See the full press release from USC here: http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021612aaa.html

During dinner, the 2011 Highlight Video was shown. This year the football program hired a professional videographer to document every aspect of game-day. Watching the game by game highlights, testimonials by players, and behind the scenes footage reminded everyone that the 2011 Oles lived by their FAMILY motto

Immediately after the season, the players voted on several awards. Coach OJ announced the recipients of these awards during the banquet. There were as follows:

Offensive MVP: Dan Dobsen

Junior QB Dan Dobson had a great statistical season....again. He led the MIAC in touchdown passes [18] for the second straight season bringing his career total to 42, which ties him for 3^rd on St. Olaf’s all-time list. Matt Penz (’07) threw 51 in his career, best all-time. Dan only needs 9 in his senior campaign to break that mark and with the weapons coming back at receiver that could happen in the first two games (stay tuned). Dan also threw for 2,063 yards this season which was 2^nd best in the MIAC and 6^th most in Olaf history. For his career, Dan now has thrown for 4,114 yards which puts him at 5^th on the all-time list. Over the past two seasons, Dan has completed 62% of his passes --- the best in recent history. Dan was selected to the All-MIAC 2nd team for his efforts. With a strong senior campaign, Dan will continue to shatter records.

Defensive MVP: Wes Lynch

Wes Lynch (Apple Valley) had a phenomenal season. His 58 solo tackles led the MIAC and is most since Chad Thomas (’03). His 97 total tackles was 3^rd best in the MIAC and most since Matt Lafferty (’03). Wes also had 10 tackles-for-loss which was 5^th best in the MIAC. Wes was also selected to the All-MIAC second team defense. Despite those accolades, the highlight of Wes' senior campaign was a single play; a 4th & 1 collision with Carleton's running back. That hit won't be forgotten quickly by Ole faithful and is one of the most memorable tackles by an Ole in recent memory.

The Tom Porter Team MVP Award: Leon Clark

Leon accepting the award from Tom PorterCoach Tom Porter was in attendance and able to announce Leon as the recipient. Leon also received this award the last two year as well, and he is now the only Ole to be selected as Team MVP three times (as if he needed to further establish his legacy as one of the all-time greatest Oles). Leon ended the 2011 season with 1,008 yards on the ground, his third straight 1,000 yard season. His effort in 2011 was the 9th best rushing performance in Ole history. For his career, Leon ended with 3,240 yards rushing. That puts him at 2^nd on the all-time rushing list behind Ole Gunderson. Potentially more impressive is Leon’s total All-Purpose yards. For his career Leon ended with 5,909 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, kick returns). Thanks for the memories Leon. 

The Danielson Award: Kevin Foss

The Danielson Award is given to a player for their inspiration and leadership. (Click HERE to learn more about the history of the award) Kevin Foss fits that bill. As described in the blog entry below, Kevin was a clear inspiration to the 2011 squad. He was selected as a captain for his senior campaign, despite being sidelined his whole junior season with a knee injury. Then during the first week of this past season, Kevin was diagnosed with a condition in his back that sidelined him for good. Through this experience Kevin never thought of himself and always put the team first. After the diagnosis, he spoke to the team ( and as Coach OJ described) " he delivered the best motivational talk by a player I've ever witnessed." Kevin Foss truly inspired and lead the 2011 Oles day in and day out, despite never putting on a pair of shoulder pads.

After the awards were distributed and the 22 seniors were honored, the Oles appropriately ended the banquet by singing Um Ya Ya! Thanks to all the parents, coaches, and players who make the banquet possible!

To be fair, it was a bit of an emotional night.  For those of you intimately familiar with the Ole Football program, you will know what I mean when I say that the presentation of the Ben Danielson Award always brings me to tears.  This year, in a conditioned response, I think I started before Mary Danielson-Gates even got to the podium.  Kevin Foss (#24, Captain) is the very deserving 2011 season recipient of the Award this year.  I love this award most because it is about character.  Leadership.  Determination, dedication, will to succeed, all of that stuff--those hard to quantify traits--in action.  This team is full of character, and the team voted to give it to Kevin.  A young man whose career was cut short--didn't play a second in the last season of his career--and yet found a way to contribute in innumerable ways.  Congratulations, Kevin.  Well done, and well deserved.

I'm going to leave the rest of the run down for awards to others.  It isn't mine to talk about.

This is likely my final blog as a parent of an Ole Football Player.  Thank you to everyone who read and commented.  I loved having an outlet for my own personal analysis and the opportunity to reflect on each game.  We sure had some moments.  I re-read the blog posts in preparation for this final post, and frankly, I can't improve on any of it.  Those were raw, in the moment, point-in-time capture of the season.  I feel so privileged. 

