Bison Illustrated September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

C O M P L I M E N TA RY

THE NEW REIGN Matt Entz leads North Dakota State into the 2019 season.

CONTENTS

20

COVER STORY 20

2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

With new coaches and faces up and down the NDSU football roster, it’s safe to say there are questions. Will the Bison continue to dominate the gridiron? How will these new faces factor into 2019 and the future of this program? In our yearly football preview issue, let us answer those questions. The Bison way will never change regardless of who has come and gone. NDSU football is back and there is no reason to believe anything will change in 2019.

09/2019

64

87

FEATURES 64

70

RECURRING

BISON SOCCER

80 How Well Do You Know Your Teammate

NDSU VOLLEYBALL

84 Athletics Calendar

Now a sophomore with a wealth of oncourt experience, Kalli Hegerle looks to pace NDSU forward in 2019.

76

8 Editor’s Note

Senior forwards Mariah Haberle and Elyse Huber are going for goal this season.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Coming off great outdoor track seasons, juniors Tim Heikkila and Alex Bartholomay want the same success this cross country season.

82 Pop Quiz 87 Team Makers 90 The Ross Report 92 Slaubaugh’s Scoop 94 Swany Says

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20/20 vision FROM NOLAN P. SCHMIDT

L

Let me preface everything I am about to say with this: I love football season and I look forward to watching North Dakota State's 2019 football season unfold.

However, I think we might have a problem. We're not giving the other fall (and winter) sports enough love.

All of us are so transfixed on football that we fail to realize that high-level sports are being played on North Dakota State's campus on a daily basis. Not only that, each of these teams is poised to be competitive in their respective leagues.

Take soccer for example.

Bison soccer was selected to finish third in the Summit League in their preseason poll. Mike Regan's squad welcomes back six starters from the 2018 team that made it to the Summit League semifinals. They possess arguably the best pure scorer in the conference in Mariah Haberle, who may just win the league's 8

BISON ILLUSTRATED s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9

Offensive Player of the Year award if she continues her play from last year.

Then there is Bison volleyball, who returns all but one player from last season. This year, Jen Lopez features only one senior on her roster, but her junior and sophomore classes are as experienced as any in the country. With this level of experience, there is no reason to believe they will not be competing for a conference title by year's end. In fact, I'd go on record and say they do.

To round out the fall sports, we cannot forget about the golf and cross country teams. While the fall is a preparatory time for men's and women's golf, one cannot be impressed by their talent moving forward. Andrew Israelson tied for first at the conference meet last year. Van Holmgren had a tremendous offseason, performing well at the U.S. Amateur. Taylor McCorkle

FROM THE EDITOR

and Maddie Herzog have the potential to be the best onetwo punch in the league on the women's side.

As for cross country, they welcome back Kelby Anderson, the Summit League's runner-up, on the women's side. Anderson has the talent to be one of the best distance runners in school history. For the men, Evan Kottsick, Alex Bartholomay, Tim Heikkila and touted freshman Isaac Huber are all in line for big years.

That is not even touching on the winter sports that will be played as the football season wears on. The women's hoops team opens up a new era with head coach Jory Collins, who looks as good as advertised. He will be the one to turn this program around and there are reasons to believe the women will be competitive in the Summit League this season. They also welcome huge basketball names like Iowa State, Wisconsin and Wyoming to the SHAC this season.

The men's basketball team is easily the favorite to capture the Summit League this season. It'd come as a shock to this editor if they were not the preseason number one in the league. Vinnie Shahid should also be the preseason Player of the Year too. I'd go on record and say a return trip to the NCAA Tournament is imminent for Dave Richman and company.

They also play some highprofile opponents in Kansas State and Marquette (both winnable games, honestly).

Wrestling is another program who is destined for success in 2019-20. They have multiple guys who can compete for a Big 12 title in Andrew Fogarty, Cam Sykora, Lorenzo de la Riva, Luke Weber and Brandon Metz. If I'm being honest, I don't think Roger Kish has had this many weapons at his disposal in one season.

Finally, the indoor track & field season is sure to impress as usual. North Dakota State track is perhaps the most dominant program on campus with the women winning 12 straight conference titles and the men winning seven Summit League titles.

So, what is my point? There are other things to be excited about outside of football, Bison fans. Yes, football games are awesome and watching this run unfold has been amazing, I am not taking anything away from that. However, we have to recognize that North Dakota State athletics is poised for excellence across the board this year.

This season has the potential to be historic and I believe these teams deserve to be supported properly. So get out to Dacotah Field, the BBF, the Ellig Indoor complex or the SHAC this fall and winter. You may just witness history.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOLUME 13 ISSUE 10 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.

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THE F OO TB A

With new coaches and faces up and down the NDSU football roster, it’s safe to say there are questions. Will the Bison continue to dominate the gridiron? How will these new faces factor into 2019 and the future of this program? In our yearly football preview issue, let us answer those questions. The Bison way will never change regardless of who has come and gone.

NDSU football is back and there is no reason to believe anything will change in 2019.

21

After an offseason preparing, Matt Entz will begin his first season as North Dakota State’s head football coach.

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Anticipation For The Season To say I’m excited would probably be an understatement. Having practice has been an unbelievable experience for me, trying to get to know our players a little bit better especially on the offensive side. A brand new staff, a relatively new staff from this spring, getting those guys back on the field with the players and trying to take off where we left off in spring.

We’ve had excellent energy, excellent excitement, that’s all there. Are there too many mistakes? Are there some poor reads, some ill-advised decisions on the football field? Of course, but that’s why we call it practice and we’re excited to continue to move forward. The number of young players that are hungry and super excited to kind of cement their spot in Bison football is fun to watch. For the lightbulbs to start going on, especially for some of the second and third-year players that we’re going to have to rely on this year with only 14 seniors coming back.

The 2019 Freshman Class We had 30 kids here over the course of the summer and I think because we had 30 kids here over the summer with coach Kramer and some access time provided by the NCAA, we’ve had an unbelievable transition.

There is probably a handful of kids we could see on the football field this fall in some sort of role on special teams, offense and defense.

As a staff, we’re still continuing to try and decipher who that might be, but there are a number of candidates. I’m really pleased with their ability to learn how we practice, that’s generally the biggest difference that most of these young men experience when they come here. Having the administration’s support and having 30 young freshmen here all summer long has eased that transition and shortened that learning curve for these 30 freshmen.

Defensive Notes Cole Karcz and Matt Biegler are doing outstanding things up front at the defensive tackle position. The tradition of walk-ons here, Matt Biegler fits right into that mix and is going to play a lot of snaps for us over the course of the year. I look forward to seeing him develop and take a bigger role in what we’re doing in Code Green.

Derrek Tuszka, in my opinion, is the best defensive end in the country. Tony Pierce a young man from Florida has really developed over the summer. He has a great snap, great explosiveness and I think he can really provide something to coach Buddha [Williams] in that room. Barty Ogbu

there is a place for him to play for us this year. He has done an outstanding job of getting himself in shape, a dynamic pass rusher. I would think as the season progresses, you’re going to see him utilized in some third-down situations.

Jackson Hankey is doing an outstanding job at Mike linebacker and holding that position down. The thing that you can count on with Jackson is he is going to get us lined up, he is going to close the front accordingly and he’s going to have a great level of communication.

Jabril and Jasir Cox have both taken off where they left off last season and in the spring.

Michael Tutsie is one of our best football players on this football team. It’s not a surprise, dad’s a college football coach, but he is a student of the game. He has unbelievable athleticism and you saw that on some of the big-time plays he made a year ago. His leadership continues to develop and he is similar to the James Hendricks of the world where he is a gym rat for football, he is always around the game. Really look for Michael to have a big season for us.

James Hendricks could probably play four or five positions and in fact, he probably has played four or five positions for us 23

throughout his career. I wouldn’t be surprised if we do try to move him around a bit. If he has to play Will linebacker or play strong safety, he has the knowledge and the knowhow to do that for us.

Offensive Notes The area where I feel we have the most depth is the offensive line. Dillon Radunz, Zack Johnson have both received a number of preseason honors and accolades, but you talk about two guys that have gone into the season with the right mentality. They’re humble, which to me, anytime you have a little bit of humility, it means you’re willing to learn and willing to listen.

I continually always talk about Ty Brooks. A young man that you’re going to hear him before you see him because he’s going to let you know how good he is. That’s just the confidence that he exudes, but also the confidence he creates on the offensive side of the football.

When Ty Brooks is at his best, you can hear about it and the guys on offense know. Adam Cofield has worked on his feet and his ability to work on those jump cuts and I’m really excited about where he’s at. Dimitri Williams, I think you can see playing in the backfield and as a slot receiver as the season unfolds because he has the knowledge of our offense.

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Phoenix Sproles has been appointed the leader of the wide receiver group because he has more reps than anybody and he’s done an outstanding job. Zach Mathis, Braylon Henderson and DJ Baptist at some point during the season it could be something similar to what we did with Phoenix last season where they start to emerge once they have a grasp of a smaller version of the call card.

Team Youth What we lack in seniors we make up for with a great junior class, we have a number of younger players that are hungry and excited to establish themselves as the next wave of Bison football players.

