March 11, 2025 • 18 mins
New UND Head Football Coach Eric Schmidt discusses Spring football.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
And we welcome you back here to the five oh
six Pub downtown Grand Forks, Paul Rolston, Tim Hennessee, and
for the first time ever on HOWK Talk within the
five oh six Pub and across the Fighting Hawks Radio network,
we welcome the new head coach of North Dakota Football.
Former player now back, Eric.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Schmid everybody star, yeah play, also former assistant as well,
so we're glad to have him back in part of
the U and D family, leading that green and white
out of that tunnel again and this time as a
head coach.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Welcome aboard, and we're glad to have you in your boat,
ready to start your first spring season here at UND
starting what next week just over a week, right.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yeah, we're a week from Thursday, so we're getting close.
And guys have been awesome. We've got a really good
training session here eight full weeks and got to give
a lot of credit to our strength and conditioning staff.
Those guys have have done a great job with our
guys and and our guys have really dove in and
and it's it's been a really good eight weeks. A
lot of guys making a lot of games. We're actually
compiling numbers a little bit here this week to to
(01:04):
see where guys were at when we first got here.
We did a bunch of things sports science wise with
them and player development wise, and then we'll give them
some feedback there and and.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
It'll be good.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
We've been watching them squat and clean and all that.
Now we need to start watching them play football.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
So it'd be fun.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
How many you got?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
How many? How many of are in the are going
to be in the camp and in spring football.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
We'll be at ninety two.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
So yeah, and that's uh, you know, the numbers are
pretty even offensively and defensively. And we'll have about six
or seven specialists in there too as well, So we
have a good number of guys to be able to
to go and uh and practice and and and do
some things that we want to be able to do
as far as you know, some live sessions and things
like that, just to really be able to test them
guys and get good evaluations.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Are you taking spring football and what you do in
it from places you've been and maybe a little piece
of that little piece of here, a little piece of
hair and and incorporated the risks for you guys.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, I think that's you know, Coach is are are
really good thiefs you know what I mean at stealing
things that that uh you know what I mean that
not not only just in springball, in our entire you know,
I've talked about this before, but I think the the
year round calendar. People ask me us all the time, like, hey,
you left here for six years and came back, like
what you learn and and and probably the year round
(02:19):
calendar is the one thing that I feel like, is
is the most important thing, Like you know, it's uh,
it's about now until you know what I mean, the
h until January and and doing the things that you
need to do and doing them consistently and and do them.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
At a high level.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So uh, you know, it started from day one with
like I talked about some of the player development things
that we're doing and not only incorporating strength and conditioning
in there, but incorporating some some team building things and
and really you know, the culture is always the buzzword
I feel like, and like, how do you get guys
that you know, I mean, to build bonds together? And
and to me, like you got to do hard things together,
(02:53):
you know what I mean, Like when you do hard
things and guys are really you know, in those moments
where where it's hard, they need their teammates, they need
their buddies, you know what I mean, to be able
to uh, to create that energy and that environment to
kind of get them over the hump off of it.
You know, we created some of that in uh in
our in our winter season stuff. And then we played
some football too as well. Did some player uh some
player run practices and and I'm big and uh, you know,
(03:16):
this thing's got to be player led, you know. I mean,
good teams, I feel like are led by the coaches. Uh,
you know, poor teams nobody leads. But the great teams,
I think the players, you know what I mean, they
police themselves. And those are those are the best teams
that I've been able to be a part of. And
we're really trying to to develop that in our locker
room and uh and make sure we give those guys
the ability, you know, and the tools to be able
(03:37):
to to lead their groups. So it's been, uh, it's
been all those things so far, and like I said,
that leads us now into the next phase of our training.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
So when you got here, you had a chance to
sit down with the players that remained on the roster,
and we're going to remain and be here for the spring.
How many came in and said, I'm really excited to
show you what I got because I realized that the
competition is probably wide open. Did did everyone be basically
say that, because I'm sure there's guys that say, Hey,
I really want to show someone new here what I
(04:05):
can do, what I can offer for this group. Was
that pretty much a common messaging that you heard then
when you when you visited with all the guys that individually.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Yeah, I think you know that.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
That's the one thing I think you know coming in
and and obviously it's a clean slate now, right, And
there's there's guys that you know, for one reason, one
reason or another might have been you know, I mean,
really good fits for what was going on here in
the past, and maybe some guys that weren't. And now
when you make some changes and things like that, there's
going to be you know, surprises and disappointments, you know
when those things start to happen. But you know, we
(04:37):
came in just to give you a little bit of transparency.
