The Dana Viking football program is looking for student athletes who want a diverse

education, love to play football, and thrive under pressure. Learning how to perform under duress allows our athletes to prepare for the pressure they will face in real life situations.

Dana College has the finest natural playing surface in the Great Plains Athletic Conference and we are continually updating our athletic facilities. We have built up our program over the past four seasons by continually bringing in solid recruiting classes that focus on both ability and character.

Our goals remain high for next season despite graduating 21 seniors, including several four-year starters. Our roster is comprised mostly of local talent, as we focus heavily on the student athletes of Nebraska and western Iowa but we have welcomed players from across the country. We believe in competition at all positions and are constantly evaluating our players to get the best guys on the field.

The Viking Fury Defense is aggressive, using a combination of fronts, stunts and coverage’s. Pursuit is the primary focus of the Fury defense so the defensive staff at Dana College is always looking for athletes who have speed and that run to the ball on every play. Defensive Coordinator Allen Friesen looks for student athletes who are willing to learn to be aggressive, hard-hitting and work together as a unit. The Fury Defense is based on a multiple defensive scheme, and we are looking for quick defensive lineman, mobile linebackers, coverage corners and smart, hard-hitting safeties.

“ What we have is the opportunity to let student athletes learn to win and have fun winning,” Danenhauer said. “We are looking for student-athletes to help us vie for the conference title, and when someone wins our conference title, that usually makes them the national champs.”

Opportunity is the key word for the Vikings. Everyone has a chance to earn a place, right from the start. With a full junior varsity schedule, players can easily prove their performance to the coaches and the rest of the team.

In all, Danenhauer sees being part of Viking Football as a supplement to Dana’s quality educational offerings. The college prides itself on providing leadership opportunities outside the classroom. Ninety-eight percent of Dana’s students are involved in campus organizations.

“ A Dana education is about being diverse,” he said. “Playing for us prepares you for the real world. When you go out there, you’re ready, you’re not afraid.”