April 24, 2025 • 49 mins
In this week’s episode, Bill and Alex are joined by UND’s Erik Martinson to discuss the department’s preparations as host of the 2026 Men’s Frozen Four in Las Vegas and to reflect on Albrecht Field’s tremendous debut season (1:21). The guys then break down a busy stretch for Fighting Hawk spring sports before previewing the upcoming UND Football Spring Showcase (15:33). On this week’s B-Side (33:32), Spurs improbably reach the Europa League semifinals, the Red Sox remain enigmatic, and the Celtics start their title defense.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to the Bill Shaves Podcast, presented by Mid
Coast Sports. Spring is here, and the place to keep
up with what's happening around the U and D spring
sports scene is mid Coast Sports Plus. Watch live U
and D softball and tennis and track and field by
signing up at midcast sportsplus dot com today. This is
how we do spring, and this is the Bill Shafes Podcast.
(00:22):
Welcome to another edition of the Bill Shafes Podcast. We're
taping this on a Wednesday afternoon, question Mark. That's a
different time zone for us, but it's good. We're excited
to be here. It's the twenty third of April. Alex
Hender at Bill Shaves. We're not that far away, Bill
from the finish line of this semester. It's incredible that
post Eastern. Now they're just a couple of weeks left
(00:42):
and kids are going to be graduating. It's wild.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, good to see Alex as always. Yeah,
we're heading toward May and on campuses, that is a
banquet season. You better like chicken because there's a lot
of stuff going on with that and then graduations just
around the corner.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
You better like chicken. That's gonna go on the list
of tenants on the pod. Well, we've got some good
stuff to get to today. Maybe chicken, maybe not. We'll
discuss as we go, but spring sports of course either
wrapping up or getting into their championship seasons, some other
NCAA stuff as well. But first, we've got a special
(01:22):
guest on the podcast today. He's making his third appearance
of this season alone. He's the deputy athletic director at
the University of North Dakota, Eric Martinsen Marty, thanks for
being with us today.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Hey guys, thanks for having me again.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
We always say, between he and I, if we're in
the same meeting, we're probably doing it wrong. So like
we try to divide and conquer. So that's why we
have to have Eric on because he literally deals with
some things at a level, in a granular level sometimes
that I don't. And I know he's been a part
of some meetings that are kind of exciting for us
(01:58):
for next year.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, I think coming off of the regional and hosting
the Regional and Fargo. You know, I was just came
back from Saint Louis. I met with our Las Vegas folks,
and you know, I think some people know this, most
people may not.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
We University of North.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Dakota is hosting the Frozen four next year at T
Mobile Arena, So we're really excited for that and a
lot of a lot of planning and prepping with the
NCAA folks and Las Vegas events and T Mobile MGM,
all those people. It was great to see all them
last weekend and really start, you know, really diving in.
As as Chad Tolliver from the nc double A said
(02:35):
after the game on Saturday, he said, all right, Marty,
you're on the clock.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
It's time to go. So here we go.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
So we're excited for for us as an institution that
should be doing these type of things, not only for
our fans, for our team, just kind of giving us
kind of that inside East everything. And man, I can't
be can't be more excited to get back to T
Mobile and and host a pretty awesome event.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
You mentioned getting back there. Fans will remember not that
long ago North Dakota hosted a US Hockey Hall of
Fame game inside that facility. I'm assuming that's when maybe
some of these conversations began. But kind of to listen,
why why Vegas White team?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Mobile.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Why the Frozen Four for North Dakota.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Eric, Yeah, I think, you know, with in partnering with
the ralf fingles Stat Arena and just with their affinity
with with Las Vegas and with the Legistad Foundation, Chris
Singlestead and her family, and just what Vegas means to
to really North Dakota and the University of North Dakota
and what kind of vice versa on those pieces. So
I think we've always been kind of tied that way,
(03:35):
and really having the Hall of Fame game down there
with with the ral Finglestet Arena and partnering with Jody
and his crew to kind of make it happen. I
think we we created a lot of good relationships within
that and I think again we always wanted to to
kind of be partnered with with Vegas and and the
special piece that that means to us, with the relationships
that we have, so really excited and and that's kind
(03:56):
of how it spurred, and we had a great, great event,
Hall of Fame game, And you know, there's not many
places in the country that have hosted a Frozen Four.
They always talk about kind of the rotation. You know,
Tampa is always a great spot Boston's a great spot,
Saint Paul's a great spot. But I think they're looking
to branch out and with the NCAA kind of opening up,
(04:16):
you know, Vegas was kind of a piece where they
weren't really going to allow a lot of NCAA events
in Vegas because of the gambling aspect. They've opened that
up and we wanted to jump on that, so we
partnered with them. We bid on this thing, you know,
back in twenty nineteen in that last cycle, so it's
been a long time. When we got awarded it, it
was where the last, you know, the last event on
(04:39):
that cycle. So we've been able to see a lot
of a lot of frozen fours up until then and
seeing how they do it and get a lot of
you know, information and feedback from them, and we feel
really really good going into into next year.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So you were able to in use how many folks
from Vegas, Marty from their team came to the fro
and four was quite a few, and you were able
to get an inside look on really the x's and o's.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, we had we had probably twelve to fifteen people
from MGM and their events team, the T Mobile folks
with their kind of the the building side of it,
and then Las Vegas Events is really they're kind of
the convention of visitors kind of piece of of.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
What they do. You know, LV does a great job.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
They're big big event every year is the NFR Rodeo
and doing those type of things. So they've partnered with
us and you know, those three entities and and us.
You know, Jody's gonna help out and and we're gonna
do different. You know, we're gonna bring what we do
from an NCAA standpoint down there, and we're just really excited.
I mean, if you've if you watched the first couple
(05:43):
of Games of the Wild versus versus the Knights and
what they can do on a game presentation standpoint, we're
looking to hopefully replicate that and do kind of put
our own spin on things.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
So here's the question. Now, when North Dakota hosts a regional,
typically in Fargo, we've seen that over the years, the
team gets the benefit of knowing if we're in the
NCUAA tournament, we're going to be here close to home.
The Frozen Four, of course, is not like that. So
Marty talk us through the benefits of why you'd even
want to host the Frozen four outside of the fact
you get your logo on the ice.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yeah, so the benefits of hosting a regional are are
far greater than when you're hosting a Frozen four. But
I still think it's it's what we should be doing.
We're the University of North Dakota. We should be doing
those type of things. And I think, you know, getting
getting our fans to have early access to to ticket sales,
to getting just having them you know, feel like, hey,
(06:36):
this is there's some ownership there. Seeing our logo in
and around, doing some different events that that our fans
can go to. I think it's just another added element
of of what we want to give to our fans,
no matter what we're doing, whether if we had opportunities
in anything else, we would be jumping at those. But
you know, knowing you know, the n Cuba, knowing that
how well we do, you know, run regionals with them,
(06:58):
giving us that that nod to to kind of do
this is pretty special. And yeah, like you said, there's
not a huge benefit, but I still think there's a
benefit enough even you know, we expect to be there
next year playing and if we're hosting it. I think
that gives us maybe just that little bit of you know,
knowledge that we can have of the facility or where
things are, where things are going, or the unknowns that
(07:21):
you might have as a team going into the Frozen four.
We're gonna know some of that stuff, so, you know,
just just the little things that could stack up to
help from an advantage standpoint, I think it's worth it.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
So if if I can switch gears real quick, Eric,
and then then we'll let you get on with your day.
We're kind of coming to the end of the first
season with all work Field. Next week on Friday and Saturday,
we host the jack Rabbits in our final series of
the year. How have things gone so far? I mean,
(07:55):
I know year one is always interesting, right, You're always
learning things. Just give us a broad scope of what
has transpired there.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Yeah, we could be happier. I mean outside of the things,
you know, outside of the weather that you can't control.
We've we've been able to play games. You know, we've
I think if you've been here long enough, you've known
that there's been some springs that we've played literally zero
home games, uh for the season. I think being able
to play a majority of our our season at home.
You know, there's been some cancelations just because of teams
(08:26):
and and how schedules get kind of maneuvered.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Around during the during the season.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
But from a from a conference standpoint, we've been able
to play all our games, and we're really proud of that.
I think that's the testament to kind of what we
sought out to building that field and making sure was
fully turf, making sure we can get snow off, but
making sure you know, dugouts were heated and and different
things like that that really make the playable piece playable
really so that they can they can get out there
(08:53):
and practice and and we've seen a tremendous spring. There's
still some minor things that that we need to do
to to kind of keep building and progressing the field,
you know, like you know, the concession stand is one
of them that is just isn't there yet. There's there's
some video cameras that we still need to put up
in the scoreboard to make our you know, mid Co
(09:13):
Sports Plus app or the some of League network kind
of just more watchable.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Like we can get it going now. But there's some
minor things.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
But man, from a from a playing perspective, and I
think that the ladies are having a blast out there,
and you know, the sound, the audio, the game presentation,
the scoreboard. I mean from you know, just just from
a from an entire package perspective, it's been awesome. And
not to mention our games, you know, I kind of
joke that feels like there's there's more high school games
(09:43):
being played out there than college games. And and truly
that's the intent of what we set out for that field.
And David Alexa Albrick and I always remember Dave's I
can hear him saying it, you know, he always says,
it's for the girls, for the girls.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I want this for the girls, right, So.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
That doesn't mean just collegiate, right, that's that's youth, that's
high school. He wants that field to be used. We
all want that field to be used as a community asset.
So with the help of you know, so many you know,
gracious people that have given their dollars with the the
public private partnership of the developers, the city helping out,
the foundation, the university, and then some private donors that
(10:22):
helped out you know, one was the Blue Line Club
that helped out with kind of helped us finish off
the lighting, and that was a piece that we didn't
know if we're gonna be able to get in or
get me not, you know, and a lot of our
games are during the day, so we might not need
lighting per se, but you know, we we thought that
was pretty special and and really important to that field
(10:43):
because you know, to have high school games if we
need to practice, to have a high school game after
that under the lights is pretty neat. So working with
you know, Tyler Nelson and Tony Bina and Mike Beermeyer
and it's just been fun to work with the high
schools and get him out there and and see what
they can and you know, they think it's big time
and that's a special deal. Like we're going to host
(11:04):
the state softball tournament here at the end of May,
Like that's a that's a big deal for us, not
only for athletics from a recruiting standpoint, from just a
hey we're on the map standpoint, but for Grand Forks
as a whole, to the University of North Dakota and
and recruiting potential students. So we think that that feel
has been awesome and we're going to continue to make
(11:25):
it awesome by making the community asset and and what's
best for our student athletes.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
So I'll leave you with this, Eric, you and I
both got a pretty good text the other last week,
and combine that with what transpired in the pollard. I'll
leave it there and let you dip. But it was
pretty good.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Yeah, I mean the pollard is no different.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Again, when we say community asset, we really mean, you know,
we we believe that the University of North Dakota is
part of the fabric of Grand Forks and the state
of North Dakota. So you know, being able to have
our collegiate meets is important for the indoor season, you know,
but also having high school meets is really important to
us as well. We have thousands of people walk through
(12:06):
our doors on on weekends to to run, you know,
to have indoor track meets and for for people to compete.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
The text that bill was referred to was was one
that said, hey, it puts uh, you know, kids and
kids literally puts high school kids, uh, you know, gives
them a leg up within the state to because they
have access for not only competing, but we also allow
them to practice in their rent out the facility to practice.
