As Concordia University, Nebraska celebrates homecoming this week, there are a number of traditions involving the athletic programs that are called to mind. Traditions like ringing the bell, singing The Doxology, pregame devotionals and the Bulldog nickname itself have become deeply ingrained in the fabric of Concordia Athletics. We take a closer look at what makes Concordia unique (#CUNiquE).
The Bulldogs: #skodawgs
When Concordia was first founded in 1894, the college had no athletic teams and no real use for a branded mascot. The institution actually existed for 40 years before finally becoming known as the “Bulldogs.” In 1934, the college conducted a vote that offered four options: Bears/Cubs, Hurricane, Whippets and Bulldogs. The December 1934 issue of Concordia’s Broadcaster publication provided a few brief details on the voting, although it did not state exactly who was involved in the vote.
As the Broadcaster detailed, “Although the alumni did not take an active part in helping us select the right name for our athletic teams, I’m sure they are interested in the outcome. The name ‘Bulldogs’ received the majority of the votes cast. Out of the other three names, the name ‘Bears-Cubs’ alone received appreciable support.”
The bulldog mascot, dressed in the school colors of “blue and white,” made its first-ever appearance at a sporting event on November 9, 1934, when the Concordia football team defeated Central City, 20-0. The bulldog’s second appearance came not long after at a men’s basketball game versus Dana. According to the Broadcaster, the bulldog sat in the bleachers near the coach.
Now 89 years since the vote took place, the Bulldog nickname is an important piece of the school’s history and identity, regardless of how many other institutions use the same moniker. The nickname has actually been a more consistent fabric of the school than the University’s name itself (other than the word Concordia, of course). According to Dr. Jerry Pfabe, emeritus history professor and university archivist, Concordia has been referred to by many official and unofficial names – Seward College, German College, Lutheran Normal School, Concordia Teachers College, Concordia College and finally, Concordia University. “University” was added to the school’s official name in 1998.
An even more detailed look at the history of the Bulldog nickname can be found HERE.
Ring the Bell #RTB
The history of the victory bell was put together as comprehensively as possible in a piece we rolled out in the summer of 2018. It can be read HERE. The first known case of a Bulldog team ringing the bell in celebration of a win came in the late 1940s. As Concordia Athletics Hall of Famer John “Sid” Seevers recalled, he and his teammates would ascend to the top of Jesse Hall late at night and ring the rooftop bell following wins on the football field. When Jesse Hall underwent renovations in the late 1960s, the bell disappeared from the public eye.
The current victory bell that hangs from the brick arch in the northeast corner of Bulldog Stadium was acquired by the institution in 1969. It came as a donation from the city of Seward and formerly clanged from high atop the Seward County courthouse (according to documentation in university archives). This specific bell first appeared on the sidelines of a Concordia football game in the fall of ’69.
According to available records, the bell made intermittent appearances at football games throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It sometimes showed up at homecoming parades that rode through Seward’s downtown streets. It wasn’t until 1997 that Concordia made the bell a permanent part of the stadium. The tradition would only grow from there. From 1997 until 2017, the bell remained in the northwest corner of the stadium. The current location was established in the summer of 2017 when the stadium colonnade project was completed.
The ringing of the bell became adopted by the soccer teams, who also call Bulldog Stadium their home. The tradition has permeated many other Concordia Athletics programs in the present day. Assistant Athletic Director Levi Calhoun helped bring the former ‘Jesse Bell’ back to life. That bell has been fashioned to a cart that is wheeled into the arena for the volleyball and basketball programs to enjoy. The first ringing of the bell inside Friedrich Arena occurred during the 2022-23 academic year. Thus, it was a new chapter in the history of Concordia’s Victory Bell.
The Doxology
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Those words are no doubt familiar to most who have been associated with the Concordia Football program. Win or lose, Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad will belt those words out in the postgame locker room. According to past head football coaches John “Sid” Seevers (tenure lasted from 1970-76), Larry Oetting (1977-89) and Courtney Meyer (1990-2008), The Doxology really took hold within the program during the 1970s. As best as memories can place it, The Doxology really became a consistent staple of the postgame routine during Oetting’s head coaching tenure. It certainly could have been sung on occasion prior to that time.
As Oetting said, “It was a way of incorporating everybody, no matter their faith or depth of faith. It was a beautiful way for us to join hands and sing. It pulled us together.”
Even 10/11 News Sports Director Kevin Sjuts was struck by the power of The Doxology. It’s become tradition at the conclusion of the Concordia Invitational Tournament for fans, coaches and players to join together and sing. Said Sjuts, “Everyone in the arena – players, fans and coaches sang the Doxology. It was beautiful, powerful and forced me to pause. It was a moment that revealed the heart of Concordia. And for me, it reminded me that I was on God's time, not mine. I will never forget that.”
The singing of The Doxology within locker rooms and as part of postgame gatherings is another one of those uniquely Concordia experiences. A history of The Doxology and its significance to Concordia Football can be found HERE.
Pregame/pre-event prayer and devotions
Concordia athletes and coaches are driven by a pursuit of championships and tangible athletic feats, but they also do not want to lose sight of their purpose in life. Pregame and pre-event prayers and devotions help place things into proper perspective. It’s a common sight at Bulldog athletic competitions to see teammates gather, arms around each other, to profess their faith and to thank God for the opportunity put before them. Several Bulldog teams welcome alums or other guests to provide devotionals prior to athletic contests.
These moments are highlights of the Concordia experience for athletes like Kylahn Freiberg, a standout cross country and track runner. Says Freiberg of those prayerful moments, “It’s a nice break from all the stress. We can unify together in that. We also do team prayers at practice and before meets. We’re also going to start doing team devotions the day before meets. I think that’s a great way to remind us all why we’re here – to run for God’s glory. It unifies us in Him in that way.”
The Christian atmosphere at Concordia helped win over Bulldog linebacker Michael Grindey when he sought out to find a school in Nebraska where he could play football and get an education. Said Grindey, “I was really excited to be part of it. I look at Coach Daberkow and I see the love of Christ poured out toward our team. That was very attractive to me as a young Christian myself. I wanted to grow in my faith and play for an elite football team.”
Whether experiencing the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, the Bulldogs aspire to stay grounded and fervent in their faith. As Daberkow said recently, “If you’re rooted in who Christ says you are, you don’t have to fear anything.”
Academic and athletic excellence
Academic and athletic excellence are part of the Concordia lifestyle. The Bulldogs continue to boast the largest number of NAIA Scholar-Athletes of all-time while maintaining high level athletic programs. Some of the greatest athletic achievements have happened very recently under the direction of administrators Devin Smith and Angela Muller. National championships were won in 2015 by men’s outdoor track & field, in 2016 by women’s outdoor track & field and in 2019 by women’s basketball.
Plenty of other metrics tell the tale. Every single eligible Concordia athletic program earned NAIA Scholar Team status for 2022-23. Competitively, the athletic department has finished either first or second in the GPAC All-Sports Trophy standings in seven of the past eight years with championships in 2014-15 and 2021-22 (and Concordia had been running away with it in 2019-20 when COVID-19 hit).
We could go on with more statistics, but alum John Ragland (former football and track & field athlete) summed it up best in an interview conducted in June 2022. Said Ragland, “Concordia is not about the buildings, it’s not about the brick and mortar. It’s really about the people who are at the school, it’s about the focus Concordia has and it’s about the Christian spiritual aspect of the campus. That’s what I liked about Concordia when I went there at the time. When I go back and visit, none of those things have ever changed. It was exactly what I hoped it would still be, even though they have these fantastic facilities now that we never could have dreamed of.”