Episodios

  • FULL SHOW: Quinten Christensen, Thirsty Thursday local sports with Trent Singer, Timberwolves Talk with USF coach Chris Johnson & Jonny Opps

    FULL SHOW: Quinten Christensen, Thirsty Thursday local sports with Trent Singer, Timberwolves Talk with USF coach Chris Johnson & Jonny Opps
    Jan 22 2026
    Why in the world would he do that? So many have asked that question about South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason and All-American offensive lineman Quinten Christensen after learning both players turned down at least one offer of $1 million in NIL money to transfer to a Power Four school. Mason explained his decision to stay at SDSU in a Happy Hour conversation in December. Thursday was Christensen's turn. Playing a position in such high demand in the SEC and the Big Ten, the in-state senior-to-be from Wessington Springs (two hours from Brookings) could have taken life-changing money and potentially raised his NIL stock by competing at a higher level. Christensen explains why his SDSU experience and the connections he has made with the program outweighs finances. One of those connections is with former teammate and current Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mason McCormick, who took Christensen under his wing when "Q" was a freshman. Hear about what Christensen learned and continues to learn from McCormick along with what the "605 Hogs" and the 2025 Jackrabbits learned in a topsy-turvy 9-5 season, the first under Dan Jackson. It included the death of running back Nate White before the season started and the foot injury to Mason that started a four-game losing streak after a 7-0 start. "Q" offers his perspective on Jackson and the influence coach John Stiegelmeier still casts on Christensen and the players three years after "Stig" retired. The Happy Hour conversation begins with a trip back in time to Christensen's upbringing on the family cattle ranch in Wessington Springs and the influence his parents — both athletes — had on his development in football and wrestling. Thirsty Thursday Before the Christensen conversation, the host spends another "Thirsty Thursday" at Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls with Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer for another potpourri of local sports talk. Topics:
    * USD's severely undermanned men's basketball team pulled off a third win in four games without the services of eight of its players. This time, the Coyotes won at Omaha despite the unavailability of leading scorer Isaac Bruns, who wore a foot on one of his feet. * Other Summit League hoops chatter, including the SDSU women starting a new conference winning streak after the Jacks' 67-game surge came to an end last week. * The SDHSAA approved football games against teams from Omaha to replace games against AA teams on AAA teams' schedules. Also, the SDHSAA denied Douglas a chance to move down a class. * The No. 2 Roosevelt boys basketball team's incredible 33-point outburst in the third quarter against No. 3 Harrisburg on Tuesday, plus the dynamics of the Roughriders and No. 1 Lincoln both benefiting from two Patriots transferring to RHS. Timberwolves Talk University of Sioux Falls coach Chris Johnson and Orion Pub co-owner Jon Oppold vent about the Wolves' meltdown at Utah on Tuesday, part of a three-game losing streak that has dropped Minnesota from the No. 2 slot in the Western Conference to No. 7. With 38 games left to go in the season, how concerning is this recent slippage and what trade(s) would make sense before the Feb. 4 deadline? Or, perhaps Anthony Edwards just needs a little more seasoning in a season where he has already provided more depth to his ever-blossoming game?
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    2 h y 26 m
  • Jacks destroy UND, Yotes win without leading scorer, prep football & hoops buzz — Thirsty Thursday with Trent Singer

    Jacks destroy UND, Yotes win without leading scorer, prep football & hoops buzz — Thirsty Thursday with Trent Singer
    Jan 22 2026
    John spends another "Thirsty Thursday" at Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls with Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer for another potpourri of local sports talk. Topics:
    * USD's severely undermanned men's basketball team pulled off a third win in four games without the services of eight of its players. This time, the Coyotes won at Omaha despite the unavailability of leading scorer Isaac Bruns, who wore a foot on one of his feet. * Other Summit League hoops chatter, including the SDSU women starting a new conference winning streak after the Jacks' 67-game surge came to an end last week. * The SDHSAA approved football games against teams from Omaha to replace games against AA teams on AAA teams' schedules. Also, the SDHSAA denied Douglas a chance to move down a class. * The No. 2 Roosevelt boys basketball team's incredible 33-point outburst in the third quarter against No. 3 Harrisburg on Tuesday, plus the dynamics of the Roughriders and No. 1 Lincoln both benefiting from two Patriots transferring to RHS.
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    50 m
  • Quinten Christensen, Pt. 1 - Cattle ranch roots & coming of age in the "big city" of Brookings

