March 21, 2025 • 19 mins
Sports Editor of the Grand Forks Herald, Tom Miller joins Paul to discuss local and regional sports news. Including local teams at state tournament basketball, UND Hockey, UND Football and more.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
That is our cue to go to the phones and
visit with the sports editor the Grand Ports Herald, Tom Miller.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Good morning, Tom, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Have you decided what you've got to call Tim Hennessy now?
Is you know that Tim Hennessy of NC Media excellence.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We have to call him the sportscaster of the Year
or it's going to Sportscaster of the Year Tim Hennessy.
I think I'm gonna go to like the Wizard of
Oz type of thing. I think I'm gonna go to
the all knowing, great and powerful Tim Hennessy.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Okay, Okay, you widen the door there at the radio
station so you can walk through with that head.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I'm telling you, the ego is just being fed as
we speak.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
No, I think it's so great, right, I mean I I.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Was on another radio program this morning, the mighty seven
ninety KMGO and Fargo. I drop on for a fighting
ox Friday while I'm doing this show, and they asked
me about it, and I said, you know, if there's
anything that I've learned in my all my years of
doing this job that I have, which I'm incredibly fortunate
to have, I said, if it's anything, and I'm not
(01:06):
the one winning awards, nor do I seek them out.
I'm fine, But I've just really proven to everyone that
I'm really good to latching on to really good talent.
I can identify it because I work with Jack Michaels.
He's been named numerous times norths GOOTA Sportscaster of the Year.
I'm latched on to Tim Hennessy. He's my colleague and
co host and friend, and he's you know, the excellence
(01:26):
in medias North got to Sportscaster of the Year and
excellence in media for NCHD Hockey. So all it proves
is I just know where the talent is and I
just latch onto it. That's basically what it proves.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I think you're good at stuff in the ballot box
and making sure those other guys are award That's right.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh boy, do I ever too? Yes? Exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So. No, that's great, and it's been great that you
guys pick up on the stories and run them and
and you know, Tim forty five years behind the mic
for you indie hockey and just doesn't miss a beat
and just so good. And I'm so happy that he's
getting these acknowledgments for him and his family to enjoy
it and relish and so hopefully most importantly, he has
a great call tonight and has a great game to call.
(02:10):
I know, you've got Brad Schlassman on the beat. Do
you have anybody else? Did you just send Brad solo
to handle? I mean, Brad can handle it all from
start to finish, and it's kind of a unique one.
I thought Brad did a great write up in regards
to saying exactly what this run to the Twin Cities
has meant not only to the NCC, but to the
WCJ and the stories and all the fields going back
(02:31):
to the nineties, you know, whether it be the Civic Center,
the Target Center, XL Energy Center, and through the two
thousands switching of leagues. But Brad really hit it on
the head with that story, didn't he.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah. I think anybody who experienced, you know, the conference
tournament in the Twin Cities has really fond memories of it.
You know. I mean even myself, who wasn't you know,
nearly as a as deeply connected to that conference tournament
as a lot of other people. I got great memories
(03:06):
of being around the X and and covering that event,
and you know, it was always put on, you know,
not to mention how good the games were, but it
was always put on first class and just a really
enjoyable environment around the X with the setup there. And so, uh,
he did a nice job. We're sending Abby Sharp as well,
(03:26):
and will be in the Twin City. She covered red
Lake County boys basketball and their win over Good Hugh
Left Yeah last night. Yeah, and then she'll cover them
in the semi finals today and do a little uh
you know. Ernie Banks said it is a good day
for two. I'm sure he meant uh. I'm sure he
meant red Lake County in the state semifinals and college
hockey at night. So that's what she's drawn here today.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Well, and I talked about this earlier this week. I
had mentioned to Tim. I said, you know this, this
Red Lake County is really just down the road from us.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It's not. I mean, they're they're right in our neighborhood here.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
So you know, they've had some good programs and they
finally break through and they only prolong it with a
run into the semifinals.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Had to kind of with stand some things.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yesterday I saw the story on it, and yeah, I
mean that's a nice little story as well, because that
was not an easy section to come out of this year.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
There was a lot of good teams in that section
eighth this year.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, and what they've really shown me in the postseason
is that it's not just a one man show. You know.
