October 3, 2025 • 8 mins
Head UND Football Coach, Eric Schmidt joins Tim & Paul to discuss the upcoming week.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ready to go again.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Yeah. No, it's good to get back in the groove
again and to get back into, like you said, game
week and preparing for for Northern Iowa.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Tim, go ahead, How did that I treat you?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It was good. It was good. I think one academically,
it was good for our guys. There was a lot
of things going on kind of the middle of the
semester here, or at least test week for them. So
like I said before, man, these guys are still going
to school every day, and we got to do a
good job of making sure that we're we're supporting them
that way. So them being able to get out and
(00:34):
get with their professors and make sure that you know,
they're on top of everything academically was important. I thought.
The other thing gave us a chance to be able
to self scout us and see, you know what we
think we're doing well at this point of the of
the year, where we think we need to get better
and grow at this point of the year. So I
thought that was good just after a four game sample,
(00:55):
it was good for us. And then uh, and then
just to do a good job of getting some of
our younger guys early in the week. Last week out
there and back into uh back into you know, und
on un d so they could they could get you know,
some more growth as far as uh, you know, getting
back into our playbooks and our plays had been a
minute for some of those guys that around scout teams.
(01:17):
And then we got a little bit of a of
an early jump on Northern Iowa. So we had five
good workouts last week. I thought, you know, really good
yesterday when we were out there as far as the
guys dialing back in and UH and understanding that's this
important deal that we got to play well when we
go on the road.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, you I'll go ahead, Jim.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I was going to say, youself, scout, and you said,
what kind of things we have to do better?
Speaker 1 (01:38):
What did you discover?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah? Obviously situational football, you know, which is easy to
uh to be able to uh to decipher when you
come out of some of the games that that we've
been in. You know, we just have to do a
really good job of of uh, you know, understanding I
think where our guys are most comfortable as far as
you know, what calls are they good at? Collectively? You know,
(02:03):
you start to you start to build a DNA here
and uh, you know, I think all good teams, it's
not like we're going to completely change. I think all
good teams you have things that you do well, and
you'll have some tendencies, but you run those plays and
you believe in those plays, and your players are good
at running those plays. So it's not like you're gonna
go away from your strengths. But I just think some
(02:25):
fundamental things that we can be better at. You know,
just depth and timing of routes is something that we
got to get more consistent at. We've got to be
able to do a good job of being able to
you know, get our motions in our in our alignments correct,
you know, just really polish those and details those up
to as well. On offense, some of our amy points
(02:46):
in the run games can continue to improve, I think
too as well. And then defensively, it's a lot of
fundamental things like block destruction, being able to, you know,
being able to win a one on one at times.
I think, you know, guys will fill that times like hey,
I'm in my gap or you know I've you know,
I've done a good job here being able to cover
(03:07):
my guy. But I mean, if you look at all
those offensive playbooks, there's you know, they're design that that
the you know, the post safety or one of the
safeties is is going to make the play on defense,
and we got to be able to to be able
to win a one on one, you know, to be
able to own our gap and get off a block
and then be able to make a tackle. Otherwise, if
our safeties are making plays all day long, then we're
(03:28):
not going to be very successful. So I just think,
you know, some of the fundamental stuff. You know, we've
missed some tackles and crucial moments I think that have
really cost us on defense. We've got to continue to
do a good job there because when we have missed tackles,
they've turned into first downs or explosive plays. So obviously
we got to continue to get better there. I think
it's improved, but it can always get better than I
(03:51):
think block destruction too as well, like being able to
win a one on one or something, we got to
do better.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
You you talk about winning the day, and that includes
when you're in an open week, and you talk about
winning the day, not only when you're in those drills,
even though you're not necessarily getting ready for an opponent,
but that also includes the classroom and includes all the
other things that you're involved in. That that's been the
really the thing that you guys have stressed since you
(04:17):
arrived as a staff is that winning just doesn't translate
to a practice or as a as a whole. It's
a win within a drill that you're doing, it's a
win in a test that you're taking, and those are
the things that you're really stressing on winning across the board.
That that's that's the thing that you guys have really emphasized.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, we call it goal one and zer around here,
you know, and I think that's the mindset that we have.
If you know, how you do anything is how you
do everything. So we want these guys to grow not
only you know, give them a world class football education,
but they got to grow personally too as well. There's
a lot of phases in their life obviously that that
they need to continue to get better at. Academically is
(04:58):
one of those of those areas that we want to
make sure that we, you know, we do this thing
the right way that we can win and still win
you know with doing it, you know, with excellence in
the classroom too as well. So so, yeah, it's our
guys do a great job. These guys, you know, they
burn hot, they're they're competitive, and you know they want
(05:19):
to be good in all aspects of their lives. So
I'm you know, blessed and excited about you know, obviously
this week now getting into conference plays is going to
be fun to be able to start that race. But
just where our guys are at right now, I think
they're in a good spot as far as you know,
understanding what it takes day in and day out in
order to be a you know, a championship program.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Well, Northern Iowa is the opponent coming up on on
Saturday afternoon at the UNI Dome. It's it's a storied place.
