July 28, 2025 • 27 mins
We welcome a new show to the network. It's Bizon Bitz, with TJ Just. He's a die hard NDSU football fan. You'll hear his takes weekly during the NDSU season!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
We're now's do the Bison Bits with TJ. Jets. Good morning,
good afternoon, good evening, wherever and whenever you're listening to this,
This is Bison Bits. I'm TJ. And I appreciate being
on Beer Belly Sports and hosting this show because I am,
(00:27):
for one, a huge Bison fan and have been since
the mid eighties when guys like Beentraum and Stark ran
that wishbone offense, Stacy Robinson, the great wide receiver that
played for the New York Giants, won a Super Bowl
with the Giants, Guys like Phil Hansen. That's why i
got to be a Bison fan, and I've been a
(00:48):
Bison fan ever since. I probably have only missed two
home games in the last ten years, been to Frisco,
been to Arizona to watch and play Arizona, looking to
get to Charleston to watch the game with the Citadel
this year. I'm just a huge fan and I want
to talk Buyson football. There's a couple of things that
I'd like to point out as well. We're working on
(01:11):
maybe getting interviews with players, coaches and whatnot. But there
are copyrights, not copyrights so much, but there is a
licensing agreements with Liarfield Sports. That may not happen, it
might happen. I'm still working on it. Beer Belly Sports
is working on it, and if we can get that
(01:32):
to come to fruition, then maybe we can have a
few guests on for some short interviews. But if we don't,
and that would really stink if we don't. But if
we don't, we don't. I'm still talking buys in football
and we're starting off this show now because as I
record this, we're team minus one week before camp before
(01:52):
it all starts. For the Bison in their twenty twenty
five campaign, as you know, they won their tenth FCS
national title in fourteen years, are looking really good. I
know they've lost some players. There's always those question marks
as to how you're going to replace some of the
players that you lost, And the reality of it is
(02:17):
teams like NDSU just retools, they don't really lose anybody.
Losing key players like Cam Miller is real real hard.
Of course. They lost Gray is Abel to graduation, and
that's a difficult thing for the team. You just lost
a great right tackle and your freshman FCS running back
(02:38):
of the year in Marty Brown, a key factor to
a team that still likes to run the football. How
do you fix that? That's kind of the question everyone
wants to know. How are you going to fix that?
But teams like North Dakota State, trust me, they are
going to retool. They've got some weapons and they're gonna
(02:59):
be just fine. And I'm gonna address some of these
things here a little bit later on, but let's first
get to something that has not happened. I think it's
been eight years since the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Yeah,
I'm sorry longer than that. It's the first media day
since two thousand and eight, the first media day for
(03:25):
the media in Sioux Falls for Missouri Valley Football Conference.
It's kind of wild. They just got away from it.
It's a big thing for so many conferences, but for
the Missouri Value they've kind of just did the zoom thing,
kept everything via zoom video chat, very impersonal. But this
year they went to Suit Falls and did it Upright
(03:47):
before anyone got to Sioux Falls, the Missouri Value Football
Conference ratings come out, the rankings, and of course North
Dakota State got thirty nine of the forty two votes.
Right after that is move U South Dakota State. They
did not get any first place votes. South Dakota comes
in third with three first place votes. Illinois State, which
(04:09):
is a team you don't really want to sleep on
this year. They've got they've got some talent. Then after
that's Youngstown State, Southern Illinois, North Dakota Fighting Hawks with
their new coach, Northern Iowa, Indiana State, and Murray State.
Murray State. They have a lot of work to do
in Murray State. They have not had much of a
(04:30):
football program and I think they even lost it for
a while. So they got a lot of work to
do at Murray State and they will bring up the rear.
Not only did the polls come out, of the rankings
for the Missouri Valley Football Conference, there are sixteen Bison.
That's a pretty damn big number named to the preseason
Missouri Valley Football Conference watch list. And I have it
(04:53):
yay and it is quarterback Cole Payton, running back Barrika Penu,
running back, fullback Truman Whermeier, offensive lineman Griffin Empey who
had a great year last year. Offensive lineman Trent Freeley
of course, senior wide receiver Bryce Lance, defensive line Toby Annan,
(05:15):
defensive lineman, tackle Jackson Dutonheffer, who he's going to make
a difference this year. Jackson Dutonheffer is gonna have a
really good year. Logan Copp linebacker, We love him. Defensive
back Anthony Chimatti, Alfaro, Jaylen Duffy, another D back, Darius Gibbons.
Another D back, Ryan Jones, another D back and I'm
(05:35):
gonna get to that later too. All four of those
d backs. That's saying something. Long snapper Caleb Bowers, Jackson Williams,
a return specialist and wide receiver and they call him
all purpose athlete. Rajah Nelson raja On Nelson seems to
have been with the Bison forever, but he's back again.
(05:59):
I think years. I think he got an injury waiver.
And remember Raja Nelson from last year having two huge
catches against Montana State in that FCS title game. So
Cole Payton's got a lot to work with. And I'm
gonna get to some of these questions. There are some
questions for the year. Tim Paul Sick, Bryce Lance and
(06:21):
Logan Cobb at they were at the Missouri Valley Football
Conference Media day and I thought that was cool and
I'm gonna start with I'm gonna I got some notes here,
and I'm gonna start with an article from Mike mcpheeley.
