Hillsdale and St. Joe's take a moment together after their game Saturday. This has become quite the tradition over the last few seasons for the Chargers. (Thanks to Charger Dad Jim Veldheer for sharing this.)
Find more videos like this on Chargerblue Space
Tradition • Character • Service
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Korte and Steelers, 1PM Sunday, NFL Network
Catch Tom Korte with the Steelers as they take on the Bills in a re-airing of Saturday night's pre-season match up.
Tune into the NFL Network at 1:00 PM on Sunday afternoon.
Tom Korte Talks to Huge
Tom Korte joined Bill Simonson this week on the statewide "Huge Show".
Listen to Tommy's interview at The Huge Blog.
Listen to Tommy's interview at The Huge Blog.
Hillsdale - St. Joe's Official Rundown from Hillsdale.edu
Chargers open 2009 football season with 37-7 thumping of St. Joseph's College
August 29, 2009 - For the fourth year in a row, the Hillsdale College football team powered its way to a one-sided victory to open a season.
The Chargers traveled south to Indiana and came away with a 37-7 non-league victory over St. Joseph’s College Saturday afternoon. Hillsdale (1-0) will play its home opener next week against Michigan Tech University starting at noon.
Several elements of the Charger offense were running smoothly in the win. The offensive line paved the way for four rushing touchdowns by Hillsdale. Junior quarterback Troy Weatherhead had a high completion percentage. The defense shut out the news story image Pumas in the final 50 minutes of the game. Senior kicker Mark Petro was 7-for-7 on extra-point and field goal tries.
The game started out dominated by the offenses, as three touchdowns were generated on three total possessions by the two teams. Junior Mike Blanchard played a key role in Hillsdale’s good start with two long kick returns that gave the offense outstanding field position on its first two possessions.
Full Story
August 29, 2009 - For the fourth year in a row, the Hillsdale College football team powered its way to a one-sided victory to open a season.
The Chargers traveled south to Indiana and came away with a 37-7 non-league victory over St. Joseph’s College Saturday afternoon. Hillsdale (1-0) will play its home opener next week against Michigan Tech University starting at noon.
Several elements of the Charger offense were running smoothly in the win. The offensive line paved the way for four rushing touchdowns by Hillsdale. Junior quarterback Troy Weatherhead had a high completion percentage. The defense shut out the news story image Pumas in the final 50 minutes of the game. Senior kicker Mark Petro was 7-for-7 on extra-point and field goal tries.
The game started out dominated by the offenses, as three touchdowns were generated on three total possessions by the two teams. Junior Mike Blanchard played a key role in Hillsdale’s good start with two long kick returns that gave the offense outstanding field position on its first two possessions.
Full Story
Hillsdale Defense Slams the Door on St. Joe's, Chargers win Opener
During a stretch from midway through the second quarter to 4:44 left in the ball game, Hillsdale gave the St. Joe's College chain gang some down time. For 7 straight possessions, the Charger defense kept the chains stationary allowing no first downs.
That performance allowed the Charger offense to move the football and work out the kinks enroute to a 30-7 opening week victory.
Hillsdale got on the board first, taking the opening drive 51 yards before Vinnie Panizzi barreled in from 3 yards out. Mark Petro made it 7-0 with the extra point.
St. Joe's would respond on their first possession making it 7-7. 5:38 to play in the 1st quarter.
Panizzi would put Hillsdale ahead for good 14-7 with :49 left in the first half.
Charger quarterback Troy Weatherhead would begin to heat up a nice game of pitch and catch with junior WR Andre Holmes as two would move the ball consistently in the first half. The two would hook up 7 times for 72 yards in the 1st half alone.
Brad Spencer would get another Charger TD on a 3 yard plunge.
With the defense completely neutralizing anything St. Joe tried to do, Hillsdale would extend its lead to 24-7 at the half thanks to Mark Petro drilling a 40 yard field goal with :09 left on the clock.
The second half was a clinic led by the Hillsdale defensive unit. DL Drew Berube had two key pass deflections giving the Chargers plenty of time with the ball.
Petro would add a 34 yarder, set up nicely by a freshman Joe Glendenning 20 plus yard run that put Hillsdale within the redzone once again. 27-7 Chargers. He'd add a chipshot a possession later to make it 30-7.
Panizzi would cap the scoring at 37-7 with a 5 yard touchdown run with 4:40 to play. He carried the ball 18 times for 57 yards.
Hillsdale had 26 first downs to the Pumas' 8, amassing 426 yards on 83 plays.
The yards broke down 131 on the ground and 295 through the air.
St. Joes was held to 182 total yards (48 rushing, 134 passing)
Hillsdale opens GLIAC play next week at home vs. Michigan Tech. Kickoff is noon.
That performance allowed the Charger offense to move the football and work out the kinks enroute to a 30-7 opening week victory.
Hillsdale got on the board first, taking the opening drive 51 yards before Vinnie Panizzi barreled in from 3 yards out. Mark Petro made it 7-0 with the extra point.
