Happy Hour with John Gaskins

We all know why Chase Mason is one of the most highly anticipated FCS players in the country to watch in 2026. Physical specimen. Looks like a jacked superhero. Rocket arm. Runs like a deer. Just a stick of dynamite waiting to explode. And this is it— His last chance to not just be the golden boy, but have a golden year. To win the Walter Payton Award. To bring the FCS National Championship Trophy back to Brookings. To get as high on that NFL Draft board as he possibly can. There is zero reason to believe he won't be in the running for both achievements. That the Jacks offense won't be more explosive than their 9-5 campaign last year, when they were 8-1 and averaged 37 points with Mason at quarterback and 1-4 while averaging fewer than 20 points without him. First, look at him and watch his career highlights. Then, there's the stats. Perhaps you've memorized them, but in case you haven't: 6'4, 240 lb. At a recent practice, he reportedly ran at 22 miles per hour, which equates to roughly a 4.4 in the 40. The game stats: Last year, in nine games, he threw 15 touchdown passes and ran for six more while averaging 223 passing yards per game and nine yards per attempt. That's two yards more per attempt than the NFL average, meaning he completes passes downfield at a high level. Mason completed 65 percent of his passes, one percent higher than the NFL average. These stats weren't racked up against nothing but tomato cans. He was efficient and brilliant and clutch at Montana State, the eventual national champion. He won a shootout with the Walter Payton winner Beau Brungard at Youngstown. There was the nuking of New Hampshire in the playoffs. He had not played in six weeks after a foot injury that left him in a walking boot, and he was nearly perfect— 16 of 20 for 230, 3 TDs, 0 picks, just firing lasers in the snow. He threw for over 370 yards at Montana, the final No. 3 team, in the playoffs. Yet, to the Happy Hour host, none of those numbers as important as the one stat of Mason's that was glaringly low, yet needs to be lower for him to take home both individual and team national hardware in his last hurrah. The Happy Hour host reveals that one stat while second year SDSU coach Dan Jackson describes Mason's development during fall camp ahead of Saturday's game. Jackson also details: * Why some of SDSU's best veteran players sat out multiple August practices and what their status is for Saturday * Who is emerging to be the starting running back and backup quarterback * What is in place to prevent a collapse in what Jackson has stated to be a strong culture and chemistry in the program among players and coaches * What message legend John Stiegelmeier sent while speaking to the team recently * What about Stetson, the lowest-rated team in the FCS last year and a 47-point underdog Saturday, concerns the coaching staff After Jackson, Sioux Falls Jefferson coach Eric Struck—also in his second year at the helm— previews his Cavaliers, who finished as the No. 3 ranked team in South Dakota's largest high school class last year and is the preseason No.3 in the first media poll. Why does Struck prefer playing with two quarterbacks instead of one, and why will he handle the two-pronged attack differently this season? How much of a force will Lincoln transfer Devonte Wilson be at running back as the Cavs replace the JHS all-time leading rusher, Daeveon Simsonsen, and what can we expect of the usually blitz-happy defense of Ed Whiting?

Sioux Falls Jefferson coach Eric Struck—in his second year at the helm— previews his Cavaliers, who finished as the No. 3 ranked team in South Dakota's largest high school class last year and is the preseason No.3 in the first media poll. Why does Struck prefer playing with two quarterbacks instead of one, and why will he handle the two-pronged attack differently this season? How much of a force will Lincoln transfer Devonte Wilson be at running back as the Cavs replace the JHS all-time leading rusher, Daeveon Simsonsen, and what can we expect of the usually blitz-happy defense of Ed Whiting?

We all know why Chase Mason is one of the most highly anticipated FCS players in the country to watch in 2026. Physical specimen. Looks like a jacked superhero. Rocket arm. Runs like a deer. Just a stick of dynamite waiting to explode. And this is it— His last chance to not just be the golden boy, but have a golden year. To win the Walter Payton Award. To bring the FCS National Championship Trophy back to Brookings. To get as high on that NFL Draft board as he possibly can. There is zero reason to believe he won't be in the running for both achievements. That the Jacks offense won't be more explosive than their 9-5 campaign last year, when they were 8-1 and averaged 37 points with Mason at quarterback and 1-4 while averaging fewer than 20 points without him. First, look at him and watch his career highlights. Then, there's the stats. Perhaps you've memorized them, but in case you haven't: 6'4, 240 lb. At a recent practice, he reportedly ran at 22 miles per hour, which equates to roughly a 4.4 in the 40. The game stats: Last year, in nine games, he threw 15 touchdown passes and ran for six more while averaging 223 passing yards per game and nine yards per attempt. That's two yards more per attempt than the NFL average, meaning he completes passes downfield at a high level. Mason completed 65 percent of his passes, one percent higher than the NFL average. These stats weren't racked up against nothing but tomato cans. He was efficient and brilliant and clutch at Montana State, the eventual national champion. He won a shootout with the Walter Payton winner Beau Brungard at Youngstown. There was the nuking of New Hampshire in the playoffs. He had not played in six weeks after a foot injury that left him in a walking boot, and he was nearly perfect— 16 of 20 for 230, 3 TDs, 0 picks, just firing lasers in the snow. He threw for over 370 yards at Montana, the final No. 3 team, in the playoffs. Yet, to the Happy Hour host, none of those numbers as important as the one stat of Mason's that was glaringly low, yet needs to be lower for him to take home both individual and team national hardware in his last hurrah.

