April 18, 2026 • 29 mins
Jack Michaels, Mike Berg and Paul Ralston from the UND Football Spring Showcase
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Below stamp, give it.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
To BERNELLI slashes and puts down on the color touchdown
North the couta low snamp. Simon got the belly of
cold Brunel and Burnell pierces the end zone. Tach on
six for North Dakota. It's sixteen to six here in
the fourth quarter. Low stamp taken by Lang Common Lang
Kama running between left guard.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
He can't bring him down and he just stepped. He escaped.
He's who did he touchdown? North of Color?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
He escape touchdown, Chuckwane come on the strength of that
running back room. We talked about it before. We're gonna
focus a little bit more in this segment on the defense.
Just now they've been into some more special teams and
supup returns. I saw a grand Nolan returning or catching one.
(00:53):
I should say their catching one one. And then I
have a white out as well. And then and then
because this case is not yeah, they're putting the they're
putting the work in.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
They're going through fundamentals and some of the drills.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
And and and uh situational footbawl uh.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
But I noticed, speaking to.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Sean Costage, we just heard they just took an offensive
lineman back there in that last but returns.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Well, well, they had an on before that had a
defensive lineman. Wyatt Kuhne had his opportunity to catch, and
Michael Wagner had his opportunity, and of course they surround
them with with defenders so make them concentrating the ball
to fun drill.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We've we've certainly spent time on the offense of breaking
down that heard from Danny Foyd, heard a little bit
on the defense from the Nickels standpoint from Sean Costach.
But Fellas, this is gonna you know, there's reasons for
optimism for the offensive sewing the Bowl. But you know, Paul,
you were hearing Mike and I were talking about that
memory of of of Lance Rucker and the injury down
in Texas, the MBS and all that, and not just him,
(01:52):
Cad and Vig. We saw some explosive plays from Cat
and Viig. You talk about where the inside linebacker is
going to be. What about the Jets suns and back
end of that defense those lines of this, uh, but
defensively speaking for the University of North Dakota, and I
guess we'll throw to both of you. Mike, your every
practice you see this, you know where are they right now?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Where's the potential for this team?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I know that defensively, you look at scoring opponent's average
nineteen points a game last year, gains the University of
North Dakota un D yielded just ninety nine and a
half yards a game last year on the ground, about
two hundred yards in the air, so it's about two
three hundred yards a game. Talk about the defense, Mike,
(02:38):
where do you think they are where they need to
get to?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
We knew nothing about this defense last spring when they
came in newly implemented, knew that it had been effective
where coach Schmidt had been. I think they've made a
tremendous jump the other The coaching staff is the same
and last year Sean Kostich, when coach Schmidt came in,
moved from tight ends coaching Nickels and I sit in
(03:02):
on his meetings at least twice a week. With the Nickels,
I'm still trying to figure out what those guys are
doing there. They have so many calls, so many alignments,
are doing so many things. It's it's mesmerizing to me
to see how much they're doing on defense and all
the adjustments are able to make.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Because of the change.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Now we when I say we North Dakota fans are
used to the h There was that three four what
a scheme you know that was built on on on
line packers that were heads on swivels, that that could cover,
that could that could maybe you know, blitz from from
areas where you weren't maybe some exotic schemes or that
three four uh to a different at least, and it's
(03:45):
not an uncommon defense that you used now in football.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Northakot is not the only one that.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Uses the one that they do, mike, but that adjustment uh,
and then the personnel that goes into that spot.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Your thought on greating that.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Out, Well, that three four that we saw was actually
implemented here as an option defending defense. And there was
a particular team that they were interested in defending and
they did a good job with that. They had quality
all American type noseguards that they needed. You don't see
a lot of option football out there anymore. You see
(04:19):
multiple formations, empty formations, lots of movement. You need defenses
that can adjust, You need five guys in the secondary,
and then the nicolas kind of a hybrid linebacker, safety
corner kind of guy. So they're using that and I've
just seen a great growth. They have the personnel, they've
(04:40):
they've fit personnel, they recruit personnel to fit that defense,
and that's where they're at now. So I'm excited. I
think they're gonna be fine.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah, I like that.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
We certainly spend time on a boy from Omaha on
the Brian's Good Lance Rucker, but you know bradon more
on Edge. You know I mentioned earlier Eric pay I'm
curious on the projection of this former sent kid that
is a again another physical specce six four two forty
and can hit like a bullet. Uh In Eric Pay
(05:08):
uh mentioned Jimmy kleinsaus as boy Clarter Kleinsaucer.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
You know, the freshman, the Ty Big.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
We brought up Ty Big, the younger brother of Kayd
and then of course Cayden Big, who continues at six
six two fifty three. What I see from some of
these Edge guys, Mike, you know two thirty two forty five,
two forty two thirty five, two thirty one, two.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Point fifteen, uh two fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Three you know six six six six six three, six
five six four six three sixty three. So we're talking length, certainly,
good feet and enough poundage that delivers a blow. This
is this is your edge in today's game.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
We set up here today or up in a press box,
or we see them and they're football players in pads
and helmets. Where you really want to get a sense
of it is when you with them in the hallway,
you're with them walking into the airport, they walk down
the aisle of the plane and you go, yeah, I
mean the sun is blocked out. And that's not just
(06:08):
the linement anymore. It is You're right, it's the linebackers,
it's the edge players, it's the safeties. Yeah, and they
we haven't talked about it today. The strength and conditioning
program here and the facilities here are unmatched in FCS football.
And I mean it sounds like I'm a big fan.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I am.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I am a fan of what they do here, and
these guys when they come in here, they it's it's
a whole new day when when you come from high
school or transferred from another school and you come into
this strength program. So Derek Stein and his staff are
remarkable in the progress they've made, and they've included the
nutrition element too, which didn't used to be here. These
(06:53):
kids are eating right, they're taking care of themselves, and
we're seeing athletes now that we've never seen in this place.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Today, we're coming here from the Paul Or Athletics Center
here in Grand Forks. It's the un D Spring Showcase.
Jack Michaels, Mike Berg, Paul Rolston, Tracy Value producing our game.
Back to the facility question. And in recent weeks, and
this is an uncommon trust me, there are commitments being made.
This is the time where juniors in high school that
are going into their senior year, many of them that
(07:23):
have been you know, coaches have been on him since
eighth grade or ninth grade, and now it comes time
and most most of these young men will will verbally
commit because then they can go in their senior year
without that that cloud hanging on them of what am
I going to do?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Where am I going to go?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
So what we're seeing a lot right now he has
verbal commitments from from underclassmen that that have been recruited
and talked to, that have come for junior.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Days or whatever all that.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
And there's a safety out of Wisconsin that that recently
verbal and showed a commitment to North Dakota. And he
has been you know, he's been recruited by South Dakota State,
by North Dakota State, by many major schools, and he
committed to North Dakota. And I was looking at some
of the reasons why and what he posted, Mike, and
(08:13):
he says, they're doing some things there. This is the
facilities that he pointed to, the experience, the trajection, the facilities,
everything you just talked about, the wait, all of that
stuff that means something to these young men.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, do you think Eric Schmidt coming from his FBS
background at Fresno State, Washington, San Diego State, Danny Frind
from Washington State coming in here, and the other coaches,
I mean, yeah, they didn't go to those places and
closed their mind. They brought things back here with them.