It's not always my favorite, but it's about Logan cop
(06:42):
and Logan Copp of course, made the big interception in
the middle of the season in the Fargo Dome to
win the marker against STSU and he made play after
play after play after play. Last year he had seventy
three tackles alone, eight and a half tackles for a loss,
three sacks and picks. Pretty good as a linebacker, he's admitted.
(07:04):
When he was asked questions at the Missouri Valley Football
Conferences media day, he was asked a lot of questions,
and one of them is the funny, funny, funny thing
here is he's getting married this fall. And I don't
quite remember when when it was, but I know he's
getting married this fall. I think it's like September thirteenth,
(07:28):
So he's getting married right before the home opener with
the University of South Dakota. So there isn't going to
be a honeymoon for Cobb until after the season. I
guess his wife to be is pretty cool about that,
So that's good. So that's a step in the right direction.
But Logan Cobb is an interesting figure. He's preseason All American.
(07:50):
He's a two time first team All Conference for the
Bison at linebacker outstanding last season. Some of the things
that people want to not about his athletic ability, but
the way he takes some of these young linebackers under
his wing and helps groom them. That never gets talked
(08:10):
about ever, ever, ever, ever, never gets talked about in conversation.
And he talks about Logan's contribution with these younger guys
and grooming them. He's the only senior linebacker that's on
the team. They graduated Nick Kubits, Oscar Benson, Luke Wurtz,
(08:32):
they all graduated, and they lost such an impact player
in Enox Sebumana to the transfer portal. And I don't
remember where Enoch's going, but he I don't think he
even's made a decision yet. But they lost those guys,
and Logan is going to be the one that's going
to groom some of these young pup coming up. And
(08:53):
he talks about his faith, how that pulls him through
and how he looks at his faith as being very
power and that's really what a lot of his press
conference focused around was the faith he has that he
likes to quote scripture in his interviews. Some people in
the media don't like it. I don't know why. Some
(09:16):
people will definitely quote what he's saying, but that's that's
what he talks about in his press conference. And finally
he talked about there's thirty two freshmen when he started
at NDSU, and over time there was transfers and graduates,
and he's proud about still being there after all this
(09:38):
time and playing at a high level and getting better.
I'm not saying you're going to see him on Sundays
in the NFL. It's possible, Canada very well could happen.
But Logan Kopp was down there representing the Bison and
he's just a classy kid. Spoke well of his faith
and I thought that was wonderful. And then the next
interview was Bryce Lance, and I had to go get
(10:01):
notes for Bryce. Of course we know Bryce had I
think the third best statistical year of a Bison wide
receiver ever. He had eighty five receptions for twelve hundred
and ninety yards, fourteen touchdowns, only one drop, and forty
seven of his catches were for first downs. That that
(10:24):
is an unbelievable, unbelievable stat And another thing I want
to bring up if I can find it, his postseason numbers.
He got twenty five passes for three hundred and seventy
five yards and seven touchdowns. He single handedly destroyed South
Dakota State in the semifinals, if you remember destroyed him.
(10:45):
He's most likely going to be among the top Walter
Payton Award candidates for the nation's top offensive player. And
he has exploded onto the scene. He had an interview
with Domizzo. Now dom Mizzo's from Wday and and if
you will follow the Bison, many of you will knock
dom Mizzo. And I think you gotta quit knocking him.
(11:06):
Why are you knocking dom Mizzo does a really nice job.
He does a really nice job in the studio during
the week talking Byson football. Maybe he laughs too much, possibly,
but I think he does a really, really, really solid job.
And I think his play by play on TV doing
WDA why play by play for Bison football has gotten
(11:29):
better too. I think he does a pretty darn good job.
And he's not anti NDSU like some people will rip
him for on social media, and I just don't know
why Dom mizzl gets such a bad rapp Leham alone
does a nice job. He's down there. He was in
Sioux Falls for the for the press conference day, for
the media day, and he talked to Bryce Lance. Getting
(11:49):
back to Bryce, Bryce understands it. We all know he's
going to be one of the top receivers and in
the nation. And I thought Bryce was really really wise
to say he understand that coverage is going to be different.
Defenses are going to run different coverages. They're going to
bracket linebackers, they're going to bring more safeties over the top,
and they might even do both, which is going to
(12:11):
help his teammates. And he understands there's going to be
a challenge and he's really really up to the challenge.
And Bryce is just a great He is such great.
He's just a great kid. He's great integrity. Ah, there
it is. He stuck it out now. That was talked
about in the interview with Izzo. Dom said he talked
(12:33):
to his parents and before the junior year there was
talk about maybe Bryce transferring somewhere else, that it wasn't
working out at NDSU, but Tim Polisik, in his preseason
talk last year online, said that Bryce Lance could be
a breakout player, just watch what he does. He didn't
understand why Bryce didn't get a lot of a lot
of catches, a lot of snaps the prior year. He's
(12:56):
going to be an impact player this year, and he
really was. And Bryce Lance could have could have allowed
he could have transferred. He stated. NDSU had the third
best statistical year of any NDSU receiver in the history
of their program and the show the integrity. He admitted
that he was getting a ton of calls from big
schools to hit the portal, come play for He won't
(13:19):
say who, but some of these schools are saying, come here,
play for us. There's a little more mark, there was
a little more money involved. Excuse me. But he never
thought of leaving NDSU. He just felt he couldn't do
it after the way the program relied on him. Coach
Polisic trusted him, and I found it was just a
great heartfelt interview about a kid talking about the ups
(13:40):
and downs. He's had the shadow of his brother. Remember
his brother, Bryce Lance's brother's Trey who's now with the
San Diego Chargers, and he just kept plugging away, kept
plugging away, praying felt very blessed to be where he
was last year and very blessed to be where he
is now because you don't know where he's projected in
(14:01):
the draft. He will get drafted. He's going to get drafted.
