Hillsdale Finishes in top 20 of D2 Power Rankings

Hillsdale College finishes 16th in 2007 NCSA Division II power rankings
Hillsdale College release

August 29, 2007 – The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) is pleased to announce that Hillsdale College was ranked 16th among NCAA Division II universities in the 5th Annual NCSA Collegiate Power Rankings.

NCSA's Collegiate Power Rankings rate colleges and universities comprehensively based on student-athlete graduation rates, academic strength and athletic prowess of the university. Hillsdale College is in an elite group of less than 6% of colleges and universities across the nation to make it on NCSA's Top 100 for 2007.

"With so many great colleges/universities to choose from, NCSA's power rankings objectively help student-athletes compare collegiate opportunities so they know how institutions stack up pound for pound," said NCSA CEO and Founder Chris Krause. "With this ranking, it shows us that Hillsdale College not only places importance on winning games, but on academics and graduating players as well, especially in the last year."

Read full article.

Snapper Hunt

I had to share this old photo that the College recently submitted to the Hillsdale Daily News for an article about the expansion of the biological station and conference center on Rockwell Lake in Northern Michigan.

Pictured is former Charger defensive back and return man Tim Mustapha.

The picture has to be pretty old since Tim played in the Dave Dye era. Tim last played for the Chargers in 2001, a season that included a 90 yard punt return for a touchdown.

The GLIAC is a tough league, but I am guessing he never tangled with anything as nasty as what he has by the tail in this shot.

Read more about the Rockwell Lake expansion.

Hillsdale.edu: Gannon Preview

Football team opens 2007 season at home Saturday against Gannon
Official Release
Hillsdale College

August 30, 2007 - The curtain will be dropped on the 2007 Hillsdale College football season Saturday afternoon, as the Chargers play their season-opener at home for the first time in three years. Hillsdale will host GLIAC rival Gannon University at Muddy Waters Field at 2:30 p.m.

The last time Hillsdale opened a football season at home was 2004, and that game was one for the ages. The Chargers defeated the University of Indianapolis 49-43 in four overtimes, one of the most memorable contests in the 116-year history of Hillsdale College football.

While Saturday's game might have a hard time living up to that one in terms of dramatics, Hillsdale would happily accept the same result - a win. The Chargers come into this campaign with a seasoned and skilled roster, ready to lead the team over the .500 hump for the first time since the mid-1990s.

Hillsale leads the all-time series with Gannon, 4-1, including four straight victories. The two teams first met back in 1950, with Gannon earning a 27-16 win. The teams didn't meet on the gridiron again until 1999, when the Chargers beat the Golden Knights 41-7.

The last time these two teams played in Hillsdale was Sept. 18, 2004, when the Chargers celebrated Homecoming with a thrilling 38-31 overtime win. Hillsdale is 40-10 in its last 50 home-opening games. Last year, the Chargers opened the 2006 season with a 35-7 win over Gannon in Erie in a game that was played in a hrad rainstorm.

Complete Story

Webcast Information

Hillsdale has its link to the B2 Network site on the official page or link directly here.

Mac users, download the latest Windows Media Player hereor here.

CSTV is offering Indy vs. NMU for free this Saturday at 7:00 pm.

According to Brad Monastiere at Hillsdale, the webcasting has worked well for volleyball so far this season.

D2football.com's Tony Nicolette: GLIAC Column

D2football.com's Tommy...I mean Tony Nicolette gives his take on the Chargers and Golden Knights as well the rest of the league.

As I mentioned last week, Hillsdale really has a shot to sneak up on some folks this year. Taking care of business in games where they are favored is the best way to prepare themselves for the bigger contests they'll have later in the schedule.

As for the Knights, we'll see quickly how well they are getting acclamated to Coach Kiernan's philosophies.

Keys

- Whatever the Knights do on offense, they need to be aware of where Tom Korte is at all times.
- For the Chargers, getting [Mark] Nicolet and his cast of receivers going early will be important. If they are sluggish, it may allow Gannon to hang around longer than they'd like.
- Just who is going to carry the ball for Hillsdale?

