BridgewaterFootball.com Blog

BC Picked First In ODAC Football (DN-R)

2007-08-08T20:51:00.000-05:00

The Daily News-Record - By Matthew Stoss

SALEM – Bridgewater College’s Michael Clark didn’t have a prepared speech for his live Internet debut at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s preseason football gathering Tuesday, but he did have one advantage over his fellow coaches.

He was the only one wearing a tie.

It wasn’t a bad fashion choice, considering that the Eagles once again were in the spotlight during Media Day festivities at the Salem Civic Center – and not just because the event was carried live to fans via a link on the ODAC’s Web page.

The league’s coaches picked Bridgewater, the ODAC’s dominant football school since 2001, to regain the conference championship after a lapse in 2006. The Eagles edged out defending champion Washington & Lee, 45-42, in the preseason poll, and collected five first-place votes to the Generals’ two.

Clark, not surprisingly, downplayed the poll.

"[Rankings] mean a lot more to people on the outside than to the people in-house," Clark said.

Nationally, BC is ranked 17th by Street & Smith’s, but the Eagles did not make the Top 25 in the more prestigious D3football.com poll.

W&L is the only other ODAC team ranked, checking in at No. 25 in Street & Smith’s.

Clark, meanwhile, reminded reporters that Bridgewater can’t claim conference supremacy until it atones for last season’s two costly losses.

"Until October, I have to live with the fact that there are at least two people in this room better than me," the 13th-year coach said.

He was referring to Emory & Henry and Guilford. Both beat Bridgewater last year, handing the Eagles their only two losses of an 8-2 campaign and ending their run of five straight ODAC titles. Worse, the losses kept BC out of the Division III playoffs for the first time in sixth years.

Bridgewater did get a consolation prize of sorts. It handed Washington & Lee (7-4) its only league loss. W&L finished 5-1 in the conference to snag the ODAC’s automatic playoff berth, while the Eagles went 4-2 in the league.

"The tolerance for error in this conference is non-existent," W&L coach Frank Miriello said.

The rest of the preseason picks had Guilford (6-4, 3-3) third, followed by Emory & Henry (6-4, 4-2), Hampden-Sydney (4-6, 4-2), Catholic (3-7, 1-5) and Randolph-Macon (2-8, 0-6).

A primary reason for Bridgewater’s favored preseason status is experience: The Eagles return 29 seniors, by far the highest of any ODAC team. W&L has the next most with 16. Guilford has the fewest with eight.

"I get more scared every second when I hear these guys report on what they’ve got coming back," Miriello said.

For BC that includes senior quarterback Jeff Highfill – a second-year starter – who is part of an ODAC bulging with returning signal callers.

"It’s a league of quarterbacks," Miriello said. "It was a few years ago and it is again this year."

Miriello returns ODAC Rookie of the Year R.J. Varner, who passed for 1,101 yards and completed 61 percent of his passes in eight games. He threw eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

Guilford brings back Josh Vogelbach, who led the league in passing last season. The junior threw for 3,394 yards and completed 57.3 percent of his passes with 32 touchdowns, but he was picked off 26 times.

The only team not returning a quarterback is Emory & Henry, which graduated Todd Woods.

"That makes for exciting football," Clark said of the surplus of experienced QBs.

But Vogelback will be throwing to all new hands. The Quakers lost their top two receivers in ODAC Offensive Player of the Year Chris Barnette and Micah Rushing. They combined for 1,597 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Highfill had the best completion rate in the league at 59.9, while throwing for 1,723 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Eagles also return the ODAC’s fourth-leading rusher in Phillip Carter and a trio of 2006 first-team all-conference selections: cornerback Earl Chaptman, safety Desmond Jalloh and offensive lineman Keaton Culver.

Overall, the Eagles return nine All-ODAC selections, including Carter and leading receiver Brandon Copeland. Both were second-team choices. Highfill received honorable mention.

Despite his program’s tradition and experience, Clark picked another team No. 1 in the ODAC.

"I didn’t vote for Bridgewater because Washington & Lee is the champion until someone takes that away from them," he said.

Clark Gets Potential Star At Linebacker (DN-R)

2007-08-01T15:29:00.001-05:00

The Daily News-Record - by Brent Johnson

BRIDGEWATER — Two years ago, Bridgewater College football coach Michael Clark didn’t think he could convince Stanley Barbour to play for the Eagles.

The kid just had too much talent for a Division III program.

But after a postgraduate season at Fork Union Military Academy in 2005, Barbour’s football career stalled. The former Waynesboro High School star left school and ended up working at Home Depot.

Football, however, was always on his mind.

"There was still that ‘what if?"’ the 19-year-old Barbour said Tuesday. "I was still under 20. I had years ahead of me. You never know."

So, he contacted the one school that never stopped calling him: BC.

"They never got quiet on me," Barbour said.

And now, he’s paying them back. Barbour, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker, said Tuesday that he has committed to play for the Eagles, beginning this fall.

Although Barbour has been out of football for a year and a half, Clark calls him one of the highlights of this season’s recruiting class.

Clark said he will likely play Barbour at outside linebacker, but he could easily move him to defensive end — the position Barbour played at Waynesboro. Clark wouldn’t say whether Barbour would start.

John Shuman, the postgraduate football coach at Fork Union, said Barbour could be "the next Bridgewater All-American."

"He’s one of the best players I’ve ever been around," Shuman said via phone. "He’s an impact player. He makes a lot of plays.

"We’re glad he’s at BC. We’re sad he didn’t get a good bite out of Fork Union, either from a I-A or I-AA school. But we’re glad he’s persevered."

It just took BC a while to land him.

Barbour played defensive end and tight end for Waynesboro, earning All-Valley District honors his senior season. He also was all-district in track, running the 110-meter high hurdles and 200-meter dash and throwing the shot put and discus.

After high school, Barbour attended Fork Union to focus on improving his academics. The school moved him to outside linebacker and started him most games, Barbour said.

Shuman said Barbour had the ability to play for a Division I school, but Fork Union was slow to send out Barbour’s highlight reel and he didn’t begin drawing interest until the season ended that winter. By that point, Shuman said, a lot of players had committed right out of high school and many colleges had already filled their spots.

"Somebody in-state should have [picked him up]," Shuman said.

Barbour said smaller schools like Charleston and Emory & Henry showed interest, as did Temple, long a Division I-A doormat.

Temple, Barbour said, wanted him to come to the school for the spring of 2006 and try out for the team. The Owls said they would then offer him a scholarship if they liked saw, Barbour said.

"But when I looked at that, it didn’t really sound good to me," Barbour said by phone from his home in Waynesboro. "… It was like being led in blind."

So, Barbour took some time off and got a job cutting meat at Kroger in Waynesboro. He then landed a job at the Waynesboro Home Depot, where he’s still a cashier.

Barbour said Temple stayed in contact from time to time over the next year, but Bridgewater offensive line coach Stephon Healey called often to check up on him.

Then, in February, Barbour called Clark. Still, he didn’t commit until July because Barbour said he still hadn’t made up his mind about whether returning to football is what he really wanted.

Now, Barbour has to readjust to life as a football player — though he said he’s confident he can.

"I’ve stayed in shape," Barbour said. "I haven’t gotten sloppy. I won’t allow that. …

"But we’ll have to wait until camp to see. That’s when I’ll really prove it."

At least BC finally got him.

"It’s the old analogy: Division III football isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon," Clark said. "And it’s been a long race."

BC Ranked No. 17 by Street & Smith

2007-06-23T13:10:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater football is ranked No. 17 in the preseason magazine released by Street & Smith, now on newsstands for $6.99.

The magazine says the following about the Eagles:

"Bridgewater College had its streak of five straight Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles snapped last year, but the Eagles appear poised to return to dominance. Quarterback Jeff Highfill completed 59.9% of his passes for 14 touchdowns, and can also hurt opponents with the run. Brandon Copeland is his top target (41 catches, 672 yards). Keaton Culver heads an offensive line that has four starters back, and running back Phillip Carter figures to benefit the most. Cornerback Earl Chaptman, safety Desmond Jalloh, and tackle Michael Jackson pace the defense."

Street & Smith also states that one of the "games to watch" will by Bridgewater at Washington & Lee. The Generals were ranked No. 25 by the preseason magazine.

Below is Street & Smith's Division III preseason top 25:

1. Mount Union
2. St. John's
3. St. John Fisher
4. UW-Whitewater
5. Mary Hardin-Baylor
6. Rowan
7. Wabash
8. Washington & Jefferson
9. Wheaton
10. Whitworth
11. Bethel
12. Occidental
13. Wilkes
14. Springfield
15. Millsaps
16. Central
17. Bridgewater (Va.)
18. Wartburg
19. Hope
20. UW-La Crosse
21. Linfield
22. Ohio Northern
23. Carnegie Mellon
24. Coast Guard
25. Washington & Lee

Clark Adds Defense to His Duties (D-NR)

2007-06-06T07:31:00.000-05:00

The Daily News-Record - By Matthew Stoss

BRIDGEWATER – Bridgewater College football coach Michael Clark is returning to his roots.

After more than a dozen years of coaching his team’s quarterbacks, Clark said Tuesday he plans to focus on the defensive side of the ball this season, assuming the coordinator’s duties and also coaching linebackers.

"My on-the-field work will be with the defense, and I’ll keep control of the kicking game," Clark, who will begin his 13th season as BC’s head coach when the Eagles host McDaniel College on Sept. 1, said Tuesday.

The change was prompted by defensive coordinator Grant Higginson’s decision in May to leave Bridgewater and accept a graduate assistant position at Tulane.

Clark said he posted the job and interviewed candidates, but decided instead to hire the best coach available rather than one particularly suited to the coordinator’s post.

"I just thought that was the best fit for the staff," Clark said, referring to his decision to shift his own responsibilities. "That was really the main reason. You got to be flexible at the Division III level."

While Clark has helped develop quarterbacks like Jason Lutz and Brandon Wakefield at BC, he also has a strong background in defense. After playing defensive back at the University of Cincinnati, Clark started his coaching career in 1980 as a defensive assistant at Murray State. He was Frank Beamer’s defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech for five seasons beginning in 1988, and he held the same title at Virginia Military Institute in 1993 before switching to quarterbacks in 1994.

Even so, Clark is giving up his offensive duties with a tinge of regret.

"As a head coach, you’re always reluctant to stray away from the quarterback," Clark said, "because it’s a fun position to coach and it’s a crucial position to coach.

"But I’ve always been a coach that’s thought if you play good defense and get an advantage in the kicking game, we’ll always have a chance to win the fourth quarter."

Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Joey Soltis will be the new quarterbacks coach. Last year, in his first season as offensive coordinator since replacing the ultra-successful Bob Colbert, the Eagles had the highest-scoring offense in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, averaging 31.7 points a game. BC also led the ODAC in rushing at 205.6 yards an outing and ranked second in total offense (388.9 ypg) behind Guilford en route to an 8-2 record.

Soltis, who has been at Bridgewater since 1998, took over as coordinator when Colbert accepted the head-coaching job at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.

Stephon Healey will continue to coach the offensive line and manage the running game, but coaching the running backs will be the responsibility of newcomer Bill Shirley, a familiar name to local high school football fans.

Shirley was Buffalo Gap’s head coach before becoming R.E. Lee High School’s offensive coordinator two seasons ago.

"I’m excited to have Bill," Clark said. "Basically, in the Division III model, you have to get full-time work for part-time pay. And more importantly as a head coach, I don’t like to spend a lot of time coaching my coaches, and I’m not in that position on either side of the ball."

Ryan Lieb and Adam Martiny will also join Clark’s staff.

Lieb left his alma mater, D-III Bethany (W.Va.) College, after four years as an assistant and will work with the wide receivers at Bridgewater.

"Ryan has been in Division III for four years and has a reputation as a great recruiter," Clark said. "We try to get the best coaches we can get. One of the things we lost in Grant was a guy who did a great job in recruiting, and guys like that are hard to replace."

