November 4, 2025 • 19 mins
UND Head Football Coach Erik Schmidt reflected on the 21–26 loss to South Dakota, focusing on the positives his team can take away. He emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and following the “24-hour rule” — taking time to process the result, then resetting and working on corrections. Schmidt and the team now turn their attention to the upcoming home game against NDSU.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
And we continue on on talk tonight live inside the
five oh six pop he goes pure market downtown Grand
Forks as we slowly bring our faithful back in here
and please to be joined now by head football coach
Eric Schmidt and Schmitty. I was thinking, I think the
last time you and I talked on the radio, we
were in the Crookston High School gym. So it's good
to finally finally cross pads again. And thanks for giving
(00:26):
us a few minutes here tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yeah, the good old days.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I appreciate you too as well. Thanks for filling in
for Paul today.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, no doubt about it. So let's uh plenty to
of course talk about looking forward. Let's go back last
weekend and one of the things I was going back
looking and start with a positive because I think it's
going to be about two calendar years before you have
to go back into the Dakota Dome, which has been
just a tough place for a lot of teams. But
let's go back to Saturday, and obviously the start was
(00:53):
the start, and just you know, some uncharacteristic moments from
your from your group, but you were in it going
in a halftime.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Well, I think think, you know, the slow start was
really are we have to do a better job and
special teams, you know, obviously that's something that is near
and dear to my heart and something that you know,
we need to get better. You know, we had been good,
I think in the kicking game and and you know,
covering kicks and those types of things, and you know,
to start the game and and they give up a
block punt and to get some juice into that building,
(01:20):
I think, you know, that's something that we had started
fast really throughout the last you know, really seven games
that we were in. We're up at halftime and those
types of things, and then to give up the big
kickoff return right after that down to the twenty three
yard line. It was really you know, it took them
seven plays to get in, but it was nine to nothing,
and they you know that both of the drives were
obviously the scoring plays were on the punt and on
(01:41):
a short drive. So that was something that you know, obviously,
we need to do a dress We need to get
do a better job, you know, in that phase of
the game. And then I thought our offense did a
good job. We had a couple penalties early that stopped
our first two drives, but then you know, when we
had to have it, you know, down nine nothing, we
go down the field and score and make it nine
to seven, and then you know, kind of went back
and forth there a little bit, and one of the
key sequences that you know, I just think winning football
(02:03):
on the road you have to do a better job.
We talk about it a lot, like going into halftime
the middle eight and and throwing an interception. You gotta
get you know, Jerry knows it. We got to throw
it out of bounds and make sure we throw it
out of bounds, throw it into the stands on a
second down play. And then defensively, we just didn't tackle
well enough the next drive. So they go down and
score and make it sixteen to seven going into halftime,
and obviously, you know nine to seven is a different deal.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
We go down and score and go up to play.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Before that, Cayden Dennis has a chance to be able
to catch a touchdown pass and we don't make the play.
So it's just it's a fine line and you got
to make some you know, some some game winning plays
and and do a better job going into going into
a tough environment like that.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
From a staff. How do you guys handle that first half,
because as a group, you guys really haven't gone through
much of that this year.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, I mean I think, uh, you know, we talk
to guys all the time about, hey, sometimes you're up
at halftime, sometimes you're not.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
You got to play all sixty all the time. I
think when you're a.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Good football team, there's a there's still a level of
confidence going into halftime. Hey we got a punt blocked,
you know, we threw some and we threw two interceptions
in the first half.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
It's sixteen to seven.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
You still feel like, hey, we're moving the football and
we had stopped him, you know, for we had a
good goal line stand and and it wasn't that you know,
we were getting three and outs and things like that.
But we felt like if they had to drive the field,
we were good enough on defense to be able to
get off the field, you know at some point.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So I think there's a level of confidence there.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
It's how you go through some things, some adjustments, that
kind of stuff, as far as you know who's in
the game, who's playing, what they're trying to do against us,
and then offensively, it's obviously, hey, keep doing what we're doing. Now,
let's just do a better job of making sure we
can take care of the football. Was that the message
it happened, Yeah, it was, you know, and that's what
we talked about. Hey, let's go out, let's get a stop.
We got a penalty when we first went out there,
they got into field goal range.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
We forced the field goals. So now we're down nineteen
to seven.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
We're moving the football and then you know, obviously to
put it on the ground once again. When Sawyer lost
the ball and then they go eighty, we have to
do a better job of continuing to play. I think
a lot of people didn't know that he lost the football, sure,
you know, and then they go down to make a
twenty six to seven. And then at that point I
felt like, you know, we understood that, hey, there was
seven maybe six fifty or something like that left to
(04:02):
go in the third quarter, that hey, we're probably down
to four possessions here, maybe five possessions. We got to
make sure that we do a good job with all
these possessions, and defensively that hey, they were gonna run
the football. We got to be able to get off
the field and get the ball back to our offense,
and I thought our guys did a good job that
last you.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Know, twenty minutes of the game.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We go down and score, they get twenty six to fourteen,
get off the field right away again, go down and
score again. So there's twelve minutes left to go in
the game, and so rips off a long run. It's
twenty one to twenty six, and then we get off
the field right away again. So we got the ball
back with nine minutes left to go in the fourth
quarter with the chance to go down the field.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And take the lead, and you know, really matriculated down
the ball.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I think we got into the twenty seven and then
stalled all At that point we really wanted to run
the football we had to run at the last two
drives before that. I was like, hey, man, now let's
really you know, bear down here and go score. Running
the football and go up would have been demoralizing, you know,
for them. But just couldn't make some plays that I
felt like, you know, we had really done a good job.
