Ten Things You Need to Know About the 1987 Football Team

1987 MSU Football team

This week is unquestionably one of the best weeks to be a Maverick.

Not only is it Homecoming, but the annual Minnesota State Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony is slated for Friday, as well.

And, as usual, this year's induction Class is exceptional.  Trackster Dale Bahr was the national indoor 800m champion in 1992.  Goaltender Ken Hilgert backstopped the men's hockey Mavericks to a third-place finish at the NCAA DIII national tournament in 1985-86.  Mankato native Pat Coleman was an All-American and the North Central Conference's Most Outstanding Men's Basketball Player in 1995-86 and besides being one of MSU's all-time top second basemen, Theresa Mackey held several school offensive records when she completed her MSU career in 1993-94.

The MSU football team from 1987 was unique for several reasons and here's the top ten things you need to know about them.

1. The Mavericks ran the option and set a school record for rushing yards in a season with 3,607 yards and total offense (4,212 yards) in 1987.
2. This team went 9-3 and set a school record for wins and games played in a season.
3. This team went 8-1-0 in conference games en route to the school's first North Central Conference title.
4. Sophomore linebacker J.R. Buckley led the team in tackles with a school-record 158 stops.
5. MSU completed only two touchdown passes all season.  Tony Diggs, who led the Mavericks in receiving in '87 with 29 catches, had both TD receptions.  One came in the last regular-season game of the year and one came in the play-off game at Portland State.  No other MSU player had more than eight receptions or had a TD reception.
6. This team was the first football team to participate in the NCAA tournament when it played a quarterfinal game at Portland State.  The Mavericks lost to the Vikings 27-21 in a game that ended controversially when MSU thought it had completed a pass into the endzone. Officials ruled the pass incomplete when the Maverick receiver was stripped of the ball by a PSU defender.
7. MSU's win at North Dakota State snapped a 19-game home field undefeated streak by the Bison.
8. QB Greg Von der Lippe was named the NCC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Mavericks to a win at Northern Colorado Oct. 3. He was hurt in the game and his MSU career was finished.  Back-up Mike McDevitt stepped in and led the Mavericks to a 5-2 mark in MSU's remaining seven games.
9. The Mavericks had four players with at least 400 rushing yards on the 1987 roster in Dave Scofield (899), Mike McDevitt (799), Tony Jones (525) and Greg Von Der Lippe (437).
10. MSU went 3-8 the next year.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Posit - Kendra and Lisa

A couple of days before Jim Rueda of the Mankato Free Press published his "I was wrong about Kendra" article, which appeared on July 18, we were discussing where Kendra Huettl stacks up compared to other great Mavericks.  Both in this era and previous eras.

Whereas JR's column talked about his perception five years ago as to whether or not Kendra, a Mankato native, would be able to have an impact as a softball player with the Mavericks (she did), our conversation was one in which now that her career is over, is there anyone, male or female, who has been as successful on and off the court as Kendra has been?

Kendra is probably the most decorated student-athlete in the history of the school. By decorated we are referring to awards she has won.  And, in fairness to other great MSU student-athletes (of which there are many), the opportunity to win awards nowadays is much greater than it was 25 years ago. There are many more organizations doling out awards, athletic departments are doing a better job of publicizing accomplishments and the web has opened the door for more people to have a say, so current intercollegiate student-athletes have more opportunities to get recognition.

That being said, there's no denying Kendra's greatness as a softball player during her time at MSU which spans the last four seasons (five if you count a redshirt year).  She holds school records for career strike outs and appearances and ranks highly in several other statistical categories as well. And while she was a NSCA Third Team All-America this year, it was her academic accomplishments that seperate her from the rest of the field. Named the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for DII Softball this year (along with just about every other conceivable award she could win), she had a 3.99 grade point average and graduated with a degree in nursing.   She's one of our all-time top softball players and will be remembered as one of the school's top all-around student athletes.

