"It was a dark and stormy night. And a wet t-shirt contest too!"

With my apologies to Edward Bulwer-Lytton, this is how the event started that many of us have waited five years to happen. For some of the alumni, thank god it will be another five years until the next reunion.

Saturday morning, April 24th, 2010, broke open with rain and thunder. Of course this did not keep the alumni from their traditional "breakfast at Spinner's". With the pitch wet, muddy, but in good rugby condition- the stage was set at about 11am for the MSU Women's and Men's alumni rugby matches.

Once the alumni men started their march from Spinner's up to the MSU Rugby Pitch on campus, the current MSU Men's Rugby Club, seeing the shear number of alumni, a quick count put the alumni numbers at over 70 players, knew they were up against it this day. So the young kids kept to themselves in the far corner of the try zone.

FRIDAY NIGHT

A late arriving crowd about 9:30, started to fill, the one-time home bar of the MSU Rugby Club, the Oleander Saloon. Some of the early crowd were from the MSU Women's alumni. Another large group of early party goers were the present day MSU Women's team, who seemed to be fascinated with the members of the MSU Rugby 1982 Dreamteam from. A very special alumni came out ofa 20 year retirement and made a special apperance at the Oleander. I was pleased to be greeted by our good friend and MSU Rugby legend, Kraig "Spooge" Knowel. Spooge is known through many a rugby story that has been handed down from year to year within MSU Rugby. We hope that this is not the last time the Ole will be graced by this friend of MSU Rugby. With all of the history that the Oleander holds for MSU Rugby, 4 fer1 beers, Claxton Walsh, bubbles of Jim Beam, Rugby Queens, girls hanging from the wagon wheel lights, and alcohol fueled fun too numerous to mention, it was the young ladies of the current MSU Women's Club that took over the Ole for the majority of the evening. Without a sober soul amoung them, the women were the hit of the night, and for us old-timers brought back fond memories of how the Ole was on a rugby fundraiser nights. Early in the evening many of MSU Womens team played, "find the 82 Dreamteamer" for free beer. Of course when they were asked to spot Spaz in the photo, most times they would point directly to Ron Kadrlik. Being how times are these days, I would give the response, "That's me, I owe you a beer". Thanks for letting me step in for you Kuts. As Friday night wore on, the women's team kicked it into high gear with the sight of drunken girls dancing on bar tables, double digit beer glasses broken, dirty talk and lifestyle decisions being made in the women's bathroom, and without going into too much detail, "freestyle makingout and fondeling" all coming ala-cart from the Oleander Saloon. These current MSU Women Ruggers even seemed to overtake the security staff at the Ole. Just when it looked like one of them was going to get tossed from the bar, they would either duck and dive their way from the bouncers or, four or five of their teammates would surround the bar staff giving the person in question time to run out of the bar, only to return five minutes later. All fun and games and nobody got hurt. But as a beloved rugby alumni Paul Fasching would say, "don't leave the best part of your game in the bar". Saturday, match day, was only a short 10 hours away. 

Saturday

It seems that the previous nights fun did nothing to keep any of the alumni from our traditonal "Breakfast at Spinner's" or from getting to the rugby pitch in good fashion, without a trace of that ever famous trait of being on "Rugby Time". Everyone seemed in good shape and were ready to get their kit and boots on.

MSU Women's Alumni Match

Although the alumni women were not superior in numbers this day, they were the first to hit the pitch and begin to warm-up. With about 20 alumni women ready to play, the match kicked-off right at noon. Without too many details available (we too busy getting ready for the men's match) the alumni women gave all the current team wanted in the match. With a late try by the MSU Team, this gave the victory to the current women's team. For a more details on the action in this match, please buy the DVD, which has a very long section of action from the women' match. 

The dark and stormy night turned into a bright and sunny day!

As the alumni were warming-up, or as a bystander noted, getting out of their walkers and putting on layers of Bengay, you could feel that this match had a real edge to it, for the alumni. Our numbers were much stronger than in past alumni matches, with over 70 players putting on the boots, ready for play to start. The starting fifteen was determined by age. Our captain was our senior most member, Don Gaudette. With a starting front row of Ziesmer, Ahrens, and Digger. With second and back row members Wild Bill, Courtney "The Animial" Voelhl, Dan Gage, Don Gaudette, and Little JD

