Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Intercollegiate athletics at South Dakota State University began in the late nineteenth century, with football organized in 1885 and other activities such as baseball and track and field developing soon thereafter. Early athletic programs were largely student led, as administrative oversight and professional coaching were limited. Competition initially consisted of intramural contests and occasional intercollegiate events that often accompanied broader academic gatherings.
In 1905, following a football game, a newspaper account described the team as “quick as jackrabbits,” a nickname that was subsequently adopted as the university’s mascot. In 1922, South Dakota State College became a founding member of the North Central Conference, with faculty member Dr. Harry Severin serving as conference secretary for four decades. The university competed in the North Central Conference for much of the twentieth century before transitioning to NCAA Division I competition beginning with the 2008–09 academic year. Since that transition, South Dakota State has competed in Division I conferences including the Summit League and the Missouri Valley Football Conference, expanding its intercollegiate athletic programs and facilities.