Football

8.10 - Thunder Football Favored to Win MIAA
Trine will wear the favorite mantle again in 2010. The Thunder grabbed six first
place votes in the annual MIAA preseason coaches poll conducted via
teleconference today.

“It’s another reminder that we have to work harder,” Trine Head Coach Matt Land said.
“I think our kids know that and we’ll see the fruits of that labor soon.“

Trine returns 27 seniors, more than 40 lettermen and 17 starters. The Thunder are also ranked in four national preseason polls, including Lindy’s Sports which has the Thunder No. 5 nationally.

Last fall, Trine became the first MIAA team in 16 years to advance to win an NCAA Division III playoff game, defeating Case Western Reserve, Ohio, 51-38, in a first-round game. The Thunder have won 14 consecutive MIAA games dating back to the 2007 season.

“We had a lot of good things go our way last year. But, the only thing we are focusing on is working hard to earn the opportunity for that type of luck,“ Land said.

The MIAA will kick off its 113th season of intercollegiate football action Thursday, Sept. 2, as Trine hosts Manchester, Ind. MIAA league begins Saturday, Oct. 2.

Poll Results (First-place votes) Total Points
1. Trine (6) 6 pts
2. Albion 13
3. Adrian (1) 14
4. Hope 22
5. Alma 25
6. Kalamazoo 32
7. Olivet 35

8.6 - Thunder No. 19 in D3football.com Poll
Trine University has notched its fourth ranking of the pre-season. The latest, D3football.com’s Top 25 poll tabs the Thunder as the No. 19 team in the country. The Thunder have also been recognized in USA Today Sports Weekly College Football Preview poll (No. 22), The Sporting News Division III poll (No. 20) and Lindy’s Division III Top 25 (No. 5).

The Thunder open up pre-season camp Tuesday. The season opens Thursday, September 2 hosting Manchester at brand-new Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

In 2009, the Thunder went 10-2, 6-0 in the MIAA and ranked 16th in the American Football Coaches Association Top-25 Poll, 17th in the d3football.com final poll.

Trine has won two-straight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2008 and 2009.

7.1 - Thunder Assistant Coach Aids Fundraiser
WESTERVILLE, Ohio- Trine outside linebackers coach Kadir MuQit joined
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and almost 400 high school student-athletes
helped to raise more than $20,000 for pediatric brain tumor research during the
inaugural Lauren’s First and Goal Football Camp at Otterbein College on Sunday,
June 27.

All proceeds from the camp benefit Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation whose
mission is to provide financial support for brain tumor research and cancer services,
to offer financial and emotional support to families living with pediatric cancer, and to
increase awareness of the disease.

The one-day football camp welcomed players from 190 different high schools and nine states for a day of offensive and defensive instruction from more than 75 volunteer college coaches. In addition,

Coach Tressel was the featured guest speaker and addressed the campers during lunch time. He also spent time visiting with several pediatric oncology patients from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and their families.

John Loose created Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation to honor of his 13-year-old daughter Lauren, a pediatric brain tumor survivor.

For the year, Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation has received nearly $250,000 in donations, including a $100,000 gift from the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration. The foundation has now raised more than $1 million since its creation in 2004. Of every dollar received, the foundation donates 90 cents toward the fight against pediatric brain tumors.

More information about the camps and the foundation is available at www.laurensfirstandgoal.org.


6.23 - Thunder Recognized by USA Today
McLEAN, Va. - Trine University has been recognized in another pre-season Top 25 poll. This time the Thunder are ranked No. 22 in the USA Today Sports Weekly College Football Preview Poll.

So far this preseason, Trine is No. 5 ranking by Lindy's and 20th by The Sporting News.

The Thunder open the 2010 season Thursday, September 2 hosting Manchester at Fred Zollner Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Trine finished 2009 10-2, 6-0 in the MIAA and ranked 16th in the American Football Coaches Association Top-25 Poll, 17th in the d3football.com final poll.  Trine has won two-straight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2008 and 2009.

6.15 Community Invited to Historic Event
Trine University has proclaimed its season opening football game “Community Night” as part of the ceremonies unveiling brand-new Fred Zollner Stadium.

The Thunder will face intrastate rival Manchester September 2, at 7:30 p.m.  

The game also features special reduced ticket prices for all. All students and senior citizens (62 and older) receive free admission with adult tickets reduced to $3.00.

The game will feature a number of pre-game, half-time and post-game events that promise to make this an historic night in the history of Trine University.  The event also marks the first collegiate night game ever held on Trine’s campus.

6.2 - Thunder Football Ranked as High as No. 5 in Pre-season Polls
If it didn’t before, Trine football enters the 2010 season with a target on its back. The Thunder are included in two national college preview magazine NCAA Division III Top 25 pre-season polls.

Lindy’s Football picks Trine No. 5, The Sporting News poll has the Thunder at No. 20.

The Thunder return eight starters on both sides of the ball and 28 seniors overall, including All-American and Gagliardi Trophy candidate Eric Watt (Kentland, Ind./South Newton).  Watt connected on 179-of-280 passes for 2,161 yards and 26 touchdowns, while throwing just six interceptions.

