Bison Illustrated The Championship Issue 2022

C O M P L I M E N TA RY

CONTENTS

20

COVER STORY 20

9 IS FINE: A LOOK BACK AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

02/2022

84

122

FEATURES

RECURRING

56 Matt Entz

10 Editors Note

60 Joe Beschorner

122 Team Makers

62 Matt Larsen

124 Swany Says

67

Cam Miller

71 Hunter Luepke 75 Michael Tutsie 76 Christian Watson 79 Jackson Hankey 80 Cordell Volson 84 Dawson Weber 86 Cody Mauch 89 Jasir Cox 90 Destin Talbert 94 Dynasty Shots: A Look Back at the Other 8

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The Bison have done it again and I’m almost at a loss for words... but I’ll try.

FROM BRADY DRAKE

9X

This is, without question (in my mind), one of the greatest sports dynasties of all time. The stats are astounding. In 11 years the Bison: • Have racked up 3 more national championships than any other program in

the history of the FCS • Are 149-12 overall • Are 41-3 in the FCS playoffs • Have produced 8 NFL Draft picks • Have won 9 Missouri Valley Football Conference Championships All while dealing with, by far, the highest expectations in the entire subdivision.

Every single week, NDSU gets their opponents’ very

FROM THE EDITOR

best. For many of those teams, their yearly game against the Bison is their national championship.

This 9th title came on the heels of a “down” 7-3 spring season that included a change at the quarterback position. Heck, this season included a change at the quarterback position, but it didn’t stop NDSU from posting the FCS’s

• 19th best Yards Per Game (431.5) • 3rd best Yards Per Game Allowed (264.7) • 14th best Scoring Offense (34.1 Points Per Game) •#1 Scoring Defense (11.13 Points Allowed Per Game) • 2nd best Rushing Offense (280.6 Yards Per Game) • 6th best Rushing Defense (87.6 Yards Allowed Per Game)

All on their way to their 9th national title in 11 years.

Let’s celebrate Fargo!

FEBRUARY 2022 | VOLUME 17 ISSUE 1 Bison Illustrated is a free publication distributed monthly (8 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.

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Mike Dragosavich Brady Drake Brady@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Geneva Nodland, Grant Ayers

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20

BISON ILLUSTRATED

is Fine

Talk of NDSU's demise was greatly exaggerated.

After a 7-3 spring season in which the Bison dealt with transfers, inconsistent quarterback play and injuries, many questioned if NDSU's run on top was finally over. However, Fargo's favorite football team answered those questions with a resounding “NO” in 2021.

the championship issue 21

WEEK

Coming off a spring season in which NDSU faced adversity and ultimately failed to capture a national championship, the herd came ready to roll in their fall opener.

Albany entered the game with high hopes and the Jerry Rice Award Winner runner up, Jeff Undercuffler at Quarterback. However, the Green and Gold defense proved too stifling for the young passer, holding the Great Danes to 205 yards of total offense.

NDSU set the tone for their season right away, rushing for 259 yards in this one with RB Dominic Gonnella going for 135 and 2 TDs on 13 carries.

details

Date: September 4, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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BISON ILLUSTRATED

STATS

Rushing Yards

Total Offense

First Downs

Bison 259 Great Danes 22

Bison 387 Great Danes 205

Bison 20 Great Danes 8

star of the game

the championship issue 23

WEEK

NDSU welcomed Valparaiso to the Fargodome in notso-kind fashion. On just the fifth play of the game, CB Jayden Price took a punt return 45 yards to the house in what would prove to be a very explosive day for the Bison who scored on 8 of 9 offensive possessions.

QB Quincy Patterson led the way, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown on 4 carries while passing for 102 yards (4-5 passing) and 1 TD. RB Jalen Bussey, RB Tamerik Williams, FB Hunter Luepke, QB Cole Payton and WR Braylon Henderson all rushed for touchdowns as well, while WR Christian Watson had two catches for 83 yards and a touchdown, and Bussey also caught a touchdown.

details

Date: September 11, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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STATS

Total Offense

Third Down Percentage

Takeaways

Bison 583 Beacons 185

Bison 83% Beacons 33%

Bison 2 Beacons 0

star of the game

The rams

(THE NDSU OFFENSIVE LINE)

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WEEK

In their final nonconference game of the season, NDSU had a very strong showing against Towson.

The Bison busted the game open with a 67-yard connection between QB Quincy Patterson and WR Christian Watson in the first quarter. The Bison would go on to score 29 unanswered before giving up a TD to the Tigers with just over two minutes remaining.

Code Green was dominant in this one with DL Will Mostaert recording two of the teams’ five sacks and DL Brayden Thomas tackling Towson’s QB for a safety in the second quarter.

details

Date: September 18, 2021 Location: Towson, MD (Johnny Unitas Stadium)

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STATS

Rushing Yards

Third Down Percentage

First Downs

Bison 328 Tigers 35

Bison 60% Tigers 14%

Bison 21 Tigers 12

star of the game

the championship issue 27

WEEK

The Bison opened up their conference schedule against none other than in-state rival University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, who were the No. 10 ranked team in the country.

NDSU trailed 7-6 entering halftime, but would take a lead late in the third quarter on K Jake Reinholz’s third field goal of the game. The field goal came on the heels of a momentum-shifting stop on 4th-and-1 in which the Fighting Hawks went for it on their own 20-yard-line. In the next possession, DB Dawson Weber secured an important interception.

QB Quincy Patterson would go on to put the game out of reach with a 3-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes remaining.

details

Date: October 2, 2021 Location: Grand Forks, ND (Alerus Center)

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STATS

Rushing Yards

Passing Yards

Bison 223 Fighting Hawks 113

Bison 57 Fighting Hawks 176

Forth Down Conversions

Bison

Fighting Hawks

star of the game

the championship issue 29

WEEK

QB Quincy Patterson led the way for North Dakota State in this one, rushing for 2 touchdowns and throwing for 2 to overcome No. 16 ranked Northern Iowa and Michigan State transfer QB Theo Day. WR Christian Watson had his best receiving game of the season in this one, catching 5 passes, including an 85-yarder for the game’s first touchdown, for 163 yards. The Panthers held in tough, keeping it a 13-10 game at the half, but that’s the closest the game would ever be with Code Green registering 5 sacks in this impressive win.

details

Date: October 9, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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BISON ILLUSTRATED

STATS

Rushing Yards

Total Offense

Turnovers Forced

Bison 181 Panthers 124

Bison 363 Panthers 381

Bison 2 Panthers 1

star of the game

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WEEK

Code Green pitched its second shutout of the season in this rematch of the 2014 FCS title game, holding Illinois State to just 99 yards of total offense.