Coming into the year, I really thought that they would
be kind of singularly powered by Owen Shrvistead. I think
is a really nice player. He signed at Minnesota Kirkston,
really really nice high school athletes, good football player as well.
But there have been many nights here in state quarterfinal
(04:42):
included where you know, maybe he's their third or fourth
leading scorer. So they certainly got options. And good for
Red Lake County. Good for Steve Pillion, a guy who's
been with that program for I think it was eighteen years,
they said, but coaching high school basketball for fifty you won.
So I believe his grandson is on the team. The Gullings,
(05:05):
rude kid, the young you might even come off the
bench kind of their fifth or sixth guy, young kid,
good ballplayer, big, good baseball player as well. So h good, good,
good for that program and the communities of Oakley and
Plumber and Red Leg Falls. I have a feel good
story this winter.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Okay, because you're you and I are such great hockey minds.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
What do you?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
What do you naturally because they left us behind to
hold down the foes of what What are your What
are your leanings from talking to Brad going into this
this game against Western Michigan, who's had an outstanding year?
What is the real feel coming out from Brad who's
(05:51):
covered this team? Uh in every angle, shape and form
going in. Does North Dakota's chances going into this game?
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah? You know, I think what I've told people who
have asked me is I feel like when I've been
down in the Twin Cities, I've covered the angle before.
I always come back to this phrase about hockey, and
like you said, take it for what it's worth as
my great hockey mind. But I believe in hockey it
is hard to fake desperation. And I've seen North Dakota
(06:22):
be on the other side of this where perhaps their
national picture was sealed. They come to the conference tournament
and they face somebody who's playing for their seasonal lives.
So the tables are turned right. Western Michigan is probably
in a pretty comfortable place and North Dakota is playing
for their seasonal lives. You know, is Western Michigan likely
(06:43):
the maybe better team or more talented team whatever you know,
has had the better season, whatever it may be. Yeah,
does it fifty to fifty even the playing field now
that there is a disparity between the need to on Friday?
(07:04):
I don't know. That's how I say.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
What I find interesting about this North Dakota team is
just how much of the scoring has been lifted by
the freshman and sophomores. We we knew about Liddler being
in the storyline last week, Jane Brown had won on
Friday night, and you know, so a lot of freshmen, sophomores.
Sasha Beauvaire has been a big part of the storyline.
Jake Levanovitch is only a sophomore. It's just amazing to
(07:29):
me how much of the youngsters who are probably not
even freshmen or sophomores anymore, they're now playing like juniors
and sophomores, you know, they they are the ones that
are kind of asked to do some of the heavy
lifting of scoring. And that's another storyline for me, just
kind of with this team where the veterans are kind
of the Hey, let's type check this next line out.
Let's hold this other line down. Maybe we get one.
(07:52):
But really some of the scoring talent seems to come
from the freshman.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah, and that's gonna make for a you know, an offseason.
You got to try to keep that core together because
I think you know from talking to Brad Schlafsman that defensively,
if they can bring it all back, that's that's the
kind of defense that you could win a national title
with as they age. He's pointed out in other stories
(08:18):
that I believe it's like the only defensive corps without
an upperclassman in the country or something like that. Right,
So you know they need to play above their age.
But if North Kota can keep that defensive group together,
it feels a bit reminiscent of that twenty sixteen team
(08:39):
that kind of built towards the end with guys like
Troy Stetcher and Paul lad and some of that defensive
core that was together for a while.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Switching something that you actually took in spring football practice
number one for you and he football at the Fritz
Paullard High Performance Center yesterday, the first led by my
first year head coach Eric Schmidt, former you Indy football standout,
former defensive coordinator, still defensive coordinators. He'll handle those duties. Okay,
(09:10):
what did we learn day one? You wrote a little
bit about it. What are your takeaways for people that
haven't had a chance to dive in so far to
story number one?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Yeah, I think you're you're seeing guys that were able
to put on some good weight over the or the
off season. They extended that kind of weight training portion
of the spring in order to kind of build some
culture with a with a new kind of program reset.
And I think there are guys who said that they're
(09:42):
really taking advantage of the increased emphasis on nutrition that
Eric Schmid has brought in as well as just the
facilities piece that has allowed that to take place. You're
not dressing a starture anymore and and driving or walking
over every every I believe, you know, Caleb Olson kind
(10:05):
of said it. Uh, I believe he said something like,
there are no more excuses anymore. It's all right here.
You know, the brand new weight room, the brand new
you know, medical training area, you know, having that all
together in one location under Derrick Stein, now under Eric Schmidt.
(10:28):
I just think, uh, you know, they're they're headed in
a in a pretty good direction. I think you're seeing that,
especially on the offensive line. I feel like that is
one position group that is really entering into an you know,
championship level position group with its depth. Just more more
(10:48):
guys at the at the right size, looking looking the
right part.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Well, you talk about the offensive line and winning in
the trenches, just so big for for this football team,
whether it was a bubblish, swagt led team or any
coach for that matter, that will remain under coach Schmidt
and uh, you know to a degree offensive coordinator Isaac
Fricktie the defensive side, we've talked about the shift into
defense and the formational look which had been the thirty
(11:14):
four base front.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
For a long long.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Time, going back to Dale Lennon's nineteen nineties when they
brought that along.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Going to a four to two five.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
You know, base defense, and the looks may be different
in a game. But you know, the interesting thing I
meant to mention to coach Berg that will be something
why I come out to practice here a little bit
this spring is like you look at Lance Rucker, you know,
who is a stellar athlete who you know took a
step in your his first full year. They played him
a little bit in his first year at UND but
(11:46):
you know, he's this prototypical guy that you said, shouts
outside linebacker and in a thirty four he's he's, you know,
kind of what North Kote was always looking for to
be that outside linebacker. Now what now, what is an
a Lance ruck look like in today's North Dakota defense.
That's one of the things I'm looking forward to seeing
kind of the hey, you know, how it evolves this spring.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Is that fair to kind of look at?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Absolutely, it's uh. One of the first questions I asked
Eric Schmidt when I talked to him before springball on Wednesday,
is I asked for, you know, kind of I asked
for guys guys he thought were making gains in the physically,
you know, in this offseason. And he had mentioned Lance Rucker,
and I said, you know, in the in the three four,
(12:35):
you know, you always felt like those defensive ends needed
to get up to two sixty five, you know, and
sometimes it took a while, like a guy like Mason Bennett,
you know, kind of come in with kind of a
tweener outside linebacker DN body and maybe by the time
they're twenty two, twenty three years old. They've achieved that.