The one thing right now that we're really challenging our
(05:01):
team with is all three of our losses.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
That we have this year, we've had the ball at
the end of the game.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
In order to go win at Kansas State, at Montana
and now at South Dakota, we got to be able
to get over that hump and perform better in those
crucial moments.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Are you able to pull some positives on that you're
at least doing what you can to be in those positions?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I mean there's not many teams that have either won
all their games or their last possession of the game.
They're you know, they have an opportunity to be able
to win. So I think we've been you know, as
far as the turnovers, obviously disappointed the special teams play,
but once again, I mean over two hundred yards rushing,
you know, holding them to under one hundred yards rushing
even though they're running back had one hundred yards. I mean,
there's some stats in there that are good, and you know,
(05:39):
we don't really concentrate on those things. Always think stats
are for losers, a little bit off. You're always looking for.
But there's some things you have to do as a
good football team. You know, the things we didn't do
well enough, and we talk about it all the time,
is you know, in order to respect winning, you got
to win the turnover ratio.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
We were down three nothing there.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You got to do a great job of being able
to limit explosive plays and create explosive plays who are
actually not bad there. Gave up two explosives and had
five explosives. And then it's field position. And field position
comes down to special teams. And like I said, the
long field goal or the long kick return to start
their drive after twenty three was a killer, especially early.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
In the game.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
It gave them some momentum, and I think it, you know,
it took us a little while now because of those
things to get our feet on the ground and be
able to play better football. So those three things we
got to make sure we improve here moving forward.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Obviously it's our job as fans to look at what
the result means and the weight everything carries. But can
a loss like the way Saturday went, can it be
a good thing for a football team.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Well, I think any time you hurt, you grow, you know,
and I think it hurt, you know. I mean, our
guys were disappointed. We really felt like, you know, the
work that we had done all the way back since January,
you know, really had built us for November and to
play well in November. That's something that we were really
you know, proud. I think about that. Hey, like, hey,
when the you know, really as the season has gone along,
(06:56):
when the lights were the brightest is when we had
played the best. And you know, I think, like our
guys are disappointed. I don't feel like there's you know,
there's no BCD and going on where guys are blaming
people and you know, I mean complaining that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It's hey, look within own your mistakes.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Like there's ten penalties in a game, Like I said,
three turnovers, you know, get a pump blocked.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Fumble, they score on defense. Those are hard.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
When you start stacking those types of things in a game,
it's hard to win. And to have two opportunities you
have to go down the field to win the game,
you know, tells you a little bit. I think just
about the type of football team I think we can
have here. But we have to do a better job
in those critical moments of making sure that we gain
some knowledge from those experiences and it doesn't happen again.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
And I know you're big on the twenty four hour rule,
win or lose, and I'm guessing you guys weren't even
a Hankinson on Saturday night and guys rise four, we're gone.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah. I mean, it's we talk about all the time.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
You got to get back to reset, you know, Sunday
night we start practicing already working for corrections and for
the next week. And you know, I've told our guys
this a number of times, like this is a what
have you done for me lately?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Business?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
And there's a story to be written every Saturday, and
it's written based off of what you do Sunday through Friday.
And then you know, this week it'll be Saturday from
one to four, and we have to go out and
continue to compete Sunday through Friday and do a good
job of putting in real work because that's where you
gain your confidence. And we got a really good opponent
coming to our place, and we got to make sure
we do a good job of preparing the right way.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
And you mentioned that obviously there's gonna be one heck
of a story comes Saturday. But I wouldn't say it
does make it easy. But how does an impact just
having to shift your focus immediately because of the opponent
you have this weekend?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yeah, I think it helps.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
I think that's one thing our guys, even talking to
our leadership Council and things like that, like it's easier
to turn the page. You know, obviously there was some disappointment,
like we talked about and the outcome, but you know,
now it's all eyes moving forward and you know, to
start your preparation right away on Sunday and now you know,
starting to get into some of the different details in
the plant, third down, red zone, you know, those types
of things. I think our guys now are you know, rejuvenated.
(08:52):
You lose yourself kind of a little bit into into
the new opponent, into the work and the things that
you're doing here. And you know, there's a lot of
things that we feel like, you know, we can continue
to do better and that we're close in. And one
of those things, you know, is being able to finish
better and and win the fourth quarter. And that's something
that you know, we need to start well again here
this week. But we got to do a good job
knowing that, hey, it's going to be a four quarter game.