So giving the the indoor track meets you know from
(12:34):
Pembina to to Pembina to you know Grand Forks East
Grand Forks, just the different teams Fargo comes up. To
have the surrounding area of kids being able to utilize
the facility and making it a community asset. Again goes
back to what kind of fulfilling our mission of what
we're trying to do. You know, our priority is our
student athletes number one in our programs. But when the
(12:56):
building isn't being used, I tell our staff, like we
need that.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
We want that building being used at all times.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
You know, sometimes it does get late at night for
a certain rental or two, but they're getting use out
of it and that's that's the most important thing.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
So we're really proud of that. For the number of
people that have used our facilities this spring, for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
You mentioned those two. Those are just two of a
number of new additions to the University of North Dakota,
you know Athletic Alley over there on the Columbia Overpass
that have made a big, big impact. So Marty, thanks
again for your work and getting those projects across the line,
and for what's to come. Again, a lot of exciting
stuff still on board that we're going to get to
see unveiled over the next couple of years.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Awesome, appreciate you guys. Have a good one.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Wonderful as always to have Eric Martinsen jump on the
podcast a pod regular and again, even though it feels like,
you know, we're already talking about the twenty twenty six
Frozen four, it's less than twelve months away now, and
like as you mentioned, it's timely that to use the
phrase you're on the clock because the NFL Draft is tomorrow.
But it's true, you're already on the clock now thinking
(13:58):
through things you have been thinking thinking about for a while,
but now you get to start putting them into practice
and putting those balls in motion. It's going to be
a tremendous event. Of course next April. Can't wait for that.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Well, And you know, meeting with the Vegas folks. I
can't recall, Alex, it might have been it was, geez,
maybe two years ago. We were at some sort of
a either convent. There was something we were out in
Vegas for and we met with the lve folks, and
of course they do events all the time, but it
(14:30):
is different when you do your first like Frozen four right,
like they've never done it.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
So.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I have zero like they're going to blow it out
of the water from an event standpoint, But there are
some things that you know, there's nuances to any event,
and so you're gonna have to go through the first
one to get to the second one. But I think
you know as well as I. I think that's going
to be a destination that will probably be in the rotation.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
You would think so, assuming that things go smoothly and
based on what that city does in terms of big
events and in terms of hockey. I mean you mentioned it.
The Stanley Cup playoffs are boring right now. It's just
it's tremendous. It's one of the best destinations in the league. Now,
you would imagine that that will be a place that
people will enjoy going to in April to watch the
best college hockey in the country. So it should be fun.
(15:24):
That's awesome that und is going to be hosting that
and all over that, And as you said, we'll see
how things play out, but they certainly could be involved
on the ice as well, not just with their logo
in the ice to that we're gonna just kind of
run down what's going on around you und athletics, we
might as well start with hockey. Dane Jackson putting a
staff together. He named Bryn Schiswick is the team's general manager,
the first full time general manager who's also an assistant
(15:46):
in college hockey history. The associate head coaching position closed
Monday night. So those final interviews are taking place. Now.
What have you made of that process with Dane now
taking the lead and beginning to put a staff together.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Yeah, that was actually part of I think the plan
Alex that you know, Dan articulated during the interview process
that he felt as if we're not adding to the
staff per se, alls we're doing is thinking of maybe
a little differently on duties and you know it. So
you're a brit Chiswick right now. I think the very
(16:21):
first thing you're thinking of all the time is where
do I need to be right now? Who do I
need to be contacting those types of things? Can he
be on the ice and do all of that if
he's here in Grand Forks of course? Of course? Will
he be on the bench if he's in Grand Forks, Yes,
but not guaranteed on game days. You know, I think
I think what you're going to see is a three
(16:43):
person bench many times, maybe a four at some stage.
But I think you're going to see Brinn, you know, uh,
moving and making sure that he's where I think this
program needs to be depending on a weekend, and as
we know, you know, many of these games are simultaneous
(17:03):
to when we play, so at the end, you know,
I think that's some of the things that I thought
Dane brought to the table, and now he's putting it
into action.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I picked certainly a good one again. Bridgisick was the
USHL GM of the Year just a couple of seasons ago,
and obviously in North Kota Alam he was an assistant
captain on the national title team in twenty sixteen. Just
just a guy that leads you and d Green, it's
going to be great getting him back in the family
and already making dividends already with a couple of guys
who have signed the dotted line to be a part
of this hockey program moving forward. Hockey, of course, is
(17:35):
in their quote unquote offseason, their non competition season. There
are a lot of sports who are in the midst
of their competitive season, including indoor track and field. We
just we've been talking about these two young ladies a
lot over the course of the last couple of years,
but Jaden Keeler and Kenna Curry were both named some
of League Athletes of the Week again this past week.
Jaden broke the school record in both the five kN
(17:57):
the fifteen hundred meters at the Brian Clay Invite out
in California last week. Kenna Curry second alt time now
in the hammer throw. She's now number five in the
nation after her efforts out in California as well. They're
really building. There's not that much time left a couple
of local meets in Minneapolis and Fargo with South Dakota
and then the Assemble League Championships in Vermilion coming up
middle of May. But this program has got some really top,
(18:19):
top class individuals that discontinue to crank out the hits.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yeah, it's amazing, and you know, I'd say, obviously coaching matters,
Facilities matter, obviously, the student athlete themselves matter because they're
disciplined and they want to be as great as they
can be. But it feels like every single weekend we're
seeing prs. All the time, we're seeing prs and we're
seeing broken records, you know, program records being broken each
(18:47):
and every weekend, and I don't know. And again, I
you're more of the track afficicionado on this pod, but
the reality of it is, it seems almost alarming how
many times they keep bettering themselves, you know. I mean,
it's awesome to see.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Yeah, that's what you want to see. I mean, that's
the exciting pole. I'll see that progress and to know
that potentially the best is still yet to come. Like
we're still not quite to the point of the season
where these young ladies and young men will be peaking.
So the fact that they're hitting those times in marks, now,
that's a good sign for what's to come. One month
from now, come some of the league championship times. So
(19:25):
again to outdoor track and Field, very much in the
full swing. Same story with softball. Their championships are actually
the week before the outdoor Track and Field Championships and
Meetings that starts on May the seventh, So that's just
around the corner. Softball still two games above five hundred overall,
their fourth threat now in the Summit League. They got
a big road series win at North Dakota State last
weekends a couple tough wins against the Saint Thomas tem
(19:47):
who's now second in the league and is just rolling
at home. But they will dip back into non conference
play for a little bit before finishing up with that
conference season finale at All brick Field against South Dakota
State the second and third of May. Again, it's just
it's fine margins, right. It feels like a lot of
these games are just coming down to one or two plays.
North Dakota has been on the right side for a
(20:07):
lot and they just happened to be on the wrong
side this past weekend against the Tommies.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
I think that's right, and uh, you know, I give
Saint Thomas a lot of credit. It felt like we
were chasing the series at least early on and uh,
and then our our game on Saturday, we had the
single game on Saturday because it was Easter weekend. So
good game, really good game. And you know, they found
a way to get a big hit, and that's what
(20:33):
it ends up coming down to, you know. I mean,
it's it's much like hockey, right, You've got to get
a big goal, got to get a bounce. They got
the big hit and ended up winning that series. So yeah,
they've had a really good year, Saint Thomas. But uh, yeah,
I like where the program's headed and uh and what's transpiring.
So hopefully we can you know, play non con here
(20:55):
tonight as we record. I know this will probably be
released tomorrow, so we'll already have known the result of that,
and then we go play in the Cities this weekend
and then and then come back and play the jack Rab.
It's our our final regular season series here at Albro.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Yeah, a couple of games against some good opponents Pittsburgh
and the Gophers coming up this weekend to really get
ready to go for the Jackson currently third. Yeah, great,
great testing ground before a really big series as you
fight for positioning for the sum of league tournament. And
again those tournament games will be coming up in Brookings
May the seventh through the tenth.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
You know, let me mention this because you know, somewhere
along the line, we probably you know, we we probably
don't have many of our head coaches on too too much.
But I've had some interesting conversations with Jordan about the
pitching aspect in certain certain aspects of why someone comes
in the game or doesn't come into the game and
(21:51):
maybe we do that after the season because we don't
want to divulge secrets at this point in time. But
it is fascinating because of how off ball a little
bit different than baseball, but where you know whether you're rising,
whether you know the ball, however you're pitching it. Let's
just put it this way. He has a lot of
(22:12):
data and uh, but at the end of the day,
you still have to hit your spots. And if you
don't hit your spots, what ends up happening is you know, again,
the hit the hitter may win that. But it's it's
fascinating all the you know, thought process that goes into
why someone's actually pitching against somebody.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Jordan has been doing this at und for over a
decade now and was a very successful head coach at
Valpo previous to this. He would certainly be a good
one to talk about the mental side of that, how
to manage that.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
It's pretty interesting matchups.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
That would be really fun.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
It was just an interesting conversation and if we go
deep dive at some point in time, we'll put it
on the list. At some point.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I like that, Yeah, he would be be fun. Jordan
always a great guy to chat with, especially about the
intricacies of something like that. That would be a good
one for the future. A couple of our spring sports
who wrapped up their seasons this past weekend. Men's and
women's tennis, were out in Denver for the Semi League championships.
The men reached the title game again their best season
ever eighteen and five. They ended up coming up a
(23:13):
little bit short against the Denver team that just continues
to be the best in the league. And then the
women kind of a similar story, another phenomenal year fourteen
and eight. They earned the four seed, lost a du
in the semis. But two programs that just I don't
want to see exceeded expectations because they were picked to
finish second and third respectively. They were expected to get
here and to be good, but to still hit the
(23:34):
heights that they did. Really special for Tom Boyson and
those two groups to have the type of seasons that
they had.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yeah, I know, again, I give you know, credit to Denver.
