Valpo players in the News

COLLEGE REPORT: Wiemer turning heads at Valparaiso
By Gery WoelfelJournal Times
Thursday, October 23, 2008 11:16 PM CDT
Green Bay Packers legendary guard Fred “Fuzzy’’ Thurston paid a recent visit to his alma mater – Valparaiso University – and got quite a treat.Thurston not only saw Valparaiso upset Davidson in a thrilling 35-29 overtime victory Oct. 11 at Valparaiso, Ind., but he saw an outstanding performance by Ross Wiemer.Wiemer, a junior running back from Burlington, rushed for a career-high 170 yards on 22 carries. The 6-foot, 205-pound Wiemer also scored three touchdowns on runs of 8, 49 and 13 yards.Wiemer’s stellar game earned him Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week honors.
For Wiemer, it was a thrill for Thurston to be in attendance.“It was kind of neat to see someone from Valparaiso who went on and actually did something in the NFL,’’ said Wiemer, who was given a book “What a Wonderful World: Fuzzy Thurston, A Story of Personal Triumph’’ by his mother, Dee, for his 20th birthday on March 1.“It was great to see him come back to Valparaiso and show support for the school.’’
The Davidson game was just the latest strong performance Wiener has had this season. He leads Valparaiso in rushing yards with 514 on 82 carries – a 6.1 yards per carry average. Wiemer is also the team’s second-leading receiver with 12 catches for 104 yards.“I changed my training this summer and it paid off,’’ Wiemer said. “I worked out in Elkhorn with a personal trainer (Cory Englebert). I worked out five days a week and made a lot of strength, and especially speed, gains this summer. I would have to attribute my recent success to him.“Things are really going well for me this season.’’
– Wiemer wasn’t the only former Racine County standout who put on a show for Thurston and Co. Ryan Kozey, an imposing 6-8, 295-pound offensive tackle from Waterford High School, also played well.Kozey was an all-PFL first-team selection last season and appears on his way to earning the same honor this season. “He had a lot of distractions early in the year,’’ Wiemer said. “There were anywhere from five to 10 NFL teams that came here and would watch him practice, And I think there’s been a few teams that have come to a game or two to watch him play,“He anchors our offensive line. He has around five pancake blocks every game. He’s big and he’s good.’’