Detroit Lakes, Minn.
The call former Detroit Lakes football coach Flint Motschenbacher received a couple Sundays ago was pretty memorable. He learned he was being inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in April.
"I've been at that banquet several times and I never thought it would be me," Motschenbacher said. "I think it's going to be special. Probably going to be an emotional deal because it always was for the friends I've seen inducted."
It was memorable, but there may not be a more memorable call in Motschenbacher's 18-year career as the head coach of Detroit Lakes than the one he made on Nov. 23, 2001. The Lakers were down 34-33 to Mankato East with seven seconds remaining in the Class 4A state title game at the Metrodome. Motschenbacher called on Matt Misson to do something he hadn't done all season: Kick a field goal.
Misson drilled the 22-yard field goal from the left hash mark, the range which many Minnesota Vikings fans now know isn't automatic, and Motschenbacher had a state title.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It was crazy," Motschenbacher said. "We played some (Class 5A) teams to start the season and started 1-2. It was a great game. That Dahl kid was the quarterback and he just ran up and down on us. We couldn't stop him and they couldn't stop us."
That Dahl kid Motschenbacher is referring to is former North Dakota State safety Craig Dahl, who just finished the 2015 NFL season with the New York Giants. Dahl rushed for 172 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries in that championship game.
"There was a lot of good memories, but my personal favorite was 2001," Motschenbacher said.
Motschenbacher has 31 years' worth of memories coaching football. For the kid who grew up in Audubon, Minn., football seemingly was over after losing in the Class 9-man state championship as a senior in high school. That was until Moorhead High School football coach Dan Kostich asked Motschenbacher if he wanted to help run the weight room and coach, while Motschenbacher was going to school at then Moorhead State. It was coaching ninth and 10th-graders at Moorhead when Motschenbacher found his calling.
"I just enjoyed the challenge of taking a new batch of kids each year and seeing what we could do to make those kids successful," Motschenbacher said. "It was just a challenge."
Motschenbacher was 139-49 as a head coach at Detroit Lakes with five conference championships, five section championships and a state title. Seems as though he met the challenge.
Motschenbacher said he's not counting out coaching again, but, if he does go to the first Detroit Lakes football game next season, it will be as a fan.
"Right now, I want to teach one more year and I'm going to retire and go to spring training to see the Twins and do those types of things," Motschenbacher said. "Not sure if I'll go to the first (Detroit Lakes football) game. We'll see how things are going. I'm going to try to stay away and let them do their thing and just be a good fan."
