Bison Illustrated October 2018 ROUGH

BISON ILLUSTRATED octob e r 2018

BISONILLUSTRATED.com

The Ultimate Fan Guide.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURE

ON THE WEB

QUESTIONS?

bisonillustrated.com

info@spotlightmediafargo.com

113

JEFF MCKINNON

Josh Swanson sat down with former Bison football player Jeff McKinnon and his wife Amy to discuss his cancer diagnosis.

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127

BISON ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Meet the newest inductees into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame and what guided them into prestigious company.

ULTIMATE FAN GUIDE

Are you a diehard Bison fan? Stumped on what to wear on game day or in the tailgate lot and where to get it? Looking to learn everything about what goes on within NDSU athletics? Looking to prove your extreme fandom for North Dakota State to your friends and family? Well, you’re in luck, Bison Nation. With the help of NDSU, we compiled an A to Z listing of everything you need to know and have to live your best Bison life.

54 A-C 64 N-O 73 U-V 56 D-E

66 P

74 W-X

58 F-G

67 Q

75 Y-Z

60 H-I

68 R

78 Gear And Product

62 J-K

69 S

63 L-M

72 T

Guide

18

Bison Shots

36

Interactive Content

20

Spotlight Team

123

Team Makers

24

About Spotlight Media

146

The Ross Report

26

Bison Illustrated At A Glance

151

Slaubaugh’s Scoop

30

Publisher’s Note

156

Swany Says

FOLLOW US

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BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

THROUGH THE EYES OF A BISON Former NDSU athletes have flooded our inbox with stories about their time in Fargo.

WHAT’S INSIDE

@bisonmag

132

142

HERD AND HORNS

facebook.com/bisonillustrated

bisonillustrated

Your number one place for food, beer and Bison. Find out why this establishment right by NDSU’s campus is built for the Bison.

OCTOBER 2018 | VOLUME 13 ISSUE 2 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.

PRESIDENT Mike Dragosavich CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Steve Kruse EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Andrew Jason EDITOR Nolan Schmidt GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Geiger, Sarah Stauner CONTRIBUTORS Josh Swanson, Dan Slaubaugh, Ross Uglem WEB TEAM Jessica Kuehn COPY EDITORS Nolan Schmidt MARKETING/SALES Scott Rorvig, Ross Uglem, Nick Linder, Chantell Ramberg SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Ryan Courneya, Paul Hoefer CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER Jenny Johnson CLIENT RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR Alex Kizima VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES Colleen Dreyer PHOTOGRAPHY J. Alan Paul Photography, Hillary Ehlen SPECIAL THANKS Ryan Perreault, Wes Offerman, Jeff Schwartz, Colleen Heimstead, Troy Goergen, NDSU Athletics DELIVERY Bruce Crummy, John Stuber, Craig Sheets

FOR ADVERTISING, CALL 701-478-SPOT (7768) or email info@spotlightmediafargo.com Bison Illustrated is published by Spotlight Media, LLC. Copyright 2018 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.

Send change of address information and other correspondence to: Spotlight Media LLC. 15 Broadway N, Suite 500 Fargo, ND 58102 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com

bison shots

J

osh Swanson, his wife Libby and their two dogs Hounsfield and Geiger, smile for the camera at Spotlight’s studio in Downtown Fargo. Bison Pride runs deep in the Swanson family. Josh, his wife and his dogs exemplify what it means to be an ultimate Bison fan. They live and breath NDSU.

Photo by Hillary Ehlen

Want to contribute?

Email your best photos to: nolan@spotlightmediafargo.com

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BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

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bison illustrated

MIKE

team

STEVE

Mike Dragosavich

Steve Kruse

Title: Publisher Bison Illustrated Role: Finding ways for Bison Illustrated to directly impact the success of NDSU Athletics.

Title: Chief Operations Officer Bison Illustrated Role: Make sure all the bills get paid.

BECCA becca opp Title: Design & Living Magazine Editor Bison Illustrated Role: I provide feedback on cover concepts and assist with copy editing for Bison Illustrated.

SARAH sarah stauner Title: Graphic Designer Bison Illustrated Role: My role with Bison Illustrated is to help design the layout with the other Sarah (and Nolan!). I also work with the sales team to create advertisements for local clients.

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BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

NOLAN Nolan Schmidt Title: Bison Illustrated Editor Bison Illustrated Role: “I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul.”

CHANTELL chantell ramberg Title: Associate Publisher of Design & Living Magazine Bison Illustrated Role: My main goal is to help Design & Living grow as a brand while educating our community on the benefits of complementing our other publications such as Bison Illustrated, with Design & Living to reach multiple audiences.

ANDREW

ALEXANDRA

andrew jason Title: Editorial Director Bison Illustrated Role: I work with Nolan and the editorial team to make sure they have everything they need to create kicka$$ magazines every month.

alexandra martin Title: Fargo Monthly Editor Bison Illustrated Role: I help provide idea feedback and proof pieces that go into Bison Illustrated. As someone who is not a "sports person" I help in making sure the phrasing and terminology make sense to all readers-not just avid sports fans!

ROSS

SARAH

ross uglem Title: Bison Illustrated Contributor Bison Illustrated Role: I produce content for Bison Illustrated and service existing and potential clients for Spotlight Media. Think of me as Eduardo Escobar. I play whatever position is needed.

sarah geiger Title: Lead Designer Bison Illustrated Role: Magazine wizard/creator of the visual concepts and overall layout of the pages you see before you.

SCOTT

JENNY

Scott rorvig Title: Marketing/Sales/Drago’s Henchman Bison Illustrated Role: I help businesses throughout the area get their message out to our fine readers, help manage special projects with certain clients and help take some things off of the boss man's plate when needed. Bison Illustrated's unofficial off pitch Jukebox.

jenny johnson Title: Client Relations Manager Bison Illustrated Role: I assist clients in the creation/execution of advertisements, invoice inquiries, customer service questions and I provide project management on special content pieces.

PAUL Paul Hoefer Title: Senior Sales Executive Bison Illustrated Role: My role is to help get the word out to area businesses about what is in store for upcoming issues of Bison Illustrated.

Giving companies an opportunity to advertise in Bison Illustrated and take advantage of getting their message in the hands of Bison Fans.

JESSICA jessica kuehn Title: Web Editor Bison Illustrated Role: I take the stories from our physical magazines and bring them to life for online readers each month, as well as write web exclusive stories from time to time.

BRUCE

RYAN ryan courneya Title: Senior Sales Executive Bison Illustrated Role: I help educate and inform local and regional businesses of the publication's advertising opportunities on how they can reach the fans, students and athlete's of NDSU.

COLLEEN colleen dreyer Title: VP of Human Resources Bison Illustrated Role: Collaborate with Steve (COO) to ensure all business operations and departments run like a well oiled machine at Spotlight.

JOHN

JESSE Jesse Hoorelbeke Title: Photographer Bison Illustrated Role: I create vivid, dramatic images for the magazine.

ALEX alex kizima Title: Client Relations Administrator Bison Illustrated Role: I assist with advertisements and making sure they look good, as well as handle all client questions about invoicing or subscriptions.

HILLARY hillary ehlen Title: Staff Photographer Bison Illustrated Role: I photograph the awesome athletes you see in the magazine and spread Bison cheer throughout the office.

EMILY emily freeman Title: Sales Assistant/Administrator/ Anything related to Spotlight Media Bison Illustrated Role: I assist the Sales Executives with finding leads and helping make sure all the ads you see in Bison Illustrated are successfully put together.

CRAIG

Bruce crummy

John Stuber

Craig Sheets

Title: Delivery Bison Illustrated Role: I distribute to the major stands in Fargo-Moorhead.

I also help take photos at Bison football games.

Title: Delivery Bison Illustrated Role: Help deliver magazines to various location around Fargo-Moorhead.

Title: Delivery Bison Illustrated Role: Aid in delivery of Bison Illustrated.

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Proud to call this place home.

ORTHOPEDICS LIKE NOWHERE ELSE We’re proud to live here. Our orthopedics and sports medicine team is dedicated to getting you off the sidelines and back in the game. Because this place, these people are like nowhere else.

32nd Avenue Clinic 3000 32nd Avenue S | Fargo

701.364.HURT EssentiaHealth.org

Walk-In Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 8:15-11:30 and 1:30-4:00

Spotlight Media, the publishing company behind Bison Illustrated, was created with one idea in mind: create positive and impactful content that exposes the great things in our community. For the last six years, we have tried to do that with Bison Illustrated, Fargo Monthly, Fargo INC!, Design and Living Magazine and our various other publications.

Like most startups, Spotlight began with an idea. Mike “Drago” Dragosavich became a household name in FargoMoorhead when he was a punter for NDSU. After a brief stint in the NFL, Dragosavich came back to Fargo and watched as all of his friends moved out of town because there wasn’t enough to do here. Well, he set out to prove them wrong.

That’s when he started producing FM Spotlight, a small city magazine that was dedicated to what was happening in the community. Throughout the last six years, we’ve started additional magazines and the team has grown to over 25 employees and we continue to grow each day. However, the mission still remains the same: highlight the happenings of our exciting community.

We created Bison Illustrated because we wanted to see what sort of a positive impact we could create in the NDSU community. It’s not often that you have the chance to actually reach everybody in that community. This month’s magazine was distributed around Fargo-Moorhead, as usual. However, we were

able to place an issue of Bison Illustrated on each seat in the Fargodome. It was arguably one of the greater honors our company has had the privilege of doing in its existence. It was a daunting challenge for a small company like ours to pull off, but with a dedicated team, we think we executed it seamlessly.

As you read this, you may be sitting in the Fargodome right now, awaiting the kickoff against Illinois State.

If you are, we thank you for reading and hope you take the time to peruse this tremendous issue of Bison Illustrated.

Editorial Director Andrew Jason shows off one of the fabulous burgers from Spotlight’s annual Burgers, Brews & BBQ festival. This year, we teamed up with Jade Presents and we had 15 breweries, 20 restaurants and 1,000 guests attend.

We are and What We Do Get to know us a little better as we take you behind the scenes at Spotlight Media.

Publisher Mike Dragosavich and COO Steve Kruse talk serious business at Spotlight’s annual employee retreat.

Photographer Jesse Hoorelbeke reacts to the news that his motorcycle has been tipped over by angsty teenagers.

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Spotlight Media By The Numbers

60

Number of total magazines spotlight media produces in one year

More than

60,000

social media followers

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bison illustrated

at a glance

Bison Illustrated Podcast!

What Have We Done In The Past?

Here are some of our favorite covers from the last year:

Who Are We? Bison Illustrated magazine is available by stand distribution throughout the Fargo-Moorhead area and select locations around the state. We publish 12 issues per year and work in conjunction with NDSU athletics to bring you the most high-quality Bison content you cannot get anywhere else.

Bison Illustrated is your number one source for all the behind the scenes action inside the North Dakota State University Athletic Department.

With a creative twist and unique storytelling model, Bison Illustrated is here to collaborate with Bison Nation to provide a fresh avenue into NDSU Athletics for every fan in a growing Bison community. Every month, Bison Illustrated is developed for the passionate fan, the fan that can’t get enough of the Bison.

What makes Bison Illustrated a must-read for anyone with a connection to NDSU is that it’s more than a sports publication. The magazine goes off the field with the biggest characters, student-athletes and coaches to find out what they’re really like outside of the game.

The Bison Illustrated Creative Team

Sarah Geiger Lead Designer

Hillary Ehlen Photographer

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BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

April 2018 Something Bison Illustrated has wanted to do for a long time is have student-athletes keep travel journals.

For our April issue we were afforded that opportunity. The cover features NDSU softball player KK Leddy and NDSU baseball player Kevin Folman in front of a jet at Fargo Jet Center.

Sarah Stauner Graphic Designer

Jesse Hoorelbeke Photographer

Ross Uglem Contributor

August 2018 For the first time ever, our annual alumni issue was sent out to 40,000 NDSU alumni via direct mail.

On the cover, we feature former NDSU football players Ryan Smith (Class of 2013) and Neal McClure (Class of 1939)

Dan Slaubaugh Columnist

Joshua Swanson Senior Columnist

July 2018 Full disclosure, we had not planned on doing a July issue. Never the less, it was put on our plate by the powers that be and we crushed it on short notice. We honored the various media members around Fargo who cover NDSU athletics. The cover features KVLY Sports Director Beth Hoole and NDSU football and basketball play-by-play man Brian Shawn.

What Do We Have In Store?

This is what we have planned for the rest of 2018 and beyond...

Inside the History and Tradition of NDSU Wrestling (November 2018)

A Dive Into Winter Athletics (December 2018)

Pride On The Prairie II (January 2019)

Why Should You Read Or Subscribe?

subscribe

We are not a daily newspaper. We are not a television station nor are we a radio program. We are a magazine. The only magazine of its kind in our state. You can find news about NDSU athletics anywhere, but you can’t find what’s behind that news. Nor can you see the figures behind Bison athletics and what makes the athletic department so successful.

So, where can you find it? Bison Illustrated is your first and only source for that information. We believe that is what sets us apart from your daily paper. Bison Illustrated is its own entity and we are a unique eye inside NDSU athletics.

bison illustrated

expanded

Bison Illustrated Podcast!

Check out some of the cool multimedia and other ventures Bison Illustrated has taken.

BisonIllustrated.com Podcast

Not only can you get all of the exclusive content found within our magazine on our website, but there is far more. At BisonIllustrated. com, you can find our podcast, sign up for a subscription or find exclusive content you will not find in the magazine. For example, focusing on analysis and statistics, Editor Nolan takes a deep dive inside every NDSU football opponent in the weekly “Bison Illustrated Film Room” piece. Not only is this specific to BisonIllustrated.com, but it is content that cannot be found anywhere else.

Looking to stay up to date with all of the latest Bison Illustrated content? Then be sure to bookmark BisonIllustrated.com, which features a new post daily. You can also follow us on social media, to keep tabs on what we’re posting, among other fantastic Bison content specific to our social media channels.

@bisonmag Twitter is the place to be for quick notes and opinions from the folks at Bison Illustrated.

If you follow one of our social media channels, make sure it is this one.

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@bisonillustrated @bisonillustrated Keep tabs on what is going live on BisonIllustrated.com by liking us on Facebook.

Ever want to see the behindthe-scenes action along with the tremendous photographs we put in our magazine? Well, our Instagram feed is sure to impress you.

Bison Illustrated magazine senior columnist Josh Swanson and editor Nolan Schmidt take their free-flowing North Dakota State University thoughts off the page and into your ears. You can subscribe to the weekly podcast on SoundCloud and iTunes.

Just search “Bison Illustrated Podcast” and get to listening There is no podcast or radio show with more in-depth analysis and highoctane conversation regarding NDSU athletics. Swanson and Schmidt are also frequently joined by mainstays in the Bison community (coaches, administration and media members).

You will not want to miss a single episode of the Bison Illustrated Podcast.

Subscription

Subscriptions have never been easier. By visiting BisonIllustrated. com and clicking on the “Subscribe” tab, you can get Bison Illustrated delivered right to your door. For just $29.99, you can receive 12 issues of Bison Illustrated, delivered to anywhere in the country.

Fan outside of the Fargo-Moorhead area? Then you need to sign up for a subscription to Bison Illustrated before you miss out on all of the tremendous content we have to offer.

Also, $5 of your $29.99 subscription will be donated to Carson Wentz’s AO1 Foundation. We think it is important to give back and we could not think of a better way to do that then to support a former Bison star and his budding non-profit.

Find out more today at

BisonIllustrated.com Just click on the “Subscribe” tab.

FROM THE PUBLISHER Mike Dragosavich Publisher & Dancing Janitor NDSU Class of '08 1 for 1 - 47 Yards Passing

his has been an amazing few months. Bison look good, my new baby daughter is healthy and we get to put a Bison Illustrated on all the seats at a Bison football game! Love it!

Milestones, Memories and Moments.

Some of you might not know this but I was on the second cover of Bison Illustrated when I was playing football at NDSU back in 2007.

