CONTENTS
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“TITLE TOWN” TRADITION
Relive the 12 championship seasons throughout the history of the Bison football program.
QUAD SQUAD
Relive the 2014 football team’s season with pictures, stats, quotes and tweets from another FCS championship-winning team.
127 DIRECTING CHAMPIONS
See what Director of Athletics Matt Larsen has to say after his first championship-winning experience in Frisco, Texas.
133 STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY
NDSU President Dean Bresciani tells us his reaction to the Bison winning its fourth championship in a row.
138 THE RIGHT REGIME
Read about Chris Klieman’s reaction to winning his fourth FCS championship and his first as a head coach.
100 FRISCO EXPERIENCE
Didn’t make it to Frisco or want to remember the championship winning weekend? Take a look back at all the events that made the fourth championship one to remember.
144 JOURNAL OF A CHAMPION
Carlton Littlejohn takes you on his journey during his last week as a Bison football player.
AT A GLANCE 152 In It to Win It 162 Brian Shawn’s Top 5 166 5 Keys for the 5-peat 182 Bigger Than the Game 188 One Herd
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194 Jace’s Space 196 Walker’s Word 198 Team Makers 202 Swany Says 204 Pop Quiz
info@spotlightmediafargo.com
@bisonmag
bisonillustrated.com
facebook.com/bisonillustrated
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156 FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Read what the six new assistant coaches had to say about an incredible first season.
170 BUILT TO LAST
The Bison may be losing a skilled senior class, but don’t sleep on the young talent across the football roster.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Mike Dragosavich drago@spotlightmediafargo.com
Preview Version It was so cool to be in the presence of so many Bison football legends.
quadruplicate
[a., adj. kwa-droo-pli-kit; v. kwa-droo-pli-keyt] verb (used with object), quadruplicated, quadruplicating 1 : to produce or copy in quadruplicate.
Can we change up the trophy one of these years?! Our cover photo is becoming challenging to make unique as the only difference in the four trophies is one number. I guess, who am I to complain? How awesome is this? Who would have thought? I’ll be honest, I thought this year would be the year we finally reached the top of the charts for most punts in a season, but I was dead wrong.
HERE ARE SOME ‘F’ WORDS FOR YOU.
FRISCO - For me, this year was one for the record books. I was able to connect with many former football players and let loose. It showed me how similar we all become after four years of brotherhood at NDSU, and how similar our pride is. FOUR OUT OF FIVE PUNTERS - The last four out of five NDSU punters have been All-Americans.
FOUR FINGERS - I’ve yet to miss a game since I played where I haven’t proudly displayed my four fingers in the air during the start of the fourth quarter. All to show how much pride we have in finishing and preparing ourselves to be finishers.
FAMILY - If there is one way I can describe the togetherness of Bison Nation, I would say that we are all one big family. I feel lucky that I have the opportunity each month to dive into the Bison tradition with this magazine and it shows me how close everyone really is. FUN - Now this one is an understatement! Work hard, play hard. FUTURE - I believe we need to capitalize on this momentum. In the future, Bison Nation needs to help take our aggressive fan base and use it to positively impact the university, athletes and the community. Some things I would like to see is a significant rise in Team Maker memberships. (It’s only $100 a year, by the way.) I would also like to see Bison Nation keep raising the spirit and support of our other sports.
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QUAD
Preview 4
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SQUAD THE 2014 BISON FOOTBALL SEASON CAN BE DEFINED BY ONE WORD -- RESOLVE.
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Many doubted a four-peat after the loss of nearly the entire coaching staff and 23 seniors. But the Bison used the naysayers as motivation on its way to another historic season. The ebbs and flows of a season can be difficult to manage, but with strong leadership and numerous playmakers, the Bison would once again claim the ultimate prize -- a fourth straight FCS championship.
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Carson Wentz was 18-for28 passing with 204 yards in his first collegiate start for the Bison.
