GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- For senior linebacker and captain Ryan Kasowski (Grand Forks, N.D.), last Thursday's loss at Idaho was a hard thing to be a part of.
Mistakes and turnovers hampered the University of North Dakota football team, which at times played with the FBS-level Idaho. That wasn't the team Kasowski saw the during the hours, weeks and months of commitment last summer.
"We made a lot of mistakes last game," Kasowski said. "We're going to work hard this week in practice to try and sure that stuff up."
The challenge ahead is another tough one. The Fighting Sioux travel to Northern Illinois, another Division I-FBS team, on Saturday.
There were lots of positives to take from UND's first game. The offense was able to move the ball well between the 20s. The defensive was able to get lots of pressure on the quarterback.
This week it's a continuation of those positives. Move the ball well, now punch it into the end zone. Keep the pressure, eliminate the lapses or missed coverages.
"You've got to move on," said senior defensive back Kris Ankenbauer (Murphy, Texas). "You've got to come back to practice hungrier, work harder, figure out the mistakes you made, correct them and come out a better football team."
Energy level
The Fighting Sioux certainly aren't feeling sorry for themselves. Both the team and the coaches were fired up this week during practice.
The team's energy level was high throughout the week. The coaching staff kept a tight leash on the squad, as the team went through the variations in the Northern Illinois offensive formations.
Some scout team members got a little different variety. Early in the week, redshirt freshman tight end Brendan Mochoruk (East Grand Forks, Minn.) was sporting a red jersey usually reserved for quarterbacks. Instead it allowed the UND defense to spot where the Huskies line up their tight ends and other slot backs.
Bus trip
The Fighting Sioux are heading to DeKalb, Ill., by via the road. After a morning practice, three buses are slated to leave Grand Forks at noon on Thursday and travel to Madison, Wis. On Friday, the Sioux will head to Dekalb for a walkthrough on the field.
UND's radio analyst Mike Berg, a longtime coach at Grand Forks Central high school, said he wasn't looking forward to the bus ride. Berg said he retired from coaching hoping he'd seen his last bus trip. There's also a little cross city battle on Friday between Central and Red River High School that had him contemplating staying in Grand Forks for an extra day and driving himself.
Welcome to the family
One coach who is probably looking for a little more sleep this week may be assistant coach Josh Kotelnicki. Kotelnicki and his wife Sarah welcomed Thomas Adam, who was born on Saturday.
Congratulations to the Kotelnickis.
