Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Chase Mason knew what he signed up for when he decided to return to South Dakota State for his final year of college football eligibility instead of accepting $1,000,000-plus offers to be the starting quarterback at a Power Four program. As a reminder, the gunslinger and freak athlete from Viborg-Hurley first told Happy Hour last December he was coming back to SDSU because he loves Brookings, wants to win a national title, and NFL scouts told him he didn't need to go "up" to the FBS to prove he was NFL Draft-worthy. With all that hype, Mason knew he'd be picked apart, game-by-game if not throw-by-throw, in the prism of both his NFL Draftability and his ability to lead the Jackrabbits to Nashville for the FCS Championship. And through three games? Plenty of impressive throws, including deep cannon shots for touchdowns. The stat line — 56 percent completion (not great) 256 passing yards per game 9.1 yards per attempt (that's super good... he gets in downfield effectively) 4 touchdowns to 1 interception 67 yards gained at 25 yards lost on 18 rushing attempts (the "lost" yards are from sacks) 1 rushing touchdown His legs — used as lethal weapons when he came in to "wildcat" for Mark Gronowski on the Jacks' 2023 and '24 teams — have not been utilized much. This is understandable, given the long season, the need to reserve energy and the QB run scheme for tougher opponents when the Jacks will need his legs more, and his foot injury that knocked him out for six of SDSU's final seven games last season. His arm? His arm? Well, no doubt, it's still a cannon. Still firing missiles and rockets and name your favorite kind of spacecraft. But there are misfires. He's missed 44 percent of the time. Yes, some of those are drops. But some of those are throws he should make. Throws that might be costly if he can't make them against some of SDSU's tougher opponents, like No. 10 Youngstown State on Saturday. If only Happy Hour had a regular analyst with a keen quarterback eye who has coached and analyzed quarterbacks for a living for over 20 years, from the youth level at Sanford Sports Academy (with Mason among his former clients) to some of the best Indoor Football League professional QBs of all time. Oh, wait, Happy Hour does have someone like that. His name is Kurtiss Riggs, who is also the color analyst on SDSU's television games for several years and a veteran high school football TV and radio analyst (and now the national analyst for IFL telecasts). His assessment of Mason goes back to his days as a Viborg-Hurley Cougar, when Mason came to the SSA to work with Riggs his senior year, a partnership that led to current Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer offering Mason a scholarship at Fresno State (Mason turned that down to accept a scholarship to play baseball at Nebraska). Riggs has been mostly complimentary of Mason's mechanics and performance and still likes Mason's chances of being drafted based off his measurables (6'4, 250 lb. of muscle, speed, athleticism) and what he has already put on tape. But... those misfires? Riggs breaks them down on this week's Happy Hour, part of Riggs's weekly appearance to analyze plenty of hot football topics that matter to local football fans, such as: * SDSU's offensive performance overall so far * Youngstown State quarterback and reigning Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard's skill set and how the Jacks can limit him on Saturday in a Top 10 tilt * USD freshman quarterback Austin Modrzewski's continued "wow" moments and how equipped the Coyotes are to give Boise State a challenge on Saturday * Alabama's scorching second half at Kentucky and freshman quarterback Keelon Russell's early returns * NDSU's impressive Mountain West Conference debut win at Air Force and the Bison's increasing odds to win the league * Some FCS wins over FBS teams, like Montana State-Nevada and Illinois State-Northern Illinois * A scan through NFL Week 1, particularly quarterbacks that left a glowing impression (or not) Before 52 minutes of football feasting from Riggs, the Happy Hour host revels in another thrilling finish and big-name winner at the Sioux Falls PGA Tour Champions stop.

Then, something you should know about the Canaries' other king who may have played his last professional game. Mike Hart delivered clutch moments in all three playoff games against Kansas City to (potentially) go out with a bang... just like "Home Run King" Jabari Henry the week before.

John revels in another thrilling finish and big-name winner at the Sioux Falls PGA Tour Champions stop.

Then, something you should know about the Canaries' other king who may have played the last game of his pro career. Mike Hart delivered clutch moments in all three playoff games against Kansas City to (potentially) go out with a bang... just like "Home Run King" Jabari Henry the week before.

So far, so good for South Dakota's two Division I college football teams in 2026. The Jackrabbits (2-1) and Coyotes both look like FCS national title contenders again, given how they bludgeoned their unranked FCS opponents. SDSU's average score in beating Stetson and New Haven is 64-10. USD has controlled its three games against Central Connecticut State by an average tally of 47-22. Things get tougher this week for both. The No. 2 Jackrabbits welcome No. 10 Youngstown State and its dizzying offense led by Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard on Saturday night. The No. 11 Yotes play their FBS money game of the season at Group of Six powerhouse Boise State, now in the new Pac-12 Conference. Are they sharp enough and appear ready? The Happy Hour host breaks down their three-game starts to offer his assessment. Then, both head coaches join to break down their teams. SDSU's Dan Jackson While the Jacks exploded for 33 second quarter points in a 57-14 romp over New Haven, they struggled somewhat to break through in the run game on their first couple drives before airing it out and bombarding the Chargers with deep passes. It seems potentially absurd to ask Jackson how concerned he is about an offense that ran for 256 yards and is averaging over six yards per carry so far, but the host asked. Also, what does Jackson make of quarterback Chase Mason who, while once again completing highlight reel intermediate and deep passes with plenty of mustard, continues to miss receivers on the "easy passes?" How does he assess the Jacks defense through three games, and what must it specifically do to contain Brungard, who is completing 72 percent of his passes for 255 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and one interception while running for 85 yards on 15 carries a game with four rushing scores? And then, there's a topic that touched a nerve with Jackson last week on social media— an article featuring a ranking of the budgets of all the FCS football programs (during the 2025 fiscal year). SDSU is No. 4 in the country and spending over $9 million in a year, ahead of both NDSU and USD. That's good, right? Well... Jackson felt the need to explain what goes on behind the numbers and how they may not properly reflect the programs' budgets. He also explains his philosophies and fundraising efforts for football and weighs in on where those efforts are headed. Is SDSU trending in a direction where it'd be ready to move up to the FBS financially? USD's Matt Vitzthum It was another air show in a 43-21 takedown of Eastern Washington for freshman quarterback Austin Modrzewski. There's a lot to like, but what aspects does Vitzthum think the kid needs to work on to be ready for a Boise State defense that will be by far the fastest and most challenging the Coyotes will face all season? Charles Pierre, Jr. rushed for more yards in Saturday's third game (139) than his combined yardage through the first two games (121). He also had 15 carries, which is five more than the total of the first two games combined. Was there a concerted effort to "feed" the 2024 All-American more? Why did it take a beat to get his footing, or, in his words, feel his juice? Vitzthum does a deep dive into both Boise's defense and offense. What has he seen from the film of the Broncos' near-upset at Oregon in week one and 17-point comeback to beat Memphis last weekend? The bigger picture is how Vitzthum as a first time head coach handles the preparation and psychology for his team's "big money" FBS game. There will likely be over 35,000 fans roaring on Saturday night, far more than the Yotes are used to. In Iowa State's 61,000-seat stadium last year, the Cyclones engulfed USD 55-13. What is different about this year's USD team in its potential ability to handle the hostility, and what will be Vitzthum's message?

So far, so good for South Dakota's two Division I college football teams in 2026. The Jackrabbits (2-1) and Coyotes both look like FCS national title contenders again, given how they bludgeoned their unranked FCS opponents. SDSU's average score in beating Stetson and New Haven is 64-10. USD has controlled its three games against Central Connecticut State by an average tally of 47-22. Things get tougher this week for both. The No. 2 Jackrabbits welcome No. 10 Youngstown State and its dizzying offense led by Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard on Saturday night. The No. 11 Yotes play their FBS money game of the season at Group of Six powerhouse Boise State, now in the new Pac-12 Conference. Are they sharp enough and appear ready? The Happy Hour host breaks down their three-game starts to offer his assessment.

