4/25/2018
Cecchini Announces Addition of Jerome Smith to Coaching Staff
Head coach Dave Cecchini has announced the addition of Jerome Smith to the Valparaiso University football staff as the team’s running backs coach.
4/21/2018
Valpo Set for 2018 Season Following Successful Spring Game
The Valparaiso University football team held its annual spring game on Saturday at Brown Field. Using an offense against defense format, the offense was assigned as the Gold team, while the defense was the Brown team. The game was broken down into three challenges with points being awarded to each team for various successful plays. The Brown team came away victorious, winning two out of the three segments.
4/19/2018
Valpo Football Ready for Saturday’s Spring Game
For the first time since the 2017 season reached its climactic conclusion, the Valparaiso University football team will take the field with a game atmosphere at Brown Field on Saturday.
3/23/2018
Valpo Reveals 2018 Football Schedule
The Valparaiso University football team has announced its schedule for the 2018 season. The Crusaders will open the campaign with nonconference trips to Duquesne (Sept. 8) and Youngstown State (Sept. 15) before hosting Truman State (Sept. 22) in the Brown Field opener.
3/21/2018
Valpo Football Set to Begin Spring Season
Spring is here for the Valparaiso University football team as the players prepare to take the field for the first official spring practice next week.
2/20/2018
Valpo Sets Program Record for PFL Honor Roll Members
After a 2017 season that saw the Valparaiso University football team achieve numerous milestones on the field, the program has reached new heights in the classroom as well. The Crusaders placed a school-record 52 student-athletes on the Pioneer Football League academic honor roll, which was announced on Monday.
2/8/2018
Valpo Football Announces First Batch of 2018 Recruits
The Valparaiso University football program has announced the addition of 28 players who signed Letters of Agreement to play for the Crusaders as part of Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
12/20/2017
Cecchini, Valpo Announce Contract Extension
Valparaiso University Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera has announced that head football coach Dave Cecchini has agreed to a contract extension that runs through the 2020 season.
12/5/2017
Cecchini Named FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year
The accolades just keep rolling in for Valparaiso University head football coach Dave Cecchini, who has been named the FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
11/29/2017
Morgan, Rentschler Named to Academic All-PFL Second Team
Accolades continued to come in for the Valparaiso University football team on Wednesday as the Pioneer Football League announced its 2017 academic all-league teams.
11/28/2017
Three Crusaders Named to all-PFL Second Team, Six Others Notch Honorable Mention
A trio of Valparaiso University football players garnered places on the all-Pioneer Football League second-team and six others earned all-league honorable mention as the PFL announced its postseason all-league teams on Tuesday.
11/27/2017
Cecchini Wins Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year Award
Valparaiso University head football coach Dave Cecchini has been named the 2017 Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year.
11/22/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Postseason
On the season's final edition of Valpo Football Preview, head coach Dave Cecchini and broadcaster Todd Ickow recap a dramatic season finale, which propelled the Crusaders to their first winning season since 2003, discuss the contributions of this year's senior class and look ahead to what could be an even better 2018.
11/20/2017
Cecchini Named STATS FCS Coach of the Year Finalist
After taking a team that was picked to finish 10th of 11 in the Pioneer Football League to its first winning season since 2003, Valparaiso University football coach Dave Cecchini has been named one of 18 finalists for the 2017 STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which is given annually to the FCS Coach of the Year.
11/18/2017
Hollywood Ending: Valpo Clinches First Winning Season Since 2003
The farewell tour for nine Valparaiso University football seniors had a majestic final stop on Saturday afternoon at Brown Field.
11/15/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 12 vs. Dayton
Play-by-play broadcaster Todd Ickow chats with head coach Dave Cecchini about winning the Hoosier Helmet and the chance to finish with Valpo's first winning season since 2003 with a win on Saturday.
11/14/2017
Crusaders Play Dayton for First Winning Season Since 2003
Going on the road to defeat rival Butler and winning the Hoosier Helmet? That’s hard to top. But sending off the seniors by beating perennial Pioneer Football League power Dayton at Brown Field to secure the program’s first winning season since 2003? That’d be about as special as it gets. The stage is set for what figures to be a competitive showdown between two evenly-matched teams who enter the game with identical records both overall and in league play. The Crusaders would enjoy nothing more than to craft an unforgettable ending to a memorable season.
11/12/2017
Latsonas Wins PFL Special Teams Player of the Week
Valparaiso University sophomore Dimitrios Latsonas added to an already enjoyable weekend for the Crusader kicker on Sunday afternoon, as he was named the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week.
