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1999 Season Info

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GLIAC Looks to Continue Success in 2000
     The year 2000 will mark the second season of the return of GLIAC football. After nine years of existence as one of the leading conferences in Division II football, the Midwest Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIFC) merged into the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLAIC) on July 1, 1999. Northwood University and Ferris State University emerged as co-champions of the GLIAC in the conference’s first season of football since 1989.
    
Ashland will Lean on Experienced Offense
     The Eagles have some holes to fill on defense as only three starters return to that unit in 2000. The good news is that two of the returnees earned All-GLIAC plaudits – senior defensive tackle Zach Kaya was a first team pick and junior linebacker Bobby Mercer was an honorable mention selection.
     On offense, nine starters are back. Senior Jeff Leopold, who set the AU single-game record for yards passing in 1999, returns and the offensive line brings back five of six starters. Senior wide receiver Jarrod Pruiett has averaged over 20 yards per catch in his career and should be one of the most explosive weapons in the league.
1999 Bulldogs are a Tough Act to Follow
     Ferris State will have a tough act to follow in the beginning of the new millenium after claiming or sharing its sixth conference title last year dating back to 1992. For starters, the nation's top total and scoring offense from a season ago bids adieu to eight starters which includes four 300-pound plus linemen not to mention the program's all-time leading passer, rusher and receiver.
     Despite those losses, Ferris will have junior split end Clarence Coleman, who was a first-team sophomore All-American by USA Football while garnering honorable mention accolades by Don Hansen's Football Gazette. The first-team all-GLIAC receiver set a single-season school record in receiving yards (1,124) last fall to go along with 10 TD's on 72 catches. Coleman, who already is fourth on the school's all-time receiving list, not only led the GLIAC in receptions and receiving yardage a season ago, but ranked nationally in six statistical categories. Senior center Jason Losinski, a three-year starter and second-team all-GLIAC performer in 1999, is the lone holdover in the trenches
      The Bulldogs are hopeful the popular philosophy of defense winning championships is pertinent as FSU welcomes back 18 letterwinners, including eight starters. The line is a strength with the return of a pair of seniors in second-team all-GLIAC defensive end Dave Zuiderveen and tackle Ryan Morris, an all-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection. The team's top two tackles leaders from last season in senior outside linebacker Rob Ridling (105 tackles) and junior outside linebacker Charlie Pierson (97) also return.
Findlay on the Rebound
     The Oilers hope to rebound from a disappointing 2-8 campaign in 1999 with a new captain directing the ship as Dan Simrell takes over. He had been the offensive coordinator at West Virginia and was the head coach at the University of Toledo from 1982-89.
      Bryan Hieber leads the offensive unit as he passed for 1,475 yards and 10 TDs in 1999. DeShannon Butler was his favorite target as he hauled in 38 passes for 454 yards with two touchdowns. Laflore Walker is the leading returning rusher as he had 399 yards in 1999.
      On defense the Oilers are led by Jesse Howard and Terry Jolliff. Howard led the 1999 Oilers with 108 total tackles while Jolliff had 91 total tackles.
Grand Valley Will Post Veteran Offense
      Grand Valley State returns 33 letterwinners from last season, including 10 offensive starters. Sophomore quarterback Curt Anes returns after starting seven games as a freshman. Anes completed 131-of-248 passes for 1,900 yards and nine TDs. A pair of sophomore running backs, Brent Lesniak and Reggie Spearmon, look to carry the load on the ground. Junior wide receiver Grant Malecke, will lead a young but talented receiving corps.
      Defensively, sophomore inside linebacker William Gray returns after leading the Lakers in tackles as a frosh with 99. Senior defensive end Abdallah Wiggins will look to improve on an outstanding junior campaign. Wiggins recorded 16 tackles for loss (-102) and eight QB sacks
(-69) in just seven games in '99. Senior strong safety Terry Foster enters his third year as a starter. Foster was a Second-Team All-GLIAC performer a year ago with 85 tackles, three fumble recoveries and four pass deflections.
Chargers Hope to Keep ‘99 Momentum
      Hillsdale College returned to the top half of the conference while posting an 8-3 overall record in 1999. The Chargers return a strong defensive unit with ten starters back along with a deep and talented receiving corp. The rest of the offense will be largely untested as only six are coming back on that side of the ball.
      Hillsdale's defense will be keyed by first team All-GLIAC picks defensive end Todd DeVree and cornerback Tim Mustapha along with linebacker Matt Baltzer. Wide receivers Ed House and Adam Greenman will lead the offensive unit which will be feature new faces at quarterback and running back.
Indianapolis Veterans Eyeing GLIAC Title
      The Greyhounds are coming off the most successful three-year stint in school history. The Hounds posted a 7-4 record in 1999 after eight-win campaigns in both 1998 and 1997. Coach Joe Polizzi’s team is 23-9 (.719) over the past three seasons.
      Despite graduating NCAA II All-America LB Josh Gentry to the Indianapolis Colts, the Hounds are primed to contend for the GLIAC championship and an NCAA II playoff berth with 18 starters and 33 lettermen returning from last season’s record-setting 8-2 squad. Thirteen Indianapolis players earned All-GLIAC honors in 1999.
      Junior TB Marquis Tolliver earned second-team All-GLIAC and third-team USA Football Sophomore All-America accolades after rushing for a career-high 714 yards in nine outings. Senior Andy Owen and sophomore Kevin Nicolini will battle freshman ex-minor league baseball player B. J. Schlicher at quarterback. Junior second-team All-GLIAC and third-team USA Football Sophomore All-America Gary Griffin caught 36 passes for 654 yards a year ago.
Lakers Must Replace Record-Setting QB
      Mercyhurst returns everyone from last year's offense except record-setting quarterback, Matt Kissell. The Lakers lost three-year starter Kissell and his 307 yards of total offense per game to graduation but will have a very competitive quartet battling for the job in the fall. Senior Brian Caldwell, junior Scott Farison, sophomore Mac McArdle, and sophomore Brett Weidig will pressure each other to run Mercyhurst's high-powered offense. Others to watch on offense include three-year starter at running back, Justin Gibson, and three-year starter at wide receiver Ed Bailey (All-GLIAC first team). The entire starting offensive line returns.
      The Laker defense returns two potential All-Americans in senior linebacker, Scott Platz (All-GLIAC first team), and senior free safety, Tom Palmer. With a few holes to fill in the defensive line, Mercyhurst will again look to build around speed and athleticism in the 2000 season. Senior Vinnie Corasaniti and sophomore Vinny Repucci return to handle the kicking chores. Although Mercyhurst finished 5-5 overall in 1999, three of its losses came by margins of two points, seven points, and seven points.
MTU Sporting New Offense in 2000
      Michigan Tech’s football fortunes have been on the rise the last few seasons. Head coach Bernie Anderson hopes the trend continues this year. After all, the Huskies are coming off their best season in six years, posting a 6-4 record last year. Not content to stand pat, Anderson, beginning his 14th season at the helm, is revamping his offense in an effort to score more points.       After 13 years of wing-T football the Huskies are switching to the more traditional pro-style, wide open offense. Because, while they have been one of the top defensive teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, they have ranked in the lower echelon of teams offensively. The move is designed to remedy that situation.
Wildcats Relying on Offense in 2000
      The Nothern Michigan University Wildcats will rely on its offense in 2000 in its quest for a sixth straight winning season coach Eric Holm and a GLIAC title.
      The offense will be lead by a veteran line that returns three four-year starters. Two-year starter Bryan White is back for his junior season at quarterback. He has passed for 2,831 yards and 22 TD’s the last two seasons. White will have plenty of targets to throw to as six of the team’s top seven receivers return from last year. NMU also returns its top two rushers, including first-team All-GLIAC performer senior James Randle.
      Defensively, NMU has some holes to fill but still returns six starters. Senior linebacker Shane Richardson is the team’s leading returning tackler, posting 76 total stops in 1999.
Northwood Seeks another GLIAC Title