Martiny will coach tight ends and help with the offensive line. Martiny coached at Bridgewater in 2005 before leaving for D-III Utica (N.Y.) College.

Clark said he hired Martiny because of his familiarity with BC.

Rounding out the 2007 coaching staff will be Pete Raeford, who returns as the secondary coach, and Jack Johnson, who will remain the defensive line coach.

As for Clark, he’s confident he’ll be able to step into his new defensive duties with no major problems.

"Don’t think we’ll be building rockets over here," Clark said. "I don’t think you can work on the offensive side of the ball and not be aware of what’s going on on the defensive side. I think it helps people. I’m doing something different. I’m looking forward to that challenges."

Discuss this article on the Bridgewater football forum: http://bcfootball.informe.com/viewtopic.php?t=23

Johnson to Participate in NCAA Football Academy

2007-05-22T22:28:00.000-05:00

Jack Johnson assistant football coach was selected to participate in the NCAA Men's Football Academy. This program is sponsored by the Diversity & Inclusion and the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC). The program is administered by the NCAA and receives support from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Black Coaches Association (BCA), and the National Football League (NFL).

The program held in Indianapolis is designed to improve and reinforce various aspects of coaching to help support minority coaches in their advancement in intercollegiate athletics. The workshops run June 30th to July 2nd this summer and participants were chosen from a competitive pool across all college divisions.

"In my dealings with the NCAA, I know how competitive these programs are to get into," BC Head Coach Michael Clark commented. "It is a credit to both Jack and the standing our program has in college football. I am aware that Ron Prince and Norries Wilson two recent graduates of the program are now Division I head coaches. I hope it benefits both Jack and our program," Clark added.

Coach Higgison Joins Tulane Coaching Staff

2007-05-16T21:09:00.000-05:00

Grant Higgison is leaving his post as defensive coordinator to join the football coaching staff at Division I-A Tulane University. Higgison played for and graduated from Tulane, where he also worked as a student assistant for four years before coming to Bridgewater in the fall of 2002.

During his three years as defensive coordinator, Higgison coached 19 all-conference performers and two all-americans.

Head Coach Mike Clark had this to say about Higgison's departure;

"We will miss the contribution of Grant in our program. He has enjoyed a great run with us and we wish him the best of luck in his move back to Tulane. Having good coaches moving on to new opportunities speaks well of both them and our program. Although a late move, we are working to make the necessary staff adjustments and hires. I have told our players that by the end of May, I hope to have things reorganized as we prepare for the 2007 season."

Clark Says New Tailback Is ‘Blue Chip’

2007-05-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

The Daily News-Record | By Matthew Stoss

When tailback Darrin McKenzie drives by Turner Ashby High School on his way to Bridgewater College in August, it will be a familiar landmark in a foreign place, as he starts his freshman year as a BC football player.

But the reason it’s familiar isn’t pleasant – even if it did land Eagles coach Michael Clark a potential stud running back.

"He would have been a kid we thought we couldn’t have recruited because we thought he would’ve been recruited at a higher level," said Clark, who has collected about 40 recruits thus far for next season. "I think we’ve got a blue chip."

On Sept. 2, 2005, McKenzie was playing for Brookville High School against TA in the first game of his senior year. As a junior, he rushed for 1,064 yards and nine touchdowns and drew interest from the University of Virginia and James Madison, but both schools wanted to see what he did next season.

They just never got the chance.

With two minutes left against the defending state champion, McKenzie tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on a counter play. It ended his season.

"That was it," McKenzie said by phone this week from his home in Rustburg. "[It was] upsetting. It just hurt me. The JMU coach came to see me play the next week, and I wasn’t playing."

A year later, however, McKenzie was playing again, this time for Hargrave Military Academy’s post-graduate team, and with a week before the team’s first scrimmage and his reconstructed knee healed… he dislocated his left shoulder. The injury ended not only another football season for the 5-foot-8, 190-pounder, but also his Division I-A or I-AA prospects.

"‘Not again.’ That was the first thing I thought," said McKenzie, who originally injured the shoulder in high school. "And then, ‘Why me?"’

Enter Clark. The 14th-year coach said he knew about McKenzie during his senior year, but figured he was out of BC’s league and didn’t actively recruit McKenzie. However, after the shoulder injury last August, Clark was waiting.

"At the time, I could see why he would take a gamble and go to prep school and try to recapture the senior year that me missed," Clark said. "Physically, he battled. It was a tough, tough situation."

And without that "tough situation," McKenzie said he wouldn’t be at Bridgewater, which finished 8-2 overall, 4-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference last season.

The Eagles missed the Division III playoffs for the first time in six years. Their two losses were back-to-back to Guilford and Emory & Henry, allowing Washington & Lee to become the first team other than Bridgewater to win an ODAC title since 2000.

BC graduated 12 seniors – including all-purpose yards leader Winston Young and leading tackler Craig Smith. Smith, a linebacker, totaled 69 stops, while Young averaged 130.7 yards a game. However, the Eagles do return senior running back Phillip Carter, who rushed for 716 yards on 117 carries.

And while Clark said the Eagles are thin in the secondary, McKenzie, who has played defensive back, will start preseason practice at running back, where BC has added Shippensburg University transfer and Broadway High School graduate Seth Hardesty. Clark also said that during spring workouts, he experimented with sophomore running back David Argaud at cornerback.

"I think he has the speed," Clark said of McKenzie, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds. "He’s an athlete that’s going to have fresh legs when he gets here.

"We recruited him as a running back, but the thing is you never go wrong with speed. When kids can run, they find a way to be productive."

When asked where he’d like to play, McKenzie didn’t hesitate.

"Running back," he said. "[I like] that they run the ball. That was the biggest thing, and they were committed to it."

Bridgewater opens its season Sept. 1 at home against McDaniel College.

Ex-BHS Star Hardesty Heads To BC

2007-05-04T07:28:00.000-05:00

The Daily News-Record | By Matthew Stoss

After a year away, Seth Hardesty is returning to the Valley.