Matt Entz’s Résumé 1998: Illinois College - Defensive Coordinator 1999: Wayne State - Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers 2000: Wayne State - Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers 2001: Wayne State - Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers 2002: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line 2003: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line 2004: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line 2005: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2006: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2007: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2008: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2009: Winona State - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2010: Northern Iowa - Defensive Line 2011: Northern Iowa - Defensive Line 2012: Northern Iowa - Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line 2013: Western Illinois - Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Line 2014: North Dakota State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2015: North Dakota State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2016: North Dakota State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2017: North Dakota State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2018: North Dakota State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2019: North Dakota State - Head Coach

THE CZAR

Associate head coach Randy Hedberg takes on a larger role in the Bison offense.

What Does He Like About The Quarterbacks?

I like the way they’ve competed. All three of the older guys with Trey, Zeb and Noah have all come out and really competed and they’ve done a good job. There has been a really good carryover from this summer and I’m really excited about that.

The 2019 Quarterback Situation In the past, we knew Carson was going to be the guy in ‘14 and when he finished we knew Easton was going to be the guy in ‘16. We didn’t know who the guy is going to be in ‘19 so that’s the difference. We wanted to try and get them equal reps so they can show their talent and see which one is the best out of that group. That was the biggest challenge, just trying to get them equal reps that we can get on video.

Hedberg’s Career At A Glance 1982-1990: Minot State - Head Coach 1990-1998: Central Missouri - Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks and Receivers 1999-2007: St. Cloud State - Head Coach 2008-2013: Southern Illinois - Co-Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks 2014-2018: North Dakota State - Quarterbacks 2019: North Dakota State - Associate Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks

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27

A GOAL ACHEIVED

Tyler Roehl takes the helm of the Bison offense, fulfilling a lifelong goal.

Roehl’s Thoughts On The Transition To Offensive Coordinator It’s been really good. I’ve been preparing for this for a long time now having been here for five years I have had really good mentors in coach [Tim] Polasek and Courtney Messingham and prior to that as a player with Pat Perles.

I’ve surrounded myself with unbelievable coaches and I always say it’s not my offense, it’s our offense. We’re going to do this together.

How Will He Put His Own Fingerprints On The Offense The biggest thing that I am going to preach about is being physical and we’re going to come off the ball with physicality and set the tone each and every game. That’s something that’s not different, but it’s something we’re going preach and hang our hat on. Our goal is to be the most physical team in the nation week in and week out.

Roehl’s Career At A Glance 2010: Concordia College - Running Backs 2011: North Dakota State - Offensive Assistant 2012-2013: Moorhead High School - Defensive Coordinator/Running Backs 2014-2018: North Dakota State - Tight Ends and Fullbacks 2019: North Dakota State - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends and Fullbacks

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THE NEW STAFF

Meet the new coaches that filled out out Matt Entz's staff for 2019.

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Noah Pauley

Grant Olson

Wide Receivers Coach

Linebackers Coach

Previous Stop: Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers coach at Minnesota-Duluth

Previous Stop: Linebackers coach at Indiana State

Dan Larson

AJ Blazek

David Braun

Running Backs Coach

Offensive Line Coach

Defensive Coordinator/ Safeties Coach

Previous Stop: Head Coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Previous Stop: Offensive Line coach at Rutgers

Previous Stop: Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers coach at Northern Iowa

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UNDER CENTER Get to know the new era of Bison quarterbacks.

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#5

Trey Lance Redshirt Freshman Hometown: Marshall, Minnesota Scored two rushing touchdowns in the two games he played in last season. Was named the starter by head coach Matt Entz on August 19.

#8

#16

Junior

Sophomore

Zeb Noland Hometown: Watkinsville, Georgia Played in five games at Iowa State last season, passing for 360 yards and two touchdowns against Oklahoma.

Noah Sanders Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota

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ALLOW US TO REINTRODUCE OURSELVES...

You've heard these names before, but get used to hearing them called on Saturdays.

#52

Jackson Hankey Linebacker Sophomore Hometown: Park River, North Dakota

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#99

Spencer Waege Defensive End Sophomore Hometown: South Shore, South Dakota

#3

#53

#97

Linebacker Senior

Defensive Tackle Senior

Defensive End Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Hometown: Germantown, Wisconsin

Hometown: Bismarck, North Dakota

Jaxon Brown

Cole Karcz

Bartholomew Ogbu

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HUNGRY FOR MORE

Despite two departing seniors, North Dakota State is still loaded in the backfield.

#18

Adam Cofield Junior Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Missouri

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#28

Ty Brooks Senior Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota

#4

Dimitri Williams Redshirt Senior Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota

A Conversation With Adam Cofield With the departure of Lance Dunn and Bruce Anderson, you’re likely to take on a bigger role in the offense this season. How do you make sure you’re successful?

It’s all about preparation and we have a great staff that’s going to prepare our room to go out there and be successful.

How do you take on a leadership role this season?

It’s being able to grow in the program.

Being a junior, you tend to be viewed more as a leader and leading the younger guys.

You had a great sophomore run, how do you build on that this season?

It doesn’t matter what you did last year, it’s about what you do this year.

Going out there and knowing that I can make a difference and being confident. Just going out there and playing football.

How has the transition gone with your new position coach?

He has taken on the role to lead the older guys and the younger guys. He’s doing a great job being able to run the offense and teach us more things we can take to the field and be successful.

#30

Saybein Clark Redshirt Freshman

The running back room seems like a fun room to be a part of with Ty and others. How much fun is it being in a group with those guys?

They’re a bunch of characters. It’s a great time, I’ve been around Ty [Brooks] for a long time and it’s fun to be around them in the meeting rooms and joke around. But we also know when to be serious and go out there and compete against one another.

Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa

39

CODE GREEN’S PULSE Senior defensive end Derrek Tuszka and junior linebacker Jabril Cox lead a seasoned Bison defense.

41

#42

Jabril Cox Junior Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

How has the transition to Will linebacker spot gone for you this season?

It’s been a great process. Mostly getting to know the Sam position as a whole has helped me transition into the Will linebacker. I mostly have all that down right now.

Will this switch keep you around the football a little more?

A lot of time when I’m playing Sam, I’m mostly extended from the box.

Playing Will will keep me in the box and around the ball more.

You’ve been one of the pulses of this defense for a couple of years now. What did you need to improve upon this offseason?

I was focused on the little things more. My footwork, my technique, my breaks to help me get to the ball faster. Just the little things have helped me improve. Being a leader as well. Just communicating to the young guys because game-wise, we are a very inexperienced team. I just want to try and help them out.

You’re a veteran now. As weird as that it is to say, how are you embracing that?

I take great ownership in being a veteran. I know leading by example is a big thing, I’m not much of a talker so having the younger guys see me and what I do, they’ll go ahead and follow that.

You’re up for a quite a few preseason awards and are listed on numerous preseason award teams. Do you make anything of that?

I’m just staying humble with it. I also play with a chip on my shoulder because I know at the end of the day it’s all about the team.

Cox In 2018 • Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year • All-Missouri Valley First Team • STATS FCS All-America Second Team • AP All-America Second Team • Buck Buchanan Finalist • 91 total tackles (9.5 for loss) • Four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns)

43

#91

Derrek Tuszka Senior Hometown: Warner, South Dakota

You have played a lot of reps in your career here. I know you’re a little knicked up heading into the year, how do you make sure you stay 100 percent healthy over the course of the year?

It’s going to be a long season. It’s something that both myself and the coaches have decided it’s nothing to rush back from. It could get serious if I don’t take my time getting back. I’ve just been working back in and using it as a chance to help out some of the younger guys. It’s good for them too because they get to take a few more reps.

That defensive end group is rather young outside of yourself, how do you take those guys under your wing this season?

I’m just helping out any way I can. Just helping teach them the game, learning the defensive scheme and knowing what we need to do every play. Helping out with the little things, details, footwork, all that stuff. Anything that can help them improve their game.

What did you learn from Greg Menard last year in his senior season that you want to bring into 2019?

He was a great leader. It helped that the year he was out, he really taught me the game and I learned a lot from him. Since he wasn’t playing, he had to find a way to really help out the team and he helped me out a lot. I almost learned more from him his junior year and that’s just bringing the young guys along whether you’re out there or not. Teaching those young guys the game and what Bison football is all about.

You were playing some of the best football of your career at the end of last season. How do you pick up where you left off?

Just take advantage of every single rep that I get out at practice. On the defensive line, we go against the best offensive line that we’ll see all year. Trying to get better, watch film and learn from it and what I could have done better.

Tuszka In 2018 • 48 total tackles (12 for loss) • 7.5 sacks • One forced fumble

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THE WOLFPACK

#14

Josh Hayes Cornerback Junior Hometown: Lakeland, Florida

#6

James Hendricks Free Safety Senior Hometown: Bemidji, Minnesota

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#27

Free Safety Sophomore

#25

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Strong Safety Sophomore

Dawson Weber

Michael Tutsie

Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana

#9

Marquise Bridges Cornerback Senior Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

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YOUNG AND HUNGRY

Though young and untested, the Bison wide receivers are eager to make big plays in 2019.

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#11

Phoenix Sproles Sophomore Hometown: New Hope, Minnesota

BISON ILLUSTRATED s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9

#1

Christian Watson Sophomore Hometown: Tampa, Florida

A Conversation With Phoenix Sproles

#17

Zach Mathis Redshirt Freshman Hometown: Tampa, Florida

(Not Pictured)

#12

Braylon Henderson Freshman Hometown: Wylie, Texas

You guys are fairly young across the board at wide receiver. With your experience last season, how do you use that to your advantage?

