Bison Illustrated Podcast: Recent Episodes
Bison Illustrated
Bison Illustrated magazine senior columnist Josh Swanson and editor Brady Drake take their free-flowing North Dakota State University thoughts off the page and into your ears. You can subscribe to the weekly podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Play and iTunes. Presented by SCHEELS.
'Tis the season, that special time of year, where the FCS Playoff Selection Committee draws the ire of fans across the nation with Selection Sunday barreling at us! Swany and Brady talk about a dominating Bison win at Youngstown State and the emergence of Cam Miller as one of the best QBs in the Missouri Valley. We talk about the Herd's huge matchup this weekend with a red-hot South Dakota team fresh off its Hail Mary win against the Jacks. We also dive deep into potential playoff scenarios and who's deserving of the Top 4 seeds. Swany tells you why the Selection Committee should put Sam Houston State and James Madison on the same side of the bracket as the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds, and then place South Dakota and South Dakota State in potential second round showdowns with the Bearkats and Dukes. We aim to make everyone torqued, this week, where champions come to podcast, the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's that age-old football cliche–unstoppable force meets immovable object. In this case, the immovable object is the historically good Bison defense versus the high-flying Jackrabbits offense. For the Bison to bring the Dakota Marker back to Fargo from Brookings, Code Green needs to clamp down on an SDSU attack that lit them up for more than 300 yards rushing last spring in Fargo. Cam Miller continued his strong play last week, throwing for three touchdowns. Swany and Brady talk about Miller's performance and the Bison offense looking like the unit we thought they'd be. We also discuss what, and who, will decide this game, and tell you why. Turn the radio up, and let's talk about the Rock, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's THE question among Bison fans this week after Cam Miller came off the bench to lead North Dakota State to two fourth quarter touchdowns in a 27-20 comeback win over Missouri State. Who will be the starting QB for the Herd going forward? Miller was an electric 7-of-9 in relief for 112 yards with two big scores to Phoenix Sproles and Christian Watson. Quincy Patterson tops NDSU in rushing through seven games, in yards and scoring, and piloted the Herd to big wins against North Dakota and Northern Iowa.
Swany Says both QBs will be needed by the Bison if they are to return to Frisco. Swany and Brady recap Miller's performance, the QB questions, and the fact NDSU controls its own destiny when it comes to Dome-field advantage in the playoffs. The Missouri Valley Football Conference race is heating up, as the weather cools, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
A week after a 34-20 demolition of a Northern Iowa program on the rise, the Herd looks to spoil Illinois State's homecoming. Quincy Patterson torched the Panthers for four touchdowns, including a dynamite 85-yard precision guided bomb to Christian Watson. Watson, the most explosive offensive weapon in the FCS, finished with five catches for 163 yards and a score. A big punt return by Jayden Price, followed by a strip sack by Will Mostaert, setup two Bison touchdowns early in the second half.
Swany and Brady talk about a Herd offense on the rise, and the suffocating Code Green/"Best Friends Defense." Swany says he expects NDSU's offense to be aggressive in attacking the Redbirds today, and ISU's problems getting off the field on third down will be costly against the Herd. Patterson's growing chemistry with his receivers, combined with his running skills and the Bison ground game, are heating up.
The guys also discuss some surprise teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and a slate of big matchups this weekend - including North Dakota at Southern Illinois, and South Dakota at UNI.
The Bison offense continues the march, this week, where champions come to talk, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State ruined the University of North Dakota's party at the Alerus Center last weekend, riding a dominating performance from Code Green to a 16-10 win. The Herd did just enough offensively to down the Fighting Hawks, but will undoubtedly look for a stronger offensive showing this weekend against one of the hottest teams in the FCS, Northern Iowa. While the Herd has won seven in a row against the Panthers, the Bison will need to be on top of their game against a resurgent UNI team featuring new signal caller Theo Day. Day, a Michigan State transfer, led an explosive Panthers offense to a 34-7 thrashing on Saturday against Youngstown State. Swany and Brady deep dive into the UND game, some curious fourth down decision making, Code Green, and, of course, the Bison offense. The guys say that some fans need to back away from Crazy Town in going bonkers over a "mere" six point win against a Top 10 team and in-state rival. Swany Says the Herd will be tested by a very good Panthers team. The Herd looks for some homecoming fireworks of its own, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State kicks off Missouri Valley Football Conference play against in-state rival North Dakota. The Herd trounced the Hawks 34 - 13 last spring in Fargo, as the teams play for the second time in six months. It's a contrast of styles. While NDSU looks to pound the rock, the Hawks are actually throwing for more yards per contest than they're getting on the ground. Turnovers may be a big story as UND committed five against Drake last week. Swany and Brady break down the matchups within the game. Swany likes NDSU's defense against UND. Brady likes the Herd's ability to run the ball. The guys rewind the clock as Swany fondly remembers moments from yesteryear in the Bison v. Hawks series. Flush twice this week to make sure it gets all the way to Grand Forks, where champions come to podcast, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
North Dakota State won its opener in convincing fashion, riding the stalwart defensive effort by Code Green to a 28 – 6 victory over Albany. Quincy Patterson was solid in his debut as the Bison quarterback, while the Rams and running attack took things over in the second half. Swany and Brady go through what they liked about Saturday’s win, which improved to NDSU 9-1 all-time against the CAA. Next up for the Herd is Valparaiso. The guys talk about the areas where they’d like to see the Herd make strides between games one and two, and tell you their go-to tailgating foods. The championship train keeps on chugging, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
In a spring season filled with ups-and-downs, the FCS crowned a new champ in Sam Houston. The Bearkats earned it by going through North Dakota State, James Madison, and South Dakota State. With that said, did we learn anything about the FCS landscape this fall with the unprecedented spring season. Swany and Nolan are joined by the newest member of the podcast team, Brady Drake (B-Drake), to discuss. Swany and Nolan see things quite differently as to the NDSU QB situation, and its impact on the fall. B-Drake with some dynamite insight on the Bison roster as a whole, and comments on the transfer portal. It's back to business, this week, where champions come to talk!
Despite a bevy of injuries, departures for the NFL Draft, and a key starter leaving for the transfer portal, North Dakota State was one play away from advancing to this year's FCS semifinals. With 23 freshmen and sophomores on the two-deep depth chart, the Herd fell agonizingly short at Sam Houston, 24-20. “Our young guys are our depth. It’s been a good thing, there have been growing pains at times, but it will all payoff in the long run,” said NDSU coach Matt Entz following a 42-20 playoff win against Eastern Washington. Swany is joined by the Bison Report's Ross Uglem to recap this spring, and talk about an awfully good football team coming back with big things in store this fall.
Stop me if you've Herd this one before. North Dakota State enters a big playoff game against Sam Houston State and the Bison offense imposes its will and physicality on the Bearkats. Will it be more of the same this Sunday in Huntsville in the FCS Quarterfinals, or is this year's version of SHSU different? With a roster loaded with young talent, the Herd seemingly found its footing and some momentum with an impressive 42-20 win over Eastern Washington. The question is, can NDSU build off last week's performance. Swany Says yes, it's boat racing time! Nolan expects a closer fight. We close with some NFL Draft talk, and what it means for NDSU to have Trey Lance, Dillon Radunz, and Jabil Cox be high round picks. It's Bison Pride, coast to coast, this week, where champions come to talk!
Relive North Dakota State's dominating FCS playoff win over Eastern Washington. We told you Saturday morning on Herd It Hear with Swany, in a passionate sermon, to keep the faith. We told you that NDSU would own the line of scrimmage. The Rams plowed the road as the Herd rushed 57 times for 422 yards, scoring the final 35 points of the contest. Code Green held the high-powered Eagles attack to only 64 yards in the second half. Former Bison All-American safety James Hendricks joined the show, telling us the keys defensively to keeping Barriere in check. He was right. Hear pregame sound from NDSU coach Matt Entz, EWU coach Aaron Best, and Bison quarterback Cam Miller. The Bison advance to play Sam Houston State next Sunday, May 2, on ESPN at 2:00 p.m.
To paraphrase the great Vince Lombardi, what the hell is going on here? Welcome to the Missouri Valley, where everyone can crown themselves champs! UND and Missouri State are showering themselves with make believe titles after falling by a combined 59-13 to North Dakota State, while not playing in the league's closing week. For their part, UND hasn't won a game since March 13, but coasts into the playoffs with a 4-1 mark. Don't blame the schools, blame the Valley and NCAA for not planning for this. Does any of that matter, though? The real MVFC title will be played in Fargo this weekend between the Bison and Jacks in another epic bout for the Dakota Marker. Swany and Nolan talk about how SDSU's month long layoff impacts the game, and whether NDSU playing last week gives them an advantage. Swany goes all Paul Harvey, sharing some unknown --- and hilarious --- stories about the Dakota Marker, its inception, and some crazy early Dakota Marker games in Brookings. Prepare to be entertained, this week, where true champions (sorry Mo. State) come to talk!
For the first time in three weeks, North Dakota State has a football game. Tied atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference with three other teams, the Herd takes on Northern Iowa in a marquee matchup in a game with major consequences on their quest for a tenth straight conference title. The Herd does so with a lot of outside noise and potential distractions, from the transfer portal to an unprecedented spring season. For the Bison to come out of Cedar Falls with a win, they'll need to protect the football, pick-up offensively where they left off on March 20 against the University of North Dakota, and quickly shake off any rust from the three week layoff. Swany is joined by 740 The Fan's Chase Miller to discuss how the transfer portal will change the landscape of college football, and the guys discuss how field position and special teams will play a big role against the Panthers. Dig in with the big spoons, because it's Bison Game Day on Herd It Hear with Swany!
Dom Izzo, from WDAY TV, joins the podcast as our special guest. Dom has had a front row seat as one of the trusted voices and fan favorites covering every major happening in the area sports scene, including North Dakota State, for over a decade. Swany and Nolan ask Dom about everything from the state of the FCS spring season, the transfer portal changing the landscape of college football and hoops going forward, where Trey Lance goes in the NFL Draft, and why the FBS makes sense for NDSU. Prepare to have some knowledge dropped on you, this week, where champions come to podcast!
For the second straight week, North Dakota State had to postpone or cancel a football game because of Covid-19. The rest of the FCS is also feeling Covid-19's impact as other programs are losing games, or pulling the plug on their spring season all together. There's a heated debate from the media and fans alike whether the spring season should continue. Swany and Nolan discuss the very fluid situation. The takeaway? There are no easy answers - not yet, anyway. We tell you why the FCS isn't at the point that it should cancel the playoffs, but it's getting dangerously close. We wrap by talking about Oral Roberts run to the Sweet 16 and what it means for NDSU and the rest of the Summit League. To play, or not to play, this week, where champions come to talk!
On this special bonus podcast from Herd It Hear With Swany on 740AM The Fan, we've got more Bison talk. The doom and gloom talk talk from a month ago has been replaced by a new sense of doom and gloom throughout the FCS. Maybe it was a bad idea to poke a Herd of Bison. North Dakota State (5-1) gloriously romped the University of North Dakota, dominating all three phases of the game in a 34-13 victory. Behind the rams and a devastating ground attack, the Herd piled up 316 rushing yards on 54 carries, including three touchdowns. This weekend, the Bison look to take that next step against the University of South Dakota in a key Missouri Valley Football Conference road game. Under the banner "Right Now Means Everything," the Herd are a motivated football team on a mission. We told you it was a mistake to doubt this team. Swany is joined by Chase Miller from 740AM The Fan, and the guys talk about today's matchup against the Coyotes.
Mike McFeely is one of the deans of local and regional media. He's covered everything from North Dakota State to national political campaigns. He stops by the podcast to take questions from Bison fans on everything from a potential FBS move and NDSU's spring football season to the perception from some Bison fans that he "hates NDSU." We ask Mike whether he thinks the Bison will get back to Frisco this spring. His answer might surprise you, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
What a great week to be a Bison! The North Dakota State men are playing in their third straight Summit League Tournament championship game with a spot in March Madness at stake. We tell you how the Bison got there, and what to look for in the title game against Oral Roberts. The Bison Football team returned to its winning ways with a 25-0 shutdown win against Missouri State. The Herd looks to keep things rolling this weekend against Illinois State. And as if that wasn't enough, Trey Lance, Dillon Radunz, and Marquise Bridges will be competing in front of 27 NFL teams at this Friday's Bison Pro Day at the Fargodome. Let's cut down some nets, this week, where champions come to talk!
North Dakota State suffered its first loss since 2017 as Southern Illinois ended the Herd's 39-game win streak. Was it just a bad day for the Bison, or signs of something deeper? While the game was about as far from pretty as its gets, Swany and Nolan say one bad day does not a season make. While we'll leave the X's and O's to the coaches, NDSU needs to come out with some fire against Missouri State. The Bison hoops teams head to Sioux Falls for the Summit League Tournament, where David Richman and his guys look to notch a three-peat, and the women look to advance deep into the tourney. It's the start of March Madness, this week, where champions come to talk!
Carson Wentz will be wearing the blue and white of the Indianapolis Colts. Swany and Nolan tell you why the Colts are instantly a strong contender in the AFC to make a Super Bowl run with the former North Dakota State signal caller. Speaking of quarterbacks, Zeb Noland will make his Bison debut this Sunday against Youngstown State. Swany doesn't expect the Bison will dial it back or play conservative. He expects the Herd to let it rip! Nolan breaks down the Code Green defense and new faces that will emerge. We wrap up with some Summit League hoops talk as both the Bison men and women control their own destiny for a top seed at the Summit League Tourney! It's a stampede of Bison goodness, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Everybody up for the kickoff, the march is on! North Dakota State sets its sights on its 10th straight Missouri Valley Football Conference title, and 9th National Title in 10 years, when it opens the winter/spring season against Youngstown State. Swany and Nolan talk about the big storylines headed into February football. Swany Says he'll be watching the NDSU offensive line. Nolan thinks the Herd will be solid in the trenches. The guys talk about a new starting QB, Zeb Noland, and the weapons in the Bison offense, and how opposing teams may look to attack Code Green, the vaunted Bison defense. Finally, the guys give their take on the Summit League race, including a men's field where either of four teams (NDSU, SDSU, USD, or ORU) could cut down the nets in March. Turn up the heaters, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
On this week's Bison Illustrated Podcast brought to you by Scheels, it's heavy Bison Football talk. The good folks at the Reese's Senior Bowl like to say, "The Road to the [NFL] Draft Starts in Mobile." Last week, in Mobile, we learned the Road to the Draft is coming to Fargo after North Dakota State football alums Dillon Radunz and Jabril Cox notched impressive performances that skyrocketed their draft stock faster than Game Stop. Add in a potential Top 5 pick in former Bison QB Trey Lance, NDSU could have three players taken in the Top 40 draft picks. Swany and Nolan talk about what the means for the program and community. The guys also discuss Bison hoops as the men and women are coming off splits in Kansas City, setting up a huge weekend home series against Oral Roberts that will go a long ways in the conference standings. Finally, we wrap with an update on Carson Wentz, and how the Philadelphia Eagles need to firmly commit to their franchise QB. All that, and a whole lot more, this week, where champions come to talk.
Swany and Nolan discuss former NDSU great Joe Haeg's Tampa Bay Buccaneers advancing to the Super Bowl. The guys recap another big weekend for Bison hoops as the men swept Denver, and the women had a convincing bounce back victory on Saturday night. Both teams find themselves in contention for the Summit League's top spot midway through league play. With football just around the corner, and several FCS stalwarts like Montana and Montana State opting out of the spring season, we tell you what that could mean. Tune in and turn up the guys that always go for it on fourth down, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
Just as we were heating up, covid intervened and sidelined Swany for a few weeks. But we're back, covid free, and ready to sling some truth! So here it is ... North Dakota State hoops is, through the early conference slate, owning the Summit. While there are plenty of games left to go, Dave Richman's team isn't showing any signs of a rebuild, and Jory Collins squad is coming up on the Rushmore monsters faster than a stampede. The guys break it down, and talk about a common theme for both programs --- balance. On any given night, it's a different Bison leading the way, which makes the Herd very dangerous. It's a hoops haven, and we wrap with some football talk, this week, where champions come to talk, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's the Bison Illustrated Christmas Extravaganza! We bring you all kinds of glorious North Dakota State talk that will have you smiling holiday cheer ear-to-ear. The Bison women are back, in a big way, with a Power 5 win against the Kansas Jayhawks. We talk about their bright future. Swany & Nolan then talk about how the Bison men are coming into form as they head into a Power 5 matchup of their own against TCU. Reaching deep into Santa's Sleigh, the guys recap the Herd's big recruiting week with talent that could compete for a Mountain West crown (Hey, San Jose State just won that league). If the Mountain West sent NDSU a note saying, "Do you like me? Check 'Yes,' 'No,' or 'Maybe,'" what box would you check Bison Nation? Throw on another Yule log, fill the Egg Nog, and listen to the gift that keeps on giving, Clark! Here, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State beats another Power 5 program for a big-time recruit. So what else is new? Bison Football inked a high caliber recruiting class to keep the Championship Train on the tracks. The Herd invaded the Cornhusker State and bested Scott Frost for a QB stud from Omaha. Swany Says that NDSU has been a better football team than Nebraska for a decade. The guys talk about a nice weekend in Sioux Falls for Bison hoops, and the Bison women getting votes in the Top 25. Swany and Nolan wrap the bow on this present by discussing the momentum building around NDSU moving to FBS. All that, and chestnuts roasting above the open fire --- just watch out for SDSU's nut slapping Noah Freidel --- on this week's podcast.
After a fall devoid of North Dakota State sports talk, the Herd is back in a big way. The Bison women are off to a scorching 3-0 start under Jory Collins, and deserve to be rated in the Mid-Major Top 25. The Bison men nearly upset college hoops blue blood Kansas, falling agonizingly short at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. The Herd takes on rivals South Dakota State and North Dakota this week in Sioux Falls in a round robin featuring all four D-I Dakota schools. Swany and Nolan cap this episode by discussing a national football media that, writ large, are seemingly taking delight in Carson Wentz's tough year after the Eagles pulled North Dakota's favorite son from their Sunday game against the Packers. Swany tells you why he thinks Wentz will rebound from this, and make the experts eat their words down the road. It's the Festivus Airing of Grievances, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
There's no way to soft sell it. With North Dakota's spiking covid numbers, unless something changes, the ability of North Dakota State to play an eight-game football schedule this winter is in serious doubt. It's a numbers game, and the State of North Dakota is not on the right side of the numbers. If the current situation remains the same, or worsens, the prospects of seeing the Bison --- and another trip to Frisco --- are in jeopardy. Swany and Nolan discuss the stark realities, and talk about some of their Halloween favorites. This week, there's plenty of tricks and treats, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance became the highest profile player in College Football this year to declare for the NFL Draft. The Bison quarterback and Walter Payton award winner led the Herd to a 39-28 victory over a Top 10-ranked Central Arkansas squad, accounting for nearly 300 total yards and 4 touchdowns. Lance is expected to be a first round NFL Draft pick this spring. Swany and Nolan discuss NDSU's only game this fall, their takeaways, and what they're looking forward to for the eight game spring Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule.
North Dakota State finds itself in the national spotlight this weekend as Trey Lance and the Bison take on Central Arkansas. Nearly 2/3 of NFL teams will have scouts at the Fargodome to watch Lance, Dillon Radunz, and the rest of the Herd. The Bison will raise their 8th national championship banner in nine years, and display their high-powered offensive machine. Swany takes the debate stage to tell you why NDSU is holding itself back by staying FCS. Oh, and we preview the key storylines headed into the only Bison Football game this fall. It will be one of the most watched, and unique, games in NDSU history. Sit back and enjoy something positive, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
With the FCS keeping its spring schedule (for now), the NCAA announced a 16-team playoff. That begs this question: should all 10 FCS conferences get an auto-bid to the playoffs, or should the best 16 teams --- no matter the conference --- be taken. Swany and Nolan debate the merits, and answer the question. The guys also lament the fact Sioux Falls landed the Battle for Atlantis college hoops tourney this year, which includes Duke, Creighton, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and West Virginia. Swany Says it's time Fargo stepped up its game and matched what the Sioux Falls Sports Authority is doing to land so many big-time events. Why aren't Fargo leaders doing that? It's big-time economic development for Sioux Falls, as well, and drives things like conventions, trade shows, conferences, and more marquee events. Finally, the guys pay tribute to former Bison basketball player Jordan Aaberg, who died unexpectedly last week at only 29-years old. Lots of heartfelt talk, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
Bruce Feldman, a college football extraordinaire with The Athletic, says North Dakota State's game against Central Arkansas is the best nonconference matchup in all of college football. Swany and Nolan contemplate the meaning in this, and discuss the hype that's already building for the October 3 contest. The guys also talk about the "rock and a hard place" decision facing NDSU as to the number of fans in the Fargodome stands. Interwoven in this audio tapestry are fond memories of Maverick --- Swany's son --- unloading a diaper bomb on his favorite old, worn-out jeans, along with this intriguing scenario: what beer tastes the best under what situations ... is it that anticipatory airport getaway beer, the just-got-done mowing my lawn beer, or the "hey, it's homecoming, let's do a shower-beer" beer. We have some fun this week, where champions come to podcast, the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
Another week, another round of national media attention for North Dakota State. On SportsCenter, ESPN's Scott Van Pelt framed NDSU's game against Central Arkansas thusly: "October 3. Fargo, North Dakota. Mark it down. The NFL already has," said Van Pelt. Bison head coach Matt Entz was on the Dan Patrick Show, and Full Ride with Rick Neuheisel and Chris Childers on XM84 was heavy on Bison talk. Swany and Nolan discuss the importance of this game, the storylines, and reaction from Bison Nation that extends to the highest levels of football. Fill the coolers and fire up the grills, we got a game, friends! And more, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The question looms overhead like the Sword of Damocles, will we see any North Dakota State football games --- or any college football games --- in 2020? Swany and Nolan are back, and more mediocre than ever, talking about the state of affairs and the lack of any good options on the table for a viable college football season this fall. There are no easy decisions facing college presidents, administrators, coaches, and players across the county as the college sports world grapples with if, how, and when the games go on. Are we seeing a sea change, and watershed moment, where players take control of the multi-billion dollar a year sport? When we emerge from the Covid-19 aftermath, what does the college athletics landscape look like? We don't shy away from a debate on the big issues, this week, or any week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Swany and Chase are joined by Sam Herder from HERO Sports. The guys talk about HERO Sports Preseason Top 25, North Dakota State's spot at No. 1, and who could challenge the Bison. The Missouri Valley Football Conference, who had the three top teams in the Top 25, is loaded with potential playoff teams. The college football landscape has been deeply impacted by this week's events surrounding the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. As peaceful protesters marched in Fargo, they were joined by several Bison. Swany Says we got their backs, and gives a heartfelt explanation why he supports the rights of every athlete and coach to have their voice heard. There's no such thing as "staying in your lane" here. This is all of our lane, and there's no room for racism in it. Join the dialogue, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Thundering Herdcast Podcast.
Much has been made about North Dakota State's Trey Lance in recent weeks, including his rising NFL Draft profile. What the experts should also know --- and what has other FCS coaches crying themselves to sleep --- is that the Bison return a loaded and veteran group on offense that averaged over 37 points per game last fall. This Bison offense would give Power 5 FBS schools fits with its size, athleticism, depth, and playmaking ability. Swany and Nolan are joined by 740AM The Fan's Chase Miller. The guys go over the latest on the status of this fall's college football season, and do an early breakdown of the Bison on both sides of the ball. All that, and Swany's take on why NCAA President Mark Emmert's failure to provide strong leadership right now is spelling the beginning of the end of the NCAA as we know it! It's a hole-in-one, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State's football program is no stranger to the national spotlight. Things got even brighter this week after ESPN's venerable Mel Kiper Jr. told Mike Greenberg that NDSU's Trey Lance could be in a three-man race for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Believe that! Swany, Nolan, and Chase Miller talk about Lance's surge, and how he'll be surrounded with plenty of offensive firepower. The guys switch gears to recap a big week for Bison hoops as Dave Richman added two new assistant coaches, and some key pieces to their two-time defending Summit League champion roster. Fire up the grills, pull up a lawn chair, and crack a cool one with your pals at the Bison Illustrated Thundering Herdcast Podcast!
North Dakota State continues getting national attention for its football prowess. Most recently, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman profiled NDSU QB Trey Lance, saying the Walter Payton winner is on NFL radars. Swany and Nolan are joined by Chase Miller from 740AM The Fan to talk about it, along with the Draft Prospects of several of Lance's teammates, including Derrek Tuszka and Ben Ellefson. The guys speculate on how/when sports could return, and recap the awesomeness that were Episodes 1 and 2 of ESPN's groundbreaking documentary of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, "The Last Dance." Take a break from your stay at home blues with the some rock solid Bison talk, here, on The Bison Illustrated/Thundering Herdcast Podcast!
The guys are back with regular podcasts to provide a little light and distraction from what's been some tough news cycles. Swany and Nolan are joined by 740AM The Fan's Chase Miller. The guys cover a wide range of topics, including what might have been had March Madness not been cancelled. Swany Says the Bison would've won two games, advancing to the Sweet 16. The guys discuss the retirement of NDSU's legendary track and field coach, Don Larson, who's stepping down after 41 years! at the helm. We wrap up with some NDSU football talk. Take a break, even for a few minutes, this week, on the Bison Illustrated/Thundering Herdcast!
If you could tell NDSU's Jabril Cox why he should stay a Bison, what would you say? It's heartbreak city for Herd fans as Swany and Nolan discuss Cox, a fan favorite, putting his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Swany shares what he would tell Jabril after Bison fans were blindsided by the announcement. Swany and Nolan also address the steamy horse nugget garbage that transferring raises Cox's draft profile ... after all, Carson Wentz was the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft only a few years ago. If you can play, you can play, and if you're a First Round guy, you're a First Round guy whether you play at NDSU, LSU, Alabama, or Alcorn State. In happier news, the guys shift gears talking March Madness, and the Bison men's team looking to cut down some nets (again) in Sioux Falls. We preview the tournament, tell you the keys for NDSU getting back to the Big Dance, and share hilarious stories from our trips to the Denny covering the tourney. Find solace and comfort, this week. on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The good folks at Bison Illustrated proudly announce their special edition 2019 FCS Championship commemorative issue, telling the story of North Dakota State's 16-0 season and 16th National Title, which hits newsstands in days! Swany and Nolan give you a sneak peak, and tell you where to find the digital issue online. The guys also go all Jay Bilas on the red hot Summit League race, as NDSU and South Dakota State are tied atop the standings with only a few games left in the regular season. The conference tournament in Sioux Falls will be wide open. We tell you why the Bison have an advantage, listen up Joe Lunardi, and should be favored to get back to March Madness. Get ready for some madness, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
We make you stop, collaborate and listen for this brand new edition of the Bison Illustrated Podcast. Swany and Nolan talk about the jumbled race for the Summit League regular season title and four teams, including North Dakota State, gunning for the No. 1 seed in Sioux Falls. The guys talk about a big stretch for the Herd as they take on Omaha and Oral Roberts. Swany also has a special message for everyone pining for the good old days of the Bison Sports Arena, and some football recruiting talk. Beat the polar bear days of February, this week, with your favorite Bison Podcast!
In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the Bison became the first team in nearly 125 years to finish a season 16-0, capturing the FCS National Championship in a showdown against James Madison. With NDSU winning its eighth national title in nine years, the guys ask: can anyone stop the Bison? The greatest dynasty in the history of College Football shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, just the opposite, the Bison are positioned to get stronger in coming years. In a tough sports week, the guys shift gears, opening with a heartfelt discussion on the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and eight others, including his daughter Gigi, in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles, and Bryant's impact on the world beyond basketball.
Toss the stats and records out the window because nothing less than the fate of the FCS world is at stake! It's Rocky v. Ivan Drago, the Globetrotters v. the Washington Generals, and the Sons of Liberty v. The Red Coats all rolled into one. North Dakota State. James Madison. The championship collision draws near, and only one team will emerge with the much-coveted championship trophy. Putting the hyperbole aside, the outcome of this game will shape the FCS narrative for next year, and potentially beyond. Will North Dakota State cast aside the would-be usurpers, or will James Madison show it can beat NDSU in Frisco. With so many stories, the intrigue abounds! What playmakers will shine bright? Can each team counterpunch when adversity strikes, and, or course, the chess-match between two coaching staffs. Pull up a chair, pop the top, and saddle up with your pals at the Bison Illustrated Podcast as we bring you the FCS CHAMPIONSHIP EXTRAVAGANZA!
All season, North Dakota State and James Madison have separated themselves by leaps and bounds from the rest of the FCS. Only one, though, can emerge victorious as the National Champion. It's a heavyweight battle with two seasoned teams. What will be the difference between the Bison and Dukes? At least statistically, they are nearly equal in every category from total offense, total defense, third-down conversion percentage, to red zone efficiency. Each roster is filled with playmakers that can tip the scales, and each team is staffed with high-caliber coaches. Swany and Nolan preview the matchup, and tell you what will be the difference, and why, in Frisco. Giddy up for one helluva football game, folks, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Get in the Christmas and holiday spirit by enjoying North Dakota State's 42-14 semifinal thumping of Montana State all over again! On this special Bison Illustrated Podcast, we replay Saturday's Herd It Hear with Swany. Swany is joined by Nolan, and 740AM The Fan's Chase Miller, live from Buffalo Wild Wings where the guys discuss an already historic season, and foreshadow the offensive fireworks from the Bison against the Bobcats. Swany has a special message for Bison Nation, telling the Herd to enjoy this team and moment. It's a Ho-Ho-Ho great time on this special Bison Illustrated Podcast!
In this special joint Bison Illustrated/Thundering Herdcast, it's one of the best weeks of the year for Bison Nation: semifinal week! All that's standing in the Bison's way on the Road to Frisco is a resurgent Montana State program and their garbage-talking head coach, Jeff Choate. Choate made headlines when he whined about NDSU's winning ways, saying the Bison were bad for the FCS. Choate went so far to say that the semifinals should be played at a neutral site. Swany Says Choate is a big cry baby. Will Choate's comments be a distraction, serve as bulletin board material, or are they much ado about nothing? Swany and Nolan are joined by Chase Miller from 740AM The Fan. The group talks about Code Green's dominance this playoff season, and the inconsistency from the NDSU offense and red zone woes. The key to this game, and getting back to Frisco, rests with the Rams -- NDSU's offensive line, and converting in the red zone. Get ready for the party with your pals at the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State is in the National Quarterfinals for the tenth straight year, and in pursuit of their eighth national championship in nine seasons. Standing between the Bison and another trip to the national semis is a familiar foe, James Robinson and the Illinois State Redbirds. The high-powered Bison offense is looking for a faster start after their second round win over Nicholls State, while ISU looks to feed the rock to Robinson. It's no secret what these teams plan to do. The only question is, who will executer cleaner and keep moving on The Road To Frisco. Swany and Nolan think the Bison come out gangbusters this week. It's the most wonderful time of the year, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
North Dakota State and James Madison have separated themselves from the field this season. The top two seeds in this year's FCS playoffs look for a rematch of their epic playoff games in 2016 and 2017. Swany and Nolan go through the field, and tell you why NDSU's Road to Frisco has fewer stumbling blocks than JMU's. Swany Says that the Dukes will have a tough quarterfinal matchup against either South Dakota State or Northern Iowa, and predicts a Valley surprise. We tell you who will be lifting the national championship trophy, and why, on this week's Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State can become the first team in FCS history to finish the regular season 12-0. The Bison face a tough test from a playoff worthy foe in Southern Illinois. While NDSU and James Madison appear to have the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the FCS playoffs locked up, the Herd wants an exclamation point and the momentum heading into the postseason. Even with their historic success, this Bison team is blazing its own path with the No. 1-ranked scoring offense and No. 1-ranked total defense in the FCS. This squad is a complete team in every sense of the word. Swany and Nolan recap a special regular season, and turn an eye towards the playoffs. Start your Thanksgiving celebration a few days early with this cornucopia of goodness with your turkey-loving pals on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Another week, another dominating performance. NDSU piled up 690 yards in a 57-21 win against Western Illinois, improving their record to 10-0. It's Senior Day this weekend at the Dome as the Herd faces South Dakota, with a win clinching at least a share of NDSU's ninth straight league title. Swany and Nolan talk about how special this Bison team is, and how they're getting better each week with the emergence of playmakers, including Christian Watson, who is establishing himself as one of the best WRs in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The guys go over potential playoff scenarios, including who would outbid who to host a first round playoff game between South Dakota State and North Dakota. With the temps cooling down, playoff fever is heating up, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State has built a championship reputation on the back of a fierce defense, and its pound the rock offense. This fall, the Bison have aggressively attacked on offense, and can score points in a big hurry -- just ask Youngstown State. With their roster of home run hitters, we tell you why this might be the best offense in school history. Swany and Nolan preview the final three conference games, and discuss the potentially historic run this team could embark on if they continue getting better each week. The guys also discuss whether anyone else in the FCS can touch the Bison when they're firing on all cylinders, and the playoff field is shaping up. It's a high-octane production, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
And down the stretch they come! North Dakota State walked into Dykehouse Stadium and spoiled SDSU's big ESPN day in Brookings. Adam Cofield's 71-yard TD run on 4th Down & Marker was one of the biggest plays in NDSU history according to Swany. The Bison lead the Missouri Valley, but face another big road test this Saturday against Youngstown State and the Fighting Pelini's. Always tough on defense, the Penguins are battling for their playoff lives. Swany and Nolan recap a huge Dakota Marker win, and Swany tells you why he loves Coach Entz's style. The guys dip into the waters of the upcoming playoff pool and scenarios. It's too damn hot out for a penguin, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
In this special Bison Illustrated Podcast, Swany gives you a taste of his other podcast, The Thundering Herdcast! ESPN's College GameDay showcases the Dakota Marker game as one of the premier rivalries in all of college football. Swany and 740AM The Fan's Chase Miller discuss what it means for ESPN to feature the Dakota Marker, which marks the third time College GameDay has highlighted NDSU's program since 2013, and why it speaks volumes of the caliber of football in the Dakotas. Swany says the fact the broadcast is in Brookings shouldn't detract from the experience for Bison fans --- and that Bison fans should start their legendary migration to Brookings, showing ESPN what the legendary NDSU fanbase is all about. It's a game for the ages, on a podcast for the ages, this week, on the Bison Illustrated/Thundering Herdcast!
Josh Swanson is on paternity leave following the birth of his son Maverick Allan Swanson. Congratulations Josh and his wife Libby! However, there is football to be discussed as well. Nolan Schmidt is joined by 740 The Fan's Chase Miller to chat about this week's Homecoming game against Northern Iowa. The two discuss the Missouri Valley landscape and have audio from UNI head coach Mark Farley and Bison senior offensive lineman Zack Johnson. Swany may be gone, but the energy is palpable on this new Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Well, they don't call the Missouri Valley the Gauntlet of Terrors for nothing. North Dakota State begins conference play on the road at No. 6 Illinois State this Saturday, before seeing three more ranked foes in the next four weeks. Swany and Nolan tell you about the salty Redbirds and their similarities with the Bison. Both teams had an extra week to prepare coming off open weeks, guaranteeing a clash where execution and protecting the ball will play decisive roles. Can Code Green contain bowling ball back James Robinson, and how will NDSU's offense respond after the UC-Davis game? Start Bigtober with an Oktoberfestival of fun, with your pals at the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's not debatable, no matter what Brian McLaughlin from Hero Sports says! Just kidding, B-Mac, much respect, we just differ on who should be ranked No. 1 in the FCS after North Dakota State notched another Top 25 win against a very talented UC-Davis squad. It was NDSU's third Top 25 win this year, more than any other team in the FCS. When it mattered most, it was the Bison who made the big plays with the game at stake to earn a 27-16 win. Swany and Nolan recap why NDSU fans should be happier than ants on a sugar pile with the Herd's 4-0 start heading into a tough MVFC slate that features four ranked opponents in the next five games. What would College Football be if we weren't debating the rankings, whether polls matter, or something else totally arbitrary, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's the marquee non-conference matchup everyone in the FCS has been waiting for as No. 1 North Dakota State faces No. 4 UC-Davis in a heavyweight fight at the Fargodome. The Bison look to flex their offensive muscles against a resurgent UC-Davis program led by QB Jake Maier, one of the preseason favorites for the Walton Payton Award. Swany and Nolan dissect how the Aggies brand of football will -- or will not -- translate against a tough Code Green Defense in one of the best environments in all of college football. Trey Lance leads the FCS in several passing categories, and looks to make another large impression on a nationwide audience paying attention to whether UC-Davis is as good as their early season ranking. Put your tray tables and seatbacks in their upright positions, because we could see some aerial fireworks, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Start the hype train. North Dakota State QB -- The Sensation (TM) -- Trey Lance is taking the FCS by storm. The young gun from Marshall, MN, put up another 4 TDs against in-state rival North Dakota as the undisputed champs of the FCS flexed their muscles. Swany & Nolan say the rest of the FCS should be on notice, this dude can flat out ball, and the Bison haven't missed a beat. Speaking of missing a beat, did you see Delaware struggle against Rhode Island? We did, and we tell you about it. Swany has a little edge as he tells Delaware to go back to the rock quarry. Are there even rock quarries in Newark? Mookalakaheeki, pass the poi, Maholo, because we're in Delaware, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State invaded downtown Minneapolis on the green and yellow brick road in an epic Bison weekend. In one of the most memorable debuts in NDSU history, freshman sensation QB Trey Lance threw four TDs and rushed for another two scores, dazzling the packed house at Target Field with his pin-point precision accuracy and rushing ability. Things get amped up this Saturday as UND comes to town for the Dome Opener and National Championship banner raising ceremony. Swany and Nolan discuss whether the game is still a rivalry, and what it means to Bison fans. A rivalry, or not a rivalry, that is the question, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The best program in the history of FCS, and a fanbase comparable only to the SEC, takes over downtown Minneapolis. To celebrate North Dakota State's opener against Butler at Target Field, we bring you our 100th Podcast from Kieran's Irish Pub in downtown Minneapolis. The BEST Bison podcast befitting of an Irish Bar, featuring a star-studded lineup of Swany, Nolan, Sam Herder (Hero Sports), Ross Uglem (Bison Report & 24/7 Sports), and Joe Kerlin (unaffiliated/co-founder of this podcast/loves European soccer), give you an entertaining and informative preview of the 2019 season. It's a Bison kind of weekend as 35,000 strong takeover downtown Minneapolis, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The North Dakota State culture shined this week as Coach Entz named Trey Lance the starting QB. The other two QBs, Zeb Noland and Noah Sanders, rallied around No. 5, pledging their support. It's all systems go, and all about the team, as the Bison prepare for the Butler game at Target Field. The team's reaction, and buy-in, is a big reason why NDSU was ranked by ESPN Stats & Information as one of the Top 10 best programs in the 150-year history of College Football. The guys talk about what that means. Swany and Nolan make a big announcement about the Podcast broadcasting from Kieran's Irish Pub in downtown Minneapolis near Target Center on Friday afternoon August 30. Swany shares some big news about Herd It Hear With Swany and The Thundering Herdcast on 740AM The Fan. More news than you can fit into a tweet, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Dom Izzo has covered North Dakota State's dynasty from a front row seat to college football history since arriving in Fargo back in 2010. One of the quarterbacks of the Forum Communications/WDAY team, and a driving force behind the popular Bison Media Zone, Izzo stops by for a wide-ranging discussion on the 2019 Bison. The guys discuss the QB situation, a stacked Missouri Valley Football Conference, and Izzo's prediction that ... get ready Bison fans ... the Herd could possibly go 9-3 during the regular season. That, and so much more, from one of the best in the business, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
All the North Dakota State News That's Fit To Print, or, in this case, to Podcast! The Bison held their annual media day this week. Swany and Nolan were there front and center, interviewing key players and coaches about another year of high expectations for NDSU. What did the guys learn? Buckle up, we'll tell ya! Between the battle --- more like "friend-troversy" --- for the starting QB position, new players emerging in the spotlight, and big-time dudes at key spots looking like they could play in the Big Ten or Big XII, forget the doubters. The Herd is loaded for another championship quest! Giddy up, because the Road To Frisco starts here, with your pals, at the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State starts fall camp this week looking for its ninth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship. The Herd was picked to win the league in the MVFC preseason poll. The MVFC is the top FCS conference, so it's never easy. Swany and Nolan talk about the big storylines heading into fall camp, including the QB battle, and the fact that NDSU has a host of explosive playmakers looking to continue the championship tradition. Pop the top and dust off the tailgating gear, we're less than one month from kickoff, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
By every single measure, North Dakota State is owning the 2019 FCS offseason. Matt Entz and his coaches have aced all the tests. Most recently, the Herd pulled in the best early recruiting class of any FCS program, bar none, nobody else is even close. The Bison are beating FBS schools and fellow MVFC foes for huge commits that are excited to join one of college athletics best programs. Swany and Nolan recap what's been a tremendous offseason for NDSU. The guys also talk about Dave Richman's dynamite recruiting class on the hoops side, and finish by previewing what teams might be sleepers in the MVFC this fall. Refresh yourself through the dog days of summer with the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Relive the 2018 FCS Playoff Field with the benefit of hindsight on this week's "Best Of" episode. Swany and Nolan are celebrating America's birthday, and hit the rewind button, playing back the 2018 FCS Playoff Selection Show. Joined by Sam Herder from HERO Sports, how right were their playoff predictions? It's the closest thing to American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, so fill up the cooler, start up the grill, and shoot off fireworks, this week, on the Bison Illustrated "Best Of" Podcast!
