South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

[Coyote_Fan]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Milwaukee Jacks Alum,

I guess we disagree that the speed is much greater in FCS. I think it is a little better but not alot. I think the biggest difference is that the speed of defenses seem to be better and the speed at the positions like Defensive End or Linebacker seems to be better. If my theory isn't correct I guess USD is already got decent speed on their team. So far USD has played as good or better on the road than they did last year against teams such as North Dakota, UNO, Central Washington and West Texas.

USD is basically the same team as they were last year. A little more experienced on defense and alot less experienced on offense. As far as net gain or loss I definately wouldn't say this years teams is any better than they were last year but especially no better than they were 2 or 3 years ago.

Ok I hate to go here again but USD is plain and simply a mediocre road team at best. They don't play the good teams very well at all. So far against UNI and SE Lousiana they were certainly not taken back so much by the difference in the level between FCS and D2 that they can't hang. They certainly can. USD is playing slightly better than I thought but they still have 2 losses to show for it. The NCC is a great place to come from to be able to be competitive right away in D1. It's been proven over and over except for UNC but who knows what happened to them. Assuming USD plays how they have been or a little better and assuming UND has success (which I think they will) that would make it 4-1 for NCC teams in relatively quick success vs failure at the next level. If we were talking about the NSIC or perhaps the RMAC that might be a different story. I think those types of programs would really struggle in D1. I think the difference between the NCC and the NSIC is bigger than the difference between the NCC and D1. Just my opinion.

I certainly have nothing against D1 FCS I think it's a great division to be in. The thing I like about it is that the parity is much closer than what you will find in D2. I am very much looking forward to next fall when the schedule becomes much better overall. I think you can judge USD after year 2 as far as the kind of progress they will have (or not have) made. If USD has trouble winning a good portion of their home games against D1 schools then I will say they have a problem with transitioning. Until then the jury is still out.

[JimmyJack]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

I'm fairly impressed with USD's start in FCS. They've hung with a top-ten program and nearly beat a Southland team. (They're 0-3 against the SLC, though, while SDSU is 6-1 against the Southland, losing only to Texas State a few years ago. We've beaten UCA twice, McNeese, Nicholls, SFA, and Texas State, and we'll beat SFA again in a couple weeks).

Shepard is a very good QB, and their defense is playing OK. Unfortunately for USD fans, now they're stuck with Culver Stockton as an opponent, but that's transition for you. Their depth will improve as the years pass.

[rabidrabbit]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

The only problem is last year Yote fans were making all kinds of noise about how their team would fare in the FCS and boasting that the upper DII schools were better than over half of the FCS schools. Along those lines, USD fans were claiming they would fare well in the FCS based on their recent success in DII. I'm not trying to start smack with pointing that out. Just showing that maybe the SDSU fans had some reason to question those boasts from USD. FCS is a much faster game. The depth of talent is much better. There is a distinct difference in the overall talent of each level. USD fans are likely beginning to realize that. SDSU had a rude awakening in just our first game...and that wasn't even against a full-fledged FCS team.

An area of concern for USD has to be in recruiting. In the last 10 years at the DII level, SDSU historically out-recruited USD for area players. Course SDSU was getting out-recruited by UND and NDSU, but that's another issue. When SDSU went FCS, USD saw a spike in recruiting. That is due to alot of influences - better coach at USD, less fighting over the same players with NDSU & SDSU, a string of success at the DII level, etc.

Now USD is back fighting NDSU, SDSU and UND for recruits. NDSU is coming off a year where they were ranked number 1 in the country for most of the season while beating 2 FBS teams along the way. SDSU is coming off of 2 seasons where they were ranked in the top 25, are constantly setting new attendance records at Coughlin, won their first conf title in decades, and beat NDSU last year to spoil their perfect season. Even a staunch USD supporter has to admit SDSU football is enjoying the most momentum this program has ever seen. Add to that the beginning of this season and the inclusion into the MVFC and USD is going to be hard pressed to win many recruiting battles. That is not pro-SDSU retoric, just a basic fact.

The fact of the matter is that USD has to be successful right now because of how well NDSU and SDSU transitioned. USD is in the undesireable position of a lose/lose situation. If they do reasonably well in the transition (let's say they mirror SDSU's success each step of the way) it's not that big of a deal because SDSU and NDSU already did it - it's expected of them. If they fall on their face and go the UNC route, everyone will be bemoaning the fact that they felt they had to follow the D1 route instead of stay and build on being the DII power they had become. It's worse than the prospects of SDSU at the time because there was no bench mark already set. If we fell on our faces (like in B-ball) it would have been a bunch of "that's what you get for thinking you're too good for DII".

