Air Raid: Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons Football 2024

[IceBoxDragon]

The Fargo-Moorhead Forum published a story remembering former MSUM Athletic Directory Larry MacLeod, who was in the role from 1959-1971. During his time as AD the Dragons won a conference title in 1966. Coach Ross Fortier was brought in to helm the football program during his time as AD as well. Fortier went on to win nine conference titles, earn 10 playoff berths and overall lead the Dragons to 152 victories.

The way Chad Markuson figures it, there are only a small handful of individuals who belong on an imaginary Mount Rushmore of athletic figures from Minnesota State University Moorhead. The best of the best, the greatest of the great. The Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln of Dragons athletics.

The Dragons lost one of them recently.

Larry MacLeod, a former athletic director, coach and instructor who was at MSUM from 1954 until his retirement in 1983, died June 22 at the age of 101.

One hundred and one!

And he was still going to Dragons men's basketball games until a couple of years ago.

Full story: https://www.inforum.com/sports/colle...ore-of-dragons

[IceBoxDragon]

From the Fargo-Moorhead Forum: Dragons QB Jack Strand's offseason included clinic with former Bison quarterback greats
The Dragons have their first practice Aug. 12 and Strand is a key figure for a team that went 7-4 last season. Strand was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference offensive player of the year.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Strand, from Bloomer, Wisconsin, participated in the Easton Stick QB Clinic in mid-June. A former North Dakota State quarterback, Stick plays for the Los Angeles Chargers. Former Bison QB Trey Lance, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys, also helped Stick instruct during the one-day clinic.

[Coach Steve] Laqua said the team is set to open fall camp with around 115 players, including 17 seniors.

[NorthDakotaDragon]

From the Fargo-Moorhead Forum: Dragons QB Jack Strand's offseason included clinic with former Bison quarterback greats
The Dragons have their first practice Aug. 12 and Strand is a key figure for a team that went 7-4 last season. Strand was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference offensive player of the year.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Strand, from Bloomer, Wisconsin, participated in the Easton Stick QB Clinic in mid-June. A former North Dakota State quarterback, Stick plays for the Los Angeles Chargers. Former Bison QB Trey Lance, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys, also helped Stick instruct during the one-day clinic.

[Coach Steve] Laqua said the team is set to open fall camp with around 115 players, including 17 seniors.

Word on the street was he was the star of the camp, which included other area college QBs and the entire NDSU QB room. Can't wait to see what is in store for him this season.

[BulldogFan]

Looking forward to the UMD home opener. Should be a shootout.

[IceBoxDragon]

From the Fargo-Moorhead Forum: QB Jack Strand, Dragons open fall football camp with 'excitement' after successful 2023 season
The Dragons are picked No. 6 of 13 teams in the NSIC preseason coaches poll. MSUM had a 7-4 mark last fall and are vying to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since going 8-4 in 2018 and 6-5 in 2019.

Laqua likes the team's roster makeup with 17 seniors to go along with a talented junior class, which includes Strand and Florence. Laqua said the senior class is one of the largest the program has had during his tenure.

[IceBoxDragon]

Just six days away!

[IceBoxDragon]

New uniforms! Let's go!

[DoubleNickels]

Title: McFeely: Strand, Florence hope to take next steps for rising Dragons

Link:
https://www.inforum.com/sports/mcfee...rising-dragons

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[DoubleNickels]

New uniforms! Let's go!

New jerseys are SICK!

[laker]

New jerseys are SICK!

Unless something changes I plan on being there Thursday night. Should be a great matchup!

[IceBoxDragon]

Looks like the Cobbers are going to play at Nemzek as their stadium gets renovated. I hate that this is the only way for the Cobbers to play on that turf. They need to work something out to have the MSUM Vs. Concordia game come back. https://www.inforum.com/sports/colle...l-game-to-msum

[wscsuperfan]

New uniforms! Let's go!

WSC threads for tomorrow

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[Mark Emmert's Burner]

Wow, the new unis are sharp!

