October 23, 2025 • 10 mins
UND Head Football Coach Eric Schmidt, discusses last week's win and this week's challenge with Indiana State.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm after a big win on Saturday against Southern Illinois.
(00:04):
Coach Church schmid Morning.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Coach Sam, Morning, Paul, how are you guys this morning?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Doing great? Doing great? I'm just gonna plead guilty. Not
my best basketball broadcast because attention deficit disorder. I had
the game on in front of me, and I'm trying
to call a basketball game. Usually you should focus on
one task at hand, but I was just too curious.
Congratulations on the win on Saturday, Tim, I'll let you
(00:30):
lead off with your first question.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, you know, we talk about the Russian game, which
was very good Saturday, and you talk about Siddale and
ze Barth and those guys are recitle. Coach, you gotta
be pretty proud of that defensive line of your son.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, the moving company did a good job. They guys,
you know, put a lot of work in coach Olsen,
and you know just how he leads that group. I really,
I really thought since day one, you know, walking through
the door, that just the way those guys look, the
body types in that room, and not just the quality
that's top end guys, but the quantity too as well.
(01:11):
I think that's something that's, you know, really important that
you have, you know, quality depth. It's not always easy
to find big guys. You know, the last six years
being on the West Coast, that felt like, you know,
that was the difference between elite football teams and good
football teams was the guys up front. And you know,
those guys since day one have have really let our
football team. They push each other every day, whether that's
(01:34):
on the practice field, you know, in the weight room, Uh,
they're they're constantly bringing energy and you know, doing a
great job of adding to the environment that we have
here with focus and effort. And you know, I just
even talked about it with our team last week, you know,
our our week of practice and especially Tuesday going back
(01:54):
to work with our process, there's a you know, a
ten minute inside period where we go good on good
and you know, just the way that thing sounded and
guys moving and running and hitting like it was. It
was impressive. And you know, especially as you get later
on the years, sometimes you know those things can can
start to maybe not be as intense as they were
early on. But been really excited about those guys and
(02:15):
just the standard that they play to every single day.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
And the depth is.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Yeah, I mean you know, obviously we lost Caleb early
in the year, and he's getting closer and closer to
getting back here. But you know, I gave Isaac, you know,
Caravou a chance to move into the starting lineup and
he's he's still rotating a little bit there yet with
with Aidan Teeter. And you know, I think the development
of Trace Aiden's been really big too as well. You know,
(02:42):
him moving from tight end when he first got here
to tackle now and putting him next to Liam Beecher's
really done a good job for that side of us
that I think. Seth Anderson, you know, is playing at
a high, high level right now too as well his
last year. And then we think there's some guys, you know,
you don't get to see it, but our scout team
really challenges our defense, Our work team, I should say,
(03:04):
challenges our defense all week long. And and the looks
are realistic. You know, I've been around programs where you
don't have enough offensive lineman to be able to be
able to practice, and you're moving tight ends down the
guard and defensive linemen to the offensive side in order
to in order to practice and and get the get
the looks you want. And then when you have that.
I mean, you know, one players, you know, blowing up
(03:25):
an entire run play and now it's not going to
look exactly like it's it needs to look for the
for the second and third row, you know, on Saturday.
But our guys have done a great job and they
continue to do a great job. They realize that, hey,
they get to go against good people every single day
and that's how they're going to get developed and get
better too as well. So I really appreciate the you know,
just the effort and the and the detail that goes
(03:47):
into to our scout teams and how well our our
QCs and our gas do coaching those guys every single day.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Coach defensively getting off the field in early game possessions
in that first half. You know, it was a formula
that worked for you against Youngstown State, and you got
them off the field fairly quickly in early series in
that first half, and that just get lows of your
offense to go and get you a lead. You're able
to play with it and to lean on them, and
(04:15):
then it leads to a mistake late for them in
the first half, and then you really got an additional one.
But your defense was out of the gates getting you
off the field, and that always goes long ways, especially early,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah, we had a fast start, I think two three
and out to start the game. The third possession was
a turnover on downs, and then you know we got
the fumble in the red zone on the fourth possession.
So those are the first four possessions of the game.
And then our offense score touchdowns on three out of
the first drive five drives, and answered when they drove
the football and we got the fumble. You know, we
(04:48):
went ninety five yards in ten plays to make it
twenty one to nothing, and then to close out the half,
we got another three and out and then you know
did a good job on special teams of down in
a ball right at the one yard they threw an
interception with thirty seconds up to go on the half
that you know Sawyer scoring from twenty one yards out
to make it twenty eight to nothing. Really was was
(05:10):
I thought a key moment in the game. Really took
you know, already we had a commanding lead, but now
to go up four scores in the first half is
a lot to ask for somebody to come back from.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Do you keep the pedal to the metal after that half.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, I didn't think. I thought offensively, Tim, we did
a good job. Those guys were, you know, locked in.
