 Classic SI photo by Damian Strohmeyer |
No Joshing
Oklