Bison Athletic Hall of Fame
1986 Football Team
- Induction:
- 2026
Watch the 2026 Bison Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
North Dakota State went back-to-back and won its third Division II title in four years with a 27-7 victory over South Dakota in Florence, Alabama, prompting USD head coach Dave Triplett to tell media “I wish they would get the hell out of Division II” after the game...The Bison went 13-0 on the season including a 50-0 quarterfinal win over Ashland and a 35-12 semifinal victory over Central State (Ohio)...Mankato State coach Dan Runkle said the Bison were better than their Division I-AA opponents Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois...Legendary Central State coach Billy Joe regarded the Bison a Division I-A caliber team like those of the Mid-American Conference...NDSU went 9-0 in the North Central Conference, limiting opponents to just 61 points (6.8 ppg)...Quarterback Jeff Bentrim and linebacker Jim Dick were named Most Valuable Backs of the NCC, and the Bison had seven on the All-NCC first team including offensive tackle Tom Smith, offensive guard Rick Riemer, running back Chad Stark, nose guard Paul Nielsen and cornerback Tyrone Braxton...The Bison had six All-Americans...The team included 16 future Bison Athletic Hall of Famers: Jeff Bentrim, Chris Simdorn, Tyrone Braxton, Chad Stark, Doug Lloyd, Ken Clark, Charlie Stock, Mike Favor, Yorrick “Snuffy” Byers, Matt Tracy, Phil Hansen, Paul Lenz, Paul Nielsen, head coach Earle Solomonson, defensive coordinator Rocky Hager, and offensive line coach Lew Curry...Solomonson went 24-2-1 in two years as the Bison head coach before moving to the Division I-AA level as head coach of Montana State.
North Dakota State went back-to-back and won its third Division II title in four years with a 27-7 victory over South Dakota in Florence, Alabama, prompting USD head coach Dave Triplett to tell media “I wish they would get the hell out of Division II” after the game...The Bison went 13-0 on the season including a 50-0 quarterfinal win over Ashland and a 35-12 semifinal victory over Central State (Ohio)...Mankato State coach Dan Runkle said the Bison were better than their Division I-AA opponents Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois...Legendary Central State coach Billy Joe regarded the Bison a Division I-A caliber team like those of the Mid-American Conference...NDSU went 9-0 in the North Central Conference, limiting opponents to just 61 points (6.8 ppg)...Quarterback Jeff Bentrim and linebacker Jim Dick were named Most Valuable Backs of the NCC, and the Bison had seven on the All-NCC first team including offensive tackle Tom Smith, offensive guard Rick Riemer, running back Chad Stark, nose guard Paul Nielsen and cornerback Tyrone Braxton...The Bison had six All-Americans...The team included 16 future Bison Athletic Hall of Famers: Jeff Bentrim, Chris Simdorn, Tyrone Braxton, Chad Stark, Doug Lloyd, Ken Clark, Charlie Stock, Mike Favor, Yorrick “Snuffy” Byers, Matt Tracy, Phil Hansen, Paul Lenz, Paul Nielsen, head coach Earle Solomonson, defensive coordinator Rocky Hager, and offensive line coach Lew Curry...Solomonson went 24-2-1 in two years as the Bison head coach before moving to the Division I-AA level as head coach of Montana State.