March 17, 2026 • 20 mins
UND Head Football Coach Eric Schmidt discusses the team’s strong start to spring practices, stressing that this period is just as important as fall camp in August. He highlights the advantage of having a clear sense of the roster early in the year, following an intense eight-week training stretch. Schmidt also touches on the adjustment for newcomers, who quickly realize the jump in competition at the college level. He explains the program’s focus on nutrition and player development, including detailed profile sheets tracking muscle mass and body composition. Overall, he shares his excitement for the progress being made and the opportunities ahead this spring.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
All right, here we go the Peanut Galleries live and
in person here again tonight. Come on out and join
us at the five h six Pub for some Hawk
talk tonight. The rest of the way. I'm Paul Ralston,
wrapping up our final show this season. We want to
thank all of you listening all across the Fighting Hawks
Radio network here tonight, and if you're able to go
out and join us live, we appreciate that. But for
(00:25):
all those that have been joining all season long, thank
you so much for being with us, and we appreciate that.
Now we turn our attention because the countdown is on.
When we get to spring football season, it really only
means game one, August twenty seventh isn't all that far away.
At the Alias Center, head coach Eric Schmidt has decided
to come in and join us here tonight. Coach Schmidt,
(00:45):
great to see you here, Bud.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
That's great. Yeah, thanks for having me, Paul.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
You've been everywhere. I think you did a little state
tournament action, got some of that in, and now the
attention is to put that whistle over the neck and
get the guys out. Now you've had to make a
slight adjustment and schedule because you're not. Unlike a lot
of things happening out there in this country right now.
There's been storms that have affected travel. There's obviously some
TSA issues. You're just trying to get everybody back onto
(01:11):
campus and so one you've adjusted just slightly here moving
practice one two Thursday. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, we just we did a workout here this morning
and then we'll go on Thursday. Now, got everybody back
here today, so that was good. Some guys got delayed
since Saturday to get into town on Tuesday. So, like
you said, a lot of things going on in the country,
and obviously the storm that came through didn't help most
of our guys connect through Minneapolis, so trying to trying
to make navigate that was with the delays and the cancelations.
(01:40):
But everybody made it back safe, so we can get
going here on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So the thing about it is, and you go back
to your playing days, we didn't have a Fritz Pollard,
so no matter if we if we had days like today,
that would throw a wrench into the whole practice spring
practice campaign. You get the guys in here Thursday, it's
game on, and it's and here's the other thing, I'm
sure you tell the guys right from the get go here,
we've got a lot of things each and everything we do,
(02:07):
we've got to do it like really hard and as
hard as we can, and we got to figure out
and we got to really embrace each moment in the spring.
Is that kind of the messaging, Yeah, we just like
I said, you know, getting everybody here. A lot of times,
it's the meetings that you have and the messaging that
you have actually even before you get going, it's another
you know, step in the process. And there's a year
(02:28):
round calendar that that we believe in that I think
is really important. And like you mentioned, you know, the
things you're doing right now, what you do in March
and what you do in April are are just as
important as what you're going to be doing in November
and December. So us being able to get off to
a good start here in spring practice. And you know,
obviously year two now you feel like, you know, the
guys have a better feel for exactly you know what
(02:50):
the expectations are, what the temples of practice are, you
know how to transition all those types of things. It's
it's things that you can never take for granted, but
as a player, I feel like once you've done it
and and have some experience in it, you know, it's
a lot less anxiety, you know, for them to be
able to practice. And there's something even with our coaches,
I think, you know, our coach is going to do
a better job now of being able to prepare our guys.
(03:11):
And as a player, when you feel like, hey, you're
prepared going into a practice and know what you're what
you're going to see, and what the expectations are, you
can perform better too as well. And the thing that
I think about here, there's a couple of different things
that have happened in the college football world. Now there
is no UH spring transfer window following the spring season
that has been eliminated, and so now you know your roster.
(03:35):
And at the same time, the guys that in early enrolled.
Basically there's some guys that obviously you brought in you
didn't have to wait for them to finish up their
spring semester and enjoying in the summer or something like that,
they've early enrolled. And then you've also even I think
maybe even had some high schoolers early in role and
you're telling those guys get out there. We need to
(03:55):
competition right away. Push for for everybody, push for for
your spot. This is a huge important I would assume.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah. I think, first of all, a step in the
right direction. Obviously only having one transfer portal period, I
think is bring some stability to college football. I think,
you know, the earlier that you can say, this is
our team. You know, we can have meetings with the guys,
we can develop relationships with the guys. We know, you know,
how they operate, how they work day in and day out.
So I think that's really important. That's allowed us to
(04:23):
you know, do the the culture building things that we
think are important that are a big piece to you know,
being successful too as well. And then like you mentioned,
bringing in some of the young guys, I think, uh,
you know, freshman and earlying and rolling is something that
that is, you know taking off here at least is
a little bit more of a of a real thing here.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
In your day.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
No, no, no, one didn't even talk about it, yeah
at that time, but I do think it's you know,
it's it's the art of being a college football player
for some guys that they come in and it's uh,
it's definitely an advantage they get. You know, obviously eight weeks.