DL Eli Mostaert had 3.5 sacks and LB Jasir Cox had his first 2 career interceptions to lead the way for the defensive unit. On the offensive side, the Bison scored on a 4-yard pass from QB Quincy Patterson to WR Christian Watson, 2 field goals from K Jake Reinholz and a 7-yard TD run by TaMerik Williams.

details

Date: October 16, 2021 Location: Normal, IL (Hancock Stadium)

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STATS

Total Offense

Time of Possessions

Third Down Percentage

Bison 325 Redbirds 99

Bison 37:12 Redbirds 22:48

Bison 56.25% Redbirds 18.18%

star of the game

­

WEEK

North Dakota State stormed back from a 20-13 deficit to defeat No. 17 ranked Missouri State thanks to a dynamite relief appearance by QB Cam Miller.

Miller, who was forced into duty in the spring season before losing the starting job to QB Quincy Patterson in fall camp, entered the game with just 3:30 remaining in the third quarter.

After stalling out in his first drive, the young quarterback would orchestrate two touchdown drives with scoring passes to WR Phoenix Sproles and WR Christian Watson.

Missouri State would threaten late, driving the NDSU 36 before back-to-back sacks by DL Brayden Thomas and DL Logan McCormick forced them into a fourth-and-33 that they did not convert. LB Jasir Cox managed his third interception in two games. details

Date: October 23, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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BISON ILLUSTRATED

STATS

Third Down Percentage

Total Offense

Rushing Yards

Bison 41.66% Bears 23.07

Bison 333 Bears 321

Bison 144 Bears 79

star of the game

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the championship issue 35

WEEK

The Bison came out and dominated Indiana State in the annual Trees Bowl with six different players scoring TDs and RB Kobe Johnson rushing for a career-high 155 yards on 5 carries.

Johnson’s performance included a historic moment for Bison football, a 97-yard touchdown run, the longest from scrimmage in program history.

In the contest, Cam Miller cemented himself after the previous week’s relief appearance, going 10-14 for 179 yards and 3 TDs.

details

Date: October 30, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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STATS

Rushing Yards

Total Offense

Turnovers Forced

Bison 292 Sycamores 94

Bison 477 Sycamores 275

Bison 2 Sycamores 1

star of the game

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WEEK

In this matchup of top-10 teams, South Dakota State prevailed for the second consecutive season to retain the Dakota Marker.

The Jackrabbits drew first blood and set the tone with All-American RB Pierre Strong bursting through the defense for a 75-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. Strong would go on to rack up 156 yards and two touchdowns for SDSU which led 24-7 at halftime.

In the contest, QB Cam Miller posted a careerhigh 277 yards of total offense and ran for a team-high 59 yards on 13 carries.

details

Date: November 11, 2021 Location: Brookings, SD (Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium)

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BISON ILLUSTRATED

STATS

Rushing Yards

Red-Zone Score Percentage

Turnovers Forced

Bison 147 Jackrabbits 181

Bison 66% Jackrabbits 100%

Bison 0 Jackrabbits 2

star of the game

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the championship issue 39

WEEK

North Dakota State got back on the winning track and also claimed their 10th Missouri Valley title all in the same day.

Explosive plays were a big part in that equation with the Bison scoring five touchdowns of 40-plus yards (FB Hunter Luepke 49 yard run, WR Christian Watson 71 yard reception, RB TaMerik Williams 50 yard run and TK Marshall 84 yard run.

The game also served as the coming-out party for Southern Methodist transfer Williams, who had been used sparingly prior to the contest but was featured in the contest with a team-leading 18 attempts. With those carries, Williams racked up 137 yards rushing and 2 TDs. However, he wasn’t even the leading rusher that day for the Bison, which racked up 454 yards on the ground. Marshall led the squad rushing for 146 yards on just 3 carries.

details

Date: November 13, 2021 Location: Youngstown, OH (Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium)

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STATS

Rushing Yards

Total Offense

First Downs

Bison 454 Penguins 59

Bison 623 Penguins 288

Bison 20 Penguins 13

star of the game

the championship issue 41

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WEEK

North Dakota State claimed sole possession of the Missouri Valley crown, downing the University of South Dakota Coyotes 52-24 in front of their home crowd in the 2021 regular-season finale.

In the contest, the bison rushed for 303 and 6 touchdowns which equaled the number of rushing touchdowns allowed by USD through its first 10 games of the season. On the defensive side of the ball, Code Green held the Coyotes, which were coming off a dramatic last-second win over South Dakota State, in check with LB Jackson Hankey recovering a fumble and CB Destin Talbert snagging his second interception of the season. details

Date: November 11, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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BISON ILLUSTRATED

STATS

Total Offense

First Downs

Time of Possession

Bison 522 Coyotes 293

Bison 27 Coyotes 15

Bison 35:59 Coyotes 24:01

star of the game

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the championship issue 45

Playoffs 2nd Round

North Dakota State advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the 12th straight season with a second round win over the Southern Illinois Salukis.

In the game, the Bison continued their seasonlong dominance on the ground, pounding the Salukis for 389 yards while converting 9 of 13 third downs. RB TaMerik Williams found himself in a featured role out of the backfield again rushing for two scores. QB Cam Miller also ran for two scores while toting the rock for 61 yards on 13 carries. Backup QB Quincy Patterson also found himself featured heavily in subpackages, rushing for 84 yards on 7 carries while scoring 1 touchdown.

details

Date: December 4, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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STATS

Rushing Yards

Time of Possessions

First Downs

Bison 389 Salukis 61

Bison 37:45 Salukis 22:15

Bison 29 Salukis 14

star of the game

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the championship issue 47

Playoffs Quarterfinal

North Dakota State advanced to the FCS Semifinals with a win in their first-ever matchup with the East Tennessee State Buccaneers that featured a smothering performance by the Bison’s defensive unit.

