NORTH DAKOTA STUDENT-ATHLETES ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW.
OCTOBER 2019
FREE
Table of contents
10 UND Volleyball A conversation with new head volleyball coach Jeremiah Tiffin.
40 North Dakota On The Tube Once again in 2019-2020 North Dakota leads the region in television exposure.
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Survey Says Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a North Dakota student-athlete on a daily basis? In this issue, we ask Fighting Hawks student-athletes the tough questions about their coaches, sports and anything you can imagine. Get to know your favorite teams on a deeper level as we present these survey results.
what's inside 46
2
Athletics Calendar
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
44 Mason Bennett
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Champion’s Club
Senior defensive end Mason Bennett has made his presence known throughout his career in Grand Forks.
A DEEPER DIVE INTO FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE
WHAT TO EXPECT The best possible content about the Fighting Hawks with stories you may have never read about before. We want to be your voice. Tell us what you want to see in the magazine by emailing info@fightinghawksmagazine. com.
Three issues coming in 2019-20 October, December and March) This is your tool on how you can become more active with the athletic department. We will do our absolute best to put as many action items as possible in the magazine so you know what’s happening.
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OCTOBER 2019 VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 10
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Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a North Dakota student-athlete on a daily basis? In this issue, we ask Fighting Hawks student-athletes the tough questions about their coaches, sports and anything you can imagine. Get to know your favorite teams on a deeper level as we present these survey results. Survey results are anonymous and are not associated with a specific student-athlete.
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FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
9
V O L L E Y B A L L 10
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1
WHAT’S ONE FUN FACT YOU LEARNED ABOUT COACH TIFFIN SINCE JOINING THE TEAM? He Knows Sign Language/He Worked At A Funeral Home
2 3
WHICH CONFERENCE OPPONENT DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING MOST? “NDSU, always a good crowd.”
WHAT PART OF YOUR GAME DID YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR AND HOW DID YOU DO IT? “The biggest part for me was adjusting to the speed of the game, defending quicker and speeding the offense up when setting. I think most of this has to do with reading the other side of the court more. I would say this change mostly occurred in practice by having the older girls and coaches push me to take my game to the next level, but it is still something I work on every day.”
4
WHO DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER ON THE TEAM AND WHY? McKenzie Damon “I think McKenzie Damon is the best defensive player because she works hard and throws her body to get the ball up.”
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
5
WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO THIS SEASON 10 YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL REMEMBER THE MOST? The Travel “All the good times me and my teammates have off the court, mainly the away trips and being in hotels.”
6
WHO DID YOU ROOM WITH DURING ROAD TRIPS AND WHAT MADE THEM A SUITABLE ROOMMATE? N/A (The Team Swaps Roommates Each Road Trip) “Every road trip we switch so it rarely is the same person. Everyone likes it cold in the night so that’s just what I need to sleep soundly.”
7
HOW DO YOU KILL TIME WHILE TRAVELING FOR AWAY MATCHES? Listening To Music/Homework
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F O O T B A L L 12
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
1
WHICH NFL TEAM ARE YOU THE BIGGEST FAN OF? Minnesota Vikings
65%
of athletes said
2 3
WHAT’S THE TOUGHEST AWAY STADIUM YOU’VE PLAYED IN? Fargodome North Dakota State
56% of athletes said
WHICH PRO COACH WOULD YOU LOVE TO PLAY FOR? Bill Belichick
35% of athletes said
4 5
WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO POSTGAME MEAL? Pasta, Burgers, Sushi, Chick-Fil-A and Pizza
WHAT PLAYER IN THE NFL AT YOUR POSITION DO YOU TRY TO MODEL YOUR GAME AFTER AND WHY? JJ Watt “Because he is an animal on the field and such a dominant defensive player.”
6 7
WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE QUALITY YOU LOOK FOR IN A LEADER? A. Commitment
35%
of athletes said
B. Attitude C. Confidence
D. Ability To Inspire E. Other
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE QUALITY ABOUT HEAD COACH BUBBA SCHWEIGERT? “His passion towards us players and wanting us to be great.” “How much he cares for us as not just players but people.” 13
M E N ’S T E N N I S 14
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1
IF YOU COULD PLAY A TENNIS MATCH AGAINST ANY PROFESSIONAL PLAYER, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Nick Kyrgios
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
2
WHICH CONFERENCE OPPONENT DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING MOST?
