FARGO — Spring football practice started with uncertainty for North Dakota State in March, with several coaches and staff members being new to the system and 103 players wondering what the next 15 practices would be like. It’s ending on Saturday with the Green and Gold Spring Showcase, a free public event at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
As of mid-afternoon Friday, there were still 103 players on the roster. Head coach Tim Polasek said after Thursday morning’s practice that nobody had left.
“I’ve seen great leadership within the team,” said senior quarterback Cam Miller. “I think stressing the importance of loyalty and staying true to this program. For me, it means a lot when you sign your letter of intent when you’re in high school that it has to mean something to you and we’ve been going around the team letting people know that. We made a commitment to this team and this team is going to commit to us.”
NDSU’s scrimmage-like practice will begin at 1 p.m. with seating available on the east side of the dome. Don’t expect much in the manner of game-like conditions. Polasek said there will be a couple of periods of live contact and added that he’s comfortable where his team is at from a physicality standpoint.
“But I don’t think we’re really stressed out about it,” Miller said of the Saturday event. “I think that product is going to come in the fall. Obviously we have a lot to work to do before we play Colorado so we’re not there yet. I think we’re just going to go out and have fun.”
Said quarterback Cole Payton: “They’re going to see us giving 100% effort, competing, improving and challenging each other and we’re just looking to be sharp, too, especially as an offense.”
Polasek said he would like fans to see a tight-knit team on Saturday that has an organized look to it during drills. There will be situations like a two-minute drill or fourth down plays.
“Really pounding those situations and the importance of those situations and how they impact games,” he said.
On another note, it will be the first time the public will see a Polasek team as a head coach. He was an NDSU assistant coach, most notably an offensive coordinator, before leaving for the University of Iowa in 2017.
“It’s our team, it’s this staff,” Polasek said. “I’ve enjoyed all the moments with the public and getting to know the fans. We’re going to continue to drive that we need everybody in the dome. From that standpoint, we’re going to do everything we can so that it’s a clean product and people want to come out and support these student-athletes.”
A few positions of note had depth battles like running back, where redshirt freshman Marty Brown showed some flash or wide receiver, where a host of younger players continued to develop. For the most part, spring ball turned into a complete evaluation of the roster.
The window for the transfer portal, however, doesn’t close until April 30 and NDSU’s roster may fluctuate after this weekend with spring practice done. With that many players on a spring roster, cracking the depth chart won’t be easy next fall and that could necessitate a few moves.
A few starters sat out spring ball to either preserve health or further continue to heal injuries. Polasek expects everybody who is projected to be a threat to see the field in some capacity to be healthy by this summer.
“We have a lot of big-time guys that can go to some pretty top schools,” Payton said. “But they’re staying, which is awesome because this place is special, this place is different and that’s why we’re here.”
Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he’s covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU’s Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: “Horns Up,” “North Dakota Tough” and “Covid Kids.” He is the radio host of “The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack” April through August.