The University of Minnesota Duluth will make both its 2011 home and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference debuts this Saturday (Sept. 10) when the defending NCAA Division II champion Bulldogs play host to Upper Iowa University. Opening kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium (4,500 capacity/artificial turf) on the UMD campus.
THE RECORDS: The Bulldogs, who are off to a 1-0 start, put an exclamation point on a perfect 15-0 season one year ago by capturing their second NCAA Division II championship in three years. In the process, UMD also laid claim to its third consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference crown on the strength of a 10-0 mark.
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Upper Iowa, which is also 1-0 this fall, closed out the 2010 season with a 2-9 overall record and placed in a tie for 11th place (with Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Northern State University) in the NSIC standings.
HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and Upper Iowa stacked up in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II and D2Football.com polls:
AFCA D2Football
UMD 1st 1st
UIU NR NR
THE BROADCAST: The Bulldog-Peacock clash will be carried locally on 1490 The Fan (KQDS-AM) with Jeff Papas handling the play-by-play responsibilities. The broadcast can also be heard on KQ 105.5 FM in Grand Rapids/Hibbing and KQ 106.7 FM in Ely/Virginia and on the internet at: www.fan1490.com.
In addition, My9 (KBJR DT 6.2/KRII DT 11.9) will once again televise all UMD home games during the 2011 season, including the one Saturday with Upper Iowa. Veteran sportscaster Tom Hansen and Don Leighton of the iFan Sports Network will serve as the on-air talent. My9 is also available locally on Charter and Mediacom cable. The telecast will be videostreammed as well and can be accessed for free at pennatlantic.com.
THE COACH: The numbers certainly speak for themselves. Two NCAA II championships, four NSIC titles (including the last three in a row), three perfect 11-0 regular seasons, four NCAA II playoff appearances, 80 victories and a .792 overall winning percentage. Bob Nielson has accomplished all this -- and much more -- in just eight-plus seasons of head coaching activity at UMD.
Last fall, Nielson and the Bulldogs did something no other NCAA II club had ever been able to do – finish 15-0 for a second time. Along the way, UMD brought home the school's second NCAA II title and third consecutive NSIC crown (a program first), amassing a 10-0 league mark for the third time in as many years. For his efforts, Nielson was bestowed with two of the most prestigious national coaching honors in Division II football – the American Football Coaches Association DII Coach of the Year and the Liberty Mutual DII Coach of the Year awards – in addition to being selected for that same honor by Don Hansen's Football Gazette and the NSIC.
Nielson returned to the UMD sidelines in 2008 following a four-season hiatus and proceeded to oversee one of the most impressive one-year turnarounds in NCAA Division II history, taking a club which had gone 4-6 in 2007 and molding it into a national champion. Along the way, his Bulldogs rolled up a 15-0 overall mark (only the third NCAA II team to ever accomplish that feat), set or equaled 50 team and individual records, captured the NSIC title and turned out a whopping nine All-Americans. He followed that up two years ago by going 11-2 in all games and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA II playoffs.
Named the 2008 NCAA II Coach of the Year by American Football Monthly magazine, D2Football.com, and the Football Gazette, Nielson now owns a dazzling 80-21 overall record at UMD (that .792 winning percentage is far and away the best mark in the program's storied 79-year existence) and is 150-54-1 in his 18 seasons of coaching at the collegiate level.
Nielson, a three-time NSIC Coach of the Year honoree (201, 2008 and 2002) whose first tour of duty with the Bulldogs ran from 1999-2003, was officially appointed to his old post on Jan. 3, 2008. (He continues to also serve as UMD's athletic director, a position he's held since 2003-04). During his five previous years with the Bulldogs, Nielson helped marshal the UMD program to new heights. In 2002, for example, his Bulldogs posted their second unbeaten, untied regular season record at that time (11-0), advanced to the NCAA II playoffs for the first time ever and captured the NSIC championship. Nielson's resume also includes directing UMD to its inaugural post-season appearance (the 2001 Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo.) and the school's second greatest one-year turnaround to date (the Bulldogs went 7-4 in 2000 after managing a 3-8 mark the previous fall).
The runnerup for the 2002 American Football Monthly magazine NCAA II Coach of the Year award, Nielson, 51, joined the UMD staff in the spring of 1999 after he had guided the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to a share of the 1998 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title (its first since 1983) and an initial berth in the NCAA III playoffs. He amassed a record of 22-11 in three years with the Blugolds, including a 10-3 mark in his farewell season when Wisconsin-Eau Claire notched a team standard for victories. Nielson, the Football Gazette's 1998 Division III Coach of the Year, also was employed for five years as the head football coach at his alma mater, Wartburg College, where he strung together five successive non-losing seasons and attained a pair of back-to-back NCAA III playoff berths (1993 and 1994) and two years at Ripon College (1989-90).