Preview QB FIRST-YEAR EFFICIENCY Carson Wentz (2014) Brock Jensen (2011) Jose Mohler (2010) Nick Mertens (2008) Steve Walker (2005) Tony Straus (2003) 6
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119.01
131.98 129.72 133.77
WELCOME TO THE SHOW 34-14, IOWA STATE @ JACK TRICE STADIUM, AMES, IOWA
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ighty of John Crockett’s 139 yards came just over a minute into the second quarter when he broke a long touchdown run to put the Bison on the board. He would later add two more touchdowns. I t was the second straight openinggame win for the Bison against a Big 12 opponent, which added to its five-game winning streak against FBS teams. NDSU has an unprecedented 8-3 record against the FBS.
“The changing factor was when our quarterback … he said, it was 14-0, ‘We got to battle adversity, it’s going to be okay. Take your time and let’s go out and do what we do.’ And then the next play happened and we were down 14-7.” – John Crockett
o subscribe Zach Vraa @VraaMoney
Big W today not only for us players, but the coaches and all of NDSU #1-0
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#
BIO
Set NDSU single-season records in rushing yards (1,994), rushing attempts (368) and all-purpose yards (2,419). Three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and ranks second on career rushing list (4,309). Selected to the 2014 FCS Sports Network All-American second-team.
John Crockett
Preview POSITION Running Back
HOMETOWN Minneapolis, Minn.
HIGH SCHOOL Totino-Grace High School
For the seniors, 58-3, four National Championships, can you put that into words? “…To be able to go out there with those group of guys and just the ‘never say die’ mentality that each and every one of my teammates possesses, and I think that’s what’s so special about our university is that we’re a hard working group of crazy men, and we’re just going to go out and get the job done no matter how we’ve got to do it.” 8
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#
BIO
Returned for a sixth year after taking a medical hardship in 2010. 2013 AllMissouri Valley Football Conference second-team after catching eight touchdown passes. Ended his career with 68 receptions for 744 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Kevin Vaadeland
Version POSITION Tight End
HOMETOWN Park Rapids, Minn.
HIGH SCHOOL Park Rapids Area High School
What pushed you to come back for a sixth year? “I knew we had a good team coming back. A lot of good seniors and a lot of playing time between us all. Coach Klieman, he knows what he’s doing. Tim Polasek and Tyler Roehl had already been here so we jelled right away and I knew we had something special.”
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The ESPN College GameDay crowd brought more than 9,000 people to Broadway to witness the majestic scene downtown during ESPN’s second visit to Fargo.
Preview Lee Fitting @leefitting
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Thank you Fargo. Today’s scene was the best ever for @CollegeGameDay. Thanks for the hospitality and enthusiasm. We will be back. 10
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Chris Fowler @cbfowler
THANKS FARGO! @CollegeGameDay sequel was even more fun for us than last season! Massive Crowd left chanting “See you Next Year!”
THEY’RE BACK! 58-0, INCARNATE WORD @ FARGODOME
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DSU raised its 11th championship banner before kickoff in the FargoDome, but the banner was unveiled for the first time hours prior to the game when Brock Jensen unraveled the banner from a rooftop downtown during ESPN’s College GameDay. Former quarterback and three-time FCS champion Brock Jensen went 6-4 as guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay. He also guaranteed the “Quad Squad” would win its fourth straight FCS championship.
ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY APPEARANCES COMPARED TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS COLLEGE GAMEDAY APPEARANCES
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
MICHIGAN 11/11
FLORIDA STATE 11/3
o subscribe NDSU 2/12
OHIO STATE 13/8
FLORIDA 12/3
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reshman wide receiver RJ Urzendowski burst onto the scene earlier in the season against Incarnate Word, and then solidified his playmaking ability with seven catches against Western Illinois while filling in for a banged up Zach Vraa. During the second round of the playoffs, Vraa was hobbled again and in stepped Urzendowski. After starting the game with a 27-yard touchdown grab, he capped the Wentz-led gamewinning drive with an acrobatic 12-yard grab over Jackrabbit defender Dallas Brown. Urzendowski literally saved the season for the Bison and the playoff run continued.
CAN THE JACKRABBITS KNOCK OFF THEIR RIVAL? SECOND ROUND, 27-24, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE @ FARGODOME
Preview SDSU RUNNING BACK ZACH ZENNER’S CAREER AVERAGES Overall Average VS. NDSU VS. Other 125.9
21.78
21.06
134.6
59.3
15.5
RUSHING ATTEMPTS 12
1.24
1.17
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RUSHING YARDS
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RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Version Carlton Littlejohn brings down South Dakota State’s running back Zach Zenner on his way to 11 tackles. Zenner ran the ball 32 times in the second round but the Bison defense held stout, giving the Bison offense a chance to win the game in the final minutes.
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MR. BUCK BUCHANAN
Preview hen Kyle Emanuel scrambled
off the field at Toyota Stadium and onto the stage to receive his fourth national championship, he left the field as one of the greatest Bison football players of all time. It wasn’t because he was the first Bison player to win the Buck Buchanan Award for best defensive player in all of FCS. It wasn’t because he tied the NDSU career sack record with 41 quarterback takedowns. It’s because he’s revered as one of the greats through his head-to-the-grindstone attitude and his work when Bison Nation wasn’t looking. This four-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll student was more than a sack master, he epitomized what it meant to be a Bison.
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Q& A Has it hit you yet that you’re a four-time national champion? “You know, not really. It’s been a whirlwind. I went straight from Fargo, to Frisco, Frisco to Florida and I’m in Phoenix right now. I’ve been busy with a lot of stuff since the game. It’s hard and been a little weird. It doesn’t even feel like we won; it was just another game. But I think maybe when I get back for the Spring Game, I’ll be able to get back with some teammates and hopefully it will sink in.”
Version What goes in to deflecting the distractions that came with winning the Buck Buchanan Award?
“Yeah, it was kind of tough right at first with all the social media stuff and then flying out to Philadelphia, but once I got back I think the coaches did a good job of keeping it like any other week. It was just something I had to put behind me and focus on Sam Houston State.”
Was being the best defensive player in the FCS always your goal?
“No. My goal was to be the best player I could be and I thought I could be a pretty good player. First of all, I didn’t even know what the Buck Buchanan award was when I first got to college, but you know I never thought I’d reach that level.”
Did you complete your individual goals you made prior to the season? “Yeah, I would say so. I wanted to get on some AllAmerican list and basically have the best season of my career this year and with a lot of hard work and with the help of Coach Cain, I think I was able to reach most of those.”
What is it about Bison Pride that is going to stick with you for the rest of your life? “I think just the way we went about our business, you heard from the coaches who came in. The new coaches and players – we just did things differently at NDSU. … I just think the work and the preparation is something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.”
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Carson Wentz is the first North Dakota-raised quarterback in Bison history to lead his team to a national championship. He was also named the game’s MVP after scoring the go-ahead touchdown.
FRISCO PT. IV FCS CHAMPIONSHIP, 29-27, ILLINOIS STATE @ TOYOTA STADIUM, FRISCO, TEXAS
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sley Thorton dropped an interception in the fourth quarter with a 23-14 lead that would have all but wrapped up the win. But he redeemed himself by stealing the ball away from the Illinois State tight end Joe Farmer for a game-clinching interception with eight seconds left. After Illinois State’s quarterback dashed his way into the endzone and interrupted many Bison fans’ dreams of another title with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter, Carson Wentz engineered a drive that will never be forgotten. The drive chart on the next page illustrates the game-winning drive that you need to see to believe.
PAST AND PRESENT FCS SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS NUMBER OF CHAMPIONSHIPS NUMBER OF SEASONS ELIGIBLE FOR FCS PLAYOFFS Georgia Southern 6/32
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Appalachian State 3/37
Youngstown State 4/37
North Dakota State 4/7
Montana 2/37
Marshall 2/19
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NDSU Bison
The
Winning
1
Drive
Preview 2
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DRIVE CHART
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1. NDSU False Start; loss of five yards – NDSU 17 2. Wentz complete to Urzendowski 32 yards – NDSU 49 3. Wentz complete to Urzendowski 13 yards – Ill. St. 38 4. Wentz incomplete to Crockett – Ill. St. 38 5. Wentz incomplete to Albers – Ill. St. 38 6. Wentz complete to Urzendowski 33 yards – Ill. St. 5 7. Wentz run for 5 yards – TOUCHDOWN – 0:37
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ISU Redbirds “Right when that time out had been called I came over and got on the head set and we started talking about what type of play to call. He (offensive coordinator Tim Polasek) definitely took my input there. A relationship like that is so nice and so special for the coach to have the confidence in me to almost choose what play or to at least voice my input.”
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Photo by Darren Gibbins
Version TITLE TOWN
TRADITION
When the Bison raised their 2014 FCS championship trophy in Frisco, Texas, they stood alone as the only program to accomplish the astonishing four-peat. But take a look back at the sacred history of Bison football and you'll find that championship runs are not as uncommon as you'd think. From Darrell Mudra and Ron Erhardt to Craig Bohl and Chris Klieman, here's our recap of some of the greatest and most memorable Bison football seasons.
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Division I Championships - 4 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Coaches - Craig Bohl (3), Chris Klieman (1)
Preview 2011
2012
2013
2014
Record: 14-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference: 7-1 Championship Game: 17-6, Sam Houston State, FCS Championship, Frisco, Texas
Record: 14-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference: 7-1 Championship Game: 39-13, Sam Houston State, FCS Championship, Frisco, Texas
Record: 15-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference: 8-0 Championship Game: 35-7, Towson, FCS Championship, Frisco, Texas
Record: 15-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference: 7-1 Championship Game: 29-27, Illinois State, FCS Championship, Frisco, Texas
• A 27-yard fake punt by punter Matt Voigtlander led to a 39-yard touchdown reception by running back D.J. McNorton to take a 10-6 lead.
• Quarterback Brock Jensen ran for three touchdowns on his way to winning his first FCS Championship MVP and his second consecutive FCS championship.
• The flood gates opened for the Bison after a blocked fieldgoal by Colten Heagle was picked up by Kyle Emanuel and he returned it to the fiveyard line. Ryan Smith broke the 7-7 tie with an end-around on the next play.
• With 1:38 left in the game, quarterback Carson Wentz capped a game-winning drive with a five-yard touchdown with 37 seconds left.
• Freshman Travis Beck’s 63-yard interception return led to a one-yard touchdown run by Brock Jensen to seal the game in the fourth quarter.
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• The Bison ran for 300 yards led by the one-two-punch of Sam Ojuri (92) and John Crockett (82).
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• Quarterback Brock Jensen threw for a touchdown and ran for another on his way to winning his second straight FCS Championship MVP.
• After dropping an interception earlier in the fourth quarter, Esley Thorton clinched the four-peat with an interception with eight seconds left.
CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS 1965
1968
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1983
1985
1986
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2012
2013 21
O C S I R F PERIENCE EX
Preview
Thousands upon thousands of Bison fans made their way to Frisco this year for the year-end celebration of another historic Bison football season. Many people we spoke to while in Frisco claimed this year's trip was their fourth time, while many
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others were excited to experience Frisco for the first time. But not every Bison fan could make it down to Texas this year, so to be sure those fans weren't left out we hit
all the major stops this year while in Frisco. For those of you who couldn't make it,
welcome to our Frisco experience. 22
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BY JOE KERLIN
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. . . N O S I B A E C ON AYS A BISON ALW ver 150 former Bison football players continued the tradition for a fourth-straight season of meeting the current football players and watching them participate in one final walk-through before the FCS National Championship game. The alumni in attendance expanded from last year’s seniors to former players that wore the Bison green and gold during the '80s, '60s and possibly the '50s. Some notable alumni included Marcus Williams, Joe Mays, Sean Fredricks, Phil Hansen and Jeff Bentrim.
