NDSU Month @ AGS - 2014 Fact a Day

[Fact A Day]

Welcome to NDSU Month at Any Given Saturday. We're less than a month away from football, so until then, we will treat everyone to one fact a day which highlights the current back to back to back National Champions: North Dakota State University Bison.

Without Further ado, here we go!

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State is currently in the process of rebuilding their old athletic facilities. A project that was spearheaded by former AD Gene Taylor, the facility will have a 5,700 basketball arena, 2 court basketball training facility, more room for athletic training, rehabilitation and offices. The Sanford Health Athletic Center will also feature an academic center for student athletes. The SHAC is currently scheduled to be completed in 2016. The basketball arena remodel is actually phase 2 of the project. Back in 2012 NDSU built the Shelly Ellig Indoor Track Facility. Project Info (http://gobison.com/sports/2013/6/6/edge.aspx?tab=projectinfo)

Thanks to IBleedYellow.

[Fact A Day]

NDSU is a premier research University in the Nation. Being North Dakota's Land Grant University it is one of the top 110 research Universities in the Nation. Current enrollment at NDSU is:
11, 629 degree seeking Undergraduates students
346 degree seeking Professional students
1,927 degree seeking Graduate students
727 NDSU Special students (Tri-College, Collaborative, & Non-Degree Students)

Total Enrollment: 14,629

Of the 14,629 students,*2,553 are First Time Freshman.*

Thanks to IBleedYellow.

[Fact A Day]

Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome features a Field Turf system by Astroturf that completely rolls up to be stored after each game.

The roll-up system is only the second of its kind for AstroTurf. The other is in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Thanks to NoDak 4 Ever

[Fact A Day]

In the past 3 years, NDSU has more FCS playoff wins (12) than any other FCS conference does as a whole. The closest conferences are the CAA with 10, the Southland with 9, and the Big Sky with 8.

Thanks to Professor Chaos

[Fact A Day]

Today's fact is going to be more than one and totally different:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/apolloo13/ndsu.jpg

Thanks to NDSU Athletics for this Photo.

[Fact A Day]

The 2014 Bison have a chance to make history in their first game against Iowa State. With their 24 game winning streak they are currently tied with the NDSU teams from 1964-66 for the longest winning streak in school history and tied with the 2001-2002 Montana Grizzlies and 1992-1995 Penn Quakers for the longest winning streak in FCS history. A win against the Cyclones from the Big 12 would put the 2012-2014 Bison alone atop both the school and FCS record books with a 25 game winning streak.

Thanks to Professor Chaos

[Fact A Day]

2014 is the 11th year of the AGS Poll and in it’s history no team has appeared in the top spot more often than NDSU. After going wire-to-wire in 2013 by garnering the top spot in all 15 polls NDSU has been the #1 team according to AGS 30 times. Appalachian State is next at 21 times.

Thanks to Professor Chaos

[Fact A Day]

To say that North Dakota State had a dominate defense over their past three years would be an understatement. In their Back to Back to Back Title runs, NDSU has outscored opponents 379 to 112. With opponents scoring an average of 9.33 Points a game, while NDSU scored an average 31.58 points per game. In the National Title game NDSU has been even better, only allowing 26 points total in while scoring 91 points.

For a little bit of comparison: Appalachian State allowed 118 points in just their 2007 Title run. This isn't to say App State wasn't dominate when they won as well, they just didn't have as much of a dominating defense as NDSU. (App State Totals for 3 years 452 App State/290 Opponents.)


NOTE: Both teams played the same number of opponents since NDSU had 1st round byes in the new larger playoff field.

Thanks to IBleedYellow

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State has achieved excellence many times in the post season. Having a combined 51-18 record in the FCS/DII post season play for an amazing 73.9% win percentage in the post season through all eras of football.

7-5 in Post Season Bowl Games.
30-12 in Division 2 Playoffs.
14-1 in FCS Playoffs.

Thanks to BisonFan02

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State Bison football has had a total of three losing season since 1964.

Years:

2009: Head Coach Craig Bohl with 3-8 W/L record
2002: Head Coach Bob Babich with a 2-8 W/L record
1975: Head CoachEv Kjelbertson with a 2-7 W/L record


Thanks to IBleedYellow

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State has had 6 separate Head Coaches win a combined 11 National Titles.

Coaches:

Darrell Mudra - Pecan Bowl (1965)
Ron Erhardt - Pecan Bowl (1968), Camellia Bowl (1969)
Don Morton - NCAA DII Playoffs (1983)
Earle Solomonson - NCAA DII Playoffs (1985, '86)
Rocky Hager - NCAA DII Playoffs (1988, '90)
Craig Bohl - NCAA DI Playoffs (2011, '12, '13)

Thanks to IBleedYellow

[Fact A Day]

The only number retired in NDSU football history is #79 which was worn by Paul Bothof.

Paul was an all-conference selection in 1970 and was called "the best looking football player in this game" during the 1969 Camellia Bowl by a pro scout. Tragically Paul's career and life were cut short due to an hunting accident on Sunday, October 25th 1970.

Thanks to Dewey

[Fact A Day]

The heated rivalry between NDSU and UND has been played many years, with many great streaks between the teams of dominance. Both teams have had a 12 year win streak against the other, from 1953 to 1964 for UND and from 1981 to 1992 for NDSU. In the modern era (from 1964 on) NDSU holds a lead in the series, 25-17. However, since the inception of the Nickel Trophy UND leads the series 35-30. Since UND retired their "Fighting Sioux" nickname, there is thought that the Nickel Trophy will never be played for again even if NDSU and UND play each other again.

Thanks to <Redacted>

[Fact A Day]

Since 1960, no team in D2, D1AA, D1A, or NFL has won more National Championships than NDSU.


