Bismarck, N.D., scholar Clay Jenkinson joined the “Mike McFeely Show” on 970 WDAY under the guise of talking about the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy. Instead, the conversation turned to Bismarck Century High School graduate Carson Wentz, a former North Dakota State star now excelling with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Clay put a spin on the Wentz phenomenon like only Clay can: By comparing Wentz’s rise to that of Greek gods.

Listen. You’ll learn something. And probably laugh.

Oh, how the expectations have changed for Carson Wentz. A few weeks ago, the former North Dakota State quarterback was supposed to be the third-string quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Now after three straight victories and solid performances to begin his NFL career, fans in Philly are now talking about the Eagles going to the Super Bowl behind Wentz.

Wow.

Top-rated Philly sports talk-show host Mike Missanelli of 97.5 The Fanatic joined 970 WDAY’s “Mike McFeely Show” on Tuesday to talk about the almost-out-of-control Wentz Wagon.

It’s good. Listen:

Philadelphia talk-show host Chris Stigall took a tried-and-true conservative radio formula and applied it Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz on Thursday.

On his 1210 WPHT show, Stigall said Wentz’s hobbies and lifestyle make it appear the former North Dakota State quarterback is a conservative politically, so he better keep performing well or “they” will be out to get him.

“They” would be Biased Liberal Media, we presume.

Stigall compared Wentz to former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, a college star who washed out of pro football quickly. Tebow identifies himself as a devout Christian and who is strongly opposed to abortion and his supporters have said “they” despise Tebow because he’s so outspoken about it.

Stigall said if Wentz doesn’t continue to perform at a high level, if he “wobbles” for a game or two, “look out.”

“You’ll meet the Tim Tebow fate, Carson,” Stigall said.

You can listen to the entire bit here:

Tebow is a favorite of conservative commentators because of his social and political views. Conservatives like to believe Biased Liberal Media caused his downfall, apparently not understanding that if Tebow had been able to perform at the level necessary to play in the NFL, he’d still be in the NFL. They apparently also don’t understand that NFL teams don’t make personnel decisions based on what Biased Liberal Media think. Bottom line is, if Tebow could play and if his team was winning games, he’d be in the NFL today. Period.

But it makes for good conservative talk-radio and allows the listeners of Chris Stigall to nod their heads and say, “Yes, the Biased Liberal Media are out to get Christian conservatives.” It’s serves Stigall’s purpose. That’s show business.

As for Wentz’s political views, I have no idea. Like Stigall, I’ve always assumed Wentz leans to the conservative side. But I have no proof, nor do I particularly care. And if someday Carson Wentz decides to get political with his football career — which I highly doubt will happen, because that just doesn’t appear to be the way he rolls — he’ll have to deal with the fallout (positive or negative) that comes his way. That’s part of being an adult and part of being a star athlete.

But will Biased Liberal Media be tougher on him if he comes out as a conservative? Nope. They’ll be tough on him when he begins throwing interceptions and not playing well. And the Eagles, or some other NFL teams, will make their personnel decisions based on that, not his political views — no matter what they are.

One caveat: NFL teams do look at players who are particularly outspoken or politically controversial as potential distractions. They are in the business of winning football games, not changing the world. So teams will put up with controversy as long as a player is helping them win games. Once that advantage ends, they seem to get a lot less tolerant of controversy.

Illinois State coach Brock Spack is always a great interview. That continued today on the “Mike McFeely Show” on 970 WDAY. He riffed on former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz and injured Bison linebacker Nick DeLuca. He likes them both, a lot.

Listen to the entire interview here:

PHILADELPHIA — A bunch of Carson Wentz’s relatives hit the jackpot.

When they bought tickets in May for the Philadelphia Eagles’ game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field, they had no idea Wentz would actually be playing for the Eagles.

“We just figured it would be fun to go to Philadelphia after they drafted him. It was long before we ever knew he was going to play,” said Joan O’Brien of Lakeville, Minn., a first cousin of Wentz. “We’re lucky we get to see him.”

Wentz became the Eagles’ starting quarterback after Philadelphia traded Sam Bradford to Minnesota in early September. The rest is well-known. The former North Dakota State star from Bismarck, N.D., has been one of the NFL’s top rookies through the early portion of the season.

