Ep 176: Assistant women's basketball coach Mike Jewett talks about his return to coaching and Jack Michaels previews the Fighting Hawks

Speaker 1: >> On the Coyote Sports Network from Lear Field, this is the Yoke cast, the official podcast of the University of South Dakota Athletics, taking you inside the stories of Coyote Athletes, coaches, administrators, and more. Now here's your host, John Thayer.

John Thayer: >> Hey, what's up? How are you doing? Welcome back to another edition of the Yoke cast podcast. Great to have you for another episode as we continue our journey throughout the Coyote Athletics season and of course, the student athletes have been busy. Last week, we talked a lot about the crossover season and it is in full effect this week. The basketball teams opened up their season on Monday, of course, football is two games left in the regular season, volleyball has three games left in the regular season at the time that we do this podcast, two at home, and then of course Tuesday match up at South Dakota State. That's all leading up to the Summit League volleyball tournament which will be in the Sanford Cayote Sports Center in Vermillion. So it is busy, busy, busy. I know that indoor track and field has been really practicing. They're going to be competing here before too long swimming and diving has been in action here in the last couple of weeks. It has been really busy around USD and of course the cross country teams, they go to the Midwest Regional this week. The women's team coming off of their Summit League championship here a couple of weeks ago. Obviously, we hope that they can have a great success down in the Oklahoma region and see how they can do everybody trying to get to the NCAA championships which are in Charlottesville, Virginia for cross country. It's a busy time of year you know all that. Then we squeeze in, we start cross overseas, and we get some of these things going on and we squeeze in national signing day for everything except for football. We have seen obviously the additions for men's basketball, for women's basketball, track and field, volleyball. All teams are announcing additions this week. I always think it's an exciting time for coaches, it's an exciting time for student athletes because for a lot of these individuals now, some of these kids have been committed for a period of time to whatever institution they're going to go to. They decided on that a while ago and they've been committed so they felt good about it, but they're still stressed in the back of your mind. As a coach, there's a stress in the back of your mind as a student athlete of what needs to happen. What do you need to do to just make that thing official? Well, this was the week that we were able to do that and so a big day, national signing day on Wednesday. I know that kept a lot of our staff very busy with what they were doing. Trying to kick out some graphics, social media pulls, some articles, things like that. It's been a busy week and it just doesn't stop there. This is a huge week for the town of Vermillion. Huge week for USD as a community. We get the high school football championships that will go all day Thursday and Friday. The final championship game is set to wrap up on Saturday night and that's going to be a busy day in Vermillion. If you want an all day sporting event, you got tailgating in the morning on Saturday, kickoff at North Dakota at noon, volleyball at four o'clock they're going to honor the seniors following the match against NDSU. Then you have the final high school football championship on Saturday night. It's a busy stretch. Give the facilities folks a break when you're going to the dome in the Sanford Kyle Sports Center this week because this is an exceptionally taxing week for so many people. USD staff their tickets folks. They handle all the ticketing for the high school championships. A lot of USD staff is involved with running a lot of things and facilities and so it's a busy time. Just give them a little break this week. If things aren't working the way that you believe that they should be working, certainly give them that break. We look at the football season. Obviously, this is a big football match up for South Dakota against North Dakota and I talked about potential playoff situations last week. We'll do that again here today because every game is important. We know that in football you only get so many opportunities and you're trying to make it to the postseason. It feels like South Dakota is a lock to be in the postseason. They have two games left in the regular season. They get North Dakota at home on Saturday, then a road trip to Western Illinois. We know every game is important, but here's why this is super important for both USD and for North Dakota. Let's start with North Dakota. If the Fighting Hawks lose this game, they will have three losses in conference play. They still have a match up with Illinois State which I think has the potential to be a really good match up in the Alara Center next week. If they can get a win against South Dakota, it maybe relaxes them a little bit. It doesn't feel as pressing to get a win next week to get yourself into the playoffs where it'll almost be a must win next