The Mike McFeely Mess

Forum reporter Tracy Briggs joins host Mike McFeely to talk about her stories on King Leo's, a long-ago popular hamburger joint in south Fargo that has readers stirred up with excitement. As is always the case when Tracy and Mike begin to talk, the discussion goes off-course into their careers, their spouses, travel, their aversion to math and other non-related topics.

"News and Views" host Joel Heitkamp, based at Fargo's KFGO radio, joins host Mike McFeely of The Forum at Vic's Lounge in Moorhead to chat about North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's presidential campaign. The Republican announced he was seeking his party's nomination in early June and dropped out of the race in early December after gaining little traction. Mike and Joel discuss the campaign, what Burgum could have done differently and what might be next for the North Dakota governor.

San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter Eric Branch joins podcast host Mike McFeely to talk about former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, who has work to do if he wants to be the San Francisco 49ers long-term starter.

Lance was taken with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was given the starting job to start 2022, but suffered a broken leg early in the season. He was replaced first by Jimmy Garoppolo and then Brock Purdy. It's like Purdy would've remained the team's starting QB if not for an injury he sustained.

Branch lays out the scenario for Lance's short-term and perhaps long-term prospects with the Niners.

Forum sportswriter Eric Peterson joins podcast host Mike McFeely for an early-week look at the Football Championship Subdivision national title game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State.

At last glance, the Bison were 5-point underdogs to the Jackrabbits for Sunday's game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. This is a rare position in which NDSU finds itself.

How can the Bison win the game? Eric gives some examples of what he thinks has to happen.

Forum sportswriter Eric Peterson and podcast host/columnist Mike McFeely take a closer look at North Dakota State's 2022 early signing period recruiting class, which was announced Wednesday, Dec. 21.

They look at some recent recruiting classes to give perspective on how many players might pan out to be contributors or stars.

Forum sportswriter Eric Peterson and columnist/podcast host Mike McFeely take an early look at the Football Championship Subdivision national title game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State, to be played Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas.

Who has the early advantage? What are the early keys? What does two teams from the same conference playing for the title mean for FCS? How many drunken fistfights will there be?

Eric and Mike take a big-picture early look at the much-anticipated title tilt.

Forum sportswriter Eric Peterson and podcast host and columnist Mike McFeely take a close look at the North Dakota State vs. Incarnate Word FCS playoff semifinal game scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16. Eric sees a strength-on-strength matchup while Mike wonders how UIW's defense will hold up against the Bison run game.

As a bonus, the guys spend some time talking about the other FCS semifinal between South Dakota State and Montana State, two programs familiar to NDSU.

Forum sportswriter Eric Peterson joins podcast host and columnist Mike McFeely to break down the North Dakota State-Samford FCS playoffs quarterfinal game this week. The Bison host the Bulldogs on Friday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. Central.

The Bison have their vaunted rushing game rolling, crushing their last two opponents in North Dakota and Montana. Can NDSU continue that trend against Samford, of the Southern Conference? If so, NDSU's chances of getting to the semifinals for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons grows.

Forum sportswriter Eric Peterson joins podcast host and columnist Mike McFeely to take a close look at the North Dakota State-Montana FCS playoff football game. It's a second-round game scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Fargodome.

Montana is 8-4 and coming off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Southeast Missouri State in the first round, but the Grizzlies haven't met expectations so far this season with inconsistent play.

The Bison are 9-2 and hoping for their 10th trip in the last 12 years to Frisco, Texas, for the FCS title game.