Dana Football

(The following article was edited from a press release on Bryan Muschall being named to the Dana College Athletic Hall of Fame. Muschall is the tailback in the photo.)

BLAIR, Neb. – Bryan Muschall of Council Bluffs was named to the Dana College Athletic Hall of Fame. Muschall’s performance as a Viking football leader stood out.

The Vikings trailed by two points to Doane College in the fourth quarter and were deep in their own territory. It was Homecoming at Dana, 1988. The handoff went to Bryan Muschall. The All-American delivered with a 95-yard run from scrimmage for a touchdown and the Vikings went on to win, 31-26. That run, one of the highlights of Dana football all-time, is one of Muschall’s favorite memories at Dana.

Muschall ended his years at Dana as the school’s career rushing leader, gaining 3,471 from his runningback position. He was all-conference each of his four years at Dana, 1986-89. He was named to the Omaha World-Herald’s All-State College Team from 1987-89, was the NAIA Division II leading rusher in 1987 and was named to the NAIA’s first team of All-Americans in 1987. The Nebraska Chapter of the National College Football Hall of Fame inducted him into their chapter in 2003.

During his banner season in 1987, he led the nation in rushing yards. That year, the Vikings ended the season with an 8-3 record. They made it to the national playoffs, losing a heartbreaker to second-ranked Baker University, 35-37. That year, the team finished 14th in the national rankings. Although injuries plagued Muschall his last two seasons at Dana, he still finished among the country’s Top 10 NAIA rushers in 1988, gaining 1,053 yards on 225 carries, an average of 4.7 yards each.

Muschall, a member of the Dana Class of 1990, was a business major while at Dana. He lives in Council Bluffs with his family. He is self-employed. He and his wife, Susan, have two children.