Morgan State @ NDSU BISON*

[JBB]

Saturday the Morgan State Bears roll into the Fabulous Fargo Dome. The Bears were disappointed in last weeks game. It was a 62-3 loss to Maryland. The game was marred by 110 penalty yards on the terps. The Bears ground out a total of 85 offensive yards. This almost equals the penalty yards! This type of fighting spirit hasnt been seen in the Fabulous Fargo Dome since Wagner College came to town last season.

This game comes on the heels of two tough road games for NDSU. Beating Kansas and losing to UNI has a lot of BISON fans scratching their heads. The offensive line was a big factor in both games. It was stellar against Kansas and struggled mightily against UNI, which is very surprising.

The BISON have a chance Saturday to open it up a bit. Cut the offense loose. Work on some things, regain some confidence and play a complete game. I hope we see them break out and get their legs under them. The last two teams were both very good defensively and the games were very close. This week should be different.

The defense should play their game. There was no let down last week. Some good athletes on the UNI squad did some good things but skill, strength and coaching kept the game within reach for the BISON until the final gun. It was a real thriller with UNI eeking out a 16-9 victory.

This game is off the board. NDSU is expected to win big. It should be a fun game. If the weather is good this could be a sell-out. I know tickets are available at http://www.gobison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. This is the first tailgate party of the year so lets get out there and have some fun!! Indoor football and outdoor tailgating. Doesnt get any better than that!

GO BISON!!

[JBB]

This will be NDSU’s 100th game in the Fargodome.

Last week against the vaunted UNI defense Jose Mohler was 20=35 for 247 yards. The kid can throw under pressure. He also used 9 receivers so he can see the field. Watch for a very strong performance in the passing game for the BISON.

[houndawg]

This will be NDSU’s 100th game in the Fargodome.

Last week against the vaunted UNI defense Jose Mohler was 20=35 for 247 yards. The kid can throw under pressure. He also used 9 receivers so he can see the field. Watch for a very strong performance in the passing game for the BISON.

Yeah, jb, you really tore them up last week.

[andy7171]

Morgan State is beyond suck this year. They got completely shelled by a crappy Maryland team and BARELY beat a poor D.II Bowie State. You guys should have no problem.

[clenz]

This will be NDSU’s 100th game in the Fargodome.

Last week against the vaunted UNI defense Jose Mohler was 20=35 for 247 yards. The kid can throw under pressure. He also used 9 receivers so he can see the field. Watch for a very strong performance in the passing game for the BISON.

Yeah, jb, you really tore them up last week.

Ignore the fact that of those 247 yards 50ish came on one play in the first half, and another 90 or so came on the last two drives of the game when UNI decreased the rush and dropped into a prevent.

[JBB]

Running down NDSU wont make the razor thin margin of victory by UNI any bigger, not even in this, the Morgan State thread. Fact is if NDSU isnt any good what does that make UNI, inept? Its going to be interesting to see if UNI got the stuffing knocked out of them like last year. Nothing good happened for them after their physical beating at the Fabulous Fargo Dome.

What's more important is how the offensive line recovers from last weeks struggle. Coach Bohl has spoken and says intensity at practice is going to be turned up a couple notches and some player comments are encouraging. No looking back but a resolve to work hard, change and improve.

Some NDSU Tid-bits:

out of the 99 games played at the FFD so far, I've seen 78 of them.

With a 53-26 record, NDSU head coach Craig Bohl is No. 5 on the school’s all-time win list, Coach Bohl is one of four Bison coaches with 50 wins.

NDSU is 7-7 against nationally-ranked opponents over the past five seasons

[JBB]

Here is what The Bears Head Coach had to say about the Bison:

"Looking at them on film, it looks like we're going to be playing Maryland in a different jersey all over again."

"When we asked the team who needed comp tickets, nobody raised their hand. It's going to be us against the world."

Look out BISON. "Us against the world" has won some football games.

They are averaging 1.9 yards per play on offense and 119 yards total per game. Their best scoring weapon looks to be their kicker who has scored 15 point and is 5 of 6 (39, 44, 33, 46, and 39). Brian Mann looks to be a good punt returner with an average of 19.2 yards per turn with a long of 47 yards.

Their defense has 4 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 safety.

NDSU is averaging 3.1 yards per play on offense and 188 yards total per game. NDSU doesnt have any scoring weapons. Nothing has emerged yet. Our defensive stats look bad too. On the positive side NDSU is only allowing 9.5 pts/game and opponents 3rd down conversion rate is only 26%!!

NDSUs leading tacklers are Evans, Boyer, Willson, Anderson, Jemison and Eaves. All have 11 or more.

The NDSU defense has 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles.

