September 16, 2025 • 16 mins
UND Head Football Coach Eric Schmidt reflected on the team's recent loss to Montana, emphasizing the need for greater focus moving forward. Coach Schmidt highlighted the importance of managing time and energy, particularly during critical moments in the game — the situations that often determine the outcome. He also stressed the value of preparation off the field, pointing to the classroom as a key area where coaching starts.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And good evening everyone, and welcome to another edition of
Hot Talk Downtown grand Ford. So glad to have you
along with us all across the Fighting Hawks Radio network
here on this Tuesday night. And it's homecoming week.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
You happy homecoming, all right, I'm telling you it is.
It's great to have homecoming on the way. And of
course it all culminates with that football game Saturday at
the Aleras Center. But there's lots of events here over
the next several days, including a homecoming pep Rowley at
Town Square, and of course they've got the alumni honors
at the Alera Center Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I
(00:36):
think that's a sellout coming up on Friday night at
the Alras Center Hall of Fame. Ribbon cutting going on Friday,
September nineteenth at one and then also the und Fan Luncheon.
Just a reminder this week at Ralph Einglestead Arena at
eleven thirty, they go early. They go early for fan
luncheon on Friday at the Ralp Fingalstead Arena, so just
(00:57):
keep that in mind as well. I'm Paul Ralston. I'm
glad to have you along with us all across the
Fighting Knox Radio Network. We're gonna talk you indie football
here tonight. We're gonna talk you indie volleyball, and you
Indi soccer, and there's lots of good things to talk about.
Don't forget that The five oh six Pub is part
of Hugo's Pure Market and Hugos is the official grocery
store of University of North Dakota Athletics. Hugos is your
(01:17):
go to headquarters for getting geared up for tailgating on Saturday,
whether it's something to throw on that grill, whether it's
something to munch on. The plates and napkins, don't forget those.
Get tailgate ready with Hugos. If you're still going to
the lake with this weather, Hugo's got you covered on
your way out on Highway to there. In Boston, in
Park Rapids and throughout the region as well. Hugos is
(01:38):
your place to shop, the official grocery store of University
of North Dakote Athletics. I will say at the five
oh six Pub, I saw the wings out tonight. I
saw that there was a Panini out tonight. And don't
forget on Tuesdays as well, you can get two dollars
off loaded nachos. I need to see somebody order those again,
because that's quite a sight. They're good nachos here at
the five oh six Pub, and they've got swag for
(01:59):
you as well, So make sure you check out some
of the swags so you can rep the five oh
six Pub well. The people in this building. They're representing
and repping und athletics with a lot of fighting Hawks gear,
North Dakota gear on inside the five oh six Pub.
And let's give it up for head coach Eric Schmidt
of North Dakota football on this homecoming week. Coach, glad
(02:21):
to have you on with us here yet again. And
you know, coming off a Saturday where you know, you
walked off the field and you were very succinct and
but just so on point with your thoughts about boy,
we did a lot of good. But at the same time,
you know, when you have a couple of opportunities to
stretch it out, you know, and it's not just one thing,
(02:41):
it's it's various things woven through a game. You can't
point to just one thing. This is a team thing
and those are the things that you know you need
to take steps in. I thought you were right on
point after that game on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, I think our guys did a great job in
the first half. We talked a little bit about it
at halftime and then after the game too as well.
Starting fast, Uh, you know, had an opportunity early, we
missed bj the uh the pocket got a little dirty
there on Jerry and uh.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
He wasn't able to hit him.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Then came back to a similar route later on, and
and you know, hit an explosive play, which is something
that we got to continue to do, is being able
to h to generate explosive plays, change field position. But
just to get off to a good start I thought
was important. And then really you know, played well throughout
the entire first half. You know, the biggest thing was
us being able to finish drives, you know, and uh
and doing a good job in the red zone and
(03:28):
and and we just left some points on the board there.