That made the trip to Philly even more fun for O’Brien and 14 other distant relatives of Wentz (on his mother Cathy’s side) who traveled from Minnesota and North Dakota to be at the Eagles-Vikings game Sunday, Oct. 23 — even if Wentz’s performance wasn’t the greatest.

Wentz threw two interceptions in the first quarter as the Eagles offense struggled against Minnesota’s league-leading defense.

That didn’t dampen enthusiasm for the group, which gathered before the game at the Xfinity Live bar/restaurant complex across the street from the stadium. All 15 were wearing black T-shirts that said “I’m on the Wentz Wagon” on the front. On the back was a list of hashtags like #Wentzylvania, #FlyEaglesFly and #FootballandFaith. They also had homemade Wentz posters emblazoned with some of the same sayings.

“We’re all Carson’s relatives, but we’re all Vikings fans, too,” said Margo McKay of Owatonna, Minn. “It’s family first, but I’m wearing Vikings socks.”

Split loyalties was a common theme for the group. Most wanted the Vikings to win, but Wentz to have a good game.

“I would like for Carson to get a lot of yards and not get sacked, but for the Vikings to win,” said Katie O’Brien of Bloomington, Minn.

“It’s a half and half situation for us,” Joan O’Brien said. “No matter what happens today, we’re undefeated. It’s a win-win. Either our cousin wins, or the Vikings win.”

Another O’Brien, Travis of Fargo, had a little different take. He went to NDSU and is a big Bison fan. He’s related to Wentz. But he’s also a Vikings fan. So how do you split those loyalties?

“The Vikings are unbeaten. So how about if they finish 15-1 with this being the only loss?” he said, adding a dagger to his long-suffering purple brethren. “And then they lose to the Eagles in the NFC Championship game.”

For a Vikings fan to say that means there is definitive proof of blood being thicker water. Rooting for Minnesota to lose out on another chance to make the Super Bowl, even if it means a relative gets to the big game? That’s harsh.

PHILADELPHIA — Carson Wentz threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the first quarter, but the Philadelphia Eagles found a way to beat the Minnesota Vikings 21-10 on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Here is Wentz’s postgame press conference:

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson was asked a few questions about quarterback Carson Wentz, a former North Dakota State star, after his team’s 21-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

FARGO — Carson Wentz’s signature drive for the North Dakota State football team came in Frisco, Texas, against Illinois State on Jan. 10, 2015. That’s when the quarterback moved the Bison 78 yards in six plays, capped by Wentz running into the end zone from 5 yards out with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

That was the drive that rallied the Bison from a late deficit, allowing them to beat the Redbirds 29-23 for their fourth straight national championship. It was stunning, given the circumstances. Illinois State quarterback Tre Roberson had gashed the Bison for a 58-yard TD run with 1:38 left, giving the Redbirds the lead and seemingly ended NDSU’s streak of national titles. But then Wentz made magic, with help from receiver RJ Urzendowski.

It took all of 61 seconds.

Wentz had a couple of other late drives that were massive in importance. One came earlier that same season in the second round of the playoffs, when he moved the Bison down the field late against South Dakota State and hit Urzendowski with a perfect pass for a winning touchdown. In his senior season, last year, Wentz engineered a frantic drive at the Fargodome against Northern Iowa that ended in a near-miraculous scoring catch by Darrius Shepherd in the back corner of the end zone.

But those two drives, too, were of the quick-strike variety — because they had to be. The one that broke SDSU’s heart was 8 plays, 76 yards, 2:24.  Wentz’s drive against UNI was 10 plays, 79 yards, 1:55.

After Wentz led the Bison over Illinois State, I wrote a blog saying that quick six-play, 61 second drive was the greatest in NDSU’s football history. My thinking was that moving the ball downfield that quickly with a national title on the line trumped anything else the Bison had done.

That was wrong, in retrospect. What Wentz did against the Redbirds, Jackrabbits and Panthers was a drive by strict definition, but should be counted more as a comeback because of the pressing circumstances.

