Glendening named Regional Player of the Year

Hillsdale ’s Glendening Named Daktronics Super Region #3 Offensive Player of Year

Release courtesy of Nick Kornder, Asst. Commissioner for Media Relations, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference


Burnsville, Minn. - Hillsdale’s Joe Glendening was named the NCAA Super Region #3 Offensive Player of the Year while Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Lee Meisner was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.

Click here for a printable version of the release

Glendening, the 2011 GLIAC Player of the Year, led Hillsdale to the GLIAC championship with a record-breaking season on the ground. He establishedsingle-season school-records in three major categories: carries (325), rushing yards (1,604) and touchdowns (27). He broke his own carries record, set last year, and the school’s rushing yardage record that had stood for 19 years. But the oldest record Hillsdale College had on its record books – in any sport – was shattered by Glendening with his 27 rushing touchdowns. The old record was 24, set by Nate Clark back in 1955.

First team all-region honorees are now eligible for Daktronics, Inc. Division II Football All-American selection. The announcement of those All-American teams is expected on December 13th, preceding the NCAA Division II Football Championship, which takes place Dec. 17 in Florence, Ala.

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and  programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The team is voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) from Super Region #3, made up of football playing institutions in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The online nomination and voting processes are powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM. Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., ATHLETICSITE.COM is the official provider for college athletic websites for over 38 sports organizations, including 34 colleges, universities and conferences primarily at the NCAA Division II level. To receive more information on how your institution can partner with ATHLETICSITE.COM for a customized website solution, visit www.athleticsite.com.

Full Release including 1st and 2nd team selections

YouTube: Joe Glendening - Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist - Highlights

Thanks to Pat Hornak, director of football operations at Hillsdale College for supplying these clips of Charger Joe Glendening.

MLive.com: Hillsdale running back Joe Glendening named finalist for Division II's Harlon Hill Trophy

Brian VanOchten, Grand Rapids Press
November 21, 2011


Joe Glendening, a former East Grand Rapids High School football standout, had little expectation for being named as one of the nine national finalists for the 2011 Harlon Hill Trophy after missing one entire game and part of another contest due to a concussion late in the season at Hillsdale College.

"I’m definitely surprised," said Glendening, who is up for the NCAA Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. "It was tough missing that game. Actually, my body felt great coming back from that.

"It’s an honor to be a finalist."

The 5-foot-10, 188-pound Glendening made the initial list of 22 Harlon Hill candidates earlier this month.

He ended up being one of the top two vote getters in Super Region 3, which includes the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, on a ballot of D-II sports information directors from around the nation.

Full Article

Joe Glendening is National Finalist for Harlon Hill Trophy

Harlon Hill list down to 9.

SR1: Adam Neugenbauer, Rashaad Slowley
SR2: Lee Chapple, Micah Davis, Jonas Randolph
SR3: "Joe The Show" Glendening, Jake Spitzlberger
SR4: Brandon Kelsey, Dan Simoneau    

Who do you want on your team, Jared Veldheer or DeSean Jackson?

Both the Raiders and Eagles won road games in adverse conditions.

Raider tackle Jared Veldheer did what no other offensive lineman in the league this year has done, keep Viking end Jared Allen off the stat sheet for sacks.

Eagle DeSean Jackson was back after missing a week and had 88 yards receiving in the 17-10 over the Giants in the Meadowlands.

Now compare these two athletes' quotes and tell me which one you want to be your teammate. Which one expounds upon what is right with sports while the other...not so much?

"You have to be a professional about the situation. I know what happened. I just really let my team down," he said. "What I love to do is to come out and help this team win games since day one since I've been here, the playmaker ability, just the spark, the energy I'm able to bring to this team. People don't really understand the light that I bring and just kind of shine on my teammates." -DeSean Jackson via PhiladelphiaEagles.com.

Now contrast that to Jared's reaction when asked about his performance against Allen.