Her MSU doppleganger, albeit from a different era, is women's basketball player Lisa (Walters) Sukalski. Inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, Lisa was a silky and graceful forward/center who led the Mavericks to their first-ever women's basketball North Central Conference title and first-ever NCAA tournament appearance as a sophomore in 1985-86.  Lisa, who like Huettl was the national Academic All-America of Year for her sport, MSU's top female student-athlete and the league's top female student-athlete as a senior, owns several of MSU's scoring and rebounding career records. The Henderson, Minn., native epitomized the term student-athlete, combining success on and off the court. And, again not unlike Kendra, one of Lisa's most likable traits was that it was pretty obvious that while she appreciated the awards, her focus was on the team and on her school work.

Lisa, who spent a year playing professionally in Sweden after graduating from MSU, was inducted into MSU's Hall of Fame immediately after becoming eligible following ten years after playing for the Mavericks.

We fully expect that Kendra will follow a similar path.

It's great to be a Maverick.

Back in the Day - Vikings Move to Mankato

University press release announcing that the Minnesota Vikings
would begin holding their
summer training camp in Mankato beginning in 1966

One of the great things about our office is you never know what you'll find and research projects oftentimes get waylaid by something you come upon by happenstance.

This happened a few years ago when I found a box of files that apparently had once belonged to former MSU football coach and athletic director Bob Otto.  The box contained a variety of files not necessarily related to each other, but undoubtedly related to the goings-on within the athletics department during his tenure as men's AD from 1970-83. And, as it turns out, carried over some files from one of his predecessors, John Hodapp.

Hopdapp served as MSU's director of men's athletics from 1964-68 and was here during the time that negotiations took place to bring the Minnesota Vikings to Mankato for summer training camp.  The Vikings had spent the summers of 1961 through 1965 in Bemidji, but as we all know, eventually moved to Mankato for camp in 1966 and have been here ever since.  Eric Stromgren writes in his Up North Sports Report that there's some question as to why camp moved, but alludes to the fact Mankato being closer was one of the primary reasons.

In any event, a plain folder in the box entitled Minnesota Vikings contains a number of documents including training camp contracts, news paper clippings, receipts and various financial statements. There's also correspondence between former Vikings general manager Jim Finks, former Vikings coach Bud Grant, Otto and Hodapp.

While some things haven't changed all that much (with the exception of the one summer that the Vikings were housed in Julia Sears Residence Community, they've always been housed in Gage for example), a couple of things from the first contract stand out. Yes, training camp was longer with the first camp in 1966 running from July 12 through August 31.  And while I don't know what the Vikings pay for lodging and three meals a day now, but back in 1966 the cost was $7.90 per man per day. Also, back in 1966, an attached "special services contract" indicates that the Vikings paid a rental fee of $1,000 for the use of the football fields, locker rooms, showers, equipment room and training room.

Things seemed a lot simpler back then.

Have a great weekend.  It's great to be a Maverick.

Maverick, Huskies Hoops Rivalry Corralled

As the old phrase goes, all good things must come to an end and no, we aren’t talking about the McRib’s stay at your local McDonalds, but instead, the 34-year run of Minnesota State and St. Cloud State playing their traditional home and home in basketball. 

Head men’s basketball coach Matt Margenthaler announced the 25-game schedule today with four nonconference games and a 21-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule (you can view the schedule by clicking HERE).  After a double-and-triple take I came to the realization that MSU and SCSU will only play once this year and here is why.

As most of you know by now, the NSIC welcomes Sioux Falls and Minot State this season, pushing the league to 16 teams.  In both men’s and women’s basketball – along with many other sports – the league will be split into a north and south division in order to accommodate scheduling.  

That being said, Minnesota State will play in the South Division while league rival St. Cloud State will participate in the North Division.  Since MSU plays every team in their division twice (SMSU, Augustana, Sioux Falls, Concordia, Wayne State, Upper Iowa and Winona State) it will only play the Northern Division (Bemidji State, St. Cloud State, Minnesota Duluth, MSU Moorhead, Northern State, MSU Moorhead, Minot State and U-Mary) teams once.  

So, that leads us to this year’s schedule.  Due to the unbalanced schedule, MSU plays St. Cloud State just once this year – and most likely every year in the near future.  This year’s contest is slated for Jan. 18 at Hallenbeck Hall on the campus of St. Cloud State.

While it’s not the rivalry of Michigan/Michigan State, North Carolina Duke, etc., the St. Cloud State/MSU rivalry is a pretty darn good one.  Over the past 34 years the two teams have faced each other at least twice a year – and on nine occasions they have faced off three times in a year.  As cliché as it sounds, the match-up is generally always one that you can “throw the records out the window when these two teams play” type of game.  

