Frisco or Bust

Hitting the pinnacle of success last season has left Bison football fans giddy for another trip to Texas this winter. There is no doubting the excitement surrounding the team in Fargo as season and single-game tickets went faster than freshmen getting kicked out of a house party. Everyone wants a piece of the action.

The buzz around the 2012 Bison has been unparalleled to teams in the past, leaving every fan in Bison Nation with the same mind-set: Frisco or Bust. As logical as this attitude seems, another championship season may be more difficult than fans want to believe. In no way do I want the Bison to fall short of our enormous expectations this season. After all, I missed my chance to witness the Bison raise their first FCS Championship trophy in person last season, and I’m also curious to see if everything is bigger in Texas. As a writer covering our schools most beloved program, their success is key when it comes to the enjoyment I have in writing about them. At the same time, I feel obligated to prepare each and every one of you for unexpected disappointment.

In football, like any sport, you can never predict what will transpire throughout the course of a season. Championship runs can be stopped short with one twist of a knee, one missed call by an official or one false step by a defensive back, and you just never know what will happen next. Take bad luck out of the equation and I believe there are still factors within this Bison team that will prevent them from replicating the success of last season. It all starts with our captain, our leader and our quarterback, Brock Jensen.

There is no question when it comes to Jensen’s leadership. Not only is our quarterback a proven winner, he is one of the gutsiest competitors in recent memory. This can be shown by his knack for always making a play when it is needed the most. He is the ace of the pitching staff, the clean-up hitter and the guy getting the rock with seconds remaining down by a bucket. Jensen is our Josh Willingham. Whether Jensen is scrambling out of the pocket to elude the pass rush and hitting a tight-end streaking across the middle of the field, or tucking the ball and picking up the first down himself, Jensen is one of the best at coming through when it matters the most.

With that being said, an individual’s performance on the football field can only be elevated with the help of his teammates. The skill players Jensen had last year are worth mentioning when he was in those tight spots. Players like Warren Holloway, DJ McNorton and Matt Veldman were Jensen’s go-to targets last year and all helped bail out our quarterback on numerous occasions. These three were so vital to the success of our quarterback that they collectively hauled in all of Jensen’s 14 touchdown passes last year. With those players not with us this season, Jensen’s safety blanket has been removed and we will get to see firsthand how Jensen reacts with less talent surrounding him. I’m not expecting a Jose Mohler circa 2010 performance but anything Steve Walker-esque is unlikely.

The quarterback position is as important to a football team as having a hot goalie in hockey during the playoffs. Without it you’re not getting anywhere. And let’s face it, the Bison football team isn’t getting anywhere unless Jensen makes the leap from leader to legend.