Prediction: I feel bad for not giving Gannon much of a chance here, but until I see otherwise I'd say that they are going to struggle to mount many challenges this season. I'm sure Coach Kiernan will do everything he can to prove once again that nearly everything I say has little to no merit. Hillsdale 40, Gannon 7.

Read the rest of the column.

Younger's Rally Almost Complete

South Bend Tribune
Al Lesar
Friday August 24, 2007

DOWAGIAC -- Faced with a life-threatening illness, Greg Younger broke it down into the terms he knows best.

He made it into a game.

"I started looking at life like a football game," Younger said of his reaction to the news last year that he had leukemia. "You throw two interceptions in the first quarter and you felt you had a bad first half. You have to come back out, score a couple times and get back into the game.

"My church, my family and the people I work with are my teammates. I was dealt a bad hand to begin with, but we just have to find a way to win."Younger, 34 and in his fourth year as athletic director at Dowagiac High School, has a history of winning. He was the quarterback of the Chieftains' 1990 Class BB state championship team, a group that still gets plenty of respect around town.

"That was such a unique team," said Younger, who still has a small shrine to that success in the corner of his office. "We only had 28 guys on that team, but we were so close. Sixteen of those guys went on to play in college."

Younger went to Hillsdale College, where he was a starter for four years. Weeks out of college and two days before his wedding, Younger was offered the opportunity to be the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Hillsdale. He was there for seven years, the final three as offensive coordinator.

"That was strange," Younger said. "Here I was, a teammate with these guys. The next season, I was their coach."

Mike Behnke, Younger's center at Dowagiac and Hillsdale, saw the transformation first-hand. He stayed at Hillsdale for a fifth year and dealt with Younger on the new level."Our friendship was the same," Behnke said. "He was professional about the way he did things, so it was never that unusual."

Younger is Behnke's boss again today. Behnke is an assistant football coach and head softball coach at Dowagiac.

"There's always been a 'with-it-ness' about Greg," said Andy Kruger, Younger's favorite target at Dowagiac who is now the Chieftains' head baseball coach. "He's got a sports savvy, a maturity, that helps him handle things."

Younger and his wife Jeanna had a young daughter when he realized the demands of college coaching were too much. He worked for three years in an accounting firm before missing the relationships that made sports special.

Athletic director at Dowagiac struck a perfect balance."I sleep in my own bed at night and I'm guaranteed I don't work Sundays," Younger said. "I'm still involved and I'm able to get to know the coaches and athletes on a personal level."

Being the athletic director at any high school in Michigan lately has been a challenge. Court rulings last school year prompted the switch this year of several sports seasons. The most prominent was volleyball moving from winter to fall and girls basketball from fall to winter.

Younger said the switches meant he had to hire 12 new coaches -- from the varsity level down to the middle school -- because of schedule conflicts.

That's a challenge in itself.Younger's task was complicated by the fact he was battling a serious illness.

Toward the end of October, 2006, Younger dropped a significant amount of weight -- from 230 pounds to 202 over his 6-foot-1 frame. With it came fatigue and a persistent cough.

Younger said blood tests showed his white cell count was off the charts. By Nov. 1, his relationship with specialists at the University of Chicago began.

"I was shocked," said Younger, who was diagnosed with chronic mylogenic leukemia. "Immediately, your mind starts to wander. The first thing you do is get online and try to learn everything you can."Treatment, so far, has consisted of a daily pill. Younger said he's come back from those two first-quarter interceptions. A recent bone marrow test showed he has already reached two of the three levels of remission in the disease. Doctors will wait until May to test for the third level -- the game-winning touchdown.

"In my whole career, I never missed a game because of an injury," Younger said. "That's why this has been so strange for me. I've never drank (alcohol) or smoked. Still, you never know what tomorrow will bring. I've learned you have to have a positive attitude and live for every day."

That's the only way games are won.

D2football.com: Bob Eblen's National Preview

Grand Valley entered the 2003 season fresh off an undefeated season and a national championship. Many thought the Lakers were due for a down year since they needed to replace an All-America quarterback (Curt Anes), an All-America receiver (David Kircus), and their leading rusher (Reggie Spearmon).