A drive — for these purposes — needs to be something a little more. It needs to consume significant yards, of course, but also has to take a significant number of plays and chew up a significant amount of time. It has to be sustained, in other words. More of a surgical march than a frantic rally. Death by a thousand cuts and a slow bleed for the opponent, as opposed to quick and vicious stabs.

That leaves what Brock Jensen and the Bison did on Aug. 30, 2013, as the greatest drive in (at least recent) NDSU history. It still surpasses two head-shaking drives the Bison put together this year: Sept. 17 at Iowa and last Saturday night against SDSU.

First, Saturday night. The Bison’s 20-play, 12:16 drive against the Jackrabbits was the most soul-crushing of the three. SDSU had jumped out early with ease, scoring on its first two drives for a 10-0 lead. The Bison got a TD to pull within 10-7 and got the ball back with 13:57 left in the second quarter.

That’s when the Bison began pounding on the Jackrabbits with short runs and third-down passes. A couple of Jackrabbit penalties helped, but NDSU relentlessly marched down the field and the clock kept running. By the time quarterback Easton Stick ran a bootleg into the end zone from 3 yards out, there was only 1:48 left in the first half and NDSU led 14-10.

It was one drive that utterly changed the direction and feel of the FCS quarterfinal game, sucking the life out of SDSU’s defense while keeping the Jackrabbits’ potent offense on the sidelines.

“It affects everyone,” said SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier after the game. “It’s discouraging for a defense. It’s physically wearing on you and I think the offense gains momentum in those situations.”

Earlier in the season, the Bison went toe-to-toe with Iowa of the Big Ten and on the key drive of the game essentially said, “We’re going to run, boys. Try and stop us.” The Hawkeyes couldn’t.

The Bison trailed 21-14 and took over at their own 20.

On a 15-play drive, NDSU threw only three passes. The other dozen plays were runs, mostly up the middle. The Bison’s offensive line jammed it in the ear of a Big Ten defensive line. Nothing showed NDSU’s confidence in its running game more than six consecutive plays starting at the Iowa 25. All were runs. The Bison pushed forward each time, including a three-yard run by Lance Dunn on third and five and another three-yarder by King Frazier on fourth and two. Just for good measure, Chase Morlock ran up the middle for six yards on the next play.

NDSU scored on a pass to Morlock from the 7-yard line. The Bison missed a two-point conversion when head coach Chris Klieman went for the win, but later won the came on a field goal (after another impressive, but quick, drive).

But the king of the drives remains the one that led NDSU over Kansas State in Manhattan on a stifling late summer day. The temperature was near 100 degrees at the start of the night game and by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Bison were clearly the better conditioned team.

Behind 21-17 to the Big 12 team, NDSU took over at its own 20 with 8:58 left in the fourth quarter. The Bison’s offensive line was again able to impose its will on a higher-level school, but were aided by four conversions on third downs.

Jensen showed all his running, throwing and leadership skills on this drive. He completed three passes on third down to extend the drive and rushed four times on the drive, including the 1-yard run for the winning TD.

Considering the circumstances, meaning and the opponent it came against, the drive against Kansas State remains the greatest in Bison history.

Here is the play-by-play for each of the three drives, courtesy of NDSU’s athletic web site:

Kansas State: 18 plays, 80 yards, 8:30, Aug. 30, 2013

Situation: Trailing 21-17, Bison take possession at own 20 with 8:58 remaining in fourth quarter.

Key play: Brock Jensen hits Derrick Lang for 11 yards on third and 11 from the NDSU 19.

Iowa: 15 plays, 80 yards, 8:39, Sept. 17, 2016

Situation: Trailing 21-14, Bison take possession at own 20 with 12:20 remaining in fourth quarter.

Key play: King Frazier rushes for three yards on fourth down and 2 from the Iowa 17.

South Dakota State: 20 plays, 82 yards, 12:16, Dec. 10, 2016

Situation: Trailing 10-7, Bison take possession at own 18 with 13:57 remaining in second quarter.

Key play: Easton Stick hits RJ Urzendowski for 23 yards on third-and-23 from the Bison 16.