Guarantee it. That is a given. So I think that's
great for Bryce. And I thought it was a great interview,
not a very long interview. I thought it was great.
And finally its coach Polisic, and everyone loves coach Polisick.
(14:21):
He was asked some really good questions by Dom again
dom Izzo. Dom Mizzol asked him a ton of questions about,
you know, are you liking your schedule? And I'll get
to the schedule in another show. Are you liking the schedule?
They start their season at the Citadel and then the
following week they go to Nashville to play Tennessee State,
(14:43):
and coach Politics said, I love that challenge. I want
that kind of challenge. This team needs that kind of
challenge to be on the road in hot, humid climates
against some rowdy fans, some good football teams. He thinks
it's great, he thinks it's it's how's it's how he's
gonna be able to gauge what kind of team he has,
(15:05):
because that led to a couple of questions and the
biggest question that Poulosek knows he has to answer that
us as fans the media is asking, is you lost
both your tackles. You know you've lost some players that
how are you going to replace that? Some really key guys.
And I mentioned it before and the major one was
(15:25):
Grey's Abel. You're losing Grey's Abel, you lost your other tackle.
You lost another lineman too the Canadian Football League. You
should be okay in the interior, but you're gonna have
two new tackles. And the quote from coach Paulisek is
we need to see who will push through on the
offensive line and how our quarterback, because of it, will
(15:50):
play in big moments. He understands he's gonna have to
mix and match in those first two games. They mean
a lot. You don't throw them away, but he's he
might do some shuffling. He's not sure where his tackles
are going to be at because he has a brand
new quarterback in Cole Peyton. So on top of he's
very comfortable though with the interior. He's got Lewinsky, he's
(16:11):
got Epi, Trent, Trent Freeley, Griffin, Empy, he's got I
think it's Chris Lewinsky. His dad was a Viking years ago.
He's really happy what he's got there, but he's gonna
have to figure out. He didn't say who he's been
plugging in or who they've talked about. But when practice
starts next week and some of that will be outdoors
and I'll be there, it'll be public. You can you'll
(16:33):
start to see who's plugging in at tackle at time,
so that'll be, pardon me, that'll be interesting. But it
leads to the next question that policy had to address,
and that's can your new quarterback Cole Peyton, who's an
athletic freak. He's six' four almost two hundred and forty.
Pounds nobody can catch him when he slips into the
into the defensive backfield unbelievable. Speed but can he throw the?
(16:57):
Football And POLSI i smirked a little bit and, said,
well we're, yeah he can throw the. Football he absolutely
can throw the. Football he's capable of. It he's got
a great. Arm he's got a rocket for an. Arm
he's highly, intelligent and he's gonna be able to, uh
he's gonna be able to make it. Work he's gonna
(17:20):
do good things for. Us just you. WATCH i think
it was interesting to note. That And i'm looking through my.
Notes actually it's amazing HOW i lose my. Notes it
was it was brought up about. That it's, his it's
it's definitely it's Definitely Cole peyton's to. Lose but If
(17:48):
Cole peyton were to, stumble AND i don't see it,
happening but if he were to, Stumble Nathan hayes will be.
Ready Nathan hayes six to, three two hundred and nineteen
pounds out Of, Chicago. Illinois if you, remember he played
last year After cole got hurt in The South Dakota state.
(18:09):
GAME i forgot think it was a a legament injury
to his. ELBOW i want to, say pardon. Me and
he came in and he. Played he backed Up cam
and played quite. Well as a matter of, Fact cam
(18:29):
got dinged up IN i forget which game it, was
And nathan had to come in and play. Well he
played a lot Against Murray, state got some time there
against Uh Northern, iowa But Murray, state he played very.
Well Nathan hayes got his feet quite wet in. Politics
said That Cole payton can throw the. Ball i'm going
(18:53):
to reiterate that sixty four so far for his, career
so that's pretty darn. Accurate but if something, happens they're
really excited about What Nathan hayes can bring to the.
Table so he's really comfortable. There he went back and
reiterated again that empy and freely started fourteen in the
(19:14):
sixteen games last. Year they're young and maybe not as
big as they're used to, having but they're, talented and they're,
hungry and they're aggressive and they're not afraid to hit.
Somebody so he's comfortable. There and then he shifted to
the defense because he, said this is the strength of
The bison, team which we know for years and years
(19:37):
The bison ran the ball and the strength goes behind that,
defense and he feels it's going to be the same
way this. Year last year their offense was really. Good this,
year he, says the defense is. Great he's got solid
transfers and he's got some really important. TRANSFERS a couple
of guys from one guy From James madison going to
be coming over AND i had him somewhere he, Like,
(20:03):
yes his transfers From James Madison's Andrew Booth. Jr who
he really likes at d. Back and he's got A
Arizona state lineman by the name Of Chance simmons coming,
in A nebraska kid went to high school In. Nebraska
and two Guys i'm really excited. About one Is Alex
(20:27):
elliott From. Minnesota quite the. FINE i don't know what
happened at The university Of, minnesota what if he had
a falling out WITH, pj but he left the program
to come To North Dakota. State North Dakota state originally recruited,
him but that young man's out Of, Minnesota Alex, elliott
you're gonna hear about. Him and Then cortez La, grant
who's also Another minnesota running. Back so they've got some
(20:50):
really nice incoming. Transfers not the short all the all
conference players they, have but their four defensive backs are so.
