When it was announced that the University of South Dakota would join the Summit League on Wednesday, South Dakota State University alumni thought of one thing.
A basketball rivalry that dates back to 1889 will be renewed starting in the 2011-2012 season when South Dakota's two biggest colleges square off for the first time since 2004.
At a press conference Wednesday, USD accepted an invitation by the Summit League to join the now 11-team conference.
"It really is a huge step," USD Athletic Director Joel Nielson said. "That was one of our main goals when we set out in the affiliation process. Conference affiliation is what I would deem the top two goals along with fundraising."
The SDSU men's and women's basketball teams have been in the Summit League since 2007 when it was previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference.
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The USD and SDSU basketball rivalry has been nonexistent since 2004, when the men's and women's teams played on Feb. 28 in the DakotaDome. The USD men won 78-63, but the SDSU women won 61-58. The men's teams met one last time at the Wells Fargo tournament, which was also played in Vermillion, and USD won 73-69.
The Jackrabbits can claim the series in both the men's and women's games. The men have beaten USD 114 times and lost 90, and the Lady Jacks have a 37-21 advantage.
"I think anytime you can bring back any rivalry that has existed since 1889, and with that kind of history, it's a big deal," Nielson said. "I know personally I was involved with the last time the two teams met, and to have that come back will be something special for everyone involved."
The basketball rivalry has gotten so heated in the past, dead animal carcasses have been thrown on the court by students and fans.
"I think it's time to start a rivalry again with a fresh slate," SDSU head women's basketball coach Aaron Johnston said. "I think there were some things that were more ugly than good when we were both a part of the (North Central Conference), and hopefully we have had enough of a break to start up a more positive rivalry."
In its first year in the Summit League, USD will be eligible to compete for championships in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, men's and women's swimming and diving and men's and women's golf. All other sports included in the Summit League -- including men's and women's basketball, women's soccer, volleyball, softball and women's tennis -- will be eligible to compete, but ineligible to qualify for league championship tournaments.
In 2012-2013, USD will be eligible to compete for all regular season and tournament championships when approved by the NCAA for Division I active membership.
"I'm very confident that our competitive level will be one that challenges in each sport," Nielson said. "But there's ebb and flow in each sport and that's understandable. We've had a history of being competitive in each sport, and I don't expect that to change."
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Another rivalry between USD and SDSU is still waiting to be renewed, because the Summit League doesn't affect the football teams. The Coyotes will continue to play in the Great West conference, and the Jackrabbit football team is in the Missouri Valley Football conference.
