Media Services This brochure is prepared to assist in cover- age of Northern Michigan University’s 2009 They Cover the Wildcats football season. It should answer basic ques- tions about NMU football. Should additional Newspapers information or materials be required, contact: Renee Prusi, Sports Editor Sports Editor The Mining Journal The North Wind David Faiella P.O. Box 430 Northern Michigan University Sports Information Director Marquette, MI 49855 University Center Northern Michigan University Phone: 906-228-2500 Marquette, MI 49855 Marquette, Michigan 49855-5309 Fax: 906-228-2617 Phone: 906-227-2545 Office Telephone: 906-227-1013 Fax: 906-227-2449 Home Telephone: 906-226-8435 E-mail: [email protected] Television Working Credentials Mike Ludlum Randy Spieth Applications for scouting and working press WLUC-TV 6 WBUP-TV credentials must be made at least two weeks 177 U.S. 41 1705 Ash St., Suite 5 in advance of the game to be scouted, cov- Negaunee, MI 49866 Ishpeming, MI 49849 ered or filmed. Appropriate credentials will Phone: 906-475-4141 Phone: 906-204-2436 be mailed or held for pick up at the will call Fax: 906-475-5070 Fax: 906-204-2433 ticket booth. No one will be admitted to the press box who is not in an official capacity. Radio Ryan Beckman Photography Passes Ron Plumb WUPT-FM Limited to daily and weekly newspapers, WGLQ-FM 715 W. Washington St. student newspapers, wire services and team 524 Ludington Street Marquette, MI 49855 photographers. All requests must come Escanaba, MI 49829 Phone: 906-225-0656 through the Sports Information Offi ce. Phone: 906-789-9700 Fax: 906-225-0607 Fax: 906-789-9700 Radio Coverage Sports Director NMU provides a courtesy co-op telephone Casey Ford WNMU-FM line for visiting GLIAC teams. Requests for WMQT-FM Learning Resources Center other stations to broadcast must be made 121 N. Front Street Northern Michigan University through the Sports Information Office (906- Marquette, MI 49855 Marquette, MI 49855 227-1013). Phone: 906-225-9100 Phone: 906-227-2600 Fax: 906-225-8577 Press Box Services Jeff Ligney NMU maintains a telephone in the press box. Sports Director GLIAC Director of Media Relations It is available on a first-come, first-served WKQS-FM 1110 Washington Avenue basis. The press box telephone number is 2025 U.S. 41 West Bay City, MI 48708 906-227-1720. Starters, rosters, programs Marquette, MI 49855 Phone: 989-894-2529 and pre-game notes will be available prior to Phone: 906-227-7777 Fax: 989-894-2825 each game with a complete statistical package Fax: 906-228-9717 provided immediately following the contest. Sports Director Attendance at Practice WJPD/WDMJ Radio Media are always welcome. Advance notice 1009 W. Ridge Street would be appreciated. Practice usually begins Marquette, MI 49855 at 3:30 p.m. Phone: 906-225-1313 Fax: 906-225-1324 Availability of Coach Coach Anderson is available mornings or just prior to or after practice. A press room will also be set up for each home game where LISTEN TO THE ’CATS: Coach Anderson and players will be available at that time for post-game interviews. The Point (100.3 FM) will broadcast all home For more information about the NMU foot- and away NMU football game during the 2009 ball program go to the NMU Athletic Web season. Ryan Beckman will provide the play- site (http://webb.nmu.edu/SportsAthletics). by-play. The broadcast will also be streamed on the Internet. To receive the broadcast, visit the NMU Athletics Web site (http:// webb.nmu.edu/SportsAthletics). Quick Facts Table of Contents GLIAC/Quick Facts . .1 2009 Outlook . .2 Head Coach Bernie Anderson . .3 Coaching Staff . 4-5 Administration . .5 2009 Rosters . .6-7 Recruits . .8 he Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) was Support Staff . .8 founded in 1972. During the two years previous to the GLIAC’s Tfounding, several attempts were made to create a new NCAA Col- Player Profi les . 9-19 lege Division conference. In 1971, the Great Lakes Athletic Conference was 2008 In Review . 20-24 formed, but plans for the new conference were put on hold and several of 2008 GLIAC Standings/Honors . .25 the participating schools subsequently withdrew their support. 2009 Opponents . .26-27 However, the idea for a new conference did not die, and since 1972-73 All-Time Honors . .28-31 the GLIAC has been a leader in the advancement and promotion of inter- collegiate athletics for men and women. Team Records . .31 The charter members of the GLIAC were Ferris State University, Individual Records . .32 Grand Valley State University, Lake Superior State University, Northwood Coaching Records . .33 University and Saginaw Valley State University. Playoff History . .33 Expansion of the GLIAC began immediately with the addition of Oak- Win-Loss Records by Year . .34 land University in 1974. Hillsdale College and Northern Michigan University Win-Loss Records vs. All Foes . .35 were accepted as members in 1975, while Wayne State University joined in 1976. In 1977, the conference lost its fi rst member when Northern Michigan Superior Dome Records . .36 withdrew. Michigan Tech University fi lled the vacancy when it became a Letterwinners . 