Ji m Kr a mer | Jason Miller | S H AC | Jayne G us t | B is o n Me d i a B l og
The Hidden Secret to NDSU’s Success
OF THE
HERD
January ‘15
BECOME A PART OF OUR HERD
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CONTENTS
feature JANUARY 2015 | VOLUME 9 ISSUE 6 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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PUBLISHER
Spotlight Media
PRESIDENT
Mike Dragosavich
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EDITOR
STRENGTH OF THE HERD
Jim Kramer, Jason Miller, Dave Ellis — these are all names that have contributed to the strength and conditioning program at NDSU. Read why they’re the best and why they’re only getting better.
CONTRIBUTORS
Josh Swanson, Joe Kerlin, Steve Walker, Paul Bougie, Jace Denman, Cody Bickler
COPY EDITORS
Lisa Marchand, Erica Rapp, Aubrey Schield
MARKETING/SALES
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COUNCIL
SAAC President Landin Rognlin and Vice President Emma Kusick tell us what’s in store for this year’s Summit League food fight.
SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Women’s Basketball Bison legend Jayne Gust is making as great of an impact on the university now as when she played.
8
18 Bison Shots
78 High-Flying Offense
20 SHAC Update
82 Bison Ambassadors
26 Frozen Tailgating
84 Queen of the Yell
31 Sporting Calendar
86 Following the Herd
62 How Well Do You Know
94 Spot the Difference
74 Get to Know
104 Swany Says
info@spotlightmediafargo.com
@bisonmag
bisonillustrated.com
facebook.com/bisonillustrated
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • JA N UA RY 2 015
Brent Tehven Craig Holmquist Tracy Nicholson, Paul Hoefer, Paul Bougie, Alicia Stuvland, Tiara Law
SOCIAL MEDIA
Kristen Killoran
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Codey Bernier
PHOTOGRAPHY
J. Alan Paul Photography, NDSU Athletics, Tiffany Swanson, Joseph Ravits, Andrew Jason, Sadie Lascelles
ADMINISTRATION
Heather Hemingway
SPECIAL THANKS
Ryan Perreault, Wes Offerman, Ryan Anderson, Jeff Schwartz, Colle en Heimstead
WEB DEVELOPER
Nick Schommer
DELIVERY
AT A GLANCE
Joe Kerlin Sarah Geiger, George Stack
SALES MANAGER
66
Andrew Jason
DESIGN/LAYOUT
GENERAL MANAGER
54
Paul Bougie
Chris Larson, Peyton Berger, Hal Ecker
FOR ADVERTISING CALL 701-478-SPOT (7768) or email info@spotlightmediafargo.com
Bison Illustrated is published monthly by Spotlight Media LLC. Print quantity exceeds 40,000 per issue. Printed in the U.S.A. Bison Illustrated does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented. Bison Illustrated assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Bison Illustrated is NOT an official publication of North Dakota State University. Send change of address information and other correspondence to: Spotlight Media LLC. 502 1st Ave N. First Floor Fargo ND, 58102 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Mike Dragosavich drago@spotlightmediafargo.com
ANOTHER STRONG YEAR!
T
his issue marks an incredible milestone for Bison Illustrated. We finally have the opportunity to expose the NDSU strength and conditioning staff. The reason it has taken us so long to showcase these people is because they work so dang hard every single day, it’s hard to pull them away from their craft for a couple of minutes to grab some photos and an interview. When I first converted to a punter while playing at NDSU, Jim Kramer took the time to research the best possible way to condition my specific position. To me, that sums up the theme of the strength program. Coach Kramer and his team are obsessed with the science of conditioning athletes one at a time. Usually a strength coach would just throw the punter into the mix of what everyone else is doing, but not Coach Kramer. He was a crucial reason behind why I had the opportunity to play on NFL teams. Now take what he did for a punter and multiply it by 10 when it comes to the rest of the team positions. I think we can all agree that our teams are among the most conditioned teams in Division I. I hope you enjoy the angle we chose to represent Coach Kramer and his team in the article. We wanted to highlight their families and show you what goes on behind the scenes. On another note, see you all in Frisco! This is going to be our toughest challenge yet.
On the Cover (Pictured from left to right) - Dan Lensby, Jim Kramer (seated), Tyler Beckman, Jake Wright, Andrew Shirek, Adam Mead, Ryan Napoli (seated), Jason Miller 10
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • JA N UA RY 2 015
Spot the
5 differences
SEE YOU IN FRISCO!
1.Nametag is removed. 2. Shirt color is changed. 3. Jersey number is changed. 4. Lanyard is missing. 5. Picture is removed.
We Have Our on
eyes you! SEE YOUR BEST BUT ALSO LOOK YOUR BEST
WE NOT ONLY WANT YOU TO
701.356.3937 • eyesonfargo.com 311 Broadway • Downtown Fargo
EDITOR’S NOTE
Swoll’ Bison!
FROM THE EDITOR
Boom! How about Jim Kramer on the cover of Bison Illustrated? I can’t lie, Bison faithful, this is a bucket list moment for us. And we didn’t get just Kramer; we got his whole staff. Man, those are some BIG boys.
Joe Kerlin Editor, Bison Illustrated CONTACT ME
I
t was an embarrassing moment for me a couple years ago. I was sitting in the office bright-eyed and ready to write about football, basketball, bocci ball or anything else in the sports universe. My first day at Spotlight Media was a week after the Bison took home its second championship in Frisco, and I was ready to start writing about a team I thought I knew everything about. Sitting in a stuffy office with the design team, Andrew gave me my first assignment: Writing game recaps of the Bison football team’s second championship run.
joe@bisonillustrated.com
@bisonmag
facebook.com/bisonillustrated
@j_kerlin
“Awesome,” I thought, “I attended every home game within the rowdy and energetic student section. There’s not much I don’t already know about this team.”
Hundreds of interviews and press conferences later, everybody shared the same testament about Jim Kramer that Mike had.
Oops. I was wrong.
There’s no shortage of respect around Bison Nation for what Kramer, Jason Miller and the rest of the strength and conditioning staff have done for Bison athletes the last 10-or-so years. And you can see their work and passion in every athlete performing with the title “Bison” across their uniform.
We needed pictures for the article and I was scavenging through our archive of all the game photos, looking for the best shot to represent the game I was writing about. One guy kept showing up within every gallery and I could never put my finger on who it was. I timidly asked Mike, “Hey, er… who is this guy?” He chuckled and said, “That guy is why we have been in Frisco the past two years.”
Last Month Darius Anderson’s photo last month was taken by Luke Lu. Thanks, Luke, awesome photo! 14
Floored by not only his chuckle – that was undoubtedly caused by his remembrance of grueling summer conditioning workouts (yes, even punters need to stay in shape) – but the respect Mike gave to this guy with a green polo and buzz cut.
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • JA N UA RY 2 015
With Kramer and his staff, what they do for Bison athletics is tangible, you can see the work they’ve done. Talk to me all you want about tradition, winning mentality and good strategy, but the reason NDSU Athletics is where its at today is for one, the resources provided by the administrative staff, and two, what the staff does with those resources. When I look at Carlton Littlejohn in a photo I selected for the 2012 championship issue two Februaries ago and a photo
of him on NDSU Athletics Twitter from two minutes ago, I see Kramer. I see countless hours busting his tail with each and every football player. I see fall camp workouts being as agonizing as sitting through a Bison loss, and I see the bond and camaraderie created with studentathletes and Kramer’s staff. Like me two years ago, it’s time for Bison fans from across America to start giving love to the humility, passion and effort Kramer brings with him to the NDSU program. To Kramer and his staff, stand up and take a bow. You know, and we know, that no one deserves it more.
Go Bison,
Joe Kerlin
Welcome to 2015! FROM paul bougie CONTACT ME
701-478-7768 paulbougie@spotlightmediafargo.com
I
n this special issue of Bison Illustrated, we learn about the strength of the Herd.
In a rare opportunity, you will be taken inside coach Jim Kramer’s strength and conditioning world. The following pages are filled with inspiring stories about Kramer and his staff preparing every one of our student-athletes so they’re ready to play a level higher than the competition. After visiting with former athletes from golfers to football players, they all remember their workouts with Coach Kramer. Not only did they get their butts kicked, but they were also taught about what it means to have heart. I salute Coach Kramer and his entire staff for keeping the Bison strong, literally. But Coach, if you ever want a real strength and conditioning challenge: What can you do with an old, overweight 52-yearold? I’m ready when you are!
Happy New Year and Go Bison! Paul Bougie
THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM Every month, Spotlight Media brings you Stride, Fargo Monthly, Bison Illustrated and Design and Living Magazine. Here are the people behind these magazines.
To learn more about the team at Spotlight Media and our four magazines, go to spotlightmediafargo.com
In 2014, we printed over 3,000 pages among our four publications. Thus, we celebrated at Drekker Brewing Company in downtown Fargo. Here is to another fabulous year.
BISON
18
FUN
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BISON
FUN
BISON SHOTS Bison players embrace the NDSU student section for a fourth consecutive season after the team’s semifinal victory against Sam Houston State. “I was running down the field and I jumped on a pile of six dudes just because I knew it was going to be my last play ever in the Fargodome,” Kyle Emanuel said after the 35-3 victory. “I immediately ran into the student section. Four years in a row getting to run up in there, it’s awesome and it’s awesome to do it with this group of people.” Photo by Tiffany Swanson
?
WANT MORE
Check out the Bison Illustrated App! Available for Android, Amazon, and Apple devices.
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SHAC
UPDATE
The Construction Continues The frost has crept its way back to Fargo as the construction workers at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex add extra layers to their bodies while continuing to chip away at a future landmark at NDSU’s campus. The cold weather hasn’t slowed progress at the SHAC says construction manager Darren Kruse, but he knows there’s still a ways to go. Photos by Tiffany Swanson By Joe Kerlin 20
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • JA N UA RY 2 015
SANDMAN
Site manager Don Bernhagen estimates 3,000 yards of sand will be used to fill the hole the pool left inside the building. Kruse hopes by January the area will be filled in and they can start pouring cement on the first floor. The tower of sand reaches over 25 feet and is kept inside to avoid freezing outside in the bitter temperature.
SHAC
UPDATE
Darren Kruse and Don Bernhagen look over the flat plan of the entire building to locate the areas they should be working towards completing while stuck inside the building during the winter. Kruse hopes to start laying concrete in the interior of the building this month.
ROOFTOP
ATRIUM
Kruse said they are only days away from being able to contract a roofing service to cover the south and west additions of the building. They’re only three tresses away from completing the basketball practice facility. Kruse hopes to avoid too much snow, but overall, precipitation shouldn’t affect the construction progress.
All the steel is nearly in place on top of the atrium as a crew of six workers shoots pins through the steel with a decking gun. This process is completely done with the loud decking gun because Kruse believes welding all the steel on top will take longer. Once the steel work is done, Kruse will get the roofers to complete the project and then they will start to insulate the future entrance of the SHAC.
COMING UP 22
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Check back next month to find out where the SHAC construction is at in this massive project that is expected to be complete in October 2016.