week for UND, if they do lose this game to South Dakota. Now, South Dakota should be just about locked into the playoffs. The final get match up with the regular season is Western Illinois. They have been exceptionally bad this year. I'm not saying that doesn't mean they can't step up and win a game. But at that point in the season, if they don't win at Indiana State this week, Western Illinois will have zero losses, they'll be owing 10 going into that final stretch and you look at their last few games before this weekend, they've given up 50, 63, 52, 48, 49, 37, 43, 34, 58. It has been a really tough go for Western Illinois this year. That will be their final game in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, through off to the Ohio Valley next year. They might throw out all the stops to try to knock off USD in that final game, but it feels like if South Dakota plays away, it's capable of that that should be a win in McComb. If South Dakota wins these final two games of the season, they will be a top eight seed in the playoffs because they're not going to keep a team from being a top eight seed that has nine wins and only one loss against the FCS and that FCS lost being the Number 1 ranked team in the country. Now, if South Dakota splits these two, I keep getting this question, what if South Dakota happens to lose the close one to North Dakota and then win at Western Illinois? Can they still get a seed? It's possible, but I think they need a lot of help. The reason I think they need a lot of help is it depends what North Dakota does next week. Because if the fighting Hawks were to win that game, they would have a better conference record or equal conference record, I should say with South Dakota and they would have the head to head match up. The other thought that you have to consider is Northern Iowa is hanging around. They play at Missouri State this week and then they get North Dakota State, who may be desperate at that point to wrap up the year. If Northern Iowa wins out here, they will have one loss in the conference. At that point, it feels like the conference at best would get two seated teams and it would be SDSU and Northern Iowa. I really think this is important. Now, I'm not saying USD can't get a seed without winning these final two because it's certainly possible, but I think they're going to need some help to make that happen. There's certainly no lock to be in that conversation. We'll see what happens. Obviously they're just focused on North Dakota and trying to figure out what happens here. But USD should be just about to lock into the playoffs. Here's what's great about a top eight seed. You all know this, if South Dakota is able to get a top eight seed then you're going to have Thanksgiving weekend off. You're going to have a home game on December 2nd. You can mark that down as just the way it'll be in the FCS playoffs. What's great? We've never had a home game in Round number 2. This would be a huge step in the right direction for the program. This is how you continue to build your program with recruits when you start showing them, look, we were a top eight seed this year. We had a home game in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Potentially a home game in the quarter finals, maybe it's a win in the quarter finals and onto the semis. We don't know how the season is going to play out, but a lot of things to go here and this is a big game, senior day for the Coyote football team and it's a huge game for South Dakota. When you look at how everything just matches up with USD, UND and the rest of the conference playoff or conference race I should say. This is a big week. South Dakota State plays at Youngstown State. Youngstown State needs probably a couple of wins for sure one here down the stretch to be in that playoff consideration. Right now going into this week, we have five teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference that have two losses or less. There are three more teams with three losses. Illinois State could enter the conversation of the playoffs by the end of the year, Southern Illinois and NDSU play this week. That feels like an elimination game in Fargo. It might not necessarily be, but it feels like it could be an elimination game in Fargo. There are some big match ups here over the final two weeks of the season. It's an exciting time to be a fan of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Coming up in the show, we will preview the North Dakota Fighting Hawks with Jack Michaels, the play by play voice of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. But let's get it started with Mike Jewett. I had a chance to catch up with one of the newest assistant coaches Kyle Rechlicz in women's basketball, who spent almost a decade coaching the Jack Rabbits and has moved on. After a couple of years off, why did he take that time off? We get into all of that. He ends up at South Dakota and now he's coaching here at USD. We have that conversation with Mike Jewett. Great conversation that we had earlier this week. Mike, how are you? How did it feel to get back on the floor? I know at least in a game setting, like a regular season game setting, it's been a few years for you.

