The University of Minnesota Duluth will make its 2014 road debut this Saturday (Sept. 13) when the Bulldogs head to Sioux Falls, S.D., to take on Augustana College. Game time is set for 1:05 p.m. at Kirkeby-Over Stadium (6,500 capacity/artificial turf) on the Augustana campus.
Complete Release (pdf)THE RECORDS: The Bulldogs, who like Augustana, are off to a 1-0 start this fall, closed out 2013 with an 11-2 mark in all games and tied for second place (with St. Cloud Sate University) in the NSIC at 10-1. The Vikings went 4-7 overall and in NSIC play (tied for 10th place with Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Northern State University) one year ago.
HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and Vikings stacked up in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls.
       Â
AFCA D2Football  Â
UMDÂ Â Â No. 3 Â Â Â Â No. 4
ACÂ Â Â Â Â Â NRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â NR
     Â
THE BROADCAST: The UMD-Viking clash will be carried live 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, KQ 106.7 FM in Ely/Virginia, along with new affiliates in Hayward, Wis. (Red Zone Sports Radio 910 AM) and Pine City, Minn. (Red Zone Sports Radio 1350 AM) as part of the Bulldog Sports Radio Network and at: www.
fan1490.com.
In addition, Saturday's game will also be televised by Midco Sports Network in select markets and videostreammed at:
portal.stretchinternet.com/umd.
THE COACH: Curt Wiese, who was promoted to the UMD head coaching position on Dec. 21, 2012 after spending the previous five years as its offensive coordinator, is now 12-2 with the Bulldogs. One year ago he guided the 2013 Bulldogs to an 11-2 overall record, a sixth straight berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs, a sixth NSIC North Division title in as many years and a No. 8 national ranking in the final AFCA Division II poll. Wiese's troops also shined in the classroom last fall as 14 Bulldogs earned NSIC All-Academic Team status, including offensive lineman
Andrew Pattock, who was named a first team CoSIDA Academic All-American.
For his exemplary efforts, Wiese was selected the 2013 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winner for Division II, a prestigious honor recognizing coaches for their responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and excellence, on and off the field.
During Wiese's successful five-season run as the team's offensive coordinator, the Bulldogs finished near the top of the NCAA II leader board four times in scoring (third in 2012 with a school-record 46.5 points per game average, fifth in 2008, sixth in 2010 and ninth in 2009) and in 2012 possessed the nation's seventh best rushing attack (after ranking seventh, fourth, and third, respectively, in that department the previous three seasons). The 2012 Bulldogs were also the nation's leader in third down conversions (54.8 percent). In addition, no less than 15 of his pupils landed some kind of All-American recognition, including a pair of Harlon Hill Award finalists -- quarterback Ted Schlafke (2008), the school's career passing and total offense leader, and running back Isaac Odim (2009), UMD's No. 1 all-time ground gainer and scorer and the holder of 17 school records. In addition, his starting offensive guard from 2009-12,
Garth Heikkinen, became the school's first recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year of Award and earned a playing spot in the annual East-West Shrine Game in January 2013.
Since Wiese's arrival at UMD in February 2008, the Bulldogs have gone 74-9 (for a .892 winning percentage while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010) along with five overall NSIC titles while producing two perfect 15-0 seasons.
Wiese, 38, came to UMD following two years of employment as the head coach at NCAA III member Marietta College (Ohio). He compiled a 9-11 career overall record with the Pioneers, including a 6-4 mark in 2006. The Stoughton, Wis., native signed on with the Marietta football program in 2003 when he became the team's offensive coordinator -- a duty he continued to maintain after he was elevated to head coach. In five years of directing the Marietta offense, Wiese helped churn out two All-Americans and 12 All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections and was a finalist for the 2004 AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
Prior to his move to Marietta, Wiese worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, tutoring the tight ends for two years and the offensive line for one season. He entered the coaching arena a little over a dozen years ago on the heels of a four-year collegiate playing career. After three seasons at Minnesota State University-Mankato (1995-97), Wiese transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where as a senior in 1998, he quarterbacked the Pointers to a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.
WIESE BY THE NUMBERSRecord at UMD (Year): 12-2 (2nd)
Overall Coaching Record (Year): 21-13 (4th)
Career NSIC Record: 11-1
Career UMD Home Record: 6-1
Career UMD Road Record: 6-1
vs. Augustana College: 0-0
THE RIVALRY: Saturday afternoon's matchup will mark the 10th meeting ever between UMD and Augustana. The Bulldogs have reeled off six straight wins at the Vikings' expense and now own a 7-2 lead in the all-time series, which began with a 47-16 UMD home victory on Oct. 23, 2004. The two clubs butted heads in each of the next six seasons, including in 2005-07 when both were members of the now-defunct North Central Conference, and last met on Sept. 22, 2012 at Malosky Stadium where the then No. 2-ranked Bulldogs 42-34 after taking a 35-6 lead into halftime. UMD is 1-0 lifetime at Kirkeby-Over Stadium, having defeated the Vikings there 20-12 on Sept. 3, 2010 in a non-conference affair.