Now, I can't wait to watch these men go out into the world.  It is all about launch.  Coach O said it at the banquet, and I believe it:  these guys are going to change the world for the better.  Let's get it done.  As a team, as a family.  We'll be watching and cheering and supporting.

Um Ya Ya,

Kari

There is a one-time bulk rate price available to us of $55 per copy.  This offer includes shipping, and will expire on January 15th, so act now.  Books will be handed out at the banquet and they will not be available for Christmas.  Following the banquet, the book will also be posted online for individual purchase at an estimated price of $63 plus shipping.  Please note that the book’s price is set by the publisher and that 100% of the proceeds go to them.

To reserve your copy(s) please act now.  Send an email to Wendy Lundgren at wendylundgren@aol.com before January 15th and tell her how many copies you want to order.  Remember, all seniors and coaches will be receiving one complimentary book thanks to the St. Olaf Touchdown Club.

Then send your check in advance to:

Wendy Lundgren

750 Wild Oak Trail

Independence, MN 55359

The books will be handed out after the banquet concludes. Have a wonderful Christmas!

For 13 years I have put on the pads and had the practices that normal people would cringe at if they knew how difficult we worked in order to have what we call "fun".  For 13 years I have had the time of my life building relationships, working hard, enjoying running around and hitting people, and participating in the best sport in the world. 

Now with the conclusion of the 2011 season, we had our senior "four corner walk" tonight.  This issues the turning of a page in the Ole Football book, as well as in the lives of all of us seniors.  We have to learn new ways to take out our anger in the form of working out, playing games, or some other activity instead of getting to legally get a running start and hit someone as hard as you possibly can for two or three hours a day.  Football has been on my mind since I was old enough to walk.  Now comes the time where I have to figure out what I am going to do without it; whether that be coaching or merely coming back next fall and cheering on the next Ole team.  

Now also comes the time where the seniors, along with the rest of the team, will not see eachother every day of the week.  Adjusting to this is something that I have never gotten used to during my time here.  I always miss the guys when I do not get to spend time with them day in and day out, though I feel that this year will be harder than the last three because I feel that our team has developed a much stronger bond of brotherhood than we have in recent memory.  The bond that we have from everyone from seniors to freshman is incredible and is the strongest that I have witnessed in my four years as an Ole.  It is honestly going to be difficult not seeing everyone and sharing the stories and having the everyday experiences like we have been doing for the last 13 or so weeks of the season as well as the last four years.  This bond of friendship that the 2011 Oles have developed is the strongest that I have ever been a part of in my years of football and is something that will be passed down from our senior class to the next classes and will continue to grow from year to year.  

It will be hard not having more games to play, not having more practices, not being yelled at for missing a block... well maybe not the last two... But it is something special to be an Ole and that is something that I will never lose and it is something that I will hold dear to me for the rest of my life.  Maintaining my friendship with my brothers will be something that will be very rewarding in the future and is something that I look forward to in order to keep up with my friends, the guys that I have bled with, sweated with, and cried with over these past four years.

It is truly special to be an Ole.  Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this amazing family.

If you don't want to, you don't have to.  BE AN OLE!!! 

Daine #73

I think age is getting finally getting to me. I am almost 50. That's like a lineman's number! Sad. I'm in that stage of life where my (3) teenage kids' lives and schedules seem to have taken over......I'm struggling to remember the days when I attended every Ole home game and a couple away games....flipped every burger....erected and tore down every tent....attended post-game analysis discussions. This year I saw more Ole Football with my ears (on the radio) than with my eyes.

I used to see the coaches every week. This year I don't even know if Coach Stern is losing or gaining weight. And I'm supposed to Blog about Ole Football? I'm having that feeling right now (that recurring dream) where I haven't gone to an English Literature class all semester and I'm walking over to the final exam.

It figures I'd miss out on some details of a great season. I didn't even see the Luther game in person. Awesome guys! Ice cream is on the menu again for next August. Seniors, 4-0 against the Dirty Norsemen, Ice cream every year.....great job.......

I turned off the radio during the 4th quarter of the Bethel game. There, I said it....still can't believe it. 15 minutes that you'll (those who were there) remember for a life time. I wish I had seen it.....or at least heard it. I DO remember being on a gravel road somewhere between Randolph and Cannon Falls when listening to the end of our win over Augsburg. We held the ball on offense for 2 first downs and ran out the clock without giving the ball back to the Auggies. Game over. Oles win. You can't have the ball! I LOVE IT when "my" team can do that. I've been a Browns fan for 40 years and a Vikings fan for 20.... enough said.