Hardesty, who graduated from Broadway High School in 2006, is coming back to play football for Division III Bridgewater College after redshirting his freshman year at Division II Shippensburg University.

“There’s nothing bad going on,” Hardesty said by phone Wednesday night from Shippensburg, Pa. “It’s just a matter of what I want to do.”

Hardesty said he made the decision over the winter break and just finished his paperwork to become a Bridgewater student – including his admissions deposit, the Division III equivalent of a letter of intent, which he said he sent Tuesday.

Under NCAA rules, BC coach Michael Clark is prohibited from publicly commenting on Hardesty until the admissions deposit clears.

“I should be an official student there by now – at least I would hope so,” the 6-foot, 205-pound fullback said. “It should just be a matter of paperwork and ending my credits here in good standing, but that’s not going to be a problem.”

Hardesty said Bridgewater, which finished 8-2 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in six years, recruited him out of high school along with Hampden-Sydney, Shenandoah and Elon. He said one of the reasons he chose Shippensburg, which went 5-6 last year, was its wing-T offense – an offense Hardesty was familiar with at Broadway.

But after a season, Hardesty said the Red Raiders’ wing-T didn’t fit him as well as he would have liked. If he had stayed, he expected to be switched to outside linebacker or halfback.

“I had Bridgewater on my mind,” Hardesty said. “I was pretty set on what they did at Bridgewater. I knew I would fit into their offense.”

Hardesty was the Valley District’s leading rusher in 2006, running for 1,771 yards and 17 touchdowns in his only season as the Gobblers’ starting tailback.

Former BC QB Signed by AIFA's Blackbirds

2007-04-26T12:12:00.000-05:00

Baltimore Blackbirds

by John Wolfe

The Baltimore Blackbirds announced the signing of quarterback brothers, Mike and Robbie Jenkins today providing the team with a much-needed boost. Robbie Jenkins (6’3”, 220), who in two seasons as the starting quarterback for the Richmond Bandits of the AIFL, compiled a 19-2 record, including the league championship in 2005. Last season, Jenkins led the Bandits to a 12-2 record by tossing 81 touchdowns against only 14 interceptions. The Blackbirds also signed Mike Jenkins (6’5”, 240) who has two years experience in indoor football, playing in Amarillo, Texas, as well as Richmond as the backup quarterback for Robbie.

Since his days as a little league quarterback in Culpeper, Virginia, where he became the first youth player to throw for over 1,000 yards, Robbie has racked up wins and touchdowns as a starting quarterback. As a starting quarterback he has totaled 468 touchdowns, with only 70 interceptions, while compiling a record of 99-11-2, including five championships.

As a quarterback at Bridgewater College (VA), Robbie compiled a 16-1 record, including leading the Eagles to the national title game in 2001. As a senior in 2002, he tossed 22 touchdowns and over 2,300 yards in just 12 games leading the Eagles to an 11-1 record, their only loss coming in the Division 3 playoffs.

Mike also started building his winning football reputation in Culpeper. As a senior he led Culpeper High School to a perfect 14-0 record and the state championship, and was named Most Valuable Player of the State All-Star Game.

Mike compiled a 10-4 record as a starter at Randolph-Macon College. In his career Mike has thrown for 135 touchdowns, only 18 interceptions, and has compiled a record of 62-6-2, winning three championships.

“Robbie and Mike have both proven themselves as winners time and time again. They instantly solidify our quarterback position and provide us with an extremely strong foundation, from which to finish this season and to build upon for next season,” stated Blackbirds General Manager, John Wolfe.

http://www.baltimoreblackbirdsfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=1

RECRUITING: It’s A Waiting Game At BC

2007-04-19T17:15:00.000-05:00

In Division III recruiting, football coaches need patience as they watch D-I or D-II schools grab the top prospects.

The Daily News-Record | By Matthew Stoss

Bridgewater College football recruits seem to fall into two categories: those who know they’re Division III and those who aren’t sure.

Phillip Carter was in the “not sure” category.

Carter – a rising senior running back – said he didn’t officially commit to Bridgewater until late June because James Madison invited the 6-foot, 190-pounder to walk on – but with one catch: He’d have to move to defensive back.

“I didn’t even know about Bridgewater College,” said Carter, who was the Eagles’ second-leading rusher last season when he ran for 716 yards and seven touchdowns on 117 carries.

Carter, a Spotsylvania High School graduate, said he chose Bridgewater because coach Michael Clark didn’t ask him to switch positions and made him feel welcome.

“Our top recruits are at least on I-AA mailing lists, and they’ll make you feel pretty wanted – even if you’re not,” Clark, a former Virginia Tech assistant, said this week at practice.

Recruiting at Division III schools, including Bridgewater, takes patience. Clark and his peers have to wait until prospects have exhausted all hopes of playing at a higher level, something that lasts deep into the spring, before penciling in their future stars.

While Division I schools filled most of their scholarships two months ago, Clark said he won’t have a solid list of newcomers for at least another 1½ weeks as potential recruits weigh their options.

Due to the uncertainty, Clark must adopt a different recruiting strategy than his D-I and D-II counterparts.

“The most important thing is volume,” the 13th-year coach said.

And he wasn’t talking about decibels.

For Clark, volume refers to the number of bodies at practice in August. While the NCAA – and, indirectly, Title IX proportionality rules -- regulate recruiting classes for Division I and II schools, Clark doesn’t have to worry about roster limits.

Last summer, for example, about 135 players took part in preseason practice. Division I-AA JMU, by contrast, usually has about 90. Unlike D-I and D-II schools, Division III programs are forbidden from offering athletic scholarships, making larger rosters both practical and necessary.

If a student is playing football for free, it’s much easier for him to quit than it would be for an athlete on a football scholarship. Attrition – because of anything from lack of interest to a better offer elsewhere – is a fact of life in D-III.

“There are too many variables,” said Clark, who has taken the Eagles to the NCAA playoffs six of the last seven seasons. “If a I-AA school offers in June, I’m going to lose them.”

In Division III, admission deposits replace letters of intent, meaning football players commit to schools as any other student would: with a non-refundable deposit (Clark said it’s $300 at BC), which says he has agreed to enroll.

