October 23, 2025 • 11 mins
Radio Color Analyst of UND Football, Mike Berg discusses UND Football, high school football playoffs and more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Color analysts for you any football, It's Mike Berg.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Morning, Mike, gentlemen, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Well you got your Dodgers in the World Series.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well they've been there for a few days now that
I was curious last night on how that would turn out.
So yeah, off to off to Toronto.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
You guys dodged the weather window on Saturday. Other people
weren't so lucky. But you moving it ahead probably was
the right thing to do.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I think, well, when you sit down on the plane
and you know you're all on there, and you're still
waiting for him to close the door, so let's get going,
and the pilot says, well, we're going to try to
get ahead of this weather, so we're gonna fly east
and then north. You're going, Okay, let's get going. Don't
care how you.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Just do it.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, what it was a nice win on Saturday, got
after him early. I thought, the defense getting them off
three and out, getting the ball to the offense to
go to work, getting an early lead. And it's the formula.
It works for good teams know that formula, and they
were able to do that. And then when Southern Illinois
(01:14):
made a massive mistake with a turnover late. They made
him pay for that too, to really kind of put
the sword to the game going into halftime. Really when
it was all said and.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Done, Yeah, I thought there were a couple of maybe
coaching decisions made by the Southern Illinois staff that hurt them,
because you know, they have some firepower on that team. Offensively,
they had a lot of weapons. Really we're concerned about
the quarterback. You know, the exceptional skill to hold him
to three yards rushing is like unheard of. And so
(01:47):
both sides of the ball, I thought played well and
you're right to go. Get four scores on the board
in the first half. That makes your second half a
whole lot easier. And it was a good win and
then one that was very necessary. And it's a legit team.
I mean, you didn't beat the Sisters of the Poor there,
(02:07):
you beat a legit football team, right.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, Tim, Well that's two in a row where they
beat legit football teams, which puts you in the chase.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Right Well, they're right there in the middle of it.
I mean, I don't know how you look at the
standings in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and not see
who's right there. So yeah, they're they're playing well and
you know, both sides of the ball. They've they've faced
probably the two two, maybe of the three or four
(02:40):
top quarterbacks in the league in the last two weeks
and have have looked good doing it. So, yeah, it's
it's fun to see them playing well and it's and
you know how it is, it's much more fun after
a game to be traveling with it with a team
that's had some success.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Right, Yeah, that that plane ride has a different feel,
no doubt, even though you guys are packed in like
sardines in the back. You know, if we were still
our thin selves, we probably wouldn't mind so much. But
we were shoulder to shoulder in those seats. That's that's
for sure. You know, when you look at the running
game of this North Dakota team, it takes a hit
(03:22):
when Gavin z Barth is injured, but there are a
number of guys that are more than capable of toting
the ball, and Sawyer obviously the leader of that group
right now. But I think really what it boils down
to is whoever's running it the offensive line. If they're
able to have days like they did that, that's going
to be who determines having success running the football. You
can insert it in a lot of guys' hands, and
(03:44):
and as long as that offensive line is doing what
it's doing, it's it's going to have a decent day.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I don't think I could gain many yards behind
that offensive line, but you could. Oh yeah, that's how
that's how good they are. And yeah, they've played. They've
played very well, very solid. Liam eat your Missouri Valley
offensive lineman of the week. That something right there. We
had breakfast with Ben Bux's parents are seat next to
(04:09):
them while we were reading breakfast that morning, and I
enjoyed talking with them. Those two and the others that
have been in there. I mean, they've just been solid.
And I think Trever Olsen is the offensive line coach
just as a close, tight knit group and they practice
hard and they play well together. It's so yeah, that's
(04:31):
it's always I don't care what you have in the
backfield or at the receiver, it always comes down to
who's on that line of scrimmage on both sides of
the ball.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah, no doubts. Coach Well and coach.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Coach Schmid yesterday expounded on the depth of that offensive line,
which is which is.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Important right, Yeah, yeah, And and you know, one of
the difficult things when you're when you're doing supposed color analysis,
as you're trying to watch what's happening on a play,
is you kind of lose track of who those five
guys are. Yeah, and if you're focusing, I mean you're focusing,
(05:12):
you can see them as a group move see who's
polled or who you know what the basic blocking scheme is.
But the individuals probably don't get enough credit and they
don't care. They would just as soon be recognized as
a group anyway, as a whole. But yeah, we don't
often call out the individual names of an offensive or
(05:33):
even a defensive lineman and let's say make a play
out in space somewhere. But as a group they are good.
And yeah, they do have good depth tim Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
It's well and again to keep things going, we know
that Indiana State can be dangerous. We found out how
dangerous the season ago. It was not a very good
day or a good feeling coming home from tear hout
Indiana as they knocked off north to go to a
season ago. It's different now, of course, but you know,
for people that are saying, well, look at Indiana State,
they've been struggling finding wins lately, but you know, they
(06:06):
could have easily beaten South Dakota. They were right there
with the Bison through much of the first half and
then some. So they're a tough nosed team and I
think if you, if you are, have any relaxation against them,
they'll get you. I think that's what makes them so
dangerous is that they're just wanting you to take it
easier to take a moment where you're not giving them
(06:28):
the respect, because they'll take full advantage.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Coach well, there's about one hundred and six football players
that started learning about that on Sunday. The expectation of
this coaching staff, so nobody over there is taking them
lightly whatsoever. And if you're a player who was thinking
this will be an easy one, that's just not true.
That they still they have the full number of scholarships,
(06:53):
they recruit in an area of the country that has
a lot of good ballplayers. And yeah, they've struggled in
recent years, but they have some tradition and we saw
it last year. Sure did thinking that you know that
was going to be one that the U and D
would definitely get and they'll play you tough, and like
you said, they had an excellent first half last weekend.
(07:14):
So no, it'll be a good game and hopefully we
fill that place up. People have to be excited about
this football team in our town, no doubt. Tim.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
What else you got for coach today?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Well, z Bart thing is kind of kicking the side
of the head, isn't it. But I said there's there's
some room there.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Right, Yeah, I like Paul mentioned that that running back group,
there's there's good depth there. And this this will sound strange,
I feel worse for Gavin than I do for the team. Yeah,
this is a kid who has paid a tremendous price
and worked so hard over the last three now three
(07:59):
and a half half seasons, and has earned all the
accolades he's gotten. He has to sit out at a
time when things are going well. The team will be fine.
They can replace him on the field because they have
good players. But this kid, You're broken hearted and just
hope he can get back on the field, that this
season is extended and he can get back on the field,
(08:22):
because I don't want to see his career you in
the end, you know, on the sideline of Southern Illinois.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Coach are you hopping on the East Grand fourteen your
high bus today and heading down to Peram to watch
the Yellow Green Wave and Yellow Jackets.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, I was going to hop on the bus, but
Kasowski said there's no room, so okay, I'll stay home
and I guess, but no, I am hopped on the bandwagon.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Sure, We've already texted a couple of times. And you know,
it's playoff football time. It's I was talking to some
guys this morning. It's hard to believe it's it's playoff
football time in North Dakota. We've got playoffs starting in
this state too, so yeah, and a big football game
the end of this week locally. Yeah to me. One
of the one of the premiere events in our state
(09:09):
is the Cushman Classics. So folks could watch a good
football game Friday night and then head right over to
the Eularis and watch another one on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
If you would, uh, just touch on. It's usually in
the program or has been back in the day when
I was calling high school games of the Letter to
the Youth by mister Cushman, who sadly lost his life
over Vietnam and and that, but he left a letter
to the youth of Grand Forks, which I thought was
(09:41):
always so fascinating. That is an incredible letter if you
ever have a chance to read it, correct coach.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Yeah, it's actually at Cushman Field. It's on a plaque
on the north side of the field and he it
was published and has often been published in the paper
where Cliff Cushman wrote a letter to the youth of
Grand Forks after he fell in the Olympic trials the
second Olympics. Yeah, and did not make the team, but
(10:07):
not you know, basically to get up after you've gone
down that you know, you don't stay down, you face
great disappointment. So yeah, that's there in perpetuity. Cushman Field
has a great legacy for both schools, and so this
event is of course properly named. And so he's one
(10:29):
of the iconic athletes to come out of our community,
not only athletes, but young man and so yeah, anybody
that hasn't seen that, it's there on the north side
outside the fence. You don't have to go into the
stadium to see it, that's right.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah, it is an incredible message and I think it's
an incredible story. So yeah, so definitely take advantage of
that the Cushman Classic does arrive on Friday, somebody will
be ringing that bell with either Central or Red River.
There's playoff implications, all the good stuff for late season
football to look forward to on Friday as well. You're
looking forward to is Saturday as well, and we look
(11:04):
forward to listening to you, coach, along with Jack Michaels
and I think Bob Rors will be helping out stepping
in on the sidelines this go round. So appreciate the time.
