The Dukes Head to Fargo
And so we move on. Last weekend’s win over Eastern Kentucky was an exciting way to open the playoffs, but the time to celebrate has long passed. The JMU Dukes travel 1,336 miles this weekend for their round 2 clash with the North Dakota State University Bison. North Dakota State is looking to protect its home field and the Dukes are looking to keep up the momentum after securing their first playoff win since 2008 last Saturday.
Match-up – JMU Dukes (unseeded) vs NDSU Bison (#2 seed)
Records – JMU (8-4), NDSU (10-1)
Kick-off – 4:05 PM EST
Viewing Options – ESPN Gameplan or streaming via ESPN3.
Road Warriors
This will be the Dukes second straight playoff road game. This one has nothing to do with bidgate though. As a seeded team, NDSU will have the opportunity to play host all the way to the finals. Therefore the Dukes will take their longest road trip ever and head all the way to Fargo, North Dakota. Yes, North Dakota State University is in Fargo. That’s convenient since Fargo is the only city anyone has ever heard of in North Dakota. Although I still have it on good authority that every time someone stops to ask for directions there they start with “Wait, which Dakota are we in again?”. But I digress. Anyway, the 2011 Dukes are going to have to take a page out of the 2004 Dukes’ book and string together a few playoff wins on the road.
The Fargodome
Saturday’s game will be held in the Fargodome, NDSU’s 18,700 seat home. NDSU draws big crowds that get worked into a frenzy and give the Bison a distinct home field advantage. They also apparently eat a lot of hot dogs. In fact, in 2006 the FARGODOME sold 25,504 hot dogs, jumbo dogs, polish sausages, and brats…enough to stretch from West Acres Mall to the Flying J Truck Stop. I can only assume those two places are far enough apart to make that seem impressive. The most unique aspect of the Fargodome however is that it has an astroturf field. Yes, astroturf, not field turf. It’s like the Fargodome is some sort of 1980’s time capsule. I wonder if all of the Coke advertisements feature Max Headroom and fans mull around the concourse playing Q*bert during halftime. JMU seriously had to order $4,000 worth of turf shoes for this game. I’m sure you don’t have a lot of choice when it comes to turf shoes nowadays, but I really hope they snagged some of those sweet Walter Payton Roos with the zipper pockets on the side.
NDSU Strengths & Weaknesses
The Bison are similar to the Dukes in that they have an excellent defense. They are ranked 2nd in FCS in scoring defense and give up only 14.9 points per game. Not only does their defense prevent opponents from scoring, but they score themselves. They had defensive scores in 5 games this season. Offensively, NDSU has a slightly more balanced attack then the Dukes, but averages about 8 yards fewer a game. They score more though due to the defensive touchdowns and their 91% efficiency in the Red Zone. They employ a 2 headed rushing attack of Sam Ojuri and D.J. McNorton. The duo reached the endzone a combined 19 times. Warren Holloway was the top receiver and is a big play threat. He had 4 TDs of greater than 30 yards on the season.
Keys for the Dukes
There is nothing exotic here. The Dukes need to win the turnover battle and control the line of scrimmage. Obviously, if they get Dae’Quan Scott rolling it could mean good things. I think they’re going to need big contributions from Jordan Anderson this week though. He offers a different style that could keep the Bison D on edge. We all know the Dukes aren’t going to air it out, but mixing in some early completions to Brian Barlow and Kerby Long (completions, not end-arounds) should open things up for what the Dukes do best. On defense, they need to clamp down on the rush and prevent Holloway from getting over the top.
Beer of the Week
Sixpoint The Crisp. This is an amazing German style pilsner from my new favorite brewery, Sixpoint Craft Ales. It tastes just like it sounds, pleasantly malty with a super crisp bite of bitterness at the end. It’s a nice departure from all of the extreme beers trying to be the darkest roasted or hoppiest or whatever else is in favor. This is just an honest to goodness excellent beer. Nothing fancy, just well executed. Try some. You’ll love it.