NDSU TAILGATING
frozen
Tailgating The Bison football team may have moved indoors in 1993, but fighting the cold conditions at the West Lot has never changed for Bison fans. After grueling temperatures during the playoffs last season, tailgaters around Bison Nation were ready for frigid temps during the 2014 playoff-run. We caught up with a couple tailgating groups that yell “Bring on the cold!” in this month’s installment of frozen tailgating. By Joe Kerlin Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography
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hot potato f the various ways Bison fans kept warm this December during playoffs, Todd Erickson and his tailgating group have the most unique tradition by loading up on carbohydrates to stay warm. This group of eight Bison fans entertain over 40 people a week at their tailgating spot and before the South Dakota State game, they featured a bar filled with something fans of all ages could enjoy – potatoes. The potato bar featured cheese, sour cream and something more common in tailgating lots, bratwursts. Erickson has been tailgating for over 25 years, he estimates. And says he’s been attending games for even longer.
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“I went to college here in the early 80s so since then,” Erickson said. “We won three out of four championships when I was in college with Jeff Bentrim and Chad Stark playing.” Last year, Erickson and his group brought something new to their tailgate. To remain warm during the subzero windchill leading up to the quarterfinals against Coastal Carolina in 2013, Erickson purchased a 13x26 foot tent with two heaters. “We’re hot!” said two fans enjoying the potato bar while the temperature outside the tent was 16 degrees. “That heater is nice.” This era of Bison football has made it easy for fans like Erickson to stand the grueling
cold temperatures outside before the games. “Fargo has been getting to be a bigger town,” Erickson said. “And I think it has grown in size so much, to a point where it can support a fan base as big as you see it today.” Erickson compares the dominance of the teams in the 80s to the teams over the past four years. He said the winning has made the pregame events much more enjoyable. But you can guarantee win, lose, draw, rain, snow or shine; Erickson and his group will be among the hardcore fans in the tailgating lot before each and every Bison home game.
NDSU TAILGATING
40
Tailgating
key
2011 2012 2013 2014
34o
35
temperature (degrees fahrenheit)
temps
37o
30
26o
26o 26o
25 20 15
27o 27o
21o 16o 12o
10 5o 3o
5
second round
quarterfinal
Playoff game
semifinal
NDSU TAILGATING
bison fun bus rett Holte and the Bison Fun Bus always bring the fun while tailgating. However, up until the second national championship, the group was without a bus. After the Bison took home its second championship trophy, Holte, his dad, uncle and two cousins decided it was time to invest in the Bison Fun Bus. The Fun Bus commutes over 30 miles before every game day starting in Halstad, Minn., and then picking up more passengers down the road in Hendrum. Bison football games have always been a family affair for Holte. “My uncle graduated from NDSU.
And actually, he is the only alumnus in our group,” Holte said. “My dad lives in Fargo. I have twin boys that go to Minnesota State and do the ROTC program out of NDSU. So we’re tied in that way. We go to the military ball and that kind of stuff at NDSU.” Holte said his father has been a season ticket holder for about 15 years and they’ve never missed a national championship game. Last season was the first time they could use the bus and went down with 16 and came back to Fargo with 17, adding the neighbor girl that wanted to experience the Bison Fun Bus first-hand. The Fun Bus has also been to Kansas State, Iowa and South Dakota. Holte said the planning
process for Montana next year is already in the works, but he never knows when something at the farm will hold them back like it did before the South Dakota game this season when the game fell in the middle of beet harvest. The Bison Fun Bus isn’t a familyonly tradition. Holte said his buddy joined the group when he supplied two tents for the group last year when “it was so damn cold out” before the New Hampshire game. Together the two tents create a space that’s 40x20 feet. And that’s more than plenty of room for the Bison Fun bus family reunion during every home football game.
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UPCOMING SEASON
SPORTING CALENDAR
2015
JAN/FEB
Lawrence Alexander is the lone senior on this year’s men’s basketball team. He leads the team in points per game for the first time in his career.
JANUARY
17 Women’s Track and Field
FEBRUARY
8 Men’s Basketball at Omaha
17 Men’s Track and Field Bison
Wrestling at University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyo.) 1 p.m.
(Omaha, Neb.) 7 p.m.
Bison Classic (Fargo, N.D.) TBD
Classic (Fargo, N.D.) TBD
8 Women’s Basketball vs IUPUI 18 Wrestling vs Boise State (Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m. 11 Women’s Basketball at
Denver (Denver, Colo.) 2 p.m.
14 Men’s Basketball at South
Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.) 7 p.m.
15
University (Fargo, N.D.) 2 p.m.
22
Men’s Basketball at IUPUI (Indianapolis, Ind.) 6 p.m.
22
Women’s Basketball at Omaha (Omaha, Neb.) 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball at South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.) 7 p.m.
23 Wrestling vs Cal Poly
16 Men’s Basketball vs
Women’s Basketball at Western Illinois (Macomb, Ill.) 4:30 p.m.
Western Illinois (Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m.
16 Wrestling vs University of
Northern Colorado (Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m.
17
Women’s Basketball vs Fort Wayne (Fargo, N.D.) 2 p.m.
(Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m.
24 24
Men’s Basketball at Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 6 p.m.
24 Women’s Track and Field Jim Emmerich SDSU Alumni Invitational (Brookings, S.D.) TBD
24 Men’s Track and Field
Jim Emmerich SDSU Alumni Invitational (Brookings, S.D.) TBD
29 Men’s Basketball vs Denver
(Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m.
30
Wrestling at Air Force Academy (USAF Academy, Colo.) 8 p.m.
30-31 Women’s Track and
Field Jack Johnson Classic (Minneapolis, Minn.) TBD
30-31 Men’s Track and
Field Jack Johnson Classic (Minneapolis, Minn.) TBD
1
1 Men’s Basketball at Western Illinois (Macomb, Ill.) 2 p.m.
5 Men’s Basketball vs Omaha (Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m.
6
Softball vs Green Bay (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1:15 p.m.
6 Women’s Basketball vs
Western Illinois (Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m.
6 Women’s Track and Field Thundering Herd Classic (Fargo, N.D.) TBD
6 Men’s Track and Field Thundering Herd Classic (Fargo, N.D.) TBD
7 Softball vs Drake University
(Cedar Falls, Iowa) 10:30 a.m.
7
Men’s Basketball vs South Dakota (Fargo, N.D.) 2 p.m.
7 Softball vs University of Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 3 p.m.
7
Wrestling vs Utah Valley University (Fargo, N.D.) 7 p.m.
8
Softball at University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 12:15 p.m.
8
Women’s Basketball vs South Dakota (Fargo, N.D.) 2 p.m.
8
Softball vs Drake University (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 2:30 p.m.
31 Women’s Basketball at
South Dakota State (Brookings, S.D.) 4 p.m.
31
For the strength of the Herd is the Bison. Articles By Joe Kerlin Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography 32
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D JA N UA RY 2 015
Right: Jason Miller with Lynn and Cameron. Left: Jim Kramer with Gabby and Kyle.
And the strength of the Bison is the Herd. This familiar excerpt is from the law of the prairie “The Herd� song. These 18 words can be heard outside in the tailgating lot, read on social media on game day and pretty much anywhere in Bison Nation. The meaning is simple and its application is infinite. Being a part of the Herd is like being a part of a family and no one exemplifies this more than Jim Kramer and Jason Miller. 33
JIM
KRAMER
strength of the herd
WHEN DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE JIM KRAMER LANDED IN FARGO, HE KNEW THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC PROGRAM WAS MORE THAN READY TO MAKE THE JUMP FROM DIVISION II TO DIVISION I ATHLETICS.
K
For the Love of
COLLEGE SPORTS JIM KRAMER
Kramer’s Impact
We asked former players, coaches and administrators to comment on Jim Kramer via Twitter.
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B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • JA N UA RY 2 015
ramer had experience working with Division I athletic departments before his arrival at NDSU during the 2003-04 athletic season. He was a graduate student at division 1-AA Appalachian State, an assistant director of player development at Georgia Tech and was the head strength and conditioning coach at Northern Iowa.
his kids, he got a job at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“When I got here they had beaten Montana during the season,” Kramer said while explaining why he thought the Bison were ready to make the jump to the highest level of college athletics. “Especially when I walked in here and see Rob Hunt, Nick Zilka, Isaac Snell, I was thinking – I left Northern Iowa two years ago and I know we didn’t have these guys, these guys could’ve played at Northern Iowa.”
The college atmosphere and the overriding “one common goal” philosophy inside university athletic departments is what Kramer missed most. Kramer would also tell you he flat-out missed working with football players.
Kramer hasn’t always trained with college athletes. After leaving Northern Iowa to raise
Working with future American Olympic athletes for two years was a unique experience for Kramer, but the continuity of the athletic program he saw at the nearby Air Force Academy convinced him he needed to return to the college game.
“I’m sitting there at an Air Force game timing the 20 minutes at half time,” Kramer said. “And I’m thinking ‘Okay, I got to get back into this.’ Then the job opened up here.” Kramer was well aware of the history in North Dakota with
Gene Taylor
Brock Jensen
Former Athletic Director
Quarterback 2010-14
@GTDeputyHawk
And every player on the team has a high level of respect for him and they know they get better every day under his guidance.
@BrockJensen1
Coach Kramer is the definition of Bison Pride. He is the backbone & X-Factor of our team and a HUGE reason why our program is so successful.
when it came to having the right resources. Now the director of athletic performance believes the strength of his staff today is staying ahead of the curve when it comes to what level of football they play at. Kramer says, “The program from when I got here has moved up to a FBS program.” Kramer said the staff needs to support the philosophy. And NDSU is able to do just that with six full-time positions and two interns. The handson approach used by every strength program has helped NDSU become one of the most successful mid-major programs in the country.
strength and conditioning programs. He said that NDSU and the University of North Dakota were well-known across the region because of their resources, facilities and staff. When he saw a director of athletic performance position open up at NDSU, he knew he couldn’t resist. When Kramer arrived at NDSU, the strength and conditioning staff had three people: himself, an assistant and a graduate student who were training 14 teams. Kramer said they were already ahead of Northern Iowa
Antonio Rodgers
The Bison took home nine conference championships last season and Kramer says that doesn’t happen unless the student-athletes are coached in the weight room like they would be on the field of play. The diverse staff that Kramer has at his disposal, this handson approach becomes feasible, and now he can have one or two staff members with a team at the same time. Last winter, there was some speculation surrounding Kramer whether he would leave to Wyoming with former head football coach Craig Bohl. When Kramer decided to stay, Colten Heagle said the football team was just as happy to see him stay as they were with defensive coordinator Chris Klieman remaining in Fargo.
KRAMER
“I think it shows during senior week,” said Heagle when explaining how much Kramer means to the studentathletes. “We give speeches and everybody thanks him and everybody appreciates the work he puts in and a lot of it is behind the scenes, the stuff people don’t see. And every player will thank him when they’re done here.” Offensive lineman Landon Lechler believes every championship season the Bison have had began with the relationships Kramer and his strength and conditioning staff have with the players. “His relationships with the players goes really unnoticed 24/7,” explains redshirt sophomore Lechler. “In the summer, he’s there for you when you need him. In the winter if you’re stuck or anything, you can give him a call and he’ll help you. He’s just a great coach to work with and I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.” With more talent coming to NDSU than ever before, resources becoming readily available and the new Sanford Health Athletic Complex on the horizon, Kramer doesn’t see the success leaving any time soon. The recent past has been kind to NDSU and with Kramer and his strength staff at the foundation of the Bison athletic program, NDSU will remain the jewel of college athletic programs for years to come.