The best way for Bison Illustrated to help the mission of NDSU Athletics is to get it in the hands of fans outside of Fargo-Moorhead. My goal is 10,000 subscribers outside of Fargo. We charge $29.99 for a year’s success which covers most of our cost. We take the remaining proceeds and donate to a charitable cause. Last month we chose Carson Wentz’s AO1 foundation.

T

I never would have thought at the time that I would go from punter to publisher. But, boy, am I glad how everything has worked out. Today marks a huge milestone for us at Bison Illustrated.

In the 8 years that I have been involved with this publication I always wanted to put an issue on each seat at a Bison football game.

Now that we did it, we had to make sure we made the magazine something you not only enjoy reading but would want to take home. So we thought we would make this issue more about resources and a complete guide to being an NDSU super fan! We tried to put promo codes to help you save money, a calendar to help you keep track of everything going on and a bunch of great resourceful information to keep you connected!

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BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

My Goal:

If you are a Bison fan, I urge you to go to Bisonillustrated.com/subscribe and lock up your subscription! Or gift it to someone who lives outside the area!

Mike, Kelsey and future first Bison female punter Josephine.

Test Your

skills 1

Can you solve these puzzles?

Find the hidden message.

YOUR ANSWER

2

Take a letter from each pennant to spell out four football terms.

IIAU

brought to you by

TLEK CKLN

ANSWERS PUZZLE 1: Horns Up PUZZLE 2: 1. HIKE 2. BALL 3. PUNT 4. KICK

PBKH

Home of the Official NDSU Bison Escape Room

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BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

YOUR ANSWERS 1.

2.

3.

4.

114 Broadway N L1, Fargo puzzledescaperooms.com 701-446-8548

the ultimate

bison fan quiz Think you're a fan of the herd? Take this quiz and find out how big of a fan you really are.

1.

Have you been to Frisco, Texas?

YES: +10 NO: +0

2.

Have you been to Herd and Horns Bar & Grill?

YES: +5 NO: +0

3.

Have you attended a sporting event at the SCHEELS Center inside the SHAC? YES: +5 NO: +0

7.

Can you name every head coach for each Bison sport?

5.

YES: +20 NO: +0

Do you own five or more NDSUthemed articles of clothing?

YES: +5 NO: +0

4.

Do you have an official Bison football yard sign in your yard right now?

YES: +5 NO: +0

go bison!

8.

Have you been to an away game (any sport) in the last year?

6.

YES: +10 NO: +0

Are you a Bison Team Maker?

YES: +5 NO: +0

total points on this page

9.

Have you tailgated outside the Fargodome in October or November?

YES: +15 NO: +0

10.

Do you have the NDSU Athletics App? YES: +5 NO: +0

Answer to number seven: Chris Klieman (Football), Dave Richman (Men’s Basketball), Maren Walseth (Women’s Basketball), Tod Brown (Baseball, Darren Mueller (Softball), Mike Regan (Soccer), Roger Kish (Wrestling), Steve Kennedy (Men’s Golf), Matt Johnson (Women’s Golf), Jen Lopez (Volleyball), Don Larson (Men’s Cross Country/ Track & Field), Steve Keller (Women’s Cross Country/Women’s Track & Field)

the ultimate

bison fan quiz

13.

Have you purchased an NDSU related item from SCHEELS?

12.

11.

Have you attended the Summit League Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls?

14.

Have you have purchased a horn mug from Herd and Horns?

YES: +10 NO: +0

Do you have more than three copies of Bison Illustrated at your home?

YES: +15 NO: +0

YES: +30 NO: +0

15.

Do you own at least two NDSU specialty items (wall decor, commemorative firearm, etc.)?

YES: +15 NO: +0

16.

YES: +25 NO: +0

Did you attend the Bison Block Party this season?

17.

YES: +10 NO: +0

Have you shared your Bison Pride flag and where you're cheering from on social media?

YES: +15 NO: +0

total points from this page

19.

Have you watched a Bison game at one of Team Makers official watch sites?

18.

Have you attended a Team Makers golf outing, luncheon or social?

YES: +25 NO: +0

20.

Have you ever witnessed a Bison play in the NFL in person?

YES: +20 NO: +0

YES: +50 NO: +0

total points from previous page

total points

Results 250-300 Points You Are The Ultimate Bison Fan!

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175-249 Points Your Bison Pride Runs Deeper Than Most.

BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

100-174 Points You Are The Strength Of The Herd.

50-99 Points You Are Beginning Your Commitment To Tradition And Excellence.

1-49 Points You Are A Budding Bison Fan.

Zero Points Are You A Jackrabbits Fan?

Dreaming up the ideal retirement is your job.

Helping you get there is ours.

Ryan L Smith Financial Advisor

321 Dakota Avenue Suite 3 Po Box 547 Wahpeton, ND 58074 701-642-1309

www.edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

Randy Smith, AAMSÂŽ Financial Advisor

321 Dakota Avenue Suite 3 Po Box 547 Wahpeton, ND 58074 701-642-1309

The Conference Foe Can you match all of NDSU’s conference opponents with their corresponding location?

Schools Western Illinois Leathernecks South Dakota Coyotes Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Denver Pioneers Indiana State Sycamores Southern Illinois Salukis Omaha Mavericks South Dakota State Jackrabbits Oral Roberts Golden Eagles Illinois State Redbirds Youngstown State Penguins Northern Iowa Panthers Missouri State Bears North Dakota Fighting Hawks

Cities Grand Forks, ND Tulsa, OK Terre Haute, IN Vermillion, SD Omaha, NE Denver, CO Cedar Falls, IA Springfield, MO Fort Wayne, IN Brookings, SD Macomb, IL Youngstown, OH Carbondale, IL Normal, IL

Answers at BisonIllustrated.com/Answers

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Do You Know Your

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Bison At

1. This Bison runner made a splash this fall after returning from injury and scoring three touchdowns against Cal Poly.

2. Although he missed the FCS National Championship in 2017, he still accumulated 46 total tackles last season.

__N_E _U__

J_ _ E_ _L L _ _ _ N

3. In NDSU’s home-opening volleyball win over Western Carolina, this sophomore standout recorded 14 kills.

4. This Bison hooper is poised to become the team’s leader after the departure of Paul Miller in the offseason.

_LL__ _A__H

_ Y_ O_ W_ _ D

BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

thlete?

Use These Clues To Figure Out Who The Bison Athlete Is

5. As only a freshman, she became NDSU’s top cross country runner. She began 2018 by winning the Bison Open.

6. After a phenomenal performance in 2017, this Bison ram was named to the preseason All-Missouri Valley team.

_ _ L_ Y A_ _ _ _ S_ N

Z_ _ K _ _ H_ S _ _

7. Despite only appearing in six games in 2017, this Bison runner racked up 163 yards and one touchdown.

8. This soccer star led the Bison in goals in 2017 and is already off to a hot start in 2018.

__A_ C_ _ I E _ _

M_ _ L _ _ _’B _ I _ N

Answers at BisonIllustrated.com/Answers

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CHECK OUT SPOTLIGHT MEDIA'S OTHER PUBLICATIONS

October is National Kitchen and Bath Month, so of course, we here at Design & Living Magazine have decided to honor two of the most important rooms in the home within this issue. Join us as we visit three different homes that have just undergone extensive kitchen and bath renovations. Along the way, we'll see a classic clawfoot tub, timeless tile and so much more. Then, meet the local interior decorators, designers and homeowners behind it all.

When it comes to dining, many of us don't quite understand all that goes on behind the scenes of how delicious dishes get from Point A to Point Belly. We talked with a variety of chefs throughout the area and let them give us a peek into a day in their lives. Join us in exploring what it really takes to be able to don a chef's apron.

North Dakota is under the political spotlight as we enter this election season. We sat down with Senatorial candidates Kevin Cramer and Heidi Heitkamp to discuss what this election will mean for your business.

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THE ULTIMATE

FAN GUIDE Are you a diehard Bison fan? Are you looking to learn everything about what goes on within NDSU athletics? Looking to prove your extreme fandom for North Dakota State to your friends and family?

Well, you’re in luck, Bison Nation.

With the help of NDSU, we compiled an A to Z listing of everything you need to know and have to live your best Bison life.

Special thank you to NDSU athletics for their assistance in completing this piece.

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A

A

TO

Z

254

IS FOR ATHLETES Go around the country and you'll often hear two questions asked about NDSU:

How has NDSU become so successful in athletics?

What is the secret formula for athletic excellence?

While NDSU coaches will not reveal the answer or they may not know the answer, it is clear. What has made NDSU athletics so successful is the studentathletes. They are the ones making the plays on and off the field. This, in turn, translates to excellence.

However, it goes deeper, far deeper, than most care to look. Believe it or not, student-athletes have been the primary factor behind the success at NDSU.

accomplishments at NDSU, perhaps greater than anywhere else in the country. When a studentathlete speaks of tradition, they discuss wanting to carry on that same tradition of excellence. While coaches and administration can push these young men and women to uphold tradition, ultimately it is up to the student-athlete to decide.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

ALL SPORTS PROGRAMS HAD A

COUNTLESS NDSU ATHLETES NOW PLAYING

3.0 GPA OR HIGHER IN SPRING 2018

Talk to any former or current studentathlete and there is one word that comes to mind.

That word is tradition. There is a tradition of amazing athletic

B

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IS FOR BISON BANNERS & FLAGS Let your Bison flags and banners fly.

Bison fans around the world are sharing their photos with their Bison flags, banners and more.

BISON ILLUSTRATED o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

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PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

C IS FOR COMMUNITY

A

TO NDSU athletes help in the FargoMoorhead area thanks to the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).

Every NDSU head coach puts a high emphasis on giving back to the community surrounding the Bison. Thanks to tremendous fan support, NDSU athletic programs feel it is only right to support the community in return. Many student-athletes do this through the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, otherwise known as SAAC. They did this through a variety of ways.

The Ronald McDonald House Recently, SAAC decorated a room at the Ronald McDonald House in Fargo.

SAAC was tasked with furnishing the Game Room at Fargo’s new Ronald McDonald House near the new Sanford Hospital. The brand new building has the perfect touch of Bison thanks to SAAC and its

Z

donors Ashley Furniture and the NDSU Bookstore.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families to call home when their children are being treated in a hospital nearby.

The NDSU-themed game room in Fargo consists of three leather recliners with two cup-holders each.

There’s an NDSU Bison rug with a matching pillow set in front of a television.

Of course, SAAC had to hook-up the room with a PlayStation too. There’s also an NDSU football lego set featuring Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.

Easton Stick Easton Stick, NDSU’s quarterback, was recently honored for his service in Fargo-Moorhead. He was named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team during a visit to Sanford Children’s Hospital. There are only 22 collegiate football players who receive the award each year. 11 of those players come from the FBS level and 11 more come from the FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA levels.

Stick has long been heralded

Easton Stick was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team at a visit at Sanford Children’s Hospital.

for his work outside of the football field and it seems to have paid off with this recognition.

Ty Brooks NDSU running back Ty Brooks also paid a visit to some lucky Bison football fans recently. Brooks

stopped by a flag football practice in Fargo and had a special surprise for the team. He provided each member of the team with tickets to the team’s game against North Alabama on September 15. NDSU ended up winning that game 38-7. are you Where r Bison o y u flying social st it on o flag? P be sure to tag SU and media trated and ND lus one Il y r n e o v is e t B ics to le you’re Athlet here w w o ! n k g from cheerin

Dennis in Arkansas

Terry in Iceland

Jay in Mesa, Arizona

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IS FOR DIPLOMA NDSU student-athletes are excellent in the classroom as well as on the field.

• 14 teams had a cumulative GPA above 3.0.

• 21 percent of student-athletes had a 4.0 GPA during the year.

• 72 percent of student-athletes had GPAs over 3.0.

• Football posted its highest fall semester GPA since joining the MVFC. • Team semester GPAs of 3.73 for soccer, 3.69 for women’s golf, and 3.67 for volleyball.

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• This Spring, NDSU studentathletes had an average GPA of 3.43.

• NDSU wrestler Clay Ream and football player Daniel Polansky also took home the NCAA Elite 90 Award. That honor is bestowed upon the studentathlete with the highest GPA at the national championship finals site for each of the NCAA’s 90 championships across all divisions. NDSU has had an athlete win that award 10 times in last eight years.

IS FOR ESPN+ What's the deal with ESPN+ and why should you subscribe?

There has been a lot of conversation about NDSU’s move from ESPN3 to ESPN+ for the streaming of their football game. This is a change implemented across all Missouri Valley schools and not a decision NDSU made on its own. Let’s unpack the new service and what it means for you.

What is ESPN+?

To put it simply, ESPN+ is the sports leaders version of Netflix or Hulu. A cable subscription is not attached in any way to ESPN+ as users pay $4.99 per month for the service. All NDSU football games are streamed on ESPN+ this season.

What does this mean if you are a North Dakota resident?

If you have a traditional

cable subscription, ESPN+ should have no influence on how you watch the Bison.

Thankfully, NDSU football can be viewed statewide in North Dakota on NBC North Dakota. However, if you are a North Dakota resident without a traditional cable subscription, you will need to get ESPN+ to watch the games. The former streaming service, ESPN3, required a cable subscription as well but was designed for fans who were watching the game away from their home. In terms of NDSU football, ESPN3 is now obsolete.

To review, if you have a cable subscription, you can continue to watch the games on NBC North Dakota (but not ESPN3). Without a cable subscription, you will need to sign up for ESPN+.

What does ESPN+ offer?

Outside of just NDSU football, ESPN+ offers you the opportunity to watch countless other FCS football games. While it does feature other out of market sports like soccer, FCS football is a large chunk of their service.

Perhaps even better is the opportunity to replay past games.

What are the details?

ESPN+ is $4.99 per month or $50 per year. The service does offer a seven-day free trial for you to experiment with before committing.

You can also cancel at any time, like any other streaming service. You must have a television or streaming device capable as well (Roku, FireTV, SmarTV, etc.). ESPN+ is not a standalone application for your device. It is housed within the ESPN app.

Get ESPN+ now and see it all. For more information and to subscribe visit espn.com/watch.

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F IS FOR FARGODOME Believe it or not, the Fargodome has seen plenty of advancements since being built.

Have a look.

2006-2007

2011

2015

2018 & beyond

»» NDSU Athletics moves their football coaches’ offices, player locker room, football equipment and training offices to Fargodome and Fargodome creates lower level meeting room space with escalator connectivity from the main lobby.

The Fargodome shares this expense with NDSU. Cost:

»» Fargodome updated and increased the lighting fixtures in the arena and concourse and updated the entire building control system. Cost: $1.6

»» Fargodome upgraded all of the concourse televisions to HD flat screens, along with adding televisions to additional areas of the concourse and restrooms, as well as upgrading the control system.

»» Fargodome is working with local architecture firm RL Engebretson, and national consulting architectural firm Perkins & Will, to create improvements and updates to the facility that could include expanded concourse circulation space, additional lobby space on south and west sides, additional restroom space, family restroom and mother’s room spaces. »» Additional seating areas for the arena, including in-arena seats, as well as possible club areas with views of the arena, as well as a variety of other items to include expanded press box space and additional meeting and conference and convention space.

Approximately $1 million

»» Fargodome updated the Public Address sound system throughout the facility. Cost: $1.6 million

million

2012 »» Fargodome added a concrete parking lot to the west side of building (G lot) and rebuilt the other two asphalt parking lots on the west side (parking lots E & F).

Cost: Approximately $2 million

»» Fargodome replaced the football turf surface with the Astroturf infilled football turf surface.

Cost: Approximately $2.5 million

Cost: Approximately $500,000

2016 »» Fargodome upgraded the LED video board systems throughout the interior and exterior of the facility. Project included adding the 100’ by 30’ LED boards at each end of the arena, as well as new corner LED boards and a full HD broadcast production system.

Cost: Approximately $7.1 million

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IS FOR GEAR

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Have a look at our product and gear guide beginning on page 78.

Anything you could possibly need awaits.

