CHRISTIAN DUDZIK TACKLING HIS LIFE-LONG VIDEO PASSION
Former North Dakota State safety returned to the program this fall as video producer
BY JEFF KOLPACK
The Forum FARGO
The last time Christian Dudzik was a part of the North Dakota State football program, he was a standout in the Bison secondary that carried the nickname “Wolf Pack.” That was in 2014 and Dudzik left the program with four Division I FCS national championship rings.
He returned to the university last month, only this time he’s part of a team with a different nickname: “The Night Owls.”
As the director of creative content for the athletic department, it’s not uncommon for the multimedia staff in general and Dudzik specifically to burn the proverbial midnight oil. It’s been 10 years since Dudzik put on a football uniform, but that time away hasn’t erased the enthusiasm on game day.
He’s back in the fold. When the Bison play at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tennessee, late Saturday afternoon, Dudzik will be there with his camera and video technology.
“The smells on game day just take you back to playing and I definitely had the adrenaline,” Dudzik said of the home opener against Tennessee State last week. “It’s really a new world for me but it’s strange because many things are familiar and I have an understanding of how a lot of things operate around here. Yeah, sometimes I just want to put the camera down, bump guys in the head and jump in drills.”
As it is, he’ll be getting close-up shots of players with his camera. He’ll be getting wideangle shots. Nothing with a camera is off the table. It’s his first fulltime job in the video business after several years in the personal training field, a feeling of getting into something he was meant to do.
It’s been a hobby since the days growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, shooting his brother with an old camcorder.
Kyle Dudzik was probably 6 years old at the time when Christian edited a video of him throwing a basketball from one end of the yard to the other, with the ball going into the hoop.
In high school at Omaha Skutt Catholic, Dudzik edited video shot by a Skutt teacher at football games, turning it into a highlight tape.
“It was the first time I really felt an artistic flow,” he said. “I was just in the zone making this video. I would always catch myself realizing this just happened hours ago but now we have it forever. I think that’s really powerful.”
Now he’ll be editing Bison games that can be archived forever. In taking the job, it helped that Tim Polasek was hired as the head coach — Dudzik was a Bison player when Polasek was
an NDSU assistant.
“I didn’t know what it would be like to work with him but I knew what it was like to be a player for him,” Dudzik said. “I didn’t know exactly what to expect but it’s been what I hoped it would be with him. He’s given me free reign for the most part and has trust in me that I’m not going to put out stuff that’s going to make our program look bad.”
Polasek has been a willing PR machine since the day he got hired. Last week, Dudzik filmed a promotional video of Polasek pumping fans up for the new team “Stampede March” prior to the Tennessee State game, with the shoot having six takes.
“The relationship that we have, after the third take I said that’s good but let’s do one more, take a couple deep breaths and do it again,” Dudzik said. “The last one was great. He really embraces communication with the fans and understands the value of what we can do here as far as recruiting and engaging the fans.”
The content can be found on the major social media platforms of X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and
Facebook.
“I treat this and see this as an art,” Dudzik said. “I think the best artists pay attention to the vision and storytelling, deliver that and let the fans decide what they appreciate.”
Not long after graduating with a degree in sports management, Dudzik got into personal training with former NDSU player Cole Jirik in south Fargo. After a couple of years, Dudzik returned to his native Omaha area doing the same thing.
Yet, the video bug never left.
“I kind of denied it for a long time,” he said. “I realized I probably should have been doing this the whole time, but was very thankful with the opportunities I had with personal training.”
The return to Fargo started with a phone call from Wes Offerman in the NDSU sports information office, who is the director of creative communications and strategy. Dudzik’s position had been vacant for about a year, with the school having trouble finding somebody who was qualified.
When Dudzik played for the Bison, he was an intern for former NDSU multimedia coordinator
Kasey Byers. It was Byers who started moving the athletic department into the video world.
