Sit Down and Cheer Podcast: Recent Episodes
UND Insider
UND Athletics' official podcast presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Our fight song is Stand Up & Cheer but sitting down is much less work. Every week, Jayson Hajdu and Mitch Wigness talk about everything with the biggest personalities from all aspects of UND Sports, past and present.
It’s THAT week. UND/NDSU football happens Saturday and we get you prepped with former UND linebacker and current defensive coordinator Eric Schmidt. He’ll give us the insight on THE game, his memories of the series as a player, some breakdown from the first-week rout of Drake and much more. He says it doesn’t matter what the scoreboard says as long as its UND in front, but we challenge him on that based on a 2001 playoff game vs. UC Davis. We also caught up with new UND head track and field and cross country coach Christine Engel to get her thoughts on their opening meet down in Fargo last week and a host of other topics to include: North Dakota topography, weather, jogging (it might be soft J), and if it’s Clem-son or Clem-zon. All that on the fifth season’s first episode of Sit Down and Cheer. Oh yeah, and we got a new co-host (Darrin Looker). You know him as the public address announcer at UND hockey games, you know, HEEEEERRRRRRRRE’S your University of North Dakota SCOOOOOOOOORING guy.
The search for a new co-host continues as Mitch brings UND Sports Radio man Paul Ralston on to the pod. Mitch and Paul talk about the 2019 UND Sports Hall of Fame inductees including Lee Davidson, Jessica (Neva) Gardner, Gene Roebuck, Robert Toftey, Tisha (Yantzer) Lezer, and the 1998-99 national championship women's basketball team. Additionally, current Minnesota State Moorhead head women's basketball coach Karla Nelson will receive the Tom Clifford Award, while longtime UND superfan Loyall Jahnke will be recognized with the Honorary Letterwinner Award.
With Jayson gone, Mitch starts his search for a new co-host. This week, he sits down with UND Hockey public address announcer Darrin Looker.
Its the final part of the trilogy of farewell podcasts (See Bill Chaves Podcasts for parts I & II) as Jayson spends one of his final days with Mitch and special guest Brad Schlossman at Buffalo Wild Wings reminiscing about his career at North Dakota.
Paul Ralston sits down with members from the 1997, 1998, and 1999 women's basketball teams that each claimed a NCAA Division II National Championship.
In his 34th and final season at North Dakota, cross country coach Dick Clay reflects on his career as the longest-tenured coach in the history of UND Athletics. He discusses what went into his decision to retire, why his one and only season in The Summit League holds special meaning to him, what drives his former runners to give back to the program, what has changed for student-athletes since his career started, his fondest road trip memories, the innocuous conversation that sparked his team at the NCAA DII Championship, and so much more. Join us for this trip down memory lane with a UND coaching legend. Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.
Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings
The guys return from summer hiatus to say farewell to associate media relations director Ryan Powell, who is leaving his post in the athletics department after being named assistant commissioner with The Summit League. The Three Best Friends That Anybody Could Have reflect on Ryan’s decade-long tenure and the memorable teams and student-athletes he worked with along the way. They also discuss his path to UND, working with coach George O’Leary at Central Florida, and the Heisman Trophy campaign he put together for Kevin Smith. Finally, Ryan shares some insight into his early to-do list for UND’s new conference home. Also, tales of Ryan’s legendarily tightwad ways! A fun farewell, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.
PRESENTED BY BUFFALO WILD WINGS
Molli Detloff and Christian Wolanin, UND’s 2017-18 Female and Male Athletes of the Year, join the unofficial “year-end” podcast for a wide-ranging discussion. We learn from both that neither of them were highly-recruited by schools other than North Dakota, how they use that to fuel their competitive fire, what challenges the modern student-athlete faces, which teammates they lean on the most, which teammates drive them nuts, how they find middle ground with coaches regarding differences of opinion, why UND is so important to them both, and much more! Special mention to Jeff Groven and his staff at Buffalo Wild Wings for hosting the show.
PRESENTED BY BUFFALO WILD WINGS
New UND Director of Athletics Bill Chaves returns to the pod for his first lengthy sit-down with the guys. After obliging Mitch and Jayson with some baseball geek talk (Doug Mirabelli??), Bill gets into some of the things that make him tick, both at the office and away from it, including his upbringing in Connecticut, life as a Red Sox and Whalers(!) fan, the bottle of champagne he finally got to uncork in 2004, what led him down his career path, what he sees as the biggest challenge facing the modern student-athlete, what he’s identified as some of his priority projects at UND, his relationship with his predecessor Brian Faison, and a whole lot more! As always, a big thank-you to Jeff Groven and our friends at Buffalo Wild Wings for hosting the show!
PRESENTED BY BUFFALO WILD WINGS.
UND associate head soccer coach Chris Citowicki joins the guys for a conversation unlike any other they’ve had. Born in Poland, Chris’ fascinating journey to the United States started with his family defecting from their native country and included stops in Italy, South Africa and Australia. His story was often fraught with peril, with true tales of murder, ocean voyages and even pirates. Chris also tells us how his life experiences have shaped his coaching philosophy, why hockey coaching legend Herb Brooks was such a profound influence on him, how a fateful recruiting trip landed him his job at UND, and how the Fighting Hawks were able to put together their best-ever Big Sky season in the first year of a new coaching regime.
The guys (finally) reunite and take a deep dive into spring football with receivers coach Danny Freund and safeties coach Joel Schwenzfeier. They’ll talk position battles, the magnitude of Deion Harris’ return to health, what the staff reevaluated after a spate of injuries in 2017, players learning new positions, the difficulties of evaluating quarterbacks during non-contact practices, a renewed emphasis on recruiting quality depth, why they loved spring football as players, why they hated spring football as players, why recruits and their families are excited for the move to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and even some recruiting stories from their own playing days.