Thanks to HerdBot

[Fact A Day]

The coach with the most wins in NDSU football history is none other than Craig Bohl. The head coach who brought NDSU from DII into the National Power that they are today. Bohl amassed a 104-32-0 Record as NDSU's head coach, with a 7-3 record over FBS schools. He now is the head coach of the University of Wyoming.

​Thanks to Dewey

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State used to run a version of the option known as the veer. One of the most memorable plays in NDSU's time of running the veer is a moment known only as "the pitch." It's easier to just put the video clip of this.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnb1gnotLr8

Thanks to Bisonville

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State used to play on Dacotah Field. An outdoor stadium that is just South of the now home and well known Fargodome. The 'Dome may have it's home field advantage, but Dacotah field also had its home field advantage. In 1986 Augustana College of Sioux Falls came up to Fargo, ND for a game. The problem? A great winter blizzard was trampling through the northlands. The game was played:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOXkT107x2E


Thanks to Dewey

[Fact A Day]

Since North Dakota State plays in the Fargodome, they have a capped amount of seats for the foreseeable future. Season tickets are starting to be treated like gold around Fargo, and the single game tickets end up selling out in under a half hour. Since NDSU is only allowed to have 12,000 season ticket holders at one time and there are 4,000 student tickets available, that means 3,000 tickets are available for a metro area of about 200,000 people.

Thanks to Bisonoline

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State is known as a traveling fanbase. An app was created in an attempt to try and bring more of these traveling fans together on road trips. During the 2013 FCS Championship game many fans once again made the trek south on I-29. The heatmap that was shown on Bisontracker was nothing short of spectacular.

19522


Thanks to BisonTracker

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State isn't just chasing another FBS victory on August 30th. They are chasing school and FCS history. To have a 25 game winning streak. Back in 1964-'66 NDSU posted 24 straight wins to form the school record. In the FCS the University of Pennsylvania set the 24 win streak in the years 1992-'95. Montana under Joe Glenn ended up tying that record with the Montana Grizzlies in 2001-'02

Thanks to IBleedYellow

[Fact A Day]

Here is a great picture to show just how much different the places have been that the North Dakota State Bison football team has been playing in since their inception in 1894.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/apolloo13/oldschool.jpg

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State University's athletic teams have progressed from the "Farmers" in the 1890's to the "Aggies" in the early 1900's to the "Bison," NDSU's current athletic symbol. In 1919, head football coach Stan Borleske developed it because he and members of the football team didn't like being known as "Aggies." Borleske wanted a strong and fierce mascot. The "Bison" was a logical choice. The great animals once roamed the North Dakota prairie in vast numbers, and over the years Bison athletic teams added an additional name, the "Thundering Herd."

​Thanks to BisonFan02

[Fact A Day]

Five former North Dakota State personalities have been inducted into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. They are coach GILMOUR DOBIE, inducted in 1951 after a career at NDSU, Washington, Navy, Cornell and Boston College; two-time All-America center (1987-88) MIKE FAVOR, inducted in 2011; two-time All-America defensive back (1969 & 1970) JOE CICHY, a 1997 inductee; 1986 Harlon Hill Trophy-winning quarterback JEFF BENTRIM, inducted in 1998; and coach DARRELL MUDRA, inducted in 2000 after a career at Adams State, NDSU, Florida State, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Northern Iowa.

Thanks to BisonBacker

[Fact A Day]

From 1964-1990 NDSU was 136-11-3 at home (0.907 win %).

Thanks to Professor Chaos

[Fact A Day]

Craig Bohl is the all time winning coach at North Dakota State, posting a 104-32-0 W/L/T record as head coach.

Thanks to IBleedYellow

[Fact A Day]

North Dakota State Quarterback Brock Jensen.

More wins than any quarterback in the FCS: 47-5 as Starter. 48 career wins.
NDSU’s career record holder for passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdown passes and total offense attempts and yards
Won three straight FCS championships
Ended his career on a 24-game winning streak

Awards:
2013 AP All-America 3rd team
2013 College Sporting News Fab 50 All-America
2013 College Sports Journal All-America
2013 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference 1st team
2013 Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year
2012, 2013 NCAA Division I Championship Game MVP
2012, 2013 College Sporting News FCS Playoff MVP
2013 College Sports Journal FCS Playoff MVP
2012 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference 2nd Team
2012, 2013 MVFC Offensive Player of the Week
2011 All-MVFC Honorable Mention
2011, 2012 MVFC Honor Roll
2013 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
2013 NFF Hampshire Honor Society

Thanks to IBleedYellow

[Fact A Day]

On GameDay in the Fargodome, the Dome holds enough people to be the 6th Largest City in the State.

Thanks to BisonFan02

[Fact A Day]

NDSU is undefeated in non-conference play at the Fargodome since they have played FCS football.

Thanks to AmsterBison

[Fact A Day]

NDSU's research expenditures surpass $100,000,000 Annually.


Thanks to BisonBacker

[Fact A Day]

Despite the fact that NDSU has only been a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference since 2008 they already have more weeks ranked as the #1 team in the nation as a member of the MVFC than any other current team in the conference.

Thanks to Professor Chaos

[Fact A Day]

On Saturday, August 30th NDSU will be chasing a 25 game win streak and a 5 win streak against FBS opponents (2010 - Kansas, 2011 - Minnesota, 2012 - Colorado State, 2013 - Kansas State). If NDSU wins this game, they will beat the last FBS team to beat them (Iowa State) back in 2009 in a 34-17 loss.

Thanks to IBleedYellow

[Fact A Day]

Thanks to all the NDSU fans that helped make these 30 facts possible. Obviously we weren't quite on with a fact per day, but we got 31, so I'm going to run with it.