You know, you got to respect winning, I think, and
be loyal to winning. We didn't throw the ball hardly
at all the second half, just because the best formula
was to run the football and shorten the game. And
I didn't think defensively like I thought the scoreboard affected us.
We didn't play as play as Sam. You can just
(05:46):
tell in the communication their first touchdown, we had not
guys on the same page down there, and some things
that we had talked about all week in the red
zone and then just you know, mistackles and things like
that in the second half, Like you can tell when
somebody's not emotionally ready to play just by you know,
the angles they take to the football, how precise they
are on top of things, you know, anticipating motions and
(06:08):
and things like that. But I do think offensively, you know,
they went down and scored to make it twenty eight
to seven, and then we came right back on offense
and ran the football and it made it thirty five
to seven to end the quarter. So I thought on
that side of the ball. We did a much better
job in the second half of Defensively, we got to
do a better job of just the scoreboard can affect
how you play. There's a standard to play that you
(06:30):
have to play to all the time. And you know,
even today, like we talk about that all the time
that hey, we're way more concerned about, you know, our
daily disciplines and how we attack a day and getting better,
you know, and just our process. I think, you know,
that's that's kind of a thing that we talk about
around here all the time and say, the only easy
day was yesterday. Man, you got to get ready to
go one and zero again today.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Coach, you turn your attention to Indiana State. They had
a tough one against the number one team in FCS
in a delayed game due to weather. That's what you
guys were trying to with the early start, and fortunately
enough we're able to. But Indiana State has played some
really good football games this year. Their record is not
what they would like, but you know, they're they're a
(07:11):
team that you know, they they obviously feel like they
can be in just about every football game they play,
and they they've had some results early in the season.
It's been a tougher run for them, but pretty good
team that will come in here on Saturday that you
have to face.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I think they're banged up early in the year. You know,
lost their quarterback the second game of the year. Their
running back got injured out in Montana. But yeah, I mean,
if you just you know, don't really do your homework
on this team, you'd think, like, hey, because of their
record and things like that, that you know they're not
playing well. But they're an improving football team. You know,
you look at they had South Dakota you know, nineteen
to fourteen at their place two weeks ago, played a
(07:48):
really good first half against North Dakota State. Last week
it was ten seven at the half, So you know
they're gonna get somebody here. They're playing well. I really like,
you know, offensively, obviously, we've dug into them here early
on on Monday morning more than I have defensively, But defensively,
I think, you know, big and strong upfront. I like
their two edge players. Once again, those guys are you know,
over two hundred and fifty five pounds and move their feet.
(08:10):
I think, you know, they've really done a good job
committed to stopping the run, and then offensively, I just think, hey,
their running backs are a really good player. They got
a receiver who's you know, as good as any receiver.
I feel like that we've played up to this time
of the year. Their their quarterbacks getting a lot more comfortable.
They their starter probably still won't be back here yet
this this week. He broke his collar bone earlier in
(08:31):
the uh in the season. So so yeah, I definitely
in this league you're going to play against good players.
I got a number of transfer guys in there that
I think are now starting to, you know, just really
get comfortable into their systems, and they're getting enough reps
into their into their into their offense and defense, and
then you know, they're just improving, they're getting healthier, and
they're getting better. So we got to be ready. Like
(08:51):
I said, it's it's always going to be a challenge.
I mean, our guys understand that. It's not like we
just take the field and and we're just better athletes
than everybody else in our league. Like, we got to
go out there and we got to perform, and we
got to do a great job of preparing and having
the right mindset every single week.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
All right, anything else for coach Tim No, I think
that should do it. Okay, sounds good. Well, coach, appreciate
you dropping in with us talking in a little bit
about the win on Saturday. Congratulations for that one. I
know this one another new challenge ahead. But the only
thing I can tell you is just go one and
oh today. That's all you can do. So we'll talk
to you on Tuesday night for Hawk Talk.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Thanks guys, you guys have a great week.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
All right, there you go. There goes coach Eric Schmidt
from you Indie Football. Our appreciation for him dropping by.
And they can only go one and oh today, that's
all they can do. So and then they'll they'll worry
about the game when it gets there. That's all they
that's but it's all about putting in all the details basically,
you know, lead up to another key Missouri Valley football
(09:51):
battle for a team that is a top ten team
in the country right now by coach Schmitt and his
staff and his rosters. So they're doing the work. Hopefully
we can continue to see them do that at here
in the days to come in with a game here
at the Alayer Center, which I'm hoping will be a
good atmosphere and energy on Saturday,
I'm after a big win on Saturday against Southern Illinois.
