X Days until 2017 Leatherneck Football

[ST_Lawson]

No current #69 on the roster, although if you look on the front page, you'll see a nice photo of Mr. Rich Seubert wearing #69 for the NY Giants.

Here's who has worn #69 for the Leathernecks in the past:
Bob Johns..............................1949-51
Norm Henderson....................1956-57
Larry Garron...........................1957-59
Richard Hudley............................ 1969
Luis Torres..............................1975-77
Bob Schachner............................ 1978
Marty Lomelino............................ 1983
John Sullivan..........................1984-86
Ron Nesbitt.............................1987-88
Gabe Magalei.............................. 1994
Ryan Culver................................. 1995
Doran Yilla..............................2001-02
Brett Valle...............................2005-08
Jeff Lindsey............................ 2011-13

Lawrence "Larry" Garron was another member of the 1959 HOF football team. He was also inducted individually in 1974 for his specific performance as a RB in his time at Western. According to the record books (and I know that there are some gaps in them prior to ~1980), he is listed as the only WIU running back to have a 200+ yard game before 1996 (he did it in '58). Garron would go on to play 8 years in the AFL (this was prior to the AFL-NFL merger in 1970) for the Boston (now New England) Patriots, playing in 99 games, racking up 2981 yards and 14 TDs rushing, and 2502 yards and 26 TDs receiving. In the process, he set the team record (which, as near as I can tell, still stands) for longest run from scrimmage with an 85-yard run against the Bills in October of 1961. He was an AFL All-Star in '61, '63, '64, and '67. As a black man playing college football in the midwest in the late '50s, he had some pretty scary incidents involving racist fans, a few of which are discussed in this article: http://archive.boston.com/sports/footba ... ?page=full. In a 2015 book entitled "The 50 Greatest Players in New England Patriots Football History", Garron is listed at #49: https://books.google.com/books?id=_f6IC ... &q&f=false.

Marty Lomelino was a first-team All-Conference LB in 1987, receiving the conference player of the week award twice in that season. In '85, he was named to the All-Italian American Team and was a AP Honorable Mention in '87. Lomelino is 7th on the list of longest interception returns by a Leatherneck with a 77-yard pick against Southern Illinois in '86, tied for #4 for most tackles in a game with 24 against Eastern Illinois in '87, and was the team's tackle leader in '87 with 142 total tackles.

Ron Nesbitt was a first team AP All-American, Walter Camp, FB Gazette and All-Conference O-Lineman, as well as Sports Network second team in 1988 as an O-Lineman.

Ryan Culver was a DL who was all-conference honorable mention in 1995, and first team all-conference as well as FB Gazette Honorable Mention in 1996. Culver is currently in the Leatherneck record books at #8 for career tackles for loss with 39 and tied for #5 for career sacks with 17.

On a personal note, I'm very glad that I'm doing this "project" of going through all the players at each number and putting down what they were known for and accomplished. I've been around long enough to have seen some of the best RBs in Leatherneck history (Aaron Stecker, Herb Donaldson, Travis Glasford, Charles Tharp, Brian Knuckles, etc.), but I had never heard about Larry Garron until today....one of the greatest in Leatherneck history, and quite likely the most successful WIU alumni in professional football on the offensive side of the ball...and yet, I didn't know anything about him. Well...now I do, and I urge everyone to go read those links I posted about him too.

[ST_Lawson]

Missed #68, so I'm going ahead and posting it now (should have been yesterday, btw).

#68 is Senior (transfer) Offensive Lineman Lucas Holder

Lucas comes to the Leathernecks by way of Liberty University where he was second-team all-conference and Big South Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2016. He earned his Bachelors degree in Government in only 3 years (with a 3.69 GPA) and earned a Masters degree in Public Policy/Public Administration with a 3.92 GPA. At Western, Lucas is working on his Master's in Business Administration. Due to the grad transfer rule, Holder was able to transfer schools and will finish his final year of eligibility without having to sit out a year.

Other players who have worn #68 in the past include:
Percy Franklin........................1947-50
Ralph Ganzer.........................1948-49
Ted Mullen..............................1952-53
Ray Findlay............................1957-58
Booker Edgerson....................1958-61
Scott Walker...........................1971-73
Mark Skuteris.........................1976-78
Jeff Stauffer............................1979-83
Scott Lewis.............................1985-88
Shane Brinton.........................1989-93
Gabe Dunkman......................1997-01
Chris Newby...........................2002-03
Danny Adongo........................2006-08
Sean Sullivan.........................2012-14

Ralph Ganzer was inducted into the Leatherneck HOF in 1987 for multiple sports (Football, Boxing, Wrestling, Men's Golf). Ralph once earned letters in four sports in one year (football, wrestling, golf and boxing). He was an outstanding fullback who played on the 1949 Corn Bowl championship team.

Ted Mullen was inducted into the Leatherneck Hall of Fame in 1993. Ted was the Leatherneck football team captain and Most Valuable Player on the 1953 team which won the IIAC and Corn Bowl titles. The three-year letterwinner also was a member of the WIU wrestling team. From 1960-1962, he was also a coach under HC Art Dufelmeier.