You know, they've been just tremendous in that sport for sure.
But what I've learned is over time, you know, the
program are programs coming Because I would say there there
was a lot of conversation about a lot of things
(24:02):
regarding let's just say, tennis, balls and a lot of
other things. Uh. And and at the end of the day,
you wouldn't be having those conversations if you weren't taking
the program incredibly serious as far as what's transpired. So
I give coach Boyson credit taking the baton from a
coach win and Kyle Anderson's been a big part of
(24:23):
it as well. And I think both of those programs
have done a tremendous job. And they're in the mix, Alex,
They're in the mix, and that's all you can ask for.
And you know, when you come, when you come and
watch tennis, that first point is so critically important. It's
it's fascinating, and you know, if you can get it,
then you feel like you have a little bit of
a shot. But uh, you know, I give I give
(24:46):
Denver credit. They they they for sure got it done.
But our guys had our guys and gals had a
great year.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Two things. Bill referenced the the ball snafu. When Denver
came soon Grand Forks for the final game of the
regular Sea in with the Semile League title on the line,
there was an issue with the balls, and then it
was like, well could we play outside, And there was
a lot of things going on that just unfortunately just
made it a more unique afternoon that it maybe should
(25:13):
have been that it was originally planning on being on paper,
but regardless, and then second you mentioned the doubles point
North Dakota's men in that title game in Denver. The
number one doubles team did win, so they got the win,
but the two and three doubles sides didn't get the victory,
so the Denver got the point with the two to
one advantage. It's just all those little things, like everything
(25:34):
just really has to go your way in a match
like that, and it looked like it was maybe trending
that direction, and then the other two didn't quite get
it going, and then the top three singles all went
Denver's way, and even though four or five and six
were going North Dakota's way, just the way that the
order played out, then those other points didn't matter because
Denver had already locked up the tie and the championship
was over. So tennis unique, it's a unique sport.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Yeah, you know that we had gotten it done at
number one doubles they got it on at number two. Doubles,
we were up a break in number three and had
I felt like, you know, it was trending your way.
But you know, it's interesting in doubles, you know, even
though you're serving, depending on the type of serve, weirdly,
(26:19):
actually the returning team can actually get maybe more going
in some ways just because of the double side of things.
But yeah, I think we, you know, we did a
pretty good job over those you know, two weeks. Obviously
the guys were disappointed, but at the end of the day,
pretty good season.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Yeah, phenomenal season yet for both the men and the women.
So their seasons now wrap up. Women's golf now has
also concluded. They finished up with the Semi League championships
down in Arizona just yesterday, the women finishing eighth down
there at the Longbow Golf Course. The men will hit
the links come this Sunday. They'll they'll play Sunday through Tuesday.
So again opportunity again to get out there in a
(26:58):
beautiful place to try and make something happen. Felt like
on the women's side, just the early the first round
really put well.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
The first round, got way got way behind and actually
days two and three were pretty good. But you've got
to put three three days together. And I've seen it
the other way too. I've seen you've had two really
good days and you got to get after it day three.
You know, Day three is always can be testy too,
So you got to link three days together. If you don't,
(27:26):
you know what, you don't win.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Well that's what the men will attempt to do this
week in Arizona. Best of luck to them as they
try and finish their season on a high, and then
best of luck to you and the football. Pretty exciting
thing coming up this Friday at the Friday Night Ring showcase.
Talk a bit about what fans can expect because it
is open to anybody if they want to come out
and check it out.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Oh yeah, six thirty at the Pollard. And here's what
I would say to you, alex Is, I've seen it
a couple times already in the spring, and I think
we said this maybe last pod, maybe a year from now.
You know, Coach Schmidt maybe doesn't go as live as
probably you're going to see on Friday night, because I
(28:05):
do think he's in assessment mode he should be, and
he's trying to figure out who does he have on
his roster? And there's only one way to figure that
out from a football perspective is you kind of have
to go live. And so I think you'll see sixty
five seventy real plays. So I think you're gonna see
real football.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Yeah, that's what it sounded like to find it. If
you've got football players, you do kind of have to
play real football. You do have to tackle and run
plays and not just simulate a game, but really like
play a game. And so that's what fans will be
treated to this weekends. A really cool nod to the past,
Digger Anderson, former All American from the D two Days
and Brady Alavera, who's just been named the Most Outstanding
(28:44):
Player in the CFL and back to back Most Outsandy
and Canadian honors. They're both coming back to be honorary
coaches for this event, which is really cool just to
get those guys back in the building and be a
part of this.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Yeah. I have no idea what they actually do, but
let's pretend it's going to be really good for them.
I'm sure they'll wear a headset to some degree, they'll
look like they know what the heck they're doing.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I think so. I think there'll be lots of lots
of encouragement, lots of clapping, maybe maybe some some pointing.
This is some backpadding when things go well, Yes, but
so cool to have that link. So you and D's
proud history coming back on the Spring showcase. So again,
that is this Friday night, April twenty fifth, starting Agast
six point thirty at the Fritz Pollard Center on campus.
Be sure to come out and check it out. Anything
(29:26):
else from a U and D perspective, Bill you want
to touch on.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
I think so. I think you know that's that's where
we're at. Where As you as you started the top
of the pod, it's kind of in wrap up mode
a little bit right now. It feels like we're heading
to the finish line, you know, certainly from an academic standpoint,
and then also from a spring season.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Standpoint, not that much time left. It is cruising right
along with summer, just on the horizon before we flip
over to the B side. I do want to ask
there have been maybe some new revelations in the house settlement.
Maybe not. There was a bit of an up update
non updates sort of yesterday. Where are we right now?
With the NCAA and the House settlement.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Back on April seventh, Judge Wilkin had her final hearing
in regards to okay, am I going to approve this
settlement or not? So from really a layman's term standpoint,
here's probably the best way to think about it. The settlement.
She had some questions, she wanted to get them out
(30:29):
to both sides. To the attorneys said, hey, I might
have questions on this, could be roster limits or some
of the things that are going on. You all need
to go back decide do you want to make any
alterations to this or not resubmit it to me? And
then really, honestly, she's a thumbs up or thumbs down,
(30:52):
so she doesn't get to redline anything. So let's just
pretend she wanted to say, Wow, I think this sport
their roster limits should be five more than it is.
That's not her her. Her actual job right now is
to say thumbs up or thumbs down on the settlement.
That's what we're waiting for. So in the concept of
(31:17):
you know, the legal side of life, you know, I
think from what I'm hearing, I think she's going to
agree to it. But until it actually happens. You really don't.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Know, So still the limbo. Then that we lie in
little bet.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Little bet, a little bet, and then and then from there,
in my opinion, what will happen is there will be
a group that will be disappointed and sad about certain
aspects of it. And I think you're going to see
other legal challenges.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
This might just be the first, is what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Yeah, and I just until into you know, again, we've
said this before and it's worth repeating. Folks have said, hey,
college sports have gotten like professional sports. No, no, they haven't. Actually,
professional sports have one sport and they have a collective
bargaining agreement. College sports has a multitude of sports and
(32:26):
there's no CBA, and so that's different. That's one of
one in the world. So so at the end of
the day, here we are, and we really the rules
of engagement have not been established during this time period yet.
I do think it's going to come at some stage,
but we're in the middle of it right now. So
(32:47):
if you want to call it college athletic disruption, that's
where we are.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
We'll continue to watch and see what decisions are made
and then what the FOUD is from those things in
the coming weeks and months, as it feels like we
have for a while. This has kind of been a
unique STU.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah, and you know what, We're going to do what's
right for us at the University of North Dakota. I mean,
that's it in a nutshell, and I still believe wholeheartedly
we provide an amazing opportunity for our student athletes. The package,
the compensation packages, the facilities, the support that our student
athletes have is tremendous, And at the end of the day,
(33:25):
it's almost like you want to kind of flip the
script a little bit and just say, hey, look, it's
an awesome thing. If you want to be a part
of it, let's go.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Well said, Well said, Well, let's go to the B side. Now,
let's go a couple of things. Let's go, let's go
to the European semi finals. If you're Tattenham Hotspur, congratulations
on making your way past I Track Frankfurt in the quarters,
a very cool dominic slanky penalty, sending Spurs on to
their first semi since their run to the Champions League
final in twenty nineteen. Your thoughts on moving to this
(33:56):
stage and what has really been a weird, kind of disappointing,
dour season at white Hart Lane. You still have a
chance to win a major trophy bill incredible.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Well not only major, but the ability to be in
the Champions League next year. It's I mean, that's I
mean that it almost just feels like it's an FA Cup.
Would be nice. There's other things would be nice. This
one reaps you some amazing you know, financial rewards and
(34:29):
so and then when you go into the summer and
you're looking at, you know, maybe newer guys to join
your roster, you might be opened up to a different
level of player because you're in the Champions League.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
That that is the golden chalice, right and everybody wants
to play Champions League football. And because you are going
to be going into a summer where you might have
a new manager making some decisions, you're certainly going to
have to do some surgery on your roster if you've
got that, Because what is Spur's fourteenth and right now,
is that what you're at. I mean, you've lost seventeen
games in the league.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
I think we're I think, I honestly, if I have
to be honest with you, in honest with the pod.
I think we're going to finish seventeenth.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
It's possible.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
I would say it's probably. It's probably more probable than possible.
Now that maybe we won't if we beat west Ham
that's about the only chance. Like we go to Liverpool
this weekend. It's not going to be pretty. But maybe
Arsenal will lose this afternoon, as we're potting, and then
(35:37):
it won't matter, and then Liverpool can do their thing
and then we might just get a team that's maybe
been very excited over the last three days.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
That is the one thing from a league perspective. Yes, yes,
as we pod right now, Arsenal's playing Crystal Palace. If
Arsenal drop points, then yes, Liverpool would already clinch the league.
Their magic numbers three at the moment, and that might
be zero. But by the time this podcast is done.
But yet, assuming that Arsenal do take care of business
against the Palace, then yes, you'll be facing a Liverpool
team who are trying to win the league at home.
(36:09):
You really have nothing to play for in that game.
Say you probably will not win that game? Yes, I
would say so.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Well, I would say this, it's I'm fascinated by really
Tottenham and Manchester United seasons. They are mirroring each other
and they literally could play each other in the final.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Man United, who were just left for dead like that
was quite the comeback the other day. I had checked.
I wasn't watching live, but I just looked at the score.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That was nuts.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
It was crazy. They scored like two goals and what
was it, one hundred nineteenth minute and twentieth or first
minute to come back and win and salvage their results.
So just just wild. But they will play at Athletic
Club bill Bao. Who's who are the hosts of the final?
