Bison Illustrated August 2019

AU G U S T 2 0 1 9

The winner of our Bison superfan sweepstakes Alana Christensen

A Bison Fan’s Guide To Minneapolis

41

@bisonmag

TEAM MAKERS

56

bisonillustrated

How are Team Makers prepping for the big game in Minneapolis? Find out what they have in store for members and fans alike.

Fall is nearly upon us, Bison fans. Take a look at this year’s sports schedule along with events for NDSU fans too.

SPORTS AND EVENT CALENDAR

Take a look back at Carson Wentz’s first charity softball event held in Fargo at Newman Outdoor Field.

AO1 SOFTBALL GAME

54

47

FEATURES

47

facebook.com/bisonillustrated

Elevate Your Tailgate With BBQ Bootcamp

34

FIND US ONLINE

The Gear (Powered by SCHEELS)

22

As we return from our summer away, we want to dedicate this issue to you, Bison Nation! With the help of our friends from SCHEELS, we put together the NDSU gear you must have this season. Also, elevate your tailgate with NDSU's BBQ Bootcamp and get prepared for the Bison takeover of Minneapolis. This one is for you, Bison fans!

THE MARCH IS ON!

COVER STORY

20

CONTENTS

bisonillustrated.com

60 Swany Says

12 Editor's Note

RECURRING

56

info@spotlightmediafargo.com

08/2019

FROM NOLAN P. SCHMIDT

Truthfully, I was not expecting a laundry list of entries because historically, ideas like this have flopped for us. However, I was blown away with the response in less than a 24 hour period. Not only that, you made my job a heck of a lot harder as I had to narrow it down to one superfan. In truth, you are all superfans in your own way.

We're starting the year with something a little unique. I knew this was going to be an issue dedicated to you, the NDSU faithful. I truly wanted to get you involved as much as I could. So, we created this "superfan" contest on social media with the winner being featured on our cover.

First off, it's great to be back, Bison Nation.

This summer off has given us a tremendous amount of time to think up neat ideas and content strategies for the upcoming school year. While it did go by quickly, I know I'm extremely excited about the 2019-20 school year. I hope you are too.

F

MVP

the real

nolan@spotlightmediafargo.com

There is always one thing I can get behind no matter what and that is those who stand

It goes deeper than that as well. Last season, Lana organized a gameday for Veterans who had never been to a Bison football game. For the FCS quarterfinal game against Colgate, she asked season ticket holders who would not be attending to donate their tickets to these Veterans. In true Bison Nation fashion, Lana was able to gather 140 tickets for Veterans, many of whom attended their very first Bison game on that day in early December. NDSU beat Colgate 35-0 in that contest.

If that's not true Bison Pride, what is? After meeting Lana and getting to know her a bit, I learned that she is more than just a fan.

She is a champion for all of those Bison fans watching at home and a remarkable advocate for North Dakota State. She has not missed a home or away football game in years. "She travels to away games to be “the mother” to players who do not have parents at the game," said Lana's daughter, Bethany.

"Honestly, I am simply one of many big Bison fans, and I feel it’s important to stay humble and cheer right along with the 80-year-old fans who have been supporting Bison Nation much longer than I," she said in her entry form for this contest. "I simply make signs to support the team: offense, defense, special teams and coaches! It’s a thrill and an honor to support the team in this manner. It takes a Fargodome filled with wonderful Bison fans to make up what we know as Bison Nation!"

To put it simply, we selected Lana because she understands what Bison Nation and NDSU is all about: The Team.

That name was Alana Christensen. She is primarily known in Bison circles as "The Sign Lady".

Yet, there was one name I kept seeing in our Facebook comments and in my email.

That is why Alana Christensen is our NDSU superfan. The 75 signs she has made for football games is extraordinary. However, she is leaving a lasting impression on our community with the tireless work she is doing away from the football field. In turn, she is growing Bison Nation single-handedly, one "Horns Up" at a time.

If you would be interested in donating, please call the Bison ticket office at 701-231-6378 to get connected with Lana. You can also reach out to Lana directly at 701-899-2578.

Lana is doing her Veteran ticket program again this season. She is asking season ticket holders to donate one or two of their tickets to local Veterans for the November 9 game against Western Illinois. It is the same weekend as the North Dakota deer hunting opener and it is also Veterans Day weekend.

Lana would love to exceed her 140 ticket mark from last year to allow local heroes to experience a Bison football game.

