If I could sum up this year in one word, that word would have to be FRUSTRATED. I am not just frustrated in the football team, but I am frustrated with student attendance, adult attendance, and just a general apathetic feel we have right now. Part of me is saying that "you have to be kidding me" when it comes to Dome Expansion. Heck, we can't even fill the seats we currently have.
I hate apathy. I just frickin' hate it. I realize right now on this page I am singing to the choir, but I am a person that is filled with passion and I have a hard time understanding why most everyone else is so frickin' apathetic?
? I probably have 20 years left of what I would call quality living and I don't want to wait that long for USD to transition to being D-1. I want to join that new league and compete and win. That is exactly what I expect. I also expect a coaching staff and a administration that expects that and demands that of themselves. Right now, outside of a few very impassioned fans, I don't see it.
Part of the apathy is the result of Vermillion, SD. You go and talk to key people in the city and key people in the school, and they are at odds with one another. If you listen to the city people, they have an argument that USD's administration and staff is arrogant to them and won't listen. And you know what? They are probably right. Then I hear that local leaders and business leaders won't respond to the University. And you know what? They are probably right.
People, someone has to take the lead and be the bigger man and fix this problem. The people of Vermillion should expect their University to be open to them, and the University should expect total local support. We no longer are this D-2 program out in the plains of SD that make the playoffs about every 10 years or so. We are a D-1 school that is two years away (and a few breaks) of making what would seemed impossible 10 years ago the NCAA DANCE in basketball. Or the FCS playoffs in football. Or contend in track and field for a national title. People, it's possible. Year in and year out? NO. Maybe every 3-5 years? Hell yes.
Why in gods name can't we get people into the Dome and get excited about watching football? Why can't the town of Vermillion and USD FIX their damned problems and use both sides resources and build a new arena? If you start drawing 4000 people to a basketball game you will find local business prosper and do well. Then the USD pennants start hanging, and signs welcome visitors to Vermillion, South Dakota the HOME OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA COYOTES.
Then snot nosed spoiled ass kids quit leaving for the weekend and stay and support their school in whatever sport is playing. And people in Sioux Falls and Sioux City and Yankton start coming and creating a raucious atmosphere in all sports. But hell no. Unless they are drawing for free tuition, or the Coyotes are 8-0 and undefeated, the WE just don't show up anymore. I DON'T GET IT. WHY?
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I am blessed and want to pass on to you my experiences this year. I am lucky in that I have a wife that loves sports as much as I do. My kids are gone so I have weekends free, and I have the financial resources to travel to games (and it isn't all that much). I have tailgated in Fargo, Orlando, Minneapolis, Cedar City and Davis. You know what? Every time was a blast. A freakin blast. But I have no better time in my life than FOOTBALL SATURDAY in Vermillion. Those 4 hours of tailgating, sharing stories, laughs, memories is something money can't buy. yet the price is so cheap. I don't miss and if I do, I hate it more than about anything. I have friends in SF that played that talk a big game, but when it gets right down to it, they don't give a plugged nickel. In fact, they will call me and ask if I have extra tickets left. And these are people that make decent money and money is not an excuse.
Th younger people on here and that support USD, your family always should come first. Always. But your alma mater should always be counted as well. I didn't think it was possible to have more fun in Vermillion than I did my 4 years there in the 70's, but hell, I have more fun now. And seeing people I haven't seen in years or months is a blast. That, plus we have an exciting football team...win or lose. We aren't going to win them all, and yes Coyote Fan, we should have and need to expect to win more than we are.
But right now I am totally and unequivically mentally bankrupt when it comes to USD sports and its so called fans. We have a great deal going. Where can you go and get season tickets to a D-1 school near the floor for $150? Honestly, where can you get entertained for less than that? mens and womens.
Regarding football, I am not ready to throw Ed under the bus. I am a friend, and friends don't do that. However, I am not blind either. It has to get better, and has to get better now. That means Ed has to change. He needs to owe up to responsibility on mistakes anyone on the team makes. He needs to coach his coordinators. he needs to wear a headset and listen as to what is going on. He has to do this or we will fail.
Team wise, I will first tell you that this group of kids are extremely nice kids and represent USD well. I travel with them, and they never fail to talk or let you be a part of them. Good kids, and I mean that.
But from a technical standpoint, if you want to win, and win soon, our DEFENSE needs a total overhaul. Our D-front is not good, period. Is the talent there? I don't know, I really don't. But I do know that if you do lack talent then they HAVE to form an identity. Something such as the hardest hitting team anyone plays, or gang tackling lik never seen before. Make our opponents pay the price to play us. That IS NOT EVEN CLOSE to being there. They need to tatoo people and have them fear us. As far as a tackling team, WE SUCK. We try and pull the ball out and teams get another 3-7 yards as we sit there yanking the ball. Gol Darnit, HIT THAT SOB AND KNOCK HIM ON HIS ASS, and I guaranty that ball will come out.
Right now to me, the USD world is apathetic. Fans, administration, coaches and mostly students. Change now. In 2 years, we are full fledged D-1.
There is an old saying that goes something like this:
YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION