North Dakota State Closes Out Historical I-AA Season on the Road At UC Davis on Nov. 13
11/8/2004 6:00:00 AM | Football
GAME ELEVEN: North Dakota State University (7-3, 1-3 GWFC) will close out its historical first I-AA season and Great West Football Conference campaign on the road ... The Bison are scheduled to play at No. 20/21-ranked University of California, Davis (6-2, 3-1 GWFC) at 3:05 p.m. (CST) at Toomey Field (10,111, Natural Grass) ... NDSU is 1-1 against I-AA ranked teams this season (Cal Poly, lost 13-10, and Northwestern State, won 30-17) ... The game will be broadcast on television on Comcast SportsNet West ... The Bison are 69-44 overall in television games ... North Dakota State defeated Weber State 31-17 on Nov. 6 in Ogden, Utah ... Kyle Steffes rushed for a career-high 176 yards and two TDs, while Steve Walker and Travis White hooked up on two scoring strikes ... The Bison improved to 2-2 on the road this season ... UC Davis had an open date last weekend following a 36-33 win over No. 5-ranked Cal Poly on Oct. 30 ... That win snapped a two-game losing streak as the Aggies fell to nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin 22-19 and Southern Utah 19-15 ... It's an intriguing matchup as UC Davis is leading the GWFC in scoring offense (36.9 ppg), pass offense (314.2 ypg), pass efficiency (159.8) and total offense (426.5 ypg), and is No. 2 rushing defense (90.6 ypg), scoring defense (18.5 ppg) ... Meanwhile, North Dakota State tops the league in scoring defense (14.3 ppg), pass defense (150.4 ypg), total defense (283.4 ypg), turnover margin (+13), pass efficiency defense (93.9) and rushing offense (193.3 ypg), and is second in scoring offense (31.3 ppg) and pass efficiency (148.3) ... In the red zone, UC Davis is No. 1 (34-42, 81%) and NDSU is No. 2 (30-38 78.9%) ... The UC Davis triggerman is sophomore quarterback Jon Grant, who has completed 154 of 249 passes for 2,229 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions .. Grant has completed passes to 12 different receivers including Kevin Freeman, who tops the Aggies with 42 receptions for 643 yards and six TDs ... O.J. Swanigan sparks the ground game with 96 carries for 338 yards and six TDs, and has also caught 15 passes for 252 yards a pair of scores.
TICKETS: For more information, contact the NDSU ticket office at 1-888-231-NDSU (6378).
THE SERIES: This is the seventh meeting between the two schools and the series is tied at 3-3 ... UC Davis has won the last two meetings, 35-7 at Davis in 2002 and 23-14 before 14,548 at the Fargodome in 2003 ... O.J. Swanigan rushed for 126 yards and a TD in last season's win ... The Aggies outgained the Bison 356 to 262, had only three penalties and took advantage of a pair of turnovers ... The first four meetings came in the NCAA Division II playoffs including the NDSU 19-14 loss to a Ken O'Brien led UC Davis team in the 1982 semifinals ... The Bison won the next three meetings in NCAA play, 26-17 at Davis
in 1983, 31-23 in Fargo in 1984 and 31-12 at Davis in 1985.
RADIO BROADCASTS: WDAY-AM 970, Fargo ... Scott Miller will handle the play-by-play. Former NDSU All-American and 11-year NFL great Phil Hansen will handle the color duties, while WDAY-TV sports anchor Steve Hallstrom and radio personality Jack Michaels will handle the sideline and locker room interviews ... Air time is set for 2:15 p.m. (CST) Saturday, Nov. 13 ... Bismarck (KXMR, 710 AM) and Williston (KEYZ, 660 AM) are on the Bison Radio Network.
1140 AM KHTK, Davis, Calif. ... Steve Buzzard (play-by-play), Doug Kelly (analyst) and Scott Marsh (sidelines, studio host) form the Aggies' broadcast team ... KDVS (90.3 FM) will carry a feed and www.ucdavisaggies.com will offer live internet streams ... A 15-minute pregame show begins on KDVS 30 minutes before kickoff and is hosted by KDVS sports director Angela DaPrato, while KHTK assumes control 15 minutes before kick, heading up to the simulcast.
