Hillsdale ranked #17 in initial AFCA Poll

The first coaches' poll of the 2012 season is out and defending GLIAC Champion Hillsdale finds itself ranked 17th to start the year. The Chargers have three opponents ranked as well.  Wayne State comes in at 5th after a run to the national championship game last season. Grand Valley is seventh. Opening week non-conference foe California, PA is 11th.
 

2012 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll – August 13, 2012

Rank	School (1st votes)	2011 Rec.	Pts.	2011 Rank*	Season Opener	Head Coach
1.	Pittsburg St. (Kan.) (21)	13-1	720	1	Aug. 30 at Northeastern St. (Okla.)	Tim Beck
2.	Minnesota-Duluth (5)	11-3	661	6	Aug. 30 at Southwest Minnesota St.	Bob Nielson
3.	Northwest Missouri St. (1)	11-3	613	5	Aug. 30 vs. East Central (Okla.)	Adam Dorrel
4.	Midwestern St. (Texas) (1)	10-1	582	7	Sept. 8 at Tarleton St. (Texas)	Bill Maskill
5.	Wayne St. (Mich.) (1)	12-4	502	2	Sept. 8 at Ashland (Ohio)	Paul Winters
6.	Colorado St.-Pueblo	11-1	481	9	Aug. 30 vs. No. 24 West Texas A&M	John Wristen
7.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	8-3	473	NR	Sept. 1 at Western Oregon	Matt Mitchell
8.	Valdosta St. (Ga.)	6-4	415	NR	Sept. 1 at Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)	David Dean
9.	Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (1)	13-1	386	3	Sept. 1 vs. North Carolina-Pembroke	Connell Maynor
10.	Abilene Christian (Texas)	8-3	367	16	Sept. 1 vs. McMurry (Texas)	Ken Collums
11.	California (Pa.)	10-3	347	15	Aug. 30 vs. No. 17 Hillsdale (Mich.)	Mike Kellar
12.	Kutztown (Pa.)	11-2	329	13	Aug. 30 vs. St. Anselm (N.H.)	Raymond Monica
13.	New Haven (Conn.)	11-2	322	8	Sept. 1 vs. Merrimack (Mass.)	Peter Rossomando
14.	Delta St. (Miss.)	11-3	290	4	Sept. 1 vs. Fort Valley St. (Ga.)	Jamey Chadwell
15.	West Alabama	8-4	274	23	Sept. 1 at Clark Atlanta (Ga.)	Will Hall
16.	St. Cloud State (Minn.)	9-3	266	17	Aug. 30 vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.)	Scott Underwood
17.	Hillsdale (Mich.)	8-3	228	NR	Aug. 30 at No. 11 California (Pa.)	Keith Otterbein
18.	Missouri Western St.	9-3	218	18	Aug. 30 vs. Central Missouri	Jerry Partridge
19.	Shepherd (W.Va.)	9-2	199	22	Sept. 1 at Shippensburg (Pa.)	Monte Cater
20.	Washburn (Kan.)	10-3	187	11	Aug. 30 vs. Nebraska-Kearney	Craig Schurig
21.	Humboldt St. (Calif.)	9-1	183	20	Aug. 30 vs. Colorado Mesa	Rob Smith
22.	Albany St. (Ga.)	8-4	149	NR	Sept. 1 vs. No. 23 North Greenville (S.C.)	Mike White
23.	North Greenville (S.C.)	11-3	139	12	Sept. 1 at No. 22 Albany St. (Ga.)	Carroll McCray
24.	West Texas A&M	8-3	132	25	Aug. 30 at No. 6 Colorado St.-Pueblo	Don Carthel
25.	Bloomsburg (Pa.)	9-2	129	21	Aug. 31 at Stonehill (Mass.)	Danny Hale

*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2011

Others Receiving Votes: Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 128; North Alabama, 128; Nebraska-Kearney, 122; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 100; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 96; Central Missouri, 72; Indianapolis (Ind.), 70; Mars Hill (N.C.), 57; Indiana (Pa.), 49; North Carolina-Pembroke, 47; Elizabeth City St. (N.C.), 44; Minnesota St.-Mankato, 41; Colorado School of Mines, 40; East Central (Okla.), 33; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 32; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 18; Miles (Ala.), 15; Concord (W.Va.), 9; Tarleton St. (Texas), 9; West Georgia, 9; Morehouse (Ga.), 7; Ashland (Ohio), 6; Michigan Tech, 6; Southern Connecticut St., 6; Central Washington, 4; Henderson St. (Ark.), 3; Assumption (Mass.), 2; West Virginia Wesleyan, 2; Azusa Pacific, 1; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 1; Harding (Ark.), 1.