(12:58):
And I said, Ken Lance Rucker, it at two hundred
and forty pounds in the way that you design this defense,
and he said, our sack leader at San Diego State
played at two forty and he kind of indicated it
was more about twitch and seemed to indicate that that
was going to be a transition that was going to
(13:18):
be just fine. So that was also something I was
interested to find out. And at least so far, that
seems to be something coach Schmid is comfortable with.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
And the one thing that you would just have to
say is that I just get the messaging here, both
quietly and everything else. And I think the players are
more than aware that it is time to put your
best resume out there, because this roster probably won't look
the same August first, after spring football and everything. It
(13:51):
is time to put your best rep. I mean, you
don't get me. You know, by the time spring football
is done, you'll look back it's probably you probably didn't
have that many reps. You better make the most of them,
especially the new staff and everybody doing different grades and
having different sets of eyeballs that you better be at
your very best if you expect to be part of
things August first, because this whole new perspective thing, it
(14:13):
may be a refresh for some guys having a chance
that maybe felt like they they needed a new set
of eyeballs to look at them.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
It's really really an important time for everybody.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Yeah, you, I don't even know if you call it
like an elephant in the room, because I have to
think that even these college kids can do kind of
some simple math. Here. You have X number of kids
in the roster right now, you have X number of
kids signed to come in in the fall. Something something
doesn't equate, And clearly this staff isn't gonna sit on
(14:46):
their hands in the portal post springball. I think it's
probably pretty evident that there needs to be another round
of additions, especially in the defensive line, especially the especially
the interior of the defensive line. So absolutely, this is
going to be a trying out process for a lot
(15:06):
of kids. And I think as kids feel out the
depth chart, they're gonna be some excited kids and some
disappointed kids. And you know, maybe to some extent that's
the unfortunate nature of college athletics, But you know, that
is what it is, and so there's certainly should be
(15:28):
a feel that people are are trying to fight for
a roster spot because there's going to have to be
some very difficult decisions to be made and quickly because
of the if guys want to come and go post springball,
that portal window is going to be right up tight
to the end of this this spring schedule.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Yeah, I think the last practice is the day it
all happens. So it's like.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Right there having in real time.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Yeah, yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Lastly, just really quick, you know, I get asked all
the time, you know, the portal. We saw another one
for North ConA men's basketball entry in mere Panome uh yesterday,
and everybody says, where would a player like that?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
I mean, I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
You I know, we've seen what you know has been
rumored of what Jakari White from now in NDSU has
been talked to by X amount of schools or whatever.
I honestly don't know where everybody will go until they
actually end up there. In today's day and age, there's
so much scuttle butt and whispering going on. I have
no idea and everybody's reason for getting in the portal
(16:32):
may not be the same reason then the next guy
gets in the portal for so it's just this is
the reality for really all the I twenty nine schools
basically in college sports right now.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I mean, if there's a if there's a glass half pull,
it's that your peers are experiencing the exact thing you're experiencing.
U and D will not be unique in the fact
that it's a yearly rebuild. And you know, I see
out of two ways, like one, everybody's in the same boat.
(17:04):
You know, your peer schools are experiencing the same thing.
On the on the other hand, I understand the frustration
among fans in trying to develop a connection to the
roster and to college athletics. I mean that's what's made
un D athletics what it is, you know, the connection
(17:24):
that you develop with a Quinton Hooker.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
And I'm glad we.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Covered the story last offseason and wrote basically we caught
up with Quenton Hooker and wrote the story that said,
will there ever be another Quinton Hooker? And I think
it's a legitimate question. Now, you know, you almost feel
like you were spoiled with having what you had with
Trason Eagle staff, even though you don't get him for
his full college career. Yeah, you know, you just it's
(17:51):
it's hard to develop a face of the organization. Who's
the face of UNI men's basketball right now? I mean,
I guess Eli King, but you know who who else
is on that roster? It's uh, you know, it's it's
it's hard to get community buy in when it feels
like what we used to think of junior college basketball. Yeah,
(18:11):
it's it's, you know, to some extent, we used to
make that comparison that you know, it's kind of like
college hockey where if a guy's good, oh he's too good.
But it's more than that now, you know, it's it's
is he a starter before his junior year? Well, he's
probably gone. Yeah, it's I don't I don't know if
(18:32):
there's gonna be a normalization. It would probably take some
level of federal intervention, and I don't know if there's
an appetite for that. But I understand the frustration from
a fan base perspective.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, Tom, great visiting with you across the spectrum of
local and regional sports, including the teams that you cover.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Your team, does it so well?
Speaker 1 (18:53):
We'll be following in our editions digitally on the Grand
four Cherild dot com. And I really appreciate you continuing
to join us. And I thought today we we solved
all the world's problems, so appreciate this one.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Tom, have a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Absolutely, I think you're excellent. Whether the NHC recognizes you
or not, well.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Yes, of course they're running right out to uh, you know,
get another award set up and ready for me.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Thanks. Tom, have a great weekend. Tom Miller. Oh, he's
part time comedian as well.
