Happy Hour host John Gaskins Gaskins tackles a few big local/regional topics of the day:

• South Dakota State found its 2025 place kicker eight days before the season starts! Eli Stader is a grad transfer from Northwestern College in Iowa, a two-time All-American who drilled three road playoff game-winning field goals the last four seasons, including a 51-yarder last December. Why is is this such a major development?
  
  
• The Sioux Falls Little League team went from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat all in one inning at the Little League World Series on Wednesday. The agony part — seeing the pain in faces of 12-year-olds — is why Gaskins has a hard time being on board with the hysteria and fanfare of the LLWS, even though he's as proud of the South Dakotans as anyone for how they represented the state and the city of Sioux Falls.
  
  
• The Sioux Falls Canaries' bats are bashing again! A three-game sweep at Cleburne (TX), with the Birds belting nine runs every game. The Birds have won 7 of 9, averaging 8 runs in those 9 games, and are by far their league's highest-scoring and highest-home run-hitting team. They possess both the best hitter in the league and best pitcher. And, they're back at The Birdcage on Friday and Saturday, then again next Friday thru Monday.
  
  
• The Minnesota Vikings traded defensive lineman Harrison Phillips, a shocking move to most until the smoke cleared and it made sense.

He seems beyond ready. He has seemed beyond ready since he was introduced as South Dakota's head football coach in January.

But things get real for Travis Johansen when he leads the Coyotes onto the field at Iowa State's Jack Trice Stadium next Saturday — his first game not just as USD's head coach, but as a head coach for the first time in his life.

So, what is the latest on how Johansen has operated in that role so far? How is he operating differently from his successor and former boss, the legendary Bob Nielson? How does he plan to navigate the major decisions a head coach makes during the game, especially in the opener against a Power Four conference team that won 11 games and shared the Big 12 title last season?

In a half-hour, one-on-one chat with Happy Hour host John Gaskins, Johansen shares his mindset and previews what is to come, plus describes how he'll handle the defense — his baby the last six seasons — which was a gigantic factor in USD's rise to national championship contention the last couple seasons.

Will he call the defense, as some head coaches do? Will a "defensive" minded coach be conservative about offensive approach, as many are? And who is making waves on that defense in summer camp, to the point they can be relied on to make big stops for the Yotes? Johansen answers all that, while we leave most offensive questions to offensive coordinator Tim Morrison.

It would perhaps be a daunting first season for Morrison if senior quarterback Aidan Bouman decided not to return.

Not that Morrison wouldn't be up for the task. He was tight ends coach on a pair of USD playoff teams the last two seasons, a group which included All-American and current Pittsburgh Steeler J.J. Galbreath. Prior to that, Morrison spent seven collective seasons as a Div. II offensive coordinator at Upper Iowa and Grand Valley State.

But in his D1 debut, Morrison will have the best returning FCS quarterback (of any team expected to contend for a national title) at his disposal, plus All-American running back Charles Pierre, Jr., rated by some as the nation's best returning FCS running back.

This should alleviate concerns about an offensive line that lost three key starters to the transfer portal and returns just one starter.

So, how will Morrison approach offense, especially with a new head coach, who elevated Morrison? Will the Yotes be more pedal-to-the-medal with a veteran QB that possesses a cannon arm and now moves better?

Unlike some OC's, Morrison is willing to give a deep dive into his specific philosophies and how it applies to this team. He's also quick and not shy about revealing his favorite happy hour drink of choice!

Before all that, Gaskins tackles a few big local/regional topics of the day:

• South Dakota State found its 2025 place kicker eight days before the season starts! Eli Stader is a grad transfer from Northwestern College in Iowa, a two-time All-American who drilled three road playoff game-winning field goals the last four seasons, including a 51-yarder last December. Why is is this such a major development?
  
  
• The Sioux Falls Little League team went from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat all in one inning at the Little League World Series on Wednesday. The agony part — seeing the pain in faces of 12-year-olds — is why Gaskins has a hard time being on board with the hysteria and fanfare of the LLWS, even though he's as proud of the South Dakotans as anyone for how they represented the state and the city of Sioux Falls.
  
  
• The Sioux Falls Canaries' bats are bashing again! A three-game sweep at Cleburne (TX), with the Birds belting nine runs every game. The Canaries have won 7 of 9, averaging 8 runs in those 9 games, and are by far their league's highest-scoring and highest-home run-hitting team. They possess both the best hitter in the league and best pitcher. And, they're back at The Birdcage on Friday and Saturday, then again next Friday thru Monday.
  
  
• The Minnesota Vikings traded defensive lineman Harrison Phillips, a shocking move to most until the smoke cleared and it made sense.

It would perhaps be a daunting first season for Tim Morrison as the man who coordinates and calls South Dakota's offense if senior quarterback Aidan Bouman decided not to return.

Not that Morrison wouldn't be up for the task. He was tight ends coach on a pair of USD playoff teams the last two seasons, a group which included All-American and current Pittsburgh Steeler J.J. Galbreath. Prior to that, Morrison spent seven collective seasons as a Div. II offensive coordinator at Upper Iowa and Grand Valley State.

But in his D1 debut, Morrison will have the best returning FCS quarterback (of any team expected to contend for a national title) at his disposal, plus All-American running back Charles Pierre, Jr., rated by some as the nation's best FCS running back.

This should alleviate concerns about an offensive line that lost three key starters to the transfer portal and returns just one starter in 2025.

So, how will Morrison approach offense, especially with a new head coach in former USD defensive coordinator Travis Johansen, who elevated Morrison? Will the Yotes be more pedal-to-the-medal with a veteran QB that possesses a cannon arm?

Unlike some OC's, Morrison is willing to give a deep dive into his specific philosophies and how it applies to this team. He's also quick and not shy about revealing his favorite happy hour drink of choice!

He seems beyond ready. Has seemed beyond ready since he was introduced as South Dakota's head football coach in January.

But things get real for Travis Johansen when he leads the Coyotes onto the field at Iowa State's Jack Trice Stadium next Saturday — his first game not just as USD's head coach, but for the first time ever for him in that role.

So, what is the latest on both how Johansen has operated in that role so far, and how does he plan to navigate the major decisions a head coach makes during the game, especially against a Power Four conference team that won 11 games and shared the Big 12 title last season?

In a half-hour, one-on-one chat with Happy Hour host John Gaskins, Johansen shares his mindset and previews what is to come, plus describes how he'll handle the defense, which was his baby the last six seasons and a gigantic factor in USD's rise to national championship contention the last couple seasons.

How is he similar to Bob Nielson? How will he be different? Will he call the defense, as some head coaches do? Will a "defensive" minded coach be conservative about offensive approach, as many are?

And who is making waves on that defense in summer camp, to the point they can be relied on to make big stops for the Yotes? Johansen answers all that, while we leave most offensive questions to offensive coordinator Tim Morrison.

There are several elements that are synonymous with University of Sioux Falls athletics over the last 30 years — a winning football tradition (29 of 30 winning seasons), Bob Young (and Bob Young Field), Kalen DeBoer, Kurtiss Riggs, Chuck Morrell, The Stewart Center, and 17-year basketball head coaches Chris Johnson and Travis Traphagen.

But besides the late, beloved former athletics director Sid Kortemeyer, only Tom Frederick has been a part of USF through all of that. And Frederick is firmly synonymous with USF, too. His nearly-three decades on the mic for KWSN Radio's broadcasts have been marked with his universally-respected proficiency, preparation, precision, and professionalism.

The Duluth native returns for his 28th season season as the Voice of the Cougars for football when USF opens at Black Hills State in Spearfish next Thursday, Aug. 28. Since 1998, Frederick has called over 300 games, including five NAIA national championship contests (three of them wins, all with DeBoer from 2006-09). Since the NAIA dominance and DeBoer's departure, the Coo has made an instant transition into NCAA Div. II relevance and success under Jed Stugart, Jon Anderson, and

In this one hour interview with Happy Hour host John Gaskins, Frederick regales with his favorite memories of all these coaches and eras, describes his relationships with Johnson and Traphagen, and explains why his passion for the craft of play-by-play has always burned brightly.

But the conversation starts with Frederick's most recent development — his marriage earlier this month, over five years after his wife of 40 years, Mary, died from cancer.

The conversation ends with Frederick describing why he has grown his hair out (shoulder length) for the first time in his life in his 60's, plus an announcement about Frederick's broadcasting future.

Before that, a "John-o-Logue" with John's big topics of the day:

Make it three straight evenings of watching 12-year-olds from South Dakota go after a national championship — and, then, potentially a world championship — at the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania.

Do you have Max Snoozy fever yet? Can you not get enough of these energetic kids and these intense, globally-watched ESPN games?

John is both fascinated and fatigued by all of it. It is nothing but good, wholesome TV... until it isn't. He explains why the event gives him the creeps (sometimes).

