SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Heeeeeeee’s Back!!! The Mandan Flash is back at the University of North Dakota as Eric Schmidt is the next University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks Head Football Coach. Schmidty had his meet the media press conference on Wednesday morning and is officially the head coach of his alma mater.
It has been reported that Eric will make $300,000 in his first year with the contract going up each year after that. Below is the release from UND on the announcement of his hiring,
University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Bill Chaves announced on Sunday evening that Eric Schmidt has been named the 28th head coach of the North Dakota football program, pending a background check. Schmidt was the head Crookston Pirate Football and Girls basketball coach from 2002 to 2005.
“I am excited to welcome back Coach Schmidt to North Dakota as our newest football coach,” said Chaves. “Eric brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record of success and a deep commitment to developing student-athletes on-and-off the field. I am confident that under his leadership, our football program will continue to build on the foundation that has been laid and compete for championships on both the conference and national stage.”
Schmidt returns to North Dakota after spending last season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at San Diego State. In his one season with the Aztecs, Schmidt coached four players to All-Mountain West honors, including sophomore Trey White earning a first team selection after finishing near the top of the FBS in sacks per game and tackles per game.
Prior to his time at SDSU, Schmidt spent two seasons at the University of Washington as its special teams coordinator and coach of the EDGE position on defense, where he helped the Huskies reach new heights as a program. In 2023, Schmidt helped take the Huskies to the College Football Playoff title game as the No. 2 seed following a perfect 12-0 regular season and a PAC-12 Championship victory over Oregon. Statistically, they led the Pac-12 in interceptions (5), punt return defense (1.83), ranked third in team passing efficiency defense (122.64) and fifth in turnovers gained (18).
In his first year with the Huskies, Schmidt oversaw a defensive unit that led the Huskies to an 11-2 overall record. Washington’s rushing defense, which had been ranked 11th in the Pac-12 and 108th in the FBS just one year earlier, to third in the conference and 25th in the nation in 2022. Two of Schmidt’s edge rushers also helped UW finish 20th in the FBS in sacks and were named to the All-Pac-12 First Team.
Schmidt leapt to the FBS ranks in 2020, where he spent two seasons at Fresno State, serving as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. The Bulldogs ranked among the top-25 nationally in multiple defensive categories, including rushing defense, passing defense, third down defense, yards per play, tackles for loss, takeaways and scoring defense in both years that Schmidt was there.
This marks Schmidt’s third stint as a coach with North Dakota, as he most recently served as the defensive coordinator for the Fighting Hawks from 2014-19. He helped UND reach the FCS playoffs twice during his tenure, including the program’s first appearance in 2016. The Hawks perennially ranked near the top of the nation in multiple defensive categories, including twice in the top-10 for rush defense.
While at NoDak, Schmidt coached 17 all-conference players and four All-Americans, along with two conference players of the year.
He also spent six seasons at Southern Illinois from 2008-13, where he coached multiple defensive positions before serving as the special teams coordinator for his final two years.
Schmidt’s first collegiate job was as linebackers coach at North Dakota in 2006-07. He began his football coaching career at Crookston (Minn.) High School, where he was the head coach from 2002-2005.
The Mandan, N.D., native was a key performer as a team captain and senior linebacker on the North Dakota defense that won the NCAA Division II national title in 2001. Schmidt played for UND from 1998 to 2001, was a two-time All-North Central Conference selection and earned All-America as a senior in 2001.
Schmidt received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from UND in 2002. He and his wife, Tiffany, have a daughter, Kennedy, and two sons, Harrison and Truman.
Schmidt and Chaves will meet the media on Wednesday, December 11 from Hyslop at Memorial Village.
THE ERIC SCHMIDT FILE
Position: Head Coach
Hometown: Mandan, N.D.
Education: North Dakota (2002)
Family: Eric and his wife Tiffany have a daughter, Kennedy, and two sons, Harrison and Truman.
