Bemidji State University head football coach Jeff Tesch today released the 2011 football schedule as the Beavers are gearing-up to begin spring practice Wednesday, March 30. The schedule is highlighted by three home night games and four 2010 postseason participants, all of which combined to hand the Beavers their four losses last season.
The 2011 schedule will begin August 25 at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minn. against Minot State University (N.D.) in the annual ‘Beaver Bash’ beginning at 7 p.m. The Beavers will host three games under the lights in 2011, the most in Tesch’s 15 years at BSU.
Assuming the weather and field conditions hold the Beavers will begin spring practice March 30. If BSU can’t practice Wednesday the team will try and start on Friday and continue through the weekend. Spring practice culminates Thursday, April 21 with the annual Green and White Spring Game at Chet Anderson Stadium. The game will begin at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The Beavers will host a youth football clinic at The Chet prior to the spring game. Registration will run from 4-5 p.m. and the clinic will be conducted from 5-6 p.m.
The meeting with the Minot State edition of the Beavers will be the 13th consecutive between the teams that will call each other conference foes beginning in the 2012-13 season when MSU and University of Sioux Falls join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. BSU is 11-1 all-time against Minot State, winning last season on the road 24-7.
August 25 will also represent the Sixth Annual Community Appreciation Night at Bemidji State. Fans and community members can checkout local food vendors, mingle with current BSU student-athletes from all the men’s and women’s athletic programs and enjoy the beautiful lakeside location of the campus during the evening hours leading up to the football contest. After the game a fireworks display over Lake Bemidji will cap the evening.
The Beavers will begin NSIC play Sept. 10 at Augustana College. The Vikings ended Bemidji State’s 133 game streak of scoring points last season in a 10-0 victory in Bemidji. Augie started an eight game winning streak with the win against the Beavers, en route to a 9-1 NSIC and 10-1 overall record that punched a ticket to the NCAA tournament for the third time in school history. The Vikings earned the No. 2 seed, a bye in the first round and the opportunity to host an NCAA playoff contest for the first time in school history. AC won its first NCAA playoff game against Grand Valley State University and advanced to the region quarterfinals where it lost to the eventual national champion University of Minnesota Duluth.
BSU then returns home for a couple NSIC night games against Southwest Minnesota State University at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 and defending national champion Minnesota Duluth Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. The game against SMSU will mark the annual Shrine Game, marking the first shrine game under the lights. Last season, BSU downed the Mustangs 30-14 in Marshall, Minn., knotting the all-time series between the teams at 20-20-1. UMD defeated the Beavers 44-21 last season in Duluth, but a missed extra point at the end of the fourth quarter against the Bulldogs in a 2009 battle at The Chet was the only thing separating the teams from an overtime game. BSU is 10-39-1 all-time against UMD.
The Beavers hit the road Oct. 1 to battle Upper Iowa University at 1 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa. BSU routed the Peacocks last season on homecoming 51-12, earning a dip in Lake Bemidji. Speaking of homecoming the Beavers host Concordia University, St. Paul Oct. 8 in the annual celebration. The game will close a week of festivities, beginning at 1 p.m. CU earned a spot to the Mineral Water Bowl game last season, posting an 8-4 overall and 7-3 NSIC record. The Golden Bears avoided a late BSU charge last season in St. Paul, earning a 20-14 victory. The two teams have a short, but evenly matched history, sitting tied 6-6.
Bemidji State remains at home Oct. 15 as it entertains its longest rival Minnesota State University Moorhead at 1 p.m. The two teams have been doing battle since 1929 with MSU Moorhead owning a 43-32-3 all-time advantage. Because of the history a traveling trophy, ‘The Battle Axe’ was created. The tradition is the second longest running Division II trophy game and has been exchanged 21 times in its 62 years of existence. The Beavers have owned the recent history, winning 11 of the last 13 meetings, including last season’s 14-6 victory in Moorhead. On top of the prize trophy the game will serve as Bemidji State football alumni weekend and the Lions Vision Awareness Game.
BSU follows the two-game homestand with its longest road trip of the season, a two-game roadie at University of Mary Oct. 22 and at Northern State University Oct. 29. Both contests are set for a 2:30 p.m. start. BSU used a field goal with less than a minute remaining in regulation to defeat U-Mary in Bemidji last season, winning 23-22 and taking a 3-2 lead in the all-time series. The Beavers improved to 17-16-1 against Northern State with a 41-13 victory at The Chet.
St. Cloud State University, the fourth and final 2010 postseason participant for the Beavers, will visit Bemidji Nov. 5 for a 1 p.m. game. SCSU ran past BSU last season in St. Cloud, winning 35-14 in a gear-up for its third NCAA postseason appearance in school history. The Huskies went 10-3 in 2010, falling to UMD in the second round after defeating Hillsdale College 42-28 in St. Cloud. The tough contest against the Huskies will serve as senior day for the 2011 class.
The season closes at University of Minnesota, Crookston Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. The Beavers own an all-time record of 17-1 against the Golden Eagles. On senior day last season, the Beavers gave the home crowd an offensive show, winning 45-3. The two teams battle for a traveling trophy called ‘The Hubcap’ to signify its US Highway 2 rivalry.
The 2010 Beaver football team finished the season 7-4 overall and 6-4 in NSIC play, tying for fifth in the league standings with Winona State University. Under Tesch, BSU has recorded 12 above .500 seasons in his 15 years at the helm. Tesch added 33 student-athletes to the BSU roster for the 2011 season on signing day in early February. Of the 33 commitments, 16 signed National Letters of Intent, one is a transfer and 16 inked offers of admission to attend Bemidji State.