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Dearborn man returns home after winning 'Big Brother 10'

By Laura Hipshire, Press & Guide Newspapers

PUBLISHED: October 8, 2008

Dearborn - Dan Gheesling knew Big Brother was watching him for 71 days, but in the back of his mind, he was also acutely aware of the fact his students from St. Mary's Preparatory School in Orchard Lake were watching, too. So he, in turn, kept his cool in the house.

"What you saw on Big Brother was an accurate representation of me," Gheesling said.

Dan's mother, Sue Gheesling, watched the show religiously and followed updates on the Internet with her family.

"I knew whatever he was doing, he was doing for a reason," she said. "Everything was well thought out ... not impulsive."

His mother said the one thing that "warmed her heart" most was reading her son's "Head of Household" blog while in the house, particularly these words:

"Big Brother has given me the opportunity to do things I never thought possible, which includes acting like a kid again, and I am taking that and running with it," Gheesling wrote.

"Dan is always so controlled and level-headed," Sue Gheesling said. "It was so nice to see him running around the house and being silly, and acting like a kid."

Gheesling, who won more than a half-million dollars as the winner of CBS' reality TV show, Big Brother, is now back in Dearborn and is still trying to adjust to life outside the house.

"It's been overwhelming," he said. "When you get out, your whole world changes...the psychological adjustment was huge."

A few days after his win, Gheesling, his fellow Big Brother houseguests, production staff, former cast members, family, friends, and fans all gathered on a CBS lot for a "wrap party."

Gheesling said he went around to every Big Brother 10 houseguest and shook their hands - most everyone obliged, except for one (he'd rather not say who). [IRHNI note: Dan was asked this in the chat, and he again declined to answer, but Memphis made the Jessie 'fart' noise, so I assume that's who it was.]

He gave these one- (or two) word descriptions of a few of his fellow houseguests:

Renny: "Crazy and compassionate."

Julie Chen: "Gracious."

Memphis: "Loyal."

Jerry: "Experienced."

Keesha: "Warm-hearted."

Gheesling said living in the Big Brother house afforded him a very unique opportunity to meet people from all sorts of different backgrounds.

"It was a tremendous educational experience," he said.

Of his win, Gheesling said "there's a lot of luck involved."

After he found out he was cast on the show, Gheesling said he didn't do a lot of extra physical training (he already did a lot of running around the streets of Dearborn), but he did do some studying.

"I studied old seasons of 'Big Brother', much like a student would to prepare for a test," he said.

One thing he observed was the importance of "people staying true to themselves." Those who constantly sought confrontation and acted irrationally, he noted, were the ones who didn't last very long in the house.

As for those who enter the Big Brother house with a pre-existing relationship, "It better be pretty strong," Gheesling said.

"I was constantly thinking 'how is she (girlfriend Monica) doing?'" he said. "Monica has been extremely supportive."

Besides being tough emotionally, Big Brother players must also be strong physically. Some of the physical challenges involved staying in one position for long periods of time.

For Gheesling, the "hanging on the vine" challenge was the toughest.

"My legs were numb...my right foot was numb," he said.

Gheesling's quick thinking prompted him to make a deal with the only other houseguest still hanging at the time, Ollie - and it worked. Gheesling became "Head of Household" (the most coveted position in the house) and could finally drop from the vine.

Gheesling said he is still in close touch with several houseguests, especially Memphis, his fellow "Renegade." The two often call and text each other, and are currently preparing to do an interview on the Internet regarding their upcoming "Renegade" clothing line.

Although he originally planned to return to his teaching job at St. Mary's last month, Gheesling said he spoke to his boss and it was agreed he would start back in six more weeks - at the start of a new semester.

"Decompressing from the house is taking a little longer than I thought," he said. Gheesling is back to coaching football though, and the kids were excited to have him back.

Initially, they had a lot of questions for him about Big Brother.

"I asked them 'Is this going to help us beat Brother Rice (their opponent last week)?' "I didn't want it (Big Brother) to be a distraction to the team," Gheesling said. He answered some of their questions and then they got back to the game, and won, 31-28. Although some tried to call him by his first name, he said he immediately told them, "It's Coach Gheesling."

"As a teacher, Dan is very strict and stern," his mother said.

Gheesling, a lifelong resident of Dearborn and graduate of Divine Child High School, said everyone in his hometown has been tremendously supportive.

"I just received a letter from Councilwoman Nancy Hubbard," he said. "It said, 'You made Dearborn proud'."

Gheesling said he hopes he can use his celebrity status to help others.

"If I can brighten up someone's day with an e-mail or a phone call, I will," he said. He's open to appearing at any local charity events or fundraisers to help those in need, especially in Dearborn.

Would he ever consider doing another reality show?

"Maybe...I don't know," he said. "My goals in life haven't changed - there are a lot of opportunities for me out there." Lately, Gheesling has been doing a lot of press interviews, including "The Bonnie Hunt Show," and most recently appeared as a guest on WRIF radio station.

Anyone who would like to follow Gheesling's career, read his blog, etc. can do so by visiting his My Space Web site at: www.myspace.com/ghees.