This is why Lana's courage and tenderness is so impactful to me personally. While it's true that Lana is perhaps the biggest Bison fan on Earth, her humility and care for those who laid down their life for the United States is far more impressive in my eyes.

behind our nation's Veterans. It goes back to my days working with Master Sergeant Eric Marts in the basement of WDAY on his radio show each week. Eric was blinded in Fallujah, Iraq, from suffering a traumatic brain injury after driving over a roadside bomb.

He does his weekly radio show "Heroes Of The Heartland" for our nation's Veterans, advocating on their behalf. Marts will always be one of my heroes and a dear friend to me.

FROM THE EDITOR

Spotlight Media LLC. 15 Broadway N, Suite 500 Fargo, ND 58102 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com

Send change of address information and other correspondence to:

Bison Illustrated is published by Spotlight Media, LLC. Copyright 2019 Bison Illustrated & bisonillustrated.com All rights reserved. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Bison Illustrated. Bison Illustrated and Spotlight Media, LLC is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. Spotlight Media, LLC accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

FOR ADVERTISING, CALL 701-478-SPOT (7768) or email info@spotlightmediafargo.com

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Publisher Mike Dragosavich

Bison Illustrated is a free publication distributed monthly (12 times a year). Our mission is to help promote North Dakota State University Athletics, provide a quality and fun reading experience and to improve the way of life in our community. The publication is mailed to homes across the US and has newsstand distribution throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

AUGUST 2019 | VOLUME 13 ISSUE 9

zach

wendy

JENNIFER

SARAH

JENNY

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JESSE

CRAIG

BRUCE

SIMON

MIKE

hoefer

SARAH

Meet THE TEAM

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ANDREW

BISON NATION!

THE MARCH IS ON,

Powered By SCHEELS

As we return from our summer away, we want to dedicate this issue to you, Bison Nation! With the help of our friends from SCHEELS, we put together the NDSU gear you must have this season.

Also, elevate your tailgate with NDSU’s BBQ Bootcamp and get prepared for the Bison takeover of Minneapolis. This one is for you, Bison fans!

21

BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

Our superfan sweepstakes winner Alana Christensen

21

TAILGATERS

FOR THE

1

4

3

2

7

6

5

23

BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

White 30oz NDSU Tumbler $29.99

2

BCS Apparel Quarterzip $70

1

Mini Football $15

4

Under Armour NDSU Gold Tee Shirt $30

3

Legacy Athletic NDSU Ball cap $25

6

Spectrum Design NDSU Crew Sweatshirt $54.99

5

Stealth 24oz NDSU Tumbler $29.99

7

23

2

1

LITTLE BISON

FOR THE

4

3

2

Colosseum Short Tee $26

1

New Era NDSU Infant Cap $14

4

NDSU 3T Jersey $36

3

FAMILY

FOR THE

2

1

3

4

5

6

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BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

Colosseum Dress $28

2

Pressbox Crew neck $59

1

Colosseum Ballerina Tee $24

3

Colosseum Quarter Zip $38

5

BCS Apparel Quaterzip $65

4

Preppy Gray NDSU Hat $20

6

27

COUPLE

FOR THE

1

2

3 5

6

4

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BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

Gold 20oz NDSU Tumbler $24.99

2

BCS Apparel NDSU Logo Sweatshirt $55

1

Hawthorn Collection Mustard Snap Button Cardigan $34

3

47 Brand NDSU T Shirt $38

4

Green 16oz NDSU Tumbler $24.99

6

NDSU Necklace $30

5

29

BIGGEST FAN

FOR THE

1

Pressbox Comfy Crew Neck $59

Frost 24oz Bottle $19.99

MORE GEAR FROM

BCS Apparel Crest Tee $22

Under Armour Anorak NDSU Jacket $50

NDSU Glitter Pin $5.99

NDSU Earrings $12

NDSU Spirit Scrunchie $9.99

SCHEELS 2800 South Columbia Road, Grand Forks

SCHEELS 2400 10th St SW, Minot

SCHEELS 800 Kirkwood Mall, Bismarck

SCHEELS 1220 12th Street, SW, Apache Mall Rochester, Minn.

SCHEELS 8251 Flying Cloud Dr Eden Prairie, Minn.

SCHEELS 40 North Waite Ave Waite Park, Minn.

SCHEELS 1551 45th St S, Fargo SCHEELS 505 Center Ave, Moorhead

Or if you’re heading down to Minneapolis for the big game on August 31, make a pitstop at one of these Minnesota SCHEELS locations.

To find more Bison gear for the upcoming season, make sure to visit our local SCHEELS stores!