It was another air show in a 43-21 takedown of Eastern Washington for freshman quarterback Austin Modrzewski. There's a lot to like, but what aspects does Vitzthum think the kid needs to work on to be ready for a Boise State defense that will be by far the fastest and most challenging the Coyotes will face all season? Charles Pierre, Jr. rushed for more yards in Saturday's third game (139) than his combined yardage through the first two games (121). He also had 15 carries, which is five more than the total of the first two games combined. Was there a concerted effort to "feed" the 2024 All-American more? Why did it take a beat to get his footing, or, in his words, feel his juice? Vitzthum does a deep dive into both Boise's defense and offense. What has he seen from the film of the Broncos' near-upset at Oregon in week one and 17-point comeback to beat Memphis last weekend? The bigger picture is how Vitzthum as a first time head coach handles the preparation and psychology for his team's "big money" FBS game. There will likely be over 35,000 fans roaring on Saturday night, far more than the Yotes are used to. In Iowa State's 61,000-seat stadium last year, the Cyclones engulfed USD 55-13.

While the Jacks exploded for 33 second quarter points in a 57-14 romp over New Haven, they struggled somewhat to break through in the run game on their first couple drives before airing it out and bombarding the Chargers with deep passes. It seems potentially absurd to ask Jackson how concerned he is about an offense that ran for 256 yards and is averaging over six yards per carry so far, but the host asked. Also, what does Jackson make of quarterback Chase Mason who, while once again completing highlight reel intermediate and deep passes with plenty of mustard, continues to miss receivers on the "easy passes?" How does he assess the Jacks defense through three games, and what must it specifically do to contain Brungard, who is completing 72 percent of his passes for 255 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and one interception while running for 85 yards on 15 carries a game with four rushing scores? And then, there's a topic that touched a nerve with Jackson last week on social media— an article featuring a ranking of the budgets of all the FCS football programs (during the 2025 fiscal year). SDSU is No. 4 in the country and spending over $9 million in a year, ahead of both NDSU and USD. That's good, right? Well... Jackson felt the need to explain what goes on behind the numbers and how they may not properly reflect the programs' budgets. He also explains his philosophies and fundraising efforts for football and weighs in on where those efforts are headed. Is SDSU trending in a direction where it'd be ready to move up to the FBS financially?

