The University of Minnesota Duluth will face perhaps its most formidable challenge in the 73-year history of its football program Saturday (Sept. 10) when the Bulldogs travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for a first-ever meeting with the University of Northern Iowa. Game time is set 7:05 p.m. at the UNI Dome (16,324) on the UNI campus.

THE RECORDS: UMD, which was 4-7 in all games last fall and placed sixth in its maiden year as a member of the North Central Conference with a 1-5 record, is off to a 2-0 start in 2005. Northern Iowa, which is 1-0 this season, finished with a 7-4 overall mark one year ago and was 5-2 in Gateway Football Conference play (third place).

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Football Notes vs. Northern Iowa

POLL POSITION: Northern Iowa is ranked ninth in this week's Sports Network NCAA I-AA Poll and holds down the No. 9 spot in the AGS (Any Given Saturday) NCAA I-AA Poll.

THE BROADCAST: Saturday night's Bulldog-Panther clash will be carried live locally on KDAL-Radio (610 AM) with Bruce Ciskie handling the play-by-play responsibilities. All UMD games during the entire 2005 season can also be heard via the internet at: www.umdbulldogs.com.

THE COACHES: Kyle \"Bubba\" Schweigert (Jamestown College, 1985) is in his second season at UMD where he has compiled a 6-7 overall record. Prior to officially being named the school's fifth head coach on Dec. 23, 2003, Schweigert spent 15 seasons at the University of North Dakota where he helped guide the Fighting Sioux to six NCC titles. During his tenure, North Dakota also secured an NCAA Division II playoff berth on eight occasions, making it to the semifinal round four times and the title game twice (including in 2001 when it won the national championship). Schweigert began his Fighting Sioux coaching career as the team’s defensive secondary coach before taking over the defensive coordinator duties in 1998. Three years later, he added the title of assistant head coach.



Mark Farley (Northern Iowa, 1986) is in his fifth year of head coaching responsibilities at Northern Iowa and has a 34-16 record to show for it. In his debut season with the Panthers in 2001, Farley piloted Northern Iowa to an 11-3 overall record, an NCAA I-AA postseason berth, and the Gateway Conference championship while landing that league's Coach of the Year award. The Panthers also shared the top spot in the final Gateway Football Conference standings two years later and advanced to the second round of the 2003 NCAA I-AA playoffs.

THE SERIES: While UMD and Northern Iowa have never done battle, the Bulldogs are 0-7-0 in seven lifetime outings with NCAA I-AA foes, all from Big Sky Conference and all on the road. The most recent confrontation was against Northern Arizona University -- a 40-6 setback on Sept. 20, 1997. UMD also has faced Montana State University (37-0 on Sept. 21, 1996, 37-7 on Sept. 3, 1994 and 30-14 on Aug. 30, 1991), the University of Montana (54-6 on Sept. 16, 1995), Idaho State University (29-24 on Nov. 19, 1994) and Northern Arizona (33-22 on Nov. 14, 1992).

LAST WEEK: The Bulldogs came out throwing, to say the least, Saturday night and used a relentless air attack to blast Concordia University-St. Paul 31-10 in their 2005 home opener. UMD, which did not execute a hand off until its 39th play from scrimmage in the waning moments of the third quarter, received another sound performance from freshman quarterback Ted Schlafke. Schlafke, last week's North Central Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, connected on 18 of 31 passes for 174 yards and a pair of touchdowns -- both to junior wide receiver Greg Aker. Junior Marcus Davis returned a second quarter punt 67 yards for another score while sophomore tailback Joe Russell led all Bulldog rushers with 82 yards and one touchdown on just seven carries. The Bulldogs, who managed to pick up just 11 first downs on the night, were aided by three interceptions in the victory over their former NSIC rivals.

Northern Iowa launched its 2005 season in grand fashion by overwhelming Drake University 52-17 on Sept. 1. The host Panthers rolled up 528 yards of total offense and held a 42-10 halftime lead en route to the non-conference victory. Sophomore quarterback Eric Sanders scorched the Bulldog defense for 289 yards and three touchdowns via the air while completing 14 of 17 passes. Corey Lewis finished with team-high 51 rushing yards on 10 attempts and was one of eight Panthers to carry the football.

RUFLEDT HONORED BY NCC: Sophomore inside linebacker Jon Rufledt was selected the North Central Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his spirited play in the Bulldogs' 31-10 victory over Concordia-St. Paul Saturday. He shared the honor with the University of Nebraska-Omaha's Reed Taylor. Rufledt, a 6-0, 220-pound Bloomer, Wis. native, was credited with a game-high 13 total tackles, including nine solo stops and one tackle for a loss. He also came up with his first collegiate pass interception which set up the Bulldogs'initial touchdown. Rufledt, who is in his second year of starting duty, is the second straight Bulldog to earn NCC Player of Week recognition. (Quarterback Ted Schlafke was bestowed with the offensive honor last week.)

THIS PLACE SURE LOOKS FAMILIAR: Bulldog senior right guard Ben Bowditch, who injured his shoulder last week at practice and sat out Saturday's home opener, was a member of the UNI football team for two years (he was redshirted as a freshman in 2001 and worked as a backup guard the following season) before transferring to UMD in 2003.