NDSU’s BBQ Bootcamp gives you some tips and tricks to make some delicious food in the tailgate lot this season.

Elevate Your

35

It’s as easy as combining those three ingredients and you have your own carnivore rub. Now, we can get down to making some delicious food.

Spencer Wirt (Left) and Dr. Eric Berg (right) with their tool of choice.

BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

Carnivore Rub 1/4 cup Salt 1 Teaspoon Granulated Garlic 1 Tablespoon Coarse Ground Pepper

Each of the following foods is first rubbed in BBQ Bootcamp’s “Carnivore Rub”. It is vital to the flavor of each dish and is as crucial as the meat itself. While the importance of this rub can intimidate some tailgaters, the recipe is actually not as complex as many believe.

Today, we had them reveal a few of their secrets to give you some new recipes to try this football season. All of which will impress your friends, family and neighboring tailgaters.

On a warm sunny day in Fargo, we met up with Dr. Eric Berg and Spencer Wirt of the NDSU Meat Science department to talk tailgating. Why tailgating, you ask? Both Wirt and Berg spearhead North Dakota State’s BBQ Bootcamp.

The primary goal of BBQ Bootcamp is to help cookers learn about new cooking methods, meat cut selection, food safety and nutrition and different means of cooking meat (smoking, gas and charcoal). They can be found at every Bison home game in the tailgate lot passing out their delicious recipes.

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INSIDER INFO: Why pineapple, you might be asking? Dr. Berg explains how the enzyme bromelain acts as a quick meat tenderizer. The enzyme breaks down protein chains, softening up your chosen cut of meat. Do not marinate too long though, meat can literally fall apart if exposed to bromelain for too long. However, for this kabab, it acts as a simple marinade that will make cooking much easier. Papaya is also capable of that trait but on a much larger scale.

It may be worth trying, but papayas are risky with meat.

Pork And Pineapple Kababs The pork and pineapple kababs are a simple, yet delicious starter for those inhabiting your tailgate tent. Start by slicing up your chosen cut of pork (shoulder or belly recommended) into cubes. Follow that up by slicing up fresh pineapple into equal size cubes. After soaking your kabab sticks in water, place the pork and pineapple cubes onto the stick and head to the grill. Cook on high temperature while consistently turning your kababs. Since these are small slices of meat, they will not take as long to cook.

TIP: Make sure to soak your sticks in water. If you do not, your appetizers will come out tasting like a stick!

Steak On A Stick It’s simple in nature, but oh so delicious when it comes off the grill. You begin with smaller beef cuts.

Stick the cuts so that they will not fall off the stick while cooking (remember to have your sticks in water beforehand). Like the kababs, these will cook quickly on high temperature. Roughly 3-4 minutes on each side should give you the perfect handheld snack.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

Next place the halves together, creating a sort of sandwich. Perhaps the trickiest part is sewing the porchetta together. Wirt uses a homemade method of a broken piece of paper clip and string to make a makeshift needle.

He will then sew the porchetta up around the edges entirely and ready it for the grill. BBQ Bootcamp will throw this on a 375-400 degree grill for about 90 minutes or until completely cooked.

Porchetta The porchetta is a pork roast stuffed with Italian sausage. The sausage is a personal BBQ Bootcamp touch as many traditional porchettas fill the roast with liver, fennel or pork fat. Its preparation is simple enough beginning with the slicing of a pork roast into two halves. Add to that your Italian sausage, spreading it over the top of one of the pork roast halves.

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TIP: If there is one thing BBQ Bootcamp wants you to take away from this article, it is to make sure you are cooking your meat properly and to temperature. There is a multitude of ways to do this. The first is to have a classic meat thermometer (left) where it can accurately gauge the current temperature or your meat in relation to its ideal heat. A more convenient method is using your smartphone. There are plenty of different apps and Bluetooth meat thermometers that can hook up to your phone. That way you can enjoy tailgating rather than standing by your grill, constantly testing your meat.

Apply pesto (BBQ Bootcamp uses the Kirkland brand) to the loin. Next, add spinach and feta cheese), there is no real limit to the amount of spinach and feta you add, just make sure you can roll the loin up. Finally, roll the loin up and tie it up at each end to keep it together while cooking. Like the porchetta, this will cook at 375-400 for 90 minutes or so.

Stuffed Pork Loin For the more adventurous tailgater, this stuffed pork loin puts an Italian take on the classic loin. Begin with your pork loin and cut it in half. Next, slice one of the halves thinly into thirds without breaking the loin apart.