Dudzik reached out to Byers, now the senior director of creative services at the University of Washington, after the Offerman call to talk about the position. He knew he would have Byers’ assistance if needed.
“I think his calling was always to do this,” Byers said. “He’s always had a mind that thinks differently from others. He’s a deep, deep thinker and that was evident with me when I was there. I’m telling you, once he grasps how to live out the vision in his head and grows his baseline skillset, he’ll be different. Christian hasn’t scratched the surface on what he can do.”
The two have remained in touch and still swap ideas. They talked Saturday night after the Bison defeated Tennessee State 52-3 at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome, not talking much about the game but more about video strategy.
Dudzik made use of a camera on the catwalk near the roof of the dome on a post game X video. Two weeks ago at
the University of Colorado, the athletic department for the first time had three people shoot video of an away game, a sign to Dudzik that it’s willing to invest in the process. “That shows me that they value what we’re doing here,” he said.
In general, multimedia assistants Ben Cohen and Jake Morgan put out the short form pieces on social media while Dudzik does the game recap. Dudzik has also taken an interest in going through archived video from the 1940s, 1960s and the title teams in the 1980s. He’s gone through the clips from his teams from 2011-14, finding one shot of former teammate Esley Thorton on the sideline in the 2014 national title win over Illinois State. Thorton iced the victory with an interception.
“He was in tears, I sent that to him and he said he never saw it
before,” Dudzik said. “It’s been a great way to reconnect with those guys.”
That includes current Bison assistant coaches Carlton Littlejohn, Devin Klieman and Jared Taylor. They were with the program when Dudzik played. You can take the football player out of Dudzik but you can’t take the feeling from him. Sometimes, to get away from the office, he’ll wander over to practice to get to know players better.
“Christian was shaped by Bison football,” Byers said. “His discipline, his winning mentality, influential leadership and pride for that place is going to drive the extra mile. He’ll be the last guy to flip the light off in his office.” Like a true Night Owl. Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at
Forum photo
Former North Dakota State football player Christian Dudzik is the athletic department’s director of creative content.
David Samson/Forum Communications Co.
North Dakota State’s Christian Dudzik weaves his way through South Dakota State defenders on a punt return Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, in Brookings, S.D.
Forum file photo
Former North Dakota State safety Christian Dudzik is back with the Bison athletic department as director of creative content.
Bison Proud. Tomorrow Bound.
North Dakota State, this time, hits the road to play at East Tennessee State
BY JEFF KOLPACK The Forum
FARGO — It was only three years ago when North Dakota State hosted East Tennessee State in a Division I FCS quarterfinal game at the Fargodome, yet for the Buccaneers it seems like light years away. For one, they have an entirely new coaching staff and only one of the ETSU players who touched the ball that December day is still with the team.
That would be punter Nate Brackett, a preseason Southern Conference first team pick. Head coach Tre Lamb said he’s not even going to bother to show the 2021 film, a game the Bison won 27-3 on their way to a national title that season.
“There’s maybe three guys on our team who played in that game,” he said. “Their team is completely new, a new head coach, completely different animal and I think it’s probably a 10-point swing when you get them at home.” This time, NDSU is making the trip to Johnson City, Tennessee, to play the Bucs, whose home is 7,600-seat William B. Greene Jr. Stadium. Lamb says the Fargodome is at least a 10-point advantage for the Bison. With standing room areas, especially a hillside behind one end zone, Lamb said in his weekly press conference he’s hoping for 15,000 fans.
“I’m very thankful we have them at home,” Lamb said. “That’s a big deal.”
NDSU, meanwhile, has a few players who had a big part in the East Tennessee playoff game. Quarterback Cam Miller was 10 of 17 passing for 123 yards. Running back TK Marshall and receivers Braylon Henderson and RaJa Nelson also had touches, although Nelson is out this week with an injury.
