2009 Around the Great Lakes columns

November 18, 2009 Trine gets a second chance Last season, the Thunder went 10-0 in the regular season and won the school’s first-ever Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football championship. They also made their first trip to the postseason. However, when the regular season records were discarded and the postseason began, Trine lost its first game, 14-0 to Wheaton (Ill.), which entered the playoffs at 8-2.

November 11, 2009 Whalen helped spark change at Case The past four years have gone quickly for quarterback Dan Whalen and his Spartan teammates at Case Western Reserve, but the memories made during those Saturday afternoon games in blue and white uniforms will last long after this season’s seniors leave the Cleveland campus.

November 3, 2009 Patience pays off for Rocco There is something to be said for learning an offense by serving as a backup.

October 28, 2009 Collier answers call for Thomas More Senior running back Cordario “Monte” Collier has been an integral part of the Thomas More offense since he arrived on campus four years ago.

October 21, 2009 Wabash's winning streak meets Witt's end When Wes Chamblee was tackled on a kickoff return after Zack Harris kicked a 31-yard field goal with one second remaining in the fourth quarter, the Wittenberg Tigers became the first team in 22 regular season North Coast Athletic Conference games to defeat the Wabash Little Giants.

October 14, 2009 Primary concern: Man the secondary Allegheny junior strong safety Sid Facaros was a man on a mission Saturday and so were his teammates.

October 6, 2009 Schlosser handling pressure well Sometimes the best way to earn how to handle adversity is a trial by fire. Perhaps no one learned that lesson quicker than Otterbein’s sophomore quarterback Austin Schlosser.

September 29, 2009 Always one step from a big play At 3-1 entering Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play, the Kalamazoo Hornets are off to their best start since 2003.

September 29, 2009 Making history in Gettysburg You can tell Barry Streeter is still passionate about football even after 31 years at the helm of the same program.

September 22, 2009 Besong leading Presidents' charge Washington and Jefferson coach Mike Sirianni knows a thing or two about developing quarterbacks. Under his direction at Washington and Jefferson, three quarterbacks have passed for more than 8,000 yards in their careers.

September 15, 2009 Bott proves to be Case's best scenario Versatility has become a key to success in football and nowhere is that more evident than on special teams.

September 8, 2009 Cook brings a little Semper Fi to Oberlin When translated from Latin to English, Semper Fidelis means Always Faithful. Oberlin linebacker Joseph Cook understands the real meaning of those words.

September 1, 2009 Games to watch for 2009 Now that all the rallies have been completed and practices are being conducted, it means only one thing: after nearly nine months of waiting, Division III football is back.