I thought the separation you know, at that point could
have been bigger. And then uh, you know, coming out
in the second half, I thought the guys did a
good job too as well. We stopped Montana, got the
ball right away, and then we went down and scored
and had an unfortunate penalty there and then uh, you know,
they got back in it late in.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
The third and then we responded.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
And then the most disappointing part, Paul, was just the
you know, the last three out of the last four
drives giving up points, Uh, was was disappointing for us
and something that we got to address and and do
a better job. And I think just you know, focus
on those on those moments and really do a good
job of We talked this week about having relentless focus
and that's something that we got to do a better
(04:06):
job of here moving forward.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, it's both offense and defense, because is it another
first down? Right, is it making a play? Or instead
of being second and long, you're second in mid and
now it's third and short to now you've kind of
pecked your way into another set of downs and that
takes a little bit of time off the clock. Or
as you mentioned, I thought was so key because I
don't know if everybody always picks up on this, but
(04:30):
somebody asked you about this yesterday during the press conference.
Was defensively late in the game. You were quick to
point out we actually played philosophically and strategically differently against
Montana in that final series than we did against Kansas
State in that final series about how we were trying
to go about it with some more pressures and different things.
(04:50):
It just didn't come off. We didn't have quite the
mess you wanted throughout on that last series. But it
was a different kind of strategy going in on that
game against Montana.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, good question.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I think that was kind of you know, as you
start to learn about your team and and really dig
into some of the x's and o's, and then it's
who you're facing to as well. We just felt like
we wanted to try to stress the quarterback and that
we were going to have a better opportunity to to
be able to win the football game if we could
create some negative plays. And obviously I think Ruck did
a really good job. Lance Rucker did some things late
(05:20):
in the game to be able to put our defense
and our team in a in a in a position
to be able to win a football game. And then,
like I said, we just got to execute. I think,
you know, like I said before, the you know, the
focus of us is like hey, guys, like we have
got to do a better job of spending all of
our time and energy like where you putting that. We
got to do a good job of being able to
put that in some of the really the key moments
(05:42):
of the game. And you know, the disappointing part is,
you know, when you watch the film and the quarterbacks
hold onto the ball and you have a you know,
a call that's that that if we execute it right,
there's there's two blockers for three rushers, you know, and
then obviously the ball doesn't get out and you're hitting
the quarterback and the game's over and you're you're having
a different conversation. So when you make those those mistakes,
(06:02):
I think it you know, you go back to your
process as a coach too as well. Are you are
you doing a good job in the classroom as far
as being able to install it so guys understand it.
Are you doing a good job you know with the
walkthrough piece of it so guys can take it from
the classroom to the field. And then when you're doing
at full speed, you know, are guys able to you know,
to understand where their fits are when things are moving
a little bit faster. So I think that's something that
(06:23):
we got to continue to refine and make sure that
we're doing a good job and our you know, the
linear teaching sequence process and making sure guys are getting
A to B, two C. You know, in they're in
their teaching of what we're doing too as well.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Part of the reason these players get into the roles
of starters or regulars is because they're uber competitive.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
They want to win games.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
They want to win those moments, they want to win
those plays, they want to win the day. So you
got a Jerry Kaminski who you know, maybe could have
completed a few more passes. He's going to be his
own worst critic. That's okay, and you need to point
out some things where he needs to be better. But
at the same time, you need him to be his
own worst critic to a point where it's not he
doesn't go too far down the rabbit hole, so to speak.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
I think Jerry's an elpha, you know, like he's you
hit the nail right in the head. Like he's a
guy that he wants the ball in those critical moments.
He feels really confident in his preparation and his ability.
So obviously I think your quarterback has to be that way,
Like you got to have that type.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Of confidence and in what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And I do think when the guys took the field
there after Montana went up, there was enough time.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
We had three timeouts.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I think, you know, we felt good about what we
were going to see on the other side of the ball,
and I think Jerry was super confident that, hey, we
could move the ball and be able to at least
get in a field goal range and have an opportunity
to to to be able to win the football game.
But yeah, I mean there's always you know, everybody in
an organization is going to come back after a game
like that and be like, hey, what can I do?