In the contest, Code Green held the nations leading rusher, Quay Holmes, to just 35 yards rushing while the offense scored on rushing touchdowns by RB TaMerik Williams, who scored the first two, QB Cam Miller and FB Hunter Luepke.

details

Date: December 11, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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STATS

Total Offense

Time of Possession

First Downs

Bison 401 Bucaneers 165

Bison 33:24 Bucaneers 26:36

Bison 22 Bucaneers 11

star of the game

Playoffs Semifinal

North Dakota State topped the James Madison Dukes in front of a raucous Fargodome crowd that witnessed a thrilling rematch of the 2017 and 2019 national championship games.

FB Hunter Luepke led the way for the Bison, racking up 199 all-purpose yards on his way to becoming the first NDSU player to lead the team in both rushing and receiving in a game since Christian Watson did so in 2019.

The game was close until the end, but Code Green stifled two late drives by JMU with CB Destin Talbert coming up with a ridiculous one-handed interception in the endzone with 3:05 left in the game. In the next drive, the Dukes drove down to the NDSU 42, but DL Javier Derrit had a sack and DL Logan McCormick batted down a pass to end the game.

details

Date: December 17, 2021 Location: Fargo, ND (Fargodome)

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STATS

Rushing Yards

Yards Per Pass Completion

Turnovers Forced

Bison 174 Dukes 95

Bison 16.5 Dukes 8.4

Bison 2 Dukes 0

star of the game

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the championship issue 51

National Championship

North Dakota State rolled its way to its ninth national championship in the last 11 seasons, scoring 35 unanswered points to open the game.

FB Hunter Luepke opened the scoring in the game with a physical 8-yard touchdown. Luepke would score twice more to earn the game’s Most Outstanding Player award. RB Kobe Johnson scored the game’s third touchdown, ripping off a 76-yarder. QB Cam Milller connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to TE Josh Babicz to make it 35-0, and K Jake Reinholz capped NDSU’s scoring with a 37-yard field goal late in the third quarter. details

Date: January 8, 2022 Location: Frisco, TX (Toyota Stadium)

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STATS

Rushing Yards

Total Offense

Time of Possessions

Bison 378 Bobcats 156

Bison 504 Bobcats 335

Bison 33:48 Bobcats 26:12

star of the game

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the championship issue 53

GENEVA NODLAND 56

BISON ILLUSTRATED

Head Coach

In your postgame press conference after the national championship, you talked really glowingly about Quincy Patterson and Cam Miller and sort of their relationship and their "servant leadership." How unique is it to see that sort of level of servant leadership?

I think, in this program, you see it quite often. I think, probably, in athletics in general, we probably don't see it enough. We don't see that servant leadership, or we don't see enough student-athletes being concerned about the well being of their teammates. And I think that's what you saw right there. Everyone wants to be a star. And in college football, there's only one quarterback and it's a highly competitive position.

We recruit only one a year. We have four tremendous young men in that room right now.

This fall, we had a competition for that quarterback spot and Quincy was playing at a high level and Cam was playing at his best level that he's ever played at as well. And it makes you sick to have to pick a one and a two. You wish you could pick a one and one A, but it doesn't work that way. You need to have a starter. I firmly believe that you need to have a starter. You can't have two starters.

You can't create a situation where kids on the team don't know what's going on.

Quincy went seven and got banged up. And we were fortunate enough that we had a young man in Cam Miller, who's a tremendous competitor, tremendous leader, he continued to prepare. And so behind closed doors in the dark, whatever you want to say, he kept getting better, even though he wasn't the guy yet. He kept getting better. And then when he did get his chance, he took full advantage of it and really played well. And even when Quincy came back from his injury, you could see the relationship that those two have, the respect that those two have in sharing this position. They both know it's about the team. It's about the product on the field, not

any individual accolade or individual success.

I'm sure you guys recruit for those types of players as well. But how do you develop that servant leadership within the program?

Well, you're exactly right with the recruiting. Character is the number one thing we look for when we're recruiting. We're looking for guys that are captains and guys that hold leadership roles on their teams whether that's in football, basketball, baseball, track and field, leadership roles within their high schools, within their churches or within their communities. That's the first thing that we're looking for. Both Quincy and Cam are former captains of their high school teams and were very successful quarterbacks in high school.

I think the other thing that we continually try to talk about, we try to educate our kids on, is that this isn't an individual spotlight program.

We spotlight the team here. It's all about we, us, ours. Those are the words that we're using to describe what we need to accomplish and how we need to move forward, that’S the task at hand. If you're looking for a me or my program, you've come to the wrong place. So, I think part of it is just the approach we take with our kids from day one. It's all about the team and it's all about putting the team in a situation to be successful.

I think how we prepare, being very detail-oriented and preparing for every situation so that our kids go into games fully confident in themselves and also fully confident in their teammates, helps build that trust and build that team cohesiveness that is so critical to being successful.

What was unique for this NDSU team as opposed to the other NDSU teams you have been a part of in the past?

They're all unique because they all have a different makeup.

the championship issue 57

They all have a different roster, different coaches and they've all gone through different experiences. With this one we had 220 practices together.

And so that team cohesiveness was almost forced a little bit. I saw these kids every single day for a year, we practiced 220 time. We had 25 games.

There were days we didn't have practice or a game, but we had meetings. Our team spent as much time together as they probably did with their families this last year. And that'll be one thing that will separate this group of young men for the rest of their lives, just the relationships that we had with each other. And I think you saw on the football field. As they year went on, as our relationships grew, we got better as a team as well. There are always growing pains but it's fun to see a team from week one to week 15 continue to elevate their play and this team did.

Is there a championship moment from the season that stood out to you from this year?

I think there's probably a handful. I think the fourth-down stop against UND was a moment that our defense started to believe in themselves. They started to believe that they could be one

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BISON ILLUSTRATED

of the top defenses in the country.

I think the way we won the Missouri State game–battling, having been down a little bit, but finding a way to win. I think those uncomfortable moments create growth. Sometimes you have to learn it the hard way, which we did, having a loss late in the year. But you can never let a loss beat you twice and we didn't. That's what I get the most excited about. We had a loss and we learned from not being ready to play right away and not playing our best.

We were never going to allow that game to beat us again.

What can fans expect going forward? I saw an article on Inforum saying there might be a little bit of like toning down of practices in the spring.

Well, we're going to practice and when we practice, we're going to practice hard. We just might not have as many practices as we typically have in the spring. Even on those days we take off from practice, there will still be some type of development going on. We'll be in the weight room or running with Coach Kramer. Again, we have 220 practices under our belt and we came out of it pretty unscathed. We had one season-ending injury in the spring and

one in the fall. Otherwise, we've got everyone kind of through this thing.

