Author Archives: Dom Izzo

2013 Countdown: #73

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Today’s stat on the countdown shows the discipline that NDSU has displayed over the past two seasons; a big reason why they have won consecutive national championships.

NDSU committed just 73 total penalties in 2012.

Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #73

  • 73: That’s the total number of penalties against NDSU in 2012; averaged out to about five (5) a game. That’s a really low number, a number that I have to think about 30 other college teams are envious of. It’s hard (at least for me) to think of some huge penalties that cost NDSU either a win or especially points. The one that stands out and will have everyone scream at me is the Jordan Champion roughing the punter call against Georgia Southern that did lead to points for GSU in the national semis and I believe there was a questionable pass interference call in the title game, but those are the only ones that stand out as I write this. The impressive thing about this stat to me is that most of the time; the Bison do not get called for sloppy penalties (offside, false starts, holding); penalties that drive coaches crazy. Just to show the other side; NDSU opponents totalled 105 penalties during the season; it may be overlooked but that definitely has to be a factor in a championship team.

2013 Countdown: #75

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Three posts may be too many stats for anyone to take; but we’re back on the right clock with this post; 75 days and counting before NDSU’s season opener at Kansas State; so on with the show:

Adam Keller had a record-setting season for NDSU in 2012, connecting on 18 field goals; totalling 111 points.

Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #75

  • 75: That’s the percentage that Adam Keller connected on field goals last season (18-24) Keller had a record setting season for the Bison in his 1st year as the starting placekicker; connecting on 18 field goals; a new school record and 111 total points; also a record. Keller stepped up in big moments on the road as well; connecting on two kicks at Colorado State; including a 29 yarder at the half that pushed the Bison lead to 19-7. He was also terrific at Northern Iowa; making a season-high four kicks in that game including a 43 yarder. Keller’s longest make came against Youngstown State a 49 yarder; in a game where NDSU could do no wrong. Keller was 4-6 outside; I think everyone will remember his play to save the botched snap in the national championship game with the pass to Mike Hardie for the two point conversion. Keller rose to the challenge in 2012; he was a question mark stepping into a role as a sophomore for Ryan Jastram and had a terrific year; he along with punter Ben LeCompte have definitely taken away any questions surrounding their positions. I did a neat feature story on Adam and the story behind his kicking success; click on the link to watch.

2013 Countdown: #76

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The next stat is reflective of an impressive offense; which NDSU has had the last two years.

 

NDSU has committed just 27 turnovers on offense the last two seasons.

 Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #76

  • 27: That’s the total amount of turnovers NDSU has committed over the last two years: its an interesting mix; the Bison had 9 fumbles and 4 interceptions in 2011 for a total of 13; then 6 fumbles and 8 interceptions in 2012 to total 14. Playing a total of 30 games over that span that’s less than 1 a game and while every team would love to have no turnover games; that’s still pretty impressive.

2013 Countdown: #77

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This post is about as big a slam dunk as it gets.

Billy Turner is one of the main reasons for the Bison program turnaround starting in 2010.

 Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #77

  • 77: You can’t miss him folks. He’s been the rock of the Bison offensive line for the last three years and in my mind will be a sure-fire mid-round NFL Draft pick next spring, it’s the left tackle for NDSU; Billy Turner. I first remember hearing about Turner in the fall of 2009 as a guy that NDSU was in the hunt for and shouldn’t be he had the size, speed and strength of a guy that should be playing in the Big 10. When he verbally committed to NDSU; that was one of the turning points of the last 4 years without a doubt and the Bison coaching staff had to know it with the physical talent they had up front. Turner is a beast up front; but some don’t know; but he may also have the best arm on the team; he can heave the football. Only Marcus Williams has played more games than Turner than over the past three years; NDSU has played 44 total; Williams has played 43(he sat out Prairie View this past season) and Turner has played 42; he didn’t play against Kansas(still can’t believe that) and missed the 2011 season opener against Lafayette with a thumb injury. His first game came in a place that I know means something extra to him; that was 2010 at Northern Iowa (his brother played at UNI); a game where NDSU allowed 11 sacks and it may not have shown but the O-Line stabilized during that game and hasn’t looked back since. The Bison have allowed just 42 sacks over the last two seasons and I’d take a guess that many didn’t come from the left side of the O-Line. Turner was recognized nationally last year as a Walter Camp All-American and will be a sure preseason pick on my national lists. Many can point to different reasons why NDSU has had the success it has had over the past 3 years; but one of the biggest reasons (literally) is number 77.

2013 Countdown: #78

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Here’s a stat that just jumped out at me about how stout the defense was last season.

The Bison defense allowed just 5 rushing touchdowns in 2012.

Countdown To 2013 NerdStat #78:

  • 5: Now some may think I screwed up since 5 was the same number for 79; but this represents the TOTAL amount of rushing touchdowns that the Bison defense allowed last season. That’s remarkable in 15 games and consider that two of them came in the same game against Georgia Southern; the others at Illinois State, at Missouri State and at Northern Iowa. That’s it. Also consider there were several games that teams had chances to punch it in for touchdowns; the Wofford game comes right to mind where the Terriers were driving in the 4th quarter inside the 10 and the Bison defense made a tremendous stand. Why this stat is so impressive to me is the quality of running backs that the Bison faced and will face ranging from David Johnson at UNI, Jamaine Cook at Youngstown, Shakir Bell at Indiana State, Zach Zenner at SDSU, Eric Breitenstein at Wofford, Dominique Swope at Georgia Southern and Tim Flanders at Sam Houston State. Those are the best in this division and none of them scored a touchdown against NDSU last year.

2013 Countdown: #79

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Apologize for the delay on our countdown; we’ll crank out a few this weekend to get caught up; let’s start with a number that I’m sure will cause debate:

The Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Big Sky lead FCS Football in playoffs wins over the last 5 seasons.

 

Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #79

  • 5: That number represents the amount of teams from both the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Big Sky in two different preseason polls that are out; the Athlon Sports Poll; which you can view here and the Sporting News poll. The Colonial has been down the last couple of years; the additions of Stony Brook and Albany to the league this year; a couple of perennial playoff teams; but over the past 5 seasons; the Valley and Big Sky have produced the most playoff wins in that time span in FCS.
  • Since 2008; the Big Sky has 16 wins from three different schools; Montana (8); Eastern Washington (6) and Montana State (2). Over that same time span; the Valley has 17 wins from six different schools; NDSU (10); Northern Iowa (3); Southern Illinois (1); Western Illinois (1); Illinois State (1) and SDSU (1), and you can bet with an expanded playoff field and no Georgia Southern and App State in the field; I think each conference could send 4 possibly 5 teams to the playoffs; each conference had 3 schools in the playoffs last year.

Travis Beck Arrested

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We will resume the countdown tomorrow; far more bigger and pressing matters concern the NDSU football this night and that concerns the arrest of starting linebacker Travis Beck. The details of what happened late Saturday night/early Sunday morning are still being sort out; but as of 10pm Monday night; Beck is still in the Cass County jail and has been indefinitely suspended from the team.

Travis Beck has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault for an incident early Sunday morning.

You can read the full accounts from what police tell Jeff by clicking on the link. I implore everyone to please make rational and smart comments; we still don’t know everything at this moment.

2013 Countdown: #82

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Tonight’s NerdStat is a number that’s based on the work that happens before fall camp begins and it’s the process that will start soon for the 2013 season; summer workouts. 

NDSU dominated opponents in the second half last season; a key factor for 2013.

 

Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #82:

  • 235-61:  That’s the amount that NDSU outscored opponents in the 2nd half last season. That’s a remarkable statistic and it shows a couple things to me; that the coaching staff is tremendous at making adjustments in the locker room; several games come to my mind from last season where that exact strategy was used; SDSU – Game 1; Illinois State and Georgia Southern for starters. It also shows the depth on this team not to tire but to get better as the game goes along; something that is shown in great teams and the Bison have that quality. That is attributable to the workouts that Jim Kramer puts the team thru in June and July and they’ve had a motto to “Win the 2nd half”. Last year’s team certainly lived up to that and will have to have the same characteristics for this upcoming season to make another long playoff run.

2013 Countdown: #83

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Today’s stat focuses on the right arm of Brock Jensen; for as much as NDSU is and will be a running team; he’s about to become the most active passer in Bison history.

Brock Jensen is poised to become the all-time leader in passing yardage and attempts at NDSU.

Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #83

  • 795 and 5,805: Those two numbes represent the amount of pass attempts and passing yards for Jensen thru his first three years as the quarterback for the Bison; he’s just 46 attempts behind Steve Walker’s all-time mark; could break that by game two; and 1,228 yards behind Walker’s yardage record. For as much as it has been debated and spoken about NDSU needs to throw more; the Bison have done that in the last 3 years with Jensen at the helm; his passing attempts went up from 326 to 338 from 2011 to 2012; his yardage did go down in 2012; but he set a school record in ’11 with 2,524 yards. I fully expect Jensen to surpass his 2011 yardage total as long as his receivers stay on the field (See NerdStat #88) and more confidence in being a senior leader. His maturity was shown in his first game coming off the bench against Morgan State to the fantastic move he put on in the championship game against Sam Houston State; he’s already in the conversation of greatest Bison QB’s ever; another big year; does he rank number one? Statistically wise; at least thru the air; the answer is yes.

2013 Countdown: #84

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Two for one special today; as we click another Saturday off the calendar closer to the start of the FCS season! Also look starting next Sunday I believe for the ramblings to return; checking out the power FCS Conferences and who to watch for.

Bill Snyder Stadium; likely to be most intimidating environment NDSU has ever played in.

Countdown To 2013: NerdStat #84:

  • 50,000: That’s the seating capacity for Bill Snyder Stadium; which by far will be the most hostile environment NDSU has played in since making the transition to Division 1. I have not been there for all the games; by counterpart Mr. Kolpack has; but I think he’d have a hard time disagreeing with this. Montana was tough I’m sure; but that was 30 thousand less than what we’ll see on August 30th. Especially with the news this week that the game is sold out; K-State fans are pumped to see what their team will be bringing back in 2013; after a Big 12 Championship and a Fiesta Bowl appearance. I know NDSU fans will be there; they always surprise me in terms of how many travel; but the other FBS games didn’t have this kind of weight to them; the Minnesota games; Wyoming, Central Michigan, Ball State, Iowa State and Colorado State. Not even Kansas; that was my 1st game traveling with NDSU; and that was a big crowd; but they were NOT into the game(perhaps the actual play on the field had something to do with that) but that was not an intimidating situation in the least. This is a senior-laden team (see NerdStat #95) and I know they’ve been the grind together; but this is something they have not seen before; crowds at Illinois State, Missouri State, Indiana State and Southern Illinois are nothing to what they’ll see from the purple and grey on August 30th and I’m really interested to see how they respond.