Experience important to NDSU, Sam Houston coaches

• Brock Jensen

Photo by David Samson / Forum Communications North Dakota State quarterback Brock Jensen does the championship belt move after scoring a touchdown on a keeper to swing the momentum during last season’s FCS championship game against Sam Houston State on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. The teams meet in a title game rematch this season.

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• Bison, Bearkats have both changed since last season

FARGO — For the North Dakota State and Sam Houston State football coaches, the best preparation will be derived from experience.

The top-ranked Bison and fifth-ranked Bearkats are in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game for the second straight season. The Jan. 5 showdown marks the first rematch in the FCS championship since Marshall and Montana met in both 1995 and 1996.

Both coaches acknowledged Thursday that having gone through that atmosphere in Frisco, Texas, last year will benefit each team next week.

“Certainly familiarity comes into play,” NDSU head coach Craig Bohl said during a conference call with reporters Thursday. “I’m sure (SHSU head coach Willie) Fritz and Sam Houston feel the same way. … I don’t think there are any built-in advantages, because we’re playing a team that’s been through the same experience that we have.”

Fritz agrees that last season’s experience will be helpful. But a new season always presents a unique set of challenges.

“Even though we have a lot of kids coming back who played last year and the same thing with North Dakota State, they’re two different teams,” Fritz said. “Each season you kind of evolve with that team.”

The FCS championship game provides a unique atmosphere. Unlike in college basketball, where teams occasionally play regular-season games at neutral sites, that doesn’t happen often in college football.

And with the neutral site of Frisco comes the pregame pomp and circumstance fitting for a national championship game.

Bohl learned last season that there would be an increased emphasis on building a game plan before his team leaves Fargo for Frisco.

Bohl said that the Frisco build-up is not a distraction if handled right.

“The NCAA and Team Frisco have really done a great job to enrich or heighten the championship event for our student-athletes,” he said. “There’s a lot of pageantry and activities, and all of those things are great and well-meaning. … The task at hand is getting ourselves to go down there and play great (on Jan. 5).”

A sellout crowd is expected at FC Dallas Stadium, which has a capacity of 20,086. Last season’s game at FC Dallas Stadium marked the first sellout for an FCS championship since 2007.

Fritz said he hasn’t forgotten how many NDSU fans made the trip to Frisco last year.

“I think we could have had 45,000 for this game,” Fritz said. “It’s a hard ticket to get. People around here are going crazy trying to get a ticket, and I’m sure that’s the same way up in North Dakota.”

Teams each returned to practice Wednesday

NDSU and Sam Houston State wasted little time during the holidays. Both teams returned to practice Wednesday, just 10 days before the two teams will meet for the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title on Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.

“I know our players are pumped,” Fritz said. “We just got back (Wednesday). Back into practice mode.”

Bohl said his players had strong practices on both Wednesday and Thursday.

“I thought it was fairly good coming back after Christmas break,” Bohl said. “It was a little but rusty, which you would expect. We had a very robust practice (Wednesday) and then we had another good one (Thursday).”

Neal, Ware will handle ESPN2 duties again

The NDSU football team will appear on ESPN2 for the second straight game when it plays for the FCS title at 11 a.m. on Jan. 5. And the same broadcast team that was in Fargo for the semifinals earlier this month will handle duties for the title game in Frisco.

Dave Neal will do play-by-play alongside former NFL quarterback Andre Ware, who will provide color commentary.

Cara Capuano will be the sideline reporter.

NDSU center Lund wins prestigious award

NDSU senior Joe Lund collected another honor Thursday.

Lund was named the FCS recipient of the Rimington Award, which is presented annually by the Boomer Esiason Foundation to the top center in each level of college football.

Lund was a first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection in helping lead NDSU to a 13-1 record.

Tags: ndsu bison, fcs championship, college football, sam houston state bearkats, sports, football