Despite the fact that SCSU owns an 88-78 record all-time against MSU, the series has become extremely competitive with Margenthaler at the helm.  Over the past 26 games (SCSU owns a 15-11 edge during that span), the total point differential between the two teams is two points (2,041 for MSU, 2,039 for St. Cloud State).  Five games have been decided by three points or less and 12 games have been decided by ten points or less.   Finally, the Mavericks average margin of victory in the series is 12.5 points while SCSU’s average margin is 9.8 points.  Needless to say the two teams get after each other every time on the court. 

However, maybe as in the case with life, maybe absence will make the heart grow fonder.  While we’re not calling for a love fest between the two teams, but maybe the fact that this year – since we only play the Huskies once – the Mavericks can have a large following up to Hallenbeck Hall for that Friday evening game and vise versa next year when the Huskies travel to the Taylor Center. 

 

Speaking of schedules, the men’s and women’s cross country schedules, men’s and women’s indoor track schedules, men’s hockey schedules, soccer, volleyball and football schedules for next year are all online.  It should be safe to say that the women’s basketball schedule should be announced in the near future as well.  As always stay tuned to www.msumavericks.com for more information. 

True Grit

In sandpaper terms, grit refers to the number of abrasive particles per inch of sandpaper. The lower the grit the rougher the sandpaper and conversely, the higher the grit number the smoother the sandpaper. You’re going to need #40 if you want to strip some paint off that chest of drawers and #600 if you want to knock the dust nibs off of your wood project.

Grit relative to sport is not as easily definable, but usually is used to describe a team’s or player’s resilience, sticktuitiveness, self-sacrifice, toughness, etc. No matter what sport, a player who is said to be “gritty” will undoubtedly have a big “want to” factor. These are the kind of heart-and-soul players every team wants and all good teams have them.

Having worked in the department since 1985, it’s relatively easy to point to several instances where we’ve seen evidence of Maverick student-athletes that were of the #40 grit variety.

John Kelling

Safety John Kelling was named to three All-America teams as a senior in 1991 and was recognized as the National Defensive Player of the Year by the Football Gazette. A player who came to MSU as a walk-on, but was starting by the end of his freshman season, Kelling was a hard-hitting, athletic player who was a part of a stifling MSU defense that helped the Mavericks to a NCAA play-off appearance in 1991. The Rochester, Minn., native, who was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2004, played the last four games of his junior season with a cast on a broken right hand. He finished that year with a team-high four interceptions.

Football defensive back Donnell Boyer, who also played outfield for the Minnesota State baseball team, cracked his sternum during a kick-off return his junior season in a game vs. Bemidji State in 2001 and continued to play. The Maverick football team of the early 1990’s threw the ball a ton and we saw wide receiver John Davis (1993-97) get up after taking an unbelievably hard hit over the middle and continue to play. As did another diminutive receiver, Jeff Spikner (1992-95). Running back Sean Treasure, who played in 2004 and 2005, was ran out of bounds on the visitor’s sideline where he dropped after smacking into the unforgiving Blakeslee Stadium cement infrastructure. He, too, stayed in the game.

Men’s hockey defenseman Tyler Elbrecht suffered a broken arm in the first game of the 2011-12 season and was said to be out for a minimum of eight weeks. Yet, less than six weeks after having surgery in which a rod and screws were inserted to piece his radius and ulna back together, Elbrecht was back on the ice, manning the blue line in a game vs. the University of Minnesota.

Third baseman Geno Glynn, who recently signed as a pitcher with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association, was named MVP of the 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament. The following weekend, the Mavericks headed to Grand Junction, Colo., where they played in the NCAA Central Region tournament. Glynn, who hit .545 (12-for-22) with nine runs scored, two home runs and 10 RBI in five games at the 2009 NSIC tourney, continued to hit at the regional, but a debilitating hamstring injury limited him to designated hitter’s duties. Glynn drilled a couple of balls into the gap, but instead of sliding into second for doubles, the line drives were just long singles as Glynn limped down to first where he would be replaced by a pinch runner.

