C-G's Lorman expects big season at Grand Valley

Playing football in Florence, Ala., in December is exactly what Andrew Lorman expected from his college football career.

NCAA Division II football coaches have the same expectations this season of Lorman and his Grand Valley State University teammates.

Grand Valley, which lost, 30-23, to Northwest Missouri in last season's national title game in Alabama, was voted No. 2 on Tuesday by the American Football Coaches Association behind Northwest.

"The reason I came to Grand Valley was to play in that game," said Lorman, a Cary-Grove graduate. "It didn't turn out like we wanted. But it gave us a lot of momentum coming into this year."

Lorman, a junior, played tight end out of necessity last season to fill in for an injured teammate. He started 13 games for the Lakers (13-2), catching 22 passes, including three for touchdowns.

This summer, Lorman worked out in preparation for his new role, as the team's starting H-back.

"I expect to catch a lot more balls," Lorman said. "We had workouts Monday through Friday this summer (on campus in Allendale, Mich.). I worked a lot on catching the ball. I worked on running routes and getting myself open. I feel really comfortable. I have all my assignments down pretty good."

In Grand Valley's high-powered attack, which averaged nearly 36 points a game last season, the H-back is normally flexed out as an additional wide receiver. The tight end, by contrast, is primarily a blocking position in the offense.

Along with a change of positions, Lorman will adjust this season to having a new quarterback and a new coach.

Standout quarterback Brad Iciek, who threw for 3,200 yards and 35 touchdowns last season, is now a graduate assistant coach. 

"We still need to get our quarterback situation figured out," Lorman said. "Then, we'll be ready to take off."

Former head coach Chuck Martin left to coach defensive backs at Notre Dame, leaving defensive coordinator Matt Mitchell to take over the job.

Despite the changes, Grand Valley got three of 26 first-place votes in the AFCA poll.

"I'm not surprised," Lorman said of the poll. "We've won year in and year out."

Big Ten's big name: Prairie Ridge grad Hillary Haen earned a spot on the 16-member All-Big Ten Preseason team in volleyball Thursday. 

Haen, a senior setter at Illinois, was one of only two setters chosen for the squad by league coaches. 

While helping Illinois advance to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament last fall, Haen received honorable mention All-America honors. She enters her third season as the Illini's starting setter this fall. Illinois, which finished second last season in the league to three-time defending national champ Penn State, opens its season Aug. 27 when it hosts the State Farm Illini Classic.

In the preseason team poll, coaches chose Penn State to win its eighth straight league title, with the Illini second.

Barry Bottino writes a weekly column and a blog about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at BarryOnCampus@hotmail.com and check out his On Campus column every Saturday in the Northwest Herald sports section.