LAST WEEK: UMD opened 2014 the same way it has every season since the turn of this century -- with a victory, namely a 20-13 downing of Concordia University-St. Paul at James S. Malosky Stadium. Junior tailback
Logan Lauters rushed for 165 yards on just 14 carries for the Bulldogs, who never trailed the entire evening and were up 20-3 heading into the fourth quarter. Sophomore quarterback
Drew Bauer ran for one touchdown (a 34-yard second quarter jaunt) and passed for another (a six-yard toss to senior tight end
Taylor Grant) in the victory, its fifth straight over the Golden Bears.
Augustana put a 54-0 licking on NSIC rival University of Minnesota Crookston in its 2014 debut last Saturday afternoon in Crookston. The Vikings amassed 595 yards to total offense, 288 of which was generated by sophomore quarterback Trey Heid, who completed 20 of 31 passes and threw three touchdowns.
THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING: The Bulldogs' team captaincy responsibilities this fall are being shared by a trio of seniors -- defensive end
Jacob Brusehaver, linebacker/long snapper
Yusef Hassan, and wide out/return specialist
Aaron Roth. Roth served in that same role last year and is UMD's first two-time captain since 2008 (quarterback Ted Schlafke).
HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AGAIN: In their annual preseason poll the NSIC coaches picked the Bulldogs to finish first in both the North Division and overall standings this fall. UMD garnered eight first-place votes and 215 points -- three more than Minnesota State University-Mankato, which received seven votes. Winona State University, a member of the South Division, was third with 189 points (and the remaining first-place vote) followed by North Division combatant St. Cloud State University, (183 pts.), the University of Sioux Falls (147 pts.) and Augustana College (145 pts.). The Bulldogs, have been tabbed as the overall NSIC preseason favorite during all but one of their previous seven years of league membership (2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2003 -- they belonged to the now-defunct North Central Conference from 2004-07).
YOUNG PUPS: Of the 107 individuals who comprise the 2014 Bulldog roster, only 27 are either juniors (13) or seniors (14). There are 20 sophomores, 22 redshirt freshmen and 38 first-year rookies.
WHERE THEY'RE FROM: Nearly 59 percent of the current crop of Bulldogs are from Minnesota -- some 63 in all -- and another 38 UMD players are Wisconsin natives. Indiana (2), Washington (2) Florida (1) and Illinois (1) are home to the remaining six Bulldogs.
ON A ROLL: UMD has now reeled off nine straight regular season victories going back to 21-17 home setback to Minnesota State-Mankato on Sept. 21, 2013. The Bulldogs will carry an eight-game regular season road win streak into Saturday's bout with Augustana with their last non-postseason loss away from Malosky Stadium coming almost two years ago against St. Cloud State (51-49 on Sept.. 29, 2012).
QUITE THE CATCH: Between them, the standout senior wide out tandem of
Aaron Roth and
Zach Zweifel have hauled in 240 balls for 2,763 yards and 20 touchdowns since they first emerged on the UMD landscape as true freshman in 2011. Here is where they stand on UMD's all-time pass reception charts:
UMD CAREER PASS RECEIVING LEADERS| Â Â Â Player (Years) | Â Â Â No. | Â Â Â Yds. | Â Â Â TD |
| 1. Tim Battaglia (2000-03) | Â Â Â 189 | Â Â Â 3,685 | Â Â Â 38 |
| 2. Steve Battaglia (1999-02) | Â Â Â 182 | Â Â Â 3,307 | Â Â Â 33 |
| 3. Greg Aker (2003-06) | Â Â Â 178 | Â Â Â 2,211 | Â Â Â 25 |
| 4. D.J. Winfield (2007-10) | Â Â Â 170 | Â Â Â 2,896 | Â Â Â 27 |
| 5. Tony Doherty (2005-08) | Â Â Â 148 | Â Â Â 1,861 | Â Â Â 15 |
| 6. Zach Zweifel (2011-) | Â Â Â 122 | Â Â Â 1,578 | Â Â Â 12 |
| 7. Terry Egerdahl (1972-75) | Â Â Â 111 | Â Â Â 1,425 | Â Â Â 12 |
| 8. Aaron Roth (2011-) | Â Â Â 108 | Â Â Â 1,185 | Â Â Â 8 |
GROUND IT OUT: Senior running back
Austin Sikorski is expected to back in the Bulldog lineup Saturday after missing last weekend's 2014 opener while recovering from an off-season injury. Sikorski, the 2014 NSIC North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year (he's the first Bulldog to be so honored since quarterback Chase Vogler in 2011), has rolled up the seventh largest lifetime rushing total (2,736 yards) in club history. The two-time All-NSIC honoree (first team in 2013 and second team the previous year) has averaged an even 6.0 yards per carry for his career -- the second best figure of any Bulldog runner with over 2,000 yards.
UMD CAREER RUSHING LEADERSÂ Â Â
| Player (Years) | Â Â Â Att. | Â Â Â Yds. | Â Â Â Avg. | Â Â Â TD |
| 1. Issac Odim (2008-10) | Â Â Â 589 Â Â | Â Â Â 4,242 | Â Â Â 7.2 | Â Â Â 72 |
| 2. Dave Rufledt (2001-04) | Â Â Â 648 | Â Â Â 3,228 | Â Â Â 5.1 | Â Â Â 47 |
| 3. Brad Foss (2007-10) | Â Â Â 531 | Â Â Â 3,001 | Â Â Â 5.6 | Â Â Â 30 |
| 4. Ted McKnight (1973-76) | Â Â Â 502 | Â Â Â 2,957 | Â Â Â 5.9 | Â Â Â 47 |
| 5. Chase Vogler (2009-12) | Â Â Â 525 | Â Â Â 2,903 | Â Â Â 5.5 | Â Â Â 39 |
| 6. Corey Veech (1982-86) | Â Â Â 606 | Â Â Â 2,768 | Â Â Â 4.6 | Â Â Â 30 |
| 7. Austin Sikorski (2011-) | Â Â Â 456 | Â Â Â 2,736 | Â Â Â 6.0 | Â Â Â 37 |
BULLDOG BITS: Six Bulldogs made their first collegiate starts Saturday night against Concordia-St. Paul and that group included senior tight ends
Taylor Grant and
Ryan Miesbauer, sophomore center
Matt Catton, sophomore inside linebacker
Beau Bates, senior cornerback
Daryl Brown, who transferred to UMD last spring from the University of North Dakota where he started for three seasons, and true sophomore safety
Hunter Malberg ... Since the start of the 2008 season, no NCAA II team in the country has compiled a higher winning percentage than UMD (.892 off a 74-9 overall record). The Bulldogs' 74 victories take a backseat only to Northwest Missouri State University's 76 during that stretch ... The 165 yards
Logan Lauters rolled up on the ground last Saturday at the expense of Concordia-St. Paul were a career high and it also marked the sixth time in his career he eclipsed the 100-yard rushing barrier. Only
Austin Sikorski, with 11, has more 100-yard afternoons among active Bulldogs ...
UMD is sporting new road and home uniforms this season and, for the first time since 1968, the team's helmets are adorned with a Bulldog head ... Both junior free safety
David Boegel and junior cornerback
Darion Fletcher established personal highs for tackles last Saturday night with a team-leading 12 stops in the 20-13 victory over Concordia-St. Paul ... Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 36-2 in NSIC North Division play (19-0 at home) with both of those two losses coming to St. Cloud State University (51-49 in 2012 and 35-7 in 2011). They've also gone 23-2 versus South Division opponents over that same period with setbacks to Minnesota State University-Mankato (21-17 in Duluth one year ago) and to Wayne State (7-0 in 2011) being the only two blemishes ... First-year freshman
Shawn Magee handled UMD's punting responsibilities against ConcordiaSt. Paul and punted five times for 206 yards (a 41.2 average) with a long of 52 yards ... Last Saturday's crowd of 5,287 was the sixth largest in the history of Malosky Stadium (UMD's home since 1966) ... Four Bulldogs were bestowed with various preseason All-American citations in 2014: senior offensive guard
Andrew Muer (USA College Football and Beyond Sports College Network), senior wide receiver/return specialist
Aaron Roth (USA College Football and College Football Development League), senior running back
Austin Sikorski (USA College Football) and junior placekicker/punter
Andrew Brees (USA College Football) ... Sophomore
Tyler McLaughlin, UMD's backup placekicker one year ago, was a perfect 2-of-2 in field goal tries Saturday night, connecting from 45 and 22 yards out.
ON TAP: UMD will return to Malosky Stadium on Sept. 20 to host Southwest Minnesota State University for the first time since 2008.   .
  Â
Â
