The Game
The Bemidji State University football team (1-0; 0-0 NSIC) begins the 2010 home and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season with contest against Augustana College (1-0; 0-0 NSIC). The Beavers opened the 2010 campaign with Minot State University Aug. 26, downing MSU 24-7 in the 12th annual ‘Beaver Bash’. Augustana opened its season with a nonconference home game against NSIC-foe St. Cloud State University, using a fourth quarter comeback to down the Huskies 32-23.
Today’s game serves as the 14th Annual Shrine Game. BSU owns a 9-4 record in the Shrine game and have won five of the last six contests. BSU has never hosted Augustana in the Shine Game.
The Series
The contest between Bemidji State and Augustana will serve as the fifth meeting between the two teams. The Vikings own a 3-1 record in the series, winning the last game 50-6 in September 1989 in Sioux Falls, S.D. BSU is 1-1 at home in the series, earning its lone victory on Sept. 22, 1962 by the score of 13-6. Head coach Jeff Tesch has never played Augustana during his tenure at BSU.
The Coaches
Bemidji State: Jeff Tesch is in his 15th season roaming the sidelines at Bemidji State. He has posted an overall record of 92-60 (.605), which includes a 68-45 (.604) mark in NSIC tilts. In 14 seasons, Tesch has established BSU standards for games coached (152), victories (92), career winning percentage (.605) and conference wins (68). Prior to his tenure at BSU, Tesch, a two-time NSIC Coach of the Year (1999 and 2006), spent 12 years as an assistant at North Dakota, two on the staff of Central Missouri and one season at Montana State.
Augustana: Mike Aldrich enters his first season as head football coach at Augustana, having been named to the position Feb. 19, 2010. Aldrich became the 21st coach in Augie’s 87-year football history. Prior to being appointed to his current position, Aldrich spent four seasons as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator after serving as assistant defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator the previous two seasons. He is in his second stint on the Viking coaching staff, returned to Augustana in 2004 as the team’s assistant defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and secondary coach.
The Program
Bemidji State’s all-time record is 309-395-24 (.441) dating back to 1926, which includes a 172-245-9 (.414) mark in NSIC play. The Beavers own five conference titles (1947, 50, 57, 59 and 2006) and count the 2006 Mineral Water Bowl as their first post-season appearance. Under the direction of Tesch, BSU has posted winning records in 11 of the last 12 years and have registered eight consecutive winning home campaigns.
Quick Count
• Despite never playing Augustana as a head coach at BSU, Jeff Tesch is no stranger to the Vikings. During his tenure as an assistant at University of North Dakota and Central Missouri State, Tesch’s teams posted an 8-5 record against Augustana.
• Bemidji State was ranked No. 5 in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, No. 22 in the USA Today Division II Preseason Top 25 and is receiving votes in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll.
• BSU returns 21 of 24 starters from the 2009 squad, including 10 all-conference players.
• The Beavers finished the 2009 season as the No. 1 team in the NSIC in three categories, time of possession (371:49; 33:48/g), 3rd down conversions (79-158; 50%) and were the least penalized team (50; 450 yards, 40.9/g).
• BSU currently ranks in the top five in the NCAA stats summary in three categories, rushing (5th, 294.0 yd/g), total defense (4th, 86 yds allowed) and rushing defense (4th, -10 yd allowed). In NSIC statistics, the Beavers are first in the same three categories.
• Senior quarterback Derek Edholm closed the final nine games of the 2009 season with at least one touchdown pass and continued the streak into 2010 with a 62-yard strike to Adam Berg in the first quarter against Minot State.
• Senior Andrew Schultz is 79 yards from reaching the 1,000 yard plateau for his career. He also needs 11 receptions to reach the 100 career receptions mark.