"Every person on the O-line plays a role in that," Veldheer said. "Every person on the offense plays a role in that, because we weren't living in 3rd-and-long much. That helps. And being able to operate the no-huddle like Carson does helps. To sit here and say what I did doesn't do all of those things justice." -Jared Veldheer via SFGate.com.

Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious. Give me the guy who is emerging as one of the best left tackles in the game.

Washington Post: Veldheer relishing chance to face NFL sack leader Jared Allen 1-on-1

Veldheer relishing chance to face NFL sacks leader Jared Allen 1-on-1

By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, November 18, 6:24 AM

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Oakland left tackle Jared Veldheer has a monumental task this week trying to slow down NFL sacks leader Jared Allen of Minnesota.

While it might sound a little crazy, Veldheer hopes the Raiders let him go at it alone.

The second-year offensive lineman certainly respects Allen and calls him one of the best in the league. Veldheer just thinks the Raiders’ offense could suffer if they have to send help his way.

“You want to have (teammates) be able to do their thing,” Veldheer said Thursday. “You want them to be able to get in the pass route to make a first down or do something to help us convert. As long as you do your job and someone doesn’t have to help you, then we’re better off.”

Then again it really hasn’t mattered what strategy teams have used against Allen. His 13 1/2 sacks are two off his career high, and the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end needs only 4 1/2 more to reach 100 for his career.

Since notching half a sack in Minnesota’s opener against San Diego, Allen has had at least one full sack in eight straight games. In four of them, he’s had multiple sacks.

“He’s as good as there is in football,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson said. “The guy has 13 1/2 sacks, and it’s not by accident. He doesn’t make any magical things happen, he just goes and plays extremely hard. What we have to do is get him blocked.”

That job will primarily belong to Veldheer.

Oakland’s third-round draft pick in 2010, Veldheer has been one of the Raiders’ most consistent players on an offensive line that is second in the NFL for fewest sacks allowed (11).

A year after getting burned for 7 1/2 sacks as a rookie, the 6-foot-8, 315-pound Veldheer has been beat for sacks only twice this season. He’s also reduced his penalties, from 15 in 2010 to just five through nine games this season.

Jackson acknowledges Veldheer has never faced a challenge quite like the one Allen poses, which is why the Raiders will probably scheme for some additional help on the left side of the line.

“He’s one of those guys (where it) doesn’t matter if you’re running the ball away from them, they can make the play,” Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer said. “He’s a high-effort, explosive, fast, tenacious defender. He can do it all so he’s a guy that we definitely need to keep an eye on and know where he is at all times.”

Veldheer was drafted out of Hillsdale College to play left tackle for the Raiders but he wound up making his NFL debut at center when Oakland couldn’t find anyone else to do the job.

He moved back to tackle the following week and hasn’t left the job since.

Full Article

WZZM13 Video: Joe 'The Show' Glendening named GLIAC MVP

Glendening is GLIAC Player of the Year - Otter gets Coach of the Year - Four other Chargers make 1st Team All-GLIAC

Image from GLIAC.org

For the second year in a row, Hillsdale College can boast GLIAC Football Player of the Year. Last year quarterback Troy Weatherhead was league MVP. This year it is running back Joe Glendening who gets that honor.

"Joe the Show" had the most spectacular season ever produced by any Hillsdale back. His 1604 yards and 27 touchdowns knocked hall of famers Scott Schulte and Nate Clark down a peg and now sits 1241 yards away from Schulte's all-time leading rusher mark of 4495. Glendening returns for one more season in 2012.
Hillsdale head coach Keith Otterbein also received quite an honor today as he was named GLIAC Coach of the Year. Facing major rebuilding after losing Weatherhead, receivers Mike Blanchard and Andre Holmes who is on the Dallas Cowboy practice squad, as well as key linemen like center Phil Doerffler, Otterbein led Hillsdale to its first conference title since 1992 and its first outright title since 1988.

Other Chargers were recognized on Wednesday as some of the league's best.

Senior Tackle Reid Meador and junior H-back Cam White received first-team offense honors while senior defensive back Nick Hixson and sophomore Brett Pasche were named to the first-team defense.

Making the second-team for Hillsdale were Hixson as the return specialist and fellow DB senior Joe Vear.

Honorable mention went to David Bakker (Sr./DE), Bren Bergquist (Sr./TE), Steve Embry (So./LB), D.J. Loy (Jr./OL), Anthony Mifsud (Jr./ QB), Devin Moynihan (So./LB)

Full GLIAC.org Release.

2011 Hillsdale College Football Team Award Winners

The following awards were handed out Sunday at Hillsdale College's Football Banquet.

Captains Awards: Nick Hixson and Reid Meador

Coaches Award: Ridge Riebold

One-Play Warrior Award: Tyler Cochran

Joe Vijuk Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award: David Bakker

Outstanding Offensive Back: Joe Glendening

Outstanding Defensive Back: Nick Hixson

Ralph Miller III Award as the Outstanding Linebacker: Devin Moynihan

Leonard Urbanick Award for Scholarship, Leadership and Ability: David Bakker

Roy Beck Most Valuable Player: Joe Glendening

Blue Charger...trying to wrap my head around NCAA snub.

It is 18 hours since I learned Hillsdale had been passed over the NCAA regional selection committee and I still can't believe the Chargers will be sitting at home next Saturday...outright conference champs of the GLIAC.

There lies the biggest head-scratcher. The notion that outright champ doesn't mean automatic qualifier. Realizing that has no bearing on selection goes against what most of see as one of the many engrained fibers of sports.

One of the major inconsistencies is that the NCAA gives automatic berths in all but D2. Heck the NAIA does it.  FCS and D3 have automatic qualifying bids. D2 is essentially the only one and we just can't wrap our heads around something that is ALMOST universal. ALMOST.

Automatically qualifying has been engrained in us thanks to that final weekend of NCAA basketball before the tournament. We see Northern Arizona and Santa Clara win and punch their tickets. It is everywhere and it makes sense to us...because it just makes sense.

Division II has out-thought itself here. All of the math formulas may have looked great on a chalk board but when it comes to real people and getting the best teams on the field at the end of the year it falls way short. It reminds me of zero tolerance laws where the best of intended formulas ends up short of the eye test...the common sense test. I have long felt that one of the flaws of the NCAA is that it is run by a bunch of egg-heads. Mathematicians and Social Scientists with too much time on their hands do way too much tinkering and attempt to achieve some crazy utopian model within the framework of college sports.

I said a couple of weeks ago that I would take a conference title over a trip to the playoffs. I meant it. That was also when there was a 5 way tie at the top of the league. I guess in the end I will still make that bargain, although it is my only choice. Winning this league, and being lucky enough to be outright champions is a huge accomplishment considering 11 weeks ago we didn't know who our quarterback was going to be and that we only lose a handful of seniors.

Charger fans are lighting up the D2football.com Message Boards in rage...and I feel that rage. I would really feel it if I just saw my son's football career end at the keystroke of a regional committee.

This process is broken because it tries to do everything with numbers. Football isn't a numbers game. It is a people game.

There is nothing more we can do Charger Nation about who plays on Saturday, Week 12 of 2011. There is a lot that can be done about Week 12, 2012 though.  I hope our guys take this snub and remember how it feels every time they strap on their running shoes or pick up a weight and turn it into fuel for next season. Learn from this Chargers. We can't let any Saturday be less than our best. Don't give the committee and the math problems any chance to keep us out of the playoffs next year.

Come to think of it, I hope we don't play on Week 12 next year either. I hope we are all sitting at home watching the first round, waiting to see who comes to Muddy Waters Stadium to face the top seed in the region.

Charge on my Blue and White faithful.

Hillsdale season ends. Chargers left out of playoff field.

