Vikings to Play on New Field Saturday

CHICAGO, IL (September 2, 2004) - The North Park University (NPU) football program has lived a nomadic existence with no home field for two years. However, that will change when the Vikings host their 2004 opener at noon Saturday against MacMurray College.

Coach Robin Cooper's team will play its first game on the turf of the Holmgren Athletic Complex/Hedstrand Field, a multi-million-dollar complex that includes baseball and softball diamonds. The new complex, along with a veteran lineup, should help NPU improve on its 2-8 overall record of a year ago.

Although the Vikings were 0-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) last fall, the defense allowed an average of 14 points less than it had in 2002. The defense should be even better because most of Cooper's key players are back, including All-Conference performer Mike Rotenberry (a nickel back), linebackers Adam Ziemba and Jon Schwan and defensive backs Harold Robinson, Stephen Fouche and Ahkeem Waterford. Mike's brother Tim, a transfer from College of DuPage, is another nickel back in Cooper's 4-2-5 defensive scheme.

In the defensive line, transfer Barrington Price and returnee Daniel Richmond are two to watch at nose guard. Sophomore Norvelle Woods and senior Eddie Thomas are among the defensive interior linemen in Cooper's system. Larry Avery and Raymond Decatur are two freshmen who will split time at one defensive end slot. The other starting end is Don Thomas.

NPU's offense has one of the top wide receivers in the conference in Jon Harris, and a strong-armed athlete in quarterback Mike Haehn. It also has its top two rushers from 2003 in Dante Britten and Josh Gruenewald. Britten (523 yards rushing in 2003) and Gruenewald (400 yards in 2003, 1,143 in his career) are primarily outside runners while transfer Andre Carr is an inside threat.

Haehn transferred from St. Cloud (MN) Community College and threw for 775 yards and three touchdowns as a starter for the second half of 2003. He also played forward for the school's basketball team. Haehn's top targets, Harris and Sherman Gant, combined for 49 catches, 720 yards and four touchdowns in 2003. Harris, a junior, was on the All-Conference two years ago and has caught 89 balls (eight for touchdowns) during his North Park career.

"Our strength is our skill players," said Cooper. "Haehn has had a great camp and I'm really excited about him. He's got a big-time arm. And we've got our starting receivers, Harris and Gant, back."

The Vikings return three starters in the offensive line: Aaron Andersson (center), Shane Petrelli (guard) and Nnamdi Ugbaja (guard). At tackle, freshman transfer Jake Duncan sophomore Bob Needleman are expected to start. Ricky Wyskiel, a senior, and freshman Rory Tieder are two others who should see playing time, along with tackles Larnell Jackson and Phil Domas.

Jeremy Jervis, a sophomore, and converted quarterback Ronnie McMillian could play a lot at tight end, although injured senior Quintrell Porter may return later this season. On special teams, Christian Thomsen is back after making 7 of 9 field goals and punting for a 36.9 yard average a year ago.

After its opener, the Vikings travel to the University of Chicago for a noon contest on September 11 before playing a 1 p.m. nonleague home game against Eureka College on September 18.

North Park opens the CCIW season with a 1 p.m. home game on October 2 against Augustana College. During halftime of that game, the Holmgren Athletic Complex will be dedicated in a special ceremony. North Park's Homecoming game is set for 1 p.m. on October 22 versus Carthage College. The team plays six home games in all.

"I feel that we're a better team and now we have the field and we need to move forward from last year," said Cooper. "Eventually, you need to see success in terms of wins and losses, but I'm excited about what's going on at North Park. From the athletics to the physical structure of the school, it's an exciting time to be here."

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