American college football season
The Grand Valley State Lakers football program, 1980–1989 represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU), known as Grand Valley State College prior to 1988, during the 1980s in NCAA Division II college football as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team was led by head coaches Jim Harkema (1973–1982), Bob Giesey (1983–1984), and Tom Beck (1985–1990).
The team played its home games at Lubbers Stadium , named after former university president Arend Lubbers , located on GVSU's main campus in Allendale, Michigan .
The 1980 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1980 NCAA Division II football season . In their eighth year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled a 7–3 record (4–2 in conference games), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 290 to 166.[ 1]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 6 at Hope * Holland, MI W 14–76,308
September 13 at Northern Michigan * Marquette, MI L 9–485,767
September 20 Northeastern Illinois * W 76–02,651
September 27 at Michigan Tech Houghton, MI W 44–62,800
October 4 Wayne State (MI) Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 7–103,846
October 11 Saginaw Valley State Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 45–222,357
October 18 Northwestern (IA) * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 34–262,391
October 25 at Hillsdale Hillsdale, MI L 9–272,196
November 1 Northwood Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 17–132,263
November 8 at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI W 35–74,200
[ 2]
The 1981 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1980 NCAA Division II football season . In their ninth year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled a 7–2 record (6–0 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 309 to 131.[ 1]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 12 at Northern Iowa * L 20–2112,083 [ 3] September 26 Northern Michigan * L 28–291,500
October 3 Michigan Tech Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 52–62,832
October 10 at Wayne State (MI) Detroit, MI W 40–173,007
October 17 at Saginaw Valley State University Center, MI W 31–71,500
October 24 Central State (OH) * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 31–201,060
October 31 Hillsdale Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 23–122,624
November 7 at Northwood Midland, MI W 38–71,900
November 14 Ferris State Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 46–123,200
[ 4]
The 1982 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1982 NCAA Division II football season . In their tenth and final year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled a 7–3 record (5–1 in conference games), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 310 to 213.[ 1]
Harkema left GVSU after the 1982 season to become head coach at Eastern Michigan. In ten years at GVSU, he had compiled a 68-29-1 record with three GLIAC championships.[ 5]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 4 at Western Michigan * L 3–2815,881–15,991 [ 6] September 18 St. Cloud State * W 44–71,619
September 25 Central State (OH) * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 35–122,728
October 2 Wayne State (MI) Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 32–143,294
October 9 at Ferris State W 38–359,500
October 16 at Northern Michigan * Marquette, MI L 29–474,097
October 23 at Hillsdale Hillsdale, MI L 19–248,301
October 30 at Michigan Tech W 35–28589
November 6 Northwood Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 20–102,231
November 13 Saginaw Valley State Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 55–71,356
[ 7]
The 1983 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1983 NCAA Division II football season . In their first year under head coach Bob Giesey , the Lakers compiled a 4–6 record (3–3 in conference games), tied for fourth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 238 to 227.[ 1]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 10 Saint Joseph's (IN) * W 24–223,413
September 17 at Eastern Illinois * L 21–356,400 [ 8] September 24 at Central State (OH) * L 14–213,183–4,500 [ 9] [ 10] October 1 at Wayne State (MI) Detroit, MI L 10–223,740
October 8 Ferris State W 52–214,327
October 15 Northern Michigan * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 14–273,648
October 22 Hillsdale Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 12–103,129
October 29 Michigan Tech Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 36–343,177
November 5 at Northwood Midland, MI L 30–311,800
November 12 at Saginaw Valley State University Center, MI L 14–152,800
[ 11]
The 1984 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1984 NCAA Division II football season . In their second and final year under head coach Bob Giesey , the Lakers compiled a 0–10 record (0–6 in conference games), finished in last place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 301 to 99.[ 1]
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 1 Eastern Illinois * L 9–351,821 [ 12] September 8 7:30 p.m. at Carson–Newman * Morristown, TN L 9–422,800–3,800 [ 13] [ 14] September 15 Northwest Missouri State * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 0–263,482
