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Stan Nelson ’43 to receive Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award

Legendary Minnesota athlete and coach Stan Nelson ’43 will add another honor to his career, having earned the Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award  from the National Football Foundation. The award, named after the former Minnesota Vikings coach, will be given at the ninth Minnesota Football Honors event April 17.

Nelson had a successful athletic career at Augsburg College, having earned letters in football, golf, baseball, and basketball. In 1942, he served as the football team captain and was named all-MIAC. After graduating from Augsburg, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and began a career as a coach. He held coaching positions in Zumbrota, Farmington, and Anoka, where he coached for 26 years.

Read Award in honor of Bud Grant to go to Anoka legendary coach on the ABC Newspapers site.

Hall of Fame inductee Bob Lockwood’s famous friends

Bob Lockwood ’56 was a star athlete during his time at Augsburg College; he lettered 11 times and was inducted into the Augsburg Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994, but his history with athletic greatness did not end with the conclusion of his career as a player. A recent article by Arizona newspaper Your West Valley tells of the many friendships and interactions Lockwood has had with famous professional athletes.

In the article, Lockwood, a former coach in the Golden Valley and Hopkins school districts, tells of meeting legendary baseball player Rod Carew through one of his players. “My player used to cut Rod Carew’s grass when Rod lived in Golden Valley,” he said. “So I went over to the house and introduced myself. Pretty soon, Rod would come out to our practices and give the kids tips.”

The article also includes the stories of Lockwood’s run-ins with Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway and baseball great Sammy Sosa.

Scott Cooper ’13 reflects on his Augsburg experience

Former Augsburg College football player Scott Cooper ’13 wrote a follow-up article for Outsports.com one year after he spoke in Daily Chapel for National Coming Out Day. Cooper previously penned an article for the site that garnered the attention of the Star Tribune and described his acceptance on and off the field as a gay student athlete. Visit the Outsports.com to read the article.

Legendary coach Edor Nelson ’38 honored by community, media

Edor Nelson '38 was presented a special jersey in honor of his 100th birthday.
Edor Nelson ’38 was presented a special jersey in honor of his 100th birthday.

Legendary Auggie coach, athlete and instructor Edor Nelson ’38 died August 27 at the age of 100. Nelson, who led the Auggie football and baseball teams for nearly four decades, died only nine days after a centennial birthday celebration at Augsburg where hundreds of friends and Auggies turned out to honor him. Nelson’s birthday celebration and his death have garnered strong media attention. Coverage of Nelson’s birthday party and incredible life include:

Tickets required for 10/8 football game

footballticketsIf you’re an Auggie football fan and you’d like to see the Auggies take on the Tommies this Saturday, you’ll need a ticket. Augsburg will be pre-selling tickets at the athletic office in Si Melby Hall, and EVERYONE will need a ticket in order to be admitted to the game.

Read more here.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for students. All Augsburg students, faculty and staff receive free admission (with Augsburg ID) to all Augsburg home regular-season events, but must have a ticket to enter the stadium.

Tickets can be purchased or picked up in person at the Augsburg athletic office in Si Melby Hall from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday (10/7). St. Thomas fans can purchase tickets at the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex ticket office beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Tickets must be purchased or picked up in person; no phone or online sales will be permitted.

 

A busy Thursday for Auggie athletics

soccer_playoffsMen’s soccer in Washington State for the first round of the NCAA tournament. And football at the Metrodome.

It will certainly a busier-than-normal Thursday for the Augsburg College athletic department.

Here’s a quick primer on what’s going on.

Soccer to face Whitworth University in first NCAA appearance

After losing the championship game of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs to Carleton on penalty kicks, the Auggies received an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III men’s soccer championship.

Augsburg (11-3-6) will travel to Spokane, Wash., to play Whitworth University (14-2-3) at 3 p.m. Thursday. The winner of that game will play at the University of Redlands (Calif.) on Sunday. Continue reading “A busy Thursday for Auggie athletics”

Auggie fall sports wrap-up

fall_sportsThe Augsburg fall sports season has come to an end, with several teams showing strong improvement in both overall records and individual accomplishments.

The Auggie football team, under third-year head coach Frank Haege, finished 5-5 overall (3-5 MIAC), marking the first time Augsburg had reached the .500 mark since 2003 (5-5 overall, 4-4 MIAC). With its five victories this season, Augsburg also eclipsed its number of wins from the previous three seasons combined (4-26). Along the way, the Auggies claimed several huge victories, including a 14-13 triumph at No. 10-ranked Wartburg (Iowa) on Oct. 6, and a 44-38 win over Gustavus on Oct. 27, breaking a nine-game losing streak to the Gusties. Continue reading “Auggie fall sports wrap-up”

Augsburg to celebrate 10th anniversary of 1997 football championship season

97anniversaryAugsburg will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the football team’s

1997 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship season

this year. An anniversary celebration will be held during the Auggies’

season-opening game against Northwestern-Roseville on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field.

The Auggies went 10-2 in 1997, reaching the second round of the NCAA Division III national playoffs. It marked just the second conference championship in football for the Auggies; the first was in 1928.

Also at the Sept. 8 Northwestern-Roseville game, Augsburg will formally

retire the No. 30 jersey of former wide receiver Scott Hvistendahl.

Hvistendahl currently serves as an assistant coach at Northwestern. Continue reading “Augsburg to celebrate 10th anniversary of 1997 football championship season”