(00:04):
Coach Church schmid Morning.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Coach Sam, Morning, Paul, how are you guys this morning?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Doing great? Doing great? I'm just gonna plead guilty. Not
my best basketball broadcast because attention deficit disorder. I had
the game on in front of me, and I'm trying
to call a basketball game. Usually you should focus on
one task at hand, but I was just too curious.
Congratulations on the win on Saturday, Tim, I'll let you
(00:30):
lead off with your first question.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, you know, we talk about the Russian game, which
was very good Saturday, and you talk about Siddale and
ze Barth and those guys are recitle. Coach, you gotta
be pretty proud of that defensive line of your son.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, the moving company did a good job. They guys,
you know, put a lot of work in coach Olsen,
and you know just how he leads that group. I really,
I really thought since day one, you know, walking through
the door, that just the way those guys look, the
body types in that room, and not just the quality
that's top end guys, but the quantity too as well.
(01:11):
I think that's something that's, you know, really important that
you have, you know, quality depth. It's not always easy
to find big guys. You know, the last six years
being on the West Coast, that felt like, you know,
that was the difference between elite football teams and good
football teams was the guys up front. And you know,
those guys since day one have have really let our
football team. They push each other every day, whether that's
(01:34):
on the practice field, you know, in the weight room, Uh,
they're they're constantly bringing energy and you know, doing a
great job of adding to the environment that we have
here with focus and effort. And you know, I just
even talked about it with our team last week, you know,
our our week of practice and especially Tuesday going back
(01:54):
to work with our process, there's a you know, a
ten minute inside period where we go good on good
and you know, just the way that thing sounded and
guys moving and running and hitting like it was. It
was impressive. And you know, especially as you get later
on the years, sometimes you know those things can can
start to maybe not be as intense as they were
early on. But been really excited about those guys and
(02:15):
just the standard that they play to every single day.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
And the depth is.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Yeah, I mean you know, obviously we lost Caleb early
in the year, and he's getting closer and closer to
getting back here. But you know, I gave Isaac, you know,
Caravou a chance to move into the starting lineup and
he's he's still rotating a little bit there yet with
with Aidan Teeter. And you know, I think the development
of Trace Aiden's been really big too as well. You know,
(02:42):
him moving from tight end when he first got here
to tackle now and putting him next to Liam Beecher's
really done a good job for that side of us
that I think. Seth Anderson, you know, is playing at
a high, high level right now too as well his
last year. And then we think there's some guys, you know,
you don't get to see it, but our scout team
really challenges our defense, Our work team, I should say,
(03:04):
challenges our defense all week long. And and the looks
are realistic. You know, I've been around programs where you
don't have enough offensive lineman to be able to be
able to practice, and you're moving tight ends down the
guard and defensive linemen to the offensive side in order
to in order to practice and and get the get
the looks you want. And then when you have that.
I mean, you know, one players, you know, blowing up
(03:25):
an entire run play and now it's not going to
look exactly like it's it needs to look for the
for the second and third row, you know, on Saturday.
But our guys have done a great job and they
continue to do a great job. They realize that, hey,
they get to go against good people every single day
and that's how they're going to get developed and get
better too as well. So I really appreciate the you know,
just the effort and the and the detail that goes
(03:47):
into to our scout teams and how well our our
QCs and our gas do coaching those guys every single day.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Coach defensively getting off the field in early game possessions
in that first half. You know, it was a formula
that worked for you against Youngstown State, and you got
them off the field fairly quickly in early series in
that first half, and that just get lows of your
offense to go and get you a lead. You're able
to play with it and to lean on them, and
(04:15):
then it leads to a mistake late for them in
the first half, and then you really got an additional one.
But your defense was out of the gates getting you
off the field, and that always goes long ways, especially early,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah, we had a fast start, I think two three
and out to start the game. The third possession was
a turnover on downs, and then you know we got
the fumble in the red zone on the fourth possession.
So those are the first four possessions of the game.
And then our offense score touchdowns on three out of
the first drive five drives, and answered when they drove
the football and we got the fumble. You know, we
(04:48):
went ninety five yards in ten plays to make it
twenty one to nothing, and then to close out the half,
we got another three and out and then you know
did a good job on special teams of down in
a ball right at the one yard they threw an
interception with thirty seconds up to go on the half
that you know Sawyer scoring from twenty one yards out
to make it twenty eight to nothing. Really was was
(05:10):
I thought a key moment in the game. Really took
you know, already we had a commanding lead, but now
to go up four scores in the first half is
a lot to ask for somebody to come back from.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Do you keep the pedal to the metal after that half.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, I didn't think. I thought offensively, Tim, we did
a good job. Those guys were, you know, locked in.