St. Joe's would respond on their first possession making it 7-7. 5:38 to play in the 1st quarter.
Panizzi would put Hillsdale ahead for good 14-7 with :49 left in the first half.
Charger quarterback Troy Weatherhead would begin to heat up a nice game of pitch and catch with junior WR Andre Holmes as two would move the ball consistently in the first half. The two would hook up 7 times for 72 yards in the 1st half alone.
Brad Spencer would get another Charger TD on a 3 yard plunge.
With the defense completely neutralizing anything St. Joe tried to do, Hillsdale would extend its lead to 24-7 at the half thanks to Mark Petro drilling a 40 yard field goal with :09 left on the clock.
The second half was a clinic led by the Hillsdale defensive unit. DL Drew Berube had two key pass deflections giving the Chargers plenty of time with the ball.
Petro would add a 34 yarder, set up nicely by a freshman Joe Glendenning 20 plus yard run that put Hillsdale within the redzone once again. 27-7 Chargers. He'd add a chipshot a possession later to make it 30-7.
Panizzi would cap the scoring at 37-7 with a 5 yard touchdown run with 4:40 to play. He carried the ball 18 times for 57 yards.
Hillsdale had 26 first downs to the Pumas' 8, amassing 426 yards on 83 plays.
The yards broke down 131 on the ground and 295 through the air.
St. Joes was held to 182 total yards (48 rushing, 134 passing)
Hillsdale opens GLIAC play next week at home vs. Michigan Tech. Kickoff is noon.
Halftime Update from St. Joe's
Hillsdale leads St Joe's 24-7 at the half.
214 total yards for Hillsdale
15 first downs to 6 for St. Joe's
Vinnie Panizzi, 9 carries for 13 yards - 2 TD
Brad Spencer, 1 TD (3 yards)
Troy Weatherhead, 16/21, 173 yards
Andre Holmes, 7 catches for 72 yards
Mark Petro, 40 yard fg.
18:00 TOP for Hillsdale, 12:00 St. Joe's
Hillsdale 4/4 Red Zone, 6/7 3rd down conversions
214 total yards for Hillsdale
15 first downs to 6 for St. Joe's
Vinnie Panizzi, 9 carries for 13 yards - 2 TD
Brad Spencer, 1 TD (3 yards)
Troy Weatherhead, 16/21, 173 yards
Andre Holmes, 7 catches for 72 yards
Mark Petro, 40 yard fg.
18:00 TOP for Hillsdale, 12:00 St. Joe's
Hillsdale 4/4 Red Zone, 6/7 3rd down conversions
Friday, August 28, 2009
WCSR Charger Football Roundtable
Thanks to WCSR's Andy Brown for assembling a great panel of guys who spend a great deal of time following Hillsdale College Football. Join Andy, his broadcast partner Jim Eckert, RJ Walters from the Hillsdale Daily News, HC Sports Information Director Brad Monastiere, and myself as we breakdown Hillsdale's upcoming season.
Huge thanks to RJ for capturing the audio.
Subscribe Free Add to my Page
Huge thanks to RJ for capturing the audio.
Subscribe Free Add to my Page
Thursday, August 27, 2009
D2football.com' Independent Columnist David Bykowski breaks down Hillsdale - St. Joes
Hillsdale Chargers at Saint Joseph's Pumas, Saturday, 12:00 CT
Near misses in 2008 against Kentucky State, Missouri S&T, and Kentucky Wesleyan resulted in a disappointing 5-5 season for the Pumas. But with most of last year's starters returning, Saint Joseph's may be better prepared to face adversity in 2009.
Now entering his sophomore year, QB Mike Hladik has already shown he has what it takes to lead the team on offense. Junior RB Jashon Banks and senior FB Terrance Freeman should be able to rack up yards on the ground with their contrasting "lightning and thunder" styles, and a number of capable receivers return, all likely battling for playing time. Two of the main cogs on the offensive line have graduated, and that could force Hladik to be a more mobile quarterback than in 2008. On the other side of the ball, look for the strength once again to be in the backfield with Ronnell Tibbs at DB and Deshon McClendon moving to LB to fill in the gaps left behind with Rob Perricone and Payne Schoen's graduations. Still, despite the number of returnees, it remains to be seen how effective the Pumas will be on defense.
Hillsdale, meanwhile, looks loaded for another competitive season. WR A.J. Kegg, a preseason All-GLIAC first teamer, is back, as are second team preseason All-Americans LT Jared Veldheer, DE Drew Berube, and K Mark Petro. QB Troy Weatherhead threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season, and RB Vinnie Panizzi is back as well. Those two players, along with Kegg, were a deadly combination last year against the Pumas, helping the Chargers amass over 500 yards of offense in a 49-6 rout in the season opener last year.
Hillsdale may be somewhat underrated, but that only speaks to the level of competition in the GLIAC every year. Offensively, look for the Pumas to start the season better than they did in 2008, but in the end, the result won't be much different from last year, as the Chargers simply have too much talent for Saint Joseph's to be competitive.