Booker Edgerson was inducted into the Leatherneck Hall of Fame in 1996 for multiple sports as well as being a part of the undefeated 1959 team that was inducted into the HOF in 1989. Edgerson was a four-year letterwinner in baseball, football, track and field, and wrestling between 1958-62. He would go on to play for 9 seasons in the AFL/NFL and appearing in 106 games (100 of which for the Buffalo Bills). He had 23 interceptions in his professional career, 2 returned for TDs. He was named to the AFL Pro-Bowl team in 1965 and was inducted into the 2010 Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame. After finishing his professional career with 6 games for Denver, he retired to Buffalo where he was involved in numerous charitable endeavors and was a 1993 recipient of the Ralph C. Wilson Award (for charitable contributions).

Shane Brinton was a Second-Team All-Conference D-Lineman in 1993.

Gabe Dunkman was a 2001 FB Gazette Honorable Mention and Second-Team All-Conference O-Lineman.

Sean Sullivan was conference O-Lineman of the Week in September of 2013.

[ST_Lawson]

Today is #67...Jacob Barnes. Jacob is a Sophomore Offensive Lineman from Sterling, IL
He was redshirted his freshman year and did not see any game action last season.



Other Leathernecks who have worn #67 include:
Cecil Stinson..........................1946-48
Al Stevens..............................1947-50
Willie Spates...........................1957-58
Dave Hilderbrand...................1974-76
Mike Bornholdt............................ 1978
Wally Pasternack....................1979-81
Randy Butler...........................1982-83
Don Faaiuaso.........................1984-85
Tony Gray.................................... 1986
Jimmy Lewis................................ 1987
Shawn Mattraw.......................1988-89
Mitch Martin............................1990-94
Tony Zitzka.................................. 1996
James Rennick.......................2000-02
Ryan Spears...........................2003-04
Chase Wetenkamp.................2005-06
Andres Espinoza......................... 2007
Anthony Markey.......................... 2008
Matt Hulbert............................2009-10
Brandon De La Cruz...............2012-14

James Rennick was conference O-Lineman of the Week in September of 2002. He was an All-Conference Honorable Mention that same year.

[ST_Lawson]

Man, I just keep falling behind on these (maybe I shouldn't commit myself to doing something every day all summer when there's other stuff going on )

Anyway, so here's #66
Jacob Judd is a Senior Offensive Lineman

Jacob is a LEJA major from Clinton, Iowa and has started every game for the last two years at Center.
He's been Second Team All-MVFC the last two seasons, as well as CoSIDA Academic All-District both years, Academic All-MVFC both years (second team in 2015, first team in 2016), and a Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2016.

Other players who have worn #66 in the past include:
Ray Wallis...............................1952-55
Leroy Jackson........................1958-61
Urban Baum...........................1959-61
Charles Curdis........................1964-65
Marty Barkman............................ 1966
John Barrett............................1966-68
Ed Hornbeck................................ 1969
Mike Drymille..........................1970-73
Don Ziegler.............................1975-77
Jay Heubner...........................1978-81
David Bass.............................1982-84
Tom Wilp.................................1986-87
Scott Venable.........................1988-90
Jim O’Brien.............................1991-92
Jason Bell.................................... 1993
Josh McCall................................. 1995
Ryan Culver................................. 1996
Keith Roettgen........................1997-01
Dan Zeller...............................2005-08
Kyle Caldwell.......................... 2010-11

Leroy Jackson was inducted into the Leatherneck HOF in 1982 for contributions in both football and track as well as being inducted as part of the undefeated 1959 football team and was likely one of the fastest players every to wear a Leatherneck uniform. He is still listed in the WIU record books for most listings of TDs and points in a game/season/career. TDs in a game - 5, tied for 3rd; Points in a game - 30, tied for 3rd; TDs in a season - 16, 7th; Points in a season - 100; 8th, Career TDs - 30, 5th; Career Points - 186, 10th. In 1962, Jackson became the only (to this day) Leatherneck drafted in the first round (11th pick) of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He would end up playing 2 years for the Redskins, playing in 15 games, and racking up 142 yards rushing, 253 yards and 1 TD receiving. Most notably, Jackson along with Bobby Mitchell and John Nisby where the first three black players on the Redskins with all three playing in a game in September 1962 in Dallas. For more information about Leroy's story you can read this article on Yahoo Sports: https://sports.yahoo.com/news/football- ... 38052.html

Urban Baum was also inducted into the Leatherneck HOF as part of the 1959 football team.

Don Ziegler is in the record books for 7th most assisted tackles in a season (tied with James Milton) with 82 and is 4th on the list of career assisted tackles with 176 behind only Kyle Glazier, Ed Hartwell, and Joe Byrne.

Josh McCall was discussed in the listing for #70: http://www.leathernecknation.net/forum/ ... 015#p16015

Ryan Culver was discussed in the listing for #69: http://www.leathernecknation.net/forum/ ... 017#p16017

Keith Roettgen received a conference O-Lineman of the week in September 23, 2000.