    Quinten Christensen, Pt. 1 - Cattle ranch roots & coming of age in the "big city" of Brookings
    Jan 22 2026

    A trip back in time to the SDSU All-American offensive lineman's upbringing on the family cattle ranch in Wessington Springs and the influence his parents — both athletes — had on his development in football and wrestling. Plus, how Christensen acclimated to the "big city" of Brookings and grew as football player and person, a growth that included befriending teammates who come from different backgrounds and from all over the country.
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    28 m
  • Timberwolves Talk with USF coach Chris Johnson & Orion Pub's Jonny Opps: Playing with food, trade ideas, ANT's evolution

    Timberwolves Talk with USF coach Chris Johnson & Orion Pub's Jonny Opps: Playing with food, trade ideas, ANT's evolution
    Jan 22 2026
    University of Sioux Falls coach Chris Johnson and Orion Pub co-owner Jon Oppold vent about the Wolves' meltdown at Utah on Tuesday, part of a three-game losing streak that has dropped Minnesota from the No. 2 slot in the Western Conference to No. 7. With 38 games left to go in the season, how concerning is this recent slippage and what trade(s) would make sense before the Feb. 4 deadline? Or, perhaps Anthony Edwards just needs a little more seasoning in a season where he has already provided more depth to his ever-blossoming game?
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • Quinten Christensen, Pt. 2 - Turning down million dollar offers, Jackson & Stig, 2025 roller coaster, Mason McCormick influence

    Quinten Christensen, Pt. 2 - Turning down million dollar offers, Jackson & Stig, 2025 roller coaster, Mason McCormick influence
    Jan 22 2026
    Why in the world would he do that? So many have asked that question about South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason and All-American offensive lineman Quinten Christensen after learning both players turned down at least one offer of $1 million in NIL money to transfer to a Power Four school. Mason explained his decision to stay at SDSU in a Happy Hour conversation in December. Thursday was Christensen's turn. Playing a position in such high demand in the SEC and the Big Ten, the in-state senior-to-be from Wessington Springs (two hours from Brookings) could have taken life-changing money and potentially raised his NIL stock by competing at a higher level. Christensen explains why his SDSU experience and the connections he has made with the program outweighs finances. One of those connections is with former teammate and current Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mason McCormick, who took Christensen under his wing when "Q" was a freshman. Hear about what Christensen learned and continues to learn from McCormick along with what the "605 Hogs" and the 2025 Jackrabbits learned in a topsy-turvy 9-5 season, the first under Dan Jackson. It included the death of running back Nate White before the season started and the foot injury to Mason that started a four-game losing streak after a 7-0 start. "Q" offers his perspective on Jackson and the influence coach John Stiegelmeier still casts on Christensen and the players three years after "Stig" retired.
    Más Menos
    33 m
  • Quinten Christensen (SDSU OL) on his cattle ranch roots, turning down BIG NIL $$, Jacks culture & future

