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All right, USD is joining the Summit and the State-U rivalry will soon rise from the ashes like the phoenix. The next step in relaunching the rivalry is scheduling football on a yearly basis.
Here's how I would see this working:
1) Create a new traveling football trophy (the Golden Pheasant, symbolizing the state bird and Black Hills gold) to symbolize the new era of the State-U rivalry. IMO, the introduction of the Dakota Marker did wonders to the SDSU-NDSU rivalry and I think a relaunched State-U rivalry needs to be rooted in something other than the "frozen critter toss" at Frost.
2) Play the game every year the week of the traditional pheasant opener on Thursday or Friday night (whichever night doesn't conflict with the high school FB schedule for that week).
3) Televise the game, preferably on a regional basis or wider.
4) Make the game a statewide event; perhaps have the governor conduct the coin flip and/or present the trophy.
5) Follow Missouri Valley Football Conference rules for sportsmanship (to ensure teams shake hands before the game because the winning team will run to the trophy).
6) Promote the game heavily. Both schools need to collaborate on this one.
7) Get prominent alumni involved; perhaps make two alums from each school honorary captains. If Brokaw can narrate some NCC nostalgia, USD should utilize him in relaunching the State-U rivalry.
8) SDSU needs to ensure that its home game against USD is during the years it plays at NDSU.
I know that a lot of SDSU fans don't want to over-hype future SDSU-USD games, but this should be a statewide event for the people of South Dakota. In essence, if SDSU and USD are to resume the rivalry, the rivalry needs to be done right, not half-donkeyed. That includes playing football . . . every year.
Here's how I would see this working:
1) Create a new traveling football trophy (the Golden Pheasant, symbolizing the state bird and Black Hills gold) to symbolize the new era of the State-U rivalry. IMO, the introduction of the Dakota Marker did wonders to the SDSU-NDSU rivalry and I think a relaunched State-U rivalry needs to be rooted in something other than the "frozen critter toss" at Frost.
2) Play the game every year the week of the traditional pheasant opener on Thursday or Friday night (whichever night doesn't conflict with the high school FB schedule for that week).
3) Televise the game, preferably on a regional basis or wider.
4) Make the game a statewide event; perhaps have the governor conduct the coin flip and/or present the trophy.
5) Follow Missouri Valley Football Conference rules for sportsmanship (to ensure teams shake hands before the game because the winning team will run to the trophy).
6) Promote the game heavily. Both schools need to collaborate on this one.
7) Get prominent alumni involved; perhaps make two alums from each school honorary captains. If Brokaw can narrate some NCC nostalgia, USD should utilize him in relaunching the State-U rivalry.
8) SDSU needs to ensure that its home game against USD is during the years it plays at NDSU.
I know that a lot of SDSU fans don't want to over-hype future SDSU-USD games, but this should be a statewide event for the people of South Dakota. In essence, if SDSU and USD are to resume the rivalry, the rivalry needs to be done right, not half-donkeyed. That includes playing football . . . every year.
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