Happy Hour with John Gaskins

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!

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.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Those are the words of the Socrates of Gen X, Ferris Bueller. They take on extra meaning when a Gen X'er like Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer visits Chicago, where Ferris Bueller had his day off. With his own Sloan Peterson by his side, Zim and wife Jenn walked around the Windy City's iconic spots the day after they covered South Dakota State's lost opportunity against Northwestern on the shores of Lake Michigan. After you hear which Chicago delicacy Zim enjoyed at Harry Caray's bar, hear him chomp into the shoulda-woulda-coulda of what he calls the Jackrabbits best ever chance at beating a Big Ten operation. Blame game? It's complicated, but he and the Happy Hour host walk through offensive play-calling, defensive "doh!" moments, and Chase Mason's performance. Did the latter hurt his NFL stock? Well..... You probably knew about the 90-minute weather delay Augustana sat through in Duluth before coming out of the locker room and taking a tough fourth quarter loss on the chin from the Bulldogs. What you may not know is the Vikings could have hopped on the bus back to Sioux Falls with a win. Why didn't "Coach OJ" do that, and what do the hosts make of a potential playoff-killing decision? USF suffered its own defeat before it hit the road to beat Jamestown last weekend. Quarterback Tate Schafer hurt his arm in the opener against Black Hills State and is out four to six weeks. Why will the Cougars be better off during that time than most teams would? While football has kicked off and seized most of our sports oxygen, the Sioux Falls Canaries are participating in playoff baseball for a club record fourth season, opening with league titan Kansas City. What fans won't get to see is the Birds' all-time "Home Run King," hit king, most tenured, and most beloved player of their 34-season modern inception swinging for the fences and making more magic with "Bari Bombs." Jabari Henry suffered a lower leg injury last Friday that ended his season and potentially his professional career, with nearly a decade spent in Sioux Falls. If this is it, Zim, who has lived in the city his whole life and watched all of the minor league legends play, pegs Henry's place in the city's minor league Pantheon. Finally... let's talk turf. As Patrick Lalley reported recently, the mayor's annual $800 million budget includes about $1 million for field turf to replace grass in The Birdcage outfield. Wise investment for an aged facility? Cheers!......... ...................... ...... You're still here? It's over. Go home.

Perhaps you were enjoying a pontoon ride on Lake Madison instead of watching South Dakota State play on Lake Michigan. Perhaps you were doing death-defying flips on your jetski instead of watching Austin Modzewski (pronounced muh-jet-ski). Maybe you were carving waves on your boat tube instead of watching new Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell carve up East Carolina's defense for South Dakota native Kalen DeBoer. You catch our drift. And, now you can catch up on all the highlights, lowlights, and in-between lights from these games with Tuesday's Happy Hour! * SDSU coach Dan Jackson describes what he saw on film from his Jackrabbits' game of lost opportunities at Northwestern, particularly on the "five plays" his defense failed to make that could have swung the game. Also, why did the Jacks fail to close drives in the red zone? And what about Chase Mason's performance (23-48, 245, 0 TD, 1 INT) looked better on film than it did in the moment? * Why was USD coach Matt Vitzthum pleased with his defense despite some long Northern Colorado drives in a 38-23 win? Also, what did Vitz hear back from the Missouri Valley Football Conference officials about the targeting penalty that kicked Dawson Sescher out of the game, not to mention Isaiah Wray's penalty for his hit on UNC's quarterback on the same play? Plus, what will Eastern Washington's offense present that the Coyotes have not seen yet? * Happy Hour's local football analyst Kurtiss Riggs was in Alabama to visit University of Sioux Falls 1996 national championship teammate Kalen DeBoer, who led the Crimson Tide to a 48-10 pillaging of the Pirates. While it was a dominating win, what bemused some Bama fans, and what did Riggs—DeBoer's quarterback in '96 and a quarterbacks coach by trade—see from new Tide QB Keelon Russell? The 11-time IFL champion former head coach of the Sioux Falls Storm had plenty more insight into Alabama's opener and DeBoer's chaotic schedule on gamedays and the day after, plus takes on the wild games involving Rutgers (with former USD coach Travis Johansen's defense bombarded by a traditionally awful UMass squad), Michigan's hail mary mulligan, Florida State's continued fall from grace, and Rapid City's sad state of high school football. But this Happy Hour kicks off with a baseball monologue from the Happy Hour host, who was at The Birdcage last week watching what might be the final heroics and a heartbreaking injury of the Sioux Falls Canaries' most decorated and beloved player, Jabari Henry, the "Home Run King" of both the club and the American Association of Professional Baseball. The Birds will be without their veteran slugger for the playoffs after he collapsed with a leg injury on Friday night. At 35, Henry contemplated retirement last season before returning for another dinger-filled, smile-splashed season. But if this is it, he sure went out with a bang two nights before the injury. Sioux Falls hosts Kansas City on Wednesday at 6:30 in Game 1 of a best-of-three first round series with the Kansas City Monarchs. Here is a preview of that series. All tickets in The Birdcage will be $10, except in the Diamond Club behind home plate, whose occupants will receive wristbands giving them access to an all-you-can-eat concession menu and all they can drink, including domestic beers.

