PRESS & DAKOTAN/PLAIN TALK ■ FALL SPORTS 2013 PAGE 11B Going For Three

P&D FILE PHOTO North Dakota State defensive lineman Cole Jirik, 93, pressures South Dakota Josh Vander Maten during the Bison’s victory over South Dakota last season in Sioux Falls. Jirik and NDSU will be going for a third consecutive FCS title this season. Bison Loaded With Veterans In Search For Third Title BY DAVE KOLPACK “As a coach you are al- Turner, game-breaking kick State, have experienced just year, Minnesota in 2011 and Packers and . Associated Press ways looking for signs of returners in Williams and one hiccup in each of the last Kansas in 2010. His brother was drafted by complacency,” Bohl said. “We Ryan Smith, a linebacker in two years, both in conference “Going against each other the . FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North have not seen that in any- Grant Olson who set a school games. Two years ago, they in practice day in and day “The only thing I’ve heard Dakota State returns 18 thing.” record with 29 tackles in one lost 27-24 at home to out, it gets a little boring. from them is forget about the starters from a team that has The reason, Bohl said, is game last season, and their Youngstown State. Last year, People start getting mad at pro scouts,” Turner said. won 28 of 30 games the last maturity and a healthy dose hardest-hitting defensive they lost 17-14 at home to In- each other and stuff like “They’re going to see what two years and claimed back- of competition. Even backup player in free safety Colton diana State. that,” he said. they want to see. You just to-back Football Champi- quarterback Carson Wentz, Heagle, back from an injury Williams said that faring Smith, a Wahpeton, N.D., have to go out and play the onship Subdivision titles. whose performance in prac- in 2012. well against Kansas State and native, said that while open- game and have fun. This is Coach Craig Bohl started tice drove Brock Jensen’s Even punter Ben winning the conference are ing with Kansas State is an my last guaranteed year of this year’s campaign with a heir apparent Esley Thornton LeCompte and kicker Adam more important than an un- exciting way to start the sea- football ever.” history lesson. to switch to linebacker, is Keller are among 10 Bison on blemished record. son, it’s more important to go Williams, from Minneapo- The only team to win pushing for playing time the all-Missouri Valley Foot- “Sure, who wouldn’t want into December on a roll. lis, feels like he has to prove three straight FCS or Division against a QB who is 32-5 as ball Conference preseason to go undefeated?” Turner “You’ve just got to know himself again this year. I-AA titles is Appalachian starter. team. said. “But our No. 1 goal right as a team you are going to “It doesn’t matter what I State from 2005-07. The for- “Carson Wentz has made “We’re well pleased with now is our first game at move forward,” he said. “We did last year, it all depends mer coach of that team, Jerry Brock Jensen better,” Bohl the leadership of our group,” Kansas State.” can’t have these drawbacks. on what I do this year,” he Moore, came to Fargo earlier said. “We’ve got that at a lot Bohl said. “We do have a Williams said Friday’s We can’t start the season out said. “I know scouts are look- this year to talk to Bison of spots.” tremendous amount of expe- game against last year’s Big strong and end up weak.” ing. I hear that every day. I re- players about what it takes to Along with Jensen, a sen- rience; more than we’ve had 12 Conference champs can- Turner, from Shoreview, ally don’t look at it that stay on top. ior who isn’t always flashy since I’ve been . not come soon enough for Minn., doesn’t have to look much, because I care about The gist of Moore’s but excels in big games, But that does not automati- the Bison, who have a 6-3 far for advice. His father was the team.” speech: Don’t be satisfied. NDSU returns pro prospects cally qualify for a great year.” record against FBS teams drafted by Bohl said his players were in Marcus The Bison, who open the under Bohl. The Bison de- in 1983 and played five years paying attention. Williams and left Billy season Friday at Kansas feated Colorado State last with the Vikings, Green Bay NFL Making News In 2013 Ahead Of Upcoming Season Cyclones From Page 10B BY BARRY WILNER has been named in concus- away — from the stadium, land, New Orleans, San bringing his offensive wiz- AP Pro Football Writer sion lawsuits brought by the TV or any device spew- Francisco and Green Bay, ardry from Oregon to the more than 4,000 former ing game information. for example — then just Eagles, , fired fol- any type of pass a risk, and The NFL never really players who charge that They can’t wait to see if about everyone tries it. lowing 14 seasons in Richardson succumbed to shuts down. the NFL didn’t protect Robert Griffin III is fully re- Kelly downplays the , immediately the flu after completing six of It kept rolling long after them or warn them against covered from his torn-up speed of his offense, but landed as coach of the his first seven passes in a 31- the lights came back on the sport’s inherent dan- knee and can be even more throughout the league, Chiefs. Kansas City is a 17 Liberty Bowl loss to the after a 37-minute delay at gers. Even before the regu- dynamic as the Washington look for no-huddles, quick strong candidate for most Golden Hurricane. the Superdome in New Or- lar season kicks off, the Redskins quarterback. Or snaps out of a variety of improved team under Richardson threw for leans and the Baltimore two sides are due in Senior whether Tim Tebow has a formations, and lots of Reid’s guidance and with eight TDs against just one Ravens squeezed out a U.S. District Judge Anita future in the NFL in New passing. quarterback Alex Smith ac- pick and also ran for 233 title. It’s rolling Brody’s court in Philadel- England. And how the “There are certain plays quired from San Francisco. yards, averaging a healthy 5.7 still, right into a new sea- phia to report any progress Ravens will handle losing we can call where we don’t The 49ers, who came yards per carry. son that will kick off in less made during two months team leaders need the defense to be alive after the Superdome ‘He was too scared to than two weeks and end worry about anything other of mediation. and , while Joe set,” Kelly said, “and there blackout and nearly stole than the snap count. He’s