Prediction: Hillsdale 48, Saint Joseph's 17
Full Column
Near misses in 2008 against Kentucky State, Missouri S&T, and Kentucky Wesleyan resulted in a disappointing 5-5 season for the Pumas. But with most of last year's starters returning, Saint Joseph's may be better prepared to face adversity in 2009.
Now entering his sophomore year, QB Mike Hladik has already shown he has what it takes to lead the team on offense. Junior RB Jashon Banks and senior FB Terrance Freeman should be able to rack up yards on the ground with their contrasting "lightning and thunder" styles, and a number of capable receivers return, all likely battling for playing time. Two of the main cogs on the offensive line have graduated, and that could force Hladik to be a more mobile quarterback than in 2008. On the other side of the ball, look for the strength once again to be in the backfield with Ronnell Tibbs at DB and Deshon McClendon moving to LB to fill in the gaps left behind with Rob Perricone and Payne Schoen's graduations. Still, despite the number of returnees, it remains to be seen how effective the Pumas will be on defense.
Hillsdale, meanwhile, looks loaded for another competitive season. WR A.J. Kegg, a preseason All-GLIAC first teamer, is back, as are second team preseason All-Americans LT Jared Veldheer, DE Drew Berube, and K Mark Petro. QB Troy Weatherhead threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season, and RB Vinnie Panizzi is back as well. Those two players, along with Kegg, were a deadly combination last year against the Pumas, helping the Chargers amass over 500 yards of offense in a 49-6 rout in the season opener last year.
Hillsdale may be somewhat underrated, but that only speaks to the level of competition in the GLIAC every year. Offensively, look for the Pumas to start the season better than they did in 2008, but in the end, the result won't be much different from last year, as the Chargers simply have too much talent for Saint Joseph's to be competitive.
Prediction: Hillsdale 48, Saint Joseph's 17
Full Column
Tony Nicolette, D2football.com: Weekly Column
Tony Nicolette, D2football.com: Weekly Column
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
August 25th, 2009
For those of us with "football itch", this summer ended up feeling a lot longer than usual. Normally, we here in the Great Lakes can count on plenty of HOT summer days that make any lake, river, puddle, or Mr. Turtle pool look like the most welcome of respites. Save a few days here this August, there were repeated stretches this summer that almost felt more like early fall. For those of us that suffer from the afore mentioned "itch", we woke up on many of those fall-like Saturday mornings excited at the prospect that we'd be spending the ensuing afternoon standing in the parking lot behind our alma mater or favorite team's stadium with grill tongs in one hand and beverage of choice in the other. After a few moments of yawning and non-football-related itching, the unfortunate realization then hit that Mother Nature was merely tricking us and the coolish weather only meant that the lake wasn't as warm as we'd like and that football was still a spot at which to be peered on the distant horizon. A long summer indeed.
Well, gang, thankfully for us trickery and disappointment are no longer the rule. Our favorite time of year has returned and football resumes its place at center stage. Let the speculation, adoration, and celebration begin!
Read on as Tony previews all GLIAC teams and this week's matchups:
Full Story
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
August 25th, 2009
For those of us with "football itch", this summer ended up feeling a lot longer than usual. Normally, we here in the Great Lakes can count on plenty of HOT summer days that make any lake, river, puddle, or Mr. Turtle pool look like the most welcome of respites. Save a few days here this August, there were repeated stretches this summer that almost felt more like early fall. For those of us that suffer from the afore mentioned "itch", we woke up on many of those fall-like Saturday mornings excited at the prospect that we'd be spending the ensuing afternoon standing in the parking lot behind our alma mater or favorite team's stadium with grill tongs in one hand and beverage of choice in the other. After a few moments of yawning and non-football-related itching, the unfortunate realization then hit that Mother Nature was merely tricking us and the coolish weather only meant that the lake wasn't as warm as we'd like and that football was still a spot at which to be peered on the distant horizon. A long summer indeed.
Well, gang, thankfully for us trickery and disappointment are no longer the rule. Our favorite time of year has returned and football resumes its place at center stage. Let the speculation, adoration, and celebration begin!
Read on as Tony previews all GLIAC teams and this week's matchups:
Full Story
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tom Korte Picks off Colt Brennan
Hillsdale's own Tom Korte, or as announcer Mike Patrick calls him "Tom Kort" gets a nice pick in the 4th quarter of Saturday's preseason game.
Making Radio Magic, Wednesday 7:00 PM, WCSR
I will be calling in and joining Charger radio play-by-play guy Andy Brown for a little round table football discussion. Hillsdale Sports Information Director Brad Monastiere says he'll be on the broadcast and at last check Andy was working on at least a couple of others.
Tune in tonight as we break down where we see the Chargers taking us this fall.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
St. Joe's Travel Links
The Chargers open the season on the road this year at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN.
St. Joe's provides the following links for visiting fans:
Tickets
Maps/Directions
Lodging/Dining guide (two words: roller rink)
Fan Guidelines (You crazy Hillsdale fans better watch it!)
Also check out Mary Veldheer's post for what the Charger families have planned for Saturday.
St. Joe's provides the following links for visiting fans:
Tickets
Maps/Directions
Lodging/Dining guide (two words: roller rink)
Fan Guidelines (You crazy Hillsdale fans better watch it!)
Also check out Mary Veldheer's post for what the Charger families have planned for Saturday.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Scouting St. Joe's
Pumas Enter 2009 Building on Youthful Experience
SaintJoe.edu, posted 8/24/09
The Saint Joseph's College football team finished last season with a record of 5-5 and a young group of freshman at a number of skilled positions. With a year of experience, head coach Lou Esposito enters his fifth season at the helm with high aspirations.
"We have a good bunch of young guys," said Esposito. "We are still a young team but most players have been in games before and know what to expect. Some guys will now have move into key positions and perform," added coach Esposito.
The Pumas graduated four players last season, all four-year starters, and welcome back a number of the Great Lakes Football Conference (GLFC) top performers from a year ago. With seven games away from Alumni Stadium last year, SJC features a more balanced schedule this season with six home games.
The Pumas open the 2009 campaign against Hillsdale College for the second consecutive year hoping to atone from last seasons setback in week one. The Charges defeated the Pumas 49-6 at Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium with a skilled offensive attack. SJC will also re-open a historic rivalry with Valparaiso University in week two. The Crusaders and Pumas will meet for the 62nd time in history with the Pumas holding a slim three game lead on VU.
Full Story
SaintJoe.edu, posted 8/24/09
The Saint Joseph's College football team finished last season with a record of 5-5 and a young group of freshman at a number of skilled positions. With a year of experience, head coach Lou Esposito enters his fifth season at the helm with high aspirations.
"We have a good bunch of young guys," said Esposito. "We are still a young team but most players have been in games before and know what to expect. Some guys will now have move into key positions and perform," added coach Esposito.
The Pumas graduated four players last season, all four-year starters, and welcome back a number of the Great Lakes Football Conference (GLFC) top performers from a year ago. With seven games away from Alumni Stadium last year, SJC features a more balanced schedule this season with six home games.
The Pumas open the 2009 campaign against Hillsdale College for the second consecutive year hoping to atone from last seasons setback in week one. The Charges defeated the Pumas 49-6 at Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium with a skilled offensive attack. SJC will also re-open a historic rivalry with Valparaiso University in week two. The Crusaders and Pumas will meet for the 62nd time in history with the Pumas holding a slim three game lead on VU.
Full Story
GLIAC Games this Week
8/27: #15 Ashland @ #13 Bloomsburg
8/27: Findlay vs. Urbana
8/27: Saginaw Valley State @ #8 California (PA)
8/27: Indianapolis vs. Kentucky Wesleyan
8/29: Hillsdale @ St. Joseph's
8/29: Wayne State vs. Mercyhurst
8/29: Ferris State vs. Tiffin
8/29: #1 Grand Valley State @ #11 West Texas A&M (Comcast Local, WOTV 41 in West Michigan)
8/27: Findlay vs. Urbana
8/27: Saginaw Valley State @ #8 California (PA)
8/27: Indianapolis vs. Kentucky Wesleyan
8/29: Hillsdale @ St. Joseph's
8/29: Wayne State vs. Mercyhurst
8/29: Ferris State vs. Tiffin
8/29: #1 Grand Valley State @ #11 West Texas A&M (Comcast Local, WOTV 41 in West Michigan)
Friday, August 21, 2009
Charger Families: Game 1 Tailgating Info and Welcome
Mary Veldheer is back on the Charger Families blog, this week giving you all of the tailgating info for Game 1 at St. Joe's.
Be sure to bookmark the site after reading this week's post.
Be sure to bookmark the site after reading this week's post.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Hillsdale's Panizzi Primed for One Final Run
Hillsdale College tailback Vinnie Panizzi is expecting great things from his final football season with the Chargers.The 212 pound back who comes into the season the largest he has ever been claims he's just as fast and is really feeling the power from the added muscle.
Another factor boosting his confidence is the fact he'll be a three-year starter. "Those two years of experience are going to carry me very far this year," Panizzi states.
Last season, the Grosse Pointe South alum finished the season with 1086 rushing yards, 5th most in the GLIAC. He found the endzone 12 times. He was also a key component on special teams racking up 501 kickoff return yards and finishing 4th in the league for all purpose yards.
Aside from simply feeling good his own potential this season, Panizzi is excited about what he sees from the early camp progress of his teammates, "The team is looking very promising right now. The offense started a little slow in the very beginning, but has sharpened up very nicely and we are all expecting great things."
He's also got a lot of confidence in the guys playing on the other side of the ball, "The defensive line looks fantastic, and should be a serious threat to other teams who try and run on us. The rest of the defense also seems to be progressing and overall everybody is getting very excited for what should be a very very successful season."