    Quinten Christensen (SDSU OL) on his cattle ranch roots, turning down BIG NIL $$, Jacks culture & future
    Jan 22 2026
    Why in the world would he do that? So many have asked that question about South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason and All-American offensive lineman Quinten Christensen after learning both players turned down at least one offer of $1 million in NIL money to transfer to a Power Four school. Mason explained his decision to stay at SDSU in a Happy Hour conversation in December. Thursday was Christensen's turn. Playing a position in such high demand in the SEC and the Big Ten, the in-state senior-to-be from Wessington Springs (two hours from Brookings) could have taken life-changing money and potentially raised his NIL stock by competing at a higher level. Christensen explains why his SDSU experience and the connections he has made with the program outweighs finances. One of those connections is with former teammate and current Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mason McCormick, who took Christensen under his wing when "Q" was a freshman. Hear about what Christensen learned and continues to learn from McCormick along with what the "605 Hogs" and the 2025 Jackrabbits learned in a topsy-turvy 9-5 season, the first under Dan Jackson. It included the death of running back Nate White before the season started and the foot injury to Mason that started a four-game losing streak after a 7-0 start. "Q" offers his perspective on Jackson and the influence coach John Stiegelmeier still casts on Christensen and the players three years after "Stig" retired. The Happy Hour conversation begins with a trip back in time to Christensen's upbringing on the family cattle ranch in Wessington Springs and the influence his parents — both athletes — had on his development in football and wrestling.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 1 m
  • FULL SHOW: Dan Jackson and Vikings trade-to-draft Mendoza dreaming

    FULL SHOW: Dan Jackson and Vikings trade-to-draft Mendoza dreaming
    Jan 21 2026
    What a difference a year makes. Last January, Dan Jackson was just trying to keep his head and the South Dakota State football program above water after his predecessor and one of his best friends Jimmy Rogers jumped ship and took the entire SDSU staff and boatload of Jackrabbits to Washington State. There was an entire staff to hire — including the ever-underrated strength and conditioning coach — plus a full throttle operation to prevent even more Jacks from leaving for the Palouse or another program, not to mention a heavy lift recruiting blitz to bring in new players. This January, Jackson isn't exactly tilting back and putting his feet up on the desk all day, but things are a lot more stable. A lot. In fact, it is abnormally stable if not gravity-defying in the world of FCS football. While other top programs like North Dakota State and South Dakota dealt with the losses of some of their top playmakers for six figures (if not seven) to FBS squads, Jackson lost one starter and retained arguably his two most talented players and program pillars — homegrown quarterback Chase Mason and offensive lineman Quinten Christensen. Yes, part of not losing as many top players to the FBS might be because those rival schools had more accomplished players worth more irresistible NIL money (like USD's L.J. Phillips and Larenzo Fenner) while Mason and Christensen are lifelong South Dakotans with a lifelong investment in the program. But denying Jackson, in a short time, has effectively created a culture that makes SDSU more difficult to leave than most FCS schools would be delusional. So, how did he do it? Jackson digs into that and unveils the process and philosophies that led to the new players he took in from the transfer portal, including a Notre Dame quarterback, an SEC offensive lineman, and a bunch of proven Div. II studs. Other topics covered in the 75-minute conversation: * The Class of '26 high school signees most likely to make an immediate impact * His coaching staff retention and shifts * How (and how much) he deals with NIL agents * How SDSU goes about packaging NIL deals to attract or keep its best players * His continued friendship with Rogers, who has ironically consulted Jackson about taking over a program that lost a heap of players to the transfer portal Before the Jackson conversation, the host dares to tackle an idea most Minnesota Vikings fans may find absurd until you break it down — Perhaps the Vikings should take a swing at trading multiple first round draft picks for the Las Vegas Raiders' coveted No. 1 draft pick... and take Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza fresh off yet another spectacular performance against future NFL prospects in Monday's national championship victory. If Kurtiss Riggs thinks Mendoza would be an ideal and instant fit for Kevin O'Connell, perhaps the idea doesn't seem so farfetched.
    The host navigates the reality of the possibility and why PTSD from the Hershel Walker Trade should not steer the Vikings away from the idea.
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    1 h y 34 m
  • John-o-logue: Should Vikings trade a haul to draft Fernando Mendoza as QB of future?

    John-o-logue: Should Vikings trade a haul to draft Fernando Mendoza as QB of future?
    Jan 21 2026
    If Kurtiss Riggs thinks Mendoza would be an ideal and instant fit for Kevin O'Connell, perhaps the idea doesn't seem so farfetched.
    The host navigates the reality of the possibility and why PTSD from the Hershel Walker Trade should not steer the Vikings away from the idea.
    Más Menos
    21 m