South Dakota State's new digs

[mmiller_34]

Tour of the new endzone facility..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=451-oe5ZfNg

[Wildcat80]

Would love to see that in Durham one day soon!!! Congrats!

[ThompsonThe]

Looks good. Now let's see SDSU kick some more Gopher butt.
Get 'em JackRabbits....

[Redbird Ray]

Awesome facility! I liked the part where coach mentioned having the Dakota marker trophy in the reception area for many years to come.

[ncbears]

Nice digs Wabbits! Where are the visitor lockers?

[doolittledog]

Nice digs Wabbits! Where are the visitor lockers?

At the opposite endzone the visitors get this...

http://www.cheatriverrace.com/outhouse.jpg

Not as spacious as the home team lockers...but there is satellite TV, which is good;)

[Syntax Error]

NICE!!!!!!

[NoCoDanny]

Very nice but where do they keep the sheep?

Kidding, kidding, but seriously, very nice!

[crunifan]

That building and their scoreboard are the only redeeming features of that stadium. Local Cedar Rapids high schools play at nicer venues.

[BearsCountry]

That building and their scoreboard are the only redeeming features of that stadium. Local Cedar Rapids high schools play at nicer venues.

I wish they could transport that building and scoreboard into Plaster. xthumbsupx

[ncbears]

That building and their scoreboard are the only redeeming features of that stadium. Local Cedar Rapids high schools play at nicer venues.

yeah, I could tell by the video. If I were them I would restructure the entire stadium instead of add nicer digs. I think at Nottingham (where UNC plays) it's opposite. We have a nice seating area with sky boxes or "luxury" boxes, but we need a new score board. However, we are getting new locker rooms and a new weight room, very soon.

[crunifan]

I was just shocked when I went up to Brookings for a game. I've never been to a game at Indiana State, but I would imagine they have better facilities. SDSU has such great fans and support, I would expect so much more from them. Their visitor side stands are just out-dated wooden bleachers. You have to walk through worn down grass and mud to get to the other side (no cement or stable walkways). There are barely any permanent restrooms or concession stands. Their press box is a tiny tin box. It was just appalling to me.

A local high school here in Cedar Rapids is spending $10 million on a new football stadium (which includes Field Turf and an administrative building in the endzone). And the big 20,000 seat Kingston Stadium in CR where three of the big public schools play also have a much nicer stadium, complete with brand new Field Turf. It baffles me how a DI school (witch such success since moving DI) can't improve upon that.

As nice as the Dykehouse and their scoreboard are, I feel the money could have been better spent on the stadium itself.

[MplsBison]

Now that SDSU football is a winner, the facilities will be upgraded to reflect the success of the program.

It used to be that SDSU football was not expected to win. Even towards the end of the NCC, SDSU football was nothing compared to what it is now. Rapid development in terms of quality of the team on the field.

[ncbears]

Now that SDSU football is a winner, the facilities will be upgraded to reflect the success of the program.

It used to be that SDSU football was not expected to win. Even towards the end of the NCC, SDSU football was nothing compared to what it is now. Rapid development in terms of quality of the team on the field.

Most programs are up and down. SDSU is up right now, but will that continue? Who knows. And you're correct, back in the NCC they weren't expected to win. That was between UNC, NDSU and UND. The fans and donors must demand better facilities. I don't think winning will do it alone.

[Kemo]

That building and their scoreboard are the only redeeming features of that stadium. Local Cedar Rapids high schools play at nicer venues.

South Dakota State University is already working on changing this, as they have a master plan that includes a complete renovation of the stadium in which their will be luxury suits and expanded seating (22,500; with the ability to expand to 40,000 if the need should ever arise). This is a good article from The Collegian (SDSU's student paper) detailing the master plan: http://media.www.sdsucollegian.com/media/storage/paper484/news/2010/02/10/News/Athletics.Discusses.Coughlin.Upgrade-3868688.shtml

[MplsBison]

South Dakota State University is already working on changing this, as they have a master plan that includes a complete renovation of the stadium in which their will be luxury suits and expanded seating (22,500; with the ability to expand to 40,000 if the need should ever arise). This is a good article from The Collegian (SDSU's student paper) detailing the master plan: http://media.www.sdsucollegian.com/media/storage/paper484/news/2010/02/10/News/Athletics.Discusses.Coughlin.Upgrade-3868688.shtml

If you build the 22.5k seating with suites/club area and the indoor practice facility, you'd have the best football facilities in the MVFC and probably top 10 in the FCS. And no doubt the field would be fieldturf xnodx

Amazing to see the growth of the SDSU football program since deciding to leave the NCC for DI.