And you're right about the recruits. A lot of folks
(08:51):
here today are actually kids that are are recruits that
are here with their parents.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I talked to another commitment and then let's just say
a cornerback out of the state of Minnesota that was
recruited by the likes of.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Oh Miami Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Uh, pick your FBS school, and he committed to North
Dakota and and uh. And I talked to the young man,
and of course the easy question is why do you
you choose this over there? What's the reason. And he
just mentioned Paul and Mike, the relationship with Eric Schmidt,
(09:29):
the visit the facilities. I felt like they really spoke
to me. You know, it's that that bond north. The
county is on the move.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
And speak of the devil. Coach Mitt will be joining us,
I think next next year. So I mean, but you
know what, it's easy when you got guys like coach Mint,
Coach Freud and Coach Costage and so many guys they
want to be a part of something and it just
it's it's something to be a part.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Of anyone else.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
He told me, he said, you know what, I can
get to where I want to go.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Uh, it doesn't there as well.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
As I can there. Here is the the man. Well,
there's a lot of men of the hour, the one
and only Schmidty. Great to see you, man. This is
it's spring. What are fresh? What a fresh day today?
The guys look like they had some energy in thereman.
Coach Uh, this is fun. The fans who was packed
over here, they wanted to come over there down the field,
you have me goano grafs and talking over there, schmiddy,
(10:21):
talk about what what you wanted to showcase here today?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Take us through it from your angle today.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Yeah, I think just uh, you know, giving everybody a
glimpse of of you know, who we are, what our
identity is. And then just you know, our guys going
out there and performing in front of some people. You know,
I think what we do every single day, we do
it with intent. There's a process to everything we do
or not you know, worried about the outcomes. Right now,
We're never worried about the outcomes. It's just about us
(10:47):
going out there and putting real work in and and
you know, you do those things, and you do it consistently,
and you do it, uh with the environment the way
you had it today, And really I felt like our
environment all spring long, like guys bringing you know, really
good energy, our staff. When I say our staff, I
mean all the helpers and supporters in our in our building,
like just uh doing it with like really good energy,
(11:07):
which to me is effort and focus. Like that's what
it's about and that's how you get better. So I
think just a culmination of that and now we got,
you know, some more work to do as you as
you work into the summer.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I feel the energy. I know, Paul and Mike, you
just felt it here when we showed up. We came
here today and set up with this broadcast. Mideon and
you just pop in when we were talking about you know,
facilities and things of that nature and culture and and
the human relationship. And I was chatting about some guys
because we're living now at a time where people are
verbaling and athletes are are are are verbaling.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Their commitment to North Dakota.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And I've talked to a number of those young men
and to a guy it is Eric Schmidt, and I
this I felt wanted by him. He looked me in
the eye, we talked to him, he laid out what
he expects to me where I can it is. It's
such a personal connection to Schmitty at a busy week,
were you just speaking to a group like in Wisconsin yesterday.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
Yeah, we had a number of guys that went down there,
so it was awesome to be able to go there.
But I think you're exactly right, like you start out
in this process and guys will check a box. They
have the traits that that we want. And there's obviously
a talent part of this, but then there there becomes
a human side to it. We're not just developing football players,
we're you know, developing humans and and and I think
that's a huge piece of it is is those guys
(12:20):
from their side of things, when you look at it
through their lens, like who do they want to lock
arms with that's going to help them get to their goals?
And for us, like we really want to dig into
these guys and get to know them because you know,
if we're going to pour into these guys and give
them our very best every day, then bottom line is like, hey,
there's got to be a connection there, you know, and
we got to like them. And and I think the
thing that I love just all of our assistant coaches
and the relationships they build with their players, and and uh,
(12:43):
let's be honest, like what we do here, like like
we're our entire job is to pour into the guys
in between the white lines, Like that's exactly what we
need to do help them become the best versions of themselves.
And uh, I've seen a lot of development here since
since January, and and uh, the most impressive. Part that
I like that I've seen is we talk a lot
in our culture here about being player led, and that's
(13:04):
what I see with our guys. This place is not
going to be coach led.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Like.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
It's about the players. Those guys doing a good job
not only with the brotherhood but also being good teammates
and telling guys what they need to hear. And it's
been fun to watch that evolve here over the last
four or five months.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I'll let Mike and Jun and Paul jump in here
in a second, but one more quick one Eric, for you,
and you've been at this, You've been at this for
a while now, you're you're a veteran guy, but we
talk about athletes growth from your wonder year two for
you and for those that don't know, I mean, it
was boom higher, boom, foot on the ground, boom, gets
stuff in place, boom. Some man season ago, it was
(13:37):
just I got to get all I got. How do
I roll pull this in, start this foundation, get this
thing some traction, move this thing to the direction I
want to move.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
And you did it swimmingly, Schmidty.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But have you felt like, okay, all right, I got
this kind of with my staff kind of in the
direction I want to go talk talk a little bit
about the last couple of years.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Well, I think the most important thing is the staff
when you start out. And the good thing for me
was I was an assistant coach for almost twenty years,
so I knew what I was, what I wanted once
I got here. You know, there was a lot of
a lot of you know, just trial and error over
the years. I think everybody in an organization we talk
about having a growth mindset and getting better, but just
you know, having the staff that we have. I mean,
(14:17):
those guys are their high output, low egle guys, and
they they want to come in every single day and
you know, they want to do a great job, and
they do do a great job. So I think that
piece of it was really big, and just for me,
you know, having the experience that I have and being
able to be around a lot of really you know,
quality people, really good coaches, but just even better people.
I knew, you know, how we had to do this thing,
(14:38):
and and just how important the year round calendar was
to developing people. I mean, the stuff we're doing right now,
this is gonna be the exact same things that we're
doing in December, you know, when there's really important games.
All we're gonna do from here until then is continue
to detail and polish it and get better so that
those guys when they get in those situations, they just
have the utmost confidence. And Hey, I know what I'm
I know what I'm supposed to do, I know how
(14:59):
to do it. I feel capable of being able to
do it, and uh, I think I'll be successful when
I go out there and get put in those in
those in those situations. So yeah, I just you know,
from day one, I really felt confident and you know
who the people are in the building, and that's what
this is all about. You know, We've had a great
weekend here. We were in Wisconsin. We had a bunch
of probably seventy nine man coaches that were on campus
(15:20):
here today that came in and just you know, listening
to those guys talk, listening to to coach Berg talk,
and just you know, coaching is a brotherhood and it's
it's a calling, and uh, you know the guys that
that we have, man, I couldn't you know, be more,
be more appreciative of what they what they've been able
to do here. Like I just I just feel like
we got the right butts in the right seats.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Jack a couple of minutes for Minting with Eric Schmidt.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Paul, Well, you know, we talked a lot about the
offense today, but I did want to talk about defense.
