inforum
North Dakota State head football coach Tim Polasek was unusually animated during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. When the media's questions ceased after 30 minutes, he appeared taken aback, indicating he had prepared additional remarks on various subjects and was eager to continue for another half-hour or even longer.
The heightened enthusiasm surrounding Polasek mirrors the palpable buzz for this year's homecoming game, where the Wyoming Cowboys will visit the Fargodome. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation, reminiscent of the 2013 season when Bison football tickets were highly coveted and every home game was a major event.
On Saturday, the excitement will be amplified when former coach Craig Bohl is shown on the video boards and legendary quarterback Steve Walker is honored as a Bison hall of famer before a packed stadium. In 2013, NDSU set a single-game attendance record with 19,108 fans—over 400 above capacity—for a homecoming game against Missouri State, and that mark could be challenged this weekend.
The game has been sold out since August 3, two months ahead of kickoff, and there is a possibility that standing-room-only tickets will be released later in the week, depending on whether Wyoming returns any of its ticket allotment. If the Cowboys utilize all their tickets, NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen indicated that SRO tickets will likely be made available.
Polasek mentioned that he has never received so many ticket requests from the coaches' allotment, though he noted that the move to FBS has increased the number of coaches, reducing the available pool. "I apologize to anybody that maybe I helped in the past," he joked. He also shared a conversation he had on his way in: "I did make a phone call on my way in today to someone and I said, 'What are you feeling out there?' ... They said, 'Everybody's asking for tickets or they just want to come to tailgating because they can't get tickets.' I think it's pretty high as far as the excitement level."
On the secondary market, SeatGeek lists the cheapest seat at $212 for Section 27 in the north end zone, Row U, while the most expensive is $1,208 for two seats in Section 20 on the west side, Row W. TickPick reports that the NDSU-Wyoming game has the highest get-in price of any college football game this week at $262, surpassing Ohio State-Iowa at $239.
Bison tight end Reis Kessel remarked, "I think it's going to be the most-hyped game for sure. You should see our team group chat right now. Everyone is asking for tickets. Everybody wants to come to this game." After years of declining attendance and half-full domes for FCS playoff games, the Bison are once again a hot ticket. The next home game on October 17 against Nevada has only about 350 tickets remaining.
Before the move to FBS was announced in February, NDSU's Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule included a game against Southern Illinois in Fargo. It is doubtful that such a game would have sold out two months in advance or that anyone would have dared to ask $1,208 for a seat to see the Salukis. The FBS transition is a significant factor, but the Wyoming game offers irresistible storylines.
Key Analysis
It's homecoming, the first home game in the Mountain West Conference, and the Bison are 4-0, receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and in early discussions for the Group of Six spot in the College Football Playoff. Craig Bohl, who built NDSU's FCS dynasty with three consecutive national championships from 2011 to 2013 before leaving for Wyoming, will be in attendance, and his son, Aaron, now serves as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator. Steve Walker, the miracle-working quarterback who led numerous last-second comebacks during the Bison's transition from Division II to FCS, will also be there. Bison fans have seemingly viewed Wyoming as a rival since the move to the Mountain West became official, and a traveling trophy was added this week. Additionally, the team will wear special Mountain West-themed uniforms. With so much happening—some new, some old, all exciting—it's no wonder Polasek was reluctant to stop discussing the game.
Originally reported by inforum.