Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Think back 20 years, and just look at how much South Dakota State football and its fan base have grown.   From Coughlin-Alumni Stadium to the modern marvel of "The Dana." From coaching offices in trailers and outdoor winter practices on the windswept tundra to the Dykhouse (now Stiegelmeier Family Center) and the SJAC indoor palace.   From FCS infancy and the janky Great West Conference to consist...

Think back 20 years, and just look at how much South Dakota State football and its fan base have grown.   From Coughlin-Alumni Stadium to the modern marvel of "The Dana." From coaching offices in trailers and outdoor winter practices on the windswept tundra to the Dykhouse (now Stiegelmeier Family Center) and the SJAC indoor palace.   From FCS infancy and the janky Great West Conference to consist...

Imagine having a career where you are the boss of five different organizations for 45 years, then all of a sudden are no longer the boss.   Since 1978, shortly after graduating from Dakota State, all Kim Nelson knew in coaching high school football was being the head coach, from Milbank to Rapid City Central to Sioux Falls Washington to Edian (MN) to Sioux Falls Roosevelt.   Then, the all-time Sou...

Imagine having a career where you are the boss of five different organizations for 45 years, then all of a sudden are no longer the boss.   Since 1978, shortly after graduating from Dakota State, all Kim Nelson knew in coaching high school football was being the head coach, from Milbank to Rapid City Central to Sioux Falls Washington to Edian (MN) to Sioux Falls Roosevelt.   Then, the all-time Sou...

Can the games just begin?   Early August days always leave football fans anxiously starving for the actual season to kick off, especially with the abundant coverage of teams' camp practices.   Fans of football and every collegiate sport are pining to watch actual competition, if only to distract them from the barrage of offseason news and media discussions about NIL, the transfer portal, and the N...

* The USD quarterback battle and other Coyote positions of intrigue   * Augustana and USF first practices, which include a glowing report on both teams' presumed starting quarterbacks   * The Minnesota Twins actually making some trades before trade deadline to shore up the area they needed the most help    

Almost every sports movie and every "Hard Knocks" series ever made features a scene near the beginning, during an early preseason practice where some players are battling for a starting spot while others are just trying to make the team.   All that testosterone and tension eventually leads to a few volcano eruptions of rage or at least visible, visceral fits of frustration.   Some of this primal b...

Almost every sports movie and every "Hard Knocks" series ever made features a scene near the beginning, during an early preseason practice where some players are battling for a starting spot while others are just trying to make the team.   All that testosterone and tension eventually leads to a few volcano eruptions of rage or at least visible, visceral fits of frustration.   Some of this primal b...

Suddenly, one of the most decorated players in South Dakota State women's basketball history has an opportunity to play a fifth season for the Jackrabbits.   That is, if Brooklyn Meyer takes that opportunity.   All that hangs in the balance is a dominant force unexpectedly returning and instantly making SDSU a strong favorite to win the Summit League regular season and tournament titles.   Last se...

Are we there yet?   No. Well, kinda.   There are still 29 days until college football gameday in South Dakota, with SDSU hosting Stetson and USD hosting Central Connecticut State.   Plus, a large portion of both fan bases might also watch North Dakota State's debut as an FBS squad that day, and take a peek a little more Mountain West football than they have in their lives.   To pass the time, all...

In the words of noted philosopher Allen Iverson, "we talking about practice, man!"   The Coyotes on Wednesday opened their official practice season leading up to their Aug. 29 season opener. The Jackrabbits broke the seal on Thursday.    Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer attended both sessions and shared plenty of what he saw during Thursday's weekly "Nobody's Listening Anyway" hour from...

It's time to go camping.   The Jackrabbits, Coyotes, and Minnesota Vikings all launch their preseason practices this week.   Happy Hour blasts off the month leading up to the season's kickoff with a glimpse into the three-horse quarterback race at USD and the two-horse race in Minnesota, plus the only horse SDSU hopes to ride in 2026.   To some, Chase Mason may appear to be more hype than reality,...