Mike Jewett: >> Yeah, I know it's been a couple of years, no doubt. But it was good. I really have enjoyed my time here. Kyle has been great to work with and also have Gabby and TI and our players have been really receptive and I'm not going to lie I think maybe not as much against Northern, but against Wayne State where now you've got the lights are on, the clocks on, and you've got real officials. I was probably a little more hyped up for that one than the Northern game because you're back at it. This is the real deal. >> You take pride in your coaching, you take pride in your teaching, and you want to then translate onto the floor and so getting yourself ready too but sometimes that means calming yourself down rather than hyping yourself up. Which happens with a lot of athletes as well but no doubt it's fun to be in the arena being supported rather than the previous times when I've been in the arena here and I've been rooted against, so that was always it was a better feeling, I should say.

John Thayer: >> Obviously people know that you spent a long time at South Dakota State and you'd stepped away from coaching for a couple of years. When did you know during that time that maybe you wanted to think about going back into coaching? You were AD I believe a Brooklyn High School. At some point, you just felt like you had that itch again?

Mike Jewett: >> I mean, I got out of coaching at S Tissue because I got tired of missing my own kids stuff with my oldest at playing at Aggie and then my son was going to be a senior. It gave me an opportunity to spend much more time with them and then chase, my youngest around, plays a ton of travel softball during the summer. I don't regret doing that cause you don't get those opportunities back. But it wasn't too far in when you realized that administration, you're off on an island and unless things go sour or people are unhappy, you have to be real purposeful, going out and trying to connect and build relationships with students and student athletes. That's the part that really brought me back, is that I missed those relationships, I believe it or not, I missed recruiting. I really enjoy recruiting, building relationships with families, selling your product, convincing student athletes and families why this is the best option for you. Then building that trust once they come and you're pushing them and challenging them beyond what they probably think they're capable of. But because you've established trust, then they're on board with it. Then the competitive side of me, you mentioned being back on game night. There's nothing like preparation, getting your team ready, but there's also nothing like in game adjustments where you've got to try and counter what somebody else, your opponent's doing, and all those things, it wasn't too long into an administrative role where I thought, you know what, if there's an opportunity that keeps me in the area and I can still get to my kids stuff that I would jump at it and this is the place.

John Thayer: >> What is it about the recruiting and getting to know these student athletes, even when they get to campus and trying to help them grow, not only as basketball players, but as individuals? What is it about that that you enjoy? Because you could tell that you really missed it for a while.

Mike Jewett: >> I think the longer I've done it, you might not realize that while you're building those relationships, the importance of them. But it's after they've graduated and then now you're getting a wedding invite, you're getting a birth announcement. Then you realize your impact, because they've thought highly enough of you to invite them to one of their most special occasions or to let you know, by the way, I had a baby or I'm expecting or whatever. Those are the things I think that if you go about it the right way and trust me, early in my career I was much more about X's and O's than I was relationships. But there was at some point in my early '30s, mid '30s, I'm like, you know what if this is going to be a career? I've got to start the relationship side of things first and then challenge them to be the best players they can be. Since then, I think I've become a better coach, I've become a better teacher. I know I've become a better mentor for young people. But at the same time I know based on that trust factor in those relationships that I can challenge kids and push kids. That package, I think is what it's all about when you have that complete package, like I said, then when they're long gone and they still text, they direct message you, or they stay in touch, then you realize the impact you've had.

John Thayer: >> What was it about this opportunity? Young head coach, a program that had gone obviously through some change we've been through the Sweet 16, but graduated some key players and obviously a younger coaching staff. What was it about this opportunity that made you say, you know what, maybe this is the next step?

Mike Jewett: >> I think there's a lot of factors. One being a South Dakota kid born and raised in South Dakota. I think high school basketball is special in South Dakota. But I think college basketball, not just Division 1 women's basketball, but you can look at whether you go to Division 2 NAI there's a lot of really special basketball programs and people support it. I might have been at SDSU for nearly a decade, but I know how passionate and supportive, the yoke fan base is. That was also part of it, the history and the success of the program, that's the resources are here to be successful. I think that's a big factor and then I knew Kayla knew her husband, Rick, probably a little bit better. He was assistant on the men's staff at Southwest Minnesota State when I was the head women's coach at Southwest Minnesota State. When I met with her and she said, this is what I'm looking for, politely telling me basically I need an old man with some experience. I thought, this is a good fit, I can do that and it has been I think that, she's open and has given me a voice and I appreciate that she's trusted me with a lot of responsibility. But I think it's also an opportunity to help her establish her own philosophy, and be supportive in that role too. All those factors, I think, led me to where I'm at and why I'm here.

