Alumni Newsletter ucardina 2013 • svs May 28, ue 3 • s s I 4 e Vo l u m
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Team White wins Red vs. White Spring Game The SVSU football team hosted its annual Red vs. White Spring Game April 20 in Wickes Stadium. Team Red jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage when Joe Boisture (Goodrich, Mich. / Saline HS) connected with Jeff Janis (Tawas, Mich.) for a three-yard score. Team White would respond on their next drive when Scott Stanford (Novi, Mich.) split the uprights from 22-yards out. Team White would cut more into the Red lead when a holding call in the endzone gave Team White two more points to make the score 7-5 toward the end of the first quarter. Team Red would force a fumble to get back possession of the ball on their half of the 50 yard line. That would allow Boisture and Janis to connect once again for a touchdown, this time from 31 yards out to give Team Red a 14-5 advantage. Redshirt freshman Keith Moore (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech HS) would find Michael Albrecht (Midland, Mich.) for a 19-yard strike that would help Team White cut into the Team Red lead, 14-12. Team White would take advantage of a short punt by Team Red and take a 15-14 lead with :27 seconds left in the half on Stanford’s second field goal of the half. Sam Quinn (Monroe, Mich.) of Team White would intercept a pass at midfield and return it 35-yards to setup another Stanford field goal, this time from 21-yards out.
Stanford would blast a 49-yard kick through the uprights to give Team White a 21-14 lead near the end of the third quarter. With less than two minutes left in the game and down by a touchdown Team Red would look to even the score until Major Metcalf Jr. (Muskegon, Mich./Catholic Central HS) stepped in front of a pass and returned it 33 yards for a score, as Team White went on to the 28-14 victory. The Cardinals will open fall camp in early August as they begin preparations for the 2013 season. The season opener takes place at Northwest Missouri State University Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Inside this issue:
Page 2 • 2003 Reunion • Cardinal wins Grey Cup • Message from the HC Page 3 • Cardinal in the NFL • “Catching Up”
Point-and-click here to watch video clips of the 2013 Red vs. White Spring Game
The annual Red vs. White Spring Game ended in a 28-14 victory for Team White. Members of Team White, left, celebrate a touchdown during the April 20 spring game.
2013 Muddy Waters Golf Outing set for June 22
The 2013 Muddy Waters golf outing is really coming together. Many teams have been confirming their teams and the number of groups are continuing to swell up—pushing toward that 30-team mark that we are looking for. The past two years have really been a good time, and this year we are really excited to host the event at Crooked Creek Golf Course. As usual, the outing will consist of a 1 p.m. shotgun, with best ball for the top score. Last year, “Team Gallina” proved to match the four-time defending champions in “Team Bethune,” as both tied with a score of 14 under par. The SVSU staff really looks forward to seeing all the alumni, supporters and fans of SVSU football as we kick off the 2013 season during the annual event. Please click on the link below to register for the event, if you have not yet done so. 2013 Muddy Waters Golf Outing Brochure
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Alumni from 2003 undefeated season honored SVSU will recognize the achievements of the only undefeated conference championship team in school history. The Saginaw Valley football program is excited to host a reception for the coaches and players in remembrance of a great season 10 years ago. We will be hosting the event Friday, June 21 at the Bay City Country Club at 7 p.m. If you plan to attend, please reply to assistant coach Dan Fodrocy at dlfodroc@ svsu.edu by Friday, June 14. The following day, we begin the 2013 season with the annual Muddy Waters golf outing; please join us on Saturday. If you require hotel assistance, please notify Dan Fodrocy.
Auction & Raffle Items at the 2013 “Muddy” Waters Golf Outing
• Two third row, third base line tickets for the July 13 Detroit Tigers game vs. the Texas Rangers (Courtesy of Micron Precision) • Two tickets for the West Michigan Whitecaps and one-night stay at the Amway Grand Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids • Two Cardinal Athletic Club pullovers (Courtesy of the Cardinal Athletic Club) Team captains with the 2003 Axe Bowl trophy.
• SVSU Wickes Memorial Stadium poster
Cardinal alumnus Matt Black wins Grey Cup
MESSAGE FROM COACH
Jim Collins
The 2013 season is approaching fast and I get fired up every time I walk by the Herremans’ Family Weight Room and see how hard our players are working. Our focus has been tremendous and this group is committed to carrying on the Championship Tradition of SVSU football. Opening up against perennial power Northwest Missouri State will be a great test as we prepare for the always tough GLIAC schedule. As I think about the Cardinal tradition, I think about the legacy of each and every football alumnus. Every one of you contributed to the torch in which we all now carry and we need your help now as much as ever in order to maintain the championship experience for all of our current and future Cardinals. There are many opportunities to support SVSU football, from the Muddy Waters Golf Outing, to the Champion Society and Cardinal Athletic Club—or donating directly to the program. Please feel free to contact me any time to discuss how you can get involved; and please remember: if there is anything I can do for you, let me know.
