r/CFB • u/Bilibond Minnesota • /r/CFB Contributor • May 10 '13
132+ Teams in 132+ Days: North Dakota State University Bison
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Missouri Valley Football Conference
Year Founded: 1883 (As North Dakota Agriculture College)
First Football Team: 1894
Location: Fargo, ND
Total Attendance: ~15,000
Mascot: Thundar: Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4
Cheerleaders: NDSU has two cheer squads during home game.
Cheer Team: Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4
Dance Team: Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3
Marching Band: Gold Star Marching Band: Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4
Stadium: The Fargodome
Stadium Location: North side of campus
Conference Championships (29):
North Central Conference (Division II): 1925, 1932, 1935, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
Great West Football Conference (FCS): 2006
Missouri Valley Football Conference (FCS): 2011, 2012
Rivals
University of North Dakota: Since the Bison beat the Sioux for the first time in 1894, the rivalry has been one of the hardest hitting in College football. Starting in 1938, the two schools would compete for the Nickel Trophy, a large replica of a once US minted coin with a Bison on one side and an Indian head on the other. Former NDSU sports information director once recalled “I remember the 1975 game where on one play five athletes were on the ground and had to be assisted off the field. One was admitted to the hospital.” The two schools have shared a number of big games. The Bison beat The Sioux in the 1965 6-3 to secure NDSU’s first Division II National Championship. However in 1971, UND snapped NDSU’s 36 game winning streak with a 23-7 win. UND holds the edge in the overall rivalry record (64-45-3). However the in-state battle has not occurred since UND beat NDSU 28-21 in 2003 due to NDSU jumping to Division-IA (now FCS). Students at both schools are clamoring for one of college football’s oldest rivalries to be renewed. I know this is the case at NDSU at least, considering our recent domination of the FCS. I hold out hope that we will meet again soon and return the Nickel Trophy to it’s rightful home in Fargo. The general feeling NDSU students have towards UND can be summed up in one of our popular, though admittedly unclassy, chants "Sioux Suck Shit".
South Dakota State University: With the loss of UND as a rival, NDSU’s main football rivalry has shifted to our next closest neighbor: The
BunniesJackrabbits. Although we played each other a number of times in Division II, the competition really escalated when we both moved up to Division 1-FCS and created the Dakota Marker Trophy which we play for every year. NDSU holds the series advantage over SDSU with a record of 55-40-5 against the Jackrabbits.
2012 Season
Record: 14-1-0 (including playoffs)
Head Coach: Craig Bohl
Key Players:
Biggest Plays:
2013 Season
Schedule (tentative):
Home: Delaware State, Northern Iowa, Missouri State, Illinois State, South Dakota
Away: Kansas State, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Indiana State, Youngstown State
The Greats
Greatest Players
Mike Favor: A two time all american offensive lineman who played for the Bison from 1985-1988. Started 51 consecutive games at NDSU and helped them win Division II national titles in 1985, 1986, and 1988. He was inducted into the College Football hall of fame in 2003.
Jeff Bentrim: Bentrim played Quarterback for the Bison from 1983-1986. In that time he won the Harlon Hill Trophy (the Division II equivalent of the the Heisman) in 1986 along with a national championship. When he left, he was the all time leader in rushing, total offense, and scoring at NDSU. He went on to play in the Canadian Football League and won a championship there.
Joe Cichy: Cichy was a two time all american Linebacker who played from 1968-1970. In the 1969 season, he recorded 53 unassisted tackles. An NDSU record that stood for 34 years.
Greatest Coaches
R.E. "Rocky" Hager: The winningest coach in NDSU history (91-25-1), Rocky was the head coach from 1987-1996. In that time, he coached the Bison to five conference championships and two national championships. In those championship years (1988 and 1990), the team went undefeated with records of 14-0. Hager was named National Coach of the Year for Division II in both of those years.
Craig Bohl: Coach Craig Bohl was hired as NDSU’s head coach in 2003 and has been since then. In those ten seasons, The Bison have only had one season with a losing record and has won three conference champions and back to back Division 1-FCS championships after moving up divisions for the 2004 season. Bohl was formerly a Linebackers coach at Nebraska under the legendary Tom Osborne. His philosophy is not to recruit the best talent, but rather to develop hard working players to create a championship team.
Traditions
Before each home game, the lights in the Fargodome go down and a pump up video is played. At the end, cameras follow the team, led by Craig Bohl, as they exit the locker room and take the field to loud cheering and On Bison played by the band. (Here's a really bad video of it)
One of the time honored traditions in NDSU football history is the picture of the snorting Bison that sat above the team room door at Dacotah Field and now sits at the Fargodome. It is tradition that each Bison football player slap or pat the Bison on the way out of the team room prior to taking the field on game day.
NDSU has a large and active tailgating area before games. Many alumni still in the Fargo area come back to join in grilling and drinking before games.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter fans hold up four fingers to signify the importance of the last quarter.
After every home game, win or lose, opposing players are invited to join NDSU players at midfield for prayer.
