April 18, 2026 • 10 mins
Jack Michaels, Mike Berg and Paul Ralston from the UND Football Spring Showcase
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Now Kovinski rolling out chucking the ball.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I think he wants to run.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I think he wants to run. Touchdown, Cherry Faull touchdown,
North Dakota thirteen. Nothing you indeed? Well, it is the
Spring Showcase happening today in Grand Forks from the Fritz
Pollard Athletics Center here in Grand Forks. Before we move
(00:31):
on and we hear from that man, I think he
wants to run, Jerry Kovinsky. Let's pause ten seconds for
station identification, ten for legal ideas. Is Funny Hawks Football
and the Funny Hawk's Radio network, Tracy Pellett producing our game.
By the way, if you're in town for business, to
visit family, or certing it that you're on your favorite team,
(00:52):
let me tell you about the Hampton and Swedes. It's
modern fitness center, complimentary signature breakfast, free Wi Fi, stent
of the art conference rooms.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
That's your home away from home.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The Hampton in and Swedes the preferred hotel partner of
UND Athletics. Yeah, the showcase going on right now, looks
like we're getting into a little bit of the special
teams part of things. We just heard from Danny Freund,
the offensive coordinator at the University of North Dakota. And
it must be fun to be the OC when you
can design plays for this kid under center. The growth
(01:22):
that he's had has been tremendous, and that is Jerry Kaminski.
Paul Rolston had a chance to catch up with the
superstar quarterback.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Thanks so much, Jack.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Before you know it, we'll be lacing up and heading
on out in August for Game one and Jerry Kaminski
joins us. Now in Jerry, last year was learning on
the fly. There was good, there was bad. When you
were able to go back and kind of really great
everything out and essentially put into purpose what you really
wanted to work on and focus on here during the
winter campaign.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
In the spring campaign, what did you really focus on?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
Yeah, the biggest thing was my footwork and then understanding situations,
you know, third downs, red z O two a minute,
just understanding those situations better and having a plan at
the line of scrimmage. But a big focus for me
was my footwork.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
When you look at the quarterback room, you can bring
in a guy that early enroll Lee, a youngster out
of the state of Wisconsin, Lefty, and then you knew
the other guys, so that room gets an infusion, but
at the same time, there's familiarity.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, the room is awesome right now.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
I mean Javance and Jack having them back, those are
two of my best friends and just being around those
guys is awesome.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The energy is always super high.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
And then you know, you get Brooks in here and
he's had a great spring so far. He's the guy
that brings a lot of energy. Especially him being from Wisconsin,
can relate to him a lot. It was just great
to be able to build that relationship this spring, you know,
help him on some things, kind of give it, give
him some things I learned through college.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So it's been great working with Brooks.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Coach Freund returns to that offensive coordinator position. It's a
guy who you know, what has been the big thing
that he's been instilling since coming back to North Dakota
and getting his foot back in the door. And what
does he talk to you and the rest of the
quarterbacks about and the offense about what he wants to
see and what have you guys really emphasize here this spring.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Yeah, it's been awesome having coach freunback. He came in
and he brings a ton of energy every day. The
same guy every day. Just some of that super positive
and then this spring our offense has been really explosive.
That's been a big focus for us is you know,
obviously we're gonna run the ball, get downhill. We have
one of the best offensive lines in the country, some
great backs. But then when it's time to take those shots,
(03:25):
we're being really efficient and trying to take those shots
and connect on them.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Speaking of the passing game, you know, you know, one
of the things that you're trying to identify is who
are the guys going to emerge.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
That are going to be there every play, every down.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
How does that wide receiver group look, How does that
tight end group look right now for you and the
other quarterbacks to throw to.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Yeah, I think it's been awesome. I mean, the tight
end room is great. There's a ton of depth there.
Whether you need guys to block go catch passes, that's
a really unselfish group and there's so much depth in there.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I mean, those guys are awesome.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
And then as far as the receivers get kind of
just touched on it a little bit. We've been super
explosive this spring. It's been fun to you know, push
the ball down the field. Give our guys some fifty
to fifty balls, and we're coming down with a lot
of them right now. So that's a lot of confidence
out there.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Well, we appreciate you as you wind up your spring
camp and turn your attentions to summer workouts, and then
we'll be right back here in the fall. Thanks for
this and I appreciate it. Good luck here the rest
of the way, Yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
All right.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Jerry Kovinski joining us here during this spring showcase. We'll
send it back upstairs to you.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Jack as always a tremendous pul Kaminski. A season ago,
and we look at the numbers for Jerry in thirteen
games played two twelve for three point fifty four. We're
talking with Danny Foyns. Is a more completions, you know,
percentage higher? That percentage was at at fifty nine percent.