Theresa Mackey, a second baseman, played softball for the Mavericks from 1991-94. The Boone, Iowa native stood atop nine different career statistical categories upon graduation and was named MSU’s senior female student-athlete of the year in 1994. There was a time where Mackey took a ground ball in the face during pregame at Caswell Park in North Mankato. It was a bad one, with the bad hop breaking her nose and sending her to the emergency room for repairs. She made it back in time to start MSU’s second game that day.

Amanda Umhoefer

Most recently, the MSU softball team was hosting NCAA Division II Central Region games on campus. The Mavericks were playing Concordia and second baseman Amanda Umhoefer, was batting. With the count 1-0, Umhoefer took a cut at a rising fastball which, subsequently, deflected back into her face. The Mankato native took a ride to the emergency room and the next day with a bandage covering her stitched up nose and sunglasses hiding a couple of black eyes, there she was, back out at second base. “There was no way that I wasn’t going to play,” said the fifth-year senior.

There are many other examples. Andy Mazurek, an All-North Central Conference center along the offensive line for the football Mavericks from 1993-96, started all four years and although he must have played with bumps, bruises and other infirmaries during that time, didn’t miss one game, having played in 46 straight contests. National champion wrestler Jason Rhoten, along with basketball guards Joe Williams and Tiffany Moe come to mind. Men’s hockey forward B.J. Abel and baseball catcher Matt Haefner, too, were gamers. There are countless outhers.

It’s also a tribute to our athletic trainers and team doctors that these student-athletes have always been game-ready.

It’s great to be a gritty Maverick!

Added Value



Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato

 Undeniably, it's been an unbelievable run for the Minnesota State baseball team here the last couple of weeks.

The Mavericks captured the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title and as the top team in the league, was the number one seed at the NSIC post-season tournament. It was pre-determined that MSU would serve as the host for the six-team go-round, but having the tournament in Mankato would mean that the Mavericks would advantageously sleep in their own beds for the duration of the four-day event.  MSU won the tournament and as the top seed in the region, earned the right to host a regional for the first time since 1988. Again the Mavericks were successful, winning all four games this past week at Franklin Rogers Park and earning a trip to the NCAA DII National Championship Tournament. 

The Mavericks, who stand 48-10 for the season, will not be sleeping in their own beds for the national tournament, with the eight regional championship teams from around the country all meeting in Cary, N.C., beginning this Saturday to determine the best in the land.

Hosting postseason league events is nothing new for Minnesota State Athletics. And, in fact, NCAA regional and national events have also become the norm.  Especially when you take a glance at the last five years.

The 2011-12
Hosted NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships
Hosted NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships
Hosted NSIC Soccer Tournament
Hosted NCAA DII Softball Central SubRegion Tournament
Hosted NSIC Baseball Tournament
Hosted NCAA DII Baseball Central Region Tournament

2010-11
Hosted NSIC Soccer Tournament
Hosted NCAA DII Central Region Tournament (MBB)
Hosted First Round NSIC Tournament Game (MBB)
Hosted NSIC Baseball Tournament
Hosted NCAA DII Softball Central Sub-Region Tournament
Hosted Midwest Conference Diving Championships

2009-10
Hosted NCAA DII Football Playoff Game
Hosted NCAA DII Central Region Tournament (MBB)
Hosted NCAA DII Women’s Golf Regional
First Round NSIC Tournament Game (MBB)

2008-09
Hosted NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament (WBB)
Hosted First Round NSIC Tournament Game (MBB)
Hosted First Round NSIC Tournament Game (WBB)

2007-08
Hosted NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships
Hosted NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships
Hosted WCHA Men’s Hockey First-Round Series
Hosted First Round NCC Tournament Game (MBB)
Hosted NCAA DII Central Region Wrestling Tournament
NCAA DII Soccer Central Regional
NCC Soccer Tournament

A few observations.

27 events in the last five years. The last two conference baseball tournaments, the track & field, golf, wrestling and swimming events - hosting has been earned by MSU teams as regular-season league champions. So, for the most part, the high number of events is indicative of our extremely successful programs. And it hasn't just been one program.  It's been several.