They're going to look within to be able to say, hey,
(07:49):
how can I help us make sure that that, you know,
the next time we're in those situations, that that we
get a positive result. And I told the guys this,
and we were we were really hard on everybody. You know,
I'm me and me included on you know, guys are
harder themselves. But I really believe that, you know, the
manner that we're playing right now, if you continue to
put yourself in those positions where you're up, you know,
(08:10):
two scores in the fourth quarter on the road, you're
gonna win a lot more.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Of those games than you're gonna lose.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
And we just got to keep, you know, believing in
grinding and doing a good job of putting ourselves in
those positions, because if we do, like I said, we're.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Gonna win more of them, then we're gonna lose defensively.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
You know, for much of the game, I just was
so impressed with the because it is not easy to
you know, him in in Eli Gilman as a running
back for Montana, and I mean he he can get
a run here and there, but I mean he usually
busts a really big one. You didn't really let him
get a real big one. And then of course they
move Michael Wortham around. He's an all big sky player,
(08:46):
they move him into the wildcat. I thought you guys
did a nice job against him. I mean, you can
tell there was some carry out from the week's prep
about how to how we got to go about dealing
with these guys. It did carry through in a lot
of aspects.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Well, what you see on you know Twoday, Wednesday and
Thursday and Friday is what you're gonna see on Saturday.
There's always going to be some sort of wrinkle, you know,
things that they're game planning for that week. But once
you get over you know, those let's say twenty percent
of the game plan, then the eighty percent is who
they are, you know, and what they're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And I thought, you know, I still thought Tan did
a good job.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
There was a number of runs that I still think
we can do a better job of being able to tackle.
But he's a strong dude, and and he when he
is square like he's it's hard to shut down his motor,
you know, and stop him from from from falling forward
and getting yards. I really thought our guys did a
good job on six. You know, he was a guy
that came in with you know, a lot of accolades,
a lot of yards, a guy who was a proving
(09:38):
guy the year before, was all big sky, and I
think he had three catches for maybe fifteen yards and
two runs for you know, maybe five yards off it,
or maybe it was three runs for five yards. So
I thought our guys, you know, did a good job
of being able to take him out of the game.
I think, you know a little bit of how we're
built now with what we're doing on the defensive side
of the ball, to be able to really you know,
(09:58):
try to negate slot guys and be able to double
those guys and and still be able to fit and
do some things in the run. I think, you know,
kind of showed on on Saturday. You know that we're
gonna have the ability to be able to do some
of those things. Now once again, we gotta we gotta
be able to finish and do it for four quarters.
But there was definitely some, you know, some really good
signs as far as us being able to play championship
defense for you know, a long period of time in
(10:20):
a in a in a tough place to play.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Bennett Walker a player that really earned his role here
transferring in, but didn't rest on that when he arrived
he earned his spot. He's been dealing with a little
bit of an injury. He had some early work when
he got into Missoula, just wasn't gonna be the time
for him. Antonio Bluet has been maybe disrupted a little
bit as factoring in because he's worked through an injury
(10:44):
through fall camp a little bit and trying to get
himself healthy. Comes in and does a number and plays
the ball fairly well, ends up with a couple of
picks and you talk about that turnover ratio, and you know,
just seeing your guys secondary make plays, not only in
that game but against Portland State now starting to hold
onto the ball, securing it, reading plays really well. That's
(11:07):
that's a good step and they can continue to get
better in that. But it's it's an it's another good
thing to put your hat on.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah, it's a great lesson. I think that you got
to work while you wait.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You know, you just can't all of a sudden work
when the door opens, like you know we did. We
weren't sure what you know, Bennett's status was.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Going to be. He tried to go and warm up
so right, just couldn't go.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
And I think, you know, one positive that we talked
about that I think we've gotten better in the last
couple of weeks is the depth of our team. You know,
we were still out our top two tight ends didn't play,
and I think that group has grown, you know, and
gotten better. There's a big play late in the game
by Grant Rumfro that you know set us up there
too as well and change field position. Obviously, we've talked
a lot about Nate and what he was able to do.
(11:45):
But then you look on the defensive side. You know,
Grady Knt shouldn't play off of it obviously. Braydon Moore
you know, played a little bit but got hurt early
in the game. So I mean there's a lot of
you know, you're digging into your depth now, and I
think that's what you know, championship teams can do, is that, hey,
you can you know, work into your depth chart and
those guys come in and they can play at a
high level. And I thought, you know, Blue did a
(12:06):
great job of that. I mean early on in the game.
