Chargerblue Space is waiting

Chargerblue Space is anxiously awaiting all of the pictures you took at today's big win over St. Joe's.

This is the official/unofficial place to pool and share all of the shots taken this season.

Thanks to all who have already contributed, especially Doug Waldie who even sent us live shots during the game.

Chargerblue Space is located at chargerbluespace.ning.com.

Hillsdale.edu: Charger football team pummels Pumas in season opener, 49-6

Charger football team pummels Pumas in season opener, 49-6

Hillsdale College release
(photo nabbed by Chargerblue.com from AJ Kegg's Facebook page, thanks AJ in advance)

August 30, 2008 - After a 2007 season that saw the Hillsdale College football team set record after record, it was only fitting that the Chargers would open the 2008 season picking up where they left off.

The Hillsdale offense set a school record with 37 first downs in a dominant 49-6 opening-day victory over St. Joseph’s College at Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Chargers will hit the road for their GLIAC opener next week at Michigan Tech University.

Hillsdale scored on five of its first six possessions and operated its offense with near-flawless execution. In addition to its record 37 first downs, the Charger defense limited the Pumas to just two first downs for the entire game. St. Joseph’s first two plays of the first half went for negative yardage, and its first three plays of the second half resulted in an interception and two sacks.

In its past two home openers, including the 2007 game vs. Gannon, Hillsdale has outscored the opposition by a combined score of 108-9.

Full Release

Podcast Up for Week 1

The 2008 season kicks off with a visit by the St. Joe's Pumas.

This week we hear from one of the little Charger fans about what she loves so much about Muddy Waters Stadium. She even gives us some picks.

New athletic director Don Brubacher makes his Chargerblue.com debut



Click to listen. August 29, 2008: Let's Go Already!

D2football.com: Tony Nicolette's Weekly Column

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
August 26th, 2008

Ahh, yet another season is upon us. It's hard to believe that Spring Ball ended just four short months ago. Well, now we're all in for the real thing and we've probably all been chomping at the bit for longer than we care to think about. So, let's get right to it!

New Region Alignment

With the North Central Conference (NCC) disbanding, the NCAA shifted things around a bit. In order to maintain a certain "balance" within the Northwest Region, the RMAC joins the GLIAC and the NSIC. While that seems great for us here in the Northwest, the NCAA proceeded to create a complete mess of its other three Regions - especially in the Northeast and Southwest (be sure to read Bob Eblen's National Columns for more insight into that). Nevertheless, the GLIAC now finds itself as the undisputed "power" conference within the Northwest Region. In previous years, there had always been a perceived gap between the GLIAC and the NCC. While that perception certainly could have been argued a couple of different ways (and frankly doesn't matter any longer), most would not consider the Northern Sun or the Rocky Mountain conferences to be quite on par with the GLIAC - whether comparing the top-tier teams, or the overall depth of the leagues.

For a bit of reference, some of the more recognizable NSIC teams are Winona State, Bemidji State, and Minnesota-Duluth. The conference is made up of teams from the upper Great Plains (Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas), and includes a few of the remnants of the NCC.

Some names from the RMAC include Chadron State, Mesa State, and Adams State. These are primarily teams from the Rocky Mountain geography (go figure - Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico), and they move from the Southwest Region into the Northwest.

In simplest terms, the Region basically exchanged one conference for another. The NCC disbanded with North Dakota and South Dakota moving to Division I and Nebraska-Omaha joining the MIAA. The RMAC steps in, but to this point certainly does not possess the rich football tradition that the NCC did. While Chadron State and Mesa State both made the playoffs last year, they both face significant challenges this year that make returns to last year's form anything but guaranteed (peek into Allan Bryning's RMAC column for more details).

While both conferences have some teams that are expected to make some noise later in the season, most don't associate their schedules as possessing the week-in/week-out grind of the GLIAC. As you've certainly heard from me and the coaches before, the GLIAC is pitfall-laden and there are rarely any "gimmes". Add to that the fact that neither of those conferences fund their programs with scholarships to the same level as most GLIAC members, and I won't be the least bit surprised to see two GLIAC teams playing for the Regional Championship over Thanksgiving Weekend.

New Conference Alignment

Gannon and Mercyhurst go from the easternmost schools in their old conference (the GLIAC), to the westernmost schools (well, darn close anyway) in their new conference: the PSAC. I stated last year that I think both schools have the chance to fair a bit better on a weekly basis this year, as the top-to-bottom depth of the PSAC falls short of that in the GLIAC.