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IS FOR HOLIDAY LINE Collect NDSU's new Holiday line at various athletic events this winter.

NDSU is putting on a new Holiday promotion designed to get you involved in winter athletic events. At one women’s basketball, men’s basketball and wrestling event, NDSU will be giving out a Holiday item. Those items are an NDSU Christmas ornament, a snow globe and a Christmas stocking.

You can find those three specific events in YELLOW on the promotions calendar to the right.

Mark these dates on your calendar to collect the exclusive NDSU Holiday line.

• December 9 - Women’s Basketball vs Milwaukee - 1 p.m. (Snow globe giveaway) • December 15 - Men’s Basketball vs Missouri State - 7:30 p.m. (Christmas ornament giveaway) • December 20 - Wrestling vs Oregon State - 7 p.m.

(Christmas stocking giveaway)

I IS FOR IN-GAME PROMOTIONS ...AND INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY Holiday Line Promotion

Can’t Miss Promotions

Day/Date/Opponent/Time/Giveaway/Promotion S 10/28/18 WR - Green & Gold Scrimmage 2 p.m. Free admission

S 12/30/18 MBB vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Double Header) 4 p.m.

Th 10/30/18 WBB vs. Minnesota Duluth (Exhibition) 7 p.m. Schedule Magnet Giveaway | Trick or Treating in the concourse

S 1/6/19 MBB vs. Dickinson State 2 p.m.

Junior Bison Club Night

S 11/4/18 WR vs. Northwestern 12 p.m.

Stalling Foam Fist Giveaway Tue 11/6/18 WBB vs. Mayville State 7 p.m. Pack The SHAC Th 11/8/18 WR vs. Northern Illinois 7 p.m. Nacho Libre Night F 11/9/18 WBB vs. Creighton 5 p.m.

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night Sa 11/10/18 WR - Bison Open 10 a.m.

S 11/11/18 MBB vs. UC Santa Barbara (Double Header) (Veteran’s Day) 1 p.m.

Military Appreciation Day (both games) S 11/11/18 WBB vs. New Hampshire (Double Header) 4 p.m.

S 12/2/18 WBB vs. UMKC 1 p.m. Camper Reunion & Beard/Mustache Contest

W 1/9/19 WR vs. Iowa State 7 p.m. Super Hero Night & Student Appreciation Night Th 1/10/19 MBB vs. Western Illinois 7 p.m.

Throwback Thursday | Old School Jersey Tank top giveaway F 1/11/19 WBB vs. Western Illinois 7 p.m.

Dad & Daughter Night (Kid (1) per dad will receive free admission.)

Sa 1/12/19 WR vs. Pittsburgh 4 p.m. Junior Bison Club Night | Post Match Autographs Sa 1/19/19 MBB vs. North Dakota 2 p.m.

Fargo Moorhead Acro Team at Halftime S 1/20/19 WBB vs. North Dakota 1 p.m.

Thundar’s Birthday S 1/27/19 WR vs. Northern Colorado 2 p.m. Wrestling Appreciation Day W 1/30/19 WBB vs. Waldorf 6 p.m. Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night F 2/1/19 WR vs. Utah Valley 7 p.m. Post Match Autographs

Sa 12/8/18 MBB vs. Eastern Washington 7 p.m. NDSU Sock Giveaway

Sa 2/9/19 WBB vs. Denver (Double Header) 1 p.m. National Girls and Women in Sports Day

S 12/9/18 WBB vs. Milwaukee 1 p.m. Milk & Cookies with Santa | Teddy Bear Toss at halftime (Snow globe giveaway)

Sa 2/9/19 MBB vs. Denver (Double Header) 4 p.m. National Pizza Day | Pizza Cutter Giveaway

Sa 12/15/18 MBB vs. Missouri State 7:30 p.m. Christmas Ornament Giveway

W 2/13/19 WBB vs. Oral Roberts 7 p.m.

Pink Game

W 12/19/18 MBB vs. Northland College 7 p.m. Youth Basketball Night

Th 2/14/19 MBB vs. Oral Roberts 7 p.m. I Heart NDSU T-shirt Giveaway & Valentines Special

Th 12/20/18 WR vs. Oregon State 7 p.m.

Holiday Party (Christmas stocking giveaway) F 12/28/18 WBB vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Double Header) 5 p.m. NDSU Sock Giveaway F 12/28/18 MBB vs. South Dakota (Double Header) 8 p.m.

S 12/30/18 WBB vs. South Dakota (Double Header) 1 p.m.”New Year, New Me” theme: Celebrate your new years resolution & get healthy with NDSU Athletics - Blender Bottle giveaway

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Check out all of the amazing winter promotions at various NDSU athletic events.

Specialty Promotions

Th. 11/1/18 MBB vs. Concordia Moorhead (Exhibition) 7 p.m. Schedule Magnets Giveaway | Kickoff to No Shave November

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F 2/15/19 WR vs. SDSU 7 p.m. Gold Rush | Gold T-Shirt Giveaway Sa 2/16/19 WBB vs. South Dakota State (Double Header) 1 p.m. Gold Rush Sa 2/16/19 MBB vs. South Dakota State (Double Header) 4 p.m. Gold Rush Sa 2/23/19 WBB vs. Omaha (Double Header) 1 p.m. Senior Night | Midwest Madness

NDSU announced plans in May to build a new indoor football practice facility.

The estimated cost of the said facility was forecasted at $38.2 million. After only four months of fundraising, it was reported that NDSU had raised nearly half of that $38.2 million number and that a shovel may be in the ground by next year.

"One thing that has separated Bison Athletics from other institutions across the nation is our relentless commitment to excellence. A critical component for our continued success is the addition of a permanent indoor practice facility," said Director of Athletics Matt Larsen. "With the large majority of studentathletes training year-round, and given the harsh winter weather conditions in Fargo, a climate-controlled facility for practice and training allows for uninterrupted, high-level preparation in all seasons."

"The NDSU football program's standard of excellence continues to be raised each year. The addition of a permanent indoor practice facility is just another step in our vision of excellence," said Chris Klieman. "The need for a permanent indoor practice facility is greater than it has ever been. There will be a great impact on our program, player in-season preparedness and year-round player development."

Sa 2/23/19 MBB vs. Omaha (Double Header) 4 p.m. Midwest Madness 61

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IS FOR JUNIOR BISON CLUB Get your child involved in Junior Bison Club and get them up close and personal with NDSU athletics.

Have you ever wondered how you get your child out on the Fargodome field, rushing the football to the officials with Thundar alongside? All of those kids are members of the Junior Bison Club. Membership is open to kids ages 12 and under. Not only can Junior Bison Club members deliver the official game ball at football games, but they receive other perks as well.

Junior Bison Club members are able to run through the tunnel at the Fargodome, realizing their NDSU football dreams. They can also deliver the game ball at other sporting events such as basketball too. Your child can experience all of this for just $25 and they get even more as Junior Bison Club members.

To join, go to GoBison.com/kids or pick up a registration form at Deek’s Pizza in Fargo or West Fargo.

Members automatically receive: • Junior Bison Club t-shirt • Junior Bison Club membership credential • A Junior Bison Club Christmas gift from Thundar • An NDSU athletic headband • Junior Bison Club monthly newsletters • Admission to special events for Junior Bison Club members only • Free admission to regular season Bison athletic events (excluding football and men’s basketball games) • 1 Free large one-topping pizza from Deek’s Pizza • Your child will become a member of the team with all of those perks and opportunities with the Junior Bison Club. You can sign your child up for Junior Bison Club at GoBison.com/kids or you can find registration forms at the Deek’s Pizza locations in Fargo and West Fargo.

K IS FOR KIDS Treat your kids to the excellent summer camps NDSU athletics has to offer.

Another opportunity to get your child involved with NDSU athletics is through their various camp offerings for youth.

This gives your child a chance to feel what it’s like to be a Bison. Not only that, they will have the opportunity to learn the basics of various sports from their favorite studentathletes and coaches. Your child will learn how to become a champion from the champions themselves. Check out all of the sports NDSU offers camps in.

• Football • Baseball • Women’s Basketball • Men’s Basketball

• Soccer • Softball • Track & Field • Volleyball • Wrestling

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Ages at which children can participate are different between each sport.

However, NDSU’s athletic programs offer camps for children beginning Kindergarten all the way up to students entering their senior year of high school.

L IS FOR LICENSING What does it take to become a licensed vendor of NDSU? Looking to build a business around the Bison? Then read on.

Licensing FAQ We asked Troy Goergen, NDSU Athletics’ Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Operations, some of the most frequently asked questions regarding licensing.

What constitutes a trademark or licensing agreement?

Troy: Any product bearing the logos, trademarks, word marks or having an implied association with the North Dakota State University must be licensed with the North Dakota State University Licensing Program represented

by Learfield Licensing Partners, which approves all products and designs and ensures proper labeling. In addition, North Dakota State University seeks to ensure that all products and designs submitted for licensing are safe for consumers and project the proper image of the university and the intercollegiate athletics program.

The most important functions of the North Dakota State University Trademark Licensing Program are to protect North Dakota State University’s legal interests in its registered trademarks and to ensure the proper use of the NDSU athletics identity. The law requires that the university actively safeguard registered trademarks from improper use in order to protect its legal ownership interest in them.

What are some baseline guidelines or standards to follow as far as licensing goes?

Troy: Anything bearing North Dakota State University trademarks and logos must be approved by the North Dakota State University Trademark Licensing Program and must be produced by officially licensed vendors.

No retail outlet or vendors are exempt, including sports camps, NDSU Bookstore, Team Makers, NDSU Alumni Association, projects sponsored by any NDSU Registered Student Organizations and university departments.

No promotional, corporate or departmental merchandise bearing the North Dakota State University logos or trademarks is exempt. In addition, all vendors and groups must have their artwork approved prior to production.

How does one become a licensed vendor with NDSU athletics?

Troy: All manufacturers must have permission to use the North Dakota State University logo and trademarks. In order to learn more about becoming a licensed vendor, visit learfieldlicensing.com or call (616) 395-0676.

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Get all the latest news and information from the new NDSU Athletics app on your smartphone or tablet.

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The new NDSU Athletics app allows you to stay up-to-date with the latest news, videos, scores and more from your favorite Bison teams. All you need to do is search “NDSU Athletics” in the App Store or Google Play for free.

Customize Your Notifications Log in with your existing NDSU All Access video streaming account or create a new account to customize your team menus.

Choose your favorite sports and set your own notification preferences for reminders of game times, final score alerts and breaking news.

Stream The Day Away Can't make it out to your favorite Bison sporting event? Stream on the NDSU Athletics app. Log into the app to watch live and ondemand replays of Bison home games.

What If You Don't Have A Streaming Account?

Visit GoBison.com/allaccess to create a monthly or annual subscription

Updates, Rosters and Schedules Think of the NDSU Athletics app as an offshoot of the easy to use, GoBison.com, the home base for all things Bison sports.

The app allows you to keep up with the same news, rosters and schedules that you would on GoBison.com. There, you can find all the links to live streams, stats, future broadcasts or find out more about your favorite Bison athletes.

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IS FOR NEW STAFF Meet the new staff at NDSU athletics With 14 hires in the last year, there are new some faces in the Athletic Department.

Below are a few of the recent hires and their roles at NDSU.

Samantha Fuhrmann Title: Sports Dietitian Your role with NDSU Athletics?

I manage the Gate City Bank Fueling Station at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex, assists NDSU teams with meal planning, and provides nutrition education to coaches and student-athletes.

Derrick Lang Title: Director – External Relations/Corporate Partnerships Your role with NDSU Athletics? am responsible for raising money through our Corporate Partner Program. I work with businesses who are interested in investing in our athletic program by using NDSU Athletics to create positive brand association and advertising their products and services to our loyal fan base.

Maggie Duggan Title: Assistant Director of Facility Operations Your role with NDSU Athletics? I coordinate game day operation staff athletic events, I work behind the scenes with our event operations staff to ensure that our facilities are set up and ready to host events.

Marketing and Fan Engagement Staff Alyson Vander Steen Title: Assistant Director of Athletics - Marketing and Fan Engagement Ryan Elliott Title: Assistant Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement Your role with NDSU Athletics?

We oversee the marketing and promotional activities for all NDSU athletic events, implementation ticket promotions and sales plans, advertising campaigns, in-game entertainment, and community and statewide outreach events.

Matt Barker Title: Director of Multimedia Your role with NDSU Athletics?

I oversee our team of talented video and multimedia. We create video content for use online and on social media, manage the production and webcasting of multiple spots and produce the videoboard content at SHAC events.

O IS FOR OVERABUNDANCE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (IN A GOOD WAY) NDSU athletes who have received post-graduate scholarships.

• James Schindler (football, 1966) • Robert Dodge (men’s tennis, 1967) • Stephen Stephens (football, 1969) • Joe Cichy (football, 1971) • Paul Cichy (football, 1975) • Lee Peterson (wrestling, 1975) • Brady Lipp (men’s basketball, 1981) • Laura Jacobson (women’s volleyball, 1982) • Doug Hushka (football, 1984) • John Bodine (men’s track and field, 1986) • Steve Anderson (wrestling, 1988) • Charles Stock (football, 1989) • Joe Regnier (men’s basketball, 1989) • Kristi Kremer (women’s basketball, 1989) • Doug Hanson (men’s track and field/cross country, 1991) • Arden Beachy (football, 1993) • Ryan McGlynn (men’s track and field, 1996) • Rhonda Birch (women’s basketball, 1997) • Sean Fredricks (football, 1997) • Andrea Jeseritz (women’s track and field, 1998) • George Thompson (wrestling, 1998) • Heith Janke (men’s track and field, 1999) • Theresa Lang (women’s basketball, 1999) • Jayne Even (women’s

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We know NDSU athletics has an overabundance of team and individual athletics awards. What you may not realize is the influx of awards outside of the field of competition.

basketball, 2000) • Jason Retzlaff (men’s basketball, 2000) • Codi Lehr (women’s track and field, 2000) • Steven Saxlund (wrestling, 2001) • Michelle Wiest (softball, 2001) • Jill Theeler (women’s indoor track and field, 2002) • Kinsey Coles (women’s indoor track and field, 2004) • Amanda Thieschafer (women’s outdoor track and field, 2004) • Brooke Hartman (women’s soccer, 2004) • Jared Essler (men’s indoor track and field, 2005) • Terrance Wolbaum (men’s indoor track and field, 2005) • Andrew Aakre (men’s outdoor track and field, 2005) • Olivia Cole (women’s soccer, 2005) • Sarah Panzer (women’s soccer, 2006) • Sheila Parrish (women’s volleyball, 2006) • Greg Liebl (men’s outdoor track and field, 2008) • Kole Zimmerman (baseball, 2008) • Laura Hermanson (women’s indoor track and field, 2009) • Brett Winkelman (men’s basketball, 2009) • Whitney Carlson (women’s indoor track and field, 2011) • Nathan Anderson (men’s golf, 2013) • Leslie Brost (women’s outdoor track and field, 2013) • John Straka (baseball, 2013) • Wes Satzinger (baseball, Carson Wentz was an

2014) • Allie Lahren (women’s outdoor track and field, 2018) • Jonah Warwick (men’s outdoor track and field, 2018) The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.

Elite 90 Award Winners • 2011 - Amy Anderson, women’s golf • 2011 - Whitney Carlson, women’s outdoor track and field • 2013 - Esley Thorton, football • 2014 - Carson Wentz, football • 2015 - Carson Wentz, football • 2016 - Carson Wentz, football • 2016 - Clay Ream, wrestling • 2017 - Clay Ream, wrestling • 2018 - Daniel Polansky, football • 2018 - Clay Ream, wrestling

championship finals site for each of the NCAA’s 90 championships across all divisions.

CoSIDA Academic AllAmericans Since the Academic AllAmerica® program was initiated by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the North Dakota State athletic programs have had 86 student-athletes earn 132 CoSIDA Academic All-America® awards, which ranks among the top 25 programs in all levels of college athletics.

The NCAA Elite 90 Award goes to the studentathlete with the highest GPA at the national

Elite 90 Award winner three years in a row.

