1998 Concordia Moorhead Football - CoSIDA Preview Form

General

Name of school : Concordia-Moorhead
City/Zip : Moorhead, MN, 56562
Founded : 1891
Enrollment : 2950
Nickname : Cobbers, (See Logo)
School colors : Maroon and Gold
Stadium : Jake Christiansen
Capacity : 7,000
Surface : Natural Grass
Affiliation : NCAA Division III
Conference : MIAC
President : Dr. Paul Dovre
Alma Mater, Yr. : Concordia, '58
Athletics Director : Dr. Armin Pipho
Alma Mater, Yr. : Luther, '60
Athletic Dept. Phone(s) : 218-299-4434

HISTORY

First year of football : 1920
All-time bowl/play-off record : 8-5-2
Years in post-season play : 8
Last post-season appearance : 1997
Result : Lost to Augsburg 34-22, NCAA Round 1
All-time record : 400-223-39

SPORTS INFORMATION

Sports Information Dir. : Jerry Pyle
SID office phone : 218-299-3194
Home phone : 701-282-0684
SID Fax : 218-299-4189
SID E-mail : pyle@cord.edu
Press Box phone : 218-299-4465
Sports Homepage : http://www.cord.edu/dept/sports/

SID Mailing Address :
Jerry Pyle, Sports Information
Concordia College
901 So. 8th St.
Moorhead, MN, 56562

Overnight Address : Same

Media Information

All Concordia Football games are broadcast on KPHT FM 92.7, Larry Knutson with play by play and Craig Samuelson with color commentary. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes before kickoff.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach : Jim Christopherson
Alma Mater/Year : Concordia, 1960
Record at school (yrs) : 204-85-7 30th yr
Career record (yrs) : 204-85-7 30th yr
Football office phone: 218-299-3499
Best time/day to reach coach: 1:00-2:30

Assistant Coaches
(Alma mater/Year/Responsibilities)
Bob Nick Concordia, '65, 32nd yr, Off Coord
Dave Klug Concordia, '80, 11th yr, Def Coord
Doug Perry Concordia, '65, 16th yr, Off Backs
Bob Kohler Valley City, '69, 11th yr, D-Backs
Dan Kostich Moorhead St., '73, 3rd yr O-Line
Dale Hertel Concordia, '71, 2nd yr, D-Line
Terry Horan Concordia, '89, 2nd yr, Receivers

Athletic Trainer: Ronda Peterson
218-299-4208

TEAM INFORMATION

Overall record last year: 8-3
Conference record/finish: 7-2, T-2nd
Final ranking last year: 4th, West Region
Basic Offense: I
Basic Defense: 4-3

Letterwinners Returning:
Offense 21 Defense 21
Specialty 9 TOTAL 42

Letterwinners Lost:
Offense 9 Defense 12
Specialty 0 TOTAL 21

Starters Returning:
Offense 5 Defense 3
Specialty 4 TOTAL 12

Starters Lost (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl):
LE 88 Jon Jasken, DE, Sr, 6-3, 225
RT 97 Jeff Gronner, DT, Sr, 6-4, 235
SLB 80 Ryan Sannes, LB, Sr, 6-2, 210
MLB 77 Cory Polzine, LB, Sr, 5-11, 210
WLB 40 Craig Gilbert, LB, Sr, 6-2, 215
SC 9 Jarad Ziebarth, CB, Sr, 5-11 180
WC 43 Jeremy Zirbes, CB, Sr, 5-9, 180
Nickel 14 Eric Kragel, SS, Sr, 6-1, 190
HB 6 Dan Steinbeisser, RB, Sr, 6-0, 185
Slt 8 Tory Langemo, WR, Sr, 6-0, 185
LT 72 Noah Caron, OT, Sr, 6-6, 280
LG 64 Tom Fuchs, OG, Sr, 6-3, 250
RG 66 Jed Seeger, OG, Sr, 6-3, 265
RT 79 Abe Hinderaker, OT, Sr, 6-5, 285

Page 2 1998 Concordia Moorhead Football - CoSIDA Preview Form (Return to Top)

TEAM INFO

Returning Offensive Starters :

QB 13 Ethan Pole, QB, Sr, 6-2, 195 (Captain, 3rd yr as starter, All-MIAC 2nd Team in 1997, 7th in league passing in '97, 132-230 passing in 97 for 1805 yrds,)
FB 36 Len Crouse So, 6-3, 200 (Started in '97 as freshman fullback, top returning rusher, 126 att for 564 yds, 4.4 ave.)
SE 1 Chris Howell, WR, Sr, 6-0, 170 (Top returning receiver, 35 catches for 402 yds)
TE 86 Mike Rydell, TE, Jr, 6-4, 215 (4 catches in '97. Expected to play bigger role in receiving corps this year.)

