cornerstone football program

CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY

FOOTBALL - 2015

Giving Golden Eagles their Wiings

Table of ContentsCU Football History.........................................................4

Coach Brady Hoke...........................................................6

Q&A with Coach Hoke...................................................7

CU Coaching Staff............................................................8

Roster...............................................................................10

Grand Rapids..................................................................12

Schedule...........................................................................14

Stadium............................................................................15

Other CU Sports.............................................................17

NAIA...............................................................................19

Champions of Character...............................................20

Cornerstone University Football 2014 3

By Lucas Peter

Cornerstone University has a rich sports history of success with national championships in multiple varsity sports. The new football team at CU is planning to continue this legacy. Being the first year as a varsity sports

program, the CU football team is excited to join its fellow students-athletes on the path of success. However, the process of instituting a football program was not always an easy one. The process began in 2009 with the efforts of alumni and supporters. The initial response to the proposal was conflicting due to lack of funding and conservative religious perspectives. With continued efforts, the supporters pushed the creation of the football team by basing their reasoning on the ideals that football would be very beneficial to Cornerstone. These ideals included the notion that football would draw a new type of student to Cornerstone and, with that, open the doors of influence to different communities and families. Along with that, it is believed that instituting a football team would bring the school closer together. Being the most popular sport in the United States, it was concluded that a football team would be very beneficial to the school to bring students, alumni, and CU sports fans together in a whole new way.

After gaining approval from the Board and Athletic Department, adequate funding was necessary. Four million dollars was the goal. The Advancement Department at CU stepped in and offered dynamic support. Bob Sack, the VP of Advancement said, “We knew that we needed around four million dollars to get this thing started. Now, we need to find a way to make that happen.” Their efforts in raising the funds were completed in January 2012. The next step was to find a location for the field. This decision was among the easier of decisions. By creat-ing the state-of-the-art Stowell Field, the Athletic Department was able to benefit not only the football team, but also the soccer and track teams. (Refer to page 15 for more information and details about Stowell Field).

Finding a head coach was not as difficult as some would think. Due to the recent releases at the University of Michigan, Cornerstone University was able to pick up Brady Hoke and his staff immediately. Hoke is joined by Offensive Coordinator Al Borgess and Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison as the first coaching staff for the new Cornerstone University Football Team. “We are excited to continue Cornerstone’s Athletic success onto the football team,” said head coach Brady Hoke.

Cornerstone UniversityFootball History


GOLDEN EAGLES FLY DELTA

Meet Coach Brady Hoke

By Ricky Cobalt

Brady Hoke is not an unfamiliar name in the state of Michigan. Formerly the head coach at the University of Michigan, Hoke grew up in Dayton, Ohio and attended Ball State University where he played linebacker from 1977 to 1980. He began his coaching career in 1982 and held assistant coaching positions at Grand Valley State in 1983, Western Michi-gan from 1984-1986, Toledo (1987-1989), Oregon State (1989-1994) and Michigan (1995-2002).

He left the assistant coaching ranks in 2002 to become the head coach at Ball State. In 2008, he led Ball State to a 12-1 record. Following that season, he was hired as the

head coach at San Diego State and led the Aztecs to their first nine win season and a victory over Navy in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl.

He returned to Michigan in 2011 as Michi-gan’s 19th coach in program history. In his inaugural season, he led the Wolverines to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. After being released by Michi-gan in 2014 following an 5-7 season, he ac-cepted the position as head football coach at Cornerstone University.


Q&A with Coach HokeInterviewed by Dave Grube - Athletic Director at CU

Grube: What made you choose Cornerstone?

Hoke: After coaching at Michigan, I wanted to pursue a new type of coaching opportunity by starting a program and building it from the ground up. Along with that, I am fascinated by Christian dynamic interceding with the very aggressive game of football.

Grube: How will you recruit differently at this level?

