by Jay Langhammer, featured writer
photos courtesy David Gonzales/Stanford, University of Colorado,
John Todd/Berkeley and TeamCoyle/University of Kentucky Athletics

All-American Offensive Team

Leading our offense is quarterback MIKE HARTLINE, who started for the 7-6 Kentucky Liberty Bowl squad. He completed 172 passes in 311 attempts for 1,666 yards and nine touchdowns. His best games were 28 of 47 for 254 yards against Middle Tennessee State; 20 of 42 for 241 yards versus Alabama; 17 of 32 for 239 yards, three TDs against Arkansas; and 19 of 31 for 204 yards versus East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl. Running back LUKE LIPPINCOTT of Nevada-Reno was a pre-season All-American candidate after being a thousand yard rusher in 2007 and started early in the season before torn knee ligaments ended his season early. The school petitioned the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility and Luke will return to the team as a graduate student this fall.

Running back DEON HORNE led Willamette to an 11-1 season and the NCAA Division III playoffs. He was named to the North-American Interfraternity Conference All-Fraternity All-American first team for Divisions II-III, the All-Northwest Conference first team and the D3football. com All-West Region second team after rushing for 988 yards (7.2 per carry) and scoring 12 touchdowns. He had 132 yards on 19 carries versus Whitworth and scored three TDs against Linfield. SCOTTY McKNIGHT was Colorado’s top receiver again and was on the NIC All-Fraternity All-American first team for Division I FBS/FBC schools. He caught 46 passes for 519 yards and five scores. Receiver DREW SHEPHERD of Willamette gained All-NWC honorable mention and tight end DAVID RODRIGUEZ of Gettyburg received All- Centennial Conference honorable mention after catching nine passes for 193 yards and two TDs.

Leading the offensive line is All-Pacific-10 first team tackle BEN MUTH of Stanford, who was also an NIC All-Fraternity All-American first selection. Teammate ANDREW PHILLIPS started at guard for the Cardinal and joins him on our first team. Tackle JAKE FORSHEY of Willamette was chosen for the Division II-III NIC All-Fraternity All-American first team, the Division III All-American second team, the All-NWC first team and the All-West Region first team. STEPHEN EDWARDS started every game in the Bucknell offensive line and was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Cocaptain SAM WALTHALL of Gettysburg started every contest and was named to the All-Centennial Conference second team.

All-American Defensive Team

A group of four stellar linebackers leads our defensive platoon. NIC All-Fraternity All-American first teamer MICHAEL MOHAMED of the 9-4 UC-Berkeley Emerald Bowl squad tied for second in tackles with 87, won All-Pacific-10 honorable mention and was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic first team. Mohamed was Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week against UCLA after making nine solo tackles and returning a 19-yard interception for a touchdown. NIC Division II-III All-Fraternity All- American first teamer MASON MOSBY of Rhodes was named Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-South Region second teamer. He led the squad with 118 tackles, broke up 10 passes, forced three fumbles and picked off two passes. TERRENCE HARTIGAN led Gettysburg with 81 stops and CHRIS BALLANTYNE, who ranked fifth with 54 tackles, started every game for Washington & Lee.

End TODD RINALDO won Bucknell’s George Rieu Award as the team’s outstanding defensive lineman. He was in on 38 tackles (including three sacks) and had a 40-yard interception. Tackle ANTHONY PASTORE of Gettysburg was a semi-finalist for the National Football Foundation’s Draddy Scholar-Athlete Award and was Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week against McDaniel after posting seven tackles, two sacks and an interception. Lineman LESTER JONES of Westminster was on the All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference second team after making 45 stops, including team highs of 14.5 for losses and four sacks. He was SLIAC Defensive Player of the Week versus Blackburn after making nine tackles, including five for losses and two sacks.