Bob Zacher

Kick Team

P/K 35 Clayton Horgen, Jr, 6-2, 200 (3rd yr as starting kicker, 7-14 in '97 on FGs with long of 40 yds, 30-34 on PATs, 36.8 yds punting in '97 with 21 of 52 inside the 20)
25 Marcus Ludtke, RB, So, 5-10, 180 ( Part time starter in '97 in backfield, probable starting halfback in '98, 2nd leading rusher among returnees with 382 yds in '97, a 4.3 yd ave. and a long of 37. His speed is key to opening up the field.)

Returning Defensive starters :

RE 95 Ryan Albrecht, DE Sr, 6-2, 215 (Needs to lead inexperienced defensive line, 39 tackles in '97)
FS 5 Eric Stenehjem, FS, Sr, 5-11, 170 (2nd team All-MIACin '97, '98 Captian, 3rd in tackles in '97 with 62, coming off shoulder surgery in Off season)
SS 45 Chad Bertram, SS, Sr, 6-0, 180 (5th in tackles in '97 with 55)

All-star Candidates:

RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing
Len Crouse FB, So, 6-3, 200
Marcus Ludke RB, Fr, 5-10, 180
Ethan Pole QB, Sr, 6-2, 195

GP
8
9
10

GS
6
2
10

Att
126
81
100

Yds
564
352
199

Ave
4.4
4.3
1.99

TD's
1
1
5

Long
16
37
38

Passing
Ethan Pole QB, Sr, 6-2, 195

GP/GS
10/10

Att
230

Com
132

Pct.
57.4

Yds
1805

Int
11

TD's
12

Receiving
Chris Howell WR, Sr, 6-0, 170
Rob Nick WR, Sr, 6-1, 185
Mike Rydell TE, Jr, 6-4, 215

GP
8
10
10

GS
8
0
10

Rec
35
7
4

Yds
402
47
47

Ave
12.8
8.9
11.8

Ave/G
50
4.7
4.7

TD's
2
0
1

Tackles
Eric Stenehjem FS, Sr, 5-11, 170
Chad Bertram SS, Sr, 6-0, 180
Ryan Albrecht DE Sr, 6-2, 215

GP/S
10/10
10/10
10/10

Solo
32
29
18

Asst
30
26
21

Total
62
55
39

INT
1
1
0

QBS
0
1
5

NOTES/CLARIFICATIONS:
See also Schedule, Roster, 1997 Season, 1997 Stats,
1998 Concordia Moorhead Football Home Page
Concordia opens its 1998 football campaign at Moorhead State on Sept. 5 at 1:35 in the 15th annual Crystal Bowl.

Concordia won last year's Crystal Bowl 17-7 to kick off a 8-3 season and a trip to the NCAA Playoffs. The Cobbers finished 7-2 and tied for second in the MIAC.

Head coach Jim Christopherson's 1998 team will be his 30th at Concordia. He enters the year with a 204-85-7 career record.

The 1998 Cobbers will be led on offense by three year starting quarterback and co-captain Ethan Pole. The Cobber defense will be led by co-captain Eric Stenehjem .

The Offense:
Despite some key losses to graduation, The Cobbers have solid talent returning at the skill positions with Pole at quarterback, Len Crouse at fullback, Marcus Ludtke at halfback, Chris Howell receiving and Mike Rydell at tight end. And others are waiting in the wings to help there as well. But the interior of the offensive line will be inexperienced at the beginning of the season, with only Bob Zacher retuning as a starter.

The Defense:
With just three retuning starters from a '97 team that led the league in total defense by 30 yards last year (263 yds per game) the Cobbers have serious holes to fill.

1998 Concordia Moorhead Football - (Return to Top)