CAREER IN FOOTBALL
AS A COACH
2024: San Diego State (defensive coordinator, linebackers)
2022-23: Washington (special teams coordinator, defensive ends)
2020-21: Fresno State (special teams coordinator, defensive line)
2019: North Dakota (defensive coordinator, defensive line)
2018: North Dakota (defensive coordinator, outside linebackers)
2014-17: North Dakota (defensive coordinator, inside linebackers)
2012-13: Southern Illinois (special teams coordinator, inside linebackers)
2010-11: Southern Illinois (defensive line)
2008-09: Southern Illinois (outside linebackers)
2006-07: North Dakota (linebackers)
2002-05: Crookston (Minn.) High School (head coach)
AS A PLAYER
1998-2001: North Dakota
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There have been so many cool things happening in high school sports and for area kids in college sports and here is a quick recap of some highlights. If you have any milestones or honors, etc of student-athletes from NW Minnesota, send them to me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com and I will post them!!! Thank yoU!
Crookston’s Gavyn Hlucny recorded the 100th win of his wrestling career on Saturday in a forfeit victory. Gavyn remains undefeated on the year.
Warroad’s Liam Grover scored the 1,000th point of his career on Friday vs Crookston.
East Grand Forks’ Tatem Votova recently recorded the 1,000th point of her career.
Sacred Heart’s Parker Erickson recorded the 1,000th point of his career last week.
Congratulations to Mahnomen/Waubun’s Easton Bevins on being 1 of 70 high school football players to be selected to play in the Native American All-Star game on January 7 at the Star in Frisco, Texas!
Crookston’s Halle Winjum scored her first collegiate points in the UMC Women’s Basketball win over Bemidji State on Friday.
Crookston’s Reese Swanson scored the first collegiate goal of her young career on a shot from the point while playing for St. Olaf Women’s Hockey in a 5-0 win over Manhattanville out in Boston, Massachusetts on December 1.
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It is early, but the Section 8A Boys Hockey teams have been busy the past two weeks. Warroad seems poised to be the top team at this point, but the second team is Detroit Lakes with a 4-0 victory over EGF with four late goals, and a 4-3 victory over Thief River Falls. Then they tied Crookston on Tuesday night after giving up two goals in the final two minutes to force an overtime. Crookston did that after only beat Bagley/Fosston by a goal. So what do we know about the section through the second week of December???? It is going to be a wild rest of the year. I don’t know if there is that team that anybody is afraid to play, although Warroad and East Grand Forks are two teams nobody wants to play if they are firing on all cylinders. Stay tuned, it should be some great hockey with some entertaining games if the first few weeks have shown us anything!
Just for fun, I looked at the QRF and East Grand Forks is currently second to last since the only two wins they have are against North Dakota teams and that doesn’t give you any points in the QRF. We all know it is coaches seed that decides the tournament seeding and section games are the only one that matters. With that said, DL is the top team right now!
Section 8A Boys Hockey Standings
| Team | Section | Overall | QRF Value | QRF Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warroad | 0-0-0 | 2-1-1 | 40.6 | 10 |
| Detroit Lakes | 2-0-1 | 4-1-1 | 37.9 | 11 |
| Crookston | 3-0-1 | 4-1-1 | 36.7 | 13 |
| Red Lake Falls | 3-1-0 | 5-1-0 | 32.8 | 18 |
| Bagley/Fosston | 2-2-0 | 3-3-0 | 23.9 | 37 |
| Park Rapids Area | 1-1-0 | 3-3-0 | 22.6 | 42 |
| Thief River Falls | 0-1-0 | 1-4-0 | 15.9 | 51 |
| Kittson Central | 0-2-0 | 0-2-1 | 7.7 | 61 |
| East Grand Forks | 0-1-0 | 2-5-0 | 6.3 | 64 |
| Lake of the Woods | 0-3-0 | 0-5-0 | 6.0 | 65 |
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The Section 8A Girls Hockey standings are starting to take shape into mid-December. There is a little less than two months before the Section 8A Tournament begins.
Warroad is the top team. (I know, I am brave for this statement, but I am really going out on a limb here). Thief River Falls is currently in the second slot with Crookston and East Grand Forks tied in the third spot. The teams will play on Monday to decide will who will have the third spot. Crookston and EGF play three times this year so each game will be important for seeding purposes. Nobody wants the fourth seed and have to play Warroad in the semi-finals. The latest standings according to the QRF are below.
