Augustana University Athletics

When Joel Swisher began his first season as head coach of Augustana in 1977 the media didn't think much of the Vikings chances. The preseason poll had Augie near the bottom of the North Central Conference. But Swisher was optimistic because he knew he had a defensive unit he could rely upon. From his linebacker position, Roger Goebel anchored a solid defense and the Vikings surprised the prognosticators by winning seven of eleven games and finished in a tie for runner-up honors in the NCC at 4-3.

Augie began the season by losing by a point to a strong Northern Arizona team and was leading North Dakota State, the top-ranked team in the country, by a touchdown in the second half. However, it was a game against the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks that Roger remembers. He said, "At the end of my senior year we traveled to Grand Forks to play UND during the first week of November. Much to our surprise, the weather was sunny and well-suited to our pass offense with Dee Jay Donlin at quarterback. At this point in the season we were 7-2, ranked 10th in the nation, and headed for the playoffs. Even though we had seven starters out with various injuries, Dee Jay threw for over 300 yards. The defense played very well, but they scored on two special team plays and a 54 yard field goal after an interception in which they were held without a first down. I typically had my best games when we lost and I recorded 22 tackles along with a deflected pass and a fumble recovery. The disappointment was huge, but the lesson that a series of seemingly minor events can cascade into a negative outcome has served me well."

Roger served as a Viking tri-captain and earned all conference honors in 1977. He was the runner-up for NCC Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-Lutheran College second team. An outstanding student, he was one of six Division II players to receive an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. He was a three-time pick to the academic All-NCC team and was an academic All-American in 1975 and 1977.