You guys were talking as that things were coming about,
you know, and I'd made mention of this early in
the broadcast. They said, you don't necessarily replace the Melchi
McNeil for what he does on the field and within
the huddle and in his day to day, but you
got a lot of good pieces in that inside linebacker
(16:03):
group that maybe need to emerge, like a guy from
just down the road and mister bull or or you
know Devereux who's been here for a year now. Are
you excited about how those guys have approached this spring
and and really embraced opportunities and really attacked each and
every practice and day.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
Yeah, I think there's a lot of growth in there.
There's some guys who have definitely, I feel like, have
started to emerge and to maybe separate themselves. Some other
guys Jake Starcevik didn't get a chance to go today,
he was sick here the last two weeks, but I
definitely think. You know, Ethan Bowles a guy. You know,
it's not it's not what it used to be. And
what I mean by that is, you know, he's a
(16:40):
guy now that's played special teams for a couple of years,
he red shirted. I mean it's time. You know, he's
ready to go now on this point in his career.
And and a lot of times, you know, there's not
the patience anymore to wait that long until you're a
junior in order to be able to get on the field.
But once again, I think it's why you recruit local first.
You know, he's he's got a lot of you know,
an attitude of gratitude every day that he comes out
(17:01):
in the field, like you can tell, like he gets
to do this, he doesn't have to do it. So
I like where he's at. I think, you know, he
played some snaps, some meaningful snaps a year ago, and
it's our job now to continue to get him ready,
to make sure Mike Devereux his senior year, has his
you know, best year of football. You look at he
talked about Malachi and you know his best year that
he played here was last year. You look at his stats,
(17:21):
you look at you know things that he's been able
to do. And that's where we challenge everybody in what
we like to call the family business here is Hey,
if you're a young player, it's your job to carve
out the biggest role you've ever had on your team
on our team this year. And if you're an older player,
you're a veteran, you got to go out having your
best year as your last year. Like, that's everything you
know in order for us to get to to where
we want to get to. And I think you know
Ethan Bowle's progress here. I think you know Mason Miller
(17:45):
is a guy who's now in there. I think Jake
starsvik like we do a lot of things in the
summer here yet too as well, Like all those guys
got to be able to emerge and get better and
continue to push each other because it's not just on defense,
it's on special teams too as well, where they're going
to be able to play valuable members for us.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
And if I may just put a two to this,
because we talk about guys where you talk about n
Ethan Bole who waits kind of been grows into that role.
And then on the flip side, it was we signed
your first year. Grant Nolan comes in, carves out right away,
doesn't wait and has he just goes and plays his
tail off throughout the season, gives you everything as a
(18:19):
as a true freshman guy. And that's a message within
this roster too. You don't have to wait around. You
might as well get after it and you might carve
out a role right away.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
No question. I think, you know, we think we got
some guys coming in this year that'll have an opportunity
to be able to make an impact, you know, right away.
So I think there's a maturity to it. There's a
mindset that you have to attack every single day with
and Grant did that. You know, he came in here
and he was as consistent as anybody, uh, you know,
through all training camp and really into the early part
of the year. And then there's gonna be growing pains
(18:48):
as a young player, you know, it's a longer season
and all that kind of stuff. But we have a
saying around here. We talk about consistently good over occasionally great,
and we really value guys who are consistently good. And
and you know, Frushman all American. I mean, he's a
guy I think, you know, like him and Isaac Caravu
young players here that are really good. I think the
other guy you're really gonna like, uh, Brody Thornton is
(19:09):
going to be a really good football player, you know,
obviously playing behind what we think is one of better
one of the better edges in all college football. And
and I like Rook's attitude, like he's he's playing like
he's as starving as ever, Like that guy does not feel,
you know, like he's arrived and that he has all
the answers like he's hung He's not hungry. He's starving
to get better. And then you get Brody right behind him.
And that's how you you got to be able to
(19:29):
have you know, some depth not only the quality but
the quantity behind those guys too as well.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
But nomine Wisconsin, by the way. That's that aren't sure
that Schmid shows something in Wisconsin and the whole Yeah,
Seric Schmid. That's I know that you recruit local world too,
but I know that the Wisconsin produces that they all do.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
They all produces.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
You mentioned earlier that the average fan might say, Okay, today,
Schmiddy goes home, kicksbacks, watch golf.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
In four months, they play long island. Nope, it's every day.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
But but my final thing for your schmiddy is the
position battle from a staff and a coach.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Uh, do you chart like, here's where.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
You are in our in our frame right now, here's
what you can get to or is it do you
leave an air of it's open us everybody fighting over there?
Take us through the position battle. How much you relay
that to the player or do you leave it open
ended for that player?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Take us through that part? Yeah, great question. You know,
there's a lot of feedback that we give our players.
I mean a lot. They're graded like just so everybody understands,
because I think everybody wants to talk about, you know,
the games and all that kind of stuff, and we
do not talk about those things here. Like I said,
it's all process oriented. It's not outcome oriented. And we
really believe this, like we say, hey man, practice about performance.
(20:45):
The games are for learning, and we just we grade
our guys on everything. We have a way of that,
honestly that we grade our culture here every day. We
call it the starving Board, and we give guys grades
like that throughout the week just so they get the
feedback that they need. Like I said, before, Like, I mean,
everybody needs truth tellers in their lives, like right, Like,
I think everybody has blind spots, and you got to
(21:06):
have a growth mindset to get better. So yeah, I
mean I feel like, you know, there's some positions that
are maybe uh you know, there's a veteran there or
something like that where you know they've gotten more reps,
they've they've produced and and and uh you know, been
able to maybe solidify you know, things where they're at.
But I mean it's an ongoing, ever changing you know
landscape as far as what that looks like, and we
(21:27):
want guys to to be competitive every single day, no
matter where they're at, uh, you know, in their careers.