Section 8A Standings
| Team | Section | Overall | QRF Value | QRF Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warroad | 0-0-0 | 6-1-0 | 81.7 | 1 |
| Crookston | 1-1-0 | 4-1-0 | 47.3 | 14 |
| Thief River Falls | 4-0-0 | 6-4-0 | 40.0 | 16 |
| East Grand Forks | 1-1-0 | 5-7-1 | 30.6 | 29 |
| Detroit Lakes | 1-2-0 | 3-6-0 | 20.9 | 37 |
| International Falls | 0-3-0 | 1-7-1 | 10.2 | 43 |
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We have the latest Minnesota WINTER SPORTS Polls updated. To check them out, CLICK HERE.
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Sacred Heart’s Parker Erickson has signed to play baseball next year at St. Cloud State University.
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University of Minnesota Crookston soccer coach Neil Mancktelow announced his resignation as head soccer coach for the Golden Eagles. Mancktelow spent the past two seasons as head coach for Minnesota Crookston, and spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles.
Minnesota Crookston will begin a search for the next coach of the soccer program immediately.
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The Minnesota State High School League board of directors met last week and announced the state Boys Basketball championship games will be played at Williams Arena again in 2025 due to another scheduling conflict at the Target Center. They are making a change to the state softball championship game schedule and location. and more. Some of the highlights from the meeting are below.
- The League’s Foundation Board approved $755,000 (Form A) to 297 Member Schools. The board approved $385,000 (Form B) to 134 Member Schools. The board also approved $20,000 in support of Together 3.0. These new amounts represent an increase of $100,000 going back to member schools.
- The League will sponsor and host a booth at National Girls and Women’s Day in Sports on Feb. 5, 2025, at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. League Associate Director Lisa Quednow is the co-chair of this event.
Executive Committee Report
- Approved a schedule adjustment of the Boys Basketball State Tournament in March 2025. Because of a scheduling conflict at Target Center, the semifinals and championship games in the four enrollment classes will be played at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
- Approved the final schedule and dates of the Baseball State Tournament in June 2025. Championship Day at Target Field is scheduled for June 14.
Action Items
9A: Constitutional Amendments: Member School Vote Ratification
- In amending the MSHSL Constitution, the Board of Directors ratified the voting results of its member schools on both proposed MSHSL Constitutional Amendments. The first amendment, including language that adds 9th grade into the League, was supported by 97.5 percent of the 526 voting Member Schools. The second amendment to update outdated constitutional language received even greater support with 99 percent of Member Schools voting in favor. These Constitutional changes will be implemented for the 2025-2026 school year.
9B: State Tournament Venues
- Softball — The Board of Directors approved a motion to play the four enrollment-class championship games on Friday, June 6 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. The other days of the state tournament will continue at Caswell Park in North Mankato, the League’s longtime host venue for Girls Softball. The League has worked with the softball coaches association on creating a Championship Day experience, and through surveys, the group’s membership is supportive.
- Boys Volleyball — The Board of Directors approved a motion to play the League’s inaugural Boys Volleyball State Tournament at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The dates of the tournament are June 10-12. Currently, 94 teams have registered to participate in the first season under League governance.
Discussion Items
10A: 9th Grade Governance
- Group A, Official Handbook: Definitions and Interpretations — Scott McCready, the activities director at St. Charles High School and the chair of the 9th Grade Governance Task Force, shared information on the 100 and 500 Series of the League Bylaws with the Board of Directors, and on the progress of the task force. Task Force recommendations will include a timeline of approvals, important definitions and a grouping of topics to be discussed in preparation for implementation for the 2025-2026 school year.
10B: Fall Activity Advisory Proposal
- Boys and Girls Tennis — League Staff shared information on a Fall Activity Advisory Proposal that would permit greater access to coaches to engage in InMatch coaching.
10C: MN Head Coach Requirement Policy
- League Staff shared information on a proposed policy that addresses the MN Head Coach Requirements for all Member Schools. In this proposed policy, the League is seeking to clarify that the head coaching certification requirement for head coaches applies to all Member Schools regardless of type. While this has been a State Statute and a League expectation for years, this policy will provide direct language to support this requirement.