“We’ve been spoiled and we expect to win,” Bentrim said. “But it doesn’t always happen that way. I was a part of a team that lost a championship game. So I hope these guys don’t have to go through it, but that’s the reality once you get on the field. Everyone has a puncher's chance to win for either team.” The former three-time Division II champion quarterback and 1986 Harlon Hill Best Division II Player was optimistic going into Saturday’s game against Illinois State.
Jeff Bentrim was back for his fourth time to catch up with old teammates and meet with the team before the game.
surprise and I think it’s fantastic.”
because I probably would’ve choked (laughs).”
Bentrim also noted the play of Bison quarterback Carson Wentz, and how impressive his poise has been throughout the 2014 season.
The championship game in Frisco, Texas, was the second time this season Bentrim has been to a Bison game, the first one was when the Bison played South Dakota State earlier in the season. He said he’s found a nice pub in Calgary, Alberta, to go watch the Bison play when he can’t make it back to Fargo.
o subscribe Bentrim said he was hoping he’s the good luck charm as he stood on the sidelines with former teammates for his fourth consecutive year.
“Coming into this year, I thought there would be a little bit of a transition or hiccup, but I figured we’d be back at it soon enough, maybe next year,” Bentrim said. “So it’s been a pleasant
“He’s got the same clutch gene that Brock (Jensen) had,” Bentrim said. “I wish I had it. I didn’t need it because we were always ahead so I’m glad I didn’t need to show it,
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PEP T FES
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8,500 Bison fans packed the Allen Event Center to see former Bison football greats at the Bison Nation Celebration pep fest Friday night.
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G N I M R O ST E FIELD TH
arson Wentz took a knee, players were shoved, flags flew and the NDSU bench stormed the field. It was a scene that had to be seen. The Bison were champs again and green and gold flooded over from the stands and onto the field.
Preview
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Preview
STATE OF THE
UNIVERSITY
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with NDSU President Dean Bresciani
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Version DIRECTING CHAMPIONS
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with Athletic Director Matt Larsen
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THE RIGHT Click here t REGIME
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Coach Klieman brought home his fourth national championship, but this one was a little sweeter.
Version Chris Klieman was handed the keys to the Bison football kingdom before the Bison went to Frisco to become three-peat national champions in 2013. But what he received was a program missing most of its assistants and one that had lost 23 seniors. Left over were leaders that had been bruised and battered from playing 45 games in three years. Klieman reacted how his predecessors before him had — not by rebuilding his program but restoring it with proven coaches and a talented recruiting class. The 2014 football team worked as one unit and ultimately spearheaded their way back to the champions’ podium at Toyota Stadium. Here’s what Klieman had to say after a successful journey.
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JOURNAL
Preview CHAMPION of a
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I AM
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CARLTON LITTLEJOHN
a communications student and a fifthyear senior linebacker at North Dakota State University. I have had many great experiences and created lots of great friendships, but now it is all coming to an end. I have one week left of being a student athlete, so I want to share my last week with everyone who isn’t here to experience it.
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“In It To Win It”
Preview For Bison fans, going to Frisco for the FCS championship game means more than watching their favorite football team play for another title. Going to Frisco is always an adventure. What better way to enjoy a trip of a lifetime than spending it with people that mean the most in your life?
By Joe Kerlin
Click here t When Deal was first diagnosed with cancer, she bought a new pair of cowboy boots. She then proclaimed she was going to wear them and kick cancer’s ass.
