Four football players and Tom
By Jeff Kolpack The Forum
Fargo
The big, white tailgating tent just west of Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome was starting to fill up with Bison football fans, a group that over the years has been a rock with their loyalty. Tom Blattner, in his simple yellow Bison sweatshirt on a cold day, was just one of the guys.
Back in his college days at North Dakota State, he once was one of five guys in a rented house near campus. The other four were football players: Monte Kubas, Kyle Carlson, Joe Toth and Chad Pundsack.
There was something about the construction management major, non-athlete that appealed to the other four. Blattner brought a sense of perspective and regularstudent humility after long days of practice and football meetings.
Pundsack had seen that his entire life; the two families from the nearby towns of Albany and Avon along I-94 in central Minnesota were friends for generations.
“Nicest, down-to-earth guy you’ll ever know,” Pundsack said. “He’s always been that way. He grew up in a prestigious family in our area but money has never gotten to him. Very giving.”
Very giving is an understatement. Last week, NDSU announced a $15 million pledge from the WE B Giving Foundation that essentially completed fundraising for the $50 million Nodak Insurance Company Football Performance Complex.
It’s the largest gift in NDSU athletic department history and it came from a private foundation established by Tom and his wife, Dawn.
Who is Tom Blattner?
He’s part of a fourth generational construction company, D.H. Blattner & Sons, that traces its roots to building railroads and interstate highways.
Seeing a downturn in that business, it made the switch to renewable energy and formed Blattner Energy not long after Tom graduated from NDSU.
Not a family who passes the baton from one generation to the other without sweat equity, Tom and Dawn spent a lot of time living out of an RV driving from one project to another. They lived in Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Montana. Their son, Will, was born in Washington.
“You were in a place for like six, nine months, you picked up, drove across the country and went to the next project,” Tom said.
Carlson said he’s heard stories of Tom being high up in the wind towers on a project.
“That would be scary, that wouldn’t be my job,” Carlson said. “I don’t think he was given anything other than the opportunity from his dad. He’s such a good person. You would never know he’s a rich guy. Walking by, he’s one of us and a good-hearted person that I’m proud of.”
This year, the company is projected to build one-third of all wind projects in the country, according to the Star Tribune newspaper. It has over 450 wind and solar projects in its portfolio. A private company that does not publicly disclose revenues, the Star Tribune reported a growth in revenue after the move to wind energy of approximately $125 million in 2001, $622 million in 2008 to $1.35 billion in 2015.
In September, Quanta Services out of Houston announced it was acquiring Blattner Energy in a $2.7 billion merger deal that would keep the current management structure of Blattner in place. Power Engineering reported the combined revenue of both companies is more than $13 billion.
For NDSU and its large indoor football practice facility, timing is everything.
“I think it’s unique to have
somebody that had no real tie directly to NDSU athletics at NDSU to be that passionate about it,” Kubas said. “You look at him, the guy could be digging ditches or something. Those are the best people. No one would guess it, nobody would. That’s the way he carries himself, it’s not like ‘I just sold a company for a billion or whatever.’ You never, ever get that vibe from him.”
The vibe to WE B Giving is more than a name, too. It started with a fun way to name hunting property the family bought as a generational thing. At first they called it WE B Farming and later transformed it to WE B Hunting.
“And then we thought, we need to form a foundation so we can give the blessings we’ve been given with others,” Tom said. “It took us a while. What should we call this thing? We’re going through all sorts of names and all of a sudden my wife and I look at each other and say, ‘We’re idiots. We have the perfect name.’”
That would be WE B Giving, with the first two letters an ode to their children Will and Ellie and the “B” for Blattner. Tom Blattner was part of the original few who gave primary donations to get the indoor football project to the first phase.
This one put it over the top. Talk to Tom about what pushes his buttons with the program and the subject of winning doesn’t come up. That despite NDSU claiming eight Division I FCS national titles in the last 10 years.
He’ll point to former head coaches Craig Bohl and Chris Klieman and current head coach Matt Entz “doing it the right way.” Blattner Energy hires employees the way NDSU recruits football players, he said.
“You’re not reading about the kids in the paper,” said Tom, in reference to articles of players in trouble. “That’s every day of the week for me. The fastest way out the door is when we start reading about kids in the
paper. The foundation is built on character. Without that, nothing else matters.”
It’s gone both ways.
WE B Beating Cancer.
