South Dakota
Reusse: First-year coach Tim Polasek aims to lead North Dakota State’s return to top
Polasek, 44, was chosen as the new coach in December. The Bison went through the portal and came out with this mindset:
Whoever was showing up every day in NDSU’s new $55 million football facility, there would be no looking back — these were the players that would be getting the staff’s best shot.
“Kids want to be coached hard,” Polasek said. “You never hear from players, ‘You guys are being too hard on us.’ ”
South Dakota State? “They’ve been great, but in this league, it’s not one team,” Polasek said. “All the Dakota teams — South Dakota, North Dakota — are good. And Northern Iowa … I remember that being the last team you wanted to play.’’
Plus, it’s hard to look ahead a couple of months to a Jackrabbits’ visit to Fargo on Oct. 19, when his first game as a Bison head coach is Thursday in Boulder against Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes.
Eli Mostaert is back for sixth season as a defensive lineman. His twin brother, Will, is a defensive end. Their Lakeville North team beat Eden Prairie in the Class 6A game in the 2018 Prep Bowl.