JUST WIN BABY???.... (updated 10-2-2005) The Measuring Stick    Nicholls State was a very good, well coached team. The Bison faced two of the better inside runners that they will face all season in Joseph Tobias and Broderick Coles. They pounded and pounded until they found a crack or two, with just three Colonel runs accounting for 100 of their nearly 250 yard rushing total. While 250 yards rushing is a lot, it is well under the 400 yard average of their first two games. They had averaged 8.6 yards per carry, but the Bison managed to lower that to "just" a 5.0 yard average. One of their two games was against DII competition, but the other was Indiana from the Big Ten. They were also ranked third in total defense in IAA. What it all adds up to is that Nicholls was a very good team and opponent. What do good teams do when they play another good team? If they are well coached and motivated, they just win. Not that the outcome was in doubt, okay maybe it was for just a couple minutes until Walker to DelaBarre sealed the Colonels fate.    They Bison moved out to a 17-0 halftime lead behind Shamen Washington, Kyle Steffes, and Steve Walker and seemed to be on their way to another "lets leave in the third quarter" NDSU win. But a funny thing happened at halftime. Jay Thomas and the Colonel coaching staff decided they could make a game of it, and they did! They came out in the second half and gained 170 of their total of 250 rushing yards. They scored on their second possession and after recovering a pooch kickoff, nearly scored again, missing a field goal attempt. After the yellow and green pinned them deep in their own territory they put together a relentless 94 yard drive to score early in the 4th quarter to cut that 17-0 halftime lead to 17-13. After that it was all Bison, with the previously mentioned TD pass and a safety scored by Rodney Thompson giving the Bison a win, 26-13.    Despite interference from a couple ladies, Katrina and Rita, the Colonels will have a successful season. Nicholls State will surely hand out their share of "whupass" during the remainder of their season, they are a tough physical team. Any team that can stand up to two hurricanes can surely dish out its share of punishment.    NDSU came within a pass tipped in the air, received, and taken in for an MSU TD, or an errant pass thrown by a bumped Steve Walker, or a missed long field goal for the Bison, or any combination of the preceding of winning. It was a close well fought game with NDSU coming on the losing end of the score, quite similar to all losses suffered last year. Players of the Game    The BI Defensive Player Of The Game honors were split between two players, the relentless Joe Mays and for the second straight game, the unmoveable Rodney Thompson. The BI Offensive Player Of The Game award went to Shamen Washington, who had a great kickoff and a great punt return and also provided a spark when inserted in the offense. Holiday Vibes - Had a great pregame visit with former Bison Shane Dettman and his dad Ross. - Former Bison Coach Bob Babich was in attendance and judging by the way he looks and talks is doing great with the Bears. Babich's forte always was his great talking. - Kyle Steffes moved into 12th place on the alltime Bison rushing list with his 104 yards. - It appeared the Bison finished the game with no new significant injuries. - How many guys get mother nature to serve up a perfect day for their 53rd birthday? Go Bison!! Bob H.