The result should be a long, thin slice of pork loin. After applying the carnivore rub to both sides, you’ll now make it Italian.

For more information on BBQ Bootcamp and rub recipes, visit: facebook.com/ BBQBootcamp or ndsu.edu/bbqbootcamp.

Grilled Peaches Half your peaches and place skinside up on a high-temperature grill.

Cook until you have good grill marks before flipping. BBQ Bootcamp places their homemade “caramel” sauce where the pit used to be. That mixture will melt into the rest of the peach. The skin should fall off with little effort before you remove them from your grill and serve.

Pineapple Steaks Slice your pineapple into “steak” sized slices. Place on high-temperature grill and cook until soft and there are visible grill marks.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

Minnesota Twins

Target Field.

and around Minneapolis and

Field? Check out these things to do in

advance of NDSU’s football game at Target

Spending the weekend in Minneapolis in

MINNEAPOLIS

Guide To

A BISON FAN’S

41

755 Prior Ave N, St Paul

Blackstack Brewing

520 Malcolm Ave SE

Surly Brewing

505 N 3rd St

Modist Brewing

701 N 5th St

Inbound Brewing

414 N 6th Ave

Fulton Brewing

If you’re feeling more adventurous, you have to check out Surly Brewing Company’s massive space near the University of Minnesota. Blackstack Brewing is another gem in St. Paul. In total, there are over 30 local breweries, so there is sure to be something that fits your brew style. Many of these breweries feature food trucks and things to eat as well.

Not only are there several local breweries located within blocks of Target Field, but there are also breweries all over the Twin Cities. Within walking distance of Target Field is Fulton Brewing Company, Inbound Brewing and Modist Brewing.

Brewery Tours

It’s true that Minneapolis-St. Paul is a huge metropolitan area, especially compared to our humble Fargo home. So, if you’re heading down to the Twin Cities for North Dakota State’s football game against Butler on August 31 at Target Field, you may be asking yourself what you’re going to do before and after the game and beyond. Rest assured, we have you covered. We were privileged to team up with the Minneapolis CVB to give you a huge list of things to do in Minneapolis!

1110 Nicollet Mall

Brit’s Pub

126 N 5th St

Cowboy Jack’s

So you’re a little more social than other Bison fans, that’s cool. If you’re more of an Old Broadway type of person, Cowboy Jack’s might be the place for you in Downtown Minneapolis. It offers more of a club atmosphere on the weekends which is sure to satisfy the most social Bison.

Club It Up

85 N 6th St

Kieran’s Irish Pub

If a more traditional bar atmosphere is what you’re after, Downtown Minneapolis has a bevy of pubs and bars right near Target Field. Two staples are Kieran’s Irish Pub and Brit’s Pub. Both can be found within blocks of Target Field and offer authentic Irish and British dining and drinking options.

Downtown Pubs

D. NOLO

Seven Steak & Sushi

825 Hennepin Ave

Crave Restaurant

731 Hennepin Ave,

Union Restaurant

212 3rd Ave N Suite 105

Statement Boutique

212 3rd Ave N

Grethen House

219 N 2nd St

The North Loop and Warehouse Districts (where Target Field is located) is known for its locally-owned boutiques. If you’re looking to pick up some premium items, check out these businesses.

Several restaurants in Downtown Minneapolis have rooftop dining and drinking options. Take in the views of the city and marvel as it buzzes by you at an eclectic group of dining options.

700 Hennepin Ave

Shop Till You Drop

Rooftop Vibes

821 S Marquette Ave

Prohibition

Get a fancy cocktail while overlooking the entire city. The Prohibition bar is located on the 27th floor of the Foshay building downtown. There, you can snag yourself a fancy cocktail with some fellow Bison fans.

Be Fancy

16 South 6th St

Lyon’s Pub

430 N 1st Ave

Brothers Bar And Grill

990 Nicollet Mall

The Newsroom

600 Hennepin Ave

City Works

825 S Marquette Ave

Manny’s Steakhouse

80 S 9th St

Hell’s Kitchen

500 N 1st Ave

The Loon Cafe

119 N 4th St

Pizza Lucé

701 N Washington Ave #101

The Freehouse

16 N 6th St

Gluek’s Restaurant And Bar

507 N Washington Ave

Cuzzy’s

219 3rd Ave N

Monte Carlo

112 N 3rd Street

112 Eatery

Since Target Field is within walking distance of Minneapolis’ bustling downtown, there are plenty of places to grab a great bite to eat. We know that Bison fans will accept nothing but the best, especially when it comes to their food. So, find these restaurants close to the stadium before or after the game to fill up on local flavor.

