North Dakota State made the first Division I-AA football poll of the season - at No. 68.
The Sports Network preseason rankings put defending national champion the University of Delaware at the top spot. Three NDSU opponents - Northwestern State (La.), Northern Colorado and Weber State - were ranked between 14th and 26th.
Other Bison opponents ranked ahead of NDSU were California Poly (36), Nicholls State (42), California Davis (51) and Southern Utah (64). Only South Dakota State (81) is ranked below NDSU.
Valparaiso, NDSU's first opponent, is rated in a mid-major category because it is considered a non-scholarship school. Valpo is sixth out of 22 teams.
NDSU's other opponents are Division II Carson-Newman (Tenn.) and NAIA Montana Tech.
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- Jeff Kolpack
Hill could fight again
The Virgil Hill camp is negotiating for another title fight, a sure sign that the North Dakota boxer is not ready to retire just yet.
Hill is coming off a close decision to Jean-Marc Mormeck for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight belt in May. Bill Sorensen, his manager, said another fight could take place on two conditions: that it happens soon and that it be a title fight.
Talks with promoters, he said, have been on an almost daily basis. Sorensen said Don King Productions proposed a mid-November fight date.
"I told them that was too late," Sorensen said.
Possible opponents, Sorensen said, are International Boxing Federation champion Kelvin Davis and World Boxing Organization champ Johnny Nelson. Sorensen said it's possible Mormeck may vacate his WBA title for a fight in another division.
Hill only dropped to the No. 2 contender after his loss to Mormeck.
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"We have to be ready if something happens quickly here," Sorensen said.
- Jeff Kolpack
Run being held for Hanson
The Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Jaycees will be holding
5K and 10-mile runs Saturday to raise money for former North Dakota State University track and cross country All-American Doug Hanson.
Hanson, 36, is recovering from a severe brain injury he suffered in a snowmobile accident last February.
The event is part of the 69th Annual Northwest Water Carnival. The Jaycess will donate and match all the proceeds from the run for Hanson.
Registration begins at 6:45 a.m. with the walk and run starting at 8 a.m. The entry fee of $12 includes a t-shirt.
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For more information, contact Bryan Domholt at (218) 841-8467 or log onto www.dlwatercarnival.com .
- Forum staff reports
North Babe Ruth wins
The Fargo North 13-year-old Babe Ruth baseball team won the East Divisional tournament in Grand Forks last weekend, defeating Grand Forks 12-5 in the championship game.
Team members are: Alex Dufault, John Leier, Dan Audette, Grant Narveson, John Schmidt, Jake Nystrom, Zach Bratten, Sam Johnson, Ryan Messerschmidt, Ethan Schnabel, Aaron Anderson, Andrew Hoffman and Zach Argall.
- Forum staff reports
Inside information
NCAA rules prohibited NDSU head coach Craig Bohl from watching the annual North Dakota Shrine Bowl all-star football game. But NDSU recruit Tyler Roehl's 179 yards rushing and three touchdowns didn't go unnoticed. "I saw the highlights on TV and he looked pretty good on those," Bohl said. ... NDSU triple jumper Amanda Thieschafer was one of 29 women who participated in spring sports to receive a $7,5000 NCAA post-graduate scholarship. She holds a 3.71 GPA in elementary education.
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... Three NDSU baseball players - shortstop Jeremiah Piepkorn, pitcher Neil Wagner and catcher Chris Baso - were named to "College Team Minnesota." Players had to either be born or played high school baseball in the state. ... Four players from the new Great West Football Conference were named to The Sports Network's preseason All-American first or second team: Cal Poly linebacker Jordan Beck and return specialist Darrell Jones, Northern Colorado wide receiver Vincent Jackson and Southern Utah linebacker Nick DiPadova. Two other Bison opponents had players named: Northwestern State (La.) linebacker Jamall Johnson and Valparaiso wide receiver Rob Giancola. ... Northwestern State, which plays NDSU at the Fargodome on Oct. 30, lost starting fullback Titus May and wide receiver Anthony Moss to academic problems. ... Winston-Salem State (N.C.) announced last week that it is making the first steps in a move from Division II to Division I beginning in
2005-06. ... NDSU product Lamar Gordon is still listed as the No. 2 running back on the St. Louis Rams depth chart, although Gordon is expected to get heavy competition from rookie Steven Jackson in training camp when it opens July 28. ... Hatton/Northwood defeated Milnor 4-3 in the championship game of last weekend's North Dakota Class B 14-and-under state girls softball tournament in Jamestown. Valley City I defeated Minot 8-4 in the title game of the Class A 14-and-under state tournament. ... Jean Bartholomew, who is coached by Fargo Country Club pro Peter Nervick, tied for third at 12-under 276 at the LPGA Tour's Canadian Open Sunday. She won $75,845.
- Forum staff reports