The culture, the coaching, tradition, championships, and family. All played key roles in North Dakota State and head coach Matt Entz delivering an astronomical week on the recruiting trail as a host of prep stars verbally pledged to join the Herd. The Bison hit on all cylinders, and inked huge gets on both sides of the ball. Swany and Nolan talk about the big week, recap last week's interview with Coach Entz, and talk about Carson Wentz's A01 Softball Showcase in Fargo. The Bison Culture and Bison Family ties into both recruiting and Wentz's A01 event in Fargo. The guys also hit some fun topics - like their favorite beverages during the 4th of July holiday, and hilarious stories about trips to Hobby Lobby and Ulta. Kick off America's birthday celebration with your patriotic pals at the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz joins the podcast to discuss the 2019 Bison football team. In a wide ranging interview with Swany and Nolan, Coach Entz talks about his new role as head coach, his philosophy in building a coaching staff, the importance of family and veteran leadership, how young players will have an opportunity to emerge this fall, the team's confidence in the NDSU quarterback room, and the Bison Culture. Coach Entz says you should be excited for the 2019 Bison -- find out why, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
One player does not seven FCS titles in eight years make. North Dakota State football wins with a smart, proven, complementary offensive and defensive plan in which coaches and players alike understand the blueprint and CULTURE to win. At NDSU, that's all that matters -- winning. Swany and Nolan discuss the Bison Blueprint for winning championships. Is the NDSU QB contest one of the biggest stories in the FCS? Sure. Debate, discuss, and enjoy it, but it won't change the championship formula. The only controversy this week is why you haven't listened to the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's June, so preseason Top 25 college football polls are rolling out faster than brauts off the grill. Can anyone dethrone North Dakota State, or will the Bison continue making history and adding to their dynasty? Swany and Nolan offer comment and critique of several preseason polls, and ask how in the name of frozen popsicles does an overvalued Jacksonville State squad keeping landing in the Top 10? In a top-heavy FCS, is South Dakota State rated too high, is James Madison really that good, and is this the year UC-Davis breaks through or is Big Sky Country still Eastern Washington territory (sorry, Weber State). And, yes, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and its five teams in the Top 17 mean it's the best conference in the FCS ... that along with the CAA's dumpster fire of a performance in last year's playoffs (#pretenders). Winning friends and influencing people, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Jory Collins is the new women's basketball coach at North Dakota State. The energetic and articulate Collins has already made an impact since arriving in Fargo on April 29 with a pair of high profile signees. The Bison added Stephen F. Austin transfer Heaven Hamling and Kansas City, Kansas native Ryan Cobbins. Swany and Nolan sat down with Coach Collins in his SHAC office for a wide-ranging interview. The trio discussed Collins' approach to the game, bringing excitement back to NDSU women's hoops, how his success at Emporia State and Kansas will translate to the Summit League, and the recruiting roads. It's a new era for a storied program, and we've got it covered, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State has owned its rivals on the recruiting trail for years. It's said that recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, and especially recently, the best of the best have committed to -- and won -- national championships for the Bison. How do they do it? Swany and Nolan offer their take on what makes NDSU the "Top Gun" destination for players that want to win and compete. The guys take a lap around the track and highlight several Bison advancing to the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, and talk about the improving state of the women's hoops program. Grab your flip flops and board shorts, because we have an excellent summer lined up, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's a black tie gala affair as we introduce with much fanfare, anticipation, exuberation, and alliteration our Inaugural Annual Bison Awards! Recognizing the best individual performances this year in North Dakota State athletics, Swany and Nolan bestow awards for meritorious achievement in 19 different categories including Best Championship Performance, Best Moment, Best Male and Female Athlete, and Coach of the Year. Relive a year of championship excellence, here, where champions come to talk, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State is one of the gold standards in college football. Last week, Darrius Shepherd joined the ranks of Bison that will be in NFL training camp this summer, inking a deal with Green Bay. Swany and Nolan talk about NDSU's NFL success, and why Shepherd has a good shot to land on the Packers 53-man regular season roster. The guys go through what's been a banner year for the Bison across the board as the softball, and track and field teams compete for more Summit League hardware. Finally, the guys lob this grenade question into the hopper ... who do Bison fans dislike more, South Dakota State or the University of North Dakota? Rekindle the burning embers of an old school rivalry, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State solidified itself as one of the Top Gun NCAA programs for producing professional QBs as Easton Stick joined Carson Wentz as back-to-back Bison quarterbacks to be taken in the NFL Draft. Can you say QB-U, baby! Before that, the legend, Brock Jensen, led the Bison to 3 straight FCS titles, a win at Kansas State, multiple appearances on ESPN College GameDay, and a Grey Cup. So, the Bison Illustrated Podcast asked BISONATION this question:
NDSU is down 4 points with 1:45 left in the game, for a championship, at their own 20-yard line. Who do you want as your QB --- Jensen, Wentz, or Stick --- and why.
We asked, you delivered! There's no wrong answer, even though gunslinging fan favorite Steve Walker got a ton of votes, but what do NDSU fans have to say about three guys that belong in the College Football Hall of Fame? Absorb the Greatness, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Another year, another North Dakota State QB getting ready for the NFL Draft. Yeah, we're pretty excited about it, too! But, would Swany buy an Easton Stick jersey if he's drafted by the Packers or Raiders? Only three years after the Eagles took Carson Wentz with the second overall pick, Stick is likely to have his name called in this year's draft. Swany and Nolan preach what that means for the program, and why you don't need to be a 6'4" QB to succeed ... Joe Montana was only 6'2", and Johnny Unitas was a towering 6'1". With the '19 session of NDSU Spring Football wrapping up, the guys recap the last month, talk yard work, spring beers, and why there may be more Bison fans than Vikings fans at their October 13 matchup against the Eagles at US Bank Field in Minneapolis. Fire up your lawnmower, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
His voice is instantly recognizable to Bison fans. Since 2012, Brian Shawn has done the TV play-by-play for Bison Football on the North Dakota NBC Network, and called Bison hoops for Midco SN. Shawn had a front row seat for NDSU's 7th FCS national championship in eight years, and this spring's Summit League championship/NCAA Tournament run. Few can match his insight, analysis, and knowledge of the Herd. Swany and Nolan ask Brian about the big themes entering next week's Spring Football Scrimmage, and what to expect next from Bison hoops. More excitement than the Battle of Winterfell, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State is halfway through spring football and on a mission: to prove the naysayers wrong, yet again. Although the Bison graduated 24 seniors, the Herd returns a bevy of talented stars, key players, and promising newcomers aiming for their 8th FCS National Title in 9 years. What's lost in those numbers is the fact that NDSU has won 8 straight Missouri Valley Football Conference titles in what has been the best league in the FCS over the last decade. Swany and Nolan continue the early '19 Bison Football Preview and look at the defensive line, linebackers, and defensive backs. The guys also say that Bison hoops is on the brink of something huge. How huge? Intergalactic planetary huge. Fight for your right to podcast, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Spring Football is in the air! North Dakota State kicked off its annual spring football session last week with much fanfare and anticipation. Bison head coach Matt Entz is going to get this question a lot in the next few months ... who is NDSU's starting QB? Swany and Nolan are joined by one of the best FCS minds in the business, Sam Herder, from HERO Sports. The guys talk about NDSU's QB competition, questions facing the Bison heading into 2019, and what the rest of the FCS landscape looks like. The trifecta braintrust of football enlightenment also discusses Easton Stick's NFL Draft prospects and where he could land. Come early and stay late, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Nobody in Division I college basketball history has more wins than Duke’s Hall of Fame coach, Mike Krzyzewski. When Coach K talks, people listen. So, when Krzyzewski lavished praise on the NDSU basketball program following the Blue Devils 85-62 win over the Bison in the NCAA Tournament – Duke led by a narrow 31-27 margin at halftime – folks around college hoops started talking about a rising mid-major basketball power from Fargo, N.D. “They return everybody, watch out man, watch out,” said Coach K. In a game to remember, Bison junior Vinnie Shahid hit Duke for 20 points, cementing his place as one of the players to watch next year in mid-major hoops. Swany and Nolan say Bison fans need to get off their molasses and get behind this hoops program, and make the argument why there's no reason NDSU can't be one of the annual powers in mid-major basketball. Get aboard the Bison hoops train while there's still space, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Cutting down some nets, don't mind if we do! America, meet the Bison. North Dakota State is heading back to March Madness after winning the Summit League Tournament in South Dakota State's backyard. You want facts? Here's one. By the end of the tournament, the Bison cemented themselves as the best team in the conference. The dynamic group of young ballers is led by the league's newcomer of the year, Vinnie Shahid, whose 22 points against Omaha propelled him to the Summit League Tourney MVP and the Bison to the NCAA Tournament. With one of the deepest benches in mid-major hoops, the Bison are red-hot, featuring some of the sharpest shooters this side of the Mississippi! Swany and Nolan recap the conference tourney and preview the NCAA Tournament, including where the Bison could end up. Swany also gets into a monologue about satire and the dean of Fargo columnists, Mike McFeely. Where could that possibly end up going? Put on your dancing shoes, baby, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Heads up! The guys throw some heavyweight punches at the NFL draft analysts calling North Dakota State "small school." Ask the White House, or Iowa, Kansas State, Oklahoma, the Cleveland Browns (they passed on Carson Wentz, remember), etc. There's nothing small about NDSU. But go ahead, keep calling us small school, and we'll keep taking your lunch money. Easton Stick's draft stock is soaring after a dominating NFL Combine performance. Swany and Nolan preview the Summit League Tournament. Swany Says the Bison will be dancing in March, while Nolan is a bit more cautiously optimistic. The guys also share some exciting news about the podcast growing its distribution network by expanding to several new platforms. It's a great time to be alive, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The Bison Illustrated's Ross Uglem sits down with Easton Stick to discuss Stick's draft preparation. In a wide-ranging 35 minute interview, Uglem and Stick cover everything from why the all-time winningest QB in FCS history chose North Dakota State to the NFL Draft Combine. It's a can't miss interview with the fleet-footed, savvy gunslinger who will be a draft steal for the team smart enough to pick him. Speaking of excellence, Swany and Nolan trumpet the historic shot put exploits of NDSU's Payton Otterdahl. The junior set an all-time NCAA record in the indoor shot put, chucking it further than anyone else in collegiate history. Meanwhile, Swany and Nolan discuss how far the Bison men's hoops team will go in March. Drink it in, it always goes down smooth on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The Bison men's basketball team will contend for the Summit League Championship in Sioux Falls this March. How about that!? North Dakota State was the better team for all but a fraction of a second versus South Dakota State and Darth Daum, who pulled a rabbit out of their hats to top the Bison on a buzzer beater. All that aside, our prediction? The tide is turning in the Summit League, and it's rolling north towards Fargo. Swany and Nolan tell you why the Bison have a high upside --- like Apple circa 2007. If they were a stock, we'd be BUYING like crazy! Bear market, bull market ... how about a Bison market, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
To: NDSU Football From: The White House
Dear Bison,
You are invited to the White House to celebrate your football dynasty.
