usdlaw
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Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Dec 27, 2010 9:40:00 GMT -6
Agreed Yotemeal, well put
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Dec 27, 2010 9:42:28 GMT -6
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Dec 27, 2010 9:43:51 GMT -6
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Dec 27, 2010 9:44:18 GMT -6
FYI, I'll find a new spot to post these
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Post by yotemeal on Dec 27, 2010 9:49:44 GMT -6
JackJD posted a couple of thoughts on SDSUfans, and I largely agree with him on several important points. Sorry they're a little longwinded; blame him "I've noted that some fans of another school in the state are a little critical of the Argus Leader's coverage of their school when compared to the Argus coverage of SDSU. They seem to think there should be something like 'equal treatment' by having equal column inches of print.
While print journalists are professionals who are dedicated to certain ideals, a newspaper is still a business and has to be profitable in order to provide its service. The Argus knows sports reporting often helps sell newspapers. It's meant to inform AND entertain and sometimes stimulate a little discussion. Good sports writers report the facts but often add a dash of opinion or personal observation and sometimes a pinch of boosterism (or, when appropriate, criticism). The sportswriter serves as the eyes and ears of the fan who couldn't be at the game as well as the fan who was at the game but wants to have a recap to read after the game.
I grew up reading some very talented sportswriters including big names like Jim Murray from the LA Times but also some great local guys like the Rapid City Journal's Don Lindner and his staff and former SDSU Sports Info Director Ron Lenz who had been the Sports Editor of the Watertown Public Opinion. John Egan at the Argus wrote some nice columns and stories.
Giving more attention to reporting on the team everyone wants to read about only makes sense. SDSU's image and the rapidly growing fan base clearly support the Argus decision to assign the very talented Terry Vandrovec in reporting on the Jackrabbits. SDSU is the #1 university in the Argus circulation area and I don't see that changing. It appears the Argus sees it that way too."
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"It seems every sports fan in Nebraska resident is a fan of the Cornhuskers. I've noticed that Nebraska natives playing sports for other colleges and universities continue to follow their Cornhuskers. Can SDSU attain that level of support in SD? Matching Nebraska's saturation rate may be impossible but there's no question in my mind that's the direction we're going and this Christmas shopping season anecdotally support that conclusion.
I'm in Watertown. Ten years and longer ago, one didn't see a lot of SDSU gear on the street. That was probably due to lots of factors including the proximity of Watertown to Brookings and the natural rivalry between WHS and BHS. Ten years ago, it was just as likely you'd see a Minnesota or Nebraska logo on a shirt as you would SDSU.
Boy, has that changed! One can purchase Jackrabbit gear in several stores in Watertown and I'm sure there's far more SDSU apparel being worn in town than all other college sports apparel combined.
Once again SDSU gear and other SDSU-branded gifts were under our tree for Christmas. Most was acquired in Watertown although some was acquired from SDSU's bookstore on campus and the one in downtown Brookings.
When shopping in one store, we noticed there was gear from several universities including USD but very little SDSU gear. We asked (next best thing to buying is asking about it so that the store manager knows there's demand) why they didn't have any SDSU hoodies and were told that they had lots of SDSU gear but it sold out fast -- it was the first college apparel that sold. They wished they had ordered more.
I know I'm not the only Jackrabbit who makes a point of asking about Jackrabbit gear while shopping. It's a little grass-roots activitism that can contribute to the spread of SDSU image throughout the state and the region. I think SDSU is picking up fans who have no direct connection with the school -- didn't attend, didn't have family who attended etc. But they're wearing the sweatshirt and know we had a good shot at beating the Gophers last week and beating Nebraska in football last fall.
How's the SDSU image in your town?" As a continuation of my previous point, USD fans must support their expectations with action.
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Post by Yote 53 on Dec 27, 2010 10:15:01 GMT -6
Well, go walk into the Scheel's in Sioux City. They have Iowa and Nebraska gear, obviously, along with Iowa St. Then a USD and UNI section as well as Morningside and Briar Cliff, since they are local colleges. I don't see any SDSU gear, never have. Although, I'll give SDSU some credit, they are pounding the Sioux City market with billboards and radio ads.
I guess I would expect to see SDSU gear in Watertown given its proximity to Brookings just like I expect to see USD gear in the Yankton Dunham's Sports, which there is.
USD fans need to start complaining to the Scheel's staff in Sioux Falls and other places if they don't have merchandise available and you are looking to buy.
I was at the bball game against LMU and the crowd wasn't very good. The students were gone on break and it was the week of Christmas. Excuses, yes, but factors. I cannot stress how badly USD needs a basketball facility.
If I remember correctly USD and SDSU had very similar attendance numbers for football this season. SDSU had some big gates early, but hardly anyone showed up for the late season games including the UND game. USD's attendance will grow, especially now that we are in the MVFC. We've increased attendance from our D2 years and did it with some real dogs on the home schedule. Get a good home schedule and win some games and attendance should really start to take off.
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Post by Yote 53 on Dec 27, 2010 10:26:46 GMT -6
4 of those Top 10 stories in the P&D were USD stories. So much has happened for USD in 2010 I have almost forgot that so much happened.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Dec 27, 2010 10:28:19 GMT -6
I did complain to Scheels staff one day. The manager on duty, because the crabby young lady didn't want to help or listen to me anymore, was a USD grad. But do you want to know his response. We don't sell enough of it. There is a shrine to SDSU at the Sioux Falls store. Now ... we have since gotten there attention a little. The Sioux Falls and Sioux City store have added several items in the last few months. I know because my old roommate works at the Sioux City store and we got some email responses from the Sioux Falls store.
I went and bought one thing from each store, even though to be honest I didn't really like the selection. But I figured if I complained that much I better buy something. So I did.
When the manager responded to me, my response was - well of course you don't sell anything you hardly have anything on the shelf and what you do have kind of sucks. It looked like it was stuff straight out of a 1980s calender.
But ... it has gotten better. Scheels, like the Argus, is a business. And they won't change anything unless we as a fan base start growing.
There is one other plausible response - I heard this from someone the other day. I didn't author it, just repeating it. The reason you see so much SDSU gear around town is because to those people that is dressing up. To a USD fan dressing up is wearing a suit. USD fans wear USD gear around the house, etc. Don't kill the messenger, just repeating a funny idea!
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Post by 88grad on Dec 27, 2010 11:08:58 GMT -6
Nice dig.... kind of along the lines of if you want to work on the farm you go to SDSU - if you want to own the farm you go to USD.
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usdlaw
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Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Dec 27, 2010 11:26:07 GMT -6
True, although these days with land prices I don't think you can own a farm unless you already have serious money. It's hard to imagine a young kid graduating from SDSU being able to buy farm ground and make it work. The only people I see buying land are investors, existing large operation farmers, Sioux Falls money doing 1031s, or out of state hunters.
Sorry off topic a little.
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Post by yotemeal on Dec 27, 2010 12:43:02 GMT -6
For what it's worth, I do seem to notice a lot of USD license plates (relative to other SD universities). I have them and I encourage all of you to get them. It costs an additional $10 to get the organizational plate i.e. the plate that leaves a space for the decal (these are also good plates to get if you're a Lincoln/Minnehaha County resident and want to avoid the dreaded "1" or "44" license plate during hunting season.), and I believe a $50 donation to the USD alumni association to get the actual decals.
If you're concerned about cost, at least buy a USD license plate holder.
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jackjd
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Post by jackjd on Dec 27, 2010 12:55:02 GMT -6
Nice dig.... kind of along the lines of if you want to work on the farm you go to SDSU - if you want to own the farm you go to USD. Yotemeal: Another example of what you and I have talked about and the essay "Howlers". Comments like the above may have been a little funny many years ago but they're pretty dumb now. Of course, the premise (SDSU grads don't own farms, they're only laborers on farms) is flat wrong and provably so. Reminds me of the dumb comments I heard people from Augustana make when I was at USD: suggesting USD grads would be working for Augustana grads. I haven't seen that happen.
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usdlaw
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Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Dec 27, 2010 14:33:43 GMT -6
I think it was all in good fun my JD friend. NO serious attack meant.
But what is "the essay 'Howlers'"?
Nothing more than razzing the old "you can go anywhere from here" commercials when several of the people chosen went on to USD to further educate themeselves.
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Post by Yote 53 on Dec 27, 2010 15:03:14 GMT -6
Howlers is a short story in some State grad's writings on the life and viewpoints from Brookings. From what I understand it is now Jackrabbit doctrine and required reading for SDSU fans.
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jackjd
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Post by jackjd on Dec 27, 2010 19:55:28 GMT -6
Howlers is a short story in some State grad's writings on the life and viewpoints from Brookings. From what I understand it is now Jackrabbit doctrine and required reading for SDSU fans. I'm not going to trade barbs. I had referred to "Howlers" in past discussions with Yotemeal because I think it helped explain why many SDSU fans were disinterested in resuming play on the field with the Coyotes. That's 'disinterested' -- not hostile, not anything other than a "ho-hum" attitude. Poking fun at people working in agriculture fits what the author was talking about in "Howlers" in my opinion. Unlike Yote53, I do not claim to know the reading habits of SDSU fans.
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