April 25, 2025 • 19 mins
Jack Michaels, Mike Berg and Paul Ralston talk about UND's football spring showcase and what to expect in the fall.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Jack Michaels, Mike Berg, Paul Rolston back here at the
Fritz paulber And Athletic Center. In a moment, Paul Ralston
will be joined by Sean Costitz or Sean will be
joined by Paul. We'll talk a little bit about those
special teams and we'll get to everybody geared up here
for uh, Brady Olivera. The Manitoba Moose is in town.
And that's good to see. And uh, why talk about
(00:29):
guys you wish still had uh had some eligibility left
and and that would be it.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Oh look at this man. Come on, have a seat,
put a headset on.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Go ahead and sit down.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Big shout out to our folks off at Ellison Portage in.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Winnipeg, and uh ah there it is right there, and
we got a big get sure you get Brady Alavera.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
This step to the booth and the offense goes deep
and they score.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
That's tie into the end zone, touchdown Corey T and
the offense on the board, which is good because they
were trilling the defense on the scoring system. Ready, Olivera
one of the just tremendous humans in this world. It's
really good to see you, Braddy. Jack and Mike and
Paul were like, get the moose, So we'll get Digger
up here. How you ben, brother, It's incredible, incredible vacum
(01:24):
going to come back well and and and we'll get
into Blue Bomber stuff too. I spend some time and
then in Winnipeg during the summer, which is awesome. I
text ready from time to time say can you come
over to chob Park and and take it in. But
when you get back in Grand Forks and when you
get back to this campus, what are some of the
things of Brady that that start rolling through your brains.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Yeah, I think one of the biggest things is, uh,
the community impact that it had on me here. So
many people that you know, so many people that families
that live in Grand Forks still that I was like
my second family here. So the moment I drive through
Ground Forks, the thought of all the ships that I've
built out here, and and then I can, you know,
send a text and they're they're still excited to see me.
(02:05):
So it's gonna be great to see those families again.
I know they're here at the at the spring game
watching and it'll be great to catch up with them
after this.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
But Yeah, lots of amazing memories when.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
You look at this, and we'll let Mike jump in
here too, obviously, but when you look at these showcases,
you know you've been at you know, you've got X
number of practices and you know, guys like you, you
knew that obviously you're gonna be playing time and be
in that backfield. But you know, what would be the
advice to these guys that are maybe fighting for a spot,
you know, that are trying to prove themselves.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
What is the message to this and these kids?
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah, you know I had a chance to speak to
the offensive side of the ball before this, and you
know my message was obviously you know, it's it's what
you put on on tape. You know, you're you never
know how many opportunities you're gonna get, but when you're
out there, you need to give it, give it your all.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
But it starts.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
There's so much, so many behind the scenes things that
happens for you to go and perform at a high level.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
And one of the things my.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Message to the to the boys were, where you know,
you gotta live in that weight room. You really need
to be fully invested, not just for yourself, but for
your teammates for this amazing school. You know, I'm proud
of lum right, so they need to know how important
this opportunity is. But uh, this time especially, and you
never know when your opportunity is going to be.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So when your name's called, you got to be ready. Mike,
it's easy. He goes to the weight room. That's oh,
it's a difference maker. What if you've been.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Here enough now you've seen these facilities. What if these
facilities had been here when you I mean I can
remember sitting in on your position meetings. You'd find a
place and over in the old stadium and pile into
an office and you know, a team meeting room you
had cheat rock falling off the wall. I mean, tell
us what your thoughts are now on this facility.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's insane. You know.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
The first thing I said to Schmidty was just imagine
if I had this when I was here. Like these
these student athletes have absolute every resource possible to be
the best version of themselves, to put the best product
on field. And you know me, I was always a
very disciplined kid. When kid, when I was here, you know,
(04:08):
I knew what I wanted to achieve. I knew I
wanted to play at the pro level, but just having
all these resources now, I mean, well, I don't know
where I end up.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Back just second, about when you were recruited, when you
came down for visit, what you saw compared to what
a recruit would see now when he comes in here
as a high schoolkid and see its wild.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
You know, when I was getting recruited here, you know,
from from good old Winnipeg, you know, getting recruited to
a big you know, US college was a big deal
for me. And when I came here, I thought these
facilities were incredible. I'm like, man, come from Winnipeg playing
in a D one school, this is going to be amazing.