Getting us back to an even number of teams playing football in the GLIAC is the addition of Tiffin University of Tiffin, Ohio. The Dragons have spent the past few seasons playing predominantly as an independent. They were members of the GLFC, but the NCAA presently does not recognize that group as a conference in football due to an insufficient number of members.

While Tiffin has played a few GLIAC teams (with some success) in recent years, chances are they'll likely find the sledding a bit tougher when facing this caliber of team on a weekly basis. We'll talk more about that in a bit. For now, a hearty welcome to the Dragons into the GLIAC Family.

Full Column (8/26/08)
Clicking this link later in the season will take you to Tony's most recent column, as pieces are not archived.

GLIAC.org: Top 25 Matchup Between Ashland and Bloomsburg Highlights this Week's Action

Eight GLIAC teams will be in action this weekend, making their 2008 season debut.

This weekend's schedule features all non-conference games. The first is Thursday, Aug. 28 when Indianapolis travels to play Kentucky Wesleyan in an 8 pm game.

The big matchup for the weekend, though, is when No. 25 Bloomsburg (Pa.) visits No. 15 Ashland Saturday in a battle of top 25 teams.

Tiffin plays a non-conference contest at home against fellow GLIAC member Ferris State. Other games involving GLIAC teams include: former GLIAC member Mercyhurst (Pa.) playing at Wayne State, Winona State (Minn.) traveling to Michigan Tech, Hillsdale hosting St. Joseph's (Ind.), and Findlay playing at Urbana (Ohio).

Idle Grand Valley State sits at No. 2 in the AFCA D-II Coaches Preseason Poll. The Lakers, Northwood, Northern Michigan, and Saginaw Valley State will all begin their seasons on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Full Week 1 Preview

University of Indianapolis: Rush Offense Key in Convincing Opening Win

Indianapolis 40 - Kentucky Wesleyan 14

University of Indianapolis Release

OWENSBORO, Ky.- The Greyhound rushing attack piled-up 418 yards along the ground to lead the visitors past Kentucky Wesleyan, 40-14 at Bullet Wilson Field in the season opener Thursday night. The Hounds ran early and often, with two backs going over the century mark in rushing-- senior Craig Jenkins (132 yards) and redshirt freshman Deontrai Campbell (127).

Campbell put UIndy (1-0 overall) up 7-0 virtually by himself, taking the handoff five straight times in the Hounds' first drive, culminating in a 9-yard run for the score. After a KWC (0-1) missed field goal, Campbell and Jenkins teamed to rush for 71 more yards, setting up true freshman Rob Doyle's 1-yard run for a 14-0 Greyhound advantage.

Full Story and Box Score

Hillsdale College Release: FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Chargers open 2008 season with non-league home game vs. St. Joseph's College

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Chargers open 2008 season with non-league home game vs. St. Joseph's College

Hillsdale College Release

Teams meet for first time since Sept. 16, 1995
August 26, 2008 - A highly anticipated college football season kicks off in Hillsdale Saturday afternoon, as the Hillsdale College Chargers host the St. Joseph's College Pumas in the opening game of the 2008 season.

For the second year in a row, the Chargers open a season at home, and this is a season many Charger fans are excited about. In 2007, Hillsdale put together its finest season this decade, going 8-3 while shattering many offensive school records in the process.

But 2007 is history, and the group of players making up the 2008 roster are determined to keep Hillsdale near the top of the GLIAC standings. They take their first step towards that end Saturday.

This marks the first meeting between Hillsdale and St. Joseph's College since Sept. 16, 1995. The teams met each season from 1990-1995, when both were mebers of the short-lived Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIFC). The MIFC formed when the GLIAC dropped football as a conference after the 1989 season. The GLIAC re-formed as a football conference starting with the 1996 campaign.

Hillsdale is 6-2 all-time vs. St. Joseph's, and the two teams split their most recent two meetings. The Pumas edged the Chargers 29-27 in 1994. One year later, Hillsdale exacted revenge in the form of a 49-0 victory.

This year's Charger squad is deep, fast and experienced, with 15 starters returning from last year's successful group. One player who will be making his first collegiate start Saturday is sophomore quarterback Troy Weatherhead.

Armed with a strong throwing arm and two years' worth of knowledge of the Charger system, Weatherhead comes into this season very well prepared to guide a Hillsdale offense that has plenty of experience around him.

Full Article

D2football.com Names Veldheer, Korte, Patillo All-Americans

The Division II football publication I respect the most, and no it is not because they publish my stuff once in a while, has tabbed Hillsdale OT Jared Veldheer and LB Tom Korte as first-team preseason All-Americans.

Charger tight end Matt Patillo was named to the second team offense.

Full team online here.

D2football.com: First Look at the Pumas

Dave Blykowski is D2football.com's Independent school columnist and offers up an exclusive look at Hillsdale's opponent this week, The Pumas of St. Joseph's College. When I mean exclusive, I mean exclusive. St. Joe's doesn't even have a roster posted on the school website let alone a media guide to download.

Dave has SJC ranked as his #6 independent.

6. Saint Joseph's Pumas (4-7, 3-2 GLFC in 2007)

Rensselaer, Indiana

Coach: Lou Esposito (19-14 in 3 seasons)

Returning Starters: 15 (8 offense, 7 defense)

Offense: Probably the best QB in the history of Saint Joseph's football, Anthony Lindsey, has graduated, and with nobody else getting experience last season, it will be up to a new face to take snaps for the Pumas. Possible candidates include sophomores Nick Keim, Marquise Brown and Matthew Kramer as well as incoming freshman Mike Hladik, on whom Coach Esposito is very high. RB Greg Ford has also graduated, but sophomore Jashon Banks (530 yards, 5 TD) should be able to step up and take his place with possible support from junior Terrence Freeman (52 yards, 2 TD). Mack Ogletree (396 yards, 3 TD) is the lone returning starter among WRs with junior Andre London (115 yards) possibly earning a starting job. One favorite target could be TE Michael Cochran (192 yards), who returns for his junior year. Six players could be rotated in as starters on the offensive line: seniors Addison Bowman and Lee Shaver, junior Mitch Dean, and sophomores Wes Schroder, Steve Foster, and John Brasch.

Defense: Saint Joseph's, for the last two seasons, has typically run a nickel defense as its standard, but that could be difficult this season. Two of the starting DL positions should go to junior Devin DuBose (50 TT, 11 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) and sophomore Grevin Fields (37 TT, 8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks). The third starter could be either junior William McKenzie (11 TT, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks) or sophomore Kellen Mackin (12 TT, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks). Two of last year's LBs remain in seniors Rob Perricone (50 TT, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) and Payne Schoen (69 TT, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks). Both starting cornerbacks from last season have graduated, but sophomore safety David Wallace (57 TT, 3 TFL, 3 INT, 1 fumble recovery) is still around. Several players got experience at safety last season, and the leading candidates for starting jobs look to be sophomore Deshon McClendon (37 TT, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 2 forced fumbles), sophomore James Wyatt (27 TT, 0.5 TFL, 1 fumble recovery), and junior Shane Powell (24 TT, 0.5 TFL, 1 fumble recovery).

Special Teams: Senior Michael Binder (4-11, 32-37 PAT, 35.5 punt average) should return as the starting kicker and punter in 2008.

Schedule: The Pumas have their work cut out for them this year with only three home games on the schedule: non-conference tilts with Kentucky State (Sept. 6) and Fairmont State (Oct. 18) and the season finale against GLFC foe Central State (Nov. 8). A season opening trip to Hillsdale (Aug. 30) could be tough while trips to Virginia State (Sept. 13) and Lake Erie (Sept. 20) could produce wins. The last game of a four game road trip, a visit to Missouri S&T (Oct. 4), could be the de facto GLFC championship.

Prognosis: This could be a very difficult year for Saint Joseph's. Key players that helped make the offense run in 2007 have departed, and there's very little depth in some other positions. There are new offensive and defensive coordinators following last year's disappointing campaign. The schedule is unkind with seven of the Pumas' ten games being on the road. I don't see this team being able to win the GLFC in 2008, and anything better than a 5-5 record should be a huge success in Rensselaer.

Read the full column online at D2football.com

Important Information from Hillsdale Parents Group

Informational Letter to Charger Parents

Clothing Order Form

Button Order Form

Post Game Mixer Set for Saturday

From Mary Veldheer and the Hillsdale Football Parents Group:

Parents, Players, Family Members, Staff and Charger Supporters,



Next Saturday after the St. Joe game we will be gathering at the "Time-Out" for a victory celebration. The "Time-Out " is a new lounge that just opened. You are all invited. Coach Otterbein has arranged for a "back room" for us. The location is next to the Days Inn Motel and there will be signs directing you where to go once you arrive at the parking lot.