We just got done with an eight week training period
that was really really good for us. You know, a
number of those guys made a lot of gains. But
(05:05):
it's a it's a culture shock, a culture shock for
them too as well. When you show up and you know,
you're the old head in the building out of high
school and probably been playing for three years and and uh,
and you know everybody knows ye you're you're kind of
the uh, you know, maybe the balcow, the leader of everything.
And then two weeks later you show up and you're
the young guy, you know, trying to figure out, you know,
what do I do, where do I go? Where am
(05:26):
I supposed to be? How do you want me to
do things? And all that. But uh, but all those guys,
I think have really improved. And and now it's routine.
You know, it's it's crazy. Once you once you start
getting into some habits and get into meetings and practices
and all that kind of stuff, they just they adapt
and uh, and young people are like sponges, you know,
and they learn on the fly. And then I'm excited
now to watch those guys play play football and that's
(05:46):
what springball is all about. I mean I say this
all the time, but if you want to be a
good football player, like you got to go play football,
you know, right in real American football where you're blocking
and tackling and doing the things that you got to
do in order to get better. And our guys understand
that that, uh, you know, its what it takes as
far as the developmental phase and excited to get going
on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
The thing that you mentioned there, the intensive eight weeks
and really diving into bodies and preparing for the rigors
of a spring season and a summer and a fall
season ahead. Here. You know you were really when you
took the job. One of the things you pushed for
was nutrition. And you know it was such a short
sample size last fall because you mean, you're really just
(06:27):
trying to implement meals that maybe teams hadn't received previously.
Now you're getting certain meals for the players that during
the day, during the week, And are you starting to
see the benefits now of that nutrition right with a
larger database and larger DABA sample.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, great question, Paul. I think you know, we just
got some of the data back from this past eight weeks,
and our sports science people do a great job, so
we will, you know, have profile sheets on every player
and and know, you know, lee muscle mass, body fat,
body composition, and then all the you know, athletic numbers
that go into that too as well. And then we'll
compare those guys to the current combine people that you
(07:06):
know that'll be that we're in the combine here in February,
and just kind of give guys their strengths, their weaknesses,
all that kind of stuff, and then you just look
for I think some you know, some some numbers out
there where you can prove that that your guys are developing,
they're getting better. You know a number that comes to
mind right now that I got from Coach Stein and
our performance team here Jen Hagen the other day, was,
you know, during those eight weeks, just going through all
(07:28):
the body and testing and all that kind of stuff,
our guys gained three hundred and ninety seven pounds and
lean muscle mass, so about four zero point seven pounds
I think per person, you know, on average, is what
our guys gained. And then that translated into you know
a lot of a lot of records broken. Pr is
broken when it came to, you know, some of the
lifts and stuff like that. So getting stronger and getting
leaner I think was something that was really important for us.
(07:50):
Then the other thing that was much better here as
you compare it to a year ago at this time
was just the health of our team. How many guys
were able to you know, be available every day. They
weren't limited in any capacity. We'll start practice on Thursday
and and there'll be six players that that won't practice,
and all those guys are coming off as surgeries yet
you know from the season, so nothing as far as
a training injury or anything like that. And that's something
(08:12):
that I think is important, Like if you're gonna you know,
you got to be able to be durable, You got
to be able to stay healthy in order to improve
and and you know, our guys have done a good
job of being able to do that well.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
We like to say that North Dakota football is powered
by beef, and we think the North Gota Beef Commission
and their Beef Checkoff for apparently helping add three hundred
and ninety seven pounds of lean, powerful muscle to this
North go To football program. So way to go, I mean,
I tell you when you hear numbers like that, We're
not messing around. It's not just fat. These guys aren't
(08:45):
putting fat on. They're putting on stuff that's going to
benefit them here and the rigors of game game action.
So that's incredible stuff that you guys are are working
through now. When you look at your schedule now with
a Thursday start on an opportunity for the fan to
come out and check out spring practice and when can
they come out and see the team and kind of
(09:07):
when they're out on the turf for the Fritz Pollard
and what can they expect to see.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, first of all, yes, the answer to that question
is we want, you know, people to come out. There's
a check in process just so we know who's in
the building, so you can check in with our recruiting people.
They'll be, uh, you know, they'll be at the front
entrance of the Pollard and you know, just check in there,
check in online, let us know who you are, and
all those types of things. And then yeah, I think
that you know, obviously, offensively we'll change here a little
(09:32):
bit as far as what we've done in the past,
but the run game stuff will will stay consistent. The
stuff that really were changing. It's probably not you know,
visible to the casual eye, but you know, putting a
little bit more into the hands of the quarterback. I
feel like, you know, we have guys now there that
are veteran players that they really love football, so you know,
part of that is is really being able to study
it and and get better with you know, reading defenses
(09:55):
and fronts and things like that. So I definitely feel
like we've made a you know, a concerted effort there
to be able to to to you know, help the quarterbacks,
make sure that our offense doesn't you know, try to
run and play into a bad pressure, into a bad front,
and things like that. And I think we've really done
a good job there. And then I think ultimately where
we need to get better yet on that side of
the balls being able to throw it and catch it better.