POLL WATCHING: North Dakota State is tied for 27th after receiving 56 points towards the eighth regular season ESPN/USA Today I-AA Top 25 poll released Nov. 8 ... The Bison are 28th after receiving 124 points towards The Sports Network's 10th regular season I-AA Top 25 poll released Nov. 8 ... NDSU moved up to 20th in the Football Gazette's I-AA Top 40 poll released Nov. 7 ... NDSU was 24th in the Gridiron Power Index put together by I-AA.org on Nov. 3.
HANSEN TO BE INDUCTED INTO DIVISION II HALL OF FAME: One of the all-time greats of NCAA Division II football who helped lead his school to two National Championships at Florence's Braly Stadium, will be honored Dec. 10 as the 14th inductee into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in Florence, Ala.
Former North Dakota State University defensive lineman Phil Hansen, who went on to play 11 seasons in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, will be the lone inductee for 2004 into the Division II Football Hall of Fame.
Hansen was the anchor of a solid defensive unit at North Dakota State for three seasons and was a two-time first-team All-American pick.
He tied a school record for career quarterback sacks with 41 in regular season play and set a school mark with 32 career pass break-ups. He started on NCAA Division II National Championship teams in 1988 and 1990 and was twice named All-North Central Conference and Most Valuable Player in the league.
He played in three All-Star games following his college career including the East-West Shrine, the Blue-Gray, and the All-American Classic. He was also the top vote-getter on the defensive line on the NCAA Division II "Team of the Quarter Century".
A second round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills, Hansen was a starter for the Bills beginning early in his rookie season. He played on three Super Bowl teams with the Bills, was a member of the NFL All-Rookie team in 1991, and was first or second in sacks with the Bills for several seasons.
His 11-year NFL career included playing in 156 games with 149 starts. He made 870 total tackles with 597 solo and 273 assists. He had 61.5 sacks for 343 yards in losses, 10 caused fumbles, one interception and 135 quarterback pressures.
The initial class of inductees in 1999 included running back Johnny Bailey of Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), quarterback Jeff Bentrim of North Dakota State and the late Walter Payton of Jackson State University.
THE COACHES: North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl (Nebraska, 1979) is in his second season at the helm of the Bison with a 15-6 mark to date ... Bohl came to NDSU in 2003 from the University of Nebraska where he was an assistant coach for eight seasons including defensive coordinator over the final three years ... He was an assistant at North Dakota State, Tulsa, Wisconsin, Rice and Duke prior to Nebraska ... He played his college ball at Nebraska (1977-79).
UC Davis head coach Bob Biggs (UC Davis, 1973) is in his 12th season ... Biggs is the 102-36-1 overall directing the Aggies ... He led UC Davis teams to eight playoff appearances and an average of nine wins per year during his first decade ... Joined the UC Davis coaching staff in 1978 ... He became the offensive coordinator in 1987 and was the assistant head coach in 1991 and 1992 before taking the head coaching position in 1993 ... Former quarterback for the Aggies and was the leading passer in the NCAA College Division in 1972 to earn Associated Press Little All-American honors ... Member of the Cal Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame ... Played professionally with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and the Portland Storm of the World Football League.
TURNOVER MARGIN: North Dakota State holds a plus-13 advantage in turnover margin, which is tops in the Great West Football Conference. NDSU has come up with 17 interceptions and 11 fumbles, while the Bison have lost the ball 15 times thru 11 interceptions and four fumbles. North Dakota State has had a positive turnover margin in five of the six wins. The Bison forced a season-high five turnovers (four interceptions, one fumble recovery) against Southern Utah and had just one miscue. NDSU has had one turnover-or-less in eight of the 10 games in 2004 ... The Bison have forced 13 turnovers compared to four miscues over the last four games.
FOR SAFETY'S SAKE: When North Dakota State defensive tackle Dwight Summerville tackled the Northwestern State quarterback in the end zone on a coverage sack, it marked the first two-pointer for the Bison in eight games ... NDSU recorded a safety on a blocked punt in the 2003 season finale against Concordia-St. Paul.
BISON DEFENSE STIFFENS: The North Dakota State defense has allowed the opposition 283.4 yards per game including 133 yards rushing. NDSU strong safety Craig Dahl, and linebackers Brian Erenberg and Jayd Kittelson each have 74 tackles to lead NDSU in tackles. Nose guard Isaac Snell has 52 tackles including 10.5 stops for a loss. Dahl had a single-game high of 17 tackles against Nicholls State including 12 solo tackles, which tied a NDSU single-game record set by Jerry Dahl vs. South Dakota State in 1974.