So uh so yeah, I mean we're constantly evaluating, We're
constantly grading. We'll we'll we'll put a depth chart up,
a lot of those a lot of those things are
for organizational purposes, and then you know, as we get
closer and closer to Game one, we'll start to uh,
you know, make sure that the guys who are going
to play the most are the guys that we're repping
(21:48):
the most.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Moving forward toime, we's intriguing me, Mike, and you've been
you've been at a long time Hall of Fame coach
at Ti Shmidy's point over there. You know, as a player,
as a player yourself, you probably want to know where
you're sitting in the in the pecking order on your
position group, if you're not number one, and if that
door is open. But in the same aspect, you know,
as a coach, I could say, look, that door's always
open for a grab over that mike. That's a That's
(22:10):
one of those gray areas, is it that you want
to certainly speak to an athlete, have them feel comfortable,
and let have them be that carrot still dangling.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Well, and they want you to be honest with them
if they need work. They want to know where do
I work, what do I do? And and good coaches
will lay it out there for him too. You're not
going to sugarcoat anything. They're all in they're all chasing
the same goal. And so that's very true. And you know, I,
you know, I spent a lot of time around your
staff and around your players, and I totally buy into
(22:39):
the concept of player led team and how important that is.
But there is absolutely no question who's steering this ship
around here. Schmidty and it's just been good to see
what you've done when and we're excited about what's excited
coming up this season.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
Yeah. I think you make a great point, Coach Berg.
I mean, the guys at this level, I think the
relationship between coach and player, it's not like it's this
big friendship that everybody. You know, the elite guys, they
want to be an environment where they're held accountable every day,
where we can make a mistake.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
You hear Anthletes, I want to be coached hard.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I think that's kind of the misnomer.
And then they want their their their peers to be
coached just as hard, you know, I mean, in hell,
just as much as count just as much accountable. I
think at times now coaches are so worried about the
portal and stuff like that, if I coach this guy hard,
you know, I'm gonna lose them. I think the exact
oppos If you don't coach guys hard and they don't
think they're getting developed, you're gonna lose those guys, you know.
And I think, well, that's the relationship that that we've created,
(23:34):
Like there's a you know, I always refer to it
as Hey, all of our coaches are an extra set
of uncles for these guys in Grand Forks, right, and
we're the real uncles. Like we're gonna tell you where
you're meeting the standard, and we're gonna tell you where
you need to get better. And that's that's ultimately you
know how I think you're gonna add some tools to
your tool belt and become a better player.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
What was the thing you just said about the practices
for this The games are for.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Learning practice about performance.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
The games are and let me say one thing before
we leave here or ask a question, but fifty yards
west of where we're sitting, you went through spring practice
as a player. How much different is it in here
today for these guys.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Yeah, I mean it's been a game changer. And I
think obviously a lot of people that come before me,
you know, I just think about right now, like you know,
the Bubba Schweigerts of the world, and those guys that
just grind it every day and you know, didn't have
some of the things that you know, I've been blessed
with coming into my first head coaching job to be
able to have these things. So you talk about attitude
(24:29):
and gratitude of the former players, the former coaches, a
lot of really good people and a lot of really
good coaches that you know didn't have you know what
we have here right now and just for our guys
like it makes you, you know, awfully proud. The efficiency
of it, I think is what really sets it apart.
I mean, you're over here right now and it's truly
an ecosystem. And the thing that I appreciate about it
(24:51):
is that it forces our guys to be around our
coaches all the time because they live here, so they're
down and you know what I mean, they're around the
building all day long, and we're around the building all
day long. So you start to form you know, some
really really close connections even outside of football too as well.
So you know, obviously our administration, you know, Bill Chaves,
Eric Martinson and and just I know, it wasn't easy,
(25:13):
you know, it took probably a lot longer than you know,
some of my predecessors wanted it to be. But but
I mean we knocked it out of the park as
far as you know, being able to just make sure
that when guys came in here they have all the
resources that they need down or to be successful. So
that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Remember that great well Well said you know Jim Clin
Jimmy told me we were talking about open memorial. I said,
boy is he goes, yeah, Hey, we haven't used a
weight room that if you scrape your knee, you're thinking,
way do I get a tetnis shot?
Speaker 1 (25:38):
There's rust on the you know that's old school and
that I will let you leave.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
On this and and and to the fans, schmidty, you
like your club. Just looking at the personnel we saw today,
we broke down all the different groups over here, the
type of team that you want to the fans might
see in the fall.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Just well, I think you know, we still are work
in progress yet we like you know, obviously, the big
thing we were able to do is keep all of
our big guys. I think we can be better in
the line of scrimmage, which it starts and ends right there.
You know, we got to be able to to be
able to win the A and the B and the
C gaps and make sure that we can gain yards
and stop people from doing that too as well. I
think if you can do that, it really, you know,
(26:20):
makes it easier to be able to move the football.
And stop teams from moving the football. I think running back.
I like where we're at there. I think there's a
lot of you know, guys there that are capable. Where
I'm where I think we're going to be able to
take a jump is at receiver. I think just we
have more guys there that can be playmakers, that can
you know, go out there and get their own yards.
(26:41):
I like where we're at a tight end compared to
year ago, to where we're at a tight end now,
is is way better. I think defensively, there's still a
lot of work to do yet, you know in front
of us here and uh, you know that'll be a
challenge for for us, especially in the secondary. We lost
a ton of reps in the secondary from a year
ago and and uh, you know that's where we got
to go to work. And that's why they put coach
before you're man, we got some work to do here
(27:01):
this summer.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
That's the accountability starts again with the Eric Smith.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
It sounds just like a coach.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
That sounds like a coach.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
You should really be a good guy, one of the
most respected that Schmidt. Great to see you, buddy, Thanks
you stuff, Thanks for being here.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Have a good day.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Thanks thanks coaching head coach, University.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Of North Dakota. What a uh?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
What you always feel like the guy driving the car,
you're a pretty good shape on your trip.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Ever going vacation driving his car? Yeah, ever going vacation.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I knew that when when Pops was driving that big
old LTD or whatever we drove, I always thought, Wow,
head to Medora. We're in pretty good shape. Pops is
driving well. I've had the same commidence with Eric Smid.
Before we move on, right now, we pause ten seconds
for station identification, ten seconds for legal ID. You're listening
to the und Spring Football Showcase on the Fighting Clarks
(27:44):
Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Number hardy KK, Grand Forks, North Dakota Free never sounded fans.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
The golf center says that the golf season is now here.
I can confirm that we had that one day of
summer last week and then give back a little bit
and then it'll be good.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
But the golf season is here. Let's not get ourselves.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
And you can save shots in your golf game by
getting a fitting from the golf fitting experts in the
Upper Midwest. You know, maybe your game's not where it's
at because the clubs aren't the proper, I mean Paul
Rolso w'll tell you that. So get in there, give
that game a booze today. Located at thirty seven hundred
South Washington Street, the Golf Center, it is where your
(28:32):
game begins, will come back. Obviously, there's a lot to
get to today, including including the upcoming schedule. Certainly what's
happening in the front window. All goodness, Gration is the
greatest law enforcement officer and this side of the pay
coast is here.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Good to see him today. Look at that guy right there.
Oh yeah, I know that guy. Yeah, carefully, our mind
are peas and dunes every year.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Well he's he has a redhet it to do during
the season.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Too, So that's right, big time mount will come back.