They've had quite a culture of success at that institution
at the FCS level, and they are under new direction
after a long time they've moved on with head coach
Todd steps is. What do you know about this Northern
(06:03):
Iowa team. I've always known them to be a very
physical football program. I don't know if that changes too
much with a new head coach hitting there. What do
you think?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, I know it hasn't changed at all. I think,
like you mentioned, coach Stepsis and his staff. A majority
of those guys coming over from from Drake here, you know,
last last winter, and they had a lot of success
at Drake. I think a lot of the things that
that Drake was known for and that Northern Iowa has
been known for traditionally. I mean, you look at at
their roster, they still have a lot of talent, especially
(06:35):
in the line of scrimmage too as well. You know,
some of their edge players look really long and athletic,
and some guys that have definitely showed on tape that
you know they can they can get after the quarterback.
They have really good They do a really good job
of setting edges too as well. And their point strength
is is is pretty impressive. And they've been really good
at home, you know. I think that's one thing traditionally
(06:56):
that you know, they've they've played well at home obviously
the you know, great home field environment, all those things.
So so yeah, I think it's uh, you know what
I mean, it's it's definitely uh, you know who Northern
Ioway is, They're going to play the same way off
of it, So we got to do a really good
job of being tough, you know. That's that's you know,
mentally tough. We've got to be able to go down
(07:16):
there and you know, good play, bad play, you know,
you know what I mean. It's we got to move
on to the next play. Emotionally like you know, ups
and downs of the game. We got to be able
to be like, hey man, so what now what like,
let's move on to the next play. And then physically
tough too as well, Like we got to go in
there and really, you know, establish some toughness. And that's
really what we talked about with our guys this week.
(07:37):
That's what it's going to take to go on the
road and get a win.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Anything else for a coach, Tim No, I think he's
said a lot of stuff that I understand, and it
looks like it'll be a good one on Saturday, no
doubt about it. Coach, appreciate you dropping in with us
for ten minutes or so on a Monday as usual.
We appreciate that. We'll look forward to our visit again
coming up tomorrow at Hawk Talk good. Until then, you
(08:01):
have a great rest of your Monday and we'll talk
to you soon.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
All right, thanks, guys, have a good day.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
All right, There goes Eric Schmidt head coach of North
Dakota Football, appreciate his thoughts as we head into another
game week after having the open week served this past
week and on Saturday,
Ready to go again.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Yeah. No, it's good to get back in the groove
again and to get back into, like you said, game
week and preparing for for Northern Iowa.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Tim, go ahead, How did that I treat you?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It was good. It was good. I think one academically,
it was good for our guys. There was a lot
of things going on kind of the middle of the
semester here, or at least test week for them. So
like I said before, man, these guys are still going
to school every day, and we got to do a
good job of making sure that we're we're supporting them
that way. So them being able to get out and
(00:34):
get with their professors and make sure that you know,
they're on top of everything academically was important. I thought.
The other thing gave us a chance to be able
to self scout us and see, you know what we
think we're doing well at this point of the of
the year, where we think we need to get better
and grow at this point of the year. So I
thought that was good just after a four game sample,
(00:55):
it was good for us. And then uh, and then
just to do a good job of getting some of
our younger guys early in the week. Last week out
there and back into uh back into you know, und
on un d so they could they could get you know,
some more growth as far as uh, you know, getting
back into our playbooks and our plays had been a
minute for some of those guys that around scout teams.
(01:17):
And then we got a little bit of a of
an early jump on Northern Iowa. So we had five
good workouts last week. I thought, you know, really good
yesterday when we were out there as far as the
guys dialing back in and UH and understanding that's this
important deal that we got to play well when we
go on the road.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, you I'll go ahead, Jim.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I was going to say, youself, scout, and you said,
what kind of things we have to do better?
Speaker 1 (01:38):
What did you discover?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah? Obviously situational football, you know, which is easy to
uh to be able to uh to decipher when you
come out of some of the games that that we've
been in. You know, we just have to do a
really good job of of uh, you know, understanding I
think where our guys are most comfortable as far as
you know, what calls are they good at? Collectively? You know,
(02:03):
you start to you start to build a DNA here
and uh, you know, I think all good teams, it's
not like we're going to completely change. I think all
good teams you have things that you do well, and
you'll have some tendencies, but you run those plays and
you believe in those plays, and your players are good
at running those plays. So it's not like you're gonna
go away from your strengths. But I just think some
(02:25):
fundamental things that we can be better at. You know,
just depth and timing of routes is something that we
got to get more consistent at. We've got to be
able to do a good job of being able to
you know, get our motions in our in our alignments correct,
you know, just really polish those and details those up
to as well. On offense, some of our amy points
(02:46):
in the run games can continue to improve, I think
too as well. And then defensively, it's a lot of
fundamental things like block destruction, being able to, you know,
being able to win a one on one at times.