With open subs in effect for the old boys, not that any of the first XV could not go the entire 80 minute match, we thought that open subs was in the best spirt of the game, so each and every alumni would see match time. As all of the alumni gathered at center pitch to challange the young kids with the MSU Rugby traditional pre-match cheer, with the ending for the alumni as, "We thought of it first, so F-you", we were on our way. The alumni scored within the first five minutes when Russell Spaulding kicked a 30 meter penalty kick to put the alumni ahead, 3-0. The alumni never looked back from this point on. At about the fifteen minute mark is when the group of alumni who played for MSU from 1991-1997 took over the match. Trys were coming easy for the alumni. The standouts from this group were, Romeo, Stump, Army, Digger, Scummer, Jones, Shorts, Enser, Kleetz, and other studs from that era of MSU Rugby. At halftime it was clear that the alumni had this match in hand, so the starting XV made their way back on to the pitch for start the second half. After scoring a very quick try, we let the younger alumni take over the match for the majority of the remaining minutes

As the "Dreamteam" and "The Gentlemen from the 70's" watched the alumni play out the end of the match, it was clear that the above pictured group of alumni were going to leave their mark on the present day ruggers from MSU. All day the alumni out hit, out scored, out ran, and marched each scrum straight backwards on the current MSU Team. With such a lopsided score, it would be very hard to give you all of the details, but here are some of the standout moments, and alumni, from the match:

After the match all of the alumni gathered at The South Street Saloon for light refreshments. This was hosted by alumni and owner of the South Street, Devin Gasswint. This was a time to have a few beers and gleem in the glory of the resounding 48-5 (but who was counting) thumping the alumni put on the MSU Side. As the saying goes, "Let the legands live on."

Saturday Night Banquet

What can I say other than it was an over flow crowd for the dinner and awards banquet at the Loose Moose in downtown Mankato. After a few drinks, and everyone was done with their dinner, we started the program. Alumni President, Jay "Spaz" Ziesmer hosted the evening and opened with some very brief thank you's to members of the alumni who helped put this weekend together, including special thanks to Evan Sewell, MSU Women's Rugby Club President, for all of her hard work. We then paused to recognize the parents of Jeremy "shortbus" Goodwin. We also give our respects to our missing alumni brother Paul Fasching. We asked that all teammates of these alumni that are no longer with us, please send in their rememberances and stories to this alumni website so that we can post them under each player on the requiem page. It was now time for our very special guest speakers for the evening. We were lucky enough to have two alumni come back this reunion and were able to enlighten the youngesters about the beginning days of both the MSU Men's and Women's Clubs. Geolff Olmsheid was there from the beginning of the Men's Club. He told everyone about having to start from nothing, without any help from the University, and some of the very special early members who shaped the club in the early 1970's. We were also very honored to have Jane Stanley, one of the founding members of the MSU Women's Club come and say a few words about the beginning days of MSU Women's Rugby. We want to thank Jane for coming all the way from Seattle to help us share this weekend with all the alumni. We then a surprise speaker make his way to the podium. From the "Men of the 70's", two-term club President, Dan Gage, gave all of the assembled rugby players, especially the current MSU Team, some very insperational words about what a special brotherhood we have within MSU Rugby. For me, Dan's words were the highlight of the banquet. We then had our traditional recognition of Big Pete, and the lifetime of work and dedication he has given to MSU Rugby. Then Big Pete took over the mic and we started one of the best fundraisers in many years. The bidding started on the vintage rugby shirts, jerseys, and jackets. (If only some of you who bid only knew who use to wear some of those jerseys it would make you scream into the night.) The bidding on almost every item was fast paced, and at the end of the evening, we raised over $600 for the rugby alumni. A very huge thank you to everyone who donated something for this auction, and a very big thanks for all of you who made bids on all of the vintage gear! The banquet ended with the signing of a rugby ball and 40th Reunion poster, by all members. Both of these items will be displayed at the South Street Saloon

I know what you are thinking, the banquet is over, it's 10pm and all of the old boys are going back to their hotel rooms, down a few Advils, call home to mommy, and tuck themselves into bed for the evening. Come on now, we are talking about Mankato State Rugby! If there were any alumni that did pack it in, they missed one of the highlights of Saturday night. As a large number of alumni were sitting around the bar and buying drinks (yes, young rugger's you should have stayed for the free drinks) at the Loose Moose, sharing rugby stories and talking about the old days. Then there came a very large, what can only be called a roar from next door at Mettler's. When our group of about 15 old boys made our way over to Mettler's, the stage was totally surrounded by MSU Rugby Alumni Players. It seems that one of our own women rugby alumni, "Nice Debbie", was about to take to the competition of the wet t-shirt contest. With a very loud backing of rugby players behind her, the judges had no other option but to award the contest, and the $100.00, to "Nice Debbie" from the MSU Women's Alumni. I'm not sure if any video or photos available to document "Nice Debbies" performance, but I do know that she had several alumni ready to propose marriage to her, and one old boy was even offering a weekend in Vegas. From that point on the drinks were flowing, the stories got longer, and another MSU Rugby Alumni weekend came to a close.

I do these reunions out of a promise I made a friend over twenty-five years ago. But I get help and support along the way. I want to thank these people that helped with this year's reunion.