NDSU has allowed opponents 233 yards or less of total offense in five games in 2004 including two of the last four contests. The Bison gave up a season-low 159 yards against nationally-ranked Cal Poly.
Several streaks ended for North Dakota State's defense when Carson-Newman scored a first quarter rushing touchdown Sept. 18. It was the first touchdown allowed by Bison in 12 quarters to start the 2004 season and the first rushing touchdown in 14 quarters dating back to the Concordia-St. Paul contest in 2003.
In the modern era, the 1986 NDSU team held opponents without a touchdown in 15 quarters spanning five games, while the 1987 Bison defense had a 14-quarter stretch over a four-game stretch. The 1973 NDSU team had a similar streak over four games. North Dakota State held five teams scoreless in 1901, 1919, 1933 and 1935. The Bison had a shutout string of seven games, 28 quarters from 1902 (four games) and 1903 (first three games).
NO PASSING ZONE: Through 10 games, North Dakota State's defense has picked off 17 passes. Cornerback Matt Gorman leads the Bison with five interceptions, while strong safety Craig Dahl has picked off three. Linebacker Brian Erenberg, free safety Jared Essler and linebacker Jayd Kittelson each have two interceptions. Linebacker Rob Mamula, cornerback Scott Walter and cornerback Bobby Babich have each recorded one pick this season. The Bison had three picks in the opener against Valpo, two against Northern Colorado, one against Montana Tech, two against Nicholls State, one against South Dakota State, four against Southern Utah, two against Cal Poly and a pair against Northwestern State. Gorman has 12 career interceptions, while Essler has nine career picks. Cornerback Bobby Babich leads NDSU with seven pass breakups.
SACK PACK: Keeping the pressure on the quarterback has been key for the North Dakota State and the Bison have recorded 18 sacks through 10 games this season. Linebackers Joe Mays has a team-high three sacks, while defensive tackle Dwight Summerville has recorded 2.5 and linebacker Kole Zimmerman has a pair. Linebacker Jayd Kittelson and defensive end Alvin Robinson each have 1.5 sacks. Nose guard Isaac Snell, nose guard Justin Frick, strong safety Craig Dahl, defensive end Isaac LaVant and linebacker Brian Erenberg have all contributed one sack. Defensive end Travis Ware, linebacker Rob Mamula and cornerback Ryan Olson each have half a sack. The Bison had 36 sacks a season ago.
NDSU DEFENSE HANGS A ZERO: The North Dakota State defense disrupted Valparaiso's offense in the season opener. The last NDSU shutout was 24-0 vs. South Dakota State during the 2003 season. The Bison have three shutouts since 2000. North Dakota State didn't allow Valpo past its own 49-yard line during the contest. The Bison recorded their 29th shutout in an opening game and the first since 1974 when NDSU defeated Nebraska-Omaha 3-0. The Bison allowed 85 yards rushing and 180 yards of total offense overall vs. Valpo.
STEFFES HAS FOUR 100-YARD GAMES IN 2004, SIXTH IN CAREER: Kyle Steffes rushed 21 times for 176 yards and two TDs in the win over Weber State. Steffes, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Dickinson, N.D., logged his sixth career 100-yard game against WSU. He scored on TD runs of 50 and 2-yards. Steffes rushed for 175 yards and four touchdowns against Valparaiso in the opener. He scored on runs of 43, 14, 34 and two yards.
For the season, Steffes has carried the ball 177 times for 979 yards (5.5 avg.) and 13 touchdowns for an average of 97.9 yards per game. He scored a total of three TDs in an injury-shortened 2003 campaign.
THE THUNDERING HERD: North Dakota State is averaging 193.3 yards rushing over nine games. Kyle Steffes has rushed for 979 yards on 177 carries and Cinque Chapman has 143 carries for 632 yards. Overall, the Bison are averaging 375.3 yards of total offense per game. The offensive line is anchored by All-America candidate senior center Rob Hunt and senior tackle Nick Zilka. The wide receivers and senior fullback Johnny Frank also help to pave the way.