Which is kind of fun at the end of May.
But yes, you've got man United who I think. I
think man you were like thirteenth and Spurs are fourteenth
(37:05):
in the league right now. They've both had awful seasons
and yet they could be European Champions, the lesser of
the two European competitions. But as we mentioned, they would
get you into the Champions League. It is still a
huge accomplishment. And the fact, by the way, to tell
the people who you're playing in the semi finals.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Yeah, we're going to the Arctic Circle. So so at
the end of the day, that's all you need to say,
Like I don't I don't know who we're really playing it.
There's a lot of letters in there, but at the
end of the day, they've done well at home, Alex,
that's all I will tell you.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
As you would expect, because as you mentioned, they're in
the Arctic Circle. This is both they literally are from
the Norway four time Norwegian champions. I mean, this is
you know, this is no pushover, but it is. It
is just a ridiculous special story to see this team
from way up north make this type of a run,
(38:06):
Like nobody fancied them to make it this far, not
even close, and here they are. So so that's your poll.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
All four teams. I mean, you've got Tottenham and man
u which has been an eye roll of a season,
but here they are trying to figure out a way
into the Champions League. And then you have Manchester United
playing the actual host of the final in their two
legged deal. And then you've got Tottenham playing a historic
(38:33):
Norwegian team that has never made it this far in
a European competition. So it actually is kind of the
stories are interesting, for sure.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
It'll be fun watching, I mean, that's the great part.
About this now. A lot of times Europa League, like
I don't know, it's easy to sort it tune out
a little bit when this time of year comes around
because usually getting the Champions League semis in court, like
although they're all so good, like there's so much prestige
and those are such special battles between some of the
world's best. And now I think we get this beautiful
(39:06):
midweek setup where the game Tuesday Arsenal psg the game
Wednesday Barcelona answer, and then the game's Thursday with these great,
weird Europa League matchups with man U and Bill Bao
and Bodo Glimpt and Spurs become almost like a little
even more intriguing because of all that's at stake. In
that sense, it's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
Well and let's you know, and again, as as we
like to say in Europe as a neutral and alex
as a neutral, man you and Tottenham they're hard to
turn away from, aren't they. I mean, you don't know
what you're gonna get.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
They're the odds of it being a car crash are
very high. It is very, very very high. And for you,
like I have a soft spot for Spurs obviously, like,
I have a lot I have obviously you. I have
other friends who are Spurs fans as well, and I
don't want them to fail like this. I like ange
Man United. I could just see burn like, I have
no problem seeing this unfold in front of my face.
So it's it's, you know, hate watching, but yeah, there's
(40:05):
there's something interesting when they take the field. Almost always
happening good or bad, hilarious, sad, whatever they are, they
are great entertainers with their defensive frail.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
They played Noddingham Forest this weekend or Monday or whatever
it was. They've had two matches recently, Chelsea in Forest.
Their first five minutes, I have no idea what's going on.
It's like Tasmanian devils everywhere on the field. Everything's just
up in the air. Everything's floating, balls are flying over
(40:40):
nets or whatever going in nets. I mean, it's just
it's nuts.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
Yeah, I think you were down to nothing against Forests early.
It was it was real early. Oh it was already and.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
They had one called back. Yeah, because because someone's fingernail
was just a little bit over.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
My automatic off sides and tell you what, that's exactly right.
It makes get people who always say soccer is boring,
I just you're watching the wrong teams maybe sometimes, and
these are these be teams who are not boring more
often than not, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
That's exactly things happen. That's but actually, the one thing
I would say about folks that maybe don't watch soccer,
you got to know a little bit, like you got
to know the subplots, and then once you know the subplots,
it can become become pretty interesting. So what about our
Red Sox.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
I think maybe a bit as expected where they have
had bright moments and then some some fits and starts.
You know, they had kind of a rough patch against
Chicago last week and then have rebounded since. But yah,
I think what three games up on five hundred and
did an did a nice job against Seattle this past week.
What have you made of the Socks recently?
Speaker 2 (41:47):
Well, I'm impressed that that's two years in a row
where we've played seven games with the White Sox and
we had to win game seven, so we beat them
for three. So we did do that, which was nice,
which is nice since they lost one twenty two last year.
But I you know what, they got to get some
pictures back. It was good to see Bao back yesterday.
(42:10):
That helped. That helped. Yeah, they get I actually, you
know what though, I'm a little encouraged. I think their
their bullpen's been okay. I don't, I don't. I don't
know what cor is doing right now. To some degree,
it feels pretty simple to me that it's Whitlock, Slaton
and Chapman. It's pretty simple. But he's put some other
(42:31):
guys in leverage situations and I'm like, eh, I'm not
sure that's awesome yet, but we'll see. I mean, it's
a long season.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
There's so much long game to be played, especially with
that one with your relievers, like you you you know,
you can't have those three doing that every night. Like
that's obviously not something that is feasible over the one
hundred and sixty two games. But yeah, it's a matter
of figuring out who needs the reps, who can and
I potentially use in these situations when it matters, who
(43:03):
can get me through this, you know, on a back
to back when we had everybody going last night, or
when the bullpen was called into action early, like all
this stuff. There's just so many things as a manager,
I just can't even imagine the depths you have to
be planning things out.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
I agreed, but he but he's had some moments where
it's like, well you ended up using whitlock anyways, yeah tonight,
And I'm like, well, maybe it's just weird however it goes.
But you know, all right, last thing I'll hitch on
that I was. I'm I got to get over myself
here on this one. But it does bother me. It
(43:39):
really does bother me. They've found they had a couple
moments and maybe against the White Sox, I don't know
who it was against, maybe the Rays, I don't know.
But long story short, when you get to a certain point,
it still bothers me tremendously that we're not playing situational
baseball anymore. Like it like if you come up and
(44:00):
someone literally is on second and there's nobody out, I
still think you need to get the runner over. I
do think getting someone on third with less than two
outs gives you a chance to win the game more
times than not. But it feels like we don't we
quote unquote continue, we never adjust, are are are hitting,
(44:21):
We never do any of that stuff. Choking up Holy cow,
that that would be we can never choke up anymore.
Just hit the ball. But I mean we swing from
our heels Christian Campbell all the time, and I love him,
but at the end of the day, come on, man,
hit the ball.
Speaker 1 (44:39):
Is have you noticed that being a MLB wide trend?
Speaker 2 (44:43):
I don't know. I don't. I don't watch, I don't watch,
I don't watch an anybody else.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
This goes back to the old, like the mindset that
baseball really is just it's not a it's not a
national sport in that sense. It's very provincial. You really
follow your team and you kind of have an idea
of what else is happening, like, yeah, Tony's great and
whatever whatever, But you're really just focused on your team.
And I think that's one of that that's unfortunately kind
of that's the beauty and kind of the downfall of
(45:11):
baseball in its popularity it is.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
I mean, it's one hundred and sixty two chapters for us,
and I have literally no desire to watch anybody else.
I literally don't. I literally don't. I could care less.
But so I don't know the answer to that. I
just know our team and how we approach some things.
And the other one that has to happen. Because I'm
only two episodes in on the Netflix deal. I don't
(45:36):
know if you've watched that in all the Red Socks
from last year. It's okay, it's okay, I it's fine.
I don't know why they did it.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
Yeah, that's that's the question that I keep coming back to,
Like when the Jaron Durant stuff came out, like just
initially it's like, wait, they did what. I didn't even
realize this was even a thing. Like we knew we
were going to be bad. This wasn't going to be
a happy season to document. It's just always kind of funny.
Now Celtics Celtic City, on the other hands that I'm here, well, have.
Speaker 2 (46:09):
Only watched a few of those. I'm looking forward to
watch the all of it. I know Bill Simmons, you know,
he's he's kind of the historian, so to speak. So
at the end of the day, I'm sure it's great.
Speaker 1 (46:20):
Yeah, fun to relive. They just they just did the
Ubunsu team the other day, which was awesome yea with
KG and and this the genesis of that, and it's
just fun.
Speaker 2 (46:30):
I just I know this, here's my last thing. I
just know this. We got to get the heck out
of the Orlando series because they're going to beat us up.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
They're a physical team, Yeah, that's for sure. I know
when Tatum went down early in Game one or whatever
with that wrist injury, and like just they're just things
that you just don't want to see happen in a
first round series. So it could be a long slot
through the playoffs. There are a lot of good teams, But.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
Yeah, I think that I think he's questionable. I think
for tonight and uh And I think part of that
is I think they're just saying, I think we can
get these guys done without them, and let's not expose them.
Speaker 1 (47:04):
It just feels like their window to win is right now.
Like this team is just constructed in a way with
the second Apron and some of the things that are
going to come into play, that this team's not going
to look remotely close to the same next year. Tatum
and Brown will still be there, KP will still be around, hopefully,
but like you just don't know some of the other pieces.
So you just think, gosh, you've got this opportunity, let's
(47:26):
go win another championship. You got a good chance.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
And if I'm the Celtics, and I'm worried. Hey, look,
they're going to take runs at like Tatum this series.
They have enough guys that, honestly, they can carry the load.
And Tatum's going to get what he gets when he's
on the floor. So at the end, if he's not
on the floor, these guys just get an opportunity. I
saw a some sort of a poll from anonymous poll
(47:51):
from players who they think would win the championship, and
it was seventy seven percent Celtics. Because at the end,
I think they know they know there's just too they
have too many options.
Speaker 1 (48:02):
Yeah, and I think too, we haven't seen Okay See
do it yet in the postseason. We haven't seen Cleveland
do it yet in the postseason. You know, I think
there's just some unknowns about that. Even though those teams
have had great regular seasons. We've just seen the Celtics
run through everybody and not really be challenged the last postseason.
And this team is maybe better than the one they
had last year, potentially, like it's at least very similar.
(48:23):
So yeah, I would agree it's hard to believe that
they would get balanced anytime before the final. But we'll see.
That's what makes it fun?
Speaker 2 (48:29):
Sports Bill agreed, agreed, Well, Hey always great, Alex always great.
Speaker 1 (48:34):
From this end as well, it was fun hanging out,
fun chatting with Martinsen as well. Fun to see our
spring sports have success, and excited to see what they
can do over the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (48:43):
I would agree. I would agree, Well, we'll have to
figure it out in a couple of weeks. We'll maybe
wrap it up to some degree, see where we're at
at that point.
Speaker 1 (48:51):
Yeah, it's crazy. Just again May. It is May next week,
So there you go. So everybody enjoy getting out and
enjoying some nice spring weather which hopefully is on away.
