College football: UMD, Michigan Tech set for rare meeting Saturday at Malosky Stadium

Apr. 16—The year was 1993 and Zubaz were still in style, Jim McMahon of Chicago Bears fame was quarterbacking the Minnesota Vikings and a fresh-faced Brett Favre was in his second season as the signal-caller for the Green Bay Packers.

That was the last year the Michigan Tech and Minnesota Duluth football teams squared off in a series that started in 1947, with the Bulldogs winning the 16th meeting 32-3.

The teams meet again Saturday at Malosky Stadium, and while it will only be a scrimmage, it is not without plenty of meaning for the Bulldogs, who had their 2020 season wiped out due to COVID-19.

"It really does feel like forever since we played a game, I'm not going to lie to you," said senior linebacker Nate Pearson of Lake Nebagamon. "We had an intrasquad scrimmage this past Saturday and it was like riding a bike. You shake off the rust, get a few plays out there and you're good to go. We've been through spring practice before, but in a live situation, it's been awhile. It's a good time for it. This feels good."

After not playing against anybody else for a year and a half, it should.

UMD hasn't played a game since beating Northern State 48-10 Nov. 16, 2019, at Swisher Field in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The Bulldogs finished the season 8-3, uncharacteristically down for them, but they still captured their 12th straight NSIC North Division crown.

While Saturday's scrimmage isn't open to the public, a limited number of family and friends will be in attendance. The format will be similar to UMD's Maroon-White Spring Game. Special teams won't be live, just kickers kicking, quarterbacks won't be hit, but the teams will go back and forth offensively and defensively enough to get into the flow of a real game, full pads and all.

"Other than not hitting the quarterback, we're playing live football for the first time in a long time. Mentally, it was really different, just being away from our guys," UMD coach Curt Wiese said of the extended time off due to COVID. "We had three and a half to four months at a time where our interaction with them was either video conferencing or phone calls. And trying to keep a team together was a challenge."

Wiese said last fall was disappointing and weird. It was a challenge infusing the incoming freshmen with the returning Bulldogs.

"Credit to our guys," Wiese said. "It was an odd time for our freshmen but they didn't even know it because this is what college was to them. It was really different for the upperclassmen who didn't have a chance to get together and socialize and work together as a team."

UMD had about a dozen non-padded practices in the fall, but it was all split as the Bulldogs never once had their full team together on the field, in the weight room or locker room. Field capacity was limited to 50 people due to safety protocols and players had to be spaced across the field, limiting the Bulldogs to individual workouts.

Eventually, however, the restrictions were eased.

"Our guys were consistently separated, so they didn't really even have a chance to see some of their teammates face-to-face," Wiese said. "The first week in February was the first time where we had the chance to introduce our freshmen to the rest of the team. We were always hopeful for the spring, to maybe have some scrimmages, and now, fortunately, that will come to a reality this weekend."

UMD's spring season started in February with a once-a-week focus on the weight room and getting back into shape before going to a traditional five days a week the last week in March. The spring season culminates with a scrimmage against Minnesota State-Mankato next weekend in the Twin Cities.

Bemidji State and Northern Michigan were originally part of the docket this weekend but were late scratches.

"It's been nice this week to do some modified game-planning against an opponent," Wiese said. "Our guys are really looking forward to seeing a different colored jersey."

UMD had 15 seniors slated to play last fall, and Pearson is one of nine of those seniors coming back for another year of eligibility allotted by the NCAA due to the circumstances. Among those are four of UMD's five captains: Pearson, quarterback John Larson, wide receiver Johnny McCormick and defensive lineman Dan Monson. Zach Ojile, a do-it-all offensive player for the Bulldogs, listed as a junior last fall, is the fifth captain.

Pearson is set to earn his bachelor's degree this spring but is coming back to play ball in the fall.

"Oh, yeah," Pearson said, laughing.

Pearson will pursue a master's in education. He is a student teacher at Superior High School this spring, teaching 11th grade Algebra II. His classes have included Spartans football players Ross Rivord and Kell Piggott, themselves having an unusual spring football season.

Pearson said coming back to play for UMD was an easy decision for him, but it certainly couldn't have been easy for everyone.

"I love playing football for the Bulldogs, and if I got one more year, I wanted to play for them my last year," he said. "I know we're going to be great, and I want to be a part of that team, and be a part of that program."

Pearson has 18 career quarterback sacks, including a team-high nine in 2019. He has aspirations to play professional football after college. He loves the game and certainly wouldn't turn down a tryout. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has the type of size, speed and athleticism scouts look for. He checks the boxes.

Pearson was one of 10 to 12 UMD football players who recently worked out on campus for Minnesota Vikings scouts. He was on their radar, some other guys, maybe not as much, but that is how it starts.

While Pearson doesn't mind talking about the future, he really likes talking about the present, especially getting on the field this Saturday.

"You don't even know how excited I am for this," Pearson said. "It's been a year and a half since I've played against a different team. I'm itching to get out there and play against them. It'll be a fun time, for sure."