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

This is a GREAT Write-up. Thanks MJA!

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Milwaukee Jacks Alum,

I guess we disagree that the speed is much greater in FCS. I think it is a little better but not alot. I think the biggest difference is that the speed of defenses seem to be better and the speed at the positions like Defensive End or Linebacker seems to be better. If my theory isn't correct I guess USD is already got decent speed on their team. So far USD has played as good or better on the road than they did last year against teams such as North Dakota, UNO, Central Washington and West Texas.

USD is basically the same team as they were last year. A little more experienced on defense and alot less experienced on offense. As far as net gain or loss I definately wouldn't say this years teams is any better than they were last year but especially no better than they were 2 or 3 years ago.

Ok I hate to go here again but USD is plain and simply a mediocre road team at best. They don't play the good teams very well at all. So far against UNI and SE Lousiana they were certainly not taken back so much by the difference in the level between FCS and D2 that they can't hang. They certainly can. USD is playing slightly better than I thought but they still have 2 losses to show for it. The NCC is a great place to come from to be able to be competitive right away in D1. It's been proven over and over except for UNC but who knows what happened to them. Assuming USD plays how they have been or a little better and assuming UND has success (which I think they will) that would make it 4-1 for NCC teams in relatively quick success vs failure at the next level. If we were talking about the NSIC or perhaps the RMAC that might be a different story. I think those types of programs would really struggle in D1. I think the difference between the NCC and the NSIC is bigger than the difference between the NCC and D1. Just my opinion.

I certainly have nothing against D1 FCS I think it's a great division to be in. The thing I like about it is that the parity is much closer than what you will find in D2. I am very much looking forward to next fall when the schedule becomes much better overall. I think you can judge USD after year 2 as far as the kind of progress they will have (or not have) made. If USD has trouble winning a good portion of their home games against D1 schools then I will say they have a problem with transitioning. Until then the jury is still out.

It's like a love fest in this place right now. Not sure what's going on, but I agree with you. One of the problems with USD's horrible home schedule this year is it does not allow any basis on judging the quality of USD's team. Part of the move up to FCS is the fact that there are rarely any weeks where a team can take it easy. Even if USD has their own version of a UW Lacrosse game, there is really nothing that can be deceminated from the NAIA/DIII games. Not faulting USD entirely for scheduling those games because we had to go through it to a certain extent as well. (However, we had more transitioning partners with us who agreed to home/home series which helped us out - USD doesn't have that.)

The one thing even USD fans would have to admit is they really blew it by not jumping to D1 when SDSU did. My earlier post pointed out the lose/lose situation they are in as far as their future success goes. On top of that, there are less transitioning teams making the jump with them, so most FCS schools don't want to schedule them because they aren't a FCS counter for playoff considerations. Because of that, you end up scheduling 4 "Culver's" of the world. That doesn't say anything about the women's and men's basketball schedules.

[jacksfaninne]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Coyote Athletics

and

The University of

South Dakota Foundation

Invite you to join in some tailgate fun!

...

(North end inside the DakotaDome)

Seriously? Playing the game inside isn't sacrilegious enough?

[jackmd]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Seriously? Playing the game inside isn't sacrilegious enough?

Excellent point. As you already know, I have no intention of watching a game at the dump much less tailgating, or whatever it is they are offering, inside the dump. If I'm going to be inside watching FB on such a beautiful weekend it will be in Iowa and it doesn't look like that is going to happen either.

[Grizzled_Jack]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

As of now, this thread has 22 posts, one less than the USD Board on the same subject. I wish South Dakota well in transition, but that's kind of sad. Is there really that little fan interest?

[Coyote_Fan]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

It's like a love fest in this place right now. Not sure what's going on, but I agree with you. One of the problems with USD's horrible home schedule this year is it does not allow any basis on judging the quality of USD's team. Part of the move up to FCS is the fact that there are rarely any weeks where a team can take it easy. Even if USD has their own version of a UW Lacrosse game, there is really nothing that can be deceminated from the NAIA/DIII games. Not faulting USD entirely for scheduling those games because we had to go through it to a certain extent as well. (However, we had more transitioning partners with us who agreed to home/home series which helped us out - USD doesn't have that.)