Sincerely,
The President \m/
North Dakota State will be rolling large to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to visit POTUS after US Senator John Hoeven announced that President Trump invited the Herd to the most famous house in the world in recognition of another national championship. Swany and Nolan talk about what the invite means, and discuss everything from its historic significance to banning KState shoutouts on NDSU's day, and whether they'd go if invited. The guys recap another huge week for the Bison men's hoops team with wins over North Dakota and Denver that sets up the biggest home stand in recent memory. The buck stops here, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Extra, extra, read all about it! The Bison Illustrated released its 2018 FCS National Championship Commemorative Edition Special Issue. With eight words in the title, you know it's legit! The issue lives up to the hype. It has interviews with all of your favorites -- Easton Stick, President Bresciani, Coach Entz, and a roundtable with five seniors talking about their careers and the capstone 15-0 perfect season. Bison senior defensive back Jaylaan Wimbush takes you inside championship week like nobody else can as he journaled the entire trip to Frisco for Bison Illustrated. Swany and Nolan talk about the misguided efforts of a Grand Forks state senator trying to compel NDSU and UND to play for a new rivalry trophy. Our verdict? You may be surprised. Or you may not.
Football season is months away and the experts are already predicting the 2019 FCS favorites for Frisco. Well, when in Rome! Swany and Nolan debate Craig Haley's early list of six teams that could contend for the belt. They agree with a few, but say one or two needs rethinking. In the nearer future, the Bison men's hoops team has climbed into the top half of the Summit League standings. Behind strong play from junior guard Vinnie Shahid, the Bison notched a key road win at Oral Roberts. The Herd is a doable two games back of the No. 2 spot in the conference. The guys say buy this stock now, cause it's going up. Finally, we talk about NDSU thrower Payton Otterdahl, the USA Track & Field National Athlete of the Week, whose titanic throws are literally the best in the world this year. While much of the country is caught in the icy-grips of an unforgiving Polar Vortex, find relief, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The polar bear days of winter got you down? The prescription to fight cold temps and January days is: (1) some NFL Draft talk about Easton Stick and Bruce Anderson, and (2) throw in some Carson Wentz news, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast! Swany and Nolan cover the march towards the NFL Draft. North Dakota State has become a familiar destination for NFL scouts and player personnel folks. The guys then dive into some straight up absurdity as Swany rants about, well, stuff that the "get off my lawn" crowd rants about. The conversation comes full circle as we recap a big men's hoops win over UND, and a crowded Summit League race.
You've got to feed the beast! North Dakota State Football is a juggernaut, one of the best programs in America, nay, the world! And as the best fanbase in the universe, Bison Nation demands content 24-7-365. Ask and you shall receive! Swany and Nolan start the detailed analysis of the "offseason" for NDSU Football -- including the Easton Stick Draft Watch (ESDW). On top of that, Matt Entz has assembled a dynamite coaching staff, including "The Blaze!" You want some bold talk, some straight up Bison awesomeness? The guys tell you why and how the Bison men's hoops team is trending in the right direction, and could change the trajectory of the entire Summit League with big wins this week over Denver and in-state rival North Dakota. Swany Says that UND President Kennedy should enjoy seeing the Bison Football team parading seven national championship trophies in front of him at the SHAC this weekend. #Boom #Nice! There is no off week, this week and every week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
We are the champions, my friends! North Dakota State won a record 7th FCS National Championship, defeating Eastern Washington 38-24 before a packed Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. It was the 15th national title in program history for the Bison. Nearly 20,000 NDSU fans clad in yellow and green spent the better part of the week turning north Texas into Fargo south. The Herd sent 24 seniors and Chris Klieman out on a high note, finishing the season a perfect 15-0, as Matt Entz takes the reigns. Swany and Nolan recap the championship week, the game, NDSU's dominance from wire-to-wire this season, and address listener questions like what will the Missouri Valley Football Conference look like next year, and can the Bison get back to Frisco in January 2020.
It's finally here! Say it with us. FRISCO WEEK! The waiting is finally over as North Dakota State is set for its annual pilgrimage to Texas to play for its 15th national championship, and record 7th FCS title. The Bison face Eastern Washington with its high powered offense and phenom QB, Mr. Barriere. Swany and Nolan say, hold up! Mr. Barriere ain't seen a powerhouse defense like Code Green led by All-Americans Robbie Grimsley, Greg Menard, and Jabil Cox. Also, there's another QB in this game that's pretty darn good, that one guy, you know, what's his name ... Stick, Easton Stick, juggernaut, No. 12, best player in the FCS. Stick can best former NDSU QB Brock Jensen's all-time FCS wins record with a win against EWU. The stars at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas, and the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
In a special Christmas episode of the Bison Illustrated Podcast, Swany and Nolan are joined by Chase Miller from 740AM The Fan. The powerhouse trifecta serves up deep dishes of holiday cheer on the historically dominant season North Dakota State is having. Across the board, every statistical metric, and the eyeball test, point to a single conclusion. The 2018 Bison are just as good, maybe even a scintilla better, than their 2013 brethren. The guys breakdown NDSU's elite signing day as 25 recruits officially committed to be Bison. And, because it's Christmas, we turned up the witty banter to Santa-level ho ho ho-lariousness unheard of for an FCS podcast that will have even the grinchiest of Grinches smiling from here to Whoville. So, throw another log on the fire, don a glorious Xmas sweater, and celebrate the holidays with your pals at the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
We've got a lot to talk about! It was one of the most memorable weeks in North Dakota State football history. The week started with Chris Klieman taking the Kansas State job. Then Matt Entz was named the new head coach. On Friday, in the most anticipated game in Fargodome history, the Bison obliterated arch rival South Dakota State 44-21 in the FCS semifinals to earn their seventh trip to Frisco in eight years to play for another national championship! The Fargodome was rocking and looked awesome on ESPN, Bison coaches closed in on national signing day, and the annual pilgrimage to Texas takes shape. Swany and Nolan say NDSU will not miss a beat with Entz. In a case study straight from Harvard Business Review, NDSU provided a textbook example of how to make a big-time hire. NDSU is Leadership U. The guys cover your favorite parts about Frisco, including the homecoming vibe and family reunion feel, to storming the field after winning championships. Fly the flags high! It's a great day to be a Bison, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's the most anticipated game in the history of the Fargodome. North Dakota State and South Dakota State meet in the de facto national championship game under Friday Night Lights. With the stakes already high, NDSU head coach Chris Klieman announced he accepted the head job at Kansas State. The Bison will be amped up to send Coach K into the sunset with a win in his last game at the Dome --- and carry him off on their shoulders --- before a frenzied and grateful BisoNation. Swany and Nolan discuss Kansas State getting a winner and class individual in Klieman, the monumental game versus SDSU, and who NDSU AD Matt Larsen might look to as the next Bison head coach. We've got it all covered, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
While North Dakota State dropped the boom on Montana State, earning its ninth straight trip to the FCS Quarterfinals to face Colgate, the talk in Fargo surrounds speculation that Bison head coach Chris Klieman could be headed to Kansas State. Ironically, Colgate's last opponent, James Madison, had its season derailed in the second round after then head coach Mike Houston was targeted for two FBS jobs, ultimately leaving JMU for East Carolina. Could the same storm that hit JMU strike Fargo next? Swany and Nolan are joined by Sam Herder, from Hero Sports, to talk about the coaching rumor mill. The guys tell you what you need to know about the No. 8 Colgate Raiders, a team not to be trifled with, and preview the other three Elite 8 contests, including the intriguing South Dakota State versus Kennesaw State matchup. The Bison offensive juggernaut will look to keep the momentum rolling against a new foe and defensive stalwart with a trip to the epic Friday Night Lights game at stake. Let your chestnuts warm up by the fire, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Oh the humanity! It was a really bad, icky, dirty rotten weekend for the "vaunted" Colonial Athletic Association. No longer vaunted, the CAA saw four of its teams flame out in the opening round of the FCS playoffs -- thus punctuating the erroneousness of the FCS Selection Committee's picks (i.e., leaving Indiana State at home). This epic fail is the biggest storyline headed into the Sweet 16. As the top teams in the FCS face off, it's business as usual for North Dakota State as they remain laser-focused on Montana State. The Bison and Bobcats will meet for the first time since NDSU's 42-17 win in the second round of the 2010 playoffs. A one-dimensional offense and defense that gives up yards by the barrel isn't a recipe for success in the Fargodome. The most intriguing matchup is No. 8 Colgate hosting perennial power James Madison. In a game that looks to be a defensive slugfest, can the upstart Raiders topple the Dukes? The guys preview all eight Sweet 16 matchups, and tell you who will survive and advance, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
One word to describe the FCS Playoff Selection Committee's brackets. Controversy. Or questionable. To be blunt, ruthless. Take your pick. The Committee's decision to put North Dakota State, South Dakota State, James Madison, and Kennesaw State on the same side of the bracket has folks from sea to shining sea -- east of Big Sky country -- asking what were they thinking. Swany and Nolan are joined by Sam Herder, of HERO Sports, to dissect the bracket and ask the hard questions. The guys discuss the aftermath of Selection Sunday, the Top 8 seeds, what made sense, and what didn't. Herder provides perspective on the guidelines that governed the Committee's decisions, while Swany and Nolan try not to swear (too much) at a bracket that's anything but fair and balanced. Zeroing in from a big picture perspective, Herder, Nolan, and Swany go through each of the four 6-team pods and discuss who has a realistic shot to play for a national championship in Frisco. Do they think your team has what it takes? Find out, this week, on a special edition of the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
It's a Thanksgiving feast this week at the Bison Illustrated Podcast! We bring you not one, not two, but three episodes in seven days in our cornucopia of all things North Dakota State to ring in the most wonderful time of the year. Swany and Nolan are joined by Bison Illustrated resident hoops guru Dan Slaubaugh to preview the 2018 - 2019 basketball team. The Bison have many new -- and talented -- players on the roster. The Herd's athleticism is through the roof this season, and the team can score faster than you can down Thanksgiving day pie! The guys think that by the time March rolls around, these guys could make some noise. Get your early hoops fix with all the stuffing and trimmings here, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's a cornucopia of goodness on this pre-Thanksgiving edition of the Bison Illustrated Podcast. North Dakota State is set to finish the regular season undefeated as the Missouri Valley Football Conference champions and presumptive No. 1 seed heading into the FCS Playoffs. Swany and Nolan preview the final regular season game of 2018 against Southern Illinois and periscope ahead to the looming playoffs and Road to Frisco. The guys predict the teams that will be seeded, make educated guesses (really, shots in the dark) on who NDSU may see in the playoffs, and tell you why NDSU is the overwhelming favorite of the experts and oddsmakers to return to Frisco and hoist another championship trophy. The dessert on this bountiful harvest is talk of the Bison men's basketball team and their big win over UC Santa Barbara at the SHAC over the weekend. Dig in, and loosen the belt to make room for an extra heaping of audio goodness!
North Dakota State prevailed in a gutsy 17-7 win against Youngstown State, improving to 9-0 overall and clinching a share of their eighth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference title. Swany and Nolan are joined by Bison Illustrated newbie Ross Uglem, the ultimate Bison analyst, to discuss the how's and why's of NDSU's wire-to-wire dominance this season. Position by position, the trifecta of Swany, Nolan, and Ross talk about how the Bison have positioned themselves for a championship run when the playoffs start later this month. Speaking of playoffs, who could NDSU see this postseason? We've got that covered, and preview the matchup with Missouri State. Because just like the Bison Football team, we're all about excellence, each and every week, on the Bison Illustrated podcast!
Another week, another statement win by North Dakota State. That seems to be the top story in the FCS this year. The Bison road-runner'ed the South Dakota Coyotes in a 59-14 thrashing where the game was over before the horn sounded on the first quarter. Swany and Nolan say the 2018 Bison are putting together a special run, and are the most dominating FCS teams in recent memory (well, going back to 2013, anyway). The guys also say it's darn time that Walter Payton voters stop being lazy and pay attention to NDSU quarterback Easton Stick. Stick is the best QB in the FCS, and leads the country in the most important statistic there is -- winning. If you could choose one QB to lead your team, wouldn't every coach in the FCS go with Stick? We think so. With the playoffs drawing ever closer, there's one big question on everyone's mind. Can anybody in the FCS catch the Bison. It's all tricks and some treats, this week, on the Bison Illustrated podcast!
