The Hillsdale College Chargers and Northwood Timberwolves meet on the gridiron on Saturday for the 53rd time in the two programs' long-running rivalry series. For the first time, however, Hillsdale and Northwood will play with a trophy on the line that reflects both teams' shared history in the form of a person special to both institutions.

The winner of today's game will claim the Riepma Cup, named in honor of Pat Riepma, a 1983 graduate of Hillsdale College who left the Chargers as one of the greatest quarterbacks in program history, and a beloved coach of multiple sports for a decade following his graduation. For Northwood, Riepma is a titan; a legend who took over a moribund Timberwolves program and led it back to glory as the winningest coach in program history, and a difference-making Athletic Director for Northwood following his coaching career until his passing from cancer in 2015.

"I am beyond honored to have worked closely with (current Northwood Athletic Director) Jeff Curtis in making the Riepma Cup a reality," Hillsdale College Director of Athletics John Tharp said. "Pat Riepma is one of the greatest and most important figures in the history of both Hillsdale and Northwood athletics, and we at Hillsdale are proud to honor his legacy with this traveling trophy.
"Pat was a tremendous competitor, and I can think of no more fitting way to recognize all that he meant to both institutions than to compete for a trophy named in his honor, in the sport he played and coached so well."

Stunning turnarounds were a huge part of Pat Riepma's legacy at both Hillsdale and Northwood. He helped spearhead the first in a long line of them when he was still a teenager playing football at Hillsdale College. As a freshman in 1979, Riepma sat the bench and watched the Chargers struggle to their worst season on the gridiron since before World War II. Having experienced what it was like to lose week in and week out, Riepma made sure Hillsdale would never have to experience it again while he was around.

As a sophomore, he helped lead the Chargers to their first ever GLIAC Championship, and in 1981 and 1982, he was the undisputed leader for Hillsdale teams that went a combined 22-3, won the 1982 GLIAC crown, and twice qualified for the NAIA National semis. He was named an All-American as a senior in 1982, and left Hillsdale holding virtually every passing record at the school, some of which stood for nearly three decades.

For nearly a decade post-graduation, he was a coach at Hillsdale in several sports, including serving on the staff of the Chargers 1985 national championship football team. By 1993, it was clear he was ready for a chance to run a program of his own.

That program was Northwood. When Riepma arrived, the Timberwolves were at arguably the lowest moment in program history, coming off a 0-9 season and far removed from the glory days of program legend Jack Finn. It didn't take Riepma long to work his magic, bringing championship football back to Midland in the form of three GLIAC titles and four NCAA DII playoff appearances in 16 seasons at the helm and finishing with a 95-74-2 record.

In 2007, Riepma stepped down as head coach to take on a new challenge as Northwood's Athletic Director. During his tenure, he helped reshape the culture of the Northwood athletic department, with many of his lessons, most notably "Go MAD (Make A Difference)", still resounding through the program today.

As a man of high character and outstanding achievement, and a role model and mentor for countless graduates of both institutions, both Hillsdale and Northwood are honored to be able to pay tribute to Pat Riepma's legacy by competing for this trophy in his honor today and going forward in every clash to follow.