Great Eats

725 Vineland Place

Walker Art Center And Sculpture Garden

The Walker Art Center is one of the biggest attractions in the Twin Cities area.

This is not only because of the phenomenal gallery inside but the sculpture garden outside. This is where the famous “Spoonbridge And Cherry” is housed along with several other artistic marvels. While it will cost you to go inside the Walker Art Center (completely worth it) the sculpture garden is free to the public. It is the perfect sunny day activity for the family.

Culture Yourself

200 N Washington Ave

Edward’s Dessert Kitchen

116 N 1st Ave

Sweet Chow

33 N 1st Ave

Kado No Mise

730 N Washington Ave

Borough

603 N Washington Ave

Smack Shack

800 N Washington Ave

Bar La Grassa

211 N 1st St

Spoon And Stable

50 N 2nd Ave

Marvel Bar

50 N 2nd Ave

The Bachelor Farmer

700 N 1st Ave

O’Donovan’s Irish Pub

12364 Chestnut Blvd, Shakopee

Minnesota Renaissance Festival (Open Weekends)

1 Valley Fair Dr, Shakopee

Valleyfair

60 E Broadway, Bloomington

Mall Of America

Chances are, not every Bison fan is going to be staying within walking distance of Target Field. While it is certainly worth it to take a day exploring downtown Minneapolis and the surrounding area, there are other gems in the metro.

Out Of The Way Attractions

47

BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

47

Hillary Ehlen

Take a look back at the AO1 Foundation’s first softball game in Fargo. The game was played at Newman Outdoor Field on NDSU’s campus. The game raised more than $200,000 for the foundation which aims to uplift individuals and communities around the world by demonstrating God’s love for His people.

Learn more about how you can help Carson’s AO1 Foundation at ao1foundation.org.

Country music stars and North Dakota natives Tigirlily sang the national anthem.

Bison great wide receiver Ryan Smith was a finalist in the event’s inaugural home run derby.

Wentz, who did not play in the softball game, was the coach of the “offense” team.

Meeting Smith in the finals was Bismarck native and former Bison linebacker Esley Thorton. In the end, Thorton cranked enough over the fence to take the victory from Smith.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

Several Bison who are now in the NFL were on hand as well, including Baltimore Raven linebacker Chris Board and free agent linebacker Nick DeLuca. Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Joe Haeg played too.

49

Current Kansas State head coach and former NDSU head coach Chris Klieman was on hand to throw out the first pitch. He and current NDSU head coach Matt Entz tossed out the game’s first pitch to Carson and former Los Angeles Charger Kyle Emanuel.

Former Bison who are now in the coaching ranks dusted off the bats in this one. Bison offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl and linebackers coach Grant Olson competed in the game. Also, former Bison linebacker and current MSUM co-defensive coordinator Carlton Littlejohn played as well.

Bison great and current Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Billy Turner played in the game as well.

Other former Bison to compete in the game were Nick Schommer, Colten Heagle, Mike Dragosavich and Bryce Messner.

This meeting of former Bison did not come without its hijinks as well.

Games were played in between innings and the gold team won the award for best home run celebrations.

10/13

SDSU Classic Brookings, S.D.

8/30

Renaissance Depot 225 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis • 6-9 p.m.

Twin Cities Pep Fest

8/30

Bison Open Fargo, N.D. (Rose Creek Country Club) • 5:45 p.m.

Men's And Women's Cross Country

Football

10/18

Volleyball vs Cal Fargo, N.D. • 7 p.m.

Volleyball

10/19

Volleyball vs Buffalo Fargo, N.D. • 10 a.m.

Football

vs Missouri State Fargo, N.D. • 2:30 p.m.

vs South Dakota Fargo, N.D. • 2:30 p.m.

11/16 Football

vs North Dakota Fargo, N.D. • 7 p.m.

11/12 vs Purdue Fort Wayne Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 7 p.m.

9/14

Women's Soccer

vs Western Illinois (Harvest Bowl) Fargo, N.D. • 2:30 p.m.

11/9 vs Denver Fargo, N.D. • 1 p.m.

9/13

Volleyball

Summit League Championships Brookings, S.D.

Women's Soccer

Fargo, N.D. (SCHEELS on 45th) • 6-8 p.m.

Bison Block Party

11/7-11

Summit League Championships Fargo, N.D. (Rose Creek Country Club)

Men's And Women's Cross Country

November 11/2

vs North Dakota Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 6 p.m.

