August 19, 2025 • 52 mins
This week, Bill and Alex are joined by Kyle Grooms – the newly-appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Missouri Valley Football Conference – to talk about his journey to The Valley and what fans of MVFC programs should be watching for during the 2025 season (2:40). The guys then preview UND Football’s season opener at Kansas State (16:32) and discuss the perfect start for UND Women’s Soccer before flipping to the B-Side (36:10) to discuss the first weekend of the English Premier League season, highlighted by an emotional win for Liverpool and a satisfying three points for Spurs.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to the Bill Shapes Podcast, presented by Mid
Coast Sports. Another fall sports season is upon us, and
Mid Coast Sports has it covered like no one else
this fall. Tune in for live coverage of college football
in the Dakota's including Fighting Hawks football broadcasts both home
and away, as well as some of league volleyball and soccer,
and so much more. Watch on Mid Coast Sports and
streaming on mid Coast Sports Plus. This is how we
(00:22):
do sports and this is the Bill Shapes Podcast. Welcome
to another edition of the Bill Shapes Podcast. Weird Safing
this on a Monday morning, August the eighteenth, Alex Heiner
bil shaves a special guest that we're gonna introduce in
just a moment. Bill, how are you as the week
starts anew You know, Alex, you do.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Uh well, hello, start there. But at the end of
the day you do and go to New England quite
a bit. It feels like Grand Forks has a little
humidity in the air. I feel like I'm at Fenway.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Park, which is it's different. Not a bad thing, No,
It's not something that we're used to as much this
time of year. So that was one of the things
that always struck me, like I had been coming from
eastern South Dakota, and then when I moved to Grand Forks,
it's really just a straight shot north right, Like it's
three hundred miles straight north of Sioux Falls, where I
(01:14):
had been living, and I was surprised that there wasn't
humidity where like there is in the southeastern pocket of
South Dakota, even though it was parallel on the map.
But yeah, it's just a little bit different, but it's good. Honestly.
It'll probably prepare some of our sports teams that have
been playing outdoors for some of their Obviously women's soccer
is right now in the Deep South in Texas and Louisiana, Manhattan, Kansas.
(01:35):
I feel like it's going to be a bit of
a humid evening coming up here in a week or two.
So good things as everybody gets prepared for their competitions
as far.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, no doubt. And I think you're right. Watching our
ladies play at McNeice the other night, I think you know,
it was over one hundred degrees, so I mean it
was very, very warm, and we've had an outstanding fall
excuse me, fall camp, if you will. I'm watching football
out my window each and every day. But you know
(02:04):
you almost worry the weather's actually been too nice.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, isn't that something right? It's not something you usually
have to be concerned about. But hey, we can't do
anything about it, right, What do we always say? Mother nature,
father time, undefeated, unsigned.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Both undefeated, the great ones to just with a lot
of pod actions, we got to get to our guests
that man, that man is busy. That man is busy.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yes, I agree with you, Yes we can. Over the
course of this podcast, we'll talk a little bit about
fall athletics around the University of North Dakota and kind
of set the scene for competitions, some of which have
already begun. First though, as is the norm on this podcast,
we love to have someone to bring in from the
outside to talk about things that are relevant to University
of North Dakota athletics. And the man who has drawn
(02:50):
that assignment here is the new Missouri Valley Football Conference
Chief operating officer. He's Kyle Groomes, Ladies and gentlemen, and
he joins us now from Missouri. Kyle, how are you.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I'm Craig Alex Bill. Thanks for having me on. This
is This is an exciting time, especially in the in
the FC.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, we were just just ahead on the tip of
the diving board, less than two weeks away from play beginning.
We're going to chat a bit about that in your
impressions of this league. First, though, just a little background
about you. You started just a couple of months ago in
this job at the start of summer. Give me just
the quick elevator pitch on what's your role is now
as the CEO of this conference.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Really, the role of this conference is to be a
resource to serve the membership from the football side, our
our coaches and r A d s and our student athletes.
Really be a voice from a conference office that they
that they have an avenue in the national matters and
and our conference organization in our operation logistical structure. So
(03:50):
my my role is simply just to serve, serve, serve
all of our institutions. So that's that's as simple as
I'm going to put it.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
And you've been doing that role for a while now
with the WHACK. You were the Associate commissioner of the WHACK.
You were the CEO for the United Athletic Conference as
well before coming over to this. I know Bill's got
some questions for you as well, But what made this
position desirable? Why did you want to come over and
join the mvf C.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Well, well, well, first of all, it's it's an incredibly
established it's it's the best league in the country. So
you always want to be aligned with the best, and
the mvfc IS is certainly that. And so when this
with this opportunity presented itself, it was it was really
a no brainer. It was it was a jump on
it and how fast can I start kind of thing. So,
(04:38):
the the reputation with with all the schools that we
have in the league is outstanding. The history of the
success with each and every one of our schools is tremendous,
So you know, that's that's one thing that really really
struck my attention was just getting in and being aligned
(04:59):
with with the history of the best football conference that
there is.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah, twelve national titles in the last fourteen years. Yeah,
that's yep, it speaks for itself. Before Bill goes, I
would you want to say you want to associate yourself
with the best? Yet you're on this podcast and we
appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
It sounds our.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Level for a couple of minutes, Kyle, Sorry, take it away.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
No, you're good. You're good, Kyle. So, really glad you
joined us today, and really glad you joined the league.
You had almost a similar situation that you're coming from,
So explain I think the experience that you had from that,
and then a little bit about your playing experience as well.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, simply put leadership structure. It's great being able to
serve members in multiple different multi sport conferences that have
a common goal, and that common goals is football championships.
And being able to kind of weave between a lot
of a lot of lines and a lot of gray areas. Uh,
(06:01):
and being that common thread and that that connection piece
is is really what I love to thrive in. And
so that's that being that experience coming from from there.
Hopefully we'll serve first serve me. Well here you asked
play an experiences. Gosh, it's it's it's twenty years ago
now that that we're we're looking back. So I feel
(06:24):
feeling pretty old about that. But had a great, great
opportunity to to play at the University of Tulsa, started
as a walk on, ended up earning a scholarship and
and was fortunate enough to be selected as a team captain.
In my last year, played for some tremendous coaches Steve
craig Thorpe, who who just recently passed away, was was
(06:47):
a legend and turning the University of Telis program around.
Went on to some some other great career opportunities at
Louisville and played for some other head coaches Todd Grant,
and one of the staffs that Todd put together was tremendous.
And you know, he had Gus Melson and Mike Norvel
and her hand and just played with a lot of
(07:11):
the great and great people in this in this game,
and and had a lot of teammates that are that
are head coaches now and uh successful businessmen. But you know,
one of the things that those coaches really instilled was
being good husbands and fathers. And that's actually kind of
one of the most exciting things that I get to
see is, you know, all of my teammates who I
(07:31):
stayed in contact with a lot of them, We've we've
actually got a twenty year reunion coming up for one
of our championship teams. Is is we talk about our kids,
and we talk about our faith, and we talk about
you know, our our our wives and the things that
we're doing in business and those sort of things. And
so that's that's really the cool unique thing of college
(07:52):
athletics and and that's that's really something most proud of.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That's awesome. So Kyle, one more from me and then
I'll let Alex put a cherry on top. We met
down in Sioux Falls and you've got your fingerprints already
in the media day that that transpired down there. Just
give me your perspective on how that went and maybe
(08:17):
potentially some other things that you're thinking about from elite perspective.
And we don't want to share trade secrets, so to speak,
But at the end of the day, is there anything
else that you know you're thinking that that might make
sense for us?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
You know, Bill, there's no trade secrets in this In
this industry, everybody just steals and borrows from each other,
and so it's just a circulating thing.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
No.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
I thought media Day was for the first first time
of having it, since I think two thousand and eight
was the first time I was in person, I thought
it was a tremendous success. To me, media days are
extremely valuable. You know, you have an opportunity. Each program
has an opportunity to really sell their program for fifteen
(08:58):
twenty minutes on interrupted on a national broadcast. Uh And
and that's that's invaluable. That part is great, But what
was really fun to see was the coaches and student
athletes interacting with each other. You know, talking with a
lot of the student athletes that went there that they
(09:19):
thought that that was the best part. You know, we
did some some programming around, uh integrating a lot of
the student athletes with with teams that they normally don't
get to hang out with or see, and they get
to share those experiences and talk about what they what
they do. And and then obviously with coaches, we took
(09:42):
the coaches to a nice dinner and you know, they
they get to sit there and relax and talk shop.
And I think Jeff jack Jeff Jackson, Commissioner Jackson said
it just kind of in passing. But you know, how
many opportunities do you have to sit and have a
few hours uninterrupted with somebody that's in your exact same situation.
Uh And and especially in a in a crazy environment
(10:05):
of college athletics and as a college football head coach, UH,
there's not many people out there like that. And so
to have that camaraderie where they have uh, you know,
a common bond that they get to share experiences and
learn from each other and and and see each other.
Many of them are on similar staffs with each other
in previous roles or no similar people. So having having
(10:31):
that connection uh really really is is a good thing
to do. And and and I think from my personal experiment,
it's a good thing within the league. You know, those
those coaches get to know each other. It builds a
great relationship when when we do discuss uh business matters, Uh,
(10:51):
there's some familiarity, there's there's some openness because people know
each other.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
This was a great year to do so because of
all the new faces, not just yourself and Commission Jackson,
but all these new coaches as well, stepping into new roles,
from Eric Smid to Todd Sepsis to Dan Jackson, et cetera.
What a great chance to have that kind of foundation
launching into a new season where everybody's in the room
together and you get a chance to yes, have that
face to face.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That was a really good call, absolutely, and hopefully we've
got some value out of it. I know looking at
our social media numbers. That's one thing I pay attention
to a lot. You know, we've had tremendous bounce. You know,
some of the the biggest engagement and followings and likes
and shares all came from media day, uh and came
(11:35):
from preseason pole announcements. You know, just those are the
type of things that really sell the league, give the
MVFC brand out there, you know, just beyond beyond our schools.
Engagement numbers are big. You know, those those are the
kind of things that really promote the league. And you
know it's a work, It's a league worth promoting for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
So you've gotten the ball rolling down on the hill
a little bit now as you look ahead with the
competition getting set to begin really just a couple of
days away, really August thirty, of things will really kick
off in full, if you could. What are some of
the points of emphasis that the league is looking at
this year? Are there things you really do want to highlight,
things you're looking forward to. Give us a little crystal
ball gaze out to what August, September, October is going
(12:19):
to look like in the NBFC.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Yeah, I think going in it's wildly impressive that we
have seven teams receiving votes in top twenty five, and
I think four of our institutions are ranked in the
top six, so there's some domination in that one. So
really looking forward to continuing the success that this league
is enjoyed. Really, it's a great brand of football. It's fast,
(12:46):
it's physical, it's something that a lot of people pay
attention to nationally, and the MVFC is the shining star
out there that everybody else in the country looks to
of what they are doing and what we are doing,
what those schools are are accomplishing. So look look forward
(13:07):
to continuing that. I look I look forward to getting
on campus and being in person, seeing the live action
and establishing a lot of relationships with the coaches, administrators,
student athletes, and getting involved with the fans.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, I love that. Do you have a Grand Fork
State picked out? You going to go up to North Dakota?