Panizzi and the Chargers scrimmage one final time this Saturday and then open up the 2009 campaign on the road August 29 at St. Joe's, IN. Hillsdale was 7-4 (6-4 GLIAC) last season.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Veldheer on Josh Buchanan Scouting Offensive Lineman of the Year Watch List
Josh Buchanan is an expert on small-school pro prospects and has named his first ever "Offensive Lineman of the Year Watch List".Of note for Hillsdale College football fans is Jared Veldheer's name on that watch list. The senior offensive tackle joins fellow GLIAC member Bill Behling, an offensive guard at Michigan Tech.
The list features the best linemen in FCS (formerly 1-AA), D2, D3, and NAIA. View it here.
Down in the Dale: It's good to be good
August 18, 2009
It's good to be good
Charger-land continues to pump out the awe-inspiring stories and motivating life journeys. The preseason is a time to eat up as much positive coverage about hopes and dream as possible, and I certainly won't be the one to squelch that. Here are a few nice snippets of info to take some time to look at regarding a handful of current or former HC studs.
Check out the rest of RJ's take.
It's good to be good
Charger-land continues to pump out the awe-inspiring stories and motivating life journeys. The preseason is a time to eat up as much positive coverage about hopes and dream as possible, and I certainly won't be the one to squelch that. Here are a few nice snippets of info to take some time to look at regarding a handful of current or former HC studs.
Check out the rest of RJ's take.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Korte vs. Cardinals Gallery Up at Chargerbluespace
Thanks to Evan Brown for sharing his pictures from his recent trip to Pittsburgh to watch Tom Korte's debut for the Steelers.
They are available now at Chargerbluespace.ning.com.
Be sure to share all of your fan pics and video...as well as any comments you have on Charger football at Chargerbluespace.
3 Hillsdale Chargers make most prestigious pre-season All-American Team
D2football.com, the absolute authority on Division II college football has tabbed three Hillsdale College Chargers to their first-team All-American football team.
Press Release from Hillsdale's SID Brad Monastiere:
Trio of Chargers named preseason All-Americans by D2football.com
Veldheer, Berube, Petro honored
August 17, 2009 - Three members of the Hillsdale College football team have earned preseason All-American recognition by D2football.com.
Seniors Jared Veldheer, Drew Berube and Mark Petro were all named First-Team preseason All-American by the website, one of the most highly respected news organizations covering Division II football. Veldheer is an offensive lineman, Berube is a defensive end, and Petro is the Chargers' placekicker.
Veldheer has been a near-unanimous preseason All-American pick by many magazines and websites as he heads into his fourth year starting at left tackle for Hillsdale. His size, footwork and athleticism have caught the eye of NFL scouts, who have been observing Veldheer since the end of the 2008 season.
Berube had a breakout year in 2008, leading the GLIAC in sacks and tackles-for-loss. He was named First-Team All-GLIAC last season and was named the preseason Division II Defensive Player of the Year by Consensus Draft Services.
Petro put together his best season as Hillsdale's kicker in 2008, leading the conference in scoring among kickers, and field goals made.
All three players have started for the Chargers since their freshman seasons.
Full Release
Chargers Fighting Through the Heat, Wear and Tear on the Body, and Staying Sharp Mentally
As the Hillsdale College football program makes it way through 2009 pre-season preparation, the hottest and stickiest days of the summer have arrived.
A little bit of rain has rolled through possibly adding some relief, but staying focused mentally is how the Chargers are working to beat the heat and overcome the physical toll camp can have on the body.
Senior captain linebacker Mat Szula said, "I think most of the guys are doing a great job of battling through things mentally. It has been hot out there, but guys have been doing a good job of ignoring it and staying focused on playing football. We all realize that we have a great opportunity this season and are excited about it."
Killing downtime in a stimulating and productive way can be another challenge many players face during camp. Many Chargers are studying another kind of playbook in their time away from the field.
"I'd like to think doing a bible study 3 times a week in the midst of all this physical training is helping to keep guys spirits up and helping to put things in perspective," Szula commented. "I've been trying to get the idea of 1 Timothy 4:8 through to the guys, 'for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.'"
Hillsdale scrimmaged last night and will scrimmage again on Saturday before opening the season at St. Joe's in Rensellear, IN on August 28.
A little bit of rain has rolled through possibly adding some relief, but staying focused mentally is how the Chargers are working to beat the heat and overcome the physical toll camp can have on the body.
Senior captain linebacker Mat Szula said, "I think most of the guys are doing a great job of battling through things mentally. It has been hot out there, but guys have been doing a good job of ignoring it and staying focused on playing football. We all realize that we have a great opportunity this season and are excited about it."
Killing downtime in a stimulating and productive way can be another challenge many players face during camp. Many Chargers are studying another kind of playbook in their time away from the field.
"I'd like to think doing a bible study 3 times a week in the midst of all this physical training is helping to keep guys spirits up and helping to put things in perspective," Szula commented. "I've been trying to get the idea of 1 Timothy 4:8 through to the guys, 'for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.'"