John Pike
Joe Lund
Offensive Line 2008-2012
@Rodgers_7
@JohnPick15
Linebacker 2012-2013
Defensive Back 2010-2011
Jim Kramer is what being a Bison is all about. He puts in countless hours to make sure we are in great shape mentally and physically.
Every player’s dream is to reach the pinnacle of their athletic ability. Kramer helps you transcend into a player you never thought possible.
@joelund73
His dedication to the team is unmatched. His commitment to building this program into what it is today is something that is truly amazing. 37
strength of the herd
JIM
JASON
MILLER
the formula
FOR SUCCESS JASON MILLER
MILLER
strength of the herd
JASON
JASON MILLER’S INTEREST IN ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT STARTED IN COLLEGE WHILE HE WAS PLAYING FOOTBALL FOR MINOT STATE. THE CANADIAN-RAISED MILLER HAS BEEN TAKEN ON QUITE THE JOURNEY BEFORE SETTLING BACK IN THE STATE WHERE HE WENT TO COLLEGE.
A
fter earning his bachelors degree in corporate fitness and working with the Minot State athletic department as an undergrad, Miller got into graduate school at Northern Michigan University. He worked at the Olympic Education Center on campus at NMU, in Marquette, Mich. Miller studied and worked with athletes in various sports that many universities don’t offer. Events like short-track speed skating and GrecoRoman wrestling were both sports he helped train. He said he got to see some of his athletes become strong enough in their event to make the Olympic team. Miller also volunteered with the basketball and volleyball programs at Northern Michigan. Oddly enough, these are the two programs at NDSU he works with the most. But Miller made one more stop before settling in the Northern Great Plains. After receiving his exercise science master’s at Northern Michigan, Miller landed a head strength and conditioning coaching job in California at Long Beach State in 2002. Miller said he worked with really good baseball and volleyball players in California,
but after three and a half years he felt his time had run its course in California. Miller’s wife, Lynn, is from Minot and both she and her husband wanted to come back to North Dakota to raise their children. “I liked where I was working but we took it as far as we could take it,” explains Miller. “And this was an opportunity to go back home to a place where we could further develop and get better. This was a school (NDSU) that was more in line with what I wanted to do. Excellence and you’re expected to win and that’s what I wanted.” Like Jim Kramer, Miller was well aware of the history at NDSU and the resources the university had in place such as the Bison Sports Arena. He joined the Bison athletic department as the assistant and associate director of NDSU’s strength and conditioning program in 2005. Miller is credited with implementing a year-round strength and conditioning program that has given guidance to NDSU studentathletes across all sports. He outlined the eight characteristics of a successful athlete in one of his many training videos on YouTube.
Speed, strength, agility, flexibility, balance, coordination, endurance and attitude are all part of the foundation to building the best athletes possible. NDSU Strength can be found on YouTube along with its 130 videos that are shown to incoming freshmen as well as recruits. Miller said the strength and conditioning staff follow a similar approach to all its teams and the videos help the younger athletes prepare for what they will be getting into inside the NDSU weight room. The videos aren’t only for athletes. When Miller created the videos he was thinking big picture. He envisions the videos to be used as a resource for other strength and conditioning staffs to understand what NDSU’s concepts are about. Miller says he wants NDSU to be a leader in the field of training. Miller has been at NDSU for nearly 10 years and says the staff’s longevity is the biggest recruiting tool he has used. “It’s an all-encompassing program and it’s really leaving no stone unturned,” Miller said. “Our athletes know that there’s nothing that we won’t do, and what I mean by that is when they walk off that court in their 39
JASON
MILLER
strength of the herd
“Our athletes know that there’s nothing that we won’t do, and what I mean by that is when they walk off that court in their last year, they’re not wondering if they could’ve done something else in terms of their strength and conditioning.” Jason Miller
last year, they’re not wondering if they could’ve done something else in terms of their strength and conditioning.” Miller says he has seen every type of athlete possible at NDSU. He’s seen so many athletes that he has developed a database of all body types, so he knows what works best for different kinds of athletes and the best way to develop their bodies so they can be as successful as possible. Men’s basketball players from Ben Woodside, Brett Winkelman and Lucas Moormann to Taylor Braun, Lawrence Alexander and TrayVonn Wright have all trained under Miller’s guidance.
“Most of our athletes, specifically in basketball, they come in and they’re babyfaced, I’m very happy,” said Miller. “I know they’re not done growing and we have huge potential for growth.” Miller’s formulas have helped train two classes into NCAA Basketball tournament participants and thinks it’s good, concrete evidence for recruits to see the success of the strength and conditioning program he has helped build. NDSU has two visionaries when it comes to strength and conditioning. With the guidance of Kramer and the practical methods of Miller, the NDSU program has the ability to show athletes what they can ultimately become.
MILLER
strength of the herd
JASON
DAVE ELLIS
strength of the herd
constructing the
BISON ATHLETE NUTRITION
TO BUILD THE BEST ATHLETE POSSIBLE, YOU NEED TO FIND THE CORRECT ARCHITECT. CRAIG BOHL SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH JUST THAT WHEN HE TOOK OVER AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT NDSU.
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ho he found was a fellow Nebraska native and former strength coach, Dave Ellis. Coach Ellis attended the University of NebraskaLincoln in the 1980s and was a part of its strength training staff until 1990. He then spent the next four years at Wisconsin before returning to Nebraska in 1994 to become the Sports Nutrition Director until 2001. Ellis started his own consulting practice called Sports Alliance after the 2001 season when he left Nebraska, he then received a phone call from NDSU. “Craig (Bohl) recognized early that he had tough kids, hardworking kids, but we are going to have to definitely develop the talent to a greater extent,” Ellis said. “Much like we did in Nebraska, but this time up in Fargo.” NDSU has remained one of the schools that uses Ellis and his team. Ellis also consults with the University of Oklahoma, Ohio
Nick Schommer
DJ McNorton
Defensive Back 2004-08
Running Back 2007-11
@NickSchommer
Coach Kramer is the man behind the scenes. He’s not in the paper win or lose, but he’s in the weight room, making sure every single player is on track. 42
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@DjMac8
He is the heartbeat! He is the reason for our PRIDE, CONDITIONING, TOUGHNESS, and TOGETHERNESS! He gets my vote for best in the business.
University, Indiana University, University of Montana and Montana State — to name a few. Ellis comes in before every season and uses his system to measure athletes to give director of athletic performance Jim Kramer an estimate of how big every athlete can become. “We want to be accurate on what position an athlete might be best suited to play based on their capacity,” explained Ellis, “carrying lean mass and a suitable amount of body fat relative to the position.” Ellis meets with each athlete individually and with basic instruments. His measurements include the athletes trunk length, chest depth, shoulder breadth and pelvis width. Freshmen and sophomores enter the Bison program before their bodies stop growing, Ellis said. Robust characteristics of the body continue to grow throughout an athlete’s career in college and Ellis’ system
(Above) Dave Ellis measures senior wide receiver Nate Moody’s body frame for his body composition data. (Top Right) Bison football has been heavily involved in the “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” campaign. Ellis has been ahead of the curb when it comes to milk consumption after workouts.
measures the progress every year to give Kramer and the football staff an estimate of how much muscle and body mass the athlete’s frame can handle. “Is he a tight end or does he have some potential to play offensive line someday?” Kramer said. “We measure kids that could play safety; OK, we’re questioning his movement and speed right now, so does he have the frame size right now to play linebacker?” Frame measurements do not determine where the athlete plays on the field, said Kramer. But analyzing his frame, his body mass potential and his quickness gives the football coaches a great feel for what position the athlete might best succeed at. “Coach Ellis came in and told me how skinny I was,” safety Colten Heagle said about his first measurements with Ellis. Kramer in turn told Heagle to start bulking up, and the Bison safety improved his max bench from 285 to 355 pounds before his shoulder injury last season.
Gene Taylor
In some cases, athletes need to gain as much weight as they can. Redshirt sophomore Landon Lechler arrived to NDSU standing 6’7’’ and weighing in at 253 pounds. “‘Get to the dining hall,’” Lechler said, remembering one of his first conversations with Coach Kramer. Four or five burgers in one sitting is now a common occurrence for Lechler, who said his weight now fluctuates around 300 pounds in his third year at the football program. Ellis, the 2014 winner of the Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association’s Trailblazer Award, helps NDSU athletes with their diets, too. He created a fueling tactics chart that recommends what type of foods athletes should be eating everyday. The chart has three steps: fresh produce and healthy
oils, starches and sugars, and protein sources. Ellis returns every year to NDSU to explain the chart to incoming freshmen and helps guide them into being as nourished as possible while gaining or cutting weight. “The whole process was born from advocacy for athletes when I was playing this role as a dietician,” Ellis, a registered dietician said. “We’re always reeducating and when we’re doing baseline education for freshmen, we lay a lot on them. But the health professionals around the athletes, whether it’s straight conditioning or medicine, are always there.” Ellis said hiring full-time sports dieticians is the trend at the FBS level. And he said he thinks the next move NDSU could make is hiring a full-time sports dietician for its strength and conditioning staff. NDSU has found its architect in Ellis and with his help, NDSU Athletics will continue to see the proper growth and nutrition out of its athletes.
Antonio Rodgers
@GTDDeputyHawk
@Rodgers_7
Simply stated: Three National Championships, Four MVFC Championships, playing for the opportunity for a fourth National Title.
It’s what he does off the field that makes him special, for a kid coming from Miami he has always had my best interest at mind.
Former Athletic Director
Linebacker 2012-13
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strength of the herd
DAVE ELLIS
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your Corn Field
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fueling
TACTICS
ELLIS
strength of the herd
DAVE
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR NDSU ATHLETICS TO TRACK EVERYTHING THE ATHLETES PUT INTO THEIR BODIES. TO HELP ATHLETES IMPROVE THEIR DIETS, DAVE ELLIS PRESENTS HIS FUELING TACTICS CHART FOR ATHLETES TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL WITH PROPER NUTRITION.