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P IS FOR PARTNERSHIPS Take a look at the corporate sponsors that help support NDSU athletics.

NDSU Athletics Corporate Partnerships extend the affinity of the Bison brand to businesses and corporations of all sizes.

Companies can align with a loyal and passionate Bison fan base through a variety of marketing and hospitality opportunities. This includes: venue digital signage, game sponsorships, television

experience but also ensures that NDSU programs have the resources needed to succeed.

Support of Corporate Partners is vital to the success of NDSU Athletics. Financial and promotional support of Corporate Partners not only assists with creating a top level fan day

From promotions on the field and to providing products and services in the fueling station, corporate partners are vital to their success.

Bison Nation, please support these fine organizations.

»» AG Country

»» Days Inn

»» Luther Family Buick GMC

»» Radio FM Media

»» Bank of the West

»» Dan Michael’s Audio »» Dawson Insurance

»» Midcontinent Communications

»» ROERS

»» Bayer Crop Science »» Bell Bank

»» Deeks Pizza

»» Moe’s Southwest Grill

»» Sanford Health

»» Beyond Reality - Todd Kardmas

»» DS Beverages

»» Bobcat »» Border States Electric »» Buffalo Wild Wings »» Cass Clay »» Chick-fil-A

»» Exxon Mobile »» Firehouse Subs »» Gate City Bank Field »» Great Clips »» Hatch Reality

»» McGough Construction »» NAPA »» Nodak Insurance »» Northern Bag and Box »» Northland Ford »» Northwestern Mutual

»» Hannaher’s

»» Olaf Anderson »» Orangetheory Fitness

»» Clubhouse Hotel & Suites

»» Hector International Airport

»» Petro Serve USA

»» Coca Cola

»» Homewood Suites

»» Pioneer

»» Consolidated Communications

»» Hornbachers

»» Porter Creek

»» Culver’s

»» J&M Printing

»» Powerplate Meals

»» KLJ

»» Probitas Promotions

»» Liberty

»» Proseed

»» Choice Financial

»» Dakota Electric Construction

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spots, digital engagement, radio, fan fests and other on-site activations.

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»» S&S Promotional Group »» SCHEELS »» Signarama »» State Farm »» Subway »» The Radisson »» Thrivent »» Titan Machinery »» Vaaler Insurance »» Verizon »» Vogel Law Firm »» Wells Fargo

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IS FOR QUALIFIERS How do individual Bison athletes qualify for the national championships in their respective sports? We break it down for you.

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Sometimes, sports can get confusing. Occasionally, there are too many numbers and statistics to really keep track of everything. For some sports, like golf and wrestling, to name a few, this can become even more difficult. This occurs because individual athletes will compete at the national championships, but the team, as a whole, will not. Why is that? And what does it take for an individual student-athlete to become a national qualifier? Hopefully, we can alleviate some headaches for you in that regard.

Golf

Wrestling

While golf is known as the ultimate individual sport, collegiate golf is heavily reliant on the aspect of a team.

In order to make the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships, you must first win your conference tournament as a team. Both the Bison men’s and women’s golf teams won the Summit League tournament last season.

Therefore, they are automatically selected into a regional.

The number of individuals a team has at the NCAA Wrestling Championships usually determines the team champion. It is a double-elimination tournament featuring ten weight classes. There are 33 wrestlers in each of the ten classes. They qualify for nationals through conference tournaments. There are also 47 at-large bids selected for nationals.

Much like basketball or volleyball, a selection committee decides upon the other at-large teams in each regional.

Regardless, each team must select five golfers to compete in the regional. The top team in each regional then advances to the championship tournament.

Individuals are then seeded and then compete in their respective weight classes in a tournament style affair. Team’s receive points based on where their individual wrestlers place in their respective weight classes.

For individual golfers, they can still make the championship tournament as just individuals. The best player from each regional who was not on a winning team advances to the championship tournament.

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NDSU finished tied for 45th at last year’s NCAA Wrestling Championships. Clay Ream, Cam Sykora, Andrew Fogarty and Paul Bianchi were all national qualifiers for Roger Kish.

Both Fogarty and Ream wrestled into the consolation bracket last season.

Andrew Israelson was the leading men’s golfer in NDSU’s NCAA Pacific Regional, he shot a 1-under par for the tournament. Taylor McCorkle was the best women’s golfer from the team’s NCAA Madison Regional last season.

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IS FOR RADIO (& TELEVISION TOO) Where Can You Watch The Bison? Where Can You Listen To The Bison? Find Out Below.

WATCH

LISTEN

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Bison men's and women's basketball can be seen on MidcoSN throughout the region all year.

Watch select NDSU volleyball matches on BEK sports this season too.

You can also watch select Bison athletic events on NDSU All Access.

Visit gobison.com/allaccess for more information.

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Follow the Herd NDSU Athletics NDBison @NDSUathletics @NDSUbisonathletics

Bison Baseball @NDSUbaseball @NDSUbaseball

Bison Men’s Basketball @NDSUmbb @NDSUmbb

Bison Women’s Basketball @NDSUwbb @NDSUwbb

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field @NDSUTrackField @NDSUBisonTF

Bison Football @NDSUfootball @NDSUfb

Bison Men’s and Women’s Golf @NDSUgolf @NDSUgolf

Bison Soccer @NDSUsoccer @NDSUsoccer

Bison Softball @NDSUsoftball @ndsu_softball

Bison Volleyball @NDSUvolleyball @NDSUvb

Bison Wrestling @NDSUwrestling @NDSUwrestling

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IS FOR TICKETS

...AND T-SHIRT TOSS...

Find out more about getting tickets to NDSU athletics events and the in-game promotions NDSU athletics has across all sports.

You read about the specialty promotions NDSU athletics offers at specific sports on specific dates. Now, see more promotions that go on at every game and some promotions that are consistent across all NDSU sports.

New In-Game Promotions:

Cross Season Promotions:

• Jersey Mike’s Kill Counter – If Bison Volleyball gets 43 kills in a home match, everyone goes home with a free #43 from Jersey Mike’s.

• Culver’s Kid Zone – There will now be a kid zone in the Scheels Center, brought to you by Culver’s.

• Chick-Fil-A Football Toss – Cheer and Dance teams toss out footballs at football games to the entire crowd • SCHEELS Spin Wheel – Chooses the “fan cam” of the day at football games.

• Petro Serve T-Shirt Toss – Takes place at every home football, wrestling, volleyball, and men’s & women’s basketball game/match.

• Orangetheory Fitness Tagboard –Iif you use the hashtag #OTFGameDay, it will pull your pictures into the tagboard so you’re on the video boards during football and men’s and women’s basketball games.

• Cass Clay – Crunch of the Game (best tackle in a football game) and Crunch Time for basketball (fan must make a layup, free throw, three-pointer and half-court shot) • Buffalo Wild Wings – The lucky row of the game (goes home with a free snack size wings) at football and basketball.

• Nodak Insurance – Play of the game for football and basketball games.

• NDSU Bookstore & Radio FM – Fan of the game. The fan receives an NDSU prize pack and they are featured on the video board.

• Great Clips – Clip of the half (football and basketball) • Best Seats In the House – Volleyball and NEW to wrestling.

Two fans are selected to sit in cozy recliners courtside or mat side.

• Team Makers 50/50 Raffle – Football

NDSU athletics makes it easy for you to purchase tickets to various sporting events. Lucky for you, tickets can be purchased online for football, volleyball, basketball, softball. baseball and wrestling. Follow the simple steps below and get your tickets today.

• 1. Head to GoBison.com and hover your mouse over the tickets tab on top.

• 2. Select the tab that meets your desires (in most cases, the “Buy Tickets” tab) • 3. If you have not previously purchased tickets online, create an account. This way, if you choose to purchase tickets again online, you will not have to re-enter any of your personal information.

• 4. Select the sport, game and seats you would like to purchase.

• 5. You are given the option of having the tickets mailed to you or you can pick them up at the will-call office.

Keep in mind, open seats for football games go on sale the morning prior to the game. You can purchase football tickets through GoBison.com as well.

Also, know that tickets can be transferred to another fan online via GoBison.com. Team Makers also features their Ticket Exchange blog where you can purchase and sell home football game tickets.

Find out more about the ticket exchange at ndsuathleticfund.com.

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U IS FOR UPDATES NDSU athletics just unveiled the newly updated softball complex, known as Tharaldson Park.

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IS FOR VICTORIES

A

NDSU athletic programs had a successful 2017-18 year.

TO

Z

Conference Championships Men’s Golf

On September 14, NDSU unveiled its completed renovations to the Bison softball complex. The 2-million dollar complex was re-named Tharaldson Park after Gary Tharaldson, who is the proprietor of Tharaldson Hospitality Management LLC. Tharaldson has been a longtime supporter of softball in North Dakota.

A work in progress for some time, the softball complex received many muchneeded facelifts throughout the facility. Phase II of the project included replacing the entire softball playing surface with Field Turf, including the infield, outfield, warning track and bullpen areas.

The facility can now seat up to 735 people thanks to a 183-seat addition along the right field line. A visitors

bullpen was also added beyond those bleachers.

More updates include outfield and dugout padding, an improved perimeter fence.

There is now a cement backstop that has a protective netting system that stretches from dugout to dugout. A new scoreboard, which can track inning-by-inning and runs-hits-errors for both teams. Daktronics provided a sound system as well.

Finally, a new press box allows 8-10 media members an unaltered view of home plate and the playing field.

The press box is heated and also has the room set aside for television and radio broadcasts.

“Words can’t describe how I feel about this,” said softball coach Darren Mueller. “This is beautiful. It’s absolutely amazing.”

»» Summit League Champions »» 11th Conference Championship In School History (First In Summit League) Women’s Golf »» Summit League Champions »» Second Conference Championship In School History Women’s Track & Field »» Summit League Indoor Champions »» 11th Straight Indoor Title »» Summit League Outdoor Champions »» 11th Straight Outdoor Title Men’s Track & Field »» Summit League Indoor Champions »» 7th Since Joining Summit League »» Summit League Outdoor Champions »» 9th Straight Outdoor Title Softball »» Summit League Champions »» 5th Straight Title. 9th Overall Football »» Missouri Valley Football Conference Champions »» 7th Straight MVFC Title. 34th Overall.

National Championships Football »» 2017 FCS National Champions »» Sixth FCS Championship. 14 Total National Championships

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W IS FOR WATCH PARTIES

A

TO

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Buffalo Wild Wings

Herd & Horns Bar & Grill

Town Hall Bar MAIN AVE

Chub’s Pub & Package Place

MAIN AVE

8TH ST S

Sidestreet Grille & Pub

45TH ST S

Below are the watch sites in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

UNIVERSITY DR N

There are plenty of places to watch the Bison, but did you know there are official watch sites all over the country? Yes, it's true, thanks to NDSU Team Makers, you can join one of their official game day watch parties. You may even win a door prize in the process.

Divot’s Inc.

Sickies Garage 75

Buffalo Wild Wings 1515 19th Ave N., Fargo

The Blarney Stone Pub 94

Sidestreet Grille & Pub 404 4th Ave N., Fargo

Barcode Bar & Grill

Woody’s Bar & Grill 1550 32nd Ave S., Fargo

Divot’s Inc. 19 Golf Course Rd., Fargo

Applebee’s 2350 45th St S., Fargo

Herd & Horns Bar & Grill 1414 12th Ave N Suite F., Fargo

Barcode Bar & Grill 835 23rd Ave E., West Fargo

Knickerbocker Liquor Locker 412 Main Ave., Hickson

The Blarney Stone Pub 1910 9th St E., West Fargo

Oxbow Country Club 40 Clubhouse Dr., Oxbow

Chub’s Pub & Package Place 421 N University Dr., Fargo

Sickies Garage 3431 Fiechtner Dr S., Fargo

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Applebee’s 29

Woody’s Bar & Grill

Knickerbocker Liquor Locker Oxbow Country Club

Town Hall Bar 103 Main Ave W., West Fargo

Learn more about watch parties on page 123

X

IS FOR XYLOPHONE The Gold Star Marching Band provides an atmosphere unlike any other.

They are the pride of North Dakota. They also open up every Bison football home game in a way that energizes the crowd for the impending kickoff. The Gold Star Marching Band has become a staple at NDSU football games.

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Founded in 1903, when NDSU was still North Dakota Agricultural College, it began as an ROTC band.

It has since evolved into one of the most energetic collegiate bands in the United States. Now led by Dr. Sigurd Johnson, the Gold Star Marching Band

kicks off your day at the Fargodome and provides the halftime entertainment as well.

You can find the Gold Star Marching Band at every home game this season and in future seasons as well.

The band also performed at The Youth In Music Contest of Champions at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis earlier this month. They will also be performing their Sounds of the Gridiron concert on November 18, the day after the final regular season football game.

Y

IS FOR YARD SIGNS

A

TO

Z

Z IS FOR 30,000 ZEALOUS NDSU YARD SIGNS

HAVE BEEN PRODUCED SINCE 2006.

What does zealous mean?

Full of, characterized by, or due to zeal; ardently active, devoted, or diligent.

What does this have to do with NDSU and why is it the letter Z? We here at Bison Illustrated believe the word "zealous" is the perfect adjective to describe Bison Nation.

Whether it be the students, faculty, fans, studentathletes or athletic administration, they all exemplify this quality. Every single member of Bison Nation is ardently active, devoted and diligent. On the field, in the classroom or in the professional world, North Dakota State showcases these attributes. Perhaps that is why every single member of Bison Nation is so valuable. Each person plays a vital role in making up this elite grouping.

Take pride in your zeal, Bison Nation. Whether you know it or not, your zeal is just one of the qualities that makes you a member of the herd.

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The

G E A R

With the help of SCHEELS and other area businesses, we compiled an all-encompassing guide to Bison gear, products and items. Some of you may have seen these items before, others may be seeing them for the first time ever. Either way, get to shopping, Bison Nation.

Bison Illustrated thanks the businesses who allowed us to feature their NDSU products and photographs.

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G E A R

Your ultimate guide to becoming a premier North Dakota State fan.

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Boelter Brands NDSU Tumbler 20oz Price: $24.99

3 NDSU Beads Price: $2.99

Women’s Colosseum Cardigan - NDSU Green Price: $52

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5

4

Boelter Brands NDSU Ultra Tumbler 30oz Price: $29.99

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Women’s Under Armour Wrap - NDSU Price: $80

6 NDSU Wine Tumbler Price: $24.99

Women’s Paxton Top - Pagosa White Price: $55

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Great American Travel Mug 20oz Price: $19.99

Elegant Essence Tube Scarf Mustard Price: $21

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4 Women’s Blue 84 T Shirt Streamer Oatmeal Color Price: $28

5 Colosseum NDSU Romper Price: $26

Women’s Colosseum Jacket 1st Class - NDSU Green Price: $69

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6 47 Brand NDSU Cleanup Cap

9 NDSU Cup 22oz Price: $1.99

Price: $22

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Legacy NDSU Trucker Hat Price: $28

8 Men’s Nike T Shirt Rocket NDSU Gray Price: $36

Men’s Nike Jacket Lockdown - NDSU Forest Price: $80

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Women's Colosseum Sweatshirt

Women's Vest Ray NDSU - Green

Price: $50

Price: $65

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Women's Zoozatz Legging - Gray Price: $40

Legacy NDSU Patch Cap

Men's Nike Sweatshirt NDSU - Gold

Price: $25

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Women's Pressbox T-Shirt - Ivory Price: $32

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3 Women's '47 T-Shirt Club NDSU Scoop Dark Green Price: $28

Women's Nike T Shirt Scooper - NDSU Gold Size: $30

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MORE PRODUCTS New Era NDSU Gray Price: $22

Get Your Bison Gear and More at SCHEELS locations around fargo-moorhead.

SCHEELS Fargo 1551 45th Street S. Fargo 701-298-2918

NDSU Button

SCHEELS Moorhead 505 Center Avenue Moorhead 218-233-2751

Price: $5.99

SCHEELS Home & Hardware 3202 13th Avenue S. Fargo 701-232-8903

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Cooler Sports Fargo Keep your drinks cold or hot while showcasing your love for NDSU too.

