Quarterback JC Mirasola takes you inside the North Dakota State road trip
- Tom Weber
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois freshman quarterback and Tampa native JC Mirasola offers StrongDawgs readers an inside look at the trip to North Dakota State from a player’s perspective.
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JC Mirasola Blog
Friday Morning
Alarms sounded and we were up. Today, we packed our bags to depart for Fargo, North Dakota, in preparation to face the No. 1 team in the country!
Our first task of the day was a quick team meeting, where Coach Hill discussed the travel itinerary and the attitude we should take on the trip. Next, we met as a quarterback room and went over a few clips from the previous day’s practice and discussed some things we were expecting from the Bison. The vibes were very positive.
Every Friday we hold a quick and light practice, what we call “Fast Friday”. During this time, offense and defense split the field to go over a script of plays we expect to run and looks we expect to see. We also do a special teams script to make sure we’re prepared for all special teams scenarios. After practice, we had team breakfast, changed into travel suits and hopped on buses for the Marion airport.
Friday Afternoon
At the airport, we were given sandwiches, snacks and drinks, and the plane departed at 12:30 p.m. They dimmed the cabin lights, and I took a nap on the flight, which took about an hour and 45 minutes. Buses picked us up at the airport for a short drive to the hotel. During the drive, we passed North Dakota State fans who noticed us and put up the Bison symbol.
After we checked in to our rooms, freshmen were required to attend study hall. I worked on a couple of assignments due later, and then it was time for team stretch. After a day of travel, it was good to get stretched out.
Friday Evening
After team stretch, it was time for team dinner. The options included flank steak, grilled chicken and lasagna, in addition to sides and salad, however it was the bonding and time spent with teammates that makes each meal special. Coach Hill discussed attacking the moment and allowing the stadium energy to fuel us. For a freshman like myself, this would be my first time experiencing the Fargodome, and there was lots of anticipation and excitement for this game.
After dinner, we split off into offense and defense meetings. Offensively, we took a look at some pressures we would face and then went over our opening plays. The quarterbacks remained in the meeting room for our weekly watching of two-minute scenarios, where we choose an end of game drive that took place the week prior and analyze it. Then it was time to head back to our rooms to get a good sleep before game day.
Saturday Morning
It was game day! For the first time all year, we would play an afternoon game. The day began with a light continental breakfast with a few different options of muffins, bagels, cereal, yogurt and beverages. Breakfast was light because we would have our pregame meal not too long after. I got a muffin and some yogurt in my system then headed back up to my room to relax for a short time.
I packed my bag and headed back down for team roll-out. We went through a stretch routine and did a walk-thru as an offense. The walk-thru went smoothly, and everyone was confident in their assignments. Then it was time for pregame meal, which offered both breakfast and lunch options. I got a little bit of both, filling my plate with pancakes and bacon, along with some grilled chicken. As the meal went on, we kept the vibes positive and talked ball among the quarterbacks.
Saturday Afternoon
After pregame meal, we had a short rest period and then watched a hype video in the meeting room. Filled with highlights and words of motivation, the video got everyone's juices flowing and it was time to leave for the stadium. A short drive later, we neared the Fargodome and were surrounded by fans in green and yellow. It was clear we were entering a hostile environment, however, we didn't expect anything less.
Compared to the other visiting locker rooms we had been in so far, this one was much more spacious and accommodating. I got to my locker and immediately put on my pregame gear to head out for the field. Everyone went out to walk the field and get accustomed to the environment. Playing on an indoor field, it was something new and exciting for me. I finished loosening up, went back to the locker room, listened to my music and got my pads on.
With less than an hour before game time, the quarterbacks headed out to the field to go through our pregame ritual. We warmed up our arms and then went through a cycle of stretching, followed by run-game exchanges and routes-on-air. Next, the team came together for a final team period and went through a few plays. We finished up and broke off back to the locker room.
Listening to a couple last pregame songs put everyone in the right mental space. Coach Hill came in the room and everyone gathered to listen to his final words, where he emphasized what we came here to do.
It was finally time. All the anticipation led to this moment. As we ran on to the field, the loudness of the crowd was evident. We were confident in our game plan and ready to go. On the opening drive, we drove down the field and ended it with a field goal. North Dakota State responded with a one-play touchdown, but we knew offensively we would respond.
To begin the second quarter, we hit the end zone, taking a three-point lead. We were amped up, but had to stay level-headed with lots of time left. Near the end of the first half, a turnover led to them taking the lead. Going into the locker room for halftime, everyone understood that even though we were down seven, we had a lot of ball left to play. Everyone stayed positive from the coaches on down.
Unfortunately, the Bison gained momentum in the second half and took a steady lead. We remained in good spirits on the sideline attempting to claw back, but ultimately, they came out with the victory.
In the locker room, we were disappointed, but we came together and Coach Hill left us with the idea that this was one game, and we have many left to play. We had to learn from this loss but then move on to next week and get better.
Overall, we didn't get the result we wanted, and it was disappointing, but this was a very cool experience for a freshman to be in the environment of the Fargodome.
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