The Sports Fan Project

Event 31 – Where the Bison Run Free

^{Simultaneously working on my toe tapping and touchdown celebrations in the Fargodome pregame. (Photo by Troy Goergen)}

Doug Hill on the field at the Fargodome — ^{Simultaneously working on my toe tapping and touchdown celebrations in the Fargodome pregame. (Photo by Troy Goergen)}

The Written Word

How FAR Would You GO for Football?
- Fargo Bonus – The Roger Maris Museum

Still Photos

There’s no doubt where you’re at when you pull up to the Fargodome.

A still breeze was blowing during our tailgate tour.

The Bison faithful would never boast, right?

This sign says it all.

And I got a photo with Bison Bob Clark.

Just like the FBS schools, Bison fans are serious about their tailgate vehicles.

Note the amount of weights holding the tents down.

Me and our host for the day, longtime Bison basketball coach Erv Inniger.

My friend Wayne (center) enjoyed himself during the tailgating.

Alas, the Dome went undefended the first weekend in December:-(

AC/DC once played here!

While owned by the city, the Fargodome is all in on the Bison.

Fans mill about on the concourse before the game.

ABout the whole leaning into the Bison thing.

We were able to get on the field pregame. It’s a big, yet cozy, place.

Wayne and I at the pylon.

A shot from midfield at the top of the stand pregame.

This program has enjoyed some success …

… wouldn’t you say?

The NDSU Gold Star band performs pregame.

Eli Ozick’s 46-yard field goal was good.

Our seats were terrific and offered good views of the Bison bench.

There’s no digital sign person telling how long media timeouts are, but the red vest was nearly as bad.

Sophomore Keenan Wilson (58) is a Bison starting defensive tackle.

This sign says it all.

The Bison gather at midfield post game to hear from their coaches.

Thundar tells the fans it loves them following the victory.

In the lobby of the Fargodome was a giant Christmas tree display.

Artificial trees were donated and decorated by local businesses.

Then given to economically disadvantaged families.

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Video

^{The pregame NDSU hype video in the Fargodome.}

^{The NDSU Gold Star band during halftime.}

^{A NDSU Bison running play.}

^{Timeout fun in the near endzone.}

^{A Bison field goal.}

Audio

^{NDSU Senior Associate Athletic Director Troy Goergen talks all things NDSU and Fargo.}

Fun Facts

Traveling Party – My friend Wayne and I.
Last Time Visited – Wayne had been in Fargo previously but never for a NDSU game. I’d never been to Fargo.
Witnessing the Harvest Bowl – Each year North Dakota State hosts a football game that is known as the Harvest Bowl. This year’s Harvest Bowl was the game we attended (November 15 against the University of Northern Iowa). NDSU was founded as North Dakota Agricultural College, and since 1973 the annual Harvest Bowl honors and supports the agriculture business in the state and region (it’s the state’s top industry). The Harvest Bowl recognizes the efforts of leading agriculturalists in all of North Dakota’s 53 counties and 10 western Minnesota counties. More than 3,000 agriculturalists have been recognized over the past 51 years. Additionally, the Harvest Bowl also recognizes and rewards the efforts of NDSU student-athletes with agricultural backgrounds and/or those earning agricultural degrees who are helping advance the industry. More than $1.5 million has been awarded in scholarships to NDSU student-athletes who are majoring in agriculture or have agricultural backgrounds. Also awarded is the Harvest Bowl Agribusiness Award which recognizes an individual who has distinguished themself in the field of agriculture in the state of North Dakota and beyond. This year’s recipient, whom I was introduced to shortly after halftime, was Carl Larson Sr.
One and Done – As noted in my written reflections of the NDSU-UNI game, longtime supporters of the Bison agree, the fan’s are a bit spoiled. They turn out for the big games, but success has had a bit of a corrosive effect on many fans. Fair weathered? Perhaps. Therefore, it was more than a bit stunning to read that NDSU had been upset by Illinois State in the Bison’s first FCS Playoff game this season, 29-28. That the Redbirds will be playing for the National Championship against Montana State in Nashville on January 5 is likely of small consolation to many Bison fans who likely were already planning on which honky-tonk to visit on Lower Broadway.
Running List of States Traveled To/Through (27 total) – Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, & Wyoming
Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through (8 total) – Argentina, Canada (Ontario & Quebec), England, Japan, Korea, Scotland, United States, & Wales
Distance Traveled – 118 round trip miles to Flint Bishop Airport plus 1,762 roundtrip air miles from Flint Bishop to Chicago O’Hare to Fargo for a total of 1,880 total miles.
Cumulative Distance Traveled After 31 Events – 70,115 miles
Up Next: The 112th CFL Grey Cup in Winnipeg, Manitoba

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