PANCAKES AND PROTECTION: The work of the offensive line, particularly the job of 6-foot-4, 289-pound senior center Rob Hunt and 6-6, 311-pound senior tackle Nick Zilka, has been outstanding. North Dakota State has allowed only 12 sacks through 10 games this season and 28 over the past 21 games. Hunt and Zilka have not allowed a sack in 18 games dating back to the 2003 season. Hunt gave up only one quarterback hit last season, while Zilka allowed only two in 2003. Neither player has allowed a quarterback hit this season.
Hunt has recorded 63 "Pancake" blocks through eight games, while Zilka has 54. Hunt recorded a team-high 32 "Pancake" blocks in 2003, while Zilka turned 31 "Pancakes" a season ago.
AMAZING SHAMEN: Speedy 5-foot-6, 140-pound freshman Shamen Washington (St. Petersburg, Fla.) has electrified the crowd everytime he has touched the football. Washington broke free vs. Carson-Newman for a 24-yard TD run.
Washington scored on an 80-yard run from scrimmage and a dazzling 90-yard kickoff return against Montana Tech. His kickoff return for a touchdown was the first for NDSU since Richard Lewis romped 94 yards for a TD against Angelo State in the 2001 opener. Washington's 80-yard TD was the first 60+ yard scoring run since Lamar Gordon's 64-yard scamper vs. South Dakota State in 2001. He also returned three punts for 25 yards.
Washington was second on the team in all-purpose yardage (76.1 ypg). Washington has rushed 17 times for 215 yards (12.6 avg.), returned 20 punts for 244 yards (12.2 avg.) and five kickoffs for 142 yards (28.4 avg.). He will miss the final three games with a knee injury.
GO SPEED RACER GO: North Dakota State has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in back-to-back games, Shamen Washington went 90 yards against Montana Tech and Allen Burrell sped 90 yards against Carson-Newman (Tenn.).
WHITE ON THE RECEPTION: North Dakota State wide receiver Travis White had a career day against Northern Colorado with 10 receptions for 127 yards ... He tied for fifth best on the NDSU single-game reception charts with Lowell Lindeman (vs. St. Thomas, 1966) ... His previous career best was seven receptions for 90 yards and a TD against Concordia-St. Paul ... White currently tops the Bison with 52 catches for 695 yards (13.4 avg.) and eight TDs this season. His catches are third on the NDSU single-season list behind T.R. McDonald (69, 1993) and Allen Burrell (56, 2003) and his eight TDs are tied for third behind T.R. McDonald (11, 1993) and Tim Strehlow (9, 1999).
White is No. 3 all-time in receptions with 114 catches for 1,255 yards ... Ahead of White on the all-time reception list is No. 1 T.R. McDonald (39g, 134 rec, 2,544 yds, 22 TDs) and No. 2 Tim Strehlow (43g, 121 rec, 2,344 yds, 26 TDs).
SPREADING THE WEALTH: There's more than wide receiver Travis White in the North Dakota State air assault. A dozen different receivers have caught passes from quarterbacks Tony Stauss and Steve Walker. For example, senior fullback Johnny Frank entered the season with one reception for one yard good for a touchdown. Frank has caught eight passes this season for 49 yards. Five players have caught TD passes, White (8), wide receiver Marques Johnson (3), wide receiver Allen Burrell (3), tight end A.J. Cooper (3) and Steve Walker (1)
STAUSS TOPS IN NDSU CAREER COMPLETIONS: North Dakota State quarterback Tony Stauss has completed 125 of 195 passes for 1,323 yards, 11 TDs and 11 interceptions in eight games this season.
Stauss is No. 1 all-time in completions ... With 345, he's passed Terry Hanson (222, 1965-67), Mark Speral (225, 1977-80), Ryan Johnson (240, 1997-00), Graig Gorder (287, 1999-02) and Kevin Feeney (304, 1995-98). On the NDSU career charts, Stauss is No. 3 in attempts (520), No. 4 in touchdown passes (26) and No. 5 in yards passing (3,457).