Hoke: Recruiting will obviously be a major adjust-ment, but I am excited to take on this new endeavor. At the NAIA D-II level, this availability with scholarship is much less than NCAA D-I. There will definitely be challenges with this position, but I am excited to take on this challenges. I go from recruiting the best talent in the country, to the best talent in the area. I’m excited to discover what the local talent is like here.

Grube: How did you convince Greg Mattison and Doug Nussmeier to join you at Cornerstone?

Hoke: After leaving Michigan, each of us had decisions to make. We loved what we had and did not want change anything. We desire to win a championship, no matter what level, and we believe that we can achieve that here at Cornerstone.

Grube: What’s your favorite part of Grand Rapids so far?

Hoke: I’ll be honest with you, I really like the local bar scene. Right when I got here, I was told that Grand Rapids was voted Beer City, USA and I knew that I had to experience it right away. A specific restaurant that I like is J. Gardellas downtown on Ionia St. I don’t know if you know this, but on Tuesdays they have a burger and a beer deal for five dollars. You should check that out!

Grube: What’s your first move as the first head coach of the Cornerstone University football team?

Hoke: I am going to jump right on the recruiting trail. Hopefully, I can bring a little bit of hype to the re-cruits here. More importantly, we have to get some excitement rumbling on campus. We want not only the stu-dent body, but also the community to become engaged and excited about what we are building here.


Meet the Coaching Staff


Doug NussmeierOffensive Coordinator

Greg MattisonDefensive Coordinator

Dan FerrignoSpecial Teams Coordinator

Darrell FunkOffensive Line Coach

Mark SmithDefensive Line Coach

Roy Manning Cornerback Coach

Curt MallorySafeties Coach

Fred JacksonRunning Backs Coach

Jeff HecklinskiWide Receivers Coach

Football

Offensive Roster

Dequindre Adams

WR - #20 - Jr.

Jeremiah Briscoe

QB - #16 - So.

KelepiFalou

OL - #75 - Jr.

Bryant Novick

OL - #74 - Fr.

CameronBlankenshipOL - #71 - Jr.

Khaled Berklin

WR - #23 - Fr.

KennardBackman

TE - #86 - Sr.

Ja’Won Arrington

RB - #28 - Jr.

Daniel Anousheh

OL - #51 - Jr.

Roscoe Byrd

OL - #56 - Jr.

GeraldEverett

TE - #15 - Jr.

LeeDefour

OL - #72 - Fr.

UneikCrumbley

OL - #98 - Jr.

Cody Clements

QB - #5 -Jr.

JordanHoward

RB - #7 - So.

Myles McGee

QB - #10 - Sr.

Hayden Naumenn

OL - #70 - Jr.

ChrisHudson

OL - #67 - Fr.

MaudrecusHumphrey

WR - #3 - Sr.

JamariStaples

WR - #2 - So.

Marcus Reaves

RB - #29 - So.

ZachSims

OL - #53 - Fr.

NolanSmith

TE - #12 - Sr.

D.J.Vinson

RB - #6 - Sr.



Defensive Roster

ErvinAlston

LB - #16 - So.

Demarco Davis

CB - #14 - Fr.

KalenJackson

LB - #5 - Jr.

Alonso McGee

LB - #38 - So.

JalenColemon

LB - #22 - Fr.

DesmondCarter

S - #22 - Jr.

Devon Brown

CB - #19 - So.

JamesBanks

LB - #36 - So.

BobbyBaker

S - #1 - Jr.

JayDavis

S - #8 -Sr.

PerrishHuddleston DL - #93 - Jr.

HarrisGaston

LB - #25 - Sr.

Jake Ganus

LB - #4 - Jr.

BrandonFuller

LB - #31 -Fr.

Jimmy Jean

CB - #7 - Sr.

Greg Maclin

S - #24 - So.

TajhLove

S - #24 - Fr.

ShaqJones

LB - #42 - Sr.

Calvin Jones

S - #11 - Sr.

Cam Willis

DL - #95 - So.