I thought that the first part of the season last year,
(04:48):
Jerry was on some kind of role, Mike. I mean
he was he was just putting numbers up, you know,
but team's just there's this thing called film and so
teams it does. He was not gonna let you just
have to play pass goal all we get along and
all that but twenty six touchdowns, ten picks, you know,
average hundred eighty nine yards a game in the air.
Certainly on the ground, Jerry, he ran the ball one
(05:11):
hundred and twenty two times, average four and a half
yards per carry. So eight rushing touchdowns, twenty six passing touchdowns,
thirty four touchdowns overall. Talking with Paul will bring Paul
back up as well into this fold. But Mike, what's
the next step in your estimation. You've coached quarterbacks, but
you've coached teams. What's the next progression for Jerry Kaminski.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
I think Jack consistency, being able to move the chains.
We know he's a big play guy. He was leading
the country at one point with touchdown passes, pass to
interception rate ratio. He can do it all on the field.
But I think consistency, taking advantage of all of his
(05:55):
tools on offense, And like Danny said, I think confident,
just believing in yourself. And he has the keys to
the car right now, he's driving it, and so he
needs to feel it. This is my team, this is
my offense, and I see that. I've seen it in springing.
Like Danny says, there's still a ton to do. But
(06:16):
I've never known a coach who's satisfied with any player.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
And I was just going to add in here Jack
really quick, and I would just say this that I
felt last year absent of like a bow bell quist.
You know, this isn't a roster that his had been
very fortunate with the Noah Wanziks, the toy ven Ens,
the Adams. Of all needs, they could win routes and
a lot of those were North. To Godin's mind, you
(06:40):
maybe it's dang dang, but I felt at times last
year in North Dakota receiver needed to win a router
or two for Jerry to give him just a little
bigger window to throw into as the season war on.
Does this receiver group do that for him? Moving forward?
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Here's why I am excited. And trust me, we'll get
to the defense because Xeric paid by the way, just
came up, the came off the edge, and Jack Siliquin.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I would too.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So no, we'll get to the defense and promise you folks.
But here's what my thought is on on what the
offense is going to be capable of. Again, defense wins championships,
we understand that, but you got to score points I'm excited.
Paul you mentioned about the offensive line, Mike, you talked
about the confidence.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Confidence.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Uh to me too, is is within oneself. And then
with that personnel that you have around you, I think,
and again cautiously optimistic with the offensive line, with Danny
Froyne talking about the versatility of his running bank room,
with the addition of kJ May overseeing those wine receivers
when he's instilling with some big body guys, some good
slot guys, uh, and that so that the combination package
(07:47):
of jump cut back strength find you know, through those
small holes with guys that can bust it out. With
what we've seen so far from good look we have,
you know, Corey Tie, we haven't seen out here with
that receiver's room with a versatility versus s don't even
deep tight end room coupled with an offensive line and
a quarterback that now is it a furious under his belt? Mike.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Preach too much to the very positive. I just think
that this offense is runny to consistently explode.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
And I think Paul brought it up and I hadn't
even thought of it that way. But there were not
receivers on that team last year that could win one
on one routes. They could not beat people one on one.
They couldn't get open, they couldn't get deep. That ties
your quarterback's hands and it really limits what you can
do on offense. I will tell you this receiver group,
(08:35):
they will get open, they will get deep. They will
be explosive like we have not seen maybe since the
Wansik Belquizz days.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
That was fun, fun to watch. Guys will up and
body up in a full booth and win, win battles.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
And I will tell you that the man calling these
plays has no problem going deep with it.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
So it's the spring football Showcase. Indeed, we're having fun
today at the Fritz Poma Athletics Center, by the way,
and you still have time getting out. A lot of
fun happening, including autographs after the session on that then
you maybe eat a banana and have some oatmeal and
then jump across the street and get softball later on
today if you want, we'll take we'll step aside. We'll
(09:16):
come back more focus a little bit on the defense
special teams. In that note and in the front window,
Sean Constance speaking of guys that have been around a
little bit you know when you're we're in charge of
you know, special teams, the nickel Backs, and there's a
lot of things on the plate for Sean Costage.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
We'll hear from Sean as well.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
You know, while the Fighting Hawks bring the heat, the
lights stay on, the drink stay cold, thanks in large
part to electricity fueled by North American Coal. That same
reliable and affordable energy that keeps the game going, keeps
homes across the region powered all season long. North American
Coal proud to fuel the utilities on game day and
certainly every day with America's most dependable and reliable energy
(09:56):
source fueled here, powered here for America. Paul, bring cold
every game. I mean we're fueled every game.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Right. If you don't have a little coal in your pocket.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Tell you what, Jack and I get the coal that
you cook with, So I don't you know, that's right.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I'm more of an open fire person, you know. Well
that fuels your shrimp on the bar. That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
We'll come back Tracy Failure producing our broadcast today. It's
the Spring Football Showcase. We'll hear from Sean Costage. Coming
up next. The Finny Hawks Radio Network
Now Kovinski rolling out chucking the ball.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I think he wants to run.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I think he wants to run. Touchdown, Cherry Faull touchdown,
North Dakota thirteen. Nothing you indeed? Well, it is the
Spring Showcase happening today in Grand Forks from the Fritz
Pollard Athletics Center here in Grand Forks. Before we move
(00:31):
on and we hear from that man, I think he
wants to run, Jerry Kovinsky. Let's pause ten seconds for
station identification, ten for legal ideas. Is Funny Hawks Football
and the Funny Hawk's Radio network, Tracy Pellett producing our game.
By the way, if you're in town for business, to
visit family, or certing it that you're on your favorite team,
(00:52):
let me tell you about the Hampton and Swedes. It's
modern fitness center, complimentary signature breakfast, free Wi Fi, stent
of the art conference rooms.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
That's your home away from home.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The Hampton in and Swedes the preferred hotel partner of
UND Athletics. Yeah, the showcase going on right now, looks
like we're getting into a little bit of the special
teams part of things. We just heard from Danny Freund,
the offensive coordinator at the University of North Dakota. And
it must be fun to be the OC when you
can design plays for this kid under center. The growth
(01:22):
that he's had has been tremendous, and that is Jerry Kaminski.
Paul Rolston had a chance to catch up with the
superstar quarterback.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Thanks so much, Jack.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Before you know it, we'll be lacing up and heading
on out in August for Game one and Jerry Kaminski
joins us. Now in Jerry, last year was learning on
the fly. There was good, there was bad. When you
were able to go back and kind of really great
everything out and essentially put into purpose what you really
wanted to work on and focus on here during the
winter campaign.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
In the spring campaign, what did you really focus on?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
Yeah, the biggest thing was my footwork and then understanding situations,
you know, third downs, red z O two a minute,
just understanding those situations better and having a plan at
the line of scrimmage. But a big focus for me
was my footwork.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
When you look at the quarterback room, you can bring
in a guy that early enroll Lee, a youngster out
of the state of Wisconsin, Lefty, and then you knew
the other guys, so that room gets an infusion, but
at the same time, there's familiarity.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, the room is awesome right now.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
I mean Javance and Jack having them back, those are
two of my best friends and just being around those
guys is awesome.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The energy is always super high.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
And then you know, you get Brooks in here and
he's had a great spring so far. He's the guy
that brings a lot of energy. Especially him being from Wisconsin,
can relate to him a lot. It was just great
to be able to build that relationship this spring, you know,
help him on some things, kind of give it, give
him some things I learned through college.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So it's been great working with Brooks.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Coach Freund returns to that offensive coordinator position. It's a
guy who you know, what has been the big thing
that he's been instilling since coming back to North Dakota
and getting his foot back in the door. And what
does he talk to you and the rest of the
quarterbacks about and the offense about what he wants to
see and what have you guys really emphasize here this spring.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Yeah, it's been awesome having coach freunback. He came in
and he brings a ton of energy every day. The
same guy every day. Just some of that super positive
and then this spring our offense has been really explosive.
That's been a big focus for us is you know,
obviously we're gonna run the ball, get downhill. We have
one of the best offensive lines in the country, some
great backs. But then when it's time to take those shots,
(03:25):
we're being really efficient and trying to take those shots
and connect on them.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Speaking of the passing game, you know, you know, one
of the things that you're trying to identify is who
are the guys going to emerge.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
That are going to be there every play, every down.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
How does that wide receiver group look, How does that
tight end group look right now for you and the
other quarterbacks to throw to.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Yeah, I think it's been awesome. I mean, the tight
end room is great. There's a ton of depth there.
Whether you need guys to block go catch passes, that's
a really unselfish group and there's so much depth in there.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I mean, those guys are awesome.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
And then as far as the receivers get kind of
just touched on it a little bit. We've been super
explosive this spring. It's been fun to you know, push
the ball down the field. Give our guys some fifty
to fifty balls, and we're coming down with a lot
of them right now. So that's a lot of confidence
out there.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Well, we appreciate you as you wind up your spring
camp and turn your attentions to summer workouts, and then
we'll be right back here in the fall. Thanks for
this and I appreciate it. Good luck here the rest
of the way, Yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
All right.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Jerry Kovinski joining us here during this spring showcase. We'll
send it back upstairs to you.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Jack as always a tremendous pul Kaminski. A season ago,
and we look at the numbers for Jerry in thirteen
games played two twelve for three point fifty four. We're
talking with Danny Foyns. Is a more completions, you know,
percentage higher? That percentage was at at fifty nine percent.
