The Wildcats will head to Duluth, MN this week to face off against the Bulldogs on the road for the first time in 25 years. Duluth is coming off a strong 8-3 season in which they ranked in the top 15 in the nation for rushing with around 220 yards per game while NMU allowed opponents to rush for 164.2 yards per game.

“We’re going to compete; we’re going to bring energy and we’re going to be able to at least feel good about what we’re going to be able to do on Thursday night,” Head Coach Shane Richardson said.

After a long camp to start the preseason off, the team has been starting to come together and have been working hard in order to be ready for the start of the season. The Wildcats are coming off a 4-7 season of their own but with a new head coach in Shane Richardson and a few transfers on offense, the team is heading into the 2023 season with a fresh start.

“Getting into game week, we’re the best we’ve been in, and I really liked where our teams at,” Richardson said. “I think we’ve learned how to practice. We fly around at practice; we get a lot of reps and it’s a very intense atmosphere.”

The first game of the season will be a solid test for the new coach and the ‘Cats as they look to start getting ready for a very tough season in the GLIAC. NMU was selected to finish last in the GLIAC with teams such as Grand Valley, Ferris State and others dominating the D2 college football rankings. The ‘Cats will head home next weekend to face off against the Lake Erie Storm on Saturday, Sept. 9 in the Superior Dome.