Important they have four defensive backs that have all. Returned
five actually have all. Returned, ironically the defensive backfield For
North Dakota state was a big question mark last, year
(21:11):
but it will no longer be LIKE i Said Darius,
gibbons who's on the preseason watch. List he's gonna be.
There Jalen crummy was a freshman last year and got
picked on a, lot but learned a lot along the.
Way he should be real. Solid Ryan jones will come
back and take some. Snaps Jalen duffy will be at.
(21:36):
Cornerback he started eight games as a true, freshman and,
then AS i, Said anthony Chettam, alfaro he's a newcomer
of the. Year they just got so much depth there
now With Antoine booth junior From James madison And Jacquees,
alexander who we didn't hear too. Much lie he played
(21:58):
a little bit last. Year they're gonna run six deep
in that. Backfield they're going to be, very very, solid
and they're probably gonna need to be because they're going
to have a little bit younger according To paul sik you,
know a little bit younger defensive. Line they were pretty
seasoned for a, while BUT i thought the end of that,
interview Dom mizzle asked give me some names of some breakout,
(22:22):
players AND Paula sick mentioned a defensive tackle by name, Mckenan, Wilson, Jackson.
Dutonheffer if you you at follow The, bison you know
what he can. Do calton mccaskin is a defensive. End
that's that's a newbie coming. In Donovan whedon is coming at,
linebacker and Then Jackson. Williams and that led to one
(22:44):
quick thing that he wanted to point. Out paullus, said
this might be the most talented wide receiver corps That
North Dakota state has ever. Had it's absolutely mesmerizing what
they've done at wide receiver last. YEAR i don't think
you could ask for much more on that wide receiver.
(23:06):
Cord they have, size they have, speed they have, well they're.
Strong just the names and just the names alone is
amazing at wide. Receiver And i'm gonna quick look up
that roster. HERE i have so many windows open IF
(23:29):
i can find, it alrighty here it is So Rajah
nelson comes. Back he's a, senior of. Course Bryce lance
sixty three two. Nine Mackay collins six four two fourteen
(23:50):
made some big catches last, year especially Against East Tennessee.
State there's Also Chris, harris good, returner unbelievable speed sixty
three two ten runs like the. Win but he is
going to get some. Catches there's no doubt about. It
he's gonna get some. Catches he's gonna be a real important.
(24:13):
Factor he can stretch the field faster Than. Bryce gonna
be able to stretch the field and make a Difference
he's gonna, make especially if they decide to run two
goals on each side of the, field one to the
top of the, screen one to the. Bottom if you're
watching it on, television of, course safeties are going to
just pull their hair. Out so and then you got
guys Like Kate, olsterman who's an Ex golden. Golfer he's
(24:37):
a sophomore From Elk, River, minnesota great possession. Receiver you
got Little Johnny gores five, six one, seventy The Fargo
shanley native who made some great catches last year as.
Well they are really, deep really really deep at wide.
Receiver and don't be surprised if this Is Chris harris's breakout,
year and that was brought up By paul as. Well
(25:01):
This bison team is going to be. Okay after listening
to the interviews with the, players looking at some of these,
stats it's going to be a wonderful year For North
Dakota state if they can stay, healthy and that's always
the key with college. Football can you stay? Healthy time will.
(25:22):
Tell but they have a great training. Staff Coach Jim
kramer is one of the best conditioning coaches in all
of college FOOTBALL fcs OR. Fbs he's. Great so they're
already getting their workouts. In they get their conditioning. In
Poulos sick did say that THE ncaa is looking to
add An ota in the, summer Which polisick. LOVES i
(25:45):
don't know if every school loves. IT i would assume they.
Would polisick loves. It he said it'll be great for
the incoming freshmen and sophomores to get more time on the,
field to understand the, playbook to understand the. System really
excited about, that so look for some changes there with An,
ota and, boy The bison will really take advantage of.
That they have great, facilities some of the best in the.
(26:06):
Nation i've. Toured it. Unbelievable i'm even read. It it's
more modern than THE Tcf Performing arts Are Performing ARTS
Tcf Performing Performance center where The Viking Strain i've read
it's even more. Advanced than. That so The bison got
great things going. On they're gonna hopefully be hungry And
(26:30):
i'm sure they will be for this campaign as they
get ready for twenty twenty. Five, well i'm gonna call
it good right. THERE i can talk all day long
BECAUSE i get a little, excited but it's. Hell it's
been fun AND i Appreciate Beer Belly sports to allow
me this. Opportunity and by the, way i'd like to
say something About Beer Belly. Sports i've met them and
(26:56):
they don't have beer. Billy's they don't have beer bellies at.
All they don't have. Berbillies they're normal. Bellies the company
should be called Normal Belly sports BECAUSE i don't see bird,
bellies to be honest with. You so they're kind of.