(09:13):
Like I said, you got to play all sixty no
matter you know, if you get off to a good
start or not, Like you got to be able to
do a good job of finishing. And that's something that
that we've emphasized here this week.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
All right, they're obviously with NDSU in they are what
they are, They're where they are. What what has your
attention on them here this week, because you've dived into
them a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Well, I think defensively they're solid.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
You know, they do a good job of you know,
wherever the balls that you just see, you know, a
swarm of people getting to the football. They really pursue
the ball well, they do a good job of taking
the ball away.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
They're really good on third down, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I think that's something that stands out, you know, just
I think real physical at the point of attack. They
do a good job in the line of scrimmage. I
think their linebackers as a group are better than they've been,
you know, in a number of years. They're just guys
that can you know, play physical. They can they can
cover ground, they can run, they could hit, and I
think their their corners do a really good job in
the run game too as well of supporting. And you know,
(10:04):
I just think overall, like just watching them on defense
and just you know, watching how all eleven take pride
and getting to the football has been impressive. And then
offensively I just think their quarterback is you know, a
different guy. He's a two hundred and thirty five pound
guy back there that you know in the past they've
used him as a wildcat guy and things like that,
but like he's playing quarterback. This year's you know, leading
the league and in in pass completion percentage and yards
(10:26):
those types of things. A lot of explosive plays coming,
you know, through the air too as well. Obviously have
an elite wide receiver that that you know, creates some
matchup problems there too as well.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
You got to make sure that.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
You do a good job there of of really competing
on the edges. And then they're still running the football.
You know, they're uh, you know, they're number one in
the conference. I think we're number two. They have They
average about two hundred and thirty yards rushing the game.
We average about two hundred and twenty so line of
scrimmage game.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
This is big boy football. You got to go out
there and be ready to to strap it on and
and boil your neck and in play physical for four quarters.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I wouldn't say direct comparisons, but have you seen situations
in your schedule this year that maybe there's some similarities
of what you might see come Saturday.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yeah, yeah, I think you know, just a lot of
twelve personnel with them, we're a lot of twelve personnel.
You know, similar formations, run schemes, those types of things.
You know, they'll get into big some big sets too
as well, like we do. And then there's enough you
know eleven in there too as well in certain situations
when you're throwing the football that you definitely see the similarities.
(11:26):
I think as far as you know the teams in
this area, I feel like who you're gonna be able
to recruit the tight end position something that you should
be able to find in the Upper Midwest. There's good players,
good you know, big, longer athletes. So you see a
lot of tight ends on the field, you know. Obviously,
I think you know the offensive lines in both schools
are there's a lot of pride, you know in those units.
I think you're built around those. Those are five of
(11:48):
the eleven that you put out there. So you start putting,
you know, good offensive linemen with tight ends together. That
means hey run the football, play action, those types of things,
and and I think both teams are running the quarterback
too as well. You know, Jerry's done a good job
of having some grit and some competitive edge to be
able to keep our team out on the field on
third down. He's throwing the football, you know better. I
think he's really excited to be able to get back
(12:09):
after last week and really get into the details and
play better, you know. And then I think defensively, like
it's built on stopping the run and playing hard and
having a lot of effort and desire and and you know,
I think the one thing we've been able to do
a good job of they're really good at too as well,
is getting off the field on third down. I think
both the schools right now are one and two in
the league as far as third down defense.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
So that's a huge piece of it.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
It's being able to stay on the field, you know,
time of possession, be able to get extra plays, and
then it's enable it's also really important to be able
to get off the field on third down two as well.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Obviously, it's it's at the end of it, two really
good football teams are going to go at it. It's
a rivalry game, to say the least. How do you
how do you manage the emotions? How do you keep
everything kind of inside inside your room throughout the week
leading up to it.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Yeah, we talked a lot. We talked about the rivalry today.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
You know, went through you know how many times it
was played, like you know what the overall records are,
all that kind of stuff. And obviously for a lot
of people the fan bases, it's awesome. You know, I
got a bunch of friends and things like that that
are you know, NDSU fans and things like that, and
and and you know, even within families that could be divided,
you know, I mean as you as you have different
communities and different relationships that are built. So I think
(13:14):
that's the neat part about it is, you know, just
a lot of people that you know are are really
you know, friends and family and have relationships that are
on opposite sides of the aisle now when it comes
to this game, and that's what makes it special. You know,
just over the years, it's it's really meant a lot,
I think, you know, for who's going to win the league,
but whether it was the NCC and now as we
get back together in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and
(13:36):
this year is no different, you know, I mean we're
one and two in the league.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Right now, they're undefeated in the league. We have one loss.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Everybody else has you know, two or more off of
it at this point right now. So it's a huge game.
You know, we got to do a great job. I
think all the games in November, you know, become bigger.
And we love November, you know, that's when we want
to be playing really good football. And we got to
go out there on Saturday and and do our part
and get some energy going in that building.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
You mentioned that how big of an impact can the
Alyric Center have for you on.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
S I think it can be huge. You know.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
We we noticed that, you know, down to Da Coda
Dome on on on Saturday. Like you know, they had
some momentum early in the game with the block punt
and a long kickoff return and then all of a sudden,
you know, now you're you know, you got some juice
in the building and and and you're you're in a
football game, you know, in a hurry. So I think
that's something you know, we've we've had a lot of
success in that building this year and throughout the years,
(14:22):
uh in there.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
So I think, you know, getting off like I said
to a good.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Start and that place you know, really you know, helping
our guys and willing our guys to to be able
to you know, help you know, fight and get off
the field on third down and then to stay on
the field too as well. So I think I definitely
feel like, you know, it's one of the best, you know,
environments in college football, and especially you put this game
in that building and you know there's played in that building,
you know when that game was going on, and it's, uh,
(14:46):
you know, it's one of the best. It's why you
play college football. It's one of the best environments, and
why you come here is to be able to play
in those types of games.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Yeah, you mentioned that obviously your experience in it. Have
you given yourself any time this week to kind of
reflect on what it'll be like being a head coach
at it?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Not too much, you know, I think you get lost.
Like I said, just to prepare your team and preparing
your guys and making sure that you know, we have
a good practice today, that we have good meetings this evening,
that we come back tomorrow and do a good job
of polishing up, you know, and detailing up all the
things for the guys and just you want to send
them out there confident that hey, they know exactly what
they're doing. They feel like, hey, you know, they have
(15:20):
the confidence to not only know what they're doing, but
they believe they're capable of doing it, you know even
too as well, and that they think if they all
do it the right way, that hey, man, good results
are going to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
You know, type of deal.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
And even you know, there's certain plays that they understand
that hey, maybe you know ten or fifteen percent of
the time here it might not go our way, but hey,
if we come back and do it right the next play,
that we're going to have a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
To be successful.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
So I think, you know, that's the biggest thing, is
just creating confidence in your preparation and making sure that
you know you're you're giving the guys you know, exactly
what we think they're going to see. I always say, hey,
the practice repetition that you have that becomes game reality.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
It's not like it's going to change on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
There might be at a few things different that you know,
you've got to go out there and be a problem solver.
But we're going to try to get as many answers
to the test as you can lead into the game.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
As we get ready to let you go. Obviously we've
touched on a lot of it, but just there some
keys for your club going into Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Yeah, I think first of all, special teams is something
that'll be really important. I think in any game where
you know it's close, kicking and being able to make
field goals and get points you know when you're in
the red zone, I think is really important. I think
the line of scrimmage, you know, time of possession is
something that we got to do a great job of
being able to stay on the field on offense, you know,
and we've really challenged our guys up front to you know,
(16:30):
be played physical and and Jerry two as well, to
be able to you know, when plays break down and
things like that, like use your feed extensive plays. Let's
do a good job of having some grit, you know,
on third down and then defensively, I think it's the
same thing. I think there's gonna be a lot of
you know, third and threes, third and fours, third and
twos in that game where hey, you got to be
able and those money downs show up and execute and
get your football team off the field or keep your
(16:52):
football team on the field, and that's how you can
extend drives and I think that'll lead to points and
help your football team be able to.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Win a couple of days into the work week.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
You like what you're seeing.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, I thought our guys had a great day today,
like really detailed. You know, you start, we've had a
physical year here. You know, our last games you throw
SIU with Youngstown, with Indiana State and now you know
South Dakota back to back to back to back. It's
you know, now it's about really I think getting the
guys back mentally. You know, we do a lot of
things with sports science and nutrition and those types of
things to to be able just to to get a
(17:21):
lot of the outputs on our guys to see how
they're doing. And you know, today was was some really
good indicators and signs as far as what our guys
are weighing, how high they're jumping, how they're moving at practice,
those types of things.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
So you know, we'll go we'll go shells again.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Tomorrow and and and have probably you know, two real
physical periods.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Our work teams have done a great job.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
I mean there's a lot of young kids now that
we're bouncing between, you know, getting them ready and giving
them some reps and then also a lot of that's
on special teams. But then also they're giving us looks
during the week two as well. I just feel really
strongly that there's some guys in that group that are gonna,
you know, a year from now, really be good football
players for us. They're already you know, I mean doing
some of those things. We've got a number of that
people players freshman class now there are two and three
(18:01):
games into their season and our plan is to redshirt
and we can play them in four, you know, and
they're they're in that you know, kind of that two
to three range right now. So I'm excited about those
guys two as well, and they're development here.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
It's a fun week already. It's only gonna better. Thanks
for this. We'll get the corners field and best luck
on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Sounds good. Looking forward to it. Thanks Derek, I appreciate it, And.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
As Eric Schmid, head football coach North Dakota as they
will take on North Dakota State Saturday afternoon inside the
Hilaris Center. The kick will go just after one and
of course, you can catch it here on many of
the Funning Hawks Radio Network stations with the abud Lights
tailgate show right at high noon as North Dakota will
rekindle that I twenty nine rivalry with North Dakota State.
(18:42):
Speaking of I twenty nine rivalries, North Dakota Hockey will
depart tomorrow on their southward trek as they will line
up with the Omaha Mavericks coming up Friday night and
a Saturday night inside at Baxter Arena. See associate head
coach Matt's maybe has made his way in. We'll get
caught up with him as a funding hok Hockey now
a month into their season and about to get going
(19:03):
on their seconds NCCHC series of the regular season. We
are live at Hawk Talk tonight Insigne the five oh
six pub. He goes pure market. Still got about half
of our program to go, and so if you're driving around,
come on in. Plenty of room for you. Chad Cardhauser's
got a seat right across from him. He'll give you
all the dollars and cents you need, So we've got
plenty of room. Stay tuned. We'll step aside, come back
and come up on North to go to hockey next
(19:24):
as you listen to Hawk Talk on the funding Hawks
Radio network.
