GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Each Monday through the end of the 2009 season, FightingSioux.com will take a personal look at 8-10 student-athletes on the North Dakota football team. This week we've featured Steven Battle, Devin Benjamin, Kyle Bondy, Curtis Dublanko, Ryan Konrath, Zeb Miller, Brendan Mochoruk, and Delano Saporu.
Name: Steven Battle
• Year: Junior
• Number: 1
• Position: Running back
• Hometown: Originally from Grand Forks, N.D., but moved to Massachusetts in 1998
Why you chose UND: Because of the rich tradition of the university.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Dallas Cowboys
• Sport to watch other than football: Soccer
• Movie: Tears of the Sun
• Band: Musiq Soulchild
• Food: Anything Italian
• Athlete: Kurt Warner
• Actor: Denzel Washington
• Video game: NCAA Football 2010
• TV show: House
Number of songs on your iPod: 3,500.
No one would believe you listen to: Alan Jackson.
Non-football skill (or activity) you wish you could do better: My golf game could use some work.
Talent you have outside of football: I can dunk a basketball.
Person you admire most: My mother.
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: Being a part of something bigger than yourself.
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Barry Sanders.
When did you get started playing football: In the 4th grade.
* * * * *
Name: Devin Benjamin
• Year: Redshirt freshman
• Number: 90
• Position: Defensive line
• Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Why you chose UND: Because of the aviation program, school, and football program seemed like the right fit.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Sport to watch other than football: Hockey, basketball
• Movie: Romeo Must Die
• Band: The Roots
• Food: Watermelon
• Athlete: James Harrison
• Actor: Denzel Washington
• Video game: Madden 2010
• TV show: Family Guy
Number of songs on your iPod: 1,300+.
No one would believe you listen to: *NSYNC.
Non-football skill (or activity) you wish you could do better: Play the bass guitar.
Talent you have outside of football: Playing the drums.
Person you admire most: My grandfather Willie McClung because he opened up many doors for black professional athletes.
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: Being a part of the tradition of Sioux football.
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Batman.
When did you get started playing football: When I was five years old.
* * * * *
Name: Kyle Bondy
• Year: Senior
• Number: 99
• Position: Offensive line
• Hometown: Williston, N.D.
Why you chose UND: Because it just felt right.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Sport to watch other than football: College basketball, specifically March Madness
• Movie: Step Brothers, Saving Private Ryan
• Singer: Aaron Lewis of Stained
• Food: Chinese food
• Athlete: Kyle Turley
• Actor/Actress: Vince Vaughn, Jessica Biel
• Video game: Katamari Demacy
• TV show: Californiation
Number of songs on your iPod: Thousands.
Talent you have outside of football: Singing.
Person you admire most: My father because he is the hardest working person that I know.
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: The tradition.
When did you get started playing football: Elementary school.
* * * * *
Name: Curtis Dublanko
• Year: Junior
• Number: 38
• Position: Linebacker
• Hometown: Thorsby, Alberta
Why you chose UND: Because of the tradition.
Most memorable moment at UND: Scoring a touchdown versus St. Cloud.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Edmonton Oilers
• Sport to watch other than football: Hockey
• Movie: Dumb and Dumber
• Band: Too many to pick one
• Food: Steak
• Athlete: Michael Jordan
• Actor: Jerry Seinfeld
• TV show: Seinfeld
Number of songs on your iPod: 10,000.
No one would believe you listen to: Phil Collins.
Talent you have outside of football: Snowboarding.
Person you admire most: My father.
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: My teammates.
When did you get started playing football: In the 5th grade.
* * * * *
Name: Ryan Konrath
• Year: Senior
• Number: 11
• Position: Wide receiver
• Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minn.
Why you chose UND: The aviation and football program.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Florida Gators
• Band: Counting Crows
• Food: Tacos
Talent you have outside of football: Flying and wakeboarding.
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: Being a part of a family.
When did you get started playing football: In the 4th grade.
* * * * *
Name: Zeb Miller
• Year: Freshman
• Number: 11
• Position: Kicker
• Hometown: Ankory, Iowa
Why you chose UND: Because of the town and the coaching staff.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Liverpool
• Sport to watch other than football: Soccer
• Movie: Band of Brothers
• Food: Pizza
• Athlete: Lionel Messi
• Video game: FIFA
Number of songs on your iPod: 500.
No one would believe you listen to: The Beauties.
Non-football skill (or activity) you wish you could do better: Play golf.
Talent you have outside of football: Playing soccer.
Person you admire most: My parents because they have showed me the true meaning of love.
When did you get started playing football: In high school.
* * * * *
Name: Brendan Mochoruk
• Year: Freshman
• Number: 89
• Position: Tight end
• Hometown: East Grand Forks, Minn.
Why you chose UND: Because of the great coaches, the great program, and because it was close to home.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Baltimore Ravens
• Sport to watch other than football: Hockey
• Movie: I Love You Man
• Band: A Day to Remember
• Athlete: Antonio Gates
• Actor: Denzel Washington
• Video game: NCAA Football 2010
• TV show: House
Number of songs on your iPod: 400.
No one would believe you listen to: Andrea Boccelli
Non-football skill (or activity) you wish you could do better: Play the drums.
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: Being a part of the long UND football tradition.
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Power Rangers.
When did you get started playing football: In the 6th grade.
* * * * *
Name: Delano Saporu
• Year: Sophomroe
• Number: 36
• Position: Defensive back
• Hometown: Blaine, Minn.
Why you chose UND: It just seemed like the right fit.
Most memorable moment at UND: Playing in my first game as a freshman.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Minnesota Vikings
• Sport to watch other than football: Basketball
• Movie: The Dark Knight
• Band: Usher, ‘Lil Wayne
• Food: Chinese food
• Athlete: Deon Sanders
• Actor: Denzel Washington, Will Smith
• Video game: NCAA Football 2010
• TV show: The Office
Number of songs on your iPod: 300.
Non-football skill (or activity) you wish you could do better: Play basketball
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: My teammates.
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Charles Woodson.
When did you get started playing football: In the 2nd grade.
- Go Sioux -