Enjoy the rest of this college sports season. Thanks for
listening to this podcast. Big thanks to Bill as always,
for Eric Martinsen for being on, for Paul Rawson and
Alex Ncker Johnson. I'm Alex Heynerd. Thank you again for listening.
(49:11):
Enjoy the start of spring officially, and we'll talk to
you soon.
You're listening to the Bill Shaves Podcast, presented by Mid
Coast Sports. Spring is here, and the place to keep
up with what's happening around the U and D spring
sports scene is mid Coast Sports Plus. Watch live U
and D softball and tennis and track and field by
signing up at midcast sportsplus dot com today. This is
how we do spring, and this is the Bill Shafes Podcast.
(00:22):
Welcome to another edition of the Bill Shafes Podcast. We're
taping this on a Wednesday afternoon, question Mark. That's a
different time zone for us, but it's good. We're excited
to be here. It's the twenty third of April. Alex
Hender at Bill Shaves. We're not that far away, Bill
from the finish line of this semester. It's incredible that
post Eastern. Now they're just a couple of weeks left
(00:42):
and kids are going to be graduating. It's wild.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, good to see Alex as always. Yeah,
we're heading toward May and on campuses, that is a
banquet season. You better like chicken because there's a lot
of stuff going on with that and then graduations just
around the corner.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
You better like chicken. That's gonna go on the list
of tenants on the pod. Well, we've got some good
stuff to get to today. Maybe chicken, maybe not. We'll
discuss as we go, but spring sports of course either
wrapping up or getting into their championship seasons, some other
NCAA stuff as well. But first, we've got a special
(01:22):
guest on the podcast today. He's making his third appearance
of this season alone. He's the deputy athletic director at
the University of North Dakota, Eric Martinsen Marty, thanks for
being with us today.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Hey guys, thanks for having me again.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
We always say, between he and I, if we're in
the same meeting, we're probably doing it wrong. So like
we try to divide and conquer. So that's why we
have to have Eric on because he literally deals with
some things at a level, in a granular level sometimes
that I don't. And I know he's been a part
of some meetings that are kind of exciting for us
(01:58):
for next year.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, I think coming off of the regional and hosting
the Regional and Fargo. You know, I was just came
back from Saint Louis. I met with our Las Vegas folks,
and you know, I think some people know this, most
people may not.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
We University of North.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Dakota is hosting the Frozen four next year at T
Mobile Arena, So we're really excited for that and a
lot of a lot of planning and prepping with the
NCAA folks and Las Vegas events and T Mobile MGM,
all those people. It was great to see all them
last weekend and really start, you know, really diving in.
As as Chad Tolliver from the nc double A said
(02:35):
after the game on Saturday, he said, all right, Marty,
you're on the clock.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
It's time to go. So here we go.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
So we're excited for for us as an institution that
should be doing these type of things, not only for
our fans, for our team, just kind of giving us
kind of that inside East everything. And man, I can't
be can't be more excited to get back to T
Mobile and and host a pretty awesome event.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
You mentioned getting back there. Fans will remember not that
long ago North Dakota hosted a US Hockey Hall of
Fame game inside that facility. I'm assuming that's when maybe
some of these conversations began. But kind of to listen,
why why Vegas White team?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Mobile.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Why the Frozen Four for North Dakota.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Eric, Yeah, I think, you know, with in partnering with
the ralf fingles Stat Arena and just with their affinity
with with Las Vegas and with the Legistad Foundation, Chris
Singlestead and her family, and just what Vegas means to
to really North Dakota and the University of North Dakota
and what kind of vice versa on those pieces. So
I think we've always been kind of tied that way,
(03:35):
and really having the Hall of Fame game down there
with with the ral Finglestet Arena and partnering with Jody
and his crew to kind of make it happen. I
think we we created a lot of good relationships within
that and I think again we always wanted to to
kind of be partnered with with Vegas and and the
special piece that that means to us, with the relationships
that we have, so really excited and and that's kind
(03:56):
of how it spurred, and we had a great, great event,
Hall of Fame game, And you know, there's not many
places in the country that have hosted a Frozen Four.
They always talk about kind of the rotation. You know,
Tampa is always a great spot Boston's a great spot,
Saint Paul's a great spot. But I think they're looking
to branch out and with the NCAA kind of opening up,
(04:16):
you know, Vegas was kind of a piece where they
weren't really going to allow a lot of NCAA events
in Vegas because of the gambling aspect. They've opened that
up and we wanted to jump on that, so we
partnered with them. We bid on this thing, you know,
back in twenty nineteen in that last cycle, so it's
been a long time. When we got awarded it, it
was where the last, you know, the last event on
(04:39):
that cycle. So we've been able to see a lot
of a lot of frozen fours up until then and
seeing how they do it and get a lot of
you know, information and feedback from them, and we feel
really really good going into into next year.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So you were able to in use how many folks
from Vegas, Marty from their team came to the fro
and four was quite a few, and you were able
to get an inside look on really the x's and o's.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, we had we had probably twelve to fifteen people
from MGM and their events team, the T Mobile folks
with their kind of the the building side of it,
and then Las Vegas Events is really they're kind of
the convention of visitors kind of piece of of.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
What they do. You know, LV does a great job.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
They're big big event every year is the NFR Rodeo
and doing those type of things. So they've partnered with
us and you know, those three entities and and us.
You know, Jody's gonna help out and and we're gonna
do different. You know, we're gonna bring what we do
from an NCAA standpoint down there, and we're just really excited.
I mean, if you've if you watched the first couple
(05:43):
of Games of the Wild versus versus the Knights and
what they can do on a game presentation standpoint, we're
looking to hopefully replicate that and do kind of put
our own spin on things.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
So here's the question. Now, when North Dakota hosts a regional,
typically in Fargo, we've seen that over the years, the
team gets the benefit of knowing if we're in the
NCUAA tournament, we're going to be here close to home.
The Frozen Four, of course, is not like that. So
Marty talk us through the benefits of why you'd even
want to host the Frozen four outside of the fact
you get your logo on the ice.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yeah, so the benefits of hosting a regional are are
far greater than when you're hosting a Frozen four. But
I still think it's it's what we should be doing.
We're the University of North Dakota. We should be doing
those type of things. And I think, you know, getting
getting our fans to have early access to to ticket sales,
to getting just having them you know, feel like, hey,
(06:36):
this is there's some ownership there. Seeing our logo in
and around, doing some different events that that our fans
can go to. I think it's just another added element
of of what we want to give to our fans,
no matter what we're doing, whether if we had opportunities
in anything else, we would be jumping at those. But
you know, knowing you know, the n Cuba, knowing that
how well we do, you know, run regionals with them,
(06:58):
giving us that that nod to to kind of do
this is pretty special. And yeah, like you said, there's
not a huge benefit, but I still think there's a
benefit enough even you know, we expect to be there
next year playing and if we're hosting it. I think
that gives us maybe just that little bit of you know,
knowledge that we can have of the facility or where
things are, where things are going, or the unknowns that
(07:21):
you might have as a team going into the Frozen four.
We're gonna know some of that stuff, so, you know,
just just the little things that could stack up to
help from an advantage standpoint, I think it's worth it.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
So if if I can switch gears real quick, Eric,
and then then we'll let you get on with your day.
We're kind of coming to the end of the first
season with all work Field. Next week on Friday and Saturday,
we host the jack Rabbits in our final series of
the year. How have things gone so far? I mean,
(07:55):
I know year one is always interesting, right, You're always
learning things. Just give us a broad scope of what
has transpired there.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Yeah, we could be happier. I mean outside of the things,
you know, outside of the weather that you can't control.
We've we've been able to play games. You know, we've
I think if you've been here long enough, you've known
that there's been some springs that we've played literally zero
home games, uh for the season. I think being able
to play a majority of our our season at home.
You know, there's been some cancelations just because of teams
(08:26):
and and how schedules get kind of maneuvered.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Around during the during the season.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
But from a from a conference standpoint, we've been able
to play all our games, and we're really proud of that.
I think that's the testament to kind of what we
sought out to building that field and making sure was
fully turf, making sure we can get snow off, but
making sure you know, dugouts were heated and and different
things like that that really make the playable piece playable
really so that they can they can get out there
(08:53):
and practice and and we've seen a tremendous spring. There's
still some minor things that that we need to do
to to kind of keep building and progressing the field,
you know, like you know, the concession stand is one
of them that is just isn't there yet. There's there's
some video cameras that we still need to put up
in the scoreboard to make our you know, mid Co
(09:13):
Sports Plus app or the some of League network kind
of just more watchable.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Like we can get it going now. But there's some
minor things.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
But man, from a from a playing perspective, and I
think that the ladies are having a blast out there,
and you know, the sound, the audio, the game presentation,
the scoreboard. I mean from you know, just just from
a from an entire package perspective, it's been awesome. And
not to mention our games, you know, I kind of
joke that feels like there's there's more high school games
(09:43):
being played out there than college games. And and truly
that's the intent of what we set out for that field.
And David Alexa Albrick and I always remember Dave's I
can hear him saying it, you know, he always says,
it's for the girls, for the girls.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I want this for the girls, right, So.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
That doesn't mean just collegiate, right, that's that's youth, that's
high school. He wants that field to be used. We
all want that field to be used as a community asset.
So with the help of you know, so many you know,
gracious people that have given their dollars with the the
public private partnership of the developers, the city helping out,
the foundation, the university, and then some private donors that
(10:22):
helped out you know, one was the Blue Line Club
that helped out with kind of helped us finish off
the lighting, and that was a piece that we didn't
know if we're gonna be able to get in or
get me not, you know, and a lot of our
games are during the day, so we might not need
lighting per se, but you know, we we thought that
was pretty special and and really important to that field
(10:43):
because you know, to have high school games if we
need to practice, to have a high school game after
that under the lights is pretty neat. So working with
you know, Tyler Nelson and Tony Bina and Mike Beermeyer
and it's just been fun to work with the high
schools and get him out there and and see what
they can and you know, they think it's big time
and that's a special deal. Like we're going to host
(11:04):
the state softball tournament here at the end of May,
Like that's a that's a big deal for us, not
only for athletics from a recruiting standpoint, from just a
hey we're on the map standpoint, but for Grand Forks
as a whole, to the University of North Dakota and
and recruiting potential students. So we think that that feel
has been awesome and we're going to continue to make
(11:25):
it awesome by making the community asset and and what's
best for our student athletes.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
So I'll leave you with this, Eric, you and I
both got a pretty good text the other last week,
and combine that with what transpired in the pollard. I'll
leave it there and let you dip. But it was
pretty good.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Yeah, I mean the pollard is no different.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Again, when we say community asset, we really mean, you know,
we we believe that the University of North Dakota is
part of the fabric of Grand Forks and the state
of North Dakota. So you know, being able to have
our collegiate meets is important for the indoor season, you know,
but also having high school meets is really important to
us as well. We have thousands of people walk through
(12:06):
our doors on on weekends to to run, you know,
to have indoor track meets and for for people to compete.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
The text that bill was referred to was was one
that said, hey, it puts uh, you know, kids and
kids literally puts high school kids, uh, you know, gives
them a leg up within the state to because they
have access for not only competing, but we also allow
them to practice in their rent out the facility to practice.