NUTRITION
Outwork the competition by selecting something from each of these 3 steps when building meals*:
step 1
step 2
step 3
Learn to VALUE the benefits of FRESH PRODUCE and HEALTHY OILS with meals
Select fiber rich STARCHES first & reduce fast digesting SUGARS
Always DIVERSIFY your protein sources and select LOWER FAT sources when inactive
VITAMIN C & CAROTENOIDS Fruits Cantaloupe, Mango, Tangerines Vegetables Sweet Potatoes, Yams Dark Salad Greens Broccoli Leaves, Dandelion Greens, Spinach, Kale Herbs & Spices Paprika, Chili Powder, Ground Cayenne, Fresh Dill Weed, Pesto
SLOW DIGESTING FIBER RICH STARCHES Vegetables Cooked Carrots, Corn Grits Potatoes/Starches Boiled White Potatoes Beans/Peas/Nuts Peanuts, Soy Beans Soups Tomato, Lentil, Black Beans Pasta Soy or Egg Protein Enriched Spaghetti or Noodles, Fettucini Grains/Rice Barley, Rye, Wheat Kernels Breads & Rolls Barley Kernel Bread Crackers/Snack Chips Fried Potato Chips, Popcorn, Rye Crisp Cereal Rice Bran, All Bran Fruit ‘n Oats Fruits Cherries, Grapefruit, Prunes Sweets Sweetened Yogurt, Fructose
VITAMIN C Fruits Barbados Cherries, Currant Vegetables Green & Yellow Peppers or Chiles, Horseradish, Cauliflower Herbs & Spices Clove, Saffron, Fenugreek, Ground Allspice, Cinnamon CAROTENOIDS Fruits Brazil Berry Fruit, Sharon Fruit, Kaki Fruit, Prunes, Red Sour Pie Cherries Vegetables Pasilla Peppers, Carrot VITAMIN E Wheat Germ or Oil, Soybean Oil, Corn Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Liquid Margarine COMPLEMENTARY ANTIOXIDANTS Alfalfa, Apples, Artichokes, Capers
when inactive
FAST DIGESTING SUGARS & STARCHES Potatoes/Starches Rutabaga, Stuffing Crackers/Snack Chips Kavli Crackers, Corn Chips, Soda Crackers Grains/Rice Tapioca, Millet, Short Grain White Rice Breads/Breakfast Items Melba Toast, White Bread, Pop Tarts, Bread Sticks Cereal Cream of Wheat, Golden Grahams,Crunchy Nut Cornflakes Sweets Sweetened Softdrinks, Teas
LEAN PROTEIN Animal Sources Eggs/Beef/Game Egg Whites, Lean Ground Beef Pork/Lamb Ham, Canadian Bacon Poultry Chicken, Turkey, Cornish Hen Fish/Shellfish Clam, Crab, Lobster Pasta Soy or Egg Protein Enriched Spaghetti or Noodles, Fettucini Dairy Sources Skim-1% Milk, Buttermilk Vegetable Sources Tabouli, Beans, Peas MEDIUM FAT PROTEIN Animal Sources Eggs/Beef Flax Fed Hen Eggs Pork/Lamb Top Loin, Chop Poultry Dark Meat, Ground Turkey Fish/Shellfish Any Fried Fish Dairy Sources 2% Reduced Fat Milk Vegetable Sources Tofu, Soy Yogurt HIGH FAT PROTEIN Animal Sources Beef 75% Lean Ground Beef, Beef Ribs Pork Spareribs, Ground Pork, Bacon Dairy Sources Whole Milk, Swiss
*FOR COMPLETE LIST OF FOODS, GO TO FUELINGTACTICS.COM
action plan
BREAKFAST
MID AM
LUNCH
MID PM
DINNER
PM SNACK
step 1 foods step 2 foods step 3 foods * Select something from each of the three steps, every four hours.
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KRA-
MART
strength of the herd
welcome to
KRA-MART T
he building Jim Kramer and Jason Miller now call home is next door to the 19th Avenue CVS Pharmacy and they needed to make the transition as quick as possible. “Moving the weight room was like moving 10 houses,” Kramer said. “And in that period of time – with the heaviness of the equipment and the amount of equipment from everything from dumbbells to weight plates and all that – it was a huge undertaking.”
Miller said their staff started moving weights and exercise machines from the BSA before they signed the two-year lease earlier this summer. When the lease was finally signed, they pulled into the parking lot with truckloads of equipment that day. Not only was the transition like moving 10 houses, the athletic staff still had to stick to its summer workout schedule. To find places for Bison athletes to work out, NDSU reached out to its neighbor. Minnesota State University-Moorhead
Gene Taylor
Nick Schommer
Former Athletic Director
Defensive Back 2004-08
@GTDDeputyHawk
The fact that both Bohl and Klieman felt that Jim was the key to both of their staffs during the change and fortunately he stayed a Bison. 46
WITH THE RENOVATION AT THE OLD BISON SPORTS ARENA JUST SOUTH OF 17TH AVENUE, THE BISON STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING FACILITY HAS MOVED ITS OPERATIONS JUST NORTH OF THE FARGODOME.
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • JA N UA RY 2 015
@NickSchommer
The team is where they need to be. He puts his heart & soul into this program and is THE REASON the Bison start fast and finish strong!!
was the location for a handful of workouts this summer while staff members and athletes helped move NDSU Strength into its new home. “The other part that I don’t think gets understood is that we’re running workouts, coming back and moving equipment back, and running back to do more workouts, then running back to lay some floor down,” said Miller. Power Lifting, the company NDSU bought its workout equipment from several years
KRA-
MART
strength of the herd ago, also drove up from its headquarters in Iowa to help with the transition into the new workout facility. Miller said the move happened in 96 hours and a video on its YouTube page shows the time lapse from start to finish. The overall reaction from staff and players has been good. The new facility offers a ton of open space for staff to keep an eye on every athlete in the facility. "Yeah, maybe the aesthetics aren’t there, but that’s the last thing strength and conditioning coaches really care about," said Kramer about his department's temporary home. The single door entrance is right before you enter the agility training area. This is where athletes work on footwork and it also provides space for preworkout stretching. To the right are the offices for the staff, located where old grocery lines used to form. Following
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down the right side of the facility is where the free weights are located and in the back is a core station, where athletes can work on their mid-section. In the back is a door that leads to the wrestling room. Much like the BSA, the wrestling room is pushed into a special area so the team can conduct practice on a mat that doesn't have to be moved. The left side of the building is where the Olympic Training takes place. This is the area where all the heavy lifting occurs. Behind the Olympic training station is a nutrition bar. This is where athletes can grab some quick energy or nutrition before and after a workout. Not far from the nutrition bar and entrance is the training room. This area is used for athletes to receive treatments on their numerous ailments that affect them through the season.
MART
strength of the herd
KRA-
“I like it. It’s kind of blue-collar, like the guys we have around here. You have what you have and you make it work and work as hard as you can.” Landon Lechler
Antonio Rodgers
@Rodgers_7
Linebacker 2012-2013 I can always count on Jim Kramer.
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SHAC
strength of the herd
FUTURE
shac
PLANS
JIM KRAMER AND HIS STAFF WERE GIVEN A CANVAS TO CREATE THEIR VERY OWN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AREA INSIDE THE NEW SANFORD HEALTH ATHLETIC COMPLEX. WE GOT AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT WHAT KRAMER AND HIS STAFF ARE COOKING UP FOR THEIR AREA OF THE SHAC.
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FUTURE
SHAC
strength of the herd
East
South
North
West
Glutes & Hamstrings
Dumbbell Rack
Lat Pulldown
Jammer Seated Row
Weight Room Layout
The new weight room inside the Sanford Health Athletic Complex will be slightly bigger than the area inside the Bison Sports Arena. With 20,000 square feet of room inside the new weight room, Jim Kramer said efficiency is the number one priority. “The weight room will be set up for how the workout flows,” said Kramer. Athletes will start outside the nutrition bar and fuel up before stretching and completing agility drills on the turf outside the weight room. After their blood is flowing with footwork drills, the athletes will enter the weight room for strength training.
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Olympic Training Station
SHAC
strength of the herd
FUTURE
Offices
Nutrition Bar
Nutrition Area
The NCAA has loosened its restrictions on feeding athletes and Kramer and Jason Miller are taking advantage of the new rules inside the SHAC by placing a fueling station outside the weight room. “These fueling stations we’re trying to put together with the help of our dining hall and Darren Peterson, director of dining services, and Dave Ellis because of what he has seen at different places. He’s going to give us his input on it and we’re going to try to capitalize on that even more,” Kramer said. “Nutrition isn’t about gaining or losing weight necessarily. Nutrition isn’t about pregame or postgame meals, it’s about the development of the athlete during their four to five years here.” Athletes will be able to fuel before a workout with a protein bar or smoothie and after, if they don’t have time to run to the dining hall, they will be able to get a recovery drink or snack from the fueling station. Kramer said although the station will help develop the athletes, they aren’t losing track of the importance of the dining hall. Kramer added that over his time at NDSU, the dining halls have gotten better and better. He believes it’s one of the better dining halls in the country.
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NDSU
SAAC
By Cody Bickler | Photos By J. Alan Paul Photography
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COUNCIL
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LANDIN
ROGNLIN
The Student-Athlete Advisory Council is playing a fundamental role in connecting student-athletes with the community again this year. We caught up with this year’s president Landin Rognlin and vice president Emma Kusick to see what SAAC has in store for the rest of the school year.
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DSU student-athletes give their all during competition while fans cheer their hearts out for the athletes. The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) is a bridge between the two who share a common goal: Bison success. Landin Rognlin is the president of this NDSU organization, which takes two athletes from each sport. Rognlin is a senior javelin thrower for the Bison track and field team. Coming into his final season, he is looking to enjoy the remaining time he has at NDSU. “I am excited,” said Rognlin. “But at the same time it is a lot of mixed feelings. You come in and they tell you how fast it is going to go. They tell you it will be gone before you know it. You think it is five years down the road so you don’t worry about it. Five years later, we are already here. I am trying to take advantage of the small time between practice and just hanging out with teammates.” Rognlin is a native of Fargo and went to Fargo North High School.
FIVE YEARS LATER, WE ARE ALREADY HERE. I AM TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SMALL TIME BETWEEN PRACTICE AND JUST HANGING OUT WITH TEAMMATES.”
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LANDIN
ROGNLIN
Landin Rognlin hails from Fargo North and is making an impact at the college across University Avenue. A star football and track athlete in high school, Rognlin committed his talents to the javelin for NDSU. He finished sixth in the javelin at the Summit League Outdoor Championships in 2013, and after competing last season detached, Rognlin is looking to improve on his personal best of 53.89 meters this Spring.
Being a local athlete at NDSU means a great deal to him, as he knows he is playing for more than just championships and records. “It is a hard feeling to describe,” said Rognlin. “Growing up I always watched NDSU. I always looked up to the guys. It was always a dream of mine. It is a surreal feeling because now I am the one that other kids are looking up to.”
Photo by NDSU Athletics
Rognlin has a great opportunity to be a hero to kids of the community outside of competition as well. As president of SAAC, he gets to interact with the community. This organization, aimed at involving student-athletes in the community, is a great opportunity for athletes to spend time with those who passionately cheer them on. Rognlin, who will begin a full-time job with Polaris after the spring semester, recognizes the impact of the organization. “As athletes in SAAC, we get to see what happens when you give back to the community. We get to see all the numbers that we raise. We are able to interact with the community and reach out to a whole different level than we normally get to do.” The community gets to see the athletes as people rather than just what they do in their respective sports. Kids get to meet their local
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sports idols and the athletes get to put a big smile on those kids’ faces. For Rognlin, he is even more involved now that he is the president of SAAC. “It’s busy,” said Rognlin. “It is a lot of communication and people reaching out to ask me to do certain things. But it is a great experience.” Being a part of this organization is a commitment. Between all the teams, there is usually at least one event every week. This year, however, they are trying to spread everything out more and smooth out the clumps instead of having multiple events in one week. This will make it easier on the student-athletes with their busy schedules. This semester they are competing in the Summit League Food Fight — last year they lost to rival SDSU. Rognlin doesn’t want a repeat of that experience. “It was bitter,” said Rognlin. “It came down to the online video which counts towards donation. We were ahead and they won it in the last two hours.” SAAC is a great organization for NDSU student-athletes that leaves a positive impact on the community. Rognlin’s leadership as the president of SAAC shows the great character NDSU student-athletes have and their desire to give back to the town they love.
EMMA
KUSICK
E
mma Kusick is entering her senior year at NDSU. You may know Kusick from the NDSU women’s golf team, but her accolades go far beyond the golf course. In addition to being on the golf team, Kusick is also involved in SAAC, Bison Ambassadors and Blue Key. She has dedicated her time to getting involved in many different organizations and is leaving her mark on NDSU. Maybe one of her biggest impacts came this past summer when she was given the opportunity to be a part of the search committee to find a new athletic director. With the departure of former athletic director Gene Taylor, NDSU was in search of a replacement for the position. Not just anyone gets to be part of the committee. The university wanted to hear the opinions of studentathletes that were involved in the university and the community. Kusick exemplifies a dedication to success both in the classroom and in competition. She also was involved with NDSU organizations and had
I AM EXCITED TO LEAVE BUT DON’T WANT TO BE DONE YET. I HAVE LOOKED AT IT AS MORE FUN RATHER THAN A SERIOUS THING.”
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EMMA
KUSICK
Emma Kusick exemplifies the prototypical student-athlete in the classroom. She’s a three-time member of Summit League Winter/ Spring All-Academic Team and made her first appearance on the Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence last year. The senior from Minot shot a career best 75 at the Cobber Invitational in 2013 and finished a career-high third place in the event.
a connection with both Jane Schuh and Gene Taylor and was a huge reason why she was chosen for such a prestigious honor in NDSU history. Being part of this process is something that will impact Kusick for the rest of her life. “I wasn’t just a student and I wasn’t just an athlete,” said Kusick. “My opinion mattered and is making a decision in shaping the future of NDSU. I can voice my opinions and people will listen. What I do have to say is important. It was an experience I will take with me the rest of my life and never forget.” Photo by Dennis Hubbard
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In addition to being on the search committee, she is making an impact on NDSU through her work with the (SAAC) organization. Each sport has two members representing their respective sport in SAAC, with Kusick being one of the representatives from the women’s golf team. She was a secretary last year and was nominated for president this year, but withdrew right away because of her busy schedule. SAAC is the unique bridge that connects NDSU studentathletes and the community, and they use a variety of events to accomplish this. Each one brings a new involvement with NDSU and the community.
SAAC reintroduced the varsity letter jacket with the goal of carrying on the storied tradition and history of NDSU. Eighty-one student-athletes were presented with letter jackets. The women’s golf team helped set up the event and Kusick was in charge of planning the event. “I liked being in charge of the letterman’s jackets,” says Kusick. “That was one of my favorite things to be involved in with SAAC this year.” As a senior, Kusick is trying to enjoy her remaining time at NDSU. This is a special time for her and she knows better than to take it for granted. “It has gone by like a snap,” says Kusick. “It is bitter-sweet. I am excited to leave but don’t want to be done yet. I have looked at it as more fun rather than a serious thing. It is my last year of playing free, competitive golf. I have made it more of a relaxing thing than a stressful thing. Just to go out there and play with the girls one last time and enjoy every minute of it.” Her time at NDSU has not been wasted. She has been involved in many different organizations and has left her mark on Bison history. Everything she has learned here will guide her in being successful each and every day from here on out.
CHEMISTRY QUIZ
Chris
Kading? ld What wou Chris say?
T
he men’s basketball team may be young, but sprinkled into the youth are a few players that have battled Summit League foes hand-in-hand. We asked Kory Brown and Lawrence Alexander how well they know Chris “Big Velvet” Kading.
THE QUESTIONS
CHRIS’S ANSWERS
LAWRENCE ALEXANDER
Burrito
Burrito or Wings
2. What’s your favorite sports movie?
Coach Carter
Remember the Titans
3. Who would you like see in concert the most?
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake or The Script
4. What’s your dream job?
Physical therapist for Green Bay Packers
Athletic Trainer
Physical Therapist
5. How old were you when you picked up your first basketball?
Don’t remember; started playing organized basketball in 4th grade
8 years old
4 years old
6. Who is your favorite NBA player?
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant
7. Who would win in lightening between you, Kory Brown and Lawrence Alexander?
Me
Lawrence Alexander
8. What’s your favorite sporting event to attend at NDSU?
Football
Football
1. What’s your favorite postgame meal?
4- 8 62
KORY BROWN
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+1
Burrito
+1
Remember the Titans
+1
+1
Eric Church
+1
Kevin Love
Lawrence Alexander
+1
Football
3-8
+1
JAYNE GUST
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JAYNE GUST
WHERE
ARE THEY
NOW?
JAYNE GUST: SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE FIELD By Cody Bickler | Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography
Jayne (Even) Gust was the ultimate student-athlete for the NDSU women’s basketball team in the late 90s. During her illustrious career, she achieved many different awards. Her legacy at NDSU is highlighted by her achievement of the Honda Broderick Trophy as the NCAA Division II Female Athlete of the Year. Her story begins with her path to NDSU and the life-long impact this decision has had on her life.
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JAYNE GUST
J
ayne Gust was a star in high school. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native had ample amounts of opportunity to play her college career at many universities across the Midwest, but it wasn’t only basketball that she excelled at. Volleyball is what drew Gust to NDSU first, but the timing of her visit couldn’t have worked better for the basketball program.
“There is being part of a winning tradition, but also working towards that. People see the wins and losses but don’t see what goes on behind the scenes.”
– Jayne Gust
The Bison women’s basketball team was also in the middle of Division II dominance during Gust’s recruitment. They had championships in five of six years from 1991-1996. But Gust recognized the importance of excelling as a student-athlete rather than just an athlete. And after meeting head coach Amy Ruley and her assistant Kelli Layman during her volleyball visit, she knew the NDSU culture was what she was looking for.
Accolades • Honda Broderick Trophy (DII Female Athlete of the Year) • Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year “NDSU took an interest in me as a person and the goals that I had for my collegiate career,” Gust said about her decision to attend NDSU. The fan support of the program also didn’t hurt when Gust made her decision. Packed Bison Sports Arenas and a rabid fan base caught the attention of the high school senior. “It was special,” Gust said “It was crazy to see a venue that has that many fans present for women’s games, and then to go to other schools and hear them say they might get a few hundred here and there.” 69
JAYNE GUST
The pride, tradition and passion towards the school are what drove Gust to NDSU. What kept her here were the people she fell in love with during her four years. The experience Gust had in her time goes far beyond athletics. Much of what she learned as a Bison she uses in her day-to-day life. “There is being part of a winning tradition, but also working towards that,” Gust said. “People see the wins and losses but don’t see what goes on behind the scenes.” Becoming a Division II athlete of the year doesn’t just happen without hard work. Gust credits women’s athletic director Lynn Dorn, and women’s basketball coaches Ruley and Layman, for becoming the best basketball player possible. In return they have now acted as mentors for Gust. “I took it for granted while I was in school, and even in grad school, but having left and then having come back to Fargo, I re-engaged our relationship and realized what amazing mentors they truly are to me,” said Gust. “They are strong, intelligent women who have had immense success. I continue to strive to have similar successes in my own career, and value their relationships immensely.”
learned from her time at NDSU and the women who left a positive impact on her. Although her time as a student-athlete at NDSU has come and gone, Gust still keeps a close tab on the teams. She knows what it takes to be successful in the program and she sees great promise in the current women’s basketball team. “It is extremely exciting as an alumnus to see the young players out there working so hard again,” Gust said. “I think Coach (Maren) Walseth has
“I always thought Jayne’s skill set and demeanor on the court reminded me of Scottie Pippen from the championship Chicago Bulls teams. Her size and her length combined with the ability to play on the perimeter and in the paint made Jayne hard to defend. ... The best thing was that Jayne was as good a person, as she was a basketball player.” -NDSU Sports Information Director Jeff Schwartz, 1990-Present
Their influence on Gust has been a positive one and has helped her in her success throughout life.
brought a sense of pride back to the program, which will bring out the best in her athletes.”
She is now a Public Affairs Specialist at Sanford Health in Fargo. She also was part of United Way’s 35 Under 35 program last year. She has been successful in her career and much of that can be pointed back to the lessons
The work ethic of the current team impresses alumni like Gust who have given their all to the program. Beyond just the work ethic, the overall studentathlete aspect of the team is what impresses Gust the most. The athletes
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are getting the job done in the classroom rather than just on the court, and that makes her proud to be a Bison. The path Gust has been on has been positively impacted by her time at NDSU. It has gotten her where she is today, and will continue to guide her in her future. The lessons learned as a Bison are lifelong lessons that have shaped her successful profession career after an amazing collegiate career.
MANNY RIVERA
GET TO
KNOW COACH MANNY RIVERA From California to the Midwest, Manny Rivera is now in his fourth season as assistant for the NDSU wrestling team. Rivera’s chemistry with the coaching staff and with the studentathletes has made him a key to the recent success of the NDSU wrestling program. We sat down with Rivera to learn how he ended up in the Midwest and what he expects from a talented Bison wrestling team this season. Interview by Cody Bickler | Photo by Tiffany Swanson
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MANNY RIVERA
Q& A Bison Illustrated: Manny Rivera:
BI:
MR:
pass it on to your wrestlers? MR:
How did you get to NDSU? “It started with me wrestling for the Gophers. I am originally from California so that is how I made it out to the Midwest. I wrestled with Coach (Roger) Kish, we were teammates at Minnesota. I was coaching at the University of Virginia when he took over as head coach. We were good friends. He called and said he was looking for an assistant. I always liked the Midwest so I was looking to come back this way.” It must be quite the change going from California to Minnesota.
“I try to relate to the guys. I let them know that I have been there and been through it. I let them know I am here to help them become the best wrestlers they can be. It (wrestling) is everything you have ever done and it helps out at some point. Everything you have been through as an athlete. I have been through a lot and it comes in to play at some point.”
BI:
Do you ever get out on the mat and wrestle with them?
MR:
“All the time. It is my favorite part of coaching.”
BI:
Do you take it to them?
MR:
“Yeah. It gets harder and harder as I get older, but yeah. I still get out there and I do OK.”
BI:
How do you replace a great talent like Steven Monk for this season?
MR:
“Steve was a pretty special wrestler, especially on that squad. I don’t know if we can replace Steve with just one guy. I think we can replace him with all the talent we have spread out through the lineup. I think this is our most solid lineup throughout the weight classes that we have had. We probably don’t have a Steven Monk returning, but we have so many guys with potential to finish like Steve did. It is just a matter of getting them ready and getting them to peak at the right time in March.”
“Yeah, it is a little colder.”
BI:
You are in your fourth season here at NDSU. How do you feel the program has come along since your first season?
MR:
“(We are) definitely making strides in the right direction. We have had a couple of All-Americans the last few years. We have been able to crack the Top 20 in some rankings. I think it is going in the right direction, it just seems like it never goes fast enough. We have the mindset that if you are not first, you are not there (yet).”
BI:
Do you think the program can get up there in the next few years?
NCAA ALL-AMERICAN
MR:
“Absolutely. I think we have the talent and we have brought in some good recruits, but it is young talent right now. We have so many guys who can develop and do well over the next few years. It (the program) has come a long way and I think it is going to keep climbing.”
113-40 Career Record
BI:
You were on a national championship team at Minnesota. How do you use that experience as a coach and
27 Pins 2007 National Championship Team starter with the Gophers 3 time NCAA qualifier Team captain senior season
Carson Wentz has looked comfortable since taking his first snap as a starter. John Crockett is a fan favorite while carrying the bulk of the load out of the backfield. Zach Vraa's senior season has been tarnished with injuries, but he is hoping to return.
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By Joe Kerlin | Photo By J. Alan Paul Photography
T
he second round playoff game against South Dakota State was nerve-racking for even the calmest Bison fan. Down four with three minutes to go against your hated rival is not an ideal situation for a first year quarterback who is trying to follow up three years of national championship winning success. It also didn’t help that one of the best wide receivers that’s come through NDSU was out with a leg injury.
BUT CARSON WENTZ WAS READY.
“We got together and we said, ‘Hey, we've got to rally the troops and we've got to get this done.’” T he junior quarterback engineered a nineplay, 76-yard go-ahead touchdown drive in just over two minutes and overcame a critical 1st and 20 in the beginning of the drive. Wentz had finally done what the crowd of 18,000 was asking for. The victory solidified his first signature moment as a Bison quarterback and showed the nation that he is a winner.
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“It builds a sense of confidence you can never give up,” running back John Crockett said.
Again in the quarterfinals, the Bison found themselves down in the fourth quarter after surrendering an early 14-point lead. Coastal Carolina’s offense started firing on all cylinders and the Bison got themselves stumbling into unfamiliar territory and fell into the middle of a shoot out. “I think offensively, we know we’re very capable,” Wentz said. “We’re realizing that we’re very capable of putting up really big numbers and big points and I think we just have to keep the ball going.” Again, Wentz and the offense prevailed against new circumstances. The Bison took home the victory with a score of 39-32. With the combination of single-season record holder Wentz, John Crockett and Zach Vraa, the Bison could be displaying the most talent they have seen on this side of the football. Vraa, a huge contributor to the success of the Bison offense, has been held off the field since taking a violent hit against SDSU. Vraa was smacked while leaping for a ball and has been dealing with a hamstring injury. “It’s very tough losing one of the best players – I feel like – in Bison history on the offensive side of the ball,” Crockett said. “Sometimes I want to go up to him and be like ‘Number 82, c’mon!’ Right now it’s sad and surreal, but we have this winner mentality and that’s something we have created through our history. And knowing the guys behind Zach Vraa,
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you never know when it’s going to be your shot. You just need to be ready and prepared when your time comes.” Crockett has helped shoulder the weight after losing Vraa. He’s statistically having one of the greatest and toughest seasons a Bison player has ever endured. Crockett has ran for 1,920 yards on 346 carries. Both single season records.
“We’re realizing that we’re very capable of putting up really big numbers and big points and I think we just have to keep the ball going.” “All the individual accolades really mean nothing to me,” Crockett said. “The biggest accolade you can say you have is to win the national championship. That’s something I’m so hungry and so passionate for because I get to say, ‘My team and I did this.’” The Bison offense is flying high on its way to Frisco and playing like it’s out to prove to the entire FCS that the Bison do more than play good defense.
RECORD BREAKERS CARSON WENTZ Single season Pass Yards – 2,874 Total Yards – 3,429
ZACH VRAA
Single Season Receiving Yards – 1,191 Receiving TDs – 15
JOHN CROCKETT
Single Season Rushing Yards – 1,920 Rushing Attempts – 346 All Purpose Yards – 2,303
BISON AMBASSADORS
Bison Ambassadors Bison Ambassadors is one of the most prestigious student organizations at NDSU. Their impact on the university and its alumni has been unprecedented among every other organization on campus. Nathan Wyatt will be passing his presidential torch this year and he’s excited about the future of Bison Ambassadors and its involvement in NDSU Athletics. By Joe Kerlin | Photos by Sadie Lascelles
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“Students serving students of the past, present and future,” Wyatt said, explaining the mission of Bison Ambassadors.
Wyatt, the 2014 President of Bison Ambassadors, said he was drawn to NDSU by the opportunity to receive handson experience in the research lab while he works towards his degree in biotechnology.
The organization is administered out of the Alumni Association and the Development Foundation. Most of the work students do in Bison Ambassadors is host tables during the Bison Bidders Bowl and Recognition Society to acclimate alumnus to what is happening on the NDSU campus. The organization also helps incoming students and they host a party for the graduating seniors every April.
athan Wyatt has fond memories of his father returning home from the hospital where he worked as a cytogeneticist. Together, the father and son would look at sets of chromosomes to figure out a diagnosis for a patient at the hospital. This is where Wyatt’s fascination with genetics began.
Wyatt joined Bison Ambassadors his second year on campus while working as a student caller in the basement of the Alumni Association building. Wyatt has been a member ever since and was elected president last January.
Bison Ambassadors also oversee the Herd Club. Much like the opportunities Wyatt received in the research lab, the Herd Club gives opportunities for students at NDSU to interact with Team Makers and help support the athletic program while attending school.
BISON AMBASSADORS
What’s the Herd Club? The Herd Club is a group of 678 students at NDSU that have the opportunity to earn priority points without being a Team Maker just by attending sporting events. The Herd Club’s mission is to drive students to athletic events and support their fellow students that are competing in athletics. The club is funded through Bison Ambassadors and NDSU Athletics, which allows the Herd Club to have an awards program for its members.
“Team Makers has been huge for us” said Wyatt. “This year, one of the things we focused on was that a lot of the students didn’t know what Team Makers was.” For $50 a year, Herd Club members have the opportunity to collect their first priority points towards Bison athletics. Team Makers has also helped fund Herd Club events and they have worked together with driving students to athletic events. “We want it to be the Team Makers before you graduate,” said Wyatt. “We want to have this event, we want these things going on so you can get to the game and socialize with other people who are interested in going to the game together.” Bison Ambassadors has helped the Herd Club think of creative ways to draw students to games.
Meet the New Bison Ambassador President
Matthew Prochniak From meeting at the Union before volleyball games, to offering free Buffalo Wild Wings to Herd Club members near the student line before Bison football games. Wyatt said he didn’t have a group of friends that liked going to athletic events when he first arrived at NDSU, but it was through the Team Makers partnership with the Herd Club and the meet-and-greet events for Herd Club members that gave him the opportunity to get acquainted with students that have similar interest in athletics. Wyatt’s term as president may have ended in December, but he said he will be with new president Matthew Prochniak to help guide a better partnership with Team Makers and to create a process that offers students fun opportunities while enjoying Bison athletic events.
Why did you come to NDSU?
“I grew up with the green and gold. I’m from West Fargo and all my family is from the Fargo area, my grandparents worked at NDSU and my mom and dad went to NDSU so it just kind of seemed like the natural thing to do. I grew up with Bison Pride so I just followed suit. I’m here for civil engineering and NDSU is one of the best civil engineer schools in the country so I chose it for educational purposes as well.”
How did you get involved in Bison Ambassadors?
“My aunt and uncle are very involved in the Alumni Association and they always said ‘If you go to NDSU you have to check out Bison Ambassadors.’ So freshman year, as soon as the applications were released I knew I had to check it out. I researched it a little more and I found out that it was one of the more prestigious organizations on campus. It’s an organization made up of leaders and to surround yourself with people like that is a cool experience. What this group can accomplish and what they can do for the campus is quite incredible.”
What do you want to accomplish as President?
“Continue the tradition that Bison Ambassadors has held in the past. ... This year, we had an exponential growth in the Herd Club. We changed the face of Herd Club and it grew way more than it did last year, so we’d like to continue that. Maybe add a few more benefits for students so there’s incentive to join Herd Club, really emphasize the Bison Pride and that you should be proud of the university you are attending.”
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YELL LEADER
Allie Tulintseff, Kyle Knutson and Austin Swecker are the three NDSU Yell Leaders this season. They lead the charge in the student section and attend as many sporting events as they can. “The main thing we look for is just the energy,” Swanson said. “Can you come in and raise the excitement in the room?”
Queen of the Yell Since they have arrived on the scene in 2011, the NDSU Yell Leaders have always distinguished themselves by making a huge fashion statement with their bold electric-yellow suits. By Joe Kerlin Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography
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he Yell Leaders were founded by the NDSU Alumni Association, Bison athletics and Bison Ambassadors, and have become a staple in Bison Nation. The bright yellow material is a common topic whenever fans meet the Yell Leaders. During one basketball game, the suit caught the attention of Allie Tulintseff and her friend. The two were sitting behind the Yell Leaders and the always outgoing Tulintseff had one question. She asked, “I’m wondering if I could wear that, if I could rock it?” Sure enough the Yell Leader explained the suit was not gender specific and Tulintseff would have to try out to become a Yell Leader next year. That’s when she made it her goal to become the first female student at NDSU to wear the yellow suit during football games. Along with an overwhelming amount of Bison Pride,
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Tulintseff is quite the athlete. When former Bison goalkeeper Katie McCormick announced she would be leaving the NDSU soccer program last spring, head coach Mark Cook needed help on the practice pitch. In stepped Tulintseff, but the only problem was that she might have given up her opportunity to become the next Yell Leader. As fate would have it, the day the soccer team told Tulintseff they didn’t need her services anymore was the day of Yell Leader tryouts. “‘Are you kidding me right now?’” Tulintseff told herself. “‘I’m ready, I have nothing to do. Like seriously, I’m probably not even going to be picked. They’re not going to get a girl.’” Justin Swanson, director of marketing and promotions at NDSU, had other ideas when Tulintseff walked in, creating a real buzz in the room, for the interview with four of Swanson’s colleagues.
Tulintseff said the interview went great. She came in prepared with chants and got everybody in the room clapping along with her as she yelled “Let’s Go Bison.” Swanson said Tulintseff isn’t the first female to become a Yell Leader. A female joined the team in the spring of 2012, but Tulintseff is the first female to climb the ladder at the FargoDome during the football season. Tulintseff said being a Yell Leader is everything she thought it would be. “If you do something, people will follow no matter what and you just watch it progress throughout the crowd and you just notice every single person’s eyes are on you.” To go with leading the charge at Bison football games, being a Yell Leader also entails meeting NDSU alumni and the occasional visit to the President’s house on Bison football game day. Tulinsteff has not only become a bit of a celebrity on campus and among Bison fans, but she also works in the physical therapy pool at Sanford where she’s gaining experience to become a physical therapist. She said she’s contemplating moving back to her home in Seattle, Wash., for graduate school after she completes her biological sciences degree at NDSU in two years.
BISON MEDIA
By Joe Kerlin Photos By J. Alan Paul Photography
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BISON MEDIA
The Bison Media Blog is growing and growing. As the Bison brand becomes more prevalent, Dom Izzo and Jeff Kolpack have been working overtime to make sure they get the most out of the best team in the FCS.
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DAY sports director Dom Izzo and The Forum’s Jeff Kolpack had been together on the Bison Media Blog for under a year before they knew that they were on to something unique. They had both become wellknown locally by covering NDSU Athletics for their respected news outlets in Fargo, but it wasn’t until they were sitting in the Denver airport when they realized they have taken over the computer screens of Bison fans across the country. Izzo and Kolpack were waiting for their connection to send them to Cheney, Wash., home of Eastern Washington University and the host of the quarterfinal FCS playoff game the Bison would be playing in the next day. A couple of Bison fans were stumbling their way through the airport to go see the Herd play in their first ever FCS quarterfinal game and suddenly they noticed Izzo and Kolpack outside the gate. These Bison fans approached the Bison Media Blog crew to let them know they had never missed a pregame show that Izzo and Kolpack started hosting earlier that season. “I’ll never forget it,” Izzo said. “It’s only gotten bigger and better since then.” The Bison Media Blog was created in 2005 during the first boom of social media and the creation of the Blogosphere. Former WDAY sports anchor Steve Hallstrom and Jeff Kolpack decided to join forces and team up on a sports blog they would update once or twice a week on Areavoices.com. This act of company synergy ignited
into a blog that Bison fans have shared nearly 10,000 times on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. But the blog wasn’t always flourishing. “I think we’re growing one person at a time, literally,” explains Kolpack. The Bison Media Blog didn’t have the current structure you see on the website today. It had no pregame or postgame show, or any video at all. You were more likely to see a post about
Natchtouche meat pie, than a FCS Pick ‘Em post. Before the 2010 Bison football season, Izzo took over as the WDAY sports director after Hallstrom left and with the new addition came a new feature on the blog – video. The Bison Media Blog broadcast its first pregame show that season before the season opener at Kansas. The Bison were coming off of its worst 87
BISON MEDIA
season since 2002, but that didn’t stop Izzo and Kolpack from pushing the envelope and ultimately making the blog a multimedia platform. Kansas was the first stop in the Bison Media Blog’s travels over the past five seasons. Izzo and Kolpack have taken the pregame and postgame shows with them to Kansas State, Iowa State, Frisco, Texas, and Indiana State to name a few. “I think when we’re on the road with this thing it creates another memory,” Kolpack said. The trip that stuck out was during the 2011 season, when Izzo and Kolpack got locked in the stadium at Indiana State. After contemplating climbing a ladder on top of the Sycamore locker room to escape the facility, they called former quarterback Steve Walker. He arrived and was able to break the lock – Kolpack doesn’t seem to remember
“If they’re at the top level of the FCS, they deserve coverage that is top-notch and that’s what we try to provide.” Dom Izzo how – and they were able to finally leave the stadium. “Not only did he engineer two-minute game-winning drives,” Kolpack chuckled. “He got us out of jail. That’s when I realized Steve Walker was indeed Mr. Do-It-All.” It’s not all fun and games and breaking out of opposing stadiums as to why Izzo and Kolpack spend over 12 hours working on game day. They do it because they simply can’t imagine doing anything else. “These are the days you live for,” explains Izzo while wrapping up another pregame show inside a tailgating lot. The success of the blog has grown exponentially, along with the success of the football team over the past five 88
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years. Although Izzo and Kolpack’s humility stop them from taking full credit for the success of the blog, they are providing Bison fans a window into a program that had never been open.
Izzo and Kolpack to have some fun with their third member, whether it’s dumping water on his head at Kansas State or poking fun at his endless amounts of props.
Distribution areas and broadcasting signals prevent Bison football coverage from extending further than western Minnesota. But the Bison Media Blog allows fans from across the country to connect with their beloved team.
The pregame shows have also featured some of the most recognizable faces involved with NDSU Athletics. Athletic Director Matt Larsen, former quarterback Brock Jensen and even 2014 Miss North Dakota Audra Mari have all been interviewed on the pregame show this season.
“We run into parents of players all the time and it’s the only way they plug in with the team,” Izzo said. “If they’re at the top level of the FCS, they deserve coverage that is top-notch and that’s what we try to provide.” The Bison Media Blog now features Eric Peterson or “Big E” from The Forum. Peterson’s addition has allowed
“There are no real boundaries on what we do,” said Kolpack, discussing the future of the blog. Although we don’t know what will come next, you can bet Izzo, Kolpack and Big E will be ahead of the curve as sports media continues to evolve.
bison
MONTHLY PRODUCT
Grain Designs Every piece of refurbished wood Grain Designs uses has a story. In the case of the Bison Sports Arena bleachers, the memories of Division II championships, NCAA tournament selection shows and even the occasional presidential visit are abundant.
What Blaine Mikkonen, Grant Koenig and Phil Bruckbauer want is to allow every Bison fan to own a piece of the BSA’s everlasting legacy. “All the pieces have a story,” said Koenig “It’s cool to see all the history of the BSA and it’s fun to create pieces that people are excited about.” Grain Designs refurbishes the wood from the bleachers into artfully crafted coffee tables, benches, wall memorabilia and bars. Reclaim your seat in the BSA by mentioning your seat number and Grain Designs will do their best to accommodate your specific numbers requests and turn that piece of wood into your own piece of furniture. You can check out all of Grain Designs products at graindesignsfargo.com. Do you have Bison products that you want the world to see? Let us know and you could be featured as the next Bison Product of the Month.
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ONLY
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1. Black circle removed from first down marker, 2. 12 removed from SDSU jersey, 3. Hash mark removed from field, 4. Color changed on stripe of number 20’s pants, 5. FCS playoffs logo removed from men on sideline.
KIDS
ONLY
WORD SEARCH
S WORD D TO FIN
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JIM KRAMER JASON MILLER DAVE ELLIS NUTRITION BAR MANNY RIVERA
HERD CLUB WENTZ KADING AMBASSADORS LUDLUM
DECKGUN MEDIA BLOG IZZO JAYNE GUST LYNN DORN
MUCH LIKE THE BISON WE FEATURE NATIONAL TALENT WITH LOCAL ROOTS Kirk Lindemann, Partner NDSU Alumnus
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Jace’s Space Creating New Memories
BY JACE DENMAN
A
s the New Year begins and we transition away from one sport to another, I can’t help but be reminded of my time in college when I’d go watch my team play. It would usually start with getting people organized and going to watch the game, but as I got closer to my senior year, and inevitably graduate school, it involved meeting up with my sister, who would gladly hang out with her big brother on a Friday or Saturday night. With my school still Division II at that time, it was always a double header each night. The early game featured our women’s team, which struggled during my time there, and usually resulted in sparse crowds. The featured game was our men’s team that had been successful at that time. Due to these small crowds for the women’s game, this is when my sister and I had to be there so we could get our preferred seats – or at least my preference. We didn’t normally sit in the student only section; we’d sit center court in the bleacher section about 12 rows up. The players’ friends and family, rather than the raucous student section, surrounded us. I didn’t care. I wanted to be able to see everything that was going on the court and be able to see the three-point lines and out of bounds with ease. We cheered our teams on, I yelled at the refs, we got to see some great college basketball and I have fond memories of time with my sister. I’m sure many of you have fond memories of Bison basketball, especially with the recent success of the program. This season starts a new chapter in those memories with a new coach, new key players and, for now, a new home.
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During the NCAA Tournament we saw the Bison upset Oklahoma in the first round before falling to San Diego State. It was a great season for the program, but now the team is young and will need time to grow together. With only one senior and two juniors on the team, this team will grow together for the next few years while adding talent.
“Be thankful, Bison fans, Scheels Arena may be cool with the ice under the court, but the Herd is just getting warmed up!”
The Bison Sports Arena is being renovated, so the men’s and women’s basketball teams have found separate homes in Scheels Arena and the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse, for the next two seasons. It may not be their normal home court but these will be memories for the players and fans that future teams won’t have. The key in these memories is to continue the positive wave that 98
has been overflowing in the Bison community. Last season marked the second time the men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA tournament by winning the Summit League tournament.
Head Coach Dave Richman is the man in charge after being promoted to the position after Saul Phillips left for Ohio University. Don’t worry, Bison fans, let’s look at what happened last time a successful coach left the program. Phillips took over for Tim Miles, who had a 58 percent winning percentage (99-71) in six seasons with the Herd. Phillips took the helm and guided the team to a 61 percent winning percentage (134-84) in seven seasons. That’s 35 more wins in only one extra season, and also, two NCAA tournament appearances! The future for the Bison men’s basketball team is looking very bright. With new facilities on the way, an established system in place that keeps consistency in the program with the promotion of Richman, the willingness to schedule big time opponents, and young talent to develop into a mid-major power. Be thankful, Bison fans, Scheels Arena may be cool with the ice under the court, but the Herd is just getting warmed up!
* Jace Denman is a South Dakota native that has found his way into the middle of Bison country. Denman co-hosts a weekly podcast called “Gene & Jace’s PodBash.” The podcast is available on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and at podcastgarden.com.
walker’s word Start Strong, Finish STRONGER!
BY STEVE WALKER
A
lot of teams in the FCS had great regular seasons. Some even made honorable playoff runs. Now, only two teams remain. By the end of the day on January 10th there will be only one team that will be crowned champion of FCS. For an unprecedented fourth season in a row, the North Dakota State Bison football team will be there. Standing in their way is Missouri Valley Football Conference foe Illinois State University (By the way, is there any doubt on the strongest conference in all of FCS anymore?). The fact that the 2014 season of Bison football will soon be over is bitter sweet. NDSU is playing in January again this year, but soon the off-season will be upon us all. Before we get ready for that, let’s take a look back at how the Herd started the season strong, and now it’s their time to finish stronger. The first three playoff games have shown that the Bison are ready to end this season in Frisco, Texas on a high note. So let’s take a quick look back at how the Bison got to this point. Round 2 vs. SDSU: Another year and another early round playoff game versus the rival from Brookings, S.D. Zach Zenner and his crew gave the Bison a valiant effort. But the Jack’s came up short while watching Carson Wentz lead a beautiful last-minute drive to reclaim the lead and a playoff victory. After coming out of the gates hot in the first quarter, the Bison sideline and fans watched the junior quarterback coordinate a perfectly executed twominute drive, capped-off by a phenomenal catch by freshman R.J. Urzendowski, which put the Bison ahead for good. Quarterfinals vs. Coastal Carolina: This quarterfinal
“Experience, conditioning, and execution will be the name of the game, and the good news for Bison fans is that this trip has come to be a common occurrence and the surprises should be minimal.”
shoot-out looked like the last team with the ball would win the game. The game had a ton of scoring, but in the fourth quarter, when the Bison defense needed to come up with a few stops, they followed through in the high-pressure situation, just like they have for years and years. The win over the Chanticleers was a great win over a very talented opponent. Semifinals vs. Sam Houston State University: After a tight first half, where the halftime score was 7-3, it looked like both defenses had drawn a line in the sand. In the second half, NDSU kept that line secured and shutout the Bearcats offense. But it was a different story for the Bearkats. NDSU’s offense wore down the Bearkat’s defense like an old pair of shoes and scored four second half touchdowns. Who can forget the last two minutes of the third quarter where Tim Palasek called the same run play for what seemed like 10-straight plays in a hurry-up offense?! Talk about the offensive line making a statement. Which brings us to Frisco, Texas yet again, where NDSU will face the Illinois State Redbirds who are playing great football through the FCS playoffs as well. I believe the team that can seize momentum early in the first quarter will have a leg-up in a game that will certainly prove to be a physical one. Experience, conditioning, and execution will be the name of the game, and the good news for Bison fans is that this trip has come to be a common occurrence and the surprises should be minimal. The Thundering Herd will finish the year strong and undoubtedly Bison Nation will too! Here’s to cheering on the Bison as they go for four-in-a-row! Go Bison! 101
Team Makers Ludlum’s Inauguration INTERVIEWER PAUL BOUGIE, TEAM MAKER PRESIDENT 2014 INTERVIEWEE TERRY LUDLUM, TEAM MAKER PRESIDENT 2015
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erry Ludlum is your 2015 Team Maker President. The incumbent, Paul Bougie, sat down with the new president to talk about the past, present and future of Team Makers. PB How did you become a Bison Fan? TL “I became a Bison fan when I was a freshman at NDSU in 1979, walking over and watching the first half of every NDSU football game. I didn’t even realize that there was a second half because everyone always left at half time. It would always be 34-0 or something like that. That’s really how I became a Bison fan – watching Bison football in the late 70s and early 80s.” PB You went to school for 5 years – what did you get your degree in? TL “I had a major in Geology with a minor in Soil Science. I had actually come to NDSU to get a degree in Geology and then planned to go out into the oil fields in North Dakota, but with me not being the smartest guy in the group the oil field had dried up by the time I finished my degree.” PB How did you get into Team Makers? TL “It was kind of work-related. I worked for the City of Fargo at the time; I worked for the Environmental Health Division and we got co-located with the Solid Waste Division back in about 1993 and 1994. Back then Bruce Grubb and Dennis Walaker attended these luncheons regularly and they invited me to attend with them, so we eventually started talking about team makers - what it stood for and what the intent was. It peaked my interest so I joined at that time.” PB How long have you been with Team Makers then? TL “Well, since approximately 1994. About 19 years.” PB Who drug you onto the executive committee? TL “Don Carlson was actually the one who asked me if I would ever be interested in the executive committee. I wasn’t really sure with the time constraints, so the first year I said I really needed to take a step back and look at it from a time standpoint. The following year they came back and asked me if I was interested, and it’s really been a wonderful experience ever since.”