Meanwhile, veteran and trusted NFL reporter Tom Pelissero is reporting the Minnesota Vikings are exploring a trade for a wide receiver to help provide depth in a unit that will be without No. 2 wideout Jordan Addison the first three games (suspended) and is monitoring the day-to-day the hand injury of No. 3 receiver Jalen Nailor.

Should a call be made to Adam Thielen? If so, there's a likely obstacle to making that happen.

Finally, an explanation about the new Midwest Sports+ app and how it can provide the enjoyment of live USF football and basketball home games, plus the high school football and basketball "Game of the Week" in the space formerly known as Metro Sports TV.

The University of Sioux Falls on Wednesday announced its new partnership with Forum Communications — which owns Sioux Falls Live — that will include the live streaming of USF home football and basketball games on the new Midwest Sports+ app.

The Midwest Sports+ app will allow Cougars fans to watch USF games on high-definition TV (those able to download and stream apps) for the first time ever. Plus, the app will allow USF home games to be viewed smartphones with the app, or at midwestsportsplus.com on their laptops, desktops, or ipads. No matter how they are consumed, the USF games are available for free and without a subscription to Midwest Sports Plus.

Meanwhile, the new home for high-quality, professionally-produced Sioux Falls metro area high school football live-streamed "Game of the Week" broadcasts will also be on the Midwest Sports+ app. Formerly Metro Sports TV, the Midwest Sports+ app will make two local games per week available — live and on-demand (replays) — with a subscription to the Midwest Sports+ premium content — free for 30 days, followed by $10.99 per month.

One of those two "Game of the Week" broadcasts will be available on KSFL-TV and SiouxFallsLive.com every week at no cost. KSFL-TV can be seen on Ch. 36 over-the-air in Sioux Falls, on Midco Ch. 616, and at SiouxFallsLive.com/ksfltv when the event is "live."

The Midwest Sports+ app subscription will also give subscribers access to replays of all the high school football games broadcasted by Midwest Sports+.

Make it three straight evenings of watching 12-year-olds from South Dakota go after a national championship — and, then, potentially a world championship — at the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania.

Do you have Max Snoozy fever yet? Can you not get enough of these energetic kids and these intense, globally-watched ESPN games?

Happy Hour host John Gaskins is both fascinated and fatigued by all of it. It is nothing but good, wholesome TV... until it isn't. He explains why the event gives him the creeps (sometimes).

Meanwhile, veteran and trusted NFL reporter Tom Pelissero is reporting the Minnesota Vikings are exploring a trade for a wide receiver to help provide depth in a unit that will be without No. 2 wideout Jordan Addison the first three games (suspended) and is monitoring day-to-day the hand injury of No. 3 receiver Jalen Nailor.

Should a call be made to Adam Thielen? If so, there's a likely obstacle to making that happen.

There are several elements that are synonymous with University of Sioux Falls athletics over the last 30 years — a winning football tradition (29 of 30 winning seasons), Bob Young (and Bob Young Field), Kalen DeBoer, Kurtiss Riggs, Chuck Morrell, The Stewart Center, and 17-year basketball head coaches Chris Johnson and Travis Traphagen.

But besides the late, beloved former athletics director Sid Kortemeyer, only Tom Frederick has been a part of USF through all of that. And Frederick is firmly synonymous with USF, too. His nearly-three decades on the mic for KWSN Radio's broadcasts have been marked with his universally-respected proficiency, preparation, precision, and professionalism.

The Duluth native returns for his 28th season season as the Voice of the Cougars for football when USF opens at Black Hills State in Spearfish next Thursday, Aug. 28. Since 1998, Frederick has called over 300 games, including five NAIA national championship contests (three of them wins, all with DeBoer from 2006-09). Since the NAIA dominance and DeBoer's departure, the Coo has made an instant transition into NCAA Div. II relevance and success under Jed Stugart, Jon Anderson, and

In this one hour interview with Happy Hour host John Gaskins, Frederick regales with his favorite memories of all these coaches and eras, describes his relationships with Johnson and Traphagen, and explains why his passion for the craft of play-by-play has always burned brightly.

But the conversation starts with Frederick's most recent development — his marriage earlier this month, over five years after his wife of 40 years, Mary, died from cancer.

The conversation ends with Frederick describing why he has grown his hair out (shoulder length) for the first time in his life in his 60's, plus an announcement about Frederick's broadcasting future.