That is our cue to go to the phones and
visit with the sports editor the Grand Ports Herald, Tom Miller.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Good morning, Tom, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Have you decided what you've got to call Tim Hennessy now?
Is you know that Tim Hennessy of NC Media excellence.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We have to call him the sportscaster of the Year
or it's going to Sportscaster of the Year Tim Hennessy.
I think I'm gonna go to like the Wizard of
Oz type of thing. I think I'm gonna go to
the all knowing, great and powerful Tim Hennessy.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Okay, Okay, you widen the door there at the radio
station so you can walk through with that head.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I'm telling you, the ego is just being fed as
we speak.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
No, I think it's so great, right, I mean I I.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Was on another radio program this morning, the mighty seven
ninety KMGO and Fargo. I drop on for a fighting
ox Friday while I'm doing this show, and they asked
me about it, and I said, you know, if there's
anything that I've learned in my all my years of
doing this job that I have, which I'm incredibly fortunate
to have, I said, if it's anything, and I'm not
(01:06):
the one winning awards, nor do I seek them out.
I'm fine, But I've just really proven to everyone that
I'm really good to latching on to really good talent.
I can identify it because I work with Jack Michaels.
He's been named numerous times norths GOOTA Sportscaster of the Year.
I'm latched on to Tim Hennessy. He's my colleague and
co host and friend, and he's you know, the excellence
(01:26):
in medias North got to Sportscaster of the Year and
excellence in media for NCHD Hockey. So all it proves
is I just know where the talent is and I
just latch onto it. That's basically what it proves.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I think you're good at stuff in the ballot box
and making sure those other guys are award That's right.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh boy, do I ever too? Yes? Exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So. No, that's great, and it's been great that you
guys pick up on the stories and run them and
and you know, Tim forty five years behind the mic
for you indie hockey and just doesn't miss a beat
and just so good. And I'm so happy that he's
getting these acknowledgments for him and his family to enjoy
it and relish and so hopefully most importantly, he has
a great call tonight and has a great game to call.
(02:10):
I know, you've got Brad Schlassman on the beat. Do
you have anybody else? Did you just send Brad solo
to handle? I mean, Brad can handle it all from
start to finish, and it's kind of a unique one.
I thought Brad did a great write up in regards
to saying exactly what this run to the Twin Cities
has meant not only to the NCC, but to the
WCJ and the stories and all the fields going back
(02:31):
to the nineties, you know, whether it be the Civic Center,
the Target Center, XL Energy Center, and through the two
thousands switching of leagues. But Brad really hit it on
the head with that story, didn't he.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah. I think anybody who experienced, you know, the conference
tournament in the Twin Cities has really fond memories of it.
You know. I mean even myself, who wasn't you know,
nearly as a as deeply connected to that conference tournament
as a lot of other people. I got great memories
(03:06):
of being around the X and and covering that event,
and you know, it was always put on, you know,
not to mention how good the games were, but it
was always put on first class and just a really
enjoyable environment around the X with the setup there. And so, uh,
he did a nice job. We're sending Abby Sharp as well,
(03:26):
and will be in the Twin City. She covered red
Lake County boys basketball and their win over Good Hugh
Left Yeah last night. Yeah, and then she'll cover them
in the semi finals today and do a little uh
you know. Ernie Banks said it is a good day
for two. I'm sure he meant uh. I'm sure he
meant red Lake County in the state semifinals and college
hockey at night. So that's what she's drawn here today.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Well, and I talked about this earlier this week. I
had mentioned to Tim. I said, you know this, this
Red Lake County is really just down the road from us.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It's not. I mean, they're they're right in our neighborhood here.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
So you know, they've had some good programs and they
finally break through and they only prolong it with a
run into the semifinals.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Had to kind of with stand some things.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yesterday I saw the story on it, and yeah, I
mean that's a nice little story as well, because that
was not an easy section to come out of this year.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
There was a lot of good teams in that section
eighth this year.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, and what they've really shown me in the postseason
is that it's not just a one man show. You know.
