Around the Big 16 Conference - Offseason Edition

ST. JOSEPH -- The 2009 season was a successful one for the Big 16 Conference.  The league had not one, but two football teams win State Championships this season.

Jackson Lumen Christi won the MHSAA Division 5 Championship with an easy 42-7 victory over Clare.  Connor Sullivan ran for two touchdowns, caught one touchdown pass, and threw two TD passes to Sam Ward.  The Titans' Rafe Bellers also became the first ever player in a MHSAA Championship game to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown. 

Jackson Lumen Christi has now won five Division 5 State Championships in the last decade and has made the championship game seven times in the last 10 seasons (2000-win, 2001-win, 2003-win, 2004-win, 2005-loss, 2007-loss, 2009-win).  The Titans also have three previous Class B titles in 1996, 1979, and 1977.

Marshall was the other Big 16 Conference team that ended the season with a state championship.  The Redhawks defeated Three Rivers 49-28 to win the Division 4 championship at Ford Field.  The win gives Marshall their second state championship in school history, the Redhawks last title came in 1996 (Class BB).  The Redhawks would fail to defend that title the next season as Marshall lost 19-12 to Ogemaw Heights in the 1997 Class BB Final.  Ironically, St. Joseph fell one game short of meeting Marshall in the 1997 finals as the Bears fell to Ogemaw Heights in the semifinals at Alma College.

Marshall will open defense of their 2009 State Championship on August 27th at St. Joseph.

Coaching Changes

After the game, Marshall Head Coach Rich Hulkow announced his resignation as the coach of the Redhawks.  Hulkow steps out on a high note after almost losing his job as head coach before the 2009 season even started.  A heated school board meeting last April saw hundred or so residents show up to show their support for the coach.  The school board backed off of their stance on a possible coaching change.  Hulkow is not done coaching, nearby Olivet College has hired Hulkow as their new head coach.   Olivet went 0-10 last season.

Marshall was not the only Big 16 school to have a coaching change.  Battle Creek Lakeview coach Mark Gibbs stepped down following the Spartans 4th straight 5-4 season.  Gibbs went 34-31 during seven seasons on the sidelines.   Lakeview didn't have to look very far to find his replacement.  Assistant Coach Matt Miller was named as the Spartans head coach.  Miller also serves as Varsity track coach.

New Kickoff Times

Starting with the 2010 season, the Big 16 Conference will start every football game 30 minutes earlier than in previous seasons.  All of the Big 16 Conference games on Friday night will begin at 7:00 instead of 7:30.  The change affects varsity games only.  Freshman games will continue to begin at 4:30 and junior varsity games will continue to be played at 6:30.  The move was made to get teams home earlier following road games.

Benton Harbor's Joique Bell NFL Draft Bound

Former Benton Harbor running back Joique Bell won the Harlon Hill award which goes to the top player in Division 2 College Football while attending Wayne State.  Bell was automatically invited to play in the upcoming Senior Bowl.  ESPN's Todd McShay lists Bell as the top small college running back in this year's NFL draft.  Bell has the fifth most points in NCAA football history.  The 2010 NFL Draft will be held beginning on Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 (Round 1), Round 2 and 3 will be on Friday, April 23 starting at 6:30, and the final four rounds will be on Saturday, April 24th beginning at 10 AM.  The NFL Draft is held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.