North Dakota State Bison
Encyclopedia
The North Dakota State Bison is the name of the athletic teams of North Dakota State University
(NDSU) which is located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota
. The teams are often called the "Thundering Herd". The current logo is a bison
.
In the past, North Dakota State has been a member of the North Central Conference
, the Great West Football Conference
, the United Basketball Conference
and as an independent.
team, which (since 1993) plays their home games at the Fargodome
, was a dominant force in Division II. They won national titles on eight separate occasions (1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990) before moving up to Division I-AA (now FCS) in 2004. The program was the winningest in the history of the NCAA Division II North Central Conference with 17 outright championships and 27 total league football titles. The program has also seen some success since moving to the FCS classification. In 2006, the Bison posted a 10-1 record that included a win over Division I-A Ball State
. During a 2006 game against Division I-A Minnesota, NDSU led for much of the game, but a last-second field goal attempt was blocked by Minnesota, resulting in a 10-9 loss. The following season, the Bison won their first Great West Conference championship and achieved the #1 ranking in major FCS polls for a majority of the season. During this season, the 2007
Bison football team defeated FBS members Central Michigan University
and the University of Minnesota
. In 2010, the Bison defeated the FBS Kansas Jayhawks, 6-3, for their first win over a Big 12 program.
The Bison basketball
program includes a men's and a women's team. The teams play at the Bison Sports Arena
. The women's basketball team was known as a dominant force in Division II throughout the 1990s. They won five titles during the decade (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996). The men's basketball team won an upset victory over the University of Wisconsin–Madison
on January 21, 2006, potentially increasing the chances of being accepted into a conference. The Bison also upset Marquette University
on their home court at their tournament ,64-60, on December 2, 2006. They recently have been accepted into the Summit League. On March 10, 2009, The Bison defeated Oakland 66-64 to win the Summit League Tournament and a bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
The Bison wrestling
program has also had success under coaching legend Bucky Maughan, winning four NCAA Division II team titles (1988, 1998, 2000, 2001). The wrestling team is fully eligible for NCAA Division I tournament competition.
The 2008-2009 season was a banner year for NDSU athletics. In December 2008, NDSU's women's volleyball team captured the Summit League's regular season and tournament championships (doing so with a perfect league record) to become the first program at the school to earn a berth in a Division I NCAA tournament. The Bison dropped their opening round match to the University of Minnesota.
On February 28, 2009, the Bison men's basketball team captured the Summit League regular season championship, the school's first at the Division I level, by defeating Oral Roberts 75-72 in Tulsa, OK. Two weeks later, NDSU earned its first men's basketball NCAA berth by winning the Summit League Tournament played at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Bison defeated Centenary 83-77 in the tourney quarterfinals, stopped Southern Utah 79-67 in the semifinals, and edged Oakland 66-64 in the championship game. The Bison traveled to Minneapolis for a first round game with the defending national champions, the Kansas Jayhawks, and fell 84-74. NDSU's tournament appearance marked the first time in almost 35 years that a Division I men's program qualified for the tournament in its first season of eligibility.
In the spring of 2009, the Bison women's softball team won the Summit League tournament in Macomb, Illinois and became the school's third team to appear in an NCAA tournament in the calendar year. In its opening game in May, the Bison upset #9 ranked Oklahoma, 1-0, in an 11-inning game that spanned two days due to a weather delay. The Bison would go on to win the regional with victories over Tulsa, 3-2 and 4-1, to advance to the Super Regional (Sweet Sixteen) of the tournament, where they were eliminated.
In the fall of 2010, the Bison women's soccer team achieved the program's first NCAA tournament bid with a victory over Western Illinois in the Summit League tournament final.
is a series of 12 radio stations that broadcasts Bison athletics to North Dakota
, Minnesota
, Montana
, and South Dakota
over the air, and around the world via online streaming.
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
(NDSU) which is located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. The teams are often called the "Thundering Herd". The current logo is a bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
.
Athletic teams
- FootballNorth Dakota State Bison footballThe North Dakota State Bison football program represents North Dakota State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level and competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. From 2004 to 2007, the Bison were members of the Great West Football...
- men's - Basketball - men and womenNorth Dakota State Bison women's basketballThe North Dakota State University Bison women's basketball team is part of the athletic program at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, USA. They are members of the NCAA Division I...
- Baseball - men's
- Cross Country - men and women
- Golf - men and women
- SoccerNorth Dakota State Bison soccerThe North Dakota State University Bison soccer team is part of the athletic program at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. They are members of the NCAA Division I. The current Bison soccer head coach is Pete Cuadrado.-Head coaches:...
- women's - SoftballNorth Dakota State Bison softballThe North Dakota State University Bison softball team is part of the athletic program at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. They are members of the NCAA Division I...
- women's - Track and field - men and women
- VolleyballNorth Dakota State Bison volleyballThe North Dakota State University Bison volleyball team is part of the athletic program at the North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. They are members of the NCAA Division I. The current Bison volleyball head coach is Kari Thompson....
- women's - WrestlingNorth Dakota State Bison wrestlingThe North Dakota State Bison wrestling team is part of the athletic program at the North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. They are members of the NCAA Division I and the Western Wrestling Conference...