The Greater Mankato Convention and Visitors Bureau recently was quoted as saying that the NSIC postseason baseball tournament brings an estimated $80,000 worth of economic impact to town. While we don't have all the numbers, it's safe to assume that the Mavericks vs. Gophers men's hockey postseason series, in which Verizon Wireless Center was packed to the rafters for three straight scintillating games in March of 2008, would provide a much higher number.  Same thing for the men's basketball regional in 2009-10 and the women's basketball regional in 2008-09. So there's a financial effect.

Lastly, while there's a strong belief that hosting postseason events provides a competitive advantage for our teams, something earned through regular season success, there's also the long-term benefit. One in which such events allows us to proudly showcase our facilities, the University and the city. These events bring back alumni and provide opportunities to make positive impressions on future students and student-athletes.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Ties That Bind

Bob Matuska was a
quarterback for the Mavericks
in the late '70s-early '80s
while his sister Kathy was
a member of the women's
basketball team from 1980-84

Fathers, Sons, Mothers, Daughters, Brothers, Sisters.  Grandfathers, even

It struck us recently following a Minnesota State softball game, one in which the Erickson sisters (Chelsea and Lindsey) had yet again played key roles in another Maverick victory, that there have been several families involved with our successes over the years.

And by families, we were referring to multiple members of a single family who had played varsity athletics for the Mavericks over the years.

So we started putting together a list and came up with several families which had more than one member who played a sport at MSU.  This list appears below and, yes, it's a partial list (c'mon, it was off the top of our heads).  Send us a note if you know of others and we'll add them.

Some quick observations - not always, but for the most part, the families stick to one sport within that family (softball players play softball, pole vaulters pole vault, etc). And, again for the most part, we're talking team sports amongst the individual sport cohorts. Not always, but most of the time.

And while brother combinations are the most common, sister groupings like the three volleyball-playing Sandstroms aren't that far behind.  There have been fathers and sons who have competed for teams at MSU, along with mothers and daughters, but probably the most unique tie comes from the Swanson family.  Grandfather Ken played basketball for MSC from 1947-50 and was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988. His granddaughters Amy and Angie played hoops for the Mavericks from 1992-96 and 1996-2000, respectively.

They say that blood is thicker than water. If so, then these folks must be bleeding purple!

Andrews - Glenda (volleyball, 1981-82), Arin (basketball, 2002-06), Alex (basketball, 2005-09), (mother & siblings)
Black - Bryant (golf, 2006-10), Bennett (golf, 2010-SA),  (siblings)
Bresnahan - Bob (baseball, 1977-80), Jay (baseball, 2006-09, Jamie (basketball, 2011-SA) (father & siblings)
Davis - Carl (hockey, 1975-79), Kurt (hockey, 2007-11) (father & son)
Dusosky - Shannon (soccer, 1997-2000), Amber (soccer, 1999-2003) (siblings)

Carroll - Mike (baseball & hockey 1975-80), Steve (hockey, 1977-81), Pat (hockey, 1981-85) (siblings)

Connelly - Steve (football, 1989-92), Craig (football, 1993-96) (siblings)

Englehart - Marie (soccer, 1998-01), Michelle (soccer, 1998-01) (siblings)

Erickson - Chelsea (softball, 2009-12), Lindsey (softball, 2011-SA) (siblings)
Essel - Buzz (hockey, 1972-76), Bill (hockey, 1974-78) (siblings)
Follmer - Jim (hockey, 1979-82), Pat (hockey, 1974-77), Tom (hockey, 1985-86) (siblings)
Forliti - Steve (hockey, 1977-81), Pat (hockey, 1985-87) (siblings)
Glynn - Gene (baseball & basketball, 1975-79), Geno (baseball, 2006-08) (father & son) 
Heller - Brent (football, 1998-01), Brian (football, 1998-01) (siblings)
Johnson - Randy (baseball, 1980-83), Nolan (baseball, 2010-SA) (father & son)
Johnson - Steve (wrestling, 1969-71), Ross (wrestling, 1995-97) (father & son)
Jutting - Troy (hockey, 1982-86), Todd (hockey, 1985-89), Trent (hockey, 1989-90) (siblings)
Kelly - Tim (football, 1982-85), Marty (football, 1984-87), Pat (football, 1990-93, Kathy (volleyball), Nancy (softball, volleyball, 1986-89) (siblings)
Klinsing - Marti (soccer, 2007-08), Danni (soccer, 2001-04) (siblings) 
Knoll - Dale (basketball & baseball, 1939-42), Dean (basketball, baseball, TF, 1940-46) (siblings) 
Lepel - Joel (baseball, 1976-80), Tim (baseball, 1985-88), Tom (baseball, 1985-88) (siblings)
Mackley - Brittany (hockey, 2004-08), Ariel (hockey, 2008-12) (siblings) 
Matuska - Bob (football 1978-81), Kathy (women's basketball, 1980-84) (siblings)
McElvogue - Brooke (softball, 2006-09), Courtney (softball, 2010-SA) (siblings)
Morrow - Jake (basketball, 2005-09), Taylor (basketball, 2007-11) (siblings) 
Noreen - Joanne (basketball, 2005-09), Jenny (basketball, 2008-12) (siblings)

