The GB microphones find Nicolet yet again

Sorry for exiting the virtual world for a few days — but that's what will happen when the hugs and laughter of my grandparents from Ohio and uncle from Northern California replace the love I have for my MAC.

While I was out though, Andy Losik found a small gem of a video, with none other than Mark Nicolet as the subject, a Charger alum I've been following a lot as of late.

WLUK-TV 11 in Green Bay put together a 90-second video briefly discussing the QB battle between Niolet and Gino Guidugli. As it turns out Guidugli returned from injury to throw for 326 yards and five touchdowns in a 46-41 home loss to Iowa on Friday, but he didn't throw an interception and had a stellar second half.

Nonetheless, as this video shows Nicolet is still putting the heat on Guidugli to perform at a high level because he did lead the Blizzard to win as the starter just over a week ago and a few bad quarters from Guidugli is all it might take for fortunes to be reversed.

Whatever the case may be, it is fantastic to see Nicolet progressing and getting some of the attention deserves. He is an extremely intelligent football player, but more importantly, an incredible young man who focuses on faith, family and football with  ferverent dedication that we could all learn from.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.822665&w=425&h=350&fv=%26skin%3DMP1ExternalAll-MFL.swf%26embed%3Dtrue%26adSrc%3D%26flv%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Efox11online%252Ecom%252Ffeeds%252FoutboundFeed%253FobfType%253DVIDEO%255FPLAYER%255FSMIL%255FFEED%2526componentId%253D20057411%26img%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia2%252Efox11online%252Ecom%252F%252Fphoto%252F2009%252F05%252F07%252FBlizzard%255Fquarterback%255Fb0a51b3d2%252Db388%252D4a44%252D961b%252D6736c493d0c10000%255F20090507181947%255F640%255F480%252EJPG%26story%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Efox11online%252Ecom%252Fdpp%252Fsports%252Fsports%255Fwluk%255Fashwaubenon%255Fblizzard%255Fquarterback%255Fbattle%255F200905071615%255Frev1%26]

more about "The GB microphones find Nicolet yet a...", posted with vodpod

Read more...

Nicolet returns to backup role as Blizzard comeback falls short

In one short week Mark Nicolet went from backup QB to a starter who won his first AFL2 start, and now, it's back to the sidelines.

Green Bay Blizzard starting quarterback Gino Guidugli returned from injury and played extremely well, but the offensive firepower came just a little too late for the Blizzard.

Guidugli went 25-for-37 for 326 yards and threw for five TDs, while avoiding an interception, the kind of performance that had solidified the starter role for him prior to Friday.

Unfortunately for Green Bay fans, four of his touchdowns came after the intermission, which the Blizzard trailed 30-13 at, and they couldn't quite complete a comeback in a 46-41 loss.

Coming into this week the Blizzard (3-3) were ranked 12 of the 25 teams in the AFL2 coaches poll and next week they get division rival Peoria, who is just 1-4 and currently unranked. Maybe Green Bay can open up a blow out and Nicolet will get a chance to strut his stuff again, but remember, in arena ball a four-touchdown lead is about the equivalent of a seven-point lead at the NFL level.

If I hear or see any updates on everybody's favorite Charger you know where to look and I'll be efforting an interview with Nicolet sometime next week.

Read more...

Nicolet featured in GB Press Gazette

Nicolet went from being cut by the Lions to being an emergency QB on an arena league squad, to a national champ in Sweden to where he is now — a backup in the AFL2 who has been thrust into the starting lineup thanks to injuries, and succeeded I might add.

As I said earlier today, Nicolet may get his second straight start tonight, as the Green Bay Blizzard's starting QB Gino Guidugli is listed as questionable for the team's tilt with the Iowa Barnstomers.

Whatever the case, he has garnered some regional attention and here is the pleasant little piece from today's Green Bay Press Gazette.

By Weston Hodkiewicz

After failing to receive a contract offer from the Detroit Lions following rookie camp last May, quarterback Mark Nicolet received a phone call.

It wasn't another NFL team. It wasn't even a team from the Arena Football League or arenafootball2.

Calling for Nicolet was the nine-time Swedish national champion Stockholm Mean Machines.

Stockholm knew relatively nothing about Nicolet beside the impressive numbers he put up at Division II Hillsdale College, where he shattered seven school records his senior year in 2007 en route to Great Lakes Conference player of the year honors.

Following a one-game stint with af2's Tulsa Talons as an emergency backup, Nicolet accepted the offer and made his first trip overseas.

"From what they told me, the hardest part they have is just getting a guy to say yes," said Nicolet, the only American on the Stockholm team last year.

"There's plenty of good quarterbacks graduating out of college. It's just the matter of trying to find a guy that's willing to spend three to six months in another country."

Earning 1,000 euros, or around $1,400 to $1,600, a month, Nicolet played seven games for the Mean Machines and led them to their 10th national title.

He was invited back this season but decided to return to the United States in hopes of getting a look from North American teams.

With the cancellation of the AFL season, Nicolet found his way to af2 and the Green Bay Blizzard, where he began the season as the backup to incumbent Gino Guidugli.

With Guidugli sidelined because of a pulled groin muscle, Nicolet received his first af2 start last Friday in a 56-28 rout of Milwaukee. He threw for 175 yards, passed for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another score.

The game didn't come without its hitches. The Blizzard struggled near the goal line and settled for five field goals within 30 yards.

But given it was his first start, Blizzard coach Bob Landsee was pleased with the 23-year-old Nicolet.

"I think Mark did a great job," Landsee said. "It's like with any rookie quarterback, he's nervous as all getup. But once he settled down, he did a good job."

Landsee wasn't sure whether Guidugli would be available for today's home game against Iowa (3-3), but he was confident in Nicolet's ability to lead Green Bay (3-2) if needed.

Nicolet said he will be ready.

"It's about knowing you have to be ready whether you're starting or you're coming in — if that's what needs to happen," he said. "Either way, you have to be ready to go and taking the same mentality because that could be your only opportunity. You have to be ready, week in and week out."

Read more...

Nicolet passes test in first AFL2 start

That's right, Mark Nicolet's first start on a professional football team in the state of Wisconsin was covered by the same exact newspaper as Brett Favre's.

And to top it off, Nicolet scored three touchdowns and was a winner.

As this Green Bay Press Gazette article shows, Nicolet threw for 175 yards and two scores, while also running for a touchdown, in the Blizzard's 56-28 win over archrival Milwaukee.

Although Nicolet was just 15-of-34 and sacked twice, he managed to avoid throwing an interception, not surprising considering half of the picks he threw his senior year were in part because of a mistakes by Hillsdale receivers.

The reason Nicolet was thrust into the starting lineup was because starter Gino Guidugli was out with an injury.

What is fun to consider though is the fact Nicolet beat a former Big Ten starting QB is his first career start. The Green Bay defense harassed Wisconsin grad Tyler Donovan into a forgettable effort.

Donovan completed 11-of-26 passes for 127 yards with three touchdowns (one passing, two rushing), but was intercepted four times and fumbled four times with the Blizzard recovering twice.

Again, what was that rip your buddy who is obsessed with U of M laid down about Division II ball? Talent is talent, just ask the guys who drafted Jerry Rice out of Mississippi Valley State or Shannon Sharpe from Savannah State.

Of course the NFL compared to the AFL2 is like comparing apples to apple flavored fruit snacks, but results speak for themselves.

Korte picking off a Charlie Batch pass a few days ago and Nicolet leading his professional team to a win in front of 4,000-plus is a statement, even if just in my own little world.

Read more...

Nicolet catches on in Green Bay

[caption id="attachment_470" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Former Chargers QB Mark Nicolet is now a Green Bay Blizzard, an AFL2 team. He has thrown three TD in limited action so far this season."][/caption]

Record-setting college Hillsdale College QB Mark Nicolet has caught on with a new Arena Football League 2 squad and has show glimpses of brilliance in limited relief action.

He is the backup quarterback for the Green Bay Blizzard, the 2008 Midwest Division champions.

The Blizzard are currently 2-2 on the young season and Nicolet is just behind former Cincinnati gunslinger Gino Guidugli on the depth chart. Guidugli is in his second season in the AFL2.

Nicolet has seen action in two games, going 11-for-16 for 109 yards and three touchdowns against no interceptions.

Nicolet's 127.3 QB rating would rank third in the entire league if he had thrown the required minimum number of passes.

Read more...