Fast forward to the start of the 2007 season. GVSU is coming off another undefeated season and a national championship. Many think the Lakers are due for a down year because they need to replace an All-America quarterback (Cullen Finnerty), an All-America receiver (Eric Fowler), and their leading rusher (Astin Martin).

Full Article

1st Web Poll: Fans expect big season

Well, if the 55 people responding to our first ever web poll know what they are talking about, then this should be a memorable year.

Only 3% responding thought another 5-6 year is in the cards. Another 3% thought the days of 4-7 or worse are on the way back. We'll let those 4 people crawl back under their respective rocks and throw our lots in with the 86% that see at least seven wins coming the Chargers' way this season. The majority thinks things will even be better with 25% predicting a 9-2 regular season.

Here are how those numbers broke down:

7-4 (23%)
8-3 (12%)
9-2 (25%)
10-1 (7%)
11-0 (8%)

Watch for different web polls all season long here at the Chargerblue.com News and Comment Blog.

Scrimmage Saturday

The Chargers will scrimmage at 10:00 am this coming Saturday. It will be Hillsdale's final scrimmage before welcoming Gannon to Muddy Waters Stadium September 1.

A Volleyball Highlight to Share

I have been meaning to post this all summer. So, here it is as a way to wish the Hillsdale Volleyball program another super season.

CSTV.Com: Brandon Misener's D2 Top 10

Aug. 20, 2007

By Brandon Misener
Special to CSTV.com

Brandon Misener
Brandon is the Editor of D2Football.com and writes twice-weekly for CSTV.com.

On the radio recently, two Championship Subdivision national college football experts discussed the notion that the defending champion should be ranked No. 1 until they are beaten. Essentially, they were disagreeing with the AP ranking USC in the top spot. Defending champion Florida begins the season in the sixth spot, according to the AP.

But it's a belief that is difficult to share because one season's success does not guarantee success in the following season. Each season has to be looked at individually.


Read Brandon's entire coumn.

Our Newest Blogger

Even if you are not a parent of a current Charger, take a minute to visit Nancy Rumsey's Charger Families blog or you can always pick up the headlines from her latest posts at the Chargerblue.com Charger Families page. Thanks Nancy for all of the work you do to organize the fun and support these guys on the field.

I Phelta Thi Apparel Updated

All you Phelt House alumni have a new spot to update your wardrobe. The I Phelta Thi line has moved to its own store at Cafe Press as part of the Chargerblue.com Team Shop.

NMU Trip Advisor

For those of you making the road trip to Marquette for the Chargers' September 8th game, do yourself a favor and stop in St. Ignace for a pastie or 3 at Lehto's on US 2. There is a great roadside park just south of Lehto's that looks out over Lake Michigan and a bunch of islands. The park is nice, because you can't eat or use the bathroom at Lehto's. You just grab hot or frozen pockets of UP culinary pleasure. Have one for me!

Welcome to D2football.com's Tony Nicolette

Another season, another GLIAC columnist at D2football.com. Personally I thought last year's writer Jeff Chaney did a pretty decent job keeping us all up to date with league happenings. But if this year's writer Tony Nicolette, a graduate of some school in Allendale, puts out a weekly column as in depth as his season preview, then we are all in for a treat. Take a look at his take on the Chargers and then read the entire piece.

One note about Tony is that he is the same age as I am, both 1994 grads, so he has seen a lot of GLIAC/MIFC football and brings a sense of the league's history with him. He's not old, but if he is anything like me, he probably finds himself in more and more situations where he feels like he is.

Nice job Tony! You have set the bar awfully high for yourself.

Overview:
Head Coach Keith Otterbein enters his sixth season at the helm of his alma mater, and he's hoping to take the next step with his program and get them to a winning record this year. With a fair amount of talent returning on both sides of the ball, the Chargers appear to have a good foundation from which to continue moving upward from the "mid-ranks" of both the W/L and statistical GLIAC standings.