The 2013 CFL season is starting soon and the defending Grey Cup champions, the Toronto Argonauts, will look to continue its winning ways this summer. A big part of that success comes from Cardinal alumnus Matt Black. Matt was a key piece for the club as they made a run to the 100th Grey Cup title. A native of Toronto, Matt was a fouryear player for the Cardinals. He was a large contributor to the 2005 national quarterfinalists as a cornerback. Matt is still 10th all-time in the SVSU record books as a punt returner. “Matt was such a key player in this program and I really believe a lot of the success we have had since his time is because of the legacy of winning he helped to create in his time here at SVSU,” said Head Coach Jim Collins. The Argonauts are slated to open the regular season Friday, June 28 against Hamilton.
Matt Black raises the CFL’s Grey Cup.
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Another Cardinal joins the National Football League SVSU defensive back Jeff Heath’s name wasn’t called during the 2013 NFL draft over the weekend, but he didn’t have to wait long to find out what direction his football career is headed. He is packing his bags for Dallas. Shortly after the completion of the seventh round, Heath accepted an offer from the Dallas Cowboys to sign with the team as an undrafted free agent. “It’s still kind of setting in right now,” Heath said, over the phone following the draft. “I’m just filled with excitement.” The Cowboys call to Heath’s agent put an end to a long day of waiting for him and his family. Heath started watching the draft with his parents, sister and college roommate at noon. “It was a long seven and half hours,” Heath said, laughing. “It was disappointing, I had always hoped to get drafted, but at the same time it wasn’t something I expected. I knew either way I was going to have to earn a spot.” Even as the final picks were announced, Jim Collins, Heath’s coach at SVSU, was holding out hope he would go late in the seventh round. “We were texting back-and-forth; I know it was probably stressful for him,” Collins said. “His agent said realistically he was probably going to sign as a priority free agent, but since he had been talking to a lot of teams before the draft I was hoping for him that he would get taken.” Collins said he was thrilled when Heath let him know the Cowboys had extended an offer. “It was pretty quick,” Collins said. “It was really only like 15 minutes before he started putting it out there.” According to ESPN.com, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said his plan was to sign 15-20 undrafted free agents after the draft. Heath joins a group that includes Arizona State linebacker Brandon Magee, South Carolina State safety Jakar Hamilton and Akron quarterback Dalton Williams. “I heard the process would be fast, but a lot of teams call players in, like, the sixth round to tell them if they don’t get drafted they will sign them, but I didn’t get one of those calls,” Heath said. “I was freaking out, pacing, for a
few minutes; then I got the call and it was just a relief.” For Cowboys fans unfamiliar with Heath, Collins said the organization is bringing in a player who certainly has the potential to make the roster. Jeff Heath “I think Dallas recognized that Jeff is someone who wasn’t even close to hitting his ceiling,” Collins said. “He is passionate about the game of football, and
“... I had always hoped to get drafted, but at the same time it wasn’t something I expected. I knew either way I was going to have to earn a spot.” i n
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willing to work all the time. He is a high character guy with an incredible work ethic and a lot of talent.” As a senior, Heath made the 2012 AllGLIAC First Team defense with 77 tackles and five interceptions. Heath said Dallas already emailed him paperwork to look over, and he will have to attend a rookie mini-camp. Before getting back on the field, Heath has quite a few more text messages to return. “I’m trying to keep up with all of them,” Heath said, laughing. “I was getting texts from everybody and now I’m still trying to reply back. I started with my grandparents, who are my biggest fans after my parents, but now I’m on to the rest.”
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Catching up with Cardinal alumnus Shaun Curtiss I had a great experience as a sport and fitness management major. I also enjoyed every second playing offensive line at SVSU. I was proud to play for Randy Awrey as the head coach and Mike Evans as my offensive line coach. I would say our team is best known for our two consecutive NCAA playoff appearances and our come-back win over IUP in the first round of the NCAA Shaun Curtiss playoffs. The comeback game earned us a spot on SportsCenter. We proved that we were a great blue collar team. I had the privilege of coaching for two seasons (2003-04) after I finished playing and will never forget the day we went to play the “blue team” across the state and defeated them and went on to a 12-1 record that year. Former teammate and good friend Nick Postma had a key interception in that game that I remember well. I left SVSU to work as a graduate assistant at Gannon University, which is a Division II school located in Erie, Pa. I am going on my ninth year at Gannon and currently I am the offensive line coach/run game coordinator, and strength and conditioning coordinator. My wife Beth and I have been married six
years. We have two awesome kids, Grace (5) and Luke (3). I have great memories at SVSU. I was fortunate to build a lot of great relationships with people I still talk to weekly. I am very proud to have called all those guys my teammates and friends. Shaun Curtiss concluded his playing career at SVSU in 2002. He was a starter for the Cardinals at left guard for 25 consecutive games during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Following the 2001 season, he earned honorable mention All-GLIAC honors. He also was a member of the coaching staff for two years, during which time he worked with the tight ends. Originally from Lansing, Mich., Curtiss prepped at Waverly High School, earning all-conference accolades following the 1996 and 1997 seasons, while earning first team all-state plaudits following the 1997 season.