11/11/2017
Crusaders Defeat Rival Butler, Win Hoosier Helmet
The list of milestones the Valparaiso University football team reached with Saturday’s victory is a lengthy one, but the day can easily be summarized in one sentence that has a nice ring to it: The Hoosier Helmet is coming back to Valparaiso. The Crusaders knocked off rival Butler 36-28 at the Sellick Bowl, in the process reaching five wins for the first time since 2007, notching their fourth league win in a single year for the first time since 1968 and moving within one victory of their first winning season since 2003.
11/8/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 11 at Butler
There's no game on the calendar quite like Valpo against Butler - broadcaster Todd Ickow and head coach Dave Cecchini look ahead to Saturday's Battle for the Hoosier Helmet on this week's edition of Valpo Football Preview.
11/6/2017
Hoosier Helmet at Stake as Valpo Visits Butler
For the Valparaiso University football team, every game is important. But there’s one game each year where the stakes are higher than any other. The Hoosier Helmet and the bragging rights that go along with it will be on the line on Saturday as the Crusaders head to Indianapolis to meet their instate rivals, the Butler Bulldogs.
11/4/2017
Dolphins Edge Crusaders in Tight Contest at D.B. Milne Field
On a day where the defense did its part and the offense moved the football, turnovers hurt the Valparaiso University football team in a 20-17 loss to Jacksonville at D.B. Milne Field in Florida. Kyle Cartales was Valpo’s offensive standout, rushing for 63 yards while picking up 67 through the air, while Nick Turner racked up 10 tackles to pace the defense.
11/1/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 10 at Jacksonville
On this week's edition of Valpo Football Preview, play-by-play broadcaster Todd Ickow checks in with head coach Dave Cecchini in advance of this week's game at Jacksonville. They also look back at last week's 63-32 win over Morehead State.
10/31/2017
Crusaders Vie for Third Straight Win on Saturday
The Valparaiso University football team will look to carry its recent home success on to the road with it as the Crusaders travel for the first time since Oct. 7 for Saturday’s game in Jacksonville. Valpo is coming off its most dominant two-game stretch of PFL play ever, scoring 112 points in two games to down Marist and Morehead State at Brown Field.
10/29/2017
Valpo Named STATS FCS Team of the Week
The Valparaiso University football team has turned heads over the course of the season – and the program’s progress hasn’t gone unnoticed. The latest recognition for Valpo football rolled in on Sunday as the team was named the STATS FCS Team of the Week.
10/29/2017
Seewald Wins Second PFL Weekly Honor
For the second straight game, Valparaiso University sophomore quarterback Jimmy Seewald turned in a performance worthy of the Pioneer Football League’s Offensive Player of the Week Award.
10/28/2017
Highest Scoring Output Since 1996 Helps Valpo Cruise to Second Straight Lopsided PFL Victory
The 2017 Valparaiso University team continued to establish new precedents on a chilly Saturday at Brown Field. The Crusaders once again did something no Valpo team had done before – this time scoring over 60 points in a Pioneer Football League game. Valpo dominated visiting Morehead State 63-32, turning in the fifth-highest scoring output in program history and the highest since 1996. The Crusaders forced six turnovers and racked up 597 yards of offense in the win.
10/25/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 9 vs. Morehead State
Head coach Dave Cecchini joins play-by-play broadcaster Todd Ickow to look ahead to Saturday's game against Morehead State.
10/23/2017
Football Back in Action, Hosts Morehead State Saturday
The Valparaiso University football team will look to sustain its recent home success this week when it welcomes Morehead State to Brown Field for a Pioneer Football League showdown. The Crusaders come into the contest well rested after enjoying a bye week and will look to pick up a victory in a head-to-head matchup that has been tightly contested in recent years
10/18/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Bye Week
Head coach Dave Cecchini sits down with play-by-play broadcaster Todd Ickow to look back at a wild Saturday at Brown Field that featured a 49-15 win over Marist.
10/15/2017
Seewald Honored as PFL Offensive Player of the Week
Valparaiso University quarterback Jimmy Seewald was recognized as the Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week on Sunday for his efforts in Saturday’s convincing win over Marist.