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OAN (LAUF) DEAL has made the trip to Frisco every season the Bison have qualified for the championship, but earlier this football season the season ticket holder had to put her Saturday trips to the FargoDome on hold. Deal was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November and had surgery to remove the tumor in December. She wouldn’t attend a Bison football game for the rest of the season, including the playoffs.
Version “I’m so blessed for the TV coverage we get,” said Deal, who moved to Pierre, S.D., five years ago with her husband Greg, who she has been married to for 23 “blissful years.” Deal was fortunate to be able to watch the Bison on TV through the playoffs and feed her Bison fandom.
Deal’s Bison blood started flowing since the day she was born. Her grandmother Gladys Lauf was inducted into the Bison hall of fame in 1980, her father Robert Lauf was inducted in 1974 and her cousin Donni Lauf was inducted in 1991; the same year Deal earned her bachelor's degree at NDSU. In 2003, Deal made North Dakota State University history. She was named the first female president of the NDSU Athletics community-based support group called Team Makers.
A woman so entrenched with NDSU has a coretailgating group she always goes to the games with. Since her absence, the group set up a display of Deal to show that she may not be there, but her presence is felt at every tailgate. The group spent so much time together and figured they would be going to Frisco with each other again this season. During the first playoff game against South Dakota State, the tailgating group came to the realization that if the Bison were to run the table again and earn a spot in the championship game, the trip to Frisco wouldn’t include their ill friend. That’s when the decision was made to go south, but the group took an early exit in South Dakota. Not to avoid the blizzard conditions on I-29, but to see their dear friend.
o subscribe “I was in utter surprise,” Deal said. “Like they said, instead of going down the interstate they took a sharp right to come see me in Pierre.” Unannounced, Deal’s tailgating group came to her door Friday night before the championship game and told her to be ready for tailgating bright and early the next morning; they would be watching the game with
FOR
FIRST TIME EVERYTHING Preview When Craig Bohl gathered the majority of the coaching staff and brought all but three of them with him to Wyoming, newly appointed Head Coach Chris Klieman would embark on one of the biggest transformations NDSU football has ever seen. He reached out to old assistants, great football minds he used to work with in the past, and what he created was a core group of guys that were ready to pick up the football program where it had been dropped off. Six newly appointed assistant coaches that never held a full-time job at NDSU were selected and they completed their mission of keeping the winning tradition alive. BY JOE KERLIN
MEET THE STAFF TYLER ROEHL
• Tight Ends/Full Back Coach • NDSU Offensive Grad Assistant for the first FCS Championship in 2011
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• Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach • Coached with Chris Klieman from 2006-09 at Northern Iowa
RANDY HEDBERG
• Quarterbacks Coach • Coached against NDSU for 14 seasons at UND, St. Cloud State and Southern Illinois
TYLER ROEHL on seeing his former Bison teammates during Friday’s walk-through… “Jerimiah Wurzbacher was someone I played with; he’s someone I still talk to and am close with. Craig Dahl was a guy I was able to talk to. He actually came and talked to the defense the night before the game and he shared his story. Joe Mays, I haven’t seen Joe in three or four years so he was great to see. … To get all those guys together and Coach Klieman shared some words and Colten (Heagle) and myself got to talk to the former players, it was a pretty cool deal.”
Version ATIF AUSTIN
Middle two photos by Darren Gibbins
reaction to who had watched the game…
on what makes the Bison a special program… “This is a team that prays together. When you look on the football field most of the team, I wouldn’t say 100 percent of them, but 90 percent of the team stays on the field and prays and invites the other team and that’s something special in and of itself. And another thing I told those guys (other coaches) when they asked what the secret was, I said they hold themselves accountable. The torch has been passed down so that now these guys, these freshmen, they tell them, ‘Hey this is how we get it done. This is the tradition of Bison football and this is how you’re going to carry the torch when I leave.’”
o subscribe MATT ENTZ
• Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers Coach • From the same hometown as Chris Klieman and coached under him in 2010 at Northern Iowa
RANDY HEDBERG
JAMAR CAIN
• Defensive Ends Coach • Coached against NDSU for one year at Missouri State
“We had to go down to the American Football Association coaches’ convention on Sunday (Jan. 11) in Louisville. A lot of people that don’t know you that see you’re from NDSU and watched the game would give comments about our team and all that. Lots of random people that you would see in the airport or whatever. It was pretty impressive.”