I'm excited for the Dragons games this year, as they were fun-as-hell to watch last year with Jack Strand and the air raid offense. But in looking at their schedule, I can't help but think if this season is going to be a photo negative of last season...

In 2023 the Dragons were 6-0 at home against a pretty easy slate of opponents: none of the 6 teams ended the season with a winning record, and the combined EOS record was 21-45 (.318 winning %). On the road, the Dragons went 1-4 against a much tougher crew (with one exception): three very close losses to Wayne St (8-3), Augie (11-2), & Mankato (9-3); a win vs SMSU (2-9); and a 2-possession loss to Bemidji (9-3). So while they competed hard each time, they couldn't quite close the door on an upset, so the home-vs-road disparity was the big theme of the season.

Cut to 2024, and here are the 2023 records of the home & road opponents for the Dragons:
Dragon home games - Wayne, Augie, Mankato, SMSU, Bemidji: 39-20 (.661%)
Dragon road games - Duluth, McKendree, Winona, Concordia SP, Minot, UMary: 25-41 (.379%)

That's a hilarious reversal. I could legitimately see a season where the Dragons go 1-4 at home and 6-0 on the road (more likely 5-1, Duluth will be tough to beat).

Not trying to be pessimistic on the Dragons for the home games, but just acknowledging they likely benefited from an easier home schedule last year, and the flip will make it much tougher sledding in Nemzek this year.

[IceBoxDragon]

Wow, the new unis are sharp!

I'm excited for the Dragons games this year, as they were fun-as-hell to watch last year with Jack Strand and the air raid offense. But in looking at their schedule, I can't help but think if this season is going to be a photo negative of last season...

In 2023 the Dragons were 6-0 at home against a pretty easy slate of opponents: none of the 6 teams ended the season with a winning record, and the combined EOS record was 21-45 (.318 winning %). On the road, the Dragons went 1-4 against a much tougher crew (with one exception): three very close losses to Wayne St (8-3), Augie (11-2), & Mankato (9-3); a win vs SMSU (2-9); and a 2-possession loss to Bemidji (9-3). So while they competed hard each time, they couldn't quite close the door on an upset, so the home-vs-road disparity was the big theme of the season.

Cut to 2024, and here are the 2023 records of the home & road opponents for the Dragons:
Dragon home games - Wayne, Augie, Mankato, SMSU, Bemidji: 39-20 (.661%)
Dragon road games - Duluth, McKendree, Winona, Concordia SP, Minot, UMary: 25-41 (.379%)

That's a hilarious reversal. I could legitimately see a season where the Dragons go 1-4 at home and 6-0 on the road (more likely 5-1, Duluth will be tough to beat).

Not trying to be pessimistic on the Dragons for the home games, but just acknowledging they likely benefited from an easier home schedule last year, and the flip will make it much tougher sledding in Nemzek this year.

Yeah that's a good analysis. It's going to be a gauntlet for the Dragons, especially at home. Hopefully some upsets are in store.

[NorthDakotaDragon]

Looks like the Cobbers are going to play at Nemzek as their stadium gets renovated. I hate that this is the only way for the Cobbers to play on that turf. They need to work something out to have the MSUM Vs. Concordia game come back. https://www.inforum.com/sports/colle...l-game-to-msum

Ha, we will never see that matchup again in our lifetimes. Laqua got on the phones and tried to bring it back when the NSIC switched to allowing a non-conf game and there was zero interest reciprocated from Concordia. They prefer to look back fondly of their memories of beating those God awful Dragon teams in the mid 2000's then see how they would matchup today.

To give some context, Valley City State and Concordia played each other 2 years ago in a nail biter where Concordia narrowly escaped with 14-12 victory. Minot St just thumped Valley City 38-7 last week. No offense to the Beavers, but we all know how they stack up against all other NSIC schools not named Umary, CSP, or SMSU. I know the transitive property doesn't always correlate to football, but if that gives you any idea of the current talent spread from local NAIA/D3 to NSIC, I would wager the Dragons would beat the Cobbers by 6-7 TD's conservatively. I can tell you with certainty that Concordia is not interested in finding out though.