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Sports Information Records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 0063.1

Scope and Contents

This artificially created series consist of materials held b the Sports Information Office that was transferred to the University Archives during the summer and spring of 2004. The vast majority of the record series have numerous gaps. The most complete series are Men’s Basketball and Football, and Wrestling.

The first series is Athletics General which includes information on the Athletic Committee (1960s – 1970s) proposed track, field house information, broadcasting bids, as well as general media guides for men’s and women’s athletics, and general athletic related press releases.

The following specific varsity sports series may include programs, statistics, pre- and post-season information, press releases, and clippings. The first sports series is Men’s Varsity Basketball (1931-1994, bulk 1966-1993) and Junior Varsity Basketball (1964-1977). Women’s Basketball covers 1968-1987, with the bulk covering 1975-1982. Varsity Football information covers 1894-1994, with the bulk of material coving 1964-1990 and Junior Varsity Football covers 1963-1981. Golf is broken down into Men’s Golf (1962-1989) & Women’s Golf (1969, 1975). The Minn-Kota Conference was made up of collegiate teams in both North Dakota and Minnesota and the records cover the approximate ten years it was in existence (1970s). Women’s Softball covers 1976-1982. Track is broken down into numerous series: Men’s Track General (1967-1988), Men’s Cross-Country (1961-1988), Men’s Outdoor Track (1960-1984), Men’s Indoor Track (1966-1985), Women’s Indoor Track (1975-1982), Women’s Outdoor Track (1975-1981), Women’s Cross-Country (1980-1986), Women’s Indoor/Outdoor Track (1978-1987), Men & Women’s Indoor Track (1980-1987), and Men & Women’s Outdoor Track (1983-1985). Women’s Volleyball covers 1965-1986. Wrestling cover 1957-1993. The Plaques Photo Series covers 1981-1998. Scrapbook Series has scrapbooks for all sports, Men’s basketball, Women’s Basketball, and Football.

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1894 - 2018

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyrights to this collection is held by The North Dakota State University Archives.

Biographical / Historical

Athletics General

The proud tradition of North Dakota State University athletics was one of the finest in the country at the NCAA Division II level for many years. The Bison men's and women's programs were regular contenders for championships on a national scale. Now a Division I program featuring 16 varsity sports, the vision for North Dakota State is "Continuing the Championship Tradition of Bison Athletics." North Dakota State University's athletic teams have progressed from the "Farmers" in the 1890's to the "Aggies" in the early 1900's to the "Bison," NDSU's current athletic symbol. In 1919, head football coach Stan Borleske developed it because he and members of the football team didn't like being known as "Aggies." Borleske wanted a strong and fierce mascot. The "Bison" was a logical choice. The great animals once roamed the North Dakota prairie in vast numbers, and over the years Bison athletic teams added an additional name, the "Thundering Herd." NDSU has a storied history of athletic success including 28 team national championships since 1965 in football, women’s basketball, wrestling, softball, men’s cross country and women’s indoor track and field, plus 61 individual championships.

Since completing a reclassification to NCAA Division I in the fall of 2008, the Bison have won eight football national championships, earned five NCAA men’s basketball tournament berths, made 10 softball regionals and one super regional, three NCAA women’s volleyball postseason appearances, two NCAA baseball regionals, as well as NCAA regionals in women’s soccer, and men's and women’s golf while producing several All-Americans in track and field, cross country and wrestling. North Dakota State has a remarkable history of academic and athletic success. Since the Academic All-America® program was initiated by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the North Dakota State athletic programs have had 91 student-athletes earn 143 CoSIDA Academic All-America® awards, which ranks among the top 25 programs in all levels of college athletics.

Sports Information Office

According to past media guides, the first sports information director may have been Tom Goodale in 1962-65. That seems to line up with most of our stats, records, etc. in men’s sports becoming consistently available in the mid-1960s. Others to follow were John Beatty from 1965-67, Del Johnson from 1967-74 and George Ellis from 1974-04.

Eventually there was a women’s sports information director to help with the publicity of women’s sports. Not sure when it started, but the earliest name I can find is Lani Jacobsen in 1979-80 (not sure about ‘80-81) followed by Anne Abicht from 1981-85, Grant Burger from 1985-88, Jodee Bock in 1988-89 and then Jeff Schwartz from 1989-04.

In 2004, we were reorganized for all men’s and women’s sports under the office name Athletic Media Relations with Jeff Schwartz as the director from 2004-15 and eventually re-named Athletic Communications in 2015 with me as the director.

Extent

43 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Overview

This artificially created series consist of materials held b the Sports Information Office that was transferred to the University Archives during the summer and spring of 2004. The vast majority of the record series have numerous gaps. The most complete series are Men’s Basketball and Football, and Wrestling.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred by Unknown 2004 (Acc. 485).

Legal Status

The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.

Processing Information

Plaques were discarded and photos where saved. One plaque did not have a photo.

Jane Loskot: Indoor Track 4x400m Relay 5th Place; Outdoor 4x400m Relay 5th Place; Indoor Track 4x400m Relay 3rd Place; Indoor Track 55H 4th Place; Outdoor Track 100H 4th Place; Outdoor Track 4x400m Relay 3rd Place; Indoor Track 4x400m Relay 5th Place; Outdoor Track 4x400m Relay 5th Place;
Title
Finding Aid to the Sports Information Records
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
West Building
3551 7th Avenue N
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States