September 23, 2025 • 12 mins
UND Head Football Coach Eric Schmidt recaps the dominant 58–7 victory over Valparaiso, praising his team for their effective clock management and strong start in the first half. He highlights key moments in the game, including standout performances and several big plays on both sides of the ball. Off the field, Coach Schmidt commends his players for their commitment to academics.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
And we welcome you back here to Hoktoc downtown Grand
Forks from the five oh six Pub. We're gonna turn
our attention to North Dakota football as they have completed
a homecoming win over Valparaiso fifty eight to seven on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
That was a lot of fun, wasn't it? Everybody?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
All right, tell you what we've got to Coach Vitti's
already watching football earlier this evening. I mean, this guy,
he eats, sleeps, and drinks and lives football and even
young youth level football. He was watching younger football today.
And you find any early recruits basically on that recruiting visit.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Basically, we're gonna call that football.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
When I was just watching, but now I'm watching the
Prowlers and South Middle School.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So okay, so good battle, great night. Yeah, night to
watch football, man.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
It was fun.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So well, this is, you know, an interesting week with
no game or test at the end of the week.
And and certainly let's just touch on a few things
in regards to Saturday's win. So many people back, and
I think with all that happening, your focus has got
to be the game. You certainly found success in the
in the first half. One of my favorite sequences in
(01:11):
the first half was essentially was the the late half
management clock, management, timeouts, and you turn that into a
drive and I know it goes for three, but I
mean it's just those little things that you learn from
and you put out there and you're and can we
pass it? And you guys did.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah. No.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I thought our guys did a great job on the
field of managing the clock. And obviously when you can
score going into halftime create some separation. It became a
three score game there, but good to see Sawyer get
out of the backfield Jerry to find them and score
there with one twenty two left, and then you know,
kickoff and and pin them. I mean it was an
average kickoff return. So we just fell Excuse me. I
(01:51):
just felt like, hey man, this is an opportunity for us.
We had all three timeouts left to be able to
do that. So they were trying to get to the
half and and used our timeouts. And I thought, you
know one thing too that that was important. We talked to,
you know, our returner, if you don't have something that
you feel good about, fair catch it so that we
don't you know, burn clock there too.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
As well.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
But for Jerry to go you know, I think it
was twenty seven yards or something like that. Right, two
plays spike the ball four seconds left. You know, that's
been a big you know, new rule I guess that
people have been talking about. But if the clock stop,
there's got to be at least three seconds on the
clock in order for you to be able to spike
it or otherwise you're.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Going to the half.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
So to be able to get that done, and then
for CG to come out and and make a field
goal was important for us to go in the half
there twenty four to nothing.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, and then when you know, one of the things
that you're learning about your team is how they respond,
and it's that you know, it can be Valpraiso, could
be any opponent. I think you probably want a better
start to your third quarter overall, just in just details, right,
and then whether it be offense or defense. But but
then right you said, hey, explosive play change is it
(02:54):
right there? For So that was key when that happened,
but maybe just a fraction better start basically in that
third quarter.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, I think coming out of halftime we talk a
lot about the starting fast. You know, it's important to
you you're going to halftime winning football games. Percentages will
tell you that you got a great opportunity to be
able to win it. You know, those first four minutes
of coming out of the half, we call it the
middle eight, going in and coming out, and obviously did
a good job going into halftime, but below the standard
coming out, you know, stalled on offense and then just
(03:22):
you know, some.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Communication things we got.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
We got a unique formation, unbalanced formation into the boundary,
which you know, a really good you know job by
their coaches, by vel Post coaches, and and our guys.
You know, we still at the end of the day,
we missed three tackles and and didn't do a good
job of just putting our bodies on on on a
big body that was running down the sidelines and gave
up you know, a sixty seven yard touchdown or whatever
(03:47):
it was. And it was not, you know, like I said,
the way we wanted to start the second half. But
then you know, have our special teams be able to
pick up our defense after that, and the guys up
front did a good job. We got a kick that
was you know, perfect for us to be able to
take back. I think it was you know at the
nine yard line on the hash three and a half.
I mean that that's that's where you throw the ball
up every day in practice, say hey, this is where
(04:07):
we're you know, where we want to be able to
return it from. And then Sawyer obviously to to hit
it and uh and you know we always talk about
running through the smoke. For those returners. You got to
have some some courage. You know, when you're ten yards away,
it might you know, not look right, but by the
time you get there.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
You've been wanting you once again, have been watching Days
of Thunder when you use terms like that, basically, right,
that's basically what we watched when Tom Cruise, they told
him to drive through the smoke basically, So I'm I'm
I'm picking up what you're putting down there.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Yeah. I don't know if anybody even knows about that movie.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, but that was that was a great, great movie
back in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
But yeah, I mean, hey, that's how you got to
do it, Like hey, when by the time you get there,
you got to trust it that it's going to be open.
And Sawyer did a great job of that and then
out ran you know, two kids to the end.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Zone.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And then I felt like after that, you know, the
momentum was on our sideline and uh, and we did
a good job of keep a momentum on our sideline.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And the the other thing is is that I think
you and the staff had sa down during the week
and really kind of went through of who could use
some more time healing? Can we stretch it out and
get get them a little bit more rest? And your
roster was looked that way a little bit. You got
some guys available and they were able to play and
get some reps on the field, but there were also
(05:17):
some guys you may be held back just for another
additional week of rest to see how far you could
get them.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I think that's the art of coaching, right is being
able to make those decisions and uh and make sure
that you're you're trying to manage your roster as much
as you can. And I think you know, it's an
opportunity where you have some meetings with some other guys
and be like, hey man, this is you know, the
one of the spots in the season where we're gonna
need you to be able to expand your role a
little bit and go out there and be able to
help us win a football game. And I thought there
(05:44):
was a number of guys that that did a good job,
you know, of stepping up and and uh and with
an increased role, you know, answered the answer the bell.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
So that was good to see.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
One guy that answered the bell on the special teams
John Butch, I know he can play some linebacker and
things and give you quality reps that way. But taking
advantage of he said, you know, I watched them on
film and I just saw something that maybe that if
we hit the shield the right way, you know, we'd
we'd either get myself there or somebody else. And and
sure enough he got there twice, which is really unheard
(06:14):
of in a football game.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, I don't know the last time I was.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
You know, I've been around you know, those situations where
it's really one on three twice. It wasn't like we were.
We came after the one and we rough the punter.
So after that, it was just basically, we're sending enough
guys to the shield just to make sure that we
guarantee that, hey, if they fake it, we have enough
guys to be able to tackle it. And he just,
you know, just it's a it's an effort play. He
had a lot of desire. He's you know, setting some
(06:40):
things up and you're really just trying to hit a
crease and then reach for as much daylight on the
other side of that shield, you know, as you can.
And he did a great job the first one going
through it, and then the second one, those guys kind
of you know, the the the punter got a little
bit outside the shield. I don't know if it was
the snap that pulled him out there, if he just
you know, just kind of drifted on his steps on
(07:00):
his approach, and John read it well, yeah, and went
around and we called an offhand reach.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
As he goes around to.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
The left side, he he reaches with his with his
left hand, the hand that that that they're not blocking
him with, and was able to get a piece of
it again.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
So just two really good efforts.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
And then I thought, even on that one, you know
a lot of times when everybody sees that the ball
is blocked, they'll stop playing, right And it bounced perfectly
to Cayden Dennis and then he takes it inside the
thirty and guys kept playing. You know, I think that
was that was really good to see. I just think
you know when that's.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
How you guys coach, right, I mean you coach these
guys keep playing and that's how you do it.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, I mean I think it's, you know, just a
testament when guys are locked in and you know their
focus is in the right spot, like those plays become,
you know, become you know, big explosive plays in games.
Because our guys kept playing and everybody else was probably
looking for the ball to see where it was. Pops
up to CD and CD does a good job of hey,
we're gonna take it if it's a Sunday hop in
those situations, and he gets you know, he probably got
(07:57):
twenty seven more yards after that, so it was a
big play.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
So well, the question from one of the fans out there,
what happens on a Coach Schmidt led U and D
football team open week. I'm sure there's things with the
coaches that need to happen. Whether they might get out
a little bit when they have some time, players are
still doing strength and conditioning, they're still getting to a
few practices or something scheduled in there.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
What happens on a week.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Like this, Yeah, I think early in the week here
Monday and Tuesday, you know, believe it or not, these
guys are still student athletes. Somebody talks about school anymore,
but we're going to take care of school number one.