Hillsdale scrimmaged last night and will scrimmage again on Saturday before opening the season at St. Joe's in Rensellear, IN on August 28.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Aaron Waldie Gets his shot at the CFL
2009 Hillsdale College grad Aaron Waldie may be spending this coming football season in the financial sector but come April, he will get his shot at making the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of Canadian Football League.
"I am just so grateful for the chance to play. I have had so much support from my family, and my Hillsdale family. I have been so blessed throughout my life and I thank God every single day for allowing me to continue to play the game," Waldie said as he now spend the next nine 7 months in preparation for mini camp.
"I have agreed to a 2 year contract with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. I report to mini-camp probably around march or april then training camp shortly after that. The season is from June til November depending on if we make the playoffs. It is a similar situation to the one Tom is in now. I will sign a contract as soon as they send it to me, but i still have to make the team."
Hillsdale's single season and career record holder for touchdown receptions said that the Rough Riders are primarily lookin for special teams help and that he already knows he'll be competing against another smaller school product in North Dakota's Wes Dressler, a CFL rookie of the year. 1n 2007, Waldie and Dressler were in the same debate over who was Division II's more electrifying player.
Another face Waldie is excited to work beside is Texas Tech quarterback and former Heisman finalist Graham Harrell. "I am VERY excited about that, and just the whole opportunity to continue doing what I am truly passionate about."
Congratulations Aaron on this great accomplishment. Chargerblue.com will be following you along the way.
"I am just so grateful for the chance to play. I have had so much support from my family, and my Hillsdale family. I have been so blessed throughout my life and I thank God every single day for allowing me to continue to play the game," Waldie said as he now spend the next nine 7 months in preparation for mini camp.
"I have agreed to a 2 year contract with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. I report to mini-camp probably around march or april then training camp shortly after that. The season is from June til November depending on if we make the playoffs. It is a similar situation to the one Tom is in now. I will sign a contract as soon as they send it to me, but i still have to make the team."
Hillsdale's single season and career record holder for touchdown receptions said that the Rough Riders are primarily lookin for special teams help and that he already knows he'll be competing against another smaller school product in North Dakota's Wes Dressler, a CFL rookie of the year. 1n 2007, Waldie and Dressler were in the same debate over who was Division II's more electrifying player.
Another face Waldie is excited to work beside is Texas Tech quarterback and former Heisman finalist Graham Harrell. "I am VERY excited about that, and just the whole opportunity to continue doing what I am truly passionate about."
Congratulations Aaron on this great accomplishment. Chargerblue.com will be following you along the way.
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Great Pre-Season Poll Debate
Here is a quick timeline of the dueling blogs: Chargerblue.com v. Hillsdale Daily News' RJ WalterDown in the Dale.
Andy: Expresses frustration over Hillsdale getting picked 6th by league coaches.
RJ: You're a homer. Coaches are right
Andy: Look at the numbers
RJ: Here are some more numbers
So, get on over to RJ's latest post to see how he responded.
Andy: Expresses frustration over Hillsdale getting picked 6th by league coaches.
RJ: You're a homer. Coaches are right
Andy: Look at the numbers
RJ: Here are some more numbers
So, get on over to RJ's latest post to see how he responded.
Korte Calls the whole thing "Surreal", looking to continue improving
I had a chance to speak briefly with former Hillsdale College linebacker and Pittsburgh Steeler Tom Korte this afternoon.
Korte, who saw game action last night against the Cardinals in Pittsburgh's pre-season opener came up with a pair of special teams tackles and is still trying to digest the whole experience.
"It's really hard to describe," he said. "It's been almost a year since I last played at Hillsdale so you are dying to get out there against an opponent, but then you look at the stadium and who the opponent is and that type of audience, and to be on such a national stage...It's just surreal."
Korte also said he was overwhelmed by all of the congratulations he received after the game. "Charger Nation and Steelers Nation are both amazing. I have gotten so many calls and text messages, I can't believe it."
He also said it was nice to see a couple of familiar faces in Evan Brown and Aaron Waldie, two recent alums, who made the trip over to Heinz Field.
When asked about a little limp the ESPN cameras caught after a kickoff, Korte said the ankle is fine and someone had gotten blocked into him. He said it was the Steelers playing prevent and that nickel personnel package that kept him off the field at the end of the game and not any injury.
Overall, Korte says his health is just fine and has been lucky all camp. "The practices physically are actually a little easier on the body than at Hillsdale, but they are so mentally draining."
The focus is to just keep getting better. "I just have to work hard and improve each week. There are some things I know I can do better."
The Steelers travel to Washington on Saturday for their next pre-season game.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
17 Days and counting!
Charger football is still 17 days away, but until then take a look back at some images from Hillsdale's win over Ferris St.
Monday, August 10, 2009
A Deeper Look Into a bit of a Rant
Last week, I openly expressed a bit of frustration over Hillsdale College being picked 6th by the GLIAC football coaches in this year's pre-season poll. I promised I would be back with some extra information as to why I was less than enthused with the results.