Kent Biller, (Nappanee, Ind./NorthWood) a d3football.com all-region selection, returns to the offense after rushing for 994 yards and 11 touchdowns.

On defense, defensive backs Aaron Shoemaker (Onsted, Mich./Onsted), Jacob Vance (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) and Aaron Selking (Decatur, Ind./Adams Central) each recorded 80 tackles or more in 2010. Selking also had five interceptions.

The Thunder open the 2010 season Thursday, September 2 hosting Manchester at Fred Zollner Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Trine finished 2009 10-2, 6-0 in the MIAA and ranked 16th in the American Football Coaches Association Top-25 Poll, 17th in the d3football.com final poll.  Trine has won two-straight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2008 and 2009.

4.30 - 2010 Football Schedule Released
New lights, a new stadium and three new opponents highlight the 2010 Trine University football schedule released today.[Click here for 2010 schedule]

The Thunder prepare for the 2010 season after winning two-straight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and qualifying for the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2008 and 2009. Trine finished 2009 10-2, 6-0 in the MIAA and ranked 16th in the American Football Coaches Association Top-25 Poll, 17th in the d3football.com final poll.

The Thunder add Bluffton (Ohio) from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Wisconsin-River Falls from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association and LaGrange, an independent from LaGrange, Ga.

“We like the schedule,” Trine Head Coach Matt Land said. “We keep some of our traditional rivals in Manchester and the MIAA, we add a new one with Bluffton and we gain exposure into the western and southern regions with River Falls and LaGrange.”

The season gets underway Thursday September 2 against Manchester. Trine hosts the Spartans in the first home night game in program history and unveiling of the brand-new 4,500 seat Fred Zollner Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

The schedule features a three-game road swing September 11 at Bluffton; September 18 the Thunder will face Wisconsin-River Falls and will battle MIAA rival Adrian October 2. The Thunder welcome LaGrange for homecoming Saturday, October 9.

3.11 - Thunder's Walker to play in All-American Bowl
Charlestown, W.V. - Eric Walker (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa Hills) has at least one more football game before he hangs it up.The graduating senior will play in the annual All-American Bowl Saturday, March 27 in Charleston, West Virginia.

The 6-3, 235 pound Walker recorded 24 total tackles including three sacks in 2009 and helped the Thunder to a 10-2 record, their second-straight conference championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.He will play defensive end for the Stripes team.

The players have been nominated by their coaches and selected by the All American Bowl Selection Committee and the Scouting Bureau. These select players are being recognized for their outstanding Division I/II/III and Free Agent Football Careers.

A number of players have played in the National Football League, Arena Football League and other indoor football leagues.

The All American Bowl is now entering its 14th season and this game will kick off the first AAB of the 2010 year! The game will pit great college football players from across the country against each other in this all star game. The game is being played at the University of Charleston’s Laidley Field Stadium.

The All American Bowl was founded in 1996 to give athletes the opportunity to compete against the best at their level in an all star game setting. The All American Bowl was created to fill the void of the lack of all star games available to athletes in high school, DII, DIII, JUCO, and minor league football.

In April of 1996, the first All American Bowl was played in Minnesota and has since been played at various cities across the country including Atlanta, Miami, and Las Vegas. The All American Bowl also gives athletes the potential to be scouted by colleges and professional football teams.

The All American Bowl has several types of games for different levels of competition that including: DII, DIII, JUCO, minor league football, free agent, and high school. The participants in the All American Bowls have been nominated for their outstanding performances throughout their season, their accomplished career, love for the game, a chance to be noticed, and a last chance to play the game. Click here for more information

2.15 - Thunder Community Service Praised
Trine University’s football success isn’t just limited to the field. The Thunder’s community service programs were recently recognized at the Jostens/National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators (NADIIIAA) Community Service Awards at the annual NCAA convention in Atlanta, Ga. in January.

The NADIIIAA and Jostens co-sponsor this program to recognize the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. The program recognizes institutions in three separate community service categories: a one-time project/activity, an array of projects/activities and an ongoing project/activity.

“A lot of kids have an entitlement mentality. This exposes our players to doing things that help others with no benefit to themselves,” head coach Matt Land said. “This teaches them important lessons about volunteerism and community service. I’m very proud of this award. We’ve been able to show success on the field, in the classroom, and now in the community.”  [More]

2.11 - Greenlee, Vance NIC All-American Selections
Two Trine defenders were named to the 2009 North American Interfraternity All-American Team.

Lineman James Greenlee (Columbus, Ind./Columbus) and linebacker Jake Vance (Fenton, Mich./Lake Fenton) were Division II, III/NAIA First Team All-Americans. Quarterback Eric Watt (Kentland, Ind./South Newton)  and wide receiver Mario Brown (Battle Creek, Mich./Central) were offensive honorable mention selections.

All four are members of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Among honorees are numerous bowl game participants, conference Players of the Year, pro prospects and high-ranking players in final NCAA statistics. Nominations were submitted by various fraternity headquarters, Greek advisors and sports information directors, in addition to research done by selector Jay Langhammer.

Click here for more information.