PHILADELPHIA — Year 2 of the Carson Wentz Era in Philadelphia began Tuesday as the Eagles began offseason organized team activities. It’s another way of saying “spring ball” for NFL players.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson was asked what he’s seen out of Wentz, who a year ago at this time was a rookie out of North Dakota State who had just been drafted No. 2 overall by Philadelphia. After unexpectedly starting 16 games for the Eagles a year ago, Wentz is the clear-cut star of the team in 2017.

“Well, the biggest thing I’ve seen, number one, is leadership. He’s come in here ready to go. He’s come in here eager, excited about the offseason, working with the new guys and the guys from last year. That’s what I’ve seen,” Pederson said, according to a transcript of his press conference. “I’ve seen him sort of come in rejuvenated. Last year at this time he had played a bunch of football. He was coming off his world tour. He had just been drafted. Now he’s had a chance to just kind of sit back and look at the regular season last year and make the necessary adjustments and corrections and learn from it. Those are the things that we’re seeing through Phase II, and now we’ll see it carry over into Phase III.”

Wentz said the biggest difference is that this year is not a whirlwind. Last year he was coming off the NFL Draft and the post-draft tour. This year he said he is more comfortable.

“I was just trying to get my bearings straight. I barely knew where the locker room was. A lot of things going on. It was pretty wild,” Wentz told reporters in Philadelphia. “Now it’s just focusing on those guys, focusing on the playbook and how we can build something special.”

Wentz spent some time working with a passing coach after his rookie season, changing some things about his footwork.

“It’s subtle. That’s the thing. We’re going to see it as coaches. You may not see it as a spectator watching the game,” Pederson said. “It’s just pointing his toe, it’s getting him on his target line, things that we talk about each and every day that [quarterbacks] coach [John] DeFilippo does a good job with. And those are the things we continue to work on.”

The Eagles made a splash in the free-agent market this spring, signing veterans Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith to go with returning players Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor. Philadelphia also drafted two receivers. Pederson, a former NFL quarterback, said it the voluntary OTAs will be critical in Wentz getting to know all the new receivers.

“Having played the position and working with new guys even in my career, it takes time. It takes time to develop, and sometimes time that you don’t have with the way the offseason is structured. But these guys also worked a little bit beyond the in-house rules, so to speak, here where they were able to work on their own, work together, and even before OTAs, even before the offseason started,” Pederson said. “They have to continue that even through the summer months once they leave. But we’ll get more time in training camp. That’s why it’s so important to get these guys and keep them together as units going through training camp and really on into preseason.”

The difference to Wentz is the competition between receivers.

“They are all competing, all competing with the group,” he said. “Pushing each other, helping each other out. That’s great to see.”

Wentz threw 16 touchdowns in 2016, compared to 14 interceptions. He threw for 3,782 yards and compiled a 79.3 QB rating. The Eagles went 6-10.

Back when Craig Bohl was just Craig Bohl, long before he became a genius who won three straight national titles at North Dakota State before moving onto Wyoming, the football coach used to share stories with local media. That’s what happened one day in 2008 when I ran into Bohl in the lobby of the Fargodome and struck up a conversation, asking about the prospects for the upcoming season.

Eventually, the conversation turned to quarterback. He would have to replace Steve Walker, the graduated quarterback who led NDSU to 10-1 records in 2006 and 2007. Bohl sort of smirked when talking about Walker and shook his head when describing his thoughts about the QB.

Bohl described Walker “kind of having a belly, not throwing a very good ball, not having the strongest arm and not being a very good practice player.” Bohl even intimated that in Walker’s first couple of seasons, the coach was looking for somebody better who could start instead of Walker. It never happened. Walker kept winning, kept completing 65 percent of his passes and kept the job.

“He’s the definition of a gamer,” former NDSU offensive coordinator Pat Perles once told me.

Lesson: Don’t underestimate Steve Walker.

Although it seems Bison fans have done that to the great one from Lockport, Ill., again.

NDSU’s athletic department released its “All-Fargodome Team for Division I” this week, as voted on by fans, as a way to generate discussion about the Bison in July and honor some of their top players since the program moved up to NCAA Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) in 2004.

Not surprisingly the biggest point of discussion among the faithful, at least on social media, was the selection of Brock Jensen over Carson Wentz as the quarterback of this team. Even The Forum’s headline on a brief story read, “Former Bison QB Brock Jensen headlines NDSU’s ‘All-Fargodome Team.'” That was the “talker,” as we say in the talk-radio business. Jensen over Wentz.