WALKER SETS SEVERAL RECORDS IN RELIEF: Redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Walker completed a NDSU single-game completion percentage record 10-of-10 passes for 112 yards. He broke the old record of 5-for-5 previously set twice by former All-American Chris Simdorn vs. North Dakota in 1988 and Northern Michigan in 1989. Walker, who completed his first 16 passes attempted in the first three games, broke the NDSU record of 10 consecutive passes completed set previously by Graig Gorder vs. Nebraska-Omaha in 2002 / Kevin Feeney vs. North Dakota in 1995. Walker has completed 32 of 40 passes for 478 yards, seven TDs and no interceptions
VARTANIAN ON THE MARK: North Dakota State kicker Cory Vartanian has connected on 40 of 40 extra points this season and has converted his last 48 in a row ... His last miss of a PAT came against St. Cloud State in 2003 ... Overall, he has made 102 of 104 extra points.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE, STEFFES WEAR DOWN WEBER STATE 31-17: Kyle Steffes ran for a career-high 176 yards and two touchdowns to lead North Dakota State to a 31-17 win over Weber State in a non-conference football game played before a crowd of 4,112 at Stewart Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 6.
The loss gives the Wildcats (1-9) their first nine-loss season since 1976. NDSU is 2-0 over Big Sky Conference teams over the past two seasons -- both road wins -- against Montana (25-24 in 2003) and Weber State.
The Bison (7-3, 1-3 GWFC) never trailed in the game -- taking a 17-7 lead into halftime after Steve Walker hooked up with Travis White for a pair of touchdowns of 53 and 15-yards, and Cory Vartanian booted a 30-yard field goal. NDSU scored on its first three possessions of the contest. The Walker-to-White 53-yard scoring connection was the longest pass play of the season for NDSU. Walker was 8 of 12 passing for 141 yards.
Weber State's lone first-half score came on a 6-yard run by Nick Chournos.
In the second half, the Wildcats came within a touchdown on two occasions, but couldn't get closer. Steffes put the game out of reach with his two TD runs -- the first a 50-yard scamper with under a minute left in the third quarter and the other, a two-yard plunge, at the nine-minute mark of the fourth.
Steffes, who now has 979 yards this season heading into the final game of the season, was the featured back on both of the scoring drives. During the second, he rushed for 41 yards and also caught a 20-yard pass from Walker.
Chournos finished with two touchdowns and 21 carries for 124 yards -- pushing him over the 1,000-yard mark on the season. He's the first Big Sky rusher to reach the mark this season.
North Dakota State didn't commit a turnover during the contest, while Jake Johnson recovered a Weber State fumble following a kickoff late in the first quarter that led to the Vartanian field goal. The NDSU defense was led by Jayd Kittelson with a game-high 14 tackles including 10 assists and a forced fumble, and Brian Erenberg with 11. Ryan Olson and Rob Mamula combined for a sack, and the Bison defense stopped a pivotal fourth down play.
The Bison rushed for 255 yards and had 396 yards of total offense compared to 355 for the Wildcats. Along with Chournos, Ian Pizarro completed 18 of 27 passes for 192 yards. Weber State, which held the ball for over 11 minutes in the third quarter, was hurt by nine penalties for 67 yards. NDSU had five penalties for 37 yards.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA LIST: North Dakota State had four players listed on Don Hansen's Football Gazette preseason I-AA All-America list ... Quarterback Tony Stauss, offensive center Rob Hunt, defensive end Travis Ware and cornerback Matt Gorman were all honorable mention.
GREAT WEST FOOTBALL CONFERENCE: This is North Dakota State's first season at the Division I-AA level in the newly-formed Great West Football Conference. The conference is comprised of six schools located in five states and three time zones. League membership includes NDSU, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Cal Poly, Southern Utah and UC Davis.
North Dakota State had three seniors ? offensive center Rob Hunt, defensive end Travis Ware and cornerback Matt Gorman ? named to the Preseason All-Great West Football Conference first team selected by GWFC correspondent Chris Kelly.
On another Preseason All-GWFC team selected by I-AA.org, Hunt, Ware, and Gorman were all first team selections. Second team picks included sophomore running back Kyle Steffes, junior linebacker Jayd Kittelson, senior free safety Jared Essler, junior kicker Cory Vartanian and senior return specialist Allen Burrell. Honorable mention included senior quarterback Tony Stauss.
GREAT WEST FOOTBALL CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLLS: North Dakota State was picked third in the Great West Football Conference Media Poll and fourth in the Great West Football Conference Coaches Poll.
