By - Joshua A. Swanson - Herd It Hear With Swany

Once a Bison, Always a Bison. That means something. At North Dakota State, there's an old saying that we aren't like everybody else. There's something special about being a Bison. From the championship teams of the 1960s to today, it's part of our tradition of excellence. It's more important than any championship trophy or individual accolade. Former players, current players, coaches, staff, students and fans alike, we are ALL joined by a special bond.  It's the Strength of the Herd . Being a Bison is part of who we all are, it's engrained into the very fabric of our lives. 

This has an especially important meaning for those that have worn the green and yellow for NDSU. These guys belong to a special brotherhood. Jeff McKinnon was a linebacker for the Herd in the 1990s. On the field, he was fearless. Today, he finds himself in his toughest fight yet, this one against multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Jeff will WIN this fight -- but he needs our help, he needs the Herd. Jeff's teammates and the Bison Family have rallied around him, vowing that he won't go through this fight alone. They've set up the  Jeff McKinnon Benefit Fund with Lend a Hand Up, and have a  silent auction on Facebook to help our Bison brother. This fund, and the efforts of the Bison Family, are needed more than ever to help one of our own, a member of the Bison Family. 

Recently, I interviewed Jason Boutwell, a former NDSU football player about what the Bison Family is doing for Jeff and his family. This is what the Strength of the Herd and Bison Pride are all about. 

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