Leading the backfield is NIC DII-III All-Fraternity All-American first team pick TOM OLIVER of Rhodes, who was also an All-SCAC first team selection. He had 43 tackles, broke up seven passes, deflected nine balls and returned 21 punts for an 11.9 average. Safety ARLIN TAYLOR of Willamette was on the NIC DII-III All-Fraternity All-American first team, the All-NWC first team and ranked third on the team with 63 stops. He also broke up seven passes, forced three fumbles, recovered three and picked off two passes. Teammate RYAN BETTENCOURT also won All-NWC first team honors for Willamette after posting 46 tackles, a team-high 10 breakups and two interceptions. Cornerback JOHN DICKERSON of Gettysburg was in on 44 stops, led with seven pass breakups and made two interceptions, including a 43 yard touchdown return versus Hampden-Sydney.

All-American Specialists

WILLIAM HARVEY of the 12-1 Texas Fiesta Bowl champion squad handled the deep-snapping duties for the second straight year and was named to the Academic All-Big 12 first team. Gettysburg kicker JOSH HUSON was second in scoring with 53 points on five field goals and 38 extra points. He was named to the D3football. com National Team of the Week after booting a 47-yard field goal and five extra points against McDaniel. A four-year regular, he ended his career with 204 points, the second-highest kick scoring total in school and Centennial Conference history. Serving as the extra point and field goal holder for Virginia was SCOTT DEKE, who also saw action at quarterback. The main kickoff man for Gettysburg was MIKE BARRETT, who averaged 56.5 yards on 33 kickoffs.

Head Coaches

PETE CARROLL (Pacific ’73) led his 12-1 Southern California squad to a 38-24 win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl and the Trojans finished second in two final polls. MACK BROWN (Florida State ’74) took his Texas Longhorns to a 12-1 record, including a 24-21 victory over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl and wound up as the nation’s number three team. In March, he received the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award. DENNIS ERICKSON (Montana State ’70) completed his second year at Arizona State and 20th as a major college head coach. His career record is now 163-74-1. CHRIS AULT (Nevada-Reno ’68) led his alma mater to a 7-6 record and a berth in the Humanitarian Bowl.

GREG ROBINSON (Pacific ’73) was released after his fourth season as Syracuse head coach but was hired as defensive coordinator at Michigan in late January. Head coaches at NCAA FCS schools were BOB BIGGS (UC-Davis ’75) in his 16th year at his alma mater and TIM LANDIS (Randolph-Macon ’86) in his sixth season at Bucknell. In his 15th year at Mars Hill, TIM CLIFTON (Mercer ’76) led his club to a 7-4 record. Shepherd’s MONTE CATER (Millikin ’71) led his team to a 5-5 record. KEVIN KEISEL (Gettysburg ’81) led his Guilford team once again in his fourth season at the helm.

The East Coast

Dartmouth defensive tackle MAX COPELLO was in on 16 tackles and recovered a fumble. Defensive end SIM SIMMS was a member of the Pennsylvania squad. The Gettysburg chapter had a number of other SAE standouts. Offensive guard LOU MASTRINI won All-Centennial Conference second team honors. The chapter also claimed tight end A. J. PERROTTI (10 catches for 211 yards); guard ALEX BONDER (10 starts); running back ANTHONY DeSALVA and wide receiver PAT MURRAY on offense. Playing defense for Gettysburg were linebacker TIM WIDDOES (third with 71 tackles), back NICK DUERR (37 tackles), linebacker TAYLOR BYRNE (14 stops) and backs JUSTIN BLASS and BRYAN DiSABATO.

The Southeast

Playing for the 12-2 Alabama Sugar Bowl team were second team quarterback GREG McELROY, offensive guard TYLER LOVE and kicker ANDREW FRIEDMAN, who had five kickoffs for a 58.2 average. Quarterback JONATHAN DeLAUREAL was a member of the 10-3 Georgia Citrus Bowl winners. Seeing action for Virginia was fullback CURT ORSHOSKI. Wide receiver CHRIS HAYES was on the 7-6 Miami Emerald Bowl squad. Running back TRAVIS BOYD (12 games) had a 51 yard TD run versus UT-Chattanooga and wide receiver BLAKE BEELER played five games for 9-3 Wofford’s FCS playoff team. Teammate CHRIS TOMMIE, our All- American punter last year, was out with a knee injury.