RECORD CROWD AT OPENER: The Bison rumbled past Valparaiso University 52-0 before a record home opening crowd of 18,665 on Aug. 28. The previous Fargodome home opener record was 18,059 against Pittsburg State in the first-ever game played at the dome in 1993, and also topped the previous home opener record of 18,500 that witnessed the Northern Michigan game at Dacotah Field in 1989. The crowd ranks fifth all-time at the Fargodome.
AT THE FARGODOME: North Dakota State completed the 2004 schedule with a 5-1 at the Fargodome ... NDSU had a nine-game home winning streak snapped with the Cal Poly loss ... UC Davis defeated North Dakota State 23-14 on Sept. 13, 2003 ... The Bison have won 10 of its last 12 games played at the Fargodome over the past two seasons and have compiled a record of 59-13 (.819) since beginning play in the facility in 1993 ... Over six games this season, the Bison averaged 13,269 fans ... That was an increase of 1,702 fans over last season when the Bison led DIvision II with an average of 11,567 ... NDSU would rank 17th in the NCAA I-AA attendance figures this season ... NDSU has five perfect home ledgers in the Fargodome (5-0, 1993 / 6-0, 1995 / 6-0, 1999 / 7-0, 2000 / 5-0, 2001 ... The longest winning streak at the Fargodome is 22 games from 1994 to 2002.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE FIRST IN DIVISION II ATTENDANCE: North Dakota State University's football program, annually one of the top draws in the country in Division II football, earned its fifth national attendance title in 2003.
The Bison averaged 11,567 fans per game in six regular season games in 2003. The Bison dumped Tuskogee out of the top spot for the first time in three years. NDSU would have been ranked No. 23 among 2003 NCAA I-AA attendance leaders.
The Bison have won five national attendance crowns including 1987 (14,120), 1989 (16,833), 1997 (12,512), 2000 (12,723, and 2003 (11,567).
SUCCESS OF THE BISON PROGRAM: The success of North Dakota State
football over the past few years has been nothing short of phenomenal. Here is what the Bison have accomplished since the early 1980s:
-Won 160 of the last 206 conference games (160-44-2, .780)
-Won 219 of the last 281 games (219-60-2, .782)
-Won 193 of the last 244 regular-season games (193-49-2, .790) played including a streak of 22 straight wins before losing to Nebraska- Omaha in October 1983.
-Won 202 of the last 222 home games (202-18-2, .909) at home since a 1980 season-opening 10-0 loss to Northern Michigan.
-Appeared in six straight NCAA playoffs from 1981 to 1986 and 15 in the last 23 years including finishing second nationally in 1981 and 1984, making the semifinals in 1982 and 2000, and winning the NCAA title in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990.
NDSU FREE SAFETY JARED ESSLER NAMED TO 2004 AFCA "GOOD WORKS TEAM: North Dakota State University free safety Jared Essler has been selected to the 22-member 2004 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) "Good Works" Team. Essler is the first NDSU football player to receive the honor.
There are two 11-man teams, a Division I-A team and a combined team from Divisions I-AA, II, III and the NAIA, that honor players for their dedication and commitment to community service. From 1992-1996, the "Good Works" Team was selected by the College Football Association. When the CFA disbanded in 1997, the AFCA began selecting the teams.
Essler, a senior co-captain from Minot, N.D. (Bishop Ryan H.S.), maintains a 3.81 grade point average majoring in social science and education. His community service file includes working with the NCAA's National Youth in Sports Program (NYSP), Special Olympics, Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, Fargo (N.D.) elementary school Reading/Recess Program, volunteer track coach, meet official for USA Track & Field Junior Meet, North Dakota State Campus Clean-up and the annual NDSU Valentine Victory Blood Drive.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE FEATURED IN USA TODAY, ON USA TODAY.com, PHOTOS APPEAR ON OTHER NATIONAL SITES: North Dakota State received a great deal of national publicity following its opener against Valparaiso University on August 28 ... In the Sept. 3 print edition of USA Today, "Elements of the Game" featured four photos and a brief story ... A 10-photo spread by NDSU photographer Dan Koeck on Bison tailgating appeared on USA Today.com's photo gallery on Sept. 3.
A photo captured from the Fargodome catwalk of Bison wide receiver Allen Burrell in the end zone (taken by the Forum's Darren Gibbins and distributed by The Associated Press) has been seen on web sites like FoxSports.com ("Best of the Weekend").