And we continue on on talk tonight live inside the
five oh six pop he goes pure market downtown Grand
Forks as we slowly bring our faithful back in here
and please to be joined now by head football coach
Eric Schmidt and Schmitty. I was thinking, I think the
last time you and I talked on the radio, we
were in the Crookston High School gym. So it's good
to finally finally cross pads again. And thanks for giving
(00:26):
us a few minutes here tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yeah, the good old days.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I appreciate you too as well. Thanks for filling in
for Paul today.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, no doubt about it. So let's uh plenty to
of course talk about looking forward. Let's go back last
weekend and one of the things I was going back
looking and start with a positive because I think it's
going to be about two calendar years before you have
to go back into the Dakota Dome, which has been
just a tough place for a lot of teams. But
let's go back to Saturday, and obviously the start was
(00:53):
the start, and just you know, some uncharacteristic moments from
your from your group, but you were in it going
in a halftime.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Well, I think think, you know, the slow start was
really are we have to do a better job and
special teams, you know, obviously that's something that is near
and dear to my heart and something that you know,
we need to get better. You know, we had been good,
I think in the kicking game and and you know,
covering kicks and those types of things, and you know,
to start the game and and they give up a
block punt and to get some juice into that building,
(01:20):
I think, you know, that's something that we had started
fast really throughout the last you know, really seven games
that we were in. We're up at halftime and those
types of things, and then to give up the big
kickoff return right after that down to the twenty three
yard line. It was really you know, it took them
seven plays to get in, but it was nine to nothing,
and they you know that both of the drives were
obviously the scoring plays were on the punt and on
(01:41):
a short drive. So that was something that you know, obviously,
we need to do a dress We need to get
do a better job, you know, in that phase of
the game. And then I thought our offense did a
good job. We had a couple penalties early that stopped
our first two drives, but then you know, when we
had to have it, you know, down nine nothing, we
go down the field and score and make it nine
to seven, and then you know, kind of went back
and forth there a little bit, and one of the
key sequences that you know, I just think winning football
(02:03):
on the road you have to do a better job.
We talk about it a lot, like going into halftime
the middle eight and and throwing an interception. You gotta
get you know, Jerry knows it. We got to throw
it out of bounds and make sure we throw it
out of bounds, throw it into the stands on a
second down play. And then defensively, we just didn't tackle
well enough the next drive. So they go down and
score and make it sixteen to seven going into halftime,
and obviously, you know nine to seven is a different deal.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
We go down and score and go up to play.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Before that, Cayden Dennis has a chance to be able
to catch a touchdown pass and we don't make the play.
So it's just it's a fine line and you got
to make some you know, some some game winning plays
and and do a better job going into going into
a tough environment like that.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
From a staff. How do you guys handle that first half,
because as a group, you guys really haven't gone through
much of that this year.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, I mean I think, uh, you know, we talk
to guys all the time about, hey, sometimes you're up
at halftime, sometimes you're not.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
You got to play all sixty all the time. I
think when you're a.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Good football team, there's a there's still a level of
confidence going into halftime. Hey we got a punt blocked,
you know, we threw some and we threw two interceptions
in the first half.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
It's sixteen to seven.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
You still feel like, hey, we're moving the football and
we had stopped him, you know, for we had a
good goal line stand and and it wasn't that you know,
we were getting three and outs and things like that.
But we felt like if they had to drive the field,
we were good enough on defense to be able to
get off the field, you know at some point.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So I think there's a level of confidence there.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
It's how you go through some things, some adjustments, that
kind of stuff, as far as you know who's in
the game, who's playing, what they're trying to do against us,
and then offensively, it's obviously, hey, keep doing what we're doing. Now,
let's just do a better job of making sure we
can take care of the football. Was that the message
it happened, Yeah, it was, you know, and that's what
we talked about. Hey, let's go out, let's get a stop.
We got a penalty when we first went out there,
they got into field goal range.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
We forced the field goals. So now we're down nineteen
to seven.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
We're moving the football and then you know, obviously to
put it on the ground once again. When Sawyer lost
the ball and then they go eighty, we have to
do a better job of continuing to play. I think
a lot of people didn't know that he lost the football, sure,
you know, and then they go down to make a
twenty six to seven. And then at that point I
felt like, you know, we understood that, hey, there was
seven maybe six fifty or something like that left to
(04:02):
go in the third quarter, that hey, we're probably down
to four possessions here, maybe five possessions. We got to
make sure that we do a good job with all
these possessions, and defensively that hey, they were gonna run
the football. We got to be able to get off
the field and get the ball back to our offense,
and I thought our guys did a good job that
last you.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Know, twenty minutes of the game.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We go down and score, they get twenty six to fourteen,
get off the field right away again, go down and
score again. So there's twelve minutes left to go in
the game, and so rips off a long run. It's
twenty one to twenty six, and then we get off
the field right away again. So we got the ball
back with nine minutes left to go in the fourth
quarter with the chance to go down the field.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And take the lead, and you know, really matriculated down
the ball.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I think we got into the twenty seven and then
stalled all At that point we really wanted to run
the football we had to run at the last two
drives before that. I was like, hey, man, now let's
really you know, bear down here and go score. Running
the football and go up would have been demoralizing, you know,
for them. But just couldn't make some plays that I
felt like, you know, we had really done a good job.