Is that on your calendar at some point?
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I will be there for the Youngstown State game October eleventh?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Awesome? Good, Well, we'll be excited to have you up
Emielera Center. So excellent, Kyle. We appreciate the time, certainly
in this busy stretches you get set to really launch
things with this new regime in the MVFC. Thanks for
your time. Best of luck this year to you and
our programs.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I appreciate it. Thanks, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Thanks Kyle, Thank you Bill.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Wonderful to have Kyle Groomes first time guest, but as
you said, not the last time. I'm thinking that we're
going to have Kyle on this podcast. Really good addition
for the Valley as they transition from Patty Vivarito to
this new regime. With Jeff Jackson and Kyle also coming
on board along with Josh Fenton, the league's in really
good hands with those three certainly steering the ship.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, I think you're right. It was just a really
good hire by our presidents for sure, and our commissioners
that oversee the league. And yeah, I mean, let's face facts,
I don't think the podcast is a hard hitting journalistic
affair here, so we weren't going to go too deep
(14:33):
with Kyle. We just wanted to get to know him
a little bit, but obviously wanted to get him an
opportunity to beyond because I could see him being on
several times in the next several years.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, I love his story. He's a Colorado guy Wstern
University of Tulsa as a walk on receiver and he
mentioned it there. He earned a scholarship, became a team captain,
and he's been in this college athletics world really since
he graduated, as he mentioned some almost twenty years ago now.
And so just a guy that has been around the
game as a player and then as the director of
football operations for the Golden Hurricane, and then as an
(15:06):
administrator at Salsa and then going into a conference position
the last handfull of years. So just a guy that
has a lot of experience doing different things around the
world of college athletics and in football, and he'll be
a valuable addition I think to the MBFC.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah, that's right. And I think Alex, obviously you're following
someone that had the position for forty years, and I'm
not sure anyone's going to get a position, you know,
not many people will will have that type of a
follow but a guy like Kyle gives you, gives you
he's instant credibility given his background in the sport of football,
(15:42):
and we're excited about having him it. So I think
It'll be a great transition from Patty to Kyle.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
I love when he talked about how we're at the
exciting part. You know, we've been kind of grinding a bit,
just getting things ready to go, and now our teams
are ready to play, he kept saying. But before we
sit record, He's like, I'm just excited to talk ball.
I'm excited to get on campus and I've been able
to see practice and chat with coaches and see these
teams begin to put something together, you know, on the
field versus just on paper. He's just a football guy.
(16:10):
You could see that in the way his eyes lit
up when we started talking about the season ahead. So
his league has produced the last four national championships and
as we said, twelve of the last fourteen in the
FCS and preseason polls. And I think the hype would
indicate that that trend might continue this year. And I
think North Dakota, even though they aren't one of those
teams that's in the top twenty five right now, I
(16:30):
think there's a lot of hope and potential. And Bill,
we were just talking before our next podcast, we will
have played a football game. Can you believe that?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
I know that's that's amazing. We will open up in Manhattan,
Kansas on the thirtieth of August, and I think we're
scheduled to record our next pod the Tuesday after Labor Day,
so September second will be our next pod recording. You're right,
it's you know, what's been just tremendous here on campus.
(17:01):
Being here in the Hyslop Memorial Village one, I'm able
to really take a look at our team really on
a daily basis outside my window. And yeah, I mean,
I think preparations are going good. I think, like everybody else,
everybody's wondering who's going to take the first snap behind center?
You know, anytime you don't necessarily have or put it
(17:23):
better yet, there's a race for who might be the quarterback.
It's always intriguing who's going to end up touching the
ball every single play outside of the center. You would
think the center would as well. So but at the end, Yeah,
we're really excited about it. And then the other one, Alex,
and it's just kind of fascinating. We'll be able to
(17:44):
kind of scout our opponent this weekend. HM.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yes, Kansas State plays basically the first college football game
of the year in a massive game over the Atlantic.
They're playing Iowa State, so two top twenty five teams.
KSU is seventeen in the Iowa State who of course,
North Dakota played last year to open up the season
in a really good game twenty one three. They got
beat down in Ames, but a good competitive game against
(18:08):
a really good Cyclones team last year. Iowa State's number
twenty two. They're going to play coming up this week
at eleven am in the morning Central time, but evening
time in Dublin. They're playing in the aer Lingus College
Football Classic on ESPN. So yes, a great opportunity to
see what this team is all about. Chris Cleman, by
the way, now in year seven, which doesn't seem possible,
(18:31):
he's now already number two all time and wins at
Kansas State behind only Bill Snyder. Isn't that crazy. They've
had really, really good seasons since he's come there, and
they're one of the favorites in the Big twelve. They
ranked in the top twenty. They return, you know, their
quarterback is back. They've got six starters on the offense back,
a good defense back as well. It won't be an
(18:51):
easy test, but it's exciting to think that you get
a chance to prove yourself and see what you've got.
And we knew it was going to be a tough
test last year against Iowa State. We've known in the
past at Nebraska and at Washington and at some of
these other places at North Dakota has gone in recent years.
We knew those were going to be tough tests as well.
And you and Dy has really shown out in those games.
So great opportunity, even as North Dakota still puts some
(19:13):
pieces together before opening kick in two weeks to really
make some noise down at KSU.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I think so, Alex, and you know, I would say
if you go into our locker room, you know there
couldn't be any more excited for the actual game itself.
And you know, when you're playing an FBS opponent as
good as a Kansas State, you're just excited for the opportunity.
(19:39):
And I think our guys are are are they'll be prepared,
they'll be ready, but it's going to be obviously a
quality opponent. Now it'll be fascinating them going across, you know,
across the pond, so to speak, to play the game,
because I'm sure there's just a lot of logistics that
they're working through right now. That just just put your
(20:00):
schedule off just a little bit. And so I don't
know what that'll mean for the game itself. My guess
is eighteen to twenty three more than likely they're just
going to be fine.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
You don't experience jet lag when you're that young, right,
I don't think, so, just shrug that off and like,
no big deal, Yeah you should shake it off. You
shake it off. So, but that will be a lot
of fun again, fun to watch Kansas State kick off
the season this coming Saturday at eleven am, and then
obviously great to see North Dakota get their first chops
at it the following week that UNDKSU game against six
(20:33):
o'clock Central on ESPN Plus coming up on the thirtieth
of August. One great way you mentioned you've had the
opportunity to look outside your window and watch you ind
the football during fall practice. People at home now have
a chance to experience some of that thanks to a
new web series that you and the Insideray Mid Coast
Sports have combined to put out there called the seven
oh one. So for years, Day by Day was the
(20:55):
web series that we put together to follow the football
team and now with the coaching change and the this
is on the seven oh one area code and all
the different things going on that Eric smid is kind
of put back in the program. They had a little
rebrand and so that just debuted this past week. Great
insight like coach Mitt micd up hearing from different guys,
really similar type of show as Day by Day was,
(21:17):
but just with some new new wrinkles, some new twists,
and obviously some new voices. It's been a great way
to keep up with what's happening during fall camp and
just get to know this new regime and this new
group of leaders a little bit better. That's a really
good one to check out on you and the Insider
on YouTube as well.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Yeah, thanks Alex for saying that we appreciate everything MIDC
does of course sponsoring this particular pod as well and
being a great partner over the last well several several
several years now. And yeah, you're right. I think when
you have a new coaching change, it makes a whole
lot of sense to rethink a few things. And you know,
we've kind of hit a little bit of a refresh
(21:55):
on that particular show and and I think people, you know,
we kind of want to make the stars of the show,
the players and the coaches, and so I think that
will maybe allow you to get to know them a
little bit differently in certainly their practice environment.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
It was a good start this past week. Expect those
to come out on a weekly basis now throughout the season. Again,
check that out on the un the Insider YouTube page,
on x SUN, wherever wherever you follow social media. Those
things will be popping up over the course of the
football season. The seven oh one there's a great line
that Eric Schmid had at the beginning of that episode
where he says seven and the guys say seven units,
you know, zero excuses one goal. That's pretty good. It's
(22:38):
pretty good branding.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think the other thing that's pretty
good is, uh the identifying who's gonna wear those those
uniform numbers as well. Yeah, there was a there was
a great article in The Grand Forks Hero by Tom Miller,
and uh, yeah, I think, you know, Eric has done
a phenomenal job coming in and he has obviously taken
(23:02):
pieces from other things he've seen that that that work.
And you know what, as we as football likes to say,
it's the ultimate team game, and it really is. I mean, ultimately,
just how many you know players are what's happening on
any given moment in a football game. And so, uh yeah,
(23:23):
we're excited about it for sure. And yeah, open up
at six o'clock. I think that's a good good time
to kick that night. At least it's not blazing the
beginning or middle of the day, if you will. But
but again, we would play at any time, any place, anywhere.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Even Zeblin if it came to that.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Yeah, yeah, so we would.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Yeah, we would, just to finish that. Malachi McNeil, Lance
Rucker and Sam Strandel are the seven to zero in
the one this year, two guys on the defensive side
that have been starters the last handful of seasons. And
then Sam, who's a Grand Forks kid, a Grand Fork
Central grad that really came on last year as a
receiver kind of is the number three option on the
offense now stepping into a larger role this year. So
(24:06):
guys to watch, certainly just a three of a number
of players who I think people who are following you
and the football are excited about. So that's all coming
up this week and next week as we grew up
toward the opening day and then the home opener coming
up on the sixth of September against Portland State, another
six o'clock kick at the Alera Center. We'll talk a
bit more about that in two weeks time on our
next podcast. Competition already underway for women's soccer. Speaking of
(24:30):
new regimes, Henrick soon in his first year, getting off
to a pretty good start two to zero during the
regular season. After a couple of pretty convincing wins in
exhibition play, we mentioned the ladies had to go down
to the Deep South. They played McNeese State in Louisiana,
Prairie View, A and M and Texas aggregate nine to
mil bill over those two matches, six to zero against
McNeice and then three to zero against Prairie View as
(24:53):
a pretty good start. Pretty good. They have yet to
allow a goal in their four matches so far. I
would say a lot of boxes being checked for coach
Son and the Fighting Hawks.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Early. Yeah, Alex, So I was able to watch like
many maybe did watch on Thursday night on ESPN Plus,
and then there was no video yesterday, and so I
wasn't able to really take a peek at what transpired now,
I will say this, going back to Thursday, a couple
(25:20):
things that I thought was interesting. Six different goal scorers
scored three goals each half, which you know at the
balance piece, it was awesome for sure. Spreading spreading the
wealth around, I think gets everyone kind of fired up
and gets them into the season off the you know,
(25:41):
off the mark. Putting a goal in the back of
the net is a huge deal and to be able
to do that gives you some confidence early on. But
you're right, I thought the most impressive thing that night
is keeping the concentration for ninety minutes and keeping a
clean sheet. And I thought see the game out and
(26:02):
keeping that focus was ideal because I think we needed
it yesterday because it was zero zero at half and
then found a way to put one in, and then
you subsequently put two in the second and the third
one in. And we've seen enough soccer Alex to know
sometimes you get that first one and then a couple
more come after that. But again, the focus on getting
(26:24):
a clean sheet is huge.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
That's what North Dakota has been about the last handful
of seasons, being a good defensive team, and signs are
good that that's going to continue this year, and the
great thing is now for the ladies they get to
come back home. A couple of big matches coming up
this week, beginning with Eastern Washington on the twenty second,
a really good Big Sky team coming to Grand Forks,
then another game against Jamestown before a couple more road contests. Again,
(26:48):
you can see the level the caliber of opposition just
will continue to go up. There are some big matches
looming later in non conference, but it'll be a good
test coming up on the twenty second against the East,
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Yeah, no doubt about it. I Easter haspent pretty good
in the Big Sky over the course of time, So
it'll be a challenge, you know, certainly, it's a match
I'll call it quote unquote if we're going to use
the theme in the area code, it's a match within
our area code, so to speak, literally and figuratively. And
so I think it's one of those. You know, it'll
(27:20):
be a challenge, no doubt. But being at home here
in Grand Forks on moving weekend will be phenomenal. So
we're going to expect over twenty five hundred new freshmen
to campus here and we're going to break the record
from last year for most freshmen on campus. So lots
(27:40):
going on in the Forks, Alex, Lots going on.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yeah, that's so exciting. It's cool beginning, I believe the
twenty fifth, but kind of the twenty sixth. This is
sort of the first full day of classes coming up
next week, so it's it's just right around the corner.
