Author Topic: Bison Football 2008: Game 1 vs Austin Peay  (Read 3476 times)

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Offline zman

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Bison Football 2008: Game 1 vs Austin Peay
« on: August 26, 2008, 01:42:04 PM »
Being as the game is almost upon us: Thursday at 7:00 in the Fargodome! I think it makes sense that we have a thread covering this.

Thought the following article was interesting.

Quote
Govs not scared by No. 2 Bison
Austin Peay opens season on Thursday
James D. Horne

It's certainly the biggest game Austin Peay has played since its return to scholarship football.

And the Govs' season opener against No. 2 North Dakota State on Thursday is probably the program's biggest since playing Cincinnati in 1985 and 1993. APSU also played the Bearcats in the third game in 1988, and had a win over Kansas State in 1987.

Surely, the thought of playing such a highly-regarded team like the Bison should matter.

"In the back of your mind you need to treat every team like they're the same, but this is No. 2 in the nation. They're not the same as everybody else," junior linebacker Daniel Becker said. "Just watching their film, they have a great offense and they're tough. But yeah this game means a little bit more, because it's the opening of the season and sets the tone for the year. It will kind of show everybody in the OVC what we're bringing to the table this year."

Said senior tight end Jon Sanders: "They're ranked No. 2 and everybody knows it. It's a big game for this team going into it after we had such a good year back in the OVC. But to this team, you're not playing a number. You're not playing No. 2, you're playing North Dakota State. And once you get onto the field numbers are out the door.

"I hope we're preparing like we're going up there to win. We're not going up there to play No. 2 and shouldn't be scared. We need to go up there, be prepared and play the football game."
Bison successful

North Dakota State has been a very successful program. The Bison's last losing season in 2002, a 2-8 record, was their first since going 2-7 in 1975.

They've won seven Division II national championships, the last coming in 1990, and advanced to the D-II playoffs 17 times, with the final trip coming in 2002.

The following year, NDSU moved up to Division I in all sports, including the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) level.

Since then, the Bison have gone 8-3, 8-3, 7-4 and turned in back-to-back 10-1 records. Last season the Bison's 10-1 season included wins over bowl schools Minnesota (Big 10) and Central Michigan (MAC) — both on the road.

Now they have the No. 2 ranking in the nation, have joined the Missouri Valley Conference for football, and are eligible for the FCS playoffs, which they would have made the past two seasons.

What that all means is it wouldn't be too surprising if NDSU felt very confident about hosting an Austin Peay program that's had eight winning seasons since 1975.

Basically, the Bison feel the game should be over at halftime (at least if you read the messageboards).

But it's something Austin Peay is used to.

"It's probably better they think that, because then maybe they'll overlook us and we can sneak up on them somehow," junior right guard Justin Cunningham said. "But we're going to prepare and bring it just like we do in every other game."

And senior defensive tackle P.R. Morris said it best: "We've got nothing to lose."
Same philosophy

The Govs had a plan last year, and it earned them their surprising 7-4 overall record and 5-3 mark in the OVC.

"If we get to the fourth quarter with a chance to win, anything can happen," head coach Rick Christophel said. "That's what we're trying to do and that's our whole philosophy. It will be that way as long as I'm here, because if you do it enough you'll always have a chance to win."

James D. Horne covers Austin Peay Sports for The Leaf-Chronicle and can be reached at 245-0221 or by e-mail at [email protected].

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080825/SPORTS70/808250320

I am betting a pretty big win, a good 3 TDs.


We are currently ranked number 2 in D1 Championship Subdivision and 83rd in all of Division 1.  Sweet!  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt08.htm

Go Bison!

Offline pmp6nl

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Re: Bison Football 2008: Game 1 vs Austin Peay
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2008, 12:29:11 PM »
Game Day!
CampusDakota.com

 

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