DRAGON ATHLETICS
Dragon TALES
DRAGON TALES
By Larry Scott, MSU Moorhead Sports Information Director
Another chapter will be added to one of college football’s grandest rivalries on Saturday when Minnesota State University Moorhead and backyard rival Concordia College stage their annual non-conference revival at Jake Christiansen Stadium.
The series may date to 1920 and the presidential regime of Woodrow Wilson, but the intensity and passion remains as state-of-the-art as ever. Following a pair of rewarding seasons, Concordia College entered last year’s showdown at Alex Nemzek Stadium as substantial favorites, but rookie head coach Damon Tomeo and the young Dragons stunned the Cobbers with a 28-7 victory. All-American safety Josh Jones matched the Dragons’ single game record with three pass interceptions while junior transfer Justin Long completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
History has taught all to be wary and expect the unexpected when Concordia and MSU Moorhead gather. Indeed, upsets have been plentiful in the ancient rivalry. In 1970, new head coach Ross Fortier prodded his patchwork Dragons to a 20-20 tie with the veteran Cobbers, the reigning NAIA national championship runnerup. In 1976, Ed Schultz, a transfer from University of Richmond with a rocket arm and a real willingness to talk, sparked the Dragons to a 14-7 victory that ended a five-game Cobber win streak and provided a wonderful jumpstart of sorts for the future national talk show host.
It is a remarkable rivalry that has produced future teachers, doctors, lawyers, business leaders, professional football players, coaches, professional strength coaches, national political observers and even a professional wrestler, Dragons all.
MSUM MEMOS. . . . Tickets for Saturday’s Power Bowl IX meeting between MSU Moorhead and Concordia College are on sale at both athletic departments. Advance tickets are priced at $7 for adults and $5 for students and game officials encourage purchasing tickets in advance to miss the long lines prior to kickoff. . . . . BECKY ANDERSON, a four-year volleyball letterwinner at MSU Moorhead, is the new head coach at Minnesota prep stronghold Alexandria High School. . . . . Former Dragon runningback CORTEZ EVANS is a member of the football staff at Macalester College. . . . . The Dragon soccer team will pack a 0-1 record for a weekend trip to Augustana College (Saturday) and University of Sioux Falls (Sunday). . . . . MSUM makes its 2007 NSIC volleyball debut against Winona State September 7 at Alex Nemzek Hall. . . . . MSUM men and women open the 2007 cross-country season at the North Dakota University Invitational at Rose Creek golf course in Fargo, ND at 5 p.m. on Thursday. . . . . MITCH McLEOD, a former starting wide receiver at MSUM and head baseball coach at North Dakota State, has been named Director of Athletics at Detroit Lakes High School, replacing another ex-Dragon, RICK MANKE. . . . . Former Dragon quarterback PAUL CLARK has joined the football staff at Roseau High School. . . . . Junior safety JOSH JONES, a first team DAKTRONICS All-American as a sophomore, shares the NSIC Pre-Season Defensive Player of the Year award with Zach Stafford of Bemidji State. Jones ranked second nationally with 10 interceptions in 11 games as a sophomore. Jones has been tabbed a first team pre-season All-American by Football Gazette and second team by D2football.com. . . . . Dragon football games are broadcast over ESPN Radio 1660 AM. Steve d’Eustachio returns for his 10th season as play-by-play announcer while Mike Larson will provide commentary. All Dragon games are also available on the World Wide Web at www.msumdragons.com. . . . . JASON WAGNER, a former starting linebacker at University of North Dakota and a onetime Dragon assistant coach, has been named a member of the football coaching staff at UND. . . . .