with (shiver!) an outdoor Some believe the play- Flacco tries to justify the are other plays where we the title from Baltimore, come a long ways, I’ll just say Super Bowl in New Jersey. ers’ claims could be worth huge contract he received need to get the right look are among the favorites to it that way. And the biggest In between, there were $1 billion or more if they as a Super Bowl-winning to get in the right play. But reach the Meadowlands area of improvement, I think, plenty of headlines: move forward in court. quarterback. a lot of that, from a speed next February for the first is his leadership and his grasp Patriots tight end Aaron Key rules changes for The television networks standpoint, we never say outdoor Super Bowl at a and his understanding of what Hernandez was arrested on this season with player are already salivating we want plays snapped in cold-weather site. The Gi- we’re doing,” Rhoads said. murder charges; Denver safety in mind will bar ball about what they hope will X amount of seconds or ants and Jets, co-owners of Richardson’s hold on the Broncos star linebacker carriers from using the be a ratings bonanza, start- anything like that.” MetLife Stadium, talk starting job was further solid- has been sus- crown of the helmet to ing when the champion Those fast-paced of- bravely about becoming ified when Barnett trans- pended for the first six make contact with defend- Ravens visit Peyton Man- fenses from Foxborough to the first team to host and ferred to Illinois State. He’s games for violating the ers, and require player to ning and the Broncos to Philly, Louisiana to Lam- play in the Big Game, but now had a spring and fall league’s drug policy; and wear knee and thigh pads. open the season on Thurs- beau Field won’t have to that’s a long shot. camp working with the rest HGH testing is getting The uniform police will re- day night, Sept. 5. deal with likely Hall of Denver, which added of the starters after watching closer but still isn’t under- move them from games if “The NFL always pro- Famers Lewis and Brian prolific to its Jantz and Barnett split those way two years after the they don’t have the full vides an element of sur- Urlacher in the middle of receiving corps for Peyton opportunities for two years. league and players agreed complement of equipment. prise, and that is a part of the field. They retired, Manning — a blow to Though Richardson is a on the need for it. Fans, meanwhile, will the intrigue that makes it along with NFL champions major rival New England — rather soft-spoken underclass- A rash of preseason in- man, he said he’s embraced deal with increased limits so popular,” Steelers gen- Matt Birk, also is among the hot the leadership role that every juries have prompted some on what they can bring eral manager Kevin Colbert and Donald Driver. choices to reach what quarterback has to take. players to question the into stadiums; nothing that said. “It’s hard to predict Replacing veterans could be a frigid Super “I’ve always been taught NFL’s player safety initia- won’t fit into a gallon-size who can be the champions everywhere are lots of Bowl. growing up to lead by exam- tives. Already gone for the clear plastic bag will be al- at this point, because it’s a rookies — a good crop but Then there’s Adrian Pe- ple at first. And then, when season are tight ends Den- lowed. great unknown that nowhere near the quarter- terson’s pursuit of a sec- you’re leading, people kind of nis Pitta of Baltimore (frac- “This is the right thing changes as the year goes backing caliber of last ond straight 2,000-yard take that along with your tured hip) and Dustin to do from a public safety on. It’s not always the top year’s trio of RG3, Andrew rushing season for Min- words,” Richardson said. Keller of Miami (right standing,” NFL security di- team over the season that Luck and . nesota. No one has ever “Being more vocal has just knee), with more than a rector Jeffrey Miller said, wins, but the one able to “We now get more come close, but no one has come naturally.” dozen others also side- adding that the NFL con- perform the best when it coaches in pro football, ever come off a wrecked Rhoads, now in his fifth lined. stantly evaluates its sta- means the most. And that and offensive and defen- knee to do what Peterson season, said earlier this “It’s just weird how dium entry process. “In element is always exciting sive coordinators, who achieved in 2012, winning month that the Cyclones feel things have changed from light of recent events, the about an NFL season.” know they got to play MVP honors. as good about the quarter- the past,” noted Jets tight tragedy of the terrorist at- Lots of points and big these young guys,” former If Peterson doesn’t grab back position as they ever end Konrad Reuland. “Be- tack in Boston, we wanted plays tend to excite fans Jets and Chiefs coach the spotlight, maybe it will have heading into the season. fore, diving at the knees to ensure anywhere we the most, and the copycat said. “I have be with his That’s all because of was a dirty play. Now hit- have large groups of fans NFL could feature even always been big about arm, with Richardson, who has won over ting up high is a dirty play. his teammates and coaches that we know we have lim- more up-tempo offenses playing young guys; if he his hands, J.J. Watt with his with his calm demeanor and It’s almost done a complete ited that type of situation now that has knows what to do, we have swats, or Darrelle Revis ability to make plays. 180.” with fans only using the ap- brought his go-go-go quack got to play him. And that’s with his picks. Regardless, “He’s relaxed, he’s poised That might be under- proved kind of bags to cre- attack from Oregon to what you will see.” rest assured much of the out there, and a quarterback standable considering the ate a safe environment and Philadelphia. If it works for The coaching carousel nation will be watching — needs to be that type of guy. emphasis Commissioner a buffer zone, if you will.” one team — as it has for spun frantically, with one- and checking their fantasy If you’re going to throw accu- Roger Goodell is placing on Fans may grouse about the high-powered, fast- quarter of those jobs stats, too. rate passes, if you’re going to player safety. The league it but not enough to stay draw offenses in New Eng- changing. Aside from Kelly throw things on time, you’re going to do it in that state.