USD is in.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: USD is in.

Was it more of your success, or the fact that UND was bailing and the conference was going down that was the impetus for the move?

I'm not saying.......just asking.

What did the President of your university say?

[yotefan90]

Re: USD is in.

I think it was stated in the article from the P & D.

From the P & D yesterday.

http://yankton.net/articles/2009/04/...9402679095.txt


Despite the continuing objections by many people, USD was left with little choice about the D-I move once the North Central Conference folded and few NCAA Division II options remained, Abbott said.


In turn, Abbott worried that USD’s decision to remain in D-II at the time may have led the public to think it was not as strong a university as its Brookings counterpart.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: USD is in.

I would argue that its less about moving on and more about being excited about what we have accomplished at the DI level and not clinging to some expectation about a renewed rivalry.

And from the people I know I don't think it's about a renewed rivalry. The last 5 years we've been an Independent and then a new member of a conference where we knew one other team and kind of had to develop a rivalry with them. I think the addition of our biggest rival is exciting to many of us South Dakotans. It's not anything WE need by any means, but it will help.

And as far as NDSU, I think we'll always have a special place for them. And if USD would have moved up the same time we and NDSU did then we wouldn't have had the chance to build our rivalry with NDSU. The rivalry with NDSU is strong and only growing and I'm real happy for that.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: USD is in.

I'm glad to hear him admit what we've all been saying here. They felt they had no choice but to move up. Let me say it more plainly, they didn't want to move up, the success we were having forced them to. SDSU was garnering all the attention while DII was settling into a more NAIA like organization. USD was in no better position to make the move to DI last year than they were 5 years ago.

I think Abbott is even admitting that they aren't sure what they are doing right now. We have heard about trying to follow the model at UNI with respect to facilities but I have not yet seen a solid plan or time line.

Many think I'm hesitant to support all this excitement about renewing the rivalry because of hard feelings or sour grapes. I've got greater concerns than that. If we waste time trying to revert to what was we'll get left behind by programs that are moving forward. I don't want to see that happen. Onward and upward.

Great post. I have always been suspicious about whether or not USD is prepared for this jump to D1 and this pushes me more to the side of this being a kneejerk reaction by them.

I can't say what enrollment has done the last 5 years but I would guess SDSU is growing faster? The icing on the cake is the success SDSU athletics has had and the attention it has recieved, locally and nationally. ** smack comment deleted **

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: USD is in.

I remember all the talk about how SDSU could and in some cases would fail. We've made the transition pretty smoothly and successfully.

Now USD is moving up and I think everyone just assumes that it will be smooth sailing, mainly b/c of the success SDSU has demonstrated. I don't think that is the case at all. I wish them well, but we'll see...

[jackmd]

Re: USD is in.

I guess I'm a little confused. Are the people who are so focused on renewing the rivalry the same ones who were opposed to the move to DI? That would make the most sense to me.

When we made the decision to move up to DI we knew USD and UND weren't going. That was fine in the eyes of those with the vision to make the decision to move DI despite those who said we would lose our "rivalries".

Just 5 years ago, 5 years, USD says they aren't interested in committing to a DI program. Now they are forced to move DI and we want to run back, dump games and relationships with established DI programs and renew a "rivalry" we appropriately left behind 5 years ago? In addition, I don't see any evidence the USD has a concrete plan in place to help assure success at the next level.

Remember, the people in charge in Vermillion were more than happy to see us out there on our own in the state of SD at the DI level. If you think they were cheering/hoping for us to be successful than I can't help you with that. They simply were not. Some of their fans might have been but actions speak louder than words. They were happy to go to recruits homes and talk about the absence of post-season play at SDSU, I promise you that.

Now, only to the clear benefit of USD we have a this sentiment to resume the "rivalry" at the potential expense of a clearly successful course in DI thus far. I think we are reverting to that SD inferiority complex that us plagued us in the past.

