Tim Walsh knows the growing pains a football program goes through when making the transition from Division II to Division I.
Walsh was the coach at Portland State when the Vikings made a similar jump years ago.
"It's difficult at first," said Walsh, now the coach at Cal Poly.
But he's seen UND make some big strides this season. And he's not surprised that UND is starting to have the success it had as a Division II program.
"The more you get involved in it (transition) the more you start to find out that you're going to end up right back where you were as far as being a national type of power," Walsh said. "Give them credit for how much they've evolved as a (Division I) program."
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The Sioux, after a three-win season in 2010, are 4-2 and ranked No. 18 this week in the FCS coaches' poll.
UND will play Cal Poly on Saturday at the Alerus Center -- the winner having the inside track at capturing the Great West Conference title. Both teams are 1-0 in the league, and in a four-game conference schedule, there is no room for error.
"To win this conference, you have to win one of your two games on the road," Walsh said.
UND already has accomplished that feat, winning at Southern Utah two weeks ago. Cal Poly beat SUU at home last week, rallying in the final minutes for a 31-27 win.
But Cal Poly has not won at UND, losing 31-17 two years ago.
Expecting chaos
Teams from the West Coast rarely play in domes; and the turf the Mustangs will play on Saturday at the Alerus Center is much different than what they've experienced.
The noise that is expected from UND's homecoming crowd also is a concern.
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"It'll be tough playing there; it'll be loud," Walsh said. "We'll just have to deal with those conditions."
But the Mustangs may have to deal with another condition. Cornerback and return specialist Asa Jackson, one of the top players in the Great West, went down with a foot injury against SUU. There was no word on his availability against the Sioux.
Cal Poly, however, will enter Saturday's game with confidence. The Mustangs, trailing by three points, went on a 70-yard drive in the final minutes to score the game-winning touchdown against SUU -- the preseason Great West favorite. Quarterback Andre Broadhus engineered the drive, scoring on a 4-yard run with 45 seconds to go.
"The two-minute offense is not our forte," Walsh said. "But we ran the ball effectively on that last drive. Our confidence level was up."
Cal Poly runs the triple-option offense, which generates an average of 260 rushing yards per game. UND's strength is run defense; the Sioux rank No. 3 in FCS run defense. So, what will give Saturday?
"Any time it's strength versus strength, what a tremendous challenge it is," Walsh said. "We'll do what we do and I'm sure they'll do what they'll do. I'd be shocked if it's not a close game."
But Walsh isn't shocked that UND so far has made some noise at the FCS level. "North Dakota is probably feeling like they're on their way," Walsh said.
Nelson reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1268; (800) 477-6572, ext. 268; or send e-mail to wnelson@gfherald.com .