I want to make sure that we go into the fall as healthy and as excited about football as we can be. We've had a lot of football in the year and we need to balance that with our health. That's kind of my thought process.

Is there anything from that trip to Frisco that sticks out to you the most?

The itinerary and the logistics of the week were slightly different this year because of COVID. There were fewer NCAA functions that we had to attend.

So we had more team time together on Thursday night, we rented out top golf and it was just our team, our coaches, our coaches' families and our administrators. And the thing that I probably enjoyed the most was our coaches' families and our coaches' kids having a blast. Our extended football family all being there together and being able to truly appreciate it was really special. It wasn't a rat race, we didn't have to get from point A to point B. We had some time just to enjoy each other while we were down there.

GENEVA NODLAND

Running Backs Coach

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BISON ILLUSTRATED

How did you see the team grow from the spring to the title game?

I think that the way that the spring ended up, and the feeling that the players, coaches and everybody involved had after the quarterfinal game, was one that we didn't want feel again.

What was your personal experience in winning the title? What were your emotions?

It was really fun, obviously, to see all the hard work that our players and coaches and administration put into this come to fruition and to accomplish the goal that we had set out to accomplish.

That's always enjoyable.

That's the most enjoyable part about coaching. It was also the first time in my career that we finished on our own terms when we played the last game of the season and won it. So that's always a great feeling.

At one point or another, so many of your running backs made a big impact this season. What does that mean to you as a position coach?

We weren't concerned at all about who's going to get this many touches, who's

going to get this many yards.

We were concerned about what we can accomplish as a group. And, obviously, we accomplished that goal as a group and it took everybody.

Is there a memory from the season that sticks out to you the most?

No, I don't think there was anything that sticks out specifically. I think my best memory or whatever you want to call it, is the way that our kids approached every day in practice.

They came to work every single day. They took every opportunity that they had to get better.

Individually, as a coach, is there anything unique that you learned from this season that culminated in a championship that you can take with you going forward?

Just the process with which the NDSU program operates.

That's the kind of the thing that I'll take with me for the rest of my career. How we operate, how we practice, how to prepare the schedule and what what we're doing and why we're doing it.

That's what I'll use for the rest of career.

GENEVA NODLAND

Athletic Director

What did it mean to you and the rest of the athletic department to see the bounce back from the spring to the end of this season?

Well, I think in my eight years here and six trips to the national championship, this one was different for a couple of reasons. I think one reason it was different was that this team, the department, shoot, the country had to deal with COVID, and testing, and all of the things that happened and led to playing a spring season. All of the adversity that everybody had to go through to get to that point was huge.

Second, I think after the spring season, a lot of people around the country, a lot of people in FCS, thought the run was over.

They thought the dynasty was done. They thought NDSU was back to normal. I think our guys and our department and our coaching staff took that personally. I think because of that, everybody was on a mission to make sure that everybody knew that we weren’t going anywhere. And so to be able to finish the season in Frisco, on the stage, hoisting a championship, I think that was vindication.

To your point about the press 62

BISON ILLUSTRATED

and the country, sort of writing you guys off, I mean, the criticism to me was ridiculous.

Given the circumstances, to me, that was one of the more impressive 7-3 seasons I’ve ever seen. But still, what was it like seeing 18, 19, 20, 21, 22-year-old kids handle all those things the way they did? It seemed like a true business environment almost.

No, it is. And that’s why I feel really fortunate. I get a chance to see these young men every single day. I see the time, the energy, the effort they put into football and into academics to be successful. I see the sacrifices, the things that they don’t do as college students, because they’re focused on competing for a national championship. To see all that hard work and all that sacrifice pay off at the end of the day with a conference championship and then a national championship makes me really proud.

What about this program allows for such consistency from year-to-year even when players change and coaches change?

I think there’s just a really high standard of excellence that’s been set and it’s been set for the last 60 years. When you have a program that’s only had three losing seasons In the last 60 years, there’s a certain level of expectation. When you come into this program, it’s to play for championships. I think recruits get that when they come on campus for recruiting visits.

And they get it when they come here as freshmen. And then they enforce that as they become sophomores, juniors and seniors. We just do things differently here. There’s a team mentality. It’s a selfless locker room where it’s about the team and not the individual.

I think people are really excited to see NDSU take on another FBS opponent next year in Arizona. There are also future games scheduled with Colorado and Oregon. Is there anything else fans can expect from the FBS level?

It has become increasingly difficult to get those games scheduled because of the success that we’ve had in FBS games. We’ve won six in a row.

But I’m excited because it’s an opportunity for us to play an FBS team and see how we stack up. The other piece is that we have a ton of alumni who either live or go down to Arizona throughout different parts of the year. And so we have a great alumni and fan base down there, and a number of watch sites throughout the year. So an opportunity to go out and play in front of them is something that’s really exciting. And like I said, our guys look forward to it too. It’s an opportunity for them to play somebody different, and to play somebody at that next level, and like I said, see how we stack up against them.

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Is there an unsung hero that you think deserves more attention?

The job our sports medicine folks did the last 18 months with testing and enforcing protocols and masking and all the things that they did above and beyond their regular job was instrumental. In addition to all of those extra things, they were still rehabbing studentathletes and traveling and doing all of those things. That’s a group that allowed us to be able to compete. We’re eternally grateful for all of our sports medicine staff for allowing us to be in a position where we’re able to compete at a really high level.

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the championship issue 67

Do you have a particular memory from the Frisco trip that you think will stand out above the rest when you look back?

I would say coming out of the tunnel was one of the most fun experiences that I've ever had in my life. And I don't think I'll ever forget that. I just had chills the entire time.

The narrative has been talked about a lot, but you obviously bounced back quite well from the spring season. But with Quincy winning the job out of camp and starting the year off, how did you maintain that positive mindset and keep moving forward so that you were able to perform when your time came?

I kind of felt bad for myself a little bit after I didn't win the job. I just really leaned on my father, who I really look up to, and he kind of directed me in the way of my faith. I think that's really what brought me out from that darkness and got me to where I am today. I don't think I would have been able to perform the way I did when my name was called. It's just a credit to the man above.

How long do you think you were in that darkness? How long did it take you to really turn around?

