Central Michigan University Athletics
Dumont Jumps At Opportunities
8/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 30, 2001
Imagine a 6-6, 315-pound man strapped to a bungee cord, bouncing below a bridge 250-feet high and over whitewater rapids.
Meet senior Eric Dumont (St. Clair Shores/South Lake) who was vacationing with his family this past summer in Pennsylvania.
"We go every summer. It's a big trip with my family," the Chippewa offensive tackle said. "My two younger brothers and I usually get a couple guys from the team to go, too." Only Eric and his brothers jumped. "The other guys chickened out," he said.
The Dumont family lived in Michigan, and then moved to Texas for five years. Growing up in several rural areas of Austin, Pasadena and Houston, Eric and his brothers entertained themselves by riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers. The Dumont's moved back to Michigan as part of a career move.
Eric was a freshman in high school his first year back to Michigan, and had never played organized football. "Football is big in Texas, but we never played," he said. "We lived out in the rural areas."
On the field, his nose is to the grindstone with a winning attitude, and off the field, Eric is serious about having fun. He's developed a sarcastic sense of humor and an easy-going spirit in traveling and moving to new situations.
"I'll go anywhere and do anything," Dumont said. "I'd love to live in Boston and have my own company building houses and residential areas. I have a lot of friends who went to Central that live in Boston. I love it out East."
Many of his friends are spread out across the country pursuing jobs. "I've been to Pennsylvania, New York, out West and East," Dumont said. "My favorite place is wherever they are. As long as we're having fun together."
Eric has many circles of friends and finds interesting ways to spend time away from the field. He lives with three other roommates who are not involved in athletics. "We're very tight in our own way," he said. "This summer we played a lot of Tiger Woods (video game) and Frisbee-golf. In the winter, we go to ski jumps, go sledding, hang out, play ice hockey and play lots of euchre."
With the offensive line, a closer bond exists. "We're always hanging out, we're always together, we're never apart really," Dumont said. "After lunch, we'll go and play euchre and watch TV. Seinfeld is at 7 o'clock. We know what's going on in each other's lives, we're pretty much a brotherhood. That's what sets us off aside from other units."
His teammates have become special to him over the years. "The offensive line is a unit. The guys I came in with stress working hard, and realizing that we have to have fun and step back and look at it as a game. We need to enjoy what we're doing and appreciate it."
In his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, time is spent working for different philanthropies such as the Cancer Society and domestic violence awareness. "It's my release from football. I spread my time out quite a bit, but I'm good at balancing it," Dumont said. He joined the fraternity as a sophomore after being introduced to it by friends who were also in the group.
Grades are not affected by all of the responsibilities in this busy senior's life. Dumont realizes the appropriate times to take life more serious. He holds a 3.32 grade point average striving for excellence in the classroom.
"I find that I try to excel as best as I can," he said. "Academics play a big part in my life. Central has a great academic program here for athletes. It's incredible how the program is set up."
Making the decision to come to CMU was a rather easy one for Eric. "I was recruited by a lot of MAC schools and a couple Big 10 schools," he recalled. "The coaches here are great. Central is a great campus. The coaches have made me a better person. They've taught me how to work hard for the things that you want."
During the season the senior doesn't follow a favorite NFL team or player. In fact, he tries not to watch football at all until the playoffs. "I don't watch football. I live it everyday. I get my fill of it. I like to watch hockey and basketball," he said. "My favorite CMU event last year was watching the men's basketball team. Our team went to most of the basketball games. The best event was watching us beat Western to a sold out crowd."
College is a life altering process for many students, but Eric Dumont adds it to the list of his journeys and experiences with ease. His willingness to try anything, sense of adventure and calm-and-cool personality will keep him busy for a while. His schedule and on-the-go life makes you want to say: "Hey, Eric, don't forget to look before you leap."
by Andrea Wieczorek
Sports Information Intern