It's over!   After an early June election failed to yield a clear-cut Republican nominee to be South Dakota's next governor, two months of more mud-slinging campaign ads on your television set came to a screeching halt on Tuesday night— an  early  halt.   That's because  Gov. Larry Rhoden's Republican primary runoff win over first-time political campaigner Toby Doeden  was called by 8:08 p.m.   Th...

Last summer,  Frederick joined Happy Hour to walk through his over 40 years in broadcasting , including nearly 30 years calling play-by-play for University of Sioux Falls football and basketball.   At the time, Frederick had just retired from calling hoops and was about to find out what life was like without spending winter Friday and Saturday nights traveling the cold and snowy interstates and hi...

It's time to go camping.   The Jackrabbits, Coyotes, and Minnesota Vikings all launch their preseason practices this week.   Happy Hour blasts off the month leading up to the season's kickoff with a glimpse into the three-horse quarterback race at USD and the two-horse race in Minnesota, plus the only horse SDSU hopes to ride in 2026.   To some, Chase Mason may appear to be more hype than reality,...

What happens when three friends who share the love of their favorite college's sports teams decide to get together and start a podcast about those teams?   For the hosts of the USD fan show  The Howling Podcast , their two years of shows have involved not just talking about the Coyotes, but also welcoming those who play and coach in Vermillion. And having fun with them.   Name an A-lister on any U...

A year ago, Augustana baseball luminary Jordan Barth was in the midst of an All-Star season for Sioux Falls Canaries when he joined Happy Hour for a chat.   The Birds eventually played for the American Association championship, with Barth playing a major role. The day after the season ended, he was already talking to manager Mike Meyer about returning for the 2026 season.   Then, a phone call a co...

The King is taking is talents to Philadelphia even though our biased host and his video producer, both Timberwolves fans, feel he would have a better shot at a title in Minneapolis. Are the Wolves still in the running to reach a first-ever NBA Finals without the No. 2 player of all time?

A year ago, Augustana baseball luminary Jordan Barth was in the midst of an All-Star season for Sioux Falls Canaries when he joined Happy Hour for a chat.   The Birds eventually played for the American Association championship, with Barth playing a major role. The day after the season ended, he was already talking to manager Mike Meyer about returning for the 2026 season.   Then, a phone call a co...

Behold, the "John-o-logue' for Monday, July 27. What a red-hot weekend it was in so many ways — outside and in local sports! * USD's all-time leading Div. I rusher Travis Theis is turning it up in Canada   * USD's all-time track and field icon Chris Nilson won his seventh USA outdoors national championship. Why was this one special?   * The entire SDSU football team took a trip to a Canaries game...

Tis the season for not just anticipating the upcoming football season, but enjoying the lighter side of the personalities we'll be watching on the gridiron and sidelines.   Few personas shine brighter than former South Dakota State offensive coordinator Jason Eck, a rising head coaching star in the profession who has ignited an instant revival at New Mexico. A former offensive lineman and OL coach...

The Jackrabbit and Coyote football teams both start official practices next week. Who are the players Zim is most anticipating watching, and what storylines loom the largest for both squads?   * The Minnesota Twins continue to live in the lingering limbo of "buyer or seller" as the Aug. 3 trade deadline nears... but why does Zim think they should act like a team going places?   * The Sioux Falls C...

Until Kalen DeBoer wins a national championship at Alabama, some Crimson Tide fans and national media will never be satisfied.   And until Kalen DeBoer wins a national championship at Alabama, what he says on a microphone about trying to win a national championship at Alabama will also likely not satisfy those folks.   South Dakota's most famous football son took his turn at the mighty podium at S...

Until Kalen DeBoer wins a national championship at Alabama, some Crimson Tide fans and national media will never be satisfied.   And until Kalen DeBoer wins a national championship at Alabama, what he says on a microphone about trying to win a national championship at Alabama will also likely not satisfy those folks.   South Dakota's most famous football son took his turn at the mighty podium at S...

Some things have changed drastically at Augustana in the eight years Josh Morton took the reins as athletic director in 2018.   Other things have remained the same at the private Lutheran liberal arts university in the middle of Sioux Falls.     In both cases, it's been a pretty good thing.   The Vikings applied to move up from Div. II and into the Summit League, where they would join old North Ce...