Marcus Reaves

RB - #29 - So.

John RobinsonLB - #40 - Fr.

Nate Weston

S - #1o - Jr.

DaronWright

DE - #50 - Jr.

Grand RapidsGrand Rapids is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan. It is located on the Grand River about 25 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 1,005,648, and the combined statistical area of Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland had a population of 1,321,557. Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County, Michigan. A historic furniture-manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is still home to five of the world’s leading office furniture companies, and is nick-named Furniture City. Its more common modern nickname of River City refers to the landmark river for which it was named. The city and surround-ing communities are economically diverse, and have economies based in the health care, information technology, automotive, aviation, and consumer

goods manufacturing industries, among others.


Bring your football ticket stubs and receive a free burrito after each win!

2015 Football ScheduleSat., September 5 vs. Albion College

Sat., September 12 at Concordia University

Sat., September 19 vs. Olivet Nazarene University

Sat.,September 26 at. Adrian College

Sat., October 3 - BYE

Sat., October 10 - at Marian University

Sat., October 17 - vs. Olivet College

Sat., October 24 - at Robert Morris University

Sat., October 31 - vs. Siena Heights University

Sat., November 7 - BYE

Sat., November 14 - vs. Taylor University

Sat., November 21 - at Trinity International University

Sat., November 28 - vs. University of Saint Francis


Stowell Field

Stowell Field is named after the current Cornerstone President, Dr. Joseph Stowell. This stadium not only serves the football team, but also the men’s and women’s soccer teams as well as the men’s and women’s track and field team. The regulation field is surfaced with field turf and lined for each sport. This new stadium comfortably seats 2,000.


pepsi and golden eagle football. the perfect mix.

Cornerstone Athletics

The nerves and sweat of competition, digging deep for strength, rising above, and achieving what once seemed impossible. The same energy that motivates Golden Eagles on the field and court invigorates Golden Eagles in the stands. Here, “team” is not just the players, it’s the entire Corner-

stone community. That’s CU Athletics.

Mens Baseball

BasketballCross Country

FootballGolf

Soccer Tennis

Track & Field

Womens Basketball

Cross CountryGolf

Soccer SoftballTennis

Track & FieldVolleyball


Check out cugoldeneagles.com for more news, scores, schedules and more!

Varsity Sports

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercolle-giate athletics.

Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall college educational experience.

The student-athlete is the center of all NAIA experienc-es. Each year more than 60,000 student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports at NAIA member insti-tutions.

The seed of the NAIA began in 76 years ago with the tipoff of a men’s basket-ball tournament in Kansas City that has become the longest running event in college basketball. Out of the tournament grew the NAIA, an association that has been an innovative leader. The NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black institutions into membership and the first to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championships.

In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character building aspects of sport. Through Champions of Character, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every stu-dent-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values.

In 2010, the association opened the doors to the NAIA Eligibility Center, where prospective stu-dent-athletes are evaluated for academic and athletic eligibility. It delivers on the NAIA’s promise of integrity by leveling the playing field, guiding student-athlete success, and ensuring fair com-petition.

Jim CarrPresident & CEO



The vision of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character program is to change the culture of sport. Its mission is to provide training to instill the values that build character so students, coaches and parents know, do and value the right thing on and off the field.

Research shows that the longer a student spends in sports, their social reasoning - sacrificing for the good of the team - rises, while their moral reasoning skills - doing what is fair, just, honest, and noble - decline.

The Champions of Character program helps participants find the balance by keeping five core values - integrity, re-spect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership - at the heart of the athletics experience.

Students learn to understand how the values play out in both practice and competition. Coaches are taught how to intentionally define, model, shape and reinforce the values through their

coaching and mentoring. Parents learn how their behavior is key to supporting their athletes.

For more than a decade, Champions of Character has been making a difference in developing athletes, coaches and parents of character.

The NAIA is committed to advancing character-driven athletics. Are you?

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