Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Why in the world would he do that?
 
So many have asked that question about South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason and All-American offensive lineman Quinten Christensen after learning both players turned down at least one offer of $1 million in NIL money to transfer to a Power Four school.
 
Mason explained his decision to stay at SDSU in a Happy Hour conversation in December.
 
Thursday was Christensen's turn. Playing a position in such high demand in the SEC and the Big Ten, the in-state senior-to-be from Wessington Springs (two hours from Brookings) could have taken life-changing money and potentially raised his NIL stock by competing at a higher level.
 
Christensen explains why his SDSU experience and the connections he has made with the program outweighs finances. One of those connections is with former teammate and current Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mason McCormick, who took Christensen under his wing when "Q" was a freshman. 
 
Hear about what Christensen learned and continues to learn from McCormick along with what the "605 Hogs" and the 2025 Jackrabbits learned in a topsy-turvy 9-5 season, the first under Dan Jackson. It included the death of running back Nate White before the season started and the foot injury to Mason that started a four-game losing streak after a 7-0 start.
 
"Q" offers his perspective on Jackson and the influence coach John Stiegelmeier still casts on Christensen and the players three years after "Stig" retired.
 
The Happy Hour conversation begins with a trip back in time to Christensen's upbringing on the family cattle ranch in Wessington Springs and the influence his parents — both athletes — had on his development in football and wrestling.
 
 
Thirsty Thursday 
Before the Christensen conversation, the host spends another "Thirsty Thursday" at Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls with Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer for another potpourri of local sports talk. Topics:

* USD's severely undermanned men's basketball team pulled off a third win in four games without the services of eight of its players. This time, the Coyotes won at Omaha despite the unavailability of leading scorer Isaac Bruns, who wore a foot on one of his feet.
 
* Other Summit League hoops chatter, including the SDSU women starting a new conference winning streak after the Jacks' 67-game surge came to an end last week.
 
* The SDHSAA approved football games against teams from Omaha to replace games against AA teams on AAA teams' schedules. Also, the SDHSAA denied Douglas a chance to move down a class.
 
* The No. 2 Roosevelt boys basketball team's incredible 33-point outburst in the third quarter against No. 3 Harrisburg on Tuesday, plus the dynamics of the Roughriders and No. 1 Lincoln both benefiting from two Patriots transferring to RHS.
 
 
Timberwolves Talk 
University of Sioux Falls coach Chris Johnson and Orion Pub co-owner Jon Oppold vent about the Wolves' meltdown at Utah on Tuesday, part of a three-game losing streak that has dropped Minnesota from the No. 2 slot in the Western Conference to No. 7.
 
With 38 games left to go in the season, how concerning is this recent slippage and what trade(s) would make sense before the Feb. 4 deadline?
 
Or, perhaps Anthony Edwards just needs a little more seasoning in a season where he has already provided more depth to his ever-blossoming game?

John spends another "Thirsty Thursday" at Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls with Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer for another potpourri of local sports talk. Topics:

* USD's severely undermanned men's basketball team pulled off a third win in four games without the services of eight of its players. This time, the Coyotes won at Omaha despite the unavailability of leading scorer Isaac Bruns, who wore a foot on one of his feet.
 
* Other Summit League hoops chatter, including the SDSU women starting a new conference winning streak after the Jacks' 67-game surge came to an end last week.
 
* The SDHSAA approved football games against teams from Omaha to replace games against AA teams on AAA teams' schedules. Also, the SDHSAA denied Douglas a chance to move down a class.
 
* The No. 2 Roosevelt boys basketball team's incredible 33-point outburst in the third quarter against No. 3 Harrisburg on Tuesday, plus the dynamics of the Roughriders and No. 1 Lincoln both benefiting from two Patriots transferring to RHS.

A trip back in time to the SDSU All-American offensive lineman's upbringing on the family cattle ranch in Wessington Springs and the influence his parents — both athletes — had on his development in football and wrestling. Plus, how Christensen acclimated to the "big city" of Brookings and grew as football player and person, a growth that included befriending teammates who come from different backgrounds and from all over the country.

University of Sioux Falls coach Chris Johnson and Orion Pub co-owner Jon Oppold vent about the Wolves' meltdown at Utah on Tuesday, part of a three-game losing streak that has dropped Minnesota from the No. 2 slot in the Western Conference to No. 7.
 
With 38 games left to go in the season, how concerning is this recent slippage and what trade(s) would make sense before the Feb. 4 deadline?
 
Or, perhaps Anthony Edwards just needs a little more seasoning in a season where he has already provided more depth to his ever-blossoming game?

Why in the world would he do that?
 
So many have asked that question about South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason and All-American offensive lineman Quinten Christensen after learning both players turned down at least one offer of $1 million in NIL money to transfer to a Power Four school.
 
Mason explained his decision to stay at SDSU in a Happy Hour conversation in December.
 
Thursday was Christensen's turn. Playing a position in such high demand in the SEC and the Big Ten, the in-state senior-to-be from Wessington Springs (two hours from Brookings) could have taken life-changing money and potentially raised his NIL stock by competing at a higher level.
 
Christensen explains why his SDSU experience and the connections he has made with the program outweighs finances. One of those connections is with former teammate and current Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mason McCormick, who took Christensen under his wing when "Q" was a freshman. 
 
Hear about what Christensen learned and continues to learn from McCormick along with what the "605 Hogs" and the 2025 Jackrabbits learned in a topsy-turvy 9-5 season, the first under Dan Jackson. It included the death of running back Nate White before the season started and the foot injury to Mason that started a four-game losing streak after a 7-0 start.
 
"Q" offers his perspective on Jackson and the influence coach John Stiegelmeier still casts on Christensen and the players three years after "Stig" retired.