And then now seeing how spoiled these kids are, you know,
the facilities that they got, I mean, it's so good
obviously for them for their development, but also for this
(04:48):
for this school, you know, the the amount of kids
that they're going to be able to recruit and use
this as a tool over other programs, because I think,
you know, this is on par I think for many
FBS programs.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
So it's great to see and then unfortunately that's where
we are too in college football. Mike let's not lie.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
You and I and Paul would have had sleepless nights
going point, I hope Olivera doesn't go into portal that
offered how much it can offer you can we give
you ready, Olivera, the Manitoba moves with us today, but
we won't keep you long. I know you've got a
lot of duties. Here's a audible coach. I guess you're
that that that vein. But outside of just and by
the way, we just talked about competition. You know, there
(05:23):
are some FBS and FCS transfers that have come in
and that that does and if you're an existing player,
going oh great now, but that builds competition.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Your backfield was amazing.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Uh when you were here at the University of North Dakota,
it seems like you fed off each other.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Oh it's it's it's massive, you know. Uh, the more,
the more competition, the better. And I still have that
mindset going into year six as a pro.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
It's uh, gosh, it's been that long. It's been that long.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
I'm still still trucking along, mister brakup too.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Well.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, and you see guys now coming and trying to
make your ball club. They need to beat somebody out
and then to make that team, and.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Then trying you know, they got you know guys every
year trying to come in and take my spot. But
I've been saying for however long I'm in Winnipeg, good
luck trying to beat me up, because that is my
spot and I will die on that field before I
get beaten out. So no, that that competitive spirit needs
to be there. It what makes you into, I think,
an elite level athlete and competitors.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
So it's important for these kids.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
To be out here, you know, competing with one another,
fighting for a spot, and because there's only a certain
amount of spots out there.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Right Brady Elderbara with us before we hear from Sean
Kostach with Paul here in a moment two. You know,
for those that haven't followed Brady's career and just the
work he's done, and you know, not just Southern Manitoba,
but I think across the provinces that have that have
taken in the CFL. Obviously, Brady now has become a
household name. There's another household name in the CFL from
the state of North Dakota that don to un the
(06:46):
uniform named Weston Dresser that did pretty well in the
CFL as well. But I was going to out of
this my con Paul for Brady. You know, the CFL
as open as that is, as the dimensions that are
different than American football, and as a the motion in
its pass and pass. You know, here comes a guy
built like a small bank building that can run and
(07:06):
is powerful, that makes an impact in the run game.
And I don't I think that needs to be taken
into a peg because you don't see a lot when
you get the ball, you got to make something out
of that down.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
You got one one less down to work with.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Yeah, that's the thing. It's it's a lot different. Obviously,
it's more of a passing league. You know, right up
in Canada with the CFL, you know, bigger field, that
extra guy, only three downs, So if you're not productive
on first down, it's not many opportunities. So my mindset goes, well,
if I want more touches, well then make the most
out of your touch and when you get that ball,
(07:37):
make sure it's productive. You get five six yards, well
guess what, you're probably gonna get the ball again. So
my thing is what I'm most proud of I think
of my Crusa fars is how productive I have been,
so continuing with that and then hopefully more touches down
the road.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You're a fantastic human. I text Reddy. I don't know
what year this was. It might have been his first
year in the CFL, and he made either the front
page or the Winnipeg Sun or the Free Press or
whatever newspaper it was in.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
But it had nothing to do with football.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Brady had saved, you know, because this is big to you,
and and and you had saved, and you could tell
the quick story on this. I believe it was a
woman's uh pet or dog beloved dog from from drowning
in a lake, and I thought, that's Brady, right.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
But right I was in in uh in the river
in Winnipeg.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
It was spring season, so obviously snows melting, you know
that it's moving on a fast rate. So we're at
the at the dog park and I kind of heard
something going on and I kind of, you know, went
for a little walk and I saw that this lady's
dog kind of you know, slipped into the river and
she was having a very hard time getting the dog.
So I, I mean, I think anyone in that position
(08:44):
being a good human being. If you see that you
step in, and your junia on this on this earth
is to be a good person and leave it a
better place.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
So all I did was stepped in.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
I obviously so happened to have a love for for dogs,
and so I think I was I was, I was
meant to be there at that time, and how help
to get her dog out of the river?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
And uh, just awesome.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
And now you have a ten episode television show dude
here I mean, and seriously that's coming up, isn't it, Brady, Yeah,
we're in.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
We're filming right now actually, so that'll be a very
interesting project that we're working on.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Very excited about it.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
It's obviously a lot of hard work.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
That's gone into it, but uh yeah, stay tuned for
a TV near you, because it's going to be an
amazing show.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
He is Brady Aldavera.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
And it was fun obviously watching you play and calling
your games on behalf of Mike and Paul and I.
It's really good. We'll be fun you too, obviously. And
then get out there. It's a beautiful stadium, you know,
incredible here back of the old Winnipeg Stadium and now
it's you come in off that highway and see that
off to the right there and oh, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Let's get to see your brother frecid it.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
It's fun for us to say we knew you win
back when that's best to you.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
You guys, that's right, Brady Alavera, Paul Ralston had a
chance to catch up with Sean Costag.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Let's go over to Paul with Coach Costage.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Jack here with our special teams coordinator at Coach Costage.
And we're towards the tail end of the spring campaign
and you know, you're trying to find people to fit
into roles in those special team units that are so important,
and in today's day and age, rosters fluctuate even at
this juncture and into the summer, and so you're plugging,
(10:15):
how have things gone and how sure do you feel
in a lot of those areas that yeah, these are
the guys that we're going to see when we launch
football here in early August or late July.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
Well, make no mistake about it. You know, we still
have work to do, but there is definite progress and
I think the biggest thing we've had a pressing need
to do is getting specialists out in front of the
team as much as we possibly can, get returners out there,
and really start to identify who the key people are
because although that there are returners, there's some people that
might be better fits in certain situations. So you're examining
(10:45):
all that in spring and truly evalley.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
When you look at your specialists like kickers and long snapping,
have you felt like this has been a productive spring
for those guys to really feel like they're making strides
in those individual very special type of as.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
Yeah, I think it is, and I think like as
guys start to grow, which is what we have. I mean,
we got guys going into the third and sometimes fourth year.
I think some of those individual reps in pre practice,
when nobody's watching you, those don't mean as much as
when everybody does. So it is expensive during practice to
allocate time where it's just all about the kicker going
out there, because that takes away from you getting better
(11:21):
at blocking and tackling whatever the case may be. But
when your specialists are on it, everything is better. So
the more that we can start emphasizing that in practice,
I think it'll improve our team tremendously.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
We talk about in today's college sports world, no matter
the sport, sometimes it's the little jobs. We consider special
teams a big job, but at the same time, you
got to have guys that want to do that. Are
almost turning guys away to find a role somewhere to
stand on the field for special teams because that's what
you want.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
Yeah, I mean I've always had that role where like
the unsung heroes of the team. I mean, those are
my favorite guys because I'm the long snapper of the
coaching staff. I mean, that's just the reality of it.
There's not a lot that I do to get attention
and stuff, and I don't want it that way, but
I have an important job and I try to sell that.
Whether you're the number seven on punt block or you're
the number three on kickoff, that might be the only
thing you're doing that week, but that's an important job
(12:08):
to this team and doing your job really well could
make or break the game.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
Have you noticed that the attitude and mindset basically of
these guys is it's been a tough spring when you're
trying to stack practices and build that resume for you
a coach who's trying to identify it has everybody had
the right mindset and emotional level basically on a day
and day which can be a slog after a while.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Yeah, I think so. You know, I think what's been
different from yours is we're really having a lot longer
practices and we've been grinding on these guys. We're really
trying to make sure that we can build some toughness
and really callous the team up. And you know, sometimes
you go for about sixteen periods in this period seventeen
and you've got to do a full full speed sprint, yeah,
you know, to cover a kick or something like that.
So that's part of where like we're really trying to
(12:51):
develop that mentality of having a lot of different guys
ready to go, because we're.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Not just building certain individuals.
Speaker 7 (12:57):
We're building a roster and you've got to look at
the end of this thing and say who fits best
in spots to your roster and were you still maybe
in the springtime, need to fill some holes.
Speaker 6 (13:04):
Really appreciate your time, thanks for this and let's have
a great summer. Absolutely, thank you coach Costage joining us
talking about those special teams here as we get setting
ready for another season of you Indie football.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
We'll set it back upstairs to you Jack.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Thank you, Paul.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I'm glad that Paul's on a on a track and
field because he can just scoot right down to one
hundred meters sprint and a run into a guy. I
don't know if Digger's got the nickel or not Paul
in his hand. I hope they just gave it to him.
Let's go back down to Paul Rolston. Who you got
down there.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
Paul, I got Digger Anderson, and you know, we talked
a little bit about that nickel and that picture, and
I don't know, I think it should reside in your house,
in your living room. Did you put up a fight
basically when the Heritage Center said we'll take it.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
No.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
But it was fun when I was coaching here on
knowing all the places that it actually was stored here
under Memorial Stadium, and then it actually was in my
pickup for like six months at one point, just under
the back, so we kind of moved it around.
Speaker 9 (14:02):
But uh, yeah, it'd be nice to have up here.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
But I think, uh, well, Coach Lennon's in charge of
the Historical Society down there, so I think maybe he's
keeping an.
Speaker 9 (14:10):
Eye on it.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
That's great honorary coach.
Speaker 6 (14:13):
Today, I joke that I'm surprised you're not in Coach
Schmid's back pocket telling him some different things over there
in the siteland. But of course I know you too, well,
that's not kind of your cup of tea. But talk
about just having the opportunity to be a part of
things today and being a part of this program and
being invited by Coach Schmidt taking his first steps of
kind of unveiling to the public, it's got to be
pretty special.
Speaker 9 (14:33):
Yeah, it was was great.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
He called me a couple of weeks ago, and you know,
just you know, as I can, since he's been highed,
there's been a lot of you know, excitement building around
the program, and I kind of told the defense that
today when I when I spoke to him, it's, you know,
there's a there's a little bit of re energizing you know,
that's gone in with the alumni and the fans, and
you can tell the players are you know, buying in.
(14:54):
He's he's an intense guy, and he likes things done
a certain way, and it's you know, he's got a vision.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
It's to see, you know, when you look at lifelong friends,
and I worry about that in today's college football world,
in college sports world, where it's so transitional, it seems
at times you guys grew up together.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
You guys know this program.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
You guys all built your friendships, long term friendships. And
maybe that's the one thing that I tend to worry about.
And I would assume that those guys that were your
brothers are still your brothers today probably, And it's fun
to have get togethers and moments like this.
Speaker 8 (15:30):
Yeah, it's it's interesting, you know, as you grow and
things change. But you know, I hadn't I hadn't been
around a lot when I was coaching. I was gone
for a lot of years. Then we lived in southern Minnesota,
so I had been gone from like two thousand and
eight to twenty nineteen before i'd come back, and then
even before I moved back to town here a few years, a.
Speaker 9 (15:49):
Couple of years ago, I had been four or five years.
Speaker 8 (15:51):
So, but you know, it kind of hit me, was it,
you know, two thousand and three season there, when we
had the two thousand and three team honored in the
Hall of Fame, and just seeing all those guys, it
was kind of like you clicked right back into the
way it was, you know, twenty years prior, you know,
and I hadn't seen some of them since that time
is really the last time.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
It saw out of them.
Speaker 8 (16:11):
But it's like I remembered how little I felt than
run out of football guys.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
So it's great.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Well, And and just from your perspective of knowing Coach
Schmidt as you do, and you talked about that intensity,
about that passion kind of coming through, what what do
you anticipate that these guys will really glean as they
get to know what a Coach Schmidt program will be.
What do you anticipate with with your background knowing him
as you do, that they'll really latch onto here in
(16:37):
the coming months and days ahead as we can get
closer to a season.
Speaker 9 (16:41):
I'd say, just you know they're there.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
I'm I'm anticipant painting them being a grimy group, right,
That's that's you know a man, damn kid, that's what
he That's what he lives on.
Speaker 9 (16:53):
He's gonna he likes to say yard dogs or you
know things like that. Like he he's.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
He's gonna mold this team and he's gonna his image
and they're gonna be a team that's gonna fight. I mean,
they're gonna they're gonna do the little things the right way,
and they're gonna it may not always be pretty right,
but they're gonna they're gonna fight.
Speaker 9 (17:09):
And that's you know, that's kind of how we were
when I played.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
I can I can guarantee that we weren't always the
most talented team on the field.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
But we're gonna do things the right way. We knew
where we're supposed.
Speaker 8 (17:17):
To be, and we're gonna we're gonna fight for every
single thing that we got.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
The final thing I'll say, and this is non football related,
what kind of is you're now a family man for
kids that you have under the age of twelve?
Speaker 5 (17:30):
And do they do they get the idea? Do they
wear the green and white already? Are they? Are? They?
Speaker 6 (17:35):
Do they know kind of that that U and D
and and green and white is kind of the the
household thing.
Speaker 8 (17:40):
Oh absolutely, we don't allow you know, green and yellow
next to each other in our house if they want
to get under my skin.
Speaker 9 (17:47):
My youngest four year old made a made a green
and yellow.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Friendship bracelet and then said, here, daddy, here's your buys
and bracelet and we uh, we don't do that, so
we always say boo buys and when we go by
the Fargo Dome when we're driving back down on the
match with.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
So that's awesome. Well, it's great to see you enjoy
the rest of your night here. Thanks for taking just
a few minutes of your time. So glad to have
you back. I know a part of the fabric that
is U and D. And you know, my favorite time
recently with you is when you guys got to that
Hall of Fame and being able to see you having
that night with your teammates.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Those are the moments, right, that's what it's all about.
Speaker 9 (18:20):
All right, thank you for shid it. It's great.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
It's great to see you have a great rest of
your night.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Me too.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
All right, there we go. We're gonna send it back
upstairs to you.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Jack excellent, Paul boy busy man tonight, Paul, what would
this team look like with Digger and the two guys
we just interviewed Braddy, OLIVERA and Digger on it. That's
what I'm talking about. But take a time out right now.
They're engaging. This is a great fan base here. It's
not just about the Showcase and the offense and defense
and special teams, but also the fans that have come
out tonight are also getting an opportunity to make catches
(18:49):
on the.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Field and maybe they're winning valuable prizes.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
We'll come back as we continue our coverage of the
und Spring Football Showcase live from Fittz Poulard Athletics Center.
This is Ponting Horn Football of the UND Fighting Hawks
Radio Network.
Jack Michaels, Mike Berg, Paul Rolston back here at the
Fritz paulber And Athletic Center. In a moment, Paul Ralston
will be joined by Sean Costitz or Sean will be
joined by Paul. We'll talk a little bit about those
special teams and we'll get to everybody geared up here
for uh, Brady Olivera. The Manitoba Moose is in town.
And that's good to see. And uh, why talk about
(00:29):
guys you wish still had uh had some eligibility left
and and that would be it.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Oh look at this man. Come on, have a seat,
put a headset on.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Go ahead and sit down.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Big shout out to our folks off at Ellison Portage in.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Winnipeg, and uh ah there it is right there, and
we got a big get sure you get Brady Alavera.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
This step to the booth and the offense goes deep
and they score.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
That's tie into the end zone, touchdown Corey T and
the offense on the board, which is good because they
were trilling the defense on the scoring system. Ready, Olivera
one of the just tremendous humans in this world. It's
really good to see you, Braddy. Jack and Mike and
Paul were like, get the moose, So we'll get Digger
up here. How you ben, brother, It's incredible, incredible vacum
(01:24):
going to come back well and and and we'll get
into Blue Bomber stuff too. I spend some time and
then in Winnipeg during the summer, which is awesome. I
text ready from time to time say can you come
over to chob Park and and take it in. But
when you get back in Grand Forks and when you
get back to this campus, what are some of the
things of Brady that that start rolling through your brains.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Yeah, I think one of the biggest things is, uh,
the community impact that it had on me here. So
many people that you know, so many people that families
that live in Grand Forks still that I was like
my second family here. So the moment I drive through
Ground Forks, the thought of all the ships that I've
built out here, and and then I can, you know,
send a text and they're they're still excited to see me.
(02:05):
So it's gonna be great to see those families again.
I know they're here at the at the spring game
watching and it'll be great to catch up with them
after this.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
But Yeah, lots of amazing memories when.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
You look at this, and we'll let Mike jump in
here too, obviously, but when you look at these showcases,
you know you've been at you know, you've got X
number of practices and you know, guys like you, you
knew that obviously you're gonna be playing time and be
in that backfield. But you know, what would be the
advice to these guys that are maybe fighting for a spot,
you know, that are trying to prove themselves.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
What is the message to this and these kids?
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah, you know I had a chance to speak to
the offensive side of the ball before this, and you
know my message was obviously you know, it's it's what
you put on on tape. You know, you're you never
know how many opportunities you're gonna get, but when you're
out there, you need to give it, give it your all.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
But it starts.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
There's so much, so many behind the scenes things that
happens for you to go and perform at a high level.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
And one of the things my.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Message to the to the boys were, where you know,
you gotta live in that weight room. You really need
to be fully invested, not just for yourself, but for
your teammates for this amazing school. You know, I'm proud
of lum right, so they need to know how important
this opportunity is. But uh, this time especially, and you
never know when your opportunity is going to be.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So when your name's called, you got to be ready. Mike,
it's easy. He goes to the weight room. That's oh,
it's a difference maker. What if you've been.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Here enough now you've seen these facilities. What if these
facilities had been here when you I mean I can
remember sitting in on your position meetings. You'd find a
place and over in the old stadium and pile into
an office and you know, a team meeting room you
had cheat rock falling off the wall. I mean, tell
us what your thoughts are now on this facility.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's insane. You know.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
The first thing I said to Schmidty was just imagine
if I had this when I was here. Like these
these student athletes have absolute every resource possible to be
the best version of themselves, to put the best product
on field. And you know me, I was always a
very disciplined kid. When kid, when I was here, you know,
(04:08):
I knew what I wanted to achieve. I knew I
wanted to play at the pro level, but just having
all these resources now, I mean, well, I don't know
where I end up.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Back just second, about when you were recruited, when you
came down for visit, what you saw compared to what
a recruit would see now when he comes in here
as a high schoolkid and see its wild.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
You know, when I was getting recruited here, you know,
from from good old Winnipeg, you know, getting recruited to
a big you know, US college was a big deal
for me. And when I came here, I thought these
facilities were incredible. I'm like, man, come from Winnipeg playing
in a D one school, this is going to be amazing.
And then now seeing how spoiled these kids are, you know,
the facilities that they got, I mean, it's so good
obviously for them for their development, but also for this
(04:48):
for this school, you know, the the amount of kids
that they're going to be able to recruit and use
this as a tool over other programs, because I think,
you know, this is on par I think for many
FBS programs.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
So it's great to see and then unfortunately that's where
we are too in college football. Mike let's not lie.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
You and I and Paul would have had sleepless nights
going point, I hope Olivera doesn't go into portal that
offered how much it can offer you can we give
you ready, Olivera, the Manitoba moves with us today, but
we won't keep you long. I know you've got a
lot of duties. Here's a audible coach. I guess you're
that that that vein. But outside of just and by
the way, we just talked about competition. You know, there
(05:23):
are some FBS and FCS transfers that have come in
and that that does and if you're an existing player,
going oh great now, but that builds competition.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Your backfield was amazing.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Uh when you were here at the University of North Dakota,
it seems like you fed off each other.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Oh it's it's it's massive, you know. Uh, the more,
the more competition, the better. And I still have that
mindset going into year six as a pro.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
It's uh, gosh, it's been that long. It's been that long.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
I'm still still trucking along, mister brakup too.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Well.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, and you see guys now coming and trying to
make your ball club. They need to beat somebody out
and then to make that team, and.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Then trying you know, they got you know guys every
year trying to come in and take my spot. But
I've been saying for however long I'm in Winnipeg, good
luck trying to beat me up, because that is my
spot and I will die on that field before I
get beaten out. So no, that that competitive spirit needs
to be there. It what makes you into, I think,
an elite level athlete and competitors.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
So it's important for these kids.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
To be out here, you know, competing with one another,
fighting for a spot, and because there's only a certain
amount of spots out there.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Right Brady Elderbara with us before we hear from Sean
Kostach with Paul here in a moment two. You know,
for those that haven't followed Brady's career and just the
work he's done, and you know, not just Southern Manitoba,
but I think across the provinces that have that have
taken in the CFL. Obviously, Brady now has become a
household name. There's another household name in the CFL from
the state of North Dakota that don to un the
(06:46):
uniform named Weston Dresser that did pretty well in the
CFL as well. But I was going to out of
this my con Paul for Brady. You know, the CFL
as open as that is, as the dimensions that are
different than American football, and as a the motion in
its pass and pass. You know, here comes a guy
built like a small bank building that can run and
(07:06):
is powerful, that makes an impact in the run game.
And I don't I think that needs to be taken
into a peg because you don't see a lot when
you get the ball, you got to make something out
of that down.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
You got one one less down to work with.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Yeah, that's the thing. It's it's a lot different. Obviously,
it's more of a passing league. You know, right up
in Canada with the CFL, you know, bigger field, that
extra guy, only three downs, So if you're not productive
on first down, it's not many opportunities. So my mindset goes, well,
if I want more touches, well then make the most
out of your touch and when you get that ball,
(07:37):
make sure it's productive. You get five six yards, well
guess what, you're probably gonna get the ball again. So
my thing is what I'm most proud of I think
of my Crusa fars is how productive I have been,
so continuing with that and then hopefully more touches down
the road.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You're a fantastic human. I text Reddy. I don't know
what year this was. It might have been his first
year in the CFL, and he made either the front
page or the Winnipeg Sun or the Free Press or
whatever newspaper it was in.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
But it had nothing to do with football.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Brady had saved, you know, because this is big to you,
and and and you had saved, and you could tell
the quick story on this. I believe it was a
woman's uh pet or dog beloved dog from from drowning
in a lake, and I thought, that's Brady, right.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
But right I was in in uh in the river
in Winnipeg.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
It was spring season, so obviously snows melting, you know
that it's moving on a fast rate. So we're at
the at the dog park and I kind of heard
something going on and I kind of, you know, went
for a little walk and I saw that this lady's
dog kind of you know, slipped into the river and
she was having a very hard time getting the dog.
So I, I mean, I think anyone in that position
(08:44):
being a good human being. If you see that you
step in, and your junia on this on this earth
is to be a good person and leave it a
better place.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
So all I did was stepped in.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
I obviously so happened to have a love for for dogs,
and so I think I was I was, I was
meant to be there at that time, and how help
to get her dog out of the river?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
And uh, just awesome.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
And now you have a ten episode television show dude
here I mean, and seriously that's coming up, isn't it, Brady, Yeah,
we're in.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
We're filming right now actually, so that'll be a very
interesting project that we're working on.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Very excited about it.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
It's obviously a lot of hard work.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
That's gone into it, but uh yeah, stay tuned for
a TV near you, because it's going to be an
amazing show.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
He is Brady Aldavera.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
And it was fun obviously watching you play and calling
your games on behalf of Mike and Paul and I.
It's really good. We'll be fun you too, obviously. And
then get out there. It's a beautiful stadium, you know,
incredible here back of the old Winnipeg Stadium and now
it's you come in off that highway and see that
off to the right there and oh, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Let's get to see your brother frecid it.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
It's fun for us to say we knew you win
back when that's best to you.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
You guys, that's right, Brady Alavera, Paul Ralston had a
chance to catch up with Sean Costag.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Let's go over to Paul with Coach Costage.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Jack here with our special teams coordinator at Coach Costage.