When we came in, we had you know, obviously some
one on one private meetings with guys and just talk
to them about hey, man, like, give me two things
that that you really like about the program, things that
you don't want change that you feel like, are you know,
I mean our assets to what we're doing, and then
give me two things that you you know, maybe you
feel like, hey man, I want to get these things
(04:58):
changed off of it.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I think the one th thing you know.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
That that resonated throughout those those conversations was once again,
our strength conditioning coach was a guy that I think
was very well respected. Guys felt like they were getting developed.
And that's a huge thing I think when it comes
down to this thing, like this stuff is about player development,
and it's about you know us, not just the football coaches,
but the strength conditioning guys, the nutrition people, the athletic trainers,
(05:22):
all those peoples have to be the best helpers and
supporters that they can be of these guys to make
them the best versions of themselves. And I think that's
the thing that, you know, I would hope that our
guys are seeing right now, they have a bunch of
people here that are they're not trying to control them,
They're trying to partner with them every day and make
them the best versions of themselves off of it, and
that part spend they've really grown, I think that way.
(05:44):
And between those guys pouring into them and those gals
pouring into them, and between them having to do some
things that are pretty intense and do it hard, I
think now we're starting to, you know, to be able
to make some gap or to make some gains and
close some gaps.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
It's interesting when you talked like that, how you nutrition
is in this and this and this and this, How
different is that from when you were here.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I mean, I thought it was a big deal to
get a free peanut butter and Jollie salach, you know
what I mean. Back in the day, chocolate milk like
that was pretty cool, Like hey, I don't have to
pay for this, you know what type of deal and
it just is.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
What it is, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
And and those are the things I think that if
you want to be at the top, you have to
be able to commit to these things off of it,
like it, you know, genetically we need to get better,
you know what I mean. Like and I've said it,
I think there's some things that were set up in
place here that were really good and that we've been
able to maybe take some things that were you know,
I mean a ripple and make them a wave.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
For instance, you know, just the nutrition piece and what
we're doing with our guys. I left, you know, a
Mountain West program in San Diego, California, San Diego State.
We're probably feeding our guys at this time of year
maybe one sometimes twice a week, depending on how much
football they were getting. Well, we did it four times
a week here off of it and through an eight
week session. So you know, looking back at some of
(06:58):
those those workouts that we were doing out West, I mean,
those guys would get done. It would be you know,
eleven thirty eleven forty five. They might have you know,
five hundred to seven hundred and fifty calories in their
bodies just because it was it was suggested that they
you know what I mean, that they eat before workouts
and stuff like that, but it wasn't required. Well, what
our guys are doing, you know, with the recovery meals
(07:18):
and things like that, they're required. They check in the
meals and all that they're probably by ten forty five,
you know, got three thousand to thirty five hundred calories
in their bodies, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Can you see a difference or do you think it'll be.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Yeah, it's gonna take some time, but for sure, like
we monitor that stuff now. We have some great you
know resources here with with Jed Hougan, and and then
we're even we're even using the university. There's you know,
some some interns, some from the dietetics department that are
in with our guys. They're making shakes after after workouts
and things like that.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So just some things like you talk about things.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
That we learn that you you know, as you go
through this thing and get to some other places and
and and you know kind of you know, add some
tools to your toolbout, Like hey, man, like god, dang it, man,
we need to do this, you know what I mean,
Like this is damn important at the end of the
day if we want to get our guys to where
we want to get them. And yeah, there's a number
of those stories already where guys are like, hey man,
I've never lifted this much before, I've never weighed this
(08:13):
much before and ran this fast. And by no means
am I saying hey, are we there yet or anything
like that.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
But I think at the end of the day, Like, Hey.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
It's it's compounding interest, right, It's uninterrupted investing in the
right things and doing it for a long period of time,
and that's how you're gonna make gains on people.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
So one of the other questions somebody had mentioned to
me because I think when we talked on our morning show,
you came in one morning, you were still acquiring your
coaching staff, you were still getting people in place that
is set. Now you have decided that you're going to
be running the defense, which you've you've done before, and
that you know, we're seeing more of that in college
(08:51):
football in different places. Is that something you're gonna feel
like is Obviously you don't. It's not a burden because
you love that part of the ball, But being the
head coach and trying to manage all that, do you
have a good feel of how that's all going to
work together? So to speak?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, I mean we have we have high level guys,
you know what I mean, in our offices and and
I think you gotta you gotta let those guys coach,
you know what I mean, Like coach Frickty. Isaac's done
a great job here, you know what I mean. And
and for me to sit over his shoulder all day
long and and you know what I mean, and micro
manage him like you know, I hired him for a reason,
you know what I mean, He's already proven that, you
know what I mean, he's uh, you know, he can
(09:28):
he can help our team win on the offensive side
of the ball often. I think the other thing that
that was important to me was a lot of the
guys that were on defense were guys that I had
been with in the past, whether that was at Fresno
or Washington, but only one of them had been with
me last year off of at San Diego State. So
I wanted to make sure that, hey, we get all
this installed the proper way of the first time. It's
(09:49):
something that I thought that we could have did a
better job at some places that I've been at in
the past, where you know, when you have to reinstall
and reteach and things like that like can really hurt
you us actually in year one off of it, So
I think it was really imperative for us that, hey,
we're changing some things, some structure stuff on that side
of the ball, that we get it in and we
get it in right, and we have guys that are
(10:10):
more than capable, and that's going to happen down the road,
you know. I mean, one of those guys is going
to take over and be the guy off of it.