Prediction
Look NDSU is a good team. They will be playing in front of a raucous home crowd and were ranked in the top 5 for most of the season. In case you were unaware though, the FCS polls are complete crap so don’t let that worry you. Yes, they rattled off an impressive 10-1 record. They lost to Youngstown State, a team that ended up on the wrong side of the playoff bubble though. They needed a late score to defeat Southern Illinois, a team that finished 2-6 in their conference. They had an impressive win over Northern Iowa, but they’re not unbeatable. Most JMU fans I know seem to be chalking this one up as a loss. We’re not. The Dukes are 10-0 in Justin Thorpes’ last 10 starts against FCS opponents. Scott and Anderson are rushing well. The o-line played angry and caught fire late last week. DJ Bryant is crazy and won’t let anyone quit. The Dukes have their swagger back. JMU 24 – NDSU 14.
I’m going to head to the concession stand for some Crystal Pepsi.
Your analysis of the game is spot-on.
Only exception:
Bison: 24
Dukes: 10
Getting new shoes this late in the season and playing on the rug really gets in your head. The rug also hurts, and we don’t have a lot of depth, as proven at ODU.
I never noticed Thorpedo was 10-0 in his last 10 games. Just win, baby.
You spelled FARGODOME wrong in every instance.
Thank you, thank you Rob for expressing our opinion that people are shockingly wrong in their pessimism at this team. We can usually count on JMU fans, especially over on the boards, to act irrationally, but rarely are they so down on our chances in a game.
This is North Dakota St. people, not Alabama. Are they good, heck yes. McNorton, the RB, jumps off the film. But as Rob stated, they’re clearly beatable. They’ve been coasting for nearly a month, losing to YSU, barely surviving a dreadful team in their finale, then fattening up on Thanksgiving bye week and arrogantly planning their trip to Frisco. To think they’ve lost their edge is not hard. Meanwhile, the Dukes have been playing hungry and desparate and flat out doin’ work during that time. This team is battle-tested and hungry.
We all know the difference between good and great in FCS is miniscule. That 10-1 record for our ’08 team that gave us all such bravado going into the playoffs masked that the Dukes were merely two or three miraculous plays (Scotty UR, Bosco Nova) and great breaks (“complete” call on Yancey’s two-pointer UR) away from 8-3 and a whole lot humbler outlook. Conversely, this year’s Dukes are on the other side. If the Maine holder lands his helicopter on the other side of the goal line and ODU doesn’t score a virtual hail mary, we’d all be crowing about “no respect, the MVFC sucks, we’ll show them.”
JMU has only played 6 quarters of really bad football (2H at ODU and UNH game) and that was when we were essentially installing a brand new OLine midseason. Since then we’ve scored 31, 34, and 23 (w/non-blind refs). Hell, going all the way back to Liberty the Dukes have scored 27 (LU), 20 (rain WM), 31 (UR), 24 (Maine), 34 (Nova), 20 in one half (ODU), 0 in 2ndH (ODU), 10 (UNH), then 31 (URI), 34 (UMass), and 23 (EKU). In other words, why the heck do we all think we aren’t going to score 24+ points because some plodding upper midwesterners outweigh us and play in a loud venue?! Again, this is North Dakota people. Land of regional “food” products filled with flour and silent consonants (knoephla soup – gag), where they mock normal pronunciations of their mascot’s name (listen for the Canadian “by-zen” from the PA guy), and they’re biggest fall event aside from this game is driving 70 miles to jump and fondle the ballsack of the world’s largest buffalo statue.
Finally, to quote some of my favorite BMitch wisdom for you Skins fans out there, “when you get a bunch of northern athletes against a bunch of southern athletes, you get the same result every time.” (See every SEC/BIG matchup basically ever). We may be small on defense and we may have had trouble stopping the short passing game, but I am absolutely positive this team hasn’t seen team speed in an opponent’s back 7 anywhere close to PatWilly, Robertson, Vidal, Marlowe, JJ, Cuffee, et al.
Dukes roll!
It does sort of scream to be in ALL CAPS doesn’t it? I bet it’s the best place in the world to see a monster truck show or the WWE.
If haven’t done already by someone in the Dukes locker room, the fact that NDSU has made travel plans for Frisco should be made IMMEDIATE bulletin board material. Just saying. #Motivation.
As for my prediction:
Dukes – 21
Bison Chips – 13
Dukes 28
Bison 24
As being a JMU Duke (grad. 2009) living in Bison country for the past year, I am THRILLED JMU will be playing here. While I’m attending grad school at NDSU, you know I’ll be wearing my purple and gold proudly in the sea of crazy Bison fans. In fact, I’m rubbing it in to my student’s faces today by wearing my JMU shirt around campus today.
