Arriving at Aurora University’s Spartan Stadium felt different for Trey Madsen on Saturday.
The Aurora Christian graduate spent the previous four seasons at AU, where he set career records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. But on this day, Madsen was playing for North Central College.
“I was definitely feeling the emotions,” he said. “Just coming in on a bus, I’m used to just pulling up in my car and parking. It definitely felt weird coming off the bus and walking with a different team and going to a different locker room.
“Thankfully, I had some of my teammates kind of just cooling me down, keeping my mind off the game and what was at stake here.”
Madsen, a preseason All-American before he had played a game for NCC, ended up being its leading receiver in his debut. He caught six passes for 63 yards from All-American quarterback Luke Lehnen, scoring on a 7-yarder in the second quarter, as the No. 1 Cardinals won 48-21 in their season opener.
That was more than enough for Madsen.
“Just getting on the field and playing was fine for me,” he said. “I didn’t care if I scored. I didn’t care if I had any balls thrown to me. It was more just getting on the field and playing and doing what I enjoy doing.”
With an extra year of eligibility, Madsen decided he wanted a change of scenery for his last season. He found that at NCC, which has won two of the past four Division III national championship games.
“Trey is a fantastic young man,” NCC coach Brad Spencer said. “When he visited us and we were getting to know him a little bit, it was really evident right away that he comes from a great family. He was looking for a new challenge. We’re so happy to have him.
“It was great to have him get a couple of catches and a touchdown here on this field.”
Madsen’s new teammates knew this game was weighing heavily on him. He said people were even calling it a revenge game for him.
“It was a little emotional driving up to campus, just a different feeling for him,” Lehnen said. “I think after a couple of plays, he felt right. I’m glad he’s a Cardinal. He belongs with us.”
Madsen said he didn’t make the decision to transfer lightly. He was one of the players that helped put AU’s program on the map since former NFL player Don Beebe took over as coach. Madsen looks back on his time there fondly.
“I had a wonderful, successful career at Aurora, broke a bunch of records, and I don’t mean that in a boastful way,” he said. “I was put in a wonderful position by coach Beebe to perform the way that I did. I thought it would be nice to get a new perspective working in a new offense. That’s kind of what really made the decision.”
A new experience also appealed to Madsen for his master’s program. He’s pursuing a degree in sports leadership, and he knows what he’d like to do with it.
“I’d like to help coaches understand their impact on players’ lives,” Madsen said. “I don’t think some of them really understand what they can do to a player. It’s helping them understand that what they do really makes a difference on players’ lives and what they can grow up to be.”
As he gains more insight into that, Madsen figures to be a big part of a team that has a chance to play in its fifth straight national championship game.
“Once I really got on campus and started working, they accepted me and wanted to help me so I could get on the field and perform like I performed (Saturday),” Madsen said. “That’s what I really enjoy.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter.