So I think our guys, you know, getting with professors
and getting with you know, with our academic staff, making
sure that we're dotting the eyes and crossing the t's there,
and that we're holding you know, accountable to that part
(08:41):
of their of their job too as well, is really
big here. Earlier, it just so happened that there's a
number of guys that have tests this week too as well.
We're kind of that point here in the in the
semester where guys are in test week. So I think
that was good to be able to you know, buy
those guys some extra study time hopefully to be able
to perform them well on test two as well. And
(09:01):
then we really spend all Monday just with our recruiting
staff and just really talking about, you know, all of
our twenty six guys and and where we were at
with with all those guys. We have a number of
guys that are committed well into the I think it's
twenty seven guys right now that are committed to us.
So just making sure that we're doing a good job
of of sustaining relationships with them and their families and
(09:21):
updating all the all the information as far as hey,
these kids are applying to school now, they're getting in
dorms now. We have a number of guys that are
coming in yeah, you know at semester time here too,
as well as high school kids. So just making sure
that that we've communicated everything there and and you know,
our our administration does a great job. They were constantly
(09:41):
getting updates on you know, who's in, who's not in,
where they're at, on their schedule. Some guys need you know,
you go through their senior schedule and some things can
fall through the cracks. It's like, hey, so and so
needs another social science class. So and show needs another
math class in order for him to be able to
be eligible to play next year. So make sure that
we you know, we talking to high school counselors and
(10:02):
doing all those things. So just you know, doing a
good job of no surprises, you know, once they get here.
And then the last piece of it is is we
still have to do a good job of what we
talk about with our players every week. It's grind, refine, compete,
you know, and we still need a lot of refining.
You know, you got to put in real work to
gain real confidence out of this stuff, and then we
got to continue to compete. And I think it's you know,
(10:23):
it's what it is. Like. We're going to talk about
our guys you know, tomorrow as we get into it,
but you know, we want to be really really physical,
you know, going into this first week of Missouri Valley
Football Conference play like that's something that's you know, important
to us that we play, you know, a really physical
brand of football and do a good job of setting
the tone right away here from day one. So so
the recruiting part of the academic piece, and then making
(10:45):
sure we're doing a good job of staying sharp yet
on the field too as well.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Before I let you go, this did pump into my
head because somebody asked me this as well. And you
don't mention any names or anything like that, but it
was more of a broad question about when they see
a number of individuals paying a business to a game
day at you indeed that are potential recruits, what do
you want those young people that are doing a game
day visit, what do you hope that they see when
they're here at the University of North Dakota with their families.
(11:10):
What are you hoping that they're gleaning when they when
they come to a game day experience?
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Yeah, great question.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I think it's the vibe, right, I say all the time,
like the vibe attracts your tribe, you know, when those
guys show up here, you know, knowing that football is
important at our university, that the game day environment it's
second to none. There's you know, the tailgate, the the
pageantry of college football, the band, you know, the student section.
Both of our games so far, you know, really, you know,
(11:37):
really got to give it to our students within you know,
the forty five minute mark of before kickoff, it's fieled
from the field all the way up to the top
of the of the student section, so and people hanging around,
you know, and doing a great job of making that
place loud and making it a home field advantage.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
That's not the case at a lot of places.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So I think, you know, we we can show off
our practice facility and the development that the guys are
to be able to get there, that we take them
over to a game and it's just you know, I mean,
it sells itself. And that's the part that that I
think really draws a lot of people and families and
you know, and recruits our places that hey, they know
they come here that that football is important, not only
our university, but you know the valley.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, here and in the entire state.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Well, it's an open week, but an important week, and
we appreciate you swinging by to talk a little bit
about it.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Thanks for this, and let's have a great week.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Yep, thanks Baul.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
All Right, Eric Schmid, everybody.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
You and d had a football coach as they are
in their open week, but countdown has already begun to
Northern Iowa and Missouri Valley play a week from Saturday
when we return. Summit League play kicks off at Bronson
Field coming up on Thursday afternoon, and that is North
Dakota entertaining Denver. We'll talk to the head coach, Henrick's
(12:49):
own next here. As howk dot continues downtown Grand Forks
at the five oo six Pub.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
All across the Fighting Hawks radio network
And we welcome you back here to Hoktoc downtown Grand
Forks from the five oh six Pub. We're gonna turn
our attention to North Dakota football as they have completed
a homecoming win over Valparaiso fifty eight to seven on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
That was a lot of fun, wasn't it? Everybody?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
All right, tell you what we've got to Coach Vitti's
already watching football earlier this evening. I mean, this guy,
he eats, sleeps, and drinks and lives football and even
young youth level football. He was watching younger football today.