USD football is not Delaware, they aren't Georgia Southern, they aren't McNeese State. We shouldn't be focusing our energy on what USD was or might be at the expense of what we are and want to be. I don't know any better way to say it. Fortunately, the right people were in place to make the decision to go DI, I hope the right people are in place to continue to make DI a success.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: USD is in.

I remember all the talk about how SDSU could and in some cases would fail. We've made the transition pretty smoothly and successfully.

Now USD is moving up and I think everyone just assumes that it will be smooth sailing, mainly b/c of the success SDSU has demonstrated. I don't think that is the case at all. I wish them well, but we'll see...

Who assumes it will be smooth sailing? I have not seen one person say "D1? That will be a piece of cake!"

I think you are assuming that that is what USD fans assume.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: USD is in.

I guess I'm a little confused.

When we made the decision to move up to DI we knew USD and UND weren't going. That was fine in the eyes of those with the vision to make the decision to move DI despite those who said we would lose our "rivalries".

Just 5 years ago, 5 years, USD says they aren't interested in committing to a DI program. Now they are forced to move DI and we want to run back, dump games and relationships with established DI programs and renew a "rivalry" we appropriately left behind 5 years ago? In addition, I don't see any evidence the USD has a concrete plan in place to help assure success at the next level.

Remember, the people in charge in Vermillion were more than happy to see us out there on our own in the state of SD at the DI level. If you think they were cheering/hoping for us to be successful than I can't help you with that. They simply were not. Some of their fans might have been but actions speak louder than words. They were happy to go to recruits homes and talk about the absence of post-season play at SDSU, I promise you that.

I guess I'm a little confused as well.

Here's what you said earlier:

I didn't give a damn about the Coyotes or playing them again when we left them behind at the DII level and I don't see why I should give a damn now that they are in the process of becoming a DI program. My focus is, has been, and always will focused on continuing to advance our programs at the DI level. Changing schedules already filled with established DI programs for an unproven transitional DI program doesn't fit well with my vision as a staunch supporter and booster of SDSU.

You talk about "onward and upward" and "we're moving on now" but yet all I see you do is bring up what happened 5 years ago. If you couldn't care less about what happens in Vermillion why does every post bring up about how USD wanted to stay D2 5 years ago? If you are so focused about the future of SDSU as a D1 school and that's it, why do you spend 2 paragraphs talking about being slighted in the past?

Can you please clarify?

[yotefan90]

Re: USD is in.

I remember all the talk about how SDSU could and in some cases would fail. We've made the transition pretty smoothly and successfully.

Now USD is moving up and I think everyone just assumes that it will be smooth sailing, mainly b/c of the success SDSU has demonstrated. I don't think that is the case at all. I wish them well, but we'll see...

I know I for one do not take anything for granted in the D1 move. I only have to look as far as Northern Colorado to see it is a difficult transition. State has done very well. We can hope ours will go as smoothly.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: USD is in.

Who assumes it will be smooth sailing? I have not seen one person say "D1? That will be a piece of cake!"

I think you are assuming that that is what USD fans assume.

USD fans that I know and talk to think it's cake.

And I haven't heard all the negativity about USD that I did about SDSU.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: USD is in.

USD fans that I know and talk to think it's cake.

And I haven't heard all the negativity about USD that I did about SDSU.

Those people are very ignorant if they think it will be easy. I think it will be easier with a model like SDSU to follow, but it will still be tough.

Btw, I agree with your post in the other thread about standing room only, and how you can't wait. Should be a good time

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: USD is in.

I guess I'm a little confused. Are the people who are so focused on renewing the rivalry the same ones who were opposed to the move to DI? That would make the most sense to me.

When we made the decision to move up to DI we knew USD and UND weren't going. That was fine in the eyes of those with the vision to make the decision to move DI despite those who said we would lose our "rivalries".

Just 5 years ago, 5 years, USD says they aren't interested in committing to a DI program. Now they are forced to move DI and we want to run back, dump games and relationships with established DI programs and renew a "rivalry" we appropriately left behind 5 years ago? In addition, I don't see any evidence the USD has a concrete plan in place to help assure success at the next level.