It will start around 5:30 - 6 pm and you don't need a reservation. Just come if you can. There will be cold food (chips and salsa, cheese cubes, mixed nuts, and veggies) and hot food (cocktail wieners, chicken setae, and beef setae) and deserts (charger blue cheesecake squares) all free of charge. There will be water provided free. All other drink can be purchased separately.

For those of you who would like heartier food, you can order from a full menu in the front dining room. All the restaurant staff will be dressed in Charger shirts!

So come join the party and if we all find this a success, we would do it in the future! Let's make this next Saturday a great success all the way around!

And Now a Word from our Sponsor

Introducing Chargerblue Space

Chargerblue Space is a brand new network on Ning that allows you to build your own online home for Hillsdale College Football and share it with the rest of us bleeding Charger Blue.

When you join Chargerblue Space you are given your own blog, a comment wall, and tons of room to share your Hillsdale football pictures and videos.

You can even send those pics and videos directly from your cell phone as you shoot them at a game or while tailgating. Everyone gets their own free email address for sending stuff instantly.

As digital cameras have grown in popularity over the years, fans are always asking me to post pictures in one central place for everyone to see. Now with Chargerblue Space, we can all use one common free space and it can be easily accessed by all Charger fans.

Use Chargerblue Space as much or as little as you like. There is no pressure to maintain lots of updates. Just add stuff to share and keep up with other fans enjoying the season.


Visit Chargerblue Space

Hillsdale Ink

Davignon Nominated for All State - AFCA Good Works Team

While a handful of Chargers are making noise as selections to pre-season All-American teams for on-the-field success, Hillsdale College offensive lineman Phil Davignon is being recognized for what he does away from the football field.

Davignon, a 6' 7" 300 pound senior from Ypsilanti is one of 26 nominees vying for 11 spots on the Division 1AA through NAIA Good Works Team sponsored by All State insurance and The American Football Coaches Association.

According to a release from All State today, the award recognizes players who stand out amongst their peers in terms of charitable and community involvement.

Through a partnership announced this week, Allstate has teamed with the AFCA to honor the college football players whose involvement with charitable organizations and community service contributions stand out among the more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year collegiate institutions. From among the 71 nominations submitted by sports information directors on behalf of their team, a special selection committee assembled by the AFCA and Allstate will select two 11-player Good Works Teams(R) - one composed of players competing in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) and a combined team representing players competing in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III, and the NAIA.

Davignon is the only GLIAC player nominated.

When asked what types of activities Phil was involved in, he listed an impressive slate of involvement, "Coach Otterbein nominated me last spring for the Good Works Team, while at Hillsdale I've been involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Salvation Army youth program. I've also volunteered at Hillsdale Preparatory Academy and I've helped out with the youth group at my church, St. Anthony's."

The complete release and list of players nominated is available to read here.

NFL Draft Bible Tabs 3 Chargers as All-Americans

More pre-season love for the Chargers, and this time it comes from one of the most respected sources in D2 football.

Josh Buchanan, pro prospect writer for D2football.com and small school specialist for the NFL Draft Bible has named tackle Jared Veldheer and linebacker Tom Korte to his pre-season Division II All-American first team. Hillsdale tight end Matt Patillo is a second teamer.

Full List

Coaches pick Hillsdale 5th

The 2008 pre-season GLIAC coaches’ poll is out and the Chargers are starting to garner a little bit more respect.

Hillsdale is picked to finish 5th as voted by the league head coaches. The Chargers tied Michigan Tech in the poll revealed this afternoon in Frankenmuth.

Head Coach Keith Otterbein and the other coaches addressed the media once the results were shared by GLIAC director of media relations Jeff Ligney.

“We’re very excited about our football team,” Otter said. “This is the most speed and athletic ability we have had here since I arrived.”

“Defensively, we have one of the premier defensive players in the league in Tom Korte who is heading into his senior year. He and Eric Weber are going to drive our defense. We have a big void to fill in the fact that we lose league MVP Mark Nicolet. If we can replace him with a guy who can just do his job, we feel like we are going to be a good football team and Troy Weatherhead is the leading candidate to take over that position. We have a good core in Tight End Matt Patillo, and four wide receivers: AJ Kegg, Andre Holmes, Mike Blanchard, and guy who scored 18 touchdowns last season, Aaron Waldie.”

