2008 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs football team

2008 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs football
NCAA Division II champion NSIC champion
NCAA Division II Championship Game, W 21–14 vs. Northwest Missouri State
Conference	Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Ranking
AFCA	No. 1
Record	15–0 (10–0 NSIC)
Head coach	Bob Nielson (6th season)
Home stadium	Malosky Stadium

2008 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
North Division
No. 1 Minnesota–Duluth $^		10	–	0					15	–	0
St. Cloud State		7	–	3					7	–	4
Bemidji State		4	–	6					5	–	6
Mary		4	–	6					4	–	7
Minnesota State–Moorhead		2	–	8					2	–	9
Minnesota–Crookston		1	–	9					2	–	9
Northern State		1	–	9					1	–	10
South Division
No. 23 Minnesota State ^		9	–	1					9	–	3
No. 19 Wayne State (NE) ^		8	–	2					9	–	3
Augustana (SD) #		7	–	3					8	–	4
SW Minnesota State		6	–	4					6	–	5
Winona State		6	–	4					6	–	5
Concordia–St. Paul		3	–	7					4	–	7
Upper Iowa		2	–	8					2	–	9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2008 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs football team was an American football team that won the 2008 NCAA Division II national championship.

The team represented the University of Minnesota Duluth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) during the 2008 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth, non-consecutive season under head coach Bob Nielson, the Bulldogs compiled a perfect 15–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 613 to 173, and won the NSIC championship.[1] The team advanced to the playoffs and won the national championship by defeating Northwest Missouri State in the championship game.[2]

The team's statistical leaders included Isaac Odim with 1,638 rushing yards and 180 points scored, Ted Schlafke with 3,018 passing yards and 3,513 yards of total offense, and D.J. Winfield with 1,201 receiving yards.[3]

The team played its home games at James S. Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 30	at Concordia–St. Paul	No. 22	James Griffin Stadium Saint Paul, MN	W 40–0	2,253	[4]
September 6	at Missouri Western*	No. 17	Spratt Stadium St. Joseph, MO	W 47–18	4,001	[5]
September 11	Southwest Minnesota State	No. 15	Malosky Stadium Duluth, MN	W 43–21	4,460	[6]
September 20	at Augustana (SD)	No. 15	Howard Wood Field Sioux Falls, SD	W 40–10	3,526	[7]
September 27	Mary	No. 15	Malosky Stadium Duluth, MN	W 44–7	1,707	[8]
October 4	at Minnesota State–Moorhead	No. 10	Alex Nemzek Stadium Moorhead, MN	W 52–10	2,200	[9]
October 11	Northern State	No. 9	Malosky Stadium Duluth, MN	W 55–7	3,808	[10]
October 18	at St. Cloud State	No. 9	Husky Stadium St. Cloud, MN	W 38–21	5,102	[11]
October 25	Bemidji State	No. T–6	Malosky Stadium Duluth, MN	W 48–21	3,111	[12]
November 1	at Minnesota–Crookston	No. 8	Ed Widseth Field Crookston, MN	W 63–7	473	[13][14]
November 8	Winona State	No. 5	Malosky Stadium Duluth, MN	W 38–7	1,011	[15]
November 22	No. 12 Chadron State*	No. 5	Malosky Stadium Duluth, MN (NCAA Division II first round)	W 20–10	1,468	[16]
November 29	at No. 1 Grand Valley State*	No. 5	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI (NCAA Division II quarterfinal)	W 19–13	3,548	[17]
December 6	at No. 7 California (PA)*	No. 5	Adamson Stadium California, PA (NCAA Division II semifinal)	W 45–7	3,200	[18]
December 13	vs. No. 3 Northwest Missouri State*	No. 5	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL (NCAA Division II Championship Game)	W 21–14	6,219	[2]
*Non-conference game Rankings from American Football Coaches Association Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Minnesota-Duluth Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
2. "Bulldogs' day: Minnesota-Duluth wins DII championship". Leader-Telegram. December 14, 2008. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Minnesota Duluth Cumulative Season Statistics [2008]". Retrieved October 10, 2021.
4. "Minnesota Duluth vs Concordia-St. Paul (Aug 30, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
5. "Minnesota Duluth vs Missouri Western (Sep 06, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
6. "SW Minnesota State vs Minnesota Duluth (Sep 11, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
7. "Minnesota Duluth vs Augustana (SD) (Sep 20, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
8. "University of Mary vs Minnesota Duluth (Sep 27, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
9. "Minnesota Duluth vs MSU Moorhead (Oct 04, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
10. "Northern State vs Minnesota Duluth (Oct 11, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
11. "Minnesota Duluth vs St. Cloud State (Oct 18, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
12. "Bemidji State vs Minnesota Duluth (Oct 25, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
13. "Duluth clinches at least share of title". The Winona Daily News. November 2, 2008. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Minnesota Duluth vs Minnesota, Crookston (Nov. 1, 2008)". University of Minnesota Duluth. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
15. "Duluth duo runs over Warriors". The Winona Daily News. November 9, 2008. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Minnesota-Duluth grounds high-flying Eagle attack". Rapid City Journal. November 23, 2008. p. F5 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Grand Valley falls in double overtime". Daily Press & Argus. November 30, 2008. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Turnovers cost Vulcans in chilling loss". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 7, 2008. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.