A Legacy on the Gridiron: Exploring the History of Moorhead State University Football
The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons, formerly known as the Moorhead State Dragons, have a rich and storied athletic history. As a member of the NCAA Division II, MSUM competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), a conference it helped found in 1932 as the Northern Teachers Athletic Conference when the institution was known as Moorhead State Teachers College. While the university's name has evolved, its commitment to athletic competition has remained constant.
Early Years and Conference Affiliations
For many years, the NSIC operated within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In 1964, a significant milestone was achieved when MSUM secured the NAIA national championship in wrestling, marking a high point in the university's athletic history. Transitioning to NCAA Division II, MSUM has continued to be a competitive force, securing four division titles and six conference titles within the NSIC. These conference titles were achieved in 1964-1965, 1970-1971, 1980-1981, 1981-1982, 2014-2015 and 2016-2017, highlighting the program's consistent performance over the decades.
In the summer of 1957, the cumbersome moniker of Moorhead State Teachers College was shortened to Moorhead State College, an early marketing move that administrators and politicians favored. Yes, it was a mere name change, a matter of semantics, but it reflected the expanding mission of the university. While the change would hint of brighter days ahead, intercollegiate athletics at MSC continued to operate under the radar of more ambitious regional programs such as St. Cloud State College and Mankato State College, among others.
Coaching and Key Figures
The leadership of the football program has seen several changes over the years. Steve Laqua, the Dragons' 17th football coach, was hired in spring 2011 after helming the Fargo Shanley High School program. In 2015, after defeating Minnesota Crookston 59-21, the Dragons earned their first winning season since 2006 with a 6-5 record. The next year, Laqua's team increased its win total to 7-4. The 2018 campaign proved to be Laqua's best season so far with the Dragons, earning an 8-4 record and a trip to the Mineral Water Bowl. In the regular season finale, the Dragons defeated St. Cloud State, clinching the bowl berth.
The good news was slow to reach the Dragon football program, however, and MSC stumbled to three straight losing seasons in 1957 (3-4-0), 1958 (1-7-0) and 1959 (0-9-0) under coach Loel Frederickson.
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A new football era was ushered in at Moorhead State College in 1960 when Dwaine Hoberg left the security of high school coaching to begin a 10-year stay at MSC. It was a run that produced several highwater marks, but largely failed to match the lofty expectations that greeted his arrival. Indeed, there was good reason to believe Hoberg was the right man to resuscitate a program that had hit upon hard times. After all, the Bemidji native was a finished product of the University of Minnesota and played for legendary coach Bernie Bierman. After a coaching stop at Moorhead High School, Hoberg signed on at St. Louis Park in the powerful Lake Conference. Hoberg made his Dragon coaching debut September 10 against Northern State College, but the Wolves crashed the party with a 34-7 victory, the start of a five-game losing streak that included a 21-8 loss to Michigan Tech University at the christening of Alex Nemzek Stadium. A spirited defensive performance allowed Moorhead State to escape with a 2-0 Northern States College Conference victory over Winona State College in October, and MSC also produced a 14-7 non-conference win over Minot State College. His second club showed modest improvement with a 5-4-0 finish in 1961, and in 1962 Moorhead State fans were quick to talk of brighter days ahead. Indeed, the Dragons debuted with three straight victories, including a 22-8 non-conference triumph over North Dakota Agriculture College, but St. Cloud State College posted a 20-0 victory in week two of NSCC play, and MSC stumbled to another 5-4-0 finish. The 1963 season unfolded in style at Dacotah Field in Fargo, ND as quarterback Kevin Wimmer (Litchfield) and wide receiver Bruce Bausman (St. Louis Park) torched the Bison in a 31-14 romp. Wimmer completed 10 of 15 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns while Bausman hauled in six catches for a single game record 203 yards and three touchdowns. After a pair of pedestrian campaigns in 1964 (4-4-0) and 1965 (5-4-0), MSC ignored a 17-7 opening day loss to Concordia College and quietly pieced together a four-game win streak that elevated MSC to certified contender status in the NIC at last. A narrow 3-0 loss to Winona State tempered the championship feeling, but a 13-0 Homecoming triumph over Bemidji State College in October lifted MSC to its first NIC title since 1952. Senior Bruce Bakeberg provided a comfortable fit at quarterback for Hoberg and calmly orchestrated a suddenly potent Dragon offense. The Ortonville native completed 72 of 163 passes for 1040 yards and 11 touchdowns while Bricker Johnsen, a lean and lethal sophomore wide receiver from tiny Underwood, provided a serious outside threat with 28 receptions for 451 yards and five touchdowns. Center Russ Marshall (Dilworth), offensive tackles Al Berglund (Bloomington) and Dennis Yell (Parkers Prairie), and tight end Rick Cochran (Park Rapids) anchored a trusty offensive line while Dave Malchaski, a nasty defensive back from Mound, was named to the All-NIC team. In 1966, Mike Quirk, a 212-pound chunk of iron from Chisholm who took equal delight in running over or around defenders, arrived with little fanfare. By his sophomore season he was cleary the focal point of the Dragon offense, a hint of greater things to come. It may have been the stuff of legends, but Quirk was quick to deflect individual praise. “Getting those yards when they count the most is what makes you feel good,” Quirk explained. Quirk was prominently featured in THE SPORTING NEWS, and professional scouts flocked to Moorhead for a closer look. Despite Quirk’s magnificent contribution, Moorhead State was saddled with three straight losing seasons, including a 4-5-0 mark in 1969 in Hoberg’s final season. While Hoberg would vanish from the Dragon athletic scene, his professional career was far from finished.
Recent Seasons and Developments
After a 6-5 campaign in 2019 where they finished the season by defeating St. Cloud State, the program faced challenges, but the team bounced back with a winning record in 2023, finishing 7-4. The 2023 campaign included the Dragons' first ever win against the University of Sioux Falls after losing the previous five games. They followed up with another winning season in 2024, finishing 6-5, including a victory of the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.
Rivalries
MSUM has cultivated several significant rivalries over the years, adding to the excitement and tradition of its football program:
- The Red River Valley Showdown: This is a contest against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles for the State Farm Traveling Trophy. MSUM leads the series 14-7.
- The Battle for the Paddle Trophy: This rivalry is against the University of Mary (Bismarck). MSUM leads the series 10-8. The Paddle was developed by the student governments, as both schools are located near a river.
- The Battle for the Axe: This is a long-standing rivalry against Bemidji State University. MSUM leads 38-34-3 in the series for the trophy which dates back to 1948. The axe originated in the village of Mount Hagon, New Guinea.
- Cross-Town Rivalry with Concordia College: While now defunct, the Dragons also had a cross-town rivalry with Concordia College in Moorhead. Concordia leads the now defunct rivalry 49-25-12, winning the final game in a 34-32 thriller. Today Concordia plays at the NCAA Division III level in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Facilities
The Dragons football team plays at Alex Nemzek Stadium, a 6,000-seat facility. Nemzek's name is also on the 3,500-seat fieldhouse and basketball arena.
Beyond Football
MSUM offers a wide variety of intramural sports including flag football, softball, and soccer. Club teams are also available for men's and women's rugby, men's and women's lacrosse, and baseball which compete nationally. MSU Moorhead also has a club ice hockey team, which began play in the 2018-2019 season.
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The broader athletic context of MSUM
Senior guard Al Holmes (Moorhead) and fullback Bill Beck (Lancaster) provided a wealth of leadership for the football Dragons of ’57. Beck scored three touchdowns in a 52-0 romp over St. Cloud State College and finished as the leading scorer in the Minnesota State College Conference with 30 points. Beck and the battered Dragons, reduced to a 26-man travel squad because of injuries, remained in the hunt for the MSCC title until a 21-6 loss at Michigan Tech. Larry MacLeod and the basketball Dragons broke even in 1957-58 with a 11-11 finish, but slumped to 10-12 and 9-14 records the following two winters. Lowell Bolger (Moorhead), Sherm Moe (Ada), Jim Nagel (Breckenridge), Al Santwire (Mahnomen) and Rod Zimmerman (Herman) formed a solid foundation and eagerly handled much of the scoring responsibilities. Bolger and Moe led the Dragons in scoring for three consecutive seasons and pocketed three all-conference certificates each while Zimmerman set a school record with 40 points against Winona State in 1959. In February of 1960, MSC unveiled its new athletic showplace, Alex Nemzek Hall. Dragon wrestling began to percolate under new head coach Bill Garland in the late 50s. MacLeod and the baseball Dragons fielded competitive clubs under the umbrella of the MSCC and the Steve Gorman League, and Jerry Mehlisch (Clemons, IA) set a single season record with a batting average of .471 in 1958 that lasted for 25 years. Mehlisch also posted a 5-2 pitching mark while catcher John Chalfant (Michigan Center, MI) was a rock behind home plate. Miler Rudy Arechigo (Moorhead) and Gene Goedel (Wadena), a tested performer in the sprints and dashes, were featured performers for track coach Roy Domek while Arechigo set the pace in cross-country as well.
