Chargerblue Space is waiting

Chargerblue Space is anxiously awaiting all of the pictures you took at today's big win over St. Joe's.

This is the official/unofficial place to pool and share all of the shots taken this season.

Thanks to all who have already contributed, especially Doug Waldie who even sent us live shots during the game.

Chargerblue Space is located at chargerbluespace.ning.com.

Hillsdale.edu: Charger football team pummels Pumas in season opener, 49-6

Charger football team pummels Pumas in season opener, 49-6

Hillsdale College release
(photo nabbed by Chargerblue.com from AJ Kegg's Facebook page, thanks AJ in advance)

August 30, 2008 - After a 2007 season that saw the Hillsdale College football team set record after record, it was only fitting that the Chargers would open the 2008 season picking up where they left off.

The Hillsdale offense set a school record with 37 first downs in a dominant 49-6 opening-day victory over St. Joseph’s College at Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Chargers will hit the road for their GLIAC opener next week at Michigan Tech University.

Hillsdale scored on five of its first six possessions and operated its offense with near-flawless execution. In addition to its record 37 first downs, the Charger defense limited the Pumas to just two first downs for the entire game. St. Joseph’s first two plays of the first half went for negative yardage, and its first three plays of the second half resulted in an interception and two sacks.

In its past two home openers, including the 2007 game vs. Gannon, Hillsdale has outscored the opposition by a combined score of 108-9.

Full Release

Podcast Up for Week 1

The 2008 season kicks off with a visit by the St. Joe's Pumas.

This week we hear from one of the little Charger fans about what she loves so much about Muddy Waters Stadium. She even gives us some picks.

New athletic director Don Brubacher makes his Chargerblue.com debut



Click to listen. August 29, 2008: Let's Go Already!

D2football.com: Tony Nicolette's Weekly Column

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
August 26th, 2008

Ahh, yet another season is upon us. It's hard to believe that Spring Ball ended just four short months ago. Well, now we're all in for the real thing and we've probably all been chomping at the bit for longer than we care to think about. So, let's get right to it!

New Region Alignment

With the North Central Conference (NCC) disbanding, the NCAA shifted things around a bit. In order to maintain a certain "balance" within the Northwest Region, the RMAC joins the GLIAC and the NSIC. While that seems great for us here in the Northwest, the NCAA proceeded to create a complete mess of its other three Regions - especially in the Northeast and Southwest (be sure to read Bob Eblen's National Columns for more insight into that). Nevertheless, the GLIAC now finds itself as the undisputed "power" conference within the Northwest Region. In previous years, there had always been a perceived gap between the GLIAC and the NCC. While that perception certainly could have been argued a couple of different ways (and frankly doesn't matter any longer), most would not consider the Northern Sun or the Rocky Mountain conferences to be quite on par with the GLIAC - whether comparing the top-tier teams, or the overall depth of the leagues.

For a bit of reference, some of the more recognizable NSIC teams are Winona State, Bemidji State, and Minnesota-Duluth. The conference is made up of teams from the upper Great Plains (Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas), and includes a few of the remnants of the NCC.

Some names from the RMAC include Chadron State, Mesa State, and Adams State. These are primarily teams from the Rocky Mountain geography (go figure - Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico), and they move from the Southwest Region into the Northwest.

In simplest terms, the Region basically exchanged one conference for another. The NCC disbanded with North Dakota and South Dakota moving to Division I and Nebraska-Omaha joining the MIAA. The RMAC steps in, but to this point certainly does not possess the rich football tradition that the NCC did. While Chadron State and Mesa State both made the playoffs last year, they both face significant challenges this year that make returns to last year's form anything but guaranteed (peek into Allan Bryning's RMAC column for more details).

While both conferences have some teams that are expected to make some noise later in the season, most don't associate their schedules as possessing the week-in/week-out grind of the GLIAC. As you've certainly heard from me and the coaches before, the GLIAC is pitfall-laden and there are rarely any "gimmes". Add to that the fact that neither of those conferences fund their programs with scholarships to the same level as most GLIAC members, and I won't be the least bit surprised to see two GLIAC teams playing for the Regional Championship over Thanksgiving Weekend.

New Conference Alignment

Gannon and Mercyhurst go from the easternmost schools in their old conference (the GLIAC), to the westernmost schools (well, darn close anyway) in their new conference: the PSAC. I stated last year that I think both schools have the chance to fair a bit better on a weekly basis this year, as the top-to-bottom depth of the PSAC falls short of that in the GLIAC.

Getting us back to an even number of teams playing football in the GLIAC is the addition of Tiffin University of Tiffin, Ohio. The Dragons have spent the past few seasons playing predominantly as an independent. They were members of the GLFC, but the NCAA presently does not recognize that group as a conference in football due to an insufficient number of members.

While Tiffin has played a few GLIAC teams (with some success) in recent years, chances are they'll likely find the sledding a bit tougher when facing this caliber of team on a weekly basis. We'll talk more about that in a bit. For now, a hearty welcome to the Dragons into the GLIAC Family.

Full Column (8/26/08)
Clicking this link later in the season will take you to Tony's most recent column, as pieces are not archived.

GLIAC.org: Top 25 Matchup Between Ashland and Bloomsburg Highlights this Week's Action

Eight GLIAC teams will be in action this weekend, making their 2008 season debut.

This weekend's schedule features all non-conference games. The first is Thursday, Aug. 28 when Indianapolis travels to play Kentucky Wesleyan in an 8 pm game.

The big matchup for the weekend, though, is when No. 25 Bloomsburg (Pa.) visits No. 15 Ashland Saturday in a battle of top 25 teams.

Tiffin plays a non-conference contest at home against fellow GLIAC member Ferris State. Other games involving GLIAC teams include: former GLIAC member Mercyhurst (Pa.) playing at Wayne State, Winona State (Minn.) traveling to Michigan Tech, Hillsdale hosting St. Joseph's (Ind.), and Findlay playing at Urbana (Ohio).

Idle Grand Valley State sits at No. 2 in the AFCA D-II Coaches Preseason Poll. The Lakers, Northwood, Northern Michigan, and Saginaw Valley State will all begin their seasons on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Full Week 1 Preview

University of Indianapolis: Rush Offense Key in Convincing Opening Win

Indianapolis 40 - Kentucky Wesleyan 14

University of Indianapolis Release

OWENSBORO, Ky.- The Greyhound rushing attack piled-up 418 yards along the ground to lead the visitors past Kentucky Wesleyan, 40-14 at Bullet Wilson Field in the season opener Thursday night. The Hounds ran early and often, with two backs going over the century mark in rushing-- senior Craig Jenkins (132 yards) and redshirt freshman Deontrai Campbell (127).

Campbell put UIndy (1-0 overall) up 7-0 virtually by himself, taking the handoff five straight times in the Hounds' first drive, culminating in a 9-yard run for the score. After a KWC (0-1) missed field goal, Campbell and Jenkins teamed to rush for 71 more yards, setting up true freshman Rob Doyle's 1-yard run for a 14-0 Greyhound advantage.

Full Story and Box Score

Hillsdale College Release: FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Chargers open 2008 season with non-league home game vs. St. Joseph's College

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Chargers open 2008 season with non-league home game vs. St. Joseph's College

Hillsdale College Release

Teams meet for first time since Sept. 16, 1995
August 26, 2008 - A highly anticipated college football season kicks off in Hillsdale Saturday afternoon, as the Hillsdale College Chargers host the St. Joseph's College Pumas in the opening game of the 2008 season.

For the second year in a row, the Chargers open a season at home, and this is a season many Charger fans are excited about. In 2007, Hillsdale put together its finest season this decade, going 8-3 while shattering many offensive school records in the process.

But 2007 is history, and the group of players making up the 2008 roster are determined to keep Hillsdale near the top of the GLIAC standings. They take their first step towards that end Saturday.

This marks the first meeting between Hillsdale and St. Joseph's College since Sept. 16, 1995. The teams met each season from 1990-1995, when both were mebers of the short-lived Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIFC). The MIFC formed when the GLIAC dropped football as a conference after the 1989 season. The GLIAC re-formed as a football conference starting with the 1996 campaign.

Hillsdale is 6-2 all-time vs. St. Joseph's, and the two teams split their most recent two meetings. The Pumas edged the Chargers 29-27 in 1994. One year later, Hillsdale exacted revenge in the form of a 49-0 victory.

This year's Charger squad is deep, fast and experienced, with 15 starters returning from last year's successful group. One player who will be making his first collegiate start Saturday is sophomore quarterback Troy Weatherhead.

Armed with a strong throwing arm and two years' worth of knowledge of the Charger system, Weatherhead comes into this season very well prepared to guide a Hillsdale offense that has plenty of experience around him.

Full Article