November 05, 2025

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

2 hours 33 minutes

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 [email protected]! 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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By John Gaskins

2222 ratings

November 05, 2025

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

2 hours 33 minutes

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

...more