A LASTING IMPACT....   (3/7/2006) Off My Office Floor.... The Man... Sometimes it takes a "non-Bison" tragic event to provide me with enough inspiration to write a column. The death of Kirby Puckett caused a flood of memories to come streaming back from the recesses of my mind. Not so much of his great home run negating catches or the walk-off homeruns but of his smile, charisma, and heart. The way he utilized his infectious personality to win-over the hearts of not only diehard Twins fans but of sports fans in general. I challenge you to find a person that didn't like Kirby; fans, teammates, and/or competitors. He was the Pillsbury Doughboy version of Willie Mays - a roly-poly, happy-go-lucky ballplayer who played center field with a childlike exuberance and possessed all the other "tools" that made him one of true greats of his time. He ran all the balls out; he caught the ball with two hands, not that one-handed stuff. He was a blue-collar guy, one of the few players you cheered every time. For all his faults off the field, Kirby Puckett was a credit to the game on it. And as the fans of the Upper Midwest surely will attest, for 12 years it truly was a wonderful world. Thanks, Kirby… RIP. Leaving the nest... As we head into the 2006 Bison football season, a piece of Bison tradition will be absent… As we all know, defensive coordinator Casey Bradley has left the nest to become quality-control coach for the NFL's top-rated Tampa Bay Buccaneer defense. As a Bison player and coach, Bradley exemplified what NDSU football was and is all about. He will be greatly missed… Good Luck, Casey. Questions abound... The 2006 football schedule is still in flux… Should the Bison play the Gophers? Should the Bison clash with Eastern Washington? How about a Division II team? NAIA anyone? Maybe the Eastern Oklahoma University Girls Choir football team has an opening? When should the Bison have their bye week? Should the Bison have six home games this year or sign a home/home to complete the 2007 home schedule? So many questions… so few answers. You may not want to read what I think but I'm going to blurt it out anyway. The first question that enters my mind is… Are the Bison eligible for the playoffs in 2006 & 2007? If not, does it really matter who we play? Yes and no…. Not so much in 2006. But because of any presumed poll carry-over factor into the 2008 season (1st year of playoff eligibility), the 2007 season schedule becomes quite important. In other words, Gene Taylor needs to load up on home games for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. So would I schedule a DI-AA opponent to a home/ home contract with the Bison scheduled to visit in 2006? Yes. I'll sacrifice my fun-filled day at the Fargodome for the good of the football program. I can live with 5 home games this year. But can the Bison athletic budget? If athletic budget needs a boost…. schedule the Minnesota Gophers. I've heard all the arguments for not playing the Gophers and some are quite valid. But two questions keep haunting me. Are the Bison eligible for the playoffs in 2006? No. Recruiting wise would it be bad to be associated with the U of M? No. So why don't the Bison just sign on the dotted line and bank a cool 400,000 greenbacks. Besides a game in the Metrodome would be just like playing another home game. I know each of us wouldn't pass up an opportunity to visit the Twin Cities for a Bison football game. As for a home game versus a Division II opponent… if I leave my "Division II phobia" in the closet, this wouldn't bother me either. How bad could it be? Like Bob always says, "Win, loss or blowout… I've never had a bad day watching Bison football." Personally, I'd like to see the Bison in the Metrodome, but quite frankly I'm just ready for some Bison football. Quick Slants.... - Early 2006 Bison football recruiting class grade… B-. Slighlty above average. Pros & Cons: Good speed, but not nearly enough. Lacks depth in the skill positions. Good size and numbers in the defensive line recuits. Lacks a real DI-AA blue chipper. - Although I enjoy reading and getting information from ShowingBlitz.com… not a big believer in the recruit rankings. Just not enough subject matter available on DI-AA recruits - For all you Bison women's basketball fans… Hey, don't give up on Amy Ruley so quickly. She hasn't developed her fantastic reputation by just sitting back on her behind. If there is one person that can bring Bison women's basketball back to respectability… It's the same person who built the monster in the first place… The one and only, Amy Ruley. - To NFL owners & players… get it done!! - To the Big Sky Conference… time to stop being weenies and start building. I think I can speak for Bison and Bunny fans… we'll let you win sometimes. - When Rocky Hager and the Northeastern University Huskies visit the Fargodome this season… it will be odd to see Rocky pace the west sideline. - I bet I'm not the only Bison fan who has the feeling that the Bison men's basketball program will become a consistent winner. Before the 2005-06 season, even Coach Miles didn't know that he was about to unleash a beast. He does now…. - The Annual Bison Spring game is only 46 days away… Can't wait!!