More Landes to get to today, and there's the Spring
football showcase on the Potting Hawks Radio Network.
Below stamp, give it.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
To BERNELLI slashes and puts down on the color touchdown
North the couta low snamp. Simon got the belly of
cold Brunel and Burnell pierces the end zone. Tach on
six for North Dakota. It's sixteen to six here in
the fourth quarter. Low stamp taken by Lang Common Lang
Kama running between left guard.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
He can't bring him down and he just stepped. He escaped.
He's who did he touchdown? North of Color?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
He escape touchdown, Chuckwane come on the strength of that
running back room. We talked about it before. We're gonna
focus a little bit more in this segment on the defense.
Just now they've been into some more special teams and
supup returns. I saw a grand Nolan returning or catching one.
(00:53):
I should say their catching one one. And then I
have a white out as well. And then and then
because this case is not yeah, they're putting the they're
putting the work in.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
They're going through fundamentals and some of the drills.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
And and and uh situational footbawl uh.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
But I noticed, speaking to.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Sean Costage, we just heard they just took an offensive
lineman back there in that last but returns.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Well, well, they had an on before that had a
defensive lineman. Wyatt Kuhne had his opportunity to catch, and
Michael Wagner had his opportunity, and of course they surround
them with with defenders so make them concentrating the ball
to fun drill.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We've we've certainly spent time on the offense of breaking
down that heard from Danny Foyd, heard a little bit
on the defense from the Nickels standpoint from Sean Costach.
But Fellas, this is gonna you know, there's reasons for
optimism for the offensive sewing the Bowl. But you know, Paul,
you were hearing Mike and I were talking about that
memory of of of Lance Rucker and the injury down
in Texas, the MBS and all that, and not just him,
(01:52):
Cad and Vig. We saw some explosive plays from Cat
and Viig. You talk about where the inside linebacker is
going to be. What about the Jets suns and back
end of that defense those lines of this, uh, but
defensively speaking for the University of North Dakota, and I
guess we'll throw to both of you. Mike, your every
practice you see this, you know where are they right now?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Where's the potential for this team?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I know that defensively, you look at scoring opponent's average
nineteen points a game last year, gains the University of
North Dakota un D yielded just ninety nine and a
half yards a game last year on the ground, about
two hundred yards in the air, so it's about two
three hundred yards a game. Talk about the defense, Mike,
(02:38):
where do you think they are where they need to
get to?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
We knew nothing about this defense last spring when they
came in newly implemented, knew that it had been effective
where coach Schmidt had been. I think they've made a
tremendous jump the other The coaching staff is the same
and last year Sean Kostich, when coach Schmidt came in,
moved from tight ends coaching Nickels and I sit in
(03:02):
on his meetings at least twice a week. With the Nickels,
I'm still trying to figure out what those guys are
doing there. They have so many calls, so many alignments,
are doing so many things. It's it's mesmerizing to me
to see how much they're doing on defense and all
the adjustments are able to make.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Because of the change.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Now we when I say we North Dakota fans are
used to the h There was that three four what
a scheme you know that was built on on on
line packers that were heads on swivels, that that could cover,
that could that could maybe you know, blitz from from
areas where you weren't maybe some exotic schemes or that
three four uh to a different at least, and it's
(03:45):
not an uncommon defense that you used now in football.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Northakot is not the only one that.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Uses the one that they do, mike, but that adjustment uh,
and then the personnel that goes into that spot.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Your thought on greating that.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Out, Well, that three four that we saw was actually
implemented here as an option defending defense. And there was
a particular team that they were interested in defending and
they did a good job with that. They had quality
all American type noseguards that they needed. You don't see
a lot of option football out there anymore. You see
(04:19):
multiple formations, empty formations, lots of movement. You need defenses
that can adjust, You need five guys in the secondary,
and then the nicolas kind of a hybrid linebacker, safety
corner kind of guy. So they're using that and I've
just seen a great growth. They have the personnel, they've
(04:40):
they've fit personnel, they recruit personnel to fit that defense,
and that's where they're at now. So I'm excited. I
think they're gonna be fine.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah, I like that.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
We certainly spend time on a boy from Omaha on
the Brian's Good Lance Rucker, but you know bradon more
on Edge. You know I mentioned earlier Eric pay I'm
curious on the projection of this former sent kid that
is a again another physical specce six four two forty
and can hit like a bullet. Uh In Eric Pay
(05:08):
uh mentioned Jimmy kleinsaus as boy Clarter Kleinsaucer.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
You know, the freshman, the Ty Big.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
We brought up Ty Big, the younger brother of Kayd
and then of course Cayden Big, who continues at six
six two fifty three. What I see from some of
these Edge guys, Mike, you know two thirty two forty five,
two forty two thirty five, two thirty one, two.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Point fifteen, uh two fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Three you know six six six six six three, six
five six four six three sixty three. So we're talking length, certainly,
good feet and enough poundage that delivers a blow. This
is this is your edge in today's game.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
We set up here today or up in a press box,
or we see them and they're football players in pads
and helmets. Where you really want to get a sense
of it is when you with them in the hallway,
you're with them walking into the airport, they walk down
the aisle of the plane and you go, yeah, I
mean the sun is blocked out. And that's not just
(06:08):
the linement anymore. It is You're right, it's the linebackers,
it's the edge players, it's the safeties. Yeah, and they
we haven't talked about it today. The strength and conditioning
program here and the facilities here are unmatched in FCS football.
And I mean it sounds like I'm a big fan.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I am.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I am a fan of what they do here, and
these guys when they come in here, they it's it's
a whole new day when when you come from high
school or transferred from another school and you come into
this strength program. So Derek Stein and his staff are
remarkable in the progress they've made, and they've included the
nutrition element too, which didn't used to be here. These
(06:53):
kids are eating right, they're taking care of themselves, and
we're seeing athletes now that we've never seen in this place.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Today, we're coming here from the Paul Or Athletics Center
here in Grand Forks. It's the un D Spring Showcase.
Jack Michaels, Mike Berg, Paul Rolston, Tracy Value producing our game.
Back to the facility question. And in recent weeks, and
this is an uncommon trust me, there are commitments being made.
This is the time where juniors in high school that
are going into their senior year, many of them that
(07:23):
have been you know, coaches have been on him since
eighth grade or ninth grade, and now it comes time
and most most of these young men will will verbally
commit because then they can go in their senior year
without that that cloud hanging on them of what am
I going to do?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Where am I going to go?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
So what we're seeing a lot right now he has
verbal commitments from from underclassmen that that have been recruited
and talked to, that have come for junior.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Days or whatever all that.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
And there's a safety out of Wisconsin that that recently
verbal and showed a commitment to North Dakota. And he
has been you know, he's been recruited by South Dakota State,
by North Dakota State, by many major schools, and he
committed to North Dakota. And I was looking at some
of the reasons why and what he posted, Mike, and
(08:13):
he says, they're doing some things there. This is the
facilities that he pointed to, the experience, the trajection, the facilities,
everything you just talked about, the wait, all of that
stuff that means something to these young men.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, do you think Eric Schmidt coming from his FBS
background at Fresno State, Washington, San Diego State, Danny Frind
from Washington State coming in here, and the other coaches,
I mean, yeah, they didn't go to those places and
closed their mind. They brought things back here with them.