North Dakota State dominated another nationally ranked opponent, Illinois State, to take firm control of the Missouri Valley Football Conference race with only four games left in the regular season. With other Top 10 teams stumbling each week, the Bison have emerged as a favorite for one of the top two playoff seeds on the road to Frisco. But Swany and Nolan say, not so fast. Three of the next four MVFC teams on NDSU's radar are on the playoff bubble and would love to solidify their spot in the field with a win over the mighty Bison. That starts with South Dakota in Vermillion this Saturday, and the guys talk about how NDSU matches up against the 'Yotes. Swany also shares a story about a group of Illinois State fans that stopped by the Six Flags tailgater to learn how tailgating is really done!
Rejoice, rejoice, the Bison are back at Dome! North Dakota State returns to the best atmosphere in college football this Saturday with another Top 10 FCS matchup against the No. 8 nationally-ranked and mustache-less Illinois State Redbirds. Swany and Nolan talk about Vegas continually making the Herd double digit favorites, even on the road or against Top 10 teams. The Bison defense is tougher to crack than Alcatraz as Code Green's dominance ran roughshod over Western Illinois to the tune of 5 takeaways, a defensive TD, and only yielding 9 yards rushing! NDSU can take command of the conference race with a decisive blow against Illinois State, but will have to contend with the Redbirds James Robinson, one of the best backs in the FCS. Get ready for Dome Sweet Dome, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
In the FCS Spelling Bee, the word of the week is "juggernaut." Can you use it in a sentence? The Bison offensive juggernaut is one of biggest stories in the FCS. What's its origin? Fargo, North Dakota. Juggernaut, B-I-S-O-N, juggernaut! Swany and Nolan dissect NDSU's 28-point fourth quarter explosion against Northern Iowa at the UNI-Dome as the undisputed heavyweights of the FCS move to 2-0 in the MVFC and 5-0 overall. Things don't get any easier this week as the Herd roams to Macomb, Illinois, for a second consecutive road grinder against a tough Leathernecks squad. The guys discuss who deserves the No. 2 national ranking after James Madison was KO'd by Elon, and tell you why voters need to start paying attention to Easton Stick for the Walter Payton award. Stick has 16 total TDs in 5 games compared to Samford's Devlin Hodges, who has 20 total TDs in 6 games. The big difference? Stick's Bison are 5-0 with several quality wins. Hodges' Bulldogs are 2-4, and looked blah in a 24-10 loss to Kennesaw State. The more you know, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The FCS picture got a little clearer last week. North Dakota State and South Dakota State both answered big questions, although it was the Bison cementing their status as the best team in the country in a 21-17 win. How far should the Jacks fall after the loss? Not far according to Swany, Nolan, and Sam Herder. Herder writes for HERO Sports, one of the premier FCS sites in the country along with Stats FCS. The guys agree that the Bison and James Madison are top of the class, but the Jacks and Eastern Washington aren't far behind, and teams like UC Davis may sneak up on the pack. NDSU has another big Missouri Valley Football rivalry game this weekend at Northern Iowa that the guys expect to be a defensive slugfest. To round out the discussion, Swany asks whether Bo Pelini is on the hot seat at Youngstown State as the Penguins flirt with the brink of playoff elimination in early October. Sit back and throw on the fall sweater with one of the most popular FCS Podcasts in all the land - the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's rivalry week, and the FCS Game of the Week in Fargo. The Bison Illustrated Podcast tees things up right out of the gate. The No. 1-ranked Bison clash with No. 3 South Dakota State in the annual Battle for the Dakota Marker. From Herd & Horns to Chubs, local hotspots are stocking up on the Joose in anticipation of John Stiegelmeier's Jacks coming to town. Swany and Nolan discuss the key matchups, how the battle in the trenches will play a key role, and what North Dakota State will cook up to contain dual threat SDSU QB Taryn Christion. Swany also takes a stroll down memory lane and tells you the Genesis story of the Dakota Marker. The Dakota Marker was born at 901 College Street, Swany's college house, the brainchild of then-NDSU student Adam Jones. Kick-up your feet, tip back a Joose, and settle in for Dakota Marker week with the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Rumors swirl like the Autumn Winds as speculation soars that ESPN's College GameDay may return for one helluva party in Fargo next weekend. What are the odds that ESPN's landmark show showcases North Dakota State's football dynasty and the Dakota Marker Battle, the best rivalry game in the FCS. Swany and Nolan tell you why the fine folks at the World Wide Leader could have an unforgettable scene on their hands in downtown Fargo if they pay us a visit for the Dakota Marker Battle. Oh, and like Wayne and Garth said, "Hi, we're in Delaware." Or, more like Delaware is here with the traditional CAA powerhouse Blue Hens, a/k/a, the Fighting Joe Bidens, coming to town for a marquee matchup. Kickoff NDSU Homecoming Week the only truly righteous way besides a trip to the Turf, Chubs, or Herd & Horns, with the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
This is a can't miss podcast. North Dakota Tough. The open prairie. Beautiful, but desolate. Homesteaders and survivors, yet, surprisingly cosmopolitan. Jon Gruden famously labeled Carson Wentz, the pride of this great state, "North Dakota Tough." But what does it mean? Jeff Kolpack is the dean of North Dakota sports writers. Nobody has more knowledge or depth covering NDSU athletics, and its relation to the state of North Dakota, than Kolpack. Kolpack's new book, "North Dakota Tough: Unknown and Forgotten Stories from a Rural State," is a pioneering work that encapsulates what it means to be North Dakota Tough. North Dakota has always been tough. From Cando, ND, and Dave Osborn, the Minnesota Vikings great, riding his horse to school in bone-chilling weather, to Devils Lake's Steve Blehm, one of the most prolific scorers in high school basketball history playing for the state's School for the Deaf, Gruden was right about North Dakota Tough. But it started long before Wentz, and continues through the Peace Garden State's most famous son. Kolpack's story is the story of North Dakota Tough.
Preseason polls aren't worth a hill of beans. North Dakota State's most difficult opponent in the nonconference slate was supposed to be Delaware. With the Blue Hens stumbling out of the gate, it's upstart North Alabama that comes to Fargo with a 2-0 record, including an impressive win over last year's defending Big Sky champ Southern Utah under its belt. Swany and Nolan dive into the Lions and their dual threat QB, Christian Lopez, who Bison head coach Chris Klieman described as an elusive player that can beat you with his arm and legs. How do the Bison contain Lopez, and will the Herd's rushing attack be just as dominate this week as it was in the opener two weeks ago. Here's a hint: YES. The firm of Anderson Dunn and Partners will have another big, big week! Happy days are here again, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug, the Frisco Express is full steam ahead! With a dominating ground attack plowing the tracks, North Dakota State opened the 2018 season with 458 rushing yards on 45 carries (that's a 10.2 ypc average) and 7 rushing TDs in a resounding 49-3 win over Cal Poly. Swany and Nolan go over the game highlights -- including statement performances by the offensive and defensive fronts. Bruce Anderson looked like one of the best running backs in college football. Lance Dunn, Greg Menard, and Dan Marlette bounced back from injuries a year ago. The Bison showed they are loaded and looked every bit like the No. 1 team in the FCS headed into a Week 2 bye and upcoming matchup against North Alabama, who went to the Beehive State and defeated defending Big Sky Conference champ Southern Utah in their Division I debut.
Bison Illustrated Breaking News: North Dakota State begins FCS title defense against Cal Poly with high-powered offense and shut-down defense. Swany and Nolan analyze the highlights from Bison head coach Chris Klieman's weekly press conference, including his take on the four-game freshman rule, players likely to emerge in 2018, and how the Bison matchup against the Mustangs. The guys go in-depth telling you what to expect from Cal Poly, and what they're looking for from NDSU. It's finally here! Everybody up for the kickoff, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The Road to Frisco is underway as North Dakota State starts game preparations for its Week 1 opponent, Cal Poly. Swany and Nolan tell you what they expect to see from the Herd in the opener, and highlight their key takeaways coming out of fall camp. The guys also make a big announcement as Swany is hosting a weekly live radio call-in show on 740 AM "The Fan" and 107.3 FM before Bison games. The show, Herd it Hear with Swany, will air every Saturday morning from 8:00-9:00a, with Nolan making a cameo to highlight his keys to the game. Don't worry, we're going to keep doing the Bison Illustrated Podcast. Shine up your tailgating shoes, grab your finest yellow Bison shirt from the closet, and bring your green hat because it's almost BISON GAME DAY!
Fact: the Missouri Valley Football Conference is a better and stronger league than the Colonial Athletic Association. With the FCS kickoff only days away, Swany and Nolan take aim at the misguided view that the CAA is the top conference in the FCS. The guys go through the leagues, and their playoff histories, to debunk the worst myth circulating among FCS opinion makers. The guys also discuss the August Bison Illustrated magazine that introduces the new "Players Tribune" features written by former Bison athletes, and the unique North Dakota State culture carried on by past and present generations of Bison. The Strength of the Bison is the Herd, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Swany and Nolan are joined by former North Dakota State hoops star Dexter Werner. Werner begins his second season of professional basketball later this month for BBC Arantia Larochette in Luxembourg. A Bismarck, ND, native, Big Dex was a two-time Summit League Sixth Man of the Year and all-conference performer. In his first year of pro ball, Werner was the Newcomer of the Year for Germany's ProB division. Dex shares some behind the scenes stories from his time as a Bison, including the memorable NCAA Tournament game where he torched a top-ranked Gonzaga team, the 2015 Summit League Championship game against South Dakota State, and also discusses his evolving golf game.
North Dakota State's offense finished 2017 as the second-ranked scoring offense in the FCS, averaging just shy of 39 points per game. Led by All-Americans like Easton Stick, Bruce Anderson, Tanner Volson, and Zach Johnson, coupled with home run hitters Ty Brooks, Lance Dunn, and Darrius Shepherd, the Bison offense is a threat to methodically pound teams, and score from anywhere on the field. Swany and Nolan analyze what could be one of the best offenses in school history and provide commentary on this week's interview with NDSU Quarterbacks Coach Randy Hedberg. That's another first down, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Randy Hedberg is the Quarterbacks Coach for North Dakota State. He was Carson Wentz's QB coach, and now has NDSU's latest NFL prospect at QB, Easton Stick. Coach Hedberg, a native of Parshall, North Dakota, and member of the Minot State Hall of Fame where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball, discusses the Bison offense, what it's like coaching and preparing the NDSU QB's, the importance of strong senior leaders in college football, the evolution of college football offenses and QB's, and how the skillset of NDSU QB's make them standout from most other QB's in college football. The guys also discuss Hedberg's North Dakota roots and his journey through the Missouri Valley Football Conference and old North Central Conference.
North Dakota State's tailgating scene was recently recognized as one of the best tailgaters in ALL of college football. 24/7Sports ranked NDSU tailgating No. 4 overall, ahead of the likes of Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, and Clemson. Swany and Nolan discuss what makes NDSU tailgating so darned awesome, and what goes into a great tailgater. Is it the food, beverages, the music, or the people? Swany slips on his Six Flags DJ hat and previews some of the news tunes he'll be spinning this fall, and the guys give a special shoutout to one of the podcast's biggest (and youngest) fans in Bismarck. Get ready for Bison tailgating, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Swany and Nolan kickoff the summer preview series by looking at the major story lines heading into North Dakota State's fall football camp. An already impressive Bison offense loaded with weapons returns a bevy of starters from one of the nation's top offenses in 2017, along with second-year offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham. What does that mean for the Herd's offense and the rest of the FCS? On the defensive side, it looks to be business as usual for Code Green, but who will emerge at key linebacker positions. The guys also take a look at why NDSU's road back to Frisco isn't as easy as having seven home games at the Fargodome with a tough early season stretch that features Delaware, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Western Illinois. Will any of these teams trip up the Herd? Cool off during the dog days of summer with the icy cold Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Swany and Nolan are joined by WDAY Sports Director Dom Izzo. Nobody produces as much content on North Dakota State as Izzo, who, along with Jeff Kolpack, runs the popular Bison Media Zone. Izzo came to Fargo in September 2006 from Oswego, New York, and has become a staple of both Bison and high school sports coverage across North Dakota. Izzo discusses the evolution of the fan favorite Bison Media Zone and how covering NDSU Football has turned into a 24-7-365 endeavor. A aficionado of the Rocky movies, Izzo shares his thoughts on the greatest film franchise of all-time. Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago have nothing on Rocky or the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The sun keeps shining on North Dakota State as the Bison added to their 2019 recruiting class with several more big verbal commitments after the best three-day football camp in America. Swany and Nolan discuss how NDSU's recruiting and player development game plays a critical role in the Bison Football Dynasty. Speaking of player development, Bison QB Easton Stick was invited to the Manning Passing Academy, the top preseason showcase for college quarterbacks. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, the photo of Stick slinging it with Peyton Manning watching intently speaks volumes of NDSU's ability to develop players. Stay in the know, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Everything and the kitchen sink. Fargo Forum columnist and WDAY 970 AM radio host Mike McFeely joins Swany and Nolan for a wide-ranging discussion on his time spent covering North Dakota State. McFeely, one of the leading voices and scribes covering sports and news in the region, has followed NDSU's rise from Division II school to Division I powerhouse. Along the way, McFeely's vantage point has given him insight and an institutional knowledge only a few others have when it comes to the Bison. He also shares a legendary story of a football travel trip that started with a cracked windshield on the airplane, to a van ride without brakes, that culminated with broadcasting legend Scott Miller at a local New Orleans watering hole after a harrowing Bison victory. Whether you agree or disagree, you can't afford to miss this week's Bison Illustrated Podcast.