And you find any early recruits basically on that recruiting visit.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Basically, we're gonna call that football.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
When I was just watching, but now I'm watching the
Prowlers and South Middle School.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So okay, so good battle, great night. Yeah, night to
watch football, man.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
It was fun.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So well, this is, you know, an interesting week with
no game or test at the end of the week.
And and certainly let's just touch on a few things
in regards to Saturday's win. So many people back, and
I think with all that happening, your focus has got
to be the game. You certainly found success in the
in the first half. One of my favorite sequences in
(01:11):
the first half was essentially was the the late half
management clock, management, timeouts, and you turn that into a
drive and I know it goes for three, but I
mean it's just those little things that you learn from
and you put out there and you're and can we
pass it? And you guys did.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah. No.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I thought our guys did a great job on the
field of managing the clock. And obviously when you can
score going into halftime create some separation. It became a
three score game there, but good to see Sawyer get
out of the backfield Jerry to find them and score
there with one twenty two left, and then you know,
kickoff and and pin them. I mean it was an
average kickoff return. So we just fell Excuse me. I
(01:51):
just felt like, hey man, this is an opportunity for us.
We had all three timeouts left to be able to
do that. So they were trying to get to the
half and and used our timeouts. And I thought, you
know one thing too that that was important. We talked to,
you know, our returner, if you don't have something that
you feel good about, fair catch it so that we
don't you know, burn clock there too.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
As well.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
But for Jerry to go you know, I think it
was twenty seven yards or something like that. Right, two
plays spike the ball four seconds left. You know, that's
been a big you know, new rule I guess that
people have been talking about. But if the clock stop,
there's got to be at least three seconds on the
clock in order for you to be able to spike
it or otherwise you're.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Going to the half.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
So to be able to get that done, and then
for CG to come out and and make a field
goal was important for us to go in the half
there twenty four to nothing.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, and then when you know, one of the things
that you're learning about your team is how they respond,
and it's that you know, it can be Valpraiso, could
be any opponent. I think you probably want a better
start to your third quarter overall, just in just details, right,
and then whether it be offense or defense. But but
then right you said, hey, explosive play change is it
(02:54):
right there? For So that was key when that happened,
but maybe just a fraction better start basically in that
third quarter.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, I think coming out of halftime we talk a
lot about the starting fast. You know, it's important to
you you're going to halftime winning football games. Percentages will
tell you that you got a great opportunity to be
able to win it. You know, those first four minutes
of coming out of the half, we call it the
middle eight, going in and coming out, and obviously did
a good job going into halftime, but below the standard
coming out, you know, stalled on offense and then just
(03:22):
you know, some.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Communication things we got.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
We got a unique formation, unbalanced formation into the boundary,
which you know, a really good you know job by
their coaches, by vel Post coaches, and and our guys.
You know, we still at the end of the day,
we missed three tackles and and didn't do a good
job of just putting our bodies on on on a
big body that was running down the sidelines and gave
up you know, a sixty seven yard touchdown or whatever
(03:47):
it was. And it was not, you know, like I said,
the way we wanted to start the second half. But
then you know, have our special teams be able to
pick up our defense after that, and the guys up
front did a good job. We got a kick that
was you know, perfect for us to be able to
take back. I think it was you know at the
nine yard line on the hash three and a half.
