The 2016 football season officially kicks off tomorrow morning at 10 am as NDSU holds its first practice in leading up to the season opener August 27th against Charleston Southern. As I type this, I am not naive and realize what has been written and said over the last 36 hours. For the people that have written and said that the Forum and WDAY are just “whining” about the new media guidelines, I’m not sure if there’s anything I can say or do that will convince you otherwise.
Jeff and I started the pregame show in 2010 from the WDAY studio, expanding to the Fargodome in 2011 and then into the tailgate lot in 2012. We were warmly received by hundreds of different Bison fans, welcoming us in to do our show. There was no money exchanged, we did it because we thought it was an interesting way of connecting with the fans and giving us something unique in the market. Jeff and I didn’t get any added money for this, we did it because we enjoyed doing it and thought it was a great way to add to our already impressive gameday coverage. We added the live element in 2014 and took the show to another level, as we added guests, everyone from Brock Jensen to Matt Larsen. It was one of my favorite parts of my job and a great way to connect with Bison fans from all over the place. I am disappointed this will no longer be able to continue going forward.
The amount of people that have decided to take shots at Kolpack and myself is disappointing, and quite frankly, these people just don’t understand what we do. That may be the most disappointing factor in this whole thing, because I know many have seen me running around the tailgate lot with all of my equipment trying to get a show set up. Numerous fans have asked what can I do to help, offering everything from power supplies to food. To have some say we are complaining that we didn’t get the contract, who else was in the tailgate lot for the Spring Game for the last three years? Or a live 2.5 hour show from Pro Day? I think we know. For the many, many people that came out and supported us, I won’t forget it. It was amazing to see a swell of support online yesterday and made me realize how much we’ve connected with people, from Nebraska to California to Alabama. We will adapt and adjust and will deliver the same content into the new season that no one (and I mean no one) else in this market is delivering.
Lastly, it’s not just about our pregame show location, it’s more than that. I think the people that have come to this blog for the now ten plus years it’s been online understand that. The live blog has been hugely popular on this site, it looks like it has to go away. On the television side, our live interviews we have enjoyed with Chris Klieman and Dave Richman on gamedays during the WDAY newscasts will now be discontinued. That’s not just about our pregame show location.
Now on to the storylines to watch tomorrow:
- Cornerback – This is a position that has produced some tremendous players over the past couple of years from Marcus Williams to Andre Martin to CJ Smith. Now there’s a big hole there with the loss of Smith and Jordan Champion. Jalen Allison, who we have featured this offseason in our countdown videos, will be given the first shot to win one of the starting spots, which should happen. Allison progressed nicely last year and his speed is impressive, to be able to break up a pass. After that, it’s a big question mark. Dom Davis in my mind seems to be one of the leaders to get the first look, he wasn’t completely healthy during the spring, but has great potential. There are two players that will be on campus tomorrow, Felix Dixon and Darren Kelley, Dixon is a highly touted recruit out of Florida, while Kelley comes in as a transfer out of NDSCS. I think one of these two guys ends up being the opposite starter next to Allison against Charleston Southern.
- Left Tackle – A spot that’s produced three NFL players in the last five years has a big question mark next to it. Paul Cornick, Billy Turner and Joe Haeg were tremendous there. Now who is the next to step up? Conor Riley has to answer that question, with a couple of players with great potential. Colin Conner appears to be the first man up, a sophomore who has limited experience, but seemed to adjust well as the spring went along. Also in the mix is redshirt freshman Zach J. Johnson, a player that the coaching staff is very high on. We’ll see if he works his way into the rotation during fall camp. Landon Lechler, last year’s starting right tackle, also may be considered to move to left tackle if one of those players doesn’t ascend to the starting spot.
- Punter – After four terrific years from Ben LeCompte, NDSU has to move on, and turns its eyes to a transfer in Jackson Koonce. Koonce comes from SMU, where he averaged nearly 40 yards per punt during his time with the Mustangs, his time limited last year from injury and being replaced in the lineup. He now will get a chance to get indoors six times a season, and will have to try and replicate the weapon that LeCompte was for NDSU over the last four seasons. How many times did LeCompte pin a team deep in its own end and turn it over to the Bison defense? That’s Koonce’s biggest challenge.
- Linebacker – It’s not the starters, it’s who is behind them? Nick DeLuca, MJ Stumpf and Pierre Gee-Tucker were tremendous last year, so much so, we really never got a chance to see who is behind them? Two guys to watch right away during the fall are Jake Brinkman and Aaron Mercadel. Each I thought had great springs, Mercadel especially in the spring game. I would expect each to get some reps on special teams and see them in the non-conference games against CSU and Eastern Washington. Dan Marlette and Levi Jordheim are in the mix as well, each have been beset by injuries and will need to stay healthy during the fall to get into the rotation.
- Wide receiver – NDSU has two locks to start in RJ Urzendowski and Darrius Shepherd, but after that, there are some questions. Marquise Bridges is a name I would follow, he was close to getting his redshirt pulled last year, instead he sat and now is ready to have the impact that Shepherd had last year. Sean Engel has received a ton of attention for a true freshman, he’s been in Fargo all summer working out and will get a shot to see the field much like Urzendowski did two years ago. Dimitri Williams is also there, along with spring sensation Dallas Freeman. NDSU needs four to five receivers just to spread things out for Easton Stick, so defenses can’t focus on just Urzendowski and Shepherd.
Those are the storylines I’ll be watching this fall. Tonight at 10 and 10:35, my yearly sit-down with Chris Klieman to preview the season, you can watch it on WDAY and then on Sports Sunday. We’ll be at the first practice tomorrow as well. I appreciate you reading and coming to this blog.