"Last games" are important. This year's Oles had every reason not to play one of their greatest games of the year in the season finale against a very good Concordia Cobber team. But they finished the season and the seniors capped their careers with an exciting and deserved victory. Wow. Records. Guts. Character. Heart. Togetherness. I could feel it (over the radio again.).....feeling great for the coaches and players, especially the seniors. You've had a great year. If it's your last, it's one about which you can be proud..... forever. For those not yet done, it's a great launching pad for your 2012 season.

I suppose we'd all like to be there for every practice, every meeting, every game. I still miss those times in my life. (Nydahl, my hamstrings are still tight.) Many of us aren't able to participate directly in every moment of every Ole football season, but it doesn't keep us from feeling extremely proud and happy for you guys, the 2011 Oles: coaches and players, trainers and parents, who got to "live" every moment of a great season. Seniors, thank you! I say there men, .....Congratulations.

Bill Nelson '84  

Leon Clark ended the season with 1,008 yards on the ground, his third straight 1,000 yard season. His effort in 2011 was the 9th best rushing performance in Ole history. For his career, Leon ended with 3,240 yards rushing. That puts him at 2^nd on the all-time rushing list behind Ole Gunderson. Potentially more impressive is Leon’s total All-Purpose yards. For his career Leon ended with 5,909 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, kick returns). Although there is not a history kept of that statistic on the Ole athletic site, Leon is probably the all-time leader in that category and if the MIAC kept track of it Leon would be right up there with the Blake Elliot’s of the world. Leon’s football resume is “sick,” but his legacy at St. Olaf will go far beyond the gridiron and he’s not done making history.

Junior QB Dan Dobson had a great statistical season of his own. He led the MIAC in touchdown passes [18] for the second straight season bringing his career total to 42, which ties him for 3^rd on St. Olaf’s all-time list. Matt Penz (’07) threw 51 in his career, best all-time. Dan only needs 9 in his senior campaign to break that mark and with the weapons coming back at receiver that could happen in the first two games (stay tuned). Dan also threw for 2,063 yards this season which was 2^nd best in the MIAC and 6^th most in Olaf history. For his career, Dan now has thrown for 4,114 yards which puts him at 5^th on the all-time list. Over the past two seasons, Dan has completed 62% of his passes --- the best in recent history. With a strong senior campaign, Dan will continue to shatter records.

New onto the scene in 2011 was the dynamic receiving duo of Schmiesing and Asp (both sophomores). With these two on the edges and Leon up the middle, defenses really had to pick their poison. For the season, Jake Schmiesing ended with 37 catches for 536 yards and 7 TDs (8^th best all-time). Steven Asp finished with 36 catches for 806 yards (7^th best all-time) and 9 TD’s (3^rd best all-time). Steven averaged a crazy 22.4 yards per catch. That average was among the top 5 in the country. The Ole faithful can’t wait to watch the plays these two will make in the years to come.

Defensively, the Oles had an amazing year. They forced twelve turnovers in the final 2 games and forced 28 on the year, best in the MIAC and 22^nd best in the country. Against Concordia the defense had THREE touchdowns! Although we can’t prove it, the Ole football historians can’t remember that ever happening before. Amongst the effort of the whole defense there were some great individual marks as well.

Senior DE Brian Albrecht finished the season with six sacks, 5^th in the MIAC. For his career Brian tallied 17 sacks, which is 2^nd best in the recent era (sacks have not always been an official statistic). First on that list would be James Bechdol who had 20.5 sacks. Brian also tallied 25 tackles-for-loss during his career which is tied for 5th best in the recent era behind Bechdol’s 46 (wow), Nick Rydberg, JMW, and Dave Busselman.

Senior middle linebacker Wes Lynch (Apple Valley) had a phenomenal season. His 58 solo tackles led the MIAC and is most since Chad Thomas (’03). His 97 total tackles was 3^rd best in the MIAC and most since Matt Lafferty (’03). Wes also had 10 tackles-for-loss which was 5^th best in the MIAC.

Lastly, Micah Johnson’s 85 yard fumble return last week was the longest in recent memory. The longest fumble return previous would have been Bill Germscheid’s classic in 2003 against Gustavus that helped start that streak the Oles have going against the Swedes down in St. Peter.

