MOORHEAD, Minn. - When the Mount Rushmore of Dragon quarterbacks is completed at last, it will surely include Mark Reed, a three-year fixture in the MSU Moorhead lineup. That Reed ascended to the highest level of competitive football is worth celebrating for sure; that he even played college football at all remains a source of wonder to many.
A Moorhead native, Reed had only one season of football experience at Moorhead High School before graduating in 1977. “I was a pretty average high school quarterback,” Reed said. “I grew real fast my sophomore year and kept dislocating my kneecaps. I spent the first two years of high school with casts on my legs; I didn't even go out my first two years.”
Dickinson State, North Dakota State, Valley City State and Moorhead State were among the few suitors for the promising but largely inexperienced Reed, and he settled on the Dragons. Part of the appeal was the commitment to the passing game at MSU. “The big thing was NDSU was running a veer-option type of offense, and I had followed Eddie Schultz in high school. That was a lot more appealing to me than the other kinds of offenses,” said Reed.
The young recruit soon joined a corps of veterans for summer workouts, and Reed was a fast learner. “Ed has his group at Nemzek four or five nights a week, and I was invited by coach to join those guys. That made a big impression on me, how hard they worked and how good they were. I hadn't been around college football very much, but Eddie was so accurate with his passes, and his spirals were so tight. That was fun to watch and an inspiration for me.”
Reed spent his first season as a caddy for Schultz, absorbing as much information as possible. “I was his backup the whole season as a freshman and got to be right next to him in practice. He didn't like giving up very many reps, but Ross would ask me to get in and Eddie would keep fighting for all the reps he could get.”
Early in his sophomore season, Reed was summoned from the bench in the third game of the season at South Dakota State, a replacement for starting quarterback Marc Trestman. Reed was ready for the challenge, and helped the Dragons spring a 12-7 upset on the heavily-favored Jackrabbits.
“I knew I could make a positive contribution, and I was anxious to play. Obviously I was quite nervous, but that just turned into adrenaline,” said Reed.
Later in his junior season Reed delivered a one-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds of play to help the Dragons rescue a dramatic 7-3 victory over Michigan Tech at snowy Houghton, MI. Trailing 3-0 late in the game, Moorhead State had one last opportunity.
“We had one drive left, and Ross and I talked about it on the sideline. We called our last time out and had a running play called, but I said let's do 32-pop pass, because if it doesn't work out we'll still have one play left. Tight End Kent MacLeod reached around and made just a fantastic catch.”
In 1979, Moorhead State put an end to the remarkable 34-game league win streak of University of Minnesota Morris with a 14-7 upset at Dacotah Field in Fargo, No. Dak. Reed's 62-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown was the difference maker.
“It was just a call at the line of scrimmage.” Reed remembered. “If there wasn't a man over center, and if the gap got too big, I would tap center Mark Kirkpatrick on the butt and we would take it from there. I gave the linebacker just enough of a move so he froze for a moment, and I was able to outrun the defensive backs. It was one of the most memorable plays in my career.”
The possibility of a career in professional football really took seed after the season was over.
“It became more serious after my senior season.” Reed explained. “I had some interest from scouts during the season, but after the season I was contracted by seven different teams who came to Moorhead to work me out, including Zeke Bratkowski and Tony Dungy. I had taken a full load of classes with the intention of finishing my degree, but I basically dropped my classes and focused on working out and getting ready.”
When the NFL staged its annual draft in April, there was an increased awareness in the Red River Valley.
“There was a chance I was going to get drafted on the first day, so some of the local reporters were there, and Howard Sinker of the
Minneapolis Tribune. The second day I got drafted; there wasn't anybody there except family members.”
Reed spent parts of four seasons in the NFL, enough to be vested in the league pension fund. “I was with the Giants in 1981 and 82, and in 1983 I was traded before the start of the season to the Baltimore Colts. Part of the reason was the Colts had drafted John Elway, but didn't get him, and Art Schlichter was suspended for the year for gambling. In 1984 they moved to Indianapolis and I was with them all the way through training camp before getting cut. I was picked up by the New York Jets right before the season started.”
Reed knew it was time to move on. “I came back and finished my Industrial Education degree, and I've been with the 3-M Company for 26 years.”
Reed has always credited Schultz for much of his success, and was more than willing to pass the quarterback torch to Dennis Eastman was his career expired after the 1980 season.
“Eddie had a lot to do with my success, he set the bar. He showed me what was possible. He had all of the swagger of a quarterback. I didn't have that swagger but I had the physical tools and I focused on having a little bit of the swagger. I was there with Eddie when I was a younger, and Marc was there with me when and later it was Dennis. I think it helped to have that run.”
Reed certainly enjoyed playing for Fortier.
“Our teams really didn't have weaknesses, because he worked so hard on the fundamentals of the game, like the 350 conditioning,” said Reed. “Every day in practice he would work on the fundamentals. You don't really how important they are on a day-to-day basis, but when you look at the big picture you appreciate it even more.”
“He (Fortier) was more academic than emotional, and I appreciate that. The thing about him is you appreciate him as much down the road as when you were playing. He was perfect for me because he was even-keel, and he was the type of guy that wouldn't verbally devastate you.