But I just thought, like, hey, getting in here day one. Hey,
we haven't been around each other here, some of us
for maybe twelve or eighteen months or two years off
of it, Like, hey, we need to get back together
and make sure that the way we're teaching this stuff
is exactly the way we want it Todd, and that
you know, I mean, all the details, everything is crystal
(10:32):
clear for our guys.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
We get in there, we can hit the ground running.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
That's got to be one of the roadblocks a little bit,
because people always talking about continuity, especially in the coaching
staff and with the players.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
You don't have that yet, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
And I think you're exactly right. I think that's now.
The good part is I trust, like those are the guys.
Like when you're an assistant coach and you're in those
long you know what I mean, weeks of game planning
and practices and things like that, like you find doubt
like who the real guys are, Like who's truly developing guys,
who's bringing you know, what I mean, ideas and plans
(11:07):
you know, to uh to your weekly game planning things
like that.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
So as far as the.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Guys that we were able to assemble here, man, I
just I feel like, you know, we've been able to
hit a home run. Just I mean, guys that are
that are you know, low ego, high output type guys,
you know what I mean. And that's what we talk
about all the time, you know what I mean, in
our in our offices and and uh I've been super
you know, I mean fired up just those guys watching them,
you know, build relationships with our current players, you know
(11:33):
what I mean. I think that's that's a testament to UH,
to the type of people they are. Not only are
they are they really good teachers and really good coaches,
but good teammates, great husbands, you know what I mean,
outstanding fathers like those are the type of guys you want.
You just want really good people, you know what I mean.
And that's the cool part about it is, you know,
doing this and and and one experience that I had
at San Diego as I was able to go and
(11:55):
uh and sit down with with you know, the Navy
Seals and some of the elite you.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Know what I mean, warriors in uh, you know, in
all the.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
World often and talking to those guys about leadership, and
you know, you look at all those guys that are
out there, the guys that are going through it, you know,
Hell Week and all that kind of stuff. It's those
those young people they want to they want to emulate
their instructors, you know what I mean, They want to
be like those people because they have kind of been
there and done that already. And those I can see
(12:22):
that going on already with our staff, you know what
I mean, Like watching our wide receivers and talking to
those guys, you know what I mean, Like, hey, like
this guy's really pouring into me. He wants me to
be the best version of me. Like there's just you know,
there's just all that time and love that goes into
it off of it.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
So and that's across the board.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I look at our tight ends guy and what he's
been able to do with those guys. So I just
think those relationships, like that's the part right now that
is that's been huge not only you know, the strength
conditioning side of things, but also getting to know your
position coach, and really you know what I mean, getting
in with those guys and starting to build some bonds.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Well that's part of recruiting too, when you're a recruited
kid because I'm going, well this guy is really good.
Well you know them better than that, you know, if
you'll go into that, buy into that whole situation.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Right, Yeah, I mean that's that's a huge part of recruiting.
Off of it is building relationships and talking to you know,
you know people that that kid has relationships with, and
it's the football piece of it we can evaluate. Then
it comes down to all the other intangibles off of it,
like how much.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Do they truly love football? You know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Off of it like this, do you want to you know,
when you get out of the bed every morning? Off
of it? Like do you love it? And when I
say love it, you gotta love practices, you gotta love film,
you gotta love the weight room, like all that stuff
goes into it, Like do you love you know what
I mean the process of getting better because we're not
talking everybody loves Saturday afternoon, Like, it's not hard to
love that.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Off of it.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
It's all the work that goes into it. And you
want some guys that come in that obviously create to
your environment, right, Like your environment is you know what
you do there, whether it's players, coaches, support staff and
all that, Like that's how you get you know what
I mean, a better football team. Like to me, like
practice is about performance every single day, and it's the
environment that you can put those guys in and and
(14:00):
in a positive environment, you're getting the right the right
energy which was focus and effort, you know, I mean
every single day, and that's how guys get better.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Final question here through these workouts and through strength and
conditioning and on this development period before spring practice. You
know we've had leaders like Bo Belquist who's moved on.