Just knowing how we prepare for opponents practice wise and then knowing what it's like on game day and in a gameday atmosphere.

How have you stepped into a leadership on this role in the offseason?

I got a couple of defensive teammates that come to me with personal questions. I know I'm here for anyone on our team and just doing my part.

Talk about your chemistry with Trey Lance off the field and how that can translate to success on the field.

Trey [Lance] was my roommate last year and this year again too. He's been my best friend for two, two and a half years now.

I love Trey and what he's done and how he's competing for the quarterback spot.

How did the tutelage of Easton Stick help you prepare for 2019?

Easton [Stick] made everything a little bit better. He explained plays to me, why we do things the way that we do. Having Easton last year really helped me a lot as a true freshman player to feel comfortable in this offense.

(Not Pictured)

#83

DJ Baptist Freshman Hometown: Hutto, Texas 49

VITAL ASSETS

NDSU's "crew chief" tight ends will factor big into the Bison offense in 2019.

#82

Ben Ellefson Senior Hometown: Hawley, Minnesota

#81

Josh Babicz Sophomore Hometown: Barrington, Illinois

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#87

Noah Gindorff Sophomore Hometown: Crosby, Minnesota

A Conversation With Ben Ellefson As one of the few seniors on the offensive side of the ball, do you think you're in an established leadership position this season?

I do believe I am in a position of leadership.

We have a lot of good seniors, good leaders stepping into where those guys left. We lost 24 seniors, so there are some spots to fill and I think we've done a good job of doing that.

There is not a ton of guys on the offensive side of the ball as seniors. Taking that role and helping bring guys along is very important.

With the quarterback position in flux and a new offensive coordinator, do you think the offense will look any different this season?

It's going to pretty similar to what we've done in the past. We'll be very physical in the run game, we've talked about that as an offense. That's going to be very important as well as being dynamic in the passing game.

Experience and things like that aren't going to be an excuse for us, we're going to get the reps we need in order to be successful.

Regardless of who is under center at any given time, how do you involve yourself in the offensive gameplan?

A lot of that is going to come from reps during practice and watching film. Seeing what I can do and a lot of that has come from this offseason either watching NFL film or guys like Zach Ertz or Gronk. Just continuing to learn and play faster and faster while being on the same page as the quarterback is very important.

Like last year, Easton [Stick] and I had a good relationship on the field as well as off the field. Hopefully, I can continue that with either Zeb [Noland], Noah [Sanders] or Trey [Lance]. All of those guys are mature, very talented. Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off.

It's a system, it's a program. Whoever ends up in that position is going to be successful just because of how we do things here.

FOOTBALL OR NOTHING After being granted a medical hardship, junior linebacker Aaron Mercadel looks to make the most of his two years left at NDSU.

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I

njuries happen in every sport. In football, especially, injuries seem to happen each and every snap whether we are conscious of it or not. Whether it's serious or just a bump or bruise, injuries negatively impact what goes on in the field of play.

However many athletes, football players especially will note that sometimes injuries are a blessing in disguise. It tests the will of a person, it examines what kind of perseverance and drive a particular athlete has.

Aaron Mercadel's drive and will to play the game of football was tested in 2018.

After suffering a torn ACL in fall camp last season, Mercadel was forced to the sidelines for the entire 2018 campaign, one that culminated in another FCS national championship for North Dakota State.

Yet, rather than dwelling on the injury and feeling sorry for himself, Mercadel took ownership of his injury and his responsibility to the team. He could often be seen pacing the sidelines for North Dakota State, wearing a headset much like a coach would. Mercadel could also be seen encouraging and laughing with his fellow teammates every chance he got.

"It was a huge part. I think

everything happens for a reason and I learned a lot being in that kind of coaching role. Instead of playing, I was able to see the game from a different lens," Mercadel said. "Being back, I don't take anything for granted, every snap is another opportunity to get better. I just take it one play at a time and do my best and have fun because you never know when it could be taken away from you."

Mercadel was a valuable asset for North Dakota State on defense in 2017 as well as on special teams. The Oakland, California, native accumulated 24 tackles, two tackles for loss and forced a fumble in his sophomore season in 2017. He also made one sack for the Bison that season as well.

Unfortunately, he was unable to build on that stellar sophomore season due to the knee injury last year.

Despite losing a season of competition, Mercadel still understands the importance of special teams and how it translates to success on defense.

"It's just a part of the Bison tradition. You kind of earn your name, earn your keep on special teams and I think that gives you the confidence to play once you get your chance on offense and defense," he said. "That confidence you get the first time you make a tackle on 53

Mercadel At A Glance • Linebacker • Junior • Hometown: Oakland, California • Major: Management and Marketing • - Played in 15 games as a sophomore in 2017 accumulating 24 total tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.

kickoff and the crowd stands up and cheering, that's big for a young guy. It prepares you to mature faster and play those real defensive snaps and lock in and be mature enough to do it."

For better or worse, the Bison have had several players who have torn their ACLs in recent years.

However, those players provided Mercadel with several resources throughout his recovery.

"I talked to a lot of guys in Greg [Menard], Dillon [Radunz], Dan [Marlette], just guys that had torn their ACLs before. Just figuring out what to do for rehab, but the whole team backed me up," he said. "Coaches, teammates, they all had my back and pushed me.

With me being by myself and knowing that rehab is important and you got to get back. I took every step I could to be back 100 percent this season."

The long road to recovery led to a huge payoff for Mercadel, who was granted a medical hardship by the NCAA before the season.

Therefore, rather than being a senior in 2019, he will be a junior again. Mercadel will

then play his senior year in 2020. For him, the news was exhilarating.

"It was really exciting.

Knowing that I can spend one more year with my friends, my family, my teammates. I've made a family with Fargo being home for me now. It was really exciting and it meant the world to me to get that year back," he said. "It was really hard for me so to get that year back and play football. Who wouldn't want another year playing again?"

Now, in 2019, the Bison linebacking corp is as talented a group as any on the roster. Along with Mercadel, they also offer up Jabril and Jasir Cox, Jackson Hankey, Jaxon Brown and Mark Stumpf. With a new position coach in former Bison linebacker Grant Olson, Mercadel has enjoyed his time back on the field with the linebackers.

"Spring ball was really fun just getting to know coach Olson a lot. I knew about him, he was actually at Wyoming when I was getting recruited by them in high school. Knowing who he was and what he did to the program was a

“Being back, I don’t take anything for granted, every snap is another opportunity to get better.

I just take it one play at a time and do my best and have fun because you never know when it could be taken away from you.” huge thing," he said. "The linebackers we can learn a lot from him because on the technical side of things we have a lot of talent. The types of things he knows, once we add that to our game, we're going to be a very talented group of people."

Former linebackers coach and current head coach Matt Entz has high hopes for what the linebacking corp can do for Code Green in 2019. Yet, Entz is incredibly excited to see Mercadel back on the field as well. "He is an unbelievable person, great football player and we're

a part of the undefeated national championship team of last year, he would have much rather been playing than wearing a headset.

really excited about where he's at right now," Entz said.

"He had a great summer with coach Kramer and has picked up from where he left off in 2017."

Nevertheless, his injury happened and it has since come and gone. Now, Mercadel has a new outlook on football, one that takes nothing for granted. Every snap, play and tackle is an opportunity to play the game that he loves and he has been granted an extra year to play that game.

It was not easy for Aaron Mercadel to watch the 2018 season go by. While he was

In the end, that's all that really matters to Aaron Mercadel.

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Famous Moments In Bison Football History

THE BIRTH OF AN FCS DYNASTY January 7, 2012

jumped out early and snagged momentum. A 39yard screen pass from Brock Jensen to DJ McNorton gave the Bison a 10-6 lead. That is when the game’s momentum shifted.

Linebacker Travis Beck stripped Sam Houston quarterback Brian Bell in the fourth quarter and nearly returned it for a touchdown.

Beck was halted at the oneyard line. Jensen capped a quick drive with a one-yard touchdown run. It was now 17-6 Bison and that’s the way it would stay until the end.

Photo By Casey Strasen

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orth Dakota State was fresh off a win over perennial FCS powerhouse Georgia Southern on their home turf.

Up next was the number one team in the country, Sam Houston State, in Frisco, Texas, for a chance at national glory. A win would cement North Dakota

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State’s first national title in the Division I era.

First blood was not drawn until late in the first frame when Bison kicker Ryan Jastram connected on a 19yard field goal. Sam Houston added two field goals of their own to jump on top 6-3 as the first half came to a close.

As the second half commenced, the Bison

It was a game of inches as both teams failed to accrue over 235 yards of offense as a team. In the end, it was the Code Green defense and a little scamper from DJ McNorton that pushed the Bison forward.

Since then, the Bison have won six more FCS national championships in seven years. This was the berth of the dynasty we see today.

THE PECAN BOWL December 11, 1965

Image Courtesy of NDSU Athletics

L

ike the Bison teams of today, the NDSU football teams of the past played their first national title game in the state of Texas.

Suiting up against Grambling College in the 1965 Pecan Bowl, the Bison were boasting a perfect 10-0 record. By game’s end the Abilene, Texas, crowd witnessed one of the most dominant defensive performances of the season.