Phonies BUT i really appreciate them nonetheless having me. On
(27:17):
so we're gonna have a good time this football. Year
hopefully we can get the rights to get some, interviews
but we're just gonna Talk bison. Football i'm gonna get
more comfortable as we go, along as the season goes,
along and we'll do more of. This so thank you
so much for. Listening this has Been bisen. Bits i'm
your HOST, tj take care of yourself and each other until,
(27:39):
later see you
We're now's do the Bison Bits with TJ. Jets. Good morning,
good afternoon, good evening, wherever and whenever you're listening to this,
This is Bison Bits. I'm TJ. And I appreciate being
on Beer Belly Sports and hosting this show because I am,
(00:27):
for one, a huge Bison fan and have been since
the mid eighties when guys like Beentraum and Stark ran
that wishbone offense, Stacy Robinson, the great wide receiver that
played for the New York Giants, won a Super Bowl
with the Giants, Guys like Phil Hansen. That's why i
got to be a Bison fan, and I've been a
(00:48):
Bison fan ever since. I probably have only missed two
home games in the last ten years, been to Frisco,
been to Arizona to watch and play Arizona, looking to
get to Charleston to watch the game with the Citadel
this year. I'm just a huge fan and I want
to talk Buyson football. There's a couple of things that
I'd like to point out as well. We're working on
(01:11):
maybe getting interviews with players, coaches and whatnot. But there
are copyrights, not copyrights so much, but there is a
licensing agreements with Liarfield Sports. That may not happen, it
might happen. I'm still working on it. Beer Belly Sports
is working on it, and if we can get that
(01:32):
to come to fruition, then maybe we can have a
few guests on for some short interviews. But if we don't,
and that would really stink if we don't. But if
we don't, we don't. I'm still talking buys in football
and we're starting off this show now because as I
record this, we're team minus one week before camp before
(01:52):
it all starts. For the Bison in their twenty twenty
five campaign, as you know, they won their tenth FCS
national title in fourteen years, are looking really good. I
know they've lost some players. There's always those question marks
as to how you're going to replace some of the
players that you lost, And the reality of it is
(02:17):
teams like NDSU just retools, they don't really lose anybody.
Losing key players like Cam Miller is real real hard.
Of course. They lost Gray is Abel to graduation, and
that's a difficult thing for the team. You just lost
a great right tackle and your freshman FCS running back
(02:38):
of the year in Marty Brown, a key factor to
a team that still likes to run the football. How
do you fix that? That's kind of the question everyone
wants to know. How are you going to fix that?
But teams like North Dakota State, trust me, they are
going to retool. They've got some weapons and they're gonna
(02:59):
be just fine. And I'm gonna address some of these
things here a little bit later on, but let's first
get to something that has not happened. I think it's
been eight years since the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Yeah,
I'm sorry longer than that. It's the first media day
since two thousand and eight, the first media day for
(03:25):
the media in Sioux Falls for Missouri Valley Football Conference.
It's kind of wild. They just got away from it.
It's a big thing for so many conferences, but for
the Missouri Value they've kind of just did the zoom thing,
kept everything via zoom video chat, very impersonal. But this
year they went to Suit Falls and did it Upright
(03:47):
before anyone got to Sioux Falls, the Missouri Value Football
Conference ratings come out, the rankings, and of course North
Dakota State got thirty nine of the forty two votes.
Right after that is move U South Dakota State. They
did not get any first place votes. South Dakota comes
in third with three first place votes. Illinois State, which
(04:09):
is a team you don't really want to sleep on
this year. They've got they've got some talent. Then after
that's Youngstown State, Southern Illinois, North Dakota Fighting Hawks with
their new coach, Northern Iowa, Indiana State, and Murray State.
Murray State. They have a lot of work to do
in Murray State. They have not had much of a
(04:30):
football program and I think they even lost it for
a while. So they got a lot of work to
do at Murray State and they will bring up the rear.
Not only did the polls come out, of the rankings
for the Missouri Valley Football Conference, there are sixteen Bison.
That's a pretty damn big number named to the preseason
Missouri Valley Football Conference watch list. And I have it
(04:53):
yay and it is quarterback Cole Payton, running back Barrika Penu,
running back, fullback Truman Whermeier, offensive lineman Griffin Empey who
had a great year last year. Offensive lineman Trent Freeley
of course, senior wide receiver Bryce Lance, defensive line Toby Annan,
(05:15):
defensive lineman, tackle Jackson Dutonheffer, who he's going to make
a difference this year. Jackson Dutonheffer is gonna have a
really good year. Logan Copp linebacker, We love him. Defensive
back Anthony Chimatti, Alfaro, Jaylen Duffy, another D back, Darius Gibbons.
Another D back, Ryan Jones, another D back and I'm
(05:35):
gonna get to that later too. All four of those
d backs. That's saying something. Long snapper Caleb Bowers, Jackson Williams,
a return specialist and wide receiver and they call him
all purpose athlete. Rajah Nelson raja On Nelson seems to
have been with the Bison forever, but he's back again.
(05:59):
I think years. I think he got an injury waiver.
And remember Raja Nelson from last year having two huge
catches against Montana State in that FCS title game. So
Cole Payton's got a lot to work with. And I'm
gonna get to some of these questions. There are some
questions for the year. Tim Paul Sick, Bryce Lance and
(06:21):
Logan Cobb at they were at the Missouri Valley Football
Conference Media day and I thought that was cool and
I'm gonna start with I'm gonna I got some notes here,
and I'm gonna start with an article from Mike mcpheeley.
It's not always my favorite, but it's about Logan cop
(06:42):
and Logan Copp of course, made the big interception in
the middle of the season in the Fargo Dome to
win the marker against STSU and he made play after
play after play after play. Last year he had seventy
three tackles alone, eight and a half tackles for a loss,
three sacks and picks. Pretty good as a linebacker, he's admitted.
