September 2011
33 posts
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Indiana Statement
Some news and notes in advance of SDSU hosting Indiana State in the Beef Bowl:
ISU’s Trent Miles was one of two coaches to claim this week that the Jacks are better than their 1-3 record. Meanwhile, the Sycamores certainly are better than their recent history - much like the Southern Utah squad that visited Brookings to open the season. While Miles credited the players for the turnaround,...
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Live chat 9/29
Another weekly live chat in the books. Here is the replay.
Go ahead and bookmark that page - it’s where I’ll host the South Dakota State vs. Indiana State live chat on Saturday night. Coverage starting at 5 p.m.
See you then.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Valley Football teleconference 9/28
Some news and notes from the latest Missouri Valley Football Conference coaches call:
Coming off a narrow loss at Indiana State, Youngstown State (2-2, 1-1) is off this week and will prepare to host SDSU next Saturday with a series of fundamental-based practices. “Don’t let that record fool you on South Dakota State,” Penguins coach Eric Wolford said.
Western Illinois (1-3,...
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Too Much TV: Brian Lee
This week on the Too Much TV podcast, we’re talking … hockey?
How’s that for mind blowing?
We went in that direction for a few reasons. The NHL preseason is underway, the people of South Dakota have a lot to learn from their neighbors about the game and I covered this week’s guest - Ottawa Senators defenseman Brian Lee - when he played at Moorhead High School and the...
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Tuesday Tidbits
Yes, sir:
Former SDSU teammates Danny Batten and Colin Cochart will go head-to-head - literally given their positions - this week as the Buffalo Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals. An outside linebacker, Batten has five tackles for the surprising Bills in what amounts to his first year as a pro. (He missed all of 2010 due to a shoulder injury.) Cochart, a tight end, did not play this week, but...
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Road wrap
Some final notes from SDSU’s 20-13 loss to Illinois State on Saturday night, the last of three consecutive road games for the Jacks:
Not only did SDSU allow ISU to go 10 of 18 on third-down conversions, the Redbirds hit for three double-digit gains in those situations (11, 28 and 29 yards). The Jacks came into the game at last in the Valley in third-down defense, allowing 62 percent.
There...
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WatchHere is the press conference video following SDSU’s 20-13 loss at Illinois State.
Jacks coach John Stiegelmeier is featured above. Click here for SDSU players Dale Moss, Mike Lien and Austin Sumner.
Click here for Redbirds coach Brock Spack. Click here for ISU players Tyrone Walker, Ben Erickson and Ashton Leggett.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Heading to Normal
As radio voice Tyler Merriam pointed out, it’s pretty funny that SDSU will end a rather dramatic week in a place called Normal.
Here are some notes in advance of the Jacks game against Illinois State on Saturday. I’ll have live coverage starting at 5 p.m.:
From a receiver standpoint, what’s the difference between what SDSU’s new starting quarterback Austin Sumner and...
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Live chat 9/22
Here is the replay from this week’s live chat.
Come back here again Saturday for live coverage from the South Dakota State at Illinois State football game to see if freshman quarterback Austin Sumner help the Jacks end an ugly slide.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Valley Football teleconference 9/21
Here’s my recap from this week’s Missouri Valley Football Conference coaches call:
Indiana State (2-1) visits No. 24 Youngstown State (2-1). The Sycamores are coming off an impressive and convincing win at FBS Western Kentucky. They’ve come a long way since putting together a bunch of losing streaks. “Every game means a lot,” coach Trent Miles said. “That...
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Too Much TV: Sports psychology
This week on the Too Much TV podcast, Augustana professor Andy Gillham gets in the mix. The topic: Sports psychology.
Gillham studies and practices it for a living - specifically in the area of performance enhancement. It’s fascinating stuff and runs parallel to the series of stories that ran Sunday-Tuesday in the Argus Leader.
Here’s the link.
Also, come back later today (1 p.m.)...
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Tuesday Tidbits: O'Brien edition
I’m not sure which way to go in adding to the fairly shocking story that SDSU starting quarterback Thomas O’Brien has quit the team, so I’m going to veer in several directions - including the speculative. Why? Because it’s complicated and there are at least two ways to look at most of this and the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
The reasons: According to Jacks...
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WatchUniversity of Sioux Falls professor and mental coach Mike Grevlos stopped by Argus Leader Media headquarters Monday to participate in a live chat as part of my series on sports psychology.
Here’s the replay. The third and final day - pertaining largely to college issues - runs Tuesday.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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San Luis abysmal
Some final notes from the Jackrabbits second straight lopsided loss, a 48-14 defeat at Cal Poly on Saturday. At least the setting was amazing:
The ballyhooed SDSU offensive line is beat up and struggling. The Jacks have a total of 63 yards rushing over the past two weeks, and has given up eight sacks this season compared to six in all of 2010.
SDSU is minus-5 in turnover margin this season. On a...
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Poly preview ... fo shizzle
Some items in advance of South Dakota State’s contest at Cal Poly on Saturday. I’ll be there with live coverage starting around 5 p.m. CT:
The Mustangs have plenty of name recognition. Senior defensive tackle Matt Singletary is the son of legendary former Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary; sophomore linebacker Johnny Millard is the son of former Minnesota Vikings defensive...
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Live chat 9/15
Here is the replay from this week’s live chat.
As expected, the SDSU quarterback situation and the USD billboard dominated the discussion (for better or for worse).