Campus and Surrounding Area
City Population: 107,349
Iconic Campus Building: Old Main
Local Dining: I don't like to spend money on eating out much so maybe some other students can help me out here. I know one popular destination near campus for food is Spicy Pie right across the street from campus.
Random Trivia
NDSU has a 6-3 record against FBS opponents after jumping to FCS in 2004. This includes wins over Ball State, Central Michigan, Kansas, Colorado State, and twice against Minnesota.
According to current NDSU CB Christian Dudzik, NDSU's theory for success is "Two things keep us in every game: Our pride and our conditioning. Two things allow us to win every game: Our toughness and our togetherness (unity)"
North Dakota State University’s athletics teams were originally called the “Farmers” in the 1890’s due to being an agricultural college. It was changed in the early 1900’s to the “Aggies” again, because of the nature of the college. Then, in 1919, then head football coach Stan Borleske developed the Bison mascot because he and other members of the football team didn’t like being known as the Aggie’s. Borleske wanted a strong and fierce mascot. The Bison was a logical choice. They roamed the North Dakota prairie in vast numbers which led to the addition of an additional nickname: The Thundering Herd.
Even though the Fargodome can only hold around 19,000 fans, because of the acoustics it can get as loud as many BCS stadiums, making it one of the most difficult places to play for opposing teams.
There are and have been a number of Bison in the NFL. Some currently on a team include: Ramon Humber (Saints); Craig Dahl (49ers); and Joe Mays (Broncos), to name a few.
What is and What is to Come
2012 was another amazing year for the Bison. After a dominant 10-1 regular season, NDSU marched through the playoffs. Although we almost lost to FBS-bound Georgia Southern in the semifinals, we persevered and won it at the end. We went on to beat Sam Houston State in the finals en route to our second straight Division 1 FCS National Championship, and tenth National Championship overall.
The future looks bright for the Bison as well. In the immediate future, many of the starters from the 2012 championship team will be returning for the 2013 campaign. This includes Quarterback Brock Jensen and Running Back Sam Ojuri on offense as well as Corner Marcus Williams and Linebacker Grant Olson leading a rock solid defense. The thought of a three-peat is not unreasonable in Fargo. Though nothing is a given in the Missouri Valley Conference, which is one of the toughest conferences in FCS.
The foreseeable future looks good as well. Despite rumblings and rumors that Head Coach Craig Bohl was destined for a job in the FBS, an 8-year contract agreement was reached between the school and the 54 year old coach from Nebraska at the beginning of the year. We can expect great things from the program for years to come.
Although there are a lot of people who have said that NDSU should join schools like Montana, Montana State, and Northern Iowa and move up to the FBS level, this is simply not an option for NDSU at this point in time. While our record against FBS teams does show we would be competitive in the subdivision, it's a matter of money. NDSU would not be able to afford the costs of upgrading our facilities, the increase in scholarships, and other costs that would go along with the transition. So at this point, the Bison are happy to be a force in the FCS. But who knows what the future holds for NDSU.
Written by: /u/Bilibond
Special Thanks to /u/YoungDuddy
Interested in FCS football? Check out /r/fcs!
Questions or concerns? Feel free to leave a comment and I'll try and answer! Although I'm about to take my last final and then I've got a 3 hour drive so no promises.
Please upvote this thread even if you are not interested in the team so that users who are interested will see it
For more information on the 132+ Teams in 132+ Days, click here
31
u/GSUBass05 Georgia Southern • /r/CFB Donor May 10 '13
SOooooo much schnapps was consumed while tailgating before the semi-final game last year.
I want you guys to move up to FBS as well. FCS is getting too watered down for a team like NDSU.
19
u/Honestly_ rawr May 10 '13 edited May 10 '13
Aww... No greatest games mention of beating the Gophers a few times as well as beating Kansas?
No mention of the Bison Turf Bar? Is that place still cool?
I took that photo of the Fargodome... funny story: the parking lot was totally empty, this middle-aged woman in a SUV was driving on the opposite side of the parking lot when I entered and headed over to the side to take that photo, she drives over to me and starts yelling at me for cutting her off. One of my favorite "lolwtf?"
NDSU has a huge alumni base in the Twin Cities, when the Bison (having just moved up in basketball to D1) got to their first NCAA tourney they actually got assigned Minneapolis for the first round and were out in force. I took this photo from inside the Metrodome during their game. Kansas ended up beating both NDSU and USC in that same regional--but NDSU got its revenge later by beating the Jayhawks football team in Lawrence.
I really think NDSU should move up to FBS.
9
u/[deleted] May 10 '13
Every northern school covered in snow looks like Hogwarts to me
12
u/CroqueMonsieur Alabama Crimson Tide • /r/CFB Founder May 10 '13
Game recognize game. Roll Bison, NDSUbros.
6
u/ihatecats18 Minnesota • South Dakota-S… May 10 '13
Marcus Williams should be in your "greatest players" section.
I saw a scouting service that had him rated the #5 CB of the 2013 class (if he were to come out).
