Grygla High School alumni, Polansky and Olson, played against each other when North Dakota’s two largest universities met on the football field

Grygla natives, Daniel Polansky and Dillon Olson, both former Goodridge/Grygla/Gatzke Charger football players, played against each other in the super-charged rivalry football game between NDSU and UND on Saturday, September 19th. The game was held at the Fargodome before 19,044 fans! UND fell to NDSU in the first game in 12 years with a score of 34-9. 

The two universities played their first football game in 1894 and owned the longest running series in NCAA Division II athletics before it was put on hiatus in 2003, when NDSU made the call to go D-I, while UND stayed put. With both football teams now competing at the FCS level, the game on the 19th of September marked the 111th meeting and the first Division I encounter between the programs.

According to David Dodds, a UND Public Affairs writer, the tradition of the game revolved around the “Battle for the Nickel,” a large replica of an old-time buffalo nickel, with a bison on one side and an Indian head on the obverse. Through the years, students from the opposing schools would sneak onto each other’s campuses and purloin The Nickel in a fun-and-games prank that usually took place around rivalry week. By virtue of winning the last game played in 2003, UND retains The Nickel and it now resides in an undisclosed location, only being brought out on special occasions. The Nickel was officially retired as a relic of the old rivalry when UND announced that it would be changing its nickname and logo.

When NDSU and UND once again stood across from each other on the football field, two Grygla High School graduates were able to be a part of something that none of their fellow university alumni have been able to see for a dozen years! 

Dillon Olson is a 5th year senior at the University of North Dakota. He is pursuing a Nursing Major and Psychology Minor, with plans to attend graduate school after his baccalaureate. Dillon is the son of Duane and Mary Jo Olson, of Wannaska.

Olson is a redshirt senior, meaning this is his 5th and last year playing football at UND. Playing safety on defense, and also a part of the special teams, he played a good amount in the game against the Bison, around 20-30 plays.

Olson says the game was a great experience, even though his team didn’t get the positive results they had hoped for. “We made some fixable errors that day that we’ll need to get sharpened up on,” he said. Adding, “It was probably the craziest environment I’ve ever played football in, although we expected a hostile environment coming in knowing the rich history and tradition of this game.” No doubt that it was a game that the whole state of North Dakota and most of the Midwest was looking forward to!

Olson says he didn’t get to talk to Polansky before the game, in fact, he didn’t even see him. He recalls trying to stay focused on his team, along with his assignments for the game. However, the two did talk for a couple of minutes after the game. “My adrenaline was pumping so hard I can’t remember what we even talked about,” he says. “I’m sure we probably did some smack talking (all in good fun)!”

As for the UND football season, Olson says the team will continue to work hard, hopefully playing their best ball in November.

Representing the Bison herd, Daniel Polansky is a junior this year at North Dakota State University. He has plans of majoring in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Math. Daniel is the son of Gary and Laurie Polansky, of Gatzke.

Polansky is a redshirt sophomore, meaning this is his third year on the team, second year playing, with two more years of eligibility left after this season. For the Bison, he plays wide receiver and is also on special teams. Daniel played a few snaps the week prior against Weber State University, but didn’t get in the game against UND at the Fargodome. If he had, he could have possibly lined up against Dillon on one of the kickoffs or punt returns.

When asked about the big game, Polansky said the environment in the Fargodome was electric as it usually is on Saturdays, although one could tell the fans had a little extra in them during this particular game! He also added, “The game itself started off very close as UND forced a turnover and actually took an early 3-0 lead. After the first quarter our offense got clicking and made some plays to get the lead and our defense played as well as it has all year to keep there offense from getting effective drives. UND outplayed us on special teams, in my opinion.”

As for the post-game, Daniel recalls in his conversation with Dillon, the two congratulated each other and wished one another well for the rest of their seasons…and recalls a jibe or two being thrown in there as well! To celebrate the Bison victory, Daniel went out to eat after the game with his dad, his brother, Tim, and his uncle, Godfrey, an NDSU alumni that came up from Omaha for the game.

The Bison had a bye week in preparation for another rival of theirs, South Dakota State, which will be played this Saturday, October 3rd. That game also starts NDSU’s conference play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Looking ahead, Daniel says, “We still have a lot of improving to do if we want to get to where we want to be at the end of the season!”