The Quiet Giant

Moorhead, Minn. --- Peter Bachmeier displays a quiet and discreet persona because he doesn't talk much.

Clay Bachmeier gives off the same ambiguous personality. What many people don't know is that if you know Clay you also know Peter. 

Peter Clay Bachmeier is a senior and three-year starter on the Concordia football team's offensive line. The Peter-Clay dilemma is admittedly frustrating for him. Bachmeier is often called Peter in professional settings, and in the classroom, but those who truly know him call him Clay. 

Named after his grandfather, the Fargo native attended Fargo South High School and played hockey along with football. Coming into his freshman year he was not sure if he would play football for the Cobbers because he wanted enough time to dedicate to academics.

Bachmeier is pursuing a career in the dental field and is double majoring in both chemistry and classical studies at Concordia. The 6-5, 275-pound senior chose Concordia based on its acceptance rate for post-graduate dental programs. 

The turning point for Bachmeier came when head coach Terry Horan conducted an in-home visit with his parents, Daryl and Chris. Horan had already came to Fargo South to discuss playing football for the Cobbers but while visiting in Bachmeier's living room, one particular question posed by Horan set Concordia apart from all the other schools who courted him.

Horan asked Bachmeier, "Do you want me to call you Peter or Clay?" 

Bachmeier replied by telling the coach that his family has always called him Clay, to which Horan responded, "Well, then I'm calling you Clay." 

Bachmeier was sold on Concordia's atmosphere instantly. He said, "Coach Horan established that he's going to call me Clay and my teammates are going to call me Clay, which is what I want. I feel like because my family calls me Clay, and the team calls me Clay, the team is my family."

When Bachmeier first arrived on campus for fall camp in 2012 he was extremely tan due to his summer job working construction. He also sported a beard that was fit for a caveman. The freshman did not say a word and was one of the more intimidating recruits in recent memory.
Many of his teammates were nervous about what he was going to do on the field. Bachmeier was just nervous about being around an entirely new group of people.

On his very first day of strength and conditioning Bachmeier threw up. Offensive coordinator Aaron Willits did a majority of the strength and conditioning then, and recalls that Horan was worried Bachmeier would quit. 

He did not quit.

In fact, Bachmeier had a terrific camp and was one of only four or five freshman that traveled with the team. He was moved up to second string on the depth chart and played in most every game that season.

As a sophomore, he was thrust into the starting lineup and has been a mainstay ever since. Bachmeier blocked for standout quarterback Griffin Neal on a state championship team as a junior at South and continued blocking for him at Concordia helping Neal go on to break several Concordia passing records.

From high school to college, Bachmeier has been on successful teams. His first three years at Concordia have been Horan's highest three-year win total in his career.
 
When he jogs out onto the field Clay Bachmeier is in a different world. His passion for the game is unrivaled. He does not hoot and holler. He does not say a word. That changes on the first snap of the ball when all of that emotion comes out.
 
To whoever is lined up across from him at that point – good luck.

Bachmeier has been an integral part of Concordia's success on, and off, the field. Horan had nothing but praise for his right tackle, saying, "He's been a solid player for us. Though he's a guy of such few words, the one guy that probably makes me smile every day is Clay Bachmeier."

Every day Horan jogs up and down the callisthenic lines and barks "Clay! in Bachmeier's direction. Bachmeier doesn't say anything. He gives his head coach a nod of the head. 

It's the signal the 'ol ball coach has been waiting for. Horan wears that infectious smile and yells out, "Let's go!" 

Both men are in their element. 

This Saturday will be his fourth and final time playing St. Olaf and the ugliest trophy in college football is at stake. When discussing what it would mean to be able to bring the Troll home for a fourth time, Bachmeier commented, "It's been nice to fight for something. It gives the game so much meaning. It's a great representation of the work we put in each year to win the games."

Being named after his grandfather, Bachmeier is a man who understands tradition. A tradition started in Bachmeier's time at Concordia, after every win the team stands before fans, at home or on the road, and sings the school song.

Then there is the old tradition of hoisting the Troll after a win over St. Olaf. Bachmeier sees the connection from old-new and new-old traditions.

"It's cool to see those two traditions merge during my time here. It's an ugly trophy but I love it."

The not-so gentle giant that is Clay Bachmeier is ready to bring the Troll home one more time.


Written by Sports Information Intern Austin Hawkins