Despite winning its first outright league title since 1988, Hillsdale's season will end with an 8-3 record.

Saginaw Valley and Wayne State were picked ahead of the Chargers.

Hillsdale to learn football playoff fate at 5:00 PM Eastern

Visit NCAA.com's Fall Championship Selections page to watch live as Division II football pairings are announced at 5:00 PM Eastern today.

Hillsdale finished the year with an 8-3 record, 8-2 in the GLIAC, and as outright league champions. The NCAA does not award automatic berths to conference champions.

Hillsdale was ranked 8th in last Monday's regional poll. They must finish as either one of the top 6 or the highest ranked GLIAC team. Rankings are largely based on win percentage and strength of schedule.

Wayne State and Grand Valley also ended the year at 8-3 so what the regional committee with the mathematical criteria and how heavily it weighs each piece is anyone's guess.

All we can do is wait to hear.

Hillsdale beats Tiffin for GLIAC Title, Record shattering day for Glendening

Entering Saturday's GLIAC finale at winless Tiffin, Hillsdale controlled its own destiny for at least a share of the conference title. The Chargers took care of business and used a little luck along the way to sweeten the day.

Thanks to an upset 43-42 overtime win by Findlay over Wayne State and then Grand Valley's win or Saginaw Valley, Hillsdale found itself owning the league title by itself for the first time since since 1988. The Chargers last shared a title in 1992. Those droughts are now over.

Posting its first shutout in 4 years, Hillsdale rolled 42-0 on a record setting day by Joe Glendening. Joe the Show's 4 touchdown, 188 yard day gave him two of Hillsdale College's longest standing records. The East Grand Rapids native finishes the year with 1604 yards, breaking Scott Schulte's 1992 record by 22 yards. The four touchdowns gave Glendening 27 rushing touchdowns on the year breaking Nate Clark's 1955 rushing TD record by 3.

Junior QB Anthony Mifsud capped a great first year under center with a 15 of 24 day of passing for 245 yards. He ran in Hillsdale's 5th touchdown on a 14 yard carry.

The Charger defense got four take-aways on the game, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Add 5 sacks for -33 yards to those numbers and it's easy to see that both sides of the Charger team were equally dominant. Tiffin finished with -14 yards rushing and 213 yards passing.

Final Box Score

Hillsdale's Joe the Show is one of 22 regional finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy

Here are the Super Region 3 candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded to the top football player in NCAA Division II.

•     Joe Glendening, Hillsdale RB 293/1412, 4.8 ypc, 23 rushing TD, 159.6 ypg (#1 scoring, #2 rushing)
•     Clay Garcia, CSM QB 244-393-6 int., 59.84%, 18 passing TD, 2880 (#6 total yards, #8 ypg)
•     Jesse Lewis, Pueblo RB 155/735, 4.7 ypc, 6 rushing TD, 73.5 ypg
•     Chris Mills, UIndy QB 224-342-3 int., 65.5%, 2725 yards, 27 passing TD (#8 total yards, #4 TD)
•     Mike Nofsinger, ODU RB 214/1134, 5.3 ypc, 10 rushing TD, 113.4 ypg
•     Jake Spitzlberger, UNK QB 159-266-13 int., 59.77%, 2252 yards, 18 passing TD

Full list and release at harlonhill.com.

Three Chargers get invites to inaugural D2 vs. NAIA Senior Bowl

Regardless of whether Hillsdale gets into the playoffs this weekend, three Charger seniors will have a game to play on Dec. 3rd. The inaugural D2 vs. NAIA Senior bowl will feature Hillsdale offensive tackle Reid Meador and defensive backs Nick Hixson and Joe Vear. More information on the game to be played in Middletown, NY can be found at D2vsNaiaBowl.com.

