When Augustana Football played its first game on Oct. 2, 1920, some of the players had never seen a game before, let alone played one. The newly-formed team played against Beresford High School, followed by a game against Canton High School and rematch against Beresford. The inaugural team ended its first season with a 1-2 record.
Now, more than a century later, Augustana Football is in its 100th season of competition — celebrating growth, touchdowns and plenty of victories.
Building Champions
The program began as part of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC), then transitioned to the North Central Conference (NCC) in 1942, before joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in 2008. While Augustana found success in the NCC with two championships and back-to-back NCAA playoff appearances, Jim Heinitz, AU’s all-time winningest and longest-serving head coach, said the NSIC has served as a great conference for the university.
“In the NSIC, everyone looks at Augustana as ‘That's going to be a tough game,’” Heinitz said. “So, I think it's been a healthy transition.”
Voice of Augustana Football Jeff Fylling ‘78, who has provided play-by-play radio commentary for the Vikings since 1984, has witnessed the hard work of many of the program’s coaches.
“I think what the coaches went through, especially in the NCC days and being the smallest school, to build the program and be competitive was the hardest thing,” Fylling said. “Hats off to them.”
Since its start, Augustana Football has had 21 head coaches at its helm, beginning in 1920 with J.A. Johnson, former dean of men and athletic director. Now, Jerry Olszewski, best known as “OJ,” is in his ninth year of leading the charge.
“I’m a competitive human being, so I love the Xs and Os, but it’s about the mentoring of young men,” Olszewski said. “You get a lot of trials and tribulations over the course of a career, and after 30 years in the profession, I still look to the relationships that were formed. You get to be an active part of their life, and that goes beyond football once they leave.”
Home-Field Advantage
Augustana Football has also seen three home fields since its inception — the first of which was located where the Moses statue stands on AU’s campus today. In 1958, home games moved to Howard Wood Field. In 2007, former President Rob Oliver announced that Viking Football would once again have its own home and construction would begin at 37th Street and Lake Avenue. On Sept. 5, 2009, Kirkeby-Over (K-O) Stadium opened with a 32-21 Viking win over Emporia State in front of more than 6,000 fans.
Fylling, who’s also the voice of Augustana Men’s & Women’s Basketball, said Kirkeby-Over is a top facility and one he appreciates, especially on game days.
“It’s as good of a Division II venue as there is in the country — bar none,” said Fylling. “It’s also a great place for me to see straight down to the field. I love doing games there. And, the fans are right down by the game.”
The field on which the team plays is Jim Heinitz Field — dedicated in 2016, in honor of the all-time winningest coach.
“I’m also the all-time losingest coach,” Heinitz joked. “The dedication is humbling and a real blessing in our family's life. My mother had the chance to come to the dedication and walk out onto the middle of the field. It was really special.”
The Vikings have also sent several players to the pros. Les Josephson ‘64 was the first Augustana Football alumnus signed as a free agent in the NFL in 1964, and later selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 1968. Bryan Schwartz ‘94, Corbin Lacina ‘93, Kevin Kaesviharn ‘01 and Minnesota Vikings Fullback CJ Ham ‘16 also found success in the NFL. Viking Football has also seen dozens of others play for other professional leagues, such as the Sioux Falls Storm and other arena football leagues, as well as the Canadian Football League.
Ham, named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, and a Minnesota Vikings team captain, credits Augustana Football with where he is today.
“Being an Augustana football alum means the world to me,” said Ham. “The coaches, like OJ, invest so much time in the players. We weren’t just numbers. It wasn’t just about winning games. It was about making a real connection and becoming a man. I really owe that to them, and I just loved everything about it.”
Recovering Fumbles
The program, which has seen incredible overall growth in its span, has also encountered hardships, including three canceled seasons. The ‘43 and ‘44 seasons were canceled due to World War II, and the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Zoom became our friend,” Olszewski said. “We tried to connect with them (the players) as often as we could by unit, position and team. I think a lot of growth and development happened during that time, but the isolation was tough.”
Despite the canceled season and masked practices, Olszewski believes AU benefited from the work they continued to put in during the pandemic — leading to the program’s first NSIC Championship in 2021.
“There have been special seasons in my time here, but 2021 is probably the favorite because we had to go through a lot of things just to (be able) to do what these kids love to do,” said Olszewski.
Olszewski, Fylling and Heinitz believe Augustana, as a whole, is a strong foundation for the football program.
“I would say close to 100% of the players come to Augustana, first and foremost, for an education,” Heinitz said. “And, if there's one thing I'm most proud of, it’s that when they do come, they get a great education. It's a place that does care. You come here, and you'll set your path for life.”
Be the Rock
As for the future of Augustana Football, Olszewski looks forward to continuously raising the bar and providing opportunities for his players to compete on a national stage. In 2022, the Vikings were picked as the NSIC preseason favorites.
“There’s a bar of excellence that our players have helped establish,” said Olszewski. “We call it, ‘Be the Rock,’ where we hold each other accountable to the standards we set. And, it’s important to our team to continue to push excellence so all alumni are proud to be a Viking for life.”
But, what Olszewski is most excited about is his team and the heart they bring to the field.
“They care,” Olszewski said. “They legitimately care for one another, and they take pride in wearing that Viking on their helmet.”
To support a championship-level program and student-athlete experience, visit augielink.com/100in100.