Hillsdale dominates the GLIAC according to Princeton Review Rankings for Academic Rigor, even tops Harvard

According to the Princeton Review, Hillsdale is not only head and shoulders above the rest of the GLIAC academically but ranks near the top among all colleges and universities. Obviously, most of us alumni would have a hard time getting in to The Dale today. Here is how the publication explains the following numbers:

A measure of how hard students work and how much they get back for their efforts, on a scale of 60–99. This rating is calculated from student survey results and statistical information reported by administrators. Factors weighed include how many hours students study outside of the classroom and the quality of students the school attracts. We also considered students' assessments of their professors, class size, student–teacher ratio, use of teaching assistants, amount of class discussion, registration and resources.

Hillsdale - 96
Ashland - 77
Findlay - 76
Lake Erie - 74
Michigan Tech - 74
GVSU - 69
Rest of the conference received less than a 60.

 Here is how Hillsdale's academic rigor compares to some of America's historically top schools.
  
Hillsdale - 96
Dartmouth: 96
Harvard: 95
Stanford: 94
Brown: 93
Columbia: 92
Penn: 92
Princeton: 91
Duke: 90
Naval Academy: 89
Cornell: 88

▶ Charger Comment - Week 9 - YouTube

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Grand Valley trying to humiliate your Chargers' entrance Saturday Night

The Grand Valley Athletic Department...not some fans....but the official GVSU athletic department and its many marketing entities are firing away on Social Media asking fans to vote for which humiliating musical selection they would like to see played when Hillsdale makes its entrance into Lubbers Stadium on Saturday Night.

The choices are "What does a Fox say?" by Ylvis, "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus, "Barney Theme Song", "Barbie Girl" by Aqua, and "Macho Man" by The Village People.

All I can say is that I am glad this type of stunt would never be used to welcome opponents into Muddy Waters Stadium.

It's time to flip the script Charger fans and highjack GVSU's attempts belittle your boys in Charger Blue.  The Charger players have picked "Wrecking Ball" and it's your job to insure we determine what plays when they enter Lubbers Stadium.



Visit GVBlackout.com and vote for "Wrecking Ball". Vote early. Vote often.

Cleves Delp: Hillsdale College inspires Toledo business leader

Mr. Delp is not only a big supporter of Hillsdale College but also a big supporter of Charger Football. This is a great piece on how his companies work with Hillsdale students and all he gained as a student at the College.

My favorite part of the video is the last line where he states that sure Hillsdale taught him specific things he uses daily but the greatest gift he received was being taught "how to learn". I could not agree more with this statement. I have had tremendous success as an elementary technology teacher. Hillsdale taught me how to survive in the classroom and some good pedagogical techniques but none of the tools I teach students to use had been invented yet. Heck, my job hadn't been invented yet. Hillsdale taught me how to learn, how to analyze a situation or new ability, and then be able to show students how to apply it to their learning. Not a day goes by that I don't marvel at how applicable my liberal arts education to a constantly changing world.

Record setting day helps SVSU football team roll in 47-34 win over Hillsdale Saturday night (with video) | MLive.com

Hillsdale had no answer defensively for the combination of Saginaw Valley quarterback Jon Jennings and receiver Jeff Janis. Hillsdale falls to 4-4 on the season.

Record setting day helps SVSU football team roll in 47-34 win over Hillsdale Saturday night (with video) | MLive.com:

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Charger Comment - Week 8

Hillsdale linebacker Moynihan all business | Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies | hometownlife.com

Hillsdale linebacker Moynihan all business | Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies | hometownlife.com: "

Linebacker Devin Moynihan is second on the Hillsdale College team in tackles.
 PATRICK HECKENLIVELY | HILLSDALE COLLEGE

Written by
Brad Emons
Staff Writer


As a preferred walk-on linebacker who earned a scholarship, Hillsdale College’s football program certainly has one of a kind in Devin Moynihan.

The Livonia Churchill High grad, now a senior, is one of the big reasons why the Chargers (4-3, 4-1) are once again in the thick of the North Division race in the Great Lakes Athletic Conference heading to Saturday night’s showdown against host Saginaw Valley State (6-1, 6-0).

The four-year starter, a two-time honorable mention GLIAC choice, is enjoying another banner season as he ranks second on the team in total tackles with 29 solo and 37 assists (to go along with 6.5 tackles for loss)."

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AEI ARETE: Smartguy Football

Easily my favorite part of the new Hillsdale uniforms are actually the sleeves on the compression tops worn underneath the tech fit jerseys. The sleeves sport the Greek motto "Aei Arete". The motto has been part of the program and the team's expectation for every player for a number of years but really makes a bold statement on the arms.

Aei Arete essentially translates as always do your humanly possible best but teacher Lance Fuhrer offers a much more in depth explanation for his students as they study the concept as part of our Western Heritage. 