As of early this week, Clark said about 30 new players had turned in deposits at BC for next fall. However, unlike with Division I signees, their decisions are non-binding and players are free to move to other schools, which Clark said was the case with Cortez Thompson.

Thompson, a cornerback, agreed to play for Bridgewater but decided to walk on at James Madison at the last minute, leaving BC and his $300 investment. It turned out to be a good move: Thompson started as a freshman and helped the Dukes win the 2004 Division I-AA national championship as a senior.

With situations like these, coaches are often forced to wait a very long time to finalize rosters.

“Division III is a marathon, not a sprint,” Clark said. “You have to be in it for the long haul… We deal in large numbers because too many elements are out or your control.”

Just ask Jeff Highfill. The Eagles’ rising senior quarterback said he received interest from I-A schools, as well as from I-AA JMU, Richmond, Harvard and Elon. But at decision time, none of those schools had made scholarship offers.

“Once signing day is done, those spots go pretty quick,” said Highfill, who completed 121 of 202 passes for 1,723 yards and 14 touchdowns with six interceptions in 2006. “I just had to make the decision about if I wanted to do the walk-on route.”

If he had opted to join JMU’s football team as a walk-on, Highfill said, he would have been moved from quarterback to the secondary or outside linebacker – and the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder wanted to remain a QB. Also, Justin Rascati, who went on to become JMU’s winningest quarterback, had just transferred from Louisville.

“There are definitely more late guys,” Highfill said of Division III commitments. “After that signing day [in February for D-I], there are a lot of guys who thought they were going to a higher level.”

However, for Seth Little, those higher levels never were a factor.

Little, a Turner Ashby High School graduate, said he didn’t plan to play college football and thought baseball – his favorite sport growing up – might be his best chance at collegiate athletics.

“Charlie Newman got all the letters,” said Little of his star high school teammate, who now plays at JMU. “It was a very humbling experience [to see that]. I wanted to have that and that’s where Coach Clark came in. He made me feel wanted.”

The rising sophomore defensive back said he drew interest from other Old Dominion Athletic Conference schools like Hampden-Sydney and Emory & Henry, but chose Bridgewater because of his familiarity with the area.

Said Little: “The end of the year… that’s when a lot of D-III schools starting showing some interest, but Bridgewater was always the most persistent.”

And in the world of Division III recruiting, you have to be.

NOTE: For an updated list of 2007 Bridgewater College recruits publicized by news sources, click here.

Taylor Working as Web Administrator

2007-04-04T21:16:00.000-05:00

Former Bridgewater College and Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Jermaine Taylor realized before his football career was over that he needed a plan for life after the NFL.

After finding an internship through the player development office of the Bucs, Taylor is now a web administrator for Raymond James Financial.

Buccaneers.com has the complete story: click here.

Order the 2007 Team Polo and Hoodie Today!

2007-03-29T20:11:00.000-05:00

In response to requests last season by parents and fans, the Bridgewater College football office has made available to the public the team's travel polo shirt and hooded sweatshirt. The football office needs to place their order by April 30.

Both products are adidas, and are offered in sizes medium, large, x-large, xx-large, and xxx-large. The sweatshirt is a 9-ounce fleece hoodie. Cost is $36 for the polo and $45 for the hoodie. Checks need to be made out to "Bridgewater football" and sent in before the April 30 deadline. Please mail them to:

Box 180
402 East College Street
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Va. 22812
ATTN: Matt Barnhart

To place your order, simply email me at mbarnhar@bridgewater.edu with your first and last name, what product you like (there is no limitation on how many), what size(s), and a phone number to contact you if need be. Again, the deadline line is April 30, so order today!

You will be able to pick up your order at the annual Pigskin Preview (in August) unless other arrangements are made with Matt Barnhart.

Below are examples of both items. Please note that you will not be able to choose a number to put on the football for the hoodie. Also, the polo will have the adidas and Eagle logo like shown, but the polo itself will be a slightly different style (this photo is of last year's team polo).

RECRUITING: BC Offensive Line Gets Bigger

2007-02-22T09:01:00.000-05:00

It's still early in the recruiting process for Division III schools with the higher divisions only recently having their national signing day. But that hasn't stopped Bridgewater from receiving commitments from two - big - offensive linemen.

DCSportsFan.com and Gazette.net reports that Good Counsel's Pat Wilson will attend Bridgewater this coming fall. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder anchored an offensive line that helped roll up 4,095 yards and 45 touchdowns for an average of 30.2 points per game. Good Counsel, located in Maryland, finished the season 10-2 and runners-up in their conference playoffs.

The News Leader reports that Jeremy Fox, the starting center for Riverheads (13-1), has committed to play at Bridgewater this coming fall. The Riverheads were Virginia's Group A (Div. 1) State Champions this past fall. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound lineman earned All-State honors his junior and senior seasons, as well as being ranked as the No. 76 best player in the state of Virginia by The Roanoke Times.

NOTE: BridgewaterFootball.com will only be posting recruiting information announced through news sources

Craig Smith a GA at St. Vincent

2007-02-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

Craig Smith, a middle linebacker for the Eagles from 2002 to 2006, is currently a graduate assistant at Saint Vincent College. He finished with 204 career tackles.

The following is taken from the St. Vincent football coaching staff webpage:

Craig joins the staff after completing his career at Bridgewater College, where he was a two-time All-Conference selection (2005-06) and a two-year captain.

A linebacker, he was also named DIII Player of the Week in the fall of 2006.

The Virginia Beach, VA native holds a B.A. in Health & Exercise Science from Bridgewater.

Smith will work with head coach Bob Colbert, who served as the offensive coordinator of Bridgewater from 1998 to 2005.

2007 will mark the first year of St. Vincent football since 1962.

Young, Capriani Named to All-Region Team

2007-01-21T11:42:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater College seniors Winston Young and Matt Capriani were named to the Football Gazette All-South Region Third Team released Saturday.

Young, a first-team All-ODAC pick at running back, gained 756 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry to lead the Eagles rushing attack. Young rushed for six touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown.

