How do the "JI guys" feel about bitter football rival North Dakota State no longer being in the FCS and on SDSU's schedule? And how close can "the school down south" in Vermillion come to matching the intensity of the "Dakota Marker Game" and game week? How have NIL and the transfer portal — and therefore, more often than not, the departure of some of SDSU's best football and men's basketball players to bigger schools after one or two stellar seasons — skewed their outlook and enjoyment as fans? And, yes, how strong of a national championship contender will the 2026 Jackrabbits be?

Think back 20 years, and just look at how much South Dakota State football and its fan base have grown. From Coughlin-Alumni Stadium to the modern marvel of "The Dana." From coaching offices in trailers and outdoor winter practices on the windswept tundra to the Dykhouse (now Stiegelmeier Family Center) and the SJAC indoor palace. From FCS infancy and the janky Great West Conference to consistent MVFC national championship contention. Think back 10 years, to the year Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium opened and the Jackrabbits notched their first (share of an) MVFC Championship. Since then, they've secured two national championships, produced numerous All-Americans and NFL players, and drawn bigger and bigger crowds—including sellouts exceeding 19,000—on fall gamedays. That, plus a massive, growing website and podcast operation that has become an online gathering point for fans who can't get enough content. There is also a JI tailgate party at home games and national championship contests, serving as a literal gathering point impossible to miss if you're in Brookings (or Frisco, and maybe this year in Nashville) on a football gameday. The Jacks and the unaffiliated Jackrabbit Illustrated brand have both come a long, long way together, through the hard times and the good. Mostly good. Today, the "JI" website has established itself as the top source for SDSU recruiting information. The weekly podcast—like the website, launched by SDSU alumnus Matt Tollefson—grew so popular that three more shows were added, with one focusing specifically on wrestling. How did "JI" and SDSU football fandom come so far? Why do the podcasts and their hosts seem to resonate so deeply with their listeners and viewers? Tollefson and fellow hosts Chad Meirose and Brendan Luedtke joined Happy Hour on Thursday to walk through the parallel universes of Jackrabbit fandom and Jackrabbit Illustrated's popularity and reach. Right away and for 80 minutes, you'll grasp exactly what makes them tick—three friends talking about their favorite team, organically and authentically.

Think back 20 years, and just look at how much South Dakota State football and its fan base have grown. From Coughlin-Alumni Stadium to the modern marvel of "The Dana." From coaching offices in trailers and outdoor winter practices on the windswept tundra to the Dykhouse (now Stiegelmeier Family Center) and the SJAC indoor palace. From FCS infancy and the janky Great West Conference to consistent MVFC national championship contention. Think back 10 years, to the year Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium opened and the Jackrabbits notched their first (share of an) MVFC Championship. Since then, they've secured two national championships, produced numerous All-Americans and NFL players, and drawn bigger and bigger crowds—including sellouts exceeding 19,000—on fall gamedays. That, plus a massive, growing website and podcast operation that has become an online gathering point for fans who can't get enough content. There is also a JI tailgate party at home games and national championship contests, serving as a literal gathering point impossible to miss if you're in Brookings (or Frisco, and maybe this year in Nashville) on a football gameday. The Jacks and the unaffiliated Jackrabbit Illustrated brand have both come a long, long way together, through the hard times and the good. Mostly good. Today, the "JI" website has established itself as the top source for SDSU recruiting information. The weekly podcast—like the website, launched by SDSU alumnus Matt Tollefson—grew so popular that three more shows were added, with one focusing specifically on wrestling. How did "JI" and SDSU football fandom come so far? Why do the podcasts and their hosts seem to resonate so deeply with their listeners and viewers? Tollefson and fellow hosts Chad Meirose and Brendan Luedtke joined Happy Hour on Thursday to walk through the parallel universes of Jackrabbit fandom and Jackrabbit Illustrated's popularity and reach. Right away and for 80 minutes, you'll grasp exactly what makes them tick—three friends talking about their favorite team, organically and authentically. But can they always be fully authentic with their opinions? How have their raw feelings and emotions come back to bite them? How do they feel about bitter football rival North Dakota State no longer being in the FCS and on SDSU's schedule? And how close can "the school down south" in Vermillion come to matching the intensity of the "Dakota Marker Game" and game week? How have NIL and the transfer portal — and therefore, more often than not, the departure of some of SDSU's best football and men's basketball players to bigger schools after one or two stellar seasons — skewed their outlook and enjoyment as fans? And, yes, how strong of a national championship contender will the 2026 Jackrabbits be?