(07:04):
When he was asked questions at the Missouri Valley Football
Conferences media day, he was asked a lot of questions,
and one of them is the funny, funny, funny thing
here is he's getting married this fall. And I don't
quite remember when when it was, but I know he's
getting married this fall. I think it's like September thirteenth,
(07:28):
So he's getting married right before the home opener with
the University of South Dakota. So there isn't going to
be a honeymoon for Cobb until after the season. I
guess his wife to be is pretty cool about that,
So that's good. So that's a step in the right direction.
But Logan Cobb is an interesting figure. He's preseason All American.
(07:50):
He's a two time first team All Conference for the
Bison at linebacker outstanding last season. Some of the things
that people want to not about his athletic ability, but
the way he takes some of these young linebackers under
his wing and helps groom them. That never gets talked
(08:10):
about ever, ever, ever, ever, never gets talked about in conversation.
And he talks about Logan's contribution with these younger guys
and grooming them. He's the only senior linebacker that's on
the team. They graduated Nick Kubits, Oscar Benson, Luke Wurtz,
(08:32):
they all graduated, and they lost such an impact player
in Enox Sebumana to the transfer portal. And I don't
remember where Enoch's going, but he I don't think he
even's made a decision yet. But they lost those guys,
and Logan is going to be the one that's going
to groom some of these young pup coming up. And
(08:53):
he talks about his faith, how that pulls him through
and how he looks at his faith as being very
power and that's really what a lot of his press
conference focused around was the faith he has that he
likes to quote scripture in his interviews. Some people in
the media don't like it. I don't know why. Some
(09:16):
people will definitely quote what he's saying, but that's that's
what he talks about in his press conference. And finally
he talked about there's thirty two freshmen when he started
at NDSU, and over time there was transfers and graduates,
and he's proud about still being there after all this
(09:38):
time and playing at a high level and getting better.
I'm not saying you're going to see him on Sundays
in the NFL. It's possible, Canada very well could happen.
But Logan Kopp was down there representing the Bison and
he's just a classy kid. Spoke well of his faith
and I thought that was wonderful. And then the next
interview was Bryce Lance, and I had to go get
(10:01):
notes for Bryce. Of course we know Bryce had I
think the third best statistical year of a Bison wide
receiver ever. He had eighty five receptions for twelve hundred
and ninety yards, fourteen touchdowns, only one drop, and forty
seven of his catches were for first downs. That that
(10:24):
is an unbelievable, unbelievable stat And another thing I want
to bring up if I can find it, his postseason numbers.
He got twenty five passes for three hundred and seventy
five yards and seven touchdowns. He single handedly destroyed South
Dakota State in the semifinals, if you remember destroyed him.
(10:45):
He's most likely going to be among the top Walter
Payton Award candidates for the nation's top offensive player. And
he has exploded onto the scene. He had an interview
with Domizzo. Now dom Mizzo's from Wday and and if
you will follow the Bison, many of you will knock
dom Mizzo. And I think you gotta quit knocking him.
(11:06):
Why are you knocking dom Mizzo does a really nice job.
He does a really nice job in the studio during
the week talking Byson football. Maybe he laughs too much, possibly,
but I think he does a really, really, really solid job.
And I think his play by play on TV doing
WDA why play by play for Bison football has gotten
(11:29):
better too. I think he does a pretty darn good job.
And he's not anti NDSU like some people will rip
him for on social media, and I just don't know
why Dom mizzl gets such a bad rapp Leham alone
does a nice job. He's down there. He was in
Sioux Falls for the for the press conference day, for
the media day, and he talked to Bryce Lance. Getting
(11:49):
back to Bryce, Bryce understands it. We all know he's
going to be one of the top receivers and in
the nation. And I thought Bryce was really really wise
to say he understand that coverage is going to be different.
Defenses are going to run different coverages. They're going to
bracket linebackers, they're going to bring more safeties over the top,
and they might even do both, which is going to
(12:11):
help his teammates. And he understands there's going to be
a challenge and he's really really up to the challenge.
And Bryce is just a great He is such great.
He's just a great kid. He's great integrity. Ah, there
it is. He stuck it out now. That was talked
about in the interview with Izzo. Dom said he talked
(12:33):
to his parents and before the junior year there was
talk about maybe Bryce transferring somewhere else, that it wasn't
working out at NDSU, but Tim Polisik, in his preseason
talk last year online, said that Bryce Lance could be
a breakout player, just watch what he does. He didn't
understand why Bryce didn't get a lot of a lot
of catches, a lot of snaps the prior year. He's
(12:56):
going to be an impact player this year, and he
really was. And Bryce Lance could have could have allowed
he could have transferred. He stated. NDSU had the third
best statistical year of any NDSU receiver in the history
of their program and the show the integrity. He admitted
that he was getting a ton of calls from big
schools to hit the portal, come play for He won't
(13:19):
say who, but some of these schools are saying, come here,
play for us. There's a little more mark, there was
a little more money involved. Excuse me. But he never
thought of leaving NDSU. He just felt he couldn't do
it after the way the program relied on him. Coach
Polisic trusted him, and I found it was just a
great heartfelt interview about a kid talking about the ups
(13:40):
and downs. He's had the shadow of his brother. Remember
his brother, Bryce Lance's brother's Trey who's now with the
San Diego Chargers, and he just kept plugging away, kept
plugging away, praying felt very blessed to be where he
was last year and very blessed to be where he
is now because you don't know where he's projected in
(14:01):
the draft. He will get drafted. He's going to get drafted.