Have a great week.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Okay, okay, same, same, both of you guys.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
All right, sounds good, perfect, Thanks, There goes coach Mike Berg,
color analyst of North Dakota football on the Fighting Hawks
Radio Network
Color analysts for you any football, It's Mike Berg.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Morning, Mike, gentlemen, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Well you got your Dodgers in the World Series.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well they've been there for a few days now that
I was curious last night on how that would turn out.
So yeah, off to off to Toronto.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
You guys dodged the weather window on Saturday. Other people
weren't so lucky. But you moving it ahead probably was
the right thing to do.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I think, well, when you sit down on the plane
and you know you're all on there, and you're still
waiting for him to close the door, so let's get going,
and the pilot says, well, we're going to try to
get ahead of this weather, so we're gonna fly east
and then north. You're going, Okay, let's get going. Don't
care how you.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Just do it.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, what it was a nice win on Saturday, got
after him early. I thought, the defense getting them off
three and out, getting the ball to the offense to
go to work, getting an early lead. And it's the formula.
It works for good teams know that formula, and they
were able to do that. And then when Southern Illinois
(01:14):
made a massive mistake with a turnover late. They made
him pay for that too, to really kind of put
the sword to the game going into halftime. Really when
it was all said and.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Done, Yeah, I thought there were a couple of maybe
coaching decisions made by the Southern Illinois staff that hurt them,
because you know, they have some firepower on that team. Offensively,
they had a lot of weapons. Really we're concerned about
the quarterback. You know, the exceptional skill to hold him
to three yards rushing is like unheard of. And so
(01:47):
both sides of the ball, I thought played well and
you're right to go. Get four scores on the board
in the first half. That makes your second half a
whole lot easier. And it was a good win and
then one that was very necessary. And it's a legit team.
I mean, you didn't beat the Sisters of the Poor there,
(02:07):
you beat a legit football team, right.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, Tim, Well that's two in a row where they
beat legit football teams, which puts you in the chase.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Right Well, they're right there in the middle of it.
I mean, I don't know how you look at the
standings in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and not see
who's right there. So yeah, they're they're playing well and
you know, both sides of the ball. They've they've faced
probably the two two, maybe of the three or four
(02:40):
top quarterbacks in the league in the last two weeks
and have have looked good doing it. So, yeah, it's
it's fun to see them playing well and it's and
you know how it is, it's much more fun after
a game to be traveling with it with a team
that's had some success.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Right, Yeah, that that plane ride has a different feel,
no doubt, even though you guys are packed in like
sardines in the back. You know, if we were still
our thin selves, we probably wouldn't mind so much. But
we were shoulder to shoulder in those seats. That's that's
for sure. You know, when you look at the running
game of this North Dakota team, it takes a hit
(03:22):
when Gavin z Barth is injured, but there are a
number of guys that are more than capable of toting
the ball, and Sawyer obviously the leader of that group
right now. But I think really what it boils down
to is whoever's running it the offensive line. If they're
able to have days like they did that, that's going
to be who determines having success running the football. You
can insert it in a lot of guys' hands, and
(03:44):
and as long as that offensive line is doing what
it's doing, it's it's going to have a decent day.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I don't think I could gain many yards behind
that offensive line, but you could. Oh yeah, that's how
that's how good they are. And yeah, they've played. They've
played very well, very solid. Liam eat your Missouri Valley
offensive lineman of the week. That something right there. We
had breakfast with Ben Bux's parents are seat next to
(04:09):
them while we were reading breakfast that morning, and I
enjoyed talking with them. Those two and the others that
have been in there. I mean, they've just been solid.
And I think Trever Olsen is the offensive line coach
just as a close, tight knit group and they practice
hard and they play well together. It's so yeah, that's
(04:31):
it's always I don't care what you have in the
backfield or at the receiver, it always comes down to
who's on that line of scrimmage on both sides of
the ball.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah, no doubts. Coach Well and coach.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Coach Schmid yesterday expounded on the depth of that offensive line,
which is which is.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Important right, Yeah, yeah, And and you know, one of
the difficult things when you're when you're doing supposed color analysis,
as you're trying to watch what's happening on a play,
is you kind of lose track of who those five
guys are. Yeah, and if you're focusing, I mean you're focusing,
(05:12):
you can see them as a group move see who's
polled or who you know what the basic blocking scheme is.
But the individuals probably don't get enough credit and they
don't care. They would just as soon be recognized as
a group anyway, as a whole. But yeah, we don't
often call out the individual names of an offensive or
(05:33):
even a defensive lineman and let's say make a play
out in space somewhere. But as a group they are good.
