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Zabel salvages FCS stock, Vikings nailed pick, Midco's Jay Elsen (USD & FB portal close), KSTP-TV's Darren Wolfson (Vikings Draft and Wolves-Lakers)
A South Dakota kid may have just saved FCS football — including the Jackrabbits and Coyotes — just by staying at North Dakota State. Is that a stretch? Maybe. But as dire as things were looking with FBS squads pillaging FCS rosters in these last 10 days of the spring portal window (which closed Friday), the "little guys" certainly got a shot in the arm with Bison lineman and Pierre native Grey Zabel's first round NFL Draft selection. Happy Hour host John Gaskins says SDSU and USD's first-year coaches should use Zabel's choice to stay with the evil empire up north as a recruiting tool, even if NDSU stands to gain the most and best publicity for Zabel's moment in the spotlight. Gaskins also says the Vikings nailed it by picking up Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson and refusing to "trade down" after Zabel and Alabama guard Tyler Booker both came off the board. He also thinks the Packers not only crushed their pick, but the announcement in front of over 200,000 cheeseheads. And the Jags, Steelers, and Giants? Swing and a miss — Ouch! Today's guests provide plenty of well-connected, deep dive analysis on a memorable Draft night. Jay Elsen (Midco Sports / longtime USD reporter and TV play-by-play) What the transfer portal take-ith'd, it gave-ith'd (at least something) back. After a whirlwind 10 days of college football players being allowed to make themselves available to change teams, and so many from the University of South Dakota taking advantage, the Coyotes made some late additions from the FBS and FCS to help fill the roster. South Dakota State suffered a seismic loss in the winter when head coach Jimmy Rogers left, while North Dakota State lost three of its best players in the spring. But the Bison flexed their muscles Thursday night with Pierre native Grey Zabel's NFL Draft first round selection — a potential "shot in the arm" not just for NDSU but the Jacks and Yotes and all FCS programs, as well. It was a sign that "the grass isn't always greener" just because a Power Four or FBS program can make it that literally make it that way with NIL money. Now what? Jay Elsen has been covering the Coyotes for 15 years for Midco Sports, including play-by-play of their games on TV, and deep dives into USD's massive losses but encouraging gains, post-spring football. How could the recent "House settlement" involving ad revenue sharing other other potential future recent court rulings and new NCAA regulations affect the constant flux of player movement. Elsen also sizes up USD's chances of remaining a Top 5 national program in the FCS under first year head coach Travis Johansen after all the turnover. Darren Wolfson, KSTP-TV Minneapolis (Vikings / Wolves) Sexy? No. But the Minnesota Vikings got as close to exactly what they needed most by selecting Ohio State left guard Donovan Jackson with the No. 24 overall pick on Thursday and not taking a potential offer to trade down for at least one more pick. And even with a "rookie" quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, they are a "viable" Super Bowl contender. Hear why veteran KSTP-TV Minneapolis "scoop master" Darren "Doogie" Wolfson — also a regular on SKOR North media shows — feels strongly about those two statements. Now, what should the Vikings do with their next three draft picks? Where is the next biggest position of need? More importantly, who should they go after for their backup quarterback — Kirk Cousins (there's plenty of credible reporting steam it's a possibility)? Ryan Tannehill? Plus, where are the Wolves-Lakers and Wild-Vegas series headed now that both Minnesota teams currently have home court/ice advantage?
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1:35:08
Portal Closed! USD veteran reporter Jay Elsen (Midco) on the wild spring football losses & gains of Coyotes via transfers
What the transfer portal take-ith'd, it gave-ith'd (at least something) back. After a whirlwind 10 days of college football players being allowed to make themselves available to change teams, and so many from the University of South Dakota taking advantage, the Coyotes made some late additions from the FBS and FCS to help fill the roster. South Dakota State suffered a seismic loss in the winter when head coach Jimmy Rogers left, while North Dakota State lost three of its best players in the spring. But the Bison flexed their muscles Thursday night with Pierre native Grey Zabel's NFL Draft first round selection — a potential "shot in the arm" not just for NDSU but the Jacks and Yotes and all FCS programs, as well. It was a sign that "the grass isn't always greener" just because a Power Four or FBS program can make it that literally make it that way with NIL money. Now what? Jay Elsen has been covering the Coyotes for 15 years for Midco Sports, including play-by-play of their games on TV, and deep dives into USD's massive losses but encouraging gains, post-spring football. How could the recent "House settlement" involving ad revenue sharing other other potential future recent court rulings and new NCAA regulations affect the constant flux of player movement. Elsen also sizes up USD's chances of remaining a Top 5 national program in the FCS under first year head coach Travis Johansen after all the turnover.
