Episodes

  • FULL chat - USD legend Bob Nielson on reitred life, AFCA gig, CFB issues, Johansen, SDSU rivalry, '21 Hail Mary

    FULL chat - USD legend Bob Nielson on reitred life, AFCA gig, CFB issues, Johansen, SDSU rivalry, '21 Hail Mary
    Nov 6 2025

    Bob Nielson retired last season after 35 years as a head coach at multiple levels, winning wherever he went.

    His last stop was a USD, where he turned the Coyotes into a national championship contender by his ninth and final season in 2024. Shortly after they fell 14 points short of reaching the FCS title game.

    Nielson retired a month later, turning over the program to his accomplished defensive coordinator Travis Johansen.

    In a one-hour interview, Nielson — now living in Sioux City and working as a consultant for the American Football Coaches Association and as an FCS Oversight Committee member — describes the first year of adult life outside of coaching and athletic administration.

    The Iowa native discusses the major issues facing college football at all levels — yep, mostly NIL and the transfer portal — and where things might be headed.

    The conversation then turns to his observations of the 2025 USD squad under the leadership of Johansen.

    How much do Bob and Travis talk? How much does Bob miss coaching, and what things does his miss most?

    Then, a walk down memory lane of how Nielson slowly but surely took the from Coyotes a program that struggled mightily in the MVFC its first few years in the league to the conference co-champion in his final season.

    Specifically, Nielson details the extent to which South Dakota State's success under John Stiegelmeier dicated if not inspired Nielson's own operation.

    The interview ends on Nielson's favorite memory of USD's rivalry with SDSU during his time. Your first guest is likely correct. But it is still a fun story to hear from a usually reserved who has an uptick in energy and tone in reminiscing about that moment.
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    59 mins
  • FULL WED. SHOW - Mason Mystery, State vs U trophy, Travis Johansen, Kurtiss Riggs, BTN's Rick Pizzo (Gronowski, Wilde, Hawkeyes, Huskers, Gophers)

    FULL WED. SHOW - Mason Mystery, State vs U trophy, Travis Johansen, Kurtiss Riggs, BTN's Rick Pizzo (Gronowski, Wilde, Hawkeyes, Huskers, Gophers)
    Nov 5 2025

    The Chase Mason Magical Mystery Tour, Week 3 — will SDSU's sublimely athletic quarterback play or won't he? — is the biggest storyline heading into Saturday's massive Top 25 in-state showdown against USD in Vermillion.

    Mason's possible return could look something like J.J. McCarthy's masterful performance in Detroit, if you examine the nature of their injuries and what they've been up to since being sidelined. More on that in a moment. Meanwhile, SDSU coach Dan Jackson's unprompted remarks about his desire to see a traveling trophy return to the "State vs U" rivalry is giving the Mason saga a run for its money in social media buzz and, likely, coffee shop and bar stool talk all over South Dakota. Trophy talk definitely took up a chunk of Wednesday's edition of Happy Hour with John Gaskins, which also includes thorough and thought-provoking interviews with:
    • USD coach Travis Johansen on the breakthrough win over No. 8 North Dakota, the Yotes' continued offensive shortcomings, what the Jacks-Yotes rivalry means to him, and preparations for the Jacks, with or without Mason
    • SDSU TV analyst Kurtiss Riggs on Mason's status, the matchups against the Coyotes with and without him, and the state of affairs for both teams. Plus, some words about Nebraska-USC, the Huskers now-out-for-season quarterback Dylan Raiola, the angst Jacks fans have toward Jimmy Rogers and all his former SDSU players, and an awesome story about Alabama fans' mercurial attitude toward his best friend Kalen DeBoer
    • Big Ten Network veteran reporter Rick Pizzo, with a national perspective on the performances-to-date Jackrabbit All-America transfers Mark Gronowski (Iowa) and Griffin Wilde (Northwestern), the Hawkeyes' huge home game against Oregon, plus views on the Matt Rhule era so far at Nebraska and P.J. Fleck's near-decade at Minnesota

    Back to that trophy thing for the SDSU-USD game. Should there be a trophy? Should they bring back the "Little Brown Jug" that was put away after the Jackrabbits left for Div. I level and hasn't come back since USD joined the Jacks in D1? Or should the schools create a new trophy? And if so, what would be a perfect "State vs U" trophy that screams "South Dakota?" Mount Rushmore? A golden pheasant? A tribute to the state's Native American heritage? Or something a bit goofier and more exotic — but fitting — like a bronze chislic, hunter's vest, case of Busch Light, or a dead pheasant (an ode to the D2 days of dead jackrabbits and coyotes thrown onto the basketball floors when the teams faced off)? Gaskins gives his opinion, but we'd love yours. Write to jgaskins@siouxfallslive.com! And back to the Chase Mason and J.J. McCarthy thing. Both are first-year starters, instantly beloved by teammates, who suffered brutal ankle injuries. Both were sidelined for multiple weeks. Both watched their teams struggle, lose, and at times completely fall apart without them. Both took "mental reps" while they couldn't physically practice, and contributed their well-documented leadership during their sideline time. Both are fierce, possessed, athletic, mobile, playmakers. McCarthy made his return on the road in a hostile indoor environment against a rival with a salty defense that was on a roll. Should Mason return, same situation. But, same performance? Enjoy the conversation. Cheers!
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    2 hrs and 34 mins
  • John-o-logue: Can Chason Mason model J.J. McCarthy's return? And how about a new "State vs U" trophy?