Coming into the year, I really thought that they would
be kind of singularly powered by Owen Shrvistead. I think
is a really nice player. He signed at Minnesota Kirkston,
really really nice high school athletes, good football player as well.
But there have been many nights here in state quarterfinal
(04:42):
included where you know, maybe he's their third or fourth
leading scorer. So they certainly got options. And good for
Red Lake County. Good for Steve Pillion, a guy who's
been with that program for I think it was eighteen years,
they said, but coaching high school basketball for fifty you won.
So I believe his grandson is on the team. The Gullings,
(05:05):
rude kid, the young you might even come off the
bench kind of their fifth or sixth guy, young kid,
good ballplayer, big, good baseball player as well. So h good, good,
good for that program and the communities of Oakley and
Plumber and Red Leg Falls. I have a feel good
story this winter.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Okay, because you're you and I are such great hockey minds.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
What do you?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
What do you naturally because they left us behind to
hold down the foes of what What are your What
are your leanings from talking to Brad going into this
this game against Western Michigan, who's had an outstanding year?
What is the real feel coming out from Brad who's
(05:51):
covered this team? Uh in every angle, shape and form
going in. Does North Dakota's chances going into this game?
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah? You know, I think what I've told people who
have asked me is I feel like when I've been
down in the Twin Cities, I've covered the angle before.
I always come back to this phrase about hockey, and
like you said, take it for what it's worth as
my great hockey mind. But I believe in hockey it
is hard to fake desperation. And I've seen North Dakota
(06:22):
be on the other side of this where perhaps their
national picture was sealed. They come to the conference tournament
and they face somebody who's playing for their seasonal lives.
So the tables are turned right. Western Michigan is probably
in a pretty comfortable place and North Dakota is playing
for their seasonal lives. You know, is Western Michigan likely
(06:43):
the maybe better team or more talented team whatever you know,
has had the better season, whatever it may be. Yeah,
does it fifty to fifty even the playing field now
that there is a disparity between the need to on Friday?
(07:04):
I don't know. That's how I say.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
What I find interesting about this North Dakota team is
just how much of the scoring has been lifted by
the freshman and sophomores. We we knew about Liddler being
in the storyline last week, Jane Brown had won on
Friday night, and you know, so a lot of freshmen, sophomores.
Sasha Beauvaire has been a big part of the storyline.
Jake Levanovitch is only a sophomore. It's just amazing to
(07:29):
me how much of the youngsters who are probably not
even freshmen or sophomores anymore, they're now playing like juniors
and sophomores, you know, they they are the ones that
are kind of asked to do some of the heavy
lifting of scoring. And that's another storyline for me, just
kind of with this team where the veterans are kind
of the Hey, let's type check this next line out.
Let's hold this other line down. Maybe we get one.
(07:52):
But really some of the scoring talent seems to come
from the freshman.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah, and that's gonna make for a you know, an offseason.
You got to try to keep that core together because
I think you know from talking to Brad Schlafsman that defensively,
if they can bring it all back, that's that's the
kind of defense that you could win a national title
with as they age. He's pointed out in other stories
(08:18):
that I believe it's like the only defensive corps without
an upperclassman in the country or something like that. Right,
So you know they need to play above their age.
But if North Kota can keep that defensive group together,
it feels a bit reminiscent of that twenty sixteen team
(08:39):
that kind of built towards the end with guys like
Troy Stetcher and Paul lad and some of that defensive
core that was together for a while.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Switching something that you actually took in spring football practice
number one for you and he football at the Fritz
Paullard High Performance Center yesterday, the first led by my
first year head coach Eric Schmidt, former you Indy football standout,
former defensive coordinator, still defensive coordinators. He'll handle those duties. Okay,
(09:10):
what did we learn day one? You wrote a little
bit about it. What are your takeaways for people that
haven't had a chance to dive in so far to
story number one?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Yeah, I think you're you're seeing guys that were able
to put on some good weight over the or the
off season. They extended that kind of weight training portion
of the spring in order to kind of build some
culture with a with a new kind of program reset.