SDSU coach Dan Jackson describes Mason's development during fall camp ahead of Saturday's game. Jackson also details: * Why some of SDSU's best veteran players sat out multiple August practices and what their status is for Saturday * Who is emerging to be the starting running back and backup quarterback * What is in place to prevent a collapse in what Jackson has stated to be a strong culture and chemistry in the program among players and coaches * What message legend John Stiegelmeier sent while speaking to the team recently * What about Stetson, the lowest-rated team in the FCS last year and a 47-point underdog Saturday, concerns the coaching staff

Every Friday, "South Dakota Sports Lounge" displays some of the most captivating and entertaining conversations from daily sports talk shows in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Fargo. Plus, Midwest Sports+ reporter Zach Borg provides a compelling feature story to send Dakotas sports fans into the weekend with a smile. Here are this week's segments: Happy Hour with John Gaskins (Sioux Falls): The host and Sioux Falls Live sports editor break down the differing quarterback situations at SDSU and USD. While the Jackrabbits know exactly the potent talent they have in Chase Mason, the Coyotes are still holding auditions for the signal caller who will try to fill the gargantuan shoes of three-year starter and USD FCS records holder Aidan Bouman. Hot Mic with Dom Izzo (Fargo): 1-on-1 interview with NDSU head football coach Tim Polasek during his final media availability for Bison fall camp. He updates Izoo on injuries and the final scrimmage ahead of their first week of preparation for the first FBS season. The Nate Brown Show (Rapid City): Doug Gottlieb, Wisconsin-Green Bay men's head basketball coach and former nationally syndicated media personality, talks with Nate the day it was announced his team will play SDSU in Sioux Falls at the Pentagon on December 21st. They also discuss Gottlieb's first two seasons at the helm and what the strides he expects the Phoenix to make in his third campaign. Zach Borg Feature (MS+): From SDSU Media Day, Jackrabbit football players utter 'Dan Jackson-isms,' phrases often used by their second-year head coach.

The NSIC is a Division II league, yet Minnesota State has about 3,000-5,000 more students than Division I (FCS) powerhouses South Dakota State (12,100) and South Dakota (10,400). Minnesota-Duluth's student body almost matches USD's enrollment. If you combined the student bodies of Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls (4,050), MSU would still have nearly four times the enrollment and Minnesota-Duluth would have over twice their combined student bodies. Not surprisingly, those two giant Minnesota public schools are consistently two of the NSIC's best football programs and occasionally thrust themselves into national championship contention, especially the program in Mankato. Yet, tiny private institutions Augie and USF, separated literally by two blocks in central Sioux Falls, have been consistent contenders for the league title and Div. II playoffs for over a decade... and they're expected to be stout again in 2026. How? Why? Coaching helps, to say the least. Under Augie all-time wins leader Jerry Olszewski, the Vikings are 91-47 in 12 seasons. In 2023 and '24, he guided the school to its first two conference titles since 1959. Last season, his squad started 9-0 and ascended to a No. 5 national ranking before injuries and a pair of late-season losses kept them out of the postseason. Yet still, Augie completed the first stretch of three consecutive seasons where the Vikings finished ranked in the nation's final Top 25 poll. Ten of "Coach OJ's" 12 seasons have resulted in a winning record. The Vikings have won at least nine games in four of the last six seasons and achieved at least seven victories in nine of the last 10 campaigns. Former Minnesota State defensive coordinator Jim Glogowski enters his fourth year as USF coach after posting 8-3 and 7-4 records the last two seasons. His first year in 2023, following a hasty hiring and massive roster overturn, resulted in USF's only losing record (3-8) in the last 32 seasons, a stretch that included the impressive tenures of Bob Young, Kalen DeBoer, Jed Stugart and Jon Anderson. Young's "Winners Win" mentality continues to ring true for the former NAIA four-time national champion that moved up to Div. II in 2011 and the NSIC in '12. Both coaches joined the Happy Hour host to give "State of the Program" overviews ahead of their season openers next week on Thursday, Aug. 27 — Augie at Missouri Western and USF hosting Black Hills State under the lights. Hear deep dives into both teams' quarterback rooms — particularly proven starters Gunnar Hensley (Augie) and Tate Schafer (USF) and their trusted backups — plus a thorough scan of the rosters to identify "players to watch." While both teams are proud of their recent success, both coaches detail the aspects that kept them out of the difficult-to-reach Div. II playoffs last November and how they can reach the postseason in 2026. (A win for either team in the annually-anticipated "Key to the City Game" on Oct. 3 could go a long way.) Before you hear from the coaches, the Happy Hour host and Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer — who has covered both programs for over 20 years — do their own deep dive into the Vikings and "Coo," including an overview of both squads' demanding schedules. Plus, a cursory overview of the NSIC, Northern State, and Dakota State. The latter two squads have high expectiations for this season, as well.