It’s time for one final Road to Reno as the Big Sky Basketball Tournaments are upon us. Mitch Wigness and Ryan Powell cornered Paul Ralston, the radio voice of UND’s men’s team, and Jon Oglesby, who will be handling webcasts for the first three days on both sides for Pluto TV, and we break it all down. Who is the toughest out? Current format— goods and bads? Best matchups for UND? Least ideal matchup? Who is the next NBA guy in the Big Sky? What did Powell get his kids on a 12-day road trip? Paul’s favorite road stop? Answers to all these questions and much, much more on this basketball-bloated pod.
Last week, Grand Forks Herald hockey writer Brad Schlossman attended Super Bowl Media Day last week and ended up breaking NFL MVP news, sending the sports Twitter world into a tizzy. This week, he joins the guy to discuss how it all went down, how Twitter may have literally broken his phone, what the Super Bowl Media Day experience was like, why entertainment reporters are the worst, and which donuts are (or aren’t?) Justin Timberlake’s favorite. The conversation then switches to hockey and Schlossman assesses the stretch run for North Dakota and discusses several UND alums doing their thing in the NHL. As a bonus, he also gives us his prediction on who will be the starting quarterback in 2018 for his beloved Minnesota Vikings.
On this episode of Sit Down and Cheer, Junior Varsity fill-ins Ryan Powell and Kyle Doperalski fill in for Jayson and Mitch as they sat down with newly-hired athletics director Bill Chaves. The J.V.-squad touched on a number of topics with their new boss ranging from what made him a sports junkie to how his time at Eastern Washington is going to help keep the UND athletic department moving forward.
Chaves also discusses how a kid who grew up with an affinity for most New England professional teams wound up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and who he thinks will take home the championships in the five major sports.
Part two (Fais 2?) of our conversation with retiring UND Athletics Director Brian Faison, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. We go in depth on the recent sport cuts at UND, what went on behind the scenes and what was reassessed in the aftermath of those announcements. The guys touch on a number of topics from there, including the opening of the High Performance Center, the future of Memorial Stadium, the move from the Big Sky to The Summit League, Cost of Attendance for student-athletes and whether it impacted the sport cuts, the most challenging and rewarding moments of Faison’s tenure, and even his latest book recommendations. An episode UND fans will not want to miss!
Finally reunited after a hectic fall schedule, Mitch and Jayson sit down with UND Athletics Director Brian Faison, who announced his impending retirement in October. In Part I of their conversation, Faison discusses the early challenges he faced at UND, why former UND President Robert Kelley was so instrumental in those first days, the future landscape of conference affiliation and how it may affect UND, what drove him to create the NCHC, the secret hotel meeting that got the NCHC ball rolling, why he made the volleyball program one of his top priorities, behind the scenes of the Dave Hakstol-to-Brad Berry transition and so much more. An insightful conversation that just begins to scratch the surface of Faison’s decade-long tenure in Grand Forks.
With Mitch on the road again, Jayson goes it alone with UND Athletics’ version of the Most Interesting Man in the World, Mark Poolman. The longtime athletic trainer and strength coach for the men’s hockey program, Poolman is also father to Colton and Tucker Poolman, both of whom developed into standout defenseman at North Dakota. We ask Mark about his new life as an NHL dad, how Tucker almost gave up the hockey dream along the way, and how he separates “Dad” from “Coach” around the rink. We also discuss his own collegiate career as a receiver for the UND football team, how he accidentally got recruited, the downtown brawl between the hockey and football teams that led to his first job as a Zamboni driver, and why he wanted Coach Roger Thomas to be meaner – and why he was wrong about that. Finally, Mark talks about his career as an athletic trainer, the evolution of treating head injuries, the situations involving Travis Roy, Robbie Bina, Chay Genoway, and the relationship between trainer and coach. A fascinating conversation that just might require a follow-up visit from the trainer!
We’re talkin’ hockey this week with venerable UND radio voice Tim Hennessy. The 1986-87 NCAA championship team will be honored on Saturday night and Tim shares his many memories of that history-making squad. Hear his tales of future NHLers Ed Belfour and Tony Hrkac, Murray Baron’s appetite, Brent Bobyck’s grooming habits(?), which UND coaches he had to once step between on the racquetball court, the time Cary Eades received a bill from Wisconsin, and so much more. He also recaps last weekend’s road trip to Alaska, looks ahead to the upcoming visits from St. Lawrence and Minnesota and talks about Tucker Poolman’s NHL debut.
Legendary college hockey writer Virg Foss joins the pod and we try to cram an entire 50-year career into one episode. Find out who converted Virg from a Minnesota fan to a North Dakota fan, the college hockey record Virg may or may or may not own from his playing days, which UND hockey coach he lived with while on the beat, the time Dean Blais blew up at him, which player he covered seemed destined to become a coach, the infamous “Water Bottle Incident,” which recruit changed the program forever, and so darn much more!
Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Football season is upon us and we preview the UND football season and the upcoming tilt with Utah with Midco Sports Network play-by-play man Alex Heinert. We get into the position battles, who has looked good in fall camp, some of the personalities on the team, and how the schedule shapes up for UND and the rest of the Big Sky Conference. We also chat about Alex's second year behind the mic calling UND games, some advice he got from savvy broadcast veteran Jake Brandt, why Ryan Kasowski needed to shut his mouth, how Alex prepped to call hockey games and some of the guys' favorite broadcasters. It's all in this here episode.
Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings!
Current Edmonton Oiler and former North Dakota great Drake Caggiula visits the show during his week in Grand Forks. Drake fills the guys in on life the NHL, what Leon Draisaitl told him that turned his rookie season around, riding shotgun with Connor McDavid, Frozen Four memories, the UND teammate he hated practicing against, the “crappy” way he found out Brad Berry was taking over the program, the first thing he does when he visits Grand Forks, Stephane Pattyn’s horrible motivational speeches, the legal acumen of new UND School of Law student Bryn Chyzyk, how Chyzyk MacGyvered a way for Caggiula to watch UND’s NCAA Tournament game last year, plus an update on Sal the Hockey Dad and tons more!
Part two of the football media day frenzy sees three coaches run the gamut with Mitch and special co/host Greg Enkers. Defensive backs coach Travis Stepps chats about the talented secondary, the impact of losing Deion Harris and how that affects that group and some guys that are stepping up in his absence. We also get both coordinators, getting insight from defensive coordinator Eric Schmidt who gets to try to scheme against the wide-open offenses in the Big Sky Conference. We discuss that and how the shuffling in the linebacking corps is looking heading into fall camp. Offensive coordinator Paul Rudolph has a host of weapons at his disposal including a pair of all-league running backs in John Santiago and Brady Oliveira. Add Austin Gordon and James Johannesson to the mix and UND has a backfield that will be the envy of every FCS program. How to get those guys touches and some creative play calling are discussed as well as how the steady play of the receiver group equals success, both for the team and starting QB Keaton Studsrud. Way more info in this episode here to attempt to satiate your off-season Fighting Hawk football appetite. Let's eat.
It's the third year for the football media day special and this year we bring you a two-part segment. This week, new Midco SN sideline reporter Greg Enkers sits in for Jayson and the guys breakdown the upcoming season, reflect on last year and tackle the storylines that have emerged as fall camp begins. They sit down with reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year senior Cole Reyes, senior receiver De'Mun Mercer and junior running back Brady Oliveira. Part two next week with coaches includes Defensive Back Coach Travis Stepps, Offensive Coordinator Paul Rudolph and Defensive Coordinator Eric Schmidt.
It's with sadness that it takes him leaving for us to finally move him up the guest list, but former standout goalie/national champion/volunteer goalie coach Karl Goehring stops by for a goodbye pod as he's off to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. The guys will talk about that move, some good Dean Blais moments, his favorite memories as a player, the mental aspect of the goalie position, his superstitions (maybe), what he thinks of mentees Aaron Dell, Zane McIntyre and Cam Johnson, and of course, Wes Dorey's twice-baked potatoes. And, was it really offside?
It's time to strap on the helmets and get geared up for football season. The guys corner the new running backs coach, Malcolm Agnew, to get his thoughts on the team and the North Dakota community thus far. We also chat about his experiences as a player, his TV debut at age 6, Nebraska football, his NFL aspirations cut short due to injury, his ties with Bubba Schweigert, Dale Lennon and especially Eric Schmidt, and how to attack the upcoming season with a full stable of talent in the backfield. Sharing the backfield is senior QB Keaton Studsrud, who reflects on last season's run to a Big Sky title, his experience at the recently-completed Manning Passing Academy, his deer-in-the-headlights moment as a freshman, his newly-tattooed friends and how Haj might have to join him now. It's a football fiesta.
Mitch and Jayson go back to school with popular UND sociology professor Frank White. The guys discuss the many issues facing today’s student and athlete, including race, politics, the use of performance-enhancing and recreational drugs, and the ever-changing classroom environment. Frank also talks about how sports led him directly into the teaching profession, his favorite athletics memories spanning 30-plus years at UND, why his sociology classes are so popular among athletes, the time Mike Commodore crashed a lecture with the Stanley Cup, and more! Do you know another professor who has his own bobblehead? We didn’t think so, so you better give this a listen.
Fresh off the school's first Big Sky Conference Tournament bid, UND head softball coach Jordan Stevens sits down with the guys to discuss the season and a whole range of topics including: an outstanding year from Kaylin VanDomelen, the wait-and-see game that took place this fall with the budget cuts, what he learned from Bubba Schweigert and the football staff, the importance of the dinger, superstitious vehicles, dirt/turf debate, an inside look at scheduling, the importance of an increased fan base and support for the program and much more. The knuckleheads also share their top five baseball movies, as if anyone cares what happens in their real lives. Also, Folske screwed up punching the red button again.
We welcome UND’s 2016-17 Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Quinton Hooker and Sydney Griffin, to talk about a historic year for the Fighting Hawks. Quinton talks to us about pursuing his NBA dream, how the men’s basketball program evolved during his time at UND, what had been missing from the program, his favorite Brian Jones outbursts, which of his assistant coaches was the most intense, and what it’s been like seeing his peers lose their programs due to budget cuts. Sydney discusses being named Big Sky Conference Volleyball MVP, leading the program to its first NCAA Division I Tournament, the time head coach Mark Pryor angered the entire team (and it worked), how the team will deal with having a target on its back next season, and much more. A fun pod with two of our finest Fighting Hawks!
The Brock Star is back at UND finishing out the semester and the guys fished him out of the hot tub to chat about a number of topics, including: his whirlwind debut week with the Vancouver Canucks; the gesture by the Sedins that meant the world to him; reuniting with Troy Stecher; the injury that plagued him throughout his final season at UND; the unexpected hockey lessons he learned as a sophomore; Fighting Hawks to watch for next year; the UND teammate he misses the least; what went into his decision to de-commit from Wisconsin and commit to UND; why he never wavered on coming to UND after Dave Hakstol left for the NHL; who he was happiest for after winning the NCAA championship; making Paul LaDue nervous; offside reviews, and much more!
North Dakota Fighting Hawk-turned-Colorado Avalanche Tyson Jost is back on campus to finish out the semester and sat down the guys to discuss his whirlwind year. He tells us why it’s so hard for him to talk about Canada’s World Junior loss, how he handled the intense spotlight north of the border, what Grandpa Jost is really like, what went into his decision to turn pro, which UND teammates he had the toughest time telling, what it was like play with Rocco Grimaldi and against Jonathan Toews, why he was ticked off at Nick Schmaltz, the advice he got from Jarome Iginla as a kid, why he wants to serve as a Canadian spokesman for NCAA hockey, the two returning UND players who could surprise fans next year, awful nicknames, was it offside or not, and much more.
It's a bittersweet conversation for the guys, who sit down with old pal and UND Athletics multimedia maven Matt Schill. Matt will be pursuing a new career opportunity across campus and takes time (something Matt does best) to reflect on his decade-plus in the world of athletics. Originally hired as a publications editor, Matt discusses his numerous professional reinventions, the evolving world of online streaming, the webcast that had fans calling for his job, the origins of Brad Miller Time and Through These Doors, the importance of video content, what has worked and what hasn't, the joys of road trips, the majesty of the penguin, the pursuit of potato chips, and much more.
We visit with North Dakota junior center Carson Shanks – also known as Big Fudge and Big Zen – about the Big Dance. We get his thoughts on the looming tourney matchup with Arizona, why he wanted to face Weber State for the Big Sky Championship, how an early-season blowout loss turned the season around, the newfound hoops fever in Grand Forks and what kick-started it all, why Brian Jones won’t let him sleep on airplanes, which teammate has the biggest fear of flying, who he confided in during a rough personal stretch last season, his biggest assist from Quinton Hooker, Adrian Peterson’s future, Ken Bone, Tyler Hansbrough, and more.
Jayson is flying solo once again this week, but luckily there’s a Starman waiting in the sky and he’d like to come meet us. Dave Starman, that is, hockey analyst for CBS Sports Network and NHL Network. This one’s a wide-ranging discussion that covers his unconventional playing career, his affection for the Hartford Whalers, how Kenny Albert changed his career path, the time Barry Trotz taught him to cook, his love of history, an arts & crafts lesson from Dean Blais, coaching against a cocky minor-league defenseman by the name of Brian Idalski, his favorite UND players, why he loves coming to Ralph Engelstad Arena, and a whole lot more.
With Mitch on the road, Tim Hennessy pinch-hits and he and Haji welcome Minnesota Duluth men's hockey radio voice Bruce Ciskie to the show. They talk about Bruce's start in the business, what it's like working with Scott Sandelin, why he admired Dave Hakstol, the 2011 Frozen Four (ugh), pigeons in hotel rooms, what the NCHC gets right, what it could improve upon and much more.
We lay down a fresh track with UND All-America goalie Cam Johnson, who opens up about the best christmas movies he's never seen, growing up with Christian Wolanin, the loss of his father at a young age, how the promise of NOT playing as a freshman helped lure him to UND, the rocky start to his college career, searching for lost confidence, why the team felt disrespected prior to last year's NCAA Tournament, the near-boycott of a certain college hockey reporter, why the locker room felt so strange after winning the national championship, how it feels to be "in the zone," dealing with haters and much, much more.
Producer David Folske banned the hosts from chewing food this week, but karma came back to bite him when 20 of the first 30 minutes somehow went unrecorded. Guests Tom Miller and Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald rebounded nicely to walk us through a massive week ahead for UND Athletics, talking the football playoff picture, UND hosting the Big Sky Conference Volleyball Tourney, the recent rough patch for the men’s hockey team, the big women’s hockey rivalry series vs. Minnesota, and the start of the college basketball season. This is your primer for one of the biggest weeks for UND Athletics in recent memory, so grab a donut, sit back and enjoy!
It's basketball season and the guys are able to post up Coach Brewster for a good chat about UND women's basketball. We chat about following up a legend like Coach Roebuck, the tough first season and how exhilarating year two and a Big Sky championship felt. We also get into some of the unsung players that make the tradition of UND basketball so special, his future dance plans with the new President's wife and if Wigness is more of a Tom Willis or Mr. Bentley.
PR honk Ryan Powell pinch hits for Jayson, who's still under the weather from the Jays' playoff circumstances. We sit down with UND football radio voice Jack Michaels (he's back!) and we gush about the 2016 Fighting Hawks football team leaving no doubt. We break down the season to date and get into some good nicknames for the stable of running backs. In no order, we talk about sitting on peanuts, Jack's uvula (which might still be in Hillsboro), Homerun Hardin, Paul Ralston's tapeworms, superstitious dads, Corn Pops and Jack's sparkling radio debut in amongst all the UND football chatter.
Hockey season upon us so the guys catch up with longtime UND men’s hockey voice Tim Hennessy. Tim reflects on last year’s national championship (the sixth of UND’s eight that he’s called), why he was so certain UND could not be beaten in the national tournament, where he ranks the “CBS” line among the greatest at UND (his ranking might surprise you), how he sizes up this year’s team, which departed player will be toughest to replace, and more. But first, Tim reminisces about his close friend and longtime broadcast partner Scott Swygman, who recently passed away. An episode you will not want to miss.