Before I get into the numbers, let me explain a little bit about the way I approach Chargerblue.com. Am I a homer? Sure, I am! My dad played at Hillsdale. I was a Charger for 4 years and then spent a 5th as a student-assistant while I student-taught at the Academy. I now have 11 seasons under my belt with this gig. I have a lot of blood, sweat, and emotion invested in what I still consider one of the great traditions in small college football. I don't consider myself a "real journalist" but I will always bring a factual set of information to the table. I can argue D2 football with the best of them, and from what I hear at least one guy had a problem with my previous take.
So, here we go. You can't base anything 100% statistically, but if you take a look at last year's results Hillsdale is overall a statistically better team than 3rd place Michigan Tech, 4th place Wayne State, and 5th place Saginaw Valley. Here are the numbers from a year ago.
Out of this group, Hillsdale had the best total offense and the second best total defense. They were also best against the run and had the most prolific passing game. We could sit here and pick apart this chart all we want, but to me the thing that stands out is the consistency for Hillsdale. The Chargers are 1 or 2 in six of eight categories and have the best overall rank if you look at the average across all categories.
As far as I can tell, a lot of the rankings seem to stem from last year's records. I get that. Any football fan or coach or player for that matter knows wins trump stats 7 days a week and after all, each of these teams posted better records than Hillsdale a year ago. Tech beat the Chargers by 3 and Wayne beat Hillsdale by 7 in head to head competition. Hillsdale and Saginaw didn't play last year and won't play this year as well. Still, this poll is supposed to predict this season's finish. Hillsdale gets Tech and Wayne at home, a place where the Blue and White are extremely tough. After such tight finishes last year, I give the advantage to Hillsdale in both of those ballgames this season.
Another thing you have to look at, and probably worked against Hillsdale, is who each program loses. Two of the biggest names in recent Charger history are gone. Tom Korte is in Steelers camp and Aaron Waldie is headed to the CFL next season. Outside of Tech, the other clubs in this conversation also have big holes to fill. SVSU lost their leading rusher in Brandon Emeott. WSU, despite being the darlings of the league a year ago, the Warriors have to replace GLIAC defensive back of the year Dante Dunn. They also lose running back Daryl Graham whose work with Joique Bell made for a potent combo. Gone also is GLIAC Freshman of the Year quarterback Kevin Smith. He's looking to parlay that accolade into a D1 career and has transferred to Eastern Michigan.
I could go on and on comparing every position group. We could wonder out loud why having premiere D2, not just GLIAC, guys in OT Jared Veldheer and DE Drew Berube isn't doing more for Hillsdale's expectations. That's not going to change anything and in the end it really doesn't matter.
Personally I put Hillsdale in the 3 or 4 slot and right up there with Ashland. This program is top to bottom as good as anyone in the league outside of Grand Valley, and with a little luck the Chargers will make that October 10th Homecoming game one to remember. I guess this is why coaches don't get to vote for their own teams.
When you break it all down, the bottom line is there really isn't a whole lot of difference between any of these clubs but it still takes some convincing the other league coaches where they belong. What the Chargers have to do, and head coach Keith Otterbein has stressed this over and over, they have to win the close games and they have to do it consistently. When Hillsdale does that we will likely start to see them moving up in these ranking. The Chargers are hard at work and take the first step toward that goal on August 28th at St. Joe's.
Before I get into the numbers, let me explain a little bit about the way I approach Chargerblue.com. Am I a homer? Sure, I am! My dad played at Hillsdale. I was a Charger for 4 years and then spent a 5th as a student-assistant while I student-taught at the Academy. I now have 11 seasons under my belt with this gig. I have a lot of blood, sweat, and emotion invested in what I still consider one of the great traditions in small college football. I don't consider myself a "real journalist" but I will always bring a factual set of information to the table. I can argue D2 football with the best of them, and from what I hear at least one guy had a problem with my previous take.
So, here we go. You can't base anything 100% statistically, but if you take a look at last year's results Hillsdale is overall a statistically better team than 3rd place Michigan Tech, 4th place Wayne State, and 5th place Saginaw Valley. Here are the numbers from a year ago.
Out of this group, Hillsdale had the best total offense and the second best total defense. They were also best against the run and had the most prolific passing game. We could sit here and pick apart this chart all we want, but to me the thing that stands out is the consistency for Hillsdale. The Chargers are 1 or 2 in six of eight categories and have the best overall rank if you look at the average across all categories.
As far as I can tell, a lot of the rankings seem to stem from last year's records. I get that. Any football fan or coach or player for that matter knows wins trump stats 7 days a week and after all, each of these teams posted better records than Hillsdale a year ago. Tech beat the Chargers by 3 and Wayne beat Hillsdale by 7 in head to head competition. Hillsdale and Saginaw didn't play last year and won't play this year as well. Still, this poll is supposed to predict this season's finish. Hillsdale gets Tech and Wayne at home, a place where the Blue and White are extremely tough. After such tight finishes last year, I give the advantage to Hillsdale in both of those ballgames this season.