      With ten offensive and nine defensive starters returning to action, the Timberwolves look to contend for the league title again. NU posted a school record 8-2 mark in 1999 on its way to a share of the GLIAC title.
      The junior tandem of quarterback Sleepie Tollie and wideout Ron Hunter (34 rec, 725 yds, 5 TD’s) lead the aerial attack, while Tollie and senior wingback Glenie Cross (743 yds) provide an explosive ground game. Their cause is aided by a veteran line led by senior Billy Altimore.
      The Timberwolf defense, led by senior linebackers Tony Johnson (70 tackles, 3 sacks) and Tony Theobald and senior cornerback Matt Jackson, won several games for Northwood last year and should again be a strength.

Cardinals Taking to the Air
      Years of ranking near the bottom of the conference passing charts are a distant memory for the time being, with second-year coach Randy Awrey at the controls. Saginaw Valley State University won back-to-back NCAA Division II rushing titles in 1997 and 1998, but finished fifth in the GLIAC and 36th in the nation in passing last season (221.6 yards per game). Back at the helm will be senior quarterback Garrett Small, who tied a league record with five TD passes in a game, and broke school records for passing yards (1,984) and TDs in a season (21). His record-setting favorite target also returns. Senior Brian Dolph was 11th in NCAA II receptions per game (6.9) and 10th in receiving yards per game (109.8). Six players who started on the offensive line last fall also return giving the Cardinals 13 returning starters on offense.
      The defense should be improved after finishing last in the league in total yards allowed. Ten players with starting experience return, while 10 who made starts last year are gone. Seven of the top eight tacklers are gone, but back to anchor the secondary is senior safety Jon Majchrzak, who was third on the squad with 53 stops in seven games last year.
Warriors Heading in New Direction
      The Wayne State Warriors look to rebound from last season’s 0-11 overall record and 0-10 conference mark. WSU returns 45 letterman including 9 offensive and 10 defensive starters. Behind new head coach, Steve Kazor, the Warriors will change the offensive scheme to a pro-style type offense which will feature more passing formations. Junior Jason Charron (117-of-274, 1,329 yds, 2 TD’s) will be WSU’s man-under-center after playing 10 games last season. Sophomore Thabiti Williamson (104 car, 513 yds, 3 TD’s) will lead the WSU backfield.
      The Warrior defense features the Carpenter brothters, Jason & Jamie. Jamie, playing strong safety, led the team in tackles last season (99) while Jason, a defensive end, led the squad in tackles for loss (13).