From suburban to urban and rural to industrial, the landscape of VikingLand is as varied as the people that reside under the purple flag. There are limitless reasons that so many people call Minneapolis home. From work to recreation, from museums to shopping malls, and from five-star restaurants to 4:00 a.m. gyros, The City of Lakes has a plenty to offer its residents.
For a restaurant to be successful, it takes an expert chef, a solid menu and employees that are committed to giving their all to make the meal a success. Among many other ingredients, those may be the most important factors determining whether a restaurant makes it. For a football team to succeed it takes a great coach, a strategic game plan and the staff and players to execute and perform each week.
Since taking the reigns in 2005, Frank Haege has been working diligently to improve the business of Augsburg football. Haege’s resume is impressive. He started his career at Augsburg as the wide recivers coach and offensive coordinator between 1996-98, but Coach Haege built his reputation in the Arena Football League. As a professional coach, Haege has compiled a 64-24 record, won two league championships and helped his players set a number of team and individual offensive records.
Haege offers up a specialty offense that helps to differentiate his team from the competition. Available exclusively at Augsburg is the Air Auggie Spread. Designed to excite and intended to succeed, the offense of Haege’s squad is responsible for producing one of the top offensive attacks in Division III football, including a passing offense ranked fourth nationally last season, with 358.4 yards per game.
While some programs are content with meeting expectations, Coach Haege and the Auggie program are set on exceeding them. When you walk into the pizza house with the big red roof found in any town, you know exactly what to anticipate - a bland product with little opportunity to excite or disappoint. At first, the two extra layers of cheese and stuffed crust seem like a good idea, but in the end you are left feeling uncomfortable. Haege and his team can take a short walk from campus over to the Seward neighborhood to find a place that better represents his program. Stop in Pizza Local for a large baked potato pizza and you get a flavor as explosive as the Auggies' offense with the attention to detail and quality ingredients most other places miss - an experience far beyond your expectations.
The players and staff at Augsburg like to refer to the program as 612 Football in homage to the area code that students do not have to dial for a local call. 612 Football attracts a certain crowd of student athletes interested in an educational experience with a side of football and faith along with additional add-ons like downtown entertainment, arts, and an array professional opportunities. Augsburg has carved a niche near the river by attracting players from the city who wish to stay close to home at the same time bringing in suburban and out-state players that want the city experience. Coach Haege takes pride in his recruiting and finding the right players that will fit into his program and the college. There is a bit of a challenge attracting players to a program that has been flying under the radar in a city that is also home to the Vikings and Gophers. Haege is confident the players that do take the opportunity to try 612 Football will come away with an experience often reserved for the better-known programs.
On any Saturday night or Tuesday afternoon you can find a crowd at the local neighborhood favorite, an establishment that happens to be the largest casual dining chain in the world, and pick out a meal that will be sure to fill you up but not really satisfy. And while the distractions on the walls may be nostalgic and fun, they are in fact drawing your attention from the food on the plate. Under the leadership of Coach Haege, Augsburg strives to be something different. Hop on the bus from campus and get off on East Lake Street and you will find a diner that is the talk of the town. A place that serves fried pickles, cheese and potatoes with a gourmet flare. A place completely familiar but innovative enough to bring in crowd of regulars and newbies each night who leave absolutely pleased with the decision. 612 Football is all about an experience to remember in an unforgettable city. With Coach Haege leading the way and the exciting and improving product he puts on the field each week, there is reason to believe that 612 Football will be open for business for many years to come.
Coach Haege and his wife, Michelle, live in south Minneapolis and have a son, Frank Jr. In addition to his responsibility to the football team, Haege also is an instructor in the health and physical education department and is actively involved in and around campus year-round.
Augsburg Update
The Auggies are currently 4-0 and ranked #22 in the d3football.com rankings. They travel to Northfield this weekend to take on the 4-0 Carleton Knights.
You can follow Coach Haege and the Auggies all season long at http://www.augsburg.edu/athletics/football/
Comments, questions, suggestions or random rambling … send me a note at weber.trent@gmail.com
Trent Weber is in his first season as a freelance writer for vikings.com. Trent graduated from St. John’s University in 2004 with a degree in Communications. He currently lives and works in Plymouth, where he holds a position in advertising.
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