around the water cooler

GREAT GAME:The Red Raiders football team in a thrilling game beat nationally-ranked Bloomsburg 28-27 this past Saturday. Bloomsburg was 8 and 0 and ranked number three in the nation before their loss to Ship. The Red Raiders scored with 46 seconds left in the game to take the lead.

Shippensburg, who was picked fifth in the preseason Eastern Division coaches poll, will play next week for the right to host the State Game when it travels to face Cheyney from O'Shields-Stevenson Stadium, kickoff 1 p.m.

Someone recently commented that they heard "SHIPPENSBURG" announced when watching Sunday Night Football... yes, it's true!
Shippensburg University Football program has had four alums compete as professional athletes in the National Football League. Shippensburg currently leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with two active players at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season.

John Kuhn (’04) finished up his second season as a member of the Green Bay Packers, seeing an increase in playing time at the fullback position. The 2008 season marked Kuhn’s fourth in the NFL and third on an active roster. After appearing in all 16 regular season games in 2007, Kuhn became a regular face in the Packers first-team offense, appearing in 16 regular season games while making three starts. Kuhn finished the 2008-09 season with the best offensive showing of his career, becoming the first Shippensburg alum to score a touchdown in the NFL.

Brent Grimes (’05) earned a starting position at cornerback for the NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons. Brent Grimes concluded his second season in the NFL as a key member of the Atlanta Falcons, the NFC South Champions. He was a starting cornerback through the first half of the season before being moved to a key part of the Falcons nickel and dime packages. On the season, he totaled 34 total tackles and six passes defended. Grimes also recorded a memorable interception and 25-yard return in an early season matchup with Kansas City.

Rob Davis ('92) announced his retirement on March 2008, ending a 12-year NFL career, the final 11 of which were with the Green Bay Packers. He currently serves the front office as the team’s director of player development. The first Red Raider to ever play in the NFL, Davis took over as the Packers’ long snapper in 1997 and played 167 games in a Green Bay uniform - the third-longest consecutive games streak in team history behind Brett Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187). Davis was also the first Red Raider to play in a Super Bowl as the Packers were defeated by the Denver Broncos 34-21 in Super Bowl XXXII on Jan. 25, 1998.

Ron Johnson ('03) was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 9, 2003 after spending the first four weeks of the season on the team’s practice squad. He appeared in three games that season for the NFC East champion Eagles who finished the year with a 12-4 record and lost to Carolina in the NFC Championship. He was released and signed by the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League on October 2006, but was released on February 2007 due to injury.

Pretty cool stuff, huh?