The Bison held Grambling to just 97 total yards in this Pecan Bowl match-up. NDSU was aided by a Ken Rota five-yard run and a 68-yard touchdown reception by Lowell Linderman before halftime. While Grambling returned the second-half kickoff 93 yards to a score, the Bison would not be denied. Fullback Ron Mische plowed forward for a twoyard score that capped the game for the Bison.

Defeating Grambling 20-7, North Dakota State captured its first national title in school history. The Bison would go on to win two more national titles in the 60s.

NDSU captured titles at the 1968 at the Pecan Bowl and in 1969 at the Camellia Bowl.

2019 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Saturday, August 31

Saturday, October 19

vs Butler Minneapolis, Minn. (Target Field) 3 p.m.

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

Saturday, September 7

Saturday, October 26

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

at South Dakota State (Dakota Marker) Brookings, S.D. 2 p.m.

Saturday, September 14

Saturday, November 2

at Delaware Newark, Del. 12 p.m.

at Youngstown State Youngstown, Ohio 5 p.m.

Saturday, September 21

Saturday, November 9

vs UC Davis Fargo, N.D. 2:30 p.m.

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

Saturday, October 5 at Illinois State Normal, Ill. 12 p.m.

Saturday, October 12 vs Northern Iowa (Homecoming) Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

Saturday, November 16 vs South Dakota Fargo, N.D. 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 23 at Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill. 2 p.m.

bisonshots

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edshirt freshman quarterback Trey Lance rolls out to pass on North Dakota State's first day of fall football practice. Lance, from Marshall, Minnesota, played in two games last season as a true freshman.

Utilizing the four-game redshirt rule, Lance was able to travel all season with the Bison and even rushed for two touchdowns over the course of the 2018 season.

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t

Photo by Nolan Schmidt

Want to contribute?

Email your best photos to: nolan@spotlightmediafargo.com

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bisonshots

s

enior forward Mariah Haberle makes a pass in North Dakota State's opening exhibition against Viterbo. The Bison were tied with the V-Hawks heading into the half before they burst for three goals in the second half.

Haberle netted one of those goals in the 69th minute of the match. The senior from Plymouth, Minnesota, led the Bison in goals last season.

Photo by Nolan Schmidt

Want to contribute?

Email your best photos to: nolan@spotlightmediafargo.com

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K

alli Hegerle has NDSU running in her blood.

Her mother, Shelly, attended and competed in track & field at North Dakota State. Kalli’s father, Erik was a standout football player for the Bison in the early 1990s. To say she was destined for success at North Dakota State might be an understatement given her family’s Bison lineage.

Sophomore Kalli Hegerle looks to help propel NDSU volleyball to the top of the Summit League in 2019.

While Hegerle burst onto the scene for Jen Lopez and NDSU volleyball in her true freshman season in 2018, it almost wasn’t so. Hegerle was originally committed to play volleyball at the University of North Dakota.

Thus, rewriting the Hegerle family history with a lighter shade of green. It was not until Hegerle attended an NDSU camp that she realized that Fargo, her home, was the place to stay.

“I came to camp and I think it was the last day, I met some of the girls and I was blown away. I met Jen and she coached me during my spring volleyball season and she was the assistant coach here,” Hegerle said. “I just loved the girls and I knew I could make friendships that would last a lifetime and I really thought this would be the best place. It just felt like home.”

BY Nolan P. Schmidt • PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen

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Choosing to stay in Fargo and attend North Dakota State proved fruitful immediately for both Hegerle and the Bison. She started in all 29 matches in her true freshman season in 2018. As the Bison’s primary setter, Hegerle racked up 1,001 assists in her freshman season to go along with 255 digs and 63 blocks. Those marks garnered Summit League All-Freshman Team honors.

After that performance, it was more than writing on the wall for Kalli Hegerle.

Not only was she destined to be a star at North Dakota State, her play on the court as a freshman was only affirming that assumption.

Now, she looks to continue that level of success on a 2019 Bison volleyball team that is poised to climb the

Summit League ladder this season.

Most people who watch Hegerle play volleyball know that she has those natural intangibles. Those instincts that you cannot really teach as a coach. So, throughout the offseason, Hegerle has been working with head coach Jen Lopez on the technical side of her game.

“We’re doing a lot more technical work that we couldn’t get done in preseason last year since we just jumped into the season right away,” she said. “Whether it’s defense or hands during setting or blocking work, all those different types of things really improved throughout the spring season.”

Having a resource in Lopez

as head coach is no doubt an added bonus for Hegerle.

Lopez is perhaps the greatest setter in North Dakota State’s history, winning the Summit League Setter of the Year award in 2011. She is only one of two Bison to ever win that award. There is no pondering from Hegerle when asked if Lopez is the best setter in school history.

She is, without question.

“She literally knows so much, it’s insane. If I think I did one thing right, she’ll be like ‘nope, do this’,” said Hegerle of Lopez. “Sometimes it’s frustrating, but it’s awesome that she knows everything and will help me succeed in ways that she knows that I can.”

For those keeping tabs at home, Lopez tallied 494 assists in her true freshman

season in 2008, Hegerle had 1,001 last year. It’s safe to say that Hegerle has the tools and resources to not only win the conference’s Setter of the Year award but potentially amass Lopez in career accomplishments.

Obviously, that’s not the focus of Hegerle. She believes this year’s volleyball team can compete for a Summit League title. While the Bison look incredibly young on paper, sporting only one senior in Abbi Klos, NDSU actually has a wealth of experience. Each returner from 2018 played in at least 13 matches last season. On top of that, seven returners (Hegerle included) played in all 29 matches in 2018. While you see youth on the roster, it certainly does not show on the court.

“We want to win a Summit League championship, that’s our main goal. Honestly, we just want to get better as the season goes on. Last year we had our ups and downs so we want to stay consistent,” Hegerle said. “Bringing mostly everyone back will be awesome because we have girls that have seen the court for one, two and three years now and they’re going to bring a lot. It’s going to be really fun.”

The Bison went 9-20 last season, going 6-10 in conference play. Their biggest feat was upending third-seeded Omaha in the conference tournament. That win has provided this year’s team with the confidence and momentum to perform at a high level all season.

NDSU will see its usual slate

of daunting non-conference opponents to prepare them for the Summit League schedule. A few names to note on this year’s schedule are Pac 12 school California and Tennessee from the SEC. Hegerle sees these tough matches as opportunities for the Bison to grow.

“It prepares us for a lot of things. We’re not going to see as big of teams in our league. We need to go into those games giving it our all,” she said. “Hey, if we pull off a win, that’s awesome. We just know that we can bring it in the Summit League and compete as hard as we did with those bigger teams.”

In order to compete against Summit League opponents and non-conference foes, Hegerle knows the Bison need leadership outside of

their lone senior. Since she is the sophomore with the most on-court experience, she feels it necessary to be the one to help lead the team.

“I want to continue to find my voice whether it’s on the court or off the court. I want to help my teammates succeed and put them in good situations so that they can succeed,” she said.

i want to help my teammates succeed and put them in good situations so that they can succeed.

South Dakota was able to unseat Denver in last year’s Summit League tournament.

Up until that point, the Pioneers had won four consecutive tournament titles. With Denver, South Dakota, Omaha poised to be competitive again this year, Hegerle says the Bison have adopted a different mindset heading into 2019. One that focuses on defense.

“Defense is going to play a big role in if we’re going to succeed this year or not.

Last year we had our ups and we had our downs, but we’ve worked a lot on being defensive-minded. That’s our thing for this year,” she said.

“Defense wins games and defense wins championships so knowing that we’re going to do everything we can to get the ball up, no matter the circumstances is one of our main goals.”

With that as their mindset, Kalli Hegerle and Bison volleyball are ready to ascend to the top of the Summit League. However, if you know Hegerle, it should come as no surprise. She has demonstrated time and time again that she has the skills to become one of the best setters to play at North Dakota State. With three years remaining on campus, the possibilities are endless for Kalli Hegerle.

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BY Nolan P. Schmidt • PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen

Soccer seniors Mariah Haberle and Elyse Huber are making the most of their final season on the pitch.

M

ariah Haberle and Elyse Huber have followed different paths in their collegiate soccer careers.

Haberle has been with North Dakota State since stepping on campus as a freshman in 2016. Huber, on the other hand, has spent the last three seasons in the Big Ten, playing for Nebraska.

She transferred to North Dakota State this past offseason.

Now, the two are not so different.

They both play the forward position, they are both in their final year of

collegiate soccer and they are both seen as a leader on and off the field for the Bison. Those commonalities have continued to bring the two closer together as the offseason and preseason has gone along. With the season now in full swing, both will look to pace a young Bison soccer team.

Haberle is a name Bison fans have heard for several years. She played in all 19 matches her true freshman season, garnering Summit League AllFreshman honors. Haberle was second on the team in goals in her sophomore season. Last year, she led the team in

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with a career-high seven goals and 16 total points. Her prowess on offense landed her on the All-Summit League First Team at the end of the year.

While improving her game in her final season is important, Haberle has a different mindset as this season moves along. “I just have to remember to enjoy it. It’s kind of a bittersweet season because once you go in, after that you’re done. For me, it’s enjoying every single moment, every single game, every single bus ride, those long practices that feel like they’re taking forever,” she said. “I really need to embrace every moment and opportunity that we have together as a team and make sure I set the team up the best way possible for the next season and the years to come.”

One way Haberle has continued to savor her senior year is establishing herself as the leader in the locker room. While the Bison returned six starters from last season’s team, their roster is quite young. In all, head coach Mike Regan is bolstering 15 first or second-year players this season.