37-39 member in 1980. NMU Profi le . 40-44 After the 1986-87 season, Northwood left the conference and was re- GLIAC Schedule . .IBC placed by Northern Michigan. Northwood rejoined the conference in 1992. Media Services . .IFC After the 1989 season, the conference dropped football as a sponsored 2009 Wildcat Schedule . Back Cover sport. The conference schools sponsoring football joined the members of the Heartland Collegiate Conference in forming the football-only Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), which began play in 1990. After nine years of existence as one of the premier conferences in NMU Quick Facts Division II football, the MIFC merged as part of GLIAC on July 1, 1999. With Location: Marquette, Mich. 49855 the merger, the University of Indianapolis became an associate member as a football-only school. Founded: 1899 The GLIAC entered a new era in the 1995-96 school year. Prior to Enrollment: 9,400 1995-96, all member institutions of the GLIAC were located in the state of President: Les Wong Michigan. On December 14, 1994, membership was offered to three schools NCAA and GLIAC Faculty Representative: Julie Rochester located in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The expansion members were Ashland National Affi liation (Football): NCAA II University of Ashland, Ohio, and Gannon University and Mercyhurst College, both located in Erie, Pa. All three schools began their membership July 1, 1995. Conference: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) On July 1, 1997, membership was granted to The University of Findlay, School Colors: Old Gold and Olive Green located in Findlay, Ohio. Findlay replaced Oakland University, which with- Nickname: Wildcats drew from the conference after the 1996-97 season as it moved to NCAA Home Field: Superior Dome (8,000) Division I status. Athletic Director: Ken Godfrey Westminster College, located in New Wilmington, Pa., became the Head Football Coach: Bernie Anderson 14th member of the GLIAC when it accepted its expansion offer in May of 1997. On June 30, 2000 Westminster left the conference as it changed its Alma Mater: Northern Michigan University, 1978 affi liation to NCAA Division III. Overall Record/Years: 103-116/22 Tiffi n University, located in Tiffi n, Ohio accepted an offer to join the NMU Record/Years: 10-20/3 GLIAC in June of 2007. The two Erie, Pa. schools (Gannon and Mercyhurst) 2008 Overall Record: 2-8 left the conference at the conclusion of the 2007-08 academic year to join 2008 GLIAC Record/Place: 2-8/T-9th the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Returning/Lost Letterwinners: 41/12 Overall the GLIAC conducts championships in 21 sports, 11 for men and 10 for women. The policy-making body of the GLIAC is the Executive Athletic Offi ce: 906-227-2105 Council, which is comprised of three representatives from each member in- Sports Information Director: David Faiella stitution – its director of athletics, faculty athletics representative and senior SID Phone Number: 906-227-1013 woman administrator. Final approval of all GLIAC legislation is required by SID E-Mail: [email protected] the Council of GLIAC Presidents. SID Fax Number: 906-227-2492 As GLIAC commissioner, Dell Robinson is responsible for all confer- ence administration. He is beginning his fi rst season as the conference’s sixth Press Box Number: 906-227-1720 commissioner. NMU Sports Hotline Number: 906-227-1014 More information about the GLIAC, its teams and staff members, is Web Site: http: www.nmu.edu/athletics located at www.gliac.org. 1 2009 Outlook he Wildcats are poised to take a leap in the assisted) and Forward 15 (eight solo and seven Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Confer- assisted). Tence (GLIAC) standings this season. Many John Blessing and Scott Avery are back man- of the key components are in place to make this ning the defensive end spots. Blessing had 41 total happen. NMU should be a better team than last tackles (24 solo and 17 assisted). He also had six year with all the new pieces and experience com- tackles-for-loss (-22 yards). Avery chipped in with ing together. The Northern Michigan University 34 total tackles last year (25 solo and nine as- football team is coming off a disappointing 2-8 sisted). He had team-highs with six tackles-for-loss campaign in 2008. The season began well for the (-44 yards) and a three sacks (-29 yards). Ricky Wildcats as they defeated Northwood in the fi rst Neaves saw time defensively and recorded 23 game of the season (30-7) in the Superior Dome, total tackles (12 solo and 11 assisted) with three but then dropped the next six games.