Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Every Friday, "South Dakota Sports Lounge" displays some of the most captivating and entertaining conversations from daily sports talk shows in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Fargo. Plus, Midwest Sports+ reporter Zach Borg provides a compelling feature story to send Dakotas sports fans into the weekend with a smile.
 
Here are this week's segments:


Happy Hour with John Gaskins: South Dakota Sports Hall of Famer Kurtiss Riggs — a veteran pro, college, and prep TV analyst — previews SDSU's game at Northwestern and breaks down the incredible debut of USD freshman quarterback Austin Modzewski, who tied the school record with six touchdown passes and earned MVFC Player of the Week honors.
 
Hot Mic with Dom Izzo:  Veteran Fargo columnist and media personality Mike McFeely describes NDSU's 33-7 win over Jacksonville State in the Bison's FBS debut and explains why NDSU looks like a Mountain West Conference contender.
 
The Nate Brown Show: 25-year Minnesota Vikings play-by-play radio announcer elaborates on all the major issues with the squad ahead of next Sunday's season opener.
 
Feature: Zach Borg goes inside the budding Division II football powerhouse Augustana to preview the 2025 season.

Not all FCS vs. Big Ten games are created equal.
 
South Dakota State at Northwestern is not exactly Stetson at Ohio State.
 
But you knew that and so does Vegas.
 
Oddsmakers tab FCS No. 3 SDSU a 13.5- point underdog against the Wildcats, who are picked to finish 14th out of 18 teams in their league.
 
So, Saturday should be competitive, but what advantages do the Cats own?
 
Happy Hour calls on Northwestern's 33-year radio analyst Ted Albrecht to tap into his wealth of access and knowledge about the program and several specific players. 
 
What has offensive coordinating genius gypsy Chip Kelly and Michigan State transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles -- plus several new offensive linemen and defenders -- brought to the fold?
 
Albrecht clearly did his homework on the Jacks. Hear what a seasoned Big Ten observer makes of quarterback Chase Mason, offensive tackle Quinten Christensen and SDSU's deep front seven on defense.
 
And stay for Albrecht's stories about blocking for Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton with the Chicago Bears from 1976-81.
 
Before Albrecht, the host and Sioux Falls sportswriter Trent Singer tap into the Jacks-Northwestern, USD-Northern Colorado, and O' Gorman-Brandon Valley matchups during the Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast from Orion Pub.
 
Also covered over a couple pints: Dolly Parton, Banana Ball's invasion of The Birdcage, the Canaries' wild walk-off win and final homestand, and the unforgettable Nebraska-SDSU volleyball match on Wednesday in Brookings. 
 
The episode finishes with Brandon Valley football coach Matt Christensen describing his squad's trip to the Omaha area to beat Bellevue West in the first of five showdowns between metro area teams from Omaha and Sioux Falls this season.
 
Christensen also previews his top-rated Lynx battle with No.2 O'Gorman in the Pigskin Classic on Saturday night, a game you can watch live at 6 p.m. and (later) on demand with the Midwest Sports+ app.

Not all FCS vs. Big Ten games are created equal.
 
South Dakota State at Northwestern is not exactly Stetson at Ohio State.
 
But you knew that and so does Vegas.
 
Oddsmakers tab FCS No. 3 SDSU a 13.5- point underdog against the Wildcats, who are picked to finish 14th out of 18 teams in their league.
 
So, Saturday should be competitive, but what advantages do the Cats own?
 
Happy Hour calls on Northwestern's 33-year radio analyst Ted Albrecht to tap into his wealth of access and knowledge about the program and several specific players. 
 
What has offensive coordinating genius gypsy Chip Kelly and Michigan State transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles -- plus several new offensive linemen and defenders -- brought to the fold?
 
Albrecht clearly did his homework on the Jacks. Hear what a seasoned Big Ten observer makes of quarterback Chase Mason, offensive tackle Quinten Christensen and SDSU's deep front seven on defense.
 
And stay for Albrecht's stories about blocking for Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton with the Chicago Bears from 1976-81.

Brandon Valley football coach Matt Christensen describing his squad's trip to the Omaha area to beat Bellevue West in the first of five showdowns between metro area teams from Omaha and Sioux Falls this season.
 
Christensen also previews his top-rated Lynx battle with No.2 O'Gorman in the Pigskin Classic on Saturday night, a game you can watch live at 6 p.m. and (later) on demand with the Midwest Sports+ app.

The host and Sioux Falls sportswriter Trent Singer tap into the Jacks-Northwestern, USD-Northern Colorado, and O' Gorman-Brandon Valley matchups during the Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast from Orion Pub.
 
Also covered over a couple pints: Dolly Parton, Banana Ball's invasion of The Birdcage, the Canaries' wild walk-off win and final homestand, and the unforgettable Nebraska-SDSU volleyball match on Wednesday in Brookings.