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elyse huber

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“It starts with building relationships with your teammates. We had the freshman come in a month early a had them get acclimated to how we do things, the change of scenery. I think they’ve done really well and our whole team that was here this summer did a really good job helping them come in and get comfortable,” said Haberle. “We hung out as a team a bunch and I think that really translates to the field not just as a team but as leaders. You can’t be a winning team without friendships and I think that’s the biggest piece we’ve worked with is growing those relationships and being able to trust each other on the field and off the field.”

Bison soccer had five influential seniors on its roster last year in Malley O’Brien,

Hanna Norman, Mallory Fenske, Holly Enderle and Roxy Roemer. With five seniors on the squad this year, Haberle learned plenty from last year’s senior class that she plans to put into action this year.

“Work ethic as a leader. You are the eyes that everyone looks up to and all the freshmen have told me that they feel like they can ask me questions,” she said. “The biggest piece of being a leader is showing how we do Bison soccer, showing them what it takes to get through a workout, what it takes to win a game. The biggest piece from leadership down is teaching them how we do things.”

North Dakota State had a little more comfortability heading into this offseason and preseason too. Head coach Mike Regan is going into his second season and had his first full offseason with this roster over the winter and spring. Haberle feels that has helped the Bison adequately prepare for the season.

“Mike makes you feel so comfortable and makes you the player you are meant to be. He gives you the confidence to do things that you didn’t think were possible. Confidence is the biggest thing in a soccer player, if you don’t have confidence in yourself, you won’t have confidence in your teammates and then it’s just downhill from there,” she said of Regan. “He works so hard to make sure that everyone had every opportunity to showcase their skills and make themselves known.”

Huber feels the same about Regan, but she admits that confidence is something she was in need of. The senior transferred from Nebraska to North Dakota State this offseason looking for a fresh start. Huber played in 53 matches for the Cornhuskers over the past three seasons. In those three seasons, she

netted eight goals and competed in two NCAA Tournament games.

also teaching you and helping you with whatever you need to be successful.”

Coming into a program as a senior is no doubt a challenge and Huber will be the first to admit that. However, the Bison soccer program made her feel right at home immediately. “It was kind of a hard transition for me because I was coming in as a senior and I had already made a lot of different relationships back at Nebraska,” she said. “I’m really happy with where I ended up and I really like the energy and people’s attitudes here.

They accepted me right away and I really love all the girls on the team.”

As a senior, Huber has taken a certain amount of accountability when it comes to leadership. She says she lets her attitude dictate leadership and feels her attitude rubs off on her teammates.

Her decision to come to NDSU as a transfer was solely based on head coach Mike Regan. A Sioux City, Iowa, native, Huber was coached by Regan in Iowa’s Olympic Development Program. Her previous experience with Regan and his coaching style made NDSU stand out from the crowd of schools recruiting her.

“I had a lot of other schools picked out and I wasn’t really sure where my next school would be. Mike [Regan] actually coached me in ODP when I was about 15 and I always had a really good connection with him,” she said. “I knew he was the coach that could rebuild my confidence and get me to where I need to be academically as well as encourage and support me throughout the entire season.”

Getting acclimated with the team and coaching staff is one challenge as a transfer. The other is being able to make an impact on the field as quickly as possible. Huber notes that her confidence level as a striker is the most important component. “It has a lot to do with confidence, especially being a striker,” she said. “Finishing is all about your confidence and having those people around you to support you and

“I always try to make my presence clear by having the best attitude I can every day and I work my hardest every day when I step out onto the field. Just encouraging and encouraging other girls as well and making sure we’re all on the right path mentally. Staying strong through our lows and the practices and even our highs just maintaining that level of mental stability,” she said.

“I think I bring a lot to that because of my attitude and the places and the past that I’ve been through. I have been through a lot of difficult situations so I think I can bring that kind of help and encouragement to other girls when they’re going through hard times.”

That is not to say Huber does not have her own influences on the team.

She looks to Haberle as a leader and a player that compliments her playing style quite well. “She has a really big impact on my play because she is such a great player and she can make those awesome supporting balls as well as her work ethic and attitude,” she said. “That spreads throughout the field and she is really good at the through balls and finishing and I work really well with her off of that.”

While Mariah Haberle and Elyse Huber may not have arrived on North Dakota State’s campus at the same time, both their paths cross in their senior seasons.

Now, they’ll look to push the Bison to their first Summit League tournament title since 2010.

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Mariah Haberle

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Juniors Tim Heikkila and Alex Bartholomay continue to prove that they belong at North Dakota State.

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s high school seniors, Tim Heikkila and Alex Bartholomay were never on North Dakota State’s radar. In fact, if you ask them, they maybe had no business trying to run for the Bison. Neither won a state championship in high school. Bartholomay’s highest finish at the North Dakota state cross country meet was seventh, Heikkila’s highest Wisconsin state meet finish was fourth.

For whatever was working against them in high school, both showed up at North Dakota State and choose to walk-on to the cross country program. When discussing the pair, Bison cross country coach Andrew Carlson said it best “they just showed up, no visits, nothing. And now, they’re two of our best people.”

Indeed Heikkila and Bartholomay have become two of NDSU’s top distance runners heading into their junior seasons. However, it was never easy for the two. Joining the team as a walkon meant there was no guarantee of anything. Heikkila and Bartholomay had to earn their spots.

“When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to run in college, but I didn’t know where yet. I also wanted to run at a college where I knew I could 78

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contribute and have a role on the team, but not go to such a small school that I wouldn’t be challenged,” Heikkila said.

“NDSU has filled that spot for me. I was able to walk on and have my work cut out for me and learn the program and the guys. Alex and I, we both kind of dove in headfirst and did what we had to do and now we’re here.”

Heikkila hails from Brule, Wisconsin, a town of just 663 people in the northern part of the state. Upon coming to Fargo, Heikkila’s top time in the mile run was four minutes and 33 seconds. In 2018, Heikkila ran a season-best 4:08.75 in the mile, almost a 30-second improvement on his time from high school. For those unfamiliar with that progress, NDSU sports information director for cross country Wes Offerman aptly described it as “inhuman”.

“Being an underdeveloped kid from a really tiny town and not running a lot to tripling your mileage,” said Heikkila on the steps he has taken to improve throughout his NDSU career. “Going from maybe running four days out of the week and not really being that committed and dedicated to running to getting to college and really bulking on the mileage, doing hard workout and running with people who will challenge me.”

A similar yarn can be spun for that of Bartholomay, who admits he did not have Division I caliber times in high school. Yet, he knew of NDSU and was a fan of the school growing up. That alone piqued his interest in attending school in Fargo.

“As long as I can remember, I was a Bison fan. Watching Bison football every Saturday, so I was a big Bison fan.

Right away when I started the recruiting process, I knew I didn’t have that quick of times for a Division I program. I was looking at Division II and some of those smaller schools. My mom just said ‘hey, reach out to them [NDSU]’ and they brought me in and I had an unofficial visit,” Bartholomay said. “They said they can guarantee me a spot on the cross country roster as a walk-on, but after that, they couldn’t guarantee anything.

That was good enough for me because I wanted to be a Bison. It was a pretty easy decision once they told me that.”

In most cases, a walk-on spot with no guarantee of making the team would steer a kid to other schools. Not for the Bowman, North Dakota, native, who became an impact runner for the cross country program as a redshirt freshman.

Last year, Bartholomay was a top-five finisher for NDSU in all six meets. He was also the Summit League runner-up

in the mile run during the indoor track & field season.

Much like Heikkila, it was the quantity of running that helped Bartholomay improve so quickly. “It’s just a steady build-up. For me, I did about 20 miles in high school so I can’t just come into college and run 80 miles a week,” he said. “I had to slowly build up and let my body mature too because I was a young senior in high school, I’m young for my age. Each year, I ran more and more miles so that will probably continue and hopefully see quicker times still.”

Out of their circumstances came a very close friendship between Heikkila and Bartholomay. Much of this is thanks to both joining the Bison at the same time as walk-ons, but it also has to do with their personalities. They agree that they have similar demeanors with coaches and teammates deeming them as a “goofy” duo.

“Dynamic,” is how Heikkila describes his relationship with Bartholomay. “We both have similar personalities in a sense, he’s quieter than I am, but I think that’s why we get along so well. We both have the same objectives in mind and like to goof off and have fun, but in the same breath, we both like to work hard.”

Bartholomay, who is the quieter of the two enjoys his friendship with Heikkila

in part, because of the entertainment value it provides. The two live together during the school year in Fargo.

“It’s entertaining, that’s for sure,” Bartholomay said of their relationship.

“He keeps me on my toes, I couldn’t imagine not having him around because he’s always the idea guy. He keeps me busy throughout the school year, it’s fun.”

Coming into this cross country season, the Bison have been picked to finish second behind rival South Dakota State.

Bartholomay was named a Summit League preseason Athlete To Watch for a Bison team that returns all but two runners from last year’s conference runner-up team.

“It’s pretty cool. Coming from a small town, you never think you can make it this far, but it’s just preseason stuff,” Bartholomay said about the recognition.

“You got to come out and show it, but I saw that and it helped me pushed through summer miles a bit too. It kept me motivated, it gets you a little bit more hungry.”

