Jan. 14—GRAND FORKS — If Jon Gruden didn’t know much about UND hockey before this week, he does now.
The former Super Bowl-winning coach, now a media personality, opened a box of UND hockey gear sent by the school this week.
Gruden has an ongoing segment where he opens packages on his social media accounts. He said UND was the first college hockey program to send him a box.
As Gruden rifled through the gear — a jacket, sweatshirt, long-sleeve t-shirt, short-sleeve t-shirt, shoes, autographed jersey and hat — he name-dropped several UND players past and present.
He mentioned goalies Jan Špunar and Gibson Homer, captain Bennett Zmolek’s shot blocking abilities and leading scorer Ben Strinden. He also discussed the careers of Brock Nelson, Jonathan Toews, Mike Commodore, Zach Parise, Brock Boeser, T.J. Oshie and Ed Belfour.
Gruden, who won the 2003 Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has 665,000 followers on Instagram, 473,000 followers on Facebook and 369,420 on Twitter/X.
UND coach Dane Jackson said Wednesday that deputy athletic director Erik Martinson came to the hockey offices with the idea. Equipment manager Dan Johansson shipped the package to Gruden.
Jackson included a note.
“Hi coach Jon, our staff and players at North Dakota hockey love your fire and passion you attack the day with. We try to emulate the intensity you live your life with, so we thought we would hook you up with some gear from North Dakota. Also, we would like to cordially invite you to come up to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to come watch a game. We have the finest arena in the NCAA and lead college hockey in attendance, so you would really enjoy it.”
Gruden said: “I gotta find out how to get there. I have never been to North Dakota and I have never been to a North Dakota hockey game. But I’m on a mission to get there.”
Oshie responded to Gruden’s post on X/Twitter, saying, “Let’s Go!! I’ll meet you there.”
Gruden answered Oshie: “that would be unbelievable to meet you! If you could break away from broadcasting, let me know and I will be there! We love you, brother.”
UND hosts Denver at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Gruden encouraged UND and Jackson in the video.
“In your first year, make it your best year,” he said. “Win a championship.”