Capriani, a first-team All-ODAC selection at offensive tackle, anchored a line that helped the Eagles rank among the national leaders in rushing, scoring and total offense.

Click here for the entire team.

Young Listed on NFL Draft Sites

2007-01-17T08:32:00.000-05:00

As reported by D3football.com in their 2006 Year in Review Part 2, the Eagles' running back Winston Young is listed on ESPN.com as one of only eight Division III players as prospects for the 2007 NFL draft. They list Young's 40 time as a 4.7.

He was also listed on NFLDraftScout.com, a source used by USA Today.

Young finished his career with 246 points ranking him second, while his 2,775 rushing yards places him sixth all-time.

He is the third Bridgewater running back to get NFL looks in the last six years. Davon Cruz (2002) and Marcus Washington (2006) were also prospects. Each back holds a significant school record. Cruz is the all-time leading rusher with 3,986 yards, Washington scored the most career points with 268, while Young set a new program record this past fall with his 35th career rushing touchdown.

Bridgewater also had linebacker Jermaine Taylor make two NFL rosters - Green Bay and Tampa Bay - in 2005 and 2006.

The NFL draft will be held on April 28 and 29.

Six Named All-State by The Roanoke Times

2007-01-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater College placed six players on the College Division All-State football team selected by The Roanoke Times.

The Eagles placed three players on the first team. Seniors Matt Capriani (offensive line), Brandon Borst (linebacker) and junior Desmond Jalloh (defensive back) received first-team honors.

Named to the second team were senior running back Winston Young, senior defensive end Tony Burt and sophomore kicker Luke Taylor.

Eight Earn VaSID All-State Honors

2006-12-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater College placed eight players on the 2006 VaSID College Division All-State football team released Friday.

Offensive linemen Matt Capriani and Keaton Culver were named to the first-team offense. Capriani and Culver anchored a line that helped the Eagles rank among the national leaders in rushing, scoring and total offense. Both players were first-team All-ODAC selections earlier this year.

Six Eagles earned second-team honors – one of offense and five on defense.

Running back Winston Young, a first-team All-ODAC back, was selected to the second-team offensive unit. Young gained 756 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2006.

Named to the second-team defense were defensive end Tony Burt, linebackers Brandon Borst and Craig Smith, safety Desmond Jalloh and cornerback Earl Chaptman.

Burt, a first-team All-ODAC pick, led the Eagles in tackles for loss with 10.5 and quarterback sacks with 5.5.

Smith, a second-team All-ODAC selection, was the leading tackler for the Eagles with 30 solos and 39 asssists. Borst, a first-team All-ODAC pick, ranked second on the team in tackles with 28 solo and 27 assists. Borst also had 7.0 tackles for loss, including 2.5 QB sacks.

Chaptman led the Eagles with four pass interceptions while Jalloh had three interceptions and ranked third on the team in tackles with 31 solo stops and 22 assists. Jalloh and Chaptman were both honored on the All-ODAC first team.

Click here for the complete team.

"Stone Station" Heading to Salem

2006-12-11T13:56:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater College has a nationally renowned football tailgate called “Stone Station.” Named because the lawn it resides for home games is across the street from President Stone’s home. What started as only a couple families four years ago, “Stone Station” is now a Saturday staple that brings together hundreds of fans every fall.

Just as the coaching staff at Bridgewater is committed to providing you with the best game plan for winning, the fans are just as committed to supporting the players who wear the crimson and gold.

"Stone Station" has received national attention on D3football.com with a feature on the Bridgewater tailgate which will be setting up in Salem, Virginia, at the Stagg Bowl - the Division III football championship game.

Visit D3football.com for the story. If you can't find the story off the front page, click here.

Young and Capriani Earn All-Region Honors

2006-12-08T08:19:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater senior's Winston Young (RB) and Matt Capriani (OT) were named to D3football.com's All-South Region Team announced Friday, December 8.

Young led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in rushing yards per game with 84.0, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and scoring six touchdowns. He finished second in the conference in all-purpose yardage with 1176 (756 rushing, 246 kick returning, 174 receiving). He finished his career at Bridgewater with the most rushing touchdowns (35) in school history. His 246 points rank him second, while his 2,775 rushing yards place him sixth.

Capriani anchored an offensive line that helped the Eagles lead the ODAC in scoring offense (31.7 ppg), rushing offense (205.6 ypg), pass efficiency (152.0), third-down conversions (46.2%), fourth-down conversions (60%), and red zone offense (36-for-41).

Click here for the entire All-South Region Team.

Highfill Named Academic All-American

2006-11-30T13:23:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater College’s Jeff Highfill was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American College Division First Team released Thursday.

Highfill, a junior quarterback, led the Eagles to an 8-2 record this season. Highfill led the ODAC and was ranked No. 24 in the nation in passing efficiency. He threw 14 touchdown passes and just six interceptions on the season. He also ranked third in the ODAC in passing yards with 172.3 per game and second in total offense with 207.7 yards per game. Highfill led all conference quarterbacks in rushing with 354 yards and ranked No. 10 overall in the ODAC in rushing yards per game. He scored nine touchdowns on the ground to rank No. 5 in the conference in scoring.