Happy Hour kicks off with a baseball monologue from the Happy Hour host, who was at The Birdcage last week watching what might be the final heroics and a heartbreaking injury of the Sioux Falls Canaries' most decorated and beloved player, Jabari Henry, the "Home Run King" of both the club and the American Association of Professional Baseball. The Birds will be without their veteran slugger for the playoffs after he collapsed with a leg injury on Friday night. At 35, Henry contemplated retirement last season before returning for another dinger-filled, smile-splashed season. But if this is it, he sure went out with a bang two nights before the injury. Sioux Falls hosts Kansas City on Wednesday at 6:30 in Game 1 of a best-of-three first round series with the Kansas City Monarchs. Here is a preview of that series. All tickets in The Birdcage will be $10, except in the Diamond Club behind home plate, whose occupants will receive wristbands giving them access to an all-you-can-eat concession menu and all they can drink, including domestic beers.

Happy Hour's local football analyst Kurtiss Riggs was in Alabama to visit University of Sioux Falls 1996 national championship teammate Kalen DeBoer, who led the Crimson Tide to a 48-10 pillaging of the Pirates. While it was a dominating win, what bemused some Bama fans, and what did Riggs—DeBoer's quarterback in '96 and a quarterbacks coach by trade—see from new Tide QB Keelon Russell? The 11-time IFL champion former head coach of the Sioux Falls Storm had plenty more insight into Alabama's opener and DeBoer's chaotic schedule on gamedays and the day after, plus takes on the wild games involving Rutgers (with former USD coach Travis Johansen's defense bombarded by a traditionally awful UMass squad), Michigan's hail mary mulligan, Florida State's continued fall from grace, and Rapid City's sad state of high school football.

Perhaps you were enjoying a pontoon ride on Lake Madison instead of watching South Dakota State play on Lake Michigan. Perhaps you were doing death-defying flips on your jetski instead of watching Austin Modzewski (pronounced muh-jet-ski). Maybe you were carving waves on your boat tube instead of watching new Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell carve up East Carolina's defense for South Dakota native Kalen DeBoer. You catch our drift. And, now you can catch up on all the highlights, lowlights, and in-between lights from these games with Tuesday's Happy Hour! * SDSU coach Dan Jackson describes what he saw on film from his Jackrabbits' game of lost opportunities at Northwestern, particularly on the "five plays" his defense failed to make that could have swung the game. Also, why did the Jacks fail to close drives in the red zone? And what about Chase Mason's performance (23-48, 245, 0 TD, 1 INT) looked better on film than it did in the moment? * Why was USD coach Matt Vitzthum pleased with his defense overall despite some long Northern Colorado drives in a 38-23 win? Also, what did Vitz hear back from the Missouri Valley Football Conference officials about the targeting penalty that kicked Dawson Sesher out of the game, not to mention Isaiah Wray's penalty for his hit on UNC's quarterback on the same play? Plus, what will Eastern Washington's offense present that the Coyotes have not seen yet? * Happy Hour's local football analyst Kurtiss Riggs was in Alabama to visit University of Sioux Falls 1996 national championship teammate Kalen DeBoer, who led the Crimson Tide to a 48-10 pillaging of the Pirates. While it was a dominating win, what bemused some Bama fans, and what did Riggs—DeBoer's quarterback in '96 and a quarterbacks coach by trade—see from new Tide QB Keelon Russell? The 11-time IFL champion former head coach of the Sioux Falls Storm had plenty more insight into Alabama's opener and DeBoer's chaotic schedule on gamedays and the day after, plus takes on the wild games involving Rutgers (with former USD coach Travis Johansen's defense bombarded by a traditionally awful UMass squad), Michigan's hail mary mulligan, Florida State's continued fall from grace, and Rapid City's sad state of high school football. But this Happy Hour kicks off with a baseball monologue from the Happy Hour host, who was at The Birdcage watching what might be the final heroics and a heartbreaking injury of the Sioux Falls Canaries' most decorated and beloved player, Jabari Henry, the "Home Run King" of both the club and the American Association of Professional Baseball. The Birds will be without their veteran slugger for the playoffs after he collapsed with a leg injury on Friday night. At 35, Henry contemplated retirement last season before returning for another dinger-filled, smile-splashed season. But if this is it, he sure went out with a bang two nights before the injury. Sioux Falls hosts Kansas City on Wednesday at 6:30 in Game 1 of a best-of-three first round series with the Kansas City Monarchs. Here is a preview of that series. All tickets in The Birdcage will be $10, except in the Diamond Club behind home plate, whose occupants will receive wristbands giving them access to an all-you-can-eat concession menu and all they can drink, including domestic beers.

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: South Dakota Sports Hall of Famer Kurtiss Riggs — a veteran pro, college, and prep TV analyst — previews SDSU's game at Northwestern and breaks down the incredible debut of USD freshman quarterback Austin Modzewski, who tied the school record with six touchdown passes and earned MVFC Player of the Week honors. Hot Mic with Dom Izzo: Veteran Fargo columnist and media personality Mike McFeely describes NDSU's 33-7 win over Jacksonville State in the Bison's FBS debut and explains why NDSU looks like a Mountain West Conference contender. The Nate Brown Show: 25-year Minnesota Vikings play-by-play radio announcer elaborates on all the major issues with the squad ahead of next Sunday's season opener. Feature: Zach Borg goes inside the budding Division II football powerhouse Augustana to preview the 2025 season.

Not all FCS vs. Big Ten games are created equal. South Dakota State at Northwestern is not exactly Stetson at Ohio State. But you knew that and so does Vegas. Oddsmakers tab FCS No. 3 SDSU a 13.5- point underdog against the Wildcats, who are picked to finish 14th out of 18 teams in their league. So, Saturday should be competitive, but what advantages do the Cats own? Happy Hour calls on Northwestern's 33-year radio analyst Ted Albrecht to tap into his wealth of access and knowledge about the program and several specific players. What has offensive coordinating genius gypsy Chip Kelly and Michigan State transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles -- plus several new offensive linemen and defenders -- brought to the fold? Albrecht clearly did his homework on the Jacks. Hear what a seasoned Big Ten observer makes of quarterback Chase Mason, offensive tackle Quinten Christensen and SDSU's deep front seven on defense. And stay for Albrecht's stories about blocking for Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton with the Chicago Bears from 1976-81. Before Albrecht, the host and Sioux Falls sportswriter Trent Singer tap into the Jacks-Northwestern, USD-Northern Colorado, and O' Gorman-Brandon Valley matchups during the Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast from Orion Pub. Also covered over a couple pints: Dolly Parton, Banana Ball's invasion of The Birdcage, the Canaries' wild walk-off win and final homestand, and the unforgettable Nebraska-SDSU volleyball match on Wednesday in Brookings. The episode finishes with Brandon Valley football coach Matt Christensen describing his squad's trip to the Omaha area to beat Bellevue West in the first of five showdowns between metro area teams from Omaha and Sioux Falls this season. Christensen also previews his top-rated Lynx battle with No.2 O'Gorman in the Pigskin Classic on Saturday night, a game you can watch live at 6 p.m. and (later) on demand with the Midwest Sports+ app.