WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A JACKRABBIT “To me, being a Jackrabbit football player means that “Being a Jackrabbit football player means never giving up people can come from different parts of the country and and making a difference on and off the field.” have a common goal.” “I take a lot of pride in being a part of the Jackrabbit “Being a Jackrabbit Football Player to means being a part football team. As a team, we strive to be great on and off of a huge family — a family that extends much farther the field. We demand the best of ourselves on the field and than just our roster. It extends to every player who ever put we are not satisfied with anything less than perfect. We also on a SDSU uniform or put the work into becoming a better take pride in our contributions in the class room and in the player or team. I have pride in being a player and community. We understand that we have a greater purpose teammate for SDSU and never take this opportunity for than just playing football, and we use our tools to help granted because we are all fortunate to be a part of benefit others. It is important to us that we do things the something so special.” right way. Through all of the long days and hard work, we develop extremely close relationships. The most important “To be a Jackrabbit is to be part of a special family, to hold parts of my experience with this team are the great special bonds with 90-plus guys that will last for a lifetime. relationships that have developed. To me, being a part of It is hot August afternoons and cold November nights. It is the Jackrabbit Football Team is like having a second family. the excitement you get every time the lights turn on and I know that we would all do anything for each other.” the crowd cheers when we take the field. It is so much more than wins and losses on the field. “Being a Jackrabbit means pursuing excellence through It is an experience and lessons learned committing your mind, body and heart to something that will last the rest of your life.” bigger than yourself.” “To be an SDSU football player means that I am part of one of the toughest teams in our division. I feel the responsibility of taking action in winning COMMENTS PROVIDED BY MEMBERS OF THE on the field; this means busting my butt 2009 JACKRABBIT FOOTBALL SENIOR CLASS. on and off the field. This pressure that I feel motivates me to work harder each day.” TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION ..............................................2-14 • Quick Facts ........................................................................................2 • Coughlin-Alumni Stadium ......................................................................3 • South Dakota State University ........................................................4-13 • Media Information..............................................................................14 2009 PREVIEW ..........................................................15-22 • Team Preview ..............................................................................16-17 • Roster ........................................................................................18-19 • Roster Breakdown ............................................................................20 • Depth Chart ....................................................................................21 • Preseason Polls ................................................................................22 COACHES/STAFF ........................................................23-36 • Head Coach John Stiegelmeier........................................................24-25 • Assistant Coach Clint Brown ..............................................................26 • Assistant Coach Jay Bubak ................................................................27 • Assistant Coach Luke Meadows ..........................................................28 • Assistant Coach Shawn Mennenga ......................................................29 • Assistant Coach Shannon Moore ........................................................30 • Assistant Coaches Josh Davis, Tim Triplett ..........................................31 • Graduate Assistants..........................................................................32 • Support Staff/Administration ........................................................33-35 JACKRABBIT PLAYERS ..............................................37-66 • Seniors ......................................................................................38-45 • Juniors ......................................................................................46-55 • Sophomores ................................................................................56-59 • Redshirt Freshmen ......................................................................60-63 • Incoming Freshmen ......................................................................64-66 2009 OPPONENTS......................................................67-78 • Opponent Information....................................................................68-73 • Series Records/Scores ..................................................................74-75 • Missouri Valley Football Conference ................................................76-78 2008 SEASON REVIEW ............................................79-102 • Ryan Berry ......................................................................................80 • Season Recap ..................................................................................81 • Game Recaps ..............................................................................82-91 • 2008 Team Statistics ..................................................................92-95 • Awards ............................................................................................96 • All-Conference ..................................................................................97 • Missouri Valley Football Conference Statistics ..............................98-101 • Academic Awards ............................................................................102 HISTORY ................................................................103-132 • Year-By-Year Records ..............................................................104-105 • Year-By-Year Scores ................................................................106-110 • Comebacks ....................................................................................111 • Record Book ............................................................................112-115 • Season-By-Season Leaders ..............................................................116 • Lettermen ..............................................................................117-120 • Team Captains ................................................................................121 • All-Conference Awards ....................................................................122 • All-Academic Awards ......................................................................123 • All-Americans ..........................................................................124-127 • Jacks in the Pros ....................................................................128-129 • Hobo Day ......................................................................................130 • Beef Bowl/Cereal Bowl/Dakota Marker ........................................131-132 2009 JACKRABBIT FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE 1 QUICK FACTS 2008 RECAP SOUTH DAKOTA Wide Receivers: Josh Davis STATE UNIVERSITY OVERALL RECORD: 7-5 CONFERENCE RECORD: 6-2 (third place in Alma Mater: South Dakota State, 2006 INFORMATION Missouri Valley Football Conference) E-Mail: [email protected] Location: Brookings, S.D. Enrollment: 11,995 (fall 2008) HOME RECORD: 4-2 GRADUATE ASSISTANTS: WAY RECORD: 3-3 Colors: Yellow and Blue A • Jessie Currier (defensive line) FINAL ANKING Nickname: Jackrabbits R : Received votes • Brian Hook (wide receivers) • Thadd Sharrett (running backs) Affiliation: NCAA Division I Football Cham- 2008 GAME RESULTS pionship Subdivision Aug. 28 at Iowa State L, 17-44 STUDENT ASSISTANTS: Conference: Missouri Valley Football • Brian Bietz Conference Sept. 6 #14 Youngstown State (Ohio)W, 40-7 Sept. 13 #15 Western Illinois W, 24-22 • Tyler Burlage Stadium: Coughlin-Alumni Stadium (15,000 • John Lentz capacity) Sept. 20 at #8 Northern Iowa L, 20-34 Sept. 27 at Stephen F. Austin (Texas)W, 50-48 • Nick Punt ADMINISTRATION Oct. 4 #4 McNeese State (La.) [3 OT] L, 44-46 TEAM INFORMATION President: Dr. David L. Chicoine Oct. 18 #3 Cal Poly L, 28-42 Alma Mater: South Dakota State, 1969 LETTERMEN RETURNING: 40 Oct. 25 at Indiana State W, 49-9 Offense: 17 Athletic Director: Justin Sell Nov. 1 Missouri State W, 43-13 Defense: 19 Alma Mater: Bowling Green (Ohio), 1991 Nov. 8 Illinois State W, 52-21 Special Teams: 4 Office Phone: (605) 688-6388 Nov. 15 at #9 Southern Illinois L, 35-38 LETTERMEN LOST: 15 Associate AD-Compliance/Senior Woman Nov. 22 at #24 North Dakota State W, 25-24 Offense: 8 Administrator: Kathy Heylens COACHING STAFF Defense: 7 Office Phone: (605) 688-5308 Head Coach: John Stiegelmeier Special Teams: 0 Associate AD-Development: Mike Burgers Alma Mater: South Dakota State, 1979 Office Phone: (605) 697-7475 Record at SDSU: 75-56-0 (12) STARTERS RETURNING: 16 Career Record: 75-56-0 (12) Offense: 6 Associate AD-External: Mark Burgers Defense: 8 Office Phone: (605) 688-6294 Office Phone: (605) 688-5525 E-Mail: [email protected] Special Teams: 2 Associate AD-Internal: