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It's been about a year since I've even visited. I came over especially to congratulate the Jackrabbit football team, its coaches, my friend Fred Oien, and anyone who follows Jackrabbit sports. I 'did' have a few professional experiences with Fred in the 90s.
You know...it's been a long season for us Bison fans. We were the preseason favorite to win the MVFC during our first year...and some of the polls had us ranked #1. For many Bison fans, it seemed logical...but there was one minor problem. Houdini (Steve) Walker wasn't coming back to play quarterback...and we had just a couple of untested replacements that hadn't played a lot.
I think that all of this set us up for a 'fall.' Especially, the Bison football players. The hype was too big over a team that really hadn't proven anything yet. True...we had back-to-back 10-1 seasons with several surprising wins over FBS programs like Ball State, Central Michigan, and Minnesota. But in terms of playing a full conference schedule, and what we've all found to be a consistently tough conference, we weren't there. Perhaps having Walker back (along with Joe Mays at MLB) would have given us different results...but we didn't have those guys.
Old-timers like myself grew up believing in the inevitability of Bison success...much like some of you grew up watching some unbelievable men's basketball teams. We were spoiled by the success...and we want it back badly. During the 2006 & 2007 seasons we saw flashes of the old brilliance...in a different package. New offense...new uniforms...new division...new everything. It seemed like it was falling into place.
Over at bisonville we've been debating the situation all year, and frankly, there's been a lot of tension. We are in several camps. Should we blame the coaches? How about our quarterback? Something felt wrong. The team just wasn't firing on all 8 cylinders. Up one week...down the next. Interceptions...missed kicks...poor punt & kickoff coverage...weak tackling...and more. But we knew that most of the team was 'very' talented. The senior class has to be one of the more talented groups that we've ever had at NDSU. They played their hearts out last Saturday night. They...deserved a better season.
We should have known. I should have known. We should have coped with it better. I should have coped with it better. The inconsistency just didn't make sense.
Anyway...about last Saturday night.
SDSU earned the victory with strong fundamental play, and your quarterback came off the bench to engineer an outstanding comeback drive. Some of us, including myself, have complained about a few calls that were made in the game. But isn't that normal for most sports fans when their team loses a tough game? I'm not saying that it's right.
But the reality is this. You beat us. Berry is your Steve Walker. I grew up in Mayville, North Dakota...and I know his aunt and uncle. Scott Berry is the baseball coach at Mayville State...and an outstanding one. So there's a connection. And having lived in Brookings for seven years in the 90s, I became familiar with how Watertown would come up with an unusually gifted athlete from time to time. I remember a basketball player from the early to mid 90s that would come to Brookings High School and take over a game. Wasn't that big, but he'd stuff the ball with his elbows by the rim. Very dynamic.
My wife and I taught in Brookings for seven years. Our two children went to elementary & part of middle school there. It's a great city. There are a lot of very nice small cities in South Dakota. SDSU is a first-class university that has developed an excellent football program. Losing to the Rabbits shouldn't be a huge shock to Bison fans...and to most of us...it isn't. We've seen the Rabbits evolve into a solid program during the transition.
Last year...I predicted a 10-1 season for the Bison (2007)...and I predicted that SDSU would be our toughest game. With Minnesota and Central Michigan on the schedule...it was a high compliment.
I'm asking all of you to allow Bison fans some time to let the air out. There are a ton of good people over at bisonville. And most of them understand what's going on. And just so you know...about 90 percent of the writing that refers to SDSU is very, very complimentary...and respectful.
But still...we yearn for the dominant days. Personally, I don't believe that Bison football has dropped off so much. In terms of our developing rivalry...I think that it's more a matter of SDSU developing into a very solid football team...and that you've risen to the level that NDSU has been at. Maybe it's a little of both. But we're trying to find our way through the transition too...and the new conference. Everything has changed. Recruiting is totally different. The week-to-week competition is pretty amazing. But that's what we wanted...wasn't it? I have to keep telling myself that.
There have been a couple of 'not so nice' visitors to bisonville from Jackrabbit country. But it's only been 2 or 3 people. Could be the same person with two usernames. Who knows. But I know, for a fact, that Jackrabbit fans are good people. I probably know some of you from our time in Brookings.
A suggestion:
Let's work really hard at 'not' escalating the rivalry into an ugly one...like our old one with UND...and perhaps yours with USD. That wasn't really fun. It went way over the edge.
SDSU & NDSU have leaders that took leaps of faith into the unknown...under HEAVY political pressure. Look what we've done. It's really quite amazing. Personally...I think that Fred Oien & Gene Taylor should be Hall of Fame candidates some day...or recipients of a purple heart.
Let's try to remember that most people...in both camps...are just normal people that enjoy following their teams. I can vouch...having lived in both areas...that a vast majority of the people are good folks.
One last thing:
I'll get called on this by someone...but as far as I'm concerned...because of the weight of your schedule...that SDSU should have been in the field of 16. I know...5 losses doesn't cut it...but your team was very, very strong.
Sorry for the rambling. I had to get this out.