    John-o-logue: Can Chason Mason model J.J. McCarthy's return? And how about a new "State vs U" trophy?
    Nov 5 2025

    Happy Hour host John Gaskins with the latest on Chase Mason's injury and status for Saturday's mammoth SDSU-USD game. Kurtiss Riggs weighs in on if Mason will play, the difference he could make, and how effective he can be if he does.

    John likens Mason's situation to J.J. McCarthy's in Minnesota for numerous reasons. Could that translate to the same result the Vikings had in Detroit.

    Then, the Pandora's Box opened by SDSU coach Dan Jackson on bringing back a trophy for the winner of "State vs U." Should there be a trophy at all? Should the schools bring back their own Little Brown Jug from the D2 days, or create a new one?

    Let's have fun and think of new, appropriate and maybe even some outrageous but fitting ideas that scream "South Dakota."
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    31 mins
  • Gronowski, Wilde, Huskers & Gophers with Big Ten Network veteran Rick Pizzo

    Gronowski, Wilde, Huskers & Gophers with Big Ten Network veteran Rick Pizzo
    Nov 5 2025

    A national perspective on former Jackrabbit All-Americans Mark Gronowski and Griffin Wilde — and their Hawkeyes and Wildcats teams — from 17-year BTN anchor/reporter Rick Pizzo. Also:

    • Is Iowa built to win its last three games and reach the CFB Playoffs?
    • Iowa vs Oregon
    • Matt Rhule at Nebraska — how do we assess his program after almost 3 seasons?
    • Same thing for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota after nine years
    • How Curt Cignetti and Indiana skipped over teams like Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota to the front of the line
    • Should Lane Kiffin stay at Ole Miss or take the LSU or Florida jobs?
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    34 mins
  • Kurtiss Riggs on SDSU's awful loss, Jacks-Yotes matchup, Gronowski vs Oregon, Huskers-USC, McCarthy's triumphant return

    Kurtiss Riggs on SDSU's awful loss, Jacks-Yotes matchup, Gronowski vs Oregon, Huskers-USC, McCarthy's triumphant return
    Nov 5 2025

    SDSU TV analyst and Sanford Sports Academy football director Kurtiss Riggs makes his weekly appearance to dive into:

    • SDSU's awful loss to Indiana State — what's wrong with the Jacks?
    • "State vs U" matchup with USD
    • Current state of Chase Mason and how his presence or absence would affect outcome in Vermillion
    • Gronowski and the Hawkeyes vs Oregon
    • Huskers-USC and Raiola's season-ending injury
    • McCarthy's triumphant return to the Vikings
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    54 mins
  • Travis Johansen on massive UND win, freshmen making big plays, State vs U meaning and preview

    Travis Johansen on massive UND win, freshmen making big plays, State vs U meaning and preview
    Nov 5 2025
    In a 35-minute weekly chat with USD's football coach on SDSU week, we chat about: 🏈 What "State vs U" means to him 🏈 Preparing for Chase Mason 🏈 UND win 🏈 Bouman's efficiency 🏈 Freshmen playmakers "all over the place"
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    35 mins
  • NLA: Zim & John take a swing — and a swig — at "State vs U"

    NLA: Zim & John take a swing — and a swig — at "State vs U"
    Nov 4 2025
    What could possibly be better than shooting the bull over beers for an hour about the state of both Jackrabbit and Coyote football and the big "State vs U" Top 25 high stakes showdown on Saturday in the DakotaDome? How about shooting the bull while guzzling cans of the official in-state brewed beers of both universities? The hosts of the weekly "Nobody's Listening Anyway" sure enjoyed the procedure. Happy Hour host John Gaskins and Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer cracked open the "Ears Up" SDSU beer from Sioux Falls' Ferson Brewing and the "Coyote Legacy" blonde ale from Vermillion's XIX Brewing. It made for sublime liquid encouragement to bring out fluid and unfiltered observations of the Jacks' wretched 24-12 loss to lowly Indiana State and the Yotes' impressive, momentum-swinging, narrative-changing 26-21 mild upset of then-No. 8 North Dakota. As mentioned in Monday's show, all of a sudden this matchup between No. 8 SDSU and No. 22 USD seems different and a lot spicier given the changed and opposite recent trajectories of the teams. Zim, the Jacks beat writer, pulls no punches in his analysis of how ugly and inexcusable SDSU's loss was. Meanwhile, can we definitively say the Yotes have figured out their winning formula? Can USD beat the Jacks simply by running well, completing just a couple big downfield passes, and scoring with both defense and special teams? How can SDSU solve its offensive problems against a thriving defense that shut down one of the nation's best FCS offenses and quarterbacks? Will Chase Mason play? If he does, will that make the difference between winning and losing? Who is the favorite? What percentage of the DakotaDome will be in blue? How far might this game go in determining these two teams' playoff fates? Oh, and which school has the better beer? Belly up with your own brew and take a listen. Along the way, you'll also hear about Augustana and USF's heaters with backup freshmen quarterbacks. Plus, a crystal ball look at the high school football state semifinals in Class 11AAA — Jefferson vs. Lincoln and Harrisburg vs. Brandon Valley. You can watch both games on TV or any device with the Midwest Sports+ app. Cheers!
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • FULL MONDAY SHOW: Jacks & Yotes both flip the script ahead of showdown & SDSU coach Dan Jackson