The one thing right now that we're really challenging our
(05:01):
team with is all three of our losses.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
That we have this year, we've had the ball at
the end of the game.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
In order to go win at Kansas State, at Montana
and now at South Dakota, we got to be able
to get over that hump and perform better in those
crucial moments.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Are you able to pull some positives on that you're
at least doing what you can to be in those positions?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I mean there's not many teams that have either won
all their games or their last possession of the game.
They're you know, they have an opportunity to be able
to win. So I think we've been you know, as
far as the turnovers, obviously disappointed the special teams play,
but once again, I mean over two hundred yards rushing,
you know, holding them to under one hundred yards rushing
even though they're running back had one hundred yards. I mean,
there's some stats in there that are good, and you know,
(05:39):
we don't really concentrate on those things. Always think stats
are for losers, a little bit off. You're always looking for.
But there's some things you have to do as a
good football team. You know, the things we didn't do
well enough, and we talk about it all the time,
is you know, in order to respect winning, you got
to win the turnover ratio.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
We were down three nothing there.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You got to do a great job of being able
to limit explosive plays and create explosive plays who are
actually not bad there. Gave up two explosives and had
five explosives. And then it's field position. And field position
comes down to special teams. And like I said, the
long field goal or the long kick return to start
their drive after twenty three was a killer, especially early.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
In the game.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
It gave them some momentum, and I think it, you know,
it took us a little while now because of those
things to get our feet on the ground and be
able to play better football. So those three things we
got to make sure we improve here moving forward.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Obviously it's our job as fans to look at what
the result means and the weight everything carries. But can
a loss like the way Saturday went, can it be
a good thing for a football team.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Well, I think any time you hurt, you grow, you know,
and I think it hurt, you know. I mean, our
guys were disappointed. We really felt like, you know, the
work that we had done all the way back since January,
you know, really had built us for November and to
play well in November. That's something that we were really
you know, proud. I think about that. Hey, like, hey,
when the you know, really as the season has gone along,
(06:56):
when the lights were the brightest is when we had
played the best. And you know, I think, like our
guys are disappointed. I don't feel like there's you know,
there's no BCD and going on where guys are blaming
people and you know, I mean complaining that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
It's hey, look within own your mistakes.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Like there's ten penalties in a game, Like I said,
three turnovers, you know, get a pump blocked.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Fumble, they score on defense. Those are hard.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
When you start stacking those types of things in a game,
it's hard to win. And to have two opportunities you
have to go down the field to win the game,
you know, tells you a little bit. I think just
about the type of football team I think we can
have here. But we have to do a better job
in those critical moments of making sure that we gain
some knowledge from those experiences and it doesn't happen again.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
And I know you're big on the twenty four hour rule,
win or lose, and I'm guessing you guys weren't even
a Hankinson on Saturday night and guys rise four, we're gone.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah. I mean, it's we talk about all the time.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
You got to get back to reset, you know, Sunday
night we start practicing already working for corrections and for
the next week. And you know, I've told our guys
this a number of times, like this is a what
have you done for me lately?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Business?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
And there's a story to be written every Saturday, and
it's written based off of what you do Sunday through Friday.
And then you know, this week it'll be Saturday from
one to four, and we have to go out and
continue to compete Sunday through Friday and do a good
job of putting in real work because that's where you
gain your confidence. And we got a really good opponent
coming to our place, and we got to make sure
we do a good job of preparing the right way.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
And you mentioned that obviously there's gonna be one heck
of a story comes Saturday. But I wouldn't say it
does make it easy. But how does an impact just
having to shift your focus immediately because of the opponent
you have this weekend?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yeah, I think it helps.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
I think that's one thing our guys, even talking to
our leadership Council and things like that, like it's easier
to turn the page. You know, obviously there was some disappointment,
like we talked about and the outcome, but you know,
now it's all eyes moving forward and you know, to
start your preparation right away on Sunday and now you know,
starting to get into some of the different details in
the plant, third down, red zone, you know, those types
of things. I think our guys now are you know, rejuvenated.
(08:52):
You lose yourself kind of a little bit into into
the new opponent, into the work and the things that
you're doing here. And you know, there's a lot of
things that we feel like, you know, we can continue
to do better and that we're close in. And one
of those things, you know, is being able to finish
better and and win the fourth quarter. And that's something
that you know, we need to start well again here
this week. But we got to do a good job
knowing that, hey, it's going to be a four quarter game.