I was down for probably two to three weeks. I was pretty upset. And I think it was really apparent to my teammates. I wasn't having good practices after they named Quincy the starter. I was just upset with myself. But, you know, like I said, my faith and my father really helped bring me out of that darkness that I was in for two or three weeks.

people would be. But at the same time, I didn't have anything to lose. We were already down... I just went out and really played free when I stepped out on the field.

How did your actual experience of winning the national championship differ from your expectation of what it might be like going into it?

I think it exceeded my expectation of what I thought it was going to feel like, because I hadn't really won anything in my life. I never won anything in high school, even middle school, never won a state championship. I won conference titles, but you know, that's a lot different.

What are you trying to work on over the offseason?

I need to get bigger and stronger. I feel like my physique and just my body weight is not big enough to take some of the hits that I took this year. I feel really comfortable with the playbook already.

At a very young age here, you've gone through a lot of life experience. What have you learned leadership wise that you're going to take to this team going into this next year?

That bad things are going to happen. And it's just about how you respond. I feel like your response is more important than anything else.

If you feel sorry for yourself, and you just give up, then you're going to go nowhere.

But if you put your head down and go to work each and every day, you're going to get results.

What is it like entering a game like that Missouri State game?

I was not expecting that at all. I thought Quincy had played pretty well in that game... I was pretty nervous.

Obviously, I think a lot of 68

BISON ILLUSTRATED

By Brady Drake Photos by Josiah Kopp and NDSU Athletics

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the championship issue 71

What was it like being in the middle of that playoff run?

The playoffs are always fun.

Especially when you’re in the Fargodome. Just being with this group of guys is a great time. The relationships we have with each other is so amazing. It was a really special time.

A lot has been made about your physical play. How important is that part of your game? Has that always been a big part of your game?

I think that’s part of the NDSU culture. We want to be the most physical team in the nation. The most physical offense, defense and special teams. That’s drilled into our brains as soon as we step on campus and it’s something that if you’re not ready for, you have to learn to adapt quickly. I like being physical. I would say it has always been a part of my game.

Can you tell us more about the “leg dab” celebration?

We have a Crewchief, tight end and fullback, group chat on Snapchat. One of the guys sent us Tik Tok video of a guy doing leg dabs. We all thought it was pretty funny and Noah Gindorff brought it out during the Youngstown State game. Then after my second touchdown in the National Championship game, he (Noah) said, “you know, if you get another one, you got to do it.” So, I got that third one and it happened.

So, now, you’ve won national championships and been named to multiple allamerican lists, what else do you have on your list of career goals?

I would like to get a 4.0 this semester and in the following semster. I think that would be very important for my academic goals. As far as football goes, I strive to be the best fullback in the country.

That’s something that I’m always working for and I think there’s always room for improvement.

In your mind, what changed in this team from the spring season to the fall that made this championship run possible?

I think we humbled ourselves a little bit. We took a little step back and did a deep dive in self-reflection on what we did and what we needed to do to get back to where we wanted to be. We worked incredibly hard in the summer, in the offseason, through fall and into the winter. Our preparation jumped up another level for everything.

Did going through the spring season make you appreciate this championship run more do you think?

Yeah, I think so. We didn’t want what happened in the spring to happen in the fall.

What are you going to remember most about the trip to Frisco?

I think just being around the guys. We flew down together, and that plane ride was really fun. And the plane ride back was fun. The meals with my teammates, and inside the locker room that Thursday practice, it was cold, and it was fun. And the outcome of the game was everything that we wanted.

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By Brady Drake Photos by Geneva Nodland and NDSU Athletics

By Brady Drake | Photo by Josiah Kopp Do you have a memory from Frisco that you think will stick with you more than the rest?

Probably when we ran out the time, it was just insane.

Obviously I'd done it before. But being a captain and senior now, event though I'm coming back, it just meant more.

You've accomplished so much, why come back?

Honestly, it's just this place.

This place is just so special to me, and has done so much for me. I feel like God gave me an opportunity to get another year and play football.

And I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else. I love the tradition, the people, the coaches. With all of that, this is kind of an easy option. Why would I ever want to leave a place like this?

Players in the secondary have to bring a really mixed skillset to the table. You have to be able to cover, but you also have to be able to get involved in the run game. You're very involved in the run game and very physical. How did you go about developing that part of your game?

Honestly, I think it has a lot to do just where I'm from, the east side of Indianapolis. A lot of the people from there that played sports will tell you the same thing. That place just kind of builds you in a way. It makes you show toughness no matter how big you are. So I just have that mindset, I'm not scared of

anything. I play football with courage and I play the game with passion and the right way, and I just go out there and do what I love and I'm not scared of anything.

My background in wrestling also had a lot to do with it.

What did you see change in the team from the spring to the fall that made the championship run possible?

I just honestly saw that we could be beat. Just because we're at this place doesn't mean things just happen like everyone probably thinks. You got to put the work in. Don't get me wrong, the spring was a tough season just all around with all of the other stuff going on. But we don't ever look for excuses. That season taught us to put the work in and not take anything for granted.

How does it help your defense to go against an offense as physical as your own in practice?

That makes us so much better. We get to go against the best offense in the country every day and they're physical which helps make us more physical too.

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By Brady Drake | Photo provided by NDSU Athletics What will be the one Frisco memory that will forever stick in your head?

I’ve been able to experience four trips to Frisco and every single one of them will be a memory I cherish forever.

Four trips and four rings!

In your mind, what changed for this team from the spring to the final result in Frisco?

What’s next for you/the Bison?

I am pursuing my dreams of playing football at the highest level. The Bison are the Bison. I look forward to watching them pursue another championship season next year.

Who is an underappreciated player (from the outside) that you think deserves more shine because of their performance in the title run?

Words can’t describe the feeling. It’s a blessing!

If you had to select one, what would be the play of the year for NDSU? Victory formation, last play in the national championship.

BISON ILLUSTRATED

I’d like to thank my teammates for pushing me to be the player that I am, and all of the coaches as well, as I wouldn’t be the player or the man I am today without them pushing me to be better.

We had that chip on our shoulder. We worked day in and day out like we do every single off-season no matter how long or short.

We used the negatives from the spring and turned them into positives, and it helped us grow and become the team we were this fall.

Cam Miller. I don’t think it can be expressed enough how much he has grown and accepted his role on the team.

When his opportunity came he didn’t flinch and he led us to a national championship win.

