August 26, 2025 • 5 mins
UND Head Football Coach Eric Schmidt talks about the upcoming game against Kansas State and talks about what to expect from them this Saturday.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
And we welcome you back here on Hot Talk Downtown
Grand Forks Paul Ralston joined by the head coach of
the University of North Dakota football team and the Fighting Hawks,
Eric Schmidfer. Segment two, and we got to take a
look at what sits in front of North Dakota in
the Kansas State Wildcats. Now, they dropped their opener in
Ireland against a very good Iowa State team. I mean,
(00:25):
what a what a matchup Week zero, I guess is
what they're calling it over there, and it was. It
was an incredible matchup. I think Guyowa State increased a
couple of runs late in that game and made a
few extra plays, but it was nip and tuck and
you're you're the team you're facing. Came across to me
and from what I could tell, is just a tremendous
football team.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, really good football game. I think, you know, comes
down to a few plays. Fourth down stop was really big,
you know for for Iowa State. And then to go
forward on fourth down at the end to end the game.
You know, those are huge, huge plays and big time
decisions you know by coach Campbell to be able to
to close it out on your own terms was big.
But you know, I think two evenly matched teams. You
look at you know, both of those clubs, they're they're
(01:08):
where they're at, you know, as far as being picked
at the top of the Big twelve year in and
year out, just because of how consistency, how much continuity
and consistency they have, you know, the coaching staff and
just year in and year out, those teams are eight,
nine and ten win teams and that's hard to do,
you know, to be able to to be able to
do that consistently in that league says a lot. And
(01:28):
I think it says a lot about you know, the
coaching of coach Climbing and just you know, the respect
that our place has for what he's been able to
do to go down there and and week in and
week out put a really good consistent product on the field.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
A couple of things that stood out to me, and
that one was obviously their wide receivers very skilled. They
turned into a couple of big plays. I thought, tight
end wise, they have a number of guys they can
go to. I think they had a total of like
seven catches amongst four players, one who was an All
Big Big Twelve preseason didn't have a catch. It was
a couple of others teamates ahead a couple of catches.
(02:01):
So they're definitely utilizing that tight end spot for Avery Johnson,
who's a talented, talented quarterback.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I think that's probably the one spot that they've upgraded
the most over a year ago. The one returner, Jersey
number one is is still I think, you know, an
elite player. He was there a year ago, and then
they brought in two other, longer, bigger receivers. I mean, obviously,
I think you have a quarterback like Avery Johnson, you're
gonna be able to attract the right people. You know,
receivers see that too as well. It's no different. I know,
(02:28):
you know, you're in basketball, if you get the right
point guard, you know you're gonna get the you know
you're gonna get the ball, and you're gonna get the
ball and chances to be able to score. Well, it's
no different in football, Like hey, certain guys want to
play with you know, the right quarterbacks. And I think
that that was a testament to what they were able
to do in the transfer port. We bring in two
really long, athletic guys that make them you know, really
harder to defend on the edge, and that's gonna be
a big, you know, matchup for us, Like we got
(02:48):
to be able to hold up out there and do
a good job of being able to limit explosive plays
because you know, they run the football really well. Like
you said, their tight ends are dynamic. They're they're three
down tight ends. They don't have to bring certain guys
in for run and then bring other guys in when
they're gonna throw the ball. They can do it all,
you know, at those positions too as well. And then honestly,
the best position on their on their team, the deepest
(03:09):
position is probably running back. Like yeah, for really really
good running backs that we got to be able to
get a lot of you know, a lot of hats
around the football because one on one, like it's it's
gonna be a challenge for us to be able to
get those guys down in space.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
The other thing defensively, to me, that just you know,
it's no surprise really Kansas State has been this way
for forever. Physicality, they played just with tremendous physicality. They
get their pads on you, and uh, they usually finish
a play really well and disciplined and they just look
the part out there. They they really are just a
nice looking defense. They don't they don't make many mistakes.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah, I mean, they don't beat themselves at the end
of the day. They're really really good on defense. They
their sound, you know, they keep the ball in front
of them, they stop the run. They get a lot
of a lot of guys running hard and playing hard
and get them to the football. And then offensively, you know,
they're they're not gonna put their defense in any bad spots.