Imagine having a career where you are the boss of five different organizations for 45 years, then all of a sudden are no longer the boss. Since 1978, shortly after graduating from Dakota State, all Kim Nelson knew in coaching high school football was being the head coach, from Milbank to Rapid City Central to Sioux Falls Washington to Edian (MN) to Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Then, the all-time South Dakota wins leader stepped down as Roosevelt's head coach in 2023 and called it a retirement from head coaching. But Nelson could not and still cannot get coaching out of his system. He joined the University of Sioux Falls staff briefly in the spring of 2024 before deciding the college game just wasn't his jam. So, he pivoted back to Roosevelt to coach the freshman team that fall. After one season, he accepted an offer from Sioux Falls Christian coach Jared Smith — a former assistant under Nelson at RHS — to become the Chargers' offensive coordinator. It went well. Like, really well. SFC was an offensive juggernaut, averaging over 40 points a game and coming from 17 points behind to beat Lennox for the South Dakota 11A state championship. So, what was that experience like, particularly the part in the second half of the title game when Smith — who had ran the offense prior to Nelson's arrrival — decided to take over the play-calling? Remember, Nelson had been a boss who called his own offensive plays for 45 of 46 seasons prior. In his casual yet candid manner, Nelson — who joined Happy Hour last summer to walk through his life and career in football — takes us through his SFC journey so far, less than a week before the Chargers' first practice ahead of their 2026 title defense campaign. Guest: Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer Can the games just begin? Early August days always leave football fans anxiously starving for the actual season to kick off, especially with the abundant coverage of teams' camp practices. Fans of football and every collegiate sport are pining to watch actual competition, if only to distract them from the barrage of offseason news and media discussions about NIL, the transfer portal, and the NCAA's ongoing melodrama regarding the future of eligibility. The "5 for 5" rule became the new model of eligibility for "student-athletes" in June, but lawsuits have already been filed and won against it. How does it affect the local colleges? Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer drilled into the depths of the matter in a three-part series and shared some of the most pertinent information during his Wednesday appearance on Happy Hour from Gibs Sports Bar in Sioux Falls. Also discussed: The Sioux Falls Canaries are hoping "money talks" during Thursday night's "AC/DC" promotion at The Birdcage. The team is using its 6:35 p.m. game against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks as a fundraising event for pitcher Ryan Richardson, who has been unable to play this season as he battles cancer. The 36-year-old, a trusted reliever (4-2, 2.97 ERA) on the 2025 squad that reached its league championship series, learned of his diagnosis in May during the routine preseason physical exam the American Association requires all players to take. Richardson has been living and receiving treatment in Sioux Falls throughout the season, but affording that health care has been a struggle since the Canaries cannot pay him while he is not on the team roster. So, how did the Canaries — specifically, their general manager and a couple long-time season ticket holders — make sure Richardson would not fight his financial battle alone? The Happy Hour host has the details. So does this article. And, oh, by the way... the Canaries on Wednesday confirmed Richardson has been cleared to play and is rejoining the squad soon.