Another thing keeping this Bison team hungry is being selected behind the Jackrabbits in the preseason poll. As two of the team leaders, Heikkila and Bartholomay are poised to succeed this fall.

“I have a pretty good base coming into this season. I feel like this has been one of my better summers training. So I think coming in a little bit sharper and ready to be molded compared to still having some work to do in that first week,” said Heikkila of his offseason work and preparation for this season.

“I’m coming in more prepared and ready to take off and help the younger generation. We just want to work hard and have the same goal in mind of winning a conference championship.”

Bartholomay says the Bison have taken on the underdog role this season. He feels that takes some pressure off the team, but is not an excuse to coast in races and in training. “We can’t worry about it. You get on the line to start a race, you don’t think about it, you just get out there and run,” he said of the preseason poll. “We’re actually the underdogs, we’re coming in ranked second and we want to win it. There’s no pressure on the team, we just go out there and race and push each other in practice.”

Tim Heikkila and Alex Bartholomay went unnoticed over the course of their high school careers. However, both believed in themselves enough to walk-on and compete at North Dakota State. Their decisions have resulted in otherworldly outcomes with both improving at an astronomical rate each day.

Perhaps what is most important is the real friendship that has blossomed between the two. That will certainly prove more valuable than a conference championship as life goes on. However, for the time being, a Summit League cross country title will do.

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Daniella L DO HOW WEL OW YOU KN

jasper uld What wo y? sa Daniella

T

he soccer team offers up players from all over the world. Currently, Mike Regan has six players from Canada on his roster. This month, we put three Canadians to the test. How well do juniors Malana Vachon and Marian Taiwo know Calgary, Alberta, native Daniella Jasper? Find out below.

THE QUESTIONS

DANIELLA JASPER

MARIAN TAIWO

Man. City

Barcelona

Score the goal

100% Score the goal (If she answers differently she’s lying)

Score the goal

Andre de grasse

Christine Sinclair

Wayne Gretzky

Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver

Vancouver

6. If you have the AUX cord, which song is coming on first?

It depends on my mood but right now I like the song, “Loving Is Easy" by Rex Orange County

Chapstick by Jacob Sartorius

Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

7. What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people bail on plans without telling you first

When people don’t follow through with plans

When people take her food without asking

winner

loser

1. Favorite professional soccer team?

2. Would you rather score the goal or thread the needle with a through ball and an assist?

3. Who is the best Canadian athlete of all-time?

4. Ronaldo or Messi?

5. If you could live anywhere besides your hometown and Fargo, where would it be?

Juventus

MALANA VACHON

4

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3

POpQUIZ WITH NDSU ATHLETES

If you could meet one fictional person for dinner, who would it be?

What is the last TV show you binge-watched?

Maggie Steffen

VOLLEYBALL

Steffen was a revelation for Jen Lopez and the Bison in her true freshman season in 2018. She appeared in 16 matches for NDSU and finished the year with 37 digs.

She accumulated 11 digs in one match against Ball State, a seasonhigh. Steffen also set a season-best mark of six kills against Georgia Southern.

Probably Dory from Finding Nemo because neither of us would ever stop talking

One Tree Hill or Stranger Things

Isaac Berg Heading into his junior season, Berg has seen success at NDSU. In his true freshman campaign in 2017, he finished 28th at the Summit League Championships. He followed that up with 16th place finish at last year's Bison Open.

Berg ran a season-best 27:04.1 in the 8k at the Roy Griak Invitational last season.

Napoleon Dynamite

Stranger Things

Nick Miller from the TV show "New Girl"

Stranger Things

Bruce Wayne/Batman

Band of Brothers

Happy Gilmore, with hopes of learning a thing or two about golf

Game of Thrones or Trailer Park Boys

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Jen Dufner The West Fargo, North Dakota, native is one of the key returners for Bison cross country this season. Dufner was NDSU's number three finisher at last season's Summit League championships, earning second-team All-Summit League honors.

She finished in the top four for the Bison in all six of their meets in 2018 as well.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Lucas Johnson

MEN'S GOLF

Johnson has become a strong competitor for Steve Kennedy and Bison golf. He competed in all 11 tournaments as a true freshman, including two top-ten finishes (one being at the Summit League Championships). In 2018-19, Johnson competed in nine events, finishing with a 74.79 stroke average, the third-best mark on the team. He tied for 18th at the Summit League Championships.

Garret Wegner

FOOTBALL

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Wegner has carried on the tradition of greatness at the punter position for Bison football. He was an All-Missouri Valley Conference First Teamer in 2018. The Lodi, Wisconsin, native was also listed on numerous All-America teams, the most notable being a 2018 STATS FCS Third Team All-America honor. He led the MVFC with 27 punts inside the 20 in 2018.

Wegner is listed on the preseason FCS Punter of the Year watch list.

BISON ILLUSTRATED s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9

What is the best part of the Fall?

Game Of Thrones: Overrated, Underrated or Properly Rated?

If you were stuck on a desert island, what would be the one book you bring to read?

Bison Volleyball gameday (DUH)

I consider it super overrated honestly

How to Escape a Deserted Island For Dummies

Long runs with the fall colors

Haven't watched one episode...overrated

The Grand DesignStephen Hawking

Cross country season!

Overrated

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Bonfires

Properly Rated

Any of the Percy Jackson novels

Football and bonfires

Properly rated

The Bible

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september

athletics calendar 9/1

9/9

Soccer

Men’s And Women’s Golf

9/16-17

Women’s Golf

Men’s Golf

NDSU Fall Match Play Oxbow, N.D. (Oxbow CC)

Crusader Collegiate Chesterton, Ind.

Coeur D’Alene Resort Invitational

9/13

9/16-17

Men’s And Women’s Cross Country

Women’s Golf

SDSU Classic Brookings, S.D. TBA

Anaconda, Mont.

9/13

Volleyball

vs New Hampshire Burlington, Vt. 2:30 p.m.

9/6 Volleyball vs Illinois - Chicago Mount Pleasant, Mich.

10 a.m. ET

9/6 Soccer vs Hawaii Fargo, N.D. 7 p.m.

9/6 Volleyball at Central Michigan Mount Pleasant, Mich.

7:30 p.m. ET

9/7 Volleyball vs Eastern Illinois Mount Pleasant, Mich.

12 p. m. ET

9/7 Football vs North Dakota Fargo, N.D. 2:30 p.m.

9/8 Soccer vs Chicago State Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

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

9/14 Volleyball vs Buffalo Fargo, N.D. 10 a.m.

9/14 Football at Delaware Newark, Del. 12 p.m.

9/14 Volleyball vs Green Bay Fargo, N.D. 5 p.m.

9/15 Soccer at Northern Iowa Waterloo, Iowa 1 p.m.

Battle At Old Works

9/20 vs Georgia Southern Knoxville, Tenn.

3:30 p.m. ET

9/20 Soccer at Eastern Washington Cheney, Wash.

6 p.m.

9/21 Volleyball vs East Tennessee State Knoxville, Tenn.

10 a.m. ET

9/21 Football vs UC Davis Fargo, N.D. 2:30 p.m.

9/23-24

Couer D’Alene, Idaho

9/27 Volleyball at South Dakota State Brookings, S.D. 7 p.m.

9/28 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Roy Griak Invitational Falcon Heights, Minn.

9/28 Soccer at Utah Valley Orem, Utah 6 p.m.

9/29 Volleyball at Omaha Omaha, Neb. 1 p.m.

9/30 Men’s Golf Zach Johnson Invitational West Des Moines, Iowa

9/21 Volleyball at Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn.

7 p.m. ET

Derrek Tuszka

Coming Up In October 10/4 Volleyball vs Purdue Fort Wayne Fargo, N.D. 7 p.m.

10/5 Football at Illinois State Normal, Ill. 12 p.m.

10/6 Soccer vs South Dakota Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

10/6 Volleyball vs Western Illinois Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

10/10 Soccer at Omaha Omaha, Neb. 7 p.m.

10/11 Volleyball vs South Dakota Fargo, N.D. 7 p.m.

10/12 Football vs Northern Iowa (Homecoming) Fargo, N.D. 1 p.m.

TEAM MAKERS

A New Era

A conversation with new Team Makers Executive Director Derrick Lang

Q&A

Q: In a few sentences, describe what interested you in the Executive Director position with Team Makers.

A: The biggest reason I was interested in the Executive Director position was that it was another opportunity to continue serving our student-athletes.

Team Makers provided me with so many opportunities as a student-athlete here at NDSU, I want to make sure we are continuing to provide our current and future student-athletes with even better opportunities than I had. The second reason is our donors, alumni and fans.

Our support here at NDSU is second to none - an opportunity to serve a group like this is an opportunity I didn’t think twice about.

Q: As a former football player yourself, did you previously understand the impact that Team Makers has on NDSU student-athletes?

A: I think in your first couple years it’s hard to grasp the impact that a group like Team Makers is having on your experience - there is so much going on both in the classroom and on the field of play. As upperclassmen when you are a little more settled in, it’s easier to appreciate all the people and support that is around you. But until you are removed from the program and have a little time to reflect on all the life lessons, friendships and memories that the NDSU student-athlete experience provides, you don’t truly appreciate all the support you were given.

I know for myself, seeing a bunch of former teammates drive six-plus hours to see my wife and I get married a number of years ago was something I would never take for granted. Not 87

TEAM MAKERS everyone has an opportunity to create those type of friendships that last for a lifetime, Team Makers provided me that opportunity here at NDSU. Q: Obviously, Pat Simmers assumed this position for a long time. What things did Pat do in his tenure that you wish to continue with Team Makers?