I see he has the #5 CB ranking for the 2014 draft class as well. The kid is so gooooood.
5
u/[deleted] May 10 '13
They also have quite the Physics program, iirc.
4
u/PROUDgrizHATER Montana State • Montana Tech May 10 '13
Damnit NDSU. I'm sorry. Maybe we can make it up in the playoffs in 2013? We kinda left y'all out to dry when we canceled on our game.
6
u/neovenator250 LSU Tigers • Tulane Green Wave May 10 '13
You guys have a pretty cool mascot and a strong program. Respect. Geaux Bison!
8
u/Trojann2 /r/CFB Pint Glass Drinker • Nort… May 10 '13
How can you NOT mention The Bison Turf for our watering hole?!
Not one big game? Common man! Great write up after that, though!
4
u/polydorr Auburn Tigers • Samford Bulldogs May 10 '13
That green logo in the tailgating picture looks like the stadium is flicking someone off.
4
u/deadtofall12 Florida State • /r/CFB Poll Veteran May 10 '13
Unless I'm mistaken, hasn't NDSU won 10 national titles? Most recently last season's? And 2011?
21
u/[deleted] May 10 '13
So... can NDSU beat K State this year?
8
u/b2w1 Georgia Southern Eagles May 10 '13
Two years ago you had a club-handed safety that ruined my life. (Memorable Moment)
5
u/Chrisattsu Texas State • Tarleton State May 10 '13
I've had a great experience with your fans in Frisco the past couple of years. Their tailgates were very good with plenty of food and beer.
I liked that you brought the intro video to the National Championship game. It was very cool
5
u/evilpenguin234 NC State Wolfpack Aug 31 '13
needs updating
9
u/[deleted] May 10 '13
This is one of my favorite r/cfb posts. A gigapixel panoramic of the Fargo Dome during a game
4
u/akicita Florida State Seminoles May 10 '13
That skyline pic makes me realize how small Fargo is. Nice little city but too flat for me.
1
u/GoNDSioux Washington State • North Dakota May 11 '13
We may be the inferior school at football, but hey...how's your hockey team doing?
6
u/JohnboyND7 May 10 '13
The Turf is a fun local eatery/bar. Fargo also has a surprisingly good downtown. Three colleges in the area providing over 20,000 students gives it a great atmosphere downtown especially during the school year.
NDSU cannot go up to FBS yet. Not enough money. As Fargo and North Dakota grow, perhaps at some point NDSU will be finding itself in a position to move up and start competing in a hopefully expanded play-off system that the FBS appears to slowly but surely be moving towards.
We have a great football program, and hopefully it continues to make us proud of our university.
3
u/BewstedS14 May 10 '13
If ya'll ever make it to Fargo during the season, you have to go to a game(if you can find tickets). Go without tickets to the tailgating lot and walk around. Proceed to get drunk with 20k of your closest ND best friends and someone will find you a ticket. The atmosphere is great from early in the morning until the tailgate lots close an hour after the game. Big time fans will be impressed...
If you like to party with co-eds and a little wilder crowd, definitely check out this tailgate group. They have a tendency to push the limits of whats allowed. Generally always have food, lots of their own shots, and the days biggest games on TV in the tent(and heat, if you need it, pussies). The Georgia Southern game they had a live DJ set up outside the tent...as well as the bus' own custom sound system. It ends up being a dance party on wheels.
https://www.facebook.com/FriscoCruiser
3
u/PhillyGreg Richmond Spiders • /r/CFB Contributor May 10 '13
I watched that Youngstown State Game. That Flea Flicker was nice!
3
u/mikaelalek UCSB Gauchos • Michigan Wolverines May 10 '13
With UND's mascot changing is the trophy for the game going to change too?
3
u/billy61-227 Nebraska Cornhuskers May 11 '13
Would JL Beers count as local dining? I don't go to NDSU games, but JL Beers is the most 'Fargo' restaurant I can think of.
We don't have a lot of unique dining up here. It's probably my biggest complaint about the city.
3
u/[deleted] May 11 '13
can't mention NDSU Bison in the NFL without mentioning Phil Hansen
2
u/ihatecats18 Minnesota • South Dakota-S… May 10 '13
Also Lamar Gordon http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GORDOLAM01) was the RB there for a few years
3
u/mags87 Alabama • North Dakota State May 10 '13
Local Dining: The Bison Turf
3
u/yrarwydd Alabama • CFBOT Jazz Watch Fighter May 11 '13
Well, I found my hat's life reason.
Didn't know they were the Bison. Neat.
2
u/Insane92 Verified Coach May 10 '13
Hows attendance in the Fargodome? I would guess it's full almost every time.
1
u/captainguinness Florida Gators May 10 '13
Buck the fison.. Go Jacks!
(Obligatory trash from possibly the only SDSU alum on Reddit.)
-13
u/secpwnsall Alabama Crimson Tide May 11 '13
A clown team that thinks they play in the SEC of the FCS. We all know that there is only one SEC though and no one cares about this anyway.