It may not be a certified, take –the-day-off kind of holiday, but Homecoming sure seems like one. A much anticipated annual fall tradition at most colleges and universities, it’s a time to rekindle old memories, take another trip down memory lane and catch up with some old pals. And, oh yes, there’s some football to be played as well.
Homecoming is as much about college life as soaring tuition, mid-term breaks and final exams, a feature attraction of any collegiate football schedule. Minnesota State Moorhead will add another chapter to its Homecoming lore on Saturday when it welcomes longtime Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference sidekick Bemidji State. Dragon-Beaver Homecoming meetings have become almost an annual rite at both schools with the Battle Axe at stake as well. Since the 1978 season MSUM and BSU and collided nine times and the Dragons holds a 7-2 advantage.
No matter the opponent, Homecomings have generated special memories for Dragon loyalists. In 1968, junior All-American runningback Mike Quirk led the nation in rushing, and the Chisholm chiropractor can trace at least some of his success to a 269-yard bounty in a 48-19 blitz of Michigan Tech.
During Ross Fortier’s remarkable 23-year run as head coach at Moorhead State the Dragons built a 17-6 Homecoming advantage, and it didn’t take Fortier long to make his imprint.
In 1970, during his first year on the job, the patchwork Dragons stunned the Antelopes of nationally-ranked Kearney State (NE) 24-22 at Alex Nemzek Stadium. Heroes were in plentiful supply, including backup quarterback Gary Turnberg. When starting QB Dan Woodbury was shelved with an injury, Turnberg was summoned from the Dragon bench and his steady hand helped preserve the satisfying.
(A longtime head football coach at Dawson-Boyd High School, Gary is the older brother of Dragon starting center and Hall of Famer Gerry Turnberg, but today he is best recognized as the father of Red River Valley media star Michelle Turnberg).
Moorhead State followed with shutout victories over Winona State, 34-0 in 1971, and Southwest Minnesota State, 31-0 in 1972, and toppled Minnesota-Morris 20-10 in 1973 before St. Cloud State handed Fortier his first Homecoming defeat, 29-17, in 1974.
There would be other stinging defeats along the line as well, including a 17-15 loss to Winona State in 1975 and a 33-28 ambush by Bemidji State in 1983. Northern State quarterback Dale Lardy completed 24 of 33 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Wolves to a shocking 55-30 victory before a stunned crowd in 1990.
Still, there were plenty of highwater marks to celebrate. MSUM pelted Winona State 57-0 during the Dragons’ 10-0-1 run in 1981 and the number one ranking on the final NAIA Division I national poll.
In 1982 Jerry Allen (130) and Randy Sullivan (122) supplied a bulk of a solid rushing game, Dennis Eastman pitched two touchdown passes and Brad Pierson returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in a satisfying 30-20 victory over Minnesota Duluth.
In 1985 All-American Troy Hendricks (148) and Burt Roberts (122) combined for 270 rushing yards in a 14-7 triumph over Bemidji State and in 1989 Bob Jones ran for three touchdowns and passed for another in a 46-12 victory over BSU. In 1991 the Dragons raced to a 35-0 halftime cushion and cruised to a 42-7 victory over the Beavers in their march to the NSIC title and a trip to the NAIA post-season playoffs.
Ralph Micheli replaced Fortier as head coach at MSU Moorhead in 1993 and extended the mastery over Bemidji State with a 36-16 romp. In 1994 Mark Messer ignited another victory over Minnesota Duluth, 17-7, with 144 rushing yards. In 1995 eight different Dragons scored touchdowns in a 51-7 rout of Minnesota Morris, another frustrating moment that pushed the Cougars a notch closer to ultimately leaving the NSIC.
Micheli would post seven victories in his first nine Homecoming opportunities, but UMD, a longtime NSIC championship protagonist, would draw some revenge and spoil the run with victories in 1996, 39-22, and 37-34 in 1998.
Last fall MSUM celebrated Homecoming with a 24-13victory over Minnesota, Crookston. Providing a satisfying sequel today against Bemidji State will be a tall order, but the Dragons can lean on tradition and emotion for added support. Perhaps it’s enough.
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