Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Sad Day in Backpack Land

Well, I made the tough decision today to buy the replacement for my ever trustworthy backpack. I won that backpack at SDSU's freshman orientation by being the first to answer the trivia question. Here is the question, we'll see if any one out there can answer it. What was the score of the game where the college got it's mascot's name? And as a bonus, how did they earn their mascot (Jackrabbit) name and who was the game against? The answer coming later on. Anyhow, I knew the answer because I was paying attention at orientation, and won the ROTC South Dakota State University Backpack with a tough leather bottom. That thing was durable, and I used it every day since I won it. It carried so many books, so many other items since I've finished college. The backpack has often gotten me asked if I was in ROTC, even when I used it at school in Minnesota, I was asked about the backpack. And now, it's developed a (somewhat large) hole in the very top by the zipper. Having it fixed crossed my mind, but I decided that by the time I do that, it would be just as cheap to replace it, so I did tonight. It's a sad day, because this great backpack was a piece of my past.


Ok, now the answers. The question that was asked, "What was the score of the game where the college got it's mascot's name?" The answer was a contest against the University of Minnesota (I think it was in the 1930s, 1936 seems to ring a bell, but that was 7 years ago when I did orientation, so I don't quite remember clearly). The U of M won the game against South Dakota State 70-0 that day. The U of M coach at the time was asked what it was like to play the kids from South Dakota, and he answered, "They were as fast as Jackrabbits." And the name has stuck ever since. And now you know the rest of the story.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well that's just silly. They got their nickname from a pity comment on a game they LOST 70-0?! "Well...you stink, but hey, at least you're fast" is that what it's supposed to mean??

Anonymous said...

I may just fix that backpack for you so you can keep yourbrief but glorious SDSU tiem in your memory forever