ETSU coach brings his luggage Lamb, in his first season at ETSU, didn’t waste much time in turning over his roster from backto-back 3-8 East Tennessee seasons. He came from Gardner-Webb University of the Big South Conference and so did a host of his players, 27 in all. Chalk one up to the benefits of the transfer portal where players can be eligible right away. That includes starting quarterback Jaylen King, backup QB Gino English and a host of receivers. Five of the top pass catchers after two games this season played at GardnerWebb last year. Karim Page had 37 receptions and Ephraim Floyd 35 for G-W.
Defensively, Lamb brought his best two tacklers from the Runnin’ Bulldogs in linebackers Ty Anderson and William McRainey, a former nominee for the Campbell Trophy that goes to the player who best combines academics, community service and on-field performance. He’s third among all active FCS players in total tackles with 343, ranking behind Fordham’s James Conway and South Dakota
State’s Adam Bock.
The Bulldogs went 7-5 last season winning their final five regular season games and putting some momentum into Lamb’s hiring at East Tennessee. Mercer University ended their season 17-7 in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
Offensively, the Buccaneers use a high-tempo offense that puts an emphasis on not wasting time in a huddle.
“They have our attention,” said NDSU head coach Tim Polasek. “They go fast. They have the ability to play fast.”
He compared it to college offenses that were trending beginning around 10 years ago when teams tried to run 100 plays a game. Also getting Polasek’s attention?
Transfer running back Devontae Houston from the University of Connecticut, who scored on
an 80-yard run against Appalachian State.
“I’ve played against Appalachian State, Appalachian State has great team speed,” he said, “and this kid scored on a long touchdown. So they have some speed on offense.”
Defensive line showing depth
The Bison went into this season figuring the depth at defensive line was going to be a strength. If sophomore defensive end Toby Anene wasn’t part of that plan, he is now. He had a quarterback sack and two tackles for lost yardage against Tennessee State last week.
Polasek said he’s relying on the likes of veteran assistant Nick Goeser to guide that rotation. Goeser handles the defensive tackles while assistant Carlton Littlejohn coaches the defensive
ends.
“I’m really trying to stay out of these really talented coaches’ way,” Polasek said. “Nick Goeser has had his pulse on that for a long time. Wherever he’s been he’s been successful.”
The Tigers ran only 55 plays, and splitting those up among several players on the defensive line puts an emphasis on not taking plays off, Polasek said.
“And some of those guys are better situationally,” he said. “So, listen, we have to get deeper yet because we know it’s a long season. We know injuries occur and the more guys can play and play meaningful minutes makes us stronger.”
Who’s playing meaningful minutes? So far it’s been Eli Mostaert, Will Mostaert, Jaxon Duttenhefer, Kody Huisman and last week Keenan Wilson
on the inside. The ends have been divided between Dylan Hendricks, Loshiaka Roques, Kole Menz, Hunter Zenzen and Anene. The Bison have hopes injured end Kelton McCaslin will return at some point this season.
Etc. etc. etc.
As of last weekend, 31 players from the Missouri Valley Football Conference were on NFL rosters, including 11 Bison players: wide receiver Christian Watson (Green Bay), linebacker Chris Board (Baltimore) offensive linemen Nash Jensen (Carolina), Dillon Radunz (Tennessee), Jalen Sundell (Seattle), Jake Kubas (New York Giants), Cordell Volson (Cincinnati) and Cody Mauch (Tampa Bay) and quarterbacks Easton Stick (Los Angeles Chargers), Carson Wentz (Kansas City) and Trey Lance (Dallas). With the win last week, NDSU has won 20 straight after regular season losses since 2010. The Bison have not lost consecutive regular season games since the middle of 2009. NDSU is 8-0 against Southern Conference teams since 2004. • Bison quarterback Cam Miller needs two completions to pass Steve Walker on the school career pass completion chart. He’s in fourth place with 533. Brock Jensen is the leader with 703 from 201013.
David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Eli Mostaert takes down East Tennessee State’s Quay Holmes during the FCS quarterfinals at the Fargodome Dec. 11, 2021.