CHOWAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

MEDIA INFORMATION

Interviews

Chowan University coaches and players are available for interviews in person or via

telephone on occasions where prior arrangements have been made. Please make all

interview requests through the CU Sports Information Office.

Postgame Interviews

Following the standard 10-minute cooling off period, CU head coaches and/or players

will be available for interviews at prearranged sites at the various home athletic

venues. Please note for all CU athletic events, both home and away, the locker

rooms are closed to the media. For road contests, please make your interview

requests for coaches and players through the CU Sports Information office or the host

SID and they will be brought to the prearranged interview area.

Game Services

Complete team and individual statistics and game notes/game programs are provided

to the media following each CU home contest. Telephone, copy services and fax

services are also available. The CU Sports Information staff is available to assist you

with any fax or copy requests that you may have at each home event.

Photography

All media must obtain a media credential through the CU sports information office in

order to shoot on game days. Once contact has been made procedures for shooting

each sport will be given out.

Credentials

All game day credentials for media must be obtained through the CU sports

information office. Credentials will only be issued to working media and will be

required to work in designated areas. All media must follow NCAA and department

rules and regulations.

 

TIM PLACE 

HEAD COACH 

3RD SEASON (4‐16) 

Tim Place enters his 3rd season at the helm of the

Hawks football program. In his previous two seasons he

has led his team to a 4-16 overall record. Last season his

team finished up 2-8 overall and 2-5 in the CIAA, 5th

place out of six teams in the West (now North) Division.

Place, who stepped down as the head coach at Urbana

University (OH) to accept the position at Chowan three

years ago, has a vast and diverse football coaching

background. Most recently he served as the head coach

at Urbana where he tallied an 11-11 record over two

seasons. At Urbana he breathed new life into the

program after taking over as interim Head Coach in the

summer of 2006. In a seamless transition, he guided that

2006 team to a 4-1 season start and was ranked as high

as 10th in the NAIA national rankings. Along with his six-

year stint at Urbana, Place has college level coaching

experience at Western Carolina University, Eureka

College (IL), and Hartwick College (NY).Place also has

high school head coaching experience at Greene Central

High School in New York and at Ravenna High School in

Ohio. Place graduated from Washington & Lee University

in Lexington, Virginia with a B.A. in Psychology. At W & L

he was a four-year member of the football team and two-

year letter winner. He has a M.S. from SUNY-Albany in

Counseling Psychology.

  ROBERT HOLLAND

SOPHOMORE 

WIDE RECEIVER 

NEWPORT NEWS, VA 

WIOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL  

• First Team All‐CIAA, WR (2009) 

o Led CIAA in Receiving   

o Four Time Player of the Week 

o CIAA All Rookie Team  

• Top Returning WR (CU & CIAA) 

o 1,078 yards, 7 TDS 

o 2nd in NCAA (reception yards per game) 

o 5th in NCAA (total yards) 

• Voted HSRN All American (2009) 

• Voted Consensus Draft  Preseason All American (2010) 

 

2010 Chowan University Football Preview 

With his second season under his belt, a solid core of returning players, and a young and eager coaching staff at his side, third‐year skipper Tim Place appears to have finally begun laying the foundation to create a solid DII football program at Chowan University.  Place saw 50‐plus players through a grueling spring session this past semester and was generally pleased with the outcome. “We worked the guys hard all spring in the classroom, weight room, and on the field. I am pleased with how they worked but it’s still a work in progress,” said Place.  

Place led the team to a 2‐8 overall record in 2009 and finished up 205 in CIAA play (5th place finish). Five Chowan players grabbed CIAA honors including  senior southpaw quarterback, CJ Westler (Marion, OH) (pictured at left). Westler proved to be a force to be reckoned with this past season as he walked away atop the CIAA in several offensive categories.  He was named the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,856 yards and 25 touchdowns. Replacing Westler is something that Place knows is not possible. “Replacing CJ will be impossible. He did so many great things for Chowan and he set the bar for us as a program. He helped to build that foundation,” said Place.  