It shouldn’t have been. Selecting Jensen as the top Bison QB in the Division I era was a no-brainer. He remains the ultimate winner in NDSU athletics history, leading the Bison to three straight national championships, the greatest drive in program history that came in a stunning win at Kansas State and piloting the program through the biggest boom era it will see. Jensen quarterbacked the best FCS team in history, the 15-0 2013 squad. Enough said. Think of this, too: Jensen played well enough to keep Wentz, the eventual No. 2 overall NFL draft choice, on the bench for two seasons.

The bigger head-scratcher was how Walker was not even part of the discussion as the best QB of the Division I era. If the criteria was winning games, performing in the clutch and compiling statistics — not physical skills or NFL draft choice placement — Walker ranks right up there with Jensen and Wentz. It seems he was forgotten in the discussion.

You could make an argument, in fact, that Walker was more deserving of being the “second place” finisher than Wentz. Don’t laugh. Yes, Wentz won two national championships as a starter. Walker never had a chance because the Bison were ineligible for the playoffs all four of his seasons. The Bison went 10-1 in both 2006 and 2007, Walker’s junior and senior seasons, and were considered one of the best FCS teams in the country both years.

Walker was the QB who started it all in Division I for NDSU. He was the quarterback who led the Bison to dramatic victories long before Jensen did — at Cal Davis and Cal Poly, and the doozy against Sam Houston State in 2007 at the Fargodome (Walker hit Kole Heckendorf on a 27-yard TD pass in the final seconds for a 31-28 win) that was considered the most thrilling Bison win at the dome before the Georgia Southern playoff game in 2012.

Walker was the QB who started NDSU’s roll against Football Championship Subdivision teams. He went 3-1 against the big boys, including the first one over Ball State. That came with a fourth-quarter rally in which Walker threw for a record 451 yards. He was also the quarterback in 2007 when NDSU made its first national splash with a win over Minnesota at the Metrodome. In that game, Walker went 20 of 25 for 191 yards and two TDs. That included the game-winner to Thor Brown early in the fourth quarter.

Walker was The Man long before Jensen and Wentz were The Men. He doesn’t deserve to be The Forgotten Man.

Here is a column I wrote on Walker in Nov. 2007, before his last game at the Fargodome, along with a list of Walker’s five greatest games:

Pressure formed Walker’s legacy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The North Dakota license plates on the motor home was one hint. The flag attached to it that read “Wentz 11” was another. The amount of green and yellow clothing hanging out around it was another.

This vehicle had traveled down I-29 to cheer on former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz as his Philadelphia Eagles took on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

That didn’t make this group of Wentz fans unique. Hundreds, including a couple of tour buses, did the same thing.

But this group included a couple of people who know Carson pretty well: His dad Doug, brother Zach and a large collection of relatives and friends who had come from Bismarck and other spots to cheer for the Eagles’ quarterback.

“We have about 60 in our group. Just a really nice turnout to see him play,” Doug said about two hours before kickoff on the muggy, overcast day.

Doug Wentz says this will likely be the only Eagles road game he attends this season. He goes to all the games in Philadelphia because home games allow him to spend more time with Carson, who has free time on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons and Mondays to visit with family. Road games are different. NFL teams fly in Saturday afternoon and fly out immediately after the game.

But Kansas City is the nearest Eagles game to North Dakota this season and so many Wentz and Bison fans made the trip. It’s about a 12-hour drive from Bismarck and an 8 1/2 drive from Fargo, just a quick shot for those of us from the remote Dakotas.

“There was a pretty good turnout in Chicago last year, and there should be a great crowd here today,” Zach said.

Another familiar face was roaming the Eagles sideline. Former Bison athletic director Gene Taylor was a guest of the Chiefs, invited because of his ties to Carson Wentz. Taylor is now the athletic director at Kansas State in Manhattan, about a three-hour drive away.

It was clear that many Bison and Eagles fans from North Dakota made the trip. The seats in the lower bowl behind the Eagles bench was filled with green Eagles jersey, many with No. 11 on them, and there were at least three “NDSU” and “Bison” flags being waved.