Imagine having a career where you are the boss of five different organizations for 45 years, then all of a sudden are no longer the boss. Since 1978, shortly after graduating from Dakota State, all Kim Nelson knew in coaching high school football was being the head coach, from Milbank to Rapid City Central to Sioux Falls Washington to Edian (MN) to Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Then, the all-time South Dakota wins leader stepped down as Roosevelt's head coach in 2023 and called it a retirement from head coaching. But Nelson could not and still cannot get coaching out of his system. He joined the University of Sioux Falls staff briefly in the spring of 2024 before deciding the college game just wasn't his jam. So, he pivoted back to Roosevelt to coach the freshman team that fall. After one season, he accepted an offer from Sioux Falls Christian coach Jared Smith — a former assistant under Nelson at RHS — to become the Chargers' offensive coordinator. It went well. Like, really well. SFC was an offensive juggernaut, averaging over 40 points a game and coming from 17 points behind to beat Lennox for the South Dakota 11A state championship. So, what was that experience like, particularly the part in the second half of the title game when Smith — who had ran the offense prior to Nelson's arrrival — decided to take over the play-calling? Remember, Nelson had been a boss who called his own offensive plays for 45 of 46 seasons prior. In his casual yet candid manner, Nelson — who joined Happy Hour last summer to walk through his life and career in football — takes us through his SFC journey so far, less than a week before the Chargers' first practice ahead of their 2026 title defense campaign.

Can the games just begin? Early August days always leave football fans anxiously starving for the actual season to kick off, especially with the abundant coverage of teams' camp practices. Fans of football and every collegiate sport are pining to watch actual competition, if only to distract them from the barrage of offseason news and media discussions about NIL, the transfer portal, and the NCAA's ongoing melodrama regarding the future of eligibility. The "5 for 5" rule became the new model of eligibility for "student-athletes" in June, but lawsuits have already been filed and won against it. How does it affect the local colleges? Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer drilled into the depths of the matter in a three-part series and shared some of the most pertinent information during his Wednesday appearance on Happy Hour from Gibs Sports Bar in Sioux Falls. Also discussed: The Sioux Falls Canaries are hoping "money talks" during Thursday night's "AC/DC" promotion at The Birdcage. The team is using its 6:35 p.m. game against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks as a fundraising event for pitcher Ryan Richardson, who has been unable to play this season as he battles cancer. The 36-year-old, a trusted reliever (4-2, 2.97 ERA) on the 2025 squad that reached its league championship series, learned of his diagnosis in May during the routine preseason physical exam the American Association requires all players to take. Richardson has been living and receiving treatment in Sioux Falls throughout the season, but affording that health care has been a struggle since the Canaries cannot pay him while he is not on the team roster. So, how did the Canaries — specifically, their general manager and a couple long-time season ticket holders — make sure Richardson would not fight his financial battle alone? The Happy Hour host has the details. So does this article. And, oh, by the way... the Canaries on Wednesday confirmed Richardson has been cleared to play and is rejoining the squad soon.

* The USD quarterback battle and other Coyote positions of intrigue * Augustana and USF first practices, which include a glowing report on both teams' presumed starting quarterbacks * The Minnesota Twins actually making some trades before trade deadline to shore up the area they needed the most help

Almost every sports movie and every "Hard Knocks" series ever made features a scene near the beginning, during an early preseason practice where some players are battling for a starting spot while others are just trying to make the team. All that testosterone and tension eventually leads to a few volcano eruptions of rage or at least visible, visceral fits of frustration. Some of this primal behavior seen on big and small screens includes coaches barking like basset hounds Guess what? It's a real thing sometimes. Sioux Falls Live sports editor saw it and reported it at South Dakota State's fifth practice of "fall camp" on Tuesday, then wrote about it here and shared more insight on Tuesday's "Nobody's Listening Anyway" podcast with the Happy Hour host. . The discussion led both men to recall funny stories from past August practices and famous intense football movie scenes. Zim unloads other observations from his day in Brookings — like Chase Mason's accuracy and any emergence of a starting running back (?), a devouring defensive line, and the one-on-one matchup between defensive lineman and Wayne State transfer Carter Sitzman and All-America offensive tackle Quinten Christensen.

