Bison Fan Survival Kit     Whether a rookie or a veteran of the stadium, you know football is a technical game. And if keeping up with the action on the field isn't enough, you also have to prepare for the day surrounding the game. With that in mind, I offer 11 tips to make your game-day experience a winner. [1] The essentials: tickets - It's not too late to order tickets for every Bison game this season. But if you want to cheer on the Bison when they play Valporaiso, you'd better order your tickets now. They’re going fast according to the NDSU ticket office. Season tickets are $60-80 for the six 2004 home contests. Individual tickets are $12-16, except for kid’s tickets, which cost $4. [2] "Did you see that!?" - If your main interest is seeing the players, a seat near the field would be the ticket. For a more strategic scope, a seat in the upper portion of the Fargodome is advisable. Sitting closer to the field allows you to put faces with the names, but a higher seat allows you to see various defensive and offensive formations and plays. Basically the same reason why coaches on the sidelines wear headsets… because they can’t see through the forest of trees. And then there's the schematic view. The Fargodome has seating at each end zone, so you can see the play diagrams which coaches spend hours drawing on chalkboards look when applied on the field. My personal preference is end zone seating. When I used to live in Kansas City and go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Chiefs play, I would sit in the end zone seating because I liked to see play unfold…. [3] Break out the yellow - You're trying to get ready for the game, but half of your clothes are in the laundry, and the other half are strewn throughout your room. You might want to head down to Scheels or the NDSU Varsity Mart for a Bison sweatshirt, T-shirt or baseball cap. Just remember a good rule of thumb for your proper game-day attire: make sure it's yellow, or make sure it says Bison or NDSU. Once you've figured out what to wear, you might need to accessorize your ensemble. Maybe a Bison flag? Or green and yellow face paint? Or just maybe a funky yellow and green hairdo….. And what look would be complete without a yellow foam big finger? [4] Get tuned in - You can get the latest news from the Fargodome before game time on the Bison Radio Network. You can tune in to the game on WDAY-AM 970 - Fargo, KXMR-AM 710 - Bismarck, KEYZ-AM 660 - Williston and KDLR-AM 1240 – Devils Lake. If you want to hear Coach Craig Bohl’s analysis of the Bison, you can tune in every week to "The Craig Bohl Show," which appears weekly on TV stations: WDAY-TV, Fargo; WDAZ-TV, Grand Forks; KBMY-TV, Bismarck; KMCY-TV, Minot. Broadcast times will vary from station to station. Fans can even talk with Bohl on "Bison Feedback," a live call-in radio show broadcast Thursday nights throughout the season. The show begins at 6:45 p.m. on Mondays throughout the season on WDAY-AM 970-Fargo. A $50 subscription to the Bison Zone courtesy of Forum Communications will give Bison fans access to Media Personality Blogs, Bison Feedback Audio, the weekly Craig Bohl news conference on Mondays at 11:45 a.m., and game audio both live and archived of every Bison football game. [5] The guys in the stripes - Can’t make sense of those signs from the referees? The following are common ones, and if you look in the game-day program, there might be a complete listing. (No Images in archive column) [6] Strike up the band - Game-day traditions at the Fargodome start with the Gold Star Marching Band. The band is composed of more than 75 students and is conducted by Dr. Warren Olfert. In addition to performing during halftime, the band takes part in a pre-game ceremony 20-30 minutes before kick off. During the game, a band and fan favorite is Bruce Channel’s "Hey Baby." Impress friends and bystanders by singing along with the band while it plays the NDSU Alma Mater, “The Yellow And The Green.” [7] Blue 967, Z motion right, X delay, Gator right special, on two. - Now for the confusing part…. You don't have to memorize Bison plays, but knowing a little about the players shuttling on and off the field might help in determining what might happen. If you pay attention to the sideline, you can learn a little about how formation and how we the upcoming formation by who enters the huddle. The Bison will lineup in so many different ways. Like with one, two or three running backs; one, two or no tight ends; one, two, three or four wide receivers; and an enormous combination thereof. But if you just pay attention to a few details, figuring it out might be easier than at first glance. Say Bohl and the crew send in three running backs and two tight ends. This should tell you that a running play is bound to follow. But don't show off by announcing it to a group of friends. Sometimes a team will align one way and run something completely off the wall, not to confuse you, but the defense. Think about the situation, too. If it's third and long, and four wide receivers run onto the field, you can plan on seeing a long pass play. Also keep in mind the numbers on the jerseys. A player doesn't just show up at practice and say, "Coach, I wanna be number 10." There is a relationship between the position and the number of a player. Numbers 1 through 19 are usually reserved for quarterbacks, defensive backs and kickers. Numbers 20 through 59 are seen most frequently on running backs and linebackers. Numbers 60 through 79 are intended for offensive and defensive linemen. Numbers 80 through 89 are usually seen on wide receivers and tight ends. Numbers 90 through 99 are mainly linemen numbers. Defensive ends can sport almost any number 30 and up. Of course, there are variances to this system, but not much. [8] Make it an all-day affair - If you're looking to get the fullest game-day experience possible, you might want to call up a group of friends and plan a tailgating party. According to the American Tailgating Association, a successful tailgate party requires a lot of planning and preparation. Tailgating in groups is most practical and a definite preparation time saver. Members of the group can take turns providing food and beverages, so the same people aren’t doing all the work before each game…. "Two couples will usually pair up for a particular game and prepare or buy the food together. "That way the same people aren't doing all the work every game." Grilling dogs and burgers is a tradition with many tailgaters, but in recent years pizza and sub sandwiches are becoming popular allowing more time to socialize and chat about the game. Don’t forget the plastic cups for beverages and trash bags for cleanup…. [9] "Where is that *#&@#! stadium, anyway?" - So you're from out of town, and you don't have a clue where the football stadium is. Don't panic. It's easy to find. If you're coming from the west on I-94, merge onto I-29 N via exit number 349B, heading north continue 4 miles, take the 19th Ave N Exit – Exit 67, turn right onto 19th Ave N and continue driving east for approximately 1.75 miles, and you will see the Fargodome on the right. If you're coming from the south on I-29, take the 19th Ave N Exit – Exit 67, turn right onto 19th Ave N and continue driving east for approximately 1.75 miles, and you will see the Fargodome on the right. And I think if your coming to the Fargodome from the East or North you’ll be able to rearrange those directions and find the biggest damn building on the prairie… Now that you've reached the stadium, you need to find a place to park. Fan parking is located on the east and west sides of the stadium, but it's not free. Parking fees are usually around $3 per car. [10] "Look, one of the assistant coaches is waving at me." - Well, no, he's probably just signaling in a play for the offense or defense. During a game, coaches usually communicate with players on the field by using hand signals. Once the signal is received, the player passes it on to his teammates, and the offense or defense breaks into a formation. On offense, the Bison usually rotate wide receivers to communicate plays to the quarterback, while the defense uses a signal caller on the sidelines to relay defensive plays. The Bison also have assistant coaches up in the press box where the view is on a grander scale. This way, they can see what their team is doing and what the opponents are doing. The coaches communicate via headsets. The offensive assistants are hooked up with other offensive assistants, and likewise for the defense. Coach Bohl’s headset allows him to switch back and forth between the two. There are also phones on the benches for the players to talk with the coaches in the press box. For instance, an offensive assistant might get a quarterback on the line and say, "Can't you see that safety is reading you like a book? Start watching for him." [11] You'll hear it at every game. - "I have to go to the bathroom." "I'm hungry." "I can't find my parents." "I got into a fight with some Jackrabbit fans, and they need first aid." If you find yourself or others in any of these dilemmas, the Fargodome has almost everything you need to get through whatever crisis arises. You can find restrooms and concession stands operating on all sides of the dome in the main concourse. One warning -- if you're on a low-fat diet, you're out of luck, dogs and nachos are the house specialties. For lost children or other emergency situations, messages can be announced over the Fargodome’s public-address system. Public telephones are also available throughout the stadium and first-aid services are available for fans. Any spectators in wheelchairs may sit in designated area’s in the four corners of the Fargodome. And of course, the a Bison Radio Network broadcast of the game is available at 980 on the AM dial. Video boards are available for replays and crowd amusement in each corner of the Fargodome. And please let’s not forget about the Bison mascot, Thundar…. Kids and adults alike love this delightful, good-natured Bison. And on and on and on…. Well, this column has gotten a little longer than I expected and it could have gone on another twenty paragraphs, but this should get even the most inexperience Bison fans a guide to a pleasurable Bison football experience. But after all, a Bison win is most satisfying…