With the Potato Bowl on the horizon, former All-America honoree Kelly Howe of SiouxFootballInsider and Midco Sports Network joins the guys to re-hash the football season thus far and fry up some predictions for the big game. We chip away at a range of topics, including the decision to go for two and the win at Bowling Green (even though their coach thought it was 35-0 at halftime), some of the key players to making a run, how the schedule sets up for UND coming up, what kind of conversations can be had on the sidelines at the Alerus, and we grill Kelly for some Potato Bowl memories. Plus, the guys countdown their top five potatoes. It's a carbo-loaders dream on this week's pod.
Senior men's golfer Daniel Sayler joins the podcast just a day following UND announcing that it was reinstating the team after acquiring the necessary funding. Of course, we get into the decision to cut the program and how the process worked to get the support needed to save it. Daniel also discusses how that ordeal changed his perspective as a future alum. Lots of firsts for the guys on this one, though, like trying to keep up with a pre-med honors student, Teddy Bridgewater, state fair dodgeball, and the "speed" of the greens in Wishek, N.D., plus much more.
The fall season is upon us and we visit with volleyball coach Mark Pryor, who hosts the UND Classic this weekend, and soccer coach Matt Kellogg, whose team is unbeaten after opening weekend. Get the lowdown on each team, plus find out the strangest things a volleyball recruit has ever asked for, Pryor’s current go-to show on Netflix, best and worst movies on road trips, some George Carlin talk, favorite cereals, and much more. Don’t miss this snap-crackle-poppin’ episode!
The guys welcome Alex Heinert, the new television voice of UND Athletics for Midco Sports Network. They’ll chat about his start in broadcasting, failed catch phrases, dealing with fan criticism, his thoughts on UND football training camp and the season ahead, his unique seat for the now-infamous Sioux Falls upset of UND, his first impressions of Bubba Schweigert and Brad Berry, and even how a pickle(?) helped a 6-year-old Alex hone his craft. Mitch and Jayson also disclose their Top 5 Alexes of all time on the day Alex Rodriguez retired from baseball.
It's the annual football media day extravaganza. You'll hear from coaches, athletes and media alike in preview of UND foot all's opening practice. We cornered sophomore All-America running back John Santiago, head coach Bubba Schweigert, defensive line coach Jordan Gigli, wide receivers coach Danny Freund and Grand Forks Herald sports editor Wayne Nelson. Of course, you'll get all the Fighting Hawk talk and we throw in some Ryne Sandberg, dirt-track racing, tight end haircuts, potential position changes and many more fun topics during this free-for-all. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo.
The guys celebrate a full year of sitting down and cheering by welcoming in Grand Forks radio legend Scott Swygman. "Swyg" tells us about his inauspicious start here in Grand Forks but how that led down the path to a broadcasting career and how his path to the UND radio booth started at a Twin Cities bowling alley. We reminisce about some of the broadcast partners he's had during his decades covering primarily UND football and basketball (among others) and get some good stories about Ed Schultz, Paul Ralston, Jim Bollman and a classic exchange with Coach Gene Roebuck that you'll want to hear. Of course, we ask him his opinion on the new logo/nickname (turns out he was a Sundogs guy, FYI).
It's been a busy summer so the podcast schedule has been a bit wonky. Jayson has a good excuse, though. Jayson and Mitch cornered Grand Forks Herald's Brad Schlossman and Tom Miller to rap about all the June/July news. We discuss Brad's Pulitzer, where he was when the new UND Fighting Hawks logo was unveiled, we recap the NHL draft, preview the upcoming UND football campaign and the guys argue about Pizza Corner (well, mostly Mitch does).
We're mobile once again as the guys head down to the Cities to catch a Minnesota Twins game and catch up with their president, UND alum Dave St. Peter. He was gracious enough to extend an offer to the UND men's hockey team to throw out the first pitch at a game and celebrate the team's recent NCAA Championship. He gets into how he's received some good-natured ribbing on social media for that, we get into how he got started in the business (following the same path as Jayson, actually) and we tackle a host of UND-related topics as well, to include: UND baseball, the rivalry with NDSU, the transition to a new logo and nickname and his role in that and how he foresees it playing out. We also take some time to reminisce about UND baseball and discuss our favorite moments and personalities from that program.
Fresh off of his first season as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, Dave Hakstol is back in Grand Forks and joins the guys to talk all things hockey. Hak tells us how long it took him to finally feel comfortable as an NHL head coach, why he constantly chirped his Philadelphia coaching staff, who he had the toughest time breaking the news to after he accepted the Flyers job, why he knew UND would beat Quinnipiac at the Frozen Four and the emotions he felt while watching it happen. He also reflects on past Frozen Four heartaches and reveals his go-to menu item at the Red Pepper. Mitch and Jayson also announce their next big guest at the end of the show. Give it a listen, otherwise you’ll get The Stare™.
The NFL Draft kicks off tonight and the guys sit down with UND draft hopeful Will Ratelle. They tackle a number of topics, including which teams have shown the most interest, the infamous Wonderlic Test, why his devotion to the Green Bay Packers hangs in the balance, which member of UND’s coaching staff he butted heads with the most, why he felt lost during the football program’s coaching change, and which teammate he owned every day in practice. They even put him on the spot about his better half, UND volleyball stud McKenzie Hart. Also, Joe Black’s co-owner and self-professed local NFL Draft expert Joe Schneider pops in for his first visit to talk about the incredible downtown atmosphere during the Frozen Four. We also learn that Haji is breaking up with his Miami Dolphins. Hint: it’s not them, it’s him (okay, it’s them).