I mean that that's that's where you throw the ball
up every day in practice, say hey, this is where
(04:07):
we're you know, where we want to be able to
return it from. And then Sawyer obviously to to hit
it and uh and you know we always talk about
running through the smoke. For those returners. You got to
have some some courage. You know, when you're ten yards away,
it might you know, not look right, but by the
time you get there.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
You've been wanting you once again, have been watching Days
of Thunder when you use terms like that, basically, right,
that's basically what we watched when Tom Cruise, they told
him to drive through the smoke basically, So I'm I'm
I'm picking up what you're putting down there.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Yeah. I don't know if anybody even knows about that movie.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, but that was that was a great, great movie
back in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
But yeah, I mean, hey, that's how you got to
do it, Like hey, when by the time you get there,
you got to trust it that it's going to be open.
And Sawyer did a great job of that and then
out ran you know, two kids to the end.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Zone.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And then I felt like after that, you know, the
momentum was on our sideline and uh, and we did
a good job of keep a momentum on our sideline.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And the the other thing is is that I think
you and the staff had sa down during the week
and really kind of went through of who could use
some more time healing? Can we stretch it out and
get get them a little bit more rest? And your
roster was looked that way a little bit. You got
some guys available and they were able to play and
get some reps on the field, but there were also
(05:17):
some guys you may be held back just for another
additional week of rest to see how far you could
get them.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I think that's the art of coaching, right is being
able to make those decisions and uh and make sure
that you're you're trying to manage your roster as much
as you can. And I think you know, it's an
opportunity where you have some meetings with some other guys
and be like, hey man, this is you know, the
one of the spots in the season where we're gonna
need you to be able to expand your role a
little bit and go out there and be able to
help us win a football game. And I thought there
(05:44):
was a number of guys that that did a good job,
you know, of stepping up and and uh and with
an increased role, you know, answered the answer the bell.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
So that was good to see.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
One guy that answered the bell on the special teams
John Butch, I know he can play some linebacker and
things and give you quality reps that way. But taking
advantage of he said, you know, I watched them on
film and I just saw something that maybe that if
we hit the shield the right way, you know, we'd
we'd either get myself there or somebody else. And and
sure enough he got there twice, which is really unheard
(06:14):
of in a football game.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, I don't know the last time I was.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
You know, I've been around you know, those situations where
it's really one on three twice. It wasn't like we were.
We came after the one and we rough the punter.
So after that, it was just basically, we're sending enough
guys to the shield just to make sure that we
guarantee that, hey, if they fake it, we have enough
guys to be able to tackle it. And he just,
you know, just it's a it's an effort play. He
had a lot of desire. He's you know, setting some
(06:40):
things up and you're really just trying to hit a
crease and then reach for as much daylight on the
other side of that shield, you know, as you can.
And he did a great job the first one going
through it, and then the second one, those guys kind
of you know, the the the punter got a little
bit outside the shield. I don't know if it was
the snap that pulled him out there, if he just
you know, just kind of drifted on his steps on
(07:00):
his approach, and John read it well, yeah, and went
around and we called an offhand reach.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
As he goes around to.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
The left side, he he reaches with his with his
left hand, the hand that that that they're not blocking
him with, and was able to get a piece of
it again.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
So just two really good efforts.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
And then I thought, even on that one, you know
a lot of times when everybody sees that the ball
is blocked, they'll stop playing, right And it bounced perfectly
to Cayden Dennis and then he takes it inside the
thirty and guys kept playing. You know, I think that
was that was really good to see. I just think
you know when that's.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
How you guys coach, right, I mean you coach these
guys keep playing and that's how you do it.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, I mean I think it's, you know, just a
testament when guys are locked in and you know their
focus is in the right spot, like those plays become,
you know, become you know, big explosive plays in games.
Because our guys kept playing and everybody else was probably
looking for the ball to see where it was. Pops
up to CD and CD does a good job of hey,
we're gonna take it if it's a Sunday hop in
those situations, and he gets you know, he probably got
(07:57):
twenty seven more yards after that, so it was a
big play.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
So well, the question from one of the fans out there,
what happens on a Coach Schmidt led U and D
football team open week. I'm sure there's things with the
coaches that need to happen. Whether they might get out
a little bit when they have some time, players are
still doing strength and conditioning, they're still getting to a
few practices or something scheduled in there.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
What happens on a week.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Like this, Yeah, I think early in the week here
Monday and Tuesday, you know, believe it or not, these
guys are still student athletes. Somebody talks about school anymore,
but we're going to take care of school number one.