The Philadelphia Eagles had quarterback Carson Wentz, a former North Dakota State player, mic’d up for a game-winning 61-yard field goal attempt by kicker Jake Elliott in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

On the sideline before the kick, Wentz told linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill that he’d give Elliott his game’s paycheck if Elliott made the kick.

Elliott’s boot was successful, giving the Eagles a 27-24 victory at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Wentz’s paycheck for Sunday’s game, by the way, would total $97,798.

No word if Wentz followed through on his promise.

Here’s the video:

We had @cj_wentz mic'd up for #NYGvsPHI and, well, just listen for yourself. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/jEyB1msn1o

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 26, 2017

ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi did a feature story on a young boy with cancer and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, formerly of North Dakota State.

If you watch in the office, be prepared for people to ask you why you’re crying …

ESPN broadcaster Jon Gruden first mentioned it during the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over Washington on Monday Night Football — that the play on which quarterback Carson Wentz threw a touchdown pass to Corey Clement was something Wentz suggested the Eagles install in the offense because it was so successful at North Dakota State.

It’s since been confirmed by both Wentz and Philadelphia offensive coordinator Frank Reich. A two tight-end set run often by the Bison in situations inside the 20-yard line was installed in the Eagles’ offense at Wentz’s suggestion.

The Eagles even received tape from NDSU to better study the play.

“We had to call NDSU, get the old film out so I could show them what’s going on,” Wentz said at his weekly press conference Thursday. “Then run it in practice and kind of convince them on it.”

LIVE on #Periscope: Tune in now as quarterback Carson Wentz speaks with the media. https://t.co/QJT1ZkeZBu

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 26, 2017

The play in Monday night’s game was one of the many memorable moments for Wentz in Philadelphia’s 34-24 victory at Lincoln Financial Field. It came in the third quarter with Philly up 17-10. On third and goal from the 9, the Eagles lined up with two tight ends. Zach Ertz went in motion from left to right and lined up next to fellow tight end Brent Celek. Wentz took the snap in the shotgun and Clement, a running back, slipped out of the backfield to the right corner of the end zone. Stepping up in the pocket to avoid pressure, Wentz found Clement wide open after a blitzing linebacker couldn’t recover after focusing on Celek.

Hey @cj_wentz, ummm what?
#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/rCJGQYFgzO

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 24, 2017

Wentz told reporters he suggested the play to Reich and head coach Doug Pederson early in the season and they were receptive. It also was used on a TD pass against the New York Giants. Wentz was less impressed that the play worked than he was by the openness of his coaches to take his suggestions.

“It’s cool to have that dynamic, that relationship with coach Reich and coach Pederson. They respect my opinion when I bring things up like that,” Wentz said. “It’s a good play. Obviously it’s been effective for us. I love that relationship that I can bring up those ideas.”

In his press conference Wednesday, Reich said it’s a play designed specifically for the “red zone,” inside the opponents’ 20.

“Sometimes plays just have a good mojo for you, you’ve had a lot of success, you’ve got a lot of confidence in them. And then you’ve repped it enough and you know — I think what happens when you run a play over and over again, you see it against all kinds of different coverages, you see it against different coverage techniques and leverage that defenders play, and really good quarterbacks learn how to beat any coverage when they have one play that they really like, and you feel like you can’t stop the play,” Reich said. “And even as we’ve repped that play, and we have different variations of that play so teams can’t zero in on it and ways to disguise it and ways to counter off of that play, but even in practice when we run the versions of that play, you can just see Carson just work the progressions and get to every receiver in the progression. I mean, literally all five receivers have caught that ball in practice and have caught that on that particular route.”

LIVE on #Periscope: Tune in now as Jim Schwartz and Frank Reich meet with the media. https://t.co/QOMzk8Hbtt

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 25, 2017

The Philly Sports Network acquired tape of Wentz in the two Football Championship Subdivision title games in which played at NDSU and found the Bison ran the play successfully for touchdowns against both Illinois State (2014 title), including Wentz’s game-winning TD on which he used a run option, and Jacksonville State (2015). That success is why Wentz likes the play and it made Eagles coaches more open to adding the play to their arsenal.