And we're towards the tail end of the spring campaign
and you know, you're trying to find people to fit
into roles in those special team units that are so important,
and in today's day and age, rosters fluctuate even at
this juncture and into the summer, and so you're plugging,
(10:15):
how have things gone and how sure do you feel
in a lot of those areas that yeah, these are
the guys that we're going to see when we launch
football here in early August or late July.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
Well, make no mistake about it. You know, we still
have work to do, but there is definite progress and
I think the biggest thing we've had a pressing need
to do is getting specialists out in front of the
team as much as we possibly can, get returners out there,
and really start to identify who the key people are
because although that there are returners, there's some people that
might be better fits in certain situations. So you're examining
(10:45):
all that in spring and truly evalley.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
When you look at your specialists like kickers and long snapping,
have you felt like this has been a productive spring
for those guys to really feel like they're making strides
in those individual very special type of as.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
Yeah, I think it is, and I think like as
guys start to grow, which is what we have. I mean,
we got guys going into the third and sometimes fourth year.
I think some of those individual reps in pre practice,
when nobody's watching you, those don't mean as much as
when everybody does. So it is expensive during practice to
allocate time where it's just all about the kicker going
out there, because that takes away from you getting better
(11:21):
at blocking and tackling whatever the case may be. But
when your specialists are on it, everything is better. So
the more that we can start emphasizing that in practice,
I think it'll improve our team tremendously.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
We talk about in today's college sports world, no matter
the sport, sometimes it's the little jobs. We consider special
teams a big job, but at the same time, you
got to have guys that want to do that. Are
almost turning guys away to find a role somewhere to
stand on the field for special teams because that's what
you want.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
Yeah, I mean I've always had that role where like
the unsung heroes of the team. I mean, those are
my favorite guys because I'm the long snapper of the
coaching staff. I mean, that's just the reality of it.
There's not a lot that I do to get attention
and stuff, and I don't want it that way, but
I have an important job and I try to sell that.
Whether you're the number seven on punt block or you're
the number three on kickoff, that might be the only
thing you're doing that week, but that's an important job
(12:08):
to this team and doing your job really well could
make or break the game.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
Have you noticed that the attitude and mindset basically of
these guys is it's been a tough spring when you're
trying to stack practices and build that resume for you
a coach who's trying to identify it has everybody had
the right mindset and emotional level basically on a day
and day which can be a slog after a while.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Yeah, I think so. You know, I think what's been
different from yours is we're really having a lot longer
practices and we've been grinding on these guys. We're really
trying to make sure that we can build some toughness
and really callous the team up. And you know, sometimes
you go for about sixteen periods in this period seventeen
and you've got to do a full full speed sprint, yeah,
you know, to cover a kick or something like that.
So that's part of where like we're really trying to
(12:51):
develop that mentality of having a lot of different guys
ready to go, because we're.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Not just building certain individuals.
Speaker 7 (12:57):
We're building a roster and you've got to look at
the end of this thing and say who fits best
in spots to your roster and were you still maybe
in the springtime, need to fill some holes.
Speaker 6 (13:04):
Really appreciate your time, thanks for this and let's have
a great summer. Absolutely, thank you coach Costage joining us
talking about those special teams here as we get setting
ready for another season of you Indie football.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
We'll set it back upstairs to you Jack.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Thank you, Paul.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I'm glad that Paul's on a on a track and
field because he can just scoot right down to one
hundred meters sprint and a run into a guy. I
don't know if Digger's got the nickel or not Paul
in his hand. I hope they just gave it to him.
Let's go back down to Paul Rolston. Who you got
down there.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
Paul, I got Digger Anderson, and you know, we talked
a little bit about that nickel and that picture, and
I don't know, I think it should reside in your house,
in your living room. Did you put up a fight
basically when the Heritage Center said we'll take it.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
No.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
But it was fun when I was coaching here on
knowing all the places that it actually was stored here
under Memorial Stadium, and then it actually was in my
pickup for like six months at one point, just under
the back, so we kind of moved it around.
Speaker 9 (14:02):
But uh, yeah, it'd be nice to have up here.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
But I think, uh, well, Coach Lennon's in charge of
the Historical Society down there, so I think maybe he's
keeping an.
Speaker 9 (14:10):
Eye on it.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
That's great honorary coach.
Speaker 6 (14:13):
Today, I joke that I'm surprised you're not in Coach
Schmid's back pocket telling him some different things over there
in the siteland. But of course I know you too, well,
that's not kind of your cup of tea. But talk
about just having the opportunity to be a part of
things today and being a part of this program and
being invited by Coach Schmidt taking his first steps of
kind of unveiling to the public, it's got to be
pretty special.
