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Game Day notebook: Weerts has no issue with removing redshirt status

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North Dakota State’s Griffin Crosa makes a point after against Illinois State during their football game Saturday, Oct. 5, in Normal, Ill. Crosa is one of three true freshmen who have played at least four games. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

FARGO — North Dakota State linebacker Luke Weerts is at the tipping point for his true freshman season. He’s played in four games and one more on Saturday against Missouri State at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome puts him over the edge in preserving his redshirt.

And Weerts, from Batavia, Ill., is fine with that.

“I’m excited to contribute any way I can,” he said. “I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team win games and whether it’s playing those four games or not, I’ll do whatever I can.”

It appears he’s a lock to play the entire season. Any true freshman who plays in four games or less can still retain his redshirt.

Three players have already been in at least five: kicker Griffin Crosa, running back Kobe Johnson and safety Julian Wlodarczyk. No other true freshmen has played in at least three, but head coach Matt Entz this week hinted more first-year players may see the field like cornerback Terrell Hall, wide receiver Jake Lippe and defensive linemen Javier Derritt, Eli Mostaert and Will Mostaert.

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Weerts, meanwhile, appears to be slated for mostly special teams play like the kickoff coverage unit.

“It’s fun to fly down there and make plays,” he said.

Weerts said he talked with Bison sophomore safety James Kaczor about playing as a true freshman. Kaczor did last season.

“We’re both really excited with that,” Weerts said.

Entz shows reminders of what can happen

NDSU enters the game 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in both the FCS and STATS.com top 25 polls. Missouri State is 1-4. To address any potential problems of a letdown in practice this week, Entz on Monday showed his team video of a 2015 loss to the University of South Dakota and a 2012 defeat to Indiana State, both at Gate City Bank Field.

“We have coaches that were part of those games,” said Entz, pointing first at himself.

Linebackers coach Grant Olson played in the 2012 game.

“If those two things can’t get our attention or keep our focus, then it’s up to our coaches to make sure of the main thing all week and that’s winning a football game,” Entz said.

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Bears' start draws media criticism

Missouri State head coach Dave Steckel was asked during his weekly press conference how to get a fast start against NDSU.

“That’s a million dollar question,” he said. “I’m more concerned about finishing strong and not having lapses in the second quarter like we have this year. We’ll play three really good quarters of football and one that is really, really bad.”

The Bears have been outscored 83-26 in the second quarter and 62-10 in the third this season. The 1-4 start and Steckel’s 13-36 record in his fifth year as the head coach drew some pointed words from sportswriter Wyatt Wheeler this week in the Springfield News-Leader newspaper.

The headline read: "Bear fans deserve better: 10 thoughts after Missouri State's latest loss."

“I don't like to toss around the word ‘embarrassment’ lightly but that's the word that keeps coming to mind in regards to Missouri State football over the first five weeks of the regular season — although some would say it's been that way for the last 29 year,” wrote Wheeler, a Missouri State graduate who emphasized he wants to be a good, unbiased reporter. “But I can’t help but think about how much of a black eye the program has turned into for the university. The product on the field isn’t good, the attendance is low and it has turned into a punchline for many. There’s no reason Missouri State can’t have a good football program. I am a believer that if Indiana State can have a winning team then Missouri State can as well.”

Steckel has two years remaining on his contract.

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough" and "Covid Kids." He is the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August.

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