10D: Enrollment and Eligibility: Online Students
- League Staff shared updated information on connecting enrollment and eligibility, specifically for students who are enrolled in public school-administered online schooling. Member Schools are showing an increased interest in redefining the participation eligibility of these students to more strongly connect their enrollment and League eligibility. Discussions and considerations toward a resolution will continue.
Committee Reports
11A: Eligibility Committee
- The Board of Directors approved the Eligibility Report as presented.
11B: Audit/Finance Committee
- The Board of Directors approved the Financial Statements from September 2024 and October 2024 and the full Audit and Finance Committee Report.
11C: Marketing and Communications Committee
- Fall sponsorship activations went well, including the addition of new sponsors Culver’s and Channel Seed Products. The partnership with TruStone Financial Credit Union continues to grow.
11D: Education and Leadership
- There are nearly 6,000 registered officials this school year. About one-third of them do multiple activities.
Informational
- Board of Directors Workshop (virtual): Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, 2 p.m.
- Next in-person meeting: Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.
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JOKES
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Dear John,
I have been unable to sleep since I broke off our engagement. Won’t you forgive and forget? Your absence is breaking my heart. I was a fool, nobody can take your place. I love you.
All my love,
Judi xxxxoooxxxx
P.S. Congratulations on winning this week’s lottery.
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‘An old man was a witness in a burglary case.
The defense lawyer asked Sam, “Did you see my client commit this burglary?”
“Yes,” said Sam, “I saw him plainly take the goods.”
The lawyer asks Sam again, “Sam, this happened at night. Are you sure you saw my client commit this crime?”
“Yes, says Sam. “I saw him do it.”
Then the lawyer asks Sam, “Sam, listen, you are an 80-year-old, and your eyesight is probably bad. Just how far can you see at night?”
Sam says, “I can see the moon. How far is that?”
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A 60-year-old millionaire is getting married and throws a big wedding reception. His friends are quite jealous and in a quiet moment, one of them asks him how did he land such a hot 23-year-old beauty.
“Simple,” grins the millionaire, “I faked my age.’
His friends are really amazed and ask him how much he said.
‘Well,’ he replied, ‘I said I was 87!’
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An 85-year-old couple, after being married for almost 60 years, died in a car crash. They had been in good health the last ten years, mainly due to her interest in health food and exercising. When they reached the Pearly Gates, St. Peter took them to their mansion, which was decked out with a beautiful kitchen, master bath suite and a Jacuzzi. As they looked around, the old man asked St. Peter how much all this was going to cost.
‘It’s free,’ St. Peter replied, ‘this is Heaven.’ Next, they went out in the back yard to survey the championship-style golf course that the home was located on. They would have golfing privileges every day and each week, the course changed to a new one representing the great golf courses on earth. The old man asked, ‘What are the green fees?’
St. Peter replied, ‘This is heaven, you play for free.’ Next, they went to the club house and saw the lavish buffet lunch with the cuisine’s of the World laid out. ‘How much to eat?’ asked the old man.
‘Don’t you understand yet? This is heaven, it is free!’ St. Peter replied, with some exasperation. ‘Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol tables?’ the old man asked timidly. St. Peter lectured, ‘That’s the best part – you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like and you never get fat and you never get sick. This is Heaven.’
With that, the old man went into a fit of anger, throwing down his hat and stomping on it, and screaming wildly. St. Peter and his wife both tried to calm him down, asking him what was wrong. The old man looked at his wife and said, ‘This is all your fault! If it weren’t for your blasted bran muffins and exercise, I could have been here ten years ago!’
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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST. Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Reese Swanson is a freshman playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a freshman playing football at Minot State.
Isabelle Smith is a freshman playing Tennis at Concordia College.
Isaac Thomforde is a freshman playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Emilee Tate is a Sophomore playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.
Halle Bruggeman is a Sophomore on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Red-shirt Freshman on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Sophomore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Junior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Joslynn Leach is a Senior playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brooks Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamre is redshirt Junior playing football at Bemidji State University.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Matt Harris is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for Bison media relations.
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California.
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
Jarrett Butenhoff is serving our country with the U.S. Navy.
Joshua Butenhoff is serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.
Peter Cournia is a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and a grad of West Point and currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments, and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com.
