Kalen DeBoer is the new head coach of the University of Washington football team. Yes, PAC-12 member Washington has a new head coach that used to coach in the Great Plains Athletic Conference and I think it’s awesome. If you only follow DI FBS football, you are likely one of the folks commenting on the meteoric rise of Deboer as he packs up to become the new head coach of the University of Washington. Most people see his DI career arc only. It looks like this: 2014 Offensive Coordinator at Eastern Michigan to 2017 Offensive Coordinator at Fresno State to 2019 Offensive Coordinator at Indiana to 2020 Head Coach at Fresno State to today. . .head coach of the University of Washington Huskies.

But I’m one of those people who still can’t get past what Kalen did at the University of Sioux Falls. He hasn’t coached in the NAIA in over 10 years and his 67-3 record is still something that’s absolutely remarkable. I can literally tell you the three losses with no research: Carroll College in a title game, Carroll College in a semifinal game on the road, and Morningside College on the road. He never lost a game in Sioux Falls as a head coach. . .that’s insane.

For anyone who was around Kalen in his early days as a coordinator at USF under Bob Young this news is not surprising. His career was going to be one of two paths: a 30 year career at USF or leave and continue to be a great college football coach. But the one thing I can attest to is how good of a person Kalen is and how well he treated me in all of the years of covering him. He never dodged a question or avoided answering my call. He was just a pleasure to cover.

It’s early on this Saturday morning, I’ve got a brisket on the smoker and I’m killing time until it’s magical juiciness is ready to eat. So let’s play a game. Continue reading →

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE SHIRT

It’s been nearly 10 years since Dana College fielded a football team. That means two things have happened:

1. You’ve ruined, stained or lost your old Dana Football standard issue “practice” t-shirt.
2. You’ve gotten much “larger” and the shirt no longer fits.

Never fear, you can now buy a new shirt! The inspiration for the design comes from the 1996-2003 t-shirt, mostly because that’s the one I had and the one that I could find on Kevin Stull’s Facebook page.

The shirt color will be gray. I’m charging $17 per shirt. Here’s why: The shirt will cost $6-8 depending on total quantity ordered. I will mail them to you in a USPS flat rate envelope for $7.35. Wix/Paypal/Square all charge a small fee per transaction so I’m adding a $1 or so to that.

The shirts will be printing in mid-April and will ship late April/early May. You have until April 10th to get your order placed.

Any money leftover I will donate to the Dana College Homecoming.

Click Here To Order the Shirt!

Look as cool as Kevin in 2007 and hang out with all your friends in a Dana College Football T-Shirt!!!!

Dear Pos,

It’s been a couple of weeks since we last talked but I’m glad you called when you did. It was great catching up with you and talking about the old times. Like you, I miss them. I miss the times we all used to have, I missed playing ball together but most of all I miss being around you and all of the guys. You were right, we didn’t realize how great things were when we had it. Shit was pretty easy back then when the toughest thing was not being too hungover to get a grade in LARP.

Good ol’ Johnny Knuckleskins. Goddamn man, that name still makes me laugh. That guy could grill a steak too.

We’re lucky we didn’t get tetanus that summer we all stayed in Blair and worked out together grilling with that old ass grill I had and rusty ass cooking sheets. I still remember when I handed it to you and you deadpanned “Hey Chipper, you got any with less rust? These are pretty good steaks.” Continue reading →