Another thing you have to look at, and probably worked against Hillsdale, is who each program loses. Two of the biggest names in recent Charger history are gone. Tom Korte is in Steelers camp and Aaron Waldie is headed to the CFL next season. Outside of Tech, the other clubs in this conversation also have big holes to fill. SVSU lost their leading rusher in Brandon Emeott. WSU, despite being the darlings of the league a year ago, the Warriors have to replace GLIAC defensive back of the year Dante Dunn. They also lose running back Daryl Graham whose work with Joique Bell made for a potent combo. Gone also is GLIAC Freshman of the Year quarterback Kevin Smith. He's looking to parlay that accolade into a D1 career and has transferred to Eastern Michigan.
I could go on and on comparing every position group. We could wonder out loud why having premiere D2, not just GLIAC, guys in OT Jared Veldheer and DE Drew Berube isn't doing more for Hillsdale's expectations. That's not going to change anything and in the end it really doesn't matter.
Personally I put Hillsdale in the 3 or 4 slot and right up there with Ashland. This program is top to bottom as good as anyone in the league outside of Grand Valley, and with a little luck the Chargers will make that October 10th Homecoming game one to remember. I guess this is why coaches don't get to vote for their own teams.
When you break it all down, the bottom line is there really isn't a whole lot of difference between any of these clubs but it still takes some convincing the other league coaches where they belong. What the Chargers have to do, and head coach Keith Otterbein has stressed this over and over, they have to win the close games and they have to do it consistently. When Hillsdale does that we will likely start to see them moving up in these ranking. The Chargers are hard at work and take the first step toward that goal on August 28th at St. Joe's.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Eat Like a Champion Today!
Thanks to prominent ChargerblueSpace poster Jim Veldheer for this look at how future NFL players condition their finely-tuned bodies.Senior tackle Jared Veldheer (L) and current Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Tom Korte (R) tackled Fifth Third Ballpark and West Michigan Whitecaps' famed Fifth Third burger earlier this summer. Jared finished the meal in 18 minutes, a full 120 seconds ahead of Korte. Both received the coveted free t-shirts for their accomplishments.
According to CNBC's Darren Rovell it's his choice for #1 minor league concession item of the year.
"For years, we've given the title of 'Concession Item Of The Year' to the Gateway Grizzlies, whose executives seems to have a knack for coming up with the best idea year after year.
But the West Michigan Whitecaps have our eye this year with this — believed to be the single most caloric item ever offered at a ballpark.
Here are the important details on this absolute gutbuster. It's called the Fifth Third Burger, named after the bank that sponsors the team's ballpark.
It's 5/3 lbs (1.66) of beef with lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, chili and Fritos on an eight-inch sesame seed bun."
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Korte Caps Day with (another) Charlie Batch INT.
CBS Sportsline: Pittsburgh Triaining Camp Rapid Updates by Brian Carson
Aug 5 2009 | 4:59:11 pm
Steelers undrafted LB Tom Korte continues to impress. He has a non-stop motor and lots of intensity. He capped his day with a pick off of QB Charlie Batch.
Aug 5 2009 | 4:59:11 pm
Steelers undrafted LB Tom Korte continues to impress. He has a non-stop motor and lots of intensity. He capped his day with a pick off of QB Charlie Batch.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
New "Charge On" design now available from Cafe Press.
Ferris Gets New Unis
Ferris State has updated its look this year. The new uniforms were unveiled at GLIAC Media Day yesterday. New yellow helmets with the same Bulldogs logo are the biggest change.
Charger media guide available for free Download
Hillsdale College Sports Information Director Brad Monastiere is back with his annual slew of Charger knowledge in the Hillsdale Football Media guide.
The 52 page .pdf file is available for free download here and features an in depth look at the 2009 Chargers, a must read for any fan.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Different Year, Same Crappy Pick by the GLIAC Coaches
Once again I post what I consider one of the most useless pieces of annual information, the GLIAC Pre-Season coaches' poll.
Hillsdale was picked 6th this year among the 12 league teams. In a shocking turn of events, Grand Valley was picked 1st....again. They received all first place votes from the 11 other coaches while GV Coach Chuck Martin threw his vote to Ashland since he couldn't vote for his own squad.
The Chargers open camp on Thursday and are geared up for a run at everyone in the league, especially those teams voted ahead of them. In the coming days I will be breaking down how Hillsdale stacks up against the rest of the top 5.
Here is the complete poll for what it is worth.
Grand Valley (121), Ashland (107), Michigan Tech (94), Wayne State (89), Saginaw Valley State (85), Hillsdale (71), Ferris State (66), Indianapolis (51), Findlay (38), Northern Michigan (33), Northwood (24) and Tiffin (13).
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Tom Korte Spotting
Here a few pics of former Hillsdale College Football standout Tom Korte (47) participating in his first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Pictures found at WPXI's website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)