And you're right about the recruits. A lot of folks
(08:51):
here today are actually kids that are are recruits that
are here with their parents.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I talked to another commitment and then let's just say
a cornerback out of the state of Minnesota that was
recruited by the likes of.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Oh Miami Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Uh, pick your FBS school, and he committed to North
Dakota and and uh. And I talked to the young man,
and of course the easy question is why do you
you choose this over there? What's the reason. And he
just mentioned Paul and Mike, the relationship with Eric Schmidt,
(09:29):
the visit the facilities. I felt like they really spoke
to me. You know, it's that that bond north. The
county is on the move.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
And speak of the devil. Coach Mitt will be joining us,
I think next next year. So I mean, but you
know what, it's easy when you got guys like coach Mint,
Coach Freud and Coach Costage and so many guys they
want to be a part of something and it just
it's it's something to be a part.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Of anyone else.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
He told me, he said, you know what, I can
get to where I want to go.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Uh, it doesn't there as well.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
As I can there. Here is the the man. Well,
there's a lot of men of the hour, the one
and only Schmidty. Great to see you, man. This is
it's spring. What are fresh? What a fresh day today?
The guys look like they had some energy in thereman.
Coach Uh, this is fun. The fans who was packed
over here, they wanted to come over there down the field,
you have me goano grafs and talking over there, schmiddy,
(10:21):
talk about what what you wanted to showcase here today?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Take us through it from your angle today.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Yeah, I think just uh, you know, giving everybody a
glimpse of of you know, who we are, what our
identity is. And then just you know, our guys going
out there and performing in front of some people. You know,
I think what we do every single day, we do
it with intent. There's a process to everything we do
or not you know, worried about the outcomes. Right now,
We're never worried about the outcomes. It's just about us
(10:47):
going out there and putting real work in and and
you know, you do those things, and you do it consistently,
and you do it, uh with the environment the way
you had it today, And really I felt like our
environment all spring long, like guys bringing you know, really
good energy, our staff. When I say our staff, I
mean all the helpers and supporters in our in our building,
like just uh doing it with like really good energy,
(11:07):
which to me is effort and focus. Like that's what
it's about and that's how you get better. So I
think just a culmination of that and now we got,
you know, some more work to do as you as
you work into the summer.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I feel the energy. I know, Paul and Mike, you
just felt it here when we showed up. We came
here today and set up with this broadcast. Mideon and
you just pop in when we were talking about you know,
facilities and things of that nature and culture and and
the human relationship. And I was chatting about some guys
because we're living now at a time where people are
verbaling and athletes are are are are verbaling.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Their commitment to North Dakota.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And I've talked to a number of those young men
and to a guy it is Eric Schmidt, and I
this I felt wanted by him. He looked me in
the eye, we talked to him, he laid out what
he expects to me where I can it is. It's
such a personal connection to Schmitty at a busy week,
were you just speaking to a group like in Wisconsin yesterday.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
Yeah, we had a number of guys that went down there,
so it was awesome to be able to go there.
But I think you're exactly right, like you start out
in this process and guys will check a box. They
have the traits that that we want. And there's obviously
a talent part of this, but then there there becomes
a human side to it. We're not just developing football players,
we're you know, developing humans and and and I think
that's a huge piece of it is is those guys
(12:20):
from their side of things, when you look at it
through their lens, like who do they want to lock
arms with that's going to help them get to their goals?
And for us, like we really want to dig into
these guys and get to know them because you know,
if we're going to pour into these guys and give
them our very best every day, then bottom line is like, hey,
there's got to be a connection there, you know, and
we got to like them. And and I think the
thing that I love just all of our assistant coaches
and the relationships they build with their players, and and uh,
(12:43):
let's be honest, like what we do here, like like
we're our entire job is to pour into the guys
in between the white lines, Like that's exactly what we
need to do help them become the best versions of themselves.
And uh, I've seen a lot of development here since
since January, and and uh, the most impressive. Part that
I like that I've seen is we talk a lot
in our culture here about being player led, and that's
(13:04):
what I see with our guys. This place is not
going to be coach led.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Like.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
It's about the players. Those guys doing a good job
not only with the brotherhood but also being good teammates
and telling guys what they need to hear. And it's
been fun to watch that evolve here over the last
four or five months.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I'll let Mike and Jun and Paul jump in here
in a second, but one more quick one Eric, for you,
and you've been at this, You've been at this for
a while now, you're you're a veteran guy, but we
talk about athletes growth from your wonder year two for
you and for those that don't know, I mean, it
was boom higher, boom, foot on the ground, boom, gets
stuff in place, boom. Some man season ago, it was
(13:37):
just I got to get all I got. How do
I roll pull this in, start this foundation, get this
thing some traction, move this thing to the direction I
want to move.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
And you did it swimmingly, Schmidty.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But have you felt like, okay, all right, I got
this kind of with my staff kind of in the
direction I want to go talk talk a little bit
about the last couple of years.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Well, I think the most important thing is the staff
when you start out. And the good thing for me
was I was an assistant coach for almost twenty years,
so I knew what I was, what I wanted once
I got here. You know, there was a lot of
a lot of you know, just trial and error over
the years. I think everybody in an organization we talk
about having a growth mindset and getting better, but just
you know, having the staff that we have. I mean,
(14:17):
those guys are their high output, low egle guys, and
they they want to come in every single day and
you know, they want to do a great job, and
they do do a great job. So I think that
piece of it was really big, and just for me,
you know, having the experience that I have and being
able to be around a lot of really you know,
quality people, really good coaches, but just even better people.
I knew, you know, how we had to do this thing,
(14:38):
and and just how important the year round calendar was
to developing people. I mean, the stuff we're doing right now,
this is gonna be the exact same things that we're
doing in December, you know, when there's really important games.
All we're gonna do from here until then is continue
to detail and polish it and get better so that
those guys when they get in those situations, they just
have the utmost confidence. And Hey, I know what I'm
I know what I'm supposed to do, I know how
(14:59):
to do it. I feel capable of being able to
do it, and uh, I think I'll be successful when
I go out there and get put in those in
those in those situations. So yeah, I just you know,
from day one, I really felt confident and you know
who the people are in the building, and that's what
this is all about. You know, We've had a great
weekend here. We were in Wisconsin. We had a bunch
of probably seventy nine man coaches that were on campus
(15:20):
here today that came in and just you know, listening
to those guys talk, listening to to coach Berg talk,
and just you know, coaching is a brotherhood and it's
it's a calling, and uh, you know the guys that
that we have, man, I couldn't you know, be more,
be more appreciative of what they what they've been able
to do here. Like I just I just feel like
we got the right butts in the right seats.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Jack a couple of minutes for Minting with Eric Schmidt.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Paul, Well, you know, we talked a lot about the
offense today, but I did want to talk about defense.
