Drew Huebner lights it up for MSUM!

Drew Huebner

I can stay abreast of Drew Huebner's athletic exploits and prowess quite conveniently, as I am a "fan" of WDAY Radio out of Fargo. Maybe you are familiar with WDAY which is the conservative alternative to KFGO in that growing community. And it's a community abuzz with football excitement all the time. 

Moorhead most certainly joins in the mix. Look at those Dragons of the institution known as "MSUM." That's Minnesota State University-Moorhead. For much of my life we called it "Moorhead State." Not sure why the change had to be made. 

MACA product Mr. Huebner continues a tradition that includes the great nationally-known broadcaster and commentator Ed Schultz. The late Ed Schultz, unfortunately. He didn't really look like a former quarterback but he surely was. He had the QB reins for the Dragons. Later he'd show up at the broadcasting table for when the Morris Area Tigers played in the section basketball tournament at the Concordia fieldhouse in Moorhead. I remember so well. I guess I have to remember the tremendous bratwurst sandwiches as well as the games. 

And who would want to remember the game there when the Kevin Loge-led Tigers were staggered in the upset by Staples-Motley? Boy, the memories of that are etched into my mind. I swear we were out-coached. At least I had the candor to suggest that afterward. Another blow to my reputation in Morris I guess. You've got to call 'em as you see 'em IMHO. 

Kevin was going to play for the Gophers but I guess he just got homesick. No sin there. Jackson Loge took up the reins later. 

But today in 2026 let us celebrate the talents of our own Drew Huebner. The Huebners have a bloodline of athletic prowess - congrats to them. I remember all the way back to when I was in high school! Mark Huebner. Later we had Julie Huebner in the girls program. There have been others. 

I have suggested that if Julie Huebner were a high school senior today, she'd be a Division I prospect as a post player. Just pure talent. Our girls basketball program was not strong in the 1980s, most unfortunately. I eventually had to start speaking out about that. More slings and arrows coming my way. But I "lasted" at the Morris and Hancock newspapers all the way up until 2006. June of that year in fact. 

At the end I was done in by the crowd that got their pants in a bundle over coverage of the UMM goalpost incident. But I had 27 very memorable years in the local "press." And my perspective on things was never dictated by a particular influential "clique." Today I think the school and community have freed themselves from that narrowing influence. Our school administration seems quite independent and objective in its judgment. I congratulate the school. 

I wonder how the Tigers will do this coming fall. Hey we have soccer to watch now too. Again congratulations. 

 

41-19 opener win 

The MSUM website really crows about Drew Huebner and his stellar showing in the Dragons' 2026 opener! Fans are getting familiar with this young man quite promptly. He will be on the tip of tongues for sure. 

"2 Live Drew," the headline proclaims on the MSUM "game recap" page, a page that reviews the 41-19 MSUM win over Northern Michigan. 

"A breakout showing from quarterback Drew Huebner." 

Drew is a sophomore. He showed prowess with his legs as well as hie passing arm. "The complete package." Looks like it. The young man threw for four touchdowns in the game. He completed 21 passes for 265 yards. Zero interceptions! Lots of quality play for the WDAY Radio crew to hash over! 

Drew ran for 109 yards and had one rushing TD. Kalen Lucas caught nine passes for 116 yards and a TD. 

The Dragons play in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, once the home to our UMM Cougars. Our Cougars have settled comfortably into NCAA Division III. I used to be down on that but now I'm appreciating more. But I'm sure MSUM is proud to be in the ranks of the NSIC. I guess UMM got tired of the "money game" of college sports. Play for the fun of it! Nothing to shake a stick at. 

MSUM's second game  like the opener will be at home. And the opponent will be Concordia-St. Paul. Many of our Tiger fans will be hoping for Drew to shine again. 

The Dragons play at Nemzek Stadium. Kickoff-time is 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. Will the Dragons breathe fire? 

Note to readers: I am coming off a hiatus from blogging of over a month due to some serious health issues that have arisen for me, sorry to inform you. But if anything can get me fired up to get back on track, it's the kind of news coming out of MSUM with Drew the former MACA Tiger! From Big Cat Stadium to Nemzek Field. Boffo..

He's six feet-four and 245 pounds as a soph. With those kind of proportions now, might he get a shot at the pros eventually? We're premature on that. 

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com 

My mom enjoyed her "Dollywood" visit

It's in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. 

 

Pat me on the back for having a nice topical and timely photo to share here. The best part of the photo is that my late mom is in it! So I can remind y'all about Martha and all she represented: her dedication to UMN-Morris and her rich church life among other things. Sons of Norway! The RV club! 

Mom described herself as a "tough Swede." She meant it. The toughness contributed to her living to within one month of her 94th birthday. This despite saying "no" for a long time to getting a mammogram. I felt I had to act on that when I saw her one day clutching at the area just under her shoulder and showing an expression of pain. 

Surgery removed a good part of the problem but could not get everything. Prior to the surgery I was put in a room with the door closed so I could not consult on anything. The surgery appeared to give Mom a pretty lengthy reprieve. Eventually there was evidence that cancer had entered her bones. The doctor said, as he pointed to a couple bold face numbers on a printout: "we could do another test but you might not want to know." 

Living to (almost) 94 despite the presence of cancer. "A tough Swede" indeed. 

Right now yours truly is dealing with cancer myself. Maybe you have heard, maybe not. News gets around fast in a small town. I had my fourth chemo session today (Thursday). On Monday I start radiation in Alexandria. We're giving it hell. I am trying to prepare myself for all eventualities. 

My grandfather on my father's side, the estimable Martin Williams of Glenwood, died of stomach cancer in 1933. He died well before his time. Most likely he had spent too much time around dangerous substances in his work. 

My dear aunt Mildred out in Oregon died from esophageal cancer. At the end she could only get down some ice shavings. 

I ate a full breakfast from the SCMC kitchen today. On the day after my first endoscopy, I could not swallow a single morsel. I have been set up with a tube-feeding system. It's on right now as I write this. Being able to eat normally (within proper oversight) brings satisfaction that can hardly be described in words. 

Maybe in the end all the treatments will  be like what surgery did for my mom: provide a window of time in which I can experience normal life again. I will thank the good Lord for each and every day within that window, I assure you. Long term it is hard to predict with any precision, as I'm sure you know. We have all heard of cancer going into "remission." It's on the corner of my mind. Right now we're trying to bombard the hell out of the cancer that's present. 

The photo you see at top here is "timely" because of the recent tragic death of Dolly Parton. Mom had the photo taken by a bus mate for her Smokey Mountains tour with a tour company. We used both Utopia and Riley's. Her last tour ended two weeks before 9/11. That was a Riley's tour. 

My family was not attracted to country music. But of course Dolly became mainstream in so many ways. My opinion of her rises as I pore over biographical material. What a gem of a human being! 

And Mom came back from her tour very pleased with "Dollywood." She learned a lot about Dolly there too. RIP Dolly Parton. RIP Martha Williams. (I wish Mom was around to appreciate the talents of Caitlin Clark!)

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com