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PB Starting in January when this issue of Bison Illustrated comes out you’ll be sitting in the same chair that I was and I’ll just sit back and watch. What are you looking forward to doing in your year as president? TL “I think when you look at the presidency of NDSU’s Team Makers, there’s a lot of excitement not only with Bison Athletics but also with the overall participation of the Team Makers. It’s momentum - not only within the athletic department but also with the program itself. When you take a look at the overall revenue generated and the increase we’ve seen over the last 15-20 years it’s absolutely tremendous. Back in the late 90s the Team Makers’ budget was less than $600,000 and now at 2014 we’re approaching close to $4 million. So there’s an incredible amount of momentum there that I think is important. It’s almost an obligation to the past presidents and board members to pass that momentum on and keep it going.” PB I’ve talked over the years with being on the board about where Team Makers is going and what’s it going to do next. What do you think the next steps are going to be? TL “Well three or four years ago there was always something to offer from a Team Maker membership like football tickets or something, but now we don’t easily have that opportunity. What we’re doing going forward is just trying to fill the stadium and raising money to go with it. We’re basically out there just selling the thought process about what this is all about, and that’s raising funds for student athletics to make it a better program and to give all NDSU an opportunity to compete for a conference title.” PB Anything else you want to add? TL “It’s just been an exciting time to be a part of NDSU. It’s really been enjoyable. You hear every coach go up on the stage every week at the luncheons, despite the turnover in recent years, and they look over the crowd of Team Makers and tell us that we’re at least the one consistent thing.” PB Did you learn from me as president? TL “Proper tailgating techniques, and to always be prepared when it comes to tailgating.”
“I think when you look at the presidency of NDSU’s Team Makers, there’s a lot of excitement not only with Bison Athletics but also with the overall participation of the Team Makers.” * Paul Bougie is the President of Team Makers. Team Makers is a non-profit organization committed to raising scholarship money for student-athletes and assisting them in earning degrees for a successful future.
“Wishing the Bison the best of luck in Frisco.”
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swany says BY JOSH SWANSON
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he dust had barely settled on North Dakota State earning their fourth straight trip to Frisco. First year Head Coach Chris Klieman sat in his postgame press conference following a 35–3 win over Sam Houston State almost one year to the day from being named the 30th head coach in Bison history. His excitement was visible. “Hey, we’re going to Frisco, heckuva deal,” began Klieman. “I’m so excited for our guys.” He should be excited. It’s been quite the year for Klieman and it’s been quite the year for the Bison. For some fans and pundits, the sky was falling 13 months ago. Former Head Coach Craig Bohl announced he was leaving for Wyoming. Nearly the entire coaching staff went with Bohl, with the exceptions of Klieman, Conor Riley and Nick Goeser. There wasn’t much time to celebrate the third straight national championship when they got back to Fargo. Losing 24 seniors leaves a noticeable gap in your roster. Klieman, Riley and Goeser had to restock the cupboard and hold together a recruiting class faced with a new coaching staff only weeks away from national signing day. Oh, and by the way, Klieman would have to build that new coaching staff, largely from scratch. The Bison introduced new coaches, including both offensive and defensive coordinators, new faces, including a new quarterback and most of the offensive line. So much change, same old Bison. Klieman and his staff picked up where their predecessors left off, and then some.
• Hold together the 2014 recruiting class? Check. Twenty-nine players signed up, including 19 to national letters of intent. Just as important, no current players transferred from the program. • Big win over a power conference FBS opponent to open the season? Check. The Bison ran all over Big XII opponent Iowa State 34–14, giving us a preview of what was in store.
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Bison have bright future under Klieman • A second straight visit from ESPN’s College GameDay? Check. Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Lee Fitting and crew were back in Fargo, welcomed by a crowd several thousand stronger as compared to their inaugural appearance. • Dakota Marker staying in Fargo? Check. The Bison beat the Jacks twice in 2014, including an unforgettable 27–24 victory in the opening round of the playoffs. That’s seven straight wins against SDSU for those scoring at home. • Another Missouri Valley Football Conference title? Check. NDSU added a fourth straight conference title to the banner hanging in the FargoDome. The undisputed heavyweight conference of the FCS, five MVFC teams qualified for the playoffs, with NDSU and Illinois State battling for conference supremacy in the national championship game. • Home field advantage throughout those FCS playoffs? Check. The road to Frisco would run through Fargo with two of the games nationally televised on ESPN and ESPN2. Which leads us to a fourth straight trip to Frisco for a shot at an unprecedented fourth straight national championship. Check and check! Like I said, it’s been quite the year for Klieman and the Bison. It’s tough to imagine the weight on Klieman’s shoulders entering his first year replacing a two-time national coach of the year and larger-than-life figure like Bohl. There’s an old adage in sports that goes something like this: Never be the guy who follows “the guy.” The expectations are sky high. The memory of the departed coach is too fresh. Any loss or stumble, no matter how small, can become glaring, especially in a market where
“Other coaches never would have admitted that. Klieman is different. He’s handled his job with remarkable grace, poise and skill. He’s proven a perfect fit for Fargo, NDSU, North Dakota and the larger national audience that’s become familiar with the Bison over the course of the last few years.” *Swanson is a native of Maddock, N.D., a proud NDSU alum and a life-long Bison fan.
Photo by Joseph Ravits
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the media and public have an almost unquenchable thirst for all things Bison. No matter, Klieman has shown no signs of being a new head coach. Maybe the singular exception, and de minimis at that, was when he admitted after the win in Ames, Iowa, that he needed to let his defensive coordinator do his job rather than getting too involved in calling the plays. And even on that point, Klieman acknowledged it without the rest of us being any the wiser. We never would have known had he not brought it up. It’s like telling a pitcher in the eighth who’s tossing a perfect game the three balls he threw in the first inning before striking out the leadoff hitter are cause for concern. Other coaches never would have admitted that. Klieman is different. He’s handled his job with remarkable grace, poise and skill. He’s proven a perfect fit for Fargo, NDSU, North Dakota and the larger national audience that’s become familiar with the Bison over the last few years. Without taking anything away from his predecessor, Klieman has become “the guy” in his own right. His staff has also proved exceptional, and they deserve mentioning. From coordinators Tim Polasek and Matt Entz, to Goeser and Riley, Jamar Cain, Atif Austin, North Dakota native Randy Hedberg, Joe Klanderman, the former great Bison running back Tyler Roehl and through Joey Blackmore and Hank Jacobs, Bison Pride is strong as ever thanks to their tireless efforts. Making matters worse for the rest of the FCS, and those who thought NDSU might need a few years to rebuild, this staff gelled in less than 12 months and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’re only getting stronger. Case in point – hours after beating the Bearkats to secure another trip to Frisco, they had a banner recruiting day, earning verbal commitments from four highly-touted recruits atop their lists of potential 2015 signees. How big was it? Polasek tweeted of the day: “Best Day Recruiting in NDSU History, by the staff! Love it!” It was noted by many that these recruits chose NDSU over several FBS programs, including Wyoming. The future is bright for NDSU Football. They certainly have the right leader in place. “I’m excited for our whole program, for all the new guys I brought in, I’m excited for our seniors, our new players who haven’t gone (to Frisco),” Klieman said after the win over SHSU. “This isn’t about me at all, this is about our program. I’m just blessed to be the guy who’s leading this.” Right back at you, coach. Bison Nation is blessed that you’re the guy who’s leading this. Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on!
POP
QUIZ
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
What is your individual goal for this season?
What’s your favorite winter activity?
Probably to improve academically, and to finish Grey’s Anatomy.
To do my best every game, so that my team can have an opportunity for the title.
Snowboarding or snowball fights/ wars.
Marena Whittle Whittle has been a consistent force for the Bison in her first two seasons. Last year, she lead the team in rebounds with 7.1 per game. As a junior, she will be leaned on heavily for an improving basketball team.
Basketball
Kurtis Julson Julson will be looking to build on his NCAA West Region runner-up at 184 pounds in his junior season. This year, he will be a key part in a successful season for the Bison both regionally and nationally.
Become an AllAmerican
Watching TV
To stop watching TV (as much)
I would like to break some personal records this season in both indoor and outdoor
Being Canadian I’m obligated to say hockey, so yes, hockey
Eat healthier
Dress as well as Dave Richman on game day
Sledding
My New Year’s resolution is to keep my room clean. We’ll see how that goes.
My individual goal for this season is to be above 43% from the three-point line.
I enjoy anything in the snow. If you throw a snowball at me, you better be prepared for a battle.
Not get fat after wrestling.
Wrestling
Melissa Kitching
Track & Field
Kitching has her name all over NDSU track and field record books after her first two seasons competing for NDSU. Already an All-Summit League performer in the 400m hurdles, she will look to continue her success this season.
Chris Kading
Basketball
After the loss of many key players from last season’s Summit League Champions, Kading will step into a much bigger role this year. Look for the success and leadership of Kading to dictate how the season goes for a young Bison basketball squad.
Kahla Becken As a facilitator last year, Becken was third on the team with 47 assists. With the guidance of first-year head coach, Maren Walseth, Becken will be a key factor in righting the ship for the Bison this season.
Basketball
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Would you rather ski, snowboard or sled?
Snowboard for sure, haven’t missed a season until I came to college.
Sledding is the way to go.
Sled since anything can be used as a sled if you’re creative
What class are you most looking forward to the winter semester?
Management 320. Hello Barry Hall.
Soc 422 because it is the last and only class I will have to take to graduate!
HNES 350 Fitness Education Activities with Dr. Deutsch!
Sled
Biomechanics of exercise
I have never gone snowboarding, and I love skiing and sledding. If I had to choose one, I would choose skiing.
I am looking forward to the classes where I will get to do hands-on activities in the classroom with elementary students.