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October 13, 2003

UND Sioux vs. NDSU Bison Football

Jim Dahl

The most played football matchup in Division II will continue as the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University will meet on the gridiron for the 110th time on Oct. 18, 2003.

  • The winner of the contest takes home the coveted Nickel Trophy, a giant nickel 250 times the size of a 5-cent piece, weighing 75 pounds.
  • Both teams enter this contest with playoff hopes and the only 3-0 records in the North Central Conference (both are 5-1 overall)
  • UND holds the series edge at 61-45-3, the nickel trophy edge at 34-30, has a 2-game winning streak, and has won 9 of the last 12 meetings.
  • Some speculate that this series may be winding down, as North Dakota State has withdrawn from the NCC to join NCAA Division I-AA in football
  • Sioux and Bison fans around the country will be watching at alumni association sponsored viewing parties.
Tensions throughout North Dakota are always high before this matchup, forcing everyone in the state to take a side and splitting loyalties within families. This year tempers have flared over ticketing; NDSU does not yet engage in variable ticket pricing and Bison fans, the Fargo newspaper, and the Grand Forks newspaper have complained that $27.50 is an exorbitant price for this matchup ($11 more than UND's other home games). Few fans were so indignant as to actually miss the biggest football game in North Dakota and the Alerus Center is reported to be sold out for this matchup.

Another ticket controversy erupted after UND sold 200 tickets to NDSU at a discount for distribution to students. NDSU student government leaders decided to keep some tickets for themselves and threatened to yank the NDSU student newspaper's funding if they reported it (student government leaders later explained that they were joking about the threats, though not about keeping the tickets).

Though there is the expected partisan disagreement on how the teams match up, many Sioux and Bison fans predict a controlled, defensive battle as in years past. Despite that, most hope for a more exciting matchup than last season's snoozer in Fargo. That game marked UND's last win before a 4 game NCC losing streak; NDSU fared even worse, going on to finish the season 2-8. This year the contest regains its stature as a competition for control of the conference and playoff destiny.

Dear Dale Lennon:
Don't be tricked by the overall cautious play calling; the Bison are going to pull a stupidly risky play. Probably not going for a two point conversion when a field goal would tie the game; rather, something like an onside kick at a ridiculous time (e.g. opening kickoff), or a fake punt at an inopportune field position. Don't fall for it and make them pay.