G E A R

gear for the

gridiron

BISONCOOLERSFARGO.COM

Get 15% off of $50 a purchase or mo bisonco olersfa re at rg enterin g the p o.com by romo c ode: BISON

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1 1. This officially licensed cooler is perfect for tailgating before a game.

Holding 50 quarts of liquid, this cooler comes in yellow, green or gray with the NDSU logo in full view on top.

Price: $359

2 2. Get your limited edition Bison football tumblers from Cooler Sports Fargo. The 22-ounce tumbler comes in black, white or olive (see left). It also features the Bison head logo.

Price: $28

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Take home your own piece of Bison history while staying stylish too.

Using game-used footballs from NDSU, All About Baseballs And Beyond provides a unique take on jewelry and home decor. Graciously donated by NDSU athletics, All About Baseballs And Beyond uses championship-used footballs to make their one-of-a-kind jewelry items. They also make jewelry featuring the Bison logo. Their newest venture is making Bison ornaments, made out of authentic buffalo leather. If you are looking for a different gift for a friend, family member or yourself, give All About Baseballs And Beyond a look.

G E A R

ALLABOUTBASEBALLSANDBEYOND.COM rchase ff a pu n o % 0 1 eo Get or mor yond.com of $50 be d n a s e: seball a b t mo cod u o r allab the p o g in r e by ent ISON10

G OB

1 1. This game-used football jewelry is perfect for the diehard Bison fan.

There is something for everyone.

Price: Ranges from $35-$70 a piece

2. Bearing the NDSU logo, these ornaments are perfect holiday gifts and for your home or office as well. Made of authentic buffalo leather, ornaments come in tan and green (see below).

Price: $18.95

2 lo a f f bu l a Re er and em h leat ntic ga . e h lls t a u b a t oo f d use 95

Make your home or office stand out with canvas art from One Herd.

With a diverse inventory of shirts, canvas art and other Bison gear, One Herd is built to perk up your NDSU style.

G E A R

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ONEHERD.COM

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FargoD

1 1. The most popular of all of One Herd’s canvas prints is this Evolution of Tradition print. Featuring football helmets from all eras of Bison football, it is perfect for any home, office or man cave too.

Size: Either 14” x 40” or 21” x 60” Price: $225-$270

2. The clothing One Herd offers is not like anything you have seen before. While the green and gold looks familiar, the phrases and brand projected by One Herd is one of a kind.

Pick up these fresh t-shirts while also getting some neat wall art.

Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, Double Extra Large Price: Ranges from $19.99-$29.99 depending on item

Merch

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3. NDSU vs UND Canvas Print.

Relive your favorite Nickel Trophy game with this rivalry poster featuring classic NDSU and UND football helmets.

Size: Either 24” x 24” or 36” x 36” Price: $179.99-$229/99

4. NDSU Digi Camo Baseball Hat. A different way to show your Bison fandom is this camo hat embellished with the NDSU logo on the front.

Price: $31.99

5. Bison Knit Scarf.

Bundle up for the winter months with this NDSU scarf. The wind won’t be chilling you this year.

Price: $24.99

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Can't quite find that perfect Bison home accent?

Hebron Brick and Grain Designs has you covered.

Many Bison fans are looking for the most creative way to showcase their fandom. One way they are doing this is with Hebron Brick’s Bison Rocks and the fine products at Grain Designs. Add a stylish home accent while making your North Dakota State pride evident.

G E A R

Available in multiple sizes and with different logo designs, Hebron Brick’s Bison Rock can be displayed in the house, office or on the front lawn. You can also customize Bison Rocks to feature the logo of your choice and your last name.

Sizes: Ranges from 5.5” x 5.5” to 24” x 8” Price: Ranges from $30-$200

HEBRONSUPPLY.COM/FARGO/BISON-ROCKS

Using bleachers from the former Bison Sports Arena, Grain Designs has revived the old sports complex into this licensed wall decor. Perfect for the fan who wants to recall the good times had at the BSA Size: 28” x 20” Price: $199

A nice accent for an office desk, this Bison metal stand up sign is made from laser cut steel.

Size: 8” x 5” Price: $25

Also made from bleachers from the Bison Sports Arena, this wall art is smaller and features a different NDSU logo. Make room on the wall for both of them.

Size: 12” x 8” Price: $49

GRAINDESIGNS.COM 99

Round out your Bison collection with items from Fargo Stuff, NDSU Bookstore and more.

G E A R

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NDSU Bookstore is the number one source for all of your online Bison needs.

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NDSUBOOKSTORE.COM

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FARGOSTUFF.COM

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1. Good for a student or professional, this knapsack offers a good amount of room for notebooks, computers and anything else needed to get through the day. $39.99, ndsubookstore.com 2. These sleek NDSU coasters tie any living room or kitchen together. They blend in seamlessly with any kitchen design. Comes in a collection of three or six coasters. $15.50, fargostuff.com 3. Get all the Bison gear you could ever need with an NDSU fanchest. With two different versions, each is different from the other. Both versions feature officially licensed NDSU products and merchandise. A perfect Holiday surprise for the Bison fan in your family. $59, fanchest. com 4. A laser engraved bamboo mug is a different way to carry your favorite beverage. A stainless steel liner keeps liquid hot or cold for hours at a time. $27.50, fargostuff.com 5. Make your desk distinct with an engraved Bison statue. With a nice bronze finish, give your Bison obsession a more professional look. $13.99 to $79, ndsubookstore.com 6. Get ready for an impending trip to Frisco, Texas, with these Bison embroidered women’s cowboy boots. You can only purchase this product on the bookstore’s website and not in the actual bookstore on campus. $259, ndsubookstore.com.

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Swen Products Located in West Fargo, Swen Products gives you the opportunity to spice up the exterior of your house with some unique Bison designs.

G E A R

SWENPRODUCTS.COM

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1. Go Bison! Wind Spinner The wind is always swirling around in the Red River Valley. Why not have some fun with it This gorgeous NDSU wind spinner will twirl and swirl no matter how light or heavy the breeze. Attach the mini wind spinner to the bottom and make it a complete piece.

Price (Wind Spinner Only): $24.95 Price (Mini Wind Spinner): $14.95 Total Price: $39.90 2. Bison Business Card Holder Perfect for the desk at your office, this spacious business card holder is made of steel and has a baked on green paint. Show your co-workers your Bison fandom with this unique item for your desk.

Price: $14.95 3. NDSU Key Chain Holder Good for the garage or in the house, this key chain holder can hold up to four key rings. Never forget where you left your car keys again with this nifty item that hangs right on your wall. Price: $19.95 4. NDSU Weathervane A real working weathervane, this item, made with 16 gauge steel will tell you which direction the wind is blowing. In Fargo, it may be nice to have one of those around. You may as well make it NDSU-themed while you're at it. Price: $47.95

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Vera Bradley and Club Level Brands CLUBLEVELBRANDS.COM

G E A R

Thundar approved

2 3 1

4 1. Campus Specialties North Dakota State Women’s Dark Green Poncho Super soft and comfortable Acrylic team striped poncho.

One size Fits most, semi-fitted, uneven hem with fringe trim, 26” from high shoulder point and a great look for a game day or any special occasion. Price: $38

3. Crable North Dakota State Men’s White Ultra Lightweight Windbreaker Water resistant lightweight two-tone windbreaker pullover, zippered cell phone pocket with ear phone hole on the sleeve and binding at sleeve cuffs and adjustable drawcord at bottom hem. Sizes M-XXL. Price: $42

2. Campus Specialties North Dakota Men’s Flannel Plaid Woven Perfect for a nice fall day at tailgating and inside the Fargodome. Sizes M-XXL. Price: $50

4. Vera Bradley North Dakota State University Front Zip Wristlet Perfect for a girls’ night out or shopping with friends, this chic wristlet has just enough room for all the essentials. It also has a six card slots and one bill pocket, front zip pocket and accommodates an iPhone 6+ in the main compartment.

Price: $48

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Valan Products SEARCH FACEBOOK: "VALAN PRODUCTS"

Ready for

G E A R

the man cave

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1. Traditional NDSU Logo LED Light Good for a desk or anywhere in the house. Price: $30 2. Vertical NDSU Letters and Logo LED Light Price: $30 each 3. Snorty LED Light Price: $30 4. Wall Mounted Bottle Openers Can be put on a wall and also has an embedded magnet in the back. Price: $35 each

e h t r o f d e t f a r c d n a H d. r e h r u o y in

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Victory Tailgate VICTORYTAILGATE.COM

G E A R

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1. Bison 8 Foot Portable Folding Tailgate Table Basketball Court Version Proudly show off your team spirit with this officially licensed portable 8 foot long tailgate table!

It’s 8 feet long, folds and unfolds in under a minute for set up and storage, easy to clean surface and avoids warping and resists spills.

Price: $129

Looking for a

touchdown at tailgating?

2

3 2. Bison Cornhole Game Set Price: $199.98

3. Bison Pop Up Bar The bar and all of its components break down into a deluxe wheeled travel case for instant convenience.

Includes the steel frame, three levels of shelving, umbrella, drop in cooler, four padded bar stools, and a deluxe travel bag set with wheels.

Price: $599.99

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Blingwear BLINGWARE.COM

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Tailgate Essential #11

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NDSU Championship Cup With a die cast metal championship ring embedded in the cup, you can be a champion too. This 24 oz cup is perfect for the tailgate lot and features an ode to NDSU's 2017 championship team. It also features a listing of every single Bison football championship.

Price: $19.95

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Bison Custom Firearms and Wine Bottle Looking to commemorate NDSU's championship run in a very special way? Check out these amazing gifts.

G E A R 1

COMMEMORATIVEFIREARMS.NET

1. Bison Commemorative Pistol or Shotgun Gun nut? Bison nut? Combine them both into one gift with either a commemorative shotgun or pistol, hand-etched with Bison logos and phrases. Price: $2,995

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2. Commemorative Wine Hand-etched on the bottle, you can recall the 2017 championship run or your Bison fandom with these elegant wine bottles. Each bottle is filled with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Price (Logo Only): $45.95 per bottle Price (Championship Version): $49.95 per bottle

MANOSWINE.COM

COLLEGIATESERIES.COM

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3. Bison Metal Wine Rack Keep your commemorative Bison wine on the shelf for a while with this metal NDSU wine rack.

Price: $20

Huplay Hoops and Deadshot Custom Calls

It’s

A Sla m Du nk!

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1. Huplay NCAA Youth Team

1

Adjustable Basketball Set This Bison adjustable basketball set is a unique and exciting way to show pride in your team. The premium hoop has been designed to provide a lifetime of fun. Every feature on this set has been designed with durability and function in mind.

Price: $129.99

2 DEADSHOTCUSTOMCALLS.COM

HUPLAY.COM

2. Custom NDSU Game Calls Deadshot Custom Calls allows anyone the ability to afford a high end, fully customized acrylic game call. Now, you can put your own personal Bison touch on your game call. Price: Starts at $150

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Bryan Vidger and Tom Hagen pursue their passion for sports and art in one venture. Creating custom made sculptures with a Bison twist. Both are tremendous sports fans and decided to pursue a sports angle when ironing out the finer details of their 3D sculptures. Both being residents of Fargo, it meant re-creating famous moments in Bison football history. While they are licensed to create sculptures for any college or university, NDSU was their first venture.

G E A R

The process for making these sculptures seems rather simple. The two begin with an image they wish to sculpt and then build a model on the computer. The computer model is then carved into a piece of wood, following that with a finish to the wood. Finally, they add a metallic finish to the sculpture that gives it that antique, brass-like look. They make these sculptures in various sizes as well.

NEXTLEVELCREATIONS4U.COM NEXTLEVELCREATIONS4U@GMAIL.COM

1. One of Vidger and Hagen's most recognizable sculptures. Former Bison and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.

Sizes: Medium (11" x 15.25"): $345 Large (16" x 22"): $645 Extra Large (22" x 33.5"): $3500

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2 2. The classic Bison statue, which welcomes students and visitors to North Dakota State's campus.

Sizes: Small (7" x 8.5"): $125 Medium (11" x 13"): $345 Large (16" x 19"): $645 Extra Large (22" x 26"): $3500

3

3. From NDSU's victory over Iowa State in 2015. Carson Wentz's famous leap over a Cyclone defender with John Crockett following beside.

Sizes: Medium (11" x 15.25"): $345 Large (16" x 22"): $645 Extra Large (22" x 33.5"): $3500

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Former Bison football players Jeff McKinnon (left) and Jason Boutwell (right)

Strength of the Herd

By Joshua Swanson Feature Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

It’s North Dakota State’s homecoming week. The Friday afternoon sun is warm while the fall air isn’t too crisp with temperatures hovering in the low-60s. It’s a perfect fall day. The Bison are 2-0 and will play the Delaware Blue Hens that Saturday. A team of workers is setting up a couple of large tents behind Herd and Horns near campus just south of 12th Avenue for the weekend’s festivities.

The stragglers from the lunch crowd are clearing out as several groups of Bison fans start gathering around tables, replete in Bison gear, kicking off the celebration.

I walk in the south door to meet with Jeff and Amy McKinnon. A stream of Florida Georgia Line’s “Get Your Shine On” and Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” plays from the speakers in the background. Jeff, a Wahpeton, N.D., native played outside linebacker for the Bison from

Bison Family supports McKinnons in cancer battle

1993 to 1997. He was recruited by then Bison head coach Rocky Hager. Jeff’s first year was the inaugural season NDSU played in the Fargodome. The McKinnons are sitting at a table with several family members. A large Bison head is mounted above the table on the wall. Wearing Bison gear, Jeff and Amy are upbeat, smiling, friendly and give me a warm welcome. But looking a little deeper, there’s a hint of tiredness under their eyes. Being the parents of two children on the brink of their teenage years with busy schedules, combined with work, a Friday afternoon at Herd and Horns is a nice respite.

That slight hint of tiredness hiding behind their smiles, though, tells a story itself beyond the lives of two busy working parents. This Friday afternoon finds Jeff in the middle of chemotherapy treatments. The former Bison

linebacker was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood-based cancer, in July.

According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Plasma cells help fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs.

Multiple myeloma causes cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow where they crowd out healthy blood cells.

Instead of producing helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.

The cancer diagnosis was the culmination of several months of pain and uncertainty, going back to last November, for what was ailing Jeff’s back.

The pain was so severe and debilitating, even for a former hard-hitting college linebacker and athlete like McKinnon, that he could only sleep 90 minutes a night. And what little sleep McKinnon could 113

get was restless at that, often coming on one of the family’s recliners.

“It was a funky deal. Back in November, I went out and shoveled snow and felt a little pinch in my back,” said Jeff, describing the beginning of the pain that culminated in his cancer diagnosis. Having run many Fargo Marathons, the full 26.1 miles, McKinnon was starting to train for another and thought it was his back flaring up, nothing to worry about. “I thought, it’s just back issues, so I persevered through a month. Then in December, it wasn’t getting any better. I went into the walk-in clinic at Christmas and was diagnosed with a slipped disk.” For the rest of the winter, McKinnon did physical therapy to address what was thought was a slipped disk. But it wasn’t getting any better and the pain continued getting worse.

Mystery back pain and diagnosis In April, Jeff went to an orthopedic walk-in clinic in Fargo and they took an x-ray. The x-ray seemingly confirmed the slipped disk. He was given a cortisone shot that, as Amy noted, was ironically injected unknowingly at the time, into a fist-sized tumor hiding in Jeff’s back. Cortisone shots are used to relieve pain and inflammation and are familiar to athletes in high contact sports, like football players.

“May and June was when the pain really started to escalate, my pain was off the charts,” said Jeff. The McKinnons knew something wasn’t right and pushed for answers beyond the slipped disk diagnosis.

Then came the answer neither suspected. In mid-June, in the middle of the night, Jeff went to the emergency room because he was in so much pain. An MRI was ordered.

