“It’s a player’s game and a player’s league”; Bison head coach Tim Polasek prepares for first game in Missouri Valley – InForum

NORMAL, IL – The last time North Dakota State played a football game at Hancock Stadium, Cam Miller was the backup quarterback.

Eleven other starters were on the roster but didn’t make major contributions. It’s been three long years since the Bison returned to Normal to face Illinois State, but that drought ends Saturday.

NDSU opens Missouri Valley Football Conference play against the Redbirds, who come into the game with a record of 3-1. ISU’s three wins have come against teams that have combined to win one game so far this season.

It will be Tim Polasek’s first game as head coach in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

“I like our preparation,” Polasek said on Friday evening. “We have detailed the areas where we need to improve. The message before the game will be: It’s a player’s game and a player’s league. Let’s be prepared, we get 60 minutes and can play together.”

The Redbirds have not beaten the Bison since October 2010, losing 12 straight, including two playoff games. Polasek said he spoke with his former boss, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, about working with Illinois State. The Redbirds opened the season this year against Iowa.

“I was able to get some information through Coach Ferentz. Trends are not a bad thing. Your offensive coordinator knows what he likes and what he wants to establish. They came out knowing they’re a good team.”

NDSU will get one of its weapons back in sixth-year wide receiver Braylon Henderson on Saturday. Henderson has missed the last three games with a groin injury.

“The return of Braylon gives us a new dimension. Whether it’s the run after the catch or the yards after contact, every time Braylon touches it, it’s a little different.”

Henderson had six balls for 77 yards in the season opener against Colorado.

Illinois State has lost its all-league running back Mason King, who suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against the Hawkeyes. All-Valley linebacker Amir Abdullah was also injured in that game, he has not played since and is expected to miss Saturday’s game.

The Bison game day is live on WDAY at 10 a.m. in normal mode, with the game following at 2 p.m

Dom Izzo is sports director at WDAY-TV. He began working as a weekend sports anchor for WDAY in 2006 and was promoted to sports director in 2010.