SCOTTY'S STROLL: Former Dragon Kicker Gets Kick Out of Life After Footba

By Larry Scott, retired Sports Information Director

A young and inexperienced Minnesota State Moorhead offense had to endure some serious growing pains in 2010, and while there were clear signs of progress there was also a sizable spike in the workload of punter Pat Haynes. The junior from Pardeville, WI eclipsed the Dragons' single season record for punts with 74, surpassing the former standard of 70 set by Randy Bishoff in 1979.

While Bishoff's long-standing standard vanished, another Dragon special teams whiz from yesteryear--- Cory Schmidgall--- can take comfort in knowing he still maintains a firm grip on a couple of special teams records.

A native of Morris, Schmidgall built a seasonal average of 41.2 yards as a senior in 2000, a mark that still stands after 10 years. He also delivered a career high 178 punts in three seasons with the Dragons and still owns three of the top five punts in Dragon history, including an 81-yard bomb against Minnesota Morris in 2000.

Schmidgall was a second team All-NSIC choice as a sophomore.

A multi-talented prep star, Schmidgall was an All-West Central Conference selection in track and basketball and twice was decorated with all-state track honors. A three-sport captain, he helped the Tigers claim four district basketball titles and league championships in track and football. His father Doug also lettered in football at MSU Moorhead.

Schmidgall joined the Dragons on the rebound and spent three prosperous years at State.

“I started at Southwest State as a runningback in football and a shooter on the basketball team,” said Schmidgall. “My ankle problems cut that short, so I started only punting and kicking while playing hoops. After my first year playing receiver at MSUM, I had ankle reconstruction in the winter which stuck with me throughout my career. It was my kicking foot, and I always wonder if it helped or hurt my punting.”

One of Schmidgall's favorite memories is a 75-yard punt against backyard rival Concordia College in a rainy Power Bowl showdown.

Despite his booming resume, Schmidgall was ignored in the National Football League draft, but he wasn't about to abandon his professional dreams.

“After college, I moved to Lake View, IA to work for my dad and saved money to pursue the NFL dream. I also lived in Modesto, CA with my kicking coach for a couple of years while trying out, but an injury cut that stint short. I tried out two more times but never made it.”

Schmidgall put his punting dreams on hold.

“I settled back into life in Iowa where I've been the general manager of a precast concrete plant for seven years now while finishing up another degree in Business Administration. At one point, I took up Muay Thai kickboxing and made it to instructor level. I still play flag football every fall and have toyed with the idea of trying out for the (Iowa) Barnstormers.”?

“I have a wonderful wife, Lauren, an amazing person who actually understands my humor and can tolerate it. We have a great time doing about anything, and both enjoy working out and golfing. She is an Occupational Therapist, which means that after all my injuries I have someone who can take care of me.”

“We recently had our first little Dragon. Our son, Kane, was born on June 10, and I now understand how amazing it is to be a dad. He's doing great and starting to smile, which is the greatest thing ever. I can't wait to see what's next. We also have a little pug puppy named Roxy. She's the weirdest little thing I ever seen, comic relief for a tired mom and dad.”

While family comes first, Schmidgall still has special memories of his short but memorable career with the Dragons. “They are great memories, and I will never forget the teammates, wonderful guys with plenty of unique characters. From the meetings, fall camp, songs in the lunchroom and bus rides to away games, some of the best times were the ones I shared on the field with the guys I played with. All of them taught me a little bit about life and the fun of college. I was glad to be a part of the team. I've always felt football, in general, is parallel to many life lessons.”

SCOTTY'S STROLL: NSIC Linebacking Legend Celebrates Special Anniversary this Fall

By Larry Scott, retired Sports Information Director

The dawn of the Golden Age of Dragon football can be traced to 1970 and the arrival of Ross Fortier as head coach. The football fortunes at Moorhead State College began to change swiftly under Fortier's watch, and by year two the Dragons were ready to make a serious run at a Northern Intercollegiate Conference championship.

It was the beginning of a wondrous era that spanned nearly three decades, a reign that included eight conference titles and 10 trips to post-season play, but there were a few speed bumps along the way. Dick Sagehorn remembers all too well.