It's the second week of June, so you know what that means! It's a way-too-early FCS debate on whether North Dakota State and James Madison are destined to meet again in Frisco. Swany and Nolan discuss the early favorites to challenge the Bison and the Dukes, like Kennesaw State, New Hampshire, South Dakota State, or Eastern Washington. The guys also discuss NDSU landing a huge early verbal commitment from Illinois high school linebacker Luke Weerts, who had an offer from Kansas State. How are the Bison able to land these marquee recruits? Your answer is only one click away on the latest Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Does North Dakota State have a true rival anymore? More than 15 years into the Division I move, has another university supplanted that school up north as NDSU's true rival. We asked the question and Bison Nation had strong opinions on the state of the rivalries. Was it South Dakota State, the University of North Dakota, Northern Iowa, or even James Madison. Swany and Nolan go through why, and why not, each school makes a compelling case to be NDSU's arch nemesis before rendering their just verdict. Oyez, oyez, all rise for the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Get your beach gear, coolers, and backyard bonfires ready as Swany and Nolan kickoff the first weekend of summer on the Bison Illustrated Podcast with a brand new Pod intro we think you'll love! The Summit League announced its headquarters is moving from Chicago to Sioux Falls. How will that impact North Dakota State, and does it mean the league is looking to add another school from South Dakota to rekindle the old North Central Conference? The Bison took another leap forward this week towards a new $37.2 million indoor practice facility. The guys discuss what that means for NDSU, and how long before its ready for use. As the temps soar, stay cool with the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
I've got a fever, and the only prescription, is more conference championships! Swany and Nolan discuss North Dakota State's continued domination of the Summit League last week as the Bison notched three more conference titles in softball, men's track & field, and women's track & field. Along with the men & women's golf teams bringing home hardware, it gives NDSU a fiver of Summit League titles this spring. There's more big news on the football front with the Bison beginning the process to build an on-campus, state-of-the-art indoor practice facility and how key supporters have delivered the funding to support athletics. Finally, the guys dive into the United States Supreme Court's decision in Murphy v. NCAA, which struck down the Amateur Sports Protection Act, opening the way for state sports gaming. Is that a good or bad thing for college athletics? The guys take may surprise you. Keep up with the Herd, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Early rankings of the top players in the 2019 NFL Draft class started making the rounds on Twitter this week. One of the guys towards the top of many of those lists is North Dakota State QB Easton Stick. Swany and Joe discuss Stick's NFL potential, and what impact, if any, Carson Wentz's NFL success will play in team's evaluation of #12, and how this Bison team might be the most loaded since the undefeated all-time great 2013 team. The guys stroll down memory lane as it's Joe's last podcast as he takes on a new opportunity outside of Spotlight Media. The pod introduces and welcomes Swany's new co-host, Nolan Schmidt, who helps analyze the big week for Bison men's hoops. Fire up the grill, fill the coolers, and setup your blue tooth speaker to enjoy the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
After a long winter, the guys from Bison Illustrated are out of hibernation and preaching all things North Dakota State! Swany and Joe recap NDSU spring football and analyze the position groups and players to watch heading into 2018. Who should be on your radar as the Bison get ready to compete for their seventh national championship in eight seasons. With the temps warming up, golf fever is in the air and the Illustrated tips its hat to the women's golf team for a dominating Summit League championship performance as they head to the NCAA Tournament. That, and so much more, this week on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Bison Illustrated's Sixth Championship Edition has hit the stands! Swany and Joe talk about what's inside the commemorative issue, and how North Dakota State's culture keeps propelling them to historic heights in the college football landscape. The guys then analyze the upcoming Summit League basketball tournament on both the men and women's side. Swany has some fair questions on why the Bison women continue to struggle year after year, and some honest evaluations that need to be made if the team is to ever return to its former glory. March Madness is almost upon us, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The guys are joined by former Bison hoops standout Carlin Dupree to talk about his career at North Dakota State, including what it was like playing in March Madness, and his experiences on two Summit League championship teams. His freshman year, Dupree scored the "loudest four points in NCAA Tournament history" in an overtime upset victory over Oklahoma. Dupree tells the guys what it was like coming to Fargo from Milwaukee, and how the NDSU culture convinced him to be a Bison. Brent Tehven from Herd & Horns, fresh from his appearance on the pages of Sports Illustrated, makes a cameo. Herd & Horns has hosted everyone from Sports Illustrated, the Philadelphia Inquirer, to ESPN as the nation has a case of Wentz-mania and wants to experience NDSU's premier sports bar and grill. Curl up with a warm beverage and melt away the winter blues with the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
Like Lewis and Clark, the guys cover broad swaths of territory on this week's episode where they explore everything from whether it's okay for North Dakota State/Minnesota Vikings fans to cheer for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl to the under-appreciated aspects of NDSU's college football dynasty. The continuity of the Bison coaching staff, and their ability to develop players, has played a large role in winning six FCS titles in seven years. Swany then veers off the turnpike trying to reconcile his Bison-fandom with being a lifelong Vikings fan as Joe tries to persuade him why Bison fans, that happen to be Vikings fans, can cheer for the Eagles in Super Bowl LII. The guys finish by talking Bison hoops as the Herd is nearly midway through Summit League play. You'll never know what kind of adventures you'll have on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
In a title game for the ages, where every play seemingly impacted the outcome, North Dakota State asserted itself back atop the Football Championship Subdivision with a 17-13 win over James Madison in Frisco, Texas to claim an unprecedented sixth national championship in seven years. Swany and Joe, along with resident FCS guru and Hero Sports columnist Sam Herder, recap every detail of a game that not only lived up to the hype, but exceeded it. From the Bison scoring on their opening drive, to one of the best defensive stands in program history that cemented the title in the game's closing moments, NDSU made the plays when it mattered against the Dukes. The guys go through which plays and players stood out, and the likelihood of these two programs seeing each other again down the road. It's all here, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
It's finally here. The FCS game of the century is for a national title as two of the most dominant programs in college football engage in the FCS version of Game of Thrones. The guys go in-depth during this 90-minute Bison Illustrated Championship Special with Swany, Joe, and resident FCS expert Sam Herder talking everything from key players returning from injury, the difference makers likely to impact the game, the matchups NDSU and JMU will look to exploit, and if either team has an advantage. The storylines are abundant: can the Bison regain the FCS iron throne, will the Dukes establish a dynasty in their own right (one title does not a dynasty make), and who will prevail as two of college football's best QB's in Easton Stick and Bryan Schor go gunslinging in the Lone Star State. Whether you're making the drive down I-29, flying the friendly skies, or watching from your favorite watering hole in the Peace Garden State, get ready for some fire and ice drama with the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The stage is set. North Dakota State. James Madison. The undisputed, pound-for-pound, two best programs in the FCS will collide in an epic heavyweight title fight to determine the national champion in Frisco, Texas on January 6, 2018. NDSU looks to get the title belt from JMU in what is, arguably, the biggest game ever played in the history of the FCS. Both teams enter the matchup after impressive regular seasons and playoff runs with few ascertainable weaknesses. Swany and Joe are joined by Hero Sports senior columnist Sam Herder to breakdown the historic event. The guys also address four burning issues confronting two of the best fan bases in college football: (1)who will have more fans in Frisco/Plano; (2)Streamer-gate, Day 2, the madness continues; (3)do Frisco/Plano bars prefer Bison or Duke fans; and (4)who wins and why. It's all here, in new and improved HD Audio, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
North Dakota State is in the FCS semifinals for a seventh straight year with a trip back to Frisco on the line against Sam Houston State this Friday at the Fargodome. Swany and Joe dissect the matchup of two of the best FCS programs in the last decade. The Bearkats come to Fargo with last year's Walter Payton award winner Jeremiah Briscoe facing off against Easton Stick, who's been operating the Bison offense with the precision of a maestro in NDSU's first two playoff victories. The guys go through the key matchups to watch, and also preview this weekend's other semifinal matchup between James Madison and South Dakota State. Will Bison fans be singing the familiar sweet refrains of "God Bless Texas" and "If You're Gonna Play In Texas," as the fourth quarter winds down during Friday Night Lights at the Dome? The Road to Frisco goes through Fargo, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
It's Quarterfinal Week on The Road to Frisco! Swany and Joe are joined by resident FCS expert Sam Herder to dissect North Dakota State's dominating 38-3 second round playoff win over San Diego and preview this weekend's quarterfinal heavyweight matchup against the option running Wofford Terriers. The guys even watched some game film (the ESPN3 replay) to give you the ins-and-outs of what you can expect this Saturday morning at the Fargodome. The guys take a trip around the FCS and preview the other three quarterfinal matchups, including who they think is likely to move to the semifinals. The Road to Frisco is getting closer to its destination and the Bison Illustrated Podcast has you covered all the way to the Lone Star State!
Former Bison great Cole Jirik joins Swany and Joe to preview North Dakota State's second round FCS playoff matchup against the San Diego Toreros. Jirik, who owns and operates Dynasty Performance Training in Fargo, won three national championships with the Bison and takes you inside what it's like once the Herd enters The Road to Frisco. "The intensity is cranked up in the playoffs," says Jirik. "It’s a different atmosphere, and you feel that energy." Jirik provides unique insight as to what it was like as a senior and team leader in 2013 when the greatest FCS team of all-time had to deal with, and overcome, the news that their coach was leaving for another school. The guys finish by previewing this weekend's eight second round games, and who has the best shot at advancing to the quarterfinals. Everybody up for the kickoff, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The 24-team FCS playoff field is set and the guys preview what teams have a shot at raising a national championship trophy in Frisco, Texas come January 6. Swany and Joe are joined by resident FCS expert Sam Herder to go through the Road to Frisco, and whether North Dakota State can regain the crown. The Missouri Valley Football Conference leads the way with five teams in the field, although the Colonial Athletic Association and defending champ James Madison is right behind them with four teams in contention. Outside of NDSU and JMU, is South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Jacksonville State or anyone else positioned to make a run? The guys give you the four teams they think will be playing in the national semifinals, and predict who will win it all. Get set for the FCS playoffs, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast!
The guys are joined by Keith Brake to break down who belongs, and who doesn't, in the FCS playoff field. Keith hosts "The BrakeDown" show every weekday from 4:00 - 6:00p on Bison 1660AM. The 24-team FCS playoff field will be announced this Sunday. Swany, Joe, and Keith tackle everything from why Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State should be seeded below North Dakota State, how the Missouri Valley Football Conference and Colonial Athletic Association are the heavyweight favorites in this year's bracket, and whether North Dakota State and James Madison are destined to collide in Frisco. The guys recap NDSU's big bounce back win over South Dakota, and Keith BrakesDown this weekend's matchup against Illinois State. Bracketology for the masses, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
North Dakota State suffered its first loss of the season against South Dakota State. Notwithstanding, the Bison stand alone atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference and control their destiny for FCS playoff seeding with two games left in the regular season. Swany and Joe are joined by HERO Sports columnist and Spotlight Media content strategist, Sam Herder, to breakdown what went wrong in Brookings. Swany sees a silver lining in the performance as the reports of NDSU's demise have been greatly exaggerated, while Joe and Sam have analysis of everything from QB play to how the loss impacts the Bison moving forward and whether it should drop them from the No. 2 line in the playoff bracket. The guys preview this week's matchup with a tough South Dakota team led by another dynamic duel threat quarterback. Don't get left in the cold without this key information you can only find on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
Swany returns to the podcast in time for the annual Dakota Marker showdown between North Dakota State and South Dakota State. The Bison and Jackrabbits matchup, once again, has major conference and national implications as the FCS Playoffs approach. The guys discuss NDSU bringing the best defense in the FCS to Brookings to try to stop the Jackrabbits high-octane offense. Can the Bison offense shake its string of slow starts in the month of October, and how will the Bison defense deploy its attack? These are big questions that will determine who prevails. Swany gives a history on the beginnings of the Dakota Marker, and the guys explore how the rivalry has taken a sharper edge in recent years fueled in part by SDSU coaches saying some baffling stuff on Twitter. It's going to be an epic battle in Bunny Town and the Bison Illustrated Podcast has you covered as NDSU looks to bring the Marker back home to Fargo!
Joe Kerlin is joined by fellow FCS football lover Sam Herder to discuss NDSU's victory over Western Illinois and Carson Wentz. They also get into a FCS Playoff conversation. Smashed in between all of that Bison football goodness are two interviews with cornerback Jaylaan Wimbush and women's basketball coach Maren Walseth!
