THIS WEEK: Minot State opens the 2011 season on the road at Bemidji State Thursday night. The 13th annual Beaver Bash is set for 7 p.m. at BSU's Chet Anderson Stadium.
TRADITION IN TRANSITION: Minot State is in its third season of a four-year transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. MSU advanced to Year Three Provisional status in July and is expected to complete the transition in July 2012. Minot State was selected to join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2012-13.
RECORDS: This is the season opener for both programs.
COACHES CORNER: Minot State's head coach is Paul Rudolph, who begins his fifth season at his Alma Mater. Rudolph is a solid 26-15 overall in four seasons, coaching the Beavers to the NAIA national playoffs in 2009, the first time MSU has advanced to the playoffs in eight seasons. BSU head coach is Jeff Tesch who is starting his 16th season at Bemidji State. Tesch is 98-63 overall.
ON THE AIR: The games are broadcast locally on KCJB 910-AM with Scott Kittell calling the play-by-play. Live stats and live audio can be accessed online at (www.msubeavers.com).
RANKINGS: Neither team was ranked in any of the three major NCAA Division II polls (AFCA, d2football.com, SuperRegion 3).
RECENT HISTORY: MSU finished the 2010 season on a high note, beating up South Dakota Mines 30-7, ranked 16th in the NAIA national poll heading into the game, at the 2010 Dacotah Bank DAC Bowl at the FargoDome.
OVERALL SERIES: The Minot State Beavers have struggled with their Minnesota namesake as MSU has one just one game in the “Beaver Bash.” MSU's only win in the series so far came at Bemidji in 2002, taking a 35-28 contest. Bemidji has won eight straight, including a 24-7 victory last season in Minot.
NOTING THE BSU BEAVERS: Bemidji State's head coach Jeff Tesch is just two wins shy of 100 for his career, who is the Beavers career leader in wins… The Northern Sun only had two players who rushed, threw and caught a touchdown during the 2010 season – both played for Bemidji State as juniors Lance Rongstad and Justin Lee both accomplished the feat… BSU dominated last year's statistical battle as they finished with a 428-86 margin in total yards… Bemidji State was shutout first the first time since 1997 in a 10-0 loss in week two against Augustana College.
LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED: Minot State and Bemidji State have utilized an early Thursday night start date for the past three games between the two teams. But this season the teams are about as early as you can get. The game is the kickoff for all of NCAA Division II.
MOVING ON UP: MSU starting quarterback C.J. Evans (R-Fr., Havre, Mont.) was listed as No. 3 on the depth chart heading into the start of the season. Evans, however, impressed the Beavers coaching staff to move into the starting position after a solid fall season. Evans will be making his first collegiate start Thursday. Evans is a transfer from Montana State-Northern in Havre and was a high school teammate of starters Mike Hickman (R-Fr., DB, Havre, Mont.) and Nate Christianson (So., WR, Havre, Mont.)
FAMILY FEUD: Minot State defensive back Trace Jahner (So., Bemidji, Minn.) is the son of former MSU player and current BSU assistant head coach Rick Jahner. Rick has the upper hand so far in the family feud as his Beavers have topped Trace's team twice in as many meetings.
HE IS MARSHALL: Minot State sophomore Chad Marshall (LB, Hazen, N.D.) came on strong after not playing in the first two games of the season last year due to injury. Marshall finished tied for the team's lead in tackles with 60, but did so in two fewer games than now graduated defensive back Tyson Snelling. In his last four games, Marshall had double figures in tackles three times including an impressive 14 stops against South Dakota Mines (10/16).
OPENING WOES: Minot State hasn't won its season opener in eight seasons, dating back to 2002. The last win for MSU to start the season was a 35-28 win over Bemidji State in 2002 at Bemidji. Minot has been outscored 285-114 during that stretch in the first game of the season. Minot is 39-38-6 in openers over its history.
RUDY, RUDY, RUDY: MSU senior wide receiver Zac Rudolph (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) needs just 80 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for his career. Rudolph has played in 31 games over his three-year career.
TAKING SOME SCHATZ: Minot's senior running back Tyson Schatz (Minot, N.D.) had his best season in a Beavers' uniform last year as he gained 745 yards to lead Minot State. Schatz also had five rushing touchdowns. Over three years, Schatz has gained 1,727 rushing and has another 180 yards receiving.
– GO BEAVERS –
