HUDDLE UP The University of Minnesota Duluth football program rides a 19-game undefeated streak against conference competition into the 2019 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener. Opening kick-off is set for 7:05 p.m. under the lights of Malosky Stadium (4,500) on the UMD campus.
 
BULLDOGS IN THE POLLS The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) ranked UMD its No. 14 team in the preseason poll released in August. The Bulldogs have ranked at least among the teams receiving votes in the preseason each year since 2008 and within the top 10 in seven of the last 10 years. UMD joins four NSIC rivals among the top vote-getters in the nation, including No. 3 Minnesota State University, the University of Sioux Falls (R.V.), Augustana University (R.V.), and Winona State Univerity (R.V.).

THURSDAY NIGHT FIGHT Since the NSIC began its Thursday night showcase games in the 2015 season, the Bulldogs are just 4-3 on Thursday nights, but did open the 2018 campaign with a victory over Minot State on the road. Comparatively, UMD has posted a 35-6 record on Saturdays in that span.

NCAA SUPERLATIVES UMD returns much of its offensive fire power from a team that ranked in the top-10 in scoring at 40.8 points per game. On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs ranked first in total defense allowing 205.7 yards per game, rushing defense at just 59.2 yards per game, as well as third-down conversion percentage, allowing opponents to advance on just 22.5 percent of plays.UMD also ranked in the top-10 in scoring defense (third) at 12.4, passing yards allowed (fifth) at 146.5, and defensive touchdowns (eighth) with four. On special teams, UMD ranked second in kickoff return defense with opponents averaging just 12.92 yards per kick. Individually, rising sophomore running back Wade Sullivan returns after ranking 37th in NCAA II and fifth in the NSIC with 13 touchdowns last season. 

VETERAN LEADERSHIP As far as roster make-up goes, the Bulldogs return 14 seniors, 17 juniors, and 21 sophomores. A total of 18 redshirt freshmen will get their first taste of collegiate competition after training with UMD in their rookie year. The senior class is split right down the middle with six offensive position players, six on defense, and a pair of special teamers.

AGAINST THE COMPETITION UMD steamrolled Minot State in last year's season opener, a 49-3 road victory which saw the Bulldog defense shut out the Beavers over the final three quarters and UMD score 36 unanswered points between the second and third quarters. The Bulldogs have never lost to Minot State, currently 7-0 in the all-time series which dates back to 2012. 

LAST MEETING In UMD's rout of Minot State last season, Wade Sullivan ran for 96 yards on just five rushes, and 10 different Bulldogs carried the ball for a total of 384 rushing yards in the victory. Rising junior QB John Larson was on point. Desite not tossing a touchdown, he was 9-for-15 throwing the ball and collected 133 of UMD's 199 passing yards.

RUNNING THE TABLE Last fall, UMD went unbeaten and untied during the entire regular season for the sixth time in the program's 86-year history. The Bulldogs also accomplished that feat in 2014, 2010, 2008, 2002 and 1980.

TOP OF THE HEAP ONCE MORE The 2018 Bulldogs claimed a share (with Minnesota State University-Mankato) - of the NSIC title-- their 20th title ever (no school has more) -- and first since 2014.UMD also captured its 11th-straight NSIC North Division championship in 2018.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME Going back to the 2008 opener, the Bulldogs are 55-7 at Malosky Stadium (with two of the losses coming to Minnesota State in 2013 and 2017 and three others to a pair of clubs in the NCAA II playoffs). 

LEAVING NOTHING BLANK The Bulldogs haven't been held scoreless in 98 straight games (going back to a 7-0 loss at Wayne State on Sept. 17, 2011) and the last time they were shut out at home was 86 games ago (28-0 to St. Cloud State on Nov. 6, 2004).

COACHING DOMINANCE Since taking over the Bulldog program five years ago, Curt Wiese has won 63 of 75 games. Only one other NCAA II head coach—Colorado State-Pueblo's John Wristen (65)—has accumulated more victories during that stretch.

A NEW-LOOK SIDELINE Bulldog Country will have to get use to some new (but familiar) faces joining head coach Curt Wiese on the sideline as former Bulldog All-American quarterback Chase Vogler returns to campus to claim the offensive coordinator position. He is not alone, bringing another UMD All-American with him as Garth Heikkinen will now oversee the offensive line. Former standout wide receiver Jason Balts will serve as an intern assistant coach working with the running backs after wrapping his career in 2018, while Luke Bacon, a four-time NCAA FCS National Champion at North Dakota State, will work with the tight ends. Additionally, Trey Dill has been promoted to defensive coordinator after working with the defensive line the past eight years.

LAST TIME OUT UMD stumbled in its first-round NCAA II National Tournament match-up last year taking on Texas A&M Commerce at Malosky Stadium. The Bulldogs fell 33-17 in their only defeat of the 2018 campaign. The two offenses combined for just a pair of offensive touchdowns and 464 total yards as the then-defending National Champions edged out UMD on its home turf.

CAPTAIN IN COMMAND Senior defensive back Bill Atkins, senior linebacker Isaac Erdmann, senior defensive lineman Tom Johnson,  junior quarterback John Larson, and junior wide receiver Johnny McCormick will serve as the team captains this season for UMD.

THESE 'DOGS HAD THEIR DAY A total of 21 Bulldogs received some kind of All-NSIC North Division recognition in 2018.Headlining the list of honorees was center Jason Anderson (2017, 2018) and nose tackle Dre Greer (2016, 2018), who both earned All-NSIC North Division first team status for the second time in their respective careers, as well as Matt Juneau, a four-time All-NSIC North Division offensive tackle (first team in 2018, second team in 2015-16 and honorable mention last fall). Accompanying that senior trio on the 27-member All-NSIC North Division first team were six other Bulldogs -- senior cornerback Tareq Abulebbeh, senior linebacker Alex Helmer, sophomore quarterback John Larson, senior strong safety Sam Lynch, sophomore linebacker Nate Pearson and senior offensive tackle Trapper Ward. UMD placed another nine players on the second team, including junior free safety Bill Atkins, junior linebacker Isaac Erdmann, junior defensive end Tom Johnson, sophomore offensive guard Noah LeBlanc, sophomore cornerback Michael Kirkendoll, senior wide out Nate Ricci, redshirt freshman running back Wade Sullivan, senior linebacker Gus Wedig and senior offensive guard Joe Yernatich.  In addition, honorable mention recognition was secured by senior tight end Tyler Lattery, redshirt freshman tight end Zach Ojile and sophomore defensive end Emmanuel Tetteh-Jada. Greer (second team in 2017) and Lynch (second team in 2016 and honorable mention in 2017) are both three-time All-NSIC North Division honorees while Anderson, Larson (second team in 2017), Ricci (first team in 2016) and Ward (second team in 2017) are repeat All-NSIC North Division selections.

AND THIS 'DOG DID, TOO John Steger, who wrapped his 18th season with UMD in 2018, was named the NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year, an award that debuted last season. This year, Steger has been promoted to Associate Head Coach

UMD ALL-AMERICANS The Bulldogs boasted four All-American honorees last season, including a Football Gazette First Team selection in linebacker Alex Helmer. Offensive lineman Matt Juneau earned Second Team honors from the AFCA, while the Football Gazette named linemates Jason Anderson and Trapper Ward among its Honorable Mentions. 

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