2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American College Division First Team

QB - Jeff Highfill, Bridgewater, Jr., 3.94 in Mathematics
OL - Nicholas Zappia, Rochester, Sr., 3.96 in Economics/Statistics
OL - Mike Butterworth, Slipper Rock, Jr., 4.00 in Secondary Edu./Mathematics
OL - Rick Drushal, Wooster, Sr., 3.71 in Mathematics/Computer Science
OL - Shawn Herrmann, RPI, Sr., 3.72 in Aerospace Eng./Mechanical Eng.
OL - Steve Leppert, Capital, Sr., 3.90 in Management/Marketing
RB - Danny Woodhead, Chadron State, Jr., 3.64 in Math Education/Coaching
RB - Dante Daniels, Monmouth, Sr., 3.69 in Physical Education
WR - Weston Dressler, North Dakota, Jr., 3.79 in Banking/Financial Economics
WR - Evan Earnest, Johns Hopkins, Sr., 3.74 in Mechanical Engineering
TE - Christopher Ruggiero, MIT, Sr., 4.00 in Mechanical Engineering
P - Jovin Kroll, UW-River Falls, Sr., 3.91 in English Education

DL - Ryan Meredith, Pittsburg State, Sr., 3.93 in Management
DL - Frank Marino, Wingate, Sr., 3.96 in Finance
DL - Leon Douglas, Missouri Western State, Sr., 3.89 in Physical Education
DL - Todd Eagle, Humboldt State, Sr., 3.91 in Liberal Studies Elem. Education
LB - Michael Klobucher, Ferris State, Sr., 4.00 in Applied Biology
LB - Bryan Vivaldo, Wilkes, Sr., 3.91 in Accounting
LB - Kyle Elsasser, Nebraska Wesleyan, Jr., 3.92 in Physics
LB - Jamie Steffensmeier, St. John's, Sr., 3.84 in Accounting
DB - Aaron Lewis, Carnegie Mellon, Sr., 3.93 in Business Administration
DB - Michael Greenwood, North Dakota, Sr., 3.94 in Biology
DB - William (Jake) Weller, Illinois College, Jr., 4.00 in Biology/Chemistry
DB - Ben Bollard, Central, Sr., 3.77 in Computer Science
K - Frank Leibfarth, South Dakota, Sr., 3.93 in Chemistry/Biology

Could Bridgewater beat Virginia Tech?

2006-11-29T13:43:00.000-05:00

Well, no. But...

Bridgewater has a victory chain which traverses 20 teams connecting the Eagles to the No. 15 ranked team in the final Bowl Championship Series rankings for Division I-A:

Bridgewater beat McDaniel who beat Gettysburg who beat Ursinus who beat La Salle who beat St Peter's who beat Iona who beat Duquesne who beat Robert Morris who beat Central Connecticut State who beat Georgia Southern who beat Western Carolina who beat Eastern Kentucky who beat Western Kentucky who beat Southern Illinois who beat Indiana who beat Western Michigan who beat Virginia who beat North Carolina State who beat Boston College who beat Virginia Tech.

Thanks to Patrick Gaule's College Football Victory Chain Linker, you can try and link any two college football teams you like - no matter the division.

The Eagles even pass through 22 teams to connect to No. 4 LSU:

Bridgewater beat McDaniel who beat Gettysburg who beat Ursinus who beat La Salle who beat St Peter's who beat Iona who beat Duquesne who beat Fordham who beat Albany who beat Lehigh who beat Villanova who beat James Madison who beat New Hampshire who beat Northwestern who beat Iowa who beat Iowa State who beat Missouri who beat Mississippi who beat Vanderbilt who beat Georgia who beat Auburn who beat LSU.

So go ahead and have some fun at www.cfbanalyzer.com.

Bridgewater Lands 15 on All-ODAC Teams

2006-11-21T09:14:00.000-05:00

2006 ODAC Football All-Conference Teams & Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Chris Barnette - Wide Receiver, Guilford

Defensive Player of the Year
Marshall Doss - Linebacker, Emory & Henry

Coach of the Year
Frank Miriello - Washington & Lee

Rookie of the Year
R.J. Varner - Quarterback, Washington & Lee

Scholar-Athlete Award
Jeff Highfill - Quarterback, Bridgewater

All-ODAC First Team
Offense
Josh Vogelbach, Quarterback, Guilford
Chris Barnette, Wide Receiver, Guilford
Micah Rushing, Wide Receiver, Guilford
Colton Ward, Wide Receiver, Washington & Lee
Charlie Omick, Running Back, Hampden-Sydney
Winston Young, Running Back, Bridgewater
Dane Williams, Tight End, Hampden-Sydney
Matt Capriani, Offensive Line, Bridgewater
Keaton Culver, Offensive Line, Bridgewater
Ben Niemaseck, Offensive Line, Hampden-Sydney
Paul Williams, Offensive Line, Hampden-Sydney
Hunter Whitfield, Offensive Line, Washington & Lee

Defense
Tony Burt, Defensive Line, Bridgewater
Matt Baldwin, Defensive Line, Emory & Henry
Gamal Alwan, Defensive Line, Randolph-Macon
Bryant Fulk, Defensive Line, Washington & Lee
Brandon Borst, Linebacker, Bridgewater
Bill Gross, Linebacker, Catholic
Marshall Doss, Linebacker, Emory & Henry
Earl Chaptman, Cornerback, Bridgewater
Mark Snoddy, Cornerback, Washington & Lee
Desmond Jalloh, Safety, Bridgewater
Nick Olivero, Safety, Catholic

Special Teams
Ben Long, Place-kicker, Washington & Lee
Travis Frazer, Punter, Guilford

All-ODAC Second Team
Offense
Todd Woods, Quarterback, Emory & Henry
Brandon Copeland, Wide Receiver, Bridgewater
Brennan Stewart, Wide Receiver, Emory & Henry
Drew Smith, Wide Receiver, Hampden-Sydney
Phillip Carter, Running Back, Bridgewater
Matt Gillespie, Running Back, Emory & Henry
Jeremy Keene, Tight End, Emory & Henry
Anthony Cotton, Offensive Line, Bridgewater
Frank Luton, Offensive Line, Emory & Henry
Blake Underwood, Offensive Line, Guilford
Chas Collins, Offensive Line, Washington & Lee
Robert Hetherington, Offensive Line, Washington & Lee

Defense
Michael Jackson, Defensive Line, Bridgewater
Mike Six, Defensive Line, Guilford
Jordan Sprouse, Defensive Line, Hampden-Sydney
Tom Matteo, Defensive Line, Washington & Lee
Craig Smith, Linebacker, Bridgewater
Nick Jones, Linebacker, Randolph-Macon
Kyle Harvey, Linebacker, Washington & Lee
Jamie Edlow, Cornerback, Hampden-Sydney
Jimmy Gift, Corner Back, Washington & Lee
Eric Dardozzi, Safety, Randolph-Macon
Kyle Luby, Safety, Washington & Lee

