Bright Future story

[89rabbit]

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...32/1002/SPORTS

Future finally seems a little bright for Jackrabbits

By Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
Published: March 31, 2007

Well, South Dakota State, it appears you're going to be all right.

In the month know for madness, you qualified a wrestler for the NCAA championships, accepted an invitation to the Gateway Football Conference and reached the quarterfinals of the WNIT.

And with most teams set to enter the Mid-Continent Conference later this year, it's a safe bet that somebody on your campus is going to be in the mix for some sort of Division I postseason tournament bid almost every season.

Thus, although full NCAA eligibility is still more than one calendar year away, the transitional abyss is all but behind you. Want proof? Listen to what sophomore guard Ashlea Muckenhirn said near the end of a 775-mile bus ride after the Jackrabbits' season-ending loss at Wyoming.

"You don't ever think, 'Well, what if we lose,' that never crosses your mind," she said, "And you're sitting there and you tell yourself you're going to be fine and then all of a sudden there's this burst of emotion and your realize how much you put into it physically, mentally and emotionally, and you see everyone else around you and you see how much it meant to them and the fans. And you realize this is so much bigger than basketball." . . . (read more)


Go State!

[JackJD]

Re: Bright Future story

I particularly liked the quote from Ashlea Muckenhirn and Vandrovec's comment following the quote:

"You don't ever think, 'Well, what if we lose,' that never crosses your mind," she said, "And you're sitting there and you tell yourself you're going to be fine and then all of a sudden there's this burst of emotion and your realize how much you put into it physically, mentally and emotionally, and you see everyone else around you and you see how much it meant to them and the fans. And you realize this is so much bigger than basketball."

That is the kicker of the reclassification process.


Sometimes in athletics, the "bigger life lesson" is a little overplayed. However, there's no question in my mind that there are valuable life lessons in competition -- lessons for not just the direct participants but also for the indirect participants (fans, family, even casual observers). The Jackrabbit run in the WNIT validates what President Miller and Dr. Oien said years ago. The switch to D-1 was more than just a change in athletic classification. It was a proclamation that SDSU -- and the entire state -- was as good as any institution (and state) out there and we were now ready to join ranks with those places traditionally considered the best. We already were one of the best...now we just had to acknowledge that fact to ourselves, tell the story to others, and reach even higher.

Look at what has happened since that announcement and not just in athletics. The main components of the University including its stature as a teaching and research institution, are getting the recognition that is due.

This is bigger than just basketball.

[NorCalJack]

Re: Bright Future story

Keep beating that drum Terry!!!



Even though the seson for most SDSU teams are over, Terry keeps beating the drum for SDSU.

He just keeps going and going and ...

The future is so bright he has to wear shades 8-) 8-) 8-)