One last stat that I really love: TOP for NDSU is just under 32 minutes/game, more than 4 minutes longer than the opponents.

Morgan State played their first football game in 1898.
Record since 1920: 415-355-33
Record last year 6-5
Record this year 1-1

NDSUs first game was 1894. I dont know the all time record but in 112 opening games 76-29-7.

[Trapped in CA]

Here is what The Bears Head Coach had to say about the Bison:

"When we asked the team who needed comp tickets, nobody raised their hand. It's going to be us against the world."

Morgan State doesn't recruit in North Dakota? No wonder they suck.

[JBB]

There are 2 players on the Bears squad west of the Mississippi that I saw. the most notable is:

Nicholas Harris from Eden Prairie Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul

NDSU football is broadcast through-out the twin cities area so it could help their recruiting.

The other guy is from Ohio.

[DJH]

Morgan St is no match for the best program in the MVFC. NDSU will dominate.

[JayJ79]

There are 2 players on the Bears squad west of the Mississippi that I saw. the most notable is:

Nicholas Harris from Eden Prairie Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul

NDSU football is broadcast through-out the twin cities area so it could help their recruiting.

The other guy is from Ohio.

Ohio is west of the Mississippi now?

[Gil Dobie]

JBB, you're acquiring quite a fan club on CS.com, keep up the good work

[JBB]

There are 2 players on the Bears squad west of the Mississippi that I saw. the most notable is:

Nicholas Harris from Eden Prairie Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul

NDSU football is broadcast through-out the twin cities area so it could help their recruiting.

The other guy is from Ohio.

Ohio is west of the Mississippi now?

You are correct Jay. One of the two players west of the Mississippi is actually east of the river making this game even more crucial to Morgan States recruiting efforts on the west side.

[Cap'n Cat]

Running down NDSU wont make the razor thin margin of victory by UNI any bigger, not even in this, the Morgan State thread. Fact is if NDSU isnt any good what does that make UNI, inept? Its going to be interesting to see if UNI got the stuffing knocked out of them like last year. Nothing good happened for them after their physical beating at the Fabulous Fargo Dome.

What's more important is how the offensive line recovers from last weeks struggle. Coach Bohl has spoken and says intensity at practice is going to be turned up a couple notches and some player comments are encouraging. No looking back but a resolve to work hard, change and improve.

Some NDSU Tid-bits:

out of the 99 games played at the FFD so far, I've seen 78 of them.

With a 53-26 record, NDSU head coach Craig Bohl is No. 5 on the school’s all-time win list, Coach Bohl is one of four Bison coaches with 50 wins.

NDSU is 7-7 against nationally-ranked opponents over the past five seasons

[JBB]

The BISON are 24 point favorites.

[clenz]

That's more points than you've scored all year. Can Morgan State go into the negatives?

[mebison]

That's more points than you've scored all year. Can Morgan State go into the negatives?

Heck, we can do it with rushing yardage, I don't see why they can't do it with points?

[clenz]

That's more points than you've scored all year. Can Morgan State go into the negatives?

Heck, we can do it with rushing yardage, I don't see why they can't do it with points?

[Gil Dobie]

JBB, in fact I think a lot of people are infatuated with you and/or NDSU

[Thumper 76]

That's more points than you've scored all year. Can Morgan State go into the negatives?

Heck, we can do it with rushing yardage, I don't see why they can't do it with points?

[JBB]

I was wondering about that myself. Thats why I posted it. I guess, just like me, they are expecting a big break-out for the Thundering Herd.

[JBB]

JBB, you're acquiring quite a fan club on CS.com, keep up the good work

Thanks for dropping by.

I got a little curious about scoring so I looked things over a bit. I have discovered that so far this season NDSU has scored in every qtr. A field goal in qtrs 1,2 and 3 and a TD in the 4th for a total of 15 pts.

NDSU is averaging 16.5 yds/game rushing.

NDSU is 100% on 4th downs and the opponents have yet to convert a 4th down

NDSU is 0-fer on extra points while our opponents have yet to miss one

[JBB]

This weekend will see a very good Bison team unfettered by a very good Kansas or UNI defense. Morgan State will offer some resistance but their chances are slim. Think Siouxs Falls University or Texas Tech playing UND. Both those games were lost by 25 points. Morgan will have to leave Fargo with the Moral Victory. Its the best they can realistically hope for.

[mebison]

Well, JBB, I wouldn't get too cocky about the "Best they can reasonably hope for" line...pretty sure a little school in KS said the same thing a couple weeks ago.

The total combined points scored by NDSU and Morgan St. in all 4 games the teams have played in: 34

Hang on to your seats, boys, its going to be a wild one!

[Twentysix]

So much love for the bison lol.