So giving the the indoor track meets you know from
(12:34):
Pembina to to Pembina to you know Grand Forks East
Grand Forks, just the different teams Fargo comes up. To
have the surrounding area of kids being able to utilize
the facility and making it a community asset. Again goes
back to what kind of fulfilling our mission of what
we're trying to do. You know, our priority is our
student athletes number one in our programs. But when the
(12:56):
building isn't being used, I tell our staff, like we
need that.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
We want that building being used at all times.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
You know, sometimes it does get late at night for
a certain rental or two, but they're getting use out
of it and that's that's the most important thing.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
So we're really proud of that. For the number of
people that have used our facilities this spring, for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
You mentioned those two. Those are just two of a
number of new additions to the University of North Dakota,
you know Athletic Alley over there on the Columbia Overpass
that have made a big, big impact. So Marty, thanks
again for your work and getting those projects across the line,
and for what's to come. Again, a lot of exciting
stuff still on board that we're going to get to
see unveiled over the next couple of years.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Awesome, appreciate you guys. Have a good one.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Wonderful as always to have Eric Martinsen jump on the
podcast a pod regular and again, even though it feels like,
you know, we're already talking about the twenty twenty six
Frozen four, it's less than twelve months away now, and
like as you mentioned, it's timely that to use the
phrase you're on the clock because the NFL Draft is tomorrow.
But it's true, you're already on the clock now thinking
(13:58):
through things you have been thinking thinking about for a while,
but now you get to start putting them into practice
and putting those balls in motion. It's going to be
a tremendous event. Of course next April. Can't wait for that.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Well, And you know, meeting with the Vegas folks. I
can't recall, Alex, it might have been it was, geez,
maybe two years ago. We were at some sort of
a either convent. There was something we were out in
Vegas for and we met with the lve folks, and
of course they do events all the time, but it
(14:30):
is different when you do your first like Frozen four right,
like they've never done it.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
So.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I have zero like they're going to blow it out
of the water from an event standpoint, But there are
some things that you know, there's nuances to any event,
and so you're gonna have to go through the first
one to get to the second one. But I think
you know as well as I. I think that's going
to be a destination that will probably be in the rotation.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
You would think so, assuming that things go smoothly and
based on what that city does in terms of big
events and in terms of hockey. I mean you mentioned it.
The Stanley Cup playoffs are boring right now. It's just
it's tremendous. It's one of the best destinations in the league. Now,
you would imagine that that will be a place that
people will enjoy going to in April to watch the
best college hockey in the country. So it should be fun.
(15:24):
That's awesome that und is going to be hosting that
and all over that, And as you said, we'll see
how things play out, but they certainly could be involved
on the ice as well, not just with their logo
in the ice to that we're gonna just kind of
run down what's going on around you und athletics, we
might as well start with hockey. Dane Jackson putting a
staff together. He named Bryn Schiswick is the team's general manager,
the first full time general manager who's also an assistant
(15:46):
in college hockey history. The associate head coaching position closed
Monday night. So those final interviews are taking place. Now.
What have you made of that process with Dane now
taking the lead and beginning to put a staff together.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Yeah, that was actually part of I think the plan
Alex that you know, Dan articulated during the interview process
that he felt as if we're not adding to the
staff per se, alls we're doing is thinking of maybe
a little differently on duties and you know it. So
you're a brit Chiswick right now. I think the very
(16:21):
first thing you're thinking of all the time is where
do I need to be right now? Who do I
need to be contacting those types of things? Can he
be on the ice and do all of that if
he's here in Grand Forks of course? Of course? Will
he be on the bench if he's in Grand Forks, Yes,
but not guaranteed on game days. You know, I think
I think what you're going to see is a three
(16:43):
person bench many times, maybe a four at some stage.
But I think you're going to see Brinn, you know, uh,
moving and making sure that he's where I think this
program needs to be depending on a weekend, and as
we know, you know, many of these games are simultaneous
(17:03):
to when we play, so at the end, you know,
I think that's some of the things that I thought
Dane brought to the table, and now he's putting it
into action.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I picked certainly a good one again. Bridgisick was the
USHL GM of the Year just a couple of seasons ago,
and obviously in North Kota Alam he was an assistant
captain on the national title team in twenty sixteen. Just
just a guy that leads you and d Green, it's
going to be great getting him back in the family
and already making dividends already with a couple of guys
who have signed the dotted line to be a part
of this hockey program moving forward. Hockey, of course, is
(17:35):
in their quote unquote offseason, their non competition season. There
are a lot of sports who are in the midst
of their competitive season, including indoor track and field. We
just we've been talking about these two young ladies a
lot over the course of the last couple of years,
but Jaden Keeler and Kenna Curry were both named some
of League Athletes of the Week again this past week.
Jaden broke the school record in both the five kN
(17:57):
the fifteen hundred meters at the Brian Clay Invite out
in California last week. Kenna Curry second alt time now
in the hammer throw. She's now number five in the
nation after her efforts out in California as well. They're
really building. There's not that much time left a couple
of local meets in Minneapolis and Fargo with South Dakota
and then the Assemble League Championships in Vermilion coming up
middle of May. But this program has got some really top,
(18:19):
top class individuals that discontinue to crank out the hits.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yeah, it's amazing, and you know, I'd say, obviously coaching matters,
Facilities matter, obviously, the student athlete themselves matter because they're
disciplined and they want to be as great as they
can be. But it feels like every single weekend we're
seeing prs. All the time, we're seeing prs and we're
seeing broken records, you know, program records being broken each
(18:47):
and every weekend, and I don't know. And again, I
you're more of the track afficicionado on this pod, but
the reality of it is, it seems almost alarming how
many times they keep bettering themselves, you know. I mean,
it's awesome to see.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Yeah, that's what you want to see. I mean, that's
the exciting pole. I'll see that progress and to know
that potentially the best is still yet to come. Like
we're still not quite to the point of the season
where these young ladies and young men will be peaking.
So the fact that they're hitting those times in marks, now,
that's a good sign for what's to come. One month
from now, come some of the league championship times. So
(19:25):
again to outdoor track and Field, very much in the
full swing. Same story with softball. Their championships are actually
the week before the outdoor Track and Field Championships and
Meetings that starts on May the seventh, So that's just
around the corner. Softball still two games above five hundred overall,
their fourth threat now in the Summit League. They got
a big road series win at North Dakota State last
weekends a couple tough wins against the Saint Thomas tem
(19:47):
who's now second in the league and is just rolling
at home. But they will dip back into non conference
play for a little bit before finishing up with that
conference season finale at All brick Field against South Dakota
State the second and third of May. Again, it's just
it's fine margins, right. It feels like a lot of
these games are just coming down to one or two plays.
North Dakota has been on the right side for a
(20:07):
lot and they just happened to be on the wrong
side this past weekend against the Tommies.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
I think that's right, and uh, you know, I give
Saint Thomas a lot of credit. It felt like we
were chasing the series at least early on and uh,
and then our our game on Saturday, we had the
single game on Saturday because it was Easter weekend. So
good game, really good game. And you know, they found
a way to get a big hit, and that's what
(20:33):
it ends up coming down to, you know. I mean,
it's it's much like hockey, right, You've got to get
a big goal, got to get a bounce. They got
the big hit and ended up winning that series. So yeah,
they've had a really good year, Saint Thomas. But uh, yeah,
I like where the program's headed and uh and what's transpiring.
So hopefully we can you know, play non con here
(20:55):
tonight as we record. I know this will probably be
released tomorrow, so we'll already have known the result of that,
and then we go play in the Cities this weekend
and then and then come back and play the jack Rab.
It's our our final regular season series here at Albro.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Yeah, a couple of games against some good opponents Pittsburgh
and the Gophers coming up this weekend to really get
ready to go for the Jackson currently third. Yeah, great,
great testing ground before a really big series as you
fight for positioning for the sum of league tournament. And
again those tournament games will be coming up in Brookings
May the seventh through the tenth.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
You know, let me mention this because you know, somewhere
along the line, we probably you know, we we probably
don't have many of our head coaches on too too much.
But I've had some interesting conversations with Jordan about the
pitching aspect in certain certain aspects of why someone comes
in the game or doesn't come into the game and
(21:51):
maybe we do that after the season because we don't
want to divulge secrets at this point in time. But
it is fascinating because of how off ball a little
bit different than baseball, but where you know whether you're rising,
whether you know the ball, however you're pitching it. Let's
just put it this way. He has a lot of
(22:12):
data and uh, but at the end of the day,
you still have to hit your spots. And if you
don't hit your spots, what ends up happening is you know, again,
the hit the hitter may win that. But it's it's
fascinating all the you know, thought process that goes into
why someone's actually pitching against somebody.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Jordan has been doing this at und for over a
decade now and was a very successful head coach at
Valpo previous to this. He would certainly be a good
one to talk about the mental side of that, how
to manage that.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
It's pretty interesting matchups.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
That would be really fun.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
It was just an interesting conversation and if we go
deep dive at some point in time, we'll put it
on the list. At some point.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I like that, Yeah, he would be be fun. Jordan
always a great guy to chat with, especially about the
intricacies of something like that. That would be a good
one for the future. A couple of our spring sports
who wrapped up their seasons this past weekend. Men's and
women's tennis, were out in Denver for the Semi League championships.
The men reached the title game again their best season
ever eighteen and five. They ended up coming up a
(23:13):
little bit short against the Denver team that just continues
to be the best in the league. And then the
women kind of a similar story, another phenomenal year fourteen
and eight. They earned the four seed, lost a du
in the semis. But two programs that just I don't
want to see exceeded expectations because they were picked to
finish second and third respectively. They were expected to get
here and to be good, but to still hit the
(23:34):
heights that they did. Really special for Tom Boyson and
those two groups to have the type of seasons that
they had.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yeah, I know, again, I give you know, credit to Denver.
You know, they've been just tremendous in that sport for sure.