It must be noted, and the men mentioned above would be the first to point it out, that statistics are not the result on an individual effort, but the culmination of 11 Oles doing their job. From the offensive line protecting and run blocking to the defense forcing a 3 and out, football is the greatest team game on Earth. The effort of many result in the statistics of a few. Warning: Editorial comment: The 2011 Oles played for eachother and won and lost as a team. To me, that is a tribute to the seniors and their leadership. Although a few of their names will live in the Ole recordbooks forever, this TEAM will not be forgotten for the legacy they've left and for the effort they gave.



Many of you have asked about Nick.  He broke a vertebrae when he tackled the quarterback in the 4th quarter.  He went out on a high note, leading the team this week in tackles after last weeks 2-interception performance.  Interestingly, while I have a visceral reaction when I type things like "Nick broke his back," it is seemingly a pretty OK injury as these things go.  His own muscle structure stabilizes the bone, protecting the spinal cord and keeping things where they should be. He will be out of commission for a few weeks, but hopefully will be back for the broomball season.   Doc expects a normal recovery with no lasting effects.  As you've done all year, please keep our players in your prayers.  Injured/healthy, stressed/comfortable, these men need all the support they can get.  

Oh, and I'm also still hoping to get a #10 fan jersey.  If you have one, I'm serious--$50 and a new jersey from the bookstore.  Email me at kari.branjord@gmail.com.

Back to the subject at hand...We'll get all kinds of retrospectives about stats and stories.  That is what we do at the end of the season.  Leon moved into second place on the all time rushing list. A side note:  seriously, I'm not sure anyone should ever beat out Ole Gunderson for the number one spot.  His name is "Ole" for crying out loud.   Danny moved into a tie for 3rd on the passing touchdown list, and he'll be back!  At any rate, I'll leave this sort of analysis up to others.  For the real scoop, wait until we get to the awards banquet.

At the end of every season, we take time to evaluate, contemplate, sum up.  This group of seniors was the first group to go all the way through with Coach O at the helm.  The team became more successful with each passing year.  

The main subject for me is the retrospective on a career.  At this year's Senior Day, we had 21 men line up with their families to walk out onto the field.  We've handed out the term "proud" like it is candy.  What do we mean by it?  I know what I mean by it.  I mean that it has been a privilege to watch boys and men mature through this game from the time they were 10 years old.  There are lots of ways that our youth mature--could be academics, scouts, church, sports, a combination of the above. Rites of passage abound. Football was one of the ways these boys grew, and we were always on the sidelines, in the stands, and maybe-just-maybe in their heads.  We watched them learn to run an offense or to contain a rushing attack; they learned the playbook at each level, with each coaching change.  They learned how to not only accept feedback on individual performance but also to seek it out.  They learned how to win, and how to lose.  They learned about the windshield vs. the rearview.  They learned resilience.  Competition and camraderie.  The last few games I've watched our senior starters rejoice in the success of those coming up in the class behind them and that of their friends/family/team.  It isn't about intra-squad competition anymore.  It is about passing the baton to the next crew.  Not about padding stats--about accumulating success for others.  About giving back to the sport that has given them so much.  

These men got to finish on their own terms.  They know that they are privileged. I'm filled with optimism for next year, too.  When you look at the TD crew, they are almost all coming back.  Will we have another Leon?  Who knows; I have no crystal ball.  We do know that Leon has worked to train up the next generation, and Thai is stepping up.  We also know that our passing game remains almost completely intact.  Danny, Jake, Stephan, David Alls:  we're looking good.  Keep the O-line healthy and fill in the spots that our seniors vacate, and we'll be just fine.  

So.  Would I have been more or less proud if our record were better or worse? If we were going to the playoffs?  No.  Unequivically--NO.  My pride is sourced at a deeper level.  At the D3 level, we seek success on and off the field.  We know that the character that these men built through the journey-that-is-football is the real source of pride.  Are we proud of this team?  Yes.  Why?  They are set up for success.  They have learned how to pull lessons from their experiences, both positive and negative.  They have learned how to evaluate their own personal performance.  They've learned how to learn. They have grown into men.  They are ready to head out into the world and take it by storm.  

Our players value the men they take the field with; these are lifelong friends.  In 40 years, they will be the guys standing at half time during a reunion, with the by-then-retired Coach O waving to the crowd.

Will I miss watching Nick play?  Probably.  I won't know until next year.  I do know that I rejoice in his every achievement, and I look at this as just another mile marker on his road.  I also know that I'm not alone.  And for those who's boys are still playing?  Enjoy every minute.  Hang on to them all, and burn them in your memory.  It goes so fast.

Um Ya Ya!

Love,
Kari