Welcome Back!

After nearly a three month hiatus, I am glad to say that the Cardinal football blog is back and running. Throughout the time off the Cardinal football team has been hard at work in both the weight room and class room, looking to do all that they can to improve for the 2010 football season. With recruiting in full swing, the prospects for the 2014 class of North Central College are shaping out to be a great group of players. Early next week their will be an up to date report of the recruiting season. Some great things have happened already this off season;

-Senior quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe, senior defensive tackle Tim Janecek, Coach Brad Spencer and Coach Rick Ponx all participated in the 2009 Tazon de Estrellas Bowl in Mexico this past December. Fanthorpe also participated in the North-South Division III All-Star game in Salem, Virginia.

-In the classroom 63 Cardinal football players posted 3.0 GPA or higher. This was the highest in the history of the program.

-Cardinal football players have seen tremendous gains in the weight room, due in large part to newly appointed Strength and Conditioning coach Tony Pape. Pape was a four year starter on the offensive line at the University of Michigan. He was drafted in the 7th round in 2004 by the Miami Dolphins and also spent some time with the San Diego Chargers and the Berlin Thunder and Amsterdam Admirals of the NFL Europe league.

-Assistant Head Coach Rick Ponx was promoted to Defensive Coordinator at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Ponx spent three years at his previous school (Ohio Northern University) in the same position.

-North Central College opened its beautiful new Res/Rec Fieldhouse in January. The field house provides the Cardinal Football team with an indoor practice facility.

These, among other things, kick off a great start to the 2010 off season. Next week the 2010 Cardinal Football Spring Practice schedule will be posted. All in all, things are going well in the world of Cardinal football!