Chargers Ranked #22 by D2football.com

When I look at preseason Division II polls, the only publication that garners much of my attention is D2football.com's list. Sure, the AFCA coaches' poll has some credence, but Brandon Misener and his staff know D2 football better than any body of knowledge in the country.

Hillsdale is coming off an 8-3 season and finds itself ranked in the preseason for the first time in at least a decade.

Rank	Team	2009 Record
1	Northwest Missouri	14-1
2	Grand Valley	13-2
3	North Alabama	11-2
4	Abilene Christian	9-4
5	Central Washington	12-1
6	Minnesota-Duluth	11-2
7	California	11-4
8	West Liberty	11-2
9	Washburn	8-3
10	Nebraska-Kearney	11-2
11	West Texas A&M	7-5
12	Saginaw Valley	9-3
13	Texas A&M-Kingsville	9-3
14	Missouri Western	9-3
15	Carson-Newman	11-3
16	East Stroudsburg	8-4
17	Midwestern State	9-3
18	Tarleton State	10-3
19	Tuskegee	10-2
20	Nebraska-Omaha	7-5
21	Delta State	5-5
22	Hillsdale	10-3
23	Valdosta State	6-4
24	UNC Pembroke	9-2
25	West Alabama	8-5

Jared Veldheer and the Raiders come to Chicago Saturday Night

Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer plays his second pre-season game this Saturday night at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears.

Jared's family and Charger friends will be tailgating near the Adler Planetarium prior to the game.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, and StubHub.

Game time is 7:30 PM Chicago local time.

Chargers picked 2nd by GLIAC coaches in preseason poll

Rank	Team	Votes	2009
1	Grand Valley State (13)	169	13-2
2	Hillsdale (1)	148	10-3
2	Saginaw Valley St.	148	9-3
4	Ashland	113	6-5
5	Northwood	111	7-3
6	Findlay	102	7-4
7	Northern Michigan	101	6-4
8	Wayne St.	91	6-5
9	Michigan Tech	87	2-8
10	Indianapolis	78	4-7
11	Ferris St.	48	1-10
12	Tiffin	32	0-11
13	Ohio Dominican	27	7-3
14	Lake Erie	19	7-4

GLIAC Coaches Poll and Multimedia Site Expected to Launch Today

Instead of the traditional media day where reporters from around the region travel to one location for some rubber chicken and canned "We like our football team" speeches from coaches, the GLIAC is trying something different this year.

Coaches voted in the annual preseason poll and sat down for interviews with a news crews during their all-league coaches' meeting earlier this month.

Today, the GLIAC will post the poll as well as interviews with each coach and highlight packages of the league's most promising returning players.
Check GLIAC.org throughout the day.

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Just enter coupon code WHOT25 at checkout.

One of D2's best reportedly out for the year

Through a number of sources, Chargerblue.com has learned that Grand Valley State's All American defensive lineman Danny Richard will miss the 2010 season with a knee injury.

The 2009 GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year had knee surgery at the end of last season after the Lakers' runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II national championship game.

Richard re-injured the knee in early camp and had surgery on Sunday.

Chargerblue.com wishes Richard a speedy recovery. No one wants to ever see a player get hurt and it goes without saying that the GLIAC is a better conference with Danny Richard playing in it.

Hillsdale opens GLIAC play on September 11 at Grand Valley.

photo via mlive.com

Hillsdale Football Practice Schedule

Here is the schedule for the Chargers are they tackle fall camp this week. All practices are open to the public.

Monday Aug. 16 - 3:15 Pro Pads
Tuesday - 10:15 Walk Through, 3:15 Full Pads
Wednesday - 8:30 Full Pads, 3:15 Pro Pads
Thursday - 10:15 Walk Through, 3:15 Full Pads
Friday - 8:30 Pro Pads, 3:15 Full Pads

Pro Pads is helmets, shoulder pads and shorts. Contact is obviously limited in these sessions.