10/14/2017
Worth the Wait: Defense Forces Six Turnovers, Offense Gains 475 Yards in Rout of Marist
The Valparaiso University football team dominated every aspect of a 49-15 victory over Marist on a stormy Saturday at Brown Field. The Crusader defense set the tone by forcing six turnovers including five interceptions, and the offense did the rest, racking up 475 total yards and scoring 49 points against a Marist program against whom Valpo had scored a total of 28 points in six all-time meetings before Saturday.
10/11/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 7
Head coach Dave Cecchini talks with Todd Ickow about last week's game at Campbell and looks ahead to this week's matchup with Marist.
10/10/2017
Football Returns Home, Hosts Marist on Saturday
The Valparaiso University football team will begin a three-week stretch that features a pair of home games sandwiched around a bye week by hosting Marist on Saturday. The Crusaders find themselves back at Brown Field, where they’ve had strong success this season, recording a Homecoming win over Stetson and coming within five points of scholarship foe Duquesne.
10/7/2017
Football Drops Road Game to Campbell
The Valparaiso University football team ran into a talented, complete Campbell team on Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek, N.C., as the Camels continued their run of recent dominance in the Pioneer Football League with a 49-10 victory over the Crusaders. Campbell is playing in its final season in the PFL before transitioning to the scholarship Big South Conference.
10/5/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 6
Head coach Dave Cecchini chats with play-by-play broadcaster Todd Ickow about last week's Homecoming win over Stetson and this week's game at Campbell.
10/3/2017
Football Heads to North Carolina to Take on Campbell
The Valparaiso University football team will make the trip to Campbell this week to take on the Fighting Camels for the last time as Pioneer Football League foes. The Crusaders will look to build on last week’s Homecoming victory and secure back-to-back PFL wins for the first time since 2003.
10/1/2017
Latsonas Awarded PFL Special Teams Player of the Week
Following Saturday’s thrilling 27-24 Homecoming victory over Stetson, the Valparaiso University football team captured its first Pioneer Football League weekly honor of the season on Sunday.
9/30/2017
Nunes Interception Seals Homecoming Victory Over Stetson
Before Saturday’s Homecoming game against Stetson, Valparaiso University football head coach Dave Cecchini identified three keys to success – turnovers, penalties and special teams. The goals of winning those areas were seemingly prophetic as they propelled the Crusaders to a dramatic 27-24 victory over the Hatters at Brown Field. The list of key plays for the Crusaders over the course of the afternoon is lengthy, but no play was larger than an interception by redshirt senior J.J. Nunes with 1:50 left, squashing a Stetson drive that had reached the Valpo 12 yard-line.
9/27/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 5
Head coach Dave Cecchini joins Todd Ickow to get you ready for Saturday's homecoming game against Stetson.
9/26/2017
Crusaders to Host Hatters on Homecoming Saturday
It’s a new week and a new game as the Valparaiso University football team turns the page to this week’s matchup with Stetson, which will take place at Brown Field on Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders have hopes of repeating their success against the Hatters from a year ago and in the process washing away the memory of last week’s second half against Drake. It’s an important day as the Crusaders play in the annual homecoming football game.
9/23/2017
Cartales Runs for Two Touchdowns in PFL Opener at Drake
The Valparaiso University football team looked like the group fans saw the first three weeks of the season in the first half of Saturday’s Pioneer Football League opener at Drake, but a veteran Bulldogs team pulled away after halftime for a 38-13 victory over the Crusaders. After amassing 237 first-half yards and trailing just 17-13 at the break, the Valpo offense was stymied in the second half.
9/20/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 4 at Drake
Head coach Dave Cecchini joins the voice of the Crusaders Todd Ickow to discuss Saturday's win over Trinity International and preview this week's Pioneer Football League opener against Drake.
9/19/2017
Valpo Football Begins PFL Play at Drake
Pioneer Football League play will get underway on Saturday as the Valparaiso University football team begins the league slate with a trip to Drake. The Crusaders enter this week with a chance to do something no Valpo football team has done before – earn a win at Drake. They’ll also attempt to spoil Drake’s homecoming game.
9/16/2017
Balanced Attack on Display as Crusaders Rout Trojans
The Valparaiso University football team entered the win column in resounding fashion on Saturday afternoon, pulling away for a 44-10 victory over Trinity International at Leslie Frazier Field in Deerfield, Ill. Sophomore Cody Boxrucker had three touchdown runs, senior Frank Catrine scored twice and senior Jarrett Morgan shattered a career high with 127 rushing yards. The Crusaders utilized a balanced attack, rushing for 266 yards and passing for 252 to total 511 yards of offense.