But what I've learned is over time, you know, the
program are programs coming Because I would say there there
was a lot of conversation about a lot of things
(24:02):
regarding let's just say, tennis, balls and a lot of
other things. Uh. And and at the end of the day,
you wouldn't be having those conversations if you weren't taking
the program incredibly serious as far as what's transpired. So
I give coach Boyson credit taking the baton from a
coach win and Kyle Anderson's been a big part of
(24:23):
it as well. And I think both of those programs
have done a tremendous job. And they're in the mix, Alex,
They're in the mix, and that's all you can ask for.
And you know, when you come, when you come and
watch tennis, that first point is so critically important. It's
it's fascinating, and you know, if you can get it,
then you feel like you have a little bit of
a shot. But uh, you know, I give I give
(24:46):
Denver credit. They they they for sure got it done.
But our guys had our guys and gals had a
great year.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Two things. Bill referenced the the ball snafu. When Denver
came soon Grand Forks for the final game of the
regular Sea in with the Semile League title on the line,
there was an issue with the balls, and then it
was like, well could we play outside, And there was
a lot of things going on that just unfortunately just
made it a more unique afternoon that it maybe should
(25:13):
have been that it was originally planning on being on paper,
but regardless, and then second you mentioned the doubles point
North Dakota's men in that title game in Denver. The
number one doubles team did win, so they got the win,
but the two and three doubles sides didn't get the victory,
so the Denver got the point with the two to
one advantage. It's just all those little things, like everything
(25:34):
just really has to go your way in a match
like that, and it looked like it was maybe trending
that direction, and then the other two didn't quite get
it going, and then the top three singles all went
Denver's way, and even though four or five and six
were going North Dakota's way, just the way that the
order played out, then those other points didn't matter because
Denver had already locked up the tie and the championship
was over. So tennis unique, it's a unique sport.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Yeah, you know that we had gotten it done at
number one doubles they got it on at number two. Doubles,
we were up a break in number three and had
I felt like, you know, it was trending your way.
But you know, it's interesting in doubles, you know, even
though you're serving, depending on the type of serve, weirdly,
(26:19):
actually the returning team can actually get maybe more going
in some ways just because of the double side of things.
But yeah, I think we, you know, we did a
pretty good job over those you know, two weeks. Obviously
the guys were disappointed, but at the end of the day,
pretty good season.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Yeah, phenomenal season yet for both the men and the women.
So their seasons now wrap up. Women's golf now has
also concluded. They finished up with the Semi League championships
down in Arizona just yesterday, the women finishing eighth down
there at the Longbow Golf Course. The men will hit
the links come this Sunday. They'll they'll play Sunday through Tuesday.
So again opportunity again to get out there in a
(26:58):
beautiful place to try and make something happen. Felt like
on the women's side, just the early the first round
really put well.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
The first round, got way got way behind and actually
days two and three were pretty good. But you've got
to put three three days together. And I've seen it
the other way too. I've seen you've had two really
good days and you got to get after it day three.
You know, Day three is always can be testy too,
So you got to link three days together. If you don't,
(27:26):
you know what, you don't win.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Well that's what the men will attempt to do this
week in Arizona. Best of luck to them as they
try and finish their season on a high, and then
best of luck to you and the football. Pretty exciting
thing coming up this Friday at the Friday Night Ring showcase.
Talk a bit about what fans can expect because it
is open to anybody if they want to come out
and check it out.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Oh yeah, six thirty at the Pollard. And here's what
I would say to you, alex Is, I've seen it
a couple times already in the spring, and I think
we said this maybe last pod, maybe a year from now.
You know, Coach Schmidt maybe doesn't go as live as
probably you're going to see on Friday night, because I
(28:05):
do think he's in assessment mode he should be, and
he's trying to figure out who does he have on
his roster? And there's only one way to figure that
out from a football perspective is you kind of have
to go live. And so I think you'll see sixty
five seventy real plays. So I think you're gonna see
real football.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Yeah, that's what it sounded like to find it. If
you've got football players, you do kind of have to
play real football. You do have to tackle and run
plays and not just simulate a game, but really like
play a game. And so that's what fans will be
treated to this weekends. A really cool nod to the past,
Digger Anderson, former All American from the D two Days
and Brady Alavera, who's just been named the Most Outstanding
(28:44):
Player in the CFL and back to back Most Outsandy
and Canadian honors. They're both coming back to be honorary
coaches for this event, which is really cool just to
get those guys back in the building and be a
part of this.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Yeah. I have no idea what they actually do, but
let's pretend it's going to be really good for them.
I'm sure they'll wear a headset to some degree, they'll
look like they know what the heck they're doing.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I think so. I think there'll be lots of lots
of encouragement, lots of clapping, maybe maybe some some pointing.
This is some backpadding when things go well, Yes, but
so cool to have that link. So you and D's
proud history coming back on the Spring showcase. So again,
that is this Friday night, April twenty fifth, starting Agast
six point thirty at the Fritz Pollard Center on campus.
Be sure to come out and check it out. Anything
(29:26):
else from a U and D perspective, Bill you want
to touch on.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
I think so. I think you know that's that's where
we're at. Where As you as you started the top
of the pod, it's kind of in wrap up mode
a little bit right now. It feels like we're heading
to the finish line, you know, certainly from an academic standpoint,
and then also from a spring season.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Standpoint, not that much time left. It is cruising right
along with summer, just on the horizon before we flip
over to the B side. I do want to ask
there have been maybe some new revelations in the house settlement.
Maybe not. There was a bit of an up update
non updates sort of yesterday. Where are we right now?
With the NCAA and the House settlement.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Back on April seventh, Judge Wilkin had her final hearing
in regards to okay, am I going to approve this
settlement or not? So from really a layman's term standpoint,
here's probably the best way to think about it. The settlement.
She had some questions, she wanted to get them out
(30:29):
to both sides. To the attorneys said, hey, I might
have questions on this, could be roster limits or some
of the things that are going on. You all need
to go back decide do you want to make any
alterations to this or not resubmit it to me? And
then really, honestly, she's a thumbs up or thumbs down,
(30:52):
so she doesn't get to redline anything. So let's just
pretend she wanted to say, Wow, I think this sport
their roster limits should be five more than it is.
That's not her her. Her actual job right now is
to say thumbs up or thumbs down on the settlement.
That's what we're waiting for. So in the concept of
(31:17):
you know, the legal side of life, you know, I
think from what I'm hearing, I think she's going to
agree to it. But until it actually happens. You really don't.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Know, So still the limbo. Then that we lie in
little bet.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Little bet, a little bet, and then and then from there,
in my opinion, what will happen is there will be
a group that will be disappointed and sad about certain
aspects of it. And I think you're going to see
other legal challenges.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
This might just be the first, is what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Yeah, and I just until into you know, again, we've
said this before and it's worth repeating. Folks have said, hey,
college sports have gotten like professional sports. No, no, they haven't. Actually,
professional sports have one sport and they have a collective
bargaining agreement. College sports has a multitude of sports and
(32:26):
there's no CBA, and so that's different. That's one of
one in the world. So so at the end of
the day, here we are, and we really the rules
of engagement have not been established during this time period yet.
I do think it's going to come at some stage,
but we're in the middle of it right now. So
(32:47):
if you want to call it college athletic disruption, that's
where we are.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
We'll continue to watch and see what decisions are made
and then what the FOUD is from those things in
the coming weeks and months, as it feels like we
have for a while. This has kind of been a
unique STU.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah, and you know what, We're going to do what's
right for us at the University of North Dakota. I mean,
that's it in a nutshell, and I still believe wholeheartedly
we provide an amazing opportunity for our student athletes. The package,
the compensation packages, the facilities, the support that our student
athletes have is tremendous, And at the end of the day,
(33:25):
it's almost like you want to kind of flip the
script a little bit and just say, hey, look, it's
an awesome thing. If you want to be a part
of it, let's go.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Well said, Well said, Well, let's go to the B side. Now,
let's go a couple of things. Let's go, let's go
to the European semi finals. If you're Tattenham Hotspur, congratulations
on making your way past I Track Frankfurt in the quarters,
a very cool dominic slanky penalty, sending Spurs on to
their first semi since their run to the Champions League
final in twenty nineteen. Your thoughts on moving to this
(33:56):
stage and what has really been a weird, kind of disappointing,
dour season at white Hart Lane. You still have a
chance to win a major trophy bill incredible.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Well not only major, but the ability to be in
the Champions League next year. It's I mean, that's I
mean that it almost just feels like it's an FA Cup.
Would be nice. There's other things would be nice. This
one reaps you some amazing you know, financial rewards and
(34:29):
so and then when you go into the summer and
you're looking at, you know, maybe newer guys to join
your roster, you might be opened up to a different
level of player because you're in the Champions League.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
That that is the golden chalice, right and everybody wants
to play Champions League football. And because you are going
to be going into a summer where you might have
a new manager making some decisions, you're certainly going to
have to do some surgery on your roster if you've
got that, Because what is Spur's fourteenth and right now,
is that what you're at. I mean, you've lost seventeen
games in the league.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
I think we're I think, I honestly, if I have
to be honest with you, in honest with the pod.
I think we're going to finish seventeenth.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
It's possible.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
I would say it's probably. It's probably more probable than possible.
Now that maybe we won't if we beat west Ham
that's about the only chance. Like we go to Liverpool
this weekend. It's not going to be pretty. But maybe
Arsenal will lose this afternoon, as we're potting, and then
(35:37):
it won't matter, and then Liverpool can do their thing
and then we might just get a team that's maybe
been very excited over the last three days.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
That is the one thing from a league perspective. Yes, yes,
as we pod right now, Arsenal's playing Crystal Palace. If
Arsenal drop points, then yes, Liverpool would already clinch the league.
Their magic numbers three at the moment, and that might
be zero. But by the time this podcast is done.
But yet, assuming that Arsenal do take care of business
against the Palace, then yes, you'll be facing a Liverpool
team who are trying to win the league at home.
(36:09):
You really have nothing to play for in that game.
Say you probably will not win that game? Yes, I
would say so.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Well, I would say this, it's I'm fascinated by really
Tottenham and Manchester United seasons. They are mirroring each other
and they literally could play each other in the final.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Man United, who were just left for dead like that
was quite the comeback the other day. I had checked.
I wasn't watching live, but I just looked at the score.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That was nuts.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
It was crazy. They scored like two goals and what
was it, one hundred nineteenth minute and twentieth or first
minute to come back and win and salvage their results.
So just just wild. But they will play at Athletic
Club bill Bao. Who's who are the hosts of the final?
Which is kind of fun at the end of May.