Women's Soccer

10/31

vs Omaha Fargo, N.D. • 1 p.m.

Volleyball

10/27

vs South Dakota State Brookings, S.D. • 2 p.m.

vs Northern Iowa (Homecoming) Fargo, N.D. • 1 p.m.

10/12

vs South Dakota Fargo, N.D. • 7 p.m.

Volleyball

10/11

vs South Dakota Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 1 p.m.

Women's Soccer

10/6

vs Western Illinois Fargo, N.D. • 1 p.m.

Volleyball

10/6

vs Purdue Fort Wayne Fargo, N.D. • 7 p.m.

Volleyball

Football

10/26

vs South Dakota State Fargo, N.D. • 7 p.m.

October 10/4

Volleyball

Roy Griak Invitational Falcon Heights, Minn.

10/25

Men's And Women's Cross Country

Football

9/13

vs Chicago State Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 1 p.m.

Women's Soccer

9/8

vs North Dakota Fargo, N.D. • 2:30 p.m.

Football

9/7

vs Hawaii Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 7 p.m.

Women's Soccer

September 9/6

vs Butler Minneapolis, Minn. (Target Field) • 2:30 p.m.

Football

8/31

Featuring Country Star Jordan Davis Minneapolis, Minn. (Target Field) • 12 p.m.

Pregame Concert

8/31

9/28

Women's Soccer

vs UC Davis Fargo, N.D. • 2:30 p.m.

vs Western Illinois Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 1 p.m.

10/20

Football

9/21

UND Ron Pynn Classic Grand Forks, N.D.

Men's And Women's Cross Country

Volleyball vs Green Bay Fargo, N.D. • 5 p.m.

10/19

9/14

Men's And Women's Cross Country

8/28

vs Montana Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 1 p.m.

Women's Soccer

8/25

vs Saint Mary's Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 7 p.m.

Women's Soccer

8/23

vs Minnesota (Exhibition) Minneapolis, Minn. • 2 p.m.

Women's Soccer

8/17

vs Viterbo (Exhibition) Fargo, N.D. (Dacotah Field) • 7 p.m.

Women's Soccer

8/14

Fargo, N.D. (Fargodome) • 6-8 p.m.

Bison Fan Day

August 8/13

Events calendar

fall

Get ready for the start of the fall sports season with this handy calendar of sports and other Bison events.

Photo Provided By The Minnesota Twins

Get a behind the scenes look into all the planning that went into Target Field weekend with NDSU Director of Athletic Development for the Twin Cities Stefanie Kelly.

For The Twin Cities

Gearing up

TEAM MAKERS

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BISON ILLUSTRATED A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

For the players, having an opportunity to kick off the 2019-20 season in one of the premier sporting venues in front of almost 40,000 fans is an experience of a lifetime.

Athletics is often referred to as the front porch of the university. It’s the most visible department on campus and builds affinity and community amongst alumni and fans.

This is an incredibly unique and exciting opportunity for both the University and Bison Athletics. The Twin Cities is a prime recruiting area for first-year students and student-athletes. An event of this magnitude will likely bring regional and national attention to NDSU and Bison Athletics.

With the enormous alumni base in the Twin Cities specifically, how exciting is this event for NDSU and Bison athletics?

Q&A

We have loyal and passionate donors in the Twin Cities who have financially supported Bison Athletics for years, and we can now regularly thank and re-engage them.

What kind of impact does the Team Makers organization have on those members/alumni living in the Twin Cities?

For our student-athlete alumni who proudly wore the Bison uniform, Team Makers and the Bison Football Players Association is hosting an all sport student-athlete alumni celebration at Fulton Taproom near Target Field the day before the game. This will be an evening for student-athlete alumni to reunite with former teammates and coaches. Members from the Team Makers executive committee will be present at the event to thank and engage with alumni.

How have Team Makers helped in making this weekend the best it can be?

The Twin Cities will be a key area for us as we grow Team Makers memberships and introduce new projects coming down the

With more than 14,000 alumni in the Twin Cities we have a real opportunity to build new relationships, network, and better serve our donors and alumni.

Why is it so important to cater to those alumni that do live in the Twin Cities?

As a former Bison student-athlete myself who benefited from the generosity of Team Makers, being able to thank a long-time Team Maker in person is meaningful.

As an organization, we want to develop more personal relationships with our alumni and fans in the Twin Cities.

Whether you’re donating $100,000 or $100, we want our donors to feel good about their experience. Being able to communicate in person with donors about how their dollars are making an impact inspires greater involvement.

