1980s
The second decade of the program saw a continuation of its winning ways. 1980, 1981 and 1982 seasons were more of the same for GVSU finishing 7–3, 7–2 and 7–3 – solid seasons with solid players. Those years saw some outstanding players come through the program including: Kurt Fredericks, NCAA D-II AAHM at linebacker and Steve Michuta, NCAA D-II AAHM at quarterback.
The end of the 1982 season brought several new things to GVSU: a new Fieldhouse that replaced the Dome, giving some of the finest Division II facilities in the Midwest, and the departure of Coach Harkema who left to rebuild the program at Eastern Michigan University. Bob Giesey, Ball State assistant, replaced Harkema and was hired in December 1982.
Giesey's team lost the final two games of the 1983 season by one point each and finished the year at 4–6, the first losing season in over a decade. The following year GVSU went 0–10 in "84" and managed only 99 points for the whole season. Giesey resigned and Athletic Director Dr. George MacDonald began a nationwide search which culminated with the hiring of Tom Beck, a Chicago native, who came to Grand Valley from the Chicago Blitz of the United States Football League and who had turned losing programs into winning ones at Illinois Benedictine and Elmhurst College.
It took Coach Beck three games to get back on track in 1985. Faced with a 14-game losing streak, Beck made some key personnel changes. Beck moved Guy Schuler in as starting QB and moved wide receiver Ray Buckner to tailback, linebacker Sylvester Johnson to fullback, and defensive tackle Brian Mulcahy to middle linebacker. The Lakers went out and defeated Evansville 28–14 and finished the year 6–5.
The next five years would see explosive offenses, outstanding players and solid coaching which would result in trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs, as well as the Lakers becoming a fixture in preseason and postseason rankings. Beck's 1986 team posted a 9–2 record, but that was only an inkling of things to come. Three players obtained national honors: Dean Clem, AP AAHM at OG, Brian Mulcahy, LB – Football News AAHM, and Guy Schuler AP AAHM at QB.
1987 and 1988 ended in the same result with a pair of 7–4 seasons. Four players obtained national honors: Mark Prins, OT was both AP and Football News AAHM in "87" and Football News AA in "88"; while Guy Schuler again was named AP AAHM and Frank Miotke was a Football News AAHM for his first time.
In 1989 the Lakers posted their first undefeated season with an 11–0 record and the final Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship. GV led Division II in total offense, averaging 480.9 yards per game and also in points with 44.5/game. One of the highlights of the 1989 season was a GVSU record breaking 91–0 victory over Valporaiso. The Lakers jumped out to a 63–0 halftime lead as they rolled up 731 yards in total offense. Freshman kicker Miguel Sagaro from Spain set a Division II record when he connected on 65 of 66 extra points for the season and sophomore fullback Eric Lynch scored 21 touchdowns. Lynch became the Lakers first Harlon Hill candidate and finished 6th in the voting and later went on to have an outstanding career with the Detroit Lions.
Grand Valley finished third in the final 1989 Division II regular season poll and earned the first of three consecutive playoff berths, losing to Indiana, PA 34–24 on a frigid November afternoon highlighted by 11 inches of snow on the ground. That team had four players earn national awards: Todd Tracey, DT – AA (NCAA D2/Kodak), Dave Beebe, OG – AA (Football Gazette/AP), Mark Smith, OT – AA (GTE/COSIDA) and Miguel Sagaro, PK – AAHM, Football Gazette.
Read more about this topic: Grand Valley State Lakers Football, History