(09:13):
Like I said, you got to play all sixty no
matter you know, if you get off to a good
start or not, Like you got to be able to
do a good job of finishing. And that's something that
that we've emphasized here this week.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
All right, they're obviously with NDSU in they are what
they are, They're where they are. What what has your
attention on them here this week, because you've dived into
them a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Well, I think defensively they're solid.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
You know, they do a good job of you know,
wherever the balls that you just see, you know, a
swarm of people getting to the football. They really pursue
the ball well, they do a good job of taking
the ball away.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
They're really good on third down, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I think that's something that stands out, you know, just
I think real physical at the point of attack. They
do a good job in the line of scrimmage. I
think their linebackers as a group are better than they've been,
you know, in a number of years. They're just guys
that can you know, play physical. They can they can
cover ground, they can run, they could hit, and I
think their their corners do a really good job in
the run game too as well of supporting. And you know,
(10:04):
I just think overall, like just watching them on defense
and just you know, watching how all eleven take pride
and getting to the football has been impressive. And then
offensively I just think their quarterback is you know, a
different guy. He's a two hundred and thirty five pound
guy back there that you know in the past they've
used him as a wildcat guy and things like that,
but like he's playing quarterback. This year's you know, leading
the league and in in pass completion percentage and yards
(10:26):
those types of things. A lot of explosive plays coming,
you know, through the air too as well. Obviously have
an elite wide receiver that that you know, creates some
matchup problems there too as well.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
You got to make sure that.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
You do a good job there of of really competing
on the edges. And then they're still running the football.
You know, they're uh, you know, they're number one in
the conference. I think we're number two. They have They
average about two hundred and thirty yards rushing the game.
We average about two hundred and twenty so line of
scrimmage game.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
This is big boy football. You got to go out
there and be ready to to strap it on and
and boil your neck and in play physical for four quarters.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I wouldn't say direct comparisons, but have you seen situations
in your schedule this year that maybe there's some similarities
of what you might see come Saturday.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yeah, yeah, I think you know, just a lot of
twelve personnel with them, we're a lot of twelve personnel.
You know, similar formations, run schemes, those types of things.
You know, they'll get into big some big sets too
as well, like we do. And then there's enough you
know eleven in there too as well in certain situations
when you're throwing the football that you definitely see the similarities.
(11:26):
I think as far as you know the teams in
this area, I feel like who you're gonna be able
to recruit the tight end position something that you should
be able to find in the Upper Midwest. There's good players,
good you know, big, longer athletes. So you see a
lot of tight ends on the field, you know. Obviously,
I think you know the offensive lines in both schools
are there's a lot of pride, you know in those units.
I think you're built around those. Those are five of
(11:48):
the eleven that you put out there. So you start putting,
you know, good offensive linemen with tight ends together. That
means hey run the football, play action, those types of things,
and and I think both teams are running the quarterback
too as well. You know, Jerry's done a good job
of having some grit and some competitive edge to be
able to keep our team out on the field on
third down. He's throwing the football, you know better. I
think he's really excited to be able to get back
(12:09):
after last week and really get into the details and
play better, you know. And then I think defensively, like
it's built on stopping the run and playing hard and
having a lot of effort and desire and and you know,
I think the one thing we've been able to do
a good job of they're really good at too as well,
is getting off the field on third down. I think
both the schools right now are one and two in
the league as far as third down defense.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
So that's a huge piece of it.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
It's being able to stay on the field, you know,
time of possession, be able to get extra plays, and
then it's enable it's also really important to be able
to get off the field on third down two as well.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Obviously, it's it's at the end of it, two really
good football teams are going to go at it. It's
a rivalry game, to say the least. How do you
how do you manage the emotions? How do you keep
everything kind of inside inside your room throughout the week
leading up to it.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Yeah, we talked a lot. We talked about the rivalry today.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
You know, went through you know how many times it
was played, like you know what the overall records are,
all that kind of stuff. And obviously for a lot
of people the fan bases, it's awesome. You know, I
got a bunch of friends and things like that that
are you know, NDSU fans and things like that, and
and and you know, even within families that could be divided,
you know, I mean as you as you have different
communities and different relationships that are built. So I think
(13:14):
that's the neat part about it is, you know, just
a lot of people that you know are are really
you know, friends and family and have relationships that are
on opposite sides of the aisle now when it comes
to this game, and that's what makes it special. You know,
just over the years, it's it's really meant a lot,
I think, you know, for who's going to win the league,
but whether it was the NCC and now as we
get back together in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and
(13:36):
this year is no different, you know, I mean we're
one and two in the league.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Right now, they're undefeated in the league. We have one loss.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Everybody else has you know, two or more off of
it at this point right now. So it's a huge game.
You know, we got to do a great job. I
think all the games in November, you know, become bigger.
And we love November, you know, that's when we want
to be playing really good football. And we got to
go out there on Saturday and and do our part
and get some energy going in that building.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
You mentioned that how big of an impact can the
Alyric Center have for you on.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
S I think it can be huge. You know.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
We we noticed that, you know, down to Da Coda
Dome on on on Saturday. Like you know, they had
some momentum early in the game with the block punt
and a long kickoff return and then all of a sudden,
you know, now you're you know, you got some juice
in the building and and and you're you're in a
football game, you know, in a hurry. So I think
that's something you know, we've we've had a lot of
success in that building this year and throughout the years,
(14:22):
uh in there.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
So I think, you know, getting off like I said
to a good.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Start and that place you know, really you know, helping
our guys and willing our guys to to be able
to you know, help you know, fight and get off
the field on third down and then to stay on
the field too as well. So I think I definitely
feel like, you know, it's one of the best, you know,
environments in college football, and especially you put this game
in that building and you know there's played in that building,
you know when that game was going on, and it's, uh,
(14:46):
you know, it's one of the best. It's why you
play college football. It's one of the best environments, and
why you come here is to be able to play
in those types of games.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Yeah, you mentioned that obviously your experience in it. Have
you given yourself any time this week to kind of
reflect on what it'll be like being a head coach
at it?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Not too much, you know, I think you get lost.