A: There is certainly only one Pat Simmers, he is a Bison’s Bison. I’ve been fortunate to spend some time with Pat here these past few months and it’s been a lot of fun for me. I think the biggest thing I have taken away from Pat is the level of customer service.

Whether you give $100 or $100,000 all of our supporters are extremely important and help us provide the best possible student-athlete experience we can here at NDSU. I truly believe that the people here at NDSU are what make us different, so I want to continue that same type of customer service.

Q: How does your previous experience with NDSU athletics (both as a studentathlete and Director of External Relations) prepare you for this position?

A: Along with my parents, I will be forever indebted to NDSU for the life lessons that I learned as a studentathlete. In addition to hard work, paying attention to detail, mental toughness and many other attributes you learn how to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Those are all characteristics that I take to work with me every day. I’ve been really fortunate to have great mentors so far in my short administrative career.

Troy Goergen gave me a chance four years ago to gain experience in the external operations world and he really took me under his wing. There are certainly similarities and differences between my previous role and what I am doing now. But at the end of the day, it comes down to building relationships and creating a level of trust between myself and our great supporters.

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Q: How do Team Makers thrive in the future in your mind?

Team Makers Luncheon And Social Schedule

A: I think Team Makers will thrive in the future as we continue telling our story and educating our alumni and fans across the country on how to get involved and the impact they can have on our student-athletes. Team Makers is in a really good spot because of the great people that have been involved with this organization for many years. But the NDSU brand is in a different place than it was 10-15 years ago. It’s our job to make sure we are out engaging all those folks that have an affinity for NDSU and our great student-athletes.

Bison Nation Lunch September 6 Delta Hotel by Marriott 1635 42nd St S, Fargo, ND 58103

Q: One of the big pushes from Team Makers recently is more members.

In your mind, how important is it for Team Makers to hit their 5,000 member goal?

Bison Nation Lunch October 25 Holiday Inn

A: I think it is really important that we continue to grow our memberships not only here in the Fargo-Moorhead area but across the country. There are fans and alums of NDSU all over the country.

Look at the Bison tracker app when we have been fortunate enough to be in the football National Championship in Frisco, Texas. There are people traveling down there from all over the U.S. We truly appreciate all their support but we also want to make sure we are educating them on how important their involvement in Team Makers is to our success. Team Makers is the lifeblood of our athletics program. But our responsibilities have increased as the landscape of college athletics has evolved. Membership is an area where there is room for growth and we are excited about that.

Q: Where would you like to see Team Makers go in the next 5-10 years?

A: I think it comes back to growing our membership numbers. If we can grow those memberships numbers that will result in more dollars raised for our student-athletes. More dollars raised for our student-athletes will result in a better student-athlete experience.

Bison Nation Lunch September 20 Holiday Inn 3803 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103

Bison Nation Social October 3 The Element by Westin 925 19th Ave E, West Fargo, ND 58078

3803 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103

Bison Nation Lunch November 15 Delta Hotel by Marriott 1635 42nd St S, Fargo, ND 58103

Team Maker FargoMoorhead Watch Sites For The 2019 Season Starred sites offer door prizes during Bison football games this fall.

Applebee’s 2350 45th St S Fargo, ND 701-356-9495

Barcode Bar & Grill 835 23rd Ave E West Fargo, ND 701-532-2900

Buffalo Wild Wings 1515 19th Ave N Fargo, ND Buffalo Wild Wings 1501 42nd St SW Fargo, ND

Divot’s Inc. 19 Golf Course Rd Fargo, ND Dusty’s Tavern – Casselton, ND 620 Front St Casselton, ND Herd & Horns Bar & Grill 1414 12th Ave N Suite F Fargo, ND Knickerbocker Liquor Locker – Hickson, ND 412 Main Ave Hickson, ND SideStreet Grille & Pub 404 4th Ave N Fargo, ND SouthTown PourHouse 4281 45th St S Fargo, ND Town Hall Bar 103 Main Ave W West Fargo, ND Woody’s Bar & Grill 1550 32nd Ave S Fargo, ND Buffalo Wild Wings 2201 1st Ave N Moorhead, MN Pit 611 15057 Co Hwy 11 Audubon, MN Spitfire 1100 North Shore Dr Detroit Lakes, MN TJ’s Booze & Bistro 21105 Co Hwy 22 Detroit Lakes, MN Wilkin Drink & Eatery 2020 508 Minnesota Ave Breckenridge, MN

Our main objective is to provide our student-athletes and with a great education and a world-class athletic experience while also providing our coaches with all the resources possible to recruit the best and brightest studentathletes they can here to NDSU. All those things come at an expense and we are committed to making sure we can cover the expenses of everything we are able to provide both our student-athletes and coaches.

Q: A follow-up to that, what are the steps that you need to take as Executive Director to get Team Makers to that point in the future?

A: Two elements that we are really focused on in the immediate future is education and engagement. From the education standpoint, we need to continue to educate people on why Team Makers does what we do and how they can get involved. The ‘why’ is our student-athletes and coaches and the how is our different giving levels.

You don’t need to give a “significant” amount of money to get involved, you can get involved for as little as $100 and still make a big impact on our studentathletes.

From the engagement piece, I want to get out and interact with our alumni and fans as much as I possibly can to tell the story of NDSU athletics and where we are headed. Because we are fortunate to be able to tell a pretty darn good story, but we can’t do it without the support of our fan base.

Q: What is one thing you enjoy about the job so far?

A: There are many things that I have enjoyed about the job so far. But if I had to pick one from the two fast months I have been Executive Director, I would have to say interacting with all of our supporters at our golf tournaments this summer. There are a lot of people that are invested and care deeply about this program and that is something I appreciate being a part of.

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the ross

Report

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

BY ross uglem

N new era same old questions

orth Dakota State's run of dominance is now so long, we can discuss concurrent championship "eras". It's not like discussing the Green Bay Packers, where you'd talk about the Starr, Rodgers and Favre eras which have now spanned nearly 65 years.

You can discuss multiple championship teams in the Jensen Era, the Wentz Era and the Stick Era, without having to even leave the current decade.

Can Mertens replace Walker? Can Wentz replace Jensen? Can Stick replace Wentz? Can Lance replace Stick? Can Klieman replace Bohl? Can Entz replace Klieman?

Each of these players and coaches left North Dakota 90

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PHOTO BY Nolan P. Schmidt

Frankly, you can fondly remember the Steve Walker era without having to go back past kindergarten for current high school seniors.

For a number of reasons NDSU's Division I run is almost unfathomable, but these discussion points are particularly wild. No other football team or program has to address the same things NDSU has to address, and certainly not in such a truncated period of time.

State with a 30-year career's worth of accomplishments. People don't just have three or four national championships. Carson Wentz has five championship rings.

That is as many national titles as UND, SDSU, Montana, Appalachian State, Jacksonville State and Northern Iowa have combined. Do you think other schools (at any level) have to discuss how to replace multiple national championship quarterbacks in a row?

Or how to replace a four-time national champion coach who replaced a threetime national champion coach? Get real.

With that said, that's exactly where we are, and it's what stares down Matt Entz, Trey Lance and the rest of the North Dakota State football program.

Entz's two predecessors both won three or more national titles and took FBS head jobs. Lance's two predecessors were both selected in the NFL Draft, one of them at number two overall.

The expectations aren't high, they're astronomical. Probably unrealistically so.

It's not like everything had gone perfectly since Bohl arrived. After Steve Walker, Joe Mays and crew left, Nick Mertens led a spotty offense and a defense that didn't quite meet the standard of Code Green to a disappointing 6-5 record in their first season of playoff eligibility. This came after two 10-1 seasons that raised the level of expectations at NDSU to a National Championship level.

The Bison did muddle through one transition (which frankly should be the expectation).

That is definitely not the expectation

with this club, though. The recruiting profile of NDSU has been raised consistently, and as the football staff would say: the Standard is the Standard. Coach Klieman fondly (or maybe not so fondly) recalls a grocery store conversation after NDSU's 12-2 season in 2016. That season, of course, included a victory over Iowa in Iowa City when the Hawkeyes were ranked 11th in the country and coming off of a Rose Bowl appearance. It did, though, end in a semifinal loss. The woman in the grocery store offered Klieman condolences after a "tough season".

Entz's assignment: win it all every year or you've failed.

It's difficult not to see Lance's announcement as the starting quarterback and not do a little math as well. Brock Jensen set the NCAA for wins as a Division I quarterback at 48. Stick then broke that at 49 last season. Those both came in 52 career starts. If Lance stays healthy, he could potentially play 16 games in each season, should NDSU make the national championship game. That's a possible 64 starts.

It's an insane thing before a kid's first start to try and figure out how he'd break the ALL-TIME WINS RECORD FOR A QB, but we live in insane times.

We live in the Bison era. It's an era that is sure to end, or at least to slow, but who knows when that's going to be.

As Entz, Lance and the Bison forge forward into the season, they face plenty of questions and expectations that have never seen before in college football. Thankfully, those are just par for the very, very strange course at NDSU.

slaubaugh's

scoop

BY DAN SLAUBAUGH Slaubaugh is a native of Bismarck, N.D., an NDSU graduate and is currently an Editorial Assistant at Spotlight.

freshman, W prepare to be spoiled

ell, this is a little weird. For the first time in my life, I’m writing about the Bison as a

college grad.

