CHADRON – The 2014 football season will mark the 100th season in Chadron State College history and to recognize that momentous occasion, the school has named a 58-member All-Century Team.
There 24 players each on defense and offense, 6 on special teams, and 4 named as all-purpose. The All-Century Team will be honored at halftime of the Eagles’ home opener against Missouri S&T Saturday, Sept. 6 at Elliott Field.
Nearly 200 players advanced to the final ballot based on various criteria including statistics and post-season honors such as All-Nebraska, All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Conference, and All-American teams as well as induction Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame. The final 58 were chosen by committee of 9 chaired by CSC sports information director and chairman Alex Helmbrecht.
The others were members were athletic director Joel R. Smith, longtime athletic trainer Don Watt- a student at CSC in the 1970s and 80s, head football coach Jay Long, assistant football coaches Chris Stein and Craig Jersild, CSC information services officer and former longtime SID Con Marshall , SID graduate assistant Kristina Harter, and Double Q Country broadcaster John Axtell, the radio voice of Eagle football since 1988.
Of the 58 selections, 13 were unanimous choices. At least one player from each decade, with the exclusion of 1910 to 1919, was selected. Nebraska provided the most, 29…including 6 Chadron natives. Wyoming has the second-most honorees with 11, Colorado 7, California has 4, Illinois and South Dakota 2 each, and Alabama, Minnesota and New Jersey each have one.
The success of the Chadron State football team in the last 20 years resonated with the committee as 35 men who played from 1990 to the present day were selected.
The three captains were unanimous selections. Linebacker Kevin Homer was a 3-time All-American and owns the school record for most career tackles. Running back Danny Woodhead twice won the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II’s most outstanding player in 2006 and 2007 while rushing for a then-NCAA All-Division record 7,962 yards in his career. Punter Kevin Berg was a two-time All-American and also played at safety 4 seasons, winning All-RMAC honors there as well.
The other unanimous selections are defensive lineman Casey Beran, linebackers Corey Anderson and Kevin Lindholm, defensive backs Marvin Jackson and Ryan Turman, offensive linemen Jeremy Eardley and Dan Maciejczak, wide receiver Cory Brooks, tight end Joe Planansky, and quarterback Joe McLain.
Profiles, in alphabetical order and by position, of the selections follow.
Defensive Line
Jason Barthel (1998-2001): First Team All-RMAC in 1999 and 2000…Second Team All-RMAC in 2001…107 career tackles…7.5 sacks and 35 tackles for loss.
Casey Beran (1995-99): Three-time All-RMAC First Team choice from 1996-99…Named an All-American in 1998 and 1999…Three of his four All-American accolades in 1999 were first team nods…Named the RMAC Player of the Year in 1999 and was selected to the RMAC Hall of Fame in 2013…All-Nebraska three times…181 career tackles and a school-record 35 sacks…He also scored 12 TDs…He was also named to the RMAC All-Century Defensive Team.
Ralph Gill (1974-77): A second team All-American in 1977…Earned All-Nebraska honors twice…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1999…Had 230 career tackles.
Casey Haldeman (2001-04): Named All-RMAC First Team three times and All-Nebraska twice…Finished his career with 167 tackles and 19.5 sacks.
Aaron Ide (2005-08): A two-time All-RMAC choice at defensive tackle…He had 110 tackles and 16 sacks.
Joe Juelfs (1991-95): Earned All-RMAC honors twice…Had 197 career tackles and 25.5 sacks…He added four interceptions and defended 16 passes…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2010.
Dub Miller (1931-34): Has long been regarded as one of the Eagles’ all-time great players…Named all-conference four times and won conference titles in both football and basketball…He played in the line for two NFL teams – the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals… Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Rick Nave (1971-74): Named All-Nebraska twice in 1973 and 1974…Led the Eagles in tackles three-straight years…Has 356 career tackles…Named all-conference three times…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1996.
Mike Parks (1968-71): A second team All-American selection in 1971…He was also named All-Nebraska twice in the early 70s…Had 256 career tackles…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1993.
Linebacker
Corey Anderson (1987-90): An All-American linebacker who has the second most tackles in school history (401)…He claimed 17 turnovers in his career and added 31 tackles for loss…Named All-RMAC twice… Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2005.
Austin Bailey (2005-08): A four-year starter who played on some of the Eagles’ finest defensive units and was a three-time RMAC All-Conference First Team selection from 2006 to 2008…Earned three All-Nebraska honors during that stretch, as well…He was also a third team All-American in 2006…He finished his career with 302 tackles, 15.5 sacks and 49.5 tackles for loss.