 "The most articulated value in Greek culture is areté. Translated as "virtue," the word actually means something closer to "being the best you can be," or "reaching your highest human potential." The term from Homeric times onwards is not gender specific. The man or woman of areté is a person of the highest effectiveness; they use all their faculties: strength, bravery, wit, and deceptiveness, to achieve real results. The concept implies a human-centered universe in which human actions are of paramount importance; the world is a place of conflict and difficulty, and human value and meaning is measured against individual effectiveness in the world."

Grand Rapids Press: Ferris State fails to keep momentum in loss to Hillsdale College

By Peter J. Wallner | pwallner@mlive.com 
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on October 19, 2013 at 6:32 PM, updated October 19, 2013 at 7:26 PM

 Hillsdale scored with 29 seconds remaining Saturday to defeat Ferris State, 45-38.

Ferris State, coming off an impressive 54-44 victory last week against Grand Valley State, fell back in the pack of the GLIAC North Division with the loss. The Bulldogs are 4-3 (4-2 in the GLAC). Their other loss was to first place Saginaw Valley State.

Hillsdale moved 77 yards in just over a minute to score the go-ahead touchdown on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sam Landry to Joe Srebernak with 29 seconds to play.

Ferris State moved to midfield in the closing moments, but a desperation throw in the closing seconds came up short.

Full Article

Charger Comment - Week 7

Breaking News: Wrecking Ball mishap at Grand Valley State's Lubbers Stadium

Chargerblue.com Exclusive

ALLENDALE, MI: While crews were reinstalling Grand Valley State University's fabled wrecking ball after student protests, an engineering miscalculation sent the ball hurtling out of control, finally coming to rest inside Lubber's Stadium. Thankfully no one was injured in the "accident".

Hillsdale ranks 6th in nation for turnover ratio

The Hillsdale College defense has created 14 turnovers on 9 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries. The offense has only lost 3 fumbles and thrown 1 interception. That equates to a +10 turnover ratio through six games. At +1.7 per game Hillsdale sits at 6th in Division II tied with Northwest Missouri State and St. Cloud State. Mary and Missouri Western lead the nation with a +2.2 per game average.

Steven Harding returns an interception for a touchdown vs. Wayne State.

CSN Bay Area: Veldheer progressing, still not ready to return

Scott Bair from CSN Bay Area is reporting that former Hillsdale All-American tackle and Oakland Raider Jared Veldheer is on schedule with his rehabilitation of a triceps injury that has sidelined him since training camp.

Full Article

hillsdalechargers.com: Chargers snap home, Wayne State losing skids

Official Hillsdale College Release

Box Score

The Hillsdale College football team broke two significant losing streaks on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium.

The Chargers played a strong two-way second half on their way to a 35-16 win over Wayne State University. The win improves Hillsdale to 3-1 in the GLIAC and 3-3 overall, while the Warriors fell to 3-3.

The win was Hillsdale's first over Wayne State since 2009, breaking its longest current losing streak to a conference opponent. It was also the team's first home win of the season after a pair of frustrating losses to a pair of talented foes.

Hillsdale broke open a tight game early in the third quarter when senior Steve Harding took back an interception 28 yards for a touchdown to increase Hillsdale's lead to 21-9. Harding, a veteran player who has dealt with difficult injuries throughout his career, read the pass play perfectly and galloped untouched into the end zone for one of the true feel-good scores of the year for the Chargers.

The pick-six sparked energy in the Chargers, who forced the Warriors into mistakes throughout the game. Hillsdale intercepted three passes and featured tough, tackle-breaking running by a trio of tailbacks.

All three featured backs - Issac Spence, Alex Koski and Wade Wood - each scored rushing touchdowns in the game, with Koski registering his first-ever two-touchdown game. All four scoring runs came from an average of foiur yards away from the goal line, often dragging Wayne State defenders with them. Koski in particular, had two nice cuts on his first touchdown run, a three-yard jaunt that brought Hillsdale into the lead for good, 7-6.

Wayne State opened the scoring on a three-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 49-yard touchdown pass to jumpo ahead of the Chargers 6-0. But Hillsdale's offense answered in impressive fashion, aided by a couple of short Wayne State punts, and big plays by the defense.

Junior Tim Moinet intercepted a pass late in the first quarter and returned it to the Wayne State 37-yard line, setting up a short field for the Chargers. Spence finished off the drive with a powerful, eight-yard run to paydirt, quickly turning a 6-0 deficit into a 14-6 Hillsdale lead at the close of the first quarter.

The defenses dominated much of the second quarter, with the Warriors only managing a field goal until Harding's interception. Wayne State answered that score with an 11-play, 68-yard drive of its own to cut the lead to 21-16. But that would be the last time the Chargers allowed the Warriors to score, as Hillsdale showed impressive killer instinct on both offense and defense in the game.

Senior Steven Embry picked up his fourth interception in the past three games, killing Wayne State's next drive after its last touchdown. That pick-off allowed the Chargers to again start deep in Wayne State territory, and six plays later, Koski plunged in from two yards out to put Hillsdale ahead two scores.