Moorhead State entered a new decade in search of its first winning season since a 13-7 finish in 1956-57. The Dragons dedicated a new arena-Alex Nemzek Hall-with a 72-71 victory over Concordia in February of 1960 and posted a balanced 11-11 record under veteran coach Larry MacLeod. Jim Nagel, a serious sharpshooter from Breckenridge, kindled the Dragon offense. Nagel collected all-conference certificates as a junior and senior, and averaged 20.4 points per game as a senior in 1961-62. For Nagel, the game of basketball took on almost mystical qualities. “What I remember most is the guys I played with, the special friendships that develop on a team, and the mutual respect that came from the hard work at practices,” said Nagel. “I would have enjoyed basketball immensely even if we had never played another team. Everyone had their take on the stunning upset. “Now we don’t have to be afraid to go to Minneapolis,” beamed MSC President Dr. John J. Neumaier. “We had nothing to lose,” explained MacLeod. Augsburg guard Lloyd “Butch” Raymond had a simple explanation for the unlikely outcome. “You can’t beat a team that shoots over 60 per cent and plays defense the way Moorhead did,” said Raymond. A 11-10 upturn the following winter restored the faith and set the table for one of the most remarkable seasons in MSC basketball history. There were several elements in place, including Wermager; Granite Falls native Jerry Hegna, a talented transfer from the University of Minnesota and the last three-sport all-conference athlete in Dragon history; Jim Jahr, a laconic center from Alexandria with a deadly hook shot; Pete Lysaker, a sharpshooter from Detroit Lakes; Erwin “Cactus” Warner, a pesky guard from Halstad; and Wally Halbakken, a quiet but menacing force from Pelican Rapids. There were flaws, however. MSC opened in style with a six-game win streak, but powerful University of North Dakota, sparked by legendary Phil Jackson, derailed the Dragons 87-53 at the Red River Classic in December. The Dragons quickly ignored the loss and returned to the business of winning a NIC championship, a feat not accomplished at State since the formation of the league in 1932. To reach that sizable goal, MSC would have to supplant the reigning king of college basketball in Minnesota, St. Cloud State. The mighty Huskies had ruled the league in the 1950s and 60s, and had no notion of abdicating. A pair of narrow victories over the Dragons, including a 78-73 overtime scare at cozy Eastman Hall in St. Still, Moorhead State would not go quietly into the night, and the Dragons kept the pressure on with a late-season, seven-game win streak. Then, on the final weekend of league play, MSC dispatched of Mankato State College, 86-79 at Mankato, while St. The newly minted league champs returned by a car caravan to a joyous welcome-home celebration at Alex Nemzek Hall, and were greeted with more good news when the NCAA extended an invitation to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships in Grand Forks, ND. The triumph brought a rematch with Jackson and the mighty Sioux, and UND sealed the deal in the second half with a 83-57 victory that dispatched the Sioux to the national tournament and ended a remarkable 21-4 season for the Dragons. MacLeod remembered it all very clearly years later. “That reception when we came home from Mankato was amazing. We had almost 2000 people there to meet us. It looked bad late in the season for us to win the league (and receive an automatic NAIA post-season tournament bid), so we accepted the NCAA bid. Both of our losses to North Dakota were very similar. We would hang with them in the first half, but they took over the game in the second half. While many were surprised by MSC’s sudden success, Nagel, now an ex-Dragon, was not. “Larry MacLeod took a rather different approach to the game,” Nagel observed. “Here the analysis of the strategy of the opposition was largely subordinated to team discipline, to the percentage shot, to strong defense, to rebounding, and a lot of important details not usually represented in newspaper summaries. He respected the intelligence of his players, and he did not encumber us with excessive controls. We knew always that he regarded the academic integrity of the program as foremost in his relationship with us. In that climate basketball was important but subordinate to other