Are their leaders starting to step into a leadership role
within your roster? And who who might those guys be
on maybe the offense and defensive side within within this
(14:28):
team already?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Yeah, you know, I think some names that probably people
are pretty familiar with. I think our offensive line, the
way they operate has been something that that I've been
impressed with as far as not only individually. There's some
leaders in that group, Ben Buck's, uh Liam Beecher, kayleb Olsen,
you know guys that are it's hard I think nowadays
more than ever. That guys will will during a workout,
(14:52):
you know what I mean, Like they'll be vulnerable, They'll
they'll they're willing to get on their teammates and be like, hey, man,
like you're not doing what you need to do right now,
off of it and and call those guys out to
people and out of a place where it's like, hey,
I'm your friend, you know what I mean, twenty two
hours out of the day, but these two hours I'm
your teammate. So I'm not going to tell you what
you want to hear. I'm going to tell you what
you need to hear in order to make you a
better person, a better player, So you know some of that.
(15:15):
And then guys being able to be vulnerable and say,
hey man, if I'm not doing it the same thing,
like I want you to call me out, you know
what I mean, and the meat having the competitive you
know I mean, mature you'd be like, you know what,
You're right, like, I'm not going to get defensive about this.
I'm gonna i gotta change what I'm doing and do
it better off it. So I think in that group
it's been really good.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Obviously.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I think the quarterback room that's where your leadership needs
to come come from. Those guys got to believe that
that guy is going to be a difference maker for them.
So I think we've we've made some gains there. I
think there's definitely room to grow there. That's that's one
part of spring ball I'm excited about. And then defensively,
I think, you know, there's a lot of guys that
really respect. I think guys like Malachi McNeil for the
(15:51):
right way. I mean, I think like he's not a
guy like you talk about being a humble guy, a
guy that has an attitude of gratitude, like he's you know,
you help him solve a problem, you help him get
to be you know, I mean, a better version of himself.
He's he's thanking you, He's thanking his teammates. Lance Rutger
I think is very much that way too as well.
So there's some guys that have built, you know, I
(16:12):
mean some some sweat equity and some credibility, some street
credit in the locker room. And and those are definitely
two guys on the defensive side. And then I say,
some guys, you know what I mean, in the offensive line.
I definitely feel like I have done a good job
of leaning our group here so far this winter season.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Oh it's awesome to hear. Of course, next Thursday you go,
the schedule of practices has been released. I would assume
most of those practices would be inside the pallar, but
on a good day you might be out on the
turf as well. Maybe I don't know, I mean, how
I guess will that be determined on the day basically.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I mean, if it's nice enough and we can get
outside and and you know, do some things there, especially
when we get down in certain parts of the field,
like the red zone and stuff like that, where you're
in the pollard, and maybe that that part of the
field gets cut off a little bit.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Sometimes gets a.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Little bit for guys in there to understand, like if
you move the end zone end zone up five yards
or something like that, they don't they don't understand like, hey,
that's the back of the end zone, you're out.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Of bounds type of deals.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
So so yeah, we've talked about it, and I definitely
feel like, hey, there's some you know, just looking at
the forecast here off if it's you know what I mean,
one of those days where it's supposed to be fifty
or supposed to be sixty, and it's nice in the morning,
like we're gonna get out there and roll out there
too as well.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Be fun.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Do you remember the days of shoveling off Memorial Stadium?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Yeah, those days are long ago, and that's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Shoveling snowblowling travel. Well, coach, it's great to have you
swing in. We look forward to in season visits on
this program and really focusing on this program as it
continues to move in the valley. And I know you've
got big goals set for it and we're excited for
them and to see this journey begin. So good luck
here in the coming weeks. It's gonna be an exciting
(17:50):
time for the most hardcore you and d football supporter
during these spring ball games or spring ball practices, and
for those of us in the periphery, we hope for
good health, good practices, and then we can't wait till
the season gets up and running in August. Sounds good
than a right appreciate Thank you, Thank you Eric Schmidt,
new head coach at the University of North Dakota for
(18:10):
that football program. Great stuff. Yeah anymore, Well, yeah, I
mean first first year, Yeah, yeah, exactly first year. When
we return, we're going to turn our attention to golf.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Men's golf has had a great start to their spring campaign.
We'll talk to Todd Schaeffer, had men's golf coach when
we return. Next to Hawk Talk all across the Funny
Hawks Radio network.