John Thayer: >> You're an Aggie guy, you coached a SDSU, coached at USD. Did you intend on the full South Dakota tour here?

Mike Jewett: >> Those that are old enough to remember the old NCC are probably scratching their head. [LAUGHTER] Wait a minute, what in the world? It's funny, when I first started college coaching, I was Dave Krauss assistant. This would have been probably I was a student assistant in 92, and his first full time assistant in 96 or seven. At that time, Aggie only offered a Master's in Educational Leadership. While I was his assistant, I commuted down here and got my masters from USD and Athletic Administration, so I'm a graduate. Then I've known AJ. at SDSU for 25 years. When the opportunity came to work for him, it was a chance for me to learn from somebody who's obviously had a ton of success, but also have a pretty substantial role in an area that I was familiar with, so just the way it worked out and you and I have talked, I might be an Aggie guy, but I'm a South Dakotan and I want South Dakota kids and families to do well. Certainly when I was at Aggie, I wanted to beat the U and beat State. And when I was at State, I wanted to beat the U and now that I'm at the U, I want to beat state. But outside of that, I want our local kids to have success at whatever level, competing at the collegiate level. I just think it's good for the state and we've got to support one another and I'll do that no matter where I'm at.

John Thayer: >> This will be a different conversation when the time comes. But at some point, obviously you'll go against the South Dakota state and you'll be in Brookings wearing a different color and I'm sure it'll come with some different emotions, and a little bit strangeness probably for a little bit anyways, because of the time that you spent there. But how has the transition for you been putting on red clothes and the coyote gear and some of that and just, with obviously your passion and your time spent at SDSU?

Mike Jewett: >> There was two years where I was removed, so that helped a little bit. I'll tell you what, if I had had a dollar for every time somebody said, You look good in red, [LAUGHTER] or, I'm not used to seeing you in red, I could probably retire. Honestly it probably is more of a conversational piece for passionate fan base that each university has for me. It's about coaching the kids that are in the program and trying to provide them with the best experience helping our staff in any way possible. No matter where I'm at, that's going to be my goal and purpose moving forward.

John Thayer: >> It certainly doesn't hurt that Brooklyn High School was read as well, so you have that do a little bit.

Mike Jewett: >> I went from having very little red or, just a few bobcat items to now having a closet full of red but it's all good. Like I said, I'm happy to be here, I'm excited about the opportunity and appreciate the role and responsibility that Kayla has given me.

John Thayer: >> We'll learn more about this team as it continues here through the season and obviously you've seen them up close and personal this is a team that's changed a little bit with some transfers and obviously getting some bodies healthy certainly have helped from last year. What do you like about this year's team and the possibilities that exist with it?

Mike Jewett: >> I like their eagerness, their coach ability. I mean, there's a hunger there where they want to get better, they want to keep improving, they want to be challenged. >> I think we've got a variety of offensive weapons where maybe last year we might have been more one-dimensional. But some of our inside players have developed their game and then obviously getting a couple more perimeter kids that can knock down shots, can be primary ball handlers has given us more diversity there. But overall, I just like the fact that they're willing to learn, they're willing to play together, especially on the offense event. Then defensively we're just trying to get them to understand how all five have a role and responsibility and how all that works together.

John Thayer: >> Excited to see how the season plays out. Mike, thanks so much for the time. Really appreciated. Good luck this year.

Mike Jewett: >> Appreciate it. [inaudible 00:21:36]

John Thayer: >> He's Mike Jewett, an assistant basketball coach for the KO women's basketball program and head coach Kayla Karius, obviously, a coach who you could just tell he loves coaching the student-athletes, he loves connecting to people, and I love that he said he just wants to see South Dakota kids have success. We're excited to have him at USD and what he can help bring to the table for South Dakota Women's basketball. We'll continue to see Mike Jewett on the sidelines here throughout the course of the season. South Dakota back home this week to take on the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. An old rivalry renewed in a big way. This weekend both teams are fighting for playoff spot playoff positioning and both teams have their sights set on the postseason. We're joined now by the radio play-by-play voice of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, Jack Michaels. Jack, great to chat with you as always. You've really been having a fun season for North Dakota.

