NDAPSSA Award Kick Off

So here you have it, the highest award handed out by the North Dakota Sportscasters and Sportswriters Assocaition - the Special Achievement award.

This year it goes to a pair from Minot and one person from Bismarck.

The awards go to Minot High's Gene Manson and Ken Disher, along with the University of Mary's Al Bortke.

There is not enough room on the Interweb to list all of their achievements and plusses they brought to North Dakota athletics, so instead I'm going to turn it over to the MDN's Michael Linnell. Click here to read his story.

6 UND Players Taken in NHL Draft

This will be short and sweet because basically when there is someone out there who does something better, you can either try and beat them when you know you can't, or you can direct people to the real deal.

Ladies and gents, here is the real deal's blog. You might otherwise know him as the Grand Forks Herald's Brad Schlossman.

On a Hot Day, Nothing is Better Than a Kolpack

Jeff Kolpack has one of the most busy, most fun jobs in the state - covering NDSU athletics. Still, even though he is pumping countless inches every day/week/month/etc., Kolpack continues to produce fine copy.

Case in point: Kolpack put together a tremendous feature on Bison Football over the weekend, taking a look at the work players put in each summer and how they make some coin to afford luxeries in life like a roof over the head and enough food to fuel a football-player body.

Kind of funny actually...how much work goes into those 60 minutes a week in the fall, barring overtime of course.

Anyway, catching up on some weekend stuff here, but I promise you - if you have not read it yet, it is well worth 5 minutes of your time. Click here.

Montana Crushes ND in Badlands Bowl

Well...

Not a whole lot seemed to go right for North Dakota as they found themselves on the short end of a 54-14 game to Montana at the Badlands Bowl.

The backbreaker was a pair of picks that were taken back for points in the second quarter, moving a 14-0 Montana lead to 27-0.

From the comment left from Mr. Chris Aarhus, Montana had a pair of D-I offensive linemen that were pretty dominant.

Tyler Steffan had a solid game with three catches totaling 94 yards, the bulk of which came on a 50-yard scoring grab. But as far as highlights go, that would be about it as North Dakota's only other score came via a Michael McAtee three-yard plunge.

Montana's Beau Donaldson was named the game's MVP, rushing for 94 yards on 16 carries.

So that means no two-game winning streak for North Dakota as Montana has now won 11 of the first 15 games played.

To recap the damage, click here.

Leever's Classic Tournament Pairings

2008 Leever's Classic

June 26-29
at Charlie Brown Field, Valley City

Pool A

Valley City, Dickinson B, Kindred, Washburn

Pool B

Groton (SD), Oakes, Fargo B, Langdon

Thursday, June 26

Game 1 - Oakes vs. Fargo, 9 a.m.
Game 2 - Kindred vs. Washburn, 11 a.m.
Game 3 - Fargo vs. Langdon, 1 p.m.
Game 4 - Valley City vs. Kindred, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Groton vs. Oakes, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 - Valley City vs. Dickinson, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, June 27

Game 7 - Oakes vs. Langdon, 9 a.m.
Game 8 - Dickinson vs. Washburn, 11 a.m.
Game 9 - Langdon vs. Groton, 1 p.m.
Game 10 - Dickinson vs. Kindred, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11 - Fargo vs. Groton, 5:30 p.m.
Game 12 - Valley City vs. Washburn, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 28

Game 13 - Pool A4 vs. Pool B3, 10 a.m.
Game 14 - Pool A3 vs. Pool B4, Noon
Game 15 - Pool A2 vs. Pool B1, 2:30 p.m.
Game 16 - Pool A1 vs. Pool B2, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 29

Game 17 - Game 13 Loser vs. Game 14 Loser, 10 a.m.
Game 18 - Game 13 Winner vs. Game 15 Winner, Noon
Game 19 - Game 15 Loser vs. Game 16 Loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 20 - Game 15 Winner vs. Game 16 Winner, 4:30 p.m.

Question: Where's the Beef? Answer: North Dakota

North Dakota has a bit of a size advantage on the offensive line when it faces Montana at the Badlands Bowl.

According to the story by Chris Aarhus, six of the Prairie Rose state's 10 hogs (offensive linemen) tip the scales at 270 pounds or heavier. Yeah...love the girth. When it comes to pushing the ball down someone's throat, there is nothing better than leaning on a defense with a couple of beefy boys.

Nice selection Aarhus, saving a story about the linemen for the final preview. I likey.

Click here for the story.

UND Tabs Dodson as Diamond Coach

UND has named Jeff Dodson the school's new baseball coach.

Dodson has been coaching in Missouri the last few years, and I'm going to go out on a limb that he'll be faced with a few different challenges up north than he was down south (namely snow on the ground in April). Still, with UND making the move to Division I, it more or less makes for a pretty attractive position.

I don't know much about UND's baseball program, so I'll turn you over to the Herald's Wayne Nelson now - click here.

KVRR Gets New Sports Director

KVRR's new head sports guy is Greg Enkers who had been their weekend sports guy. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they are likely going to have to sign a new weekend sports guy now.

Click here for a two-sentence wrapup.

Sun's Scotty T on Jimmy K

When it comes to living the football dream in North Dakota, I always turn to Jimmy Kleinsasser. I first saw Ol Clank Clank from the sidelines my freshman year in high school when Carrington came up to Mayville to play under the Friday night lights.

That game was pretty amazing, going down to the wire when Patriot fullback Dan Swift was stopped just short of the goal line as time expired, denied the game-winning score on a leap toward the end zone. Crazy game.

Kleinsasser then went up to UND and as I lived in Ross Amlie's old house, basically I grew up a Fighting Sioux fan. At the end of my freshman year in college Kleinsasser was drafted by the Vikings (it didn't take the sting out of the playoff loss from that season, but it game me hope for the future) and the rest has been history.

Jimmy K has never been the receiving threat I thought he would be, but he has far exceeded what I thought he would be as a blocking tight end. He is a mammoth man and I can't imagine lining up against him.

With that, I indirectly present to you dear reader, Jim Kleinsasser - one of three to be inducted this year into the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Scott Throlson, Jamestown Sun sports editor extraordinaire, delivers a solid read on the hometown man-child. Click here to read it.

Sun's Story on Dick Karlgaard

Dick Karlgaard had quite a ride as one of the athletic leaders in North Dakota athletics.

Karlgaard began his role as Bismarck Athletic Director in 1963, holding the position until 1990. You can imagine the changes he saw in the course of his job.

One amazing stat: He managed 81 state tournaments and 54 regional tournaments, while also serving as the NDHSCA's first executive secretary. He has previously been inducted into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame, the North Dakota High School Coaches hall of Fame, the Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame and the Bismarck State College Hall of Fame. Wow.

To read up on what sets Karlgaard apart from the rest of the pack, click here.