MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – The new Superior Dome turf is ready to welcome a new iteration of Northern Michigan football Thursday against Minnesota Duluth. The Wildcats are searching for their first win since Nov. 12, 2022.
Second-year head coach Shane Richardson knows where his team stands in the Division II football landscape, and his group, which includes 43 freshmen, is embracing an underdog mentality heading into this season.
“We should be playing with a chip on our shoulder, and we’re going to,” Richardson said. “Our guys know that, and I think it’s great. They’re not being over emotional about it, but I think they understand that not many people really respect us, and we haven’t really gained that respect from anybody.”
NMU opened last season at Duluth, a 47-10 loss in Richardson’s first game as head coach. The Bulldogs finished 9-2 a year ago.
Richardson emphasized how much further along they are now compared to last year.
“This year, we just have a deeper roster,” he said. “We have guys that can challenge each other, and I just expect a much more competitive vibe out there on the field.”
Northern will also have some continuity on offense, naming sophomore quarterback Aidan Hoard Thursday’s starter.
Hoard appeared eight games in 2023 and threw for more than 1,000 yards while completing 52 percent of his pass attempts.
“He’s a really smart kid,” Richardson said. “He’s somebody who wants to get it right. He’s going to work his tail off. He’s got a lot of great intangibles, so if he can continue to keep those going, it’s really going to help his production.”
Thursday’s game will kick off at 6 p.m. inside the dome. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.nmu.edu.
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Publish date : 2024-08-27 23:05:00
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