Dennis Fitzgerald (1973-74): An All-American at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa who continued at CSC…He was a first team All-American at linebacker his senior season in 1974…He was also named all-district…Blocked three punts in one year and had 94 tackles and three interceptions as a senior.
Kevin Homer (1995-98): The RMAC All-Century Defensive Player of the Year…He was honored many times in his career: three-time All-American, four-time All-RMAC and three-time All-Nebraska…In all, he was named to seven All-American teams, including four first team nods his senior season…He led the Eagles in tackles four years and owns the school record for most tackles (492)…He also has 67.5 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, five blocked kicks and 35 passes defended… Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2013…He’s also a member of the RMAC Hall of Fame.
Jeff Japp (1997-2000): Had a fine career for the Eagles…He had 211 tackles and a whopping 31.5 sacks…He also forced 10 fumbles and added 28 additional tackles for loss.
Chad Johnson (1991-94): A four-year starter who ended as the third-busiest tackler in school history (371)…He was named to the RMAC All-Conference Second Team three years and was All-Nebraska twice… Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2009.
Kevin Lindholm (2009-12): The RMAC Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-American in 2012…He was named to the RMAC All-Conference First Team and the All-Nebraska team three-straight years from 2010 to 2012…Finished his career with 299 tackles, including 37 for a loss.
Defensive Back
Mitch Barry (2001-04): A talented cornerback and returner…He earned All-RMAC honors three times and was All-Nebraska twice…He finished his career with 149 tackles and 11 interceptions that he returned for 199 yards…He also broke up 31 passes and averaged 11.2 yards on 89 punt returns during his career.
Randy Bauer (1971-73): Still owns the record for most interceptions in a season with 10…He finished his career with 129 tackles and a then school record 16 picks…He also broke up 27 passes…Named all-district and was an Academic All-American…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1994.
Cody Gamble (1991-94): Earned All-RMAC and All-Nebraska accolades three consecutive years…He’s tied with Marvin Jackson for the most career interceptions (21)…He returned two of those picks for TDs…He also broke up 24 passes and had 176 tackles…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2009.
Marvin Jackson (2000-03): One of the most decorated Eagles in history…He was a two-time All-American (2002-03) and was a first-team choice four times…He is one of only a handful of players to earn First Team All-RMAC honors four consecutive years and he was the RMAC Player of the Year in 2002…He finished his career with 21 interceptions, tied for the most in school history…His other records include most interception return yards (354), interception TDs (4) and pass breakups (36)…He also had 188 career tackles.
Paul Schweger (2004-07): He was the quarterback of the defense for some of the Eagles’ finest teams in 2006 and 2007…He paced CSC in tackles three times and finished with 289 stops in his career…He also had eight interceptions and forced five fumbles…He was a two-time choice to the All-RMAC First Team and All-Nebraska three times.
Trelan Taylor (2010-13): A four-year starter at safety, Taylor had a fine career for the Eagles…He finished with 188 tackles and 12 interceptions, including one he returned for a TD…He was a first team All-American and named to the All-RMAC team two times and the All-Nebraska team three times.
Ken Thompson (1979-81): He’s been long regarded as one of the Eagles’ best baseball players but he also was a great football player…He finished with 215 career tackles and 16 interceptions, despite playing only three years…Three of his interceptions resulted in touchdowns and he broke up 20 passes…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2000.
Ryan Turman (1995-98): A hard-hitting safety who accumulated 319 tackles during his All-American career…He was a three-time All-RMAC and All-Nebraska first team choice…He also had 19 interceptions – he returned four for TDs – and 29 passes defended…He led the Eagles in tackles and interceptions three-straight years…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2013.
Punt Returner
Bill Ryan (1975-78): He averaged 10.6 yards on 50 punt returns in the mid-70s…He still owns the school record for most punt return TDs (2)…He was an honorable mention All-American selection and named all-district twice…At wide receiver, he had 134 receptions for 2,134 yards and 19 TDs…He also lettered in track and field and tennis at Chadron State…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1999.
Micah Smith (2004-07): He owns the school record for highest punt return average in a season (17.37) and a career (17.7)…He had 622 punt return yards on just 35 returns and scored one touchdown…He was also a talented receiver for the Eagles and had 25 receptions for 380 yards and three TDs.
Kick Returner
Brandon Harrington (2006-09): He owns the school record for most kick return yardage (1,354) and led the Eagles in kick returns two years…He averaged 26.0 yards on 52 kick returns…He was also a three-year starting wide receiver, who had 153 receptions for 1,917 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career…His 82 receptions in 2008 is a school record…Also an All-American hurdler for the track team.