A sincere congratulations on the win. (ouch...that hurt)
CaBisonFan
(Ca standing for California, which is where my family and I live now)
You know...it's been a long season for us Bison fans. We were the preseason favorite to win the MVFC during our first year...and some of the polls had us ranked #1. For many Bison fans, it seemed logical...but there was one minor problem. Houdini (Steve) Walker wasn't coming back to play quarterback...and we had just a couple of untested replacements that hadn't played a lot.
I think that all of this set us up for a 'fall.' Especially, the Bison football players. The hype was too big over a team that really hadn't proven anything yet. True...we had back-to-back 10-1 seasons with several surprising wins over FBS programs like Ball State, Central Michigan, and Minnesota. But in terms of playing a full conference schedule, and what we've all found to be a consistently tough conference, we weren't there. Perhaps having Walker back (along with Joe Mays at MLB) would have given us different results...but we didn't have those guys.
Old-timers like myself grew up believing in the inevitability of Bison success...much like some of you grew up watching some unbelievable men's basketball teams. We were spoiled by the success...and we want it back badly. During the 2006 & 2007 seasons we saw flashes of the old brilliance...in a different package. New offense...new uniforms...new division...new everything. It seemed like it was falling into place.
Over at bisonville we've been debating the situation all year, and frankly, there's been a lot of tension. We are in several camps. Should we blame the coaches? How about our quarterback? Something felt wrong. The team just wasn't firing on all 8 cylinders. Up one week...down the next. Interceptions...missed kicks...poor punt & kickoff coverage...weak tackling...and more. But we knew that most of the team was 'very' talented. The senior class has to be one of the more talented groups that we've ever had at NDSU. They played their hearts out last Saturday night. They...deserved a better season.
We should have known. I should have known. We should have coped with it better. I should have coped with it better. The inconsistency just didn't make sense.
Anyway...about last Saturday night.
SDSU earned the victory with strong fundamental play, and your quarterback came off the bench to engineer an outstanding comeback drive. Some of us, including myself, have complained about a few calls that were made in the game. But isn't that normal for most sports fans when their team loses a tough game? I'm not saying that it's right.
But the reality is this. You beat us. Berry is your Steve Walker. I grew up in Mayville, North Dakota...and I know his aunt and uncle. Scott Berry is the baseball coach at Mayville State...and an outstanding one. So there's a connection. And having lived in Brookings for seven years in the 90s, I became familiar with how Watertown would come up with an unusually gifted athlete from time to time. I remember a basketball player from the early to mid 90s that would come to Brookings High School and take over a game. Wasn't that big, but he'd stuff the ball with his elbows by the rim. Very dynamic.
My wife and I taught in Brookings for seven years. Our two children went to elementary & part of middle school there. It's a great city. There are a lot of very nice small cities in South Dakota. SDSU is a first-class university that has developed an excellent football program. Losing to the Rabbits shouldn't be a huge shock to Bison fans...and to most of us...it isn't. We've seen the Rabbits evolve into a solid program during the transition.
Last year...I predicted a 10-1 season for the Bison (2007)...and I predicted that SDSU would be our toughest game. With Minnesota and Central Michigan on the schedule...it was a high compliment.
I'm asking all of you to allow Bison fans some time to let the air out. There are a ton of good people over at bisonville. And most of them understand what's going on. And just so you know...about 90 percent of the writing that refers to SDSU is very, very complimentary...and respectful.
But still...we yearn for the dominant days. Personally, I don't believe that Bison football has dropped off so much. In terms of our developing rivalry...I think that it's more a matter of SDSU developing into a very solid football team...and that you've risen to the level that NDSU has been at. Maybe it's a little of both. But we're trying to find our way through the transition too...and the new conference. Everything has changed. Recruiting is totally different. The week-to-week competition is pretty amazing. But that's what we wanted...wasn't it? I have to keep telling myself that.
There have been a couple of 'not so nice' visitors to bisonville from Jackrabbit country. But it's only been 2 or 3 people. Could be the same person with two usernames. Who knows. But I know, for a fact, that Jackrabbit fans are good people. I probably know some of you from our time in Brookings.
A suggestion:
Let's work really hard at 'not' escalating the rivalry into an ugly one...like our old one with UND...and perhaps yours with USD. That wasn't really fun. It went way over the edge.
SDSU & NDSU have leaders that took leaps of faith into the unknown...under HEAVY political pressure. Look what we've done. It's really quite amazing. Personally...I think that Fred Oien & Gene Taylor should be Hall of Fame candidates some day...or recipients of a purple heart.
Let's try to remember that most people...in both camps...are just normal people that enjoy following their teams. I can vouch...having lived in both areas...that a vast majority of the people are good folks.
One last thing:
I'll get called on this by someone...but as far as I'm concerned...because of the weight of your schedule...that SDSU should have been in the field of 16. I know...5 losses doesn't cut it...but your team was very, very strong.
Sorry for the rambling. I had to get this out.
A sincere congratulations on the win. (ouch...that hurt)
CaBisonFan
(Ca standing for California, which is where my family and I live now)
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