September 22 at Northern Michigan * Marquette, MI L 13–595,324
September 29 Saginaw Valley State L 14–283,609
October 6 at Hillsdale Hillsdale, MI L 6–206,000
October 20 at Michigan Tech Houghton, MI L 20–27599
October 27 at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI L 11–131,610
November 3 Northwood Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 14–211,529
November 10 Wayne State (MI) Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 3–302,471
[ 15]
The 1985 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1985 NCAA Division II football season . In their first year under head coach Tom Beck , the Lakers compiled a 6–5 record (4–2 in conference games), tied for third place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 237 to 213.[ 16]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 7 at Wisconsin–Stout * Menomonie, WI L 7–232,126
September 14 Northern Michigan * L 7–423,840
September 21 at Evansville * Evansville, IN W 28–142,900
September 28 Wayne State (MI) Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 10–73,832
October 5 at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI W 27–218,700
October 12 at Central Connecticut State * New Britain, CT W 21–141,839
October 19 Hillsdale Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 14–213,550
October 26 at Michigan Tech Houghton, MI W 42–22470
November 2 Northwood Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 24–212,181
November 9 at Saginaw Valley State University Center, MI L 18–351,000
November 16 Missouri–Rolla * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 15–173,337
[ 17]
The 1986 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1986 NCAA Division II football season . In their second year under head coach Tom Beck , the Lakers compiled a 9–2 record (4–1 in conference games), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 325 to 171.[ 16]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 6 Wisconsin–Stout * W 35–02,841
September 13 at Butler * Indianapolis, IN W 30–287,477
September 20 Evansville * No. 7 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 49–72,537
September 27 at Wayne State (MI) No. T–7 Detroit, MI W 21–31,230
October 4 Ferris State No. 8 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 30–223,433
October 11 Central Connecticut State * No. 8 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 21–113,113
October 18 at Hillsdale No. 8 Hillsdale, MI L 22–257,000
October 25 at Northern Michigan * No. 11 Marquette, MI L 24–282,430
November 1 at Northwood Midland, MI W 35–14600
November 8 Saginaw Valley State Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 28–132,839
November 15 at Missouri–Rolla * No. 20 Rolla, MO W 30–20800
[ 18]
The 1987 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1987 NCAA Division II football season . In their third year under head coach Tom Beck , the Lakers compiled a 7–4 record (4–1 in conference games), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 276 to 234.[ 16]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 5 at Northeast Missouri State * No. 8 Kirksville, MO L 23–303,800
September 12 Butler * W 24–193,342
September 19 Winona State * No. 17 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 50–162,959
September 26 at Central State (OH) * No. 14 L 23–254,500 [ 19] October 3 Wayne State (MI) Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 28–03,927
October 10 at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI W 21–55,700
October 17 No. 2 Northern Michigan No. 18 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 0–282,743
October 24 Hillsdale Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 28–132,937
October 31 at No. 11 UCF * L 3–677,552
November 7 Northwood * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 45–32,627
November 14 at Saginaw Valley State University Center, MI W 31–282,100
[ 20]
The 1988 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1988 NCAA Division II football season . In their fourth year under head coach Tom Beck , the Lakers compiled a 7–4 record (3–2 in conference games), finished in third place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 276 to 234.[ 16]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 3 Northeast Missouri State * L 35–362,448
September 10 at No. 12 Western Illinois * Macomb, IL L 0–5511,123 [ 21] September 17 at Winona State * Winona, MN W 45–262,100
September 24 St. Francis (IL) * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 35–214,165
October 1 at Wayne State (MI) Detroit, MI W 13–101,307
October 8 Ferris State Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 36–204,569
October 15 at Northern Michigan Marquette, MI L 20–302,508
October 22 at Hillsdale Hillsdale, MI L 0–202,200
October 29 Southeast Missouri State * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 46–242,481
November 5 at Northwood * Midland, MI W 34–2280
November 12 Saginaw Valley State Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 14–131,806
[ 22]