NIELSON BY THE NUMBERS
Record at UMD (Year) 80-21 (9th)
Overall Coaching Record (Year) 150-54-1 (19th)
Career NSIC Record 60-12 (.833)
vs. Upper Iowa 6-0
THE RIVALRY: The Bulldogs and Peacocks have met just three times previously -- in 2004, and 2005 -- during UMD's two first seasons as a member of the now-defunct North Central Conference -- and last fall (Sept. 11). Under the direction of then-rookie head coach Kyle "Bubba" Schweigert, UMD prevailed 30-7 in the two clubs' inaugural confrontation on Sept. 25, 2004 at Malosky Stadium and pulled out a 18-7 triumph the following year in Fayette, Iowa. Last season, the Bulldogs used a five-touchdown performance from All-American running back Isaac Odim to jump to a 48-13 halftime lead and went on to crush the host Peacocks 62-13. UMD racked up 505 yards of total offense in the rout, including 336 yards on the ground.
LAST WEEK: UMD opened 2011 the same way it had the previous 11 seasons -- with a victory. Bolstered by a stellar debut from rookie running back Brian Lucas and sophomore cornerback Kenny Chowa's fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown, rallied for a 20-12 non-conference triumph at No. 8 Augustana College. Lucas rushed 19 times for 116 yards and parlayed his second carry as a collegian into a 67-yard touchdown jaunt which gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead a little less than five minutes into the game. Chowa, who was making just his second collegiate start, iced the victory with 7:30 to go in regulation when he hijacked a Josh Hanson pass and brought it back 39 yards into the end zone. The Menomonie, Wis., native figured in on seven tackles while sophomore inside linebacker Colby Ring and senior strong safety Cody Eich both were credited with a team-leading nine stops. On the other side of the football, Bulldog junior quarterback Chase Vogler completed 12 of 18 passes for 114 yards and ran for another 30 in improving his career record as a starter to 26-1. True freshman wide out Zach Zweifel paced UMD with four receptions (for 29 yards) while sophomore Joe Reichert equaled his entire 2010 receiving harvest with three catches.
AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN: The Bulldogs' team captaincy duties this fall will be shared by a pair of seniors and 2010 All-NSIC North Division first team picks in offensive tackle Cory Flesch and outside linebacker Rob Huberty.
ANOTHER FAVORABLE NSIC FORECAST: In their annual preseason poll, the NSIC coaches again picked the three-time defending NSIC champion Bulldogs to finish first in both the 2011 North Division and overall standings.
UMD was a near-unanimous favorite, garnering 11 of a possible 13 votes (coaches could not vote for their own team) and 167 points. St. Cloud State University, a member of the North Division, was next (155 points and the remaining three, first-place votes), followed by Augustana College, which captured the South Division crown one year ago (145), Winona State University (125) and Minnesota State University-Mankato (115).
In addition, Bulldog senior outside linebacker Rob Huberty was tabbed the North Division Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and junior quarterback Chase Vogler landed the North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honor.
The Bulldogs have been chosen as the NSIC preseason favorite during each of their last five years of league membership (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2003).
ANSWERING THE CALL: Six Bulldogs made their first collegiate starts Saturday afternoon in Sioux Falls -- sophomore defensive end Jordan Bauman, freshman running back Brian Lucas, sophomore tight end Kris Olson, sophomore wide receiver Joe Reichert, sophomore inside linebacker Colby Ring, junior sophomore nose tackle Chris Vandervest.
AT THE 'MO: This year marks the 46th season Malosky Stadium has served has the home of Bulldog football. UMD is 165-52-4 all-time (an .820 winning percentage) at its on-campus facility and is 41-7 there under current head coach Bob Nielson.
HE'S NO PASSING FANCY ... : With almost two full years still to go, junior Chase Vogler already ranks fourth among Bulldogs all-time in total offense (4,911 yards) and is ffith in passing yardage (3,517). Occupying the No. 4 spot on the tam's career pass list is Bruce Grant (1980-83) with 3,690 yards. Vogler, a 2010 All-NSIC North Division first teammer, has lost just one of his 27 starts with the Bulldogs (he took over that assignment three games into his rookie year).
... AND HE CAN RUN WITH THE BIG 'DOGS: Vogler now needs just 41 yards to take over the top spot on UMD's career rushing charts for quarterback. To date, Vogler has amassed 1,394 yards on 231 attempts (a nifty 6.0 per carry average), a number bettered only by All-American Ted Schlafke (2005-08). In 2010, the Inver Grove Heights, Minn., product ran for a team-record (by a quarterback) 905 yards and had a pair of 100-yard efforts against St. Cloud State University and Northwest Missouri State University in the NCAA II playoffs.
