Ed Schultz donates $100,000 to Dragon football and challenges others to increase support
National radio and television talk show host Ed Schultz will provide scholarship support for players on the college football team he once quarterbacked. Schultz has pledged $25,000 a year for the next four years for football scholarships at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Schultz was the quarterback for the Dragons in the 1976 and 1977 seasons. He was named the NCAA Division II National Passing Champion in 1977. Schultz was also the Most Valuable Player in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference in 1977. He was inducted into the Dragon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
“I see a new direction and new commitment under University President Dr. Edna Szymanski,” Schultz said. “This is the time to step up and be a part of the building process to take Dragon football to a championship level in the Division. I’m honored to help the program.”
Schultz played under head football coach Ross Fortier and the two remain in close contact.
“It is very gratifying to see a MSUM graduate and former player make a large donation like this,” Fortier said. “Ed and his leadership ability was a big reason MSUM achieved some success in the late 70’s and 80’s. We thank him for his financial support.”
MSU Moorhead Athletic Director Doug Peters says Schultz’s gift comes at an important time in Dragon athletics history.
“What is special about this gift specifically is the challenge,” Peters said. “Ed has taken the lead in encouraging others to contribute to Dragon Athletics by showing them it can be done, that everyone can make a difference, and by believing that Dragon Athletics can continue to do great things with the help of our supporters.”
In addition to scholarship funding, Schultz’s gift includes studio gear and satellite uplink equipment that Schultz used when he began making national media appearances from his Fargo studio. The equipment will be a learning resource for students majoring in mass communications.
“I know the studio gear and satellite uplink equipment will help students at MSUM reach their goals,” Schultz said.
“We are thrilled to receive this gift from one of our most well known alumni, not only because of what it will do for our student-athletes, but also for the momentum it will help generate with our current and potential supporters,” said Athletics Fundraiser Matt Baasch.
Schultz is currently host of the “Ed Show” on MSNBC cable network in New York City. The show airs at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Schultz also hosts his daily nationally syndicated network radio show from New York, The Ed Schultz Show, which is heard on more than 100 radio stations across the country and on Sirius-XM satellite on channel 127 from noon to 3 p.m. Eastern.
Schultz is the number one rated Liberal Talker in the industry and the author of two books, “Straight Talk from the Heartland” and “Killer Politics.”
In 2011, Schultz was listed by Talkers Magazine as the fourth most influential talker in America. Schultz worked at KFGO in Fargo and earlier in his career at WDAY TV and Radio in Fargo.