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FULL THURSDAY SHOW: John Stiegelmeier, Griz analyst Samuel Akem, Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast with John & Trent
Is this really a second round FCS Playoffs game? No. 14 seed South Dakota State at No. 3 Montana feels more like a semifinal showdown, thanks to the Jacks' surge the last couple games and the return of lethal weapon Chase Mason. Vegas thinks so, too. The Griz are mere 1.5-point favorites as of Thursday. Considering it is a Montana home game, that's an awfully tight line, especially for a 3-vs-14 matchup. So, let's tackle it. Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer joins Happy Hour host John Gaskins for a thorough breakdown on the storylines, stats, and keys to winning for both teams in the weekly "Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast." The two also plow into No. 11 South Dakota's showdown at No. 6 Mercer, where the Bears are a 6.5-point favorite. Later on in the show, Skyline Sports FCS analyst Samuel Akem — a recent Montana All-America wide receiver — gives 30 minutes worth of insight into the '25 Griz, the environment at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and what he expects to play out on Saturday. What makes Bobby Hauck's program a consistent powerhouse, but what might hold back the Griz from winning a national title or even Saturday's game? Meanwhile, we've buried the lead and hidden the marquee. This show will feature more than an hour of engaging conversation full of SDSU opinions and stories from the Godfather of the Jackrabbits kingdom, John Stiegelmeier. The former 25-year head coach who retired after the Jacks captured the 2022 national title has kept a close eye on Dan Jackson's first team and has compelling behind-the-scenes observations about how SDSU has appeared to have risen from the ashes to be a dangerous contender. Stig also gives a glimpse into how his program vetted players in the recruiting process. It went far beyond measurables, accolades, game film, and stats. There's also the incredible story about offering Dallas Goedert a "non-scholarship" deal and how the walk-on became an NFL talent. And who is one recruit that didn't jump out in their recruiting class that became an absolute beast... besides Goedert, of course?
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2:41:23
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2:41:23
Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast: Jacks & Yotes roadies in the FCS Sweet 16
Is this really a second round FCS Playoffs game? No. 14 seed South Dakota State at No. 3 Montana feels more like a semifinal showdown, thanks to the Jacks' surge the last couple games and the return of lethal weapon Chase Mason. Vegas thinks so, too. The Griz are mere 1.5-point favorites as of Thursday. Considering it is a Montana home game, that's an awfully tight line, especially for a 3-vs-14 matchup. So, let's tackle it. Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer joins Happy Hour host John Gaskins for a thorough breakdown on the storylines, stats, and keys to winning for both teams in the weekly "Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast." The two also plow into No. 11 South Dakota's showdown at No. 6 Mercer, where the Bears are a 6.5-point favorite.
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56:36
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56:36
FCS Analyst & Griz great Samuel Akem (Skyline Sports MT) previews SDSU-Montana
Is this really a second round FCS Playoffs game? No. 14 seed South Dakota State at No. 3 Montana feels more like a semifinal showdown, thanks to the Jacks' surge the last couple games and the return of lethal weapon Chase Mason. Vegas thinks so, too. The Griz are mere 1.5-point favorites as of Thursday. Considering it is a Montana home game, that's an awfully tight line, especially for a 3-vs-14 matchup. Skyline Sports FCS analyst Samuel Akem — a recent Montana All-America wide receiver — gives 30 minutes worth of insight into the '25 Griz, the environment at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and what he expects to play out on Saturday. What makes Bobby Hauck's program a consistent powerhouse, but what might hold back the Griz from winning a national title or even Saturday's game?
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31:55
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31:55
John Stiegelmeier on SDSU's turnaround, Mason & Jackson's leadership, recruiting stories, and update on "Stig Tree" FBS head coaches
How about an hour of engaging conversation full of SDSU opinions and stories from the Godfather of the Jackrabbits kingdom, John Stiegelmeier? The former 25-year head coach who retired after the Jacks captured the 2022 national title has kept a close eye on Dan Jackson's first team and has compelling behind-the-scenes observations about how SDSU has appeared to have risen from the ashes to be a dangerous contender. Stig also gives a glimpse into how his program vetted players in the recruiting process. It went far beyond measurables, accolades, game film, and stats. There's also the incredible story about offering Dallas Goedert a "non-scholarship" deal and how the walk-on became an NFL talent. And who is one recruit that didn't jump out in their recruiting class that became an absolute beast... besides Goedert, of course?
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1:12:53
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1:12:53
FULL WEDNESDAY SHOW: Travis Johansen, Eddie Whiting (Michigan State signee), Jhace Woods (SDSU signee) and some kudos for Jacks and Yotes coaches
What is the silver bullet? This is a question outside observers may ask when teams like the Jackrabbits and the Coyotes produce a late-season turnaround. Both have gone from funks — the Jacks' four-game slide after a 7-0 start and more the Yotes' haven't-figured-it-out-yet malaise at 5-4 — to heaters that make them look like dangerous playoff teams. In South Dakota State's case, the return of quarterback Chase Mason is an easy answer, given how flawless, electric, and inspired the Jacks looked in their 41-3 first round playoff win over New Hampshire. But SDSU had already turned the corner the week before in the dramatic win at North Dakota. So, what is the other silver bullet at SDSU? Hint: It lies in both the head coach and offensive coordinator. In Wednesday's "John-o-logue," Happy Hour John Gaskins plucked insight from Dan Jackson and others (like John Stiegelmeier) to pinpoint the turning points. At USD, there isn't one player or aspect that sticks out as a cure-all in their four-game win streak, which included three consecutive wins over Top 25 teams just to reach the playoffs. But there was a broad, overarching concept employed by head coach Travis Johansen that yielded powerful results. It wasn't an obvious or dramatic silver bullet, but Johansen reveals it in his weekly one-on-one 30 minute chat with Gaskins. After a close first half against Drake, the Yotes pulled away 38-17 in the first round of the playoffs as quarterback Aidan Bouman had his best game of the season. Was there a big turnaround moment for Bouman? How has Larenzo Fenner broken out into an at-times impossible-to-cover receiver? How did Mikey Munn become an All-MVFC first teammer? Johansen answers these questions and gives a glimpse into why Mercer has the nation's second-best passing yardage attack, and what kind of challenges the Bears defense will present to USD's now-humming offense. Meanwhile, Wednesday marked (Early) National Letter of Intent Signing Day for high school athletes all across the country. It is always a day for college football teams to pump up their incoming recruiting class. Gaskins chatted with two Sioux Falls standouts about their paths to CFB — Sioux Falls Washington receiver Jhace Woods (South Dakota State) and Sioux Falls Jefferson tight end Eddie Whiting (Michigan State). How did the schools they signed with first start a relationship? What led them to choosing their school, and which other schools tried to pluck them away? In both players' cases, the schools they chose went through coaching changes — Woods earlier in his process when Jacks coach Jimmy Rogers left for Washington State, and Whiting just days before signing day when MSU fired Jonathan Smith and within 24 hours hired Pat Fitzgerald. So, what kept the Sioux Falls ballers loyal to their original choice?
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1:51:24
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1:51:24