Indiana State University @ NDSU BISON*

[Thumper 76]

Much better.

[JBB]

Thanks Thumper funny how you can look at something wrong and not notice it sometimes.

Im told you are making friends over at BV?

[JBB]

Jeff Kolpack of the Fargo Forum is predicting a route by The BISON. I dont see it myself, but NDSU is explosive. I know they have been talking about and focusing on the fast start.

NDSU has lost its last 6 home games against MVFC opponents. That streak is starting to get out of hand.

[JBB]

This is it. Every game is do or die now. The Sycamores are stirring but its still hrs till kickoff. The BISON are enjoying a home game today after a split 2 game roadtrip.

I have confidence in the BISON today:

1) They have played much better than the stats bear out
2) Execution can be improved through effective and focused practice
3) Jose will hang on to the ball and learn to throw it away. He is not a runner.
4) Our receivers
5) At the Fabulous Fargo Dome

The debate in Fargo: Is NDSU a mediocre program?

The answer to that is clearly no. Just 2 yrs ago they had the nations #1 ranking. Then it unraveled. The team culture collapsed when a bad element infiltrated and and took the focus away from football. It deeply split the team. Failed, but highly recruited skilled athletes, were dismissed. It left a huge hole in the programs talent development and brought the program back to day 1.

This is the 2nd rebuilding year. Last season we saw some good young players emerge. It was a good start. As NDSUs recruiting progresses we have seen a steady flow of highly capable and skilled athletes commit to the program through out the year. Its my feeling that it is once again functioning at a high level on and off the field.

NDSU football is not mediocre. It may be down but a mediocre program lacks the vitality, resources and drive to better itself. The key to a great program is its ability to rebuild when necessary and reload when its rolling. All programs have ups and downs. NDSU is, this season, emerging from a down cycle. For a broad measure you have more wins this year.

The win over Kansas is a good foundation to build on. Its not a moral victory, those are for 25 yrs down the road. You dont build programs on moral victories, you build and sustain tradition. We have our moral victories firmly in our past. They are part of the tradition but success depends on hard work, focused practice, good leadership and WINS.

The future looks bright. Its being powered by solid victories and obvious growth and improvement. Its the present that needs attention. A win today is a huge win for the program and a great step forward to a successful finish.

Here is to a win today for the BISON. I hope for a great game against a very good competitor. Let the best team win! Good luck to the boys taking the field today.

GO BISON!!!

ONE MORE TIME FOR THE OLD AC!!!

GO BISON!!!

[JBB]

Last night the Fabulous Fargo Dome was full of country music fans enjoying George Strait and Reba McEntire. Crowd was around 15,000.

We have just received word that the field at the Fabulous Fargo Dome is in place and the building is ready for football!

The tailgators are going to have a cool time of it. Its in the low 40s right now with rain expected. The radar shows a narrow band of pretty heavy rain moving in from the South and scattered areas of rain all around.

By game time it should be in the mid 50s partly sunny. Everybody will be ready to move the party inside for the 3pm kickoff.

[JBB]

Game is on state-wide TV in North Dakota.

http://www.gobison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; will have free audio and pay video feed

channel surfing had no FCS games up but that will change. Keep an eye on it. The NDSU game came up just a few hours before kickoff last week.

Kick off is 3 PM CST.

Crowd is expected to be in the 15,000 range without a good walk-up.

Tailgate lots are open and the party is on.

Welcome to all visiting fans. Enjoy Fargo, the game experience and your travel.

Try some of the great restaurants in the FM area. 13th ave south and broadway are good drives to look for eats if you dont know your way around.

BadaBing, the new all nude strip joint north on TH 81 is closed for building code violations. It could have been a big day for them. Its only a few miles from the tailgate lots. They could let people tailgate there and shuttle them to the Fabulous Fargo Dome.

[JBB]

There seems to be trouble with the KFGO feed. Im getting fill music that is out of format. Cant log on to http://www.gobison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; feed?

Nothing on channelsurfing but YSU @ SDSU is on at 3 PM.

I know INU has a lot of media. Im heading over there for some coverage. We are just a few minutes ahead of kickoff.

Ive found an audio stream here:

http://radio.securenetsystems.net/radio ... lSign=WBOW" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Video feed from http://www.gobison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; now up as is audio.

Small crowd. They might say 15,000 but it looks closer to 12.

Real good play by the Sycamores. They lined up in the shotgun to go for it on 4th and pooch kicked getting it inside the 5. Too bad they got penalized.

Missouri State is leading WIU 21-14 in the 4th.

Both teams punt. The INU return man breaks loose but an NDSU defender flashes into the screen and takes him down from behind. Great play that stopped what looked like a break away return. Now on their own 32. Very good QB.

NDSU spots the Sycamores 3 by giving the Trees a 1st down on a penalty on the punt. Resulting drive yields 3 pts. NDSU takes the kickoff and gets called for holding. This could be an early sign of collapse.

MSU leads WIU 28-21 now. Good effort by the Bears!

SDSU 14=9 at the half over YSU.

BISON Sack Fouch and return it to their own 20. Time to move BISON. So far the stats are in favor of the Sycamores mostly due to the 60 yds they got after the penalty on 4th down gave them the 1st down and eventually the FG.

NDSU drives to the Sycamore 16 for a 4th&1. Bohl elects to go for the FG which is missed to the right. They should have gone for it. Bohl is conservative like that. He will not pass up a chance to get points, but this was more than points. This was points and momentum and NDSU was gathering steam on the drive. It shows a lack of insight on his part.

They do the shotgun/pooch kick again on 4th and 13. There is no return. They would rather have a short punt and no return than the possibility of NDSUs skilled return men breaking one to the house. Late 2nd qtr about 7 min to half. NDSU trails 3-0 and are starting their drive from their own 17

Its just a shame. The referees are clearly out of line here. There is a facemask on Mohler, there is just no reason for this. Clearly shown on the replay. They just wont call a penalty on Indiana even when the replay clearly shows offensive pass interference that prevented an NDSU INT a few plays ago. Something has to be done about this its just not up to the level of the game. NDSU recovers the fumble caused by the face mask in the end zone resulting in an Indiana safety. Its 5-0 and the Sycamores have good field position after the "kick-off". Its just a shame.

[Sioux]

Another spirited effort out of the Thundering Herd in the Fabulous Fargodome. Down 5-0 in the middle of the second quarter. Roughly 10,000 in attendance today but I am sure they will announce 16,000.

The only team in the country that loves to lose at home. Worst homefield advantage in all of football.

Must be all that "Bison Pride" we hear about.

[JBB]

I Must really be slumming it today!!

[JBB]

Mistakes are the story so far. The BISON are giving this one away, but there is something wrong on what is being called and what the film shows is happening on the field. Its unbelievable actually. But right now the Sycamores are driving deep into NDSU territory now at the 13 yd line. NDSU is struggling but the pocket is starting to collapse on them. The second half is going to be something. Thats soemthing you will never hear a UND fan say. They are always gone for the second half!

11-0 Sycamores Extra point to come.

NDSU will have 3 minutes to put something up. The NDSU defense is just on the field too much. The penalties, such as they are, and the offense making mistakes is just too much. Not a good looking half but still well within reach.

Attendance is small today. Its more than 10,000. NDSU has that many season ticket holders. I think 12,000 or so and 15,000 or so sold.

[JBB]

NDSU scores 12-6!!!! Extra point to come. Nice 80 yd 2.30 second drive. Nice drive, good mix of plays including a QB run for 1st down. McNorton takes it in on a 3 yarder after a nice 12 yarder for 1st and goal. 12-7 The Sycamores lead. Great half of football. Looking back I see some emotional responses but there is real disappointment in some of the calls.

Interesting. Sycamores try to take a knee and end the half but NDSU calls a Time out.

That's it for the first half. After another NDSU time out (?) the Sycamores take a knee.

Great half of football. The Sycamores will have a slight edge in stats because I think they have a couple more possessions. They are a very good offense. Great QB. Fun team and a fun game to watch. Well time to charge up batteries for the second half.

[dgreenwell3]

Trees lead Bison at Half 12-7...Obasecki is making his presence known but Mohler is getting free to the other side of the field...unfortunately due to illness I was unable to attend todays game...

[JBB]

Wow! Sorry to hear the dgreenwell3.

[dgreenwell3]

Wow what a play by the Bison defense...

[JBB]

The NDSU pass rush forces Fouch into an error. Its an INT and returned for 60 yds! NDSU BISON TD, extra point now 14-12 BISON!!!!

[JBB]

Yea good play. It feels good to have one go our way. I was getting discouraged. Your offense is so persistent. Very good team. These squads look pretty evenly matched right now.

It was Daniel Eaves. He is a good player for us. Did they just said the Sycamores havent won on the road since 2004?

Eaves is haveing a game. They are attributing it to a great focused week of practice.

Too bad for the penalty on the punt but momentum has really shifted in NDSUs favor. Smith almost broke that after a lot of work changing direction to find the hole. He is a very dangerous return man.

Yards are starting to add up for McNorton. He just broke another 25 yarder.

