Join WDAY’s Dom Izzo and The Forum’s Jeff Kolpack as they preview this weekend’s NDSU Spring Game.
41 thoughts on “Bison Video Blog: Spring Game Edition”
2,000?….wasnt there over 3,000 last year?
3,051 was the reported attendance last year
Im thinking 4-5k this year. Full tailgating come on out its free!
gabe, continue your “ndsu on fsn” rants.
its ridicolous for anyone to say its a dumb idea.
fsn is on every cable system, satellite FREE & included with basic packages. Gopher hockey will goto BTN and NDSU could easily put 5 football games on and 10 basketball games on it. someone at ndsu marketing is dropping the ball if this isnt happening, time to think regionally.
I agree, maybe it is time for the Bison to start thinking bigger. I know when the Bison first started looking at D-I when they thought they would move up alone, before SDSU decided to go with the Bison, the plan was to try and be the regional team for ND, SD and western Minnesota. Obviously now with the other three Dakota schoos(SDSU, USD and UND)l in D-I it has changed. If the Bison decide to go FBS it would make sense to try to be that regional team. Like I have said many times on here it has to start with planning for a 40,000 seat stadium. Everything else comes after that. Start now and be ready in 8 to 10 years to get a new stadium done!Even if the Bison never go FBS they will still need the new stadium.
Why would FSN put 5 NDSU football games on in the 3.8 miilion people area of Mpls-St. Paul when there are a small percent who care about the Bison? FSN is ruled by this market and would doubt their research would indicate enough interest. Can only dream though!
#1 we have been on FSN
#2 were the National Champs and a good draw
#3 they put the occasional high school game on
#4 Sioux Hockey and St Cloud State play on there
#5 the SDSU coaches show is on FSN
#6 were almost in Minnesota
#7 its FSN North not Minnesota
The Sioux and St. Cloud State are ONLY on FSN when playing Minnesota so that doesn’t count.
Have you forgotten that the stations-channels-companies have to want to televise these games. If the market for these games were in real demand the companies would be knocking down NDSUs door to make a deal. Your description-claim of “easily” is just not true.
easily 5000 this year, plus alot of tailgating. if it stays nice out, expect 2000 fans that just come tailgate then not even goto the game!
If this spring game is 5000-6000 people, its time for ndsu/fargo to start planning for fbs and looking forward. If you think about it, Minnesota had 2500 fans last year at tcf, wisconsin gets about 10,000.
Fans at a spring game is not an indicator of whether a program is ready to step up divisions. Minnesota has a lot of other things going on, so Gopher football is not as big of draw and never will be. Look at Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa where there is no other sports, events, concerts or activities going on to compete for the fan base. Same in Fargo…nothing else happening but college football.
In fact, Bison fans remind me a lot of Iowa Hawkeye fans. It’s either cheer for the Bison or get excited about…Fargo Force?, Red Hawk baseball?
NDSU Football, Dragons, Cobbers, Force, Redhawks, and how many other sports at nine or 10 different metro high schools that is nothing going on? You gotta rememeber there are only 231,000 in the four county metro. There are nearly 3,800,000 people in Minn-St.Paul. So the old “There is so much going on here” doesn’t cut it. Bison have great attendance no matter if you love them or hate them! Go Bison!
Wisconsin had no other teams? Uhhhh… Green Bay Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Badgers, USHL Hockey, 4 indoor football leagues, 4 pro soccer leagues. .. not to mentiom Marquette, Wisconsin Green Bay, and 29 other college teams. No joke.
And how many fans would show up if the Bison had 2-10 and 3-9 seasons back to back with D2 losses to say St. Cloud State and UMD ? Now you would understand why Gopher fans don’t flock to a spring game.
The thing about the Gophers isn’t so much that they have had two bad season in a row but when was the last time they had two good seasons in a row?. I am a Gopher fan and I pull for them every week (except when they play the Bison of course) but I know they are a program with a long way to go to be decent. I think they have the right guy in charge in Jerry Kill. Hopefully things can get better. Go Golden Gophers!
Great coverage again Jeff and Dom, Thanks!
What a shocker, Lakes has another new alias.
I forgot about the Midwest Starz Dance Competition at the civic center and Gretchen Wilson concert at the Hub this weekend to compete with the the Bison football spring game.
So which one did you go to as you werent at the spring game.
i sure hope we win.
5 to 6 thousand at a spring football game and we are ready to start planning for fbs? You’re kidding right?
I wouldn’t be surprised if 5 or 6 thousand show up but by no means does that translate into “start planning for fbs”.
I think it simply translates into great support for a great football team and program.
Anyone that even talks about a move up to FBS is just flat out crazy!! Like Dom and Jeff both said…would you rather make deep playoff game runs or compete in a lower level FBS league and battle for the after thought bowl games. Just a flat out AWFUL take.
I love Championship runs but If we could get into a good conference that’s a different story. Look at Boise. What if the landscape changes and the MAC lands a few good teams and its a viable conference?
I agree GFBisonFan but I always thought we would stay DIvision-II. Then things changed, The top teams left and teams came into D-II that wanted to cut scholarships the Bison had to move up. If that happens in FCS I think the Bison would have to go. I love the playoff format, last year was fantastic!
What do Dom and Jeff know? NDSU is ready. Season ticket sales will pull the wagon.
Dom and Jeff,
The Bison offense was pretty good until Brock had his turf toe injury. His accuracy suffered and the offense stalled more after that injury.
In the National Championship Game Brock was speared in his back fairly early in the game and the offense really went into a shell after that. I think Coach Bohl new the defense had SHSU stoned so he went very conservative to protect Brock from further injury. That spear was a nasty hit.
Protecting Brock and the offense going in to a shell? That couldnt be further from the truth. SHSU was a heck of a team. They stone walled us until the momentum shifted.
Dom and Jeff,
What happened with the Championship Rings for the players from the transition era?
I wrote the column in favor of it, that’s all I can do.
What Championship rings?
I encourage all Bison fans to show up Saturday. Its free. The game is on TV but a huge crowd will go along way towards building excitement. Show up just like its a home game. Tailgate. It will help leave a good impression on a tv audience and impress the recruits at the game. And you can even buy the 2011 Championship video
Trying to figure out why this needs modration.
I encourage all Bison fans to show up Sat. Its free. The game is on TV but a huge crowd will go along way towards building excitement. Show up just like its a home game. Tailgate. It will help leave a good impression on a tv audience and impress the recruits at the game. And you can even buy the 2011 Championship video
RIght on Gabe! GO Bison!
Really???
Playoff or obscure bowl game? That’s not even the choice. It’s the regular season games you have to look at. Gophers or Robert Morris, Iowa state or I’ll state.
I agree with Gabe and Bison Jeff, the game is free, get off the couch and get there. It is supposed to be cloudy and rain possible. Hold the yard work, you will be able to see the ring ceremony and it is the last time on the cement or Turf. 1 pm baby, get there!!!!!!
Some people’s lives do not revolve around a bunch of 19-22 year-olds playing football. It’s a SCRIMMAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Going to a spring game does not mean your life revolves around it. 1 game in 8 months in-between seasons. Although spending 4 hours tailgating with family and friends and watching D1 football is my idea of a good time.
Wouldn’t it be more interesting if the NCAA allowed schools to have exhibition games or practices vs other teams in the spring?
That’s something I would actually go to. Watching NDSU vs. SDSU or Northern Iowa at the Dome in a spring game or expanded scrimmage. Even if several key players had limited action or were held out – I’d rather go if it was against another team.
I agree with Jeff and Dom, D will probably not skip a beat. However, no question in my mind that a serviceable 2011 Bison offense will regress in 2012.
QB play=better, Jensen and Thornton more experienced
OL play= much worse, no heir apparents to replace what has been lost
TE play= a push, probably as good
RB play= a push, could be improved if OL comes together, or decreased if not
WR play= slight decrease in productivity, Warren was productive AND durable, no one else has demonstrated anything remotely close to being able to stay on the field
FG kicking= a decrease in productivity
So, I see a net-net decrease in offensive output, largely due to a lack of OL talent/experience and fewer FGs.