Jack Michaels: >> My dear friend, John, great to be on with you to talk a little football, talk about this game. Yeah, it has been. The season at times it gets a little traction, took a step back, gets a little traction, took a little step back, and now is getting traction again. In a nutshell, that's been the season this year.

John Thayer: >> You look at this game and it's a big one for many reasons for North Dakota. But this could be the first time this season they win three consecutive games. Does that feel like it's important for this group as they try to build confidence going into the postseason?

Jack Michaels: >> Yeah, it really does. Because if anybody has followed, and now I guess what is this, my 12th year, I suppose, for North Dakota football play-by-play, the team has been extremely successful at the Lera Center. I think one of 24 the last 26 or 25 or 27. So we've been very good at home. The one thing that has eluded North Dakota has been consistently winning on the road. Take this year, for instance, traveled to Boise U State, FBS opponent, had a good start and then things got a little off rail and then lost. You go to Brookings. Then what happens to everybody when they go to Brookings? Apparently lost that one by 21. Again, that elusive, those road wins, and I used the word traction earlier, getting any kind of traction on the road over years has been somewhat difficult. Home been great, road has been a little difficult. I think coach Bubiswagers tried anything from going on the field on a Friday night to not trying to change a little bit of whatever it is. Last week they went on the road and finally got a road win. Murray State, John had the season that they probably won. They're getting baptized into the valley and we all know how tough the valley is. But North Dakota got a win on the road. So you're talking about winning three in a row. Granted, Indiana State gave him everything they could handle at home, went down to Murray State. It looked like it was going to be a blowout, but got to let Murray State back in, but got one on the road. [LAUGHTER] You talk about winning on the road and then winning on the road in Vermillion. That might even be another different level or chapter as far as UND. So the hurdle is high again for North Dakota.

John Thayer: >> What do you make of this team right now? They got that big win at home over North Dakota State. Did a lot of things in that game to get that win over the Bison that obviously the next week couldn't score at Northern Iowa. Of course, the social media are asking if UND put everything they had into that game against NDSU. They survived one against Indiana State, rallied very late to force overtime and get that one. Now what do you make of this team the last four weeks or so?

Jack Michaels: >> It would have been easy, John, because I was hearing the same thing and look at it. Bang over that big wind and it burst. I don't know, because two things. The win against North Dakota State and South Dakota can attest to win on the road at NDSU, which is just phenomenal. But it wasn't just the win over North Dakota State, it was the 49, 24 win. It wasn't even that close. It was how they beat North Dakota State. How they ran between the tackles, North Dakota. How they grounded Gavin Ziebarth for 156 yards and Luke Skokna returns a kickoff to start the game 100 yards plus for a touchdown, and various. It was how they beat them and you thought, wow. Is that the experienced offensive line blown up holes, was NDSU not ready, all that. Then you go the next week, as you mentioned, to Northern Iowa, and it's your homecoming and obviously all the pomp and circumstance in Cedar Falls. Cedar Falls wins the coin toss, takes the ball, which oftentimes you don't see. Wins the coin toss, takes the ball, what is UND? Stop them three and out. Here you go. Something like that. Similar to what happened in Boise State. Had a good start. Start going down the field, then fumble the football. It seemed like that right there against Northern Iowa put the card off rails a little bit and they just could never recover from that. So I don't know if it was a hangover from the big win or not because they certainly were in a position to make some noise. Tommy Schuster didn't have a great game, but the line didn't have a great game against Northern Iowa, and UNI is a good football team too. You walk back going, boy, you just [LAUGHTER] blew out one of the top teams in the country and I mean blew out. Then you go on the road and you hurt yourself, you don't play as well. Then from that, by the way, John, then you go home where you think you're just going to maybe smoke a team, but you don't because Indiana State plays really tough methodical football. Then you're in a dog fight with the Sycamores and you have to force overtime and field goals. You're like, okay. Then they go on the road to Murray State and that thing was 31-10, you're thinking, here's a blow. What happens? Murray State comes back and puts 31 on the board. You need 45 points to win it. Johnny, I'll tell you. I still have hair, but at times it gets a little less as we move along this week. It's been that kind of in season.