And yes, great to have some on campus activities like
women's soccer to be able to go out and support
and enjoy. You mentioned being at home. Three chances to
see this team at home in non conference plague in
a twenty second and twenty fourth, and then on the
(28:04):
road for a bit, then back on the fourth against
UC Santa Barbara, and then the next time we get
to see this team at home is an until some
league play. They'll kick off some of the action against
Denver on September the twenty fifth, in Omaha on the
twenty eighth, so a great opportunity. Bronson Field undergoing a
few changes. There are more places now built in bleachers,
places for people to sit instead of just kind of
on the grass alongside the touch line. Some nice improvements
(28:26):
over there at Bronson Bill made in the off season.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yeah, we were fortunate, as many of you may know,
that's listening and again you can certainly look at a
lot of different social media outlets, but Hislop is being
taken down as literally we speak right now. I mean
that project is actually going on as we speak. But
(28:50):
we were able to repurpose those that seating that was
at the Hislap pool to outside and I think it
looks phenomenal. I do. I think it gives folks an
opportunity and I still think the cool thing is when
you go there, you still if you want to bring
your own lawn chair or not, you still can do
(29:11):
that along the touch line if you will. But I
do think it definitely encloses Brownson a little bit more
and I think that just helps just in general, just
from the esthetics for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Yeah, nice step in the right direction to continue elevating
that program, which has had some success in recent years
in the Summer League. So best of luck to the
ladies as they come back home after a really strong
start to the non conference season. Best of luck of
volleyball and cross country who have yet to begin competition,
but for volleyball and exhibition coming up on the twenty
third at home against Jamestown before the season kicks off
on the twenty ninth. Cross country starts also at home
(29:49):
in Grant Forks on the twenty ninth, with the Ron
Pinn Classic over at Ray Richards. It's all starting built,
it's a schools starting It's all happening here pretty soon
for all of our fall sports.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Yeah, no doubt about it. Able to watch a little
bit of our Green and White scrimmage over the weekend
in volleyball, and yeah, I mean really really for me,
my eyes really hard to tell because obviously the coaches
have split the teams up so that it can be
as competitive as possible, and so I'll be a little
bit more interested obviously when we play teams that are
(30:21):
not us, if you will. So I saw some good things,
But when you see a good thing, was there a
bad thing too, So it was kind of hard to know,
you know, what was transpiring. So but it was it
was good. I'm excited for that season. And as we know,
both in the soccer realm, in the volleyball, really all
the sports, it's so competitive in the Summit League, and
(30:44):
so you're just gearing up to get yourself ready and
we're excited having some home matches here in Grand Forks
in the non conference season. In the volleyball season, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Nice to kick off with some at home. They're the
und Classic Sainties and Temple coming to town at the
end of August, a couple more home matches before all done,
before some league play starts. I think with volleyball, it's
that balance of having some returning, you know, players that
have been big parts of the program in recent years,
like Paige Barber, Lauren Pierragini, who was so good last
year as a freshman. A lot of new players though too.
(31:13):
It's going to be kind of a new look group
for this fourth season under Jesse and Kristin Tupac. It'll
be curious to see how they fare. I'm excited to
see this team just begin, just to get, like you said,
a better idea of what they're going to be all
about this year.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I know they're working hard, and I know for sure
they're excited about the year upcoming. Why wouldn't should be.
But I will learn more in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Yeah, so things to pay attention to again is really
all of our teams begin competition if they have not
already in the next week or so, a school gets
set to kick off again. Exciting times as you said,
around U and D's campus. Before we shift over to
the B side, just a couple other notes we mentioned
cross country getting going kind of a cool thing for
the track and cost country family. Kenneth Curry was named
the Summat League's twenty twenty five NCAA Woman of the
(31:59):
Year nominee. Kind of had such a phenomenal und career
that really peaked the last couple of seasons, one of
the best throwers in the country getting a really special
nod from the conference. Bill.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Yeah, and I think for those of you that wonder
what that means is obviously you need to participate and
be competitive at a very high level athletically, but then
also takes into a lot of other considerations as well,
how well you've done things in the community, how you've
(32:30):
done in the classroom, and all of those types of things.
So to be named from the league itself as the
nominee is pretty impressive and just a reminder, there's thirty
two multi divisional conferences in the country and so it's
pretty heavy stuff. Alex. When you start thinking about the
(32:50):
numbers of athletes that participate on an annual basis.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Pretty special for her to get that nod again. Congrats
to kind of one of the best track athletes all
time in University of North Dakota history. One really sobering
note that we'll finish on before we flip over. We
got news over the course of the weekend that former
U and D men's basketball player Dang Mayar had tragically
passed away over the weekend in his home state of Utah.
We don't know all the details at the moment, but
(33:16):
such a sad thing for a young man that I
think a lot of people in the Grand sports community
got to know and really enjoyed getting to know, and
the fact that he has gone now way too soon
really hits hard. So we just wanted to pass along
just our thoughts and our prayers and our condolences to
his family and friends and people in the U and
D community that knew Dang really well and enjoyed watching
(33:36):
him play. And it's one of those things that you
just don't know why, like why these things have to
happen sometimes, but it's you just remember, you think about
the things that he brought to the table and what
he meant to the community, and you just grieve together.
That's all you can do.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
That's right, That's right. I thought that coach say there's
quote was terrific. It's really sad. I know many many
in our department at our university are grieving today for sure,
and you know, obviously to the family itself. You know,
(34:12):
it's just incredibly sad and tragic. You know, he he
had the ability based on there was a court ruling
last year which allowed for students that played junior college
to potentially have one more year left. Well. Dan ended
(34:35):
up graduating in May from the University of North Dakota,
and I know that was an incredibly special moment for
him and his family. And you know, we all think
about the basketball side of life and or the competitive side,
but you know, I know that was an incredibly important day,
and I have to admit to you that's what I'm
(34:56):
going to think about when I think about dang, you know,
crossing the finish line, if you will, academically, and then
having an opportunity to get one more you know, bite
at the apple. And I think, you know, going to
Omaha gave just another experience. And I think in life
we're about experiences because you don't know when, you know,
none of us know when the chapter may conclude, and
(35:17):
so really really really sad. And for sure I can
tell you our our team is grieving right now, and
many of our staff members are grieving as well.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, certainly a good thoughts and prayers to Dan's family
and his friends. I have to really just a tragedy
over the course of the weekends build anything else. I
know it's hard to transition from that to talking about
other things that don't seem to matter as much, but
anything else on your mind from a U N D
R NCAA perspective before we flip over to a pretty
jam packed B side this week.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Yeah, no, I you know, And again I think everything
in perspective, right right, Alex. I mean I think, you know,
as I always say to our staff, to some degree,
we can spend multiple plates at once, and I think
we can grieve, we can continue to grieve. But you know,
I dang or whomever would want us to forge on.
(36:07):
And I think that's, you know, in some ways what
we need to do really in his memory. Well, flip,
and you're right, there's just a lot going on, you know,
with the teams that we like to watch and the
things that we I don't know that that we think
are not important but important in some ways.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
How about that the most important least important things.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Yeah, yeah, isn't that right?
Speaker 1 (36:33):
It's true. I think it's probably a good segue to
talk about the you know, my favorite soccer team, Liverpool
Football Club, that have been going through this again. They
suffer a huge tragedy early in the summer when Diogo Jiota,
who's one of their better attacking players, he'd been at
the club for a handful of years, a big part
of their championship team last season, was tragically killed along
with his brother in a car accident. Insane and this
(36:57):
fan base and the team of course, have been dealing
with that over the course of the summer. They played
their first home match, regular season home match on Friday night,
the English Premier League opener against Bournemouth. The tributes that
the fan base and the club laid out for Diogo
and for his family, so his wife and his three
young kids were there, His parents were there at the game,
(37:17):
and I can't even imagine what that was like for
them to be in that place and experience that, but
they they sang, you know, a lot of clubs have
songs right for all of these individual players that you
sing in the crowd and anytime they score a goal
or when they do something special, and Diogo was no different.
And the fan base sang his song right before the
(37:39):
match began, and then they sing You'll Never Walk Alone,
which is the Liverpool anthem and is they actually become
the anthem of a number of other clubs around the world.
But it's such this incredible poignant thing about you know
always what's that song about? Like being together? You've always
got someone with you, You're never alone. And you could
see the emotion on the people in the stands are
(37:59):
in a slow the manager of the players, and then
you have to go out and play a football match.
They did a moment of silence as well. It was
a really nice tribute. But the match ends. Liverpool have
this great finish. It was two to two late and
they score in the eighty eighth minute and then Mo
Salad scores to see it out. It's a four to
two win. And after the match is over, the crowd
starts singing Diogo's song again and Mo who's again this
(38:20):
is one of the best players in the world, Like
he's the reigning Premier League Player of the Year. I
think he had twenty nine goals and eighteen assists last
year to lead the league in both categories. Like an
incredible footballer, he goes over in front of the home
crowd at the cop ends kind of the supporters section
and claps along to the song and just cries, like.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Just just it was.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
It was just like I'm watching from the Dakotas and
I've got my seven year old daughter with me, who's
become a Liverpool fan, which has been very sweet, and
you know, I got emotional and she was like, why
are you crying, Dad, And it's like, this is you know,
this is more than just sports.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
It is it is it is it's it's the human condition.