Parachute from an airplane onto the beaches of Normandy and into trenches of World War II, where bullets and grenades are flying and men are dying all around you as you ambush German soliders while trying to figure out both how to surive and help save the world from Nazi persecution. Enter the ring to exchange haymakers during Golden Gloves state championships and national tournaments. Witness the plights, desperate measures, and perseverance of families trampled by the Great Depression, including bootlegging, illegal gambling, and gangster behavior. Saddle up to the downtown Minneapolis bar to hear a brazen if not ridiculous sales pitch to bring the first Minnesota Vikings football game in team history to Sioux Falls. Take a seat in the locker room and on team buses to hear the speeches — or at a Quarterback Club luncheon to laugh uncontrollably at the one-liners — of arguably the greatest football coach at any level in the history of South Dakota. Discover how, time and again, one man ruffles feathers, moves mountains, tickles the funny bone, and inspires ordinary people to do extraordinary things. You can't go back in time, but you can immerse yourself in the incredible life of Bob Burns by reading the biography "The Great Burns," penned by Stu Whitney. The former daily news and sports writer/editor and investigative news and political journalist has spent his entire 36-year post-college career in Sioux Falls. Roughly the first 25 of those were spent covering local sports and describing them in a unique, free-flowing, sometimes caustic, and often whimsiocal fashion. After arriving in Sioux Falls in 1990, the Michigan native quickly discovered the indelible mark Burns made on the city and the region — both on the gridiron and in the community as a coach who won 68 percent of his games and a litany of conference and state championships at three different high schools. Burns turned Sioux Falls Washington into a dominating regional titan and transformed both Augustana College and O'Gorman from doormats to powerhouses. He was the marketing mastermind behind the Dakota Bowl and creation of the South Dakota high school football playoffs. His life's adventures and accomplishments alone are a solid launching pad for a book. But the stories of Burns' bravado, bluster, biting humor, and bigger-than-life personality make for a rollicking page turner, especially after you get past the part where his life could have easily ended in World War II combat. By conducting over 90 interviews with people who knew Burns best, viewing videotapes of interviews with Burns, pouring through heaps of Burns family letters and library newspaper archives, and taking a trip overseas to the battlefields in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Whitney immersed himself into Burns' life and legacy. While the 300-plus pages of storytelling are worth the time and money, an hour-long conversation about the book at Gibs Sports Bar with the Happy Hour host also makes for an enjoyable investment of the ear. Whitney dives into some of his favorite stories of a man whom one of Burns' former players and closest friends describes as "a guy who comes around once in a lifetime, or maybe more rarely than that." Enjoy the chat. Then, buy the book. Or do it the other way around. Either way, you'll likely laugh, possibly cry, and be glad you did.

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: It's early, but Chase Mason's passing numbers aren't great for SDSU. What do we make of that and his NFL Draft stock after the loss at Northwestern? Matt Zimmer covers the Jacks thoroughly and gave his thoughts. Plus, a quick word about USD's win at Northern Colorado and Kalen DeBoer's new quarterback's first outing in Alabama's romp over East Carolina. Hot Mic with Dom Izzo: MSU Moorhead head coach Steve Laqua evaluates his Dragons, who come to Sioux Falls to play 1-1 USF on Saturday, then Augustana next week. The Nate Brown Show: NFL writer Frank Schwab takes on all the big picture topics as the season starts. Zach Borg Feature: Like father, like his three sons. The Schafers are Sioux Falls' royal football family. Borg caught up with father Travis (Lincoln High's offensive coordinator), oldest son Ty (Black Hills State receivers coach), middle son Tate (USF quarterback) and Brody (Lincoln QB and SDSU commit) after BHSU upset USF on opening night in Sioux Falls.

While SDSU is a respectable 1-1 after last week's loss at Northwestern and USD is a solid 2-0 after a road win at Northern Colorado, how are the other FCS national title contenders faring after a couple contests? The Montanas are both 2-0, but do they look like contenders once again? Time to hike over to Big Sky country to hear what former Montana receiver and FCS podcaster Samuel Akem thinks. How does Chase Mason and the Jackrabbits look to objective eyes outside of South Dakota? Why should there not be teeth gnashing over the injury to ⁸Montana State's reigning Big Sky defensive player of the year Caden Dowler? Why should the Bobcats beat FBS Mountain West outfit Nevada, led by former MSU coach Jeff Choate? Do the Griz appear to have what it takes to get past Montana State this season? What should Coyotes have in store with former Big Sky powerhouse Eastern Washington? You'll have to hear what Sam says. Before that, the Happy Hour host joins Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer at the Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls for a Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast. They give their own "things to watch" and predictions for EWU-USD and SDSU's home game against New Haven. What should Jacks fans be watching carefully out of their beloved 45.5-point favorites? And how about former SDSU coach Jimmy Rogers' first game against Iowa as Iowa State coach? How much does he embrace the emotions of the CyHawk rivalry and how can the Cyclones drive back to Ames with an upset? Before all the football talk, Trent and John reminisce about a wild night of playoff baseball at The Birdcage, one that went from misery to euphoria to agony for the underdog Canaries, but mainly... TYYYYYYY-LERRRRRRRRR!