RE: South Dakota State preview

LeatherCy — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:06:45 GMT

I became a Clone fan in addition to always remaining a Leatherneck in 1985 when I moved to IA. It was an easy decision. We knew a young man from Quincy who played at IA STATE and had a great career. My wife is an alum plus I have despised the Sqawks in that s - - thole flood plain known as Iowa City all my life.

I would settle for 6 or 7 wins and a decent bowl game. Every year I hope for the Alamo Bowl. It don't get no better than sitting along side the River Walk with your boots up and a cold Shiner Bock in your hand watching the world go by!!

RE: South Dakota State preview

western-101 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:38:57 GMT

Looks like you outed yourself as being a Cyclones fan CY.

I changed my mind Cyclones win the BigXII and go to a BCS bowl.

South Dakota State preview

LeatherCy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:32:25 GMT

I got this off the Cyclone Report web site since the Clones play the Jackrabbits opening night in Ames. It's a little long but gives you an in depth look at SDSU. It will be a tough game for WIU in Brookings

South Dakota State
Thursday, August 28, Jack Trice Stadium in Ames

It wasn't so many years ago that South Dakota State was toiling in Division II as a solid member of the old North Central Conference. The Jackrabbits – a.k.a. the Jacks – weren't part of the NCC elite but were usually competitive against the likes of Division II powers such as North Dakota, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota State and Northern Colorado. But like several other members of the NCC, South Dakota State couldn't resist the lure of moving up to Division I and is headed into its final year as a probationary member of D-I. Beginning next year, SDSU will have fully arrived.

The Jacks went 7-4 last year playing an entirely I-AA schedule. After an 0-3 start that included losses to top ten teams Youngstown State and Northern Iowa, SDSU got things turned around and finished the year on a five-game win streak. That included a victory over top 20 team Cal Poly, a 45-0 blitzing of Robert McFarland's old team – Stephen F. Austin, and a season-ending 29-24 victory over longtime rival North Dakota State. South Dakota State has been playing at least partially Division I-AA schedules for four seasons now and has posted a winning record each year, either 7-4 or 6-5. But the Jacks have gotten off to rough 0-3 starts each of the last two years before finding their groove somewhere along in late September.

The Thursday night, August 28 game at Iowa State will be the first for South Dakota State against a Division I-A program since it's move to I-AA. So it's a pretty big deal for the Jacks and for head coach John Stiegelmeier, who is 61-47 in ten seasons in Brookings. Stiegelmeier took over a Division II program and has navigated it through the transition to I-AA and a win over ISU would be a huge statement for South Dakota State.

But the Jackrabbits lost a number of key performers from their 7-win team of 2007, beginning with 1,200-yard rusher Cory Koenig at running back. SDSU will turn to sophomore Kyle Minnett as its feature back and he is coming off a very good redshirt freshman season in which he rushed for 488 yards on just 70 carries, an average of over six yards per attempt. And he'll have a returning starter at quarterback to shoulder most of the offensive pressure. That's Ryan Berry, who passed for almost 200 yards per game last fall while completing 60 percent of his passes with a 19-to-9 TD-to-INT rate.

Berry will have two of his favorite receivers from last year back again, including senior and top target JaRon Harris. Harris caught 40 passes a year ago after having snared 39 as a sophomore the year before. He had 664 receiving yards in 2007. Junior Glen Fox was also among the team leaders in receptions last year with 24 for 253 yards and he's back as Berry's no. 2 option behind Harris. SDSU will be looking for new starters at tight end and at the third receiver spot. The offensive line is moderately experienced with three returning starters and a fourth who also has some starting experience. Seniors Nick Flesner and Kevin Robling and juniors Casey Knips and Scott Gillen should give Berry and Co. decent protection and blocking to make plays.

On defense, South Dakota State returns its top two tacklers from '07. Junior linebackers Jimmy Rogers and Chris Johnson recorded 110 and 106 tackles, respectively, as sophomores a season ago. Other top tacklers returning for the Jacks are senior safety Brock Campbell (68 tackles) and junior defensive end Danny Batten (67 tackles); they ranked fifth and sixth on the team in stops in 2007. Batten was fourth on the team in sacks a year ago with 4 ½ and he'll be counted on to lead the SDSU pass rush as the Jacks' top three sackers from a year ago are all departed.

South Dakota State has to replace both starting cornerbacks, including Tyler Koch who had seven interceptions in 2007. Campbell is back as a starting safety, but he'll be breaking in three new running mates in the defensive backfield.

SDSU will be looking for a couple of new specialists in 2008. Punter Dean Priddy, a sophomore, is returning. Priddy averaged 38.6 yards per punt last fall. Also coming back is the Jacks' number one kickoff returner from last season, sophomore Adam Monke. He averaged 26.2 yards per return on 20 attempts last fall, including a 91-yard touchdown jaunt. South Dakota State will have a new starting kicker and will be looking for a new primary punt returner with Monke a good bet to fill that role.

The Jacks outscored opponents by an average of 12 points per game last season (34.2 to 22.2) despite being outgained by over 16 yards per outing (378.9 to 362.5). The reason was a whopping +14 advantage in takeaways as SDSU recorded 19 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries while surrendering just nine picks and eight lost fumbles. South Dakota State also had a huge advantage in quarterback sacks (26 to 12) and red zone efficiency (90% to 64%).

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RE: South Dakota State preview

RE: South Dakota State preview

South Dakota State preview