And you know, we had our friends down in Brookings
go through it with a football player and you know,
you know, and again, I obviously every day that we
live there's going to be people that pass away all
around the country, but it hits home when it's really
(39:20):
someone you know, not even scratching the surface of their
life at that point and everything's in front of them
and it just it does. It's very very sad. I
watched that too. Alex it was moving and I think
all of the matches it was opening weekend, this weekend
in the Premier League, so as Alex said, Liverpool because
(39:40):
they're the champions, open things up and they get their
trophy and do all the things that you do because
of that. Yeah, over you know, I you know, just perspective,
it's it's it's it's it's a Yang and a Yang
that day for sure, and the rest of the grounds
I thought did a tremendous job making sure that they
honored his memory as well.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
I think that's one of the things the English game
does really well, Like when things like this happen, when
tragedy strikes, when it's someone associated with the game, you know,
it's not just the club maybe that that person played
for or represented, like the whole league kind of stops
and remembers, yes, and whether that's someone that passed away
who played in the nineteen fifties or sixties, or someone, yes,
(40:23):
who was in the prime of their career and was
taken away way too soon. I think it's just it's
important to do those things, I think just to show that, hey,
this person made an impact and we want to remember them.
And a lot of times like if it's someone that
passes away late in life, after they've had a good,
full life, they do a minute's applause versus a moment
of silence. Sport really elicits those types of emotions that
(40:45):
you get attached to these people and these teams that
you maybe you have either never met and never will
or you've just seen from afar, but they stir up
those emotions in you. And when Federico Keiza scored for
me late in that match and he breaks a tie
and all that emotion spills over, like you know, you're excited.
It's that's part of the reason why you watch, because
(41:06):
there's that connectivity. And I don't know Federico Kuieza, I
know his story, though I've I feel like I've got
a connection with him. And I'm sure you said, I'm
sure you felt the same way when ma Carloson scored
his second right.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Yeah, Well, you know it's funny if you if we
go right into the soccer piece. So for for many
of you that have again, I we don't no judgment
if you kill it. If you're not listening right now
and you're you're just an a sider, I get it.
But if you're here, you're here for it all. So
just a reminder, Alex follows a team. Let's just say
(41:41):
that's really, really good Tottenham. My team is kind of
a really a roller coaster. So so we're in the
amusement park. He's the one that you can count on
the whole time. Ours the ride might be shut down
at times. There's a lot of things going on, But yes,
I think Tottenham, let's just say this. We talked about
(42:04):
Henrik's team, our women's soccer team having a clean sheet.
I think the one thing that Thomas Frank is going
to bring to Tottenham is a little bit different structure
than what we were used to over the last couple
of years. As much as I love Ange, you know,
I think we've seen we've seen him employ different tactical
(42:25):
you know thoughts even throughout the preseason, which will be
fascinating as we move forward.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
They appear to be a little more yes, adaptable, depending
on the opposition. Now, you played Burnley, yea to kick
things off at home. This is a Burnley team that
came up last year in second place in the Championship
and was known for their defensive solidity. And then you know,
spend some money in the off season. I think you
were handed a pretty good opponent to kick things off
(42:55):
with and you did what good teams should do. You
took care of business without too much fuss. It was
a pretty comfortable three nail. Would would you agree, by
the way, pretty comfortable three nail? Pretty comfortable.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
So I would say that you're one hundred percent right
again you should win at home against it a newly
promoted side, although that did not occur last year for Tottenham,
and that is really the that is really the truth.
And so I as much as yes, it could also go,
it could go interesting throughout the game if they're hanging
(43:26):
in and I think I think Tottenham did a nice
job of well, they scored early enough in the game
that probably gave the fans a chance to exhale a
little bit. But then you'll kind of want to get
that second one, and they finally did some beautiful goals. Actually,
I mean, if for Charlson's going to be healthy, Alex,
you know what, they talked about it at one point,
(43:48):
another striker along with Selenki. But at the end of
the day, if he's literally going to be healthy, then
they do have two options upfront, which you know what,
that's great.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
It might have a third coming, not necessarily upfront, but
ebercies A apparently is on his way soon from Crystal Palace,
which would be a great coup for Tottenham, I think.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
So.
Speaker 1 (44:10):
He scored an incredible goal against Chelsea at the weekends.
It was disallowed because of a I don't know, a
weird rules in fraction by one of his teammates, but
it was a lovely free kick like that guy's really
really good and so, especially with James Madison now probably
being out for eight months with an aclsare basically the
entire season, you could throw as a in one of
those attacking midfield roles and be able to pick up
(44:32):
some of the slack. But I will say this, you
do get a pretty stiff test next week. Do you
know who you're planning the next bill?
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Yes, we're going to go to Manchester City, where you're
going to be a big Spurs fan.
Speaker 1 (44:44):
You know I would love a draw. Yes, I would
love to see Spurs win that match. Yes, yes, you
kick off Saturday morning, six thirty am against the man
City team who just looked real good against Wolves four
nil at the weekends. So we will see. But hey,
after that, you get Bournemouth, you get west Ham, you
get Brighton, you get Wolves, get leads. So you get
(45:06):
a west Ham team that might be the worst team
in the league, maybe touching out what we saw from
the opening weekend, leads another newly promoted team, Wolves a
team it might be going down. Brighton and Bournemouth aren't easy,
but you have a chance to maybe build a little
bit of momentum throughout the course of September and October.
Not the worst start to the season for Thomas Frank.
I think you could have a good chance to pick
(45:27):
up some points.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
We've all seen enough when you've got a team that's
trying to flush a previous season like Tottenham is, and
you know what they did in the league last year obviously,
which just wasn't good enough. And so every match becomes
a challenge because it was difficult to garner points last year,
(45:49):
it really was, And so I hate to be the one. Hey,
I'm taking it one match at a time, but truly
I am. I you know, you never know. They did
have some action, some luck against Man City over the
last several years, so it'll be interesting to see what happens.
Speaker 1 (46:06):
You've been the one scene that's had their number. Ironically,
I know the league very strange.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
It's really weird.
Speaker 1 (46:12):
You mentioned I like how you had trouble getting points
last year. You lost twenty two matches bill out of
thirty eight. It was the most matches lost by any
team that was not relegated in Premier League history. So, yes,
you did have some trouble earning points lest well, But.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
I do I do want to remind my Spurs friends,
and I'm using that term loosely on the on some
of the pods I listened to is that we don't
start the year seventeenth though, so it feels like there's
this thought that how are we going to make up
all of this and how are we going to get
by all these Well, here's how you all started zero,
(46:50):
and when you get three, you're ahead of teams now,
so I'm done with the seventeenth place that's in the
rear view mirror. Now you're kind of up top. But
you're right, you know, any sort of result over the
weekend would be incredible, But it's really those other matches
where they've got to figure some things out. And the
way Thomas Frank rolls the one thing that's good is
(47:12):
he's been in the league for what seven years now,
I think, and so he knows every team inside it out,
including Tottenham, and so it is to what has probably
made them let's just say leaky. Maybe it's the word
very leaky.
Speaker 1 (47:29):
That's a key, very leaky, very leaky. Yes, yes, well,
best of luck to you again. Will be cheering for
the Spurs. This weekend's really quick. Red Sox thoughts kind
of up and down of late, losing some close games.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
Yeah, so let's go glass half full first, and then
I'll give you my little sadness over the weekend. Is
glass half full is since the All Star break, they've
had a really challenging schedule and they've done a good
job staying afloat so much so that season ends today.
They're in the playoffs, right, so I think, you know,
(48:04):
it does get I think the schedule opens up a
little bit here over the next five weeks or so.
But you know, a Saturday, this is what ends up
happening in baseball if you're really following a team hard.
Is Saturday Saturday got us to Sunday's loss by being
(48:25):
up seven to two on Saturday night and not being
able to finish that thing off without bringing your closer
in affected that game yesterday, which at three to one.
If you bring a closer in with Whitlock, that game's
probably over yesterday as well. But because we couldn't finish
it out on Saturday, all that to be said, Alex,
(48:46):
you know, I'm happy with where the team is right now,
but by no means is that roster constructed as a
World Series champion. It's just not. I mean, we need
a number two starter for sure, the Penn span iffy,
and obviously we have more outfielders than we need, and
so I think we need another out another off season
(49:07):
to rectify all of that.
Speaker 1 (49:09):
Yeah, it feels that way. Yeah, But as you said, though,
if the season ended today, they would have the top
wild card spot. They have a lot of teams nipping
at their heels, so there's a long ways to go.
The Yankees are just a half game back. It's gonna
be an interesting race. It's gonna be an interesting September.
I've got a feeling. But like you said, schedule a
little lightens up a little bit, we'll see if they
can take advantage. Unfortunately, Marcela Mayer will not be a
(49:31):
part of it. He wasn't a massive necessarily a massive cog,
but risk injury done for the season for one of
the bright young stars in this Red Sox.
Speaker 2 (49:39):
Yeah, I think I think they knew it. I think
they tried to figure out can he help it all?
And here at the end of the year. But I
think you're he's got such a bright upside, you gotta
be really careful with him. So they've I'm sure made
the right decision there, and you know, we'll well, we'll
see what ends up happening. I hous this for a
pod prediction to some degree, and one of my friends
(50:02):
who talk socks with me all the time, says, I'm crazy.
But at the end of the day, they're playing the
Yankees for four games coming up. I'd walk Aaron Judge
every time he came to the plane. I would not
pitch to him because I'm not scared of that lineup,
but I am scared of him.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
It's not the worst idea. Give him the bonds treatment.
Just put him on first base.
Speaker 2 (50:24):
Every time, every time bases loaded nobody out, put them.
Speaker 1 (50:28):
On their next ten or all against Alas teams. They've
got six against Baltimore four against New York. Eight of
those are on the road, so a really big stretch
between now and the end of August for the Socks.
So when we pod next, we'll know more. You will
know a little more about this team's fate.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Well in the Socks have been really good at Fenway
and been so so on the road.
Speaker 1 (50:51):
Well, we will see how that all shakes out. We
will discuss that and much more, including some teams in
action when we next pod, coming up on the second September.
Bill is always great to chat and great to catch up.
Big thanks to Kyle Grooms as well for jumping on.
Really sets the table for what's going to be a
fun fall ahead.
Speaker 2 (51:07):
Yeah, thanks, Alex. I always appreciate this opportunity to pod.
And for those of you that have students going back
to school, be safe. It's always an interesting time of
year for sure, and obviously the University of North Dakota
is starting classes, but so won't many others that have
kids and younger kids, so be careful out there.