And I think there are guys who said that they're
(09:42):
really taking advantage of the increased emphasis on nutrition that
Eric Schmid has brought in as well as just the
facilities piece that has allowed that to take place. You're
not dressing a starture anymore and and driving or walking
over every every I believe, you know, Caleb Olson kind
(10:05):
of said it. Uh, I believe he said something like,
there are no more excuses anymore. It's all right here.
You know, the brand new weight room, the brand new
you know, medical training area, you know, having that all
together in one location under Derrick Stein, now under Eric Schmidt.
(10:28):
I just think, uh, you know, they're they're headed in
a in a pretty good direction. I think you're seeing that,
especially on the offensive line. I feel like that is
one position group that is really entering into an you know,
championship level position group with its depth. Just more more
(10:48):
guys at the at the right size, looking looking the
right part.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Well, you talk about the offensive line and winning in
the trenches, just so big for for this football team,
whether it was a bubblish, swagt led team or any
coach for that matter, that will remain under coach Schmidt
and uh, you know to a degree offensive coordinator Isaac
Fricktie the defensive side, we've talked about the shift into
defense and the formational look which had been the thirty
(11:14):
four base front.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
For a long long.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Time, going back to Dale Lennon's nineteen nineties when they
brought that along.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Going to a four to two five.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
You know, base defense, and the looks may be different
in a game. But you know, the interesting thing I
meant to mention to coach Berg that will be something
why I come out to practice here a little bit
this spring is like you look at Lance Rucker, you know,
who is a stellar athlete who you know took a
step in your his first full year. They played him
a little bit in his first year at UND but
(11:46):
you know, he's this prototypical guy that you said, shouts
outside linebacker and in a thirty four he's he's, you know,
kind of what North Kote was always looking for to
be that outside linebacker. Now what now, what is an
a Lance ruck look like in today's North Dakota defense.
That's one of the things I'm looking forward to seeing
kind of the hey, you know, how it evolves this spring.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Is that fair to kind of look at?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Absolutely, it's uh. One of the first questions I asked
Eric Schmidt when I talked to him before springball on Wednesday,
is I asked for, you know, kind of I asked
for guys guys he thought were making gains in the physically,
you know, in this offseason. And he had mentioned Lance Rucker,
and I said, you know, in the in the three four,
(12:35):
you know, you always felt like those defensive ends needed
to get up to two sixty five, you know, and
sometimes it took a while, like a guy like Mason Bennett,
you know, kind of come in with kind of a
tweener outside linebacker DN body and maybe by the time
they're twenty two, twenty three years old. They've achieved that.
