UND coach Eric Schmidt downplaying 9 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Portland State
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Sep. 7—GRAND FORKS — Eric Schmidt's coaching background is deep in evening kickoffs.
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He was an assistant during UND's era in the western-based Big Sky Conference. He has coaching stops at Fresno State, Washington and San Diego State.
Now, as head coach of the Fighting Hawks, Schmidt says he doesn't plan to overthink a 9 p.m. central kickoff time at Portland State on Saturday.
UND, 2-0 with a pair of blowout wins in Grand Forks, takes to the road for the first time this season. The Hawks will travel late Friday afternoon with a new No. 6 ranking in Monday's release of the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
"I think you don't make too big of a deal about it," Schmidt said. "I can remember teams when we were on the West Coast, making a huge deal about it. How they're going to change their sleeping patterns, how they're going to travel, all that kind of stuff. Honestly, it's probably harder coming back. The next week is where really you feel it a lot of times.
"You get to sleep in a little longer. We'll do some extra things with mobility and meetings and walk-throughs, but I'm not big on giving these guys a bunch of meetings and things like that. I think everybody gets prepared differently. It's just a matter of us going out there with the right energy and the right effort and focus on Saturday night. We'll do some things different on Sunday just because we'll get back really early in the morning."
UND experienced a night kickoff already this season in the Thursday night season opener against Long Island University, where the Fighting Hawks led 42-0 at halftime before winning 42-21.
"You approach the same way as any other game," UND starting safety Tyler Erkman said. "Obviously, you're in the hotel a little longer, but it's the same process as any other week."
The Hawks will also start late the following week at Nebraska, a 6:15 p.m. kickoff in Lincoln.
"It's a different time, and you have to make sure you get that internal clock going a little later and get an energy drink or something like that, but you need to be locked in for that entire day," UND offensive lineman Trace Thaden said. "You can't lay around all day. You have to get the body moving. Can't lay around all day and expect to play well."
UND will travel nearly 30 players making their first trip with the Hawks to Portland State.
"The thing that is awesome about a road game is you just get some time with you and your team," Schmidt said. "You get to spend a bunch of time together. A lot of times at home, you have all these events you need to attend. You're away from your team with recruiting. You can leave all that stuff now back in Grand Forks and get on the plane and have one single mission to go somewhere and win."
Portland State plays home football games now in Hillsboro, Ore.
Hillsboro Stadium, which seats about 7,600 fans, is about 16 miles west of Portland State's downtown Portland campus.
On Monday, the Saturday weather forecast for Hillsboro is a high of 66 and a low of 50 with a 15 percent chance of rain at 3 p.m.