2006 NDSU vs. 2007 NDSU vs. 2011 NDSU

[MplsBison]

For fun.

All teams had one loss during the regular season. The 2006 team's loss was to the Minnesota Gopher team in Mason's last year, the 2007 team's was on the road at SDSU (the defacto GWFC championship, no less) and the 2011 team's was at home to YSU.

I have no doubt that the SDSU loss would've motivated an epic playoff run for the 2007 team and the 2006 team could've just as well had a great playoff run with all their talent.


Which team is the best?

I will go with the 2006 team. They had all the talent of the 2007 team plus current NFL'er Craig Dahl.

Tough call though.

[HandoEX]

The 2011 team is much deeper and more disciplined...fewer turnovers and much better special teams than either the '06 or '07 teams. I give the nod to this team.

[bisonguy]

2011. Team speed is greater, especially on the lines. Depth is greater allowing subs in the defense with little to no dropoff.

The schedule for 2011 is significantly more difficult as well. NDSU will end up facing four playoff teams and another that made the quarterfinals during the regular season (UNI). There were also two top five ranked teams that NDSU faced.The 2006 and 2007 seasons didn't see NDSU facing any teams that even made the playoff field.

[MarkyMark]

I have thought about this a couple times the last few weeks.

I would have to go with the 2011 Bison. It seemed like those 2006/2007 teams had alot of thrilling come-from-behind victories. I think the 2011 Bison have only been behind twice this year, first quarter of the Gopher game and the YSU gamexthumbsdownx

[Snowgoose]

I have also thought about this alot and I believe it was either 06 or 07. Here is what Sagarin has to say as these are end of the season numbers that I just posted on Bisonville.
Rating SOS Elo
2006 - 57 71.81 138 48
2007 - 71 68.80 160 72
2011 - 48 74.16 146 49

I have been saying all along that the SOS was the same and people just don't believe me. The SOS of schedule may have been better for 2006 and 07 because the 2011 numbers are as of today and include victories over 3 playoff teams with helped the SOS. By the way those 2006/07 teams have 2 linebackers and 2 safeties play in the NFL with 3 out of the 4 still playing. Plus lots of others with tryouts. I have to say it was the 2006 year.

[bisonguy]

I have also thought about this alot and I believe it was either 06 or 07. Here is what Sagarin has to say as these are end of the season numbers that I just posted on Bisonville.
Rating SOS Elo
2006 - 57 71.81 138 48
2007 - 71 68.80 160 72
2011 - 48 74.16 146 49

I have been saying all along that the SOS was the same and people just don't believe me. The SOS of schedule may have been better for 2006 and 07 because the 2011 numbers are as of today and include victories over 3 playoff teams with helped the SOS. By the way those 2006/07 teams have 2 linebackers and 2 safeties play in the NFL with 3 out of the 4 still playing. Plus lots of others with tryouts. I have to say it was the 2006 year.

The 2006/2007 teams may have had some better athletes, we'll see in the next couple of years how many from this year get NFL tryouts.

Speaking of Sagarin, 2006 Predictor -69.82, 2011 Predictor- 74.33.

2011 Team wins by 4.5 points on a neutral field, wins by 7.51 at home, and wins by 2.57 on the road. The 2011 team is obviously better.

[Snowgoose]

I was arguing that you said the 2011 team is significantly faster and had significantly better competition in the regular season which is simply not true look at the SOS on Sagarin. If you start comparing teams down the line they almost equal. In 2007 they played 3 MVC schools and CMU which is better than this years UNI, which by the way is the only playoff team we faced this year. Also, you can't use current Sagarin ratings since the 2006/07 teams never had a chance to participate in the playoffs so your numbers are not accurate. If you use the end of the year sagarin the 2011 team has a number of 71.18 which is less than than 2006 and above 2007. I say these three teams are a toss up and that was my point as the 2006/07 teams would have had a great chance to win at least one title. This is just my opinion as I believe the 2007 team was the best of these three. You also have to remember that the 06/07 teams had nothing to play for except for the Minnesota game which was their playoff. So they basically played just for pride, which does make a small difference. The current 2011 team has looked great in the playoffs, but the last half of the year they struggled. Obviously they are clearly now playing more like they were the first half of the year when we new they could win it all.

[blueballs]

As a GSU fan I saw the 2006 and 2011 teams first hand. The 2006 team was HUGE and physical but the group they have this year is more athletic. I'd give the edge to this year's group because they have the size and speed.

[Snowgoose]

As a GSU fan I saw the 2006 and 2011 teams first hand. The 2006 team was HUGE and physical but the group they have this year is more athletic. I'd give the edge to this year's group because they have the size and speed.

I will say that the 2006 team was as athletic if not more than the current team. The 2006 team had 3 linebackers (2 currently in the NFL and the other was a stud) that are more athletic than we have on the 2011 team and 2 safeties that played in the NFL (one is still playing). All three linebackers would be starters on the 2011 team. The only position that is better is cornerback on the 2011 team on the defensive side of the ball and the offense on the 2006 or 07 team is definitely better than this years team. This years team is definitely more disciplined as they might be the most disciplined defense I have seen.

[MplsBison]

I will say that the 2006 team was as athletic if not more than the current team. The 2006 team had 3 linebackers (2 currently in the NFL and the other was a stud) that are more athletic than we have on the 2011 team and 2 safeties that played in the NFL (one is still playing). All three linebackers would be starters on the 2011 team. The only position that is better is cornerback on the 2011 team on the defensive side of the ball and the offense on the 2006 or 07 team is definitely better than this years team. This years team is definitely more disciplined as they might be the most disciplined defense I have seen.

