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Taking a look around the Big 16 Conference.
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St. Joseph will be not play Battle Creek Central this
season
 The
Bearcats were 5-5 in 2008, not bad for a team that unexpectedly lost their longtime
head coach before the season started. Doug Bess served as an
assistant coach for 21 years under Al Slamer. The Bearcats were
counting on big things from running back Larry Caper, who committed to
Michigan State University. The Bearcats didn't have many problems
on offense, but the Bearcat defense gave up 35 points or more in 4 of
their 10 games, including a 67-35 loss to St. Joe and a 59-58 3OT loss to
Kalamazoo Central the next week. The Bearcats had 308 points
for, but 309 points against which was the second most in the league.
2008 Record: 5-5 (3-1 Central)
2009 Key Games: 9/3 vs. LKSH, 9/11 vs. BCHC, 9/18 at JLC, 10/23 vs. BCL |
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St. Joseph will be at Battle Creek Harper Creek on
September 3rd.
 After
going 19-4 in their previous two seasons, the Beavers are 10-9 during
the last two seasons. The Beavers missed the playoffs for the
first time since 2003 after a 4-5 season. The Beavers will be
looking for a new outlook on things this fall, and it starts with an all
new Harper Creek Stadium. In addition to removing and rebuilding
both sets of bleachers as well as running track, Harper Creek Stadium
will become the fourth Big 16 school to play their home games on
fieldturf, as well as the addition of playclocks and a set of bleachers
set in the south end zone for the Harper Creek students.
2008 Record: 4-5 (2-3 East)
2009 Key Games: 9/3 vs. SJ, 9/11 at BCC, 10/2 at BCL, 10/9 vs. JLC,
10/16 at MAR |
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St. Joseph will be not play Battle Creek Lakeview this
season
 Battle
Creek Lakeview went 5-4 for the third consecutive season, missing out on
a playoff bid for the fifth year in a row.
Mark Gibbs returns for his 7th year on the sidelines for the Spartans
with a record of 29-27. The Spartans have not made the playoffs
since 2003 and have gone 5-4 each of the last three seasons.
The Spartans will open the season against Mattawan and Portage Northern
before opening the Divisional Schedule against Jackson Lumen Christi.2008 Record: 5-4 (3-2 East)
2009 Key Games: 9/11 vs. JLC, 9/18 at MAR, 10/2 vs. HC, 10/23 at BCC |
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St. Joseph will be at Benton Harbor on September 25th
 The
Benton Harbor Tigers are looking for a much better season than the last
two seasons, all it will take for a turnaround is just one win.
The Tigers have gone two straight seasons without a win under Maurice
Burton, but replacing him is former St. Joe assistant Larry Jackson.
The Tigers new summer workout schedule as well as offseason conditioning
is part of the new attitude brought to Benton Harbor. The Tigers
open the season at home against Battle Creek Central.2008 Record:
0-9 (0-4 West)
2009 Key Games: 8/28 vs. BCC, 9/18 vs. LKSH, 9/25 vs. SJ, 10/16 vs. NIL |
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St. Joseph will be not play Coldwater this season
 Coldwater
is another of the Big 16 schools that has a new head coach. Norm
Moran who was previously the coach at Waldron High School takes over
from Mark DeMeester who went 4-23 in his three years as head coach.
Moran has 21 years of experience at the high school but also has some
collegiate experience, servince as linebackers coach at Albion College
in 1998, The Cards will still run a Wing-T style of offense as before,
but might add some I-Formation as well.2008 Record:
2-7 (1-4 East)
2009 Key Games: |
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St. Joseph will be not play Jackson Lumen Christi this
season
 It's
hard to imagine the last time that Jackson Lumen Christi has had a sub
.500 season, but you have to go back 26 years to the 1983 season when
the Titans finished at 4-5. Now in his 30th season as the Titans
head coach, Herb Brogan has led his team to the playoffs 13 out of the
last 14 years, including state championships in 5 seasons and another 2
runner up crowns. The Titans went 10-3 last season. The most
losses since 2004. Lumen Christi was defeated in the Division 5
semifinals to eventual State Champion Muskegon Oakridge. 2008 Record:
10-3 (5-0 East)
2009 Key Games: 9/18 vs. BCC, 10/2 vs. MAR, 10/9 at HC |
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St. Joseph will be not play Kalamazoo Central this
season
 Thanks
to the Big 16 realignment, Kalamazoo Central's early schedule will be
where the rivalry games will take place as the Maroon Giants travel to
Portage Central in week 1 and then face arch rival Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
in week two. Even though the Knights and Maroon Giants are in
opposite divisions they will still face each other every season.
