Image courtesy of NDSU Football
By An Intelligent Sports Mind
JMU and North Dakota State are two of the best FCS teams in the country, and the powerhouses will meet in the FCS semifinals Friday night.
I think JMU should let North Dakota State win.
If you know anything about FCS football, you know JMU is the top team in the subdivision. The Dukes have played in three consecutive FCS semifinals under head coach Curt Cignetti, even making the national title in 2019.
Aside from 2018 — JMU made the playoffs but fell short in the second round after being pelted by snowballs from Colgate fans — the Dukes thrive deep into the postseason. JMU won the national title in 2016, beating down NDSU in the process. In 2017, the Dukes made the national title before the refs took the game out of their hands with questionable calls.
So yeah, JMU is the cream of the crop.
North Dakota State, on the other hand, is also a tremendous program. The Bison made the FCS semifinals in 2016 and reached the quarterfinals in 2020. Nice job!
It’s clear, though, that NDSU is JMU’s “little brother” at the FCS level. Here’s one example: North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance was the program’s top player in 2019. He was drafted No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he’s the team’s backup right now.
Ben DiNucci, JMU’s quarterback in 2019, started a game for the Dallas Cowboys on national television as a rookie, and he was only a seventh-round pick. His sidearm throws drew comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. The same can’t be said for Lance, a first-round pick.
JMU’s seventh-round picks seem to find more success than NDSU’s first-round stars. Just imagine how good a JMU first-round pick could be at the NFL level.
On the gridiron, North Dakota State hasn’t won a game in Harrisonburg EVER. The Bison are winless at Bridgeforth Stadium. Elon has more wins at Bridgeforth Stadium in the last five years than NDSU, which tells you all you need to know about the Bison when they play outside their precious dome.
JMU has won in Fargo.
The Dukes battled the elements on a frigid December day to beat the Bison 27-17 in 2016. Most impressively, many of JMU’s players wore short-sleeve shirts during that game. The Dukes showed tremendous toughness despite the low temperatures in Fargo that day.
It’s also worth noting that North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz attended Wartburg College. That’s a weird name for a college, and it’s not a football powerhouse by any means. JMU head coach Curt Cignetti was an assistant at Alabama. Yep, the one with Nick Saban.
I bet Nick Saban doesn’t even know what Wartburg College is! I wonder if Dr. Scholl’s was a professor there.
JMU, AKA Quarterback U, is also an elite athletic program, too. The men’s basketball team beat UVA recently. The softball team played in the College World Series. NDSU’s softball team went 16-29 last season.
In short, NDSU doesn’t have much going for it. The Bison care mostly about football, and even then, they usually play second fiddle to JMU.
I think JMU should let NDSU win. The Dukes are moving to the FBS. The Bison have to stay in Fargo forever. It’s the least JMU could do.
If you disagree, I understand. Letting someone win goes against the “integrity of the game.” In that case, JMU should spot NDSU a 14-point lead. At least that way the Bison would stand a chance Friday night.
Whatever happens, it’s hard to see a team like NDSU stuck in JMU’s shadow. The Bison have a proud football tradition, and it’d be nice to see them get over the hump one day.
Little brother how many titles as the duds oh I mean
Dukes won.
Please keep printing articals like this it burning fuel in our Bellies cu Dukes Friday night at the dome of doom.
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I hope you understand that its Satire……
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The Dukes will be fortunate to win even though they fight hard to the end!
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Its a sad attempt at satire. Any writer who would publish this even as a joke is a douche.
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You obviously have to be writing this blurb with tongue and cheek either that or you’re just not very knowledgeable about FCS football past a couple facts that you state. Maybe you’re getting graded for your bias scribble in your cute little school paper. D-
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Clearly you’re uneducated on Bison football. Frigid temps, most JMU wore short sleeves? Have you done your homework? Fargodome (DOME) IS A COOL 70° EVERYDAY!! Have you forgot about the 8 National Titles, Let me reinform you of them; 2011,2012,2013,2014, 2015,2017,2019!!
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Forgot 2018 as well. Never been done before. Also October 3rd came in and played and October 10th STARTED FOR THE NINERS. Great comedy relief story you wrote. Might wanna do homework before you rant
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Where’s ben dinucci?
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Yea jmu beat us in Fargo but they did not beat us in the championship games jmu is 0-2. Who has played and won more games in the last 10 years and championships
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Good one!
🤘😂😂🤘
Good luck to both teams , and let’s have a Great Game.
Hopefully no injuries.
GO BISON
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Are you out of your damn mind – Hell no will the Dukes “allow” the Bison win on Friday –
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Well played sir, well played.
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Great article….cracks me up when people are too dumb to realize it.
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Hey Jeff…..get better. How can you allow a brilliantly written article like this to get you going? You give anyone and everyone from that podunk state of ND a bad name cause you suck.
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Let the Bison win???? I’m not sure that is even possible. The daunting task of playing a soon-to-be FBS team may be so overwhelming that JMU may actually need to assist NDSU in scoring. I can’t see NDSU scoring any points otherwise.
