Now it's over, really
Around the Nation Permission to speak freely? Sure. Permission to close the book on the 2007 Division III football season? Yeah, we can do that as well. That's because the final chapter in the epic saga known as Around the Nation's 2007 Year in Review has finally hit the virtual bookshelves. In this installment, Keith McMillan explains where we missed. Preseason predictions came more than five months ago now, and at some publications, writers probably hope those guesses were forgotten. But we believe in 20-20 hindsight, taking blame where blame is due, while perhaps handing out just a little bit of credit. Credit for: • Being the only poll to have UW-Whitewater debut at No. 2. • Having one predictor name the national champ and defensive player of the year ... in August. Plus, some interesting moments that didn't quite get public attention, as well as some thoughts about why we drive all night and fly in turboprops and zigzag all over metropolitan areas and crawl up icy interstates. It's to hear speeches like the one Whitewater running back Brady Pittz gave at the Stagg Bowl luncheon, see fans tailgating at a regular season game three hours before kickoff, get some good barbecue or heck, figure out a crazy conference tiebreaker. So, yes, 2007 was a blast, but that doesn't mean we shut down for the offseason. Seriously, 2008 schedules are beginning to come in, there are still coaching hires to be made and who knows what else might break between now and Kickoff 2008. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 29, 2008 | ||
Olivet coach promoted to AD Dominic Livedoti has been promoted from assistant athletic director to athletic director, according to an announcement by Don Tuski, Ph.D., president of Olivet. He will also continue his duties as head football coach for the Comets. "Since Dominic's tenure at Olivet, he has had tremendous success with the football team, both academically and athletically," said Tuski. "We're anticipating that what he's done for his team will transfer to his new role as athletic director." This season, under Livedoti, Olivet received the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's automatic berth to the playoffs. The Comets shared the league title with Hope, as both teams finished the regular season with a 6-1 MIAA record. However, Olivet secured its first-ever bid to the playoffs by virtue of a 28-25 win against the Flying Dutchmen. Overall, Livedoti has a 38-35-3 record in his eight years and two stints at head coach. Livedoti earned a bachelor's degree from Olivet in 1965 and a master's degree from Eastern Michigan in 1970. He resides in Charlotte, Mich., with his wife, Liz, who is also a 1965 Olivet graduate. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 28, 2008 | ||
Tommies hire Mac coach St. Thomas' new coach won't have to change his commute much. The Tommies hired Macalester coach Glenn Caruso, who was introduced Thursday afternoon as the program's 29th head coach. He replaces Don Roney, who resigned after compiling a 54-44 record in 10 seasons. St. Thomas and Macalester are separated by a little over a mile of Grand Avenue in St. Paul. "My feelings for this job are very real. It this a place I could be for the rest of my career? Yeah," said the 33-year-old coach at Thursday's news conference. Caruso, an Ithaca graduate, was an assistant at South Dakota before taking the Macalester job. "I was looking for a guy who could take this campus by storm," said athletic director Steve Fritz. Other finalists included an NAIA national coach of the year, UW-Whitewater offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski and a 30-year Division I and II assistant coach. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 24, 2008 | ||
HSU player dies in accident Hardin-Simmons and the campus community is grieving the loss of teammate and friend Brentdrick Walker, who passed away Saturday, Jan. 19, in a motorcycle accident in Abilene, Texas. "Obviously, it is a horrible tragedy," said Hardin-Simmons coach Jimmie Keeling. "I just saw Brentdrick on Friday night -- he was in the locker room when I got home from a speaking engagement and he was getting ready to go meet with some of the recruits we had on campus." "He was a super young person that had tried to do everything right with us. He was a fun-loving kid that did whatever we asked him to do. It is always tragic when you lose someone at such a young age." The Cowboys had a team reflection on Sunday afternoon and it was a touching example of how one person can affect so many lives. Teammate and good friend Shawn Woods may have put the best words to the situation in the tear-filled meeting: "Brentdrick, David Joseph and I had this conversation on how we wanted to be remembered when we we’re gone. Walker said he would be laughing and smiling down at all of us, because he would be in heaven, but he also said don't ever forget me, don't ever forget me." Walker became a starter at cornerback for the Cowboys in 2007, after playing a reserve role his first two years. He started all 10 games at cornerback and had four interceptions in 2007. He had played in 17 varsity games for the Cowboys over the past two years. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 21, 2008 | ||