J.D. Hill (1977-80): He led the team in kick returns two years and is second in school history with 1,336 kick return yards…He averaged 27.2 yards on 49 kick returns…For his career, he rolled up 3,889 all-purpose yards, meaning he averaged 9.4 yards every time he touched the ball while playing receiver or tailback…One of his kick returns went for a 99-yard TD and he added a 97-yard return that didn’t result in a TD…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2001.
Kicker
Travis Atter (2006-09): A two-time All-American at kicker…The RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2009…Led the team in scoring twice and is second in all-time scoring at CSC with 371 points…He owns the records for most PAT kicks made (200) and most field goals made (57)…He connected on 73 percent of his field goals and 93 percent of his PATs.
Punter
Kevin Berg (2007-10): The Eagles’ only All-American at punter and he was a two-time selection…He pulled double duty by punting and starting at safety two years…He averaged a school record 40.83 yards per punt…He’s second all-time in punt yards (8,655) and punt attempts (212)…He was a two-time All-RMAC and All-Nebraska selection…He was also the Omaha World-Herald’s Defensive Captain in 2010…Finished his career with 102 tackles and six interceptions.
Quarterback
Joe McLain (2005-08): He helped lead the Eagles to a 38-4 record while he was under center, including their only three playoff victories in school history…He was a two-time first team choice by the RMAC and he was the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2008…He was also the World-Herald’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2008…He completed 658 of 1,088 passes for 8,011 yards and 70 TDs…He also rushed for 707 yards and 17 TDs.
Trevor Moon (1995-98): Another fine signal caller who led Chadron State to a 33-10 record in the games he started…He owns several passing records, including pass attempts (1,242), passing yards (9,332), yards per completion (14.7) and passing yards per game (217)… All-RMAC in 1997…He is also the only player in CSC history to accumulate over 9,000 yards of total offense…He threw for 63 TDs and rushed for three more… Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2013.
Running Back
Glen Clinton (2010-13): An All-American running back for the Eagles who ended his career as the second-leading rusher in school history…He rushed for 4,656 yards…He was a four-time selection to the All-RMAC team, including two first team nods…He was also the RMAC’s Freshman of the Year in 2010 and a Harlon Hill finalist in 2013…He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 32 TDs…He gained nearly 111 yards a game on the ground and he also had 107 receptions for 907 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver…Following his splendid senior season, he rushed for 1,518 yards, he was named the World-Herald’s Male College Athlete of the Year…He was also a two-time Academic All-American.
David Jones (1987-90): A two-time All-American and Harlon Hill finalist who led Division II and the NAIA in rushing in 1990 with 1,570 yards…He finished his career with 4,532 yards, third-most in school history…He averaged 5.9 yards per carry and 115 yards each game…He scored 37 TDs and added 384 receiving yards on 38 receptions…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2005.
LaVerne McKelvey (1921-25): One of the greatest players ever at Chadron State…He was named all-conference five years and the Eagles went 24-1-1 during that stretch…They outscored opponents 670-55 and McKelvey was a big reason why…He was a triple threat – rushing, receiving and kicking…He scored at least one TD four different ways and booted the game-winning field goal in the Eagles’ 3-0 victory over the University of Colorado…He also had a hand in a loss for Chadron State when he was in high school…He led Bayard High School to a 3-0 triumph over CSC when he was a junior…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 2000.
Danny Woodhead (2004-07): A four-time All-American, three-time RMAC Player of the Year and two-time Harlon Hill trophy winner at Chadron State…He was also named the All-Century Offensive Player by the RMAC…He rushed for 7,962 yards in his career and was college football’s leading rusher when he graduated…He owns 11 CSC career rushing records and 10 season rushing records…He averaged 6.9 yards a carry and 181 yards a game…He also scored 101 TDs and added 129 receptions for 1,417 yards and eight TDs…He has played in the NFL for the New York Jets and the New England Patriots…He currently plays for the San Diego Chargers.
Tight End
Joe Planansky (1991-94): The most decorated tight end in school history…He was a two-time All-American and was placed on the All-RMAC and All-Nebraska teams three consecutive years…He was named to the RMAC All-Century Football Team…He was chosen for the RMAC Hall of Fame in 2005 and was elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2009…He had 154 receptions for 1,877 yards and scored 11 TDs in his career…He played with the Miami Dolphins.
Cody Roes (2010-13): A Chadron product who was named an All-American in 2013…He was named All-RMAC and All-Nebraska twice…He had 117 receptions for 1,261 yards and 19 TDs in his career…His 19 TDs tie him for the most by a tight end in school history.