Another fun fact about the Fargodome: when it is filled to capacity, the dome is the 6th largest city in North Dakota. This doesn’t mean Fargo with the dome… it just means the dome on its own. 🙂 J-M-U DUUUKES!!
You misspelled Thorpe’s first name, it’s spelled JustWin.
Wait. You’re living in North Dakota now? Are you in the Duke Club? If not, then please join. It’s been my personal quest to find someone in North Dakota to join this year (http://jmusportsblog.com/?p=2839) I’ll seriously paypal you $25 to cover the cost of you joining. This has to happen.
Awesome post & great 80’s references! Go Dukes!!
My only prediction: PAIN
In that link you provided about the hot dogs, it’s always in all caps.
lol..was thinking the exact same thing.
27-20 Good Guys
No way JMU wins the game NDSU will blow them out, JMU will be star struck in the 4th Quarter.
Just as a point of clarification, the Fargodome (it doesn’t matter if it’s ALL CAPS or not, noone cares) isn’t in a 1980’s time capsule. It’s a quality facility and the astroturf is being replaced with a sprintturf/fieldturf after this season. And to give you a comparison, JMU is from a city in Virginia that noone in “One of the Dakotas” has ever heard of either so we’re at least even. By the most recent census figures, Harrisonburg would only be the 4th biggest city in ND but you can make all the jokes you want. Have fun with the $4,000 in shoes Dukes, cuz it’ll be a gentle reminder of a miserable day.
I love the fallback mentality of “There’s a North and South Dakota?” shown by almost every JMU fan on every fan message board. I guess if it eases the pain of an upcoming loss though… *roll eyes now*
P.S. Where in the heck is Harrisonburg?
The fact that you attempted strengthen your argument by telling us that “Harrisonburg would only be the 4th largest city in ND” is priceless.
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/342542/group/Sports/
wait, are you Newell Wright from this article? so you LIED to the fargo newspaper?
cant wait to beat you chumps , F the east coast.
Well how about the fact that the Fargo metropolitan area has a population of 225,000 people?
Harrisonburg, not so much.
Either you guys out East choose to be ignorant and pretend that ND has nothing to offer, or you are just stupid. By a lot of the posts I read from your fan-base, I choose the second of the two.
time to get drunk downtown fargo and then hit the radisson bar at 1am to wake up the east coast sissies.
see you never again.
35-17 NDSU. not worth North Dakotas time to play JMU
After reading these posts I hope you all can get a refund on your education.
This is almost as good as the ‘Liberty Situation’. I like the spunk from the Fargo folks. It’s too bad that they take themselves so seriously. I like the H’burg as much as the next guy but I’d pick Fargo to live in. It doesn’t get cold or anything up there does it?
Should be a g g g g g g good game! Good luck!
Sounds like someone’s very serious fanbase is a) just a teensy bit nervous about this game (I mean, they do know it’s possible to be 7-4, win the play-in, and win the next week after all), and b) slightly underinformed that this blog, and I’d imagine most others like it, is completely tongue-in-cheek and proudly homerish for the Dukes!
Lakes you suck.
I would have thought JMU fans wouldnt be surprised that its advisable to make advance travel arraingements. We call Frisco a month ago just to see what hotels they had close to the stadium and they were already booked up. But if a school or fan base doesnt think there is a possibilty that their team will make it to the N/C game then you are correct why make plans in advance.
Should be a good game. Good luck to you and hope to meet some JMU fans at out tailgate.
what?
Welcome to North Dakota JMU and good luck tomorrow! Most people up here are pleased to receive you as friends, fans and most of all good hearted people!
31-28 JMU
Loved reading all of the comments above.. great banter! Looking at the stats and the various reviews I have seen for this game, it really looks like a great matchup. But, I trust that the Dukes will prevail!
Gotta go with a score of 24-17 again.. defensive battle. Let’s do it Dukes! See y’all at Bailey’s!
JMUSB has arrived…the people of North Dakota have taken notice.
Thanks. We feel the same way and wish we could be there tomorrow to meet some Bison fans in person. Enjoy the game!
this guy: student at JMU (graduated 2009)
guy in the article: taught at JMU (graduated BYU 1984)
You may hate on the East coast, but out here, at least we know how to read.
Chump.
Starstruck? LOL.
25 k > 18 k
You are a pussy.