For those of you who don’t know, I launched my column for Bison Illustrated last September — the beginning of my senior year — and contributed monthly throughout the 2018-19 athletic seasons at North Dakota State. Nolan, the editor of this great publication, has been super flexible and open in allowing me to write about anything I desire and that has made the experience so enjoyable.

And so I continue to call Fargo home and be a part of this great community. With that being said, I figured there’s no better way to transition into a new era of “Slaubaugh’s Scoop” than with a greeting to the newest

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Photo By Hillary Ehlen

Since graduating, various doors have opened and closed. Much to my benefit, one of the doors that opened was Spotlight Media, and funny enough, I now work for these guys!

Bison, the “fresh meat” of North Dakota State: Dear Freshman, You probably have no idea who I am, and you’re fortunate for that because boy am I weird, but I was in your exact shoes four years ago. A Bismarck, N.D., native, I graduated from Shiloh Christian in May 2015 and moved into NDSU’s Johnson Hall the ensuing fall.

Being the sports fanatic that I am, I would be lying if I didn’t partly choose NDSU because of the great sports atmosphere surrounding the university. The football team was just coming off of four straight national championships and two ESPN College GameDay visits while the basketball team was fresh off of two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

I asked myself, ‘Did I get here at just the wrong time?

There’s no way the athletic programs can possibly replicate the memories and success that the previous graduating class witnessed the past four years, right?’

It felt like such a legitimate question to ask. Now, as I sit here and reflect on the past four years, it’s pretty incredible to think about how that question was answered.

Here’s a start: • Developed the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Carson Wentz.

• Added to their ring

collection with 2015, 2017 and 2018 FCS Football titles.

• Got their football head coach swooped and stolen by a Big 12 school — the ultimate compliment.

• Coached the winningest quarterback in FCS Football history, Easton Stick.

• Bison men’s hoops earned a trip to the Big Dance, won a game, and then were featured on the national stage against Duke on CBS with Jim Nantz, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery on the call.

• Softball team ran the table with four Summit League titles — now winners of six straight and 10 of the last 11.

Those are just a few of NDSU’s accomplishments during my

college stint. There’s also an absolute boatload across the other programs I missed. Nuts, right?

Yes, it is. The success at NDSU is not normal, but a standard.

Go ahead. Expect NDSU freshman QB Trey Lance to blossom into a two-way stud. Expect the football team to win multiple rings (start planning your Frisco trips!). Expect the men’s basketball team to punch multiple tickets to the Big Dance. Expect the women’s basketball team to rise through the Summit League standings under new head coach Jory Collins.

While these sound like unfair standards and expectations that could lead to disappointment, for me, it’s a confidence spearheaded by the dedication NDSU Athletics has to putting a championship-caliber product on the playing field.

And oh yeah, it’s also because I’m spoiled. As is the rest of Bison Nation. And, well, you are a part of that now.

So, freshman, expect greatness. Do not take it for granted.

Enjoy your time at NDSU. I know I did.

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SWANY SAYS

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

Will Have Big, Big Year FOLLOW @swany8

I

College football is a talent business.

Taking nothing away from coaching and player development, the team with the most talent wins more often than they lose. Much more often, in fact. Since 2011, North Dakota State has an astonishing 112–8 record. During this historic span, the Bison have won seven national championships and eight Missouri Valley Football Conference titles. Outsiders, and even some insiders describe it with words like “unbelievable.” It really isn’t.

Unprecedented, absolutely. It’s a dynasty with few equals in college sports history, but it’s not unbelievable. The Bison have reaped the benefit of superior talent compared to the rest of their FCS brethren in the last decade, recruiting FBS-level, and in some cases, NFL-type talent.

That’s where it all starts. This superior talent is the result of consistent top flight

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Many Bison on this year’s roster were recruited by Power 5 FBS programs. Trey Lance, the redshirt freshman and newly announced starting quarterback, had an offer from perennial FBS Top 25 team Boise State. Saybein Clark had an offer from Big Ten staple, Iowa, Luke Weerts was offered by the Big 12’s Kansas State, and tight end Noah Gindorff received an offer from Minnesota. We could go on, but you get the point. The Bison get better talent then the rest of the FCS. The old cliché, recruiting is the lifeblood of college football, holds serve. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan’s much-maligned head coach, draws the ire of “experts” in the media because a couple of years ago, he had a slumber party at a recruit’s house, and then went so far as to climb a tree at another’s. The audacity, right?

That’s nothing. One of Harbaugh’s predecessors at Michigan, the iconic Bo Schembechler, who brought the term “Michigan Man” into the college

PHOTO BY Nolan Schmidt

Lance And Bison

recruiting classes. As of late August, there are nine former Bison on NFL rosters, including Carson Wentz, Bruce Anderson, Chris Board, Nick DeLuca, Joe Haeg, Darrius Shepherd, Easton Stick, Billy Turner and Tanner Volson.

Another three, Ramon Humber, Kyle Emanuel and Marcus Williams played in the league last year with Humber winning a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Another five, Brock Jensen, Ryan Smith, John Crockett, Tre Dempsey and Sam Ojuri, played in the Canadian Football League in recent years. With the exception of Humber, 16 of these former Bison played during the current NDSU dynasty starting in 2010. This says nothing of the bevy of all-American and all-MVFC players for the Bison in that same span.

one of the most dynamic players in the conference, or that Sproles and Watson are playmakers. Maybe not the experts, but the Bison coaching staff knew. It’s why they were recruited to Fargo. I’m telling you right now – it’s coming.

Backed by the always fierce Code Green defense, explosive athletes at the skill positions and one of the best offensive lines in the FCS, the Bison are primed for a Frisco run. Lance and NDSU will have a big, big year.

athletics lexicon, once played dolls with a recruit’s sister on a visit. Harbaugh knows the story well because it was his house, with his sister. In March 2016, Harbaugh told ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” that he “remember[s] Bo talking with my younger sister, Joanie, and they were playing with a dollhouse in the corner of the living room,” on a recruiting trip.

Why do coaches go to such lengths in recruiting? The answer is simple. Today’s recruits win tomorrow’s championships.

It’s a talent business, not quantum physics. The Bison have the most talented roster in the FCS this season, as they’ve enjoyed for the better part of the last decade. The most talented roster in the FCS bodes well for NDSU, as it has the better part of the last decade.

It gets old hearing experts say things like, “Nobody saw that coming.” Let me tell you what is coming. Lance is the next big thing at quarterback for NDSU. Not next year, not two years from now, or three years in the future. Right now.

He is explosive, electric, throw in any other superlative of your choice. The highly touted, and superbly talented freshman, will lead the Bison to big things in 2019.

Bet on the team with the better players to win the game, especially when those players have a chip on their shoulder from hearing about how inexperienced they are. I don’t care so much that Lance is in his first year as the starting

quarterback. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence started his first college game in week five last fall, and ultimately lead the Tigers to the College Football Playoff championship. The future is now.

Lance will be the better and more talented quarterback, with the better surrounding cast, in almost every game – if not every game – the Bison play this fall. Same goes for NDSU’s wide receivers. I get that the leading receiver coming back is tight end, team captain and local favorite, Ben Ellefson. The Hawley, Minn., product had 14 catches for 194 yards in 2018, with eight of those going for a touchdown. He’ll be a red zone and third-down weapon for Lance and offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl. But to hear it from the experts, the Bison will struggle to complete many passes because they’re young and inexperienced at wide receiver. Young?

Sure. Inexperienced? Certainly. The word being omitted is talented. “We’re very talented in that room, top to bottom,” said Lance of his receiving corps. Sophomore tandem Phoenix Sproles and Christian Watson showed flashes their freshman seasons. Those flashes will turn into all out bursts this fall. Pound-for-pound, the Bison receivers’ room is as talented as it has ever been.

Yet, get ready for the cavalcade from the experts around late September uttering in astonishment the same clichéd, hackneyed phrase, “nobody saw this coming.” Who knew that Lance would be

“Leadership, efficiency, and who would cause me the most problems as a quarterback if I were a coordinator trying to defend the Bison,” said head coach Matt Entz on why Lance was tapped the starter going into the opener at Target Field against Butler.

Playmakers like Lance, Watson, Sproles and Clark have spent a full season under Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance Jim Kramer’s legendary tutelage. They’ve also spent the last two seasons sharpening their skills every day at practice and workouts against the likes of Jabril Cox, James Hendricks, Derrek Tuszka, Marquise Bridges, Josh Hayes, etc. With all respect to the opponents on NDSU’s schedule, it doesn’t get much harder than having to battle Code Green on a daily basis. Coupled with NDSU’s track record in recruiting and developing players, it’s a proven recipe for success.

Throw in this nugget. The Herd have 30 players on the roster entering their fourth or fifth season in the program.

“Nothing is going to change day-to-day,” said Lance of NDSU’s approach with so many new names in key roles. “We’re going to keep working and trying to get better every day.” Lance is striking the right notes heading into one of the biggest positions in FCS football – NDSU starting quarterback. “I’m getting better every day, still. There’s no way that I’ve arrived.”

Sooner, rather than later, we’ll see the same things that caused Bison coaches to pop the figurative champagne corks when Lance and these other youngsters committed in December 2016 and 2017.

And just remember, you heard it here first.

Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on!

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