“That’s what happens when you — that’s why sometimes as coaches you don’t want to outsmart yourself,” Reich said. “You just want to keep running the same plays over and over again, make them look a little different, have enough in your inventory that defense can’t get too narrowed in on it, but certainly just keep running your same stuff and let your players play and make the plays that they should make.”

From NDSU to the NFL — both Philadelphia’s quarterback and the plays he’s running.

Carson Wentz has gone from little-recruited Bismarck Century quarterback to Football Championship Subdivision and North Dakota State star to No. 2 overall NFL draft choice to solid rookie season to … NFL Most Valuable Player?

That’s how oddsmakers and influential football writers are tabbing the second-year quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Oddsmaker Bovada has Wentz the even-money favorite to be the league’s MVP, ahead of New England’s Tom Brady, Kansas City’s Alex Smith, New Orleans’ Drew Brees and a bunch of other well-known veterans.

Longtime NFL writer Peter King is thinking the same way. The Sports Illustrated writer, while acknowledging MVP “favorites” will change from week-to-week between now and the end of the season, has Wentz leading the award now after a four-touchdown performance in a 51-23 Eagles victory over Denver on Sunday.

“Wentz, Brady. Brady, Wentz. Can’t go wrong either way. The Eagles have the best record in football, and Wentz has had dominating games against one excellent defense (Denver’s, on Sunday) and a good one, Washington’s. Wentz led Philly to 85 against Denver and Washington in the past three weeks,” King wrote. “He has the NFL lead in touchdown passes (23), and he’s second in yards and third in rating. Perfect example of his impact: Against Denver, he rolled right and, with Von Miller in his face, threw 32 yards down the right sideline perfectly for Alshon Jeffery for a touchdown—with Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib in tight coverage. Wentz has been making these types of plays all season.”

The magic is not Wentz’s alone. The Eagles, a 7-9 team last season, are 8-1 and Bovada’s favorite to win the Super Bowl, too.

The question now is whether Bison fans will get a glimpse of Wentz this weekend in Fargo. The Eagles have a bye week, head coach Doug Pederson has given them the entire week off, Wentz returned last year on the bye week and — this might be key — the family of the 10-year-old boy who died of cancer and was featured on ESPN because of his relationship with Wentz will be guests of NDSU during its game against South Dakota on Saturday.

WDAY-TV’s Dom Izzo and The Forum’s Jeff Kolpack dropped by the “Mike McFeely Show” on Friday on 970 WDAY to break down North Dakota State’s FCS playoff game against San Diego. They also looked at other FCS games like South Dakota State vs. Northern Iowa, Jacksonville State vs. Kennesaw State and Wofford vs. Furman.

Listen to the entire hot mess here:

Carson Wentz says he’ll “come back stronger than ever” from a knee injury that ended his season, even though “it will be tough on me for a little bit.”

Through a video posted on Twitter late Monday afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback said the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in his left knee Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams is part of Jesus’ plan for him. A person of deep Christian conviction, the former Bismarck Century and North Dakota State star spend much of the 2 minute, 12 second message talking about his faith.

Some quick thoughts for everyone. Can’t thank my family, friends, teammates, and fans enough. Love y’all! #AO1 pic.twitter.com/vBwxG4So5N

— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) December 11, 2017

But Wentz said the injury, which came in a season in which the second-year quarterback was being touted as an NFL Most Valuable Player candidate, “will not stop me.”

“I can promise to everybody, all my fans from the Philly area and the North Dakota area and all across the country, this will not stop me,” said Wentz, donned in a Bison hooded sweatshirt. “I will come back stronger than ever from this.”

Wentz was putting together a monster season for the Eagles, who clinched the NFC East with a 43-35 victory over the Rams. He threw a franchise-record 33rd touchdown pass against Los Angeles and had compiled 3,296 passing yards. Wentz left the game late in the third quarter after taking multiple hits on a touchdown run that was called back because of a holding penalty. He stayed in the game after he came up limping and completed a touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffrey before being evaluated on the sideline and leaving the field.

“It’s been a tough day on me a little bit,” Wentz said. “I’m not going to lie.”

