Former Minnesota Duluth center Mike Picott attended a UMD alumni golf outing in St. Paul last summer when the conversation turned to 1982, the last time the Bulldogs played before a big-time television audience.
Picott wasn't sure if former UMD coach Jim Malosky, who suffered a stroke in 1998, would remember that game.
Then the legendary coach responded, "We played Mankato, and we kicked their [rear]."
UMD returns to the television limelight at 7:05 p.m. today when the Bulldogs host Southwest Minnesota State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game that will be televised on the CBS College Sports Network, the first nationally televised football game in UMD history. The Bulldogs' home opener also will give UMD fans their first look at the $6.5 million Malosky Stadium renovation.
"There is always a lot of pressure any time you play in front of your hometown fans and students, and having the game on TV just adds to it, but our guys are a loose bunch," UMD coach Bob Nielson said. "Any added pressure is far outweighed by the opportunity to showcase our program and our university to a broader audience."
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That was the same feeling in 1982. From what former UMD assistant Scott Hanna remembers, ABC-TV agreed with the NCAA to air a certain number of NCAA Division II games that season. Each week regional games of the week were picked, meaning UMD coaches, players and fans found out on short notice the Bulldogs' nonconference game against Mankato State on Sept. 18, 1982, would air regionally on ABC.
Former NFL quarterback Bob Lee provided the color commentary, and with the NFL being on strike, Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant was in attendance to watch his son, UMD quarterback Bruce Grant.
Despite the hoopla surrounding the contest, it was business as usual for the Bulldogs.
"It was fun and exciting," Hanna said. "I'm sure the guys had a lot of emotions, but Coach 'Mo' took the same approach, whether we were taking on a team that was 0-20 or playing before a regional television audience. In the back of his mind, I think he knew it was special, but he was going to scream at those guys all week to get them ready, just like he always did."
UMD responded with a 42-17 rout.
Picott said Malosky recalled that Mankato State and UMD split $150,000 in TV revenue from the game, and Picott had no reason to doubt him.
"Coach Malosky said, 'I remember that game. We scored six touchdowns,' and he was right on," Picott said. "Here I am, at 47, and what do I remember from that game? That is just another reason we loved playing so hard for that guy."
Malosky treated it like another game, but there was no doubt it was different. A camera crew was in attendance and there were TV timeouts. Fans put up signs acknowledging the TV audience. In an era before Web broadcasts and Internet links to local radio stations, Bulldog fans across the Upper Midwest were able to tune in.
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"Coach Mo had a great way of keeping us focused, but after the game my parents got calls saying, 'We saw Boyd scored a touchdown,'" former UMD running back Boyd Hanson said. "The players tried not to get too riled up about it, but people noticed."
Hanson, of Proctor, is expected to be in attendance tonight to watch his son, Brian, a UMD running back. Things will no doubt look different to the elder Hanson: A towering new press box and no Malosky manning the sideline. The approach to winning, however, remains the same.
UMD, which has won its first two games by a combined score of 87-18, is ranked No. 15 in the nation.
"We're kind of tucked away here, but we have some guys doing some great things. This gives them a chance to show what they can do," UMD linebacker Jake Comnick said. "We're feeling good right now, but we're not basking in the glory by any means. The past two weeks were great, but they're in the past now, and we're moving forward."
JON NOWACKI covers college football for the News Tribune. He can be reached weeknights at (218) 723-5305 or by e-mail at jnowacki@duluthnews.com .