I think, you know, guys will fill that times like hey,
I'm in my gap or you know I've you know,
I've done a good job here being able to cover
(03:07):
my guy. But I mean, if you look at all
those offensive playbooks, there's you know, they're design that that
the you know, the post safety or one of the
safeties is is going to make the play on defense,
and we got to be able to to be able
to win a one on one, you know, to be
able to own our gap and get off a block
and then be able to make a tackle. Otherwise, if
our safeties are making plays all day long, then we're
(03:28):
not going to be very successful. So I just think,
you know, some of the fundamental stuff. You know, we've
missed some tackles and crucial moments I think that have
really cost us on defense. We've got to continue to
do a good job there because when we have missed tackles,
they've turned into first downs or explosive plays. So obviously
we got to continue to get better there. I think
it's improved, but it can always get better than I
(03:51):
think block destruction too as well, like being able to
win a one on one or something, we got to
do better.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
You you talk about winning the day, and that includes
when you're in an open week, and you talk about
winning the day, not only when you're in those drills,
even though you're not necessarily getting ready for an opponent,
but that also includes the classroom and includes all the
other things that you're involved in. That that's been the
really the thing that you guys have stressed since you
(04:17):
arrived as a staff is that winning just doesn't translate
to a practice or as a as a whole. It's
a win within a drill that you're doing, it's a
win in a test that you're taking, and those are
the things that you're really stressing on winning across the board.
That that's that's the thing that you guys have really emphasized.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, we call it goal one and zer around here,
you know, and I think that's the mindset that we have.
If you know, how you do anything is how you
do everything. So we want these guys to grow not
only you know, give them a world class football education,
but they got to grow personally too as well. There's
a lot of phases in their life obviously that that
they need to continue to get better at. Academically is
(04:58):
one of those of those areas that we want to
make sure that we, you know, we do this thing
the right way that we can win and still win
you know with doing it, you know, with excellence in
the classroom too as well. So so, yeah, it's our
guys do a great job. These guys, you know, they
burn hot, they're they're competitive, and you know they want
(05:19):
to be good in all aspects of their lives. So
I'm you know, blessed and excited about you know, obviously
this week now getting into conference plays is going to
be fun to be able to start that race. But
just where our guys are at right now, I think
they're in a good spot as far as you know,
understanding what it takes day in and day out in
order to be a you know, a championship program.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Well, Northern Iowa is the opponent coming up on on
Saturday afternoon at the UNI Dome. It's it's a storied place.
They've had quite a culture of success at that institution
at the FCS level, and they are under new direction
after a long time they've moved on with head coach
Todd steps is. What do you know about this Northern
(06:03):
Iowa team. I've always known them to be a very
physical football program. I don't know if that changes too
much with a new head coach hitting there. What do
you think?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, I know it hasn't changed at all. I think,
like you mentioned, coach Stepsis and his staff. A majority
of those guys coming over from from Drake here, you know,
last last winter, and they had a lot of success
at Drake. I think a lot of the things that
that Drake was known for and that Northern Iowa has
been known for traditionally. I mean, you look at at
their roster, they still have a lot of talent, especially
(06:35):
in the line of scrimmage too as well. You know,
some of their edge players look really long and athletic,
and some guys that have definitely showed on tape that
you know they can they can get after the quarterback.
They have really good They do a really good job
of setting edges too as well. And their point strength
is is is pretty impressive. And they've been really good
at home, you know. I think that's one thing traditionally
(06:56):
that you know, they've they've played well at home obviously
the you know, great home field environment, all those things.
So so yeah, I think it's uh, you know what
I mean, it's it's definitely uh, you know who Northern
Ioway is, They're going to play the same way off
of it, So we got to do a really good
job of being tough, you know. That's that's you know,
mentally tough. We've got to be able to go down
(07:16):
there and you know, good play, bad play, you know,
you know what I mean. It's we got to move
on to the next play. Emotionally like you know, ups
and downs of the game. We got to be able
to be like, hey man, so what now what like,
let's move on to the next play. And then physically
tough too as well, Like we got to go in
there and really, you know, establish some toughness. And that's
really what we talked about with our guys this week.
(07:37):
That's what it's going to take to go on the
road and get a win.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Anything else for a coach, Tim No, I think he's
said a lot of stuff that I understand, and it
looks like it'll be a good one on Saturday, no
doubt about it. Coach, appreciate you dropping in with us
for ten minutes or so on a Monday as usual.
We appreciate that. We'll look forward to our visit again
coming up tomorrow at Hawk Talk good. Until then, you
(08:01):
have a great rest of your Monday and we'll talk
to you soon.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
All right, thanks, guys, have a good day.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
All right, There goes Eric Schmidt head coach of North
Dakota Football, appreciate his thoughts as we head into another
game week after having the open week served this past
week and on Saturday,
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