Guarantee it. That is a given. So I think that's
great for Bryce. And I thought it was a great interview,
not a very long interview. I thought it was great.
And finally its coach Polisic, and everyone loves coach Polisick.
(14:21):
He was asked some really good questions by Dom again
dom Izzo. Dom Mizzol asked him a ton of questions about,
you know, are you liking your schedule? And I'll get
to the schedule in another show. Are you liking the schedule?
They start their season at the Citadel and then the
following week they go to Nashville to play Tennessee State,
(14:43):
and coach Politics said, I love that challenge. I want
that kind of challenge. This team needs that kind of
challenge to be on the road in hot, humid climates
against some rowdy fans, some good football teams. He thinks
it's great, he thinks it's it's how's it's how he's
gonna be able to gauge what kind of team he has,
(15:05):
because that led to a couple of questions and the
biggest question that Poulosek knows he has to answer that
us as fans the media is asking, is you lost
both your tackles. You know you've lost some players that
how are you going to replace that? Some really key guys.
And I mentioned it before and the major one was
(15:25):
Grey's Abel. You're losing Grey's Abel, you lost your other tackle.
You lost another lineman too the Canadian Football League. You
should be okay in the interior, but you're gonna have
two new tackles. And the quote from coach Paulisek is
we need to see who will push through on the
offensive line and how our quarterback, because of it, will
(15:50):
play in big moments. He understands he's gonna have to
mix and match in those first two games. They mean
a lot. You don't throw them away, but he's he
might do some shuffling. He's not sure where his tackles
are going to be at because he has a brand
new quarterback in Cole Peyton. So on top of he's
very comfortable though with the interior. He's got Lewinsky, he's
(16:11):
got Epi, Trent, Trent Freeley, Griffin, Empy, he's got I
think it's Chris Lewinsky. His dad was a Viking years ago.
He's really happy what he's got there, but he's gonna
have to figure out. He didn't say who he's been
plugging in or who they've talked about. But when practice
starts next week and some of that will be outdoors
and I'll be there, it'll be public. You can you'll
(16:33):
start to see who's plugging in at tackle at time,
so that'll be, pardon me, that'll be interesting. But it
leads to the next question that policy had to address,
and that's can your new quarterback Cole Peyton, who's an
athletic freak. He's six' four almost two hundred and forty.
Pounds nobody can catch him when he slips into the
into the defensive backfield unbelievable. Speed but can he throw the?
(16:57):
Football And POLSI i smirked a little bit and, said,
well we're, yeah he can throw the. Football he absolutely
can throw the. Football he's capable of. It he's got
a great. Arm he's got a rocket for an. Arm
he's highly, intelligent and he's gonna be able to, uh
he's gonna be able to make it. Work he's gonna
(17:20):
do good things for. Us just you. WATCH i think
it was interesting to note. That And i'm looking through my.
Notes actually it's amazing HOW i lose my. Notes it
was it was brought up about. That it's, his it's
it's definitely it's Definitely Cole peyton's to. Lose but If
(17:48):
Cole peyton were to, stumble AND i don't see it,
happening but if he were to, Stumble Nathan hayes will be.
Ready Nathan hayes six to, three two hundred and nineteen
pounds out Of, Chicago. Illinois if you, remember he played
last year After cole got hurt in The South Dakota state.
(18:09):
GAME i forgot think it was a a legament injury
to his. ELBOW i want to, say pardon. Me and
he came in and he. Played he backed Up cam
and played quite. Well as a matter of, Fact cam
(18:29):
got dinged up IN i forget which game it, was
And nathan had to come in and play. Well he
played a lot Against Murray, state got some time there
against Uh Northern, iowa But Murray, state he played very.
Well Nathan hayes got his feet quite wet in. Politics
said That Cole payton can throw the. Ball i'm going
(18:53):
to reiterate that sixty four so far for his, career
so that's pretty darn. Accurate but if something, happens they're
really excited about What Nathan hayes can bring to the.
Table so he's really comfortable. There he went back and
reiterated again that empy and freely started fourteen in the
(19:14):
sixteen games last. Year they're young and maybe not as
big as they're used to, having but they're, talented and they're,
hungry and they're aggressive and they're not afraid to hit.
Somebody so he's comfortable. There and then he shifted to
the defense because he, said this is the strength of
The bison, team which we know for years and years
(19:37):
The bison ran the ball and the strength goes behind that,
defense and he feels it's going to be the same
way this. Year last year their offense was really. Good this,
year he, says the defense is. Great he's got solid
transfers and he's got some really important. TRANSFERS a couple
of guys from one guy From James madison going to
be coming over AND i had him somewhere he, Like,
(20:03):
yes his transfers From James Madison's Andrew Booth. Jr who
he really likes at d. Back and he's got A
Arizona state lineman by the name Of Chance simmons coming,
in A nebraska kid went to high school In. Nebraska
and two Guys i'm really excited. About one Is Alex
(20:27):
elliott From. Minnesota quite the. FINE i don't know what
happened at The university Of, minnesota what if he had
a falling out WITH, pj but he left the program
to come To North Dakota. State North Dakota state originally recruited,
him but that young man's out Of, Minnesota Alex, elliott
you're gonna hear about. Him and Then cortez La, grant
who's also Another minnesota running. Back so they've got some
(20:50):
really nice incoming. Transfers not the short all the all
conference players they, have but their four defensive backs are so.
