The Michigan Tech football
team enters the 2010 season
looking to prove that last year’s
2-8 record was more of an exception
than the rule. The Huskies
had been in the top five
GLIAC teams for six straight
years before key injuries and
inconsistent play ravaged them
last year.
“Obviously 2009 didn’t go as
we hoped, but our kids have
worked very hard to fix some
of the things that were wrong,”
said head coach Tom Kearly,
who enters his fifth year at the
helm of the Michigan Tech
football program. “We haven’t
passed a test or gone to battle
yet, but the work ethic in the
winter, spring and fall camp
has been outstanding, and I really
like this football team.”
The Huskies schedule starts
out more favorably if last year’s
records are any indication, but
the team certainly has no intentions
of easing its way into the
season. The opening game is
on the road on Sept. 11 against
Lake Erie, who joins Ohio Dominican
as two new GLIAC
teams. Both won more than
seven games last year, so Kearly
admits, “we have our hands
full.” The home opener will
be on Sept. 18 against Wayne
State. The final two home
games of the Huskies 10-game
schedule will be against 2009
national runner-up Grand Valley
State and arch rival Northern
Michigan University.
While the Huskies are
picked to finish ninth of the 14
teams in the GLIAC, the team
brings back the firepower to
finish well into the top half of
the conference. Quarterback
Steve Short, a 31-game starter
who has accumulated almost
6,000 career passing yards and
more than 1,000 career rushing
yards, will lead the Huskies
in his final season, after receiving
a medical redshirt last year.
Phil Milbrath, Akeem Cason
and Cedrick Barber round out
a deep backfield. The wide receiving
depth chart may not
feature a go-to guy according
to Kearly, but there are more
than five receivers fighting for
playing time. “We have as many
receivers that have a chance to
start as we have had in a long
time,” said Kearly. Tight end
Bryan LaChappelle was the
team’s leading pass catcher in
2009 as a freshman, and will
look for an even larger role this
year. Several players are vying
for two offensive line spots
alongside senior guard Matt
Desotell, senior center Anthony
Santi and junior tackle Matt
Gaudard.
The Huskies lost several key
defensive players to graduation,
but Drew Vanderlin will be returning
from injury and will
anchor the defensive line along
with Todd Storm. Justin Blake,
Jake Klingelhutz and Matt Payment
provide three solid options
at defensive tackle. Michael
Rittenour, Jesse Vandenberg
and Chet White all tallied
49 or more tackles at linebacker
last year, with solid depth
available there as well. Jamell
Matthias and Quinn Parnell
return as starting cornerbacks
with Ben Foelker leading the
way at free safety. The Huskies
were last in the GLIAC last
year in takeaways, so this year’s
defense, which Kearly said features
better team speed, is expected
to force more turnovers
this year.
Tyler Cattelino, who has
made 74 point after attempts
and 12 field goals in his career,
will kick for the Huskies
in his final campaign with true
freshman Matt DeJong, who
averaged 46.7 yards per punt,
handling punting duties this
season.
The Huskies are trying hard
to balance strong work ethic in
practice with staying free from
the injuries that decimated
them last year. Kearly said, “It’s
a very fine line. I’ve always been
a believer that if you’re not a
physical football team, you’re
not a good football team. But,
times have changed, and bodies
are bigger, stronger and
faster now. We’re trying to be
competitive and physical while
being careful to keep our players
on their feet.” If the Huskies
can remain free from injury
and regain the consistency that
was a staple of the program
from 2003-2008, the Huskies
should be back where they feel
they belong, in the upper echelon
of the GLIAC.
Be sure to follow the Huskies
football team all year long
through the Lode, including a
detailed preview of the season
opener against Lake Erie in
next week’s edition.

New varsity women’s soccer team to kick off inaugural campaign on Sept. 2

Excitement abounds for Michigan Tech’s brand new women’s varsity soccer team to kick off its season at home on Sept. 2 against Concordia-St. Paul.

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Saturday was a perfect day for football. That’s right – football. The Michigan Tech Huskies wrapped up their spring practice season with the annual spring Black-White intrasquad game in front of a respectable crowd at Sherman Field. Two combined points had decided the previous two years’ games, but this year was a “blowout” in comparison, as the white team “ran away with the game,” 17-7.

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It has been a long off season for the Michigan Tech Huskies Football program.  The past few weeks the Huskies have been practicing the last few weeks every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Also every Saturday the Huskies have had a scrimmage on Sherman Field.  It has all accumulated to today’s annual Spring Intrasquad contest.  Check out the live blog below for coverage of this contest.

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Robert Haynes, who was a defensive back and kick returner for the Huskies’ football team from 2005-08, signed a two-year contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

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The Huskies have produced outstanding offensive linemen for years now, but none more impressive than Joe Berger, who actually walked on to the Huskies, starting from 2001-2004.

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The Huskies’ 38-26 loss to the Northwood Timberwolves in Saturday’s season finale at Sherman Field pretty well sums up a disappointing season for Michigan Tech. The Huskies have battled injuries, poor special teams play and costly turnovers all season. Those factors, along with the Huskies inability to stop the run, prevented Michigan Tech (2-8, 2-8 GLIAC) from beating Northwood (7-3, 7-3 GLIAC) on Saturday.

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The Huskies football team will look to send its 13 seniors out with a victory on Hall of Fame weekend against the Northwood Timberwolves. The Lode encourages you to be at Sherman Field for the final game of the season, but even if you cannot make it, the Lode has you covered via its interactive live blog. Join us at mtulode.com for the 1 p.m. kickoff.
Click here to access today’s live blog.

Even though the 2009 Huskies football season has been disappointing from a win-loss perspective, and even though Saturday’s game does not carry with it any playoff implications, Michigan Tech (2-7, 2-7 GLIAC) will have plenty of motivation when they take the field against Northwood (6-3, 6-3 GLIAC) in the final game of the year. The Huskies will be seeking their first home victory of the year. They will be looking to earn their first winning streak of the year, after last week’s 21-14 win over Tiffin. The seven new Michigan Tech Hall of Fame inductees will be on hand to watch the game. And, thirteen senior Huskies will play their final game as a Husky.

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With no playoff hopes for the Michigan Tech Huskies (1-7, 1-7 GLIAC) or the Tiffin Dragons (0-9, 0-8 GLIAC), pride alone is on the line. Tiffin has won only one game since entering the GLIAC last year, that coming in a four overtime affair against Northern Michigan last year. Only once this year has Tiffin been within two touchdowns of opponents, but that came last week in a 21-17 loss at Indianapolis (the Greyhounds beat the Huskies 38-20 earlier this year).

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