And we welcome you back here to the five oh
six Pub downtown Grand Forks, Paul Rolston, Tim Hennessee, and
for the first time ever on HOWK Talk within the
five oh six Pub and across the Fighting Hawks Radio network,
we welcome the new head coach of North Dakota Football.
Former player now back, Eric.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Schmid everybody star, yeah play, also former assistant as well,
so we're glad to have him back in part of
the U and D family, leading that green and white
out of that tunnel again and this time as a
head coach.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Welcome aboard, and we're glad to have you in your boat,
ready to start your first spring season here at UND
starting what next week just over a week, right.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yeah, we're a week from Thursday, so we're getting close.
And guys have been awesome. We've got a really good
training session here eight full weeks and got to give
a lot of credit to our strength and conditioning staff.
Those guys have have done a great job with our
guys and and our guys have really dove in and
and it's it's been a really good eight weeks. A
lot of guys making a lot of games. We're actually
compiling numbers a little bit here this week to to
(01:04):
see where guys were at when we first got here.
We did a bunch of things sports science wise with
them and player development wise, and then we'll give them
some feedback there and and.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
It'll be good.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
We've been watching them squat and clean and all that.
Now we need to start watching them play football.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
So it'd be fun.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
How many you got?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
How many? How many of are in the are going
to be in the camp and in spring football.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
We'll be at ninety two.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
So yeah, and that's uh, you know, the numbers are
pretty even offensively and defensively. And we'll have about six
or seven specialists in there too as well, So we
have a good number of guys to be able to
to go and uh and practice and and and do
some things that we want to be able to do
as far as you know, some live sessions and things
like that, just to really be able to test them
guys and get good evaluations.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Are you taking spring football and what you do in
it from places you've been and maybe a little piece
of that little piece of here, a little piece of
hair and and incorporated the risks for you guys.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, I think that's you know, Coach is are are
really good thiefs you know what I mean at stealing
things that that uh you know what I mean that
not not only just in springball, in our entire you know,
I've talked about this before, but I think the the
year round calendar. People ask me us all the time, like, hey,
you left here for six years and came back, like
what you learn and and and probably the year round
(02:19):
calendar is the one thing that I feel like, is
is the most important thing, Like you know, it's uh,
it's about now until you know what I mean, the
h until January and and doing the things that you
need to do and doing them consistently and and do them.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
At a high level.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So uh, you know, it started from day one with
like I talked about some of the player development things
that we're doing and not only incorporating strength and conditioning
in there, but incorporating some some team building things and
and really you know, the culture is always the buzzword
I feel like, and like, how do you get guys
that you know, I mean, to build bonds together? And
and to me, like you got to do hard things together,
(02:53):
you know what I mean, Like when you do hard
things and guys are really you know, in those moments
where where it's hard, they need their teammates, they need
their buddies, you know what I mean, to be able
to uh, to create that energy and that environment to
kind of get them over the hump off of it.
You know, we created some of that in uh in
our in our winter season stuff. And then we played
some football too as well. Did some player uh some
player run practices and and I'm big and uh, you know,
(03:16):
this thing's got to be player led, you know. I mean,
good teams, I feel like are led by the coaches. Uh,
you know, poor teams nobody leads. But the great teams,
I think the players, you know what I mean, they
police themselves. And those are those are the best teams
that I've been able to be a part of. And
we're really trying to to develop that in our locker
room and uh and make sure we give those guys
the ability, you know, and the tools to be able
(03:37):
to to lead their groups. So it's been, uh, it's
been all those things so far, and like I said,
that leads us now into the next phase of our training.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
So when you got here, you had a chance to
sit down with the players that remained on the roster,
and we're going to remain and be here for the spring.
How many came in and said, I'm really excited to
show you what I got because I realized that the
competition is probably wide open. Did did everyone be basically
say that, because I'm sure there's guys that say, Hey,
I really want to show someone new here what I
(04:05):
can do, what I can offer for this group. Was
that pretty much a common messaging that you heard then
when you when you visited with all the guys that individually.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Yeah, I think you know that.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
That's the one thing I think you know coming in
and and obviously it's a clean slate now, right, And
there's there's guys that you know, for one reason, one
reason or another might have been you know, I mean,
really good fits for what was going on here in
the past, and maybe some guys that weren't. And now
when you make some changes and things like that, there's
going to be you know, surprises and disappointments, you know
when those things start to happen. But you know, we
(04:37):
came in just to give you a little bit of transparency.
