Fighting Sioux, Through and Through

Under a dark, late-afternoon December sky in Florence, Alabama, the University of North Dakota faced the possibility of letting a national football championship slip through its hands. The Fighting Sioux trailed Grand Valley State of Michigan 14-10 with less than three minutes to play. The mist that had blanketed Braly Municipal Stadium for much of the game had turned into a drizzle, further complicating North Dakota’s chances of mounting a game-winning, 80-yard touchdown drive. Yet, there stood North Dakota coach Dale Lennon in shirt-sleeves. His arms were folded. His calm demeanor was the same as it was before kickoff. North Dakota’s offense mirrored Lennon’s demeanor. In business-like fashion, North Dakota drove 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown, scored by running back Jed Perkerewicz on a one-yard run with 29 seconds to play. Suddenly, the drizzle didn’t matter. The