Totally disagree. O will be fine. Smith, Gebhart,Vraa, and wahlo will be great. Just need to stay healthy.
2,000?….wasnt there over 3,000 last year?
3,051 was the reported attendance last year
Im thinking 4-5k this year. Full tailgating come on out its free!
gabe, continue your “ndsu on fsn” rants.
its ridicolous for anyone to say its a dumb idea.
fsn is on every cable system, satellite FREE & included with basic packages. Gopher hockey will goto BTN and NDSU could easily put 5 football games on and 10 basketball games on it. someone at ndsu marketing is dropping the ball if this isnt happening, time to think regionally.
I agree, maybe it is time for the Bison to start thinking bigger. I know when the Bison first started looking at D-I when they thought they would move up alone, before SDSU decided to go with the Bison, the plan was to try and be the regional team for ND, SD and western Minnesota. Obviously now with the other three Dakota schoos(SDSU, USD and UND)l in D-I it has changed. If the Bison decide to go FBS it would make sense to try to be that regional team. Like I have said many times on here it has to start with planning for a 40,000 seat stadium. Everything else comes after that. Start now and be ready in 8 to 10 years to get a new stadium done!Even if the Bison never go FBS they will still need the new stadium.
Why would FSN put 5 NDSU football games on in the 3.8 miilion people area of Mpls-St. Paul when there are a small percent who care about the Bison? FSN is ruled by this market and would doubt their research would indicate enough interest. Can only dream though!
#1 we have been on FSN
#2 were the National Champs and a good draw
#3 they put the occasional high school game on
#4 Sioux Hockey and St Cloud State play on there
#5 the SDSU coaches show is on FSN
#6 were almost in Minnesota
#7 its FSN North not Minnesota
The Sioux and St. Cloud State are ONLY on FSN when playing Minnesota so that doesn’t count.
Have you forgotten that the stations-channels-companies have to want to televise these games. If the market for these games were in real demand the companies would be knocking down NDSUs door to make a deal. Your description-claim of “easily” is just not true.
easily 5000 this year, plus alot of tailgating. if it stays nice out, expect 2000 fans that just come tailgate then not even goto the game!
If this spring game is 5000-6000 people, its time for ndsu/fargo to start planning for fbs and looking forward. If you think about it, Minnesota had 2500 fans last year at tcf, wisconsin gets about 10,000.
Fans at a spring game is not an indicator of whether a program is ready to step up divisions. Minnesota has a lot of other things going on, so Gopher football is not as big of draw and never will be. Look at Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa where there is no other sports, events, concerts or activities going on to compete for the fan base. Same in Fargo…nothing else happening but college football.
In fact, Bison fans remind me a lot of Iowa Hawkeye fans. It’s either cheer for the Bison or get excited about…Fargo Force?, Red Hawk baseball?
NDSU Football, Dragons, Cobbers, Force, Redhawks, and how many other sports at nine or 10 different metro high schools that is nothing going on? You gotta rememeber there are only 231,000 in the four county metro. There are nearly 3,800,000 people in Minn-St.Paul. So the old “There is so much going on here” doesn’t cut it. Bison have great attendance no matter if you love them or hate them! Go Bison!
Wisconsin had no other teams? Uhhhh… Green Bay Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Badgers, USHL Hockey, 4 indoor football leagues, 4 pro soccer leagues. .. not to mentiom Marquette, Wisconsin Green Bay, and 29 other college teams. No joke.
And how many fans would show up if the Bison had 2-10 and 3-9 seasons back to back with D2 losses to say St. Cloud State and UMD ? Now you would understand why Gopher fans don’t flock to a spring game.
The thing about the Gophers isn’t so much that they have had two bad season in a row but when was the last time they had two good seasons in a row?. I am a Gopher fan and I pull for them every week (except when they play the Bison of course) but I know they are a program with a long way to go to be decent. I think they have the right guy in charge in Jerry Kill. Hopefully things can get better. Go Golden Gophers!
Great coverage again Jeff and Dom, Thanks!
What a shocker, Lakes has another new alias.
I forgot about the Midwest Starz Dance Competition at the civic center and Gretchen Wilson concert at the Hub this weekend to compete with the the Bison football spring game.
