South Dakota State Jackrabbits Tailgate

South Dakota State Jackrabbits Overview

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Fast facts

League: NCAA Division II FCS

Head Coach: Jimmy Rogers

Team Mascot: Jack Rabbit

Year Opened: 2016

Capacity: 19340

City / State: Brookings / South Dakota

Rivalries & Top Games to Attend

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Dakota Marker

Rival Team: North Dakota State Bisons

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits and North Dakota State Bisons play each year for the Dakota Marker. The two teams first met in 1903, and since then they have developed a long running rivalry that became an annual fixture in 1919. In 2004, the Dakota Marker trophy was added to the rivalry, and today the winner of the SDSU-NDSU game takes home bragging rights as well as the trophy. The Bison may lead the all-time series 60-41-5, but you won’t want to miss it as the Jackrabbits try to draw nearer when these two meet this year.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits South Dakota Coyotes

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South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs South Dakota Coyotes

Rival Team: South Dakota Coyotes

South Dakota and South Dakota State are the two largest public universities in the state of South Dakota, and the two schools have been fighting it out in the gridiron since 1889. The rivalry has been played 112 times, and the Jackrabbits hold a slim 53-52-7 lead in the all-time series. You won’t want to miss it when the Jackrabbits take on the Coyotes, so make sure to get tickets to the annual SDSU-South Dakota game.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits Tailgate Guide

Atmosphere

Tailgating at South Dakota State opens five hours before kickoff giving you plenty of time to set up the grill, tent, table, and chairs and enjoy a fun day of tailgating. Arrive early, if you want to get the most out of your tailgating experience as there is a lot of fun to be had in the parking lots outside the new Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

Fans from all over the Dakotas come out to cheer on the Jackrabbits on Saturdays in the fall creating a fun and festive atmosphere at the tailgate. The fans here are quite friendly, and you’ll have no trouble making friends as long as you aren’t rooting for one of the Jackrabbits biggest rivals. Although, even NDSU and South Dakota fans will still receive a relatively friendly welcome.

Those of you taking the kids to the game will without a doubt want to stop by the Fan Fest before the game. The Fan Fest features a variety of family activities and is the perfect place to keep the kids entertained before the game.

If you want to get the full SDSU game day experience, then take advantage of the early tailgating hours and get an early start to your gameday.

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Traditions

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Fan Fest

Fan Fest at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex opens two and a half hours before the game and is a fun place to hang out. Here you’ll find lots of family-friendly games and activities, so stop by and check it out.

Where to tailgate

Dark Blue LotsIf you don’t have a reserved spot and want to tailgate, then arrive early to the dark blue lots. The lots open 5 hours before kickoff and are a great place to tailgate with friends and family before the game.
Pink LotThose of you bringing an oversized vehicle to the game will want to park in the pink lot. The pink lot is the only place RVs and other large vehicles are allowed to park. Even if you aren’t bringing a large vehicle to the game, it's still fun to stop by and see some of the more tricked out tailgate vehicles.
Orange LotThe orange lot is where you’ll find season ticket holders tailgating on Saturdays and as a result is where many of the more diehard tailgaters can be found. Spots in the lot are also open to the public starting one hour before kickoff, so if you arrive late, then make sure to check the orange lot for a spot.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits Stadium Guide

In Game

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are a program on the rise. Not only has the team made FCS Playoff the last five years the Jackrabbits also just moved into a new state of the art stadium. The Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is one of the newest and nicest stadiums in the FCS making a trip to Brookings a must for any fan looking to experience the new facility.

In addition to an incredible stadium, the Jackrabbits also have some fantastic fan support. SDSU fans are very friendly, and the team’s current fortunes have fans from all over the state coming out to support the team. You’ll find a lively atmosphere here in Brookings, especially when the Jackrabbits are doing well, making it a fun time to come out and support SDSU football.

Finally, the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band puts on an impressive show and the cheer teams do a great job of keeping spirits high throughout the game. Enjoy the performances of the band and spirit squads at Jackrabbits games as they’re a big part of what makes attending an SDSU game such a special event.

A Jackrabbits game is an excellent road trip destination for any FCS fans as you’ll get to watch one of the best teams in the country play in a brand new stadium.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits Dana J Dykhouse Stadium

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South Dakota State Jackrabbits Dana J Dykhouse Stadium cheerleaders

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Things to check out

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Brand New Stadium

The brand new Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium opened in 2016 and is a beautiful facility where any FCS football fan would love to watch a game. There are few better facilities in the FCS, so enjoy taking in a game at the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

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Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band

Enjoy the performance of the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band when taking in an SDSU game. The band is a big part of the pageantry on display at Jackrabbits game, and they do an excellent job of keeping spirits high with their tunes.

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Jack the Jackrabbit

Keep an eye out for the SDSU mascot Jack the Jackrabbit. Fans young and old love Jack and you never know what kind of trouble he’ll get into next, so don’t miss him during your trip to Brookings.

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Cheerleaders

Join in the cheers and chants lead by SDSU’s coed and all-girl cheer squads. The cheer squads do a fantastic job of riling up the crowd, especially at key moments, so join in the cheers and show off your SDSU pride.

Fight Songs

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.
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).

South Dakota State Jackrabbits Bars & Restaurants

Wooden Legs Brewing Company

Proudly serving award-winning handcrafted local beers!

309 5th St #100, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

pizza - $$
Skinner’s Pub

Amazing drinks, good food, and nice staff!

300 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - $
Ray’s Corner

Good cold beers and a friendly atmosphere.

401 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - $
Sully’s Irish Pub

Great atmosphere, cool drinks, and awesome crowd.

421 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - $$
The Wild Hare

Other than the great selection of drinks, it's a cool atmosphere to watch games on TV!

303 3rd St, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - $$
George’s Pizza

Simply delicious food and amazing service!

311 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

pizza - $
Nick’s Hamburger Shop

Great burgers served at the corner of Main Avenue and Fifth Street.

427 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - $
The Ram & O’Hare’s

The Ram provides a diverse casual dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere.

327 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - pizza - steakhouse - $$
Cook’s Kitchen

Amazingly tasty food and great service!

304 Main Ave S, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - $
Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge

Serving upscale-casual classics and innovations for over sixty years. Full bar, hand-mixed cocktails, local craft microbrews and outstanding hand-selected wines.

726 Main Ave S, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - $$
Cubby’s Sports Bar & Grill

Cubby's is a Sports Bar and Grill with a full menu and great sports viewing!

307 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - sportsbar - $$
Backyard Grill

BackYard Grill is an authentic BBQ smoke house. Our meat has a light rich pink ring from the wood cooking process. We use hickory, cherry and apple wood to smoke our meats for up to 12 hours. This will create a taste you and your friends will enjoy.

1805 6th St, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - bbq - $
Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill

At Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill, quality and innovative cooking procedures create distinctive food for our guests.

621 32nd Ave, Brookings, SD 57006, USA

Bar website

american - steakhouse - $$