Norgren - Aaron (wrestling, 2008-SA), Paul (wrestling, 2010-12) (siblings)

Odegaard - Greg (baseball, 1980-81), Chris (baseball, 2007-09), Matt (baseball, 2008-12) (father & sons)
O'Brien - Dan (baseball, 1972-76), Connor (basketball, 2011-SA), (father & son)

Peterson - Cevin (TF, 1974-77), A.J. (TF, 2001-05) (father & son)

Pfenning - Nikki (soccer, 1995-98), Jen (1997-2000) (siblings)
Saatzer - Dan (hockey, 1977-78), Dave (hockey, 1975-79) (siblings)
Sandstrom - Kari (volleyball, 2001-04), Stef (volleyball, 2004-07), Kelly (volleyball, 2006-10) (siblings)

Schuck - Mark (basketball, cc/tf, 1966-70), Angie (track & field, 1988-90) (father & daughter)

Schweizer - Frank (cross country/tf, 1956-60), Mike (cross country/tf, 1986-90) (father & son)

Stadum - Chad (baseball, 1991-95), Jeremy (baseball, 1994-98) (siblings)

Sudbeck - Adam (baseball, 2004-07), Jeremy (baseball, 2012) (siblings)
Stuart - Ed (track & field, 1977-82), Adrian (track & field, 2001-05) (father & son)
Swanson - Ken (basketball, football & baseball, 1947-50), Amy (basketball, 1992-96), Angie (basketball, 1996-00) (grandfather & siblings)
Walters - Cheryl (basketball, 1983-87), Lisa (basketball, 1984-88) (siblings)
Van Gilder - Wade (baseball, 19994-97), Ryan (baseball, 1995-97) (siblings) 
Weldon - Dan (football, 1999-02), Matt (football, 2000-03) (siblings)
Weller - Dale (baseball, 1963-65), Dan (baseball, 1965-69) (siblings) 
Wolle - Mike (basketball, 1991-95), Kris (volleyball, basketball, 1999-03) (siblings)
Woodall - Larry (baseball, 1976-79), Dan (baseball, 2005-07) (father & son)
Ziemke - Josh (basketball, 1998-04), Jared (basketball & football, 1999-03) (siblings) 

Others receiving votes:  Bowyer (Dean didn't play here, but the longtime Maverick skipper coached his son Shane, who did), Kaus (Ben played baseball and basketball and younger brother Nick is currently a redshirt with the baseball team), Ries (softball recruit Coley's mom, Sue, played tennis from 1979-81) and McCann (tennis recruit Sarah is the daughter of Ron, who played baseball here from 1978-80).

It's great to be a Maverick (family)!

Spring Hockey

Former Maverick forward
Ryan Carter is a member of the
New Jersey Devils

Nope, not quite ready to name the new head coach yet, but thought we could take a look at a few things Maverick Hockey related.

Former Minnesota State men's hockey forwards David Backes and Ryan Carter are about to embark on the 2012 Stanley Cup play-offs with St. Louis (Backes) taking on San Jose and New Jersey (Carter) playing Florida in best-of-seven first-round series.  The St. Louis vs. San Jose series starts Thursday and the New Jersey vs. Florida tussle begins Friday.

Carter, incidentally, brought the Cup back to Mankato after his team (Anaheim) won it in 2007.  Also, Backes is being mentioned as one of the top candidates for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward. Stories related to this development are located HERE, HERE and HERE.