And yeah, they do have good depth tim Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
It's well and again to keep things going, we know
that Indiana State can be dangerous. We found out how
dangerous the season ago. It was not a very good
day or a good feeling coming home from tear hout
Indiana as they knocked off north to go to a
season ago. It's different now, of course, but you know,
for people that are saying, well, look at Indiana State,
they've been struggling finding wins lately, but you know, they
(06:06):
could have easily beaten South Dakota. They were right there
with the Bison through much of the first half and
then some. So they're a tough nosed team and I
think if you, if you are, have any relaxation against them,
they'll get you. I think that's what makes them so
dangerous is that they're just wanting you to take it
easier to take a moment where you're not giving them
(06:28):
the respect, because they'll take full advantage.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Coach well, there's about one hundred and six football players
that started learning about that on Sunday. The expectation of
this coaching staff, so nobody over there is taking them
lightly whatsoever. And if you're a player who was thinking
this will be an easy one, that's just not true.
That they still they have the full number of scholarships,
(06:53):
they recruit in an area of the country that has
a lot of good ballplayers. And yeah, they've struggled in
recent years, but they have some tradition and we saw
it last year. Sure did thinking that you know that
was going to be one that the U and D
would definitely get and they'll play you tough, and like
you said, they had an excellent first half last weekend.
(07:14):
So no, it'll be a good game and hopefully we
fill that place up. People have to be excited about
this football team in our town, no doubt. Tim.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
What else you got for coach today?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Well, z Bart thing is kind of kicking the side
of the head, isn't it. But I said there's there's
some room there.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Right, Yeah, I like Paul mentioned that that running back group,
there's there's good depth there. And this this will sound strange,
I feel worse for Gavin than I do for the team. Yeah,
this is a kid who has paid a tremendous price
and worked so hard over the last three now three
(07:59):
and a half half seasons, and has earned all the
accolades he's gotten. He has to sit out at a
time when things are going well. The team will be fine.
They can replace him on the field because they have
good players. But this kid, You're broken hearted and just
hope he can get back on the field, that this
season is extended and he can get back on the field,
(08:22):
because I don't want to see his career you in
the end, you know, on the sideline of Southern Illinois.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Coach are you hopping on the East Grand fourteen your
high bus today and heading down to Peram to watch
the Yellow Green Wave and Yellow Jackets.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, I was going to hop on the bus, but
Kasowski said there's no room, so okay, I'll stay home
and I guess, but no, I am hopped on the bandwagon.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Sure, We've already texted a couple of times. And you know,
it's playoff football time. It's I was talking to some
guys this morning. It's hard to believe it's it's playoff
football time in North Dakota. We've got playoffs starting in
this state too, so yeah, and a big football game
the end of this week locally. Yeah to me. One
of the one of the premiere events in our state
(09:09):
is the Cushman Classics. So folks could watch a good
football game Friday night and then head right over to
the Eularis and watch another one on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
If you would, uh, just touch on. It's usually in
the program or has been back in the day when
I was calling high school games of the Letter to
the Youth by mister Cushman, who sadly lost his life
over Vietnam and and that, but he left a letter
to the youth of Grand Forks, which I thought was
(09:41):
always so fascinating. That is an incredible letter if you
ever have a chance to read it, correct coach.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Yeah, it's actually at Cushman Field. It's on a plaque
on the north side of the field and he it
was published and has often been published in the paper
where Cliff Cushman wrote a letter to the youth of
Grand Forks after he fell in the Olympic trials the
second Olympics. Yeah, and did not make the team, but
(10:07):
not you know, basically to get up after you've gone
down that you know, you don't stay down, you face
great disappointment. So yeah, that's there in perpetuity. Cushman Field
has a great legacy for both schools, and so this
event is of course properly named. And so he's one
(10:29):
of the iconic athletes to come out of our community,
not only athletes, but young man and so yeah, anybody
that hasn't seen that, it's there on the north side
outside the fence. You don't have to go into the
stadium to see it, that's right.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah, it is an incredible message and I think it's
an incredible story. So yeah, so definitely take advantage of
that the Cushman Classic does arrive on Friday, somebody will
be ringing that bell with either Central or Red River.
There's playoff implications, all the good stuff for late season
football to look forward to on Friday as well. You're
looking forward to is Saturday as well, and we look
(11:04):
forward to listening to you, coach, along with Jack Michaels
and I think Bob Rors will be helping out stepping
in on the sidelines this go round. So appreciate the time.
Have a great week.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Okay, okay, same, same, both of you guys.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
All right, sounds good, perfect, Thanks, There goes coach Mike Berg,
color analyst of North Dakota football on the Fighting Hawks
Radio Network
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