concerns. It would be the watershed point of MacLeod’s coaching career, and he resigned to concentrate on expanding athletic director duties in 1967 after 11-11 and 10-12 seasons. For Skaar, it fulfilled a lifetime dream to coach on the collegiate level, and he pounced on the opportunity to return the Dragons to the regional spotlight. Skaar may have spent his coaching career on the prep level, but he knew things were largely different than when he competed. With the Vietnam war in full flurry, Skaar was quick to realize athletes of the 1960s were immersed in a different culture, and unquestioned discipline was no longer in vogue. He began to loosen the shackles, and the players took notice. He added some dazzle to pre-game warmups by using red-and-white colored basketballs, he allowed players to wear low-cut shoes, red ones at that, and-gasp--he permitted music in the lockerroom. The players enjoyed the new freedom and began to call him “Groovy” behind his back, and Skaar heard the whispers. Skaar’s persistent recruiting also stocked a cupboard with some promising freshmen, and the Dragons would benefit greatly when Wahpeton, ND native Mike Berg transferred to MSC from neighboring Concordia College. Following a 11-10 mark in 1967-68, Skaar prodded his second club to a 18-6 record and a run at the 1968-69 NIC title. One of the fastest growing sports in America, the wrestling roots at Moorhead State trace to 1952-53 when the Dragons competed for student-coach Pat Ferris. When Bill Garland arrived in 1958, a sport that was on the collegiate backburner was about to catch fire and explode on a national level. Garland began a remarkable run with a 8-3-1 finish in 1958-59, the first of 11 consecutive winning seasons at State, and created a dynasty that remained in full flourish for more than a decade. Soon, the Dragons began to make a serious run at the NIC title and make a major splash on the national level as well. A native of Canonsburg, PA, and a transfer from Indiana University, Maughan quickly demonstrated he had the right stuff. His quickness, repertoire of moves, and unmistakable swagger attracted an instant following, and Moorhead State quickly grabbed some national headlines. Maughan secured NAIA national titles in 1962 and 1963, and reached the summit in 1963 by capturing the NCAA Division I national 115-pound title, the only Dragon to win a NCAA I individual crown. While Maughan sizzled on the national scene, he had plenty of support. Heavyweight Bob Billberg, a product of Waukegan, IL, made a huge impact as well. Billberg won NAIA national titles in 1964 and 1966, and logged runnerup finishes in the NCAA Division I finals in 1964 and 1966. He also appeared on ABC WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS. While Maughan and Billberg led the parade, there was an army of eager Dragons anxious to jump in line. Frank Mosier, recruited from wrestling-rich Washington, PA, was a two-time NAIA national champion at 167 pounds and helped the Dragons win their only national team title, the 1964 NAIA Championship. Three other Dragons-Earl Stottler (Benson), Jim Dreitzler (Ithaca, NY) and Rick Stuyvesant (Greenville, PA)-would win national titles while John Morley of Oceanside, NY and Rick Kelvington of Washington, PA also placed in NCAA Division I national tournaments. Stottler became the Dragons’ first national titlist, winning the NAIA 130-pound crown in 1961. Dreitzler was an NAIA champ at 130 pounds in 1964 while Stuyvesant posted back-to-back NAIA championships at 137 pounds in 1966-67. Mosier credits Maughan with much of the Dragons’ collective success. “He was such a skilled and confident wrestler, and he had us believing we could beat anybody,” said Mosier. A sport that would soon become a hallmark at Moorhead State-track and field-took seed in the 1960s. Long a staple of Dragon athletics, track had enjoyed only modest success in the 1950s but began to sprout when Al Holmes assumed control of the program in 1966. Holmes diligently assembled a stable of eager trailblazers, including sprinter Marshall Shoquist (Minneapolis), who would lift the Dragons into conference and regional prominence. Sprinters Lloyd Cordner, Tony Jones and Ron Monsegue from Trinidad made an instant imprint, and Monsegue would later compete … state of Kentucky.
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