Augustana University Athletics

As a senior at Armour High School, Dan Freidel's football progress was closely monitored by schools such as Brigham Young and Minnesota, which envisioned him as a major college cornerback. The only problem with that was that Dan would only play football in college. As a four-year varsity players for the Packers, he was part of a 30-4 football record and a 97-3 basketball record.

Dan came to Augustana College in 1980 and played both football and basketball all four years. He became a master in the arts of giving and taking. On the basketball court he handed out assists in bunches, and was adept at stealing opponents' passes. On the football field opposing quarterbacks knew him as a prince of thieves.

During the 1983 football season, Augustana set a team record for interceptions with 19. Dan had nine, including six that tied him for top honors in North Central Conference play; that set a season record for interceptions. He capped his football career with 17 interceptions, setting the career record as well. He is currently second in both categories of Augie records. He was named to the All-NCC team in 1982.

Augustana's 1982-83 basketball team posted a 19-8 record as Dan totaled 137 assists. He had 157 assists the next season as a senior and was team co-captain. Dan is third on the career assists chart with 482, and is second on the career steals chart with 172.

In 1983 Freidel was named Male College Athlete of the Year by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association.

Dan's memorable games are, as many Vikings, against SDSU. In football, Augie defeated the jacks three out of Dan's four years. In basketball, Dan tells of the Augie vs. SDSU game at the Arena when seven dead rabbits hit the floor and Augie Doggie did the now famous "doctor skit" when he tried to revive a dad rabbit on a stretcher.

Coaching was always Dan's goal, and he credits high school coach Burnell Glanzer and the many coaches at Augie with the direction and philosophy to develop his career.