We catch up with brand new Vancouver Canuck Troy Stecher, who takes us through the stresses and joys of the free agent process, why he ultimately picked Vancouver, why he chose finishing the semester over the AHL playoffs, which teammate he’ll miss the most, which teammate he’ll miss the least, why he cried in Brad Berry’s office last summer, the time he got mad at Cam Johnson, what was said in the team meeting prior to Matt Hrynkiw’s first career start, which class Dave Hakstol called the “dumbest he ever coached,” the NCHC player he hated to play against, Gino Gasparini’s inspirational speech to the team at the Frozen Four, and a whole bunch more.
You Believed It, You Earned It and You Raised It.... Now Listen to It. We finally get UND head men's hockey coach Brad Berry to sit down (maybe for the first time since Saturday's championship) for a chat. Of course, we cover the entire season including: the memorable storylines in coach's first year at the helm, the early-season goalie situation, just how good the CBS line is, getting over the hump of the national semifinal game, nearly leaving Haj at a roadside Hardee's and how that might play into future superstitions and just how easy this whole coaching thing really is.
The guys are hungry, focused and committed, but mostly just hungry. College hockey guru Brad Schlossman slows down their lunch plans with another visit as UND gears up for its third straight Frozen Four. Brad gets out-picked by his trusty coin (that picked UND to win the whole works, BTW) but still gives us his thoughts on the regional and the upcoming Frozen Four. The storylines are growing every week with the UND men's hockey team.
PLAYOFFS?!? Dr. Jayson Fever and Mitch Flytrap are the midst of winter sports in their playoff seasons, so crazy times abound. We haven't had a chance to recap Reno and the UND basketball tournaments so the guys do that briefly before the hockey team takes center stage for another NCAA Tournament run. It starts in Cincinnati, home of the best bus drivers and Jayson's fave-- Skyline Chili. We'd fill this description with WKRP references, but frankly, no one would get them.
Sit Down and Cheer once again hits the road, this time to the "Biggest Little City" of Reno, Nev., for the Big Sky Conference Tournaments. Ryan Powell co-hosts with Mitch this week as they corner some media gurus that have covered these kind of events for a long time. Grand Forks Herald sports editor Wayne Nelson stops by to chat about both UND teams and their "Roads to Reno". He'll help us preview this first neutral-site league tournament and we'll breakdown UND chances. Northern Arizona radio man Mitch Strohman, who's covered the league for 25 some years, also checks in to talk about the tournament, the direction of the Big Sky, teams to watch out for and we get side-tracked on a discussion about FCS football.
The guys are fortunate to be able to steal a few moments to check in with SME Branding’s Director of Brand Strategy & Development, Conor O’Flaherty, to discuss the new logo process. SME was on campus to meet with key groups as it begins to formulate the brand identity for the new Fighting Hawks nickname and how it will tie in with UND’s long-established brand. We’ll get into the timeline, some of SME’s client base, the process involved in creating the look, and the challenges faced in any design. Jayson also somehow works a mailbag question into goalie nation being upset with Wigness.
Fresh off a historic series win over 12th-ranked Southern California, UND head baseball coach-- the man of the hour-- makes a stop on his national tour with the guys. We'll, of course, talk about that exhilarating series which featured a National Player of the Week performance by ace Zach Muckenhirn. We also chat about the impact of the new High Performance Center has had already with his team, the "grinders" he likes to recruit (players, Wigness, not sandwiches), his run-in with two-time NL MVP (should've been three if you ask him--or Wigness-- or Joe from Joe Black's) Dale Murphy. Dodson will give us updates on his three guys that signed pro contracts and the College Home Run Derby champion last year, too. What a time for UND baseball.
Maddie Sattler picked an interesting day to begin her broadcasting career in Grand Forks. It just happened to be the day that Dave Hakstol was named the new head coach of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and UND handed the reigns over to Brad Berry. We chat with WDAZ's weekend anchor about her start in the biz, what got her going in this direction even at the age of eight, her shared goal of being a baseball writer (along with Jayson) and we grill her on her favorite Canadian Prime Minister. The guys also answer some listener mail as they discuss their favorite road venues.
The guys might have to mind their "Ps and Qs" as they sit down with the head honcho, UND Director of Athletics Brian Faison. They get the inside scoop on a ton of topics to include: his personal take on the FCS playoff kerfuffle, how forming the NCHC damaged some of his professional relationships, what President and Marcia Kelley meant to UND Athletics, his fondness for George Gwozdecky and how he fills his free time when not running the department. We also learn the behind the scenes for both the men's hockey and football coaching changes and the challenges of state hiring policies. The "Enterprise" is in good hands with Faison.
After many requests (on his part), we finally catch up with UND men’s hockey PA announcer and women’s hockey radio voice Darrin Looker. Find out how he got the PA gig at the ripe ol’ age of 18, what makes UND so special to him, and how handled being booed the first (and second, third, fourth…) time he announced ‘Fighting Hawks.’ We also get into first-game jitters, Jock Jams, Fudge Puppies (huh?), filling in for Tim Hennessy at the 2011 Frozen Four, Space Aliens, his favorite and least favorite names to announce, Thief River Falls nightlife, and more. Forgive us if we get a little punchy at times; we had backup goalie Jake Brandt chirping us from the bench the entire time.