Special Teams
Luke Taylor, Place-kicker, Bridgewater
T.C. Stevens, Punter, Hampden-Sydney

All-ODAC Honorable Mention
Offense
Jeff Highfill, Quarterback, Bridgewater
Keith Ricca, Quarterback, Catholic
Jared Jackson, Wide Receiver, Emory & Henry
Joe Joyner, Wide Receiver, Guilford
Josh Simpson, Running Back, Hampden-Sydney
Ryan Neff, Tight End, Washington & Lee

Defense
Sean Green, Defensive Line, Catholic
Nate Shook, Defensive Line, Randolph-Macon
Walker Williams, Defensive Line, Washington & Lee
Kevin O’Sullivan, Linebacker, Emory & Henry
Jason Smith, Linebacker, Hampden-Sydney
Brian Cook, Defensive Back, Guilford

Special Teams
Reggie Moore, Place-kicker, Randolph-Macon
Scott Roebush, Punter, Bridgewater

Stars Fading At BC (Daily News-Record)

2006-11-20T08:49:00.000-05:00

Daily News-Record - By Chris Simmons

Remember those superstars Mike Clark consistently lured to Bridgewater College?

Don’t exist anymore – at least not in Clark’s vocabulary.

After failing to reach the Division III playoffs for the first time in seven years, the BC football coach says he plans to emphasize the team concept above all else next season, a nod to two factors: 1) the Eagles don’t have the wealth of speedy talent they once had, and 2) the rest of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference is no longer filled with chumps.

"A year ago, I said you had program players, you had franchise players, you had development players," Clark said recently, "and from my perspective, from a head coaching perspective, I regret using that word – ‘franchise’ players."

Of course, franchise players are what turned Bridgewater from puny to powerful during Clark’s 12-year reign. Studs like Davon Cruz, Jason Lutz, P.J. Berry and Marcus Washington fueled a Formula 1 offense that simply sped past opponents. The Jermaine Taylors, meanwhile, gobbled up foes on defense.

The Eagles still have quality players, just not as many.

Clark pointed to one position -- wide receiver -- as an example. Brandon Copeland was BC’s deep-threat receiver, it’s only deep-threat receiver. Obviously, as the season progressed, other teams discerned they could cripple the Eagles’ defense if they stifled Copeland.

It had Clark longing for the good old days – aka, 2001, when Bridgewater played for the national championship in the Stagg Bowl.

"I’ve got a picture in my office," Clark said. "We’re lined up in a formation where we have five wide receivers on the field – it’s in the national-championship game – and any one of the those five wide receivers individually can beat you."

Why BC hasn’t attracted as many skilled speedsters is anybody’s guess. Maybe the fairy dust from the Eagles’ miracle run to Salem has finally worn off. Maybe the region’s other D-III schools have bolstered their programs (think: Christopher Newport) enough to siphon off players who might otherwise have chosen Bridgewater. Or maybe it’s just cyclical.

Regardless of the reason, Clark is changing his outlook for 2007. It’s the year of the Everyman, or more accurately, the Everyplayer. Rather than a morality play, though, consider this an action-adventure film.

Which is where guys like Andy Ropp come in.

Ropp, a former Broadway High School standout who tried his luck at Division II Catawba before transferring to BC this year, may be the embodiment of the type of player Clark intends to emphasize next fall.

He’s definitely not the border-line Division I-AA player Clark sometimes lures to Bridgewater. But he is a very good D-III athlete, meaning he’s probably a bit too slow and way too little for the big time.

Ropp remembers being 58 pounds as a third-grade Pee Wee football player and 95 pounds as a 10th-grader on Broadway’s varsity squad.

Now? Well, he still won’t be mistaken for Howie Long. But he’s grown to 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds – perfect for a scrappy D-III dude.

"I’ve always been small, so you know I’m just fighting every day, go out there and fight with guys that are bigger than me, you know, and get knocked down," Ropp, a sophomore, said after the Hampden-Sydney game in late September. "I told the guys on the team I’ll get knocked down a million times. I mean, it’s happened to me all my life. Just get up and keep going. That’s what I do."

That’s what he’s going to have to do if Clark is right – if the Eagles indeed will need to rely on their foundation rather than their flashy skyscrapers in 2007. Spooked by BC’s problems in the ODAC this year – and, sadly, with extra time to ruminate – Clark appears to be serious about de-emphasizing the star system.

"Next year, in the recovery, as we chase and try to reclaim the ODAC championship, it’s going to be about the team, not the individuals within the team," Clark said. "With that as kind of an overview, the Andy Ropps of the world are not only going to be key players, but they’ve got to get better, too."

One reason, he said, is that the gap between the ODAC and BC has significantly narrowed.

"In the past, at least particularly in the conference, we could identify the two games where you had to be ready, you had to be ready for those two. Bluntly, the other five, you’d have to work real hard to screw up two of them. Now, the mode of operation is I’ve got to play every week." Clark said.

How bad did it get this season? BC had trouble defeating even mediocre teams.

"We had to fight our butts off the last two games to beat the sixth- and seventh-place teams in the ODAC," Clark noted.

Not that next year figures to be much different, not unless the Ropps step up.

Even if Clark eventually stockpiles the speed-burners who defined his program in the first half of this decade, he won’t have enough of them in 2007 to build a season around. So, it’ll be foundation kids – like Ropp and a 30-plus senior class – who’ll get at least equal billing to the Copelands.

One more point: Despite everything, it’s not panic time at Bridgewater. As Clark noted, the Eagles have won 85 percent of their games since the beginning of the 2000 season. Even this year, they finished 8-2.

But sitting home at Thanksgiving with nothing to worry about except dinner isn’t exactly how Clark likes spending late November.

"When the season ends on Nov. 12," he said, "it’s a long offseason."

Long and thoughtful, it seems.

BC Ranked No. 38 in Football Gazette Poll

2006-11-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

Bridgewater moved up to No. 38 in Don Hansen's Football Gazette top 40 this week.

Click here for the entire poll.