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Is there anyone you would like to thank? Why?

What does it mean to be a champion?

How did the reality of this national championship differ from your imagination of it?

It exceeds my expectations every time, I am forever grateful.

What is your favorite thing about being a Bison?

Having an extended family that will be there for the rest of my life.

By Brady Drake | Photo by Geneva Nodland Is there a memory from this Frisco trip that will stick out to you more than the others?

great job to help the linebackers play really well and to have a good season.

It was pretty similar to other trips.

We did a lot of the same things that we normally did. We did a lot of team activities, a lot of meetings, ate a lot of food. Probably my favorite memory was just playing board games with some of the guys in the hotel, honestly. And then, obviously, winning the game was a lot of fun.

Even the film guys running our film and all the equipment guys and people like that are really underappreciated. There are a ton of people around the program that get no credit. There are a ton of players that get less credit than they deserve to, but a ton of people around the program get little to no credit and deserve much more.

In your mind, what changed in the team from spring to the fall that made this championship possible?

I think in the spring, there was a lot thrown at us quickly. And we had a hard time adjusting. We had a lot of new faces, a lot of younger players. We had a lot of people that needed to step into leadership roles that maybe weren’t ready to do so yet. And we lacked a lot of confidence. Whereas this fall, we had some young guys really step up and play really well. We had some older guys who took on leadership roles and flourished in them. And we had a lot more confidence as a team in our ability to win games.

Is there an unsung hero from the team or coaching staff that you would like to thank?

Well, there are a lot of those. I think a lot of our coaches don’t get enough credit. We have a lot of position coaches that do a lot of work and put so much into our success. A lot of credit goes to Coach Entz and obviously coach does a great job. The coordinators both do a really good job. But even Coach Olson, my position coach, he puts in a ton of work and did a

What’s been your favorite part about being a bison?

Obviously, winning is great, but just the people in this program.

I would trade the rings quickly just to maintain the friendships that I’ve made here with the coaches, with so many of the players, with so many of my classmates and teammates. That’s by far been the best part of being a Bison, is the people that I’ve been able to do it with.

the championship issue 79

By Brady Drake | Photo provided by Cordell Volson What will be the Frisco memory that will forever stick in your head?

My favorite Frisco memory is when Hunter Luepke put the truck stick on a Montana State defender after Hunter already scored a touchdown.

Who is an underappreciated player (from the outside) that you think deserves more shine because of their performance in the title run?

There are so many guys that are under-appreciated that give so much to our football team. Logan McCormick gives his heart and soul to our program. He is a leader and plays every snap with unquestioned effort. He helped our team behind the scenes more than anyone knows.

If you had to select one play what would be the play of the year for NDSU? Why? I think it goes without question DT’s pick in the semifinals was an unbelievable play and a huge momentum shift in the game. It still seems unreal when I think of that game.

Is there anyone you would like to thank? Why? There are too many people to thank. The last 6 years at NDSU have been the time of my life. My teammates, coaches, the administration, and Bison Nation are the best people in the country. I am

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very thankful to have been a Bison.

What’s next for you/the Bison?

I’m preparing for the NFL draft to continue to chase my dreams of playing football at the highest level. For the Bison it is business as usual. Back to work. This championship doesn’t mean a thing, it’s all about the next one.

What do you see as the biggest key to the championship run?

Some of the biggest keys to the championship run were the unbelievable play of our defense. The offensive line began to mesh after the loss to SDSU and our offense became a juggernaut.

What does it mean to be a champion?

There are no words to describe it. All of the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into every day of preparation paid off. My teammates and I will forever be champions and nobody can take that away from us.

How did the reality of this national championship differ from your imagination of it?

The reality was more than I could have ever dreamed of.

Hugging my teammates and coaches on that stage was pure joy and that feeling was the best feeling in the world.

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By Brady Drake | Photo by Josiah Kopp Is there a memory from the Frisco trip that sticks out to you above the rest?

I would definitely say the interception. That is definitely a memory I’ll hold for the rest of my life. It was a big-time moment, in a bigtime game. Another thing that will stick with me is just watching the excitement of our whole team, and the work that we put in for the last 12 months.

What transformation did you see in the team from the spring to the fall that made this title run possible?

I can say the biggest thing that we collectively did as a group was grow up and mature as a whole unit.

We were kind of young, in some aspects in the spring, and I think hard work with Coach Kramer over summer, and then also hard work with our coaching staff.

What did that interception feel like?

It was the icing on the cake.

I put up a lot of hard work into this program and it just meant the world that my team was right there with me 84

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and we were celebrating.

In your mind, is there a particular play from the season that you think showcases the identity of this year’s national championship team?

Yeah, I would say Hunter’s first touchdown run in the national championship. He had an open lane. He could have just run in untouched, but he ran through the safety’s face instead. We preach physicality all year and we pride ourselves on being the most physical team in the country. I think that play showed that.

What’s next for you going forward? How do you see yourself developing in the program here? What are you trying to work on over the offseason?

I came back because I feel like one more year with this team and this program will only benefit me. I just wasn’t ready to be done with this group of guys yet and this coaching staff. I’m definitely going to work on my body weight a little bit. I’m gonna get some muscle mass on me. I’m also going to continue to dive deeper into the playbook and into the film study and find those edges that I can use.

Do you have a specific memory from the trip to Frisco that will stick out to you the rest of your life?

If not the game, the couple of days leading up to the game.

Chilling in the hotel with the guys. That’s the last time I’ll hang out with Cordell for a little while. That was a big memory for me.

If you look back at the whole season, was there a single play that comes to mind that’s representative of the 2022 NDSU championship football team?

I don’t know if there’d be a single play. But any time the defense gets a pick or the offense has 10 guys up there driving the ball carrier forward the sideline is going crazy.

Is there an unsung hero from the squad that you’d like to highlight?

Our quality control guys like Lee (Pronschinske) and Coach (Connor) Sanger. Without those guys, I don’t know how the coaches would get stuff done. That’s a big thing. I’d also like to thank the scout 86

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guys. We appreciate the heck out of them.

What was the experience like after the clock hit zero?

What did it mean to you for your offensive line to have such a dominant season this year?

It was pretty sweet. We were up by a little bit so we kind of knew before the clock said zero, but just running out and seeing the fans rush the field and going out and hugging all your buddies and then making your way to the stage was so unreal. d find those edges that I can use.