The one thing even USD fans would have to admit is they really blew it by not jumping to D1 when SDSU did. My earlier post pointed out the lose/lose situation they are in as far as their future success goes. On top of that, there are less transitioning teams making the jump with them, so most FCS schools don't want to schedule them because they aren't a FCS counter for playoff considerations. Because of that, you end up scheduling 4 "Culver's" of the world. That doesn't say anything about the women's and men's basketball schedules.

I agree that USD should have made the move earlier, probably when Northern Iowa moved up in the late 70's (or was it the 80's). I agree that the home games are just not disirable. I am very much looking forward to next year in probably just about every sport. USD's football schedule will be much better and it was just announced that in Mens Hoops the Coyotes have agreements with Moorhead State for a pair of home and homes. They also have a trip to Wyoming in 09-10 with a return trip from the Cowboys in 10-11. The Yotes also get to play Texas Tech and Kansas State in 09-10 as well. The nice thing, and I realise it's only a little nice, is that the Yotes get to play a full slate of home and homes against the Great West teams as well. That is in 09-10. It sure beats NAIA's.

[JimmyJack]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

As of now, this thread has 22 posts, one less than the USD Board on the same subject. I wish South Dakota well in transition, but that's kind of sad. Is there really that little fan interest?

I'm not a fan, but I have to admit having USD in FCS makes me a lot more interested in their program. I listened to the UNI game, for heaven's sake.

[Yote53]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

There is alot of agreement on this tread and I concur with most everything that has been said (well not the tailgating/Dome part).

Regarding recruiting battles, USD has never recruited as heavily in South Dakota as SDSU or even NDSU for that matter. USD is has traditionally pulled a few kids form SD, but a bulk of them came from Iowa and Nebraska. The trend at USD the last few uears under Meierkort has been to recruit regionally. We are now pulling kids more kids out of the Chicago area, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. No suprise, that is where Ed is from and where his contacts are. Add that to the handful off recruits we get out of Florida, Texas, and California each year and you could literally say USD recruits nationally. This is nothing new, we have been pulling recruits out of those last few states for years.

Point is, I really believe history shows USD has had its recruiting tentacles spread out all over for a while. SDSU may pull the bulk out of this state but I don't think there is anything new about that.

[Nidaros]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

There is alot of agreement on this tread and I concur with most everything that has been said (well not the tailgating/Dome part).

Regarding recruiting battles, USD has never recruited as heavily in South Dakota as SDSU or even NDSU for that matter. USD is has traditionally pulled a few kids form SD, but a bulk of them came from Iowa and Nebraska. The trend at USD the last few uears under Meierkort has been to recruit regionally. We are now pulling kids more kids out of the Chicago area, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. No suprise, that is where Ed is from and where his contacts are. Add that to the handful off recruits we get out of Florida, Texas, and California each year and you could literally say USD recruits nationally. This is nothing new, we have been pulling recruits out of those last few states for years.

Point is, I really believe history shows USD has had its recruiting tentacles spread out all over for a while. SDSU may pull the bulk out of this state but I don't think there is anything new about that.

Being a transitional member of D1, there is in the NCAA regs something that USD must deal with that they did not have to at D2. That is the cerification process and applying it to each and every student athlete. The student/athlete must make progress towards obtaining a degree in order to maintain their eligibilty. If you grab an athlete for athleticism only, you can soon expect troubles with the NCAA especially if you ignore this progress towards a degree.

I guess SDSU is not national. We have no one from Florida. But we got Minnett from Ruthon Minnesota.

[JimmyJack]

Re: South Dakota vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Point is, I really believe history shows USD has had its recruiting tentacles spread out all over for a while. SDSU may pull the bulk out of this state but I don't think there is anything new about that.

The makeup of the two rosters really isn't all that different. USD has 8 fewer South Dakotans.

Here's SDSU's roster breakdown this year:

South Dakota: 26
Iowa: 18
Minnesota: 14
Nebraska: 8
Texas: 7
Wisconsin: 6
Arizona: 5
California: 4
Missouri: 3
Georgia: 1
Hawaii: 1
Kansas: 1

And here's USD's roster breakdown:

South Dakota: 18
Minnesota: 13
Iowa: 10
Nebraska: 8
California: 12
Illinois: 7
Texas: 3
Florida: 3
Colorado: 3
Nevada: 2
Arizona: 2
Wisconsin: 2
Louisiana 1