You guys were talking as that things were coming about,
you know, and I'd made mention of this early in
the broadcast. They said, you don't necessarily replace the Melchi
McNeil for what he does on the field and within
the huddle and in his day to day, but you
got a lot of good pieces in that inside linebacker
(16:03):
group that maybe need to emerge, like a guy from
just down the road and mister bull or or you
know Devereux who's been here for a year now. Are
you excited about how those guys have approached this spring
and and really embraced opportunities and really attacked each and
every practice and day.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
Yeah, I think there's a lot of growth in there.
There's some guys who have definitely, I feel like, have
started to emerge and to maybe separate themselves. Some other
guys Jake Starcevik didn't get a chance to go today,
he was sick here the last two weeks, but I
definitely think. You know, Ethan Bowles a guy. You know,
it's not it's not what it used to be. And
what I mean by that is, you know, he's a
(16:40):
guy now that's played special teams for a couple of years,
he red shirted. I mean it's time. You know, he's
ready to go now on this point in his career.
And and a lot of times, you know, there's not
the patience anymore to wait that long until you're a
junior in order to be able to get on the field.
But once again, I think it's why you recruit local first.
You know, he's he's got a lot of you know,
an attitude of gratitude every day that he comes out
(17:01):
in the field, like you can tell, like he gets
to do this, he doesn't have to do it. So
I like where he's at. I think, you know, he
played some snaps, some meaningful snaps a year ago, and
it's our job now to continue to get him ready,
to make sure Mike Devereux his senior year, has his
you know, best year of football. You look at he
talked about Malachi and you know his best year that
he played here was last year. You look at his stats,
(17:21):
you look at you know things that he's been able
to do. And that's where we challenge everybody in what
we like to call the family business here is Hey,
if you're a young player, it's your job to carve
out the biggest role you've ever had on your team
on our team this year. And if you're an older player,
you're a veteran, you got to go out having your
best year as your last year. Like, that's everything you
know in order for us to get to to where
we want to get to. And I think you know
Ethan Bowle's progress here. I think you know Mason Miller
(17:45):
is a guy who's now in there. I think Jake
starsvik like we do a lot of things in the
summer here yet too as well, Like all those guys
got to be able to emerge and get better and
continue to push each other because it's not just on defense,
it's on special teams too as well, where they're going
to be able to play valuable members for us.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
And if I may just put a two to this,
because we talk about guys where you talk about n
Ethan Bole who waits kind of been grows into that role.
And then on the flip side, it was we signed
your first year. Grant Nolan comes in, carves out right away,
doesn't wait and has he just goes and plays his
tail off throughout the season, gives you everything as a
(18:19):
as a true freshman guy. And that's a message within
this roster too. You don't have to wait around. You
might as well get after it and you might carve
out a role right away.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
No question. I think, you know, we think we got
some guys coming in this year that'll have an opportunity
to be able to make an impact, you know, right away.
So I think there's a maturity to it. There's a
mindset that you have to attack every single day with
and Grant did that. You know, he came in here
and he was as consistent as anybody, uh, you know,
through all training camp and really into the early part
of the year. And then there's gonna be growing pains
(18:48):
as a young player, you know, it's a longer season
and all that kind of stuff. But we have a
saying around here. We talk about consistently good over occasionally great,
and we really value guys who are consistently good. And
and you know, Frushman all American. I mean, he's a
guy I think, you know, like him and Isaac Caravu
young players here that are really good. I think the
other guy you're really gonna like, uh, Brody Thornton is
(19:09):
going to be a really good football player, you know,
obviously playing behind what we think is one of better
one of the better edges in all college football. And
and I like Rook's attitude, like he's he's playing like
he's as starving as ever, Like that guy does not feel,
you know, like he's arrived and that he has all
the answers like he's hung He's not hungry. He's starving
to get better. And then you get Brody right behind him.
And that's how you you got to be able to
(19:29):
have you know, some depth not only the quality but
the quantity behind those guys too as well.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
But nomine Wisconsin, by the way. That's that aren't sure
that Schmid shows something in Wisconsin and the whole Yeah,
Seric Schmid. That's I know that you recruit local world too,
but I know that the Wisconsin produces that they all do.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
They all produces.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
You mentioned earlier that the average fan might say, Okay, today,
Schmiddy goes home, kicksbacks, watch golf.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
In four months, they play long island. Nope, it's every day.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
But but my final thing for your schmiddy is the
position battle from a staff and a coach.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Uh, do you chart like, here's where.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
You are in our in our frame right now, here's
what you can get to or is it do you
leave an air of it's open us everybody fighting over there?
Take us through the position battle. How much you relay
that to the player or do you leave it open
ended for that player?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Take us through that part? Yeah, great question. You know,
there's a lot of feedback that we give our players.
I mean a lot. They're graded like just so everybody understands,
because I think everybody wants to talk about, you know,
the games and all that kind of stuff, and we
do not talk about those things here. Like I said,
it's all process oriented. It's not outcome oriented. And we
really believe this, like we say, hey man, practice about performance.
(20:45):
The games are for learning, and we just we grade
our guys on everything. We have a way of that,
honestly that we grade our culture here every day. We
call it the starving Board, and we give guys grades
like that throughout the week just so they get the
feedback that they need. Like I said, before, Like, I mean,
everybody needs truth tellers in their lives, like right, Like,
I think everybody has blind spots, and you got to
(21:06):
have a growth mindset to get better. So yeah, I
mean I feel like, you know, there's some positions that
are maybe uh you know, there's a veteran there or
something like that where you know they've gotten more reps,
they've they've produced and and and uh you know, been
able to maybe solidify you know, things where they're at.
But I mean it's an ongoing, ever changing you know
landscape as far as what that looks like, and we
(21:27):
want guys to to be competitive every single day, no
matter where they're at, uh, you know, in their careers.
So uh so yeah, I mean we're constantly evaluating, We're
constantly grading. We'll we'll we'll put a depth chart up,
a lot of those a lot of those things are
for organizational purposes, and then you know, as we get
closer and closer to Game one, we'll start to uh,
you know, make sure that the guys who are going
to play the most are the guys that we're repping
(21:48):
the most.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Moving forward toime, we's intriguing me, Mike, and you've been
you've been at a long time Hall of Fame coach
at Ti Shmidy's point over there. You know, as a player,
as a player yourself, you probably want to know where
you're sitting in the in the pecking order on your
position group, if you're not number one, and if that
door is open. But in the same aspect, you know,
as a coach, I could say, look, that door's always
open for a grab over that mike. That's a That's
(22:10):
one of those gray areas, is it that you want
to certainly speak to an athlete, have them feel comfortable,
and let have them be that carrot still dangling.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Well, and they want you to be honest with them
if they need work. They want to know where do
I work, what do I do? And and good coaches
will lay it out there for him too. You're not
going to sugarcoat anything. They're all in they're all chasing
the same goal. And so that's very true. And you know, I,
you know, I spent a lot of time around your
staff and around your players, and I totally buy into
(22:39):
the concept of player led team and how important that is.