[ST_Lawson]

No current #65 on the roster, but here's who has worn #65 in the past:
Dave Dunn.............................1949-52
Doug Kay..................................... 1959
Jerry McKetchan......................... 1969
Steve Silosky..........................1971-73
Bill Huskisson.........................1975-78
Tim Barbian............................1979-81
Bob Schwartz.........................1982-83
Brad Wagner..........................1989-90
Josh Moulden.............................. 1993
Ryan Solie..............................2000-03
Mike Lamphear.......................2007-10
T.J. Palme...............................2012-13
Andrew Nichols........................... 2015

Dave Dunn was inducted into the Leatherneck HOF in 1985. From his bio...Nicknamed "Dynamite" by teammates, Dave was an All-IIAC performer as an offensive and defensive lineman from 1949 to 1953. He captained the 1952 football Leathernecks under Coach Vince DiFrancesca, whose team went 7-2.

Doug Kay was inducted as part of the 1959 undefeated football team.

Steve Silosky was an AP Honorable Mention in 1972 and is currently 8th on the list for most career solo tackles with 168.

Bill Huskisson was inducted into the Leatherneck Hall of Fame in 2003. From his bio: Bill was a four-year letterwinner from 1975-79 for the Leatherneck football team, earning all-conference and all-America honors as a defensive tackle. In 1981 he earned the defensive MVP award for the Chicago Fire Football Team as an all-pro nose tackle, and he was later invited to a pair of free agent tryouts with the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Blitz.

Tim Barbian was a First-Team All-Conference and AP Honorable Mention D-Lineman in 1981. He was drafted in the 1982 NFL draft in the 10th Round by San Francisco.

Bob Schwartz was a Second-Team All-Conference O-Lineman in 1983.

Brad Wagner was a Second-Team All-Conference O-Lineman in 1990.

Mike Lamphear was a First-Team All-Conference O-Lineman in 2010 and received the conference O-Lineman of the Week award twice (once each in 2009 and 2010).

[ST_Lawson]

And today is #64....who, on the current roster, is Junior Offensive Lineman Thomas Kirsch

Thomas has played in 17 games over the last two seasons and is an Engineering major.

Other Leathernecks who have worn #64 include:
Bill Wilikin...............................1958-59
Edward Burns.........................1961-64
Dean Lubbs................................. 1966
Gary Simon................................. 1969
Paul Cesaretti.........................1973-74
Dave Shaver...........................1975-78
Curt Westen............................1979-82
Steve Garner..........................1984-85
Richard Huddleston....................1990-94
Chip McPheeters....................1996-97
Brett Tobin............................. 2004, 06
Nick Daly................................2007-09

Gary Simon was a NAIA First-Team All-American in 1969 and was inducted into the Leatherneck Hall of Fame in 1997. A baseball and football letterman who garnered All-Conference and NAIA All-American honors. Simon spent 13 years at Wauconda High School as the department head, head baseball coach and assistant football coach. Simon's baseball teams won five conference championships, one regional title, one sectional and was a state Elite 8 qualifier.

Curt Westen was inducted into the Leatherneck Hall of Fame in 2010. He was a member of the Leatherneck Football program from 1978-82, earning a letter his final three years. As an offensive lineman (center), Westen received Honorable Mention All-America honors from Associated Press in 1981 and 1982. During his final two years he earned All-Conference honors and received recognition for his work in the classroom. Westen was chosen Academic All-Conference and Academic All-American in 1981-82, earning a 4.0 GPA during the fall semester both years. During the 1981 season he was named 'Offensive Player of the Week' six times by the coaching staff, and at the time was the only Leatherneck to receive All-Conference, All-American and Academic All-America honors in the same season. Curt's father Brodie was inducted into the HOF in 1992 for his coaching contributions and two brothers also played football for Western.

Richard Huddleston was a First-Team All-Conference O-Lineman in 1993 and 1994 and honorable mention in 1992. He was a Sports Network Honorable Mention player in 1993, 1994, and 1995, a FB Gazette Honorable Mention in 1994 and was the conference O-Lineman of the Week three times between 1993 and 1994.

Chip McPheeters was a First-Team All-Conference O-Lineman in 1996 and 1997. He was a FB Gazette Third Team player in 1996 and in 1997 was ESPN First Team, FB Gazette Second Team, and Sports Network Third Team. He received the conference O-Lineman of the Week award twice (once each in '96 and '97).

[sealhall74]

Welcome to the 2nd weekly edition of Throwback Thursday Trivia. I clipped this picture from an advertising page of the game program for the 1963 WIU homecoming game against Drake (WIU won 14-12). Who out in LeatherneckNation land can ID the make and model of this car? Hint: The model is the non-plural derivation of the 2nd most popular high school team nickname in the state of Illinois.

[rocki]

Buick Wildcat?

[leatherneckcountry]

gave us an easy one this week and yes a buick wildcat.

[sealhall74]

Buick Wildcat?

You are a scholar, Rocki.

BTW, my source for most popular HS nicknames may be inaccurate with today given all of the school closing and consolidations going on.

http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id1002.html