So a number of receivers that will come in here
(10:17):
that you know, are relatively new to the program, that
that we feel like have a lot of talent, they
just haven't had you know, the opportunities yet in uh
in a college football setting. And then they got to
be able to to learn on the fly. Like I said,
you got to be able to start fast and and
that that will be a point of emphasis here on
offense when we start, and then defensively, I think it's
it's a lot of details in Polish, you know, it's
(10:38):
just getting better at the things that we that we
improved on a year ago. I think, you know, there
were some improvements there, but by no means, uh, you know,
are we satisfied? Do we think we're a dominant defense?
Like that's something that we've got to continue to press
the uh, push the envelope. I think up front defensively
right now, we feel like will be the strength of
our team. Obviously, Lance Rutger coming back, Cayden Big coming back,
Braden Moore broke forrtably think we have some depth Eric
(11:01):
pay at the edge position, and then we were able
to go get some guys up front, you know, in
the defensive line. I think Kylin Macklin's a guy that
we feel really good about. Kifa Pereira came into as well,
started some games at Eastern Illinois last year. And then
you know, just the returners that we have there too
as well, guys like like you know, Logan Eckhart had
a really good year a year ago and kind of
started to you know, progress and and take the next step.
(11:23):
And that's what it's all about. I mean, it's a
developmental deal where a developmental program and spring ball is
a great, great opportunity for guys to be able to
go out there and prove how much better they've gotten
from last year.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Positionally, the one position I watched a lot last year
because your your defensive look was slightly different than what
we've grown accustomed to, and so you know, it was
the position played by Johnny Wilsher, and he was almost
made to play that position a little bit. I don't
know necessarily that you know, a guy just says that's
my that's a role that I fit into, but he
(11:55):
certainly seemed to make it that way at times. Is
there other guys that seem to have of that that
a knack or for a role like that in your defense?
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Yeah, it's a great question. I think that that that
once again is the reason why we're doing spring ball
right now. I think grandt Ti Luki is a guy
that that you know very much like that too as well.
I think some of the depth that corner I'm excited about.
You know, Ben Kamara came in from Akron played a
lot there. He's a really good looking athlete. Avery Dixon,
those guys actually played together when they first got to
college at Upper Iowa. So those guys, I think, are
(12:26):
are you know, you know, when it comes to the
genetic side of things, how we want guys to look like,
you know, they're six foot two, they're you know, two
hundred pound defensive backs that can move their feet, and
we feel like can play physical in the run game
and our athletic enough to be able to play body
our body and play coverage you know, uh, in the
deep part of the field too as well. So excited
about some of those guys, like I said, and then
(12:47):
linebacker two wise, I think, you know, there's some there's
definitely some some reps there yet that that we feel like,
you know, we got to be able to decide, the
players got to be able to decide Moving forward, I'm
excited to see Jake sar Vic and what he can do.
Ethan Bowle after you know, another year of improvement here,
I think is is ready to take the next step.
And then ultimately, I think offensively, we talked about the
(13:08):
receiver's position, but you know, we're gonna really challenge Dang.
I think it's it's time for Dang to you know,
take the next step here too as well. And you know,
a young guy when he first got into college, so
there was obviously a learning curve there too as well,
not only you know, in the in the level of play,
but also being a guy who was super young for
his age showing up right, you know two as well,
so excited to see kind of, you know, his maturation.
(13:31):
Jimmy Maxim is another guy who's kind of a clone
of Dang, maybe not quite as big, but pretty dang
big and long and athletic too as well. And then
you know, those guys now can go out there hopefully
and and play with some confidence and belief and and
go bully some guys you know on the edges too
as well.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
You mentioned Ethan Bowl from just down the road in Crookston,
and there's something to be said. You talked about how
you know your development and you got to have that
patience basically to you know, go through the rigors of
you know, having some guys playing ahead of you, learning
your position, learning that. Maybe Ethan is a good, you
know picture of that definition of just biding your time,
(14:08):
being patient, learning and hopefully unleashing as he gets more
opportunities here.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, that used to be the norm, right fifteen years ago.
It was, hey, you came in, you read shirt, you
played special teams for a year or two, and then
you know, there was good players in front of you,
and you waited your time, and by the time you
were a junior and a senior, that's when you had
your opportunity to go out there and and play. And
you were ready, you know by that time, just because
of you know, how much time you spent in a program.
So yeah, excited for him, works hard, really good teammate.
(14:33):
You know, a guy who really you know, we talk
a lot about environment and our organization talk about bringing
the right energy every day to us. That's effort and
focus and and you know, he's definitely a guy that
breathes life into the building every single day. Like he's
he's a guy that gets to play football. It's not like, hey,
I gotta do this right now. Like he's excited to
be able to get out there and improve and improve
(14:54):
every day, so said him and Jake, And then having
Mike Devereux back a second year, you know, he really
got better as the year when along there too as well.