The Maroon Giants went 4-5 last year under first year head coach
Lamanzer Williams.2008 Record:
4-5 (2-2 Central)
2009 Key Games: |
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St. Joseph will be at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix on
September 18th
 From
2004 to the 2007 season, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix had two 0-9 seasons, and
two 1-8 seasons, with one of the wins coming off of a forfeit by
Marshall for a total of 2-34. After two previous head coaches the
Knights hired Sean Bergan as their head coach. It didn't take very
long for the Knights to equal the number of Knight wins in the previous
four seasons. The Knights won their first two games of 2008, with
wins over Sturgis (20-12) and Coldwater (13-12). Norrix would find
the win column again in week 8 at Benton Harbor. 2008 Record:
3-6 (0-4 Central)
2009 Key Games: 9/3 at KC, 9/11 vs. BH, 9/18 vs. SJ, 10/9 vs. LKSH |
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St. Joseph will host Lakeshore on October 16th
 "The
Lancers don't rebuild, they reload" seems to be a annual description of
Lakeshore's football team. Don't expect the loss of Trace Schewe,
Zak Wasserman, and Coco Johnson to make a difference, Denny Dock
returns for his 22nd season on the Lakeshore sideline. The Lancers
return QB Eric Lemon and WR, Devon Bailey who played on the varsity as a
freshman last year. The last three games of the Lakeshore schedule
has them playing away from home, the Lancers go to Loy Norrix, St. Joe,
and then finishing the season at Portage Central.2008 Record:
11-2 (3-1 West)
2009 Key Games: 9/3 at BCC, 9/25 vs. PN, 10/16 at SJ, 10/23 at PC |
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St. Joseph will be at Marshall on August 28th
 After
a some turbulent school board meetings, one of which brought out over
one hundred supporters, Rich Hulkow's contract was renewed as the head
coach. Hulkow serves as Marshall's Head Coach and Athletic
Director will return for his 25th season on the sidelines. The
Redhawks return 18 players from last year's 8-4 team. Marshall has
lost the first two games of the season each of the last three seasons.2008 Record:
8-4 (4-1 East)
2009 Key Games: 8/28 vs. SJ, 9/18 vs. BCL, 9/25 at JLC, 10/2 vs. BCC,
10/16 vs. HC |
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St. Joseph will be at Mattawan on October 9th
 After
two straight seasons where the Wildcats made the playoffs, Mattawan has
won just 4 total games in the last two seasons against two teams that
went a combined 3-33. The Wildcats scored a total of 91 points in
the 2008 season. Following the season Doug Paran decided to step
down as the Wildcats head coach after 4 seasons with a 17-21 record.
Mattawan found their new coach walking in the hallways of the high
school. Matt Stephens teaches at Mattawan but was the head coach
at Bangor. The Wildcats open the season at Battle Creek Lakeview,
but Jackson Lumen Christi will be the 'Cats first home game.2008 Record:
1-8 (1-3 West)
2009 Key Games: 9/3 vs. JLC, 9/11 at LKSH, 10/9 vs. SJ, 10/16 vs. PC |
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Niles will be at St. Joseph on September 11th
 After
three playoff appearances and a Big 16 West Division Titles from
2001-2003. Niles hasn't had a winning season. The Vikings finished
seasons at 1-8, 3-6, and three seasons at 4-5 including the last two.
Danny Brawley comes back for his 4th season on the Vikings sidelines, he
has a record of 9-18. Just like last year's team had to contend
with the loss of running back Ben Brandstatter, this year's squad will
have to deal with the loss of not only Asaad Ali but an assistant coach,
Pat Brandstatter who is on the staff of Benton Harbor.2008 Record:
4-5 (2-2 West)
2009 Key Games: 9/11 at SJ, 9/18 vs. PC, 10/2 at LKSH, 10/16 at BH |
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St. Joseph will host Portage Northern on October 2nd
 Portage
Central's run of three straight Big 16 Central Division Titles will end
this season... For the simple reason that Portage Central is now in the
West Division. The Mustangs lost QB Gerrit Rauch who was the
Kalamazoo Gazette's Player of the year last year. Running back
Spencer Munson returns for his senior year. Brett Foerster returns
for his 5th season since Bob Knight retired after the 2005 season.
St. Joe has not played their former Big 8 rival since 2004.2008 Record:
8-2 (3-1 Central)
2009 Key Games: 9/11 vs. PN, 10/2 at SJ, 10/23 vs. LKSH |
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St. Joseph will host Portage Northern on October 23rd
 The
Third and final newcomer to the West Division is the Portage Northern.
The Huskies may be newcomers to the division, but the Huskies did face
all of their divisional opponents last season, going 5-3 against this
year's west division. The Huskies also return leading rusher
Antonio Hutchens and starting quarterback Jack Livingston. 2008 Record:
5-4 (2-2 Central)
2009 Key Games: 8/28 at JLC, 9/11 at PC, 9/25 at LKSH, 10/23 at SJ |
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St. Joseph will be not play Sturgis this season
 The
last of the new coaches in the Big 16 this season really isn't that new
to the Sturgis football program. The name should be familiar to
Trojan fans, Bill Keim. Keim has held various coaching positions
in the Sturgis athletic program for around 30 years, including an
assistant football coach. Keim's son Matt who is the Trojans
baseball coach will be the defensive coordinator under his father.
Keim told the Sturgis Journal that their goals are to run the ball, stop
the run, and excel on special teams.2008 Record:
1-8 (0-5 East)
2009 Key Games: 8/28 at LKSH, 9/11 at CLD, 10/17 at JLC, 10/23 vs. MAR |
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