Other former Mavericks still in regular-season action in the American Hockey League include Jon Kalinski (Norfolk), Travis Morin (Texas), Kael Mouillierat (Bridgeport), Tyler Pitlick (Oklahoma City) and Ben Youds (Rockford). The AHL regular season ends this week and it looks like that while Norfolk, Bridgeport and Oklahoma City will make the play-offs, Texas and Rockford will not.  The current league standings are located HERE.

A bevy of former Mavericks have plied their trade in the East Coast Hockey League this year and with eight teams still alive in the 2011-12 play-offs, there's still a few who wore the purple and gold playing.  Defenseman Channing Boe's Las Vegas Wranglers start their quarterfinal series with Idaho Monday.  Joe Schiller, who just completed his four-year MSU career, saw action in eight games at the end of the regular season with Las Vegas, but hasn't seen any play-off action. Forward Michael Dorr plays for South Carolina and the Stingrays are slated to start their series vs. Kalamazoo Friday.  Forward Zach Harrison is in his second season with Alaska and the Aces play Stockton beginning Friday. And the Florida Everblades, who boast Trevor Bruess and Rylan Galiardi, are scheduled to take on Elmira starting Friday.

A complete listing of former Mavericks who played professional hockey this year is located HERE.

Former Maverick defenseman Chad Brownlee's new single - Smoke in the Rain - ranks 11th on the Canadian Country Music charts.  Here's the video:

A couple of MSU men's hockey recruits appeared in Central Scouting's final rankings with Teddy Blueger of Shattuck-St. Mary's coming in at 116 amongst North American skaters and Stephon Williams, who plays for Sioux Falls of the USHL, rated 34th on the North American goaltenders list.  The lists are located HERE.

Emilia Andersson, a member of the Minnesota State women's hockey program, is playing for Sweden at the IIHF Women's World Championships in Buffalo, N.Y., April 7-14 in Burlington, Vt.  Former Maverick forward Nina Tikkinen, who won a bronze medal playing for Finland at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, is playing, as well.

It's great to be a Maverick!

In the Long Run

Rummy Macias coached the
Maverick Wrestling program for
38 years

One of our departmental interns recently asked if our softball coach, Lori Meyer, had been coaching here as long as Dean Bowyer.

The answer was "not quite," but it also got the wheels turning as to where Lori's time here fits in relative to longevity.

Meyer, a 1982 Upper Iowa grad who served as a graduate assistant coach with the MSU softball and volleyball teams for a couple of years prior to being selected to guide the Maverick Softball program in 1984-85, is in her 28th year as a head coach and enters this weekend with a career won-loss mark of 909-571-3.

Bowyer, who spent four years as the head coach of the baseball program at Minot State prior to coming on board here in 1976-77, built a 990-487-7 mark in 32 years with the Mavericks and was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2009.

Georgene Brock spent 33 years as MSU's Director of Women's Athletics from 1965 through 1998, but no female coach has been as tenured as long as Meyer. Women's golf coach Nick Campa currently is in his 21st year and Phil Rhoade coached women's swimming for 21 years. Mary Willerscheidt had a 19-year stint with the women's basketball program.

Not unlike Brock, C.P. Blakeslee, whose name adorns our football stadium, spent forty years in Mankato, serving as an administrator and coach from 1921-62.  Blakeslee, who was the school's AD from 1924-38, coached several sports, including football, basketball, golf, gymnastics track and baseball, but none longer than 27 years.

Including a 13-year period from 1970-83 as men's AD, Bob Otto had a 29-year run in Mankato.  He coached the football program for 17 years and the men's basketball program for one year.

Hall of Famer Paul Waldorf had two periods in which he coached men's tennis that totalled 27 years (1949-65 and 1966-77).

Earl "Bud" Myers, who worked at MSU from 1949-78, guided the men's track program for 23 years from 1949-1973, along with the men's cross country program from 1956-1978, a 23-year span.

Don Brose spent 30 years as head coach of the Maverick Men's Hockey program,  amassing a 536-335-79 record from 1969-2000.

Mark Schuck, the men's head track & field coach for 14 years, just completed his 33rd year as head coach of the men's cross country program.