In 2016, Tom Blattner was diagnosed with colon cancer, a journey that included at least two families: his own and his former Bison football housemates. Through it all, he said remaining upbeat was a major part of recovery.
“I remember the night he called me,” Pundsack said. “He was in tears. He reached out to a couple of people right away, updated us on what was going on. Honestly, I think part of his love for Bison football is he has people he can reach out to and help him through the process. There was big support from NDSU people checking in on him, keeping him positive.”
That support included players not only around Pundsack’s class but those who played with his older brother, Dick Pundsack in the 1980s, as well. In typical reciprocating fashion, Tom Blattner has contributed to the Bison Football Players Association, the group that helps former players in need, even though he wasn’t a player.
“We had a little bit of a fight on our hands with that,” Tom said. “A lot of my friends like Chad would always say, ‘Why are you always smiling and laughing?’ And I always say, ‘What else are you going to do?’ I don’t want to drag other people down, I want to build them up. I’m all right and I’m going to be all right. We’ve been blessed, being able to share that with others is a great thing. My wife and I enjoy life. Having cancer really opened my eyes, too. Every day is a gift, enjoy it.”
Certainly, NDSU players will be enjoying his latest gift for generations to come. And to think it all started at a couple of dorm rooms and a rented house south of campus. Four football players and Tom.
AA2 | SPORTS | Saturday, december 11, 2021 | the forum inforum.com BISON GAME DAY NORTH DAKOTA STATE VS. EAST TENNESSEE STATE
Jeff Kolpack / The Forum
North Dakota State graduate Tom Blattner’s experience as a college student living with four Bison football players has translated into his giving back to the program.
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IN THE REGION #1 kappyshack.com 701.219.9778 BISON GAME DAY BISON Price RUSHING No Yds Avg Long TD TaMerik Williams Quincy Patterson Kobe Johnson Dominic Gonnella 605 520 509 380 6 6 5 7 5 7 5 8 50 52 97 75 10 7 2 2 PASSING Comp Att Yds Int TD Cam Miller 103 1030 3 11 PROBABLE STARTERS Buccaneers RUSHING No Yds Avg Long TD Quay Holmes Jacob Saylors Bryson Irby 251 136 15 1518 985 78 6 0 7 2 5 2 64 54 22 17 10 1 PASSING Comp Att Yds Int TD Tyler Riddell 195 306 2372 4 19 BISON OFFENSE Pos No Name Ht Wt Yr WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR FB RB QB 1 70 66 72 63 67 81 11 44 22 7 Christian Watson Cody Mauch Nash Jensen Jalen Sundell Jake Kubas Cordell Volson Josh Babicz Phoenix Sproles Hunter Luepke TaMerik Williams Cam Miller 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-7 6-6 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1 208 301 328 298 302 313 255 193 236 225 208 Sr Sr Sr Jr Jr Sr Sr Sr Jr Jr So BISON DEFENSE Pos No Name Ht Wt Yr DE DT NG DE OLB MLB OLB CB SS 93 92 94 98 31 52 3 23 25 Logan McCormick Lane Tucker Costner Ching Brayden Thomas Cole Wisniewski Jackson Hankey Jasir Cox Jayden Price Michael Tutsie 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-0 5-11 242 280 284 260 221 219 209 186 192 Sr Sr Sr Sr So Sr Sr Jr Sr heading into this game These are two 11-1 teams that are on two different levels of physical play tradition and FCS playoff experience It will be noticeable today NDSU 41, ETSU 13 The Bison have rushed for more than 300 yards in each of their past three games and ETSU will have trouble slowing down that trend NDSU 28, ETSU 14 NDSU is rolling Even with an expected smaller crowd a trip to the Fargodome too much for ETSU NDSU 40, ETSU 10 Cox Holmes Riddell RUNNING BACKS Quay Holmes second Walter Payton finalist NDSU will have seen in playoffs since last spring (Eric Barriere) RECEIVERS Status of Christian Watson up in the air with hamstring injury Holmes dangerous out of the backfield OFFENSIVE LINE M A T C H U P S P R E D I C T I O N S GAME DAY BREAKDOWN DEFENSIVE LINE Going at least 10 deep across the front all season has its health benefits in the 13th