Glendening needs ho-hum day at Tiffin to etch two huge marks in Hillsdale record books

Joe Glendening 32 celebrates after a touchdown vs. Grand Valley St.
Patrick Heckenlively Photo

Hillsdale's Joe Glendening already holds the record for most rushing attempts in a season with 312. That is nice but it's the kind of record that holds about as much glamor and style as a Ford Focus. A little more, okay way more stylish than that is the single-season touchdown record Glendening broke last week with his four scores against Tiffin. In 2009, Vinnie Panizzi scored 25 in 13 games. Joe Glendening has 27 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns through 9 games.

With a slightly above average day at Tiffin on Saturday, Joe the Show can grab two of the highest profile, longest standing, and most glamorous records on the Hillsdale books.

In 1955, Nate Clark scored 24 rushing touchdowns and set a Hillsdale College record that has stood for 56 seasons. Glendening enters Saturday's game one shy of that with 23 rushing TDs.

In 1992, Scott Schulte set the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference on fire with an electrifying 1,582 yards. Joe needs 167 yards to eclipse that single-season mark.

Both Clark and Schulte are Hillsdale College Hall of Famers.

Those may sound like single-game career-high type feats for many backs, but consider the circumstances. Glendening is second in the nation in rushing, averaging 157.3 yards per game and leads the nation in scoring with 18 points per game. So 167 and 2 scores is a rather pedestrian day for a kid who has broken records at every level of competition he's faced. Now factor in the opponent Tiffin's averages. The Dragons are yielding 285 yards per game in rushing alone and 52 points per game.

An interesting tidbit to add to the Schulte record is the fact that Hillsdale's last overall conference title (shared with GVSU, Ferris State, and Butler) came during that record setting 1992 season. A win by the Chargers on Saturday ends that drought although they will likely share the title again. Other similarities include the fact that Schulte set the record during his junior year. Glendening is a junior. Both also missed at least a part of their seasons due to injury.

One similarity we can all do without is the blinding snow storm that capped Schulte and the Chargers' great 1992 season. Hillsdale beat Wayne State 41-14 that day as snow piled up and Muddy Waters  Field was plowed at least twice.

YouTube: Hillsdale's David Bakker sack at Findlay

Thanks to Mitch Bakker for sharing his son Charger David Bakker's sack just before  halftime at Findlay last Saturday.

Super Region 3 Shakeup

A lot of moving and shaking across the region this weekend. No telling where Hillsdale might land but with three teams losing ahead of them, it's going to be up.  We will have to wait until Monday afternoon to see where everyone is.

Super Region 3
Team Region Overall
1. CSU-Pueblo 9-0 10-0 won
2. Nebraska-Kearney 9-1 9-1 won
3. St. Cloud 7-2 8-2 LOST
4. Saginaw Valley 7-2 7-2 won
5. Minnesota Duluth 8-2 8-2 won
6. Ashland 6-4 6-4 LOST
7. Wayne State (Mich.) 8-2 won
8. Indianapolis 7-3 7-3 Lost
9. Minnesota State 8-2 8-2 WON
10. Hillsdale 7-3 7-3 WON    

Big Weekend of GLIAC Football on Tap

With a 5 way tie atop the league standings and only two weeks left in the GLIAC regular season, nearly every game this week will impact the rest of the teams clawing to remain on top.

Here is the league leader slate this weekend with all of the essential links provided by GLIAC.org.


NMU at 1. Saginaw Valley 7PM, stats - video - audio
1. Wayne State at 1. Indy 6PM, stats - video - audio
ODU at 1. Ashland 1PM, stats - video - audio
1. HILLSDALE at Findlay noon, stats - video - UF Audio , Hillsdale radio feed

HDN's Ryan Czachorski reports on Glendening's Status

Hillsdale Daily News sports editor Ryan Czachorski reports via Twitter that Charger running back Joe Glendening is feeling better but is yet to receive clearance for Saturday's GLIAC football matchup with the University of Findlay.

Glendening is the GLIAC's leading rusher and one of the top backs in NCAA Division II