To be able to you know, get an interception on
the on the first third down the third play of
the game, I think, like I said, being able to
set the tone and start fast, do that and then
turn around and be able to turn that into points
was was really important and got our you know, got
our feet on the ground and got us established in
that game.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Everybody braced yourself out there right now, because I'm gonna
talk about something that really irritates people when I when
I say it's okay if we punt the ball, and
I know you say we're supposed to score on every drive,
but that's not football. The other team's trying too and
I'll just tell you this, Luke Silvernail right now, is
punting the ball really well? You said yesterday in the
(12:46):
press conference. It it's a huge factor that people don't
take into account because changing field position can be huge
in any game, including any game moving forward.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
You know, I've said it for a long time. I
think the best coaching that happens in football is on
fourth down. Like that's when you're you know, it's truly
a you're bringing guys from the offensive side the defensive side,
like you're bringing you know, all those different positions into
a punt formation, a pump block formation, a kickoff return formation,
or a kickoff formation, and you don't have a lot
of time, a lot of time at practice to be
able to do all those different you know, techniques that
(13:18):
are required there. And obviously coach Costas does a great job,
you know what I mean. He's he's very detailed, very
polished and what he wants. But I think if you
have really good specs specialists, Yeah, it makes special teams
a lot easier. Where those guys punt it, how they
punt it, where they put it. It makes your coverage teams,
you know, a lot less well.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
I snapperhead of tackle as well.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Yeah, and David's done a great job too as well.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Another guy like you know, if you're doing a good
job there, people don't know who you are, you know
what type of deal. And David's a you know, an
elite long snapper. I mean, you know, we had some things.
I think protection was good, but you know we'll leave
some guys on the end of the formation knowing that hey,
our snap and our get off time off it is
going to be able to beat that guy. I know
some people probably you can see a guy coming off
(14:01):
the edge, but you know that's the punters guy. It's
the punter and the long snappers guy. They got to
be able to snap it, mold the punt, and then
be able to get it off before that guy gets there.
But the other thing I'll say really about Luke that
I've been impressed with with him is you know, just
his approach every single day and how he works on
his craft, whether that's can't punt every day off of it,
but all the dry work that he does too as
well to make sure that you know he's catching it,
(14:22):
he's molding it like he's putting in the right spots.
His steps are really really precise, and then he's really
really lean here as far as you know, being able
to have the right technique to be able to get
the ball to turn over and those things. But he's
punned it and the distance in the hangar are matching.
A lot of times some guys when they punt it
and get a hold of one, they'll punt a fifty
five yard punt, but the hang is still at you know,
(14:44):
three eight or three seven, and those are the ones
that get returned on you, yeah, you know, and end
up you know, the net pun Like at the end
of the day, it's about net punt. It's about hey,
what what do you get off the net? And our
goal all the time is forty two yards and Luke
succeeded that and a lot of that has been because
you know, not just the distance of the punt, the
hang of the punt, and then the location too as well.
And when you can do all those three things, that's
(15:06):
what you become, you know, an e lead punter, and
he's done a good job of that.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Earlier well, I mentioned to you a close circuit that
you know, I think you know the players and the
coaches they have the twenty four hour rule, win or lose,
and you're just can't. We're sticking it away and we
got to get onto the next thing. Sometimes us as fans,
we sometimes hang on to things, right, but the fact
that it's homecoming week, it also allows us to move
forward a little bit and and you know what, we'll
(15:29):
talk about that game.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
But yeah, you are firm believer.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Is like, let's get into the weeds here for twenty
four hours and then we got to get onto the
next thing. That's a firm belief by you guys, right.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Yeah, I don't think you can.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You know, you sulk over it, you fatigue over it,
and then all of a sudden one becomes too you
know what it effects, you know, the next the next game.
And for us, like we got to do a great
job of and that's the nature of college football, Like
you don't have that many games, so every week is important.
So you got to be able to turn the page
and and move on to the to the next opponent.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
We got another good opponent. You know.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
That's a good thing about our schedule is that every
single week it's you know, we got to go out
there and play at a high level. If we're going
to be successful, So it's time for our guys move on.
We had a good Tuesday today. You know, we start out,
you know, doing some things good on good and there
was a really good tempo out there and guys that
you know, you can just feel it when you're out there,
when there's when there's some tenacity and some intensity in
the practice. And I was good to see there today,
(16:22):
you know the response that we wanted from our guys.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Well, we're gonna take a quick break here at Hawk
Talk inside the five oh six Pub downtown Grand Forks.
We'll talk about the opponent when we return on this
homecoming week in Grand Forks. We're at the five oh
six Pub. Where's that well, that's on Demerson fifth, the corner.
Wave on your way by, swing on in and join us.