John Thayer: >> Tell me about the Fighting Hawks. This offense, obviously a lot of it starts with Tommy Schuster. He's now the record setting quarterback for touchdowns. I think it was in a career through. He's thrown nine touchdowns the last two games combined. So they've really leaned on him and I know that he loves Bo Belquist and some other guys. But it seems like everything they do offensively starts with Tommy Schuster.

Jack Michaels: >> It really does. I had mentioned, as you and I are old football guys too, that it starts up front obviously and every coach will tell you and that's very true on the line. You got to protect Tommy. You've got to put him in spots to succeed. But he really is a joy to be able to call games for and he's such a poised young man. Literally you could have three strikers and Morgana run past him during a game and he wouldn't blink an eye. This is the kind of poise that Tommy Schuster has. When he's good and on, he is really good and on. He's able to use his legs a little bit too even though Tommy is about making decisions and finding guys. You mentioned Bo Belquist. He has guys like that. A guy you're familiar with in Wesley Eliodor, now a Fighting Hawk. Wesley has found a way to really contribute to North Dakota. It's really fun to see him perform. He caught Ty's record breaking touchdown catch and run pass down in Murray State that put Tommy as UND's all time touchdown passing leader. That was a little pitch to Wesley and he rented some 47 yards in. But he's got the wide outs. I think, John, the one thing I'd say with the running backs and the backfield and getting yards, Gavin Ziebarth ran for 156 against North Dakota State, but he got dinged up. So he's been out a couple of weeks, had been in a boot. He's been back, I think, practicing this week. So hopefully he'll be available. Luke Skokna has been in that backfield. They use him on special teams, in slots in the backfield. He would limb a little bit, nothing major in that Murray State game. We'll see that. Then Isaiah Smith. Another guy that can break free in tremendous speed, good stiff arm. He runs for 150 yards against Murray State. So they've utilized a lot of different running backs that have been able to churn yards up. It's been fun to see those are just a few of the names. Then you're led by an offensive coordinator, Danny Freud, who is a mad scientist. What he comes up with every week, John. I don't know how it is for you, but I don't like to know plays. I just want to call a game and call what I see. I don't know what Danny Freud is going to dial up on Saturday. It's just fun to sit back and see what's going to happen with that offense.

John Thayer: >> How about defensively? Is that a concern right now for UND? They've given up obviously a handful of points in some of the games. But when you're outscoring them, it doesn't matter. But is that a concern for them?

Jack Michaels: >> I think if anybody sits back and ask the coaches too, that's got to be a concern. Yes, they put up 45 against Murray State, but gave up 31. Yes, they scored 36 against Indiana State, but gave up 33 and won it in overtime. So that's 64 points given up in the last two weeks. Not to mention the 27 that Northern Iowa scored the time before. I think tackling as simple as that sounds, got to get better at it. Then if they're going to make a run or get into the postseason or find a way to get big wins, they're going to have to shore that up pretty big. You like what you have at a corner. C. J. Siegel is really good at his position. Inside linebackers, Wyatt Pedigo is a really good inside linebacker. The rushers, when you look at it, because you're talking about a three, four, Jalen Johnson, Jeff Griffin, and Barty Agbu or whoever is in that. They've got to find a way to get to quarterbacks. North Dakota has been able to get the quarterbacks, but just not bring them down. Maybe that's just the way it is down in college football. Everybody's either rolling out and they're tough to bring down. You can get to them, but you can't bring them down. Defensively given up some points. UND has got the talent. Those backers are good. Ted Mullin is a veteran, outside linebacker. Josh Navratil is a senior that's played a lot of games. I mentioned Pedago is really good. C. J. Siegel, one of the top corners in FCS or certainly in the valley. I think they got the guys, John. Some miss tackles got to be a concern in the last couple of weeks and then that is going to have to be paramount in play against a team as good as South Dakota.