Dallas Goedert’s grandfather sent me a wonderful letter (hand-written) and packet of information the other day. Gordon Phillips lives in Forman, N.D., and wanted to provide me the update on his daughter’s son, the South Dakota State tight end who will likely be a high National Football League draft choice come April.

Forman is about 95 miles from Fargo, located in Sargent County in the southeast portion of North Dakota. It is not far from Havana, N.D., where much of the Goedert/Phillips clan is from.

“Dallas was born in Havana and his family have been there for 127 years,” Gordon wrote.

It is also near the South Dakota border, and in the neighborhood of 30 miles north of Britton, S.D., where Goedert (“The Britton Bomber”) grew up and graduated high school. Goedert walked on at South Dakota State and became an All-American, graded by some the best tight end in all of college football. Goedert was a North Dakota State killer the last two years in the regular season as the Jackrabbits took possession of the Dakota Marker Trophy with victories in the rivalry game.

This likely left many in the Forman-Havana-Britton corridor with mixed emotions. They cheered for Dallas to do well, but Grandpa Gordon says the area is part of Bison Nation.

“Our area is all Bison and I also have four NDSU grads,” Gordon wrote. “Most are also Dallas fans.”

The update on Goedert from Grandpa Gordon is this:

Goedert graduated from SDSU in December and signed with the same agency as former Bison quarterback Carson Wentz, Rep1 Sports of California. Goedert is represented by Chase Callahan. Former NDSU linebacker Nick DeLuca also signed with Rep1.

Goedert and DeLuca are currently in Irvine, Calif., at Rep1’s facility training for the NFL Draft in April. They will fly to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., later this month. Then it’s on to the NFL Combine in March.

Included in Gordon’s packet was a copy of The Britton Journal weekly newspaper, which included a long front-page feature on Goedert written by Doug Card. There were many interesting nuggets in the article.

Goedert said some agents were pushing him to leave SDSU after his junior season and declare early for the NFL Draft.

“I started getting messages from agents trying to get me to go into the draft a year early,” Goedert told the Journal. “The first one came to our house in February, and I was getting calls and messages throughout the spring semester, into the summer. We (Dallas, his mother Mary, and stepdad Gary Carlson) narrowed it down to five going into this season on who we thought would fit best.”

Goedert said he received a text message from Wentz that helped him choose Rep1.

“One day after practice I got a text message from him,” Goedert said. “Everybody in the locker room read it. After he was injured I texted him to say I was thinking about him, and he texted right back. It was really cool to text back and forth with the top quarterback in the NFL.”

Draft experts like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have Goedert ranked as the top tight end available in the draft. NFL Draft Scout has him No. 2 behind Indiana’s Ian Thomas. Kiper’s mock draft has Goedert slotted as the 25th overall pick in the first round.

“When I think about it I get a little bit nervous, but I’m hoping my name pops up in the first round,” Goedert told the Journal. “Some of the mock drafts have me as a first-round pick, but so much can change in the next four months. If I don’t do something terrible at the combine or the Senior Bowl it is pretty set in stone that I will go in the first three rounds, but it is going to be a nerve-wracking, exciting experience.”

Goedert is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and said it “would be really cool” to be drafted by the Packers so he could play with Aaron Rodgers.

In his packet, along with a family Christmas card, Grandpa Gordon included a photocopy of some advertisements he bought in The Britton Journal.

“Havana Is Proud Of Dallas Goedert – SDSU All American Football Player – Havana Resident from 1995-1998”

Included was a photo of Goedert and one of Grandpa Gordy’s great-children walking together down the aisle of a store.

The ads were signed: “Proud Grandpa Gordy.”

Proud enough to write a letter to a columnist in Fargo, with all of the needed information included.

PHILADELPHIA — Former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz isn’t talking to the media as he rehabilitates his injured knee, but that didn’t stop him from celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ 38-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game. He made his way through the Eagles locker room after the game and talked to teammates.

The Eagles will play the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis.

ST. PAUL — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, the former North Dakota State star, spent some time visiting with reporters at Super Bowl media day Monday night at the Xcel Energy Center. He talked about his emotions of not being able to play in the Super Bowl because of an injured knee, and gave his thoughts on how Eagles fans treated Vikings fans at the NFC Championship game.

Listen to the scrum in its entirety here: