Seth Gustafson Featured in Prominent Educational Journal

Senior defensive back and captain Seth Gustafson recently completed a successful football career in which he started for all four years and recorded five interceptions and 15 passes defended.  Those numbers likely would have been higher, but as our best cover corner teams rarely challenged him. 

Not only was Seth successful on the field, but he's been tremendous in the classroom as well.  This past fall was Seth's third in a row with a 4.0 gpa while majoring in Psychology.  He's in line to be named academic all-conference for the third year in a row (at the time, football players were not eligible for the award as first-years).  During the summer before his senior year, Seth completed a Mentored Advanced Project (MAP) with one of his advisors, and the summer before that he worked at Rosecrance, a non-profit mental health facility in his hometown of Rockford, IL.  Because of his work at Rosecrance, Seth was recently featured in the Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Community-Based Research. 

Nice work Seth!

Liberal Arts and Your Future

As we are finishing up January and approaching February, our senior Pioneers are likely getting anxious about what comes next.  Some already have plans in place, some only vague ideas, but all are likely feeling some anxiety about the future.

Likewise, the guys we're recruiting, the seniors in high school, are probably experiencing some of the same things.  They've all been getting recruited heavily by us, and schools like us, but many are also being recruited by larger state schools of all levels.  They're about to make a decision that will have an incredible impact on their future.

The good news is, no matter what you studied or are interested in studying, and no matter what the state of the current economy, you are better off being at Grinnell College than anywhere else!  For years we've stressed that the tools you develop from your first day at Grinnell will prepare you for any endeavor, and that they will give you a better chance for success than your peers.  Couple the world class liberal arts education with your experiences as a member of the Pioneer Football team, and you've set yourself up for big things!

Recently there have been several articles highlighting these very advantages.  For all anxious seniors, whether in high school or college, these articles should remind you of the advantages of Grinnell, and help put your mind at ease. 

Enjoy!

First is a quick news story that was played on NPR and other national media outlets: Who Says Liberal Arts Majors Can't Make a Good Living?

Following up on this is a more in depth piece from Inside Higher Ed: Liberal Arts Grads Win Long Term.

And finally, if you're wondering where Grinnell fits in all of this, it's great to know the teaching at Grinnell is so well respected: Best Undergraduate Teaching.

Wigs for Kids

It happens every fall, thousands of college seniors play their final football game and realize their playing careers are over.  They all react differently, but often times their are some significant changes in body type, some let themselves go a little, but many decide it's time to cut some of the weight they've worked so hard to gain. 

One senior on this year's team, linebacker Colton Feller, decided to make a similar change, and to cut some of what he's gained over the past four years.  A Clay Mathews clone at inside linebacker for the past four years, Colton cut his hair over the winter break, donating 15 inches (!!) to Wigs for Kids. 

Great call Colton, thanks for the donation!

Happy Birthday Frances Belle!

Opening presents from Grandma Lisa and Grandpa and Grandma P.

On a cloudy Friday night in January 2009, with snow on the way, my nine-months pregnant wife and I decided to go out to the movies.  We watched a true tear-jerker, Marley and Me.  The movie was nice, but we were out late and I was looking forward to sleeping in the next morning.

It was not to be.

Jordan woke me up with an aggressive shake around 6:00 AM the next morning.  "I think I'm having contractions," she said.  I asked what I needed to do, and we agreed that this was just the beginning of a long process, so some more rest would be a good idea.  A short hour later and I was being shaken again.  Time to get up.

I rolled downstairs to find that the snow had arrived, about six inches worth, and still falling.  I dug us out and we loaded the car for Des Moines.  The roads weren't the best, but we made the slow trip in about two hours. 

It took plenty of shoveling to get out that morning

The contractions were still mild (if there is such a thing) and far apart, so we spent a quiet afternoon at a co-workers house.  We finally went to Methodist Hospital later in the evening.  Jordan labored throughout the night, and around 3:00 AM January 11th, our baby girl was born.  Frances Belle Pedersen, a whopping 9 pounds and 3 ounces, took her time coming out but has been in a hurry ever since. 

Taking a well-deserved nap

As first-time parents, neither Jordan nor I slept well in the hospital that night.  When we did wake up we realized that the temperature had bottomed out after the snow.  With a temperature around -10 degrees, we decided an extra day in the hospital would be nice.  I spent that first night with a swaddled baby girl in my lap, watching Louisville vs Notre Dame (Louisville won in OT), and telling her everything I knew about basketball.  It was the first of many lessons that she didn't appear to be listening to, but that hopefully sank in somehow. 

Proud Parents

Meixler's 203 Receiving Yards in One Game is 5th All-Time at Grinnell

During the Pioneers 24-21 victory over the Lawrence Vikings, Jake Meixler caught ten passes for 203 yards and a touchdown.  His 203 receiving yards were good for fifth-most in a single game in Pioneer Football history.

Knocked off the top-5 list was David Snider '99, who recorded 196 yards receiving 9-25-98 against Lake Forest.  Snider should not feel bad, as he still has the third best single-game total (210 yards vs St. Norbert 10-24-98) and the best single-game total of 225 yards against Knox College the very next week.  Richard Wemer '98 rounds out the top five at number two, with 218 yards 9-20-97 against Beloit College.  Also knocking on the door of the top five was Logan Granera '12, who had 195 yards 9-18-10 against Ripon College. 

The entire list of Pioneer Football records can be seen here.  Be sure to check back regularly this winter, as the list will continually be updated with video.

The Twelfth Day of Pioneer Football

On the twelfth day of Pioneer Football, my Pioneers gave to me: twelve graduating seniors.  In numerical order they are: #4 Harnak Mann (WR), #8 TJ Goetz (QB), #18 Seth Howard (LB), #20 Max Keller (DB), #21 Kevin Hwang (DB), #25 Seth Gustafson (DB), #32 Andrew Clark (DB), #45 Colton Feller (LB), #62 Morgan Kinsinger, #66 Hart Russell (DL), #70 Quinn Rosenthal (OL), and #80 Jayson Campos (WR).  Also included is manager and filmer Steph Haines, every bit as important to our team as any of the players.  Not included is #54 Jeremy Wiles (LB), who will hopefully be returning for one more year.

Thank you to this entire group for their contributions over the past four years.  This is the first group that has played exclusively for Coach Pedersen, and they have been instrumental in the Pioneers successes on the field and off.  They have helped the program to an upset over a nationally ranked team, as well as a four-win increase from one season to the next.  They've helped lay the foundation for the successes to come.  One again, thank you!