Augustana University Athletics

Pete Jaros was an expert at disrupting the opponents' passing plays on the football field. During his junior year in 1988, he set Augustana and North Central Conference records with 13 pass interceptions; that also led the nation in all divisions that year. At the conclusion of his four seasons, Pete had grabbed 21 interceptions which set a school record.

Pete was a defensive back as a Viking, and was a member of the two regional playoff teams in 1988 and 1989 when the Vikings won eight games each season. During his career, he recorded 278 tackles. He was named First Team All-NCC as a junior and again as a senior; he earned All-America honors both seasons, and was twice named NCC Defensive Player of the Week.

One of Pete's most memorable events at Augie was in 1988 when the Vikings first played in the regional playoffs. Earlier that season, the Vikings had played an "interesting" game on the road. Pete wrote, "One of the biggest games was the 7-7 game in Fargo against NDSU with all the pandemonium that followed the blocked field goal attempt. The coaches were chasing the refs, and players from both teams were yelling at each other and the official. And, there was my dad standing in the middle of it all trying to listen to the officials and his radio at the same time."

Pete played high school football in the Twin Cities metro area. He said, "I was in awe the time Coach Heinitz came to my house when I was a senior in high school." Coach Mike Freidel was the defensive coordinator then. Pete said that Coach Freidel let him, the city kid, come out and help him with his horses – "just shoveling stall and mowing the grass, but no riding or roping." He wrote more about his relationship with his coach; "Mike Freidel was my most memorable coach. He taught us as much about life as he did about football."