Like they got enough talent, they got enough you know,
weapons on offense that they can get in and out
of different personnel groupings. But they can run the football,
(04:05):
they can you know, establish time of possession. And then defensively,
you know, when they get a lead, like they become
really hard you know to be able to to be
able to move the football on. So they're definitely, like
I said, they're a good solid football team. I think,
you know, the one thing that I really believe with
our guys is just you know the operation of how
everything's gone here. You talked about a little bit, you know,
the last six or seven months, like we've been doing
(04:25):
it the same exact way, you know, I feel like
that that schools at that level have been doing it,
So I think there'll be some belief and confidence that
you know, we're we're nick We're we're you know, we're
right with as far as you know, what they've been
doing as far as the advantages and those types of
things in the program, that the protocols that that that
they have, we have the same exact one. So be
interested to see just you know, I mean, when the
lights go on, you know, first time that you know,
(04:45):
as our staff will be able to to see our
guys like how are you when the lights go on?
Like in the moment, you know, and and that that's
always the exciting part because I definitely feel like there's
some guys that are are prime to have great seasons.
You know that'll that'll be one of the green helmets
on Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Really looking forward to game one not only for you,
but for your team, your entire staff, for the fans
here and what an opportunity against a premiere program like
Kansas State. Looking forward to that on Saturday evening. You'll
be able to hear it all across the Fighting Hawks
Rady Network, Jack Michaels, Mike Berg I'll be roaming the sidelines,
hoping to stay out of everybody's way. Coach Schmidt, thanks
(05:19):
for doing this. Really look forward to the conversations this season. Yep,
thanks Paul all Right, head coach Eric Schmidt, North Dakota Football,
and uh the fans here at the five oh six Pub,
downtown Grand Forks, looking forward to a lot of great
visits about you indie football throughout the season. Hey, you
indie volleyball is at home this coming weekend. They're bringing
(05:41):
in some nice teams. There we go. That's right. Yeah,
we're gonna take a quick break. We'll come back and
talk with head coach Jesse Tupac as Hawk Talk continues
from the five oh six Pub, downtown Grand Forks. All
across the Fighting Hawks Readio Network
And we welcome you back here on Hot Talk Downtown
Grand Forks Paul Ralston joined by the head coach of
the University of North Dakota football team and the Fighting Hawks,
Eric Schmidfer. Segment two, and we got to take a
look at what sits in front of North Dakota in
the Kansas State Wildcats. Now, they dropped their opener in
Ireland against a very good Iowa State team. I mean,
(00:25):
what a what a matchup Week zero, I guess is
what they're calling it over there, and it was. It
was an incredible matchup. I think Guyowa State increased a
couple of runs late in that game and made a
few extra plays, but it was nip and tuck and
you're you're the team you're facing. Came across to me
and from what I could tell, is just a tremendous
football team.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, really good football game. I think, you know, comes
down to a few plays. Fourth down stop was really big,
you know for for Iowa State. And then to go
forward on fourth down at the end to end the game.
You know, those are huge, huge plays and big time
decisions you know by coach Campbell to be able to
to close it out on your own terms was big.
But you know, I think two evenly matched teams. You
look at you know, both of those clubs, they're they're
(01:08):
where they're at, you know, as far as being picked
at the top of the Big twelve year in and
year out, just because of how consistency, how much continuity
and consistency they have, you know, the coaching staff and
just year in and year out, those teams are eight,
nine and ten win teams and that's hard to do,
you know, to be able to to be able to
do that consistently in that league says a lot. And
(01:28):
I think it says a lot about you know, the
coaching of coach Climbing and just you know, the respect
that our place has for what he's been able to
do to go down there and and week in and
week out put a really good consistent product on the field.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
A couple of things that stood out to me, and
that one was obviously their wide receivers very skilled. They
turned into a couple of big plays. I thought, tight
end wise, they have a number of guys they can
go to. I think they had a total of like
seven catches amongst four players, one who was an All
Big Big Twelve preseason didn't have a catch. It was
a couple of others teamates ahead a couple of catches.
