SIOUX FALLS – Featuring talks by USF Athletics Hall of Fame coaches Bob Young and Kalen DeBoer, the University of Sioux Falls Athletics Department held a reunion banquet on Saturday at the USF Sports Complex (Bob Young Field) for the 1996 and 2006 football teams that won NAIA football championships.

Master of ceremonies Tom Frederick, USF's long-time radio voice, introduced a range of speakers and also talked about memories from those special championship seasons. Aside from Young and DeBoer, Chuck Morrell, who played on the 1996 team and was defensive coordinator on the 2006 squad, also spoke as did a number of former players including 1996 defensive coordinator Scott Underwood (now head coach at St. Cloud State), former coach Jon Anderson (now head coach at West Virginia State), players Chris Snyer, Adam Paulson, Dusty Hovorka (now USF's current offensive coordinator), Josiah Fenceroy, Travis Eldridge, Jason Glasco, former Argus Leader writer Wade Merry who covered the 1996 squad, USF radio analyst Tim Hiatt, plus a host of others.

USF football coach Jed Stugart also addressed the gathering of nearly 200 about the current team and introduced his coaching staff. USF Director of Athletics also welcomed the former players and families to the campus. 
 
Coach Young, who is now retired as the school's all-time wins leader (172 wins) and a USF alum (1960), thanked everyone for being in attendance. He reflected on the long history of success at USF and the huge accomplishment it was winning a title and starting a tradition of excellence that now numbers 22 straight seasons. DeBoer, who is now offensive coordinator at Eastern Michigan, served as head coach for the 2006 team and recalled his playing days on the 1996 squad, which won the school's first-ever title. He was 67-3 as a head coach while earning All-America honors as a wide receiver. DeBoer noted how much pride he had in winning the titles and how the bond and cohesion developed in those early years carries through today.

Of note, the 1996 championship team has already been inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame (2006) while the 2006 championship football team will be inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 23.