(12:58):
And I said, Ken Lance Rucker, it at two hundred
and forty pounds in the way that you design this defense,
and he said, our sack leader at San Diego State
played at two forty and he kind of indicated it
was more about twitch and seemed to indicate that that
was going to be a transition that was going to
(13:18):
be just fine. So that was also something I was
interested to find out. And at least so far, that
seems to be something coach Schmid is comfortable with.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
And the one thing that you would just have to
say is that I just get the messaging here, both
quietly and everything else. And I think the players are
more than aware that it is time to put your
best resume out there, because this roster probably won't look
the same August first, after spring football and everything. It
(13:51):
is time to put your best rep. I mean, you
don't get me. You know, by the time spring football
is done, you'll look back it's probably you probably didn't
have that many reps. You better make the most of them,
especially the new staff and everybody doing different grades and
having different sets of eyeballs that you better be at
your very best if you expect to be part of
things August first, because this whole new perspective thing, it
(14:13):
may be a refresh for some guys having a chance
that maybe felt like they they needed a new set
of eyeballs to look at them.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
It's really really an important time for everybody.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Yeah, you, I don't even know if you call it
like an elephant in the room, because I have to
think that even these college kids can do kind of
some simple math. Here. You have X number of kids
in the roster right now, you have X number of
kids signed to come in in the fall. Something something
doesn't equate, And clearly this staff isn't gonna sit on
(14:46):
their hands in the portal post springball. I think it's
probably pretty evident that there needs to be another round
of additions, especially in the defensive line, especially the especially
the interior of the defensive line. So absolutely, this is
going to be a trying out process for a lot
(15:06):
of kids. And I think as kids feel out the
depth chart, they're gonna be some excited kids and some
disappointed kids. And you know, maybe to some extent that's
the unfortunate nature of college athletics, But you know, that
is what it is, and so there's certainly should be
(15:28):
a feel that people are are trying to fight for
a roster spot because there's going to have to be
some very difficult decisions to be made and quickly because
of the if guys want to come and go post springball,
that portal window is going to be right up tight
to the end of this this spring schedule.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Yeah, I think the last practice is the day it
all happens. So it's like.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Right there having in real time.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Yeah, yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Lastly, just really quick, you know, I get asked all
the time, you know, the portal. We saw another one
for North ConA men's basketball entry in mere Panome uh yesterday,
and everybody says, where would a player like that?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
I mean, I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
You I know, we've seen what you know has been
rumored of what Jakari White from now in NDSU has
been talked to by X amount of schools or whatever.
I honestly don't know where everybody will go until they
actually end up there. In today's day and age, there's
so much scuttle butt and whispering going on. I have
no idea and everybody's reason for getting in the portal
(16:32):
may not be the same reason then the next guy
gets in the portal for so it's just this is
the reality for really all the I twenty nine schools
basically in college sports right now.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I mean, if there's a if there's a glass half pull,
it's that your peers are experiencing the exact thing you're experiencing.
U and D will not be unique in the fact
that it's a yearly rebuild. And you know, I see
out of two ways, like one, everybody's in the same boat.
(17:04):
You know, your peer schools are experiencing the same thing.
On the on the other hand, I understand the frustration
among fans in trying to develop a connection to the
roster and to college athletics. I mean that's what's made
un D athletics what it is, you know, the connection
(17:24):
that you develop with a Quinton Hooker.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
And I'm glad we.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Covered the story last offseason and wrote basically we caught
up with Quenton Hooker and wrote the story that said,
will there ever be another Quinton Hooker? And I think
it's a legitimate question. Now, you know, you almost feel
like you were spoiled with having what you had with
Trason Eagle staff, even though you don't get him for
his full college career. Yeah, you know, you just it's
(17:51):
it's hard to develop a face of the organization. Who's
the face of UNI men's basketball right now? I mean,
I guess Eli King, but you know who who else
is on that roster? It's uh, you know, it's it's
it's hard to get community buy in when it feels
like what we used to think of junior college basketball. Yeah,
(18:11):
it's it's, you know, to some extent, we used to
make that comparison that you know, it's kind of like
college hockey where if a guy's good, oh he's too good.
But it's more than that now, you know, it's it's
is he a starter before his junior year? Well, he's
probably gone. Yeah, it's I don't I don't know if
(18:32):
there's gonna be a normalization. It would probably take some
level of federal intervention, and I don't know if there's
an appetite for that. But I understand the frustration from
a fan base perspective.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, Tom, great visiting with you across the spectrum of
local and regional sports, including the teams that you cover.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Your team, does it so well?
Speaker 1 (18:53):
We'll be following in our editions digitally on the Grand
four Cherild dot com. And I really appreciate you continuing
to join us. And I thought today we we solved
all the world's problems, so appreciate this one.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Tom, have a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Absolutely, I think you're excellent. Whether the NHC recognizes you
or not, well.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Yes, of course they're running right out to uh, you know,
get another award set up and ready for me.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Thanks. Tom, have a great weekend. Tom Miller. Oh, he's
part time comedian as well.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com