We've got a nice house here tonight, joining us as
well as we take a break and come back and
(16:45):
talk about the opponent for North Dakota at the Alias
Center on Saturday with more of Hawk Talk all across
the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
And good evening everyone, and welcome to another edition of
Hot Talk Downtown grand Ford. So glad to have you
along with us all across the Fighting Hawks Radio network
here on this Tuesday night. And it's homecoming week.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
You happy homecoming, all right, I'm telling you it is.
It's great to have homecoming on the way. And of
course it all culminates with that football game Saturday at
the Aleras Center. But there's lots of events here over
the next several days, including a homecoming pep Rowley at
Town Square, and of course they've got the alumni honors
at the Alera Center Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I
(00:36):
think that's a sellout coming up on Friday night at
the Alras Center Hall of Fame. Ribbon cutting going on Friday,
September nineteenth at one and then also the und Fan Luncheon.
Just a reminder this week at Ralph Einglestead Arena at
eleven thirty, they go early. They go early for fan
luncheon on Friday at the Ralp Fingalstead Arena, so just
(00:57):
keep that in mind as well. I'm Paul Ralston. I'm
glad to have you along with us all across the
Fighting Knox Radio Network. We're gonna talk you indie football
here tonight. We're gonna talk you indie volleyball, and you
Indi soccer, and there's lots of good things to talk about.
Don't forget that The five oh six Pub is part
of Hugo's Pure Market and Hugos is the official grocery
store of University of North Dakota Athletics. Hugos is your
(01:17):
go to headquarters for getting geared up for tailgating on Saturday,
whether it's something to throw on that grill, whether it's
something to munch on. The plates and napkins, don't forget those.
Get tailgate ready with Hugos. If you're still going to
the lake with this weather, Hugo's got you covered on
your way out on Highway to there. In Boston, in
Park Rapids and throughout the region as well. Hugos is
(01:38):
your place to shop, the official grocery store of University
of North Dakote Athletics. I will say at the five
oh six Pub, I saw the wings out tonight. I
saw that there was a Panini out tonight. And don't
forget on Tuesdays as well, you can get two dollars
off loaded nachos. I need to see somebody order those again,
because that's quite a sight. They're good nachos here at
the five oh six Pub, and they've got swag for
(01:59):
you as well, So make sure you check out some
of the swags so you can rep the five oh
six Pub well. The people in this building. They're representing
and repping und athletics with a lot of fighting Hawks gear,
North Dakota gear on inside the five oh six Pub.
And let's give it up for head coach Eric Schmidt
of North Dakota football on this homecoming week. Coach, glad
(02:21):
to have you on with us here yet again. And
you know, coming off a Saturday where you know, you
walked off the field and you were very succinct and
but just so on point with your thoughts about boy,
we did a lot of good. But at the same time,
you know, when you have a couple of opportunities to
stretch it out, you know, and it's not just one thing,
(02:41):
it's it's various things woven through a game. You can't
point to just one thing. This is a team thing
and those are the things that you know you need
to take steps in. I thought you were right on
point after that game on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, I think our guys did a great job in
the first half. We talked a little bit about it
at halftime and then after the game too as well.
Starting fast, Uh, you know, had an opportunity early, we
missed bj the uh the pocket got a little dirty
there on Jerry and uh.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
He wasn't able to hit him.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Then came back to a similar route later on, and
and you know, hit an explosive play, which is something
that we got to continue to do, is being able
to h to generate explosive plays, change field position. But
just to get off to a good start I thought
was important. And then really you know, played well throughout
the entire first half. You know, the biggest thing was
us being able to finish drives, you know, and uh
and doing a good job in the red zone and
(03:28):
and and we just left some points on the board there.
I thought the separation you know, at that point could
have been bigger. And then uh, you know, coming out
in the second half, I thought the guys did a
good job too as well. We stopped Montana, got the
ball right away, and then we went down and scored
and had an unfortunate penalty there and then uh, you know,
they got back in it late in.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
The third and then we responded.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
And then the most disappointing part, Paul, was just the
you know, the last three out of the last four
drives giving up points, Uh, was was disappointing for us
and something that we got to address and and do
a better job. And I think just you know, focus
on those on those moments and really do a good
job of We talked this week about having relentless focus
and that's something that we got to do a better
(04:06):
job of here moving forward.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, it's both offense and defense, because is it another
first down? Right, is it making a play? Or instead
of being second and long, you're second in mid and
now it's third and short to now you've kind of
pecked your way into another set of downs and that
takes a little bit of time off the clock. Or
as you mentioned, I thought was so key because I
don't know if everybody always picks up on this, but
(04:30):
somebody asked you about this yesterday during the press conference.
