Bison Firsts The 1965 national champion Bison.
1965
F
Bison Football Football at NDSU has always been the hottest ticket in town. Whether it was braving the bitter cold to witness a game at Dacotah Field or sliding into your seat inside the Fargodome, Bison football has always run through our community. Outside of a few instances here and there, the Bison have always been one of the most competitive football programs, regardless of what conference or division they are in. This is evident in the program's 16 national titles. However, one can assume that this level of greatness on the gridiron does not happen without first laying a foundation. In the case of Bison football, that foundation was laid by head coach Darrell Mudra in the early 1960s. Taking the helm of NDSU football in 1963, Mudra helped lead the Bison to some successful campaigns in 1963 and 1964. However, 1965 was when the foundation for championship tradition was built. 1965 was the year North Dakota State won their very first national championship in football. Going a perfect 11-0 on the season, the Bison found their way to Pecan Bowl and a date with Grambling State for the title. First, NDSU would have to get through a tough nonconference and NCC slate. This began with a dominant 59-20 win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the season opener. From there, the Bison continued to dismantle opponents, with only
Players celebrate following NDSU's national title win.
two regular-season games ending in a one-score differential. Among these impressive affairs was a 66-8 win over South Dakota and a 41-13 win over South Dakota State. The closest game the Bison had all season was on Homecoming against North Dakota. A rough and tumble game saw the Bison prevail 6-3. Football was different in 1965. Spectators were treated to several battles in the trenches as compared to the air raid, passhappy game we see today. For reference, NDSU quarterback Terry Hanson threw for 548 yards on 77 attempts in 1965. The workhorses were running backs Ken Rota and Vance Conner. Both Rota and Conner tallied over 150 carries on the year with Rota racking up 857 rushing yards. On top of that, Rota was a touchdown machine, finding the endzone 14 times in 1965. Taking on Grambling State for the national title, NDSU's defense was what shined. They limited Grambling State to just 97 total yards with their only score coming on a kickoff return. In the end, Ken Rota's 96 rushing yards and a touchdown was a difference-maker for the Bison, who won 20-7. Celebrating on the field in Abilene, Texas, North Dakota State football was on the map and they haven't fallen off since.
21