Like I said, just to prepare your team and preparing
your guys and making sure that you know, we have
a good practice today, that we have good meetings this evening,
that we come back tomorrow and do a good job
of polishing up, you know, and detailing up all the
things for the guys and just you want to send
them out there confident that hey, they know exactly what
they're doing. They feel like, hey, you know, they have
(15:20):
the confidence to not only know what they're doing, but
they believe they're capable of doing it, you know even
too as well, and that they think if they all
do it the right way, that hey, man, good results
are going to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
You know, type of deal.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
And even you know, there's certain plays that they understand
that hey, maybe you know ten or fifteen percent of
the time here it might not go our way, but hey,
if we come back and do it right the next play,
that we're going to have a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
To be successful.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
So I think, you know, that's the biggest thing, is
just creating confidence in your preparation and making sure that
you know you're you're giving the guys you know, exactly
what we think they're going to see. I always say, hey,
the practice repetition that you have that becomes game reality.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
It's not like it's going to change on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
There might be at a few things different that you know,
you've got to go out there and be a problem solver.
But we're going to try to get as many answers
to the test as you can lead into the game.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
As we get ready to let you go. Obviously we've
touched on a lot of it, but just there some
keys for your club going into Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Yeah, I think first of all, special teams is something
that'll be really important. I think in any game where
you know it's close, kicking and being able to make
field goals and get points you know when you're in
the red zone, I think is really important. I think
the line of scrimmage, you know, time of possession is
something that we got to do a great job of
being able to stay on the field on offense, you know,
and we've really challenged our guys up front to you know,
(16:30):
be played physical and and Jerry two as well, to
be able to you know, when plays break down and
things like that, like use your feed extensive plays. Let's
do a good job of having some grit, you know,
on third down and then defensively, I think it's the
same thing. I think there's gonna be a lot of
you know, third and threes, third and fours, third and
twos in that game where hey, you got to be
able and those money downs show up and execute and
get your football team off the field or keep your
(16:52):
football team on the field, and that's how you can
extend drives and I think that'll lead to points and
help your football team be able to.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Win a couple of days into the work week.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
You like what you're seeing.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, I thought our guys had a great day today,
like really detailed. You know, you start, we've had a
physical year here. You know, our last games you throw
SIU with Youngstown, with Indiana State and now you know
South Dakota back to back to back to back. It's
you know, now it's about really I think getting the
guys back mentally. You know, we do a lot of
things with sports science and nutrition and those types of
things to to be able just to to get a
(17:21):
lot of the outputs on our guys to see how
they're doing. And you know, today was was some really
good indicators and signs as far as what our guys
are weighing, how high they're jumping, how they're moving at practice,
those types of things.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
So you know, we'll go we'll go shells again.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Tomorrow and and and have probably you know, two real
physical periods.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Our work teams have done a great job.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
I mean there's a lot of young kids now that
we're bouncing between, you know, getting them ready and giving
them some reps and then also a lot of that's
on special teams. But then also they're giving us looks
during the week two as well. I just feel really
strongly that there's some guys in that group that are gonna,
you know, a year from now, really be good football
players for us. They're already you know, I mean doing
some of those things. We've got a number of that
people players freshman class now there are two and three
(18:01):
games into their season and our plan is to redshirt
and we can play them in four, you know, and
they're they're in that you know, kind of that two
to three range right now. So I'm excited about those
guys two as well, and they're development here.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
It's a fun week already. It's only gonna better. Thanks
for this. We'll get the corners field and best luck
on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Sounds good. Looking forward to it. Thanks Derek, I appreciate it, And.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
As Eric Schmid, head football coach North Dakota as they
will take on North Dakota State Saturday afternoon inside the
Hilaris Center. The kick will go just after one and
of course, you can catch it here on many of
the Funning Hawks Radio Network stations with the abud Lights
tailgate show right at high noon as North Dakota will
rekindle that I twenty nine rivalry with North Dakota State.
(18:42):
Speaking of I twenty nine rivalries, North Dakota Hockey will
depart tomorrow on their southward trek as they will line
up with the Omaha Mavericks coming up Friday night and
a Saturday night inside at Baxter Arena. See associate head
coach Matt's maybe has made his way in. We'll get
caught up with him as a funding hok Hockey now
a month into their season and about to get going
(19:03):
on their seconds NCCHC series of the regular season. We
are live at Hawk Talk tonight Insigne the five oh
six pub. He goes pure market. Still got about half
of our program to go, and so if you're driving around,
come on in. Plenty of room for you. Chad Cardhauser's
got a seat right across from him. He'll give you
all the dollars and cents you need, So we've got
plenty of room. Stay tuned. We'll step aside, come back
and come up on North to go to hockey next
(19:24):
as you listen to Hawk Talk on the funding Hawks
Radio network.
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