Speaker 9 (14:33):
Yeah, it was was great.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
He called me a couple of weeks ago, and you know,
just you know, as I can, since he's been highed,
there's been a lot of you know, excitement building around
the program, and I kind of told the defense that
today when I when I spoke to him, it's, you know,
there's a there's a little bit of re energizing you know,
that's gone in with the alumni and the fans, and
you can tell the players are you know, buying in.
(14:54):
He's he's an intense guy, and he likes things done
a certain way, and it's you know, he's got a vision.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
It's to see, you know, when you look at lifelong friends,
and I worry about that in today's college football world,
in college sports world, where it's so transitional, it seems
at times you guys grew up together.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
You guys know this program.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
You guys all built your friendships, long term friendships. And
maybe that's the one thing that I tend to worry about.
And I would assume that those guys that were your
brothers are still your brothers today probably, And it's fun
to have get togethers and moments like this.
Speaker 8 (15:30):
Yeah, it's it's interesting, you know, as you grow and
things change. But you know, I hadn't I hadn't been
around a lot when I was coaching. I was gone
for a lot of years. Then we lived in southern Minnesota,
so I had been gone from like two thousand and
eight to twenty nineteen before i'd come back, and then
even before I moved back to town here a few years, a.
Speaker 9 (15:49):
Couple of years ago, I had been four or five years.
Speaker 8 (15:51):
So, but you know, it kind of hit me, was it,
you know, two thousand and three season there, when we
had the two thousand and three team honored in the
Hall of Fame, and just seeing all those guys, it
was kind of like you clicked right back into the
way it was, you know, twenty years prior, you know,
and I hadn't seen some of them since that time
is really the last time.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
It saw out of them.
Speaker 8 (16:11):
But it's like I remembered how little I felt than
run out of football guys.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
So it's great.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Well, And and just from your perspective of knowing Coach
Schmidt as you do, and you talked about that intensity,
about that passion kind of coming through, what what do
you anticipate that these guys will really glean as they
get to know what a Coach Schmidt program will be.
What do you anticipate with with your background knowing him
as you do, that they'll really latch onto here in
(16:37):
the coming months and days ahead as we can get
closer to a season.
Speaker 9 (16:41):
I'd say, just you know they're there.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
I'm I'm anticipant painting them being a grimy group, right,
That's that's you know a man, damn kid, that's what
he That's what he lives on.
Speaker 9 (16:53):
He's gonna he likes to say yard dogs or you
know things like that. Like he he's.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
He's gonna mold this team and he's gonna his image
and they're gonna be a team that's gonna fight. I mean,
they're gonna they're gonna do the little things the right way,
and they're gonna it may not always be pretty right,
but they're gonna they're gonna fight.
Speaker 9 (17:09):
And that's you know, that's kind of how we were
when I played.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
I can I can guarantee that we weren't always the
most talented team on the field.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
But we're gonna do things the right way. We knew
where we're supposed.
Speaker 8 (17:17):
To be, and we're gonna we're gonna fight for every
single thing that we got.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
The final thing I'll say, and this is non football related,
what kind of is you're now a family man for
kids that you have under the age of twelve?
Speaker 5 (17:30):
And do they do they get the idea? Do they
wear the green and white already? Are they? Are? They?
Speaker 6 (17:35):
Do they know kind of that that U and D
and and green and white is kind of the the
household thing.
Speaker 8 (17:40):
Oh absolutely, we don't allow you know, green and yellow
next to each other in our house if they want
to get under my skin.
Speaker 9 (17:47):
My youngest four year old made a made a green
and yellow.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Friendship bracelet and then said, here, daddy, here's your buys
and bracelet and we uh, we don't do that, so
we always say boo buys and when we go by
the Fargo Dome when we're driving back down on the
match with.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
So that's awesome. Well, it's great to see you enjoy
the rest of your night here. Thanks for taking just
a few minutes of your time. So glad to have
you back. I know a part of the fabric that
is U and D. And you know, my favorite time
recently with you is when you guys got to that
Hall of Fame and being able to see you having
that night with your teammates.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Those are the moments, right, that's what it's all about.
Speaker 9 (18:20):
All right, thank you for shid it. It's great.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
It's great to see you have a great rest of
your night.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Me too.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
All right, there we go. We're gonna send it back
upstairs to you.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Jack excellent, Paul boy busy man tonight, Paul, what would
this team look like with Digger and the two guys
we just interviewed Braddy, OLIVERA and Digger on it. That's
what I'm talking about. But take a time out right now.
They're engaging. This is a great fan base here. It's
not just about the Showcase and the offense and defense
and special teams, but also the fans that have come
out tonight are also getting an opportunity to make catches
(18:49):
on the.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Field and maybe they're winning valuable prizes.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
We'll come back as we continue our coverage of the
und Spring Football Showcase live from Fittz Poulard Athletics Center.
This is Ponting Horn Football of the UND Fighting Hawks
Radio Network.
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