NINE PAGES OF BISON COVERAGE INSIDE
NATIONAL
SUNDAY EDITION
The Forum
GOLDEN BOYS NDSU CLAIMS FIRST DIVISION I TITLE
North Dakota State University football players celebrate their 17-6 win over Sam Houston State during the Football Championship Subdivision title game Saturday at
FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The title is the school’s first since moving up to Division I in 2004.
In Frisco and Fargo,
Bison love is in the air
Frisco, Texas
R
ocky Hager has always
been an emotional guy.
But it was certainly
understandable when
tears welled up in his eyes as he
overlooked the stadium where
North Dakota State University’s
football team claimed a national
championship Saturday.
“Just look at this,” Hager said,
pointing to the 21,000-seat
stadium that was more than half
full of green-and-yellow-clad
Bison fans. There had to be
anywhere from 11,000 to 12,000
Bison fans cheering on a 17-6
victory over Sam Houston State
University.
“The volume of people, the
intensity of the enthusiasm is
really special,” said Hager,
NDSU’s all-time-winningest
coach who was dismissed back in
1996, much to the disliking of
many of those same Bison fans
yelling Saturday. “I know we had
a pretty good thing going when I
Mostly sunny
Copyright 2012 The Forum
O F FA R G O - M O O R H E A D
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2012
KEVIN
SCHNEPF
The Forum
쑽
was there, but nothing like this.”
Hager, who had 91 career wins
at NDSU, won NCAA Division II
national championships in 1988
and 1990. Not only did Saturday’s
win mark NDSU’s first national
title since 1990, but its first since
making the move to Division I in
2004.
“We barely hatched at that
time,” Hager said. “I don’t know
what the limit of this program is.
I don’t know if there is a limit.”
After Saturday’s win that had
Bison fans filling half the field
SCHNEPF: Page A7
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왔 28°
Details, D10
CHAMPIONS
INFORUM.COM
Carrie Snyder / The Forum
MORE TITLE GAME
COVERAGE INSIDE
Herd welcomed home
Title trophy in hand, Bison greeted by about 1,500
왘 A tight game early, NDSU
used big defensive plays to turn
tide in second half. D4
boisterous fans Saturday night at Fargodome, Page A7
왘 The Bison defense more
than held its ground against
one of the most explosive
offenses in FCS. D5
왘 NDSU’s hopes turned on a
fake punt in the third quarter
that led to go-ahead score. D5
왘 Munich, N.D., native Travis
Beck named game’s MVP. D7
왘 All around the region, fans
gathered to watch title game. A8
왘 Forum editorial: To make
title game in only fourth year of
Division I eligibility a
remarkable achievement. C4
COMING NEXT SUNDAY
Watch for a special
commemorative edition
reflecting on NDSU’s historic
season.
Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
The Bison football team presents the championship trophy to
fans Saturday night outside the Fargodome.
Fin
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