"Coach OJ" joined the Happy Hour host to give his "State of the Program" overview ahead of Augie's season opener next week on Thursday, Aug. 27 at Missouri Western under the lights. Hear a deep dive into the quarterback room, particularly glowing remarks about starter Gunnar Hensley, plus a thorough scan of the roster to identify "players to watch." While Augie is proud of its ongoing program success, OJ details the aspects that kept the Coo out of the difficult-to-reach Div. II playoffs last November and how they can reach the postseason in 2026. Under Augie all-time wins leader Jerry Olszewski, the Vikings are 91-47 in 12 seasons. In 2023 and '24, he guided the school to its first two conference titles since 1959. Last season, his squad started 9-0 and ascended to a No. 5 national ranking before injuries and a pair of late-season losses kept them out of the postseason. Yet still, Augie completed the first stretch of three consecutive seasons where the Vikings finished ranked in the nation's final Top 25 poll. Ten of "Coach OJ's" 12 seasons have resulted in a winning record. The Vikings have won at least nine games in four of the last six seasons and achieved at least seven victories in nine of the last 10 campaigns.

Former Minnesota State defensive coordinator Jim Glogowski enters his fourth year as USF coach after posting 8-3 and 7-4 records the last two seasons. His first year in 2023, following a hasty hiring and massive roster overturn, resulted in USF's only losing record (3-8) in the last 32 seasons, a stretch that included the impressive tenures of Bob Young, Kalen DeBoer, Jed Stugart and Jon Anderson. Young's "Winners Win" mentality continues to ring true for the former NAIA four-time national champion that moved up to Div. II in 2011 and the NSIC in '12. "Coach Glo" joined the Happy Hour host to give his "State of the Program" overview ahead of USF's season opener next week on Thursday, Aug. 27 at home against Black Hills State under the lights. Hear a deep dive into both teams' quarterback room, plus a thorough scan of the roster to identify "players to watch." While USF is proud of its ongoing program success, Glogowski details the aspects that kept the Coo out of the difficult-to-reach Div. II playoffs last November and how they can reach the postseason in 2026.

The more things change with USD Football, the more they stay the same. The Coyotes begin the 2026 season — stop if you've heard or read this sentence a trillion times — with a third different head coach in the last three seasons. Bob Nielson retired after back-to-back FCS quarterfinal appearances in 2023 and '24. Travis Johansen left to become Rutgers defensive coordinator after a third consecutive "Elite Eight" FCS showing in '25. After each of those seasons, USD lost several of its best players on both sides of the ball to either graduation or the transfer portal. This season, steadying force and USD's FCS QB GOAT Aidan Bouman is not leading the offense for the first time in four years — USD's last season without a postseason. And yet, the Yotes are the only team in the nation to reach the quarterfinals three years in a row and a fourth consecutive trip would not shock anyone. Sure, it would surprise some, given the new head coach, new quarterback, mostly new starting offensive line, and a retooled defensive line. Stop if you have heard or read this before — USD has so many "question marks" at key spots that, despite being among the nation's last eight teams standing three straight seasons, the Yotes start the season outside the Top 10 of the STATS preseason poll and are picked fifth out of nine teams in the loaded Missouri Valley Football Conference. And yet, things feel solid and stable in Vermillion. Why is that? What is in the stable that makes new (and rookie) head coach Matt Vitzthum and many Coyote fans confident despite constant annual change? Well, that's what Happy Hour's "USD Day" show investigates. John Thayer, the seventh-year Voice of the Coyotes, has been around the program for nearly 15 seasons and has a broad perspective on what steadies a once-shaky program. And, as someone who has inside-the-ropes access to the spring and August practices, Thayer details with the Happy Hour host what will make the Yotes tick in '26. Then, a couple of veteran USD players who faced each other in youth football in Miami about a decade ago explain what they see and go against every day in the DakotaDome or the outdoor practice field next to it. Running back Charles Pierre Jr. and linebacker Gabe Hardman also share this in common — being raised on football from an early age by fathers who played their sons' positions at the FBS level. Pierre Jr. also shares a bond with fellow running back Keyondray Jones-Logan — the heartbreak and headache of early-season injuries that kept them off the field for a bunch of 2025 and the motivation of making up for lost time in '26. The former details to the Happy Hour host the injury at Lamar that ended his season and subjected him to the training room while backup running back L.J. Phillips burst right out of the gate and finished as the top FCS rusher in the nation, which earned him an assumed hefty payday at Iowa. After over an hour of insight, it will become clearer why the present and future look bright at USD despite the mysterious cloud of change once again circling the DakotaDome.