Letter to the Editor: Nicolet leads in many ways
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
This Saturday, our Chargers competed a remarkable season, finishing with eight wins against only three losses. The seniors on this team have seen their hard work turn a four and seven team from three seasons ago into a conference contender. In a preseason poll, coaches of our conference picked Hillsdale to finish ninth. Our Charger finished third, ahead of perennial powerhouses Saginaw Valley, Michigan Tech, and Northwood. They also defeated playoff-bound Ashland and nine and two Tiffin. It was a great season.
This team was great, and fundamentally different from Hillsdale teams of the past few years. Much of this has to do with the veteran leadership of senior quarterback Mark Nicolet. Mark is the best kind of man, and his character is an inspiration to teammates and fans and to those with no athletic background. Mark admires Jon Kitna, quarterback for the hard-luck Detroit Lions and outspoken man of faith. The Lions are enjoying a season not unlike the Chargers, and much of it has to do with Kitna, who frequently says, "God uses football to make me better." This is true of Mark. His greatest legacy is not his prodigious on-field production or gaudy statistics, even though he is the most prolific passer in Charger history. Make no mistake, those of you who watched him play witnessed history. For all the pinpoint passes to Gurica, precision bombs to Waldie, and that ridiculous touchdown run against Tiffin, perhaps his greatest moment came at the conclusion of our heartbreaking loss to hated rival Saginaw. The Cardinal players, down to a man, waited for our Chargers to finish their team meeting so they could pray together on our field. Mark leads by example, and it is a credit to him and the team that their conduct during the game warranted such respect.
Mark is great football player. He is a better man than football player. He is humble, unlike so many successful athletes making headlines, and he would probably us rather not write this letter. But he teaches us, and we teach him, and in an age that so often idolizes self-serving "ballers," it would be a discredit to Mark to only mention his success on the gridiron. It has been our pleasure to learn alongside him. If the opportunity comes, take the time to meet him. You won't regret it.
Fortunately for our Chargers, junior linebacker Tom Korte returns next year. Like Mark, he is a superb football player. He is also a good man. He is a man Coach Otterbein can trust to lead this team on and off the field. He will embrace the challenge of continuing what he and Mark have worked hard to start, but he will have work to do. This year has indicated leadership off the field is of paramount importance.
Stephen Hann and Jeremiah Regan
Posted on:
Sun., Nov. 18, 2007
5:00 p.m.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
This team was great, and fundamentally different from Hillsdale teams of the past few years. Much of this has to do with the veteran leadership of senior quarterback Mark Nicolet. Mark is the best kind of man, and his character is an inspiration to teammates and fans and to those with no athletic background. Mark admires Jon Kitna, quarterback for the hard-luck Detroit Lions and outspoken man of faith. The Lions are enjoying a season not unlike the Chargers, and much of it has to do with Kitna, who frequently says, "God uses football to make me better." This is true of Mark. His greatest legacy is not his prodigious on-field production or gaudy statistics, even though he is the most prolific passer in Charger history. Make no mistake, those of you who watched him play witnessed history. For all the pinpoint passes to Gurica, precision bombs to Waldie, and that ridiculous touchdown run against Tiffin, perhaps his greatest moment came at the conclusion of our heartbreaking loss to hated rival Saginaw. The Cardinal players, down to a man, waited for our Chargers to finish their team meeting so they could pray together on our field. Mark leads by example, and it is a credit to him and the team that their conduct during the game warranted such respect.
Mark is great football player. He is a better man than football player. He is humble, unlike so many successful athletes making headlines, and he would probably us rather not write this letter. But he teaches us, and we teach him, and in an age that so often idolizes self-serving "ballers," it would be a discredit to Mark to only mention his success on the gridiron. It has been our pleasure to learn alongside him. If the opportunity comes, take the time to meet him. You won't regret it.
Fortunately for our Chargers, junior linebacker Tom Korte returns next year. Like Mark, he is a superb football player. He is also a good man. He is a man Coach Otterbein can trust to lead this team on and off the field. He will embrace the challenge of continuing what he and Mark have worked hard to start, but he will have work to do. This year has indicated leadership off the field is of paramount importance.
Stephen Hann and Jeremiah Regan
Posted on:
Sun., Nov. 18, 2007
5:00 p.m.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
Be the first to comment on this story