Championship Special
THURSDAY, JAN. 16, 2014
The Spectrum
Hail to the champions Bison Football Captures its Third Consecutive Division I FCS Title
Section B
2B THURSDAY, JAN. 16, 2014
Championship Special
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The Spectrum
TIFFANY SWANSON | THE SPECTRUM
Players Tyler Wrice (3), Grant Olson (34), Ryan Smith (4) and Brock Jensen celebrate their victory on the field at Toyota Stadium.
NDSU defeats Towson to capture third straight title Colton Pool
Spectrum Staff
Coming into the Football Championship Subdivision National Championship game, NDSU wide receiver Ryan Smith said special teams would be key for the Bison’s success – a statement that proved to be accurate. A blocked field goal late in the first half propelled the Bison to a 35-7 victory over the Towson Tigers on Jan. 4 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The win capped off a 15-0 season for NDSU, which concluded with its third consecutive title. “I really think that created a ton of momentum and a ton of energy,” NDSU head coach Craig Bohl said of the blocked kick. “I think that was really special.” The 41-yard try by D.J. Soven could have put the Tigers up 10-7 with under five minutes left in the first half. Instead, Bison safety Colten Heagle
Three-Peat Complete stuffed the kick and Kyle Emanuel returned the ball back to Towson’s 5-yard line. Smith took the ball into the endzone on a jet sweep the next play and capitalized on the 10-point swing, pushing NDSU to a 14-7 lead. “We made a mistake, and they made us pay for it,” Towson head coach Rob Ambrose said. “As I’ve said before, (NDSU) is perfect and the margin of error is small.” Tigers quarterback Peter Athens had his squad driving back down within seconds on the following possession, but NDSU stole momentum once again when C.J. Smith intercepted Athens and returned it back to Towson’s 43. NDSU’s offense took advantage with a drive that was capped off with a 12-yard strike from quarterback Brock Jensen to wide receiver Zach Vraa. The score pulled the Bison up 21-7 with 1:05 left to play in the first half. “To get that 14-point lead was huge,” Bison defensive linemen Ryan Drevlow said. “It got the ball rolling our way and it sprung us.” Jensen, who was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the Game, went 13-for-18
with 135 yards and one touchdown through the air. But his biggest contribution may have been his calls in the run game. Jensen also got in on the rushing attack, capping an eight-play, 88-yard drive with a 9-yard QB draw to put the Bison up 28-7. “We had some checks in the run game that we thought we could take advantage of,” Jensen said. “I tried to the best of my ability to get us in the right play. A couple times I didn’t, but most of the time I did and we did a good job of making the best out of the plays.” With a heavy lead in the second half, NDSU turned to their two-headed rushing attack of John Crockett and Sam Ojuri. The pair combined for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Crockett started things off with a 2-yard scoring run in the first quarter to put the Bison up 7-0. To close the game out, Ojuri ran in for a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, making the score 35-7. “We prioritize ourselves on our rushing attack and keeping ourselves going whether it was me or him,” Ojuri said. “We were both selfless. It’s always about the team. It was
just important that we kept this team going.” The only Towson score came on a 77yard drive ended by a 3-yard run by Terrance West – who was held to a minimal 99 yards – to tie the game at 7-7. “I think we all kind of knew what kind of game it was at that point in the game,” Ambrose said. “Everything was moving in the right direction, at least for us. Head to head, (we) were pretty even.” Towson won in various statistical categories, going off for 373 yards of offense compared to NDSU’s 345. The Tigers had 267 of those yards through the air while NDSU only passed for 135. Towson also won the time of possession battle 33:38-26:22. However, the Bison took advantage of their opportunities, recording 2.5 more yards per play and going 5-for-6 in the redzone. While Towson may have won on paper, the Bison took the title – and completed the three-peat – on the field. “You don’t do the things we’ve done in the past three years without sacrifice,” Jensen said. “We all made a willing decision to make a lot of sacrifices to do something like this. It’s a team effort.”
Special End for Special Class Sam Herder Sports Editor
Craig Bohl knew 2013 could be a special year when he introduced the 2010 recruiting class at NDSU. He thought this season could be the year a national championship was brought back to Fargo. The 2010 class turned out better than he thought, as the trophy the Bison won in Frisco, Texas, earlier this month was their third in a row. The 24 seniors on the roster, some from the 2009 class, will go down as the best in NDSU history. Since the 3-8 2009 season, the seniors have built the following in their four years of playing: a 52-7 record, 4-0 against FBS opponents, three Missouri Valley Football Conference championships and three FCS national championships. The Bison have played in games on national networks several times and ESPN’s popular “College GameDay” came to Fargo in September. Back in 2009, no one could have predicted
the amount of national coverage NDSU has gotten. But thanks to the 2010 recruits like Marcus Williams, Billy Turner, Grant Olson, Ryan Smith, Cole Jirik and Leevon Perry, the Bison brand has grown enormously. Fellow seniors from the 2009 class like Brock Jensen, Sam Ojuri, Ryan Drevlow and Tyler Gimmestad have been huge contributors during the three-peat run. “You don’t do the things that we’ve done these past few years without sacrifice,” Jensen said after the championship game. “We all made a willing decision to make a lot of sacrifices to do something special like this and it’s a team effort.” The seniors cemented their legacy in dominating fashion to complete the dynasty. The 2013 team was only challenged twice. The Bison outscored opponents 38.7 to 11.3 per game while gaining 6,862 total yards compared to opponents’ 3,838. The veteran group allowed nothing to get in their way of a perfect season. “This team, I’ve said
Bison defensemen Grant Olson (34) and Billy Turner (77) make a goal line stop in the third quarter of the Championship Game.
this, they were possessed with perfection, and they relentlessly pursued it,” Bohl said. “You’re not going to be perfect, but in the middle of it you’re going to catch excellence, and they did. So when you look at that track, not only this team but the last several teams, when you start throwing those numbers out to me, it’s pretty remarkable.” The surplus of talent,
especially for an FCS team, will see some players getting an opportunity to play at the next level. Williams and Turner are projected draft picks while Ojuri, Jirik, Perry and Smith are training for camp invites. Throwing out the label of an FCS player, these players have plenty on their résumé. With the departure of a big senior class, NDSU fans are fortunate that players
from the 2010 class will still be on the roster next season. Christian Dudzik, Colten Heagle, Carlton Littlejohn, Travis Beck, John Crockett and Zach Vraa were part of the recruiting class that redshirted. All players have been awarded with some post season award. “We still have capable underclassmen that are making plays this year,” Littlejohn said. “We just have
TIFFANY SWANSON | THE SPECTRUM
to not focus on what we’re losing but what we still have and what we have to gain. I think we’ll still be a good football team next year with the guys we have.” Littlejohn and his senior class will be contenders to keep the dynasty going. But they can thank their fellow 2010 recruits and this year’s seniors for helping get it started.
THE SPECTRUM | CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL | THURS, JAN. 16, 2014
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Thumping Thundering Herd Bison fans come in bunches There were numbers that stuck out among North Dakota State fans on their trip to Frisco, Texas, for the FCS Championship earlier this month – 10,300 and 17,000. The first of those numbers is how many tickets were sold for the Bison pep fest at Dr. Pepper Ballpark on Jan. 3, the night before the Bison went up against the Towson Tigers for their third-straight national title. On the other hand, 17,000 represents the approximated number of Bison fans who showed up to Toyota Stadium for the game. While the number of Bison faithful in Frisco for the 2011 and 2012 FCS titles was high, this time around is unparalleled. Fans bearing green and gold managed to sell out Dr. Pepper Ballpark for the pep fest. Speakers at the game, including NDSU President Dean Bresciani and NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor, got the crowd roaring with words like “championship” and “three-peat,” though Bison fans typically don’t need that to bring up their noise levels. “It’s a lot of fun seeing this many people from Fargo making the 15hour trip down here,” said Jesse Braun, who is majoring in electrical engineering at NDSU. “32 Below” also made their presence felt with a few familiar songs, but Bison fans may not have exactly been paying attention. Before the band even took the stage, various concession stands ran out of alcohol, leaving some fans upset. Nonetheless, it didn’t stop them from having a good time. “It’s amazing that you can bring 10,000 Bison fans just to pack them in here to drink and have fun,” said Josh Hahn, who made the trip from his residence in Fargo in time for the pep fest. “Every time we come down here, we see something new.” The Bison faithful not only made their presence known at the pep rally, but all across the city as well. Roads between Texas and North Dakota weren’t forgotten either, as one could see all kinds of Bison gear and NDSU-themed vehicles on the way to Frisco. “I would say that there’s more Bison gold and green here than there is in Fargo. It’s pretty exciting,” NDSU alumni Jaime Kubik said at the pep fest. “My favorite part is that you run into someone you know about every 10 minutes or so. That’s pretty fun.” The tailgating lots the morning before the game were just as alive. Music blaring, people conversing over cooked food and kids tossing footballs could be seen everywhere surrounding Toyota Stadium. The