    FULL MONDAY SHOW: Jacks & Yotes both flip the script ahead of showdown & SDSU coach Dan Jackson
    Nov 4 2025
    It's worth repeating. The stated motto from the beginning of this show almost a year ago comes from 90-year-old former NFL coach Jim Mora, and it's not his famous "PLAYOFFS" rant. "You don't know," Mora told reporters when he was the New Orleans Saints coach in the 1990's. "You may think you know, but you don't know." There is a reason we bring that up on "Happy Hour with John Gaskins" weekly, and the results of the Jackrabbits, Coyotes, and Minnesota Vikings games over the weekend are Exhibits A, B, and C. We thought South Dakota State was lucky to have Indiana State — a 32-point underdog and winless in the MVFC after giving up 41 points per game — at home to recover from the NDSU beatdown blues, a chance for players and fans alike to heal their spirits while key Jackrabbits healed physically — Chase Mason, Lofton O'Groske, Chase Van Tol, and others. We thought — and by "we," we mean John Gaskins and likely most Coyote fans, given truth serum — that then-unranked South Dakota (then 5-4), a team that often struggles to score 20 points, was not going to be able to score enough to beat then-No. 8 North Dakota (then 6-2), the surprise darlings of the FCS in 2025. The Fighting Sioux were averaging 40 points a game and ranked second in the Valley in total defense and scoring defense. We thought we knew, but as it turns out, like usual, we didn't know. Sycamores 24, Jackrabbits 12... one of the worst losses in SDSU history and the second home loss in a row after 33 consecutive wins in Brookings. Coyotes 26, Fighting Sioux 21... the first win over a ranked team in the Travis Johansen era. And so now, a Jacks squad that was 7-0, ranked No. 2, and impressing us all with their ability to be in the national championship hunt after losing over 60 players — four of them to the Big 10 and 15 of them to Washington State — all of a sudden looks like a team made of lots of freshmen and first-time starters and FCS players after an excusable loss to No. 1 North Dakota State and an inexcusable defeat to the second worst (or third worst, at best) team in the Valley. And the Jacks sure don't look like a playoff team. The Coyotes all of sudden do. Two weeks ago, we thought that "State vs U" game might be not be as much a coin flip as the last years, what with SDSU — then averaging 35 points per game and carrying a top 10 defense — a consensus if not convincing favorite against a Coyote bunch that had failed to score more than 20 points in five of eight games. It wouldn't be a slam dunk for the Jacks, but it appeared they had far more to worry about with their trip to UND, not their in-state rival. Now, the Yotes have taken down UND and appear to be the favorite on Saturday in the Dakota Dome. FCS betting odds usually don't come out later in the week, but whether you're a Jacks or Yotes fan, how would you argue with USD being the favorite considering the trajectory the teams are on? Now, the Jim Mora "PLAYOFFS" bite might more aptly apply to the Jackrabbits. This is a team starting to look like a team that just wants to "win a game — another game." And who knows. If these teams are playing like they are right now — USD in down-to-the-wire, one-score slobberknockers every week and SDSU tripping all over itself — Saturday's game might turn out to be a playoff game in its own right to determine which is the last team in the MVFC to get into the playoffs. It will certainly feel like it in the Dome. More so than we ever thought as recently as two weeks ago. Gaskins tried to make sense of the Jacks' loss and the Yotes win from Saturday in his "John-o-logue." Namely, he pinpoints the reason behind the loss based on postgame remarks and something coach Dan Jackson told Gaskins in their weekly one-on-one conversation. Then, a breakdown of USD's win suggests the Coyotes haven't quite "broken through" to a winning formula for their last two games (SDSU, then at No. 16 Southern Illinois) and the playoffs, should they reach them. Plus, how do we make sense of the Minnesota Vikings win in Detroit on Sunday. We thought we knew what would happen there, too, but we didn't. It snapped the Vikes' five-game losing streak in the series and perhaps completely changed the look and tenor of the VIkings' season outlook and playoff chances. J.J. McCarthy's return and the effect he has on teammates is one reason. But there are several others. It's a matter of the varsity team being back on the field. Then, the chat with Jackson. The coach covers these topics: In the Dan Jackson chat, the coach covers these topics: Examples of "lack of focus" in the ISU lossAre most "focus" mistakes made by young or inexperienced players/How can "lack of focus" be addressed in a week of practice?How to unlock more explosive plays and not rely so much on red zone offenseInjury Updates — Mason, Marble, O'Groske, Van Tol, HagenUSD — Coyotes strengths ...
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    53 mins