But there is absolutely no question who's steering this ship
around here. Schmidty and it's just been good to see
what you've done when and we're excited about what's excited
coming up this season.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
Yeah. I think you make a great point, Coach Berg.
I mean, the guys at this level, I think the
relationship between coach and player, it's not like it's this
big friendship that everybody. You know, the elite guys, they
want to be an environment where they're held accountable every day,
where we can make a mistake.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
You hear Anthletes, I want to be coached hard.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I think that's kind of the misnomer.
And then they want their their their peers to be
coached just as hard, you know, I mean, in hell,
just as much as count just as much accountable. I
think at times now coaches are so worried about the
portal and stuff like that, if I coach this guy hard,
you know, I'm gonna lose them. I think the exact
oppos If you don't coach guys hard and they don't
think they're getting developed, you're gonna lose those guys, you know.
And I think, well, that's the relationship that that we've created,
(23:34):
Like there's a you know, I always refer to it
as Hey, all of our coaches are an extra set
of uncles for these guys in Grand Forks, right, and
we're the real uncles. Like we're gonna tell you where
you're meeting the standard, and we're gonna tell you where
you need to get better. And that's that's ultimately you
know how I think you're gonna add some tools to
your tool belt and become a better player.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
What was the thing you just said about the practices
for this The games are for.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Learning practice about performance.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
The games are and let me say one thing before
we leave here or ask a question, but fifty yards
west of where we're sitting, you went through spring practice
as a player. How much different is it in here
today for these guys.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Yeah, I mean it's been a game changer. And I
think obviously a lot of people that come before me,
you know, I just think about right now, like you know,
the Bubba Schweigerts of the world, and those guys that
just grind it every day and you know, didn't have
some of the things that you know, I've been blessed
with coming into my first head coaching job to be
able to have these things. So you talk about attitude
(24:29):
and gratitude of the former players, the former coaches, a
lot of really good people and a lot of really
good coaches that you know didn't have you know what
we have here right now and just for our guys
like it makes you, you know, awfully proud. The efficiency
of it, I think is what really sets it apart.
I mean, you're over here right now and it's truly
an ecosystem. And the thing that I appreciate about it
(24:51):
is that it forces our guys to be around our
coaches all the time because they live here, so they're
down and you know what I mean, they're around the
building all day long, and we're around the building all
day long. So you start to form you know, some
really really close connections even outside of football too as well.
So you know, obviously our administration, you know, Bill Chaves,
Eric Martinson and and just I know, it wasn't easy,
(25:13):
you know, it took probably a lot longer than you know,
some of my predecessors wanted it to be. But but
I mean we knocked it out of the park as
far as you know, being able to just make sure
that when guys came in here they have all the
resources that they need down or to be successful. So
that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Remember that great well Well said you know Jim Clin
Jimmy told me we were talking about open memorial. I said,
boy is he goes, yeah, Hey, we haven't used a
weight room that if you scrape your knee, you're thinking,
way do I get a tetnis shot?
Speaker 1 (25:38):
There's rust on the you know that's old school and
that I will let you leave.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
On this and and and to the fans, schmidty, you
like your club. Just looking at the personnel we saw today,
we broke down all the different groups over here, the
type of team that you want to the fans might
see in the fall.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Just well, I think you know, we still are work
in progress yet we like you know, obviously, the big
thing we were able to do is keep all of
our big guys. I think we can be better in
the line of scrimmage, which it starts and ends right there.
You know, we got to be able to to be
able to win the A and the B and the
C gaps and make sure that we can gain yards
and stop people from doing that too as well. I
think if you can do that, it really, you know,
(26:20):
makes it easier to be able to move the football.
And stop teams from moving the football. I think running back.
I like where we're at there. I think there's a
lot of you know, guys there that are capable. Where
I'm where I think we're going to be able to
take a jump is at receiver. I think just we
have more guys there that can be playmakers, that can
you know, go out there and get their own yards.
(26:41):
I like where we're at a tight end compared to
year ago, to where we're at a tight end now,
is is way better. I think defensively, there's still a
lot of work to do yet, you know in front
of us here and uh, you know that'll be a
challenge for for us, especially in the secondary. We lost
a ton of reps in the secondary from a year
ago and and uh, you know that's where we got
to go to work. And that's why they put coach
before you're man, we got some work to do here
(27:01):
this summer.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
That's the accountability starts again with the Eric Smith.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
It sounds just like a coach.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
That sounds like a coach.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
You should really be a good guy, one of the
most respected that Schmidt. Great to see you, buddy, Thanks
you stuff, Thanks for being here.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Have a good day.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Thanks thanks coaching head coach, University.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Of North Dakota. What a uh?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
What you always feel like the guy driving the car,
you're a pretty good shape on your trip.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Ever going vacation driving his car? Yeah, ever going vacation.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I knew that when when Pops was driving that big
old LTD or whatever we drove, I always thought, Wow,
head to Medora. We're in pretty good shape. Pops is
driving well. I've had the same commidence with Eric Smid.
Before we move on, right now, we pause ten seconds
for station identification, ten seconds for legal ID. You're listening
to the und Spring Football Showcase on the Fighting Clarks
(27:44):
Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Number hardy KK, Grand Forks, North Dakota Free never sounded fans.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
The golf center says that the golf season is now here.
I can confirm that we had that one day of
summer last week and then give back a little bit
and then it'll be good.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
But the golf season is here. Let's not get ourselves.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
And you can save shots in your golf game by
getting a fitting from the golf fitting experts in the
Upper Midwest. You know, maybe your game's not where it's
at because the clubs aren't the proper, I mean Paul
Rolso w'll tell you that. So get in there, give
that game a booze today. Located at thirty seven hundred
South Washington Street, the Golf Center, it is where your
(28:32):
game begins, will come back. Obviously, there's a lot to
get to today, including including the upcoming schedule. Certainly what's
happening in the front window. All goodness, Gration is the
greatest law enforcement officer and this side of the pay
coast is here.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Good to see him today. Look at that guy right there.
Oh yeah, I know that guy. Yeah, carefully, our mind
are peas and dunes every year.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Well he's he has a redhet it to do during
the season.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Too, So that's right, big time mount will come back.
More Landes to get to today, and there's the Spring
football showcase on the Potting Hawks Radio Network.
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