Drew Berube named Defensive Player of the Game in Arena Football League debut

Hillsdale College's Drew Berube last made news on this site as an invitee to the Green Bay Packers mini camp, just over a year ago.

While told that he wouldn't be asked back to training camp this Fall, Berube hasn't let his football dreams fade away.

The former All-GLIAC defensive lineman recently joined former Charger teammate AJ Kegg on the roster of the Arena Football League Cleveland Gladiators.

In his first game and first start, Berube wasted little time making his name known. On the opening series, the Hillsdale High School and College star sacked Philadelphia QB Ryan Vena, forced a fumble, and recovered it to set up the Gladiators for their first score.

In the third quarter, Berube would score his first ever points in the top indoor division with a safety on kickoff coverage.

Cleveland would go on to improve to 6-3 on the year with the 59-41 win. Berube would earn defensive player of the game honors with the 2 big stops.

Kegg, who is now on injured reserve became the first ever Hillsdale product to play in the Arena Football League. So far on the season, Kegg has had one solo tackle and an assist.

Cleveland is in action next week at Arizona.

Detroit News: WSU football player fatally shot outside downtown Detroit club

Christine Ferretti and Santiago Esparza / / The Detroit News

May 7, 2011

Detroit — Relatives of a Wayne State University football player, shot and killed outside a Detroit nightclub this week, are trying to make sense of his "senseless" death, one of a spate of shootings in the city over the past two days.

Wayne State Police said 20-year-old cornerback Cortez Smith was outside a downtown club near Shelby and Larned with a couple of teammates when a dispute broke out with a group of people around 11:25 p.m. Thursday. Police say someone opened fire, striking Smith in the chest and head and another man in the leg.

"It was very senseless how all of this came down," said Smith's mother, Beverly Smith, who contends her son was attempting to aid a teammate who had been punched.
The shooting is one of at least three in the past two days in parts of the city not normally associated with such violence.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110507/METRO/105070346/WSU-football-player-fatally-shot-outside-downtown-Detroit-club#ixzz1Lky1xjra

Oakland Raiders' Jared Veldheer using the NFL Lockout to read to Hillsdale kids

The Hillsdale Daily News shared some fun pictures of former Hillsdale College star and starting tackle for the Oakland Raiders Jared Veldheer reading to kids at Gier Elementary in Hillsdale.

More photos

Hillsdale's Holmes and Weatherhead wait in Football Limbo

The 2011 NFL Draft has come and gone. Unfortunately for a couple of Chargers, the Lockout is seriously delaying their opportunities to show a franchise their abilities.

By this time last season we were celebrating Jared Veldheer's selection by the Raiders as well as the mini-camp invites extended to AJ Kegg, Mark Petro, and Drew Berube. We should be extending WR Andre Holmes and QB Troy Weatherhead the same congratulations and good luck as both are likely to sign now as undrafted or priority free agents. The labor unrest in the NFL is delaying that process as teams cannot sign UDA's until after an agreement is reached.

Now the two...and every other pro football hopeful not hearing his name called this weekend must continue to hone is skills and keep a sharp eye on the court rooms where injunctions, stays, and appeals are all being bantered about. Unlike most soon-to-graduate young men, their futures are a bit muddled right now. The call could come tomorrow or in two months.

Congratulations anyway to these fine young men. Thanks for the memories you made for us in Charger Blue and may you have the chance to make many more football memories.