South Dakota State University Athletics
Traditions
5/25/2007 1:00:00 AM | General
Mascot
What's in a name? A great deal if that name is associated with college athletics.
There are two theories as to how and why the Jackrabbit nickname evolved. The most common belief is that the name "Jackrabbits" came from a story that appeared in a Minneapolis newspaper following a 1905 football game between the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State College, as the university was then known. A reporter for the newspaper, knowing of the preponderance of jackrabbits in the Brookings area, was believed to have written that the SDSC team was a quick as jackrabbits. Many people believe that the school adopted the Jackrabbits as its official nickname from the beginning.
The other theory about the origin of the nickname is given in The Jackrabbit, SDSU's yearbook. There is a poem in the 1907 yearbook that puts forth the idea that the yearbook is called The Jackrabbit because a group of juniors wished to immortalize themselves by changing the name of the yearbook. Athletic teams followed suit, adopting the nickname.
It is not clear if athletic teams had nicknames before this time or if SDSC teams were merely called the "state team" or "Brookings."
The origin of the logo is even more difficult to located than the origin of the nickname. While there is no documented history of the logo, it seems to have appeared almost as soon as the nickname. A picture in the 1908 yearbook features a rabbit in football garb, but a standard Jackrabbit logo wasn't adopted until 1940s, when the literal representation of a rabbit was changed to a characterized version.
The characterized version of the Jackrabbit is still used today, although it has been modified over the years. Like many mascots throughout America, the Jackrabbit logo is now licensed. Permission to use the logo for any commercial purposes must be obtained from proper university officials.
SDSU School Song
Two songs greet Jackrabbit athletes when they enter the athletic arena or score a touchdown at SDSU home sporting events.
The tune "Ring The Bells" is generally heard first and is considered the school's fight song. That's usually followed by the chorus of "The Yellow and Blue" and is considered the alma mater song.
RING THE BELLS
Ring the bells for South Dakota
The Yellow and the Blue;
Cheer the team from South Dakota
With loyal hearts so true;
Win the game for South Dakota
The School that serves us well;
We will fight for South Dakota
So let's ring, ring, ring those bells.
Stanley Schleuter, a Clear Lake native and 1961 SDSU graduate, wrote the words to "Ring The Bells," using the ever-present cowbell as inspiration. The melody is from the University of Chicago's fight song "Wave the Flag for Old Chicago."
THE YELLOW AND BLUE
We come from the Sioux and Missouri,
The Cheyenne and the Jim,
From pine clad peaks of the Black Hills,
Brimful of vigor and vim.
We sing the song of the prairie,
The home of the Yellow and Blue.
The gleaming gold of the corn field,
The flax of azure hue.
(chorus)
Oh SDSU hurrah for the Yellow and Blue;
Old SDSU all honor and glory to you;
For ever raise the song in praise both loud and long
With loyal heart so true (so true)
Oh loyal hearts and true (and true,
so true).
Originally titled "To The Colors," the words for "The Yellow And Blue" were written by Niels E. Hansen, a professor of horticulture and forestry. The words were put to music by Francis J. Haynes in 1908. "The Yellow and Blue" was considered the college song of the South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts unitl the late 1950s.