I thought that the first part of the season last year,
(04:48):
Jerry was on some kind of role, Mike. I mean
he was he was just putting numbers up, you know,
but team's just there's this thing called film and so
teams it does. He was not gonna let you just
have to play pass goal all we get along and
all that but twenty six touchdowns, ten picks, you know,
average hundred eighty nine yards a game in the air.
Certainly on the ground, Jerry, he ran the ball one
(05:11):
hundred and twenty two times, average four and a half
yards per carry. So eight rushing touchdowns, twenty six passing touchdowns,
thirty four touchdowns overall. Talking with Paul will bring Paul
back up as well into this fold. But Mike, what's
the next step in your estimation. You've coached quarterbacks, but
you've coached teams. What's the next progression for Jerry Kaminski.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
I think Jack consistency, being able to move the chains.
We know he's a big play guy. He was leading
the country at one point with touchdown passes, pass to
interception rate ratio. He can do it all on the field.
But I think consistency, taking advantage of all of his
(05:55):
tools on offense, And like Danny said, I think confident,
just believing in yourself. And he has the keys to
the car right now, he's driving it, and so he
needs to feel it. This is my team, this is
my offense, and I see that. I've seen it in springing.
Like Danny says, there's still a ton to do. But
(06:16):
I've never known a coach who's satisfied with any player.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
And I was just going to add in here Jack
really quick, and I would just say this that I
felt last year absent of like a bow bell quist.
You know, this isn't a roster that his had been
very fortunate with the Noah Wanziks, the toy ven Ens,
the Adams. Of all needs, they could win routes and
a lot of those were North. To Godin's mind, you
(06:40):
maybe it's dang dang, but I felt at times last
year in North Dakota receiver needed to win a router
or two for Jerry to give him just a little
bigger window to throw into as the season war on.
Does this receiver group do that for him? Moving forward?
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Here's why I am excited. And trust me, we'll get
to the defense because Xeric paid by the way, just
came up, the came off the edge, and Jack Siliquin.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I would too.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So no, we'll get to the defense and promise you folks.
But here's what my thought is on on what the
offense is going to be capable of. Again, defense wins championships,
we understand that, but you got to score points I'm excited.
Paul you mentioned about the offensive line, Mike, you talked
about the confidence.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Confidence.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Uh to me too, is is within oneself. And then
with that personnel that you have around you, I think,
and again cautiously optimistic with the offensive line, with Danny
Froyne talking about the versatility of his running bank room,
with the addition of kJ May overseeing those wine receivers
when he's instilling with some big body guys, some good
slot guys, uh, and that so that the combination package
(07:47):
of jump cut back strength find you know, through those
small holes with guys that can bust it out. With
what we've seen so far from good look we have,
you know, Corey Tie, we haven't seen out here with
that receiver's room with a versatility versus s don't even
deep tight end room coupled with an offensive line and
a quarterback that now is it a furious under his belt? Mike.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Preach too much to the very positive. I just think
that this offense is runny to consistently explode.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
And I think Paul brought it up and I hadn't
even thought of it that way. But there were not
receivers on that team last year that could win one
on one routes. They could not beat people one on one.
They couldn't get open, they couldn't get deep. That ties
your quarterback's hands and it really limits what you can
do on offense. I will tell you this receiver group,
(08:35):
they will get open, they will get deep. They will
be explosive like we have not seen maybe since the
Wansik Belquizz days.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
That was fun, fun to watch. Guys will up and
body up in a full booth and win, win battles.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
And I will tell you that the man calling these
plays has no problem going deep with it.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
So it's the spring football Showcase. Indeed, we're having fun
today at the Fritz Poma Athletics Center, by the way,
and you still have time getting out. A lot of
fun happening, including autographs after the session on that then
you maybe eat a banana and have some oatmeal and
then jump across the street and get softball later on
today if you want, we'll take we'll step aside. We'll
(09:16):
come back more focus a little bit on the defense
special teams. In that note and in the front window,
Sean Constance speaking of guys that have been around a
little bit you know when you're we're in charge of
you know, special teams, the nickel Backs, and there's a
lot of things on the plate for Sean Costage.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
We'll hear from Sean as well.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
You know, while the Fighting Hawks bring the heat, the
lights stay on, the drink stay cold, thanks in large
part to electricity fueled by North American Coal. That same
reliable and affordable energy that keeps the game going, keeps
homes across the region powered all season long. North American
Coal proud to fuel the utilities on game day and
certainly every day with America's most dependable and reliable energy
(09:56):
source fueled here, powered here for America. Paul, bring cold
every game. I mean we're fueled every game.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Right. If you don't have a little coal in your pocket.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Tell you what, Jack and I get the coal that
you cook with, So I don't you know, that's right.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I'm more of an open fire person, you know. Well
that fuels your shrimp on the bar. That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
We'll come back Tracy Failure producing our broadcast today. It's
the Spring Football Showcase. We'll hear from Sean Costage. Coming
up next. The Finny Hawks Radio Network
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