When we came in, we had you know, obviously some
one on one private meetings with guys and just talk
to them about hey, man, like, give me two things
that that you really like about the program, things that
you don't want change that you feel like, are you know,
I mean our assets to what we're doing, and then
give me two things that you you know, maybe you
feel like, hey man, I want to get these things
(04:58):
changed off of it.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I think the one th thing you know.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
That that resonated throughout those those conversations was once again,
our strength conditioning coach was a guy that I think
was very well respected. Guys felt like they were getting developed.
And that's a huge thing I think when it comes
down to this thing, like this stuff is about player development,
and it's about you know us, not just the football coaches,
but the strength conditioning guys, the nutrition people, the athletic trainers,
(05:22):
all those peoples have to be the best helpers and
supporters that they can be of these guys to make
them the best versions of themselves. And I think that's
the thing that, you know, I would hope that our
guys are seeing right now, they have a bunch of
people here that are they're not trying to control them,
They're trying to partner with them every day and make
them the best versions of themselves off of it, and
that part spend they've really grown, I think that way.
(05:44):
And between those guys pouring into them and those gals
pouring into them, and between them having to do some
things that are pretty intense and do it hard, I
think now we're starting to, you know, to be able
to make some gap or to make some gains and
close some gaps.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
It's interesting when you talked like that, how you nutrition
is in this and this and this and this, How
different is that from when you were here.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I mean, I thought it was a big deal to
get a free peanut butter and Jollie salach, you know
what I mean. Back in the day, chocolate milk like
that was pretty cool, Like hey, I don't have to
pay for this, you know what type of deal and
it just is.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
What it is, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
And and those are the things I think that if
you want to be at the top, you have to
be able to commit to these things off of it,
like it, you know, genetically we need to get better,
you know what I mean. Like and I've said it,
I think there's some things that were set up in
place here that were really good and that we've been
able to maybe take some things that were you know,
I mean a ripple and make them a wave.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
For instance, you know, just the nutrition piece and what
we're doing with our guys. I left, you know, a
Mountain West program in San Diego, California, San Diego State.
We're probably feeding our guys at this time of year
maybe one sometimes twice a week, depending on how much
football they were getting. Well, we did it four times
a week here off of it and through an eight
week session. So you know, looking back at some of
(06:58):
those those workouts that we were doing out West, I mean,
those guys would get done. It would be you know,
eleven thirty eleven forty five. They might have you know,
five hundred to seven hundred and fifty calories in their
bodies just because it was it was suggested that they
you know what I mean, that they eat before workouts
and stuff like that, but it wasn't required. Well, what
our guys are doing, you know, with the recovery meals
(07:18):
and things like that, they're required. They check in the
meals and all that they're probably by ten forty five,
you know, got three thousand to thirty five hundred calories
in their bodies, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Can you see a difference or do you think it'll be.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Yeah, it's gonna take some time, but for sure, like
we monitor that stuff now. We have some great you
know resources here with with Jed Hougan, and and then
we're even we're even using the university. There's you know,
some some interns, some from the dietetics department that are
in with our guys. They're making shakes after after workouts
and things like that.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So just some things like you talk about things.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
That we learn that you you know, as you go
through this thing and get to some other places and
and and you know kind of you know, add some
tools to your toolbout, Like hey, man, like god, dang it, man,
we need to do this, you know what I mean,
Like this is damn important at the end of the
day if we want to get our guys to where
we want to get them. And yeah, there's a number
of those stories already where guys are like, hey man,
I've never lifted this much before, I've never weighed this
(08:13):
much before and ran this fast. And by no means
am I saying hey, are we there yet or anything
like that.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
But I think at the end of the day, Like, Hey.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
It's it's compounding interest, right, It's uninterrupted investing in the
right things and doing it for a long period of time,
and that's how you're gonna make gains on people.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
So one of the other questions somebody had mentioned to
me because I think when we talked on our morning show,
you came in one morning, you were still acquiring your
coaching staff, you were still getting people in place that
is set. Now you have decided that you're going to
be running the defense, which you've you've done before, and
that you know, we're seeing more of that in college
(08:51):
football in different places. Is that something you're gonna feel
like is Obviously you don't. It's not a burden because
you love that part of the ball, But being the
head coach and trying to manage all that, do you
have a good feel of how that's all going to
work together? So to speak?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, I mean we have we have high level guys,
you know what I mean, in our offices and and
I think you gotta you gotta let those guys coach,
you know what I mean, Like coach Frickty. Isaac's done
a great job here, you know what I mean. And
and for me to sit over his shoulder all day
long and and you know what I mean, and micro
manage him like you know, I hired him for a reason,
you know what I mean, He's already proven that, you
know what I mean, he's uh, you know, he can
(09:28):
he can help our team win on the offensive side
of the ball often. I think the other thing that
that was important to me was a lot of the
guys that were on defense were guys that I had
been with in the past, whether that was at Fresno
or Washington, but only one of them had been with
me last year off of at San Diego State. So
I wanted to make sure that, hey, we get all
this installed the proper way of the first time. It's
(09:49):
something that I thought that we could have did a
better job at some places that I've been at in
the past, where you know, when you have to reinstall
and reteach and things like that like can really hurt
you us actually in year one off of it, So
I think it was really imperative for us that, hey,
we're changing some things, some structure stuff on that side
of the ball, that we get it in and we
get it in right, and we have guys that are
(10:10):
more than capable, and that's going to happen down the road,
you know. I mean, one of those guys is going
to take over and be the guy off of it.
