FRISCO, Texas – North Dakota State returned most of its defense from a year ago. The Bison had a 1,000-yard running back returning in John Crockett.
The coaches had all the confidence in the world in quarterback Carson Wentz, who was entering his fourth year in the program. The top receiver in Zach Vraa was coming back.
The biggest questionable position area? Certainly it was the offensive line, which had one returning starter in Joe Haeg, and he even moved positions from right tackle to left tackle.
In that regard, the results have been smashing, as the Bison returning to the FCS national title game for the fourth year in a row.
It wasn’t supposed to be this inexperienced when Conor Riley moved from fullbacks/tight ends assistant to the offensive line coach when Chris Klieman was named head coach. NDSU lost Billy Turner and Tyler Gimmestad to graduation, but then center Josh Colville gave up football because of a chronic knee injury.
“He made the right decision, but strike one,” Riley said.
Then, over the summer, standout guard Zack Johnson was lost for the season with a knee injury.
“It really was strike two,” Riley said.
So a big reason NDSU is in Frisco today for the FCS national championship is because a young offensive line grew up in a hurry. Freshman Austin Kuhnert has been productive at left guard as well as senior Adam Schueller. Sophomore Landon Lechler took over Haeg’s right tackle spot with sophomore Jack Plankers providing valuable backup reps.
Junior Jeremy Kelly established himself at right guard and Jesse Hinz made his senior year his healthiest.
“We’ve been fortunate to stay healthy throughout the year,” Riley said. “The entire approach we’ve taken is from a developmental aspect.”
NDSU, ISU have strength coaching connection
It’s probably not a coincidence that two teams who pride themselves on physical play have strength and conditioning directors who once worked together. NDSU’s Jim Kramer and Illinois State’s Jim Lathrop were in similar positions at Georgia Tech in the 1990s.
Lathrop was assistant coordinator at Georgia Tech from 1988-90 and the director from 1990-92. Kramer was an assistant at Georgia Tech.
“It’s ironic both programs hang their hat on physicality, and it starts in the weight room,” said ISU head coach Brock Spack.
On that note, Spack gave a shot at the new weight training techniques out there, saying he prefers the proven methods of old.
“We like lifting weights in weight training, and not this sports performance stuff they talk about,” he said. “We don’t do rubber bands and all that crap. We lift weights. We’re old school, and I’m sure NDSU is the same way.”
ISU quarterback says FBS should play more
While NDSU and Illinois State are playing for the FCS national championship today in Frisco, the FBS national champ will be decided up the road Monday in Arlington where the first College Football Playoff title game will be played at AT&T Stadium. Unlike the FBS, playoffs are old hat for the FCS. The division, formerly I-AA, has used a playoff system since 1978.
The Bison and Redbirds each needed three playoff wins to get to Frisco. At the FBS level, Ohio State and Alabama each needed one playoff game to reach their title game. ISU junior quarterback Tre Roberson was asked about what an expended playoff field would look like at the FBS level.
“They should be able to play more. It would be fun,” said Roberson, who transferred to Illinois State from FBS school Indiana. “As a football-head, I love playing football. The longer the season is the better for me.”
Etc. etc. etc.
NDSU is 17-1 in the FCS playoffs, with its only loss in the 2010 quarterfinals at Eastern Washington. The Bison are 52-14 all-time in postseason games with 11 national championships.
It will be the eighth meeting between the schools, with the Bison holding a 5-2 edge, including wins in the last three.
The ESPN2 broadcasting team is the same duo that did the last two Bison games in the Fargodome: Anish Shroff at play-by-play and Kelly Stouffer as the analyst. Cara Capuano will provide sideline reports.