Remember, the people in charge in Vermillion were more than happy to see us out there on our own in the state of SD at the DI level. If you think they were cheering/hoping for us to be successful than I can't help you with that. They simply were not. Some of their fans might have been but actions speak louder than words. They were happy to go to recruits homes and talk about the absence of post-season play at SDSU, I promise you that.

Now, only to the clear benefit of USD we have a this sentiment to resume the "rivalry" at the potential expense of a clearly successful course in DI thus far. I think we are reverting to that SD inferiority complex that us plagued us in the past.

USD football is not Delaware, they aren't Georgia Southern, they aren't McNeese State. We shouldn't be focusing our energy on what USD was or might be at the expense of what we are and want to be. I don't know any better way to say it. Fortunately, the right people were in place to make the decision to go DI, I hope the right people are in place to continue to make DI a success.

You bring up alot of great points and provoke thought, that's for sure.

I disagree with what you said about "dumping games and relationships with established D1 programs". Who would that be? Don't you think it's better for SDSU to play USD in a Summit League game than to play, say, Centenary? Don't you think the SDSU-USD game will only stir up local/regional interest?

Hey, I'm bitter too, I really am. I just have hope that it's something that will only help SDSU in our journey.

[zooropa]

Re: USD is in.

we want to run back, dump games and relationships with established DI programs and renew a "rivalry" we appropriately left behind 5 years ago?

Who's advocating that?

[filbert]

Re: USD is in.

I had come around to a generally agnostic/apathetic attitude about the entire USD-to-Summit issue. But to say that there aren't advantages to SDSU is to ignore reality. Seems to me the main issue with most people is the question of whether the advantages are worth the aggravation we anticipate from resuming playing USD based on our past experiences, either personal and/or what we've heard from others.

That issue is at this point moot as well. Unless a series of wildly unexpected events occur--like SDSU somehow jumps to the Missouri Valley before 2011, we're going to be playing USD again.

Given that, it would seem to me the best use of everybody's time and effort to try and build the most productive and respectful relationship possible between the two schools.

There's probably some short-term, immediate emotional payoff in continuing to harp and complain about the past and future of our relationship with USD (whether or not you want to call it a "rivalry"), but my own opinion is that will quickly become counterproductive.

That's my $0.02 on the topic at this point. Your mileage will vary.

[mitchellrabbit]

Re: USD is in.

I guess I'm a little confused. Are the people who are so focused on renewing the rivalry the same ones who were opposed to the move to DI? That would make the most sense to me.

When we made the decision to move up to DI we knew USD and UND weren't going. That was fine in the eyes of those with the vision to make the decision to move DI despite those who said we would lose our "rivalries".

Just 5 years ago, 5 years, USD says they aren't interested in committing to a DI program. Now they are forced to move DI and we want to run back, dump games and relationships with established DI programs and renew a "rivalry" we appropriately left behind 5 years ago? In addition, I don't see any evidence the USD has a concrete plan in place to help assure success at the next level.

Remember, the people in charge in Vermillion were more than happy to see us out there on our own in the state of SD at the DI level. If you think they were cheering/hoping for us to be successful than I can't help you with that. They simply were not. Some of their fans might have been but actions speak louder than words. They were happy to go to recruits homes and talk about the absence of post-season play at SDSU, I promise you that.

Now, only to the clear benefit of USD we have a this sentiment to resume the "rivalry" at the potential expense of a clearly successful course in DI thus far. I think we are reverting to that SD inferiority complex that us plagued us in the past.

USD football is not Delaware, they aren't Georgia Southern, they aren't McNeese State. We shouldn't be focusing our energy on what USD was or might be at the expense of what we are and want to be. I don't know any better way to say it. Fortunately, the right people were in place to make the decision to go DI, I hope the right people are in place to continue to make DI a success.

i was for the move to division one and im for starting the rivalry with usd again. why cant we have two rivalry games? when start playing usd again and its going to turn into a big thing again. if the alum dont show up for the game, there will be plenty of other interested people who will show up.