Almost every sports movie and every "Hard Knocks" series ever made features a scene near the beginning, during an early preseason practice where some players are battling for a starting spot while others are just trying to make the team. All that testosterone and tension eventually leads to a few volcano eruptions of rage or at least visible, visceral fits of frustration. Some of this primal behavior seen on big and small screens includes coaches barking like basset hounds Guess what? It's a real thing sometimes. Sioux Falls Live sports editor saw it and reported it at South Dakota State's fifth practice of "fall camp" on Tuesday, then wrote about it here and shared more insight on Tuesday's "Nobody's Listening Anyway" podcast with the Happy Hour host. . The discussion led both men to recall funny stories from past August practices and famous intense football movie scenes. Zim unloads other observations from his day in Brookings — like Chase Mason's accuracy and any emergence of a starting running back (?), a devouring defensive line, and the one-on-one matchup between defensive lineman and Wayne State transfer Carter Sitzman and All-America offensive tackle Quinten Christensen. Other topics covered: * The USD quarterback battle and other Coyote positions of intrigue * Augustana and USF first practices, which include a glowing report on both teams' presumed starting quarterbacks * The Minnesota Twins actually making some trades before trade deadline to shore up the area they needed the most help * Classic stories from Zim about his uncle Kim Nelson, South Dakota's all-time high school football career wins leader and current Sioux Falls Christian offensive coordinator * The Eagles' Lyin' Eyes... yea or nay?

Suddenly, one of the most decorated players in South Dakota State women's basketball history has an opportunity to play a fifth season for the Jackrabbits. That is, if Brooklyn Meyer takes that opportunity. All that hangs in the balance is a dominant force unexpectedly returning and instantly making SDSU a strong favorite to win the Summit League regular season and tournament titles. Last season, the center from Larchwood, Iowa, wrapped up her Jacks career with one of the most dominant seasons in program history, earning three All-America nods while being named the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year. She scored 22.6 points per game, the second highest season average in program history. While North Dakota State won the regular season Summit League title and Bison post Avery Koenen was named Summit League Player of the Year, Meyer and the Jackrabbits beat NDSU in the conference tournament championship game to take home SDSU's 13th title in the Sioux Falls event. The Jacks were then knocked out in the first round of their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance. We thought that was the end to Meyer's SDSU career. And it still could be. But... On Friday, a federal judge in Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to restore eligibility to all Division I athletes from the high school class of 2022 who finished up their four years of eligibility this past spring. Here is more information about the ruling. Meyer, who played as a freshman and never redshirted, falls into that category. She announced on May 1 her plan to play for the SDSU volleyball team this fall. But back then, she thought her basketball eligibility had expired. That still appeared to be the case in June when the NCAA approved the "5-for-5 rule" — allowing athletes five years of competition within a continuous five-year window, replacing the old four-seasons-in-five-years system — but excluded athletes like Meyer who had completed four years of eligibility this past season. With Friday's injunction, Meyer can return to the court. As of this article's publishing, it is unknown if she will. Head coach Aaron Johnston has not responded to Happy Hour's inquiry about Meyer's new basketball opportunity. Meyer has not posted about this topic on her social media. On April 15, shortly after her SDSU career had seemingly ended, Meyer joined Happy Hour to look back on that career and the fact that she was not drafted by a WNBA team, nor offered to sign as an undrafted free agent by any of that league's 15 teams. Did she still have her eyes set on playing professionally somewhere, somehow? Meyer answered that question early in the 47-minute chat, then gave hints near the end. She went down memory lane at SDSU — including her recruitment, her decision to choose the Jacks over several regional Power Four schools (Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, among others), her friendships with legendary teammates Myah Selland and Paige Meyer, her interest in nutrition and dietetics (her major), and the lighter side of Aaron Johnston. Enjoy this re-release of that conversation.