Ben Buxa, the starting center for the University of North Dakota (UND) Fighting Hawks, made an unexpected appearance at the annual Missouri Valley Football Conference media day held in Sioux Falls. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Buxa was not the typical choice for such an event, where teams usually select experienced players from skill positions. His selection highlights a shift in focus within the program under head coach Eric Schmidt.
“It was a surprise to me, honestly,” Buxa reflected on his invitation. After Schmidt reached out to him, he shared the news with his parents, who reacted with greater astonishment. “They seemed to be a lot more surprised than I was,” he noted. “I just embraced it, and I’m taking it all in. It’s a good thing we get to give the world a taste of what this new team is bringing to 2025.”
Program Vision and Team Dynamics
Schmidt’s decision to bring Buxa represents his vision for the program, emphasizing a blue-collar mentality. “If we want to be blue-collar and nasty, let’s bring an o-lineman,” Schmidt stated, underscoring the importance of grit and determination in his team’s identity. He believes that the offensive line epitomizes the culture he aims to cultivate, noting their energy and focus in workouts, which positively influences the entire team.
As the 2025 season approaches, the Fighting Hawks will depend heavily on their offensive line. Alongside Buxa, returning starters include Seth Anderson, Liam Becher, Caleb Olson, and backup Trace Thaden. This unit demonstrated effective performance in 2024, surpassing expectations due to the contributions of transfers such as Cade Borud from Iowa, Easton Kilty from Kansas State, and Sam Hagen from South Dakota State.
Buxa reflected on the dramatic transition from smaller crowds to larger stadiums, recalling his experience at Iowa State to open the 2024 season. “There’s something about going from the last game I played in had 2,000 people at the stadium to the next game 62,000,” he said. He acknowledged the challenges faced by first-time starters, emphasizing the learning curve that comes with game-day experience.
Future Challenges and Team Goals
The offensive line’s performance will be critical as the team navigates a quarterback competition during fall camp and adapts to the absence of star wide receiver Bo Belquist. “No matter who you are, the game is always going to be won in the trenches,” Buxa asserted. Despite their experience, he remains aware of the need for improvement across various aspects of their game to reach a championship level.
Schmidt echoed Buxa’s sentiments, emphasizing that the offensive line must continue to evolve. “Those guys did a great job carving out a bigger role for themselves,” he noted. Many offensive linemen initially expected to be backups found themselves in starting roles and were productive. However, Schmidt stressed the importance of not becoming complacent, especially after struggles in critical games where they failed to sustain drives.
“Now, you have to be even better this fall and keep improving,” Schmidt said. He believes that the team’s success hinges on the offensive line’s performance, asserting, “We’re going to go as our offensive line goes. If we’re going to be a tough football team, our offensive line will need to be a tough unit and steady influence.”
As the Fighting Hawks prepare for the upcoming season, the focus will be on solidifying their identity and ensuring that the offensive line can provide the foundation necessary for success on the field.