game in December LINEBACKERS Absence of NDSU's Jasir Cox last wee to the flu was hardly noticeable with high level of play of the other three SECONDARY ETSU Sr Tyree Robinson (5 INTs) was an All-American as a sophomore and on Buchanan Watch List as a junior Buccaneers returned only seven punts all season with a long of 15 yards NDSU's Jayden Price a TD threat SPECIAL TEAMS RECEIVING Rec Yds Avg Long TD Will Huzzie Nate Adkins Malik Murray 56 32 32 789 357 341 14 1 11 2 10 7 48 24 43 5 1 5 91 92 89 65 S T A N D I N G S N o r t h D a k o t a S t a t e M i s s o u r i S t a t e S o u t h D a k o t a S t a t e S o u t h e r n I l l i n o i s S o u t h D a k o t a N o r t h e r n I o w a I n d i a n a S t a t e N o r t h D a k o t a I l l i n o i s S t a t e Y o u n g s t o w n S t a t e W e s t e r n I l l i n o i s 7-1 6-2 5-3 5-3 5-3 4-4 3-5 3-5 2-6 2-6 2-6 11-1 8-4 10-3 8-5 7-5 6-6 5-6 5-6 4-7 3-7 2-9 Sept 11 Sept 18 Oct 2 Oct 9 Oct 16 Oct 23 Oct 30 Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 20 Valparaiso at Towson at North Dakota Northern Iowa at Illinois State Missouri State Indiana State at South Dakota State at Youngstown State South Dakota 64 0 35 7 16 10 34 20 20 0 27 20 44 2 19 27 49 17 52 Sept 11 Sept 18 Sept 25 Oct 2 Oct 9 Oct 16 Oct 23 Nov 6 Nov 13 Virginia College at Wise Delaware State at Samford Wofford The Citadel at Chattanooga at Furman VMI at Western Carolina 45 38 55 27 48 16 17 27 56 14 6 48 21 21 21 13 20 35 T E A M S C H E D U L E S Breakfast with the Bison returns and a new opponent to boot NDSU’s rushing attack looks like the playoff days of the past and that will continue today Look for a big day from Kobe Johnson NDSU 35, ETSU 17 Mike McFeely The Forum Record: 11-1 Eric Peterson The Forum Record: 12-0 Logan Campbell WDAY-TV Record: 11-1 74 Dom Izzo WDAY-TV Record: 12-0 RECEIVING Rec Yds Avg Long TD Christian Watson Phoenix Sproles Noah Gindorff Braylon Henderson RaJa Nelson 39 18 17 13 9 740 265 193 118 72 19 0 14 7 11 4 9 1 8 0 7 2 2 0 1 85 75 43 23 17 M E D I A B L I T Z S C H E D U L E FCS quarterfinals Game Friday Montana at James Madison late Games Saturday East Tennessee State at North Dakota State, 11 a m (ESPN) South Dakota State at Villanova 1 p m (ESPN+) Montana State at Sam Houston State 7:30 p m (ESPN+) 10-11 a m : Bison GameDay pregame show with Dom Izzo Kyle Emanuel Logan Campbell and Jeff Kolpack on North Dakota statewide ABC network (WDAY-Fargo, WDAZ-Grand Forks, KBMY-Bismarck and Dickinson, KMCY-Williston and Minot) 10:45 a m : Gate City Bison Live Game Stream on inforum com After game: Gate City Media Blog Postgame Show with Mike McFeely Dom Izzo and Jeff Kolpack on www inforum com Confidence within the Bison team is translating onto the field the Bucs will have a hard time stopping that NDSU 35 ETSU 17
Bison offense getting more diverse late in the season
By Jeff Kolpack and Eric Peterson
The Forum Fargo
It’s no secret that however thick the offensive playbook at North Dakota State, more of the pages have been getting a workout over the course of the last month. Take the first drive last week in the Division I FCS second round game against Southern Illinois for example.
The Bison ran nine plays and in a drive that made it 7-0. Five of them were runs and four were passes. They ran an empty backfield set with three receivers and two tight ends on one play. On second-and-19, quarterback Cam Miller went to perhaps his fourth receiver in running back Kobe Johnson and the alert combination picked up a first down.
That was followed by a reverse to receiver Braylen Henderson. There was a third-and-2 bootleg pass to Phoenix Sproles for a first down.
“It’s probably stuff we’ve had multiple reps at during the course of the year,” said offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl. “It’s just finding the right opportunity to call them.”
On NDSU’s next possession, the Bison used backup quarterback Quincy Patterson on a third-and-2 run play that picked up 27 yards. Roehl pulled out the three-back I formation not long after that. Also seen during the game was the
three running backs look behind the quarterback.