The Rhodes defense featured several other standout players. Back CHIP HILLEY had 46 tackles and gained All-SCAC honorable mention, as did end MARK MATTIOLI, who made 32 tackles. Linebacker MICHAEL SULLIVAN was in on 37 stops while back PETE BILLAS had a 51 yard TD interception return and 27 tackles. Other Rhodes players were quarterback MATT UNGASHICK (28 completions for 262 yards) and back AUSTIN MARCUM (14 stops). The Washington & Lee squad included defensive lineman BEAU CRAPARO (seven games) and kicker ANDREW WILBOURNE while linebacker CHARLES THADDEUS was on the University of the South roster.

The Southwest

Defensive back EVAN BETTIS played in four games for Arkansas and quarterback JOHN NIMMO was a member of the 12-2 Oklahoma squad that played in the BCS national championship game. Linebacker HAYDEN BOWERS was a member of the 11-1 TCU squad which won the Poinsettia Bowl.

The Midwest

Eight other SAEs played for Westminster in 2008. Offensive tackle WILL LAMPKIN started nine games and was on the All-SLIAC second team. Lineman DAVID SCHATZ had six starts on offense and running back GREG FINGER was in eight games. Back BROC SILVERS made 41 tackles, broke up six passes and forced two fumbles. Back RON GRELLE had six starts and broke up four passes. Also playing for Westminster were linebacker SAM KRUSE, back STEVE WALDRON and back ETHAN GRIESEMER. Defensive tackle TODD PALMER of the 5-5 Washington- St. Louis team started every game and earned All- University Athletic Association honorable mention. Other players included offensive lineman ALEX CHIVAS of 8-2 DePauw, defensive back NICK SAVOV of Simpson and defensive lineman STEVE AYRE of Adrian.

The West Coast

Seeing action for the 12-1 Southern California Rose Bowl champs were wide receivers SCOTT STEPHENS and SEAN CALCAGNIE. SPENCER VIGOREN was also a member of the Trojans squad. Linebacker MATT RUSSI played in 12 games for the UC-Berkeley Emerald Bowl team. Offensive tackle MIKE TEPPER, a 2007 starter, missed the season with an injury. Other teammates were tight end GARY GRAFFORT and kicker NICK DEMOPOULUS. Running back ANTHONY SMITH and punter CODY BOUSEMA were members of the Wyoming squad. Wide receiver TRAVIS FOSTER was on the La Verne squad.

The Willamette squad featured 14 additional SAE players, besides the five men named to our All- American team. All-NWC honorable mention guard ROBERT GARCIA, running back MARCUS WOO (183 rushing yards, three TDs), tight end WILL POHL and running back SEAN DONAHUE were key offensive contributors. Seeing action on defense were linebacker WALTER ROBINSON (29 tackles), linebacker TREVOR LEAF, back ARTIE ARTENCIO, end MAXX KAPLAN, tackle RICKY NAJARRO, tackle CHRIS REIL and lineman ANDY ZWENG.

SAEs in the NFL

Six SAEs were on the active list during the 2008 season. Kicker MATT PRATER (Central Florida ’06) had a big season for the Denver Broncos, scoring 114 points on 25 field goals (long of 56) and 39 extra points. He kicked off 83 times for a 65.1 average. Linebacker ADAM SEWARD (Nevada-Las Vegas ’05) only played four games for the Carolina Panthers due to an injury and is now with the Indianapolis Colts. Rookie tight end CRAIG STEVENS (UC-Berkeley ’08) played in all 16 games for the Tennessee Titans and center KYLE COOK (Michigan State ’07) got into five contests with the Cincinnati Bengals. Detroit Lions quarterback DREW STANTON (Michigan State ’07) played in three games. Offensive guard BRIAN DE LA PUENTE (UC-Berkeley ’08) was on the Kansas City Chiefs active roster but never appeared in a regular-season contest.