Wide Receiver
Don Beebe (1988): He scored a TD in every game of the 1988 season for the Eagles and added five touchdowns in one game…He had 49 receptions for 906 yards and scored 13 times…Following the season, he was named the World-Herald’s Male Athlete of the Year…He played in the NFL for nine years and was on teams that played in six Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2000…The football stadium at Elliott Field is named in his honor.
Cory Brooks (1992-95): The all-time leading receiver at Chadron State with 188 receptions and 2,941 yards…He was a two-time All-RMAC and All-Nebraska selection…He averaged 70 yards receiving a game and scored 22 TDs, tied for the second most in school history…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jess Clarke (1996-99): Although he earned All-American laurels at tight end in 1999, he predominantly played as a receiver for the Eagles…He led the team in receiving three times and finished with 156 receptions for 2,486 yards in his career…He was an All-Nebraska selection twice…He scored 15 TDs in his career and averaged nearly 16 yards a reception.
Jay Rhoades (1988-91): He’s the career leader for highest average yards per catch (20.35) and is tied for the most reception TDs in a season with 13…For his career, he had 105 receptions for 2,137 yards and 22 TDs, the second-most in Chadron State history…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2009.
Nathan Ross (2010-13): A three-time All-RMAC selection who owns the school record for most receiving touchdowns in a career with 23…He led the Eagles’ in receiving yards three times…For his career, he had 176 receptions for 2,369 yards…He averaged nearly 14 yards a catch and 52.6 yards a game.
Duane Smith (1984-85): An All-American in 1985 who made a big impact in two seasons for the Eagles…He led the NAIA in receiving yardage (1,264), per reception yardage (17.8) and per game average (140.4) as a senior in 1985…His 1,264 yards receiving in 1985 is still a school record…For his career, he had 129 receptions for 2,050 yards and 17 TDs…He still owns the school record for most receptions per game in a career with 6.79 and most receptions per game in a season with 7.89…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2003.
Offensive Line
Jeremy Eardley (1998-2001): He was an All-American during his senior season and placed on three first teams…He was also a two-time All-RMAC and All-Nebraska selection.
Garrett Gilkey (2009-12): An All-American in 2012 who currently plays in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns…He was also a first team All-RMAC choice in 2010 and 2012.
Tim Hiett (2007-11): A four-year starter for the Eagles…He was named All-RMAC three times, including first team nods in 2010 and 2011…Also named All-Nebraska twice.
Robbie Klinetobe (2003-06): Helped pave the way for Danny Woodhead’s record-setting season in 2006…He was named an All-American and also earned All-RMAC honors twice.
Dan Maciejczak (1994-96): One of the outstanding linemen CSC has produced…He was an All-American in 1996 and garnered three-straight All-RMAC and All-Nebraska honors from 1994 to 1996.
Terry Mastny (1975-78): A two-time All-American and two-time all-district selection…Ranks as one of the finest offensive linemen in school history…Helped the Eagles win the Boot Hill Bowl in 1978…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 2002.
Ben Puffer (2006-09): Another dominant lineman…He was tabbed by the RMAC’s All-Conference First Team three years and earned All-Nebraska in 2008 and 2009.
Layne Sievers (2001-04): He was named an All-American his senior season in 2004…He was also a three-time All-RMAC choice and twice named All-Nebraska.
J.C. Sollars (1947-50): He was named the best offensive lineman of the year by the Nebraska College Conference his senior season…He started 37 consecutive games for the Eagles and earned all-conference honors four-straight years…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1983.
Clinton Smith (1921-25): A two-time all-conference choice at center for the Eagles…He was also the captain of the 1925 squad that upended the University of Colorado…Smith is also credited for providing the Eagles their mascot…He had a pet eagle he took to Chadron games when he was a boy and fans eventually began calling Chadron State “the Eagles.”…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1983.
All-Purpose
Lyle Colerick (1947-49): An end, he helped the Eagles compile a record of 21-4-1 in the late 1940s…He earned all-conference honors three years and was an honorable mention to the AP Little All-American team in 1949…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1983.
Chad Emanuel (1974-77): A kicker and offensive guard…He kicked four game-winning field goals in his career…He made 15 field goals in his career, including kicks of 50 and 56 yards…He started at offensive guard three years and was an all-district and honorable mention All-American his senior season…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1994.
Francis Montague (1931-34): He played linebacker, end and fullback for the Eagles in the early 1930s…He was named all-conference four times…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1988.
Lonnie Wickard (1957-58): One of the toughest players in CSC annals…He was the quarterback of the single wing the undefeated 1958 team employed and also started at linebacker…He was named all-conference first team at linebacker and he was second team at quarterback following the season…He threw for just 575 yards but often served as the lead blocker…He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2000…Elected to the CSC Hall of Fame in 1984.