Well, Jim wanted to get an opinion of a Grand Valley State University Laker fan on the upcoming football game between GVSU and UND, and just general thoughts on the quick little rivalry, and well, I figured I might as well give it a shot. All in all, it has been a flat out blast playing you guys and it’s just not going to be the same next year looking at the playoff brackets without North Dakota in the mix. So, here are some thoughts on some of our past matchups, and a little look back at it all.
Sure the 2001 NC game really hurt for us when we’re up with like a minute left and then GV blitzes and misses that tackle that lets the Sioux make that long gain in which leads to the go ahead score for the Sioux. That really sucked, and well, they would pull my GVSU fan card if I didn’t mention the fact that if Curt Anes was healthy, the Lakers would have put up a lot more points on the Sioux defense that day.
2003, now that was a game there. Back and forth all day, and us poor Laker fans having visions of 2001 running through our minds on that last UND drive. Luck for us, we get that interception to seal the win that year.
2004, Well, this is the year when I started to have a low opinion of the NCAA when they shifted the GLIAC west into the Northwest region along with the NCC. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this rivalry, is that they’re all a bunch of bums and idiots down there in Indianapolis. I could say worse about them, but I’m sure you all have an even lower opinion of them than what I do. With that shift, it ruined a great possible championship game matchup and left it at best, a regional final game. Not what this matchup deserves, but eh, I guess we were spoiled in just meeting up twice in Alabama now weren’t we? Still, it was a pretty close game, with the Sioux getting the better of the Lakers that time.
2005 and 2006, The Sioux travel to Lubbers both times and well, now it’s pretty well established that post season matchups between our two schools are destine to happen for as long as both of us are in Division Two. The Lakers managed to get the better of the Sioux both times out on the icy windswept field of Lubbers stadium, but they were both games were everybody’s mettle was tested. No sissy paddy cake games like what some other regions are like. Both were some hard hitting games where the snot was sent flying on both sides and a few players wanting to get a license plate number of that truck that hit them.
And so, it brings us to 2007. And well, as I’m sure you’re all aware of, it will be the last time the Lakers and Sioux will have this donnybrook in the playoffs. The Sioux will be moving on to D1, and well, us here in Laker land will be sad to see you guys go. But for the Sioux, it’s a wise move for them, given your facilities, fan base, and general support you guys have in North Dakota. Plus, that Ag College to the south going up to D1 did put a lot of pressure on UND to move up. All in all, you guys will be missed by Division Two. You guys were a great example of what D2 should be. UND has been great competition for GVSU and made the Lakers raise their game up.
For those of you that do make it to the game, I’ll see you out at the Tailgater before the game. Just ask around in the Irwin Lot for the one they call the Monster. For those of you unable to make it, you’ll probably get to see me on TV.