0:00 - Greeting, Bison football 14:17 - Is Carson Wentz the MVP? 21:21 - Interview with Jaylaan Wimbush 30:08 - Embrace the FCS Playoffs Debate 37:08 - Women's Basketball Coach Maren Walseth
Editor of Bison Illustrated Joe Kerlin is joined by host of the Bison Tailgate Show Brad Jones for the first annual Bison Illustrated Podcast Mid-Season Award Show.
The guys put to bed NDSU's thrilling overtime win against Youngstown State and discuss who should win the 10 mid-season awards. Did they get it right? If not, let them know! You can tweet at @bisonmag or comment on Bison Illustrated's Facebook Page who you believe should win the Mid-Season Awards.
Make sure you checkout Brad Jones every gameday on Bison 1660 three and a half hours before kickoff!
Don't forget to send the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season. Bison Illustrated subscriptions go for just $29.99/year. Follow the link for more information: https://checkout.subscriptiongenius.com/spotlightmediafargo.com/
The guys are joined by Ross Uglem, Senior Editor of Bison Report, to discuss No. 2 North Dakota State's 52-0 shellacking of Indiana State and the emergence of Easton Stick as one of the best passers in the FCS. With Swany and Joe both battling hurt through the podcast, Uglem helps pilot the ship, dissecting how the Bison offense has taken a different look with Stick's explosive play under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham. What concerns does Uglem have as the Bison head into a stretch of difficult games starting with Youngstown State, and why he thinks the Bison have the potential to ice the Penguins by a few touchdowns. The guys also talk about the best way to watch a game during wedding photos as Swany details his weekend wedding, and how the Bison vs. Penguins was only a play or two away from potentially hosting ESPN's College GameDay.
Defenses around the FCS are on notice, the NDSU aerial attack should not be trifled with! The Bison turned in complete performances in all three phases of the game, including Easton Stick's 15-of-21 passing effort, to cruise to a 38 - 11 win over Missouri Valley opponent Missouri State to start conference play. Swany and Joe recap the victory, the big day from NDSU's passing game, and another lockdown performance by the best defense in the country that saw the return of the FCS's top defensive player, Nick DeLuca. The victory wasn't without setbacks, though, as the Bison lost Dan Marlette with a season-ending knee injury. The guys analyze the start of Valley play as Youngstown State flexed its muscles against South Dakota State, and South Dakota toppled Western Illinois, and preview this week's matchup versus Indiana State. Stay in the know and be the smartest fan at your tailgater by hopping aboard the Bison Illustrated podcast train!
Kickoff your Homecoming Weekend with the Bison Illustrated podcast! North Dakota State finished its non-conference portion of the schedule as the most dominant team in the FCS. Even better than James Madison? The Bison and Dukes come in at 1(a) and 1(b), but we dissect who’s on top. Swany, Joe, and regular contributor/great FCS mind Sam Herder recap the first month of action with the Bison set to open Missouri Valley Football Conference play this weekend in their homecoming game against Missouri State, and preview the upcoming meat grinder that is the Valley schedule. The guys talk about what has stood out to them as the Bison have outscored their first three opponents by a ridiculous 168-20 margin. Can the team keep that train rolling against the Bears, and with five conference teams rated in the FCS Top 10, which, if any of the MVFC teams will separate themselves from the pack. Swany shares his story of attending an NDSU Alumni Association watch party last weekend in Las Vegas, while Joe and Sam take us around the FCS. The guys even coined a stellar nickname for NDSU’s backfield trio of Dunn (best player in the FCS this year so far), Anderson, and Brooks that you won’t want to miss! It’s all here, and more, this week on the Bison Illustrated podcast!
So you think you know Bison Football and the FCS? Few people know the inside story of North Dakota State better than one of the actual "Insiders,” the “Voice of the Bison,” and co-host of “The Insiders” radio program on Bison 1660 AM, Jeff Culhane. Culhane joins Swany and Joe for a free-wheeling discussion on what it’s like to call games for one of the best teams in college athletics, dive into who will really challenge NDSU for the Missouri Valley crown, and is this the year a two-loss team wins the conference? Find out why Culhane, who came to Fargo after stops at the University of Nebraska and West Virginia University, was awake at 4:00 a.m. the morning NDSU beat the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium last fall, and where he came up with his signature call, “Horns up, Hawkeyes down!”
The Mitchell, S.D., native tells the Illustrated how he got his start in broadcasting, why he had a gut-feeling the game against Iowa would come down to the final drive, and how his call of the game-winning field goal was influenced by broadcasting legend Vin Scully, the longtime Hall of Fame announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While Culhane and the guys preview the Missouri Valley Football Conference battle ahead, they also talk Bison hoops and who Culhane thinks will be an emerging standout on the hardcourt this winter. The trifecta tackles a cornucopia of topics, including marriage advice for Swany’s upcoming wedding, and why it’s never a good idea to spill chicken marinade before your fiancé tries on her wedding dress. Finally, the guys finish with a must-listen “Fire and Ice” breakdown of the HBO hit, Game of Thrones, and the related Bison Insiders weekly segment with friend of the podcast, Anish Shroff, the biggest GOT fan this side of Westeros, who is big into Bison football and the hottest show on TV. It’s audio you can only hear here this week on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
It was a “Horns Up” kind of weekend for the Bison. Fresh off a 40-13 statement win over Top 10-ranked Eastern Washington in the “Inferno” at Roos Field, North Dakota State enters its bye week with momentum as one of the hottest teams in the country, spearheaded by the No. 1 rushing attack in the FCS. Swany and Joe are joined by Jeff Kolpack of the Fargo Forum, the dean of local sports scribes, to dissect NDSU’s demolition of the Eagles and the early season dominance by the Herd. The guys discuss how the Bison are coming up roses on preseason questions like depth, the offensive line, and the passing game; and dig into other areas like the emergence of the 2014 recruiting class, the strength of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and the Top 25 FCS rankings.
Kolpack, the author of "Horns Up: Inside the Greatest College Football Dynasty," also takes listeners behind the curtains of the Bison Media Zone, the popular interactive “all things Bison” website he runs with Dom Izzo, the Sports Director of WDAY Sports (with cameos by Eric “Big E” Peterson). Kolpack describes the evolution of the blog, how they put it together, and an NDSU media presence that rivals big-time FBS programs. And, of course, the guys recap former Bison Carson Wentz’s big Week 1 performance against Washington in a big NFC East matchup. It’s all here, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times! Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that dramatic as North Dakota State exploded for several offensive records en route to a 72-7 thrashing of Mississippi Valley State in the season opener at the Fargodome. Swany and Joe recap the Week 1 action, which was headlined by the punishing Bison ground attack, an efficient big-play passing game, smothering defense, and, unfortunately, more season-ending injuries for NDSU. The guys are joined by regular guest and great FCS mind, Sam Herder, the content strategist for Spotlight Media and Hero Sports columnist. The trifecta previews this week’s Top 10 showdown against perennial FCS contender Eastern Washington and discuss the year’s inaugural edition of Herder’s Power 8 FCS rankings, which features a bevy of Missouri Valley Football Conference teams. It’s all here, this week, on the Bison Illustrated Podcast.
Grab your favorite yellow Bison shirt, crank up the Thunderstruck, fire up the grills, and buy plenty of ice for the coolers because the kickoff to the 2017 North Dakota State football season is finally here! The perfect audio to start your tailgater this Saturday morning, the guys preview NDSU’s season opener against Mississippi Valley State with Brian Shawn, the play-by-play announcer for the North Dakota NBC Network, the television home of Bison Football. An award-winning sports journalist, Shawn joined Midco Sports Network in 2016, and has been calling Bison football and basketball games since 2012. The guys take an in-depth look at NDSU's non-conference schedule, the two-deep depth chart, players expected to make a big impact this fall, and how the offense will look under first year offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham. A native of Bloomington, MN, Shawn takes listeners inside the broadcast booth atop the Fargodome and around the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and shares a few stories of what it’s like to call games for the most successful program in the FCS.
The guys kick things off with their FCS Football Preview. Who is the favorite to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which five MVFC teams will make the playoffs, and will North Dakota State make a return trip to Frisco, Texas to reclaim its championship belt? With only days remaining until the start of a brand new college football season, an amped up Swany is joined by guest host and brilliant FCS mind Sam Herder to discuss the cornucopia of goodness that awaits. Herder, the Content Strategist for Spotlight Media and writer for HERO Sports, has covered NDSU, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and FCS for The Spectrum, HERO Sports, and Bison Illustrated. The guys preview the season, the Missouri Valley vs. Big Sky Football Challenge, early season matchups to keep an eye on, and what teams have a legitimate shot to finish the year next January at Toyota Stadium. Everyone up for the kickoff, the podcast is on!
Former All-American strong safety and Bison great Colten Heagle joins Swany and Joe for a freewheeling conversation on everything from winning four national championships, what it's like to deal with a season-ending knee injury, and the role strong leadership plays within North Dakota State's high-performing culture.
With Bison defensive end and All-American Greg Menard going down over the weekend with a season-ending knee injury, Heagle provides a unique perspective on how the Bison deal with injuries and what "next man up" really means.
The Appleton, Wisconsin native, who now works at Choice Financial in Fargo, also offers a "hot take" on UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen's recent claim that it's impossible to be a serious student and a college athlete at the same time, and offers his thoughts on the best Bison defense of all-time.
Colten and the guys round out their discussion by talking about the Bison Football Players Association and the cool things former NDSU football players are doing to stay connected.
Bison Football is in the air with North Dakota State opening fall camp this week. Swany & Joe discuss the key themes heading into Bison fall camp and the 2017 season, including a new offensive coordinator, a defense that's absolutely loaded, and how NDSU has the pieces in place for another championship run. The guys also dive into the August issue of Bison Illustrated magazine, which features Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and former Bison Carson Wentz. The magazine includes a guest column by long-time NFL contributor to ESPN, Sal Paolantonio, where he interviewed Super Bowl winning head coach Dick Vermeil, and ESPN's quarterback guru, Ron Jaworski, and got their take on one of the best young stars in the game. Fire up the grills, fill the coolers, and get ready, because football season is upon us!
ESPN play-by-play commentator Anish Shroff has covered North Dakota State football games in the FCS playoffs since 2013. Shroff, who also covers basketball, baseball, and lacrosse, has enjoyed a front row seat for the Bison's dominance of the FCS and joins Swany and Joe for an in-depth discussion on NDSU football and the unique Bison culture. The guys talk about NDSU's place in the college football landscape and how they were able to achieve a historic five straight national championships. Shroff also discusses his trips to Fargo, his insight on the community, and how sports can be a tool to bring people together. A 2004 graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School, Shroff was in Fargo speaking at a TEDx Conference and shares a message that goes beyond sports.
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Swany and Joe are joined by Taylor Braun, the former Bison hoops standout and 2014 Summit League Player of the Year. Braun helped lead NDSU to the NCAA Tournament and an unforgettable win over the University of Oklahoma in March Madness. Braun concluded his NDSU career ranked among the school's all-time top 10 in nine different statistical categories. After spending the first three years of his professional career in Belgium and Germany, Braun discusses where he might end up next, the international game, playing overseas, the Bison culture, and what Saul Phillips is really like behind closed doors.
Follow and ask Swany and Joe your questions on social media: Swany - twitter.com/swany8 Joe - twitter.com/joebisonmag
As the football season draws near, Swany and Joe discuss some of the most frequently asked questions from Bison fans, including whether the program will make the leap from the Division I FCS level to the FBS. The guys go through the numbers of how NDSU's athletic budget compares to programs like Boise State, Wyoming, James Madison, Minnesota, and Kansas State, and finish with a detailed conversation on how NDSU's success on the athletic field benefits the university, community, and entire region.
Fresh off one of the best recruiting weeks in North Dakota State history, Tyler Roehl, the tight ends and fullback coach for North Dakota State, and director of NDSU Football Camps, joins the guys to talk all things Bison. Roehl takes listeners up close to what it's like at football camp, what the Bison look for in recruiting prospective members of the Herd, and how NDSU has built and sustained its championship culture. Roehl is a product of West Fargo High School and one of the standout running backs in Bison history.
Bison Game Day is recognized as one of the best atmospheres in college athletics. Justin Swanson, NDSU's Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Engagement, joins the podcast to talk about what goes into producing the event. The guys also debate who are the best running backs and quarterbacks of the Division I era. Brent Tehven from Herd & Horns stops by to talk about a big-time Bison event coming up this fall.
Entering its 25th season of hosting NDSU football, what is the greatest game in Fargodome history? From the obvious, like "Georgia Southern II" in 2012 and the intense showdowns against UNI and SDSU, to an epic quarterback duel and a series of firsts, relive some of the greatest moments in Dome history as Swany and Joe dissect the classics.
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Swany and Joe talk about the latest issue of Bison Illustrated and volley stories of Bison Pride back and forth.
You can send your questions to the show here: twitter.com/Swany8 And here: twitter.com/joebisonmag And also here: twitter.com/bisonmag