UND football coach Dale Lennon is imploring Sioux fans to attend Saturday's home playoff game against Winona State.
Last year's first-round playoff game with Winona drew a paltry 5,073 fans, one-half of their regular-season average. "It was a disappointing number," Lennon said.
He suspects the apathy is because UND has played Winona five times since 2001. "It's an opponent that is probably too familiar," he said. "The newness doesn't exist. It's almost become a conference game for us."
It probably was less the newness than the fact UND is 5-0 against Winona, including wins of 42-0, 49-2 and 41-7 in the last three meetings.
Regardless of the opponent, Lennon seeks to re-create the atmosphere of 2001, when UND had three ear-splitting games at the brand-spanking-new Alerus Center that led to its national championship in Florence, Ala. The newness of a deep playoff run and the newness of The Al made for a raucous environment.
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"It was contagious," Lennon said. "The fans thought they were making a difference in the outcome of the game - and they were. Everyone had ownership."
The comfort of being at home is helpful, but more helpful is the opponents' discomfort of trying to call audibles amid the noise.
So, with apologies to David Letterman, here are my Top 10 Reasons to Attend Saturday's Playoff Game:
1. No one will be doing push-ups on the sidelines after Sioux touchdowns.
2. It's a good thing there will be no push-ups on the sidelines, because Push-up Person may need emergency room treatment for exhaustion. UND is averaging 44 points a game against Winona and 41 points a game this season.
3. Weston Dressler. Saturday may be the last time you can watch the dynamic senior. For jaw-dropping awe, he's football's version of UND hockey's T.J. Oshie, only smaller. But Dressler apparently is a late bloomer. In the 2005 football press guide, he's listed as 5-foot-6. As a senior, he has sprouted to 5-foot-8.
I, at 5-foot-7½, have stood next to Dressler. And I tower over him. But for what Dressler does, he can be listed as taller than Shaq if he wants to be.
4. Ryan Chappell. Of all the running backs I've seen at UND, none can make would-be tacklers look sillier. As a sophomore, he's on pace to break the all-time UND rushing record of fellow Grand Forks Central grad Philip Moore. That's especially impressive considering the coaches didn't deem him the starter until the sixth game last year. Duh!
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5. Watch the Hogs. The Hogs are the nickname that the offensive linemen wear proudly. You have to admire anyone who embraces a name that usually has a negative connotation. This is akin to calling yourself the Limbaughs or the Schultzes.
6. For the ladies, Lennon will be easily visible on the sidelines. I don't understand this obsession middle-aged women have with him. I've never understood the preference for tall, fit and handsome over short, chubby and bald.
7. It's cheaper. Playoff tickets for adults cost $15 while regular season tickets were $18. Take that $3 savings and buy yourself half a hot dog (catsup and mustard included at no additional cost) or six ounces of beer.
8. It's likely the last home game of the season. There's an outside chance the Sioux could be at home later in the playoffs, but it's the longest of long shots. This is your last chance to see Dressler, Chappell, the Hogs, Lennon and those bargain-basement hot dogs.
9. It's also likely the last home playoff game until at least 2112. In going Division I, there are four years of playoff purgatory. Saturday's contest will be the 10th playoff game in the Alerus. To compensate for that lost revenue, don't be surprised if hot dog prices increase.
10. It's something to do to kill time before you watch the Thompson Tommies win the North Dakota state Class B volleyball championship later Saturday.
Bakken reports on local news and writes a column. Reach him at 780-1125, (800) 477-6572 ext. 125 or rbakken@gfherald.com .
