The Jackrabbit’s season ends in Missoula as the Jacks fall to the Grizzlies 50-29.  It was certainly not the outcome any Jackrabbit fan wanted but Montana looked pretty dang good on Saturday.  These end of season “Rants & Raves” are tough because it is basically a summary of the season and the final game.  Some years I have skipped the final R&R altogether but I think too much happened this season that that needs to be addressed.

Rands & Raves

Rave: To the players who came back when it felt like everyone else was leaving.  You made sure that this team still had high expectations.  You made sure that Dan and staff felt welcomed.  You made us fans believe.  Thank you for your time and efforts for South Dakota State University.

Rave: To Coach Jackson, Coach Bergstrom, and Coach Eidsness that came back to steady the ship and sure that the culture that Coach Stig built over the years was not lost due to a chaotic transition.  THANK YOU.

Rave: To all of the new guys that bought in to being Jackrabbits.  Maybe it is only for this season or maybe you’ll be in Brookings for a few more years.  Thank you for doing your best and competing this year for the yellow and blue.

Rave: To the fans that stuck it out amidst the confusion of the transition.  It was our first taste of truly feeling betrayed by a coach.  It was a rude awakening to the modern world of college athletics and while many of us have moved past it, many still haven’t.  Wherever you are at in that grief world, thanks for still showing up to support the Jackrabbit team.

Rave: In terms of the on field play, I am really excited for next season.  Of course, there is no real way to know who the transfer portal will take and who we will get BUT I’m confident that the guys who choose to stay Jackrabbits will fight.  It sure SOUNDS like most major contributors want to return and win a championship next season.

Rave: There were plenty of questions surrounding Chase Mason this season and I think he answered them all.  Another off season learning from Coach E and developing the details of being an elite QB will be huge for him.

Rave: How about that wide receiver room?  Alex Bullock, Grahm Goering, and Jack Smith formed a pretty damn good trio.  Imagine if Lofton had been healthy for a full season!?  If Lofton returns and with news being shared this week that Grahm will receive a 6th season, that Jacks will have the top wide receiver room in the MVFC entering next season.  Also, bringing back Greyton Gannon and Coleman Kuntz will be huge as well. Plenty of weapons!

Rant: It’s wildly disappointing that the Jacks simply could not get their special teams figuring out in 2025.  It felt like every week it was a different area making mistakes.  I have repeatedly blamed this on the lack of experienced depth on the roster.  I still think this is the case but special teams MUST be better next season.

Rave: I’m excited to see the competition unfold along the offensive line next year.  The group has to be more consistent but there are many good young players in that room that I think will push to see the field and raise the bar and level of consistency.

Rave: Likewise in the running back room!  The three freshman that played this year (Basinger, Blair Jr, and Johnson) all flashed and had their moments.  They now get a full off season to dive into their workouts and into the intricate details of playing college running back.  I’m expecting a huge jump from all three.

Rant: The fall off of our secondary from the non-conference season to conference play was steep.  The first four games showed a secondary that was flying around making plays and blanketing people.  Yesterday, at times it looked like our feet were stuck in quicksand.  What happened to go from soooo good in those opening weeks to the lost unit that we saw yesterday?  The cornerback loses virtually every rep at outside corner while Noah St-Juste will be back in the slot.  Jalen Lee, Dontay Johnson, and Noah Thompson return at safety and one JUCO is already committed.  The secondary has to be better next year or the Jacks will not make it much further in the playoffs.

Rant/Rave: I think one of the biggest “what if’s” of this season is in regard to Reis Kirschenman and Chase Van Tol getting hurt. In those first couple of games, Reis looked like a man possessed.  Hopefully he can get his shoulder right and be back, better than ever for next year.  For Chase, he may not have been having an All-American type season but I think he was an eraser for our defense.  His speed and athleticism fixed the mistakes of others.  I know he was close to playing this week so hopefully he enters the offseason program in a good spot.

Rave: Logan Green really blew me away this season.  Coaches have been impressed with him since he got to campus but it never really materialized into a lot of playing time.  It caught my attention when he was named a captain and then he burst out of the gate with a bunch of sacks this season.  He’s really good and I think he’ll have a huge senior season next year.

Rant: The Jacks have to be more disciplined next year.  The 15 yard penalties were really really rough.  As I have shared on the podcast, I was at practice in August when a pretty good scuffle broke out after a semi-late hit right on the sideline.  The scuffle made Coach Jackson call the practice early.  I heard Coach Jackson tell the players that they had to get themselves under control.  He told me after practice that the Jacks in previous years had way too many unsportsmanlike and personal fouls but that they were just so much more talented than everyone else that they could overcome it.

Rave: Thank you to our sponsors who continually say “YES” when asked if they want to re-up for another season.  I am still stunned that someone enjoys hearing us talk about the Jacks enough to give us money.

Rave: To Zach Borg, Tanner Castora, and Matt Zimmer. Thank you for being great partners!  The work you three do covering the Jacks is incredible and as a fanbase we are very fortunate to have your talent.

Rave: To Alex, Ben, Brendan, Chad, and Dallas. Thank you guys for continuing to work with me.  What we have built is pretty awesome.

Rave: To our spouses and families. Thank you for supporting this stupid hobby that takes way too much time.

Rave: To YOU the person reading this.  Thank you for supporting us.  Thank you for buying our beer, buying are t-shirts, reading, watching, commenting, and spreading the good news about the Jackrabbits. You are the reason Jackrabbit nation is great.

Game Balls (Season Long Awards)

Offensive Player: Alex Bullock

Defensive Player: Kobe Clayborne

Special Teams: Max Pelham

Go Jacks!

Matt