It was a game that saw Wayne State outgain Hillsdale in total yards 351-236, pick up one more first down, and own a seven-minute edge in time of possession. But turnovers were the big story here, as Hillsdale's three interceptions turned the tide of the game. The Chargers also did not commit a turnover of their own in the ballgame.

Senior quarterback Sam Landry completed 11 of 21 passes for 90 yards in the game. Koski, Lou Cangelosi and Evan Sassack each caught two passes for Hillsdale.

Spence led the balanced ground attack with 56 yards on 11 carries. Wood had 51 yards on 13 attempts, and Koski's two touchdowns came on seven carries for 29 yards.

Senior linebacker Brett Pasche had a big game for Hillsdale with 14 total tackles, 11 of them solo. Seven different players had tackles-for-loss from the Charger defense. Zach Swaffer had 1.5 sacks, and Moinet had nine total tackles and twop pass break-ups for the winning team.

Hillsdale stays home next weekend to host Ferris State University at 2:30 p.m.

Why School Sports Matter

Originally published on my educational technology blog New Adventures in Professional Development

On Friday night my family and I headed out to watch my dad coach high school football in what is one of our area’s biggest rivalry games. The first person I saw when I entered the stadium was a former student of mine who had recently moved and was starting sixth grade at the middle school where the game was being held.

“Hi Mr. Losik, ” he waved wearing a messy shirt that had kind of become a trademark of his over years he was in my classes. This boy had struggled socially and academically throughout as his mom struggled around the poverty line supporting him and his two siblings. “I am doing cross-country. We are running at halftime,” he said with a huge grin. I gave him a high five and told him I would be watching.

Well, it wasn’t much of a game with my dad’s team out in front by a lot most of the way. As I wandered back from the concession stand at halftime, there was my former student lining up with the rest of the middle school cross-country team to run their half mile under the lights in front of the big home crowd.

As the kids took off, the boy so excited to be on the team immediately fell  behind the others. As I watched I realized I was standing next to his mother. I told her I missed her other children but was happy they were at a great new school where my daughter attends and wife teaches. I noticed tears starting to well up in her eyes as her son fell even further behind.

“He must be in so much pain,” she said. “He has no fluid in his hips,” reminding me of the degenerative disease he has and how when he was in kindergarten we would make accommodations  for him sitting for stories.

As the middle schoolers began to finish, the crowd cheered until almost all had completed. The boy we were watching was still almost 300 m from finishing. That was when something really special happened. The other runners gathered at the finish line  turned and ran back to meet the boy who carried his obvious pain on his face. With only the homestretch left, the entire team surrounded him. There was new life in his step and together they all sprinted the remaining distance in front of a great ovation.

Two neighboring towns had turned out to watch a football game, but it was the little kid in the dirty shirt and the elation he showed as crossed the finish line that gave me my biggest thrill.

School sports do matter and I am sure the kids on the varsity team that secured a playoff spot and gained another year of bragging rights over their neighbors got a lot out of it but I highly doubt Friday Night under the lights impacted their lives like it did the young man’s who greeted me at the gate.

It's how you finish.

The Hillsdale Chargers run out every game under a banner with the year's rally cry on it. This year's theme: Finish.

After a promising 3/4 of a season last year, Hillsdale ran out of gas. This year hasn't gone the Chargers' way much to start but there may still be a "finish" moment to this year as well.

We saw a lot of improvement in the Hillsdale offense last week at Northern Michigan. There was an inspired physicality to the receivers that got pushed around by Indianapolis. This in turned gave Sam Landry a better shot at completing pass. Landry's play was renewed and inspired last week as well.

The playoffs are pretty much out the window and it would take running the win the GLIAC but this team can get better every week and that is what I will be hoping to see.

Charger Comment: Otter talks NMU

HillsdaleChargers.com: Embry NFF scholar-athlete semifinalist

Steve Embry a Semifinalist for NFF Scholar-Athlete Award

HillsdaleChargers.com

Hillsdale College senior linebacker Steve Embry was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Fidelity Investments. The announcement and list of semifinalists was released Wednesday.

Embry is one of 170 semifinalists for this award, which covers all levels of college football, from Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I) to the NAIA. He one of just three players from the GLIAC to make the cut, joining Ohio Dominican's Dominic Clegg and Wayne State's Chet Privett.

The 170 national semifinalists are the most for the foundation since 2006, when it increased candidates' grade point average miniumums for the award to 3.2. A total of 24 semifinalists come from Division II, while 54 come from the FBS.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

Full Release

Patrick Heckenlively Photos: Hillsdale vs. Indianapolis

Well, things didn't end up the way the Chargers wanted on Saturday but it was a great day for football and captured beautifully by official photographer Patrick Heckenlively. Check out the Indianapolis gallery and others from throughout the season. All photos are available for purchase.