Few UND hockey players experienced a more star-crossed four years than Jake Brandt. As a freshman he was on the team that opened The Ralph and missed the NCAA Tournament (which hasn’t happened since). As a sophomore and junior, he had a front-row seat for the Zach Parise show. As a senior, he was relegated to third string on a Frozen Four team under first-year head coach Dave Hakstol. Jake discusses the four-year roller coaster and also tells us about the time he stood up to Dean Blais, how adding fellow goalie Josh Siembida in the middle of his freshman season affected the locker room, how being demoted as a senior changed his life, and whether head coach Dave Hakstol was different than assistant coach Dave Hakstol. We also talk about his new career as UND’s TV color analyst and who he thought was calling when Dan Hammer offered him the job. Oh yeah – and selfies with Erin Andrews. This one is a must-listen for UND hockey fans.
Time for the fellas to get in shape so we bring in UND's director strength and conditioning coach Nate Baukol to whip the guys into shape (round is a shape). Nate has been part of UND athletics for most of the last 13 years (save a 6-month assignment in Wyoming). His beard has seen it all at UND-- we'll get into the behind the scenes aspects of his job, talking to pro scouts, working with newcomers, and some of his favorite players to work with (pound for pound). He's got new toys to play with at the Hyslop with new square footage and rack space along with, of course, the new High Performance Center which will keep him from and his staff out of snow shoveling duties at Memorial Stadium in the spring.
Jody Hodgson, General Manager of the Ralph Engelstad Arena, stops down to shoot the breeze with the boys about lots of stuff. They touch on the U-18 tournament, UND hockey, Ralph Engelstad, myths about Ralph and the facility, Spice Girls, M&Ms, Eminem, UND hockey, Flin Flon, NCAA, what his final tipping point was in the battle to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname, 2015 Regionals, 2006 Regional, Holy Cross, UND hockey, outdoor hockey games, outdoor playoff football games (sorry Vikes fans), Kiss Cam at the Betty, the Philadelphia 76ers, Carrie Underwood, Canisius College, Lamoureux twins and we mix in some UND hockey. Not in that order. Plus, we offer an apology to producer David Folske. Now, let's keep him humble.
We bring UND hockey guru Brad Schlossman back on to the show for a mid-season wrap of the UND men's hockey season. We'll cover an amazing half that saw North Dakota go 16-2-2 with standout performances all around the ice. We'll break down the key dates still left on the schedule and Brad will offer his mid-season "Schlossies" for the fall semester. And, we realize David Folske's importance as button pusher.
It’s Bison week. So we sit down with former players Adam Jacobson (current UND women’s assistant) and Val Sussex (formerly Sannes, now the Assistant Director of the UND Champions Club) to discuss what the rivalry meant to them. We’ll touch on the big moments in their playing and coaching careers, how Val got T’d up in a summer camp, how Jake fumbled his way through a game-winner and how we define these UND-NDSU games by player (Beasley, Perrizo, Pudenz) rather than years.
Longtime head football coach at Grand Forks Central and UND football radio analyst Mike Berg sits down with the guys to chat about the recently completed season. We touch on his start in radio after a long, successful coaching career and get his thoughts on the season as a whole, where he sees UND next season and we try to wrap our minds around the playoff selection criteria. And Jayson welcomes a date night with his lovely wife "With Arms Wide Open".
Meet the rest of the UND athletics media relations staff as Ryan Powell and Ross LaDue share their insights during the "Sports Information Directors' Extravaganza". With so many UND sports in action, we bring in the bullpen to do a complete roundtable discussion of fall and winter sports. We talk about football's run for a playoff spot, we recap a promising soccer season, we break down the upcoming hoops seasons and talk hockey as well. We all also share some inside stories including Powell making former football coaches he's worked with "really excited" for the postgame press conference and Ross getting left behind at an NCAA basketball tournament. If you think the SID life is glamorous, tune in and find out why it maybe is.
Sure, everybody thinks they know Steve Brekke. You know, the tall, mustachioed guy at UND sporting events that greets you with a firm handshake and a tale or two from glory days. Well, until this podcast, you didn’t know he was a private investigator in Australia. Or that he has a fan club in Tampa. We got him to sit down for an hour (somehow) to give us his thoughts on a wide range of things including: the just-concluded Hall of Fame weekend, the upcoming grand opening of the High Performance Center on campus and of course, plenty of basketball talk.
We just HAD to have Tim Hennessy back for another go 'round with the guys. They shoot the bull about how Tim got his start at UND, his former connection to Gopher hockey, how a routine trip to the eye doctor saved his life prior to the 2011 Frozen Four and we do a fun word association that spans all decades with the man behind the microphone for five of UND's seven national championships. Also, Jayson has his Charlie Steiner moment and Mitch picks up a new nickname.
The voice of UND hockey checks in for his first of hopefully many visits to the Sit Down and Cheer Studios. Nothing is off limits as we just scratch the surface of a career that has spanned decades, included a wide array of coaches and personalities and of course, some funny moments along the way. We'll discuss Matt Hrynkiw's inauspicious start that eventually led to the third-string goalie's first-ever win, that whole situation and just how rare it is. Tim's shares with us some of his favorite interviewees and we get into his relationships with each of the head coaches he's had the chance to cover in his years behind the mic at UND. This pod is a name-dropper's paradise. Plus, a very special appearance by hockey blogger, Eric "Goon" Burton.
With the MLB playoffs in full swing, the guys sit down with UND assistant baseball coach Brian DeVillers. They, of course, discuss Jayson's beloved Toronto Blue Jays and their bat-flipping, catcher-throwing-at-batters swag. They also took a close look at a fun off-season for UND baseball that included three players signing professional deals and a College Home Run Derby champion. A Grand Forks legend, DeVillers discusses some of his favorite Kraft Field moments from high school, Legion ball as well as playing and coaching at UND.