The Hawks were 2‐5  last year against CIAA opponents and finished up in 5th place in  the CIAA Western Division, up a place from their inaugural 2008 season. Place will have no easy task preparing for his 2010 playing schedule but he does return six starters on offense and seven on the defensive side of the ball.  

Robert Holland (Newport News, VA) returns for his sophomore season after a record‐setting freshman year at wide receiver. Holland led the CIAA in receiving last year with 1,078 yards, seven scores, and 107.8 yards an outing. He was named an HSRN All American along with earning All CIAA honors at his position. Kevin Hodrick (Carson, CA) returns as the team’s top touchdown receiver with 10 catches for scores a year ago. He also caught 49 passes for 612 yards.  Although the Hawks will have some top receivers to catch the ball next season, who will get the ball to them, remains to be seen. There are four quarterbacks on the roster for the start of the season, and according to Place, will all get a chance to run the offense for Chowan in preseason camp.  Place is counting on Elliot Smalls (Raleigh, NC) to help sure up the backfield for Chowan this season. “He really had a strong off season. He has amazing quickness and footwork. We are hoping he will step up to the challenge this season,” Place said of his potential running back starter. The offensive line lost their anchor in All CIAA performer Melvin Rogers (Margarettesville, NC) but return Nick Watts (Dinwiddie, VA) and Charles Wright (Pomfret, MD) who had solid first years in 2009. Watts was named to the CIAA All Rookie Team after starting in all ten of the Hawks contests a year ago. Wright suffered a season ending injury mid way through the season but is progressing well enough to hit the field in the fall.  

2010 Chowan University Football Preview Continued  

Defensively the Hawks return seven starters led by Brad Cash (Dayton, OH) (pictured at left) who led the team in sacks (5.0) and tackles for a loss (11.5) a year ago. Cash, Andrae DeWeese (Summerville, SC) , and Ethan Reedy (Tuttle, OK) will sure up the defensive line this year. Reedy was an All CIAA Rookie Team performer after starting at defensive tackle all season last year. The linebacker core will be led by senior Leon Eason (Ahoskie, NC) totaled 23.5 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss last year for Chowan.  Brendon Scott (Flint, MI) was third on the team in tackles last year at 35.0 total will help Eason lead this year’s core. Marcus Johnson (Wilson, NC) was not far behind Scott in total tackles with 33.0 on the year. He also had a team‐high two interceptions with 80 return yards. Johnson will lead a young core of corner backs as a senior.  

Place is counting on other returners along with transfer recruits and newcomers to help fill out the depth chart for next season. “On the offensive side of the ball we have to improve our consistency and reduce our sacks and turnovers while on the defensive side we need to be more physical and cut down on the big plays,” said Place on needed improvements for the upcoming season.  

Next season’s schedule features mostly young match‐up series, with six‐first time opponents, four of them will be in CIAA.  Chowan opens the season with three road games starting with Lenoir‐Rhyne University on August 28th. They follow that first‐time opponent up with a trip to The Citadel on 

September 4th. After an open week the Hawks will begin CIAA play with Winston‐Salem State University on September 18th. The cross divisional game is the first match up between these two teams as WSSU is transitioned back to DII from DI.  

After a battle tested three weeks, the Hawks open their home season play against first‐time opponent, Virginia State University. Kickoff is slated for 6:00pm at Garrison Stadium in that home season opener. The Hawks will host Virginia Union in their third series meeting at Garrison Stadium in a 1:00pm match up. The game will be syndicated throughout the United States with ESPN Plus Syndication, with most stations carrying the game live. On October 9th the Hawks will host Lincoln University in a CIAA Northern Division match up to round out a three‐game home stand. They will hit the road for three straight CIAA games with stops at Saint Pauls College (10/16), Shaw University (10/23), and Elizabeth City State University (10/30). They will wrap up the season with Bowie State University on November 6th in the annual Hall of Fame game.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

MARCUS JOHNSON 

SENIOR 

DEFENSIVE BACK 

WILSON, NC /WILSON FIKE HS