Drake Or Denver
3
WHAT’S GRAND FORKS BEST-KEPT SECRET? The Weather
4
33% ofathletes said
WHAT MAJOR TOURNAMENT WOULD YOU RATHER PLAY IN AND WHY? U.S. Open or French Open “French Open to play at home.”
5
WHO HAS THE BEST SERVE ON THE TEAM AND WHY? YOU CAN’T SAY YOURSELF. “Andreja [Petrovic] because he can hit it anywhere and it is tough to read.”
6 7
HOW HAS TOM WYNNE HELPED YOUR GAME? “Coach Tom has helped with game plan on the court and being able to stay in the match and battle.”
WHAT AWAY TOURNAMENT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST THIS SEASON? Spring Break Tournament In Orlando, Florida
100% of athletes said 15
W O M E N ’S T E N N I S 16
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1
IF YOU COULD PLAY A TENNIS MATCH AGAINST ANY PROFESSIONAL PLAYER, WHO WOULD IT BE? Serena Williams
2 3
WHICH DO YOU PREFER: DOUBLES OR SINGLES? Singles (according to five players)
WHAT EVENT IN GRAND FORKS DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO MOST EVERY YEAR? “I love homecoming week. I love when alumni come back and support and catch up with us current athletes.”
4
WHAT MAJOR TOURNAMENT WOULD YOU RATHER PLAY IN AND WHY? Wimbledon or the U.S. Open “If I could pick any tournament to play in it would be the US open! I think it would be amazing to play in my home country and my game is best on hard court.”
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
5 6 7
WHO HAS THE BEST SERVE ON THE TEAM AND WHY? YOU CAN’T SAY YOURSELF. “Allie {Ochotorena] because she has an aggressive serve that she is able to use with many different spins.”
HOW HAS TOM WYNNE HELPED YOUR GAME?” “Coach Wynne has been such a huge help to both my physical game and my mental game in my years at UND. He is an amazing coach and just an amazing person in general, who will put his athletes before anything.
WHAT’S THE KEY TO HAVING A GOOD DOUBLES PARTNER?
“Communication and team chemistry are critical!”
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MEN’S
T R A C K & F I E L D
Photo By Waack Creative
1
IF YOU COULD ONLY EAT ONE THING BEFORE A MEET WHAT WOULD IT BE? A. Carbs B. Fruits D. Smootie C. Protein E. Other 75% of athletes
2
18
A. Strength
75% of athletes
3
B. Motivation C. Technique/Form
IF YOU WEREN’T A TRACK ATHLETE, WHAT SPORT WOULD YOU PLAY AND WHY? “Ultimate Frisbee. Just always something I’ve been interested in, wish I had enough time/energy to do it alongside running.”
4
/
X C
HOW HAVE THE COACHES BEEN HELPFUL TO YOUR DEVELOPMENT?
5
IF YOU COULD COMPETE IN AN EVENT THAT YOU DON’T ALREADY COMPETE IN, WHAT WOULD IT BE? “I would compete in the pole vault. It’s so unique and I always thought it would be fun to try.”
WHAT’S BETTER — INDOOR OR OUTDOOR SEASON? “Outdoor for sure. Indoor tracks can get really stuffy and it’s tough to train in the cold, especially in North Dakota..”
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
6
7
8
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR A UND FRESHMAN?”
“It can be hard to adjust to the college lifestyle, but everything eventually gets better. Each day has its highs and lows. It’s important to stay focused but also have fun.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT HAVING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTER?
“North Dakota can get really cold, snowy, and windy, so it is awesome to have one of the top indoor facilities in the nation. It definitely makes training in the winter much more enjoyable.”
WHAT DO YOU DO AT MEETS WHEN YOUR EVENT ISN’T GOING ON? Cheer For Teammates 19
WOMEN’S
T R A C K & F I E L D /
X C 20
Photo By Dave Wallis
1
IF YOU COULD ONLY EAT ONE THING BEFORE A MEET WHAT WOULD IT BE? A. Carbs
60% of athletes
B. Fruits C. Protein D. Smootie E. Other
2
HOW HAVE THE COACHES BEEN HELPFUL TO YOUR DEVELOPMENT? A. Motivation
75% of athletes
3
B. Strength C. Technique/Form
IF YOU WEREN’T A TRACK ATHLETE, WHAT SPORT WOULD YOU PLAY AND WHY? “Soccer because everyone contributes something different to the team. No matter the skill level it’s always a great time.”
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
4
IF YOU COULD COMPETE IN AN EVENT THAT YOU DON’T ALREADY COMPETE IN, WHAT WOULD IT BE? High Jump
5
WHAT’S BETTER — INDOOR OR OUTDOOR SEASON? “Outdoor because everyone shows up and competes at their highest level.”
SOMETHING NEW YOU 6 WHAT’S LEARNED THIS SEMESTER? “Hard-boiled eggs take 12 minutes to make after the water starts boiling.”
7 8
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT HAVING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTER?
Warm Place To Compete During Winter “When it’s cold we know where we can go to get our workout in.”
WHAT DO YOU DO AT MEETS WHEN YOUR EVENT ISN’T GOING ON? Cheer On Teammates
100% of athletes said 21
S O C C E R 22
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1
WHAT IS HEAD COACH CHRIS LOGAN’S BEST TRAIT? His Humor “The way he pronounces schedule.”
2
CHOOSING ONLY ONE, WHAT’S THE BEST TRAIT A SOCCER PLAYER CAN HAVE? A. Hustle
100% of athletes
B. Anticipation C. Ball Skills D. Positioning
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
3
4
WHAT MAKES GRAND FORKS A GREAT COMMUNITY TO GO TO COLLEGE IN? The People “Grand Forks is a smaller town which makes the university a big part of the community. It is also a tight-knit school making it a fun college town.”
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE SOCCER? The Speed And Physicality
5 6
56% of athletes said
WHO WAS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SOCCER PLAYER YOU LOOKED UP TO? No Clear Answer Lionel Messi, Julie Ertz, Hope Solo, Cristiano Ronaldo and others.
ON A SCALE OF 0-10, HOW MUCH DO YOU LIKE PLAYING ON TURF FIELDS? 6 (six) 22% of athletes said
7
DO YOU HAVE ANY PREGAME OR MATCH DAY RITUALS YOU ALWAYS FOLLOW? WHAT ARE THEY?
“Yes, I have three; I read the Bible, Watch Champion League highlights specifically Man City, Liverpool because they have amazing strikers, and then I listen to music.” “I was always put my left sock on then my right sock and so on with my shin guards and cleats.”
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M E N ‘S G O L F 24
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1
WHAT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COURSE YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED ON? “Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas, was a fantastic track to play on.”
2
WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING COURSE AND WHY? “When we were back in the Big Sky Conference, we played at Boulder Creek in Boulder City, Nevada, that I thought was one of the most difficult courses I’ve played. It is a long course that if you miss the fairway on, scoring well is gonna be difficult and it has extremely fast and firm greens.”
3
HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN A HOLE-IN-ONE?
4
WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY OF NEW HEAD COACH TODD SCHAEFER?
“Unfortunately I have not. Still got my fingers crossed for the remainder of this year.”
“Above all he is a great person and truly cares about each one of us and has a deep desire to get back on a successful quest.” “He has a lot of respect for all of us and he truly wants us to succeed on and off the golf course.”
5
DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL ROUTINE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW BEFORE OR DURING A ROUND? WHAT IS IT? “I make sure to keep myself in a calm but focused mood during and after a round.”
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
6
WHAT’S THE BEST GOLF MOVIE AND WHY? “Happy Gilmore. One can watch it over and over and you’ll find something new each time.” “I really enjoyed The Greatest Game Ever Played because it tells a motivational story of a boy who goes from being a caddy to eventually winning the U.S. Open.”
7
WHICH COURSE ARE YOU LOOKING MOST FORWARD TO PLAYING AT THIS SPRING? “Looking forward to, as always, the Beau Mussato in Illinois as well as Sand Creek Station for the Summit League Conference Tourney.”
8
WHO DRIVES THE BALL THE FURTHEST ON THE TEAM? “I would say probably Jackson Davis, I’ve seen some long-ball hitters but none as far as him.” 25
W O M E N ‘S G O L F 26
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1
WHAT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COURSE YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED ON? “The most beautiful course I’ve ever played on was Hobble Creek in Utah. You’re basically playing in a valley surrounded by fall-colored trees. It’s amazing!”
2
WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING COURSE AND WHY? “The Dutch Legacy Golf Course in Brainerd. I wasn’t hitting my irons well, which is not good when there are a lot of hazards around.”
3
HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN A HOLE-IN-ONE?
4
WHAT’S THE SINGLE GREATEST PUTTING TIP YOU EVER RECEIVED?
5
DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL ROUTINE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW BEFORE OR DURING A ROUND? WHAT IS IT?
“Yes, I’ve gotten two on the same hole at Perham Lakeside Golf Course.”