[mmiller_34]

Last season the environment at Coughlin was off-the-hook. 4-5 years ago there would usually be one game with a crazy environment, and that was Hobo Day. But, last season it seemed like every game day the stands were full and louder than they ever have been. Sadly, our worst crowd was 10,500ish, for the Valley championship... still haven't pulled in quite the support to attract crowds during cold days. This year should be intresting

[89rabbit]

Spring practice news out of Brookings:

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100409/SPORTS0202/4090339/1002/sports

Jackrabbits running at full steam

Terry Vandrovec • [email protected] • April 9, 2010

BROOKINGS - In the never-ending quest to keep progressing, South Dakota State is ratcheting up its effort during spring football practice.


That was obvious Monday during a half-pad workout. Running back Kyle Minett took exception to being decleated by linebacker Mike Lien, shoving defensive end Tony Thompson upon getting off the ground.


Just a couple plays later, receiver Dan Schmidt got leveled on a crossing route, fumbling the ball. A wild scramble to recover ensued.

Yes, it seems the Jackrabbits believe the first round of organized on-field workouts since their first playoff berth in 30 years is not the time to take it easy.


"There's a huge emphasis on getting 49 guys ready to play," coach John Stiegelmeier said. "Some guys need to go beyond almost what they can get in 15 practices. We're trying to mature mentally, mature physically - try to accelerate their growth. . . . (read more)

[The Cats]

Tour of the new endzone facility..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=451-oe5ZfNg

Very nice.

[leatherneck177]

Tim Van Alstine, please take note of this. Hanson Field needs a COMPLETE renovation!

[MplsBison]

Tim Van Alstine, please take note of this. Hanson Field needs a COMPLETE renovation!

They haven't done anything (yet) to their stadium or field. They put up a video board and built an end-zone facility.


Both could be accomplished at WIU for I'm guessing 20-30 million.

[Grizzaholic]

Good looking place. Hope it will be ready to do some hosting in the near future!

[Kemo]

Here are some artist renderings of the master plan involving SDSU's football stadium and field house:

http://www.crawfordarch.com/projectpictures/sport_sdsucoughlin_1.jpg
http://www.crawfordarch.com/projectpictures/sport_sdsucoughlin_2.jpg
http://www.crawfordarch.com/projectpictures/sport_sdsucoughlin_3.jpg

Still need to raise the money (and it's not going to be cheap), but at least we have the ground work laid out, so hopefully that will influence some boosters.

[89rabbit]

Love it! xhurrayx xprayx xhypedx

[TheBisonator]

Here are some artist renderings of the master plan involving SDSU's football stadium and field house:

http://www.crawfordarch.com/projectpictures/sport_sdsucoughlin_1.jpg
http://www.crawfordarch.com/projectpictures/sport_sdsucoughlin_2.jpg
http://www.crawfordarch.com/projectpictures/sport_sdsucoughlin_3.jpg

Still need to raise the money (and it's not going to be cheap), but at least we have the ground work laid out, so hopefully that will influence some boosters.

If that gets done...

You... Me... SDSU... NDSU... FBS.

[Redbird Ray]

Awesome looking specs. Kind of looks like T. Boone Pickens Stadium.

I didn't read any of the links, but is there a phase 1 or 2 of this plan? Any drawings of those earlier phases?

Great looking stadium design though! Build that, and you are more than welcome to the new MVC FBS conference with us, Missouri State, and NDSU. xlolxxlolxxlolx

[Redbird Ray]

And I did not read any links because there were no links to read. xoopsx

Need more Red Bull.

[89rabbit]

Vedio from the grand opening:

http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=042410dykhouse