“I think from a run game standpoint, we really want to hang our hat on the top seven, eight schemes and when you can simplify that and give our guys the ability to go out there and play really fast, I think you’re going to be efficient,” Roehl said. “When you can get a fast start, you’re only going to build momentum and when you have the ability to run the football and put yourselves in third-andmanageable, the whole playbook is open on third and medium-to-short.”
It remains to be seen if the playbook continues to open Saturday when the Bison host East Tennessee State in the FCS quarterfinals at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. But the Bison looked as sharp and diverse as they have all season against the Salukis.
Take away the end of the first half when the clock ran out on the offense, NDSU scored on its first five possessions and didn’t punt until late in the third quarter.
Bucs bullish in close games
East Tennessee State earned its first playoff victory since 1996 last weekend when the Bucs rallied for a 32-31 win against Kennesaw State in the final minutes. ETSU scored 15 points in the final 90 seconds for a dramatic
second-round victory to advance to the quarterfinals. The Bucs (11-1) set a new program record for wins in a season this fall.
ETSU has a 6-1 record this season in games decided by a touchdown or less. The Bucs started the season with an FBS victory against Vanderbilt. ETSU has a 3-2 record in its program history. In contrast, NDSU has a 38-3 record in the FCS playoffs, including a 29-1 mark in the Fargodome.
“We’re just ETSU and that’s just what we know,” said Bucs senior linebacker Jared Folks. “We know who we are. We don’t ever go into a game thinking we’re the big dog or things are going to be easy for us. I think we go in expecting a fight every week no matter who we play or where we’re at. I think when we expect a fight, once it comes and once we get hit in the mouth, we’re ready to respond because we were expecting a fight when we came in.”
ETSU offensive lineman
Tre’mond Shorts said it doesn’t matter to him that the Bucs are considered an underdog by most heading into the quarterfinals.
“Teams that line up in front of us on Saturdays know what we do and after the game that respect is earned throughout every play that we play,” Shorts said. “If you haven’t played us and you don’t respect us, it’s not bothering me.”
Folks said he’s excited the
Bucs get a chance to play against the Bison, who have been an FCS power for the past decade.
“I just think it means a lot for this program,” Folks said. “It’s really a testament to what’s being built here and what we’re becoming. Saturday is all that matters. … The past is the past on each side. We’ve just got to focus on what’s coming up.”
Former Bison
lineman Schreiber a key player for ETSU
ETSU starting center Joe Schreiber started his college career at NDSU, spending two seasons with the Bison.
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Schreiber played one season at Iowa Western Community College before he transferred to ETSU. Schreiber started playing for the Bucs last spring.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a little bit surreal for him going up there,” said Bucs head coach Randy Sanders. “I’m sure he’s probably still got a lot of friends on that team. We’re really fortunate that we were able to get Joe here. Joe’s been a huge part of us being able to go 15-3 at this point in this year.”
Schreiber, from Chanhassen, Minn., spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with NDSU.
“It concerns me, you take a guy like Joe that’s come here and helped us as much as he has and he left (NDSU) so that tells you a little bit about what we’re going to be
facing,” Sanders said. “The only thing I knew about North Dakota State was Carson Wentz and Joe Schreiber,” added Folks. Odds and ends
► NDSU has made 12 consecutive FCS playoff appearances, ranking third on that list behind Montana (17 from 1993-2009) and New Hampshire (14 from 2004-2017). The Bison started their current streak in 2010. NDSU has 38 FCS playoff wins, ranking second behind Georgia Southern at 45.
► NDSU’s 45 quarterback sacks this season is fifth most in school history and only four short of the school record of 47 set in 1974. The Bison have registered five sacks in five different games.
► The Bison have the highest FCS playoff winning percentage at .927 (38-3).
► The Bucs last made the national quarterfinals in 1996 when they lost 44-14 against Montana. ETSU earned a 35-29 victory against Villanova in the first round of that postseason. The Bucs didn’t have a football team from 20042014.
► East Tennessee’s 11 wins this season is a program record for most victories in one season.
► The 32-31 come-frombehind win by ETSU over Kennesaw State last week was the first playoff win for the Buccaneers since beating Villanova 35-29 in 1996.
AA4 | SPORTS | Saturday, december 11, 2021 | the forum inforum.com BISON GAME DAY NORTH DAKOTA STATE VS. EAST TENNESSEE STATE
GAME DAY NOTEBOOK
David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl.
By Craig Haley Stats Perform
There’s great familiarity with the three players who on Tuesday were invited to the Jan. 7 announcement of the 2021 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award, presented to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS. Quarterbacks Eric Barriere of Eastern Washington and Cole Kelley of Southeastern Louisiana and running back Quay Holmes of ETSU were among 25 finalists for the Payton, named for the legendary running back and celebrating its 35th anniversary season. The winner, selected by a 50-member, national media panel following the regular
season, will be announced at the FCS National Awards Banquet in Frisco, Texas, with a broadcast of the festivities to begin airing the next day, Jan. 8, on Bally Sports Regional Networks.
Kelley received the Payton Award following the 2020 season, edging Barriere, the runner-up, in the voting. Holmes also was a finalist, finishing 13th.
This fall, Kelley and Barriere have ranked at or near the top of most FCS passing statistics, and Holmes is the national leader in both rushing and scrimmage yards per game.
Barriere, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound redshirt senior from Inglewood, California, completed 361 of 552 passes (65.4%) for 5,070 yards (390 per game) and 46 touchdowns
against eight interceptions in 13 games. He also rushed for 222 yards and four TDs while earning Big Sky offensive player of the year for the second consecutive season.
Holmes, a 6-1, 220-pound redshirt junior from Powder Springs, Georgia, ranks No. 1 in the FCS in rushing yards per game (126.5) with 1,518 yards and 17 touchdowns on 251 carries over 12 games (ETSU remains alive in the playoffs). Add in 27 receptions for 299 yards and three TDs, and the Southern Conference offensive player of the year is averaging 151.4 scrimmage yards.
Kelley, a 6-7, 245pound redshirt senior from Lafayette, Louisiana, completed 406 of 552 passes (73.6%) for 5,124 yards (394.2
per game) and 44 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 13 games. The Southland Conference player of the year also rushed for 491 yards and 16 TDs to average an FCS-high 431.9 yards of total offense.
The Walter Payton Award has a rich history, with past recipients including Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Also at the national banquet, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
2021 Walter Payton Award Voting Results
Get all your Bison football news inforum.com/bison-media-zone Game preview podcasts Daily articles, videos & more Postgame shows NETWORKS BISON GAME DAY NORTH DAKOTA STATE VS. EAST TENNESSEE STATE inforum.com the forum | Saturday, december 11, 2021 | SPORTS | AA5
A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point. 1. TBA 2. TBA 3. TBA 4. Cole Johnson, QB, James Madison: 4-6-9-55-86 5. Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State: 1-3-74-8-54 6. Cameron Ward, QB, UIW: 0-2-4-3-2-28 7.(tie) Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin: 0-1-23-5-21 7.(tie) Isaiah Ifanse, RB, Montana State: 0-3-0-33-21 9. Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama A&M: 1-2-0-0-2-15 10.(tie) Trevor Penning, LT, Northern Iowa: 0-1-1-1-1-10 10.(tie) Jason Shelley, QB, Missouri State: 0-0-2-0-4-10 12.(tie) Keon Howard, QB, UT Martin: 0-0-1-1-3-8 12.(tie) Eric Schmid, QB, Sam Houston: 0-0-1-1-3-8 14.(tie) BJ Byrd, WR, Morehead State: 0-1-0-11-7 14.(tie) Xavier Shepherd, QB, Kennesaw State: 0-00-2-3-7 14.(tie) Liam Welch, QB, Samford: 0-0-1-2-0-7 17.(tie) Juwan Carter, QB, Norfolk State: 0-0-0-1-1-3 17.(tie) Tim DeMorat, QB, Fordham: 0-0-1-0-0-3 19. Jake Chisholm, RB, Dayton: 0-0-0-1-0-2 20.(tie) Dai’Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls: 0-0-0-0-1-1 20.(tie) Malik Grant, RB, Sacred Heart: 0-0-0-0-1-1 20.(tie) E.J. Perry, QB, Brown: 0-0-0-0-1-1 23.(tie) Davis Cheek, QB, Elon: 0-0-0-0-0-0 23.(tie) Geno Hess, RB, Southeast Missouri: 0-0-00-0-0 23.(tie) Tyler Hudson, WR, Central Arkansas: 0-0-00-0-0
Athletics
Erik
Smith / EWU
Eastern Washington senior quarterback Eric Barriere.
Top three finalists announced for FCS Walter Payton Award
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