But I just thought, like, hey, getting in here day one. Hey,
we haven't been around each other here, some of us
for maybe twelve or eighteen months or two years off
of it, Like, hey, we need to get back together
and make sure that the way we're teaching this stuff
is exactly the way we want it Todd, and that
you know, I mean, all the details, everything is crystal
(10:32):
clear for our guys.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
We get in there, we can hit the ground running.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
That's got to be one of the roadblocks a little bit,
because people always talking about continuity, especially in the coaching
staff and with the players.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
You don't have that yet, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
And I think you're exactly right. I think that's now.
The good part is I trust, like those are the guys.
Like when you're an assistant coach and you're in those
long you know what I mean, weeks of game planning
and practices and things like that, like you find doubt
like who the real guys are, Like who's truly developing guys,
who's bringing you know, what I mean, ideas and plans
(11:07):
you know, to uh to your weekly game planning things
like that.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
So as far as the.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Guys that we were able to assemble here, man, I
just I feel like, you know, we've been able to
hit a home run. Just I mean, guys that are
that are you know, low ego, high output type guys,
you know what I mean. And that's what we talk
about all the time, you know what I mean, in
our in our offices and and uh I've been super
you know, I mean fired up just those guys watching them,
you know, build relationships with our current players, you know
(11:33):
what I mean. I think that's that's a testament to UH,
to the type of people they are. Not only are
they are they really good teachers and really good coaches,
but good teammates, great husbands, you know what I mean,
outstanding fathers like those are the type of guys you want.
You just want really good people, you know what I mean.
And that's the cool part about it is, you know,
doing this and and and one experience that I had
at San Diego as I was able to go and
(11:55):
uh and sit down with with you know, the Navy
Seals and some of the elite you.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Know what I mean, warriors in uh, you know, in
all the.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
World often and talking to those guys about leadership, and
you know, you look at all those guys that are
out there, the guys that are going through it, you know,
Hell Week and all that kind of stuff. It's those
those young people they want to they want to emulate
their instructors, you know what I mean, They want to
be like those people because they have kind of been
there and done that already. And those I can see
(12:22):
that going on already with our staff, you know what
I mean, Like watching our wide receivers and talking to
those guys, you know what I mean, Like, hey, like
this guy's really pouring into me. He wants me to
be the best version of me. Like there's just you know,
there's just all that time and love that goes into
it off of it.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
So and that's across the board.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I look at our tight ends guy and what he's
been able to do with those guys. So I just
think those relationships, like that's the part right now that
is that's been huge not only you know, the strength
conditioning side of things, but also getting to know your
position coach, and really you know what I mean, getting
in with those guys and starting to build some bonds.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Well that's part of recruiting too, when you're a recruited
kid because I'm going, well this guy is really good.
Well you know them better than that, you know, if
you'll go into that, buy into that whole situation.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Right, Yeah, I mean that's that's a huge part of recruiting.
Off of it is building relationships and talking to you know,
you know people that that kid has relationships with, and
it's the football piece of it we can evaluate. Then
it comes down to all the other intangibles off of it,
like how much.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Do they truly love football? You know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Off of it like this, do you want to you know,
when you get out of the bed every morning? Off
of it? Like do you love it? And when I
say love it, you gotta love practices, you gotta love film,
you gotta love the weight room, like all that stuff
goes into it, Like do you love you know what
I mean the process of getting better because we're not
talking everybody loves Saturday afternoon, Like, it's not hard to
love that.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Off of it.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
It's all the work that goes into it. And you
want some guys that come in that obviously create to
your environment, right, Like your environment is you know what
you do there, whether it's players, coaches, support staff and
all that, Like that's how you get you know what
I mean, a better football team. Like to me, like
practice is about performance every single day, and it's the
environment that you can put those guys in and and
(14:00):
in a positive environment, you're getting the right the right
energy which was focus and effort, you know, I mean
every single day, and that's how guys get better.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Final question here through these workouts and through strength and
conditioning and on this development period before spring practice. You
know we've had leaders like Bo Belquist who's moved on.
