Happy Hour with John Gaskins

So much is the same, yet so much is different.
 
That's how South Dakota State defensive coordinator Brian Bergstrom feels about his second stint at SDSU, with three years as Div. II Winona State's head coach in between.
 
Bergstrom coached for five years under John Stiegelmeier as safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator before leaving in 2022, before Stig's final season ended with a national championship.
 
Now, "Bergie" starts his second season as the solo DC under Dan Jackson. What does he mean by "so much is the same, yet so much is different?"
 
How does Bergstrom size up his talented and experienced defense? It ranked highly among all FCS teams in many defensive categories but was "inconsistent" and finished with a 50-29 loss at Montana.
 
Eric Eidsness is in his fourth stint at SDSU and his second season as offensive coordinator under Jackson. When in the same role under Stiegelmeier, Eidsness led some of the most explosive offenses in Jacks history.
 
With uber-talented senior Chase Mason at quarterback and almost the entire offensive line and top receivers back, what does Eidsness foresee with a potentially lethal 2026 offense?
 
How has Mason evolved as both a QB and leader since a promising 2025 season cut short by injury (before returning late in the season)? 
 
Who is emerging as the No. 2 QB behind Mason? Who is emerging as the top running back... or will it be an RB-by-committee?
 
But our SDSU Media Day, Vol. 2 "Coaches Show" starts with the coach of all football coaches in Brookings, John Stiegelmeier.
 
Now in his fourth season of retirement, what does he miss most about leading the Jacks? How did he approach August camp in developing a national championship-contending team? What are his observations of the talent and coaching he has seen lately by attending some practices?
 
Stig just returned from his first visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, where former SDSU kicker Adam Vinatieri was inducted over the weekend. What was that experience like and how did Stig feel about Vinatieri omitting his time at SDSU in his nearly 20 minute induction speech?
 
Also included in this show from SDSU Media Day are two interviews from Midwest Sports Plus sports reporter Zach Borg:
 
* SDSU volleyball coach Dan Georgalas details what he calls one of the biggest college volleyball transformations in the country and describes what to expect this fall
 
* SDSU soccer coach Brock Thompson previews his 2026 squad

SDSU Media Day, Vol. 2 "Coaches Show" starts with the coach of all football coaches in Brookings, John Stiegelmeier.
 
Now in his fourth season of retirement, what does he miss most about leading the Jacks? How did he approach August camp in developing a national championship-contending team? What are his observations of the talent and coaching he has seen lately by attending some practices?
 
Stig just returned from his first visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, where former SDSU kicker Adam Vinatieri was inducted over the weekend. What was that experience like and how did Stig feel about Vinatieri omitting his time at SDSU in his nearly 20 minute induction speech?

So much is the same, yet so much is different.
 
That's how South Dakota State defensive coordinator Brian Bergstrom feels about his second stint at SDSU, with three years as Div. II Winona State's head coach in between.
 
Bergstrom coached for five years under John Stiegelmeier as safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator before leaving in 2022, before Stig's final season ended with a national championship.
 
Now, "Bergie" starts his second season as the solo DC under Dan Jackson. What does he mean by "so much is the same, yet so much is different?"
 
How does Bergstrom size up his talented and experienced defense? It ranked highly among all FCS teams in many defensive categories but was "inconsistent" and finished with a 50-29 loss at Montana.

From SDSU Media Day, the head coach deep dives about how much smoother his operation is during August camp this season compared his first campaign in 2025 and how it should pay dividends in results.

From SDSU Media Day, the QB1 breaks down reasons why big things should be expected of him and the Jacks offense in 2026