Love seeing all of these fools getting riled up. You’re about to get dominated by a team that wears purple. How does that make you feel?
Difference between Fargo and Harrisonburg; The Burg is 90 minutes from Washington DC and two hours from Richmond. Fargo is 90 minutes from BumF*** nowhere and four hours from the 44th biggest city in America, Minneapolis.
My Mom’s whole family is from Billings, Montana. As a reference for Virginians, North Dakotans are the West Virginians of the West. And to see the beautiful state of North Dakota, watch the “documentary” movie Fargo.
Oooh yaaah, it’s a good’n, youbetcha hooooly smokes, fir sure.
I LOVE this blog….go Dukes!
Your welcome Rob! Wish you and JMU all the best. Should be a great game. Both teams are hungry, and looks to be a beautiful Saturday game day up here on the plains. I have to pick the Bison 30 – 21. Will be great to see east coast folks and share some football excitement!
yup, the game will not even be close, JMU got lucky last week and will only score 17 points this week.
we already have UNI has dominates us overall
how many of ndsu’s ten wins came against schools that only care about basketball? welcome to the dominant force that is the caa, north dakotans.
jmu 27 ndsu 24
Good point but the Missouri Valley is a tough conference as well. Beat Minnesota Gophers BCS by 13 at Minneapolis (they were weak this year though), Northern Iowa (always tough to beat), Indiana State (always tough to beat) and all other MVC teams except we lost a tough one to Youngstown State by 3 (our only loss.) We were not close to the top of our game that week although YSU (even though they did not make playoffs are always a good program.) We are 5-3 against BCS teams in the last 6 years. Have beaten Kansas (last year,) Ball State, Central Michigan. All away games. The 3 BCS teams we lost to were by a total of 20 combined points. This will be a great match-up as well.
JMU is too 1-dimensional to win this game.
The Bison defense is #2 in FCS and they will prove it today.
Bison win 34-17
dominant but win by 3 lol you will lose by at least 14.
The MVC really isnt that hard of a conference, and Indiana state is a joke.
the only 2 good and deserving teams in the conference made the playoffs.
34-17 NDSU
The West Virginia of the west…hahahaha. Awesome.
and the route begins
In response to someone who said something about “shockingly wrong in their pessimism of this team”…..
As one of those people, I consider it “realistic”. We don’t have an offensive identity at all. Let me ask you this- who is our best player? I have no idea. None of them stand out. DaeQuan gets the ball a lot but that just means you are a Running back, not an all-american. Are there any Tony LeZottes, Rodney Landerses, Maurice Fenners, Justin Rascatis, Akeem Jordans? Nope. None. Zip.
That being said, I tip my hat to this year’s team for making it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. I honestly thought (and still think) we are a 6-5 team, so I consider them to be overachievers. I can’t say it’s been a particularly enjoyable season, but it has been a successful one.
The irony of today’s game is that NDSU ran the exact same offense we ran in 2004 when we were good before we changed everything.
Congrats to James Madison on a good run! Hope all of you who made the trip to the north country had an enjoyable day. Thanks for being a part of our season! Hope to see you in the future! Was an exciting game to be a part of.
Classy comment Bison#1. Congrats to you and your fellow NDSU fans. Your defense impressed the hell out of me and it looks like you’ve got a great fanbase and terrific gameday experience. Hopefully JMU gets another shot at NDSU in the future. Good luck the rest of the way.
Thanks. One day I hope to take a family trip to the Shenandoah Valley and several other spots on the east coast. Also plan to check out JMU! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of this blog! – Rich
classy group of fans at north dakota today, gave jmu an ovation as they lost the game. best of luck to that fan group, gotta love fans that can win with class.
Scoreboard….
Scoreboard……..
Better luck next year Todd, you pompous eastern loser. Now you can focus on the only Duke I know of which I think you can find in N.C.
Good game your team played sdubs you loser.
Great place to live that D.C. area, no crime,honest people, and like Dukes football,you can always find losers.
Rugby guy, figures, usually the guys that can’t make the football team. Even a team that loses to us big, slow, northerners you punk LOSER.
Todd, you might want to check where the airplanes that protected the D.C. area during 9/11 are from. That’s right they were the North Dakota air national guard Happy Hooligans,scrambled out of Langley. So not only do we Dakotans kick your butts, we also save em when you cant.