Also, some think joining Team Makers requires a large donation. You can join Team Makers for as little as $100 per year.

Plus, members have an opportunity to

Because of the strong financial support of Team Makers, Bison Athletics is having an immense amount of success in all sports.

Team Makers provides scholarship support for all 16 athletic programs. There can sometimes be a perception that football is the only benefactor of Team Makers.

We’re all familiar with the success of Bison Athletics; however, it can be challenging to explain the importance of revenue generation when we’re capturing league titles and winning national championships.

We have an incredible following and donor base, but continued growth is critical as we continue to strive to be the top midmajor athletic program in the country.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced throughout this planning and executing process?

pipeline.

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On game day, we are encouraging all of our fans to enter Target Field early due to the lack of tailgating space available around the stadium. Ticket holders will be able to enter the stadium starting at noon (3 hours prior to kickoff)with full access to concessions, bars and restaurants inside Target Field. There

Also happening Friday evening, the NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association is hosting a Twin Cities Pep Fest at the Renaissance Depot, also in downtown Minneapolis. The event will feature music from the Front Fenders and family activities.

The all sport student-athlete alumni celebration at Fulton Taproom hosted by Team Makers and the Bison Football Players Association will kick off the weekend for Bison Athletics.

What are some events fans can get excited about leading up to the big game?

We will have Team Makers information tables located in section 116 and at Gate 3 inside Target Field to answer questions. We’ll also have in-game digital advertising on the ribbon boards and we’re considering a short in-game video as well.

We have an incredible opportunity to share Team Makers with our alumni and fans. Our goal is to build relationships and educate fans in a way that inspires them to support Bison student-athletes in their pursuit of athletic and academic excellence.

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will also be a pre-game concert, hosted by Cenex, featuring country artist Jordan Davis.

Follow NDSU Team Makers on social media to stay informed or can contact Stefanie directly at stefanie.kelly@ndsu.edu to learn more about how to get involved in the Twin Cities.

Finally, attend a Team Makers event. Come and check us out. We’re looking at hosting quarterly happy hour events and working to bring a golf event to the Twin Cities in 2020.

Fans can visit one of our official Twin Cities Team Makers watch sites during the football season. These sites are a great place to watch the game and connect with fellow alumni and fans in a fun atmosphere.

If you enjoy networking, consider becoming a Twin Cities Team Makers Fund Drive volunteer. We currently have a small team of volunteers who help raise scholarship support for student-athletes.

The easiest way to get involved is by joining Team Makers. Anyone interested in the future of Bison Athletics is encouraged to join.

For Twin Cities alumni who are maybe not as involved as they’d like to be with athletics, how can they get involved in the area?

If fans are looking for transportation to the game, Joe Senser’s Kitchen & Bar in Roseville, is organizing shuttle buses to Target Field from their location.

I also encourage alumni and fans to visit our official Team Makers viewing sites located throughout the Twin Cities: Joe Senser’s Kitchen & Bar in Bloomington, Joe Senser’s Kitchen & Bar in Roseville, LynLake Brewery in uptown, and Erik the Red, located in downtown Minneapolis.

Current: 138 new members with a 200 member goal.

Updated Team Makers Member Count

How crucial a role does fundraising play in a weekend like this? And do you have any expectations/goals in that vein for that weekend?

purchase single-game tickets before the general public – an attractive benefit for some Twin Cities alumni who can’t commit to season tickets but are interested in seeing 1-2 games per season.

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LynLake Brewery 2934 Lyndale Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55408

Joe Senser’s Kitchen & Bar Bloomington 4217 American Blvd W. Bloomington, 55437

Erik the Red 601 Chicago Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55415

Joe Senser’s Kitchen & Bar Roseville 2350 North Cleveland Ave. Roseville, MN 55113

If you can’t make it to the game in the Twin Cities on August 31, there are plenty of watch sites in and around Minneapolis to check out NDSU-Butler. Make your way to these watch sites on August 31!

Team Makers Watch Sites: Twin Cities Edition

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Pa Swany called to say he just pulled up to my old apartment tucked between 13th Avenue South and 45th Street, a few blocks behind Scheels. After climbing into the back seat of

This isn’t one of those. Not by a long shot. This day was different, one that you just knew could be special. It was Saturday, December 17, 2011, an unseasonably warm day for the week before Christmas in Fargo. The high that afternoon would near 40 degrees. I didn’t sleep much that Friday night, tossing and turning anxiously, until, finally, at 6:00 a.m., I threw off the covers, put on the coffee and started my anything but routine day. North Dakota State was a single win away from its first FCS national championship game. Standing in the way was the most storied team in FCS history, at the time, in Georgia Southern.

