A celebration of 100 years of Augustana Football: The Beginning

Every Thursday throughout the season, GoAugie.com will take a dive into a new decade of Augustana football in honor of the 100th season. The 100th season of Augustana football is presented by CorTrust Bank. 

In what was an unknown game date for years, it was recently discovered that Augustana’s first-ever game took place October 2, 1920, in what is known as the “baby game”. In an entry from the Augustana Mirror, here is what it stated, “On October second the football team went to Beresford for a game. They met with defeat, but took it gallantly. The first game is always the baby game!”

The Vikings would then travel to Canton High School more than a month later, narrowly falling 17-15. Augustana’s first-ever win came on Nov. 19, 1920 in a 20-13 victory in a rematch against Beresford, this time on the home turf in Sioux Falls. 

The following year, still under the leadership of inaugural head coach J.A. Johnson, the Vikings played to a 2-2-1 record with wins over Canton High School and Canton Normal School. 

1922 saw Augustana’s first-ever all-conference athlete as Leif Fjellestad earned All-South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference honors, and went on to earn three more all-conference accolades. 

Augustana saw its first winning season in 1923 with a 4-3-1 record. 1924 saw Augustana go a step further with a 6-1 mark with wins over Northern State and the third-straight win over Sioux Falls. 1924 was also the first homecoming celebration, a 32-0 win over Dakota State. 

Fjellestad became a 1971 inductee into the Augustana Athletics Hall of Fame after his career that saw him play four sports at Augustana, including halfback on the football team. He was joined in that 1971 class by Paul Rau, a 1929 graduate of Augustana after earning five letters across football and track. The duo are the first Hall of Fame inductees from the Augustana football team.

Among the highlights of the 1920s for the Viking football teams was Albert Gunderson, a 1972 inductee into the Augustana Athletics Hall of Fame. Gunderson was the quarterback, kick-off return man, defensive ace, kicker and punter. In fact, he was “known as a booming punter” as he once “kicked the old pumpkin ball” 70 yards according to his hall of fame bio. 

Carl Anderson, the head coach for Augustana from 1922-24, coached the Vikings to a 13-8-1 record while Martin Cole held a record of 4-11. H. Paul Dee coach Augustana from 1927-30 while holding an 11-18-1 mark. 

The 1920s, although not the most successful decade in Viking football, laid the groundwork for the 1930s, a decade one might say Augustana football owned under the direction of L.A. Olson.

Throughout the 100th season, alumni, friends, and family of Augustana Football are asked to make a gift to the Augustana Football Excellence Fund. These dollars will help fund a championship-level program and student-athlete experience. Our goal is to raise $100,000 during the 100th season. To donate, click here or head to augielink.com/100in100.