So I'm looking forward to seeing his development and just
his leadership. I think that's something that you know, as
always kind of those next guys now and and you know,
the best part of your culture is the leaders in
your culture. I think guys like Big and Rouck and
(15:16):
you know you mentioned Johnny Wilshire. Those guys like those
are the guys that they got to make the guys
around them better too as well. Like that's that's what
the special guys do. Not only do they do they
take care of themselves, but you know, they up the
level of the play of the people around them too.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
So somebody did ask me if there's a end date
for a spring showcase type of event that you guys
have done. Do we know when that is tentatively set
or you still got still working to get to that date.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah, it's April eighteenth, so it'll be on a Saturday.
It'll be twelve thirty Saturday, you know, early afternoon. So
excited about that. You know, we call it a showcase.
It's you know, it'll be a scrimmage where we're you know,
doing all the things there as far as offense versus defense.
We won't split up into two teams or anything like that.
But but yeah, be exciting to to be able to
(16:01):
you know, show that to our fans. And then, like
you mentioned some of those young guys being out there,
you know, the eight and wonderlicks of the world. I think, uh,
you know, James Jones coming in here is a guy
that we, you know, feel good about. And then's all
as young dbs. You know, Christian Davis was a guy
that you know, we were able to, you know, get
from a max school too as well. And and and
you know Taurus Rudd coming in from Millard South, so
(16:21):
really good young talent. Now, those guys like so they
need to be able to get developed and and and
to be able to show, you know, just how far
along they can come here in the next four weeks.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Game one a Thursday. I would anticipate a Thursday night
game at the Alarris Center against the Long Island August
twenty seventh, and then it's a home game Saturday against
Saint Thomas before hitting the road against Portland State Nebraska. Now,
I'm going to share a very unpopular idea. I love
games early as an old as a young guy, I
(16:50):
loved him late because then I could, you know, tailgate
all day. What's the perfect game time for coach Schmidt
and his team.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I'm good in the I'm good in the afternoon. Three o'clock,
I think nothing gay three three is usually good for me.
And then, uh, you know, as the season goes along
and tailgating kind of kind of wanes because of the weather,
then going earlier at one o'clock is good too as well.
So that's kind of what we've done. We've kind of
had a night game. Obviously, a Thursday night game is
going to be a night game. Uh, that'll be a
great atmosphere. Yeah, it'll be fun. Long Island. You know,
(17:18):
beat an FBS school. They beat you know, Eastern Michigan
last year. So got a lot of respect for their program.
I think they're a program that wants to take the
next step. You got to respect people that that will
play in these games. It's it's not hard, you know,
it's not easy, I should say at times to to
be able to schedule games for us. So obviously, you know,
our administration doing a good job there. Being able to
(17:38):
find that game was was crucial for us to get
to our twelve game and make it a home game
this year, I think is awesome for our fans and
and early in the year. So so yeah, you know,
and then you know, after that, I think, hey, when
when it's nice out, when it's when it's September and October,
I love three o'clock. I think it gives people time
to get out in the mornings and and you know
a lot of people got youth football and those types
of things that they want to be able to do.
(17:59):
And then I think one that stuff ends. Like I said,
I feel like one o'clock's a good time.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
All right. Yeah, apparently I'm gonna have to tone down
my clamoring for eleven am starts. I'm not gonna win
that battle. So I well, I just get too anxious. Hey,
you know, too anxious.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
It's it's tough to anticipate that whole day, you know.
So I'm I'm getting to that point where I'm just like, oh,
let's get this thing started, you know. I get to
that point, and I'm turning that Hey, get my AARP
card dag coming up here this fall. So it's coming.
So I guess I'm so people are laughing at that.
Thank you. I've been working on that Matury all week. So, hey,
(18:37):
coach Schmid, thank you so much. Hey, have a great
spring go ahead.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
One other thing, I'll mention pro day tomorrow for us,
so we'll have a number of guys going through pro day.
So except for those guys, a lot of NFL teams
in town, some CLF CFL teams here too as well.
I know a lot of a lot of hype around
Nate Demotniac up there too as well. So excited to
see you know, Nate, and he's gonna run here this week.
And then i'll actually go up to the to the
(19:02):
CFL combine next week, you know two as well, So
that'll be uh, that'll be fun. But we'll have about
nine guys that'll you know, obviously keep working here for
their dream and and uh and we'll work out tomorrow
for for all the NFL and CFL team And.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
What time would that like this stuff happened in the
Pollard to wait from the lifting and everything else.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
I think around probably two o'clock we'll check guys in,
you know, around noon one o'clock we'll get going, but
that'll be mostly the uh, the weight room activities there.
Then we'll get out to the Pollard after that, and
and and you know, throw and catch and run the
forty stuff and then do some of those drills out
out there, probably around two to three thirty.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Bring our stop watches. Okay, Coach Schmidt, thank you for this.
