The 1978 team was a good one. With seniors Mike and Mark Bills, Mike Dunlap, Ken Cizadlo, Junior Dick Beardsley and sophomores Joel and Paul Brandt, we only lost two meets that season. The University of Wisconsin beat us at the Tom Jones Invitational in Madison, WI and the Division II National CC meeting to the University of California SLO. Here is what Coach Underwood wrote at the end of the season.
"Once again our men had a outstanding team. Our team was one the deepest ever at SDSU. Everyone on the team knew that we would be battling for the national championship again this year. We fought right to the end and finished second to a fine Cal Poly SLO team. I don't think any of us will ever forget the feeling of being one of the best Division II teams in the nation. And how could any of us ever forget the conference/regional meets. Everyone who watched the meet was in awe. They kept waiting for our people to drop back, but they never did. Our team placed 7 runners in the top 9 finishers of the conference and 7 of the top 12 finishers in the regional meet. We perfect scored every team in the conference except one. The meet was the most rewarding of my coaching career. Again, this year we were beaten by only one Division II team all season. We soundly defeated two division I teams (Nebraska and Iowa State) There is not a team in Division II with a finer record at the national meet than SDSU. I am proud of the way you performed at every meet."
SDSU Invitational - Dick Beardsley is off the front winning the race in 30:51. Mark Bills, Paul Brandt, Joel Brandt, and Mike Dunlap finished 3rd-6th.
SDSU-Iowa St. duel at SDSU. Mike Bills 2nd, Dick Beardsley 3rd, Mark Bills 5th, Mike Dunlap 6th, Joel Brandt 7th, Paul Brandt 8th. Final score SDSU 23, Iowa State 35.
USTFF Midwest Collegiate CC Championship. Joel Brandt 6th, Mike Bills 7th, Paul Brandt 8th, Mike Dunlap 14, Mark Bills 19th, Dick Beardsley 20th. Team Champions.
NCC Cross Country top 10 finishers. Kneeling R to L. Dan Obrien(USD) 1st, Mike Bills 2nd, Mark Bills 3rd, Dick Beardsley 4th, John Smith(USD) 5th. Standing R-L Joel Brandt 6th, Mike Dunlap 7th, Ken Cizadlo 8th, Paul Brandt 9th, Curt Bacon(NDSU) 10th
1978 NCC and Regional Champions. Standing L-R Asst. Coach Barry McKeown, Mike Dunlap, Dick Beardsley, Mike Bills, Mark Bills, Coach Scott Underwood. Kneeling L-R Joel Brandt, Ken Cizadlo, Paul Brandt
1978 National Division II 2nd place team. You know the names.
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