Vermillion

Coming off the loss, I like the South Dakota team whenever they're playing at home.

It is real tough to win in Vermillion.

And Indiana State has played better.

I have been impressed.

No. Gene Thin Elk, uh, he was a spiritual man.

Um, but he, but he also worked over 30 years at the South Dakota State University in Vermillion, South Dakota, and so he was also an educator.

Uh, and so, so with, uh, with these, um, spiritual teachings, he was able to create, um, he was able to create, uh, a product, uh, uh, uh, you know, um, a workbook I guess, you know, for lack of a better word, to be able to share that with, with, uh, our Native communities to help them heal from addiction and mental illness.

Um, and so that, that was, uh, something he did for his whole career.

Yeah.

So we were there until w- when I was going into sixth grade, then we moved to Vermillion, South Dakota.

And yes, my dad was my high school principal.

Um-

Tanager, so I have no idea where it comes from because I think a Tanager's from the Amazon.

[laughs] Oh.

I think it's an, I think it's an Amazonian red bird, which, I don't know, I know geography a little bit, but I don't think that Vermillion, South Dakota is anywhere close to Brazil and-

So you went from a Bird to a Wildcat.

They host Sturgis Brown at six o'clock.

Single A, Madison hosts Vermillion.

Dell Rapids home to Milbank.

Lennox hosting Canton.

Yeah.

So eighth graders get on the bus and head to Brookings or Vermillion or some other state school.

What kinds of things do you hear on the bus? Because you've been on those buses on the way up versus the way back.

Yeah.

We talked a little bit about before we started recording, but you're from Adel, Iowa, not that far from Des Moines where I'm at.

Are the winters that much worse in Vermilion than they are back home?

Oh, I mean, the funny thing is, is that we actually kind of sometimes say that Vermilion is like the Miami of South Dakota, because there's times where like the entire rest of the state is like blizzarding.

And then Verm is just like nice 50 degrees and sunny and stuff.

And so there's been even times where my parents have like texted me back in Iowa and been like, oh, it's like, you know, school's canceled today and stuff.

College football action, USD, is going to welcome in Eastern Washington this weekend for Native American Heritage Day.

Also, Family Day in Vermillion, 1 o'clock on ESPN+.

Augie's going to be home to Minot State.

Coach OJ talking about the Beavers and the challenge they present in what could be a pretty darn testing matchup.