Let's have a great spring campaign. Can't wait to get
to August twenty seventh, but I know there's a lot
of boxes to check until we get there. So thanks
for this, and have a great one.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, thank you, Paul.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
All right, Head coach Eric Schmid, everybody North Dakota football
getting ready for their spring season and joining us here
to kick it off as it will start on Thursday,
and it is morning practices by and large, I would
assume all mornings at the Pollard. So awesome. So when
we return, un D Tennis has returned home after a
successful trip zig Zagan across the country and Tom Boysen
(20:14):
gets his team back to choice health and fitness after
some successful runs on the road. And we'll visit with
head coach Tom Boysen of un D Tennis when we
return with Hawk Talk all across the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
All right, here we go the Peanut Galleries live and
in person here again tonight. Come on out and join
us at the five h six Pub for some Hawk
talk tonight. The rest of the way. I'm Paul Ralston,
wrapping up our final show this season. We want to
thank all of you listening all across the Fighting Hawks
Radio network here tonight, and if you're able to go
out and join us live, we appreciate that. But for
(00:25):
all those that have been joining all season long, thank
you so much for being with us, and we appreciate that.
Now we turn our attention because the countdown is on.
When we get to spring football season, it really only
means game one, August twenty seventh isn't all that far away.
At the Alias Center, head coach Eric Schmidt has decided
to come in and join us here tonight. Coach Schmidt,
(00:45):
great to see you here, Bud.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
That's great. Yeah, thanks for having me, Paul.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
You've been everywhere. I think you did a little state
tournament action, got some of that in, and now the
attention is to put that whistle over the neck and
get the guys out. Now you've had to make a
slight adjustment and schedule because you're not. Unlike a lot
of things happening out there in this country right now.
There's been storms that have affected travel. There's obviously some
TSA issues. You're just trying to get everybody back onto
(01:11):
campus and so one you've adjusted just slightly here moving
practice one two Thursday. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, we just we did a workout here this morning
and then we'll go on Thursday. Now, got everybody back
here today, so that was good. Some guys got delayed
since Saturday to get into town on Tuesday. So, like
you said, a lot of things going on in the country,
and obviously the storm that came through didn't help most
of our guys connect through Minneapolis, so trying to trying
to make navigate that was with the delays and the cancelations.
(01:40):
But everybody made it back safe, so we can get
going here on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So the thing about it is, and you go back
to your playing days, we didn't have a Fritz Pollard,
so no matter if we if we had days like today,
that would throw a wrench into the whole practice spring
practice campaign. You get the guys in here Thursday, it's
game on, and it's and here's the other thing, I'm
sure you tell the guys right from the get go here,
we've got a lot of things each and everything we do,
(02:07):
we've got to do it like really hard and as
hard as we can, and we got to figure out
and we got to really embrace each moment in the spring.
Is that kind of the messaging, Yeah, we just like
I said, you know, getting everybody here. A lot of times,
it's the meetings that you have and the messaging that
you have actually even before you get going, it's another
you know, step in the process. And there's a year
(02:28):
round calendar that that we believe in that I think
is really important. And like you mentioned, you know, the
things you're doing right now, what you do in March
and what you do in April are are just as
important as what you're going to be doing in November
and December. So us being able to get off to
a good start here in spring practice. And you know,
obviously year two now you feel like, you know, the
guys have a better feel for exactly you know what
(02:50):
the expectations are, what the temples of practice are, you
know how to transition all those types of things. It's
it's things that you can never take for granted, but
as a player, I feel like once you've done it
and and have some experience in it, you know, it's
a lot less anxiety, you know, for them to be
able to practice. And there's something even with our coaches,
I think, you know, our coach is going to do
a better job now of being able to prepare our guys.
(03:11):
And as a player, when you feel like, hey, you're
prepared going into a practice and know what you're what
you're going to see, and what the expectations are, you
can perform better too as well. And the thing that
I think about here, there's a couple of different things
that have happened in the college football world. Now there
is no UH spring transfer window following the spring season
that has been eliminated, and so now you know your roster.
(03:35):
And at the same time, the guys that in early enrolled.
Basically there's some guys that obviously you brought in you
didn't have to wait for them to finish up their
spring semester and enjoying in the summer or something like that,
they've early enrolled. And then you've also even I think
maybe even had some high schoolers early in role and
you're telling those guys get out there. We need to
(03:55):
competition right away. Push for for everybody, push for for
your spot. This is a huge important I would assume.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah. I think, first of all, a step in the
right direction. Obviously only having one transfer portal period, I
think is bring some stability to college football. I think,
you know, the earlier that you can say, this is
our team. You know, we can have meetings with the guys,
we can develop relationships with the guys. We know, you know,
how they operate, how they work day in and day out.
So I think that's really important. That's allowed us to
(04:23):
you know, do the the culture building things that we
think are important that are a big piece to you know,
being successful too as well. And then like you mentioned,
bringing in some of the young guys, I think, uh,
you know, freshman and earlying and rolling is something that
that is, you know taking off here at least is
a little bit more of a of a real thing here.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
In your day.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
No, no, no, one didn't even talk about it, yeah
at that time, but I do think it's you know,
it's it's the art of being a college football player
for some guys that they come in and it's uh,
it's definitely an advantage they get. You know, obviously eight weeks.
We just got done with an eight week training period
that was really really good for us. You know, a
number of those guys made a lot of gains. But
(05:05):
it's a it's a culture shock, a culture shock for
them too as well. When you show up and you know,
you're the old head in the building out of high
school and probably been playing for three years and and uh,
and you know everybody knows ye you're you're kind of
the uh, you know, maybe the balcow, the leader of everything.
And then two weeks later you show up and you're
the young guy, you know, trying to figure out, you know,
what do I do, where do I go? Where am
(05:26):
I supposed to be? How do you want me to
do things? And all that. But uh, but all those guys,
I think have really improved. And and now it's routine.
You know, it's it's crazy. Once you once you start
getting into some habits and get into meetings and practices
and all that kind of stuff, they just they adapt
and uh, and young people are like sponges, you know,
and they learn on the fly. And then I'm excited
now to watch those guys play play football and that's
(05:46):
what springball is all about. I mean I say this
all the time, but if you want to be a
good football player, like you got to go play football,
you know, right in real American football where you're blocking
and tackling and doing the things that you got to
do in order to get better. And our guys understand
that that, uh, you know, its what it takes as
far as the developmental phase and excited to get going
on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
The thing that you mentioned there, the intensive eight weeks
and really diving into bodies and preparing for the rigors
of a spring season and a summer and a fall
season ahead. Here. You know you were really when you
took the job. One of the things you pushed for
was nutrition. And you know it was such a short
sample size last fall because you mean, you're really just
(06:27):
trying to implement meals that maybe teams hadn't received previously.
Now you're getting certain meals for the players that during
the day, during the week, And are you starting to
see the benefits now of that nutrition right with a
larger database and larger DABA sample.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, great question, Paul. I think you know, we just
got some of the data back from this past eight weeks,
and our sports science people do a great job, so
we will, you know, have profile sheets on every player
and and know, you know, lee muscle mass, body fat,
body composition, and then all the you know, athletic numbers
that go into that too as well. And then we'll
compare those guys to the current combine people that you
(07:06):
know that'll be that we're in the combine here in February,
and just kind of give guys their strengths, their weaknesses,
all that kind of stuff, and then you just look
for I think some you know, some some numbers out
there where you can prove that that your guys are developing,
they're getting better. You know a number that comes to
mind right now that I got from Coach Stein and
our performance team here Jen Hagen the other day, was,
you know, during those eight weeks, just going through all
(07:28):
the body and testing and all that kind of stuff,
our guys gained three hundred and ninety seven pounds and
lean muscle mass, so about four zero point seven pounds
I think per person, you know, on average, is what
our guys gained. And then that translated into you know
a lot of a lot of records broken. Pr is
broken when it came to, you know, some of the
lifts and stuff like that. So getting stronger and getting
leaner I think was something that was really important for us.
(07:50):
Then the other thing that was much better here as
you compare it to a year ago at this time
was just the health of our team. How many guys
were able to you know, be available every day. They
weren't limited in any capacity. We'll start practice on Thursday
and and there'll be six players that that won't practice,
and all those guys are coming off as surgeries yet
you know from the season, so nothing as far as
a training injury or anything like that. And that's something
(08:12):
that I think is important, Like if you're gonna you know,
you got to be able to be durable, You got
to be able to stay healthy in order to improve
and and you know, our guys have done a good
job of being able to do that well.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
We like to say that North Dakota football is powered
by beef, and we think the North Gota Beef Commission
and their Beef Checkoff for apparently helping add three hundred
and ninety seven pounds of lean, powerful muscle to this
North go To football program. So way to go, I mean,
I tell you when you hear numbers like that, We're
not messing around. It's not just fat. These guys aren't
(08:45):
putting fat on. They're putting on stuff that's going to
benefit them here and the rigors of game game action.
So that's incredible stuff that you guys are are working
through now. When you look at your schedule now with
a Thursday start on an opportunity for the fan to
come out and check out spring practice and when can
they come out and see the team and kind of
(09:07):
when they're out on the turf for the Fritz Pollard
and what can they expect to see.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, first of all, yes, the answer to that question
is we want, you know, people to come out. There's
a check in process just so we know who's in
the building, so you can check in with our recruiting people.
They'll be, uh, you know, they'll be at the front
entrance of the Pollard and you know, just check in there,
check in online, let us know who you are, and
all those types of things. And then yeah, I think
that you know, obviously, offensively we'll change here a little
(09:32):
bit as far as what we've done in the past,
but the run game stuff will will stay consistent. The
stuff that really were changing. It's probably not you know,
visible to the casual eye, but you know, putting a
little bit more into the hands of the quarterback. I
feel like, you know, we have guys now there that
are veteran players that they really love football, so you know,
part of that is is really being able to study
it and and get better with you know, reading defenses
(09:55):
and fronts and things like that. So I definitely feel
like we've made a you know, a concerted effort there
to be able to to to you know, help the quarterbacks,
make sure that our offense doesn't you know, try to
run and play into a bad pressure, into a bad front,
and things like that. And I think we've really done
a good job there. And then I think ultimately where
we need to get better yet on that side of
the balls being able to throw it and catch it better.