Remember that I’ll be back here around 5 p.m. CT Saturday with live coverage of the SDSU-Cal Poly football game.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Valley Football teleconference 9/14
The latest news and notes from the Missouri Valley Football Conference coaches call:
No. 2 Northern Iowa (1-1), No 6 North Dakota State (2-0) and No. 15 Southern Illinois (1-1) are all off this week. The Bison are doing some recruiting this week, while UNI is spending extra time on fundamentals. Being idle doesn’t mean sleeping in and playing golf, NDSU coach Craig Bohl said.
Indiana...
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Too Much TV: Bill Carollo
Supposedly, the best officials in sports are the ones you never notice.
But this week on the Too Much TV podcast, we’re forcing a longtime former official into the spotlight.
Bill Carollo spent 20 years as an NFL official, working two Super Bowls. Currently, he’s the director of officiating for the Big Ten and Missouri Valley Football Conferences.
Here’s what he had to say...
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Tuesday Tidbits
It’s that time again:
Noticed this billboard along I-29 on Monday - it’s located near the main entrance to Brookings. Take a guess as to what folks inside the SDSU athletic department think about it.
The SDSU volleyball team opens conference play this weekend with a pair of home matches against Western Illinois and IUPUI. The Jacks are 8-4, their best start since going 15-3 to open...
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Ill after Illinois
Some final thoughts on the South Dakota State-Illinois game - unless you’d like me to keep memories of the 56-3 beating alive for a few more days …
Saturday marked the 10th time in the last 13 games that the Jacks failed to score in the first quarter. In another trend, SDSU has won just one road opener since 2001.
The Jacks have committed 14 turnovers in their four recent games...
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SDSU vs. Illinois postgame
Here is video from South Dakota State’s press conference following a 56-3 drubbing at the University of Illinois on Saturday. Click the links.
Jacks safety Skyler Luxa and quarterback Thomas O’Brien.
SDSU coach John Stiegelmeier.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
WatchHere’s a quick tour of Memorial Stadium, where South Dakota State will take on Illinois on Saturday morning.
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Another BCS adventure
Some news and notes in advance of South Dakota State’s football game at Illinois on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. with live coverage through the Big Ten Network and right here on El Bloggo …
SDSU and Illinois haven’t met before, but the Illini have taken on the University of South Dakota. UI beat the Coyotes 52-0 in 1921 and 46-0 in 1942.
Tom Michael, one of the...
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Live chat 9/8
Here is the replay from this week’s completed live chat.
Plenty of South Dakota State vs. Illinois football talk. There will be plenty more of that starting around 10 a.m. Saturday as I’ll have live coverage from the football game in Champaign-Urbana.
See you then.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Valley Football teleconference 9/7
Here are some notes and quotes from this week’s Missouri Valley Football Conference coaches call:
Indiana State (0-1) is hosting Butler - one of four Valley vs. Pioneer Football League games this week. The PFL doesn’t give football scholarships, by the way. What did Sycamores take from a Week 1 loss at Penn State? “What we took was $475,000 and a butt whooping,” coach...
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Too Much TV: Runner's world
The Sioux Falls Marathon, Half Marathon and Miracle 5K is slated for Sunday - what better time to talk running?
Joining us this week on the Too Much TV podcast is Amy Pugliese, an O’Gorman grad and former runner the University of Minnesota and the University of South Dakota. She shares with us her own rec running story and talks training, nutrition, gear and blisters.
Here’s the...
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Tuesday Tidbits
Must be guarantee-game week because I’m doing multiple interviews with out-of-state media outlets. Always feels strange.
And, now, the news:
A little more background on recent SDSU basketball signing Taevaunn Prince: His prep coach at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire, Gregor Makechnie said that Prince had an offer from Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2009-10 and intended to accept it. However, he...
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Closing the opener
A few final notes from SDSU’s 29-28 season opening win over Southern Utah on Saturday in Brookings:
This was the first time since the 2008 season finale in Fargo that the Jacks were involved in a one-point decision. It was also the first one-point decision at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium since 2006. SDSU won both of those contests.
So far so good on the more-turnovers emphasis. The Jacks...
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SDSU vs. Southern Utah postgame
Here is video from the press conference that followed the Jackrabbits’ 29-28 victory over Southern Utah in the season opener at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. Just clink the links:
SDSU coach John Stiegelmeier.
Jacks QB Thomas O’Brien and RB Tyrel Kool.
SDSU DE Jake Steffen and LB Dirk Kool.
Thunderbirds coach Ed Lamb, LB Blake Fenn and QB Brad Sorensen.
Terry Vandrovec also posts...
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Strong to very strong schedule
And another football season is upon us …
How will this one play out at South Dakota State? That remains to be seen. But once again it will be not be an easy road for the Rabbits of Jack - not to go all Debbie Downer on you.
It would be patently false to claim that SDSU has the most difficult non-conference schedule in the rugged Missouri Valley. No, that distinction belongs to Missouri...
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Live chat 9/1
There’s no better time to hold a live chat than just prior to the first college football game of the fall …
That said, here’s the replay from this week’s version. Plenty of hype about the Southern Utah at South Dakota State game slated for Saturday night in Brookings.
I’ll have live coverage starting around 5 p.m. at ArgusLeader.com.
Terry Vandrovec also posts...
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WatchHere’s the final installment of our position breakdowns - graduate assistant Thadd Sharrett tackling the running backs.
Remember that I’ll be back later Thursday for the weekly live chat.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