Legendary Rummy Macias, who will celebrate his 90th birthday this summer, came to Mankato in 1950 to start the MSU wrestling program and 38 years later, following the 1987-88 season, he retired with a career record of 299-207-12.

So, the all-time coaching career years list goes like this: Macias (38 years), Schuck (33 years and still active), Bowyer (32 years), Brose (30 years), Meyer (28 and still active), Blakeslee (27), Waldorf (27), Myers (23), Rhoade (21), Campa (21) and Willerscheidt (19).

Some amazing names mentioned there.  People with buildings named after them and people in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. A MSU Athletics Mount Rushmore, if you will.

While we're not sure that Schuck will surpass Macias, it's likely that Meyer and Campa will to continue to move up the list.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Mixed Bag

Deb (Westrum) Nicholson had
school-record 51 doubles
during her four years with
the Mavericks (1994-97)

Lots of thoughts are crossing the mind this morning as we set out to provide another installment on MavBlog.

Scott Nelsen, intrepid softball historian that he is, had tweeted a couple of days ago that Deb Westrum was Minnesota State's career doubles leader.  This is, in fact, true.  Westrum, who played for the Mavericks from 1994-97, had 51 two-baggers during the course of her four-year career.

And this started me wondering, given the success that MSU has had over the years and given the individual talent that the program has boasted during this time, what's the oldest mark still standing in the record books?

Well, suffice it say, Westrum's mark has withstood the test of time.  Lori Doffing, an All-America outfielder for the Mavericks in the 1980's, had 13 triples in her two seasons at MSU (1986-87).  Kari Hudson also produced 13 triples in four seasons from 2004-07 to own a share of the school's career triples record with Doffing.

Westrum, who is married to former MSU baseball graduate assistant coach Eddie Nicholson and teaches physical education in West Des Moines, still ranks #1 on the career doubles list with Leah Hughes (MSU 1995-98) standing second at 43.  Technically, with Doffing's two seasons coming prior to Westrum's, a case could be made that hers is the oldest mark on the books.  Hudson, who played after both Doffing and Westrum, muddies the water somewhat.

But, while the career doubles and triples marks are now years old, the standards set by righthanded Carri Tschida during the mid-to-late 1980's leave no doubt as to which ones are the oldest pitching marks still standing. Tschida, a workhorse who threw during an era when the norm was one-workhorse pitching staffs, twice led the nation in wins and was a two-time All-American.  Inducted into MSU's Hall of Fame in 2000, Tschida completed career as MSU's all-time winningest pitcher with 97 wins and 1.32 earned run average.  She also owns school records for appearances, starts, innings, complete games, shutouts and strikeouts. Tschida played from 1986-89 and with the speedy Doffing on board, the Mavericks posted a third-place NCAA finish in 1987.

By the way, the oldest single-season offensive records both occurred in 1993 when catcher Angie Wagner posted a school-record nine triples along with a school-record .782 slugging percentage. In probably the most impressive offensive single season put together by a MSU softball individual, Wagner also established records (since surpassed) that year with 15 doubles (still ties for fourth), nine home runs (tied for ninth), 129 total bases (2nd) and .478 on base percentage (2nd). Wagner, incidentally, was a junior in 1993 and after deciding to concentrate on her nursing studies, didn't play as a senior.

Moving along with a couple of other things this fine, fine, fine March morning.

Northern State has selected Josh Moon as its new Director of Athletics.  Moon is an associate director of Athletics at Western Illinois.  St. Cloud State, meanwhile has announced that Heather Weems, an associate Director of Athletics at Drake, will replace long-time AD Morris Kurtz.

The Maverick baseball team, currently rated in the top 25 of three different national polls, opens its home schedule this weekend with four conference games (two Saturday, two Sunday) vs. Minnesota Duluth.  MSU is 9-3 on the season and with the weather illuminati predicting temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s,  those in attendance won't have to worry about how many blankets and jackets to bring along.

Speaking of baseball, Tom Powers of the Pioneer Press, cobbled together this piece on former MSU baseball and men's basketball great Gene Glynn.  Glynn, who will manage Rochester Redbirds (triple A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) this summer, was Minnesota high school's first Mr. Basketball.

It's great to be a Maverick!