So a number of receivers that will come in here
(10:17):
that you know, are relatively new to the program, that
that we feel like have a lot of talent, they
just haven't had you know, the opportunities yet in uh
in a college football setting. And then they got to
be able to to learn on the fly. Like I said,
you got to be able to start fast and and
that that will be a point of emphasis here on
offense when we start, and then defensively, I think it's
it's a lot of details in Polish, you know, it's
(10:38):
just getting better at the things that we that we
improved on a year ago. I think, you know, there
were some improvements there, but by no means, uh, you know,
are we satisfied? Do we think we're a dominant defense?
Like that's something that we've got to continue to press
the uh, push the envelope. I think up front defensively
right now, we feel like will be the strength of
our team. Obviously, Lance Rutger coming back, Cayden Big coming back,
Braden Moore broke forrtably think we have some depth Eric
(11:01):
pay at the edge position, and then we were able
to go get some guys up front, you know, in
the defensive line. I think Kylin Macklin's a guy that
we feel really good about. Kifa Pereira came into as well,
started some games at Eastern Illinois last year. And then
you know, just the returners that we have there too
as well, guys like like you know, Logan Eckhart had
a really good year a year ago and kind of
started to you know, progress and and take the next step.
(11:23):
And that's what it's all about. I mean, it's a
developmental deal where a developmental program and spring ball is
a great, great opportunity for guys to be able to
go out there and prove how much better they've gotten
from last year.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Positionally, the one position I watched a lot last year
because your your defensive look was slightly different than what
we've grown accustomed to, and so you know, it was
the position played by Johnny Wilsher, and he was almost
made to play that position a little bit. I don't
know necessarily that you know, a guy just says that's
my that's a role that I fit into, but he
(11:55):
certainly seemed to make it that way at times. Is
there other guys that seem to have of that that
a knack or for a role like that in your defense?
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Yeah, it's a great question. I think that that that
once again is the reason why we're doing spring ball
right now. I think grandt Ti Luki is a guy
that that you know very much like that too as well.
I think some of the depth that corner I'm excited about.
You know, Ben Kamara came in from Akron played a
lot there. He's a really good looking athlete. Avery Dixon,
those guys actually played together when they first got to
college at Upper Iowa. So those guys, I think, are
(12:26):
are you know, you know, when it comes to the
genetic side of things, how we want guys to look like,
you know, they're six foot two, they're you know, two
hundred pound defensive backs that can move their feet, and
we feel like can play physical in the run game
and our athletic enough to be able to play body
our body and play coverage you know, uh, in the
deep part of the field too as well. So excited
about some of those guys, like I said, and then
(12:47):
linebacker two wise, I think, you know, there's some there's
definitely some some reps there yet that that we feel like,
you know, we got to be able to decide, the
players got to be able to decide Moving forward, I'm
excited to see Jake sar Vic and what he can do.
Ethan Bowle after you know, another year of improvement here,
I think is is ready to take the next step.
And then ultimately, I think offensively, we talked about the
(13:08):
receiver's position, but you know, we're gonna really challenge Dang.
I think it's it's time for Dang to you know,
take the next step here too as well. And you know,
a young guy when he first got into college, so
there was obviously a learning curve there too as well,
not only you know, in the in the level of play,
but also being a guy who was super young for
his age showing up right, you know two as well,
so excited to see kind of, you know, his maturation.
(13:31):
Jimmy Maxim is another guy who's kind of a clone
of Dang, maybe not quite as big, but pretty dang
big and long and athletic too as well. And then
you know, those guys now can go out there hopefully
and and play with some confidence and belief and and
go bully some guys you know on the edges too
as well.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
You mentioned Ethan Bowl from just down the road in Crookston,
and there's something to be said. You talked about how
you know your development and you got to have that
patience basically to you know, go through the rigors of
you know, having some guys playing ahead of you, learning
your position, learning that. Maybe Ethan is a good, you
know picture of that definition of just biding your time,
(14:08):
being patient, learning and hopefully unleashing as he gets more
opportunities here.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, that used to be the norm, right fifteen years ago.
It was, hey, you came in, you read shirt, you
played special teams for a year or two, and then
you know, there was good players in front of you,
and you waited your time, and by the time you
were a junior and a senior, that's when you had
your opportunity to go out there and and play. And
you were ready, you know by that time, just because
of you know, how much time you spent in a program.
So yeah, excited for him, works hard, really good teammate.
(14:33):
You know, a guy who really you know, we talk
a lot about environment and our organization talk about bringing
the right energy every day to us. That's effort and
focus and and you know, he's definitely a guy that
breathes life into the building every single day. Like he's
he's a guy that gets to play football. It's not like, hey,
I gotta do this right now. Like he's excited to
be able to get out there and improve and improve
(14:54):
every day, so said him and Jake, And then having
Mike Devereux back a second year, you know, he really
got better as the year when along there too as well.
So I'm looking forward to seeing his development and just
his leadership. I think that's something that you know, as
always kind of those next guys now and and you know,
the best part of your culture is the leaders in
your culture. I think guys like Big and Rouck and
(15:16):
you know you mentioned Johnny Wilshire. Those guys like those
are the guys that they got to make the guys
around them better too as well. Like that's that's what
the special guys do. Not only do they do they
take care of themselves, but you know, they up the
level of the play of the people around them too.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
So somebody did ask me if there's a end date
for a spring showcase type of event that you guys
have done. Do we know when that is tentatively set
or you still got still working to get to that date.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah, it's April eighteenth, so it'll be on a Saturday.