Was defensively late in the game. You were quick to
point out we actually played philosophically and strategically differently against
Montana in that final series than we did against Kansas
State in that final series about how we were trying
to go about it with some more pressures and different things.
(04:50):
It just didn't come off. We didn't have quite the
mess you wanted throughout on that last series. But it
was a different kind of strategy going in on that
game against Montana.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, good question.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I think that was kind of you know, as you
start to learn about your team and and really dig
into some of the x's and o's, and then it's
who you're facing to as well. We just felt like
we wanted to try to stress the quarterback and that
we were going to have a better opportunity to to
be able to win the football game if we could
create some negative plays. And obviously I think Ruck did
a really good job. Lance Rucker did some things late
(05:20):
in the game to be able to put our defense
and our team in a in a in a position
to be able to win a football game. And then,
like I said, we just got to execute. I think,
you know, like I said before, the you know, the
focus of us is like hey, guys, like we have
got to do a better job of spending all of
our time and energy like where you putting that. We
got to do a good job of being able to
put that in some of the really the key moments
(05:42):
of the game. And you know, the disappointing part is,
you know, when you watch the film and the quarterbacks
hold onto the ball and you have a you know,
a call that's that that if we execute it right,
there's there's two blockers for three rushers, you know, and
then obviously the ball doesn't get out and you're hitting
the quarterback and the game's over and you're you're having
a different conversation. So when you make those those mistakes,
(06:02):
I think it you know, you go back to your
process as a coach too as well. Are you are
you doing a good job in the classroom as far
as being able to install it so guys understand it.
Are you doing a good job you know with the
walkthrough piece of it so guys can take it from
the classroom to the field. And then when you're doing
at full speed, you know, are guys able to you know,
to understand where their fits are when things are moving
a little bit faster. So I think that's something that
(06:23):
we got to continue to refine and make sure that
we're doing a good job and our you know, the
linear teaching sequence process and making sure guys are getting
A to B, two C. You know, in they're in
their teaching of what we're doing too as well.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Part of the reason these players get into the roles
of starters or regulars is because they're uber competitive.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
They want to win games.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
They want to win those moments, they want to win
those plays, they want to win the day. So you
got a Jerry Kaminski who you know, maybe could have
completed a few more passes. He's going to be his
own worst critic. That's okay, and you need to point
out some things where he needs to be better. But
at the same time, you need him to be his
own worst critic to a point where it's not he
doesn't go too far down the rabbit hole, so to speak.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
I think Jerry's an elpha, you know, like he's you
hit the nail right in the head. Like he's a
guy that he wants the ball in those critical moments.
He feels really confident in his preparation and his ability.
So obviously I think your quarterback has to be that way,
Like you got to have that type.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Of confidence and in what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And I do think when the guys took the field
there after Montana went up, there was enough time.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
We had three timeouts.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I think, you know, we felt good about what we
were going to see on the other side of the ball,
and I think Jerry was super confident that, hey, we
could move the ball and be able to at least
get in a field goal range and have an opportunity
to to to be able to win the football game.
But yeah, I mean there's always you know, everybody in
an organization is going to come back after a game
like that and be like, hey, what can I do?
They're going to look within to be able to say, hey,
(07:49):
how can I help us make sure that that, you know,
the next time we're in those situations, that that we
get a positive result. And I told the guys this,
and we were we were really hard on everybody. You know,
I'm me and me included on you know, guys are
harder themselves. But I really believe that, you know, the
manner that we're playing right now, if you continue to
put yourself in those positions where you're up, you know,
(08:10):
two scores in the fourth quarter on the road, you're
gonna win a lot more.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Of those games than you're gonna lose.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
And we just got to keep, you know, believing in
grinding and doing a good job of putting ourselves in
those positions, because if we do, like I said, we're.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Gonna win more of them, then we're gonna lose defensively.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
You know, for much of the game, I just was
so impressed with the because it is not easy to
you know, him in in Eli Gilman as a running
back for Montana, and I mean he he can get
a run here and there, but I mean he usually
busts a really big one. You didn't really let him
get a real big one. And then of course they
move Michael Wortham around. He's an all big sky player,
(08:46):
they move him into the wildcat. I thought you guys
did a nice job against him. I mean, you can
tell there was some carry out from the week's prep
about how to how we got to go about dealing
with these guys. It did carry through in a lot
of aspects.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Well, what you see on you know Twoday, Wednesday and
Thursday and Friday is what you're gonna see on Saturday.