“The biggest disappointment was not winning my senior year,” remembers Sagehorn. “It still haunts and bothers me to think about it.”

During Sagehorn's final season at State in 1975, MSC, cursed by several narrow losses, slumped to a frustrating 2-7-0 finish. Despite the drop off, few could fault Sagehorn. A rock solid fixture at middle linebacker and the leading tackler for three years, he was clearly at his best as a senior and exited with All-NIC honors.

League coaches felt so strongly about his spirited contribution they also voted him as the Most Valuable Player award, a remarkable anointment for a player off a losing club.

The coronation as the league's best provided some consolation for Sagehorn.

“At the time it was a mixed emotion between having a losing season and winning the award. It was an honor, a kind of a thank you for how I tried to play the game of football.”

A graduate of tiny Bertha-Hewitt High School, Sagehorn was off the recruiting radar of most colleges. “I enrolled at Moorhead State in 1972 and was somewhat timid about playing football at that time. Moorhead State was known as a very physical football team, and I didn't feel I had come out of a strong program. My high school coach was Leo Jacobson, a Moorhead alum, and he gave me a lot of inspiration and helped prepare me for the mental as well as physical part of the game. The biggest adjustment was that the hardest hit I made in high school was a just a weak to routine hit in college. The part of college that appealed to me the most was that I wasn't forced to be there; I choose to be there, so that made it easy.”

There were several highwater marks at Moorhead State for Sagehorn.

“My sophomore year we won the conference, and were a close (team),” Sagehorn said. “I remember being named all-conference as a junior and being elected captain, meeting (Green Bay Packer legend) Ray Nitschke, and (voted) all-conference, all-district and team MVP as a senior.”

There were a few anxious moments along the way, especially the post-season awards parade.

“I remember on the way to the MVP banquet in Minneapolis when I learned I had to prepare a speech. That award was surreal at the time. It seems now that it means a lot more because of where the award came from.”

While the football awards were nice, Sagehorn has other special memories as well, including a rewarding student teaching experience under legendary coach Sid Cichy at Fargo Shanley High School, graduating from college and being inducted into the Dragon Hall of Fame.

Sagehorn surely enjoyed the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of college football clearly profited from the experience.

”I learned no job is impossible; anything can be accomplished with a plan and hard work,” said Sagehorn. “I will not allow others to be my judge; my standards for myself may be greater.”

The Sagehorn name returned to Dragon headlines with the arrival of daughter Kari in 2005. A transfer from University of Minnesota Duluth, she quickly became a trusted member of the MSUM pitching staff and is currently completing an advanced degree in athletic administration at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Sagehorn is a system administrator for a manufacturing company in St. Michael. “I do computer, printer and network maintenance, contracting for a few small companies on the side,” Sagehorn said. “I have refereed basketball in the metro area the last seven years and also umpire fast pitch softball at the high school level. Early on I coached some football but in the last eight years I have pretty much coached only fast pitch.”

Once the focal point of his collegiate career, sports have clearly taken a backseat to family for Sagehorn.

“I am celebrating my 25th year married to a great wife, Sandy, with three great children, Tara, Chad and Kari, and a new grandson, Hugh Thomas. We live in Maple Grove, and our family has (enjoyed) lots of blessings.”

After all these years, Sagehorn still keeps an eye on his Dragons.

“I've always followed them and tried to make games when ever possible. I've also watched the financial effects take its toll, and my wife and I try and contribute something to football and softball each year. There needs to be more support from all athletes who played in the past, and if every athlete would donate something back I think MSUM could regain its place of respect and start growing again.”

Sagehorn was a member of the Dragon Hall of Fame induction class of 2001, an honor he will never forget.

“When I was selected into the Hall of Fame it was right after my dad died, and that will always help me remember when it happened. When I was giving my acceptance speech, I heard (former Dragon coach) Ron Masanz told people at his table that the way I played football, I was the real deal.”

Thirty-five autumns ago Dick Sagehorn produced a season for the ages, not to be forgotten by Sagehorn or his Dragon pals.