UMD Football Motivated by 2023 Playoff Snub

Opening season August 29 at Northern Michigan

DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD football team arrived at Griggs Field with pent-up energy and excitement for the upcoming 2024 season.

“It’s been a long time coming, but I’m super excited to kind of get after it again and get back in the swing of things.” said tight end Sam Pitz.

“It’s a great feeling, back with the boys. Kind of had this long break, but it feels good to have everyone back together.” smiled linebacker Andrew Klopp.

“Everyone’s out here ready to go…There’s already some screaming and cheering going on, waiting for the whistle to blow to get practice started, so it’s a good feeling.” says tackle Aiden Williams.

The Bulldogs’ first practice comes just two weeks after longtime head coach Curt Wiese signed a three-year extension with UMD.

“I’m fortunate to be here,” says Wiese, who’s been with the team since 2008. “I’m fortunate to work with a really good staff and have a lot of good guys here behind me. So excited to be back, you know, excited to have the extension here through 2028 and continue to build this football program. I don’t do it alone. We got a really good group with me.”

Coach Wiese will once again have quarterback Kyle Walljasper run his offense following a breakout 2023 season in which he totaled 1,580 passing yards, 1,073 rushing yards and 39 total touchdowns (22 passing, 16 rushing and one receiving).

“I think his next step in our football program is to take another step as a leader, which he has definitely done this offseason,” says Wiese.

Walljasper earned second-team all-conference honors through his mobility and knack for escaping the pocket. Following an in-season injury, Walljasper opted for shoulder surgery in December. However, that won’t stop the Fond du Lac native from changing his style of play.

“I’ll still play the same,” Walljasper smiled. “We’re just going to hope that (my shoulder) holds up and maybe go a little easier in practice, but come gametime, should be the same.

“That surgery kind of held me back a little bit from focusing on some of the things I like to work on, but just getting healthy and getting back out here is going to be kind of my priority.”

Also returning to the Bulldogs’ offense this fall is tight end Sam Pitz, who led the team with nine receiving touchdowns in 2023.

“He’s a good friend of mine, and it’s going to be fun throwing the ball (to him) again this year,” says Walljasper.

“Me and Kyle have gotten pretty close over the last few years,” Pitz said. “I’m a pretty old guy, and he’s just a few years younger me. But obviously, (we) have a good relationship on the field, but also off the field. (We) Kind of hang out on the weekends, play video games together, stuff like that. But yeah, (I’m) good friends with Kyle.”

Despite finishing 2023 with a strong 9-2 record, UMD fell one spot short of reaching the NCAA Division II Tournament. While the Bulldogs are focusing on the upcoming season, they won’t forget about how close they came to a postseason berth.

“When you’re the first, second, third team out in your region, that’s not a fun thing,” Admits Wiese, who’s led the Bulldogs to five playoff appearances. “We’re going to remember that. We should use it as inspiration. It’s a goal to be back in the national playoffs. We know we got a lot of work ahead of us here over the next few weeks before we head into the season. But it’s a marathon. You know, the football season is a long way at the end of the year, so one day at a time.”

“I just think that we can take our losses from last year and really look at them and say, Hey, let’s like, let’s not lose this year,” says Williams. “Let’s come out and kick everyone’s butt and go from there.”

UMD opens its regular season on the road August 29 against Northern Michigan before their home opener September 14 against MSU-Moorhead.