Ben Leber digs into Vikings QB quandary, defense, Harrison Smith comeback odds, new GM & front office

Ben Leber digs into Vikings QB quandary, defense, Harrison Smith comeback odds, new GM & front office

The former Minnesota Vikings linebacker (2006-10) and South Dakota Sports Hall of Famer has had almost unparalleled access for over a decade as a sideline analyst and postgame locker room interviewer for the Vikings Audio Network. The Vermillion High School alumnus has seen the performances of Arizona Cardinals import Murray and Vikings top 10 draft pick McCarthy up close at recent Vikings mini-camps. Leber also knows Coach Kevin O'Connell's complex and at times wildly effective offensive system well. He has a breakdown on how those two QB's have run the offense so far and what their advantages are within it. Yes, Leber has a prediction on who will win the job and when "splitting reps" will — or at least should — turn into "No. 1 gets most of the reps." Leber also weighs in on a Vikings defense that was top 5 in the NFL in many metrics last season but has lost some playmakers. He also assesses the hiring of first-time general manager Nolan Teasley, who has brought over two of the top three lieutenants from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks' front office.

FULL SHOW: SDSU JFPA president Ryan McKnight and Summit League TV-streaming talk on an early Thirsty Thursday with Trent Singer

Ryan McKnight tackles the meatiest issues facing South Dakota State football the same way he blocked tacklers in the old Great West conference: He comes right at you, fearlessly and with abandon. The former All-American center who was part of the Jackrabbits' first FCS playoff team in 2010 returns to Happy Hour a year after walking us through his unique football journey [http://sports/happy-hour-sdsu-all-america-center-ryan-mcknight] from Sioux Falls Washington Warrior to SDSU walk-on to All-American. This time around, McKnight looks back on the 2025 season and predicts big things for 2026. He also weighs in on a possible FBS future for SDSU, how well NDSU will compete right away in the Mountain West, and the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga at Texas Tech. McKnight is closer to the players and coaches in the Jacks program than most people on the planet. He is the founder and president of the Jackrabbit Former Players Association (JFPA), which regularly uses former players' resources to help fund the program's endeavors. For example, players consume thousands of pounds of beef during the summer months—beef sourced directly from farms owned by alumni who are cattle ranchers. Another example: Next Friday's JFPA Football & Cheer Youth Camp and the following days JFPA golf outing. Both events will feature "A-List" former SDSU football players, including some who currently play in the NFL. Thirsty Thursday on a Wednesday with Trent Singer Before the McKnight conversation, Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer joins the Happy Hour host for their weekly "Thirsty Thursday" podcast from Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls. This week's episode airs on Wednesday and covers: * The Summit League's decision to stick with its streaming and national television package [https://www.inforum.com/sports/college/summit-league-extends-current-tv-rights-package-another-four-years] partners from Midco Sports (streaming) and CBS Sports Network (live games — 7-9 games in regular season, plus both men's semfinals and both championship games). Happy Hour garnered insight from a local Summit League school official who was part of a 7-0-1 vote to continue with Midco and CBS. What were the main reasons to continue the partnership and not go back to a deal with previous streaming and over-air carrier ESPN (via ESPN+ streaming and tourney title games on ESPN2 and ESPNU)? Other recent local headlines discussed: * Sioux Falls Christian hoops stud Brant Wassenaar's commitment to former SDSU coach Eric Henderson and Drake [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/prep/sioux-falls-christian-hoops-star-brant-wassenaar-commits-to-drake] * Harrisburg setter Josalyn Samuel's commitment to Nebraska [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/prep/harrisburg-standout-josalyn-samuels-commits-to-nebraska-volleyball] * Rapid City native Simeon Birnbaum's NCAA championship in distance running with Oregon [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/from-rapid-city-to-ncaa-champion-simeon-birnbaum-reaches-the-top] * Augustana volleyball coach Jennifer Jacobs steps down at odd time [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/jennifer-jacobs-steps-down-as-augustana-volleyball-head-coach]

Summit League TV & streaming stays with Midco & CBS Sports Network & other local topics on a Thirsty Thursday (but Wednesday) with Trent Singer from Orion Pub