JOE KLANDERMAN
• Defensive Backs Coach • While at Minnesota StateMankato he coached against Winona State when Matt Entz was there from 2002-09 37
BRIAN SHAWN
Preview
BRIAN SHAWN’S
TOP MOMENTS FROM THE QUAD SQUAD
B
rian Shawn is the play-by-play man for KVLY’s broadcast of Bison football home games. He’s followed the 2014 Bison just as close as anybody. We asked him to sift through the entire season to find his top moments that lifted the Bison to their fourth straight FCS title. Here’s what he highlighted.
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BRIAN SHAWN
34 STRAIGHT POINTS IN THE VICTORY AT IOWA STATE Even the die-hard Bison fans had to wonder if the magic was gone when NDSU fell behind 14-0 on the road with some players on the field playing significant reps for the first time in their careers. But a John Crockett 80-yard touchdown run took the momentum and the Bison rolled to a 20-point road victory over another Big 12 opponent.
Version Photo by Darren Gibbins
FOURTH QUARTER RALLY AT WESTERN ILLINOIS
CARSON WENTZ EMERGES AND BISON BEAT JACKS IN PLAYOFFS
This game is rarely talked about but, in my eyes, it was a critical piece towards building the 2014 title run. Teams are not going to play their best every single week, but great teams find ways to win ugly games, especially on the road. If the Bison didn’t storm back to eek one out in Macomb, Ill., over the Leathernecks, home field advantage in the playoffs would likely not have happened. That was a gutty performance and was important for the confidence of players having to step up in critical situations.
Beating a team twice in the same season is difficult and beating your rival twice in the same season is an even bigger challenge. I still don’t like how the NCAA factors distance and “regionalization” in the playoff field, but the Bison didn’t complain about it. They knew it was going to be a 60-minute war and it was. The game was also the first time the spotlight was squarely on junior quarterback Carson Wentz. Yes, he was battle tested, but he was not put in a position to have to win a game in the final minute until that point. The moment was not too big for him and his mental toughness was front and center for all to see.
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JOSH SWANSON
BISON on your
4 PEAT!
ONE THUMB for the
5 KEYS
Preview FOR THE
5-PEAT
By Joshua A. Swanson
How
SWEET it is!
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nother February, another Bison Illustrated championship issue. It’s like the annual pilgrimage to Frisco each January has become habit, but it surely never gets old. With the 29–27 victory over conference foe Illinois State, North Dakota State did something never done in the history of the FCS by winning four straight titles. The four-peat. The Quad Squad. A combined 58–3 record over the course of the four title seasons. That’s more championships in a four-year span than losses. It’s a team record without equal in modern college football. Dynasty, Bison be thy name.
It’s all the more remarkable if you consider this: NDSU’s first year of FCS playoff eligibility was 2008. That means in only seven years, the Bison have firmly established themselves as the best program in the country, bar none. Nobody else is even close. Chris Fowler, host of ESPN’s College GameDay, tweeted on the dramatic championship win, “Much awe and admiration for the championship DNA of NDSU football – tremendous drive to win 4th straight FCS crown! Congrats Bison!” The show’s executive producer, honorary Fargoan Lee Fitting, anticipated yet another trip to
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JOSH SWANSON
GameDay’s second home, downtown Fargo. “Wow. Bizon do it again. Congrats! Can’t wait to get back to Fargo. #1forthethumbisnext.” If your mind isn’t totally blown away by that, nothing short of landing on Mars would do it for you. If GameDay comes back next fall, the Bison will have had as many visits (three) from the biggest show in college football in a two-year span as total losses in four years. You know how many GameDay visits our neighbors to the east in Gopherland have in their history? Zero. GameDay hasn’t been to Nebraska since 2007 and last traveled to the University of Florida in 2012.