“Putting is what can make or break your score. The best tip I’ve ever received is once my dad told me: always feel like you’re putting to a bucket. It makes the hole feel a lot bigger and gives you better pace control from those longer putts. You don’t always need to putt to make it!”
“Interestingly, my routine for each of my shots is different. For my driver, I just visualize my shot and then grip it and rip it. I’ve found that practice swings give me too much time to think. However, putting is completely different for me. When I putt, I always make 4 quick practice strokes while looking at the hole and then make my stroke.”
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
6
WHO HAS THE LONGEST DRIVING DISTANCE? YOU CANNOT SAY YOURSELF. “When Abby Schramel gets ahold of the ball, she can rip it.”
7
WHICH COURSE ARE YOU LOOKING MOST FORWARD TO PLAYING AT THIS SPRING? “I’m most looking forward to playing in Hawaii this year. I’ve never been to Hawaii, and I can’t even imagine how beautiful it is going to be!”
8
ON AVERAGE, BY HOW MANY YARDS WOULD YOU SAY YOUR FRIENDS LIE ABOUT THEIR DRIVING DISTANCES? “I would say our girls are pretty humble, so I’m not sure if anyone would lie about that”
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M E N ‘S B A S K E T B A L L 28
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1 2
WHO OR WHAT MOTIVATES YOU MOST? WHY? “Family, because they have sacrificed so much for me to be here.”
60%
of athletes said
WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO BEFORE COMPETITION? ANY SPECIFIC ARTISTS OR SONGS? Rap
89% of athletes said
3 4
WHICH CONFERENCE GAME IS CIRCLED ON YOUR CALENDAR? NDSU
78% of athletes said
WHO WAS/OR WILL BE YOUR MOST DIFFICULT NON-CONFERENCE MATCHUP? Gonzaga “I would say Kentucky last season but Gonzaga will probably be a very tough one as well.”
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
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WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERISTIC IN NEW HEAD COACH PAUL SATHER? Accountability And Passion “His passion for the game of basketball, and his love for this University..” “He holds us accountable and pushes us in a way that makes us wanting to be better every day.”
7
HOW DO YOU THINK UND HAS HELPED YOU MATURE INTO AN ADULT? “Knowing and taking care of my own responsibilities. Owning up to my mistakes and helping others more.”
5
WHICH COACH STILL HAS THE MOST GAME? Coach Dani Mihailovic
78% of athletes said
“It has brought me out of my comfort zone and helps me growing in my life and my journey every day.” “Being far away from home it has taught me how to be independent at and earlier age.”
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W O M E N ‘S B A S K E T B A L L 30
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1 2
WHO OR WHAT MOTIVATES YOU MOST? WHY? “My family is my biggest motivation. They have always pushed me to be my best, while being my biggest supporters through it all..”
WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO BEFORE COMPETITION? ANY SPECIFIC ARTISTS OR SONGS? Hip-Hop Or Oldies “Mostly hip hop and r&b. Lots of Drake, Migos, Da Baby, Lil Baby, Travis Scott and a lot more.” “OLDIES! Queen (Fat Bottomed Girls), Micheal Jackson (Man in the Mirror, Black or White), Def Leppard (Pour Some Sugar On Me) and Cyndi Lauper (Girls Just Want to Have Fun) are just a few.”
3
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
OUTSIDE OF THE BETTY, WHAT GYM DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING IN MOST IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE? SDSU “Frost Arena (South Dakota State University), because they bring one of the best fan bases behind the Betty. It creates an awesome environment to play in.”
4
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT UND SO FAR? “Clinical Practicum for my nursing major. It’s an exciting experience that I put my skills and studying into practice in the real world.”
5
WHICH COACH STILL HAS THE MOST GAME? Coach Emily Evers
6
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT HEAD COACH TRAVIS BREWSTER? His Care “His passion for our program and the way he genuinely wants us to become our best selves. Also his game day socks.”
7
WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO HELP IN THE COMMUNITY? “Getting to serve in the community is one of the biggest fulfilling things that we get to do as athletes here at UND. It is so important for us to use our platforms as student-athletes
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H O C K E Y 32
Photo By Russell Hons Photography
1
WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY OF HEAD COACH BRAD BERRY? Passion And Care For Players “Passion. Coach Berry has so much passion for the game of hockey and he makes everyone around him love hockey that much more.” “He cares about you as a person, not just a hockey player.”