McNorton breaks another big play down to the Sycamore 3 yard line. Good team speed by Trees keeping him out. 61 yard gain.

[JBB]

TouchDown North Dakota State!!!

Voightlander up the middle!!!

21-12 NDSU BISON!!!!

[dgreenwell3]

Need to make a play Ronnie Fouch...it's on you...

[JBB]

The NDSU running backs are starting to take control. Seigers with a nice run lots of moves just a shoe string tackle saved the TD.

Congrats to SDSU for their win over YSU.

UNI leads ISUR 14-0 in the second.

NDSU is running the Ball!!!!

The drive is stalling. Long pass knocked away in the end zone and a dropped ball fumble recovery by Moehler and now a flag. Defense commits a personal foul giving the BISON a 1st down!!! Now they will have to withstand the consequences of a huge mistake. 4th qtr coming up with the BISON 1st and 10 on the Indiana 30 or so.

Stats are now in favor of the BISON. McNorton at 97 yds.

NDSU invades the backfield hitting Fouchs hard. The fumble is forced by Boyer and NDSU recovers!!!!! 1st and ten at the Sycamore 23

NDSU loses a FG to a penalty and now the Sycamores are driving. The are on the NDSU 5 yrd line.

Good goal line stand by the Herd from the 5. Sycamores settle for the field goal and it is now 21-15. Losing that field goal is critical now. NDSU needs a drive with 8 minutes left.

NDSU burns a couple minutes but misses a 47 ysrd FG. Its been a frustrating afternoon for the place kicking game. Misses, mistakes and penalties.

5:44 to play

NDSU gets the sack and forces the fumble. They take possesion at the Indiana 23. McNorton to the 5, McNorton in for the score!!!! 27-15 with the Herd going for 2. TO.

2 pt conversion fails on a fumbled snap.

[JBB]

27-15 NDSU BISON!!!!

BISON to kick off with 4.29 to play.

What a great game. Very good play by both teams. Very exciting game.

The Sycamores are going for deep in BISON territory. Its a fierce pass rush and a long pass down field, INCOMPLETE!! NDSU ball on their own 30 with a couple minutes left. That might be if folks.

15.544 I think they just announced!!! Good crowd. Its nice in the Fabulous Fargo Dome with a crowd like that.

McNorton has the ball down near the goal line and has 167 yds on the day!!

[JBB]

This game is not over. A miss-handled hand off goes to the Sycamores on the NDSU 5. It looks like it hit his knee and popped out. 2.20 left

clock is running but ISU is moving the chains. Now deep in NDSU territory at the BISON 32.

Its been a roller-coaster thats for sure. Now its 4 & 19 TO ISU on the NDSU 32. NO they are going for it. They need 7 Shotgun Fouchs hit as he throws Incomplete its NDSUS ball and the win is now secure!!!

[JBB]

Great Win for The Herd!!!

Coaches have a warm handshake/hug, great game! The Sycamores were everything I thought they would be and this game really entertained the crowd. It was a fun game for state wide TV and a fun game to watch on the internet.

Well played game, cant compliment the Sycamores and their organization enough.

NDSU has a bye next week!! We need it before the Salukis roll into town in a couple weeks.

BISON win 27-15

[JBB]

Stats are in.

NDSU 14 penalties for 128 yds!!!

The BISON come up with 238 yds rushing and 3 rushing TDs. Good night for the Herd rushing game.

Mohler was 12-20 no INTs. His fumble resulted from a facemasked missed by the officials but instead of being a game breaker the BISON fell on it for an Indiana safety.

Obaseki was neutralized with only 2 tackles and 2 assists. The game plan strategy worked.

McNorton finishes the night with 148 yds rushing and 2 TDs. He also had 86 receiving yds. He is one of the best all purpose backs in the league. 224 all purpose yds tonight!!

Good night for all the running backs with Sigers, Voigtlander and Lang all delivering, some in very crucial situations.

330 yds for Ronnie Fouch were mostly in vain. The NDSU defense was in a bend dont break mode against a very powerful passing attack full of good receivers.

The fake 4th down attempt resulting in the pooch kick is a new on on me.

Very good night for The BISON.

[JBB]

Another spirited effort out of the Thundering Herd in the Fabulous Fargodome. Down 5-0 in the middle of the second quarter. Roughly 10,000 in attendance today but I am sure they will announce 16,000.

The only team in the country that loves to lose at home. Worst homefield advantage in all of football.

Must be all that "Bison Pride" we hear about.

The UND game will be joined in progress after the hockies are over!

[JBB]

The BISON held the Sycamores to 27 yds rushing! No wonder they threw the ball 40 times.