Imagine being the father of the all-time leading passer at not just his high school, but the entire 12-year history of the state's largest class, who caps off his prolific career leading his team to a state championship. Pretty cool, huh? Now imagine his younger brother, a sophomore, replacing him the very next season and taking almost zero adjustment time to torch defenses all the same... and also pilot the same school to a state title repeat. Double the pride! Double the fun! Now, imagine being a part of the offensive coaching staff that schemes up the plays for both sons and gets to be around them through every practice and every locker room celebration. Then, you get to take over the play-calling duties for the younger son in his junior season, when he once again lights up defenses and scoreboards. Oh, and the boys' older brother was a senior receiver at the same school the first year you joined the coaching staff, meaning you have had the opportunity to coach all three sons at the varsity level. This has been the football life of Lincoln offensive coordinator and Sioux Falls native Travis Schafer the last five seasons. His oldest son, Ty, the receiver, went on to win a national championship in college with Northwestern (Iowa). Youngest son Brody was the state's best QB and state championship MVP last season right after middle son Tate held those distinctions in 2023. Tate is now a redshirt freshman at the University of Sioux Falls and is expected to make his first career college start next week after coming off the bench — one play into the game — to throw for 384 yards, run for 70, and scored five total touchdowns in a 35-14 road win at Southwest Minnesota State to wash away some of the blues from the Cougars' heartbreaking come-from-behind loss to arch rival Augustana the week before. Yeah, the father, Travis Schafer, is beaming with pride, and he beamed through a 22-minute Happy Hour conversation about his kids and how they grew up to be champions. He also gave insight into working under Patriots' head coach Jared Fredenburg through 28 wins in Lincoln's last 30 games. It's all part of a Thirsty Thursday Football Forecast edition of Happy Hour from the Orion Pub. John Gaskins and Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer lead off with previews of this weekend's games of local interest: - #2 South Dakota State at Murray State
- #22 South Dakota at Northern Iowa
- HSFB: #1 Brandon Valley at #4 Harrisburg
- Nebraska at Minnesota
- #11 Tennessee at #6 Alabama
Specifically, what should we expect out of the Jackrabbits and Coyotes as road favorites at bottom-tier MVFC teams who are struggling to score and win? What type of "Battle of the Burbs" do we expect from the Lynx and Tigers?
Can the Huskers prove Matt Rhule right, that the explosion of speculation involving his potential candidacy at Penn State was a distraction the Big Red are capable of overcoming, along with their dark recent history against the Gophers (1-6 vs P.J. Fleck and a decade since their last win in Minneapolis)?
Between all the gridiron gabbing, a conversation with Augustana hockey coach Garrett Raboin, whose Vikings are receiving votes in the Top 25 poll at the start of their third season of existence and opened the season with a two-game split at Minnesota-Duluth, who is receiving even more votes.
How has Raboin turned Augie into such a high caliber program in such a short time? What kind of dues did the Vikings have to pay in their own conference the first couple seasons? What kind of style should fans at fancy Midco Arena expect to see?
Patrons in that facility will see a Top 25 ranked opponent on South Dakota ice for the first time in the state's history on Friday and Saturday when No. 15 Arizona State skates in. That's right, hockey powerhouse Arizona State. Raboin explains that oddity, too.
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