Chargers Ranked #25 in USA Today Preseason D2 Poll

2010 USA Today Division II Preseason Top 25

1. Northwest Missouri State
2. Grand Valley State
3. North Alabama
4. Minnesota Duluth
5. West Liberty
6. Abilene Christian
7. Central Washington
8. Cal (PA)
9. Washburn
10. Texas A&M-Kingsville
11. Nebraska-Kearney
12. West Alabama
13. West Texas A&M
14. Saginaw Valley State
15. Carson-Newman
16. Missouri Western
17. Midwestern State
18. East Stroudsburg
19. Tuskegee
20. North Carolina at Pembroke
21. Nebraska-Omaha
22. Bemidji State
23. West Chester
24. Delta State
25. Hillsdale

Berube and Petro Get Ready for Valero Cactus Bowl, watch online

The 2009 Hillsdale College football season isn't over yet, even though the calendar may contradict that statement.

Hillsdale senior defensive lineman Drew Berube and senior placekicker Mark Petro are in Kingsville, TX this week as members of the East Team in preparation for Friday's D2 All-Star Valero Cactus Bowl.

The most recent Charger to play in the game is quarterback Mark Nicolet, the bowl game's 2008 offensive MVP.

The game is Friday January 8 at 7:35PM EST and can be viewed live at VisionSports-tv.com.

Charger Parents Bus and Lodging for Mankato!

Hi Charger Parents and Friends,

I want to start this email by thanking you all for the very generous gift card. Although this job has truly been a labor of love, your thoughtfulness is so appreciated! Actually, now that I think about it, I can use the gift card at the Mall of America this weekend. Sweet!!

Here is the information we have available for the Minnesota State University game this weekend. I am hoping that we can have an incredible crowd show up to cheer on the Chargers. Please bring all your noise makers, loud relatives/friends and your warm Charger gear! We have had to make plans on the fly, so please bear with us!

BUS RIDE INFORMATION:

Cost: $125 per person (slightly higher if less than 50 riders) - $150 is the upper limit

There is room for 35 more riders. Seven have confirmed. The plan is to leave Hillsdale (sports complex) between 8-9pm. You will travel through the night and arrive in Mankato Friday morning. The Microtel Inn has assured us that you can have an early 12 noon check-in. There are restaurants and shopping within walking distance.

Saturday morning, tailgate at 10am. Cheer the Chargers to victory! After the game, you will board the bus and return to Hillsdale early Sunday morning.

Folks wanting to ride the bus need to CONFIRM ASAP and no later than Wednesday. Please call Dan Loy at 614-832-8085 or email: dan@danloy.com. Thank you Dan for putting this together!

HOTEL INFORMATION:

We have 25-30 rooms reserved at the following:

MICROTEL Inn & Suites

200 Saint Andrews DR

Mankato MN 56001

1-507-388-2818

Special rates for “Hillsdale Parents”

Rates are $45-55 depending on 1, 2 queen or room with micro/fridge room

Includes breakfast and internet

Rooms will be held till Thurs Am (but if you have a late decision they will give the special parent rate as long as you tell them that you are part of our group).

We also have 10 rooms held at

DAYS INN

1286 Range ST

Mankato, MN

1-507-387-3332

$75 includes breakfast/internet

Indicate “Hilsdale Parent Group”

Rooms will be held till Friday

Thanks Julie Panizzi for getting our lodging taken care of with very little notice.

TAILGATING INFORMATION:

I am planning on the tailgate to begin at 10am. We still need to contact MSU and finalize that plan. Stay tuned! The Veldheers and Szula's are both driving and will bring grills. We can either cook something on them, or stand around them and try to stay warm.

TICKETS:

Please see the earlier email sent today for the link or go to the Minnesota University athletic page and go to tickets. If you aren't sure of shopping online, you can call to order as well.

I feel like I am forgetting something. Let me know if you have any questions. Let's get fired up!!!

GO CHARGERS!!

Mary

**** Posters, banners and other spirit filled signs are welcome! This is BIG! *******

Minnesota, Here We Come!

Dear Charger Parents,

I will be sending you emails with information as I get it. Minnesota University Coach has this to say about Hillsdale….”

"I am sure Hillsdale is not going to travel very well...coming from Michigan. We would love to dominate the noise and put a lot of pressure on the visiting team."

Well Coach Hoffner, I guess you don’t know the Hillsdale family very well. I think we have been challenged!

Right now, Dan Loy is organizing bus transportation out to Minnesota. He will need to know ASAP anyone who would like to RSVP for that charter. Please email him at dan@loyinsuranceagency.com if you want to get on the bus!! After seeing Coach Hoffner’s comments, I would love to see multiple buses swarming down on Minnesota State.

I will send lodging information later today. For tickets, can go online to purchase at....

http://www.msumavericks.com/index.aspx?path=football&

Make sure you get your tickets for the visitor section!!! Gotta make sure the Maverick fans can see the Hillsdale fans.

ALSO….

Special Hillsdale PLAYOFF apparel can be found at

http://www.cafepress.com/playoffs09 (copy and paste into your browser.)

GO CHARGERS!

MARY

CHARGER BOWLING

Since the team banquet is this weekend on Sunday, many of you will be staying in Hillsdale Saturday night. Have you been wondering how you are going to fill the time Saturday evening? LET'S GO BOWLING!! I have 4 lanes reserved at Hillside Bowling at 8pm for the early birds who can't stay awake past 10pm. I also have 10 lanes reserved at 9pm for the GLOW IN THE DARK BOWLING. I personally think the 9pm bowling will work for me since the day will have been long, and hanging out in the dark will probably be a good look for me! The Hillside lounge has recently been remodeled. They have beer, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and TVs. Bowling is $3.50 per game. Maybe we could even get some football players to join us as well, since it is possible they will still be in season and need to behave Saturday night. Who knows! RSVP back to me ( mary.veldheer@comcast.net) by Friday night so I can confirm with Hillside. Let's get together for some good old family fun! Bowling talent not necessary! Mary

Chargers go to Ferris to play TRICKS and get TREATS

Hi Charger Parents!

Saturday once again, was an awesome display of teamwork from the Hillsdale football team. The Charger football team is making a great run for the playoffs. We are currently ranked 3^rd in our region. I would love to give a shout out to every player receiving league recognition each week, but they are becoming to many for me to remember. Public accolades are great, but a great football team doesn’t survive with a few stars. I love watching all the guys work together as one group getting the job done. These games are being won by the guys both on the field and off the field. These games are being won by the incredible coaching staff and the trainers. I am so proud of them all!

This week we have a 2:00pm game in Big Rapids against the Ferris Bulldogs. Our Halloween tailgate will begin at 12 noon (or earlier). I really wanted to encourage you all to dress up for Halloween, but the weather forecast looks cold and possibly wet. I don’t think my Snow White costume will cut it. If you have something fun and warm to wear, don’t be shy. Dress up in costume if you wish. I would like to ask that everyone have a bowl of candy or some other treats available so any little kids coming to the game can Trick or Treat around the tailgate. We will be tailgating in lot 37 on the west side of the field (home side). The tailgating rules for Ferris are….

1. TAILGATING (WITH AND WITHOUT ALCOHOL) IS PERMITTED THREE HOURS PRIOR TO THE GAME AND AT HALFTIME ONLY. GAME ATTENDEES ARE EXPECTED TO BEHAVE IN A RESPONSIBLE AND CIVIL MANNER AT ALL TIMES.

2. TAILGATING (WITH ALCOHOL) IS PER MITTED IN THE FOLLOWING PARKING LOTS ONLY: LOTS 35,36 AND 37 (LOTS IM MEDIATLY WEST OF THE STADIUM).

3. GLASS CONTAINERS, KEGS AND COM MON ALCOHOL CONTAINERS ARE PRO HIBITED.

4. DRINKING GAMES AND DEVICES THAT PROMOTE BINGE DRINKING ARE PROHIB ITED. ITEMS WILL BE CONFISCATED AND DESTROYED.

5. UNDERAGE DRINKING IS NOT PER MITTED; ALL LOCAL AND STATE LAWS OBEYED.

6. Hillsdale Wins

For those who still need to make RSVPs for Friday night, arrangements have been made at …

Quality Inn & Suites

1705 South State St Big Rapids, Mi 49307 1-231-592-5150

No Smoking doubles $65 includes/hot breakfast & internet

Indicate you are part of “Hillsdale Parent Group”

