MADISON – South Dakota had arguably its best season in program history last year. The Coyotes could be better in 2024.
The team returns 15 starters from a team finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference, posted its first 10-win season since 1986 when it compteted in Division II and made its first FCS quarterfinals appearance.
South Dakota (1-0) travels to Camp Randall Stadium for a Saturday afternoon affair with Wisconsin.
Here is what you need to know about the Coyotes, who were ranked No. 5 in the American Football Coaches Association FCS poll and defeated Division II Northern State, 45-3, in Week 1.
Coyotes coach Bob Nielson left his mark in Eau Claire
South Dakota coach Bob Nielson has guided the Coyotes to a 43-45 record in nine seasons and a 21-16 record with two playoff appearances in the past three-plus seasons. Football fans in Eau Claire should remember him. From 1996-98 Nielson was the head coach at UW-Eau Claire. Nielsen took a program that suffered six straight losing seasonsand posted a 22-11 (.667) record that culminated with a WIAC title and the school’s first playoff appearance. The Blugolds advanced to the Division III semifinals. After the season he moved on to Minnesota Duluth.
Aidan Bouman was one the most efficient QBs in FCS
The Coyotes ranked 70th in the nation last season in total offense but with the return of their top two rushers, top four receivers and three offensive line starters, there is the potential for significant improvement. Running the show is junior quarterback Aidan Bouman (6-5, 245), who ranked 11th in the nation in pass efficiency last season when he completed 67% (187 of 280) of his passes for 2,551 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He completed nine of 12 passes for 85 yards against Northern State.
The Coyotes have little FBS influence
South Dakota success last season came without much help from the transfers from the FBS ranks. Last year’s team had eight former FBS players with three making a large impact. This year’s team has seven on the roster, but only one was in the starting lineup: Bouman, who began his career at Iowa State.
Former Badger Elijah Hodge coaches SD linebackers
Former Badger Elijah Hodge is in his third season as the Coyotes’ inside linebackers coach. He played the position at UW from 2006-08 and was a starter in 2007 when he ranked third on the team in tackles. There are four products of Wisconsin high schools on the team: junior receiver Jack Martens (Cumberland), sophomore receiver Troy Bounting (Hudson), sophomore punter Tyler Ebel (DeForest) and freshman offensive lineman Sam Hawker (Monona Grove). Martens is a returning starter who was third on the team last season in catches (28) and receiving yards (406). Ebel is the team’s No. 1 punter.
South Dakota special teams were special in Week 1
The Coyotes’ return game had punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns against Northern State. Sophomore Keyondray Jones-Logan had a 97-yard kickoff return for the team’s first touchdown of the season and senior Carter Bell had a 55-yard second quarter punt return for a score. Junior Zeke Mata hit a career-long 52-yard field goal.
Fun fact: For the record it’s pronounced ‘Kigh-Yotes’
If you want to sound silly to a South Dakota fan pronounce their team’s nickname using three syllables. That’s a no-no. It’s pronounced ‘Kigh-Yotes” or simply “Yotes”. The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation says the resilience of the coyote is why it was adopted as the state’s official animal in 1949, though that was also around the time that Tootsie, South Dakota’s singing coyote was at the height of her popularity. Maybe she was the true inspiration.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66d5bc3cf7494db29d1153d45a32cce4&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fuw%2F2024%2F09%2F02%2Ffour-things-to-know-about-wisconsin-football-opponent-south-dakota%2F75036404007%2F&c=9985825308550907655&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-01 13:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