Hixson returns to Saints

It's been quite the odyssey for former Hillsdale College two-way star Nick Hixson.

He signed initially with the Washington Redskins as a wide receiver. The team switched him to defensive back the night before mini camp and then released him shortly after.

New Orleans welcomed him into their mini camp and it looked like he would be fighting for a roster spot in the pre-season as a corner back. Before he would get a chance, he would be released in late June.

This week the Saints gave Hixson another call and again signed him as a free agent. New Orleans waived three players on Saturday, making room for Nick and a pair of other free agents.

Hillsdale's Holmes starting to see some success at Cowboys' Camp

As former Hillsdale College receiver Andre Holmes tries to secure a spot on the 53 man roster of the Dallas Cowboys, he is learning a lot about the NFL and starting to see some success as well.

It's been a rough start to camp as Holmes failed the team's initial conditioning test and had to complete catch-up work before being allowed to practice and challenge for the team's third receiver spot. Once completed, the wide-out returned to the practice field but struggled to make catches.

 Hopefully he was able to tune out the noise and not read the immense amount of press coverage reporting every step of Cowboys' camp.

Thursday was a better day both for Holmes and the news cycle. He made two nice catches in two-minute drill work, one where he extended his body for a jump ball. That had been a criticism, that he wasn't using his size advantage as the team's tallest receiver. He also showed a new level of intensity according to reporters.

“I know I’m going to make those plays all the time,” Holmes said. “I was just a little more fired up today. That’s what I’m going to be doing every day. I’m not going to miss those plays.”

Soggy Start to the Pre-Season for Hillsdale College Football

After a brutally hot summer, well in Midwestern terms anyway, the Hillsdale College Football team was greeted to rain and cool temperatures on its return to campus Thursday.

That weather pattern is expected to continue today with highs only in the 60's and possible spotty thunderstorms all day.

It sounds like a good day to go through all of the administrative loose ends like player physicals and other tasks synonymous with the opening of camp.

Hillsdale knows better than to mess with Mother Nature and thunder. Five years ago, trainer Dave Frisby was struck by lightning during early training camp...and he was even standing inside Jesse Phillips Arena by an open door overlooking the stadium. Luckily his injuries were very minor and he returned to work after a short hospital visit.

Hillsdale opens the 2012 season in 20 days at California, PA on Thursday August 30 at 5:00 PM.

Hillsdale Daily News: Mifsud, Glendening, and White return to potent Hillsdale offense

By Ryan Czachorski, Sports Editor, @czach1r

Hillsdale Daily News

HILLSDALE — With Harlon Hill finalist Joe Glendening, quarterback Anthony Mifsud and H-Back Cam White returning, most of the major questions about the Hillsdale offense have been answered.
But like with most areas on a football team, Head Coach Keith Otterbein still sees some uncertain issues.

"Those givens, those known entities are there," he said. "We're a little more at ease, but still enough question marks."

Perhaps the biggest hole left on the offense was by a defensive player: Nick Hixson. The senior defensive back played slot wide receiver on third down last year as well. He caught 25 passes for 389 yards and two touchdowns, and Otterbein said all but two of those catches were for first downs.

"To be a good offense, you got to keep the chains moving," he said. "You graduate that chunk. Andrew Mott will have to step up and be that guy."

Joining Mott in the wide receiving corps are Evan Bach, Evan Sassack and Lou Cangelosi. Otterbein also mentioned redshirt freshmen John Haley and Nick Chapel as players who could see playing time and add a vertical dimension to the offense.

Full Story

Hillsdale Daily News: Otterbein Says Chargers will take "Our Shot at the Championship"

By Ryan Czachorski, Sports Editor, @czach1r

Hillsdale Daily News

HILLSDALE — Keith Otterbein spent the early part of Tuesday afternoon folding “Otter’s Army” t-shirts in his office.

 In one week, those moments will be packed with practices, gameplans and preparation for the upcoming season. With the team reporting Thursday, Hillsdale College’s head football coach is trying to use this time to take care of the little things — while sneaking in a Monday round of golf with head basketball coach John Tharp.

“It's pretty smooth,” Otterbein said. “Trying to relax a little bit is part of it. There's a buildup in anticipation.”

Full Article

Jared Veldheer talks to SBNation.net about Raiders Camp

Hillsdale College alum and Oakland Raider Jared Veldheer talks about the start to training camp 2012.