For directions…. GOOGLE.. Quality Inn Big Rapids Mi

For fun meet at the “7-10 Bar & Grill” at 7-7:30pm……ask front desk for info

WE NEED 3 VOLUNTEERS FOR COOKIES/TREATS FOR THE PLAYERS TO EAT ON THE BUS RIDE BACK! The first 3 (I already have one volunteer, Cindy Russell) to get back with me are the winners!!! Thanks in advance and also thanks to all the people that have provided treats throughout the season ©

Since many of you will be driving back through Grand Rapids, we thought it might be nice to get together after the game. All you fanatics can break the game down play by play. After trying to think of a restaurant that would be convenient for folks passing through GR, we concluded that VITALES OF COMSTOCK PARK would be a good choice. Vitales has great pizza and lots of TVs. They are located just north of Grand Rapids at

3868 West River DR NE, Comstock Park, MI 49341

Take exit 91 for W River Dr toward Comstock Park

Turn right at W River Rd NE

Continue onto W River Dr NE Destination will be on the left

_{We will} be needing volunteers to take over some of the Parent Club responsibilities next year. Vonnie Sander has graciously agreed to take over my job with the emails. We are begging Kim Wiska to stay on as our Charger Gear fashion maven. THANKS Kim for doing that for us this year. Kathy Weatherhead will be the parent travel agent next year, securing arrangements for away games. Julie and Bob Panizzi get a BIG THANKS from me for doing such a great job with that this year! We still need a volunteer to coordinate the button orders and the roster lanyards. Someone will need to take that over since Vonnie will be busy with the emails. A home tailgate coordinator is needed as well. I would like to thank Julie and Bob Panizzi for coordinating all our home tailgaters. I would also like to thank Jim Veldheer (my hubby ) for getting our new banner this year and for getting all the info on our away tailgate parties. We will need someone to take that over. IT’S FUN TO GET INVOLVED!!! To recap, for next year we still need…..

--Button and Roster/Lanyard volunteer

--Home tailgater coordinator

--Banner and away tailgate coordinator

--photographer

Please see me or send me an email if you are interested.

See you all this weekend!!! Remember, dress in costume if you like! Maybe I will????? Bring warm clothes and your noise makers!

Go Chargers!!!!

Mary (a.k.a. Snow White)

The Hillsdale - Wayne State Showdown!

Hi Charger Parents,

What a terrific win for the Charger football team last weekend.  After traveling AALLL that way for a game, it was so sweet that the Chargers ended up with more points on the score board.  I missed being there but watched from afar.  For those who did not watch the game on the B2 network but were actually at the game, I want to let you know, you sounded awesome on TV!  It was amazing that NMU had so many people in the bleachers but they didn't really sound that loud on TV.  I could hear the Charger cheering section loud and clear!  Nice job.  I was so proud!

Let's get ready to make some serious noise this week as our guys take on Wayne State.  THIS GAME IS HUGE!!!  Our guys can do this and we need to be in the bleachers supporting them during every play.  The game is at 2:30p.m. so our tailgater will begin at 12:30p.m.  We will be in our usual gravel parking lot near the stadium.  Grills will be available for those who need to cook and don't have a grill.  Bring a dish to pass!  As you all probably know, this weekend is Parent's Weekend at Hillsdale College.  Hopefully we will get a really big crowd.  BRING YOUR NOISEMAKERS!!! 

If you haven't already watched the video/slide show on You Tube of our Charger Team, you need to do so ASAP.  It is awesome.  I suspect that it was put together by Andy Losik but I don't have confirmation of that.  It is terrific!   I have included a link.  All you need to do is copy and paste in a new search box.  It can also be found at the chargerblue.com website.

  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoB7foRXGLw

 Also, if you haven't been checking out Chargerblue.com, please do!  There are articles and updates added almost daily about this wonderful football team, it's players and it's coaches. Jan Szula was the game photographer ( since I couldn't be there ) - so check out her wonderful game pics.  Thanks Jan!

Thanks to all the parents who took treats to the NMU game for the guys to enjoy on their road trip back home.  Your efforts and generosity are appreciated.  

I can't think of anything else. Let me know if I forgot something or if you need any other information. Get ready to rock Muddy Waters Stadium!!!!  See you Saturday (under colder, cloudy skies!)  Dress warmly.

Mary V.