NDSU Gold Star Marching Band also made an appearance for tailgaters to get people excited for the game. “I think that the fan support that the Bison fan base has shown for this team, not only this year but the past couple years, is fantastic,” NDSU Alumni Tadd Tobkin said. “You look around here and you think ‘Is this a (Southeastern Conference) game or is a FCS Championship?’ I think it’s something to be proud of. It’s something special. All the fans should really be credited with their commitment to Bison Athletics, and in particular Bison football.” Tobkin, who lives in the Dallas area, said it’s been convenient for him to have his alma mater play for three national titles just a short drive away. He added that there are a considerable amount of people in the Dallas area who have become familiar with his former school because of Bison football’s success and their presence in Texas. “The way I look at it, (NDSU) Athletics is the front porch to our university,” Tobkin said. “It’s helped give me things to talk about and people to meet who are familiar with my background.” And per usual, NDSU fans rocked Toyota Stadium when the Bison ran out onto the field, even if it was to a malfunctioning introduction video on the jumbo-tron. One could say that nothing gets in the way between NDSU and its football. “It’s just like the atmosphere at home,” 1985 NDSU Alumni Lyndon Binbe said of Frisco. “You see a lot of people walking by that you know and everybody’s pumped up.” After NDSU claimed the FCS crown over Towson 35-7, Bison head coach Craig Bohl said the following was exceptional. Bohl claimed, in his decades of coaching, never expected a following of such a size at a neutral site. “To see all of our fans come and really embrace this football team is special,” Bohl said. “(Toyota Stadium) is a big league venue and we had a big-time crowd following from our fans. Hats off to them.” Whether NDSU reaches a fourth title game in a row remains to be seen. But if it does, there isn’t much doubt they’ll have a big fan base right behind them in Frisco. “The people here, they love us,” said David Torok, a former NDSU student who went to the game. “You feel like you’re in Fargo, but in Frisco. It’s great. It’s a home away from home.”
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COLTON POOL | SPECTRUM STAFF PHOTOS BY | TIFFANY SWANSON
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THE SPECTRUM | CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL | THURS, JAN. 16, 2014
See You Next Year, Frisco Sam Herder Sports Editor
The average outsider would look at the 2013 NDSU football roster and say this team will need to rebuild next season. The Bison had 24 seniors on a team that won their third straight national championship. Losing that big of a senior class usually means a drop off in success. I say nay. I say, see you next year, Frisco. Of the 24 seniors, a handful of them were backups. Of course, you lose the likes of Brock Jensen, Billy Turner, Grant Olson, Marcus Williams and Ryan Smith. Yeah, that hurts. But what some don’t realize, the Bison have 14 other starters returning. On the defensive side of the ball, you have eight players with starting experience, including the three linebackers after Olson’s
injury and three of the four defensive backs. Offensively, three of the linemen return, half the running back tandem in John Crockett, leading receiver Zach Vraa and prized backup quarterback Carson Wentz. Adam Keller and Ben LeCompte return as well for kicking and punting duties. With these returning starters, the Bison should be the top contender for the national title. And I’ll tell you why. The FCS doesn’t play defense. Countless teams bring highflying offenses that make them sexy picks to make deep playoff runs. Eastern Illinois and Eastern Washington both had prolific offenses this year. Their problem: they couldn’t stop a nosebleed if they tried in the fourth quarter. If you want a long and successful playoff run, you can’t have a defense softer than baby poop. The Bison defense will be the best in the nation again next year. The linebackers proved they can play without Olson and Jordan Champion didn’t allow a drop off when
he filled in for an injured Williams. The defensive line will have a fresh look, led by the team’s top pass rusher in Kyle Emanuel. The interior line will be young, but redshirts Nate Tanguay and Nick Jacobsen are both highly touted recruits. Offensively, the key is obviously Wentz. He’s said to be a better passer than Jensen. Wentz is a 6-foot, 5-inch mobile guy. If he plays to his high potential, the Bison offense will be powerful. What isn’t known is how Wentz handles the big-time moments. Jensen made his name for his clutch performances, something that we don’t know yet if Wentz has. NDSU always finds players for a dominating offensive line to create running lanes. Crockett is coming off two 1,000-yard seasons. Nebraska transfer King Frazier has many fans excited and he could be the next back in the 1-2 punch. The Bison shouldn’t have a problem putting up points. And you won’t see teams put-
ting up 30 against the Bison’s defense next year. That is why NDSU has a great chance to make it to Frisco once again. Eastern Washington is probably the biggest threat. But again, they had better improve that soft defense if they want to contend. Conference foe Northern Iowa will also give NDSU trouble next year for the conference championship. The key for the Bison is to come out on top in close games, something this season’s 24 seniors had a knack of doing. If NDSU secures a No. 1 or 2 seed next year with home field advantage, look out. Next season’s team will feature 16 seniors. Those 16 seniors have played plenty of minutes. If you look at the stat sheet against Towson, the leading rusher and receiver were juniors. The top three tacklers were juniors and the blocked field goal and return were both junior players. Next year, mark my words, these players will have a chance to do it again in Frisco.