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36:53
Vikings Draft & "viable" Super Bowl talk with Darren Wolfson (KSTP-TV, Minneapolis)
Sexy? No. But the Minnesota Vikings got as close to exactly what they needed most by selecting Ohio State left guard Donovan Jackson with the No. 24 overall pick on Thursday and not taking a potential offer to trade down for at least one more pick. And even with a "rookie" quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, they are a "viable" Super Bowl contender. Hear why veteran KSTP-TV Minneapolis "scoop master" Darren "Doogie" Wolfson — also a regular on SKOR North media shows — feels strongly about those two statements. Now, what should the Vikings do with their next three draft picks? Where is the next biggest position of need? More importantly, who should they go after for their backup quarterback — Kirk Cousins (there's plenty of credible reporting steam it's a possibility)? Ryan Tannehill? Plus, where are the Wolves-Lakers and Wild-Vegas series headed now that both Minnesota teams currently have home court/ice advantage?
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23:18
Shaq/Kobe, Larry Bird, Durant & Dez Bryant stories from former NBA/NFL P.R. man and Sioux Falls native Tom Savage
Shaquille O'Neal confided in him about Kobe Bryant. Phil Jackson swapped stories about growing up in the Dakotas with him. He interviewed for his Los Angeles Lakers job with the NBA's "logo" Jerry West, who brought Vin Scully to their table at a golf club — and he tried to turn down all that. He moved on to work with Larry Bird and Reggie Miller, then coached Kevin Durant and Dez Bryant on how to handle the media. He lived several dreams of anyone who would want to go into major sports media, but meeting all those A-listers in the NBA wasn't actually his dream job. His dream job was to work for the Indianapolis Speedway and Indianapolis 500, and he got to do that, too. Now, he's living back in his native Sioux Falls and writing sports and news for the Brandon Valley Journal after a stint with the Argus Leader. Meet Tom Savage — a Lincoln High School and University of Sioux Falls alumnus whose first full-time gig in professional sports was writing about and promoting the Sioux Falls Skyforce in their first championship season of 1995-96, when the Sioux Falls Arena was packed with 9,000 fans most nights. Yeah, he has stories. And he spends over an hour telling them to host John Gaskins in the Orion Pub.
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1:09:14
Zabel to Vikings? Who should be QB2? / Tom Savage (SF sportswriter) with Shaq, Kobe, Magic, Phil Jackson and other stories from NBA and NFL P.R. career
Shaquille O'Neal confided in him about Kobe Bryant. Phil Jackson swapped stories about growing up in the Dakotas with him. He interviewed for his Los Angeles Lakers job with the NBA's "logo" Jerry West, who brought Vin Scully to their table at a golf club — and he tried to turn down all that. He moved on to work with Larry Bird and Reggie Miller, then coached Kevin Durant and Dez Bryant on how to handle the media. He lived several dreams of anyone who would want to go into major sports media, but meeting all those A-listers in the NBA wasn't actually his dream job. His dream job was to work for the Indianapolis Speedway and Indianapolis 500, and he got to do that, too. Now, he's living back in his native Sioux Falls and writing sports and news for the Brandon Valley Journal after a stint with the Argus Leader. Meet Tom Savage — a Lincoln High School and University of Sioux Falls alumnus whose first full-time gig in professional sports was writing about and promoting the Sioux Falls Skyforce in their first championship season of 1995-96, when the Sioux Falls Arena was packed with 9,000 fans most nights. Yeah, he has stories. And he spends over an hour telling them to host John Gaskins in the Orion Pub. Before all that, a work from host John Gaskins about the NFL Draft and a possible local tie to the Minnesota Vikings. Could the Minnesota Vikings actually screw up this draft? Probably not. Relax. This isn't a decision of Christian Ponder or J.J. McCarthy proportions, host John Gaskins pleas to start Thursday's Draft Day show. No, Thursday's first round and the Vikings' 24th overall pick pale in comparison to a move Minnesota likely won't make in the Draft, but in a trade or free agency. Who should be QB2, and why is that more important than if South Dakota native and North Dakota State legend Grey Zabel or McCarthy's high school teammate Tyler Booker are picked to help block for McCarthy? It is still intriguing to see what the Vikings will do with their first pick — take a guard, take a defensive back, or take a "trade back?" Gaskins has monitored the experts and shares his best guess.
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1:29:23