Twenty years ago, a roaring crowd and frigid North Dakota weather set the stage for one of Dickinson State University’s (DSU) most unforgettable playoff moments. As the Blue Hawks prepare to host Kansas Wesleyan this Saturday at the Biesiot Activities Center (BAC), it’s hard not to look back to 2004, the last time DSU fans packed the stands for a playoff game on their own turf.
Saturday, November 23, offers a chance for the Blue Hawks, ranked No. 14, to add a new chapter to their legacy. Under Coach Pete Stanton, DSU football has achieved unparalleled success, clinching ten straight North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference titles and consistently showing up in the NAIA playoffs since 2015. But a home playoff? That’s a rare treat, one that promises to bring the entire community out in full force.
DAC Star, Jace Schillinger '05, in full force, 2004.
For Jace Schillinger, a 2005 graduate and former Dakota Athletic Conference Football Athlete of the Year, the memories of that 2004 season are as vivid as a fresh hit on frozen turf. “We played Montana Tech in the first round and we beat them pretty good,” he recalls. The Blue Hawks dominated Montana Tech with a 30-13 victory, igniting hopes for a deep postseason run. But in the second round, powerhouse Carroll College crushed those dreams, winning decisively en route to a national championship.
Schillinger remembers it all: The tough, gritty play, the roaring crowd, and of course, the bone-chilling cold. “Hawk Weather,” he calls it. “The field was frozen, and it hurt! It was like playing on concrete.” But that only added to the mystique of Whitney Stadium, DSU’s former field before the BAC was built. “Whitney had an aura about it. It certainly wasn’t as fancy as the BAC! It had so much character and history.”
Whitney Stadium on the DSU Campus.
Whitney Stadium may be a thing of the past, but its legacy lives on in the memories of those who played there. Schillinger reminisces about the pride he felt playing for DSU, especially against Montana teams. “Being from Montana, playing against two Montana schools in the playoffs that year meant a lot. You wanted to win and you really wanted bragging rights.”
“Back then, DSU football was led by a star-studded staff,” according to Schillinger. Hall of Fame coach Henry “Hank” Biesiot was at the helm, alongside Arlan Hofland, Duane Monlux, Pete Leno, and Pete Stanton (who now heads the team). Together, according to Schillinger, they built a culture that not only produced champions but fostered lifelong bonds.
The 2004-2005 Blue Hawk Football Team
Schillinger, who now lives in Sidney, Montana, and works for BSN Sports, has fond memories of his final home game. “The last time I walked off that field, I had tears in my eyes. This was it. I knew there was no other place I wanted to be, no other coaches I wanted to play for.”
The stakes are high, the air is cold, and the Blue Hawks are ready. Let the playoff magic begin!
A Blue Hawk tailgate during 2023 DSU Homecoming.
A tailgate party will kick off the festivities at 10:00 AM in the parking lot of the BAC. The Blue Hawks and Coyotes game will begin at 1:00 PM Mountain Time on Saturday, November 23.
Game tickets can be purchased at www.dsubluehawks.com/game-day-tickets. General admission pricing is $15 for adults and $10 for students. A limited number of reserved Blue Seat tickets are available as well for $25.
By: Debora Dragseth, Baker Boy Professor of Leadership | School of Business and Entrepreneurship Dickinson State University
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