John Thayer: >> It is fascinating to me that North Dakota has attempted, what is it, four field goals this entire season. Really they haven't come until the last couple of weeks. That means they're scoring some touchdowns when they get down there or they're trying some trickery. I know they've tried fake field goal here or there, but man, that is fascinating. Four total field goal attempts.

Jack Michaels: >> You sound like what I just said a couple of weeks ago. I'm like, I turn around and what is it? Harry Doyle and [inaudible 00:32:52], that's all we got, is one run. I'm thinking, that's all we've attempted is two field [LAUGHTER] goals, but they don't do it. You know, Brady Stevens was kicking field goals and love Brady, good young man, but maybe confidence was dented a bit, and now a younger kicker, C.J. Elrichs has come in to kick, and you're right. Think about this, if you lose against Indiana State, if you're in North Dakota, would that have been the season? Maybe, depending on what happens obviously against the Yotes. That was a must not lose game, let's put it that way, against Indiana State. It comes down, they force a field goal to tie the game to force overtime in which they wanted, and you haven't made a field goal all season, and now you send the young leg in C.J. Elrichs out there and granted for 32. I don't know, is that a chip shot for kickers these days? I don't know. Having only attempted two, and he drills it, I'm thinking, and every collective breath, just sighed relief in the entire Northern end of the Red River Valley going okay. I think it's a case where if it comes down to a long field goal or going forward on fourth down and short, or fourth down and maybe even medium, U&D is just kind of defaulted back to going for it, John. Maybe now that Elrich has hit a couple, maybe they kick more. But yeah, they certainly have been a team that's going to go for things more than they are going to kick.

John Thayer: >> Well, having a big body like Quincy Vaughn to come in there and push across that whole line, that certainly lends yourself to fourth and short. We're going to try to push this thing.

Jack Michaels: >> It's not just the Eagles doing that tush push, you know if falls in there in Quincy Vaughn. I always thought, this guy's [inaudible 00:34:39] must be just bruised because Jay Norby, they bring the tight end behind him, and Norby must know this. I'm going to say even practice this, because if you see it, 43 is the tight end for those that are watching it at the dome. Then [inaudible 00:34:52] got that little step in there Vaughn. [LAUGHTER] John said, but if it's for the shot, there's no question what they're going to do. Vaughn is going to get it, he's going to push, and then Norby is going to push behind him and that's that's how you move chains.

John Thayer: >> Jack, how about this match up? Obviously, it's a big one for both teams as we close in on the season, but it goes deeper than that, in my opinion. They've heard so much about South Dakota State and North Dakota State, and they've certainly been tremendous, but when North Dakota and South Dakota finally caught up division 1 and eventually have gotten to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, I think this is what we hope for. This is the vision that we had with old rivalries being renewed and playing extremely meaningful games, and not just bragging rights games, but meaningful games at the end of the season.

Jack Michaels: >> I tell you, John, years ago, one of the most thrilling games I've ever called was the North Dakota South, Dakota game in the [inaudible 00:35:49] Center. I know they've had big ones down in South Dakota too that have gone overtime and just drag out stuff. You're right, for schools like South Dakota and North Dakota that have tried to advance and close the gap between the successes that North Dakota State and South Dakota State has had, you almost feel like there's that chip on your shoulder to close that gap. Obviously we're seeing USD do that, and then I'm seeing North Dakota that has always been there, but haven't been able to beat North Dakota State. Well, they erased that this year. I've been there, haven't been able to get to another round in the postseason like the other two schools we talked about. Yeah, I think these two schools, if there's a flag to stick in the ground to say, "Hey, we've got our territory too." That flag is full of red and white, with a Coyote head on 100 million, and a fighting hawk, Kelly Green and Wind and Grand Fork saying, "Hey, we're trying to stick our flag. We too are here for the party." You might want to say that with the success of South Dakota State and North Dakota State, where credit is due with the teams that they have been building, the depth that they're building, it forces the rest of the league to, you better rise up or you're going to just fade away. Well, obviously, South Dakota has risen up, and I think North Dakota has too.