Speaker 1 (51:28):
Yeah, back to school. Yeah, it's a special time. Enjoy it,
relish it, make some memories, and yes we will pod.
We will pod soon, so on behalf of Bill and
Kyle Groomes and our entire behind the scenes team Alex
Docker Johnson and Paul Rawlston. I'm Alex Seiner. Thank you
for listening. Yes, enjoy the start of school and we'll
talk to you soon.
Speaker 2 (52:00):
I don't have to
You're listening to the Bill Shapes Podcast, presented by Mid
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(00:22):
do sports and this is the Bill Shapes Podcast. Welcome
to another edition of the Bill Shapes Podcast. Weird Safing
this on a Monday morning, August the eighteenth, Alex Heiner
bil shaves a special guest that we're gonna introduce in
just a moment. Bill, how are you as the week
starts anew You know, Alex, you do.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Uh well, hello, start there. But at the end of
the day you do and go to New England quite
a bit. It feels like Grand Forks has a little
humidity in the air. I feel like I'm at Fenway.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Park, which is it's different. Not a bad thing, No,
It's not something that we're used to as much this
time of year. So that was one of the things
that always struck me, like I had been coming from
eastern South Dakota, and then when I moved to Grand Forks,
it's really just a straight shot north right, Like it's
three hundred miles straight north of Sioux Falls, where I
(01:14):
had been living, and I was surprised that there wasn't
humidity where like there is in the southeastern pocket of
South Dakota, even though it was parallel on the map.
But yeah, it's just a little bit different, but it's good. Honestly.
It'll probably prepare some of our sports teams that have
been playing outdoors for some of their Obviously women's soccer
is right now in the Deep South in Texas and Louisiana, Manhattan, Kansas.
(01:35):
I feel like it's going to be a bit of
a humid evening coming up here in a week or two.
So good things as everybody gets prepared for their competitions
as far.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, no doubt. And I think you're right. Watching our
ladies play at McNeice the other night, I think you know,
it was over one hundred degrees, so I mean it
was very, very warm, and we've had an outstanding fall
excuse me, fall camp, if you will. I'm watching football
out my window each and every day. But you know
(02:04):
you almost worry the weather's actually been too nice.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, isn't that something right? It's not something you usually
have to be concerned about. But hey, we can't do
anything about it, right, What do we always say? Mother nature,
father time, undefeated, unsigned.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Both undefeated, the great ones to just with a lot
of pod actions, we got to get to our guests
that man, that man is busy. That man is busy.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yes, I agree with you, Yes we can. Over the
course of this podcast, we'll talk a little bit about
fall athletics around the University of North Dakota and kind
of set the scene for competitions, some of which have
already begun. First though, as is the norm on this podcast,
we love to have someone to bring in from the
outside to talk about things that are relevant to University
of North Dakota athletics. And the man who has drawn
(02:50):
that assignment here is the new Missouri Valley Football Conference
Chief operating officer. He's Kyle Groomes, Ladies and gentlemen, and
he joins us now from Missouri. Kyle, how are you.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I'm Craig Alex Bill. Thanks for having me on. This
is This is an exciting time, especially in the in
the FC.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, we were just just ahead on the tip of
the diving board, less than two weeks away from play beginning.
We're going to chat a bit about that in your
impressions of this league. First, though, just a little background
about you. You started just a couple of months ago in
this job at the start of summer. Give me just
the quick elevator pitch on what's your role is now
as the CEO of this conference.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Really, the role of this conference is to be a
resource to serve the membership from the football side, our
our coaches and r A d s and our student athletes.
Really be a voice from a conference office that they
that they have an avenue in the national matters and
and our conference organization in our operation logistical structure. So
(03:50):
my my role is simply just to serve, serve, serve
all of our institutions. So that's that's as simple as
I'm going to put it.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
And you've been doing that role for a while now
with the WHACK. You were the Associate commissioner of the WHACK.
You were the CEO for the United Athletic Conference as
well before coming over to this. I know Bill's got
some questions for you as well, But what made this
position desirable? Why did you want to come over and
join the mvf C.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Well, well, well, first of all, it's it's an incredibly
established it's it's the best league in the country. So
you always want to be aligned with the best, and
the mvfc IS is certainly that. And so when this
with this opportunity presented itself, it was it was really
a no brainer. It was it was a jump on
it and how fast can I start kind of thing. So,
(04:38):
the the reputation with with all the schools that we
have in the league is outstanding. The history of the
success with each and every one of our schools is tremendous,
So you know, that's that's one thing that really really
struck my attention was just getting in and being aligned
(04:59):
with with the history of the best football conference that
there is.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah, twelve national titles in the last fourteen years. Yeah,
that's yep, it speaks for itself. Before Bill goes, I
would you want to say you want to associate yourself
with the best? Yet you're on this podcast and we
appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
It sounds our.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Level for a couple of minutes, Kyle, Sorry, take it away.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
No, you're good. You're good, Kyle. So, really glad you
joined us today, and really glad you joined the league.
You had almost a similar situation that you're coming from,
So explain I think the experience that you had from that,
and then a little bit about your playing experience as well.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, simply put leadership structure. It's great being able to
serve members in multiple different multi sport conferences that have
a common goal, and that common goals is football championships.
And being able to kind of weave between a lot
of a lot of lines and a lot of gray areas. Uh,
(06:01):
and being that common thread and that that connection piece
is is really what I love to thrive in. And
so that's that being that experience coming from from there.
Hopefully we'll serve first serve me. Well here you asked
play an experiences. Gosh, it's it's it's twenty years ago
now that that we're we're looking back. So I feel
(06:24):
feeling pretty old about that. But had a great, great
opportunity to to play at the University of Tulsa, started
as a walk on, ended up earning a scholarship and
and was fortunate enough to be selected as a team captain.
In my last year, played for some tremendous coaches Steve
craig Thorpe, who who just recently passed away, was was
(06:47):
a legend and turning the University of Telis program around.
Went on to some some other great career opportunities at
Louisville and played for some other head coaches Todd Grant,
and one of the staffs that Todd put together was tremendous.
And you know, he had Gus Melson and Mike Norvel
and her hand and just played with a lot of
(07:11):
the great and great people in this in this game,
and and had a lot of teammates that are that
are head coaches now and uh successful businessmen. But you know,
one of the things that those coaches really instilled was
being good husbands and fathers. And that's actually kind of
one of the most exciting things that I get to
see is, you know, all of my teammates who I
(07:31):
stayed in contact with a lot of them, We've we've
actually got a twenty year reunion coming up for one
of our championship teams. Is is we talk about our kids,
and we talk about our faith, and we talk about
you know, our our our wives and the things that
we're doing in business and those sort of things. And
so that's that's really the cool unique thing of college
(07:52):
athletics and and that's that's really something most proud of.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That's awesome. So Kyle, one more from me and then
I'll let Alex put a cherry on top. We met
down in Sioux Falls and you've got your fingerprints already
in the media day that that transpired down there. Just
give me your perspective on how that went and maybe
(08:17):
potentially some other things that you're thinking about from elite perspective.
And we don't want to share trade secrets, so to speak,
But at the end of the day, is there anything
else that you know you're thinking that that might make
sense for us?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
You know, Bill, there's no trade secrets in this In
this industry, everybody just steals and borrows from each other,
and so it's just a circulating thing.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
No.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
I thought media Day was for the first first time
of having it, since I think two thousand and eight
was the first time I was in person, I thought
it was a tremendous success. To me, media days are
extremely valuable. You know, you have an opportunity. Each program
has an opportunity to really sell their program for fifteen
(08:58):
twenty minutes on interrupted on a national broadcast. Uh And
and that's that's invaluable. That part is great, But what
was really fun to see was the coaches and student
athletes interacting with each other. You know, talking with a
lot of the student athletes that went there that they
(09:19):
thought that that was the best part. You know, we
did some some programming around, uh integrating a lot of
the student athletes with with teams that they normally don't
get to hang out with or see, and they get
to share those experiences and talk about what they what
they do. And and then obviously with coaches, we took
(09:42):
the coaches to a nice dinner and you know, they
they get to sit there and relax and talk shop.
And I think Jeff jack Jeff Jackson, Commissioner Jackson said
it just kind of in passing. But you know, how
many opportunities do you have to sit and have a
few hours uninterrupted with somebody that's in your exact same situation.
Uh And and especially in a in a crazy environment
(10:05):
of college athletics and as a college football head coach, UH,
there's not many people out there like that. And so
to have that camaraderie where they have uh, you know,
a common bond that they get to share experiences and
learn from each other and and and see each other.
Many of them are on similar staffs with each other
in previous roles or no similar people. So having having
(10:31):
that connection uh really really is is a good thing
to do. And and and I think from my personal experiment,
it's a good thing within the league. You know, those
those coaches get to know each other. It builds a
great relationship when when we do discuss uh business matters, Uh,
(10:51):
there's some familiarity, there's there's some openness because people know
each other.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
This was a great year to do so because of
all the new faces, not just yourself and Commission Jackson,
but all these new coaches as well, stepping into new roles,
from Eric Smid to Todd Sepsis to Dan Jackson, et cetera.
What a great chance to have that kind of foundation
launching into a new season where everybody's in the room
together and you get a chance to yes, have that
face to face.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That was a really good call, absolutely, and hopefully we've
got some value out of it. I know looking at
our social media numbers. That's one thing I pay attention
to a lot. You know, we've had tremendous bounce. You know,
some of the the biggest engagement and followings and likes
and shares all came from media day, uh and came
(11:35):
from preseason pole announcements. You know, just those are the
type of things that really sell the league, give the
MVFC brand out there, you know, just beyond beyond our schools.
Engagement numbers are big. You know, those those are the
kind of things that really promote the league. And you
know it's a work, It's a league worth promoting for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
So you've gotten the ball rolling down on the hill
a little bit now as you look ahead with the
competition getting set to begin really just a couple of
days away, really August thirty, of things will really kick
off in full, if you could. What are some of
the points of emphasis that the league is looking at
this year? Are there things you really do want to highlight,
things you're looking forward to. Give us a little crystal
ball gaze out to what August, September, October is going
(12:19):
to look like in the NBFC.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Yeah, I think going in it's wildly impressive that we
have seven teams receiving votes in top twenty five, and
I think four of our institutions are ranked in the
top six, so there's some domination in that one. So
really looking forward to continuing the success that this league
is enjoyed. Really, it's a great brand of football. It's fast,
(12:46):
it's physical, it's something that a lot of people pay
attention to nationally, and the MVFC is the shining star
out there that everybody else in the country looks to
of what they are doing and what we are doing,
what those schools are are accomplishing. So look look forward
(13:07):
to continuing that. I look I look forward to getting
on campus and being in person, seeing the live action
and establishing a lot of relationships with the coaches, administrators,
student athletes, and getting involved with the fans.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, I love that. Do you have a Grand Fork
State picked out? You going to go up to North Dakota?
Is that on your calendar at some point?