The Bison take the field at the beginning of the championship game, led by coach Craig Bohl in his final game with NDSU.
TIFFANY SWANSON | THE SPECTRUM
Bison fans pack the stands at Dr. Pepper Ballpark for the pre-game pep rally on Friday, Jan. 3rd, the night before the championship game.
TIFFANY SWANSON | THE SPECTRUM
More Than Another Championship Joe Kerlin Staff Writer
Walking through the parking lot early that Saturday morning, I was in awe. In awe of the amount of support, love and laughs the people shared around me. For a moment I wasn’t in a parking lot in Frisco, Texas, I was home. Free of stress, free of responsibility and thirsty for another championship, or more of whatever the content was in the empty can in my hand. Whichever I was craving more didn’t matter, what mattered were the people around me, draped in green and gold, brought together one final time before heading back to reality, back to the office, back to the classroom and back to Fargo. The Bison football team is the only team that can produce this kind of continuity between individuals who have never met.
Whether you graduated in 1969 or 1999, for one day, for one short period of time, you shared the same blood. Throughout the 2013 football season, the scene has replicated familiar areas and some not so familiar. First was on a hilltop. Overlooking the parking lots and stadium where our Bison football team began their season. Manhattan, Kansas, drew a large number of Bison fans. Late August was the first great migration of the year, and not only the win, but also the atmosphere, set the tone for what was to come months later in a familiar northern suburb of Dallas, Texas. Three weeks after shocking the college football landscape, the same crowd appeared. This time surrounded by office building, banks and outside fine dining businesses. Downtown Fargo opened its arms to The Herd, and its honorary guest for the evening, ESPN. Bison fans welcomed this as an oppor-
tunity to show the nation, and, more importantly, show themselves how wide-spread Bison Nation is and what empowers us as fans to become one. We exposed to the nation that we may not stack up against the Alabamas and Auburns of the world on the field, but we would stack up our devoted love for our football team against anyone who was tailgating in Pasadena, Cal., for the other championship game. Week after week, fans returned to their familiar spots at the West Lot in the shadow of the Fargodome to celebrate. Pregame for a Bison football game and to postgame a Bison victory. No road bumps in between, not this season. Even an unusually cold December couldn’t detract Bison fans from coming together to support a team very few had any actual intimate connection to. It’s funny how sports can do that. No matter if you make $40 grand or $100 grand, if you’re in massive student-loan debt or flying a private jet,
you cheer for a group of college kids that happen to be wearing a logo that represents your community, and your state of North Dakota. You gather for the cause, no questions asked. As much as the 12th man has become cliché, it still matters. If you don’t find any truth in that, why don’t you ask the over 18,000 that cram into the Fargodome, and see if they think their support matters. It’s a cult-like mentality being a Bison fan. Replace the negative connotation to cult and you have a group of people that are tightly bound by one thing. And that one thing happens to be Bison football. The bright yellow of shirts combined with a bright Texas sky made for a perfect day to celebrate. Through the joys of another championship know the lasting impact this team made, and know that those players accomplished more than a championship, they knitted a closer fan base and a stronger community.