2
WHO HAS THE HARDEST SHOT ON THE TEAM (CANNOT BE YOURSELF)? Cole Smith
3 4
HOW DO YOU DECOMPRESS AFTER A GAME? Netflix Or An Ice Bath
WHAT EVENT IN GRAND FORKS DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO MOST EVERY YEAR? Fan Fest Or The Johnny Holmes Concert
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
5
WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST (KID-FRIENDLY) CHIRP YOU’VE EVER HEARD DIRECTED AT YOU? “You look like the Lucky Charms guy.” “Never really heard a kid-friendly chirp.” “My sister could beat you in Fortnite.” “You look like a cereal box.”
6
WOULD YOU RATHER NEVER SHARPEN YOUR SKATES OR NEVER RE-TAPE YOUR STICK? Re-Tape Your Stick “Never re-tape my stick. I hate taping my sticks.”
7
70%
of athletes said
THE RALPH HAS MANY GREAT FEATURES, BUT WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF THE BUILDING, IN YOUR OPINION? WHY? The History “The best feature about The Ralph is all of the history it brings. Through all the alumni and different championship teams, right down to the original logos of UND.” “The best part of the building is all the banners hanging in the rafters.” “The history on the walls of people who have played before you.”
8
WHAT’S GRAND FORKS BEST-KEPT SECRET? Scotty’s Diner, Parrot’s Cay or Darcy’s
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FOOTBALL HOCKEY
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
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37
North Dakota On The
Tube Once again in 20192020 North Dakota leads the region in television exposure.
F
or the first time in North Dakota Athletics history, every home volleyball and basketball regular-season game was televised in 2018-2019. Midco Sports Network’s commitment to the North Dakota Athletics department and an upgraded control room in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center for games on FOX Sports North made the unprecedented coverage possible. In addition, all those games aired nationally on FOX College Sports as well. That unprecedented coverage continues in 2019-2020. The 2019-2020 television schedule for volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball include 17 games on MidcoSN and 13 contests on FOX Sports North. 30 out of 34 home regularseason games in The Betty are going to be televised in 2019-2020. All 30 will also be carried nationally on FOX College Sports. 38
University of North Dakota students and staff produce games that aren’t selected by Midco Sports Network. In the summer of 2018, the control room previously used to produce games for FOX Sports North transitioned into a new space and received equipment and technology upgrades. In 2018-2019 FOX Sports North carried all of the volleyball and basketball games Midco Sports Network didn’t produce ensuring that each home regular men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, hockey and volleyball games were on live TV. The results have benefited fans, studentathletes and coaches alike. “We are really fortunate to have strong relationships with the two leading regional sports networks in our area as well as a national platform,” North Dakota associate athletics director for external operations Kyle Doperalski said. “To be able to provide our student-athletes and coaches the platform of Midco Sports Network,
FIGHTING HAWKS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019
FOX Sports North with every home regular-season game is unheard of for a department at our level. The spotlights of MidcoSN and FOX Sports North have enhanced service to our alums and fans who are unable to attend each of our games as well as place our programs on the best networks in the region to help recruiting over other teams in our conference. Add in FOX College Sports for our fans around the country who want to follow, we truly have fantastic television exposure.” The control room itself has been upgraded to a modern production facility with the addition of dedicated production space and new equipment and technology. Some of the new equipment elements include Newtek’s NVG-1 graphics server by VizRT along with a new instant replay technology and audio system. The previous control room was a shared space with other functions in facility operations. This control room enhances the experience UND students get in live television production
Fast Facts Over the last six years, UND students and staff have produced 70 games on FOX Sports North. 21 of 24 home men’s and women’s basketball games will be live on either MidcoSN or FOX Sports North. In 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, 65 of 69 men’s and women’s basketball games and volleyball matches in The Betty have been televised by MidcoSN or FOX Sports North.
and streamlines production room communication and operation.
Sports North and available nationally on FOX College Sports.”
“The new equipment allows for a better viewing experience for our fans who can’t make it to the game,” Doperalski said. “It also improves student experience learning with state-of-the-art technology and a control room that is as good as it gets in The Summit League. We did the best we could with the makeshift arrangement of the past, but this takes the experience and production to a whole new level.”
With both basketball programs and the volleyball competing in the same facility the decision to move into better space and upgrade was that much easier.