The 2006 team also had probably the best interior DL that Bohl has ever had, Justin Frick. Fairbairn at NG was also pretty good. I don't think Drevlow or Perry are better than either of them.

DE on the other hand, you probably have to give it to Boyer, Jirik and Emmanual of this year's team.


I would also say that Kyle Steffes was a better RB than either McNorton or Ojuri. Obviously Walker the best QB, even as a junior that year.

[Bison06]

2011 Roster: http://www.gobison.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=2400&SPID=695&SPSID=11845
2006 Roster: http://www.gobison.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=11845&SPID=695&DB_OEM_ID=2400&Q_SEASON=2006

Somebody please help me with the starters for both teams.

2006-Offense
T:Jerrod Wagner?
G:Ryan Foster?
C:Zach Harrington??
G:Jake Erickson
T:Adam Tadisch
TE: Jeremiah Wurzbacher
WR:Kole Heckendorf
WR:Travis White
RB:Kyle Steffes
FB:Tyler Roehl/Tyler Jangula
QB:Steve Walker

2011-Offense

T:Paul Cornick
G:Joe Lund?
C:Austin Richard
G:Tyler Gimmestad
T:Billy Turner
TE:Matt Veldman
WR:Warren Holloway
WR:Ryan Smith
RB:Sam Ojuri/DJ Mcnorton
FB:Andrew Grothman
QB:Brock Jensen

2011 I think probably has a more talented offensive line, but I would take the skill positions from 2006 over 2011, at least at this point in their careers.

[Bison06]

2006-Defense

C:Nate Agbetola? Can't remember if he started that year
C: David Earl
S:Craig Dahl
S:Nick Schommer
LB:Joe Mays
LB:Mike Maresh
LB:Ramon Humber
DE:Joe Lardinois???
DE:Nick Compton???
DL:Mike Fairburn
DL:Justin Frick

2011-Defense

C:Marcus Williams
C:Christian Dudzik
S:Colton Heagle
S: Daniel Eaves
LB:Chad Willson
LB:Travis Beck
LB:Preston Evans
DE:Coulter Boyer
DE:Cole Jirik/Kyle Emmanual
DL:Leevon Perry
DL:Ryan Drevlow

Interior DL, LB, and Safety go to '06. The rest I would take '11.

[Bison06]

Oh, c'mon people. That took me a good 20 minutes to put together, how about some discussion Bison fans.

[MplsBison]

Hate to burst your bubble 06, but all you have to do is go to gobison.com, click on the football schedule, then change the year to 2006 and click on one of the links for "STATS". For example the SDSU game at the end of the year. Then search for "Participation Report" and it shows the starters. Only takes a couple minutes.

You were missing a few in 06, but mostly right. Notably on the OL you were missing all-american Nate Safe. Tough to say the 2006 OL was worse in that case.

The DE and C you were missing were Brian Dahl (Craig's brother) and Rich Bowman, respectively. And yes I agree with you the 2011 DE and Corners are better. But the rest is better on 2006.


Would've really been something to see that team make a playoff run. About like 2011 I think!

[FargoBison]

Compton came off the bench in 06..Dahl started..Bowman was the other CB. Safe was the LT.

The 2011 defense is much deeper than the 06 was. 2006 team probably had a few more impact players...Schommer/Dahl at Safety and Humber/Mays/Maresh at LB is about as good as it gets.

2011 DEs really do standout though..2006 did have Frick though and he was a beast in the interior.

[Snowgoose]

The 2006 and maybe 2007 had maybe the best linebacking corp and safeties the Bison have ever had in their history. Those 5 guys would start in any era as 4 out of the 5 made it to the NFL and the 5th (maresh) was an absolute stud. I love our 2011 team and our 2011 team is probably a little more disciplined, but those 2006 and 2007 teams are just as good. I know to some this doesn't mean much but it should mean something as 7 players from those two year teams are on the all time Great West Conference team. Some from the offense, defense, and special teams. I also think people forgot when healthy that Shamen Washington is probably one of the best punt and kick returners NDSU has ever had. If I remember right he was healthy for most of those two years and then wasn't after that. He was a better return man when healthy than we currently have on the 2011 team.

The 2007 team had the best offense of any of these teams with Roehl and Walker as a senior. They could just score on anybody. I would currently take Roehl over either of our current running backs.

[MarkyMark]

You guys are making it harder for me to argue for the 2011 version. I will say this, the 2011 offense is steady and will give you about the same consistent production and long drives every week no matter who we play. They take control of games in the second quarter and wear teams out in the second half. The 2006/2007 versions were more explosive with more big passing and running plays. Although my memory tells me we came from behind a number of times in that era to win games. Weren't most of those 2006/2007 teams filled with D2 recruits? As a program I think we were still adjusting to the FCS level back then as well. Amazing players!

[Snowgoose]

To me it honestly doesn't matter whether they were DII recruits or not as they were just studs. This years 2011 team is definitely a little deeper, but I still believe both of those teams were at least as good and like I said earlier were better. The 2006 team was really clicking at the end of the year as they beat a ninth rated Cal Poly team 51-14 and then the 19th rated SDSU 41-28 (in a fantastic game might I add) to end the season. Sure the 2006 and 2007 teams did have some miraculous comebacks but these were against really goods teams. They had a miraculous comeback to beat Ball State in 2006 and Cal Poly in 2007 both on the road and both pretty good teams. The other miraculous comeback was at home against Sam Houston State and Rhett Bhomar who was really good. The 2011 team has had some close games as well and these things happen when playing good teams. Lastly, the 2006 and 2007 teams only had 5 home games and 6 road games, which is a difference.