Offense:
QB Mark Nicolet (Zionsville, IN) returns for his senior campaign. He earned All-GLIAC HM plaudits as a junior, thanks in no small part to his ability to manage the game and minimize mistakes (only six INT's in 261 attempts). He'll be glad to see all three of his top receivers returning, including ALL-GLIAC senior WR Nick Gurica (Adrian, MI), junior WR Aaron Waldie (Sylvania, OH), and senior H-Back Derek Nelson (Jenison, MI). Nelson looks to have an even greater presence after struggling with injuries throughout parts of 2006.

The offensive line returns completely in tact after last year's campaign that saw them relinquesh the 2nd fewest sacks in the league. Seniors Dan Stapf (Hudsonville, MI) and Chet Crowley (Concord, MI) will be the leaders of this dependable unit.

The only real offensive hole left from 2006 is at RB. 2nd Team All-GLIAC performer Phil Martin is now gone, after posting the 2nd highest career rushing total in Charger history. There doesn't appear to be a clear cut favorite for a starter at this point, but the bulk of the carries should go to either junior Brett Lark (Alma, MI) or sophomore Vinnie Panizzi (Grosse Pointe, MI).

Defense:
No doubt about, the engine that makes the Charger defense go is junior LB Tom Korte (Grand Rapids, MI). In a fantastic sophomore campaign, Korte made the All-GLIAC 1st Team by leading the conference in both tackles and forced fumbles, and snaring three interceptions. There are a lot of talented linebackers in this conference, and certainly some teams that have better corps as a hole. With that said, Korte represents the GLIAC's gold standard for the position heading into 2007. It should be exciting for Charger fans to watch him wreak havoc week in and week out.

Looking to keep Korte free from being blocked will be a youthful group of defensive linemen lead by 2nd Team All-GLIAC selection Eric Weber (Defiance, OH). Weber was 2nd in the league in sacks in 2006, and the junior will have to help bring along a group that is very young, but does have some game experience.

Despite a fair amount of youth and inexperience along the defensive front seven, the secondary looks to be a bit more solid and established. All-GLIAC 1st-Teamer Jared Kell (Wyandotte, MI) is back for his senior season after leading the GLIAC in both interceptions and fumble recoveries a year ago. He is joined by fellow returning starters Palmer Schoening (Clarkston, MI) and Josh Hutchison (Tecumseh, MI).

There is a fair amount of marquis talent on this defense. If they can overcome their inexperience and the loss of four All-GLIAC HM players due to graduation, moving the ball against the Chargers could be a difficult proposition.

Special Teams:
Punter Matt Vanover (Adrian, MI) and kicker Mark Petro (Rocky River, OH) both return to handle their respective duties this year. WR Nick Gurica is also back. Not only was he a 1st-Team All-GLIAC pick at WR last year, but he was also a 1st-Team selection as return specialist. His 12.8 yard average per punt return was tops in the conference.

Schedule:
If Coach Otterbein wants to make the jump to seven or eight wins this year, he definitely has the schedule with which to do it. The Chargers have six home games this season, including hosting Tech, Wayne State, and SVSU. The most noticeable advantage of their slate is the absence of both Northwood AND Grand Valley. I can find five games on their schedule that they probably SHOULD win. If they jump up and bite just a couple more teams, where they finish in the standings could be eye opening.

Summary/Hot Questions:
I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but here is yet another team that could easily go 8-3 or 3-8, and I wouldn't be shocked either way. While the schedule is a bit softer without GV and "The Wood", it is still full of pitfalls for a team if they aren't ready to go every single week. Top to bottom this is easily the most talented Charger club I've seen in a while, and it will be fun to see how much Coach Otterbein can get out this group of kids. The defense has a few truly special players, but can the entire platoon as a whole do a top-flight job of slowing down opposing offenses? Who in the heck is going to run the ball for this team? Can whoever does help Hillsdale establish a ground game similar to last year's unit that held the ball the 2nd most in the league in terms of time of possession? Tom Korte had an All-GLIAC HM LB's on either side of him last year. Can the new starters shoulder enough of the load so Korte doesn't have to do everything himself?

Stickers Baby Stickers!

Show your Charger Football pride with one of these now available through Cafe Press. Each is just $2.99.