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Really? For a school of its size, the Bison are they great white north Alabama! We may be a “podunk” town( you don’t know Fargo) but we kick @ and make sure you watch Friday night.
Bison don’t suck, nor swallow .
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Sounds like he is already making excuses because he knows the Bison can’t be beat in the dome
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I believe the “elite” Dukes just lost to the Cream of the FCS CROP…..Again. Go Bison. What an ignorant article from an ignorant dipshit.
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Lol this is hilarious. Frigid day 62 degree day in Fargo. Pretty funny gave me a chuckle.
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Jmu enjoy getting beat by Marshall the next ten years like your big brother ODU has the last few years… MU fan for life
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NDSU is the Alabama of FCS. JMU can’t hold NDSU’s jock.
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This is the dumbest thing I have read in a very long time. NDSU beat JMU more than the other way around and have more recent titles by a mile. NDSU is the Bama of FCS. JMU might be the Auburn.
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Just think, next year it will likely be Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and JMU playing for all the marbles.
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🤣🤣🤣🤣
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I hope this isn’t your day job.
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Good that’s what I was looking for satire, took me awhile to believe what was written!
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It took me until ‘pelted by snowballs’ to understand the article.
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Whether______________ this article ______ is
__________ satire
or
not,____________
————– it’s ———a—————-
waste _____________
of ———- space!________
Just ________ like this _______
comment!
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Trolling is a great way to catch fish!
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Little brother? I live 2 hours from JMU, but NDSU has won 8 Natty Championships since 2011, beating JMU for their last one. It’s more like JMU is the little brother. You’re delusional. 🤣
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I hope the Bison players read this.
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Boy Oh Boy, a ton of my NDSU fans must have no concept or understanding of a SATIRE!
Go Bison!
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Obviously a satire piece. But…what do you mean let NDSU “get over the hump?” Since the Bison claimed FCS national titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, I would say they’ve been over the hump more than any other team in the last decade. Screw them, please destroy them JMU. Carry on.
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This was hilarious!
Signed,
Bison Alum and superfan!
PS this should be a great game!
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Great story! Hook, line, and sinker as they say. Hahaha.
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You people at JMU Sports are far gone its unbelievable. You guys have won how many national titles? 2. Wow you guys are the TOP of the FCS. NDSU has won 8 of the last 10 FCS championships. You say the refs. took the game away from JMU. Well excuses are like a–holes and they all stink. Maybe look at reality. They must not be as good as you think or they would have more rings. You also left out Carson Wentz #2 overall pick. That was years before JMU was even relevant in the fcs playoffs. All anyone hears from JMU is whining. Prove your better beat the top teams.
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you’re
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This is an unbelievable article that has me on the floor laughing. I’m hopeful for at least a decent game Friday so I don’t leave at halftime but jmu is nothing compared to ndsu. You can’t even compare the two schools. I understand this is a joking article but wow how do you even come up with some of this! So many made up “statistics”. Ndsu has the coaching and the players to beat just about any team in the country in the fargodome. They have proven time and time again knocking out fbs schools game after game. Get a life dude. Go bison!
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Bullshit. Sam Houston beat the Dukes. See you a-holes in the fbs.
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sham flukeston
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I understand that this is [intended to be] satire, but much of the information that might have made this article humorous is missing or misstated. NDSU winning 2017, 2018, & 2019 but being deliberately excluded is just dumb. You could have included that and still called them JMU’s little brother because JMU was the only black eye on what would have been 9 consecutive championships.
At any rate, sad attempt at best, IMO.
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LETS SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT JMU. NO OTHER FCS COLLEGE HAS WON 8 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVER, LET ALONE FIVE IN A ROW. NDSU IS THE PROGRAM THAT EVERYONE IS CHASING AND THE ONE EVERYONE WANTS TO BEAT. YOUR A RESPECTED PROGRAM RIGHT NOW THATS FOR SURE BUT IN THE FBS YOU WILL BE A JOKE. SO TUCK YOUR TAILS AND RUN TO THE FBS LEVEL WHERE YOU WILL NEVER BE A CHAMPION AGAIN.
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This article is trash, satire or not. Bennett Conlin you are by all sorts of the definition of a cuck. You should never be allowed to post a sports article again. I cannot believe you would attach your name to something like this, let alone JMU sports news greenlighting this garbage.
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The one who wrote this article is all fucked up. Knows nothing about FCS football. We beat JMU 3 of the last 4 meetings. 2 for the National Championship. Ask Ben Ninucii about his last pass he threw. An interception to a Bison player and THE BISON WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. HAHA
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Not even an NDSU fan. But, this “bit” is a poor attempt at satire. How do you even have a job. If you need a job, well I have one for you. BTW, go Bob Cats, proud alum.
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Great article. I’m glad that the few JMU players that can read passed the message to the rest of team. Lol. I love the satire. It was a great game that either team was deserving to win. Class act by JMU KIDS that left everything on the field even after the game.
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This is more funny today. Well done sir and best wishes in the big leagues
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