9/13/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 3
Head coach Dave Cecchini chats with Todd Ickow about last week's thrilling game against Duquesne and previews this week's trip to Trinity International.
9/12/2017
Football Travels to Trinity International for Nonleague Finale
The Valparaiso University football team will round out nonleague play with one final tune-up before Pioneer Football League action kicks off next week. It’s the back end of a home-and-home as the Crusaders look to repeat their success from last year’s Brown Field meeting with Trinity International. The Crusaders enter this game ranked second in the nation in passing offense at 377 yards per game.
9/11/2017
Alumni Reception Set for Saturday
Valparaiso University will hold a Valpo Alumni Reception prior to Saturday’s football game at Trinity International University.
9/9/2017
Valpo Offense Thrives Again, Crusaders Use Late Comeback to Threaten Duquesne
The Valparaiso University football team surpassed 500 yards of offense and put together a late rally to give scholarship foe Duquesne everything it could handle on Saturday afternoon at Brown Field, as the Dukes held on for dear life to secure a heart-pounding 45-40 win over the Crusaders. Valpo’s record may show 0-2, but a closer look at the outcomes reveals the best start to a Valpo football season in recent memory.
9/8/2017
Valpo Announces Football Promotional Schedule, Fan Information
Valparaiso University Athletics has announced an exciting slate of promotions for the 2017 football season, beginning with the home opener on Saturday against Duquesne. All five home games kick off at 1 p.m. CT.
9/6/2017
Home Opener Set for Saturday Against Duquesne
The Valparaiso University football team will crank up the home portion of the 2017 season on Saturday afternoon as Duquesne comes to town. The Crusaders will take the field at home in a game situation for the first time since the 2016 season finale against Jacksonville, a thrilling 42-39 win. This marks the first of five Brown Field dates this year.
9/5/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 2
After a strong Week 1 showing at Montana, the Valparaiso University football team is set for its home opener on Saturday at Brown Field at 1 p.m. Play-by-play broadcaster Todd Ickow chatted with head coach Dave Cecchini to look back at the game against the Grizzlies and ahead to Week 2 against Duquesne.
9/2/2017
Valpo Generates 450 Yards of Offense, Gives Montana Scare in Season Opener
The Valparaiso University football team held the lead midway through the second quarter and faced just a four-point halftime deficit, but full-scholarship Big Sky foe Montana pulled away for a 45-23 victory on Saturday. The Crusaders enjoyed their most competitive visit to a full-scholarship team in recent memory, displaying numerous bright spots against a premier FCS program.
8/30/2017
Valpo Football Preview: Week 1 at Montana
Head coach Dave Cecchini sits down with play-by-play broadcaster Todd Ickow to preview the season opener at Montana.
8/29/2017
Valpo Heads to Montana for Season Opener
The Valparaiso University football team will kick off the new season on Saturday afternoon at Montana. This marks the beginning of a much-anticipated fourth season under Dave Cecchini and his staff, as the Crusaders bring back their most experienced group yet in an effort to build upon last year’s four-win campaign.
8/28/2017
Valpo Football Season Preview
When comparing the Valparaiso University football team entering the 2017 season to where it was at this time in years past, there’s no doubt in the minds of players and coaches that the state of the program is far different.
8/21/2017
Video: Dave Cecchini on Valpo Football Media Day
With the season opener at Montana now less than two weeks away, the Valparaiso University football team held its annual media day at Brown Field on Monday. As part of the festivities, head coach Dave Cecchini addressed reporters to update camp and preview the upcoming season.
7/31/2017
Crusaders Ready to Begin 2017 Fall Camp
Ask any seasoned member of the 2017 Valparaiso University football team what stands out going into the start of fall camp on Wednesday, and the consensus is clear.
7/25/2017
Three Crusaders Garner Places on Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team
The Valparaiso University football team boasts three players on the 2017 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team, which was announced on Tuesday.
7/24/2017
Pioneer Football League Releases Preseason Poll
The Valparaiso University football team has been picked to finish 10th in the 11-team Pioneer Football League, according to a preseason polling of the league’s head coaches. The league released the poll on Monday and will announce its preseason All-PFL team on Tuesday.
7/13/2017
Tulcin Added to Valpo Football Coaching Staff
Valparaiso University football coach Dave Cecchini has announced the addition of Rob Tulcin to his coaching staff as the team’s linebackers coach. Tulcin spent the last three seasons at the University of Chicago as a defensive assistant for the Maroons.