It'll be twelve thirty Saturday, you know, early afternoon. So
excited about that. You know, we call it a showcase.
It's you know, it'll be a scrimmage where we're you know,
doing all the things there as far as offense versus defense.
We won't split up into two teams or anything like that.
But but yeah, be exciting to to be able to
(16:01):
you know, show that to our fans. And then, like
you mentioned some of those young guys being out there,
you know, the eight and wonderlicks of the world. I think, uh,
you know, James Jones coming in here is a guy
that we, you know, feel good about. And then's all
as young dbs. You know, Christian Davis was a guy
that you know, we were able to, you know, get
from a max school too as well. And and and
you know Taurus Rudd coming in from Millard South, so
(16:21):
really good young talent. Now, those guys like so they
need to be able to get developed and and and
to be able to show, you know, just how far
along they can come here in the next four weeks.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Game one a Thursday. I would anticipate a Thursday night
game at the Alarris Center against the Long Island August
twenty seventh, and then it's a home game Saturday against
Saint Thomas before hitting the road against Portland State Nebraska. Now,
I'm going to share a very unpopular idea. I love
games early as an old as a young guy, I
(16:50):
loved him late because then I could, you know, tailgate
all day. What's the perfect game time for coach Schmidt
and his team.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I'm good in the I'm good in the afternoon. Three o'clock,
I think nothing gay three three is usually good for me.
And then, uh, you know, as the season goes along
and tailgating kind of kind of wanes because of the weather,
then going earlier at one o'clock is good too as well.
So that's kind of what we've done. We've kind of
had a night game. Obviously, a Thursday night game is
going to be a night game. Uh, that'll be a
great atmosphere. Yeah, it'll be fun. Long Island. You know,
(17:18):
beat an FBS school. They beat you know, Eastern Michigan
last year. So got a lot of respect for their program.
I think they're a program that wants to take the
next step. You got to respect people that that will
play in these games. It's it's not hard, you know,
it's not easy, I should say at times to to
be able to schedule games for us. So obviously, you know,
our administration doing a good job there. Being able to
(17:38):
find that game was was crucial for us to get
to our twelve game and make it a home game
this year, I think is awesome for our fans and
and early in the year. So so yeah, you know,
and then you know, after that, I think, hey, when
when it's nice out, when it's when it's September and October,
I love three o'clock. I think it gives people time
to get out in the mornings and and you know
a lot of people got youth football and those types
of things that they want to be able to do.
(17:59):
And then I think one that stuff ends. Like I said,
I feel like one o'clock's a good time.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
All right. Yeah, apparently I'm gonna have to tone down
my clamoring for eleven am starts. I'm not gonna win
that battle. So I well, I just get too anxious. Hey,
you know, too anxious.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
It's it's tough to anticipate that whole day, you know.
So I'm I'm getting to that point where I'm just like, oh,
let's get this thing started, you know. I get to
that point, and I'm turning that Hey, get my AARP
card dag coming up here this fall. So it's coming.
So I guess I'm so people are laughing at that.
Thank you. I've been working on that Matury all week. So, hey,
(18:37):
coach Schmid, thank you so much. Hey, have a great
spring go ahead.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
One other thing, I'll mention pro day tomorrow for us,
so we'll have a number of guys going through pro day.
So except for those guys, a lot of NFL teams
in town, some CLF CFL teams here too as well.
I know a lot of a lot of hype around
Nate Demotniac up there too as well. So excited to
see you know, Nate, and he's gonna run here this week.
And then i'll actually go up to the to the
(19:02):
CFL combine next week, you know two as well, So
that'll be uh, that'll be fun. But we'll have about
nine guys that'll you know, obviously keep working here for
their dream and and uh and we'll work out tomorrow
for for all the NFL and CFL team And.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
What time would that like this stuff happened in the
Pollard to wait from the lifting and everything else.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
I think around probably two o'clock we'll check guys in,
you know, around noon one o'clock we'll get going, but
that'll be mostly the uh, the weight room activities there.
Then we'll get out to the Pollard after that, and
and and you know, throw and catch and run the
forty stuff and then do some of those drills out
out there, probably around two to three thirty.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Bring our stop watches. Okay, Coach Schmidt, thank you for this.
Let's have a great spring campaign. Can't wait to get
to August twenty seventh, but I know there's a lot
of boxes to check until we get there. So thanks
for this, and have a great one.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, thank you, Paul.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
All right, Head coach Eric Schmid, everybody North Dakota football
getting ready for their spring season and joining us here
to kick it off as it will start on Thursday,
and it is morning practices by and large, I would
assume all mornings at the Pollard. So awesome. So when
we return, un D Tennis has returned home after a
successful trip zig Zagan across the country and Tom Boysen
(20:14):
gets his team back to choice health and fitness after
some successful runs on the road. And we'll visit with
head coach Tom Boysen of un D Tennis when we
return with Hawk Talk all across the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
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