X Days until 2017 Leatherneck Football

[ST_Lawson]

And on Tuesday, we celebrated the 241st anniversary of the birth of our country, as well as 58 days until the start of Leatherneck Football in 2017.

#58 is Junior Linebacker Riggs Baxter


Riggs is an Engineering Technology major from Thorntown, IN
He played in 12 games as a true freshman in 2015, starting in four games, racking up 39 total tackles, 3 for loss (1 sack), and a forced fumble.
In 2016 as a sophomore, he was voted the Special Teams captain and was a Honorable Mention Academic All-Conference. He started in all 11 games, picking up 51 total tackles (including a career-best 13 tackles against NDSU), 3.5 for a loss, and 6 defended passes.

Other Leathernecks who have worn #58 include:
John Sullivan..........................1948-50
Duane Sandler.......................1950-53
Dennis Callinan........................... 1969
Ed Hornbeck...........................1970-71
Rick Roscetti..........................1982-84
Dan Trizna..............................1986-89
Bob Siebenaler.......................1990-91
Tracy Taylor............................1992-95
Nate Williams............................... 1996
Jose Medina................................ 1997
Brandon Brown............................ 2001
Phillip Parr..............................2005-07
Gary Sumlin............................2009-10
Mitchell Wallin.............................. 2014

Rick Roscetti was named to the All-Italian American Team in 1983.

[ST_Lawson]

You know what, that last one was really short in terms of guys showing up in the record books, so I'll go ahead with today's...#57

There is currently no #57 on our roster, but here's who's worn #57 in the past:
Del DuFrain............................1946-48
Bob Sands................................... 1969
Tom Henderson......................1970-72
David Potter............................1974-76
Brian Spotts............................1978-79
Wally Pasternak........................... 1982
J.J. Schmidt............................1987-89
Ken McMillan..........................1991-93
Shawn Barnes............................. 1995
Jeff Blanch................................... 1997
Johnny Lormile.......................2002-04
Chris Williams.........................2005-06
Enock Presendieu.................. 2008-11
Toby Williams............................... 2013
Gabe Burkhardt........................... 2014

Brian Spotts is a name that many of you likely recognize, as he has been active on this message board in the past. He was a DB/LB in his time on the field, but more recently has been heavily involved in getting some of the events and communication organized amongst the football alumni. He was the defensive-side coach in this year's spring game, and you can read an interview with him here: http://goleathernecks.com/news/2016/4/2 ... potts.aspx

Ken McMillan was an excellent Linebacker, leading the team in tackles in '91 and '92. His career numbers rank him at #5 in total tackles (379), #4 in solo tackles (222), tied (with Bryan Cox) at #8 in assisted tackles (157), and tied (with Jason Williams) at #4 in tackles for loss (49). In 1991, Ken was All-Conference Second Team, FB Gazette Third Team, and Sports Network First Team. In 1992, he was All-Conference First Team, FB Gazette Third Team, and Sports Network Honorable Mention. And in 1993, he was All-Conference Second Team, FB Gazette Third Team, and Sports Network Third Team.

Johnny Lormile shows up in the record books as having the 8th longest fumble return in Leatherneck History with a 28-yard scoop against Youngstown State in 2004.

[sealhall74]

It's Triple T (Throwback Thursday Trivia) time once again. This one is a bit tricky, not sure there is a definitive right or wrong answer here.

You get to play Woodward and/or Bernstein for the day. Your job is to uncover the truth and correct the following statement:

On the Western Illinois State College campus in the year 1956, the building currently known as Sherman Hall was then known as "Old Main".

[ST_Lawson]

#56 is Senior Defensive Lineman Nathan Oquendo


Nathan transferred to Western last summer with two years of eligibility remaining. He played in two games last season.

Other players who have worn #56 in the past include:
Jack McCarthy........................1952-55
Ken Bourquin..........................1954-57
Bill Larson...............................1958-59
Jim Lodico..............................1959-61
Greg Tody.................................... 1969
Tom Sauter.............................1970-71
Marc Ristow............................1974-76
Alex Tsakiris................................. 1978
Mark Scott..............................1980-81
Reggie Silas...........................1982-83
Pressley White.......................1987-88
John Earle..............................1989-91
Brian Tierney..........................1992-93
Prentice Dixon........................1995-97
Kurt Rosenthal............................. 2000
Cory Berg.................................... 2001
Logan Wyllie...........................2003-04
Darron Boone.........................2005-06
Clinton Barley.........................2007-08

Bill Larson was inducted into the Leatherneck HOF as part of the 1959 undefeated team and played one season for the New England Patriots (although for some reason, the NFL site has him listed as going to Illinois Wesleyan:
http://www.nfl.com/player/billlarson/25 ... areerstats)

Alex Tsakiris was an All-Conference O-Lineman in 1980.

Mark Scott was an All-Conference Second Team D-Lineman in 1981.

Reggie Silas was an AP Third Team and All-Conference Second Team O-Lineman in 1983.

John Earle was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 11th round of the 1992 draft. He spent time on practice squads at Cincinnati, Kansas City, New England, and Atlanta before playing a season for the Baltimore Stallions of the US Expansion of the CFL, then spent a year on practice squad of the St. Louis Rams. He now works as a student/youth minister in Colleyville, TX.

