a mid-'90s conversation. "I wanted to go to the combine. He told me 36 is the age when most backs are retired. He told me to put that same desire into someone else's life to fulfill their dream. He said that would be rewarding for me. It's absolutely true.

"... It's beautiful to see my son playing with that type of desire. I'm not living my life through him, but it's definitely been a blessing to watch him play."

Caper coached his son from rocket football through middle school. He coaches high school track at Battle Creek Central as well as middle school football.

"I'll never forget the first time he ran out of the tunnel for his first game," said Caper of watching his son play for MSU. "It was like, 'My son's playing college football.'

"I'll never forget that winning touchdown against Michigan in overtime. He had a couple of fumbles earlier in the game. To see him shake that off and then go off right tackle and score that touchdown it's a moment I'll never forget. I was like floating all over the stadium. To be able to correct that problem and have the coaches show that much confidence in him by sending him back out meant a lot."

And to think, Caper could have followed his father's footsteps and played at WMU. He rushed for 1,726 yards and scored 20 touchdowns his senior year at Battle Creek Central and had put the Broncos in his final five -- with Purdue, Notre Dame, Michigan and, of course, Michigan State.

"I know he's happy with his decision," said Larry Caper Sr., "and I'm very happy with it."

Now, he just hopes he gets to see his son play his alma mater. Larry Jr., 18, suffered a mild concussion in last Saturday's loss to Minnesota, and MSU coach Mark Dantonio opted against releasing a depth chart this week.

Dad doesn't know son's status.

david.goricki@detnews.com