Bison's O'Leary to start

By Jeff Kolpack

November 11, 2002 at 11:00 PM

It's been a grind, but Darrin O'Leary finally earned the starting tailback spot at North Dakota State. The junior from Fargo North got the nod from head coach Bob Babich on Monday.

Babich said O'Leary's performance in the second half against Nebraska-Omaha last Saturday was the difference. He finished with 67 yards on eight carries, including a 41-yard run -- the longest by a Bison back this season.

O'Leary moved ahead of junior Rod Malone, although Babich said both should get about the same number of carries Saturday against

St. Cloud State.

"I think Darrin has progressively gotten better and he's earned the right to start," Babich said.

O'Leary received good reviews in fall practice, but injured his foot before the first game against Winona State. It hobbled him for the first few games of the season.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546

By Jeff Kolpack

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough" and "Covid Kids." He is the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August.