Remembering the game that changed Grand Valley football

Fifty years later, and the memories have not faded.

In the final game of the 1976 season, the Lakers football team achieved a monumental win. For those who played and coached in the game, it is a cherished victory they relish to this day.

Grand Valley upset No. 1 Northern Michigan, 31-14, on November 13, 1976, giving the Lakers one of their most defining victories in program history. 

“It puts us on the national map,” said Ron Essink, who played for the Lakers from 1976-79 and was the first GVSU player drafted by the NFL. 

The memories flowed as former players gathered at their usual tailgate spot in the Blue Lot along Stadium Drive for the Lakers’ game against Northern Michigan last weekend.

This time though, a special guest joined them to remember the game’s 50th anniversary. 

Coach Jim Harkema, who led the Lakers from 1973-82, reunited with his former players to reminisce about the game that catapulted Grand Valley to the national level and became a foundation toward building the program. 

The reverence and admiration for their former coach were evident.

“Back in those days, your coaches were like on a pedestal,” said John Fitzgerald ’85. “And, he was on a pedestal.”

“Coach Hark instilled that passion and that attitude that we were going all out, and you never take your foot off the gas, no matter what,” added Jim Ayres ’79. “He and the coaches worked us so hard in practice that we became a stronger team because of it.”

Prior to Saturday’s game, Harkema got his first look at the Jamie Hosford Football Center, named for one of his former players, while getting a private tour of the facility by another former player, Darrell Niedzwiecki ’82, and finally meeting current head football coach Scott Wooster.

Later, Harkema also unveiled the newest feature of Lubbers Stadium, Legacy Corner, which honors the coaches who built the program into a Division II powerhouse.

“This is amazing,” Harkema said about the Hosford Center and Lubbers Stadium. “I'll never forget that President Lubbers was the thrust behind getting this stadium built. He deserved to have his name on the stadium because this wouldn’t even be here.” 

The game

The Lakers football program was still young when Harkema was hired in 1973. The squad was winless through its first two seasons, but that changed with his first game as Grand Valley beat Kalamazoo College, 27-14.

By 1976, the Lakers had climbed their way up the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings and were challenging for conference titles. 

“We felt we had a base of good players,” Harkema said. “All we did was focus on what we can do for that week’s game. It wasn’t until after the season when we began thinking about next season. So it was just a building process that worked out obviously.” 

“I've told guys like (Ron Essink) and Tim Maki, who were the seniors when I got here, that they were mentors, and yet they were kids too,” added Niedzwiecki. “They were just 21 years old, but they took us freshmen under their wing, and laid out how we did things at Grand Valley.” 

Northern Michigan entered the 1976 meeting as the defending Division II national champions and owners of an 18-game winning streak. The Wildcats boasted a highly potent offense led by three-time All-American and future NFL head coach, Steve Mariucci.

But it was the 1975 loss to the Wildcats that rankled the Lakers and served as extra motivation. Players and coaches believed the Wildcats ran an illegal play to score the game-winning touchdown. 

“We felt we were cheated the year before at Northern, where they ran a sleeper play for the winning touchdown, and we had it on video,” Harkema said. “So in ’76 we were geared to play them.” 

A year later, the Lakers were ready for the Wildcats at Lubbers Stadium.

Grand Valley set the early tone with Dan Gunder intercepting Mariucci’s first pass of the game. The Lakers were relentless, capitalizing on Northern miscues and building a 24-0 third-quarter lead. 

Northern took advantage of two Lakers turnovers to pull within 24-14 midway through the second half. However, Danny Jackson delivered the decisive play, intercepting another Mariucci pass and returning it 74 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.

“The interception by Danny that just turned the tide,” said Essink. “That was one heck of a game, and the guys played their hearts out, and I'm just thankful to be a part of that.”

The Lanthorn reported it was pandemonium in the locker room following the win as players doused their coaches with soda in celebration. 

“That game was a big stepping stone for us and gave us a national name,” said Tim Maki ’78.

Back in his apartment, Jim Ayres ’79 celebrated with his family, when the national media picked up on the Lakers’ win, he said.

“It was ABC Sports’ national college football show, and they mentioned that Northern Michigan had their streak broken by Grand Valley State,” Ayres said. “And to hear that on national television was awesome.” 

“We were always motivated, but that 1976 game was Ohio State-Michigan for us. That’s one of the greatest memories of my athletic career in college.”