There's always going to be some sort of wrinkle, you know,
things that they're game planning for that week. But once
you get over you know, those let's say twenty percent
of the game plan, then the eighty percent is who
they are, you know, and what they're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And I thought, you know, I still thought Tan did
a good job.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
There was a number of runs that I still think
we can do a better job of being able to tackle.
But he's a strong dude, and and he when he
is square like he's it's hard to shut down his motor,
you know, and stop him from from from falling forward
and getting yards. I really thought our guys did a
good job on six. You know, he was a guy
that came in with you know, a lot of accolades,
a lot of yards, a guy who was a proving
(09:38):
guy the year before, was all big sky, and I
think he had three catches for maybe fifteen yards and
two runs for you know, maybe five yards off it,
or maybe it was three runs for five yards. So
I thought our guys, you know, did a good job
of being able to take him out of the game.
I think, you know a little bit of how we're
built now with what we're doing on the defensive side
of the ball, to be able to really you know,
(09:58):
try to negate slot guys and be able to double
those guys and and still be able to fit and
do some things in the run. I think, you know,
kind of showed on on Saturday. You know that we're
gonna have the ability to be able to do some
of those things. Now once again, we gotta we gotta
be able to finish and do it for four quarters.
But there was definitely some, you know, some really good
signs as far as us being able to play championship
defense for you know, a long period of time in
(10:20):
a in a in a tough place to play.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Bennett Walker a player that really earned his role here
transferring in, but didn't rest on that when he arrived
he earned his spot. He's been dealing with a little
bit of an injury. He had some early work when
he got into Missoula, just wasn't gonna be the time
for him. Antonio Bluet has been maybe disrupted a little
bit as factoring in because he's worked through an injury
(10:44):
through fall camp a little bit and trying to get
himself healthy. Comes in and does a number and plays
the ball fairly well, ends up with a couple of
picks and you talk about that turnover ratio, and you know,
just seeing your guys secondary make plays, not only in
that game but against Portland State now starting to hold
onto the ball, securing it, reading plays really well. That's
(11:07):
that's a good step and they can continue to get
better in that. But it's it's an it's another good
thing to put your hat on.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah, it's a great lesson. I think that you got
to work while you wait.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You know, you just can't all of a sudden work
when the door opens, like you know we did. We
weren't sure what you know, Bennett's status was.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Going to be. He tried to go and warm up
so right, just couldn't go.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
And I think, you know, one positive that we talked
about that I think we've gotten better in the last
couple of weeks is the depth of our team. You know,
we were still out our top two tight ends didn't play,
and I think that group has grown, you know, and
gotten better. There's a big play late in the game
by Grant Rumfro that you know set us up there
too as well and change field position. Obviously, we've talked
a lot about Nate and what he was able to do.
(11:45):
But then you look on the defensive side. You know,
Grady Knt shouldn't play off of it obviously. Braydon Moore
you know, played a little bit but got hurt early
in the game. So I mean there's a lot of
you know, you're digging into your depth now, and I
think that's what you know, championship teams can do, is that, hey,
you can you know, work into your depth chart and
those guys come in and they can play at a
high level. And I thought, you know, Blue did a
(12:06):
great job of that. I mean early on in the game.