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I will be there for the Youngstown State game October eleventh?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Awesome? Good, Well, we'll be excited to have you up
Emielera Center. So excellent, Kyle. We appreciate the time, certainly
in this busy stretches you get set to really launch
things with this new regime in the MVFC. Thanks for
your time. Best of luck this year to you and
our programs.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I appreciate it. Thanks, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Thanks Kyle, Thank you Bill.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Wonderful to have Kyle Groomes first time guest, but as
you said, not the last time. I'm thinking that we're
going to have Kyle on this podcast. Really good addition
for the Valley as they transition from Patty Vivarito to
this new regime. With Jeff Jackson and Kyle also coming
on board along with Josh Fenton, the league's in really
good hands with those three certainly steering the ship.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, I think you're right. It was just a really
good hire by our presidents for sure, and our commissioners
that oversee the league. And yeah, I mean, let's face facts,
I don't think the podcast is a hard hitting journalistic
affair here, so we weren't going to go too deep
(14:33):
with Kyle. We just wanted to get to know him
a little bit, but obviously wanted to get him an
opportunity to beyond because I could see him being on
several times in the next several years.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, I love his story. He's a Colorado guy Wstern
University of Tulsa as a walk on receiver and he
mentioned it there. He earned a scholarship, became a team captain,
and he's been in this college athletics world really since
he graduated, as he mentioned some almost twenty years ago now.
And so just a guy that has been around the
game as a player and then as the director of
football operations for the Golden Hurricane, and then as an
(15:06):
administrator at Salsa and then going into a conference position
the last handfull of years. So just a guy that
has a lot of experience doing different things around the
world of college athletics and in football, and he'll be
a valuable addition I think to the MBFC.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah, that's right. And I think Alex, obviously you're following
someone that had the position for forty years, and I'm
not sure anyone's going to get a position, you know,
not many people will will have that type of a
follow but a guy like Kyle gives you, gives you
he's instant credibility given his background in the sport of football,
(15:42):
and we're excited about having him it. So I think
It'll be a great transition from Patty to Kyle.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
I love when he talked about how we're at the
exciting part. You know, we've been kind of grinding a bit,
just getting things ready to go, and now our teams
are ready to play, he kept saying. But before we
sit record, He's like, I'm just excited to talk ball.
I'm excited to get on campus and I've been able
to see practice and chat with coaches and see these
teams begin to put something together, you know, on the
field versus just on paper. He's just a football guy.
(16:10):
You could see that in the way his eyes lit
up when we started talking about the season ahead. So
his league has produced the last four national championships and
as we said, twelve of the last fourteen in the
FCS and preseason polls. And I think the hype would
indicate that that trend might continue this year. And I
think North Dakota, even though they aren't one of those
teams that's in the top twenty five right now, I
(16:30):
think there's a lot of hope and potential. And Bill,
we were just talking before our next podcast, we will
have played a football game. Can you believe that?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
I know that's that's amazing. We will open up in Manhattan,
Kansas on the thirtieth of August, and I think we're
scheduled to record our next pod the Tuesday after Labor Day,
so September second will be our next pod recording. You're right,
it's you know, what's been just tremendous here on campus.
(17:01):
Being here in the Hyslop Memorial Village one, I'm able
to really take a look at our team really on
a daily basis outside my window. And yeah, I mean,
I think preparations are going good. I think, like everybody else,
everybody's wondering who's going to take the first snap behind center?
You know, anytime you don't necessarily have or put it
(17:23):
better yet, there's a race for who might be the quarterback.
It's always intriguing who's going to end up touching the
ball every single play outside of the center. You would
think the center would as well. So but at the end, Yeah,
we're really excited about it. And then the other one, Alex,
and it's just kind of fascinating. We'll be able to
(17:44):
kind of scout our opponent this weekend. HM.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yes, Kansas State plays basically the first college football game
of the year in a massive game over the Atlantic.
They're playing Iowa State, so two top twenty five teams.
KSU is seventeen in the Iowa State who of course,
North Dakota played last year to open up the season
in a really good game twenty one three. They got
beat down in Ames, but a good competitive game against
(18:08):
a really good Cyclones team last year. Iowa State's number
twenty two. They're going to play coming up this week
at eleven am in the morning Central time, but evening
time in Dublin. They're playing in the aer Lingus College
Football Classic on ESPN. So yes, a great opportunity to
see what this team is all about. Chris Cleman, by
the way, now in year seven, which doesn't seem possible,
(18:31):
he's now already number two all time and wins at
Kansas State behind only Bill Snyder. Isn't that crazy. They've
had really, really good seasons since he's come there, and
they're one of the favorites in the Big twelve. They
ranked in the top twenty. They return, you know, their
quarterback is back. They've got six starters on the offense back,
a good defense back as well. It won't be an
(18:51):
easy test, but it's exciting to think that you get
a chance to prove yourself and see what you've got.
And we knew it was going to be a tough
test last year against Iowa State. We've known in the
past at Nebraska and at Washington and at some of
these other places at North Dakota has gone in recent years.
We knew those were going to be tough tests as well.
And you and Dy has really shown out in those games.
So great opportunity, even as North Dakota still puts some
(19:13):
pieces together before opening kick in two weeks to really
make some noise down at KSU.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I think so, Alex, and you know, I would say
if you go into our locker room, you know there
couldn't be any more excited for the actual game itself.
And you know, when you're playing an FBS opponent as
good as a Kansas State, you're just excited for the opportunity.
(19:39):
And I think our guys are are are they'll be prepared,
they'll be ready, but it's going to be obviously a
quality opponent. Now it'll be fascinating them going across, you know,
across the pond, so to speak, to play the game,
because I'm sure there's just a lot of logistics that
they're working through right now. That just just put your
(20:00):
schedule off just a little bit. And so I don't
know what that'll mean for the game itself. My guess
is eighteen to twenty three more than likely they're just
going to be fine.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
You don't experience jet lag when you're that young, right,
I don't think, so, just shrug that off and like,
no big deal, Yeah you should shake it off. You
shake it off. So, but that will be a lot
of fun again, fun to watch Kansas State kick off
the season this coming Saturday at eleven am, and then
obviously great to see North Dakota get their first chops
at it the following week that UNDKSU game against six
(20:33):
o'clock Central on ESPN Plus coming up on the thirtieth
of August. One great way you mentioned you've had the
opportunity to look outside your window and watch you ind
the football during fall practice. People at home now have
a chance to experience some of that thanks to a
new web series that you and the Insideray Mid Coast
Sports have combined to put out there called the seven
oh one. So for years, Day by Day was the
(20:55):
web series that we put together to follow the football
team and now with the coaching change and the this
is on the seven oh one area code and all
the different things going on that Eric smid is kind
of put back in the program. They had a little
rebrand and so that just debuted this past week. Great
insight like coach Mitt micd up hearing from different guys,
really similar type of show as Day by Day was,
(21:17):
but just with some new new wrinkles, some new twists,
and obviously some new voices. It's been a great way
to keep up with what's happening during fall camp and
just get to know this new regime and this new
group of leaders a little bit better. That's a really
good one to check out on you and the Insider
on YouTube as well.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Yeah, thanks Alex for saying that we appreciate everything MIDC
does of course sponsoring this particular pod as well and
being a great partner over the last well several several
several years now. And yeah, you're right. I think when
you have a new coaching change, it makes a whole
lot of sense to rethink a few things. And you know,
we've kind of hit a little bit of a refresh
(21:55):
on that particular show and and I think people, you know,
we kind of want to make the stars of the show,
the players and the coaches, and so I think that
will maybe allow you to get to know them a
little bit differently in certainly their practice environment.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
It was a good start this past week. Expect those
to come out on a weekly basis now throughout the season. Again,
check that out on the un the Insider YouTube page,
on x SUN, wherever wherever you follow social media. Those
things will be popping up over the course of the
football season. The seven oh one there's a great line
that Eric Schmid had at the beginning of that episode
where he says seven and the guys say seven units,
you know, zero excuses one goal. That's pretty good. It's
(22:38):
pretty good branding.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think the other thing that's pretty
good is, uh the identifying who's gonna wear those those
uniform numbers as well. Yeah, there was a there was
a great article in The Grand Forks Hero by Tom Miller,
and uh, yeah, I think, you know, Eric has done
a phenomenal job coming in and he has obviously taken
(23:02):
pieces from other things he've seen that that that work.
And you know what, as we as football likes to say,
it's the ultimate team game, and it really is. I mean, ultimately,
just how many you know players are what's happening on
any given moment in a football game. And so, uh yeah,
(23:23):
we're excited about it for sure. And yeah, open up
at six o'clock. I think that's a good good time
to kick that night. At least it's not blazing the
beginning or middle of the day, if you will. But
but again, we would play at any time, any place, anywhere.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Even Zeblin if it came to that.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Yeah, yeah, so we would.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Yeah, we would, just to finish that. Malachi McNeil, Lance
Rucker and Sam Strandel are the seven to zero in
the one this year, two guys on the defensive side
that have been starters the last handful of seasons. And
then Sam, who's a Grand Forks kid, a Grand Fork
Central grad that really came on last year as a
receiver kind of is the number three option on the
offense now stepping into a larger role this year. So
(24:06):
guys to watch, certainly just a three of a number
of players who I think people who are following you
and the football are excited about. So that's all coming
up this week and next week as we grew up
toward the opening day and then the home opener coming
up on the sixth of September against Portland State, another
six o'clock kick at the Alera Center. We'll talk a
bit more about that in two weeks time on our
next podcast. Competition already underway for women's soccer. Speaking of
(24:30):
new regimes, Henrick soon in his first year, getting off
to a pretty good start two to zero during the
regular season. After a couple of pretty convincing wins in
exhibition play, we mentioned the ladies had to go down
to the Deep South. They played McNeese State in Louisiana,
Prairie View, A and M and Texas aggregate nine to
mil bill over those two matches, six to zero against
McNeice and then three to zero against Prairie View as
(24:53):
a pretty good start. Pretty good. They have yet to
allow a goal in their four matches so far. I
would say a lot of boxes being checked for coach
Son and the Fighting Hawks.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Early. Yeah, Alex, So I was able to watch like
many maybe did watch on Thursday night on ESPN Plus,
and then there was no video yesterday, and so I
wasn't able to really take a peek at what transpired now,
I will say this, going back to Thursday, a couple
(25:20):
things that I thought was interesting. Six different goal scorers
scored three goals each half, which you know at the
balance piece, it was awesome for sure. Spreading spreading the
wealth around, I think gets everyone kind of fired up
and gets them into the season off the you know,
(25:41):
off the mark. Putting a goal in the back of
the net is a huge deal and to be able
to do that gives you some confidence early on. But
you're right, I thought the most impressive thing that night
is keeping the concentration for ninety minutes and keeping a
clean sheet. And I thought see the game out and
(26:02):
keeping that focus was ideal because I think we needed
it yesterday because it was zero zero at half and
then found a way to put one in, and then
you subsequently put two in the second and the third
one in. And we've seen enough soccer Alex to know
sometimes you get that first one and then a couple
more come after that. But again, the focus on getting
(26:24):
a clean sheet is huge.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
That's what North Dakota has been about the last handful
of seasons, being a good defensive team, and signs are
good that that's going to continue this year, and the
great thing is now for the ladies they get to
come back home. A couple of big matches coming up
this week, beginning with Eastern Washington on the twenty second,
a really good Big Sky team coming to Grand Forks,
then another game against Jamestown before a couple more road contests. Again,
(26:48):
you can see the level the caliber of opposition just
will continue to go up. There are some big matches
looming later in non conference, but it'll be a good
test coming up on the twenty second against the East,
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Yeah, no doubt about it. I Easter haspent pretty good
in the Big Sky over the course of time, So
it'll be a challenge, you know, certainly, it's a match
I'll call it quote unquote if we're going to use
the theme in the area code, it's a match within
our area code, so to speak, literally and figuratively. And
so I think it's one of those. You know, it'll
(27:20):
be a challenge, no doubt. But being at home here
in Grand Forks on moving weekend will be phenomenal. So
we're going to expect over twenty five hundred new freshmen
to campus here and we're going to break the record
from last year for most freshmen on campus. So lots
(27:40):
going on in the Forks, Alex, Lots going on.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yeah, that's so exciting. It's cool beginning, I believe the
twenty fifth, but kind of the twenty sixth. This is
sort of the first full day of classes coming up
next week, so it's it's just right around the corner.