But yes, you've got man United who I think. I
think man you were like thirteenth and Spurs are fourteenth
(37:05):
in the league right now. They've both had awful seasons
and yet they could be European Champions, the lesser of
the two European competitions. But as we mentioned, they would
get you into the Champions League. It is still a
huge accomplishment. And the fact, by the way, to tell
the people who you're playing in the semi finals.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Yeah, we're going to the Arctic Circle. So so at
the end of the day, that's all you need to say,
Like I don't I don't know who we're really playing it.
There's a lot of letters in there, but at the
end of the day, they've done well at home, Alex,
that's all I will tell you.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
As you would expect, because as you mentioned, they're in
the Arctic Circle. This is both they literally are from
the Norway four time Norwegian champions. I mean, this is
you know, this is no pushover, but it is. It
is just a ridiculous special story to see this team
from way up north make this type of a run,
(38:06):
Like nobody fancied them to make it this far, not
even close, and here they are. So so that's your poll.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
All four teams. I mean, you've got Tottenham and man
u which has been an eye roll of a season,
but here they are trying to figure out a way
into the Champions League. And then you have Manchester United
playing the actual host of the final in their two
legged deal. And then you've got Tottenham playing a historic
(38:33):
Norwegian team that has never made it this far in
a European competition. So it actually is kind of the
stories are interesting, for sure.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
It'll be fun watching, I mean, that's the great part.
About this now. A lot of times Europa League, like
I don't know, it's easy to sort it tune out
a little bit when this time of year comes around
because usually getting the Champions League semis in court, like
although they're all so good, like there's so much prestige
and those are such special battles between some of the
world's best. And now I think we get this beautiful
(39:06):
midweek setup where the game Tuesday Arsenal psg the game
Wednesday Barcelona answer, and then the game's Thursday with these great,
weird Europa League matchups with man U and Bill Bao
and Bodo Glimpt and Spurs become almost like a little
even more intriguing because of all that's at stake. In
that sense, it's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
Well and let's you know, and again, as as we
like to say in Europe as a neutral and alex
as a neutral, man you and Tottenham they're hard to
turn away from, aren't they. I mean, you don't know
what you're gonna get.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
They're the odds of it being a car crash are
very high. It is very, very very high. And for you,
like I have a soft spot for Spurs obviously, like,
I have a lot I have obviously you. I have
other friends who are Spurs fans as well, and I
don't want them to fail like this. I like ange
Man United. I could just see burn like, I have
no problem seeing this unfold in front of my face.
So it's it's, you know, hate watching, but yeah, there's
(40:05):
there's something interesting when they take the field. Almost always
happening good or bad, hilarious, sad, whatever they are, they
are great entertainers with their defensive frail.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
They played Noddingham Forest this weekend or Monday or whatever
it was. They've had two matches recently, Chelsea in Forest.
Their first five minutes, I have no idea what's going on.
It's like Tasmanian devils everywhere on the field. Everything's just
up in the air. Everything's floating, balls are flying over
(40:40):
nets or whatever going in nets. I mean, it's just
it's nuts.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
Yeah, I think you were down to nothing against Forests early.
It was it was real early. Oh it was already and.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
They had one called back. Yeah, because because someone's fingernail
was just a little bit over.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
My automatic off sides and tell you what, that's exactly right.
It makes get people who always say soccer is boring,
I just you're watching the wrong teams maybe sometimes, and
these are these be teams who are not boring more
often than not, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
That's exactly things happen. That's but actually, the one thing
I would say about folks that maybe don't watch soccer,
you got to know a little bit, like you got
to know the subplots, and then once you know the subplots,
it can become become pretty interesting. So what about our
Red Sox.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
I think maybe a bit as expected where they have
had bright moments and then some some fits and starts.
You know, they had kind of a rough patch against
Chicago last week and then have rebounded since. But yah,
I think what three games up on five hundred and
did an did a nice job against Seattle this past week.
What have you made of the Socks recently?
Speaker 2 (41:47):
Well, I'm impressed that that's two years in a row
where we've played seven games with the White Sox and
we had to win game seven, so we beat them
for three. So we did do that, which was nice,
which is nice since they lost one twenty two last year.
But I you know what, they got to get some
pictures back. It was good to see Bao back yesterday.
(42:10):
That helped. That helped. Yeah, they get I actually, you
know what though, I'm a little encouraged. I think their
their bullpen's been okay. I don't, I don't. I don't
know what cor is doing right now. To some degree,
it feels pretty simple to me that it's Whitlock, Slaton
and Chapman. It's pretty simple. But he's put some other
(42:31):
guys in leverage situations and I'm like, eh, I'm not
sure that's awesome yet, but we'll see. I mean, it's
a long season.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
There's so much long game to be played, especially with
that one with your relievers, like you you you know,
you can't have those three doing that every night. Like
that's obviously not something that is feasible over the one
hundred and sixty two games. But yeah, it's a matter
of figuring out who needs the reps, who can and
I potentially use in these situations when it matters, who
(43:03):
can get me through this, you know, on a back
to back when we had everybody going last night, or
when the bullpen was called into action early, like all
this stuff. There's just so many things as a manager,
I just can't even imagine the depths you have to
be planning things out.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
I agreed, but he but he's had some moments where
it's like, well you ended up using whitlock anyways, yeah tonight,
And I'm like, well, maybe it's just weird however it goes.
But you know, all right, last thing I'll hitch on
that I was. I'm I got to get over myself
here on this one. But it does bother me. It
(43:39):
really does bother me. They've found they had a couple
moments and maybe against the White Sox, I don't know
who it was against, maybe the Rays, I don't know.
But long story short, when you get to a certain point,
it still bothers me tremendously that we're not playing situational
baseball anymore. Like it like if you come up and
(44:00):
someone literally is on second and there's nobody out, I
still think you need to get the runner over. I
do think getting someone on third with less than two
outs gives you a chance to win the game more
times than not. But it feels like we don't we
quote unquote continue, we never adjust, are are are hitting,
(44:21):
We never do any of that stuff. Choking up Holy cow,
that that would be we can never choke up anymore.
Just hit the ball. But I mean we swing from
our heels Christian Campbell all the time, and I love him,
but at the end of the day, come on, man,
hit the ball.
Speaker 1 (44:39):
Is have you noticed that being a MLB wide trend?
Speaker 2 (44:43):
I don't know. I don't. I don't watch, I don't watch,
I don't watch an anybody else.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
This goes back to the old, like the mindset that
baseball really is just it's not a it's not a
national sport in that sense. It's very provincial. You really
follow your team and you kind of have an idea
of what else is happening, like, yeah, Tony's great and
whatever whatever, But you're really just focused on your team.
And I think that's one of that that's unfortunately kind
of that's the beauty and kind of the downfall of
(45:11):
baseball in its popularity it is.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
I mean, it's one hundred and sixty two chapters for us,
and I have literally no desire to watch anybody else.
I literally don't. I literally don't. I could care less.
But so I don't know the answer to that. I
just know our team and how we approach some things.
And the other one that has to happen. Because I'm
only two episodes in on the Netflix deal. I don't
(45:36):
know if you've watched that in all the Red Socks
from last year. It's okay, it's okay, I it's fine.
I don't know why they did it.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
Yeah, that's that's the question that I keep coming back to,
Like when the Jaron Durant stuff came out, like just
initially it's like, wait, they did what. I didn't even
realize this was even a thing. Like we knew we
were going to be bad. This wasn't going to be
a happy season to document. It's just always kind of funny.
Now Celtics Celtic City, on the other hands that I'm here, well, have.
Speaker 2 (46:09):
Only watched a few of those. I'm looking forward to
watch the all of it. I know Bill Simmons, you know,
he's he's kind of the historian, so to speak. So
at the end of the day, I'm sure it's great.
Speaker 1 (46:20):
Yeah, fun to relive. They just they just did the
Ubunsu team the other day, which was awesome yea with
KG and and this the genesis of that, and it's
just fun.
Speaker 2 (46:30):
I just I know this, here's my last thing. I
just know this. We got to get the heck out
of the Orlando series because they're going to beat us up.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
They're a physical team, Yeah, that's for sure. I know
when Tatum went down early in Game one or whatever
with that wrist injury, and like just they're just things
that you just don't want to see happen in a
first round series. So it could be a long slot
through the playoffs. There are a lot of good teams, But.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
Yeah, I think that I think he's questionable. I think
for tonight and uh And I think part of that
is I think they're just saying, I think we can
get these guys done without them, and let's not expose them.
Speaker 1 (47:04):
It just feels like their window to win is right now.
Like this team is just constructed in a way with
the second Apron and some of the things that are
going to come into play, that this team's not going
to look remotely close to the same next year. Tatum
and Brown will still be there, KP will still be around, hopefully,
but like you just don't know some of the other pieces.
So you just think, gosh, you've got this opportunity, let's
(47:26):
go win another championship. You got a good chance.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
And if I'm the Celtics, and I'm worried. Hey, look,
they're going to take runs at like Tatum this series.
They have enough guys that, honestly, they can carry the load.
And Tatum's going to get what he gets when he's
on the floor. So at the end, if he's not
on the floor, these guys just get an opportunity. I
saw a some sort of a poll from anonymous poll
(47:51):
from players who they think would win the championship, and
it was seventy seven percent Celtics. Because at the end,
I think they know they know there's just too they
have too many options.
Speaker 1 (48:02):
Yeah, and I think too, we haven't seen Okay See
do it yet in the postseason. We haven't seen Cleveland
do it yet in the postseason. You know, I think
there's just some unknowns about that. Even though those teams
have had great regular seasons. We've just seen the Celtics
run through everybody and not really be challenged the last postseason.
And this team is maybe better than the one they
had last year, potentially, like it's at least very similar.
(48:23):
So yeah, I would agree it's hard to believe that
they would get balanced anytime before the final. But we'll see.
That's what makes it fun?
Speaker 2 (48:29):
Sports Bill agreed, agreed, Well, Hey always great, Alex always great.
Speaker 1 (48:34):
From this end as well, it was fun hanging out,
fun chatting with Martinsen as well. Fun to see our
spring sports have success, and excited to see what they
can do over the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (48:43):
I would agree. I would agree, Well, we'll have to
figure it out in a couple of weeks. We'll maybe
wrap it up to some degree, see where we're at
at that point.
Speaker 1 (48:51):
Yeah, it's crazy. Just again May. It is May next week,
So there you go. So everybody enjoy getting out and
enjoying some nice spring weather which hopefully is on away.
Enjoy the rest of this college sports season. Thanks for
listening to this podcast. Big thanks to Bill as always,
for Eric Martinsen for being on, for Paul Rawson and
Alex Ncker Johnson. I'm Alex Heynerd. Thank you again for listening.
(49:11):
Enjoy the start of spring officially, and we'll talk to
you soon.
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