To be able to you know, get an interception on
the on the first third down the third play of
the game, I think, like I said, being able to
set the tone and start fast, do that and then
turn around and be able to turn that into points
was was really important and got our you know, got
our feet on the ground and got us established in
that game.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Everybody braced yourself out there right now, because I'm gonna
talk about something that really irritates people when I when
I say it's okay if we punt the ball, and
I know you say we're supposed to score on every drive,
but that's not football. The other team's trying too and
I'll just tell you this, Luke Silvernail right now, is
punting the ball really well? You said yesterday in the
(12:46):
press conference. It it's a huge factor that people don't
take into account because changing field position can be huge
in any game, including any game moving forward.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
You know, I've said it for a long time. I
think the best coaching that happens in football is on
fourth down. Like that's when you're you know, it's truly
a you're bringing guys from the offensive side the defensive side,
like you're bringing you know, all those different positions into
a punt formation, a pump block formation, a kickoff return formation,
or a kickoff formation, and you don't have a lot
of time, a lot of time at practice to be
able to do all those different you know, techniques that
(13:18):
are required there. And obviously coach Costas does a great job,
you know what I mean. He's he's very detailed, very
polished and what he wants. But I think if you
have really good specs specialists, Yeah, it makes special teams
a lot easier. Where those guys punt it, how they
punt it, where they put it. It makes your coverage teams,
you know, a lot less well.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
I snapperhead of tackle as well.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Yeah, and David's done a great job too as well.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Another guy like you know, if you're doing a good
job there, people don't know who you are, you know
what type of deal. And David's a you know, an
elite long snapper. I mean, you know, we had some things.
I think protection was good, but you know we'll leave
some guys on the end of the formation knowing that hey,
our snap and our get off time off it is
going to be able to beat that guy. I know
some people probably you can see a guy coming off
(14:01):
the edge, but you know that's the punters guy. It's
the punter and the long snappers guy. They got to
be able to snap it, mold the punt, and then
be able to get it off before that guy gets there.
But the other thing I'll say really about Luke that
I've been impressed with with him is you know, just
his approach every single day and how he works on
his craft, whether that's can't punt every day off of it,
but all the dry work that he does too as
well to make sure that you know he's catching it,
(14:22):
he's molding it like he's putting in the right spots.
His steps are really really precise, and then he's really
really lean here as far as you know, being able
to have the right technique to be able to get
the ball to turn over and those things. But he's
punned it and the distance in the hangar are matching.
A lot of times some guys when they punt it
and get a hold of one, they'll punt a fifty
five yard punt, but the hang is still at you know,
(14:44):
three eight or three seven, and those are the ones
that get returned on you, yeah, you know, and end
up you know, the net pun Like at the end
of the day, it's about net punt. It's about hey,
what what do you get off the net? And our
goal all the time is forty two yards and Luke
succeeded that and a lot of that has been because
you know, not just the distance of the punt, the
hang of the punt, and then the location too as well.
And when you can do all those three things, that's
(15:06):
what you become, you know, an e lead punter, and
he's done a good job of that.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Earlier well, I mentioned to you a close circuit that
you know, I think you know the players and the
coaches they have the twenty four hour rule, win or lose,
and you're just can't. We're sticking it away and we
got to get onto the next thing. Sometimes us as fans,
we sometimes hang on to things, right, but the fact
that it's homecoming week, it also allows us to move
forward a little bit and and you know what, we'll
(15:29):
talk about that game.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
But yeah, you are firm believer.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Is like, let's get into the weeds here for twenty
four hours and then we got to get onto the
next thing. That's a firm belief by you guys, right.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Yeah, I don't think you can.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You know, you sulk over it, you fatigue over it,
and then all of a sudden one becomes too you
know what it effects, you know, the next the next game.
And for us, like we got to do a great
job of and that's the nature of college football, Like
you don't have that many games, so every week is important.
So you got to be able to turn the page
and and move on to the to the next opponent.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
We got another good opponent. You know.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
That's a good thing about our schedule is that every
single week it's you know, we got to go out
there and play at a high level. If we're going
to be successful, So it's time for our guys move on.
We had a good Tuesday today. You know, we start out,
you know, doing some things good on good and there
was a really good tempo out there and guys that
you know, you can just feel it when you're out there,
when there's when there's some tenacity and some intensity in
the practice. And I was good to see there today,
(16:22):
you know the response that we wanted from our guys.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Well, we're gonna take a quick break here at Hawk
Talk inside the five oh six Pub downtown Grand Forks.
We'll talk about the opponent when we return on this
homecoming week in Grand Forks. We're at the five oh
six Pub. Where's that well, that's on Demerson fifth, the corner.
Wave on your way by, swing on in and join us.
We've got a nice house here tonight, joining us as
well as we take a break and come back and
(16:45):
talk about the opponent for North Dakota at the Alias
Center on Saturday with more of Hawk Talk all across
the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
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