Becoming a hall of famer

Playing football on the collegiate level is tough. Starting for a college team is even tougher.

Becoming a storied member of a university’s football program? Well that’s just a testimate to the hard work and play that someone puts in.

Ask former Plains standout Eric Boettcher, he knows a thing or two about that.

Boettcher was inducted into the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 24.

While at Plains, Boettcher was a three-sport standout, excelling at football, basketball, and track. Boettcher believes playing sports at a small school afforded him the opportunity to play multiple sports, which benefited him greatly.

He also appreciated the support of his hometown fans.

“Plains was such a sports minded community that it really drove me to excel in athletics,” Boettcher said.

After graduating from high school in 1990, Boettcher attended Dickinson State University  and went on to have success in college football and track. “I remember my first day of practice and I telling my roommate after that day, ‘I’m never going to play a down.’ Now to be inducted into their hall of fame it’s pretty amazing,” he said.

Among his many gridiron accolades, Boettcher was voted the 1991 Playoff Offensive Player of the Game; was an All NDCAC Receiver in 1992 and 1993 and All-District Receiver in 1992 and 1993; was the 1994 Henry Weinbergen Male Athlete of the Year; and a member of the 1990, 1991 and 1992 football teams inducted into the DSU Hall of Fame.

Boettcher either holds or is listed near the top in almost every career-receiving category, as well as a number of kick return categorys at DSU. He holds the record for most receiving yards in a game with 192 versus Valley City State (10/23/93).

He also holds the record for the highest career average yards per catch at 22.36.

He’s second in all purpose yards per game (109.0), and kick return touchdowns (2).

He is third in receiving yards (1,923) and receiving touchdowns (23). He is fourth in receptions (86) in kick return yards (927), and in kick returns (35). He was sixth in all-purpose touchdowns (28: 3 rushing, 23 receiving, and 2 return), and in kick return average (26.49), and seventh in all-purpose yards (3,271).

Boettcher was also the 1991 indoor 55-meter high hurdles conference champion, and a four year letter winner for track.

Boettcher went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from DSU in 1998.

He and his wife Stephanie have three children, Jaclynn, Sophia and Jacob and one granddaughter, Harper Jo. He is currently the Co-owner and operator of Army’s West Sports Bar and Budget Liquor.