It means a lot, we kind of pride ourselves on trying to take control ofthe game, taking three and four yards carries and turning them into six, seven yard carries.

Why come back next year?

I don’t want to look back in 10 years and be like, ‘man, I could have played another year.’ So, I’m just going to stay and give it my all for another year and see what happens after that.

By Brady Drake Photos by Josiah Kopp and NDSU Athletics

By Brady Drake | Photo by Josiah Kopp Do you have a particular memory from the Frisco trip that’ll stick with you about the rest?

I would say after we won the championship, just going up to every senior and congratulating them, and thanking them for the impact they’ve had on me during their time here. Also, just seeing their faces. This might be the last time I see some of them and to win the championship for them was a surreal moment for me.

What do you think changed in the team from the spring to the fall that made this type of run possible?

I would say just our complete dominance on offense and defense. In the spring we had trouble with that. It was mostly one-sided some games, but we usually we played as a unit this year. We just had this tenacity.

We wanted to be the best in the Missouri Valley and the FCS. You’re a linebacker, but you’re also used in a lot of packages as a nickel. Where does that versatility come from?

I was a strong safety in high school and I was recruited to play here as a linebacker. That adjustment was a little difficult.

I just relied on my athleticism.

there any specific areas of your game you’re trying to improve?

I would like to try to improve tackling. I improved on tackling from spring, but, you know, that’s something that everybody could work on. I would say that and just man coverage. Coverage is something that’s really important to me. I feel like there’s always room for improvement in that area.

What’s your favorite thing about being a Bison?

My favorite thing about being a Bison is the brotherhood. Seeing guys from like 40 years ago that come back every year and are excited to watch us play. They always say they have our back.

For us to even have a Bison Football Players Association is a big thing for us. I know that other teams don’t have that. It’s really a brotherhood here.

What are you looking to work on over the offseason? Are the championship issue 89

By Brady Drake | Photo by Josiah Kopp Do you have a favorite memory from the trip to Frisco?

Obviously winning, that’s a great memory.

I loved winning the championship.

My other favorite memory was seeing my mom. I’ve seen her a lot of times this season, she came to a lot of home games here. But still, she came to the hotel the night before the game and she was telling me all about the pep rally and how excited our fans were.

Was there a single play in the game that really sticks out to you and is something you’ll remember?

Truthfully, I remember more plays that I didn’t make in that game in particular.

You’re very physical for a corner. Has that always been part of your game or is that something you’ve had to develop over time?

I’ve never shied away from contact. But I feel that in my early years of playing here, 90

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I was more of an ankle biter.

I work hard in the weight room and I take great pride in that. And eventually, I thought, ‘why not bring that out onto the field?’ That has been my mentality this year.

What are you trying to improve on most going into next year?

I want to keep making plays.

I mean, we’re champions, we had a great year, great year as a secondary, great year as a defense and overall as a team.

And I feel like I had a pretty good year. But I feel like I can do a lot more. I need to keep attacking the ball, keep being aggressive, and make a lot more plays.

What does it mean to be a national champion?

What does it mean? It means everything. It means that we’re successful in our work.

That’s what we work for all year.

It’s your favorite thing about being a Bison?

Winning championships.

That’s my favorite thing.

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8

A Look Back at The Other The run that North Dakota State has put together over the last 11 years is truly remarkable, winning 9 of the last 11 FCS national championships.

To put that in perspective, the other two great college football dynasties, Alabama (FBS) and Mount Union (Division III), have 9 combined in the last 13 seasons.

That is worth celebrating and it's definitely worth taking a look back!

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Photos provided by NDSU Athletics

the championship issue 95

2011

NDSU 17, SAM HOUSTON 6

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Photos provided by NDSU Athletics and Matt Strasen The dynasty begins just seven years after NDSU moved up to the FCS level from Division II. This championship marked the school’s ninth overall and its first at the Division I level. the championship issue 97

2012

NDSU 39, SAM HOUSTON STATE 13

In leading the Bison to their second consecutive national championship win over Sam Houston State, QB Brock Jensen went 9/16 passing for 115 yards while rushing 8 times for 44 yards and 3 touchdowns.

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NDSU 35, TOWSON 7

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2013

A sea of green and gold descended upon Frisco, Texas to watch the Bison capture their third straight national championship in a season in which North Dakota State became the first 15-0 champion since Marshall in 1996. the championship issue 103

2014

NDSU 29, ILLINOIS STATE 27

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In this nail-biter, QB Carson Wentz drove down the field and scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with just 47 seconds remaining.

2015

NDSU 37 JACKSONVILLE STATE 10

In winning its fifth straight national title, NDSU became the first college football program ever to do so. the championship issue 107

QB Easton Stick became the third quarterback to win a national championship for the Bison, avenging a 2016 semifinal loss to the Dukes.

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2017

NDSU 17, JMU 13 the championship issue 109

2018

NDSU 38, EWU 24

QB Easton Stick accounted for five total touchdowns and didn’t even win the game’s most outstanding player award! That went to WR Darrius Shepherd, who torched Eastern Washington with five receptions for 125 yards and two scores.

the championship issue 111

2018

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2019

NDSU 28, JMU 20

S James Hendricks ran for a touchdown on a fake field goal and clinched the victory with an interception on the goal line with just 8 seconds remaining.

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2019

the championship issue 117

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BY NDSU ATHLETIC FUND

TEAM MAKERS

team makers Raises $5.5 Million for NDSU Athletics

Photo By NDSU Athletic Fund

T

eam Makers, an annual fundraising arm for the NCAA Division I athletics program at North Dakota State University, produced another outstanding year in 2021, contributing $5.5 million to NDSU Athletics for student-athlete scholarships.

Team Makers saw cash donations rise to over $6 million. Trade for goods and services totaled more than $454,000, in addition to more than $1 million in other revenues with the total impact for Bison Athletics in 2021 surpassing $7.5 million dollars from 4,087 members.

Established in 1950, the Team Makers Club is a separate 501C3 foundation committed to raising scholarship money for student-athletes and assisting them in earning degrees for a successful future.

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“Team Makers and its members have consistently supported our goals of competing for championships and providing student-athletes educational opportunities through college athletics participation,” said NDSU director of athletics Matt Larsen. “Their sincere belief and investment in scholarships, capital projects and department operations are a primary driver of our success in the classroom and in competition. We are eternally grateful for their annual commitment to our student-athletes, coaches and for their belief in our athletics program.”