So I think our guys, you know, getting with professors
and getting with you know, with our academic staff, making
sure that we're dotting the eyes and crossing the t's there,
and that we're holding you know, accountable to that part
(08:41):
of their of their job too as well, is really
big here. Earlier, it just so happened that there's a
number of guys that have tests this week too as well.
We're kind of that point here in the in the
semester where guys are in test week. So I think
that was good to be able to you know, buy
those guys some extra study time hopefully to be able
to perform them well on test two as well. And
(09:01):
then we really spend all Monday just with our recruiting
staff and just really talking about, you know, all of
our twenty six guys and and where we were at
with with all those guys. We have a number of
guys that are committed well into the I think it's
twenty seven guys right now that are committed to us.
So just making sure that we're doing a good job
of of sustaining relationships with them and their families and
(09:21):
updating all the all the information as far as hey,
these kids are applying to school now, they're getting in
dorms now. We have a number of guys that are
coming in yeah, you know at semester time here too,
as well as high school kids. So just making sure
that that we've communicated everything there and and you know,
our our administration does a great job. They were constantly
(09:41):
getting updates on you know, who's in, who's not in,
where they're at, on their schedule. Some guys need you know,
you go through their senior schedule and some things can
fall through the cracks. It's like, hey, so and so
needs another social science class. So and show needs another
math class in order for him to be able to
be eligible to play next year. So make sure that
we you know, we talking to high school counselors and
(10:02):
doing all those things. So just you know, doing a
good job of no surprises, you know, once they get here.
And then the last piece of it is is we
still have to do a good job of what we
talk about with our players every week. It's grind, refine, compete,
you know, and we still need a lot of refining.
You know, you got to put in real work to
gain real confidence out of this stuff, and then we
got to continue to compete. And I think it's you know,
(10:23):
it's what it is. Like. We're going to talk about
our guys you know, tomorrow as we get into it,
but you know, we want to be really really physical,
you know, going into this first week of Missouri Valley
Football Conference play like that's something that's you know, important
to us that we play, you know, a really physical
brand of football and do a good job of setting
the tone right away here from day one. So so
the recruiting part of the academic piece, and then making
(10:45):
sure we're doing a good job of staying sharp yet
on the field too as well.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Before I let you go, this did pump into my
head because somebody asked me this as well. And you
don't mention any names or anything like that, but it
was more of a broad question about when they see
a number of individuals paying a business to a game
day at you indeed that are potential recruits, what do
you want those young people that are doing a game
day visit, what do you hope that they see when
they're here at the University of North Dakota with their families.
(11:10):
What are you hoping that they're gleaning when they when
they come to a game day experience?
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Yeah, great question.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I think it's the vibe, right, I say all the time,
like the vibe attracts your tribe, you know, when those
guys show up here, you know, knowing that football is
important at our university, that the game day environment it's
second to none. There's you know, the tailgate, the the
pageantry of college football, the band, you know, the student section.
Both of our games so far, you know, really, you know,
(11:37):
really got to give it to our students within you know,
the forty five minute mark of before kickoff, it's fieled
from the field all the way up to the top
of the of the student section, so and people hanging around,
you know, and doing a great job of making that
place loud and making it a home field advantage.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
That's not the case at a lot of places.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So I think, you know, we we can show off
our practice facility and the development that the guys are
to be able to get there, that we take them
over to a game and it's just you know, I mean,
it sells itself. And that's the part that that I
think really draws a lot of people and families and
you know, and recruits our places that hey, they know
they come here that that football is important, not only
our university, but you know the valley.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, here and in the entire state.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Well, it's an open week, but an important week, and
we appreciate you swinging by to talk a little bit
about it.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Thanks for this, and let's have a great week.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Yep, thanks Baul.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
All Right, Eric Schmid, everybody.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
You and d had a football coach as they are
in their open week, but countdown has already begun to
Northern Iowa and Missouri Valley play a week from Saturday
when we return. Summit League play kicks off at Bronson
Field coming up on Thursday afternoon, and that is North
Dakota entertaining Denver. We'll talk to the head coach, Henrick's
(12:49):
own next here. As howk dot continues downtown Grand Forks
at the five oo six Pub.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
All across the Fighting Hawks radio network
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