And yes, great to have some on campus activities like
women's soccer to be able to go out and support
and enjoy. You mentioned being at home. Three chances to
see this team at home in non conference plague in
a twenty second and twenty fourth, and then on the
(28:04):
road for a bit, then back on the fourth against
UC Santa Barbara, and then the next time we get
to see this team at home is an until some
league play. They'll kick off some of the action against
Denver on September the twenty fifth, in Omaha on the
twenty eighth, so a great opportunity. Bronson Field undergoing a
few changes. There are more places now built in bleachers,
places for people to sit instead of just kind of
on the grass alongside the touch line. Some nice improvements
(28:26):
over there at Bronson Bill made in the off season.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yeah, we were fortunate, as many of you may know,
that's listening and again you can certainly look at a
lot of different social media outlets, but Hislop is being
taken down as literally we speak right now. I mean
that project is actually going on as we speak. But
(28:50):
we were able to repurpose those that seating that was
at the Hislap pool to outside and I think it
looks phenomenal. I do. I think it gives folks an
opportunity and I still think the cool thing is when
you go there, you still if you want to bring
your own lawn chair or not, you still can do
(29:11):
that along the touch line if you will. But I
do think it definitely encloses Brownson a little bit more
and I think that just helps just in general, just
from the esthetics for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Yeah, nice step in the right direction to continue elevating
that program, which has had some success in recent years
in the Summer League. So best of luck to the
ladies as they come back home after a really strong
start to the non conference season. Best of luck of
volleyball and cross country who have yet to begin competition,
but for volleyball and exhibition coming up on the twenty
third at home against Jamestown before the season kicks off
on the twenty ninth. Cross country starts also at home
(29:49):
in Grant Forks on the twenty ninth, with the Ron
Pinn Classic over at Ray Richards. It's all starting built,
it's a schools starting It's all happening here pretty soon
for all of our fall sports.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Yeah, no doubt about it. Able to watch a little
bit of our Green and White scrimmage over the weekend
in volleyball, and yeah, I mean really really for me,
my eyes really hard to tell because obviously the coaches
have split the teams up so that it can be
as competitive as possible, and so I'll be a little
bit more interested obviously when we play teams that are
(30:21):
not us, if you will. So I saw some good things,
But when you see a good thing, was there a
bad thing too, So it was kind of hard to know,
you know, what was transpiring. So but it was it
was good. I'm excited for that season. And as we know,
both in the soccer realm, in the volleyball, really all
the sports, it's so competitive in the Summit League, and
(30:44):
so you're just gearing up to get yourself ready and
we're excited having some home matches here in Grand Forks
in the non conference season. In the volleyball season, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Nice to kick off with some at home. They're the
und Classic Sainties and Temple coming to town at the
end of August, a couple more home matches before all done,
before some league play starts. I think with volleyball, it's
that balance of having some returning, you know, players that
have been big parts of the program in recent years,
like Paige Barber, Lauren Pierragini, who was so good last
year as a freshman. A lot of new players though too.
(31:13):
It's going to be kind of a new look group
for this fourth season under Jesse and Kristin Tupac. It'll
be curious to see how they fare. I'm excited to
see this team just begin, just to get, like you said,
a better idea of what they're going to be all
about this year.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I know they're working hard, and I know for sure
they're excited about the year upcoming. Why wouldn't should be.
But I will learn more in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Yeah, so things to pay attention to again is really
all of our teams begin competition if they have not
already in the next week or so, a school gets
set to kick off again. Exciting times as you said,
around U and D's campus. Before we shift over to
the B side, just a couple other notes we mentioned
cross country getting going kind of a cool thing for
the track and cost country family. Kenneth Curry was named
the Summat League's twenty twenty five NCAA Woman of the
(31:59):
Year nominee. Kind of had such a phenomenal und career
that really peaked the last couple of seasons, one of
the best throwers in the country getting a really special
nod from the conference. Bill.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Yeah, and I think for those of you that wonder
what that means is obviously you need to participate and
be competitive at a very high level athletically, but then
also takes into a lot of other considerations as well,
how well you've done things in the community, how you've
(32:30):
done in the classroom, and all of those types of things.
So to be named from the league itself as the
nominee is pretty impressive and just a reminder, there's thirty
two multi divisional conferences in the country and so it's
pretty heavy stuff. Alex. When you start thinking about the
(32:50):
numbers of athletes that participate on an annual basis.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Pretty special for her to get that nod again. Congrats
to kind of one of the best track athletes all
time in University of North Dakota history. One really sobering
note that we'll finish on before we flip over. We
got news over the course of the weekend that former
U and D men's basketball player Dang Mayar had tragically
passed away over the weekend in his home state of Utah.
We don't know all the details at the moment, but
(33:16):
such a sad thing for a young man that I
think a lot of people in the Grand sports community
got to know and really enjoyed getting to know, and
the fact that he has gone now way too soon
really hits hard. So we just wanted to pass along
just our thoughts and our prayers and our condolences to
his family and friends and people in the U and
D community that knew Dang really well and enjoyed watching
(33:36):
him play. And it's one of those things that you
just don't know why, like why these things have to
happen sometimes, but it's you just remember, you think about
the things that he brought to the table and what
he meant to the community, and you just grieve together.
That's all you can do.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
That's right, That's right. I thought that coach say there's
quote was terrific. It's really sad. I know many many
in our department at our university are grieving today for sure,
and you know, obviously to the family itself. You know,
(34:12):
it's just incredibly sad and tragic. You know, he he
had the ability based on there was a court ruling
last year which allowed for students that played junior college
to potentially have one more year left. Well. Dan ended
(34:35):
up graduating in May from the University of North Dakota,
and I know that was an incredibly special moment for
him and his family. And you know, we all think
about the basketball side of life and or the competitive side,
but you know, I know that was an incredibly important day,
and I have to admit to you that's what I'm
(34:56):
going to think about when I think about dang, you know,
crossing the finish line, if you will, academically, and then
having an opportunity to get one more you know, bite
at the apple. And I think, you know, going to
Omaha gave just another experience. And I think in life
we're about experiences because you don't know when, you know,
none of us know when the chapter may conclude, and
(35:17):
so really really really sad. And for sure I can
tell you our our team is grieving right now, and
many of our staff members are grieving as well.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, certainly a good thoughts and prayers to Dan's family
and his friends. I have to really just a tragedy
over the course of the weekends build anything else. I
know it's hard to transition from that to talking about
other things that don't seem to matter as much, but
anything else on your mind from a U N D
R NCAA perspective before we flip over to a pretty
jam packed B side this week.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Yeah, no, I you know, And again I think everything
in perspective, right right, Alex. I mean I think, you know,
as I always say to our staff, to some degree,
we can spend multiple plates at once, and I think
we can grieve, we can continue to grieve. But you know,
I dang or whomever would want us to forge on.
(36:07):
And I think that's, you know, in some ways what
we need to do really in his memory. Well, flip,
and you're right, there's just a lot going on, you know,
with the teams that we like to watch and the
things that we I don't know that that we think
are not important but important in some ways.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
How about that the most important least important things.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Yeah, yeah, isn't that right?
Speaker 1 (36:33):
It's true. I think it's probably a good segue to
talk about the you know, my favorite soccer team, Liverpool
Football Club, that have been going through this again. They
suffer a huge tragedy early in the summer when Diogo Jiota,
who's one of their better attacking players, he'd been at
the club for a handful of years, a big part
of their championship team last season, was tragically killed along
with his brother in a car accident. Insane and this
(36:57):
fan base and the team of course, have been dealing
with that over the course of the summer. They played
their first home match, regular season home match on Friday night,
the English Premier League opener against Bournemouth. The tributes that
the fan base and the club laid out for Diogo
and for his family, so his wife and his three
young kids were there, His parents were there at the game,
(37:17):
and I can't even imagine what that was like for
them to be in that place and experience that, but
they they sang, you know, a lot of clubs have
songs right for all of these individual players that you
sing in the crowd and anytime they score a goal
or when they do something special, and Diogo was no different.
And the fan base sang his song right before the
(37:39):
match began, and then they sing You'll Never Walk Alone,
which is the Liverpool anthem and is they actually become
the anthem of a number of other clubs around the world.
But it's such this incredible poignant thing about you know
always what's that song about? Like being together? You've always
got someone with you, You're never alone. And you could
see the emotion on the people in the stands are
(37:59):
in a slow the manager of the players, and then
you have to go out and play a football match.
They did a moment of silence as well. It was
a really nice tribute. But the match ends. Liverpool have
this great finish. It was two to two late and
they score in the eighty eighth minute and then Mo
Salad scores to see it out. It's a four to
two win. And after the match is over, the crowd
starts singing Diogo's song again and Mo who's again this
(38:20):
is one of the best players in the world, Like
he's the reigning Premier League Player of the Year. I
think he had twenty nine goals and eighteen assists last
year to lead the league in both categories. Like an
incredible footballer, he goes over in front of the home
crowd at the cop ends kind of the supporters section
and claps along to the song and just cries, like.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Just just it was.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
It was just like I'm watching from the Dakotas and
I've got my seven year old daughter with me, who's
become a Liverpool fan, which has been very sweet, and
you know, I got emotional and she was like, why
are you crying, Dad, And it's like, this is you know,
this is more than just sports.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
It is it is it is it's it's the human condition.