“On June 29, I went and saw my primary care doctor, and that was when I was informed

that I had a tumor in my back pelvic area.” A biopsy was done and Jeff was officially diagnosed on July 12. “It was a long ordeal, it was months and months.”

The radiological doctor told the McKinnons it was a very unusual spot for a tumor.

The tumor was the size of a fist, which explained Jeff’s back pain.

Now they knew. And just like his playing days, the linebacker from Wahpeton took an aggressive approach in confronting this fight.

“The second I was diagnosed, I said let’s just get a plan and figure how we’re going to treat it,” explained Jeff as other Bison fans came and went from Herd and Horns that afternoon. While Jeff is still in pain and undergoing chemotherapy, that pain pales in comparison to the tumor’s impact on his back and the nerves centered in the lower back. “I’m still in pain, but it’s nothing like it was before.”

How do you take that news?

You have cancer. What’s more, how and what do you tell your kids? That is something, quite obviously, only those that have went through cancer can even remotely begin to understand.

Jason Boutwell, another former Bison football player, told me the McKinnon’s story a few weeks earlier when I was guest-hosting the Afternoon’s Live program on KFGO. I knew the McKinnons had two kids. “It was a surreal experience,” hearing the diagnosis, said Amy. For both Jeff and Amy, it took a few days for the news to sink in. “I didn’t even believe it, it took a while. The day I was diagnosed I was supposed to have a Bison Football Players Association meeting. I remember thinking okay, we have to figure out how we’re going to talk to the kids because they’re 13 and 11, and then figure out how we’re going to tell our family. I was literally half an hour away from going to my

BFPA meeting.”

The BFPA is an organization established by former Bison football players to keep each other informed and help deal with this sort of news. The group mobilized to help the McKinnons. Jeff told Sean Fredricks, another former Bison linebacker and teammate, who came in with the same class as Jeff. From there, the word spread to the rest of the BFPA who were eager to do whatever they could to help the McKinnons. This included Rocky Hager, McKinnon’s former head coach, who is now coaching at The College of New Jersey. “When players are giving you so much in their efforts on the field, classroom and as citizens, you feel they are part of your family, and the Bison family,” said Hager. Hager wasn’t there for Jeff so much to talk, but to listen. “I listened to what he had to say, and when he brought up things that were positive, I embraced that he was on the right track. I told him that I loved him, and truth of the matter is I love all of our former players because they gave so much to us. This is when I get to restate that to Jeff.”

A “cancer mentor” Boutwell, like Jeff, used to play football for the Bison.

He knew what Jeff was going through. Four years ago, during a run while vacationing in Mexico, his appendix burst. The burst appendix revealed that Boutwell had appendix cancer. “It was a punch to the gut,” said Boutwell of the diagnosis. He knew what Jeff was experiencing. “I was still young and healthy, and young people aren’t supposed to get cancer. If I thought I was healthy, McKinnon was ten times healthier and had run ten Fargo Marathons in a row.” Boutwell knew that he and other former players needed to rally around the McKinnons.

“I might have made some

deals with God when I was going through cancer of my own,” said an emotional Boutwell, recalling his battle.

“When I was going through it, I was on my knees, looking for guidance. Hey Lord, you bring me through this thing, I’m going to be there for others in my circle if someone else is diagnosed.” Boutwell kept that promise, reaching out to the McKinnons when he learned the news of Jeff’s cancer diagnosis.

During the early days after the diagnosis, still in what they described as a fog, Boutwell sat down with Jeff, Amy and their two kids. “He’s been my cancer mentor,” said Jeff.

“He went and talked with the kids, walked them through it.

He told our kids, here I am, I had cancer and now I’m healthy, so he really walked us and the kids through.” One of the first things Boutwell told the McKinnon’s kids was that cancer is not contagious. “You don’t think about that. I think it was good for the kids to be able to hear that, and see that Jason is super healthy,” said Amy. “It’s a scary, scary time, and I wanted to show Amy and their kids that hey, you know what, your dad can make it through this, look at me.”

Boutwell wasn’t alone. The BFPA knew they needed to get involved and support the McKinnons, just like their playing days years going through two-a-day practices on Dacotah Field. “Cancer is a crappy deal for many reasons, and it’s really expensive,” said Boutwell. From everything to travel, preparing meals or paying for meals during treatment out of town, hotels, taking kids to different events, cancer presents numerous challenges to those families contending with it.

The McKinnons were grateful for the care they received at Sanford Health’s Roger Maris Cancer Center here in Fargo.

“Roger Maris has been fantastic. I don’t know if people 115

realize how blessed we are to have Roger Maris in town.

They walked us through all the treatments,” explained Amy. They provided something as important as the chemotherapy drugs pumping through Jeff’s veins. They gave the McKinnons hope.

“We were in a whirlwind the first day we were there,” said Amy describing their experience. “I said, do they pump hope into the air here. The doctors and nurses are constantly reiterating it’s going to be okay, we’ll get you on the right plan, we’ll get you what you need, it was amazing to have that support network locally.”

Jeff’s chemotherapy started the day after being diagnosed with 14 days of chemo, a week off, 14 days of chemo and seven days off. He does a total of five of these chemotherapy cycles, and was in the middle of his fourth of five treatments when we talked. His last Fargo treatment of this cycle at Roger Maris was October 19, and now he’s at Mayo Clinic for a stem cell transplant that will take six to eight weeks.

How you can help: the Bison Family and Fargo community The BFPA has started a Facebook page, Jeff McKinnon #12, open to everyone.

This extends to anyone in the Bison family, player or not, that proudly wears green and yellow in support of the Herd.

There are numerous items to bid on at the Facebook page, and an electronic silent auction, that includes once in a lifetime items like a trip to the Masters, tickets to ESPN’s annual awards show – the ESPY’s, a VIP experience for two at the FCS National Championship at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX, tickets and sideline passes to regular season Bison games and Carson Wentz

autographed mementos. You can text the word “Bison” to 79230 to view and bid on items in the silent auction.

Jeff, Jason and Lend A Hand Up Director Jeana Peinovich (left).

The McKinnons are grateful for the outpouring of support. “The support of the community and the BFPA has been incredible. People bringing us over meals, helping to clean our house and offering to bring our kids to activities, and even willing to walk or watch our dog,” explained While the McKinnons were hesitant to reach out for help initially, Boutwell told them one of the biggest things they could do was let people that care for them be involved. “That’s one of the first things I asked Jason when he came over was what do I even say. I don’t even know where I need help right now because it was all new to me,” said Amy. “He’s really helped navigate that process for us and engage the BFPA. The Bison family has really been incredible.”

Tailgating at the Fargodome has allowed the McKinnon’s kids, Miles and Merritt, to meet Jeff’s former teammates and their “Fortunately, because of tailgating, the kids know a lot of those folks,” said Amy. “So it’s not just like I’m sending my kids with a complete stranger.”

The diagnosis forced Jeff to take a look at the big picture and ask what were the important things in life. “We’re super grateful and appreciative. After I was diagnosed, you really start taking an introspective look at life in general, what e-mails are really that important, what day-to-day activities are important.”

At the heart of the support for the McKinnons was the Bison family. We’ve heard stories of how hundreds of players come to the Friday practice before the national championship game in Frisco every January. The same guys, even going back to the 1960s, are rallying

around the McKinnons.

“All the football guys, one of the things that’s been great, after I was diagnosed, Coach Hager reached out to me. He’s always so positive and optimistic, and has such wisdom and he pumped me up,” said Jeff.

Each of these items below are available for viewing at the Bison Football Players Association Tent.

Questions can be directed to Jason Boutwell at 701-200-1400.

You can donate directly at https://lendahandup.org/helpa-family/#/charity/77 and with a deposit into the Jeff McKinnon Fund at any Bell Bank location.

Items on silent auction •Autographed Carson Wentz Helmet •Day of Magic at the Masters 2019 for two •Bison Gift Basket including a Bison Scarf, bag and T-Shirt •Framed Autographed Carson Wentz Picture Collage •Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Ring Set •Denver Bronco’s Super Bowl Ring Set •Autographed Phil Hanson Helmet •Autographed Case Keenum Helmet •Three day trip and tickets to the National Rodeo Finals •Bison Tailgate Kit •Framed Copy of the Bison Fight Song •10x40 Storage for 1 year at Apartment Movers •Autographed Stephon Diggs MN Miracle Collage •Autographed Brett Farve (Vikings) Collage •Autographed Fran Tarkenton Collage •Autographed Payton Manning Broncos Collage •Wrigley Field Rooftop Experience - 2019 Season •Trip and tickets to the 2019 ESPYs •Framed and autographed Wentz’s Jersey

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Before the North Alabama game in early September, Esley Thorton, himself a former Bison linebacker, and his wife met the McKinnons for the first time at the BFPA tailgater in the northwest lot of the Fargodome. Thorton’s interception in the closing seconds of the 2014 National Championship game against Illinois State sealed NDSU’s fourth straight FCS title.

“Esley and his wife came up to us at tailgating, introduced themselves, and said we’re bringing you guys a pizza in a few weeks,” said Amy. Like Jeff and Thorton, Doug Hushka also played defense for the Bison. Hushka, a senior on the 1983 national championship team, is a doctor in Fargo. “You realize how much cancer has touched people’s lives,” said Jeff towards the end of our visit. “Doug Hushka, his brother had multiple myeloma, and he reached out and walked me through it and sent me some messages of the positive things his brother has gone through.”

In addition to the Bison Family, the community is rallying support, too. Lend A Hand Up, a local nonprofit focused on supporting families battling health issues, has partnered with the BFPA in their support of the McKinnons. “With Lend A Hand Up, our goal is to raise help and hope for families going through some health issues,” said Jeana Peinovich, the director of Lend a Hand Up. “So many times when people are hurting, they don’t know how to help, and so we want to provide some structured ways for people to comfortably show they care about the McKinnon family.”

Lend A Hand Up has a website, lendahandup.org, where people can make a gift to the McKinnons and other families to help with medical expenses. Unlike other fundraising sites, Lend A Hand Up does not take administrative costs from any donations. “Dakota Medical Foundation pays for all the costs to administer Lend a Hand Up. Every gift is distributed, and even better, through Lend A Hand Up, we boost gifts by 20 percent.

People make a $100 gift that turns into $120 through our site.” Dakota Medical Foundation started a hospital in Fargo in 1964. Years later, they sold the hospital and used the proceeds to found a $94 million endowment with a mission to impact health in our region. “We don’t know what this is going to cost, and we are so thankful for the Lend A Hand group,” said Amy. Since its founding, Dakota Medical Foundation has invested more than $72 million on health initiatives and fund strategies that strengthen the results of 400 other nonprofits in North Dakota and western Minnesota. “Our goal is to maximize people’s generosity because, ultimately we want to rally that team spirit the Bison have as a community, and be that community that cheers on the McKinnon family and provides them with hope and financial help to get them through this tough time,” said Peinovich.

“I take it day-by-day. Each treatment I go to, I feel better,” concluded Jeff with a smile with Amy sitting next to him. “When I started feeling sick, we used to have a routine, I’d do this, she’d do that, and everything kind of got out of whack. Now, we just try to keep as much routine as we can. The kids know dad needs to get his nap in, and I’ll get a nap in today before going to the [homecoming] parade. It’s

nice that they’re seeing me feel better than I was before.”

Amy agreed. “The kids have pretty much taken the philosophy that dad’s tough, he’s going to kick this. That’s been their mentality.”

When people talk about Bison Pride and Bison Tradition, this means more than any banner or national championship trophy. This isn’t just at the heart of the Bison family, this is the Bison family. “The Bison family, that’s what kind of things that keep it going,” said Hager, who won four national championships at NDSU, two as a head coach. “Jeff, coming into being a Bison, was a very positive young man, so it’s not surprising that he’s holding to that positive outlook on things as they’re going through this.”

For their part, Jeff’s cancer diagnosis has brought home what Bison Pride means.

“Bison Pride. It’s interesting. Bison Pride means a lot when you’re playing, but you realize how much more real it is when you’re done because you really see it then. I don’t know you can really conceptualize how big it is when you’re playing.

Knowing that there are all these guys and families that are going to be there through thick and thin no matter what. It’s authentic, people are going to be there when things are going well and when things are a challenge.”

To Amy, it’s the true strength of the Herd. “For me, it’s the strength of the Herd. It truly is the strength of the Herd because all of these guys are behind Jeff and they’ve been there for Jeff.”

TEAM MAKERS VIEWING SITES AND DISCOUNT PROGRAM Find out where the preferred viewing sites are in Fargo and beyond. Also, we tell you where you can get discounts just for being a Team Maker.

The Discount Program Members must present their NDSU Athletic Fund Membership card to receive the discount at these participating locations.

Jocks & Jills – Charlotte, NC Knickerbocker Liquor Locker Randy’s University Diner Sickies Garage

Applebee’s Candlewood Suites

SideStreet Grille & Pub

Not only do Team Makers fuel athletic success at NDSU, they are also rewarded for their generous contribution to athletic programs. The Team Makers Hospitality program features two elements for Team Maker members. The first is official viewing sites in Fargo and beyond. Team Makers features a list of great places to watch NDSU football. Some of these locations (known as preferred viewing sites) offer door prizes to those

Team Makers watching.

Second is the Team Makers discount program.

As long as you show your Team Makers member card at participating businesses, you are entitled to a discount.

Find out more about these viewing locations and discounts spots on the following pages. Then, take advantage of these phenomenal Team Maker benefits!

BJ’s Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas hosts watch parties for every NDSU football game.

Spirit Shop

Chieftain Event Center – Carrington, ND

The Delta Hotel by Marriott

Divots, Inc

TMI Hospitality

Element by Westin

Town Hall Bar (no specials)

Herd & Horns Bar & Grill Holiday Inn

Wilkin Drink & Eatery – Breckenridge, MN (during games, burgers only)

Homewood Suites

Woody’s Bar & Grill

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Preferred Viewing Sites: 1 | Buffalo Wild Wings 1515 19th Ave N Fargo, ND 58102 6

2 | Side Street Grille & Pub 404 4th Ave N Fargo, ND 58102

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3 | Woody’s Bar & Grill 1550 32nd Ave S Fargo, ND 58103 4 | Applebee’s 2350 45th St S Fargo, ND 58014 5 | Barcode Bar & Grill 835 23rd Ave E West Fargo, ND 58078

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The difference: Preferred locations offer a chance to win door prizes provided

by Team Makers during Bison football season

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6 | The Blarney Stone Pub 1910 9th St E West Fargo, ND 58078 7 | Chub’s Pub & Package Place 421 N University Dr Fargo, ND 58102 8 | Divot’s Inc. 19 Golf Course Rd Fargo, ND 58102 9 | Herd & Horns Bar & Grill 1414 12th Ave N Suite F Fargo, ND 58012 10 | Sickies Garage 3431 Fiechtner Dr S Fargo, ND 58103 11 | Town Hall Bar 103 Main Ave W West Fargo, ND 58078

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Knickerbocker Liquor Locker – Hickson, ND 412 Main Ave Hickson, ND 58047

The Boardroom Sports Bar & Steakhouse 51 W Dry Creek Ct Littleton, CO 80120

The Chieftain Sports Bar & Grill 60 4th Ave S Carrington, ND 58421

Buffalo Wing & Rings – Minot, ND & Bismarck, ND 910 24th Ave SW Minot, ND 58701

Wilkin Drink & Eatery 2020 508 Minnesota Ave Breckenridge, MN 56520 Audubon Liquor Store 445 Main St Audubon, MN 56511 Big Erv’s Bar & Grill 412 Main St Horace, ND 58047

Cedar Creek Pub 2100 North Ursula St Aurora, CO 80045 Dooley’s Pub 255 1st Ave SW Rochester, MN 55902

Dusty’s Tavern 620 Front St Casselton, ND 58012 Jocks & Jills 4109 South Stream Blvd Charlotte, NC 28217 Joe Senser’s Kitchen Bar 4217 American Blvd W Bloomington, MN 55437 Mueller’s Main Street Saloon 112 Main Ave E Rolla, ND 58367 Nordic Lounge 319 1st St SW Ulen, MN 56585

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Pit 611 – Audubon, MN 15057 Co Hwy 11 Audubon, MN 56511 ProzSports Bar & Grille 101 6th St NE Devils Lake, ND 58301 TJ’s Booze & Bistro 21105 Co Hwy 22 Detroit Lakes, MN 565601 Tom & Jerry’s 201 W Lake St Chisholm, MN 55719 Velva Star City Golf Course 4525 Hwy 41 N Velva, ND 58790

Official Viewing Sites: Oxbow Country Club 40 Clubhouse Drive Oxbow, ND 58047 Wild Pitch – Frisco, TX 2390 Parkwood Blvd Frisco, TX 75034 The Brixton – Shops at Legacy – Plano, TX 5741 Legacy Dr Plano, TX 75024 Concrete Cowboy – Dallas, TX 2512 Cedar Springs Rd Dallas, TX 75201

Clutch Bar – Dallas, TX 2520 Cedar Springs Rd Dallas, TX 75201 The Hub Sports Bar – Addison, TX 4145 Belt Line Rd Addison, TX 75001 Tight Ends Sports Bar – Plano, TX 5584 TX-121 Plano, TX 75024

RT. O’Sullivan’s Sports Grill – Mesa, AZ 6646 E Superstition Springs Blvd Mesa, AZ 85206 Scruffy Duffy’s – Plano, TX 5865 Kincaid Rd E8 Plano, TX 75024 Ty’s Lodge – Devils Lake, ND 318 Shelvers Place Devils Lake, ND 58301

The Backfield Bar – Tolna, ND 101 Main St Tolna, ND 58380 Ringo’s Pub – Plano, TX 5865 Kincaid Rd Plano, TX 75024

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Meet Your 2018 Bison Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees NDSU Welcomed Six Individuals To Its 47th Class Of Inductees On September 21

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Kevin Bloom • NDSU Football (1990-1993)

Bloom was named second team AllAmerican two straight seasons by the Football Gazette and CM Frank AllAmerican squads. NDSU won three straight NCC rushing crowns behind his blocking and went 24-8 over those three seasons. Was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter at offensive guard. Graduated from NDSU in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He was the lead recruiter at NDSU for 3M, the NDSU/3M university relations team leader and currently serves on the NDSU Mechanical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board.