SCAC commish resigns, Hanberry named interim Steve Argo, the first full-time commissioner of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, has submitted his resignation to the conference. Argo was hired in 1991 when the College Athletic Conference restructured and became the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. "I am very thankful to the presidents, athletics administrators, coaches and student-athletes of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference for the tremendous opportunity that was presented to me over these last 17 years," said Argo. "You can only imagine the memories that I have from a 17-year career with the SCAC, particularly since I began in a start-up situation with the charge of providing structure and stability to the conference and its members. Everyone associated with the SCAC should be very proud of their commitment to membership in this conference and providing student-athletes with a wonderful environment to continue their educations and compete in intercollegiate athletics." During his tenure, the SCAC grew from eight to 12 teams and sports sponsorship increased from 14 to the current 19. Men's and women's swimming and diving, softball, women's golf and field hockey have been added since 1991. Along with his assistance in the expansion process for the conference on four occasions, Argo brought women's athletics on board as a part of the 1991 restructuring. He also began the process of creating a constitution, bylaws and policy manuals for all sports during this time. In addition to his role as commissioner, Argo served on various NCAA committees during his tenure, including Division III Management Council, Championships Committee, Interpretations and Legislative Committee, Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee (served as chair) and Future of Division III Committee. He also served as president and on the executive committee of the Division III Commissioners Association over a five-year period. "The SCAC Board of Directors is very appreciative of the 17 years that Steve has given to the conference and its membership," said Austin president Oscar Page, who serves as executive committee chair of the conference. Following Argo's decision to leave the conference, the conference's executive committee appointed Dwayne Hanberry as interim commissioner. "The SCAC is in great hands with Dwayne Hanberry stepping in to lead the conference for the remainder of this academic year and I owe him a great deal of gratitude for his commitment and dedication since 1995," said Argo. "I couldn't have succeeded without him and I wish him well." Hanberry has been at the SCAC office since 1995, most recently serving as the league's associate commissioner. "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the SCAC as its interim commissioner and I appreciate the trust bestowed upon me by the league's presidents and athletics directors," said Hanberry. "I have had the good fortune of working with Steve for 13 years and much of what I have learned concerning athletics administration I owe to him." | ||
| Permalink | Jan 17, 2008 | ||
Lyco hires alum to follow Girardi Lycoming has named alumnus Michael Clark its new head football coach, according to an announcement by James Douthat, Lycoming's president. Clark, a 1993 graduate with a degree in business administration, played under legendary coach Frank Girardi and coached Lycoming’s offensive line in 1998 and 1999. Clark was selected following a national search that generated more than 75 applicants. He replaces Girardi, who served as Lycoming’s head coach for 36 years and compiled a record of 257-97-4. A news conference to introduce Clark is set for Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 2:30 p.m. in Lamade Gymnasium. "As a former Lycoming player and coach, I am honored to be named Lycoming’s head football coach,” said Clark. “I'm excited to return to Lycoming football and its rich tradition, and I plan to continue the success established by Coach Girardi and the staff. We are fortunate to have tremendous student-athletes at Lycoming and we are eager to begin our pursuit of an MAC championship. I look forward to getting to know the players, the coaching and support staff, and members of the college community." Since leaving Lycoming eight years ago, Clark has served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Davidson, a Division I non-scholarship program. During his tenure at Davidson, the Wildcats averaged nearly 25 points per game. In 2007, the Clark-led offense averaged 31.2 points and 414.3 yards per game, while allowing just seven sacks in 393 passing attempts. The 2006 Davidson offense ranked seventh in passing in Division I FCS, as well as 13th in total offense and 15th in scoring offense. Clark also coached some of Davidson’s career leaders in rushing, passing, receiving, touchdowns and scoring. After graduating from Lycoming, Clark was a graduate assistant coach for two years at Rowan, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration. He then spent two seasons coaching running backs and tight ends at Princeton before joining Lycoming’s staff in 1998. In announcing the appointment, Douthat noted: "The depth and success of Mike Clark’s coaching experiences in NCAA Division III and at Davidson have prepared him well for Lycoming’s head coaching position. He knows, understands and respects the great football traditions that Lycoming established during the Girardi era, having played and coached at Lycoming during some of the most successful years of Warrior football." While Clark coached at Lycoming, the Warriors reached the NCAA playoffs twice, advancing to the national quarterfinals in 1998. As a player, Clark was an offensive lineman on the Warriors’ 1990 Stagg Bowl team. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 16, 2008 | ||
Open season Despite the long offseason still lying mostly ahead, there's little time for coaches to rest. Every year, more schools join conferences and the number of available dates shrinks slightly, but it's still open season for Open Dates. So if you're a coach or AD looking for opponents, drop by the Open Dates section. We have 100 dates in the system for 2008 and can accommodate listings through 2012. (And if you're a fan, look but don't touch, thanks. We log all use of the system and will take privileges away from offenders.) If you're a coach or AD looking to hire someone, or a coach looking for a new job, don't forget to peruse our job board, on the right-hand column. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 15, 2008 | ||