There are athletic departments with all home basketball, football and hockey games on TV. However not many can say the same about volleyball. “Having each home volleyball game on TV is certainly a point of pride for us,” Doperalski said. “Outside of the autonomy five conferences and unique programs like Hawaii, I’m unaware of any volleyball program with every home game on live TV – let alone live on two powerful regional sports networks like MidcoSN and FOX
“With both basketball and volleyball competing in The Betty, it made a lot of sense to invest for the benefit of all three sports,” Doperalski said. “Before the upgrade, we were leaders in The Big Sky Conference in television exposure for those sports. Now with the upgraded technology in our control room, we are unquestionably at the top in The Summit League.” As has been the case over the last six years, UND students play key roles in the FOX Sports North productions filling many production duties as well as the on-air sideline reporter.
Photos By Russell Hons Photography
FAMILIAR TERRITORY Since you were an assistant at UND before you got the head job, how did that experience better prepare you for the head coaching position?
A conversation with new head volleyball coach Jeremiah Tiffin.
In your mind, why was UND the perfect fit for you and your family?
Having solid, established relationships with the players was a huge help when becoming the head coach. I had an idea of what they did well and what we should do to help them be successful.
We wanted to live in a town where we could raise our family, work at a school we could send our children and coach in a program that has the structure in place to win. UND and Grand Forks are a great place for all three of those goals.
Did that experience make the transition easier on you and your players do you feel?
What is one key to sustaining success on the court in your opinion?
Yes, it did. There was a feeling of familiarity; that there wasn’t going to be a seismic shift in what we were doing.
Communication and academics. If we communicate clearly and our players do well in the classroom then we should have very little turnover in our program. Older teams win and we don’t get old unless players stay all four years.
How would you like to put your own stamp on UND volleyball? I want our program to be known for having successful graduates. If we can accomplish our goals on the court and in the classroom, our players can graduate and have great careers. That’s what I want to be known for. What did you learn about yourself and your coaching style during your time coaching club teams? Club teams change constantly so I learned how to adapt to what you have. One system might work with one team and not another so I learned very quickly to work with the players and not force them into a situation that wouldn’t be beneficial to them.
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What is your vision for Fighting Hawks volleyball? I want to see our program competing for a conference title every year while being an Academic All-American program every year. Finally, I want to see our alumni involved in the program so that we can help each other both while they are students and after they graduate.
Tiffin’s Career
At A Glance Spent 2018 as the Associate Head Coach for North Dakota. Head coach of Our Lady Of The Lake University (San Antonio, Texas). Served as the recruiting coordinator at Baylor in 2014. Was previously an assistant coach and director of volleyball operations for the Bears. Head coach for Hill College (Hillsboro, Texas) from 2010-2013. Volunteer coach at Arkansas State in 2006. Spent 14 years coaching various age groups at the club volleyball level. Tiffin is a graduate of Baylor University.
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Photos By Russell Hons Photography
MAKING IT COUNT Senior defensive end Mason Bennett has made his presence known throughout his career in Grand Forks.
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What is the one key to getting by an offensive lineman?
How do you approach each game knowing that this is your senior season?
The effort, on the defensive line we talk a lot about effort pass-rushing, it’s something so simple yet effective. If you can give 110 percent effort every play and practice your craft you will be unstoppable. “Effort will never fail you”
This season especially I’m just trying to have as much fun as possible, this game is supposed to be fun and going out there battling down after down to get a win with my guys is what I love to do
You guys have played (and will continue to play) a tough schedule. What is the team’s mindset heading into each contest?
What improvements would you like to make to your game as the season goes along? Attention to detail mainly, just trying to be as perfect as possible every play from start to finish
Our mindset going into any game regardless of ranking is to play our style of football. Tough, Physical and Smart. The toughest team sets the rules and if you come out and punch them in the mouth first any team will fold.
As a senior, when you reflect on your time at UND, what memory sticks out to your the most?
What do you think is the biggest thing you’ve learned in your years at UND?
The 2016 season definitely, starting out 0-2 and winning the next 7 and bringing UND its first Division 1 conference championship was so motivating and something I will remember forever.
The biggest thing I’ve learned is to be patient and just work hard. Your time will come and you need to be prepared for that time. Work hard and when that time comes to take advantage of the opportunity. What lasting impact has UND had on you? In other words, what lessons will you take with you for the rest of your life? Just work hard at everything, you never know when an opportunity will arise. Just put your head down and try your best at everything
Bennett's UND Career To Date SOLO TACKLES
TACKLES FOR LOSS CAREER SACKS
TOTAL TACKLES
FUMBLE RECOVERIES 43
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hawk’s eye view S
enior running back James Johannesson rushes against Sam Houston State on September 14. The Fargo native rushed for a touchdown in the 27-23 Fighting Hawks win. Russel Hons Photography
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