Some stories begin, “It was a day like any other … .”

all the stories

SWANY SAYS *Swanson is a native of Maddock, N.D., a proud NDSU alum and a lifelong Bison fan.

BY JOSHUA A. SWANSON

Photo By Dennis Hoff

FOLLOW @swany8

NDSU hung tightly to a 14-7 halftime lead on a pair of Warren Holloway touchdowns. Honestly, I only remember a handful of plays from the game – Brock Jensen pealing around the left side of the line and racing down the home

Unlike the “Friday Night Lights” games that are now legendary and part of Bison lore, NDSU’s first FCS semifinal started at 1:35 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon. To date, it was the only FCS semifinal game the Bison have played on a Saturday. The tailgating lots were buzzing with electricity.

I don’t remember much, if anything, from tailgating that morning, other than talking about where Frisco was and nervously waiting for the minutes to tick by.

I remember driving to the Fargodome, too, over the 12th Avenue bridge, the Fargodome rising above the horizon.

We’d taken this drive, this same road, dozens of times since the early 1990s when dad started bringing us to Bison games.

And there we were, 21 years removed from going to our first game in November 1990 at Dacotah Field, a Division II playoff game against Cal Poly, with NDSU on the brink of meeting Sam Houston State and its high-powered offense in some unknown place called Frisco, Texas.

his truck, my brother was in the front, I took a big gulp from my thermos of coffee. My senses were on high alert, it was like someone cranked up the contrast on the TV. I vividly remember holding that thermos and looking out the window, thinking this was a moment to remember. You know the ones – where you take pause because something internal softly tells you to take a mental picture and store it safely away.

The Fargodome was euphoric. People were hugging and high-fiving, the party was on. You could see people on their phones in every row looking at flights and hotels, price be damned. This was before Bison fans booked their Frisco trips months in advance. I high-five and hugged my parents, and, admittedly, shed a tear or two. This was the first NDSU national championship that I’d get to experience in person.

While the feeling never gets old, there was something about that first one, and the Herd breaking through. The vibe at

Take a few seconds to pause and snap that mental picture when you get to Target Field. Yet another wonderful Bison weekend will fly by in a second, but the memories will last a lifetime. I can’t wait to see you guys in Minneapolis. What a story that will be. Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on!

It’s been said that the world isn’t made of atoms, that it’s really made of stories. Think of all your stories centering around Bison football, and all the moments it’s given us. This August, we get to watch our Bison play a football game at Target Field in Minneapolis with upwards of 35,000 fellow proud NDSU fans clad in green and yellow. Indeed, the Strength of the Bison is the Herd.

We weren’t that far removed from the history-making and altering decision to move to Division I. In college, I remember sitting at 901 College Street with my roommates Adam Jones (the father of the Dakota Marker), Robb Weidemann, Luke Brisk, John Wald and others in happy shock after the Bison upset Montana in Missoula to kick-off the Craig Bohl-era. We walked on air from the house we called “901”, near campus, to Chubs to celebrate that win, too. It was a milestone, the first of many, like the Georgia Southern I game, marking NDSU’s meteoric rise in Division I waters. We may, or may not, have played a game called Edward 40-Hands when we got back to 901. That moment, too, is etched, albeit foggily, in my memory.

The defensive play of the game came the series before Jensen’s game-changing touchdown when John Pike caught up to the Eagles’ JJ Wilcox and punched the ball out, in what was a nip-and-tuck contest, forcing a fumble that Travis Beck recovered at NDSU’s 4-yard line. Jensen’s touchdown gave the Herd some breathing room before they later broke things wide open.

The other big play I recall happened with NDSU nursing that 20-7 lead and the Eagles threatening, driving down inside NDSU’s 10-yard line to start the fourth quarter. On a fourthand-goal play from NDSU’s three, Brandon Jemison burst through the line to drop the Eagles ball carrier for a 5-yard loss. Following the defensive stand, the Bison offense drove 92 yards in nine plays capped by a Sam Ojuri touchdown. Game, set, Frisco-bound, Bison.

Chubs Pub that night was like something I’d never seen. The bar was packed, and you couldn’t erase the perma-grins off everyone’s faces. Thunderstruck must have played on the jukebox 50 times.

sideline for a 55-yard touchdown that gave the Bison a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter. We’d later learn that Jensen was battling the flu, making the sophomore’s performance Jordan-esque.