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He poses for a picture before the start of the 2004 Michigan Tech season. Team members: Coach Bernie Anderson, Offensive Coordinator Tom Kerley, Dan Metlach, Kirk Williams, Chad Alger, Lee Marana, Brad Schultz, Jim Bestel, Rob Black, David Koepke, Mike Brewster, Kyle Stewart, Brian Janeshek, Jacob Smith, S. Matheson. , David Anderson, Andy Bonk, Davon Dixon, Travis Boeck, Dustin Daniels, Brian Klett, Joe Basindale, Jackson Mnott, Antoine Young, Brian Leplay, Chris Lomasney, Grant Botts, Paul Lynn, Daryl Graham, Jack Mickle, Juan Wilson, T. . Merritt, Jared Wills, Brad Ruohonen, Zach Tatro, Luke Edwards, Ryan Essex, Cheyne Nelson, Andy Luhmann, Matt Lamberti, Ethan Sklom, Billy Onig, Mike Hutchence, Andy Bruce, Lee Keys, R. Richard, Curt Trauman, W. McCubray, Josh Dorn, Pete Moirilla, Steve Fanetti, Devon Allen, Keith White, Eric Lehman, and D. Williamson. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech Athletics)
Houghton – In the 100-year history of the Michigan Tech Huskies football program, despite the team’s current 1-4 record, the most recent years have been the most prosperous. However, it wasn’t that long ago that the program nearly died after the decision to cut the program after the 2003 season.
Dan Metlach, who now serves as the Huskies’ associate head coach and offensive coordinator, was caught in the middle of a wild two-week stretch that sparked renewed motivation for the Huskies to take the next step as a program.
In the year In the spring of 2003, Mettlach completed his third season with the Huskies. In the year He was the starting quarterback for the team that went 3-7 in 2002. The Huskies lost 6 of their last seven games to end the season.
One morning, as he and his colleagues approached the SDC gym, something shocking seemed to happen. The lights in the great room were still off.
“We found one of our refrigerators this morning.” he said. “So it was 6:30 or 6:15 in the morning, or whatever, in the wooden gym. All the lights are off. Everyone was wondering what was going on. Then Coach (Bernie) Anderson came in and gave us the news.
It was a 5-10 minute conversation. Everyone did not know what to think. People were upset and anyone else, wondering what the next step would be. So you’re out at SDC at 6:30 in the morning not knowing what’s going to happen.
While trying to process the decision made by the athletic department, Metlach and his teammates had a decision to make, should they stay or should they go? He remembers that some of his professors were wondering why he and his friends were bothering to come to class when they could be out for a walk.
For Mettlach, the whole experience was real in that moment.
“You sit there and say, ‘Do I want to go to school now?’ Because of everything.” he said. “Then you’re getting to class and some professors are wondering why you’re here.”
Over the next two weeks, many team members went on recruiting trips to find a new school to play at. Others decided to stick around, even though there was no hope of playing another game at Michigan Tech.
As rumors swirled that there might be enough support from alumni and the community to fund the program’s return, Metlach and his colleagues had another distraction: whether to continue looking for a new home or stay at Houghton. The possibility of returning the program.
“We went on tours.” he said. “Some of us went to visit together. Certain groups were recruiting the same men. You’re trying to figure out not only what’s best for football, but academically three years into your college career. What he conveys, what he doesn’t do, and so the timing is extraordinary.
When it was announced that the program would be returning, Metlach couldn’t contain his excitement. In the coming days, the team is understood to have decided to move only a handful of players, meaning they will return the start of the 2003 season.
Also new to the program in 2003 was a VIP tent at Sherman Field. Built by kicker Grant Botts’ father and stocked by Jim and Julie Cortright, the venue became a gathering place for students and fans. Metlach also praised the efforts of Sue Johnson, who coordinated the VIP program. With this kind of support, the team is excited to know that they will have more support from their families coming into the 2003 season.
In the 2003 season, the Huskies won their opening game, but then lost their next four. There is a saying in sports that teams must learn how to win. Mettlach felt that was exactly what was happening with the team, because once they figured it out, they won four of their last five games.
This knowledge goes back to 2004. Metlach and the Huskies opened the season with a win over Northern Michigan and never looked back, winning their next eight games and setting up a big matchup with the perennially popular Grand Valley State.
The two teams met at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor with the conference title up for grabs. The Huskies ended up losing the game after losing three players to injuries, but were able to play in front of 52,000 fans, something every player on the team will remember for the rest of their lives.
At that moment, Metlach and his teammates were focused only on football.
“We weren’t far from the stadium.” he said. “So obviously there were quite a few students around the two hotels we stayed at. Now my wife, girlfriend at the time, had moved to Michigan, so we were driving, and we saw her tailgate, and there were a lot of our friends there.
Afterward, the Huskies learned how much it means to the alumni and community to be a part of such a special moment. “Bash at the Big House.”
“We came out of our team dinner at the hotel that night, and the crowd in the parking lot, the hotel or the hotel next door was unlike any game we’ve ever played before.” he said. We still have people come up to us when we meet students who were at that game or talk to alums or Tech fans.
The Huskies earned the opportunity to play in and host their first NCAA playoff game that season. In the loss to North Dakota, the experience helped set the tone for the next 18 seasons of Michigan Tech football.
Metlach, now the program’s coach, has instilled the same principles in his players.
“There is no easy way to win, but what I appreciate about this place is that we don’t take shortcuts just to win.” he said. “We do things the right way, the Michigan Tech way. People who have been in that program understand what that means. That part, to me, whether you’re 1-4 or 5-0, that part makes Michigan Tech special.
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