The SDSU Dilemma

[Coyote Fan]

I was actually going to start this topic directly after the Summit tourney and prior to that after the football game. It is time to keep it under wraps no longer.

The Jackrabbits are absolutely a dilemma for USD. For those that have always thought that having a strong, or potentially a very strong Jacks athletic program is good for everyone, more particularly the State of South Dakota. Do people continue to feel that way that are supporters of USD?

The strength of the Jacks in men's basketball could already be having residual effects. We don't know if the strength of their program and as a result the Coyotes not making the NCAA tourney had an effect in Craig Smith leaving but it certainly can't be ruled out. Does Smith not being able to get by them at the Summit Tourney possibly lead him to looking for another job just a little more aggressively. Now that Smith is gone obviously that is going to lead Mooney to take a long hard look at his future. If the Coyotes had gotten to an NCAA tourney by now and not run into the buzz saw that is the Jacks would Mooney believe it was more likely that the Coyotes could get to the tourney again. If Mooney leaves, what are the chances that others follow. I think it would be fair to say that Smith's departure could be setting the program back at minimum a year if not multiple years.

With SDSU's success they continue to get more media attention and as of now recruits are probably going to choose SDSU more often than they will USD but there is much more to it than just their success in relation to USD's. It is very fair to say that SDSU has cost the USD Women 3 NCAA tourney appearances and the men at least 2. That is a ton of missed opportunities that can be pretty much attributed to one rival University.

In football losing to them may have been the difference between the Coyotes getting a home playoff game vs a road game. The Coyotes still have not defeated them as a D1 school.

[kiyoat]

Smith was going to leave, win lose or draw. In fact, If we had gone to the tourney this year, it's an even more sure chance he leaves. Probably for a better job. IMO Smith got out-coached in the title game, and you can't really blame that on State.

In Football we had serious depth issues on defense in the latter part of the season. How are you going to blame state for that? The cramp-show was lame, but it wasn't the reason we lost that game. You can't sit there and blame the Jacks for every single success or failure of our teams, unless you don't mind looking like an ass. (I'm sure you don't, but I don't care to represent our fans that way.)

Success begets success. I want to beat the Jacks, but I don't want their program to smolder and turn into a dumpster fire, just like any other conference member. That's cutting off your nose to spite your face. All the Summit teams need to pull their weight. The time will come when Coyote teams are beating the Jacks on a regular basis. Crying about it only makes you look silly and weak.

That's all I'll say on the subject. If I post in this thread again, I'll probably lose it and be banned. Goodbye.

[gopheryote]

So, I guess that means bring Augie in ASAP because a head start means having a forever advantage.

[elcoyote]

(Sigh) Well, it was nice while it lasted.

[Yote 53]

There is no dilemma. None of this is about the Jacks. You need to understand that this is a process. Building a program is a process. Winning championships is a process. It takes time, sometimes longer than we'd all like, but the payoff is going to be oh so sweet.

I look at where we are at right now and am filled with excitement. Football, it will happen. I don't even look at the Jacks as the obstacle. The obstacle is, like it has always been, the Bison. They've earned that respect, BTW, with their decades of excellence on the gridiron. It's something great, a great benchmark, and a great standard to achieve, and I firmly believe we will achieve it, very soon. We should actually thank the Bison for pushing that bar so high. Coach Nielson will get us to that promised land. I see it, I see it building, I believe it. It will happen.

I am excited for Coach Lee. I'm not a basketball guy, at all, but I can see it with him. The guy is everything great I could imagine for this basketball program. I love his history. I love how he has had to work, HARD, for everything he has achieved so far. If he can instill even a part of that hard work ethic into his team, they will be champions.

Dawn P. is already there. She's great. That program is great and will only achieve more and more success.

Our track programs, volleyball, softball, cross country, swimming and diving, soccer, all on the right track. Holy smokes, I am underselling our track program, the real crown jewel in our athletic department.

I guess I am not like you, CF. There are so many great things happening in Coyote Athletics, more than I could have imagined since I first walked on campus in 1991. I've watched this place transform, had a front row seat. This isn't even the same place. Sometimes I can't even believe the levels this University has achieved, from what it was back then to what it is now, and I'm not only talking athletics but also academics, buldings, infrastructure, the entire enchilada.