And you know, we had our friends down in Brookings
go through it with a football player and you know,
you know, and again, I obviously every day that we
live there's going to be people that pass away all
around the country, but it hits home when it's really
(39:20):
someone you know, not even scratching the surface of their
life at that point and everything's in front of them
and it just it does. It's very very sad. I
watched that too. Alex it was moving and I think
all of the matches it was opening weekend, this weekend
in the Premier League, so as Alex said, Liverpool because
(39:40):
they're the champions, open things up and they get their
trophy and do all the things that you do because
of that. Yeah, over you know, I you know, just perspective,
it's it's it's it's it's a Yang and a Yang
that day for sure, and the rest of the grounds
I thought did a tremendous job making sure that they
honored his memory as well.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
I think that's one of the things the English game
does really well, Like when things like this happen, when
tragedy strikes, when it's someone associated with the game, you know,
it's not just the club maybe that that person played
for or represented, like the whole league kind of stops
and remembers, yes, and whether that's someone that passed away
who played in the nineteen fifties or sixties, or someone, yes,
(40:23):
who was in the prime of their career and was
taken away way too soon. I think it's just it's
important to do those things, I think just to show that, hey,
this person made an impact and we want to remember them.
And a lot of times like if it's someone that
passes away late in life, after they've had a good,
full life, they do a minute's applause versus a moment
of silence. Sport really elicits those types of emotions that
(40:45):
you get attached to these people and these teams that
you maybe you have either never met and never will
or you've just seen from afar, but they stir up
those emotions in you. And when Federico Keiza scored for
me late in that match and he breaks a tie
and all that emotion spills over, like you know, you're excited.
It's that's part of the reason why you watch, because
(41:06):
there's that connectivity. And I don't know Federico Kuieza, I
know his story, though I've I feel like I've got
a connection with him. And I'm sure you said, I'm
sure you felt the same way when ma Carloson scored
his second right.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Yeah, Well, you know it's funny if you if we
go right into the soccer piece. So for for many
of you that have again, I we don't no judgment
if you kill it. If you're not listening right now
and you're you're just an a sider, I get it.
But if you're here, you're here for it all. So
just a reminder, Alex follows a team. Let's just say
(41:41):
that's really, really good Tottenham. My team is kind of
a really a roller coaster. So so we're in the
amusement park. He's the one that you can count on
the whole time. Ours the ride might be shut down
at times. There's a lot of things going on, But yes,
I think Tottenham, let's just say this. We talked about
(42:04):
Henrik's team, our women's soccer team having a clean sheet.
I think the one thing that Thomas Frank is going
to bring to Tottenham is a little bit different structure
than what we were used to over the last couple
of years. As much as I love Ange, you know,
I think we've seen we've seen him employ different tactical
(42:25):
you know thoughts even throughout the preseason, which will be
fascinating as we move forward.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
They appear to be a little more yes, adaptable, depending
on the opposition. Now, you played Burnley, yea to kick
things off at home. This is a Burnley team that
came up last year in second place in the Championship
and was known for their defensive solidity. And then you know,
spend some money in the off season. I think you
were handed a pretty good opponent to kick things off
(42:55):
with and you did what good teams should do. You
took care of business without too much fuss. It was
a pretty comfortable three nail. Would would you agree, by
the way, pretty comfortable three nail? Pretty comfortable.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
So I would say that you're one hundred percent right
again you should win at home against it a newly
promoted side, although that did not occur last year for Tottenham,
and that is really the that is really the truth.
And so I as much as yes, it could also go,
it could go interesting throughout the game if they're hanging
(43:26):
in and I think I think Tottenham did a nice
job of well, they scored early enough in the game
that probably gave the fans a chance to exhale a
little bit. But then you'll kind of want to get
that second one, and they finally did some beautiful goals. Actually,
I mean, if for Charlson's going to be healthy, Alex,
you know what, they talked about it at one point,
(43:48):
another striker along with Selenki. But at the end of
the day, if he's literally going to be healthy, then
they do have two options upfront, which you know what,
that's great.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
It might have a third coming, not necessarily upfront, but
ebercies A apparently is on his way soon from Crystal Palace,
which would be a great coup for Tottenham, I think.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
So.
Speaker 1 (44:10):
He scored an incredible goal against Chelsea at the weekends.
It was disallowed because of a I don't know, a
weird rules in fraction by one of his teammates, but
it was a lovely free kick like that guy's really
really good and so, especially with James Madison now probably
being out for eight months with an aclsare basically the
entire season, you could throw as a in one of
those attacking midfield roles and be able to pick up
(44:32):
some of the slack. But I will say this, you
do get a pretty stiff test next week. Do you
know who you're planning the next bill?
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Yes, we're going to go to Manchester City, where you're
going to be a big Spurs fan.
Speaker 1 (44:44):
You know I would love a draw. Yes, I would
love to see Spurs win that match. Yes, yes, you
kick off Saturday morning, six thirty am against the man
City team who just looked real good against Wolves four
nil at the weekends. So we will see. But hey,
after that, you get Bournemouth, you get west Ham, you
get Brighton, you get Wolves, get leads. So you get
(45:06):
a west Ham team that might be the worst team
in the league, maybe touching out what we saw from
the opening weekend, leads another newly promoted team, Wolves a
team it might be going down. Brighton and Bournemouth aren't easy,
but you have a chance to maybe build a little
bit of momentum throughout the course of September and October.
Not the worst start to the season for Thomas Frank.
I think you could have a good chance to pick
(45:27):
up some points.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
We've all seen enough when you've got a team that's
trying to flush a previous season like Tottenham is, and
you know what they did in the league last year obviously,
which just wasn't good enough. And so every match becomes
a challenge because it was difficult to garner points last year,
(45:49):
it really was, And so I hate to be the one. Hey,
I'm taking it one match at a time, but truly
I am. I you know, you never know. They did
have some action, some luck against Man City over the
last several years, so it'll be interesting to see what happens.
Speaker 1 (46:06):
You've been the one scene that's had their number. Ironically,
I know the league very strange.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
It's really weird.
Speaker 1 (46:12):
You mentioned I like how you had trouble getting points
last year. You lost twenty two matches bill out of
thirty eight. It was the most matches lost by any
team that was not relegated in Premier League history. So, yes,
you did have some trouble earning points lest well, But.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
I do I do want to remind my Spurs friends,
and I'm using that term loosely on the on some
of the pods I listened to is that we don't
start the year seventeenth though, so it feels like there's
this thought that how are we going to make up
all of this and how are we going to get
by all these Well, here's how you all started zero,
(46:50):
and when you get three, you're ahead of teams now,
so I'm done with the seventeenth place that's in the
rear view mirror. Now you're kind of up top. But
you're right, you know, any sort of result over the
weekend would be incredible, But it's really those other matches
where they've got to figure some things out. And the
way Thomas Frank rolls the one thing that's good is
(47:12):
he's been in the league for what seven years now,
I think, and so he knows every team inside it out,
including Tottenham, and so it is to what has probably
made them let's just say leaky. Maybe it's the word
very leaky.
Speaker 1 (47:29):
That's a key, very leaky, very leaky. Yes, yes, well,
best of luck to you again. Will be cheering for
the Spurs. This weekend's really quick. Red Sox thoughts kind
of up and down of late, losing some close games.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
Yeah, so let's go glass half full first, and then
I'll give you my little sadness over the weekend. Is
glass half full is since the All Star break, they've
had a really challenging schedule and they've done a good
job staying afloat so much so that season ends today.
They're in the playoffs, right, so I think, you know,
(48:04):
it does get I think the schedule opens up a
little bit here over the next five weeks or so.
But you know, a Saturday, this is what ends up
happening in baseball if you're really following a team hard.
Is Saturday Saturday got us to Sunday's loss by being
(48:25):
up seven to two on Saturday night and not being
able to finish that thing off without bringing your closer
in affected that game yesterday, which at three to one.
If you bring a closer in with Whitlock, that game's
probably over yesterday as well. But because we couldn't finish
it out on Saturday, all that to be said, Alex,
(48:46):
you know, I'm happy with where the team is right now,
but by no means is that roster constructed as a
World Series champion. It's just not. I mean, we need
a number two starter for sure, the Penn span iffy,
and obviously we have more outfielders than we need, and
so I think we need another out another off season
(49:07):
to rectify all of that.
Speaker 1 (49:09):
Yeah, it feels that way. Yeah, But as you said, though,
if the season ended today, they would have the top
wild card spot. They have a lot of teams nipping
at their heels, so there's a long ways to go.
The Yankees are just a half game back. It's gonna
be an interesting race. It's gonna be an interesting September.
I've got a feeling. But like you said, schedule a
little lightens up a little bit, we'll see if they
can take advantage. Unfortunately, Marcela Mayer will not be a
(49:31):
part of it. He wasn't a massive necessarily a massive cog,
but risk injury done for the season for one of
the bright young stars in this Red Sox.
Speaker 2 (49:39):
Yeah, I think I think they knew it. I think
they tried to figure out can he help it all?
And here at the end of the year. But I
think you're he's got such a bright upside, you gotta
be really careful with him. So they've I'm sure made
the right decision there, and you know, we'll well, we'll
see what ends up happening. I hous this for a
pod prediction to some degree, and one of my friends
(50:02):
who talk socks with me all the time, says, I'm crazy.
But at the end of the day, they're playing the
Yankees for four games coming up. I'd walk Aaron Judge
every time he came to the plane. I would not
pitch to him because I'm not scared of that lineup,
but I am scared of him.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
It's not the worst idea. Give him the bonds treatment.
Just put him on first base.
Speaker 2 (50:24):
Every time, every time bases loaded nobody out, put them.
Speaker 1 (50:28):
On their next ten or all against Alas teams. They've
got six against Baltimore four against New York. Eight of
those are on the road, so a really big stretch
between now and the end of August for the Socks.
So when we pod next, we'll know more. You will
know a little more about this team's fate.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Well in the Socks have been really good at Fenway
and been so so on the road.
Speaker 1 (50:51):
Well, we will see how that all shakes out. We
will discuss that and much more, including some teams in
action when we next pod, coming up on the second September.
Bill is always great to chat and great to catch up.
Big thanks to Kyle Grooms as well for jumping on.
Really sets the table for what's going to be a
fun fall ahead.
Speaker 2 (51:07):
Yeah, thanks, Alex. I always appreciate this opportunity to pod.
And for those of you that have students going back
to school, be safe. It's always an interesting time of
year for sure, and obviously the University of North Dakota
is starting classes, but so won't many others that have
kids and younger kids, so be careful out there.
Speaker 1 (51:28):
Yeah, back to school. Yeah, it's a special time. Enjoy it,
relish it, make some memories, and yes we will pod.
We will pod soon, so on behalf of Bill and
Kyle Groomes and our entire behind the scenes team Alex
Docker Johnson and Paul Rawlston. I'm Alex Seiner. Thank you
for listening. Yes, enjoy the start of school and we'll
talk to you soon.
Speaker 2 (52:00):
I don't have to
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