The guys stole some time from North Dakota native Marney Gellner of FOX Sports North on a wide array of topics. She discusses her yet--to-be-fulfilled dream of being on Saturday Night Live, her favorite characters from the show, how a UND women's basketball national championship helped form her family, her start in broadcasting in Bismarck and WDAZ in Grand Forks, and her biggest on-air mishap that had Peyton Manning fans gasping. As an added bonus, you also get a Minnesota Twins post-mortem with pod producer and Danny Valencia shersey owner David Folske.
Jayson and Mitch cornered CBS Sports Network's Ben Holden at the NCHC Media Day in Minneapolis, Minn. He sits down and talks with the guys about his start in broadcasting and the sacrifices he made to get where he's at, some of his favorite announcers, his synergy working with Team Starman, his thoughts on UND and its fans, the transition from Coach Hakstol to Coach Berry as he sees it and he also gets into not-talked-about-enough topics like "Over the Top" and his Tim Horton's obsession. Yes, it's at that level.
The focus turns to hockey as the guys sit down with UND women's hockey assistant coach Erik Fabian and discuss a wide range of topics. He shares his thoughts on this season's team, the incredible second-half run they went on run last year, how recruiting has evolved and we learn what "Swenglish" is. He also reflects on his playing days at UND, Matt Greene and Zach Parise going one-on-one in practice, Dave Hakstol's early coaching days and the impact that Coach Brad Berry has had on him since day one at UND.
The guys commemorate UND-NDSU week with a trip down memory lane and an audio commentary of the 1995 NFL Films “Fire and Ice” documentary. They’re joined by Mike Mannausau, who played in that game as a redshirt freshman, and now heads up UND’s Champions Club. Mike provides terrific insight into that game, the presence of NFL Films throughout the week, the playoff rematch two weeks later, his rivalry memories, how Dean Blais impacted his recruiting decision and much more.
The guys take the show on the road for the first time, heading north for a CFL game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. While there, they caught up with former UND All-American and current Saskatchewan standout Weston Dressler. They also visit with Regina Leader-Post columnist Rob Vanstone, who discusses Dressler’s immense popularity and his CFL Hall of Fame chances.
Hoops in August? Well, the UND men's basketball team has just returned from a 4-0 foreign trip through Italy and France. Mitch and Jayson will sit down with a couple veterans from that team in junior Quinton Hooker and sophomore Carson Shanks. They'll discuss the nuts and bolts of the trip including highlights among the four games, team bonding and a solid footing for a 2015-16 campaign. Plus, ”Coach Shanks" faces a conundrum with a 7-footer playing the 2-guard while Q deals with his unfortunate NFL team fandom.
With fall camp underway, Mitch and Jayson sit down with Grand Forks Herald sports writer Tom Miller as they go in-depth on UND football -- discussing position battles, players to watch, injury concerns and the 2015 schedule. They also recap the men’s basketball program’s recent trip to Europe, deadline pressures, upset coaches, angry parents, hate emails, the UND-NDSU rivalry, and much more.
We’re joined this week by UND men’s basketball radio voice Paul Ralston, who speaks publicly for the first time about the infamous “choke job” suspension and its national coverage in 2013. Paul also talks about trying to toe the line between fan and broadcaster, his relationship with legendary coach Gene Roebuck, his love of game shows, how he honed his skills at a young age (hint: a Nintendo was involved), his alter ego, how he broke into the business and more!
Jayson and Mitch invade (not really, we were invited) UND’s annual football media day luncheon. After a long afternoon of media interviews, head coach Bubba Schweigert loosened his tie long enough to give us his thoughts on the upcoming season and what he’s been up to this summer. We also catch up with one of the seniors, OL Brandon Anderson. He updates us on his summer routine and tries to explain what in the blue hell his big ol’ red tattoo means. Longtime statistician Kent Keys, a UND Athletics Honorary Letterwinner, shares some stories about the great players and moments from his 40-plus years in the press box.
Mitch and Jayson catch up with Grand Forks Herald college hockey reporter, Brad "Topspin" Schlossman. Brad unveils his UND Men's Hockey All-Media Team, reveals his new foray into the coaching profession, and also looks back on the Dave Hakstol era, what he was doing when the Hakstol news broke (hint: jack squat), how his working relationship with Hakstol evolved after a delicate first year and how he covered the Matt Frattin and Danny Kristo comeback stories. The guys also delve into pressing matters, including the best road trip concessions and the best opposing reporters to grab a beverage with.
This week Mitch and Jayson sit down with UND football assistant coach and former standout quarterback Danny Freund. Danny takes us inside with a sneak peek at the football program’s upcoming fall camp and shares some of his most memorable games and teammates from his playing days at UND. He also discusses the golf and slo-pitch skills of his football coaching staff brethren, what it was like playing for his dad, engineering the highest-scoring game in NCC history, the moment he fell in love with UND, “House Money,” which NFL legend he tried to pattern his game after and, of course, Tom Brady’s balls.
It’s the debut episode of Sit Down and Cheer, the first official podcast of UND Athletics! Dan Hammer, the television voice of UND Athletics, pops over from Midco Sports Network and we also catch up with head volleyball coach Mark Pryor. Among other things, we pitch an idea for a reality show concept, mix in a cougar reference, and learn of Dan Hammer’s worst on-air moment. Our feature segment is a wide-ranging conversation with local broadcasting legend Pat Sweeney. We chat with Pat about what he’s doing these days, his favorite UND memories, a famous high school friend of his, which college hockey coaches he loved to work with (and even a few he didn’t), his beloved Minnesota Twins and much, much more. Give us a listen and follow us on Twitter at @SitDownAndCheer.