Otterbein went on to talk about the returning offensive linemen Jared Veldheer, Phil Davignon, and Josiah Swartz as key ingredients up front. He finished saying he is very excited to have the kids return on Thursday.

I did record Otter’s comments, but I learned that I shouldn’t type while recording. Instead of hearing the Charger coach, you mainly hear me banging on the keyboard.

No shocker in that Grand Valley was once again voted #1. Ashland followed at #2 and Saginaw Valley was 3rd. Northwood gained the #4 spot.
The rest of the poll is as follows:
7. Ferris State
8. Indy
9. WSU
10. NMU
11. Findlay
12. Tiffin

Dead Blogging: GLIAC Media Day

Well, I went to GLIAC Media Day in Frankenmuth and tried my best to bring it to you live.

Due to wifi issues, I wasn't able to pull off my first attempt at using Coveritlive.com.

Oh well, here is my set of raw notes from the day.

GLIAC

Tom Brown opens.
10 game schedule, no open dates, 6 games per weekend
New alignment : RMAC, NSC, GLIAC, Independents, should open more playoff opportunities for league schools.

New rule: Earned access changes to top 8 instead of top 10 in regional rankings.

League SID Jeff Ligney reveals polling results:
12. TU
11. UF
10. NMU
9. WSU
8. Indy
7. FSU
5. HC/MTU
4. NU
3. SVSU
2. AU
1. GVSU

Tiffin: Wikoski, media probably knows more about our kids than I do. 30 seniors with a chance to be winningest group of Tiffin players ever.
Matt Rue, 5th year senior QB, Deshawn Edwards WR

Findlay: Waufford, 6-1 out of conference, but still trying to be a team that conference teams worry about. 6 seniors, very young. Depth will be key.

NMU: Bernie Anderson “After being picked 10th, all I have to do is finish 9th and my AD will be happy.” Freddie Wells is one of the best receiver in the conference. Randy Awrey will help NMU be a better defense.

WSU: Paul Winters “You can talk all you want about the league being tough, but we didn’t hold up our end of the bargain.” Joique Bell is up 225 pounds and Darrell Graham pushes him every day. Sophomore receivers have grown up and should help us a lot.

Indy: Joe Polizzi, Proud and excited to be part of the best Division II conference in the country. Anything can happen in this league. Every year there is a story about a team that people pick low in the poll but knock on the door and make it to the playoff. Leonard Bush is a guy at linebacker who can make things happen. Maxwell Frempong moves to OLB from Safety. 4 starters return on the offensive line. Injured guys return.

Ferris State: Jeff Pierce, 11 opportunities to improve over last season. Thanks the media for supporting all of the teams. 100th year of football. We have high expectations. 40 guys have stayed all summer to work out together. New faces on the staff. Eric Rozinski at QB had a great spring but with 3 guys right on his heels. Defense will be the strength. Jake Visser, 1st team All-American at Dline enters final season.

MTU: Tom Kearly, excited about 08 team, 6 seniors, 5 returners on offense. Very athletic but young on defense. A lot of red shirt freshmen playing in the secondary.

HC: Most speed and talent since returning to Hillsdale. Defense will be strong suit. Korte and Eric Weber must make the defense go. Big void with Nicolet but need to replace Mark with someone who can do their job, not be Nicolet. Weatherhead is the leading candidate. Great receiving corp. Jared Veldheer leads the offensive line.

NU: Mike Sullivan, excited to represent Northwood. 4 senior offensive line that are foundation type players. 9 defensive starters.

SVSU: Jim Collins, excited about the new challenge. Feels he inherited a good football team. Recruited coaches and kids that can are up to the challenge of playing at this level. Lots of competition at a lot of positions should help. Strong defense with 8 starters and a lot of other guys who played a lot of football. 4 out of 5 offensive linemen.

Ashland: Lee Owens, 2nd place recognizes what we did last year. We had a special year. Should be able to score a lot of points. “We lost a lot of guys on defense and that might be a good thing with the way we played on defense.” Excited to play Bloomsburg, a good out of conference PSAC team.