Sioux Falls Live sports reporter Trent Singer joins the Happy Hour host for their weekly "Thirsty Thursday" podcast from Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls. This week's episode airs on Wednesday and covers: * The Summit League's decision to stick with its streaming and national television package [https://www.inforum.com/sports/college/summit-league-extends-current-tv-rights-package-another-four-years] partners from Midco Sports (streaming) and CBS Sports Network (live games — 7-9 games in regular season, plus both men's semfinals and both championship games). Happy Hour garnered insight from a local Summit League school official who was part of a 7-0-1 vote to continue with Midco and CBS. What were the main reasons to continue the partnership and not go back to a deal with previous streaming and over-air carrier ESPN (via ESPN+ streaming and tourney title games on ESPN2 and ESPNU)? Other recent local headlines discussed: * Sioux Falls Christian hoops stud Brant Wassenaar's commitment to former SDSU coach Eric Henderson and Drake [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/prep/sioux-falls-christian-hoops-star-brant-wassenaar-commits-to-drake] * Harrisburg setter Josalyn Samuel's commitment to Nebraska [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/prep/harrisburg-standout-josalyn-samuels-commits-to-nebraska-volleyball] * Rapid City native Simeon Birnbaum's NCAA championship in distance running with Oregon [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/from-rapid-city-to-ncaa-champion-simeon-birnbaum-reaches-the-top] * Augustana volleyball coach Jennifer Jacobs steps down at odd time [https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/college/jennifer-jacobs-steps-down-as-augustana-volleyball-head-coach]

Jacks JFPA president & former All-America center Ryan McKnight on the '26 squad, possible future in FBS, and other CFB issues

Ryan McKnight tackles the meatiest issues facing South Dakota State football the same way he blocked tacklers in the old Great West conference: He comes right at you, fearlessly and with abandon. The former All-American center who was part of the Jackrabbits' first FCS playoff team in 2010 returns to Happy Hour a year after walking us through his unique football journey [http://sports/happy-hour-sdsu-all-america-center-ryan-mcknight] from Sioux Falls Washington Warrior to SDSU walk-on to All-American. This time around, McKnight looks back on the 2025 season and predicts big things for 2026. He also weighs in on a possible FBS future for SDSU, how well NDSU will compete right away in the Mountain West, and the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga at Texas Tech. McKnight is closer to the players and coaches in the Jacks program than most people on the planet. He is the founder and president of the Jackrabbit Former Players Association (JFPA), which regularly uses former players' resources to help fund the program's endeavors. For example, players consume thousands of pounds of beef during the summer months—beef sourced directly from farms owned by alumni who are cattle ranchers. Another example: Next Friday's JFPA Football & Cheer Youth Camp and the following days JFPA golf outing. Both events will feature "A-List" former SDSU football players, including some who currently play in the NFL.

NLA: Zim on SDSU hoops newcomers, Buxton bombs, Sorsby leaving CFB, grown men wearing jerseys, World Cup interest, Dawn Plitzuweit extension, and Murray vs. McCarthy

There are weeks when Matt Zimmer and the Happy Hour host are flooded with wild local sports events or crazy controversies to react, with passionate opinions bursting like fireworks for a full hour on the weekly "Nobody's Listening Anyway" podcasts. And then there are weeks like this one in the middle of June. It's that time of the year when the mellow and dreamy 1967 Dr. Saxlove song "Groovin' on a Sunday Afternoon" comes to mind. Except, well, it's Tuesday. Which brings to mind the 1967 Moody Blues song "Tuesday Afternoon." Just as the weather shifts with every season and the sporting calendar changes speeds from "drinking from a firehose" to "a nice light sip here and there," so, too, does the nature of the weekly NLA chat. Perhaps you enjoy the more leisurely pace of baseball and golf to fill the time between the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals and the start of August football training camps. If so, you'll enjoy the lighter side of life this week with Matt and John. Oh, sure, they covered the latest on the Brendan Sorsby gambling scandal at Texas Tech, which took the turn Zim predicted last week. And, a deluge of incoming transfers to South Dakota State's basketball team certainly has Zim's tentacles perked about what changes are in store in Bryan Petersen's second season. But for the most part, this is about 45 minutes of lounging on the porch with an ice cold beer to the tune of topics like: * Zim's rules for grown men wearing (or not wearing) jerseys of college and professional athletes— at least in public. Hint: It depends on the age. * The Happy Hour hosts strories of 90's A-list comedians David Spade and Tom Green being naughty at University of Nebraska homecoming pep rallies * What to make of Byron Buxton putting on a bomb show night after night while the rest of the Twins struggle to generate a spark? * What to make of Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy splitting mini-camp reps? Is this really going to be an actual QB1 battle? * Dawn Plitzuweit & Mark Coyle's contracts were extended at the University of Minnesota. While Plitzuweit's deal is a no-brainer, how much does Coyle deserve to continue leading all the Gophers sports? This requires a dissection of his football and basketball coaching hires. * From this, a South Dakota-related Richard Pitino story emerges. Hey, it's June. And we're just groovin' on a Tuesday afternoon. Pull up a lawn chair, grab a beer, and groove with us.