Click each sticker to purchase. Check out the other new items available at Team Shop 1 and 2.

Hillsdale Says No Thanks to State Aid

Hillsdale College replaces state scholarship aid with private funds

8/13/2007, 12:49 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press

HILLSDALE, Mich. (AP) — Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts school in southern Michigan, announced Monday it will no longer accept state taxpayer money for student scholarships and financial aid.

The state money that students were scheduled to receive this academic year will be replaced by privately raised funds, college officials said. Hillsdale students got about $670,000 in state tuition aid and scholarships last year.

Hillsdale has not taken any federal taxpayer money since its founding in 1844. Now the college won't take any state taxpayer money, either, likely making it one of only a handful of colleges across the nation to refuse all government money.

Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn said the action continues the college's "historic independence from government regulation" of its operations and curriculum.

"Hillsdale College has proven that a higher education institution can not only operate, but also thrive, free of federal taxpayer subsidy and of the strings that come with that support," Arnn said in a statement. "We view this new step to be in line with the mission of the college and with the interests of Michigan taxpayers, who are being asked by Lansing for increased taxes."

Michigan's state government faces a possible $1.6 billion budget shortfall for the fiscal year that starts in October. Democrats including Gov. Jennifer Granholm have said a tax increase is needed to help balance the budget and raise money to support programs including higher education. Republicans have said they want to cut government spending before they would allow a vote on a tax increase.

Hillsdale College has about 1,300 students. About 350 of them last year received money from the affected state programs, which include the Michigan Merit Award, Michigan Promise scholarship and the Michigan Competitive Scholarship/Michigan Tuition Grant program.

Hillsdale College tuition is increasing 4.2 percent this school year, raising the total annual tuition bill for a full-time student to about $18,160.

Charger Trainer Struck by Lightning...Already back to Work

Hillsdale Daily News
Friday August 10, 2007

College trainer struck by lightning

Firefighters and emergency responders rushed to Hillsdale College‘s Roche Sports Complex Thursday morning after Dave Frisby, was struck by lightning while inside the building. Frisby is the college’s athletic trainer and is in stable condition at Hillsdale Community Health Center. The other people in the building were not injured.

Update from Chargerblue.com

Word around Hillsdale is that Dave was standing near an open doorway in the arena looking out toward the football field. Lightning struck across the field near the visitors' bleachers and then shot across Muddy Waters Stadium toward Frisby, hitting a metal coffee cup he was holding.

Frisby was released from the hospital Friday afternoon and immediately rejoined the football and volleyball teams. That's called bleeding Chargerblue!

8 Charger Games Available Via Webcast

Here is a presser from Hillsdale regarding its new webcasting of home football, volleyball, mens and womens bkb games. Also mentioned are FSU, LSSU, WSU, and NMU.

This means 8 Hillsdale games will be available through B2 Networks.

HILLSDALE, MI. HILLSDALE, MI. – B2 Networks and Hillsdale College Director of Athletics Dr. Mike Kovalchik have announced a partnership that brings Hillsdale athletics to the revolutionary broadband broadcasting network. The partnership begins this fall with home Hillsdale football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, to be broadcast live via the B2
With the addition of Hillsdale College, B2 has partnerships with five members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC); Hillsdale, Ferris State, Wayne State, Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State. Many of Hillsdale’s away games at B2 partner institutions will also be broadcast live and available to fans worldwide.


"We are very excited about our partnership with B2 Networks," stated Dr. Kovalchik. "The partnership will allow alumni, parents, prospective students and fans of our student-athletes to view our games around the globe.”


By teaming with B2 Networks, Hillsdale athletics will be available for viewing by a world wide audience. Live events will be aired through the school’s athletic website www.hillsdale.edu/athletics. Fans wanting to watch Hillsdale events via B2 will need a high- speed Internet connection and a current version of Windows Media Player. Games will be sold on an individual basis with special viewing packages to be announced at a later date.


"B2 Networks is thrilled to partner with Hillsdale College," said Richard Brosal, B2 Networks Executive Vice President for Business Operations and Marketing. "We are proud to have joined with Hillsdale to help showcase their outstanding student-athletes while providing a service to its many fans."


B2 Networks is a premier provider of reliable and secure international television and video broadcasting systems, pay per view and billing systems. Our network of arenas, stadiums, local venues, billing systems and data centers are currently in use to distribute live events to personal computers, mobile devices and television screens around the world. Working with organizations such as the National Lacrosse League, the AHL, ECHL. IHL, USHL and selected NCAA institutions, B2 has established itself as a leader in innovative direct to home, mobile and television broadcasting. For more information about B2 Networks, visit http://www.b2now.com.

It is On!

The Chargers have reported and are in the midst of speed, strength, and agility testing.

Hillsdale practices outside every day this week at 3:15 PM.

26 days 'til Gannon comes to Muddy Waters Stadium.

New Apparel Designs now on Flickr as Wallpaper

Hillsdale Football Flames Design
Originally uploaded by chargerblue

The Chargerblue.com photo page on Flickr.com now features the latest apparel designs so you can download them as desktop wallpaper or backgrounds for your social networking sites.

Visit http://flickr.com/photos/chargerblue

2007 Media Guide Now Online

Congratulations to Brad Monastiere and the Hillsdale College sports information staff on a great 2007 media guide!

Fans may download this jam packed issue by clicking here. (pdf)

With the season less than a month away, paging through this will definitely get you pumped for what promises to be a great year of Hillsdale football.

Putting a New Face on the Running Game

The graduation of Hillsdale's #2 all time rusher Phil Martin and last year's 3rd down back Brett Neller leave the most obvious holes for head coach Keith Otterbein and his staff to fill. At least 3 current Chargers enter camp set to compete for the number one spot in the backfield. Sophomore Vinnie Panizzi (pictured) seems to be the favorite after spring practice. The Chargers call Panizzi a "grinding runner who
maintains a low level of gravity with the football." Junior Brett Lark from Alma, MI is another candidate who adds the ability to turn the corner quickly with his speed and cutting ability. Also in the mix is RS-Freshman TJ Campbell who moved from defensive back this spring. A quarterback in high school, Campbell possesses the athleticism to perform at most of the offensive skill positions. An intriguing addition to the Hillsdale program is JD Kowalkowski, a transfer from Air Force. He ran for 3111 yards and 46 TD at Manistee Catholic Central.

Chargers Picked 9th in GLIAC. Yeah....big friggin' deal!

If it's the first of August, then 2 things are happening in my life. #1, I start gripping onto summer with white knuckles and gnashed teeth (all teachers experience this to some degree) and #2, GLIAC coaches convene to release a meaningless poll which completely writes Hillsdale off as also-rans. I try to avoid both afflictions as much as I can. But, here is what came out of Monday's media day. Props to Brad Monastiere at Hillsdale for linking Otter's speech at the event.

Hillsdale Press Release:

Charger football team picked 9th in GLIAC preseason coaches poll
July 30, 2007 - The Hillsdale College football team was picked to finish ninth in the 2007 GLIAC preseason coaches' poll, released Monday afternoon as part of the conference's football media day, held at the Bay Valley Resort, just outside of Saginaw.

The ninth-place projection was one spot lower than what Hillsdale had been picked in the preseason polls in 2005 and 2006. Hillsdale finished last season tied for seventh in the GLIAC with a 5-5 conference record. The Chargers received 61 voting points in this year's poll, 13 ahead of 10th-place Northern Michigan and 11 behind eighth-place Ashland University.

Two-time defending Division II national champion Grand Valley was once again picked by the GLIAC coaches for first place. The Lakers received 12 of a possible 13 first-place votes, with the remaining vote going to second-place Northwood.

Hillsdale does not play either Grand Valley or Northwood this season.

The media day was the final one for Gannon and Mercyhurst as part of the conference. Both schools are leaving the GLIAC to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in the fall of 2008. Tiffin University, wich will join the GLIAC also next fall, was represented at media day by its head coach and sports information director.

Hillsdale's 2007 season opens on Saturday, Sept. 1 with a home game against Gannon University at Muddy Waters Field.

Visit Hillsdale.edu for audio and full poll results.