John Thayer: >> With all of your creativity, how have you not developed a traveling trophy between South Dakota and North Dakota?

Jack Michaels: >> How does that not happen? Like I know in the ACME cartoons where the Coyote and the road runner, Coyote's saying, you could go down that route and just have a big anvil. I don't know if that would work. I don't know if there should be something between Vermillion and Grand, but John maybe a couple of fellows like us that are obviously highly educated could come up with something between the two schools.

John Thayer: >> We might be able to make it too. Let's see what we can do. We'll put our heads together. [LAUGHTER]

Jack Michaels: >> Maybe in interlocking SN, or maybe we just like Letterman, take the one letter out and we create some. We'll figure it. Find out, John, what is exactly the middle between Vermillion and Grand Forks. Whatever town that is, maybe we can do that. We'll do geography.

John Thayer: >> We'll see what we can do. Jack, always great to chat with you. Can't wait to see you on Saturday. Should be a fun match up in the dome on Saturday afternoon. Thanks so much.

Jack Michaels: >> Awesome brother. Good to be on with you, and yeah, it should be a fun game. Thanks, John.

John Thayer: >> That's Jack Michaels. He is the radio play by play voice of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Coyotes and Fighting Hawks set to play on Saturday. The old rivalry, these two teams have played a ton in the years, and then we had a little bit of separation, but now it's all back and feels normal again. Let's continue to build that rivalry. I'm telling you, I know it's been mentioned on the social medias, we've got to find a traveling trophy for North Dakota and South Dakota, because why not? Let's see what we can accomplish there. Let's take a look at what's going on in Coyote Athletics. Thursday night volleyball takes on Oral Roberts. It's at 06:00 o'clock start, and that available on the Summit League Network. Cross country heads to the NCAA Midwest Regional in Stillwater, Oklahoma. That is a Friday event and gets underway at 10:30 AM. The women's cross country team will run first, and then the men's race is set to follow. Women's basketball team is at number 22 Creighton on Friday. Note the early start time, it is 11:30 AM, that start time. That will be on the Coyote Sports Network with Jerry Palleschi. Friday night, hope you can join us from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Coyote Men's basketball team takes on UT Rio Grande Valley at 07:00 o'clock. We'll also have that game available on the Coyote Sports Network as well. Also coming up this week, we've mentioned it a number of times, it's top 15 match up between South Dakota and North Dakota. It's a kickoff at noon. We will be on the air on the Coyote Sports Network at 11:00 AM. Also that game available on Midcoast Sports as well. Check it out if you can't be there, but try to get there. Let's pack the dome for Senior Day for the Coyote Football Team. Big stretch for USD. Women's Triathlon is at the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship in Tempe, Arizona. That is set for Saturday afternoon. At 4:00 o'clock on Saturday, the Coyote Volleyball team will take on North Dakota State at 04:00 o'clock that day. It is senior day following. They will recognize the seniors following that match up. Then Coyote Volleyball back in action next Tuesday when they take on South Dakota State in Brookings. It's a 07:00 o'clock start time. It's going to be a busy day in Coyote Sports because the women's basketball team will play host to Northern Colorado. That is Tuesday evening at 07:00 o'clock in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. The Coyote men are on the road. They're in Chicago to take on DePaul at 08:00 o'clock on Tuesday night as well. It'll be a busy, busy stretch next week. Then the Coyote Men's basketball team will head to Arizona. Coyote Women's basketball team will head to the Bahamas, and neither one of them will be concerned about us who are not in the warm weather climates. We're stuck back here dealing with whatever wind and weather that mother nature decides we deserve. But that's all coming up in Coyote athletics. Hope you can catch a game match or meet very soon for all of the scheduling information. For ticket information and so much more, visit Goyotz.com. That's it for me this week. Thanks to Mike Jewett. Thanks to Jack Michaels for joining the podcast this week. I'm John Thayer. Have a great weekend. As always, stay safe and go Yotes.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.