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Version Even five years ago, it would have been more likely for me to land a date with Katy Perry. Seriously. Although, Perry was a guest picker on GameDay last fall, maybe she would come to Fargo, again. Wasn’t she just here for a concert? I’ll do the Fargo Monthly interview this time, fellas. Putting that aside, enjoy it folks. It’s rare air, even for a program as steeped in tradition and success as NDSU. Our team and university are in a national limelight that’s only enjoyed by few programs – without peer on the FCS level and unrivaled by many FBS conferences like the Mid-American Conference, Mountain West and Sun Belt – and there is no indication that we’re going anywhere, anytime soon. The last three years, after winning titles, we’ve asked ourselves: “How can it possibly get any better than this?” And each year, it manages to do exactly that – it gets better and better and better. I suppose the only thing better than two GameDay visits is three; and the only thing better than a four-peat is a fifth straight, or as Fitting says, one for the thumb. Following the previous three titles, I’ve shared what I thought were the keys for the Bison getting back to Frisco and adding another year to the championship banner hanging in the south endzone of the Fargodome. In that tradition, here are my annual “Swany’s Keys to Getting Back to Frisco.”
Photo by Darren Gibbins
AERIAL DEFENSES
The Bison will need able play from whoever replaces Colten Heagle and Christian Dudzik, the best safety duo in the FCS the last two seasons. As strong as they were in pass coverage, Heagle and Dudzik were rock solid in rush defense. Chris Board, Tre Dempsey and Andrew Smith were listed on the two-deep depth chart at the end of the regular season and are among favorites heading into spring ball. Dempsey had a key interception to clinch the South Dakota State playoff game and Board played well when he got some mid-season reps. In NDSU’s Tampa 2 defense, strong play from the safety positions is critical. Also worth mentioning is finding replacements for the trio of Travis Beck, Carlton Littlejohn and Esley Thorton at linebacker.
JUST KICKIN’ IT
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Mr. Clutch, Adam Keller, was automatic from 40 yards in and dependable from 50 yards. Keller’s three field goals against the Redbirds in the championship game were difference makers. The four-toed sensation broke FCS single-season records for kickers with 145 points and field goals made (34). In close games, Keller’s leg was often the difference. He drilled five against Montana. While a strong offense will likely lead to fewer field goal attempts for his replacement in 2015, each title team had a reliable kicker.
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Preview BUILT TO LAST People may be counting the number of seniors leaving the football team, but don’t count out the players who are sticking around. With a talented lineup waiting in the reserves, one thing is true, this team is built to last By Joe Kerlin Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography 42
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D F E B RUA RY 2 015
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2015 YEAR Junior POSITION Running Back HOMETOWN Greenwood, Mo.
STATS
• 16 games played, 111 rushing attempts, 616 rushing yards, five total touchdowns • 2014 Nebraska transfer
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KING FRAZIER
What’s the biggest thing you’re going to take away from the seniors?
“I’m glad I got to come to this team and be a part of what we did this year and learn behind the seniors. Dudz (Christian Dudzik), Heags (Colten Heagle) and Crock (John Crockett) played a good role for me and they meant a lot. I can’t thank those boys enough.”
JOE HAEG STATS
2015 YEAR Senior POSITION Offensive Tackle
45 starts • “2014 Spots Network” FCS All-America First Team • 2014 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First Team • Three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week
What was your assessment of the play of the offensive line?
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HIGH SCHOOL Brainerd High School
“I think we played really well. For how many guys we had rotating in and out, that gave us a lot of great experience and depth for a lot of the guys to help us out this next year. I think it was great just to see these guys grow throughout the year and gain so much knowledge and experience.”
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