- men's
Conferences
North Dakota State's intercollegiate sports teams participate in NCAA Division I in all sports (Championship Subdivision in Football) and as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference for football and The Summit League for all other sports.In the past, North Dakota State has been a member of the North Central Conference
North Central Conference
The North Central Conference , also known as North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, was a college athletic conference which operated in the north central United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
, the Great West Football Conference
Great West Football Conference
The Great West Conference is an NCAA college athletic conference in the continental United States. Formerly a football-only conference, in 2008 it became an all-sports conference...
, the United Basketball Conference
United Basketball Conference
The United Basketball Conference was a scheduling alliance of NCAA Division I basketball independents which began play in January 2007. Its members were:*University of Texas-Pan American *Utah Valley University...
and as an independent.
History
The Bison footballNorth Dakota State Bison football
The North Dakota State Bison football program represents North Dakota State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level and competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. From 2004 to 2007, the Bison were members of the Great West Football...
team, which (since 1993) plays their home games at the Fargodome
Fargodome
The Fargodome is an indoor stadium, located in Fargo, North Dakota. It opened in 1992 and holds over 19,000 people for football games and over 25,000, for full arena concerts....
, was a dominant force in Division II. They won national titles on eight separate occasions (1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990) before moving up to Division I-AA (now FCS) in 2004. The program was the winningest in the history of the NCAA Division II North Central Conference with 17 outright championships and 27 total league football titles. The program has also seen some success since moving to the FCS classification. In 2006, the Bison posted a 10-1 record that included a win over Division I-A Ball State
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
. During a 2006 game against Division I-A Minnesota, NDSU led for much of the game, but a last-second field goal attempt was blocked by Minnesota, resulting in a 10-9 loss. The following season, the Bison won their first Great West Conference championship and achieved the #1 ranking in major FCS polls for a majority of the season. During this season, the 2007
2007 in sports
2007 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* February 4 – Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win was the Colts' first Super Bowl Championship since their 1970-71 team, when...
Bison football team defeated FBS members Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
and the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. In 2010, the Bison defeated the FBS Kansas Jayhawks, 6-3, for their first win over a Big 12 program.
The Bison basketball
North Dakota State Bison basketball
The North Dakota State University Bison men's basketball team is a part of the athletic program at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, USA. They are members of the NCAA Division I and have been part of The Summit League since May of 2007. Home games are played at the Bison Sports...
program includes a men's and a women's team. The teams play at the Bison Sports Arena
Bison Sports Arena
Bison Sports Arena is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fargo, North Dakota. It was built in 1970 and is home to the North Dakota State University Bison basketball and wrestling team....
. The women's basketball team was known as a dominant force in Division II throughout the 1990s. They won five titles during the decade (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996). The men's basketball team won an upset victory over the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
on January 21, 2006, potentially increasing the chances of being accepted into a conference. The Bison also upset Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
on their home court at their tournament ,64-60, on December 2, 2006. They recently have been accepted into the Summit League. On March 10, 2009, The Bison defeated Oakland 66-64 to win the Summit League Tournament and a bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
The Bison wrestling
North Dakota State Bison wrestling
The North Dakota State Bison wrestling team is part of the athletic program at the North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. They are members of the NCAA Division I and the Western Wrestling Conference...
program has also had success under coaching legend Bucky Maughan, winning four NCAA Division II team titles (1988, 1998, 2000, 2001). The wrestling team is fully eligible for NCAA Division I tournament competition.
The 2008-2009 season was a banner year for NDSU athletics. In December 2008, NDSU's women's volleyball team captured the Summit League's regular season and tournament championships (doing so with a perfect league record) to become the first program at the school to earn a berth in a Division I NCAA tournament. The Bison dropped their opening round match to the University of Minnesota.
On February 28, 2009, the Bison men's basketball team captured the Summit League regular season championship, the school's first at the Division I level, by defeating Oral Roberts 75-72 in Tulsa, OK. Two weeks later, NDSU earned its first men's basketball NCAA berth by winning the Summit League Tournament played at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Bison defeated Centenary 83-77 in the tourney quarterfinals, stopped Southern Utah 79-67 in the semifinals, and edged Oakland 66-64 in the championship game. The Bison traveled to Minneapolis for a first round game with the defending national champions, the Kansas Jayhawks, and fell 84-74. NDSU's tournament appearance marked the first time in almost 35 years that a Division I men's program qualified for the tournament in its first season of eligibility.
In the spring of 2009, the Bison women's softball team won the Summit League tournament in Macomb, Illinois and became the school's third team to appear in an NCAA tournament in the calendar year. In its opening game in May, the Bison upset #9 ranked Oklahoma, 1-0, in an 11-inning game that spanned two days due to a weather delay. The Bison would go on to win the regional with victories over Tulsa, 3-2 and 4-1, to advance to the Super Regional (Sweet Sixteen) of the tournament, where they were eliminated.
In the fall of 2010, the Bison women's soccer team achieved the program's first NCAA tournament bid with a victory over Western Illinois in the Summit League tournament final.
Media
The Bison Radio NetworkBison Radio Network
The Bison Radio Network is a series of 12 radio stations that broadcast North Dakota State Bison Athletics to North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota over the air, and around the world via online streaming.-List of stations:*Fargo, ND WDAY-AM 970...
is a series of 12 radio stations that broadcasts Bison athletics to North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, and South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
over the air, and around the world via online streaming.