NATCHITOCHES, La. -- For the second straight season, the University of North Dakota football program will get a taste of the South and its tradition-rich football tonight when the Sioux meet Northwestern State.
And that means the Sioux will experience a lot of heat, humidity and hospitality.
The Sioux likely will have to get used to the surroundings, considering this just may be the start of UND's football association with the South and the Southland Conference -- a Division I FCS league that has scheduled a number of teams from the Midwest in recent years.
UND played at Southeastern Louisiana last season, losing 38-35 after Brandon Hellevang's 49-yard field-goal attempt on the last play of the game sailed wide left.
The Sioux will play two SLC teams this season, with Central Arkansas being the other. Next season, Northwestern State is expected to play the Sioux in the Alerus Center. And Central Arkansas will play in Grand Forks in 2012.
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Add independent Lamar to the mix next season. And there have been talks between UND and South Alabama, a first-year Division I program that recently named North Dakota native Joel Erdmann as its athletic director.
UND's upcoming games with the SLC, however, should give the Sioux a good indication how they will fare as they continue to transition to full Division I FCS status.
The SLC has three teams -- McNeese State, Central Arkansas and Texas State -- ranked in this week's Top 25 FCS poll, while three others (Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana) received votes.
"The league has great football tradition," Northeastern coach Bradley Dale Peveto said. "It's a real hotbed for recruiting. The coaching is very, very good. It's a very competitive league with great parity."
The Grand Forks Herald and The Dickinson Press are both owned by Forum Communications Co.
