Twenty years ago in the 2002 fall season, the Miners went 13-1 en route to an MHSAA Division 6 state championship.

Now that team is getting together to be celebrated this evening as the 2022 Miners gear up to take on Hancock at Miners Field.

The 20th anniversary festivities begin before tonight’s game at 5:30 p.m. with a tailgate party at the back of nearby LaCombe Field. There will also be an open house for the newly constructed Negaunee practice facility, which will be the first time that the community will be able to check it out.

The Miners and Bulldogs kick off their football game at 7 p.m., with the 2002 players, coaches and cheerleaders being honored at halftime. Following the game, those state champs will gather at the Elks Lodge to reminisce some more.

Ricky Renfors, 17, of Negaunee declares the power of U.P. football while rooting for the Miners during playoff action at the Superior Dome against downstate Suttons Bay Friday night. Renfors is a sophomore at Negaunee high School and is the son of Rick Renfors and Kathy Samuelson of Negaunee. (Journal file photo)

“It’s awesome, I’ve had text messages and emails from different guys on how they’re looking forward to coming back,” Jacobson said. “Some of these guys that graduated in 2003, I haven’t seen since. I’m looking forward to seeing everybody and just how they’ve grown, how they’ve changed, and I’m sure there’s going to be a ton of stories flying around, and that’s the biggest part for me.”

To say that this will be a big night for the Negaunee community is an understatement, and Jacobson will wear a couple of different hats tonight. This is his 23rd season coaching Negaunee football and he’s excited to see the team from his third season that won the school’s only football state title.

On the other hand, as athletic director, it’s an exciting night to have the team back together again with all of the changes that have been in the works.

“It’s a good time to be in Negaunee with the facilities that are coming up,” Jacobson said. “Our indoor practice facility, our new softball facility up top next to our beautiful tennis courts, it’s a good time to be in Negaunee.

“I think to bring that championship team back this year and see what they’ve been a part of creating, just even the improvements around the stadium, it just shows the support that you get from this community both academically and athletically, but just how much our community is behind our school.”

Negaunee Miners football head coach Paul Jacobson makes sure his players are all present before the team bus leaves for Pontiac on Thanksgiving morning to play in the MHSAA Division 6 state championship final the following day in 2002. (Journal file photo)

The 2002 team paved the way for future Negaunee football teams with its success. That Miners team won the state title game over Hopkins 28-20 in overtime, and it just so happened to be one of six wins that fall that was by decided by one score or less. They had to face off with Ishpeming and Iron Mountain twice each — each team once in the regular season and once in the playoffs — winning all four games by a total of 24 points.

In ’02, Jacobson had become the Negaunee head coach two years prior, so it was early in his career that the Miners won the title. Since then, NHS has continued to have success and been a top program in the Upper Peninsula, and Jacobson has taken what the ’02 team did and tried to pass it on to his future squads.

“It’s huge that everyone has a role or a niche on a team,” Jacobson said. “It’s more than just one person, it’s more than the starters, it’s the whole team that puts on that maize and blue jersey, and that helmet with the ‘N’ on it.

“Every year, you learn something as a coach, and I think the biggest thing is that you have to be good, you have to be lucky, and you have to have good kids. That’s been a formula here in Negaunee for quite some time, and we’re just trying to do our part to carry it on.”

The majority of the championship team will be in Negaunee tonight, Jacobson said. This reunion feels like an event that could be held all by itself, but there’s still a football game at Miners Stadium.

Negaunee running back Donald Barr, center, runs past Hopkins players, including Justin Schaendorf, right, and safety Brent Wendt, left, for the game-winning touchdown in overtime on Nov. 29, 2002, in the MHSAA Division 6 championship game at the Silverdome in Pontiac. Negaunee won 28-20. (AP file photo)

With the ’02 team in the stands to take in the action, the ’22 team looks to make its own mark and improve to 3-0. The 2002 team might not have played Hancock, but Jacobson hopes that the 2022 team can continue to learn some lessons.

“It really helps in preparation for our Hancock game, because you can relate to different things throughout our championship season to this year’s team,” Jacobson said. “How we tried to make sure to take things one step at a time during our championship season, and this is no different.

“We have a Hancock team coming in where we’ll have to be at our best to beat. It’s exciting that not only do we have a game, but we get to play in front of a special group.”

Travis Nelson can be reached by email at tnelson@miningjournal.net.

The Negaunee Miners football team gathers around head coach Paul Jacobson, right, as he holds the Division 6, Region 2 championsip trophy aloft following the team's victory over Iron Mountain 28-17 at the Superior Dome in Marquette in November 2002. (Journal file photo)