Gerry Gilmour

New Century Press

North Dakota State University student athletes studying football under Craig Bohl the year face not only the Eagles but mid-term finals.

Demanding defensive schemes and confounding calculus equations are being crammed in their brains as they prepare not only mid-term finals but the NCAA Football Conference Subdivision semifinal Saturday against a talented team from Georgia Southern.

Talented students, as well as athletes, mind you. “We’re very fortunate the game is Friday, and not Saturday,” says Ted Moore, provost of Georgia Southern University. “(The team) will be traveling Thursday night (Dec. 15). They’ll put down their pencils, board an airplane bound for North Dakota.”

Few of Georgia Southern’s players hail from northern climes, Moore says.

The forecast for Fargo at 1:30 kickoff time is 35 degrees. And it’s looking like no snow for tailgating. Lots open at 8:30 a.m. for the event, with Fargodome doors opening at noon.

Rob Sobolik of the Fargodome says they received 14 inches during last season’s brief playoff run.

North Dakota State University has moved its commencement to the Bison Sports Arena, from the Fargodome on Friday. Conversely, the Bison State Arena box office will be open today (Dec. 15) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for will-call tickets. If you do not have a ticket by the time you read this, a sellout is highly likely. However, the ticket office will be moved to the Fargodome Saturday, also 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets would be available if season-ticket holders declined to purchase those.

Jeff Schwartz, of the Bison Athletics department, says fans have been incredible, showing out as 17,432 vs. James Madison and 18,111 vs. Lehigh. This much is true: “To have three, back-to-back playoff games has been an exceptional benefit,” says Troy Goergen, associate director for athletic communications at NDSU.”