The 1989 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1989 NCAA Division II football season . In their fifth year under head coach Tom Beck , the Lakers compiled an 11–1 record (5–0 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 514 to 182. The team lost to IUP in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.[ 16] [ 23]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 2 at California (PA) * No. 16 California, PA W 41–74,887
September 9 Mankato State * No. 16 W 45–162,706
September 16 at Butler * No. 10 Indianapolis, IN W 27–181,245
September 23 at St. Francis (IL) * No. 7 Joliet, IL W 56–322,500
September 30 Wayne State (MI) No. 5 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 49–104,048–4,848 [ 24] October 7 at Ferris State No. 5 Big Rapids, MI W 28–07,800 [ 25] October 14 Northern Michigan No. 4 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 38–142,956 [ 26] October 21 Hillsdale No. 4 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 31–174,138 [ 27] October 28 Valparaiso * No. 3 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 91–02,483 [ 23] November 4 Northwood * No. 3 Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 42–172,048 [ 28] November 11 at Saginaw Valley State No. 3 W 42–172,000 [ 29] November 18 No. 9 IUP * No. 3 L 24–341,837 [ 30]
[ 31]
^ a b c d e "Grand Valley State Yearly Results (1980-1984)" . College Football Data Warehouse . Retrieved June 17, 2025 .^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ "UNI rallies for 21–20 win" . The Gazette . September 13, 1981. Retrieved October 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Final 1981 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ Steve Kornacki (December 1, 1982). "Harkema skilled in three sports" . The Ann Arbor News . p. C8 – via Newspapers.com =. ^ "Harbaugh gets first win as Broncos' reins" . The Muskegon Chronicle . September 5, 1982. Retrieved February 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Final 1982 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ "Eastern Illinois beats Grand Valley" . The Grand Rapids Press . September 18, 1983. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Marauders' Cook reforms mold for football heroes" . Dayton Daily News . September 25, 1983. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Central State (OH))" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved April 7, 2023 .^ "Final 1983 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ "Speeedy EIU receivers burn Lakers" . The Grand Rapids Press . September 2, 1984. Retrieved November 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Season Begins For Area Colleges" . Johnson City Press . Johnson City, Tennessee . September 8, 1984. p. 17. Retrieved June 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com ^ Strange, Mike (September 8, 1984). "Eagles Rolls In Opener" . Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville, Tennessee . pp. D1–D2 . Retrieved June 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com ^ "Final 1984 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ a b c d e "Grand Valley State Yearly Results (1985-1989)" . College Football Data Warehouse . Retrieved June 17, 2025 .^ "Final 1985 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ "Final 1986 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ "Central St. 25, Grand Valley St. 23" . Battle Creek Enquirer . September 27, 1987. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Final 1987 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ "Western Ill. 55, Grand Valley 0" . The Dispatch-Argus UPI . September 11, 1988. p. E2. Retrieved November 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Final 1988 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .^ a b "Crusaders suffer school's worst loss -- 91-0" . The Vidette-Messenger . October 30, 1989. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com .^ Joe Conklin (October 1, 1989). "Grand Valley offense sharp in 49-10 win" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. H7 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Cindy Fairfield (October 8, 1989). "Grand Valley shuts out Ferris" . The Muskegon Chronicle . p. 6C – via Newspapers.com . ^ Joe Conklin (October 15, 1989). "Grand Valley earns rare win over NMU; takes league lead" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. H6 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Joe Conklin (October 22, 1989). "GVSU's pot of gold is a GLIAC crown" . The Grand Rapids Press . pp. H1, H6 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Joe Conklin (November 5, 1989). "Unbeaten Grand Valley rallies to top Northwood for 10th win" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. H6 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Jim Buckley (November 12, 1989). "SVSU no match for playoff-bound Lakers" . The Saginaw News . p. E3 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Gretchen Flemming (November 19, 1989). "Grand Valley left out in the cold: IUP's fourth-quarter flurry ousts Lakers from Div. II playoffs" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. H1 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Final 1989 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .
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