IN THE ZONE: UMD has scored in each of the seven times it has entered the red zone so far in 2005. That includes a perfect 4-for-4 effort last Saturday night against Concordia-St. Paul. Bulldog opponents, meanwhile, have come away with points in all but one of their five red zone visits.

A SENIOR MOMENT: The 2005 Bulldog roster sports just 10 seniors and of that group a mere six-- offensive tackles Dan Akerson and Brian Burnette, cornerback Brandon Cooley, wide receiver Adam Kuhlman, outside linebacker Aaron Halda, and center Jack Lyons -- started their collegiate careers at UMD.

YOUTH DID PREVAIL: In its 31-10 victory over Concordia-St. Paul Saturday evening UMD started six freshmen on offense, including a quartet of Bulldogs (left tackle Mitch Cady, wide receiver Tony Doherty, right guard Matt Horvath and running back Marek Seta) who were thrust into starting roles for the first time as collegians.

FAST GETAWAY: UMD is enjoying its first 2-0 start since 2002 -- the same year the Bulldogs finished the regular season with the school's first-ever 11-0 record.

GETTING HIS KICKS: True sophomore Luke Radke has been called upon to punt a personal-high eight times in each of the Bulldogs' two games to date this season. In the 2005 opener at Chadron State, Radke boomed a 69-yard punt -- the longest of his career -- and set a Bulldog single-game mark for punting average (47.9 yards per kick).

IN GOOD HANDS: Junior wide receiver Greg Aker has now managed at least one reception in each of the Bulldogs' last 13 outings. The junior wide receiver matched a career high with his two touchdown catches Saturday night against Concordia-St. Paul. One year ago in his first season of starting duty, Aker paced the Bulldogs in receptions (37), reception yardage (470) and reception touchdowns (6).

THE NAME GAME: The 2005 Bulldog defensive line corps includes starting nose guard Matt Hofman and backup tackle Matt Hoffman. Hofman, a senior, is entering his third year with the Bulldogs after playing as a true freshman at North Dakota State University in 2002 while Hoffman was redshirted last fall. A third Hoffman, (Jeff), a former Bulldog offensive lineman, is serving as a UMD student volunteer coach this season.

IT TAKES A THIEF: One year ago in his first year as a starter, junior left cornerback Tim Garceau hauled in seven interceptions -- the most by a Bulldog since 1988 and two shy of the school mark. He also ranked first among his NCC brethren with his four thefts in league play. Garceau currently holds down the No. 4 spot on UMD's 2005 defensive charts with 11 total tackles, including seven solos.

TOUGH SLEDDING: Besides Saturday's affair at Northern Iowa, UMD will line up against a handful of other nationally-ranked teams this fall. The 2005 Bulldog schedule features four outings with clubs who appear in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll -- North Dakota (No. 4), Nebraska Omaha (No. 5), St. Cloud State University (No. 15) and the University of South Dakota (No. 16-tie). In addition, Minnesota State University-Mankato received votes in that poll.

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive end Dain Dockter (wrist), a true freshman who was in on a pair of tackles at Chadron State College, and sophomore linebacker Nick Gigante (knee) are both out for the season. Sophomore cornerback Eric Castellano (ankle), who has been sidelined since the second week of preseason practice, and senior offensive tackle Talo Tavale (knee) are not expected to accompany the team this weekend to Cedar Falls.

BULLDOG BITS: UMD has now won six straight home openers and is 21-3 in its last 24 engagements at Malosky Stadium ... Vinny Flury, who was one of just four true freshmen to receive playing time in 2004, established a career-best with his seven pass receptions this past Saturday. Overall, the sophomore wide receiver has racked up more catches (13) than any other NCC combatant in 2005 ... Junior outside linebacker Kevin Krenz, who came into the year with no interceptions to his collegiate credit, has picked off one pass in each the two UMD games thus far. He and freshman free safety Jim Johnson currently top the Bulldogs in the theft department ... Junior cornerback Marcus Davis, a transfer from Dickinson State College, received his first collegiate starting assignment Saturday and responded to that challenge by having a hand in three total tackles. On special teams play, he brought back a second quarter punt 67 yards for a touchdown and also returned a pair of kickoffs back for another 44 yards ... Sophomore linebacker Jon Rufledt currently tops the NCC in overall total tackles with 22. ... Saturday night's game will mark UMD's 22nd outing ever in an indoor football facility. The Bulldogs are 11-10 lifetime inside, but have won just once (23-21 over South Dakota on Sept. 14 , 2002) in their last 10 outings played under a roof. Ten of those 11 all-time wins have been posted at the Metrodome inMinneapolis.

UP NEXT: UMD will continue on its diet of non-conference competition by hosting former Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Minnesota State University-Moorhead on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m.

COACH'S SHOW: The UMD Coach's Show, featuring \"Bubba\" Schweigert, airs each Wednesday night during the 2005 season at 6 p.m. on KDAL-Radio (610 AM). Bruce Ciskie and veteran Griggs Field p.a. announcer Dave Walter will host the one-hour program which can also be heard via the internet at: umdbulldogs.com