Team Makers memberships start at $100.

Applications are accepted throughout the membership year from January 1 through December 31. Benefits include priority points, single-game football tickets, reserved parking, preferred seating, and social opportunities with Bison coaches and staff at special events.

Members of Team Makers may also consider gifts to the Bison Pride Fund, which was established in 2015 to support scholarships and the full cost of attendance as well as capital projects and overall program excellence. Gifts to the Bison Pride Fund can be made on a onetime basis or can be pledged over a set amount of years. Donations made to the Bison Pride Fund will affect your Team Makers giving level and recognition, making you eligible for additional benefits.

Renewals for 2022 and new donations may be made online. Visit NDSUAthleticFund.com for more information on Team Makers.

SWANY SAYS

BY JOSHUA A. SWANSON *Swanson is a native of Maddock, N.D., a proud NDSU alum and a life-long Bison fan.

It’s the little big things

I

It’s likely you didn’t even notice it. In a game of big plays where North Dakota State thumped Montana State 38–10 to capture the program’s ninth national championship in 11 years, it was a quick but defining moment on NDSU’s sideline. After the Bobcats missed a field goal on their opening drive, the Bison drove to MSU’s 42-yard line early in the first quarter. Facing a third-and-5, Quincy Patterson lined up in the shotgun and took the snap 34 yards down the NDSU sideline to the MSU 8. The following play, Hunter Luepke bowled over a Bobcats defender for the first of his three touchdowns, and the route was on.

After his electric run, Patterson jogged back up the Bison sideline where he was promptly met by Cam Miller, who excitedly leapt up onto Patterson, slapping his helmet. Patterson, the highly touted transfer from Virginia Tech, had big expectations heaped on him to start the season. In the third quarter of the season’s seventh game, though, Miller took the reigns as the starting quarterback and never let go. Patterson never moped, didn’t pout, and figured prominently in NDSU’s playoff run as 124

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teams struggled to account for him and Miller lining up on the field at the same time. He was a difference-maker in both his play and leadership. Same goes for Miller. And there the two quarterbacks were with Miller going airborne to congratulate Patterson on his big run in the national title game.

When folks in the national media outside of Fargo wonder in astonishment, “how do the Bison do this–how do they win all these titles seemingly every year,” the answer can be found in little moments like this where the focus iS entirely on the team and celebrating each other’s successes. You could see it two plays later where the NFL prospect Luepke lined up on the extra point team to block after rushing for a highlight-reel touchdown.

How often does the MVP of the national title game line up to block on an extra point? It was on display when Christian Watson, a potential second or third round NFL Draft pick this April who was voted the top receiver at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, was blocking fifty yards downfield on Kobe Johnson’s 76-yard touchdown run that gave the Bison a 21-0 lead.

“Like Jackson [Hankey] said, it’s really motivating when you care for the guys on the field and off the field with you,” explained Luepke moments after the confetti flew and NDSU stormed the field in Frisco, again. “We spend a lot of time

together, so you get to know everybody on this team. Our relationships grow day in, day out. When you’re spending five days, six days a week with a position group or a teammate, you’re going to get really close and I want to play hard for them when it comes to Saturday.” Did you notice that Luepke said he wanted to play hard for his teammates? It wasn’t anything about himself.

The truth is most teams, and most players, don’t want to make the team commitment that’s been central to NDSU’s historic run and winning championships. Case in point. When Montana State made the decision to switch quarterbacks right before the playoffs started in December, Matthew McKay, their starter who was benched for Tommy Mellott, immediately entered the transfer portal. McKay had already exhausted a season of eligibility but didn’t even stick around for the playoffs.

Ironically, had McKay stuck around, he would’ve found himself playing nearly the entirety of the title game against the Bison after Mellott was injured on the first drive. You can talk about team, but in today’s day and age, most guys make like McKay and opt for their own selfish interests. The old Bo Schembechler mantra, “the team, the team, the team,” has sadly been replaced in today’s sports world with, “me, myself, and I.”

Photos provided by NDSU Athletics

Except in Fargo where when they talk about team, it’s Gospel. It’s the sort of things like Miller’s embrace of Patterson, Luepke blocking on PATs, and Watson sprinting downfield to spring Johnson’s touchdown. “It’s been a joy, it’s been a pleasure to be part of this football team,” said Hankey. Where huge NIL deals, the transfer portal and bolting the minute adversity strikes are eroding at the very fabric of college football, comments like Hankey’s are refreshing. When asked about this team, Bison head coach Matt Entz used a powerful word you don’t hear very often in athletics or anywhere else, frankly. Love. “The common word that came up before we walked out for the game from our captains and from our seniors was the word ‘love.’ I think these kids appreciate one another. They appreciate the energy. They appreciate the hard work,” said Entz.

It’s throwback football from a bygone era, at least for those of us who came of age

watching the game in the 1980s or earlier.

“It’s all about their teammates. This isn’t a spotlight program. You’re not coming here to be the guy and to have gaudy stats. You’re coming here to win and hopefully win a championship and get a degree,” Entz explained in describing the Bison culture. Case in point. Watson. You never heard once in his time at NDSU any complaints or demands for more passes. In addition to his game-changing ability, it’s that steady leadership and presence, said Entz, that defined his impact. “But just having Christian, he brings leadership. He’s played a lot of football for us. He brings energy. He’s been–it’s been wonderful having him and his family associated with this program.”

Like Hankey’s comments, how many coaches do you hear say things like that outside of Alabama’s Nick Saban? Not too many, and that’s a big reason why few programs or organizations at any level have achieved NDSU’s success.

In a sporting culture of “me” where toxic selfishness too often pervades and takes down any locker room, the Bison thrive with a culture of “we.” There’s never finger pointing. There’s no blame game.

You don’t hear whispers of discontent when stars don’t put up the eye popping and gaudy numbers that win individual awards. It’s all about winning. It’s that simple and all that matters. It’s guys doing the little big things, like celebrating with a teammate, blocking on PATs, or sprinting 50-yards downfield to block so another guy can score. I’ll leave you with the perfect description of this team, of this program, courtesy Entz when asked after the national championship game for his final comments on a ninth title in 11 years. “We’ve got some kickass kids on this football team. Excuse my language, but they know what I think of them, and what an amazing finish to what was an unbelievable year.” Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on!

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