Photo By J. Alan Paul Photography
Players:
(top left: Joe Haeg
top right: Josh Colville
middle: Tyler Gimmestad
bottom right: Jesse Hinz
bottom left: Billy Turner)
The “Ram” attitude has been a long standing tradition within the Bison football team. The greatest Bison offensive linemen like Scott Fuchs, Nate Safe and Austin Richards have all been proud members of the toughest group of guys on the football field. Now let’s take it to the trenches, where the real game of football is played and introduce the new generation of Rams.
BI: By looking at the picture, you guys don’t look that crazy.
Tyler Gimmestad: “We’re just a goofy bunch of guys that have a certain toughness about us. We want to take a lot of pride in what we do. That’s what makes us the Rams.”
BI: Explain the “Ram” tradition.
Billy Turner: “We’re all kind of a family within a team, and within that team, ‘The Rams’ is kind of its own little section. We were one of the first position groups to actually have a name for ourselves. Going way back then and having seen pictures of ‘The Rams’ back in the day and how the tradition has carried along the day and being hard-nosed, bad dudes.”
BI: How was that “Ram” mentality engraved into you?
Tyler Gimmestad: “Right away when I started playing offensive line. Coach Fuchs was a Ram when he played here. You get the knowledge from him. He tells you what it was like when he played. He still has the same amount of pride that he had when he played.”
BI: What does it say about the O-line when you have two 1,000 yard rushers?
Billy Turner: “You know what, we’re obviously getting our job done upfront, but at the same time, we have two running backs that put their heads in there and fall forward when they need to. It’s not all ‘The Rams’ doing all the work. We have the running backs back there that are putting in the work everyday. Every inch, every yard that they can.”
BI: With that being said, do you guys ever feel unappreciated?
Billy Turner: “Being an offensive lineman, you never get any of the glory. That just comes with being an offensive lineman so I really don’t think that bothers anyone. That’s just how it is.”
BI: It sounds like your whole group is prepared week in and week out, even the backups.
Tyler Gimmestad: “You never know when you’ll get your number called if someone gets hurt. They always have to be prepared like they’re going be starting on Saturday, even though they might not.”
