So there has been one comment on Drew Quandt’s column. Of course it was by a State fan. I am going to give my take for anyone who doesn’t know about it yet. Plus I will have some counterpoints for Ace.
First Ace, you say SDSU has been packing its stadium this year. Well you have had some good opponents this year. But let’s go back to the first year SDSU was in Division I. You say USD isn’t packing it in for their home games this year. SDSU only got to play four home games in 2004 for. They drew good numbers for Augie and NDSU, but there was a HUGE drop of for the third home game.
For Western Oregon you drew 5,227 fans. Sound like you “packed it in” during that game right? Remember, we are comparing the first years here since you wanted to go along that rout. During your non-counter year, would it really have killed you to play USD, since you did play Augie? Plus against Winona you packed in another 8,000. Sounds like you all were excited about those two opponents.
Now for SDSU’s second year. Northern Colorado was the season opener, and SDSU packed in a whole 1,881 fans. See where I am going with this? I will continue. Southern Utah- 4,022; Georgia Southern- 4,128; Missouri-Rolla (S&T) which was Hobo Days did draw 14,000; UC-Davis in SF- 7,000; Cal Poly- 10,000; Valpo- 7,000. I couldn’t get the Wisconsin-La Crosse and I didn’t feel like going to their website. Now you picked it up in the second half, but still.
Third year for SDSU. William Penn- 4,200; UC Davis- 15,000; Central Arkansas- 12,000; Wisconsin-LaCrosse – 6,000.
So on the first three years, it looked like to took a big opponent to get a good crowd to SDSU home games. So don’t give me this crap how you pack the stadium, because for crappy games you didn’t. Face the facts on that one.
This game needs to be played. But it won’t happen until at least 2013 unless a game is cancelled by the Jacks. That’s just how scheduling works in college football. Now for the other sports, they can play yet and work it in their schedule sooner. The club hockey teams have played and drawn big crowds. Cross country has been in Brookings and the swimming and diving teams will compete.
To say this game doesn’t need to be played for both teams to have success is just pure ignorance. USD and SDSU has a rivalry that dates back so long. There is so much dislike between the two, but also a lot of respect. That’s what makes the perfect rivalry. Plus both teams could use the money in Division I. It just makes sense and needs to be played.
USD was getting wins the last few years and the game hasn’t happened. Plus the game shouldn’t be about wins and losses. If I am correct, one of the top rivalries in college football is Army-Navy. At one point, both of those teams were horrible for a long time. So wins and losses doesn’t mean anything. The game is more important then wins or losses.
Oh and if you are going to tell us to read a book, then I recommend you do the same. Because I like reading basically. I recommend John Grisham. Then hopefully while we are reading, the game will get scheduled and the rivalry is renewed. I am not saying this out of bitterness or anything, I am just saying this because wouldn’t it be fun to have the game back again……
———-Justin Rust
Volante Sports Blog 
I completely disagree with everything you said. “To say this game doesn’t need to be played for both teams to have success is just pure ignorance” yet it doesn’t. SDSU is in one of the best football conferences in FCS, has been ranked all year until recently, had their largest crowd ever at a football game and in the state of South Dakota last Nov 17. Their women’s basketball team has made it the WNIT in back-to-back years only because they couldn’t make it to the real dance since they weren’t eligible, they were the first transitioning team to make the WNIT period. SDSU’s first baseball win came against Notre Dame and Jeff Samardzija, you know the one that plays for the Cubs now. Sure their men’s basketball team is struggling but that has nothing to do with us not playing USD.
This rivalry has a lot of respect?? Are you on crack? USD fans took a dump in the SDSU locker room the last time they played…looks like a lot of respect to me.
USD was getting wins the last few years against a watered down NCC, the football team can’t beat anyone outside of the dome.
Also how about we wanted to play you when we were transitioning and you pretty much flipped us the bird and said not gonna happen? USD did this to themselves