Are their leaders starting to step into a leadership role
within your roster? And who who might those guys be
on maybe the offense and defensive side within within this
(14:28):
team already?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Yeah, you know, I think some names that probably people
are pretty familiar with. I think our offensive line, the
way they operate has been something that that I've been
impressed with as far as not only individually. There's some
leaders in that group, Ben Buck's, uh Liam Beecher, kayleb Olsen,
you know guys that are it's hard I think nowadays
more than ever. That guys will will during a workout,
(14:52):
you know what I mean, Like they'll be vulnerable, They'll
they'll they're willing to get on their teammates and be like, hey, man,
like you're not doing what you need to do right now,
off of it and and call those guys out to
people and out of a place where it's like, hey,
I'm your friend, you know what I mean, twenty two
hours out of the day, but these two hours I'm
your teammate. So I'm not going to tell you what
you want to hear. I'm going to tell you what
you need to hear in order to make you a
better person, a better player, So you know some of that.
(15:15):
And then guys being able to be vulnerable and say,
hey man, if I'm not doing it the same thing,
like I want you to call me out, you know
what I mean, and the meat having the competitive you
know I mean, mature you'd be like, you know what,
You're right, like, I'm not going to get defensive about this.
I'm gonna i gotta change what I'm doing and do
it better off it. So I think in that group
it's been really good.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Obviously.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I think the quarterback room that's where your leadership needs
to come come from. Those guys got to believe that
that guy is going to be a difference maker for them.
So I think we've we've made some gains there. I
think there's definitely room to grow there. That's that's one
part of spring ball I'm excited about. And then defensively,
I think, you know, there's a lot of guys that
really respect. I think guys like Malachi McNeil for the
(15:51):
right way. I mean, I think like he's not a
guy like you talk about being a humble guy, a
guy that has an attitude of gratitude, like he's you know,
you help him solve a problem, you help him get
to be you know, I mean, a better version of himself.
He's he's thanking you, He's thanking his teammates. Lance Rutger
I think is very much that way too as well.
So there's some guys that have built, you know, I
(16:12):
mean some some sweat equity and some credibility, some street
credit in the locker room. And and those are definitely
two guys on the defensive side. And then I say,
some guys, you know what I mean, in the offensive line.
I definitely feel like I have done a good job
of leaning our group here so far this winter season.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Oh it's awesome to hear. Of course, next Thursday you go,
the schedule of practices has been released. I would assume
most of those practices would be inside the pallar, but
on a good day you might be out on the
turf as well. Maybe I don't know, I mean, how
I guess will that be determined on the day basically.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I mean, if it's nice enough and we can get
outside and and you know, do some things there, especially
when we get down in certain parts of the field,
like the red zone and stuff like that, where you're
in the pollard, and maybe that that part of the
field gets cut off a little bit.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Sometimes gets a.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Little bit for guys in there to understand, like if
you move the end zone end zone up five yards
or something like that, they don't they don't understand like, hey,
that's the back of the end zone, you're out.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Of bounds type of deals.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
So so yeah, we've talked about it, and I definitely
feel like, hey, there's some you know, just looking at
the forecast here off if it's you know what I mean,
one of those days where it's supposed to be fifty
or supposed to be sixty, and it's nice in the morning,
like we're gonna get out there and roll out there
too as well.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Be fun.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Do you remember the days of shoveling off Memorial Stadium?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Yeah, those days are long ago, and that's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Shoveling snowblowling travel. Well, coach, it's great to have you
swing in. We look forward to in season visits on
this program and really focusing on this program as it
continues to move in the valley. And I know you've
got big goals set for it and we're excited for
them and to see this journey begin. So good luck
here in the coming weeks. It's gonna be an exciting
(17:50):
time for the most hardcore you and d football supporter
during these spring ball games or spring ball practices, and
for those of us in the periphery, we hope for
good health, good practices, and then we can't wait till
the season gets up and running in August. Sounds good
than a right appreciate Thank you, Thank you Eric Schmidt,
new head coach at the University of North Dakota for
(18:10):
that football program. Great stuff. Yeah anymore, Well, yeah, I
mean first first year, Yeah, yeah, exactly first year. When
we return, we're going to turn our attention to golf.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Men's golf has had a great start to their spring campaign.
We'll talk to Todd Schaeffer, had men's golf coach when
we return. Next to Hawk Talk all across the Funny
Hawks Radio network.
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