ON A ROLL: UMD will enter Saturday's bout with Upper Iowa sporting a 30-game NSIC winning streak (four shy of the conference record set by Minnesota Morris between 1975-779) and having won 40 straight games overall against opponents from the NSIC (a run which dates back to the start of the 2004 season). The Bulldogs have also reeled off 16 victories in a row, the third longest winning streak in the program's 79-year history:
TOP 5 ALL-TIME WINNING STREAKS
Games Dates
20 Nov. 3, 1979-Oct. 24, 1981
17 Nov. 10, 2008-Aug. 29, 2009
16 Aug. 28-present
15 Sept. 28, 1985-Oct. 25, 1986
13 Sept. 29, 1973-Oct. 19, 1974
GETTING HIS KICKS: Senior David Nadeau, the first UMD placekicker to ever earn all-conference recognition on more than one occasion (he was an All-NSIC North Division first team pick in both 2010 and 2009), connected on a pair of 40-plus yard field goals at Augustana, hitting from 41 yards just before half time then nailing a 44-yarder at the 6:37 mark of the third quarter which put UMD up for good at 13-12. Nadeau, who owns 11 program single game, season and career records for placekickers, has now made good on 14 of his last 16 three-point tries. He also owns 11 Bulldog single-game, season and career marks and has racked up more field goals (33), extra points (209) and points (308) than any kicker in program history. The top-scoring NCAA II kicker last fall with 119 points), Nadeau will take a string of 26 consecutive point-after kicks into this Saturday.
THREE-PEAT IS QUITE THE FEAT: When the Bulldogs captured the NSIC championship last fall, it marked the first time UMD had ever won three straight conference crowns of any kind in its 78-year history. The 2010 title was the Bulldogs' 16th in NSIC competition (no school has more) and their 20th league championship overall (three in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and one in the North Central Conference).
ROBBIE ON THE SPOT: Since assuming a starting outside linebacker role two years ago, senior Rob Huberty has recovered seven fumbles and brought three of those back for touchdowns (all last fall which was a program first).
RUNNING THE TABLE: Last year marked the fourth time UMD has gone an entire regular season unbeaten and untied. It also did so in 2008 (11-0) and 2002 (11-0) under Bob Nielson and 1980 (10-0) under the legendary Jim Malosky.
WIN BABY, WIN: UMD is a staggering 43-2 over its past 45 games (a run which began with a 23-13 win at St. Cloud State in the 2007 season finale) with both of those losses coming at home to a pair of perennial NCAA II powers -- 13-10 to Central Washington University on Sept. 3, 2009 and 24-10 to Grand Valley State University a little less than three months later in the NCAA II playoff quarterfinals.
INJURY REPORT: Junior defensive end Joe Akey (knee), a 2010 All-NSIC North Division second team selection and UMD's sack leader (6.5) last fall, senior running back Nate Bauer (elbow) and sophomore running back Chaz Thomas (knee), who has been sidelined since the fourth week of the 2010 season, are the only thee Bulldogs listed as definitely out for this Saturday's home opener with Upper Iowa.
BULLDOG BITS: Rookie running back Brian Lucas, who joined the Bulldogs last April after spending the 2010 season at West Point Prep (N.J.), debuted with the Bulldogs in style last Saturday, rushing for 116 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries in UMD's 20-12 victory over Augustana. On his second touch as a collegian, Lucas raced 67 yards into the end zone to give UMD a 7-0 lead less than three minutes after the opening kick off. He is believed to be the first individual in team history to eclipse the 100-yard rushing plateau in his inaugural appearance ... the Bulldogs have now gone 76 games in a row without being shut out. The last team to hold UMD off the scoreboard was visiting St. Cloud State, which pinned a 28-0 whitewash on the Bulldogs in the 2004 season finale (Nov. 6). In addition, UMD hasn't been blanked by a NSIC foe in its last 112 tries -- going back to a 7-0 setback at Southwest Minnesota State University on Oct. 28, 1989 ... The Bulldogs have occupied the No. 1 position in the AFCA Division II poll since Nov. 8, 2010 as well as the D2Football.com poll since Sept. 20 of that year. Prior to this season, UMD had never been ranked higher than second during the regular season in either of those two national polls .. The Bulldogs are 80-1 in the last 81 games they have been ahead after three quarters going back to November 2001.
WELCOME BACK: The 2010 senior class will be saluted prior to the start of Saturday's home opener. That group, which last set foot in Malosky Stadium as Bulldogs nearly nine months ago when UMD turned back Northwest Missouri State University in the NCAA II playoff semifinals, includes some seven All-NSIC honorees from a year ago, including All-Americans Kiel Fechtelkotter, Jim Kunz and Isaac Odim.
ON DECK: UMD will hit the road for a Sept. 17 NSIC engagement with Wayne State College.