Brian Tierney was an All-Conference Honorable Mention O-Lineman in 1993.

Darron Boone was an All-Conference Honorable Mention D-Lineman in 2006.

[wiu712]

John Earle was also an assistant football coach for West Prairie-LaHarpe Cyclones.

[rocki]

It's Triple T (Throwback Thursday Trivia) time once again. This one is a bit tricky, not sure there is a definitive right or wrong answer here.

You get to play Woodward and/or Bernstein for the day. Your job is to uncover the truth and correct the following statement:

On the Western Illinois State College campus in the year 1956, the building currently known as Sherman Hall was then known as "Old Main".

I see they called it the "Main Building", not necessarily "Old Main"

[sealhall74]

It's Triple T (Throwback Thursday Trivia) time once again. This one is a bit tricky, not sure there is a definitive right or wrong answer here.

You get to play Woodward and/or Bernstein for the day. Your job is to uncover the truth and correct the following statement:

On the Western Illinois State College campus in the year 1956, the building currently known as Sherman Hall was then known as "Old Main".

I see they called it the "Main Building", not necessarily "Old Main"

Lots of Old Mains around but we apparently did not have one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_O ... s#Illinois

The name of the college has changed over the years from Western Illinois State Normal School to Western Illinois State Teachers College to what it is now. I found an old campus or maybe alumni newspaper on line dated in 1956 which had "Western Illinois State College" on the front page. I lost the link to that but will see if I can find it again.

[wiu712]

In 1957, Western Illinois State College became Western Illinois University.

[ST_Lawson]

Yesterday was #55
#55 on the current roster is Senior Offensive Lineman Josh Baldus


Started at O-line during his redshirt freshman year but later played tight end. Started 12 games and played in all 13 as a sophomore, and started in all 11 games as a junior. Josh is an Engineering major from Palatine, IL.

Other #55's in our history include:
Bill Booker..............................1949-52
Tom Devine............................1970-71
Ernie Jack...............................1972-74
Tom Petrilli..............................1975-79
Dave Bass................................... 1981
Thomas Morgan.....................1982-83
Martin Moore..........................1989-91
Isaac Cleveland........................... 1995
Corey Olsen................................ 1997
Dave Watson..........................1998-99
Jeff Goldstone........................2000-03
Jeff Ross...................................... 2006
Anthony D’Astice....................2007-10
Max Dancer................................. 2012

Thomas Morgan is in the record books, tied for 2nd for most sacks in a game with 4 sacks in a game in 1982 during his Junior year.

Isaac Cleveland is on the list of most blocked kicks in a season, tied for #6 with 2 blocked kicks in 1994.

Dave Watson was on the conference all-newcomer team in 1997, second-team all-conference in '97 and first-team in '98 and '99. He was also a FB Gazette Honorable Mention in 1997, '98, and '99. Additionally, he was an academic all-conference honorable mention in 1998.

Anthony D'Astice is tied for #1 for most blocked kicks in a game with 2 blocked punts in a game against Missouri State in 2007 (during his freshman year). Those 2 blocked kicks also puts him tied for #6 on the list for blocked kicks in a season.

[ST_Lawson]

Today is 54...there's no current #54 on the roster, but here's who's worn 54 in the past for us:
Ronald Jackson......................1946-49
Thomas Brill...........................1964-65
Joe McLaughlin........................... 1966
Jim Frost.................................1969-70
Tony Cozzi..............................1972-74
Charles Skinulus....................1977-78
Randy Sheppard....................1979-81
Brent Westemeyer..................1984-86
Todd Kaser.............................1989-91
Ray Rudnick...........................1993-95
Jim VanVlymen.......................1996-97
Andy Ball..................................... 1998
Cory Bern.................................... 2000
Drew Kocsis................................ 2001
Jon Kowalyshen.......................... 2003
Daniel Schultz........................2005-06
Buddy Dudczak......................2007-09
Alie Walker.................................. 2011
Michael Famiglietti..................2012-13

Joe McLaughlin doesn't show up in the record books or anything, but if that's the same Joe McLaughlin (and I'm pretty sure he is), he was a longtime PE, Health, and Driver's Ed teacher at Macomb High School (he was one of my teachers when I was in HS) and has since retired.

Brent Westemeyer was a second-team all-conference O-Lineman in 1986.

Ray Rudnick was academic all-conference honorable mention in 1994 and second-team academic all-conference in 1995.

Jim Van Vlymen was academic all-conference honorable mention in 1997 and is married to current softball head coach (and former softball star pitcher) Holly (Killion) Van Vlymen.

Andy Ball was in my class in HS (oh..wait..you probably want mostly football-related)....ok, Andy Ball is the son of former Leatherneck HC Randy Ball. Andy has followed his father into the coaching ranks, coaching at Culver-Stockton College, Missouri S&T, Truman State and most recently as the O-Line coach for Missouri Western. He was recently named HC of Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri and (as evidenced by his twitter account) stays fairly up-to-date with what's going on over in these parts.

Jon Kowalyshen was on the 2002 conference all-newcomer team and 2003 all-conference second team. Jon is on the Leatherneck record books, tied for 7th for most sacks in a season (11) and is tied for 5th for most sacks in a career (17..in only 2 years).