Updated 3/4/09 South Carolina Linebacker Joins Incoming Recruit Class

6' 2", 220 pound inside linebacker Daniel Gaines from South Carolina's Hillcrest High School will wear the Charger Blue in the fall for Hillsdale.

Gaines is a 4 year varsity letterman, 2 time defensive captain and defensive MVP. He earned all-state recognition this past season.

Here is his highlight video from the 2007 as posted on You Tube.



Story from local paper in Greenville, SC

1982 and 1983 Seasons Now Available on DVD

Thanks to the hard work of Tom Kanka and other dedicated alumni and staff at Hillsdale College, all games from the 1982 and 1983 seasons are now available on DVD.

Game film was converted to the digital format and all of those memories are now available for purchase.

Contact davedevore@comcast.net or call 313-310-6520 for pricing and arrangements.

Chargers Pick up Wyandotte Roosevelt DE Zach Morelli

Hillsdale has added another defensive end to its 2009 recruiting class. 6'1", 210 pound Zach Morelli was named to the Detroit News All-West team and also picked up all-Downriver area honors. The biggest was first team Division 2 all-state.

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Adrian Daily Telegram: Local football stars sign on for college

Photo from Adrian Daily Telegram

Local football stars sign on for college
Scott McNeish
Adrian Daily Telegram
February 5, 2009


Steve Embry, K, Clinton: The Redskins’ star kicker warranted interest from a slew of Division I and II programs, but ultimately he received an convincing offer from Division II Hillsdale College.

“It’s an honor, really, because it’s an opportunity not that many people in our village get,” Embry said. “Not too many kids from our school play at that level. I’m honored to be one of them.”

Embry had offers from several other Division II schools, a preferred walk-on spot at the University of Michigan and had preliminary talks with Michigan State.

His other Division II offers included Grand Valley State, Findlay and Ashland. Division I-AA Cornell also recruited him.

“I think Hillsdale was his No. 1 choice all along,” Clinton coach Scott McNitt said. “That’s the one he wanted, and I have no doubt he’ll make the most of his opportunity. He’s a kid you love to coach, and one you want to see rewarded.”

Embry, who also played wide receiver, earned Associated Press Division 5-6 Honorable Mention honors last season.

Nick Galvan, DB, Adrian: The Maples’ defensive star knew he wanted to play Division II. Once he visited Hillsdale, he didn’t bother looking anywhere else.

“It was just the perfect fit for what I was trying to do in college,” Galvan said Wednesday morning at Adrian’s signing ceremony. “I knew I didn’t want to go as low as D-III. I wanted to stay D-II or above. It’s definitely an exciting time, to pick a Division II college.”

Galvan, who earned AP Division 3-4 All-State Honorable Mention honors, also talked with Grand Valley State and fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference programs.

“I had a few other visits set up,” he said, “but I stuck with Hillsdale once I went there. The way their coaching staff treated me was way different than any others.”

Galvan said he could play cornerback, receiver or running back for the Chargers.

Despite missing time last season with injury, Galvan made 50 tackles and five interceptions in helping Adrian win a share of the Southeastern Conference title for the first time since 2005.
“Hillsdale got one heck of a player,” Adrian coach Phil Jacobs said. “He’s a kid you can’t replace. He can do it all.”

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Collegian: Fingers crossed?Super Bowl fuels athletic dreams

Fingers crossed:? Super Bowl fuels athletic dreams
Seniors Waldie, Korte hope to attend pro days at state universities, get drafted into the NFL
By: Andy Buss
Posted: 2/5/09, Hillsdale Collegian

Seniors Aaron Waldie and Tom Korte, like every other football fan in the country, hung out and watched the Super Bowl with friends Sunday.

And as with every other senior in the country, they are looking to land a job after graduation.

The correlation between the Super Bowl and a job hunt is strong. Last weekend Waldie and Korte watch as possible future participants.

"I mean, I think about it," said Waldie, a standout receiver and pro prospect. "I watch all these stars on TV - Larry Fitzgerald, Ben Roethlisberger - I could potentially be playing with these guys next year. Growing up, the pros seemed so high, so far away you know? It's kinda surreal."

Korte, like Waldie, had several NFL teams take a look at him during the 2008 season. He looks beyond the fame and glory of the Super Bowl and takes notice of individual player's origins.

"It's interesting because these guys are at the high point of their pro careers, and I'm at the starting point," he said. "It's pretty inspiring. They do all these stories about where these guys started and where they are now. It's cool to see guys like me and Waldie - they do do something special. It gives us something to look forward to and aspire to ultimately."

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Recruiting: A look at new Charger WR Andrew Mott

Andrew Mott, 6'0", 170 pounds, Paulding HS, Ohio

Cleveland.com: Independence High School senior is off to college

Image from OhioHelmetProject.com
Independence High School senior is off to college
Posted by Mike Holzheimer February 05, 2009 08:25AM
Categories: HS Sports

Independence High School football player Mike Cashin, a 6-8, 240-pound offensive tackle, has accepted a full scholarship offer from Hillsdale College.

Hillsdale is a Division II school located in Michigan.

"They (Hillsdale) are looking at Mike to play somewhere on the offensive line," said John Shirilla, the Independence coach.

Cashin is also a member of the Blue Devils varsity basketball team.

Link

Hillsdale College Football: 2009 Signees

Click for bigger image.
February 4, 2009
Hillsdale College football program announces the signing of its 2009 freshman class

Hillsdale, Mich. — The Hillsdale College football team is pleased to present its freshman class for 2009. Thirteen players make up the initial National Signing Day class, with more players to be added throughout the offseason, according to Chargers head coach Keith Otterbein.

“We are very excited to be bringing in this class of players. Once again, our coaching staff did an outstanding job at getting out there and identifying players who we feel like will be good fits here at Hillsdale both on the field and in the classroom,” Otterbein said.

Every member of this freshman class has a high school grade point average of at least 3.1.

The 2009 season will commence on Aug. 29, as the Chargers play St. Joseph’s College on the road. The home opener for Hillsdale will be Sept. 5 against Michigan Tech. Hillsdale is coming off a 7-4 season in 2008, and the team’s combined record of 15-7 over the past two years is the best two-year mark since 1992-93.

Davignon Caps Career with Trip to the Sugar Bowl

Back in the fall, I wrote about Charger offensive lineman Phil Davignon being named to the All State Good Works Team
, an honor bestowed on 22 football players across all divisions, the award recognizes players who "embody the true spirit of teamwork and giving back through selfless contributions and commendable acts of kindness."

As part of the recognition, Davignon spent New Year's in New Orleans with his brother Andrew and was on the field during halftime of the Utah-Alabama showdown as the Good Works team was announced.

During the trip, the team was recognized at the Sugar Bowl Fan Fest and the Sugar Bowl pre-game party. Players also contributed to the local community while in town by doing repair work in areas still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

(picture courtesy of Phil Davignon)

Former Charger Kicker Works Super Bowl Security

Fenton man works security at Super Bowl

Former Fenton resident Blake Barisich, who has worked every Super Bowl since 2005, pauses for a photo in front of the Super Bowl XLIII gateway in Tampa Bay, Fla.

By David Troppens
Tri-County Times
Published: Sunday, February 1, 2009 6:14 AM EST

Football has been a part of Blake Barisich’s life as long as he could remember. His father played in the National Football League, retiring near the time he was born. When he went to school at Fenton, he was a kicker for the football team and was an all-league player at that. He then went to

Hillsdale College where he began as a kicker, but eventually played wide receiver.

 And, now that his playing days are over, he’s still involved with football — on the administrative side, that is.

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