GVSU: Chuck Martin, lost some good players off a great football team. Excited about the nucleus we have returning. Lost both coordinators and the offensive line coach. Skuta and Richard up front should help the defense a ton. Smolen and Breziek back on offense. 3 linemen anchored by Eisenhart at center. Iciek: super smart, super savvy, great person. Get through this league you can play with anybody in the country.
New GLIAC.org will relaunch soon. Presto sports will provide live stats.

RJ Walters Gets Inside the Hiring of Don Brubacher

Here is a great article compiled by RJ Walters of the Hillsdale Daily News on the hiring of Don Brubacher as Hillsdale's newest athletic director. RJ talks to a former player and colleague to learn more about he man who will lead Hillsdale College Athletics for the foreseeable future.

By RJ Walters, Sports Editor
Hillsdale Daily News
Posted Aug 01, 2008 @ 08:00 PM
Hillsdale, Mich. —

Don Brubacher is using words like “marvelous” “extraordinary” and “blessing” to describe Hillsdale College—and rightfully so considering where he’s been and where he’s headed.

Hillsdale College President Arnn announced the appointment of Brubacher as the new director of athletics Wednesday, filling the void left by the departure of former Chargers AD Mike Kovalchik earlier this year.

Brubacher, a native of Hesston, Kan., has a 30-year track record of success at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. (NAIA D-II) where he held many roles including the AD chair for the past nine years, but late last year Tabor decided to realign his role and take away some of his duties of strictly overseeing the athletic department.

Read full article

Waldie Welcomes the Challenge

When I went to Hillsdale, I spent my summer life guarding at a pool that very few people actually visited. It was perfect; start work at 10, eat sunflower seeds, invent your own version of homerun derby with a broken umbrella post and a tennis ball, and glance at the occasional piece of scenery that would always...oh enough of that. A lot of summer jobs are like that, or at least used to be like that. Charger wide receiver and last year's NCAA Division II football leader in touchdown catches (18) Aaron Waldie has taken a different route for his sales internship. Waldie is selling cars this summer in the pre-owned section of a Toledo Volkswagen dealership.

"I am learning a lot," Aaron says. "Some of the guys I work with are the typical used car salesman if you know what I mean. I am nothing like that. It is tough, but you pick up things that work with your own personality."

Waldie found something that worked last season for Hillsdale. Few around the GLIAC or the nation for that matter knew much about Waldie other than he played on the opposite side of Charger receiver Nick Gurica. Gurica led the GLIAC in receptions in 2006 and most teams last year threw all they could at him last year. He still led the conference with 7.09 receptions per game but it was Waldie who emerged with an even bigger year. While teams will double covering Gurica, Waldie was exploiting the single covering and breaking all kinds of school records in the process. Aaron's 5 touchdown receptions against Findlay was a 2007 GLIAC single-game high, as was the accompanying 30 points. His 3 touchdowns against Gannon was the previous single game high. The 211 yards he gained receiving against Ashland was also the most for any GLIAC player last year.

Waldie knows that with Gurica's departure and all he accomplished last year, he won't be able to fly under the radar much this year. He fully expects to garner all of the same attention that Gurica did a year ago.

"Well, you have to expect that. I think I can use that to my advantage. I know what is coming. Because I know it is going to be harder, I have been working out and practicing doubly hard this summer. Before I lift, I go upstairs to the track and work a lot on starts and stance, trying to really perfect technique."

Not only does Waldie look forward to having the kitchen sink thrown at him. He is excited for his teammates and the opportunities that will create for them.

"AJ Kegg is going to start and play where I did last year. He should make a ton of catches. Then you have guys like (Andre) Holmes and Mike Blanchard...Matt Patillo at tight end is going to have a great year. Teams are going to have to put people on all of those guys so I will get my chances."

Waldie's freshmen arrival at Hillsdale was met with excitement mainly due to the pure speed he had demonstrated at Sylvaninia, Ohio's Southview High School in football and in track. According to reports, Aaron recorded the fastest 40 yard dash time at the University of Michigan's football camp the summer before his senior year. That is awfully impressive considering the Wolverine program always attracts some of the best athletes in the nation to its summer camp. Over the past 3 seasons, that speed has become more than legend as Waldie has wooed the GLIAC, and now it seems some NFL scouts are taking notice as well.

"That is the furthest thing from my mind right now, but I just want to keep playing football as long as I can," Aaron says.

Waldie and the rest of the Chargers get their chance to play some more football soon enough as they wrap up their last week of summer vacation and report to camp on August 7