Important they have four defensive backs that have all. Returned
five actually have all. Returned, ironically the defensive backfield For
North Dakota state was a big question mark last, year
(21:11):
but it will no longer be LIKE i Said Darius,
gibbons who's on the preseason watch. List he's gonna be.
There Jalen crummy was a freshman last year and got
picked on a, lot but learned a lot along the.
Way he should be real. Solid Ryan jones will come
back and take some. Snaps Jalen duffy will be at.
(21:36):
Cornerback he started eight games as a true, freshman and,
then AS i, Said anthony Chettam, alfaro he's a newcomer
of the. Year they just got so much depth there
now With Antoine booth junior From James madison And Jacquees,
alexander who we didn't hear too. Much lie he played
(21:58):
a little bit last. Year they're gonna run six deep
in that. Backfield they're going to be, very very, solid
and they're probably gonna need to be because they're going
to have a little bit younger according To paul sik you,
know a little bit younger defensive. Line they were pretty
seasoned for a, while BUT i thought the end of that,
interview Dom mizzle asked give me some names of some breakout,
(22:22):
players AND Paula sick mentioned a defensive tackle by name, Mckenan, Wilson, Jackson.
Dutonheffer if you you at follow The, bison you know
what he can. Do calton mccaskin is a defensive. End
that's that's a newbie coming. In Donovan whedon is coming at,
linebacker and Then Jackson. Williams and that led to one
(22:44):
quick thing that he wanted to point. Out paullus, said
this might be the most talented wide receiver corps That
North Dakota state has ever. Had it's absolutely mesmerizing what
they've done at wide receiver last. YEAR i don't think
you could ask for much more on that wide receiver.
(23:06):
Cord they have, size they have, speed they have, well they're.
Strong just the names and just the names alone is
amazing at wide. Receiver And i'm gonna quick look up
that roster. HERE i have so many windows open IF
(23:29):
i can find, it alrighty here it is So Rajah
nelson comes. Back he's a, senior of. Course Bryce lance
sixty three two. Nine Mackay collins six four two fourteen
(23:50):
made some big catches last, year especially Against East Tennessee.
State there's Also Chris, harris good, returner unbelievable speed sixty
three two ten runs like the. Win but he is
going to get some. Catches there's no doubt about. It
he's gonna get some. Catches he's gonna be a real important.
(24:13):
Factor he can stretch the field faster Than. Bryce gonna
be able to stretch the field and make a Difference
he's gonna, make especially if they decide to run two
goals on each side of the, field one to the
top of the, screen one to the. Bottom if you're
watching it on, television of, course safeties are going to
just pull their hair. Out so and then you got
guys Like Kate, olsterman who's an Ex golden. Golfer he's
(24:37):
a sophomore From Elk, River, minnesota great possession. Receiver you
got Little Johnny gores five, six one, seventy The Fargo
shanley native who made some great catches last year as.
Well they are really, deep really really deep at wide.
Receiver and don't be surprised if this Is Chris harris's breakout,
year and that was brought up By paul as. Well
(25:01):
This bison team is going to be. Okay after listening
to the interviews with the, players looking at some of these,
stats it's going to be a wonderful year For North
Dakota state if they can stay, healthy and that's always
the key with college. Football can you stay? Healthy time will.
(25:22):
Tell but they have a great training. Staff Coach Jim
kramer is one of the best conditioning coaches in all
of college FOOTBALL fcs OR. Fbs he's. Great so they're
already getting their workouts. In they get their conditioning. In
Poulos sick did say that THE ncaa is looking to
add An ota in the, summer Which polisick. LOVES i
(25:45):
don't know if every school loves. IT i would assume they.
Would polisick loves. It he said it'll be great for
the incoming freshmen and sophomores to get more time on the,
field to understand the, playbook to understand the. System really
excited about, that so look for some changes there with An,
ota and, boy The bison will really take advantage of.
That they have great, facilities some of the best in the.
(26:06):
Nation i've. Toured it. Unbelievable i'm even read. It it's
more modern than THE Tcf Performing arts Are Performing ARTS
Tcf Performing Performance center where The Viking Strain i've read
it's even more. Advanced than. That so The bison got
great things going. On they're gonna hopefully be hungry And
(26:30):
i'm sure they will be for this campaign as they
get ready for twenty twenty. Five, well i'm gonna call
it good right. THERE i can talk all day long
BECAUSE i get a little, excited but it's. Hell it's
been fun AND i Appreciate Beer Belly sports to allow
me this. Opportunity and by the, way i'd like to
say something About Beer Belly. Sports i've met them and
(26:56):
they don't have beer. Billy's they don't have beer bellies at.
All they don't have. Berbillies they're normal. Bellies the company
should be called Normal Belly sports BECAUSE i don't see bird,
bellies to be honest with. You so they're kind of.
Phonies BUT i really appreciate them nonetheless having me. On
(27:17):
so we're gonna have a good time this football. Year
hopefully we can get the rights to get some, interviews
but we're just gonna Talk bison. Football i'm gonna get
more comfortable as we go, along as the season goes,
along and we'll do more of. This so thank you
so much for. Listening this has Been bisen. Bits i'm
your HOST, tj take care of yourself and each other until,
(27:39):
later see you
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