Zaundra Bina

• NDSU Head Volleyball Coach (1995-2005) • NDSU Assistant Volleyball Coach (1989) • NDSU Volleyball Player (1982-1985) Bina was the 1998 Tachikara/AVCA Division II Coach of the Year, 1998 Tachikara/AVCA Region Coach of the Year, Three-time North Central Conference Coach of the Year. Bina led North Dakota State to nine straight NCAA Division II tournament appearances from 1995-2003 including a national runner-up finish in 1998. NDSU won four North Central Conference championships.

Compiled a 257-119 record for a .684 winning percentage in 11 seasons at North Dakota State including a 33-4 record in 1998. Bina was also a twotime all-conference player, earning conference MVP honors as a junior.

She is currently an account executive for the Village Business Institute where she is responsible for new business development and customer retention.

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Jane (Loskot) Wick

• NDSU Women’s Track & Field (1993-1997) Wick was a twelve-time NCAA Division II All-American, including eight relays and four individual events. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, she placed 4th in the 100 hurdles in 1995 and 8th in 1996, and finished 7th in the 200 meters in 1996.

Wick was an ember of four North Central Conference Indoor and four NCC Outdoor championship teams. NDSU placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Indoor each season including a third place finish in 1995. The Bison also placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Outdoor including a sixth place finish in 1996. She still ranks in the NDSU career top 10 in six events. Since 2006, she has been with Workforce Safety & Insurance, and is the education and special programs manager responsible for developing safety and education programs and grants for employers in the state of North Dakota to help reduce occupational injuries and illnesses.

Mike Peschel • NDSU Baseball (1999-2003)

Peschel is the baseball program’s all-time leader with 24 wins (24-10). He also set career records for starts (38), complete games (25), shutouts (5) and strikeouts (265). His 1.40 ERA in 2002 was secondbest in school history. Compiled a 36-17 record and 4.33 ERA over six seasons (2003-2008) in the Northern League for the F-M RedHawks and was named to the club’s 10th Anniversary Team. Currently plays for an amateur baseball team, the Moorhead Brewers and is a Managing Broker for Kilbourne Commercial Real Estate.

Denver TenBroek • NDSU Basketball (1999-2003)

TenBroek was a 2003 Division II All-America third team by The Basketball Times. Also a Three-time NABC AllNorth Central Region, including twice on the first team. Graduated as NDSU’s all-time leading scorer with 1,813 points and single-season scoring record holder with 666 points as a senior. Career-high His 43 points at Augustana as a senior still ranks seventh in school history. Led the Bison to a 20-11 record and fourth place in the NCC as a senior, the best finish in his four years under three different head coaches. Played professionally in Australia and Finland from 2004-06. He was the SEABL MVP in Australia in 2006. Currently works for Stryker Surgical.

Kris Nelson

• NDSU Wrestling (1995-2000) Nelson was an NCAA Division II national champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2000. Was also a three-time NCAA Division II All-American. A vital member of the 1998 and 2000 NCAA Division II national championship teams coached by National Wrestling Coaches Association and Bison Athletic Hall of Famer Bucky Maughan. Spent nine years on the NDSU wrestling staff, his last five as a full-time assistant. Nelson was named head wrestling coach at Minnesota State Moorhead in July 2009. Competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Nelson has coached five All-Americans, several national qualifiers and more than a dozen NSIC All-Academic selections.

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By Michael Sheppard

we will play on ESPN someday” those were the prophetic words... hep...we will play on ESPN someday,” those were the prophetic words Coach Bohl said to me while we picked up trash on the sidelines of Dacotah Field.

Spring cleaning in 2003.

Coach Bohl was in his first few months on the job and this was the first of many visionary conversations we had together. Both of us were admittedly frustrated to be poking stray pieces of paper and not watching film or discussing defensive strategy, but unprompted he paused, looked me in the eyes, and in one sentence clearly articulated that our program would set its sights on becoming one of THE biggest stories in college football.

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As Bison student athletes, we are spoiled with great leadership. Gene Taylor made what had to be one of the toughest decisions of his life in choosing Coach Bohl over Coach Bradley. I can’t image how tough it was on Coach Bradley, remaining as defensive coordinator after pursuing the head job. And here I was in the middle as a part of the hiring process, being very close to both Gene and Gus. To put it in perspective, I viewed Gus as the best father figure I had in my life. When my sister (guardian) went to war, Gus was on the paperwork to watch after me. Since the day Gene was hired, we spoke almost daily through good and bad, and he selected me as president of SAAC. He was also an extremely important mentor in my life and I try to emulate his leadership today.

And there we were, with all the minutiae and whirlwind of emotions that come from

a 2-8 season that included many season ending injuries to All-American team leaders. Some of the best minds in football had to find a way to compartmentalize their pride, set aside their differences and find synergy to usher the tradition of the program into FCS football.

Not once was the stress of this coaching transition put on the players. Most programs would have their rebuilding years having their prior coaches go on to successful careers in the NFL. Not the Bison. From the recruiting trip to your first play on the field you are indoctrinated with championship habits, work ethic and mindset. When adversity presents itself, as it always does, the Bison rise up.

Great leaders see the forest through the trees. At the time the forest was dense, but the vision was clear. Be the program fans want to

see, players want to join and opponents fear. While this was always the goal, it was relative to the beholder. Now I think big, but at the time, big to me was more regional TV games (with cameras clear enough to tell an eight from a six on film) and I was excited we had one against Montana.

The funny thing is I still remember when our whole team got in front of a TV and waited for the NDSU name to scroll across the bottom of the ESPN screen showing the score of the Northwest Missouri State game in 2000.

We all cheered with pride.

I was a freshman, thinking I made it because I was on ESPN for 1.3 seconds in the form of a scrolling score.

That season, we were a game away from a real ESPN feature for the championship game. It was a formative season for how to compete at a high level.

Now what was Coach Bohl’s big vision. College Game Day? Three straight National Championships? I wouldn’t put it past him that he thought the program would one day do this and more and I’ll tell you why.

It’s a cold Saturday morning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I wake up excited to watch NDSU compete in their first FCS championship game.

It was bitter sweet as most of my friends and former teammates traveled down but I was unable to. After breakfast the kids wander off to watch cartoons and I wander off to GoBison.com.

There’s a link to the team’s activities on Friday. The media team did a great job of creating engaging videos of the bowling, charitable work and other activities that the team went through.

This link took me to the final walkthrough practice.

As I saw the current players address the former players, the emotions of that symbolism, the power of that message, the thoughtfulness of the homage paid, it brought me to tears. It just seemed like everything was done in deja vu format. As if the dream of this historic run had already been lived. At every turn the momentum was captured and nurtured.

The standard raised. The expectations met. The tradition carried along.

NDSU Records At Careers End Single Season • Tied for 1st All-Time unassisted tackles (53. Record previously held for 34 years) • Tied for 3rd All-Time in blocked kicks (2) Career • 1st All-Time unassisted tackles (111) • 2nd All-Time blocked kicks (4) • 1st All-Time fumble return TDs (2) • Tied for 3rd punt return touchdowns (2, on blocked punts, Sheppard was never a returner. The only non-returner in the top 5) • 2nd longest fumble return for touchdown ever (69 yards)

We went from “we will be in ESPN someday...” to making the opening trailer of College GameDay. Excited to witness where we go from here.

Currently Single Season • Tied for 4th blocked kicks (2) • Tied for 5th unassisted tackles (53)

Michael was a Bison team captain and the first black and first football player to be Student Athletic Activities Council (SAAC) President.

Career • Tied for 2nd blocked kicks (4) • 16th All-Time unassisted tackles (111) • Tied for 1st All-Time fumble return touchdowns (2) • Tied for 4th punt return touchdowns (2) • 2nd longest fumble return for touchdown ever (69 yards)

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By Landon Jochim

Anchor hen I think about the best memories that I had as being a Bison, the one that really sticks out in my mind is at Indoor Conference in 2017 at South Dakota State.

Track & Field gets a lot of attention at NDSU because of how successful the men’s and women’s teams are. In comparison to some of the other sports like football or basketball, it pales in comparison. I think this story isn’t very well known and hasn’t been told to the Bison masses. Especially because of who it was against and where it took place, it couldn’t get much sweeter.

The men’s team race for the Summit League Indoor Championship was very close the whole weekend. Us 134

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and SDSU would trade small victories in different events.

One team scoring higher than the other in one event, and then the other team doing better in a different event. It was neck and neck the whole meet. Finally, it was nearing the end of the last day of competition on Saturday when the final events were being tallied up.

Sure enough only ½ of a point separated NDSU and SDSU 184 to 183.5 respectively.

There was only one more event to be run, the 4x400 relay. Whoever would place higher between NDSU and SDSU would be The Summit League Champion.

Let that sink in for just a second, everything else up to this point didn’t matter, it all boiled down to one final event on the last day of competition. There was almost a helpless feeling for the rest of the athletes not a part of the 4x400 because they did everything they could as individuals to help

the team. Now, in a sport that seems so individual, they needed their teammates to come through and beat the Jackrabbits in one final relay to be crowned The Summit League Champions.

the other guys on the team trying to get us jacked up before the race. But there was a sort of calm over us four guys, we didn’t need to be too jacked up, we were ready.

I was fortunate to be one of the four guys in that relay, along with Jacob Richter, JT Butler and Byrne Curl. Before the race, when we realized that it would all boil down to us in the final event, we gathered up and just looked at each other and didn’t really say anything. Nothing needed to be said. What more can you ask for as an athlete? In your arch rival’s house, with the Summit League Championship on the line, winner take all? Those are the moments you dream of. We all knew that it would take everything we had and nothing less. Coach Larson didn’t need to say anything either, he knew that this group of guys were the ones capable of bringing it home.

Of course, I remember all

As the official marshalled us to the start line, Jacob Richter would lead off. The Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex was absolutely roaring before the relay had started when they announced this race would decide the champion.

The chants for SDSU were very loud, without a doubt the loudest track meet I’ve been at. I could even see some of the SDSU athletes filling Jacob Richter’s ear with words before he ran.

I was positioned not far behind him and was looking at the faces of my teammates on the infield, the ones that stick out in my mind were Ryan Enerson and Alex Renner. Ryan seemed to be saying a prayer of some sort before the gun went off, and Renner had his hands on

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his head just pacing around.

That almost made me laugh.

I thought to myself, are you guys seriously that worried?

Come on, this is the 4x400, the last event, and we are the Bison. When we are in situations like this, NDSU rises to the occasion. We are Champions.

almost deafening. Whichever athlete crossed the line in front of the other would win his team the title. I rounded the corner and was now on the backstretch, I don’t recall much of the rest of the race.

But, I do remember seeing Couch St. Clair on the infield screaming.

The gun went off. Jacob got out hard, but not as hard as he probably should have.

I didn’t worry. Jacob was never one to come out super hard in the 400 but I knew he would finish with the best of them, and he did. He handed off to JT Butler pretty much even maybe even a step ahead of SDSU. JT was the most consistent guy in this group. You knew what you were going to get from him, and him being a 100200 guy, I knew he would run a strong, conservative leg. SDSU had the lead for most of his leg but JT had a great final charge and handed off to Byrne Curl just behind the Jackrabbits.

Byrne was now up, he came out real hard side by side with the SDSU runner, and he remained in that position for the majority of his leg, but he ran very smart. Letting the SDSU runner do all the work one stride ahead of him and tucking right in behind.

Until the last 50 meters when Byrne swung wide and passed him just before handing me the baton.

I came around the final corner with only 80 some meters to go. The crowd was still loud, but not as loud.

They knew it was over. This time it was the NDSU fans doing the yelling. I crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of the SDSU runner.

We were the champions. I gave Richter a nice hug as we usually did after races together. And looked up to my dad in the stands. All of a sudden I was being mobbed by the rest of the team. On the track was both men’s and women’s teams together, celebrating. Both teams were Summit League Team Champions again.

It was the anchor leg, the glory leg as some say. And since I got the baton just before the SDSU runner my first thought was similar to what happened with Byrne.

Will the SDSU runner sit behind me and then make a move at the end? Should I let him have the lead and then pass him at the end?

No, something told me right when I got the stick, hammer it. I went out hard.

As I rounded the corner and passed all the athletes on the infield and all the fans in the stands the noise was

This was without a doubt one of, if not the greatest, moment in my time at NDSU. There was no greater feeling of bringing the baton across the line to secure the win.

But my leg of the relay was only a tiny portion of what happened that weekend.

Every single event, every single place, it all mattered.

And if anything before us would have been different, the outcome wouldn’t have been the same. Everyone was a part of that victory and I felt at that moment, on that track, while we were all together, it was our victory.

Jochim, a product of Bismarck Century High School, ran track for the Bison from 2014 until graduation in 2018. He was the Summit League indoor champion in the 400-meter dash in 2015. Jochim still holds a share of the school record in the outdoor 400-meter dash and is the school’s sole record holder for the indoor 400-meter.

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Herd & Horns A place for the Bison to meet, greet, eat and celebrate.

Located on 12th avenue in Fargo, Herd and Horns is just a few steps away from the campus of North Dakota State University.

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With numerous televisions throughout the restaurant, there is not a bad seat in the house to watch the Bison game.

Did you know Herd and Horns has a private party and conference room?

Book your next event there.

With 21 tap handles, Herd and Horns is perfect if you're liking to diversify your brew of choice.

While Herd and Horns does give off a cool, sports bar vibe, all ages are welcome to come.

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Unlike the usual sports bar, Herd and Horns allows you to enjoy food, drinks and conversation with friends without having to yell over others in the establishment.

Owned and operated

by NDSU alumni, Herd and Horns is always up to throw a big Bison party.

