Success in sports, no matter how prolonged it may be, is not permanent. Whether it ends in a screeching halt and an explosion of sudden failure or a slow sputter that eventually leaves a fanbase wondering where it all went wrong, there is almost always a single instance that can be pointed to to identify the beginning of the end. That instance may very well have just happened for one of the greatest dynasties in college athletics.
The North Dakota State Bison, it seems, are not what they once were.
When the clock hit zeros in the Alerus Center last Saturday afternoon and North Dakota Fighting Hawks fans poured onto the field in a rush of excitement, it was not only a benchmark for what was arguably the biggest win in recent program history for UND but also perhaps the start of the downfall for the best dynasty that FCS football has ever seen.