You know, you got to respect winning, I think, and
be loyal to winning. We didn't throw the ball hardly
at all the second half, just because the best formula
was to run the football and shorten the game. And
I didn't think defensively like I thought the scoreboard affected us.
We didn't play as play as Sam. You can just
(05:46):
tell in the communication their first touchdown, we had not
guys on the same page down there, and some things
that we had talked about all week in the red
zone and then just you know, mistackles and things like
that in the second half, Like you can tell when
somebody's not emotionally ready to play just by you know,
the angles they take to the football, how precise they
are on top of things, you know, anticipating motions and
(06:08):
and things like that. But I do think offensively, you know,
they went down and scored to make it twenty eight
to seven, and then we came right back on offense
and ran the football and it made it thirty five
to seven to end the quarter. So I thought on
that side of the ball. We did a much better
job in the second half of Defensively, we got to
do a better job of just the scoreboard can affect
how you play. There's a standard to play that you
(06:30):
have to play to all the time. And you know,
even today, like we talk about that all the time
that hey, we're way more concerned about, you know, our
daily disciplines and how we attack a day and getting better,
you know, and just our process. I think, you know,
that's that's kind of a thing that we talk about
around here all the time and say, the only easy
day was yesterday. Man, you got to get ready to
go one and zero again today.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Coach, you turn your attention to Indiana State. They had
a tough one against the number one team in FCS
in a delayed game due to weather. That's what you
guys were trying to with the early start, and fortunately
enough we're able to. But Indiana State has played some
really good football games this year. Their record is not
what they would like, but you know, they're they're a
(07:11):
team that you know, they they obviously feel like they
can be in just about every football game they play,
and they they've had some results early in the season.
It's been a tougher run for them, but pretty good
team that will come in here on Saturday that you
have to face.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I think they're banged up early in the year. You know,
lost their quarterback the second game of the year. Their
running back got injured out in Montana. But yeah, I mean,
if you just you know, don't really do your homework
on this team, you'd think, like, hey, because of their
record and things like that, that you know they're not
playing well. But they're an improving football team. You know,
you look at they had South Dakota you know, nineteen
to fourteen at their place two weeks ago, played a
(07:48):
really good first half against North Dakota State. Last week
it was ten seven at the half, So you know
they're gonna get somebody here. They're playing well. I really like,
you know, offensively, obviously, we've dug into them here early
on on Monday morning more than I have defensively, But defensively,
I think, you know, big and strong upfront. I like
their two edge players. Once again, those guys are you know,
over two hundred and fifty five pounds and move their feet.
(08:10):
I think, you know, they've really done a good job
committed to stopping the run, and then offensively, I just think, hey,
their running backs are a really good player. They got
a receiver who's you know, as good as any receiver.
I feel like that we've played up to this time
of the year. Their their quarterbacks getting a lot more comfortable.
They their starter probably still won't be back here yet
this this week. He broke his collar bone earlier in
(08:31):
the uh in the season. So so yeah, I definitely
in this league you're going to play against good players.
I got a number of transfer guys in there that
I think are now starting to, you know, just really
get comfortable into their systems, and they're getting enough reps
into their into their into their offense and defense, and
then you know, they're just improving, they're getting healthier, and
they're getting better. So we got to be ready. Like
(08:51):
I said, it's it's always going to be a challenge.
I mean, our guys understand that. It's not like we
just take the field and and we're just better athletes
than everybody else in our league. Like, we got to
go out there and we got to perform, and we
got to do a great job of preparing and having
the right mindset every single week.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
All right, anything else for coach Tim No, I think
that should do it. Okay, sounds good. Well, coach, appreciate
you dropping in with us talking in a little bit
about the win on Saturday. Congratulations for that one. I
know this one another new challenge ahead. But the only
thing I can tell you is just go one and
oh today. That's all you can do. So we'll talk
to you on Tuesday night for Hawk Talk.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Thanks guys, you guys have a great week.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
All right, there you go. There goes coach Eric Schmidt
from you Indie Football. Our appreciation for him dropping by.
And they can only go one and oh today, that's
all they can do. So and then they'll they'll worry
about the game when it gets there. That's all they
that's but it's all about putting in all the details basically,
you know, lead up to another key Missouri Valley football
(09:51):
battle for a team that is a top ten team
in the country right now by coach Schmitt and his
staff and his rosters. So they're doing the work. Hopefully
we can continue to see them do that at here
in the days to come in with a game here
at the Alayer Center, which I'm hoping will be a
good atmosphere and energy on Saturday,
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