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With a spacious set-up, you can sit and enjoy your food and beverage comfortably. There is patio seating too.

Herd and Horns Bar & Grill 1414 12th Ave. N, Fargo 701-551-7000 herdandhorns.com Hours Mon-Wed: 11 am – Midnight Thu-Fri: 11 am – Midnight Sat: 11 am – Midnight Sun: 11 am – Midnight

If you look around Herd and Horns you'll even find some old covers and photos from Bison Illustrated.

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the ross

Report

Great Italian and American cuisine!

Fine family dining

Great Daily Deals offered Monday - Sunday! $6.99 lunch special M-S Kids eat free on Sunday Happy hour M-S from 4-6 PM

BY ross uglem I’m sure some of you know me, but there’s probably a larger number of you who don’t. My name is Ross Uglem and I’m the newest member of the Bison Illustrated team at Spotlight Media.

I grew up in a small town in North Dakota. Northwood might’ve had 1,200 people in it when I was a younger kid, but it’s probably closer to 800 now.

Northwood, 35 miles west of Grand Forks, is deep in Fighting Hawks territory.

That was never an option for me though, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My father, Bruce, played football for the Bison (however briefly) in the 70s, and both he and my mother, Jonal, attended North Dakota State during their undergrad. I’m even old enough to remember events at Dacotah Field, but the Fargodome is where I found football and fell in love.

Open daily at 11 1001 30th Aveune South Moorhead, MN

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Unfortunately, my dad’s athletic gifts made a very late appearance in my genes, and for most of junior high and high school, football wasn’t an option

for a 5-foot-6, 130-pound kid. I found golf instead. I could hit it straighter (and eventually longer) than most, and for all of those who would associate me with NDSU, I actually played golf for the Cobbers across the river. I am technically not a Bison alum (though there are definitely NDSU credits on my transcript).

I majored in Mass Comm there and wrote for the Concordian. My first writing break was for my other football passion. I fell in love with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers because sixyear-old Ross saw the Bison uniforms on his grainy, 1996 TV and didn’t really care when someone corrected him.

They’d go on to win Super Bowl XXXI, and I never looked back.

My Packers writing led to my inclusion in the creation of what was then Scout.com’s only FCS site, BisonReport.

BisonReport focuses on recruiting (now a part of 247 Sports) and as a school-specific site, was a part of a huge network. Gopher Illustrated, InsideCarolina, Hawkeye Insider and...

BisonReport?

What Is

Bison Pride?

Uglem is a native of Northwood, North Dakota, and covers NDSU basketball and football for Bison Report, a division of 247 Sports.

Why was that possible? Why was it financially viable to run a school-specific recruiting and x’s and o’s site whose only topics were about North Dakota State University?

Hint: It’s probably the same reason that this magazine works. Bison Pride.

The first thing I want to clear up is the admission that yes, winning helps.

I cover football and men’s basketball for BR, and since the time that I started, those two sports have accrued five conference championships, a Summit League Tournament Championship, an NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament appearance and three NCAA FCS Championships.

It’s easier to write about a team that’s winning. It’s easier to break down film when players are playing well. More people read

your stuff when the team is winning because everyone is on the bandwagon.

“Bandwagon” is a rough word, and NDSU has an extremely loyal fan base, but that fanbase is much bigger than it was when I was a kid, or even when I was in college during the Steve Walker/Joe Mays years.

Bison Pride, though, is more than that.

It is more than a bunch of people that are really excited about a program and a

university because it wins all the time.

It’s a bunch of people excited about a program and a university because it represents them, and it represents them well.

Fargo, the Red River Valley and the state of North Dakota are full of hardworking people. Despite a booming economy and quite literally feeding the rest of the country through agriculture, North Dakota is largely overlooked.

People want to feel that.

“Us against the world.”

It’s sometimes funny to watch. Nick Saban and Bill Belichick do it all the time, even though they run the most successful organizations in all of football. They convince their players (and their fans) that everyone is out to get them and they never catch a break.

NDSU is in a unique position that way.

While strictly based on

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“Us against the world.” success against their peers, NDSU is more successful than both the Pats and ‘Bama. That may be a wild way to look at it but they’ve won six of the last seven national championships. The Patriots only have five Super Bowls in their team’s history and Alabama has just five championships since 1992. Those are both incredible feats, but they aren’t six titles in seven seasons. The argument can, of course, be made that the FCS is not the highest level of college football.

That’s where “us against the world” or “nobody believes in us” comes in for a program even as successful as North Dakota State’s. That’s where Bison Pride comes into play.

More than anything, in my opinion, Bison fans love beating “the big guys.”

Minnesota, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa, Iowa State, Colorado State—these are all

fanbases who, at best, were welcoming hosts and, at worst, spoke of NDSU’s football program as “JV” or “High School,” but they were all defeated in the same manner: with toughness.

(The same goes for men’s hoops over Wisconsin, Marquette and Notre Dame, women’s basketball over Minnesota, big wins from softball, baseball and track and field, but it’s football season so that’s the example I’m using).

When the farmer from Hatton picks up a Bison Illustrated and reads about how Luke Bacon and Landon Lechler wake up at the crack of dawn and hit the weights with Coach Kramer, stick to their nutrition plan, go to practice and succeed in the classroom they can identify with that. North Dakotans and people of the Red River Valley understand hard work. They work hard.

When they see the success on the field, on the track and on the court, they throw on their Green and Gold because they are represented by these studentathletes. They are represented by the

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program and by the University.

When you see NDSU ranked highly in these “top 25 tailgates” or “top 25 gameday experience” lists, the writers aren’t being “cute” or “meta.” The Fargodome game day experience is truly incredible. I’ve tailgated everywhere from Manhattan to Iowa City to the Rose Bowl and NDSU is a special place.

If you don’t believe that because the Bison tailgate is the only one you’ve ever known, please know that your standards are set extremely high.

Why is that possible? Why is BisonReport possible? What about Bison Illustrated? Herd and Horns? In a market like Fargo with an athletic budget as small as North Dakota State’s how does that work? Bison Pride.

I’m proud to bring you all stories and perspective on NDSU athletics and super proud to be the newest part of the team here at Spotlight.

Go Bison!

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slaubaugh's

scoop

BY DAN SLAUBAUGH Slaubaugh is a Bismarck, N.D., native and is currently a senior at North Dakota State University. Slaubaugh has spent time as an intern for NDSU athletics.

Easton Stick,

Bison three-headed rushing attack off to red-hot start It’s not entirely inaccurate to describe North Dakota State’s rushing attack as downright mauling.

The numbers come at you fast and stacked on top of one another and it’s a bit dizzying. Although it’s a small sample size, the Bison are seventh in all of FCS football in yards per carry (7.48 yards) and 21st in yards per game (296.7). The team’s 890 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the ground through three games is impressive, and one could argue they’d be higher on the statistical offensive leaderboard if they didn’t ease up on the gas in the second half.

Lance Dunn along with junior Ty Brooks.

Here are the stat lines through three games for the triple threat of Bison rushers: • Bruce Anderson – 32 rushes, 264 yards, 8.2 yards per attempt, 3 TD • Lance Dunn – 23 rushes, 158 yards, 6.8 yards per attempt, 3 TD • Ty Brooks – 24 rushes, 138 yards, 5.7 yards per attempt, 0 TD

It begins with a three-headed monster at the running back position with seniors Bruce Anderson and

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Trying to find carries for all of his talented running backs is a good problem for head coach Chris Klieman to have, who certainly wasn’t planning to pull redshirt Seth Wilson for the final eight contests due to several injuries at the running back position last season.

Having three dependable running backs also likely helps each one of them. With three-plus carrier options on the sideline, there’s too much talent not to keep guys fresh by relying on one pair of legs.

Their variations of style might affect the defense a little bit, in terms of the type of runners that each one of them are, what their skill sets and strengths are may affect a defense to some degree. Each running back on the squad provides a unique role and skill set. Dunn, who was on pace to set the school's record for touchdowns before sustaining a

hip injury last year, provides the big play, home run ability. Anderson is the bruiser that you want out there when chewing clock, and Brooks is the all-around back that provides you with excellent pass catching ability.

And this isn’t even mentioning senior quarterback Easton Stick, who possesses the ability to move the chains on the ground as well.

Through three games, Stick leads the team with four rushing touchdowns on 96 yards rushing to go along with 490 yards passing, three passing touchdowns and a wildly efficient 157.8 passer rating. While Stick may not be a true run-first quarterback, his mobility and ability to extend plays on his feet gives NDSU’s already supremely talented offense another dimension.

It’s not usual to have this kind of running back depth in the FCS, and offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham has done a good job of utilizing each player.

“Because of the way we practice, we can get a lot of reps. We do double reps, lots of 11 on 11, so it gives those

guys a lot of opportunities to touch the ball,” Messingham told Bison Illustrated on media day. “The other thing is that you need guys that are bought into the team concept.

Sometimes you have to learn and get better from other guys so when you get that opportunity, you take it.”

A noteworthy ploy in keeping the talented, versatile trio consistently involved offensively is sprinkling them in the passing attack. While they aren’t Stick’s primary targets, we’ve seen all three backs line up on the outside every so often this season. Through three games, Anderson, Dunn and Brooks have combined for nine catches, 55 yards, and one touchdown. Now, some of those receptions were small lobs out of the backfield, but the point still stands: Klieman is making a point to get all three weapons involved -wherever that may be.

For as much as I praise Anderson, Dunn and Brooks, the offensive line deserves nearly as much credit.

That includes senior Tanner Volson (preseason All-Missouri Valley selection), Luke Bacon and Colin Conner. Then you have junior Zack Johnson, who was also a preseason All-Missouri Valley selection. Last but not least, sophomore Dillon Radunz is in his first season as the full-time starting left tackle after missing last year due to injury.

The Bison are not only loaded on the line this season, but for years

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“Now, envision a defensive coordinator having to scheme a way to slow this offense.

That doesn’t sound like much fun.”

to come as well. Their constant stockpiling of offensive linemen has become a vital recruiting tactic in recent years.

NDSU’s offense has become a well-oiled machine. The better the rushing attack is, the more opposing defenses will get worn down. Then, Easton Stick, Darrius Shepherd, Dallas Freeman, Desmond Cain, Ben Ellefson and the other weapons can attack and really look to open up the field.

While Stick and his young receiving core continue to learn each other, they can be rest assured that their ground game will be effective. Don’t expect a single guy to reach 200 carries this season, but if he does, it’s because he earned them.

Now, envision a defensive coordinator having to scheme a way to slow this offense. That doesn’t sound like much fun.

I’m Dan Slaubaugh and this is your Slaubaugh Scoop.

Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful October. Go Bison.

*All stats are accurate as of September 24, 2018.

SWANY SAYS once a bison, always a bison FOLLOW @swany8

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

he importance of the Bison family hit home talking to Jeff and Amy McKinnon.

Listening to their story the Friday of homecoming week at Herd and Horns – as detailed earlier in this magazine, and Jeff’s battle with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer – was a testament to the truths that serve as the bedrock of Bison Pride.

One of the things Jeff mentioned was that his head coach, Rocky Hager, reached out after learning about the cancer diagnosis. If there were a Mount Rushmore for North Dakota State football, Rocky would be on it. It’s not because of the two national championships Hager won in undefeated seasons in 1988 and 1990, or the two more he won as an assistant coach in 1985 and 1986. No, it was the fiery and unapologetic way Rocky cared about NDSU and the Bison. He never shied away from that passion.

The core of that passion was how much Hager cared for his players.

T

Jump online and google “Football America Documentary NDSU.” A ten-minute clip of TNT’s mid-1990s documentary on the North Dakota State versus University of North Dakota rivalry comes up. Seconds 156

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into the video, there’s an indelible image of snow fiercely howling across a frigid Dacotah Field. And then Hager’s voice. “It’s good Bison weather. Ask me where the perfect place to be buried would be, on Dacotah Field on the 50-yard line.”

These days, Hager is the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for The College of New Jersey, a Division III program in the Trenton suburb of Ewing, New Jersey. Hager was responsible for my twin brother, Justin, and myself being “hired” as ball boys for his football team in the 1990s.

For four years, every home game, we paced the sidelines during Bison games at the Fargodome tossing game balls into the officials each play.

We were ball boys when McKinnon was a linebacker. McKinnon knew that because his friend and college teammate, Mikel Kallenbach, is from the same town as we are – Maddock, N.D. Life has a funny way of people crossing paths. Maybe things like that happen for a reason.

The reason the Swany brothers are so heavily invested in and care about NDSU traces its roots to a meeting with Hager setup by Paul Tefft. The reason the McKinnons are so heavily invested in and care about NDSU traces its roots to Jeff being recruited by Hager. The reason the three of us are sitting at a sports bar called Herd & Horns is because of Hager.

When McKinnon told me that Rocky reached out and connected with him upon learning of his cancer diagnosis, it didn’t surprise me. You could hear the respect and love in McKinnon’s voice when talking about his head coach.

While Hager hasn’t coached the Bison since 1996, his love for his former players and this program remains strong. Rocky will always be a Bison, and will always be a central figure to the program’s unparalleled success. You can’t tell the story of NDSU Football without a significant chapter on Rocky and what he means to this university.

On a Monday morning in late September, with his team on a bye week, Rocky and I visited on the phone. We talked about McKinnon, his former players, and the Bison.

“The ties are very strong from the Bison days, in particular when I get news that someone is going through a difficulty, mostly dealing with health,” said Hager explaining why he reached out to McKinnon.

It instantly brought to mind one of the truths that is accepted as a selfevident principle of Bison culture since it was brought here by Dennis

“Izzy” Isrow when he arrived in 1963 from Adams State (Colorado) with Darrel Mudra. In a 2012 interview with Bison Illustrated, only months before his death, Isrow described Bison Pride. “It’s not one little word. It’s not one little thing.

The things that are important, as a statement, are ‘Once a Bison, Always a Bison.’ Tradition. We don’t have to talk about tradition. We know what it is. Maybe somebody can’t explain it, but it has meaning to it. It’s part of your life.” The Bison Football Players Association rallying around the McKinnons. Hager calling Jeff to listen and offer his support. That is Bison Pride. That is Once a Bison, Always a Bison.

When analysts ponder how North Dakota State has won six of the last seven FCS national championships, fourteen total national championships and 34 conference titles, this is the answer.

Isrow was right. It’s not easily defined or explained, but it’s there.

Easton Stick and Nick DeLuca both talked about it after winning last year’s championship against James Madison. “It’s not just the past six or seven years,” said Stick. “It’s been

“together, we are the Bison Family.

When One of us Needs help, we respond.

From the head coach on down.”

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going on for a long time. We’re all very fortunate to be at this place.”

It’s been here going back to the days of Isrow, continuing through the days of Hager and thriving today under head coach Chris Klieman. Hearing the McKinnons talk about how this community and the Bison Family rallying to their support says everything you need to know about Bison Pride. That Bison Pride, that love, is behind every year stitched on the championship banners inside the Fargodome, and in every heart at the tailgating lots on game days. Amy described it as the true strength of the Herd. “For me, it’s the strength of the Herd. It truly is the strength of the Herd because all of these guys are behind Jeff and they’ve been there for Jeff.”

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Hager recruited Jeff to play for the Bison, and remembers sitting down with his parents in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and making a promise all the way back in 1992.

“When I sat down with Jeff, and his mom and dad, and had a cup of coffee and a roll, I told mom and dad that I’d take care of him the same way I’d want my son taken care of,” said Hager. How many coaches would remember that promise 26 years later, thousands of miles removed, and make sure his former player knew that he was there when he was embarking on his toughest fight yet. “I listened to what he had to say, and when he brought up things that were positive, I embraced that he was on the right track. I told him that I loved him, and truth of the matter is I love all of our former players because

they gave so much to us. This is when I get to restate that to Jeff.”

Together, we are the Bison Family. When one of us needs help, we respond. From the head coach on down. Whether it’s the McKinnons, or somebody else, we’re there for each other. And we’ll continue to be there for each other. Because Once a Bison, Always a Bison. That means something. It means everything.

Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on!