Bickel promoted to Cap top job Capital president Denvy Bowman has announced that Jim Bickel has been named football coach. "We are very fortunate to have a coach of Jim's ability in our program. Jim understands that our goal is to develop student athletes to their highest intellectual and physical potential," said Bowman. "Jim has more than three decades of coaching experience and has been integral to the success of our football program for the past seven years. We have complete confidence in Jim and his ability to keep the program moving forward." Bickel replaces Jim Collins, who took the head coaching job at Division II Saginaw Valley State in late December. "I appreciate the opportunity that is being provided to me by Dr. Bowman and the entire Capital University community," said Bickel. "I look forward to working with the administration, faculty, staff, alumni and student-athletes in the continued growth and success of the football program here at Capital." Bickel is the ninth head coach in school history and has served as associate head coach/defensive coordinator for the past seven seasons. Bickel's impact on the Capital program has been a smart, aggressive defense that has produced a national defensive player of the year, an All-American player in each of the last seven seasons, nine Academic All-OAC selections, an Academic All-American, a school-record 50 sacks in 2007 and a school-record 27 interceptions in 2002. Bickel has twice been named Ohio Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year including this past season when the Crusaders finished as the nation's No. 2 ranked defense. "Jim Bickel is a player's coach and an extremely experienced Division III tactician. He will carry on the great tradition that Coach Collins and previous Crusader coaches have firmly established," said Jim Tressel, Ohio State head football coach. "He is an excellent choice." Bickel has been a part of college football in Central Ohio for the past 31 seasons, beginning in 1977 when he became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Denison. In 21 seasons with the Big Red, Bickel coached both the offensive and defensive lines for a combined nine seasons and was defensive coordinator for 12 seasons. Through his tenure as defensive coordinator, Denison won a pair of North Coast Athletic Conference championships (1985-86) and one NCAA Division III playoff appearance (1985). Aside from his football coaching duties, he was an assistant professor of physical education and an assistant baseball coach. In 1999, Bickel came to Columbus to become the defensive coordinator at Otterbein. In 2000, his Cardinal defense led the OAC in passing defense and was third in total defense. "I have no doubt that Jim has the skills to keep the Capital University football program at its high level of achievement. He has a great football mind and is someone who really understands the game inside and out," said two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, whose son was on Collins' staff at Capital. "Perhaps more importantly, Jim is a people person who does a great job of connecting with others, whether it's his players, his coaches, or a prospective recruit. He is the type of guy you can meet once and have an understanding of what he is all about. Jim is going to do a great job in keeping Capital at the top of our nation's best Division III football conference, and I know he'll help them move toward a Stagg Bowl. This was a great hire for Capital University." In his time at Capital, Bickel, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, has served as an instructor within the department of health and sport sciences. He also has been an assistant athletic director responsible for game management for the Crusaders spring sports, (baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf and men's and women's track & field). The Newark, Ohio, native holds a bachelor's degree from Denison (1977) in speech communications and economics and a master's degree in physical education from Ohio State (1981). He and his wife, Kathy, reside in Columbus and have three grown children and six grandchildren. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 14, 2008 | ||
One former Stout coach joins another at S.D. Former UW-Stout head coach Todd Strop has been hired at Division II South Dakota as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach, joining former UW-Stout head coach Ed Meierkort. Strop was forced out at Stout in January 2007 after an outgoing Blue Devil player was arrested on a drug charge. He spent the past season at Hamline as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In 2007, Strop's defensive unit led the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in creating turnovers. Prior to his stop at Hamline, Strop coached at UW-Stout where he was the head coach after serving as an assistant to Meierkort. Strop was the head coach from 2004-06 where he led the team to a 14-15 record and posted the third-best winning percentage in school history. In 2004 and 2005 the offense led the league in total offense. Under Meierkort, Strop was the team's defensive coordinator from 1998 through 2003. Under his guidance, the team led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in total defense three times and in 2002 was the nation's No. 1 run defense in NCAA Division III. "Todd is one of the best recruiters I've ever been around," said Meierkort. "His knowledge and experience as a head coach and a defensive coordinator will be very valuable to the Coyote football program." | ||
| Permalink | Jan 10, 2008 | ||
A season of greatness
ATN's Year in Review At a conservative estimate, more than 18,000 people were on Division III football teams this past season, so it stands to reason that there were lots of great performances. Who were the outstanding leaders? Which player had a particularly happy ending to the year? Who hung up his whistle for the final time? And who had an impact on how fans will remember the 2007 Division III football season, beyond the major award winners? Keith McMillan tackles these questions and others in the Around the Nation Year in Review, Part II. The look back at the 2007 season continues, in this week's Around the Nation. And if you missed Part I, read about the great games, endings, plays and stats of the 2007 season. The final part will come later in January. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 9, 2008 | ||
Dubuque coordinator replaces Perry at Hanover Hanover president Sue DeWine has announced that Joe Austin, offensive coordinator at Dubuque, has been selected as the school's 25th head football coach. Austin succeeds longtime coach Wayne Perry, who retired after the 2007 season. "We are extremely pleased to have Joe join the Hanover family," said DeWine. "He has a great deal of enthusiasm and energy for the game and we believe he will continue our tradition of excellence. His plan is to make our Panthers a team for the community and we'll support his efforts to do so." Austin, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, helped guide Dubuque's squad to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 28 seasons. The Spartans finished 7-3 in 2007 and 6-4 in 2006. During his three seasons at Dubuque, Austin's offensive unit set 33 school records. In 2007, the Spartans averaged 35.2 points and 433.4 offensive yards per game. "I feel extremely blessed to be the man charged with the duty of restoring the roar to Panther football," Austin said. "Wayne Perry has established a tremendous tradition and legacy at this institution. Our staff and players will do everything we can to carry on the tradition of excellence." Prior to his stint at Dubuque, Austin was offensive coordinator at Augsburg for one season and was an offensive assistant coach at Concordia-St. Paul for four seasons. During his season at Augsburg, Austin's offense set five school records and increased its scoring by more than one touchdown per game. While at Concordia, the Golden Bears finished in the Top 25 nationally in NCAA Division II in total offense. Austin's unit was sixth nationally in 2003 with 474.6 yards per game and ranked seventh in 2002 with 447.8 yards per outing. Concordia averaged more than 35 points per game and set virtually every school passing, receiving and rushing record during Austin's tenure. "Joe has worked hard in the past to not only recruit great athletes nationwide, but also retain them," said Lynn Hall, Hanover's director of athletics. "It is this determination to see that his athletes are successful on and off the field that made him our choice to lead the Panthers." Austin played quarterback at NAIA St. Ambrose for two seasons. He earned All-Mid-States Athletic Association honors as a sophomore after setting school records with 2,197 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, despite playing just six games due to broken vertebrae in his back. The injury eventually ended his playing career after reconstructive surgery at the end of that season. Austin earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Concordia in 2001. He received a master's degree in organizational management from Concordia in 2004. Perry had guided Hanover's football program since 1982. He tallied the most wins of any coach in Indiana collegiate football history, posting a 174-89-2 record through 26 seasons at Hanover. His teams earned eight conference championships and made nine appearances in the national playoffs. He will lead the College's athletic fund-raising initiatives and coach men's and women's golf. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 7, 2008 | ||
Lateral play wins Trinity award The 15-lateral play which won Trinity (Texas) a game at Millsaps has had an even bigger impact on the Division III school in San Antonio. The play, which resulted in a last-second touchdown and eventually an NCAA playoff bid, was named the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the 2007 college football season at halftime of the BCS championship game. Pontiac will donate $100,000 to the general scholarship fund at Trinity in recognition of the award. Trinity beat out finalists Alabama, Appalachian State and Auburn in the final round. | ||
| Permalink | Jan 7, 2008 | ||
Castleton State job draws interest The head coaching position for the Castleton State football program that will make its debut in 2009 has attracted considerable interest. Athletic director Deanna Tyson said the number of applications as of Friday was "just under a hundred." She said they ranged from a junior high coach to a former NFL player and included young coaches and those with more than 20 years of experience. Tyson said the plan is to hire the full-time head coach and one full-time assistant by early spring. They will be on the job July 1 when they will be charged with recruiting for the inaugural season and with completing the staff which will be comprised of two more part-time coaches and a graduate assistant. Tyson said the team will likely play the minimum seven games required by the NCAA in 2009 which would mean six North Atlantic Conference games and one non-conference game against an opponent that will likely be selected by the new coach. -- Tom Haley | ||
| Permalink | Jan 4, 2008 | ||
News
D3sports.com
Network
Network
News
Columns
Awards
Other departments
Coaches and SIDs
Interactive
Your support helps keep this site operating