(02:01):
So they're definitely utilizing that tight end spot for Avery Johnson,
who's a talented, talented quarterback.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I think that's probably the one spot that they've upgraded
the most over a year ago. The one returner, Jersey
number one is is still I think, you know, an
elite player. He was there a year ago, and then
they brought in two other, longer, bigger receivers. I mean, obviously,
I think you have a quarterback like Avery Johnson, you're
gonna be able to attract the right people. You know,
receivers see that too as well. It's no different. I know,
(02:28):
you know, you're in basketball, if you get the right
point guard, you know you're gonna get the you know
you're gonna get the ball, and you're gonna get the
ball and chances to be able to score. Well, it's
no different in football, Like hey, certain guys want to
play with you know, the right quarterbacks. And I think
that that was a testament to what they were able
to do in the transfer port. We bring in two
really long, athletic guys that make them you know, really
harder to defend on the edge, and that's gonna be
a big, you know, matchup for us, Like we got
(02:48):
to be able to hold up out there and do
a good job of being able to limit explosive plays
because you know, they run the football really well. Like
you said, their tight ends are dynamic. They're they're three
down tight ends. They don't have to bring certain guys
in for run and then bring other guys in when
they're gonna throw the ball. They can do it all,
you know, at those positions too as well. And then honestly,
the best position on their on their team, the deepest
(03:09):
position is probably running back. Like yeah, for really really
good running backs that we got to be able to
get a lot of you know, a lot of hats
around the football because one on one, like it's it's
gonna be a challenge for us to be able to
get those guys down in space.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
The other thing defensively, to me, that just you know,
it's no surprise really Kansas State has been this way
for forever. Physicality, they played just with tremendous physicality. They
get their pads on you, and uh, they usually finish
a play really well and disciplined and they just look
the part out there. They they really are just a
nice looking defense. They don't they don't make many mistakes.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah, I mean, they don't beat themselves at the end
of the day. They're really really good on defense. They
their sound, you know, they keep the ball in front
of them, they stop the run. They get a lot
of a lot of guys running hard and playing hard
and get them to the football. And then offensively, you know,
they're they're not gonna put their defense in any bad spots.
Like they got enough talent, they got enough you know,
weapons on offense that they can get in and out
of different personnel groupings. But they can run the football,
(04:05):
they can you know, establish time of possession. And then defensively,
you know, when they get a lead, like they become
really hard you know to be able to to be
able to move the football on. So they're definitely, like
I said, they're a good solid football team. I think,
you know, the one thing that I really believe with
our guys is just you know the operation of how
everything's gone here. You talked about a little bit, you know,
the last six or seven months, like we've been doing
(04:25):
it the same exact way, you know, I feel like
that that schools at that level have been doing it,
So I think there'll be some belief and confidence that
you know, we're we're nick We're we're you know, we're
right with as far as you know, what they've been
doing as far as the advantages and those types of
things in the program, that the protocols that that that
they have, we have the same exact one. So be
interested to see just you know, I mean, when the
lights go on, you know, first time that you know,
(04:45):
as our staff will be able to to see our
guys like how are you when the lights go on?
Like in the moment, you know, and and that that's
always the exciting part because I definitely feel like there's
some guys that are are prime to have great seasons.
You know that'll that'll be one of the green helmets
on Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Really looking forward to game one not only for you,
but for your team, your entire staff, for the fans
here and what an opportunity against a premiere program like
Kansas State. Looking forward to that on Saturday evening. You'll
be able to hear it all across the Fighting Hawks
Rady Network, Jack Michaels, Mike Berg I'll be roaming the sidelines,
hoping to stay out of everybody's way. Coach Schmidt, thanks
(05:19):
for doing this. Really look forward to the conversations this season. Yep,
thanks Paul all Right, head coach Eric Schmidt, North Dakota Football,
and uh the fans here at the five oh six Pub,
downtown Grand Forks, looking forward to a lot of great
visits about you indie football throughout the season. Hey, you
indie volleyball is at home this coming weekend. They're bringing
(05:41):
in some nice teams. There we go. That's right. Yeah,
we're gonna take a quick break. We'll come back and
talk with head coach Jesse Tupac as Hawk Talk continues
from the five oh six Pub, downtown Grand Forks. All
across the Fighting Hawks Readio Network
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