So which one did you go to as you werent at the spring game.
i sure hope we win.
5 to 6 thousand at a spring football game and we are ready to start planning for fbs? You’re kidding right?
I wouldn’t be surprised if 5 or 6 thousand show up but by no means does that translate into “start planning for fbs”.
I think it simply translates into great support for a great football team and program.
Anyone that even talks about a move up to FBS is just flat out crazy!! Like Dom and Jeff both said…would you rather make deep playoff game runs or compete in a lower level FBS league and battle for the after thought bowl games. Just a flat out AWFUL take.
I love Championship runs but If we could get into a good conference that’s a different story. Look at Boise. What if the landscape changes and the MAC lands a few good teams and its a viable conference?
I agree GFBisonFan but I always thought we would stay DIvision-II. Then things changed, The top teams left and teams came into D-II that wanted to cut scholarships the Bison had to move up. If that happens in FCS I think the Bison would have to go. I love the playoff format, last year was fantastic!
What do Dom and Jeff know? NDSU is ready. Season ticket sales will pull the wagon.
Dom and Jeff,
The Bison offense was pretty good until Brock had his turf toe injury. His accuracy suffered and the offense stalled more after that injury.
In the National Championship Game Brock was speared in his back fairly early in the game and the offense really went into a shell after that. I think Coach Bohl new the defense had SHSU stoned so he went very conservative to protect Brock from further injury. That spear was a nasty hit.
Protecting Brock and the offense going in to a shell? That couldnt be further from the truth. SHSU was a heck of a team. They stone walled us until the momentum shifted.
Dom and Jeff,
What happened with the Championship Rings for the players from the transition era?
I wrote the column in favor of it, that’s all I can do.
What Championship rings?
I encourage all Bison fans to show up Saturday. Its free. The game is on TV but a huge crowd will go along way towards building excitement. Show up just like its a home game. Tailgate. It will help leave a good impression on a tv audience and impress the recruits at the game. And you can even buy the 2011 Championship video
Trying to figure out why this needs modration.
I encourage all Bison fans to show up Sat. Its free. The game is on TV but a huge crowd will go along way towards building excitement. Show up just like its a home game. Tailgate. It will help leave a good impression on a tv audience and impress the recruits at the game. And you can even buy the 2011 Championship video
RIght on Gabe! GO Bison!
Really???
Playoff or obscure bowl game? That’s not even the choice. It’s the regular season games you have to look at. Gophers or Robert Morris, Iowa state or I’ll state.
I agree with Gabe and Bison Jeff, the game is free, get off the couch and get there. It is supposed to be cloudy and rain possible. Hold the yard work, you will be able to see the ring ceremony and it is the last time on the cement or Turf. 1 pm baby, get there!!!!!!
Some people’s lives do not revolve around a bunch of 19-22 year-olds playing football. It’s a SCRIMMAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Going to a spring game does not mean your life revolves around it. 1 game in 8 months in-between seasons. Although spending 4 hours tailgating with family and friends and watching D1 football is my idea of a good time.
Wouldn’t it be more interesting if the NCAA allowed schools to have exhibition games or practices vs other teams in the spring?
That’s something I would actually go to. Watching NDSU vs. SDSU or Northern Iowa at the Dome in a spring game or expanded scrimmage. Even if several key players had limited action or were held out – I’d rather go if it was against another team.
I agree with Jeff and Dom, D will probably not skip a beat. However, no question in my mind that a serviceable 2011 Bison offense will regress in 2012.
QB play=better, Jensen and Thornton more experienced
OL play= much worse, no heir apparents to replace what has been lost
TE play= a push, probably as good
RB play= a push, could be improved if OL comes together, or decreased if not
WR play= slight decrease in productivity, Warren was productive AND durable, no one else has demonstrated anything remotely close to being able to stay on the field
FG kicking= a decrease in productivity
So, I see a net-net decrease in offensive output, largely due to a lack of OL talent/experience and fewer FGs.
Totally disagree. O will be fine. Smith, Gebhart,Vraa, and wahlo will be great. Just need to stay healthy.
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