For all that I really, truly, want to thank the man at the top, President Abbott. True visionary, a true leader. Doc Farber, his statue has been kind of lonely there in the middle of campus. I think a President Abbott statue would keep him company, just fine. The people in the administration, the Foundation, right now I'm thinking of Ted Muenster, just a great guy who has meant so much to USD. The folks in the athletic department, Herbie and his predecessors who guided us through the transition. Just fantastic people. Those who served so many years at this school, guys like Dave Lorenz who guided so many of our Coyote athletes. We owe so many thanks to these people and many, many more.

I guess I just don't share the same attitude, or the same vision as you, CF. It's been a fantastic ride, being a Coyote, and it's going to get even better in the future. I truly believe that.

Yeah, I've probably gone over the top. I've reread this a few times, and I have to say, it's a damn good post. Pretty much sums up the feelings of a lot of Coyotes, IMO. I don't have an SDSU dilemma. It's not about them, this is our story, it's about US.

[elcoyote]

Apr 6, 2018 22:54:18 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

There is no dilemma. None of this is about the Jacks. You need to understand that this is a process. Building a program is a process. Winning championships is a process. It takes time, sometimes longer than we'd all like, but the payoff is going to be oh so sweet.

I look at where we are at right now and am filled with excitement. Football, it will happen. I don't even look at the Jacks as the obstacle. The obstacle is, like it has always been, the Bison. They've earned that respect, BTW, with their decades of excellence on the gridiron. It's something great, a great benchmark, and a great standard to achieve, and I firmly believe we will achieve it, very soon. We should actually thank the Bison for pushing that bar so high. Coach Nielson will get us to that promised land. I see it, I see it building, I believe it. It will happen.

I am excited for Coach Lee. I'm not a basketball guy, at all, but I can see it with him. The guy is everything great I could imagine for this basketball program. I love his history. I love how he has had to work, HARD, for everything he has achieved so far. If he can instill even a part of that hard work ethic into his team, they will be champions.

Dawn P. is already there. She's great. That program is great and will only achieve more and more success.

Our track programs, volleyball, softball, cross country, swimming and diving, soccer, all on the right track. Holy smokes, I am underselling our track program, the real crown jewel in our athletic department.

I guess I am not like you, CF. There are so many great things happening in Coyote Athletics, more than I could have imagined since I first walked on campus in 1991. I've watched this place transform, had a front row seat. This isn't even the same place. Sometimes I can't even believe the levels this University has achieved, from what it was back then to what it is now, and I'm not only talking athletics but also academics, buldings, infrastructure, the entire enchilada.

For all that I really, truly, want to thank the man at the top, President Abbott. True visionary, a true leader. Doc Farber, his statue has been kind of lonely there in the middle of campus. I think a President Abbott statue would keep him company, just fine. The people in the administration, the Foundation, right now I'm thinking of Ted Muenster, just a great guy who has meant so much to USD. The folks in the athletic department, Herbie and his predecessors who guided us through the transition. Just fantastic people. Those who served so many years at this school, guys like Dave Lorenz who guided so many of our Coyote athletes. We owe so many thanks to these people and many, many more.

I guess I just don't share the same attitude, or the same vision as you, CF. It's been a fantastic ride, being a Coyote, and it's going to get even better in the future. I truly believe that.

Yeah, I've probably gone over the top. I've reread this a few times, and I have to say, it's a damn good post. Pretty much sums up the feelings of a lot of Coyotes, IMO. I don't have an SDSU dilemma. It's not about them, this is our story, it's about US.

Absolutely outstanding post!

[Coyote Fan]

Of course it is about the Coyotes but no one University has been as responsible for Coyote heart break as SDSU has been. NDSU really hasn't taken much away from the Coyotes. They have never eliminated the Coyotes from the basketball tourney and haven't been responsible for really altering the Coyotes football path either. I would say as much as people would like to discount it, SDSU is indeed a dilemma if making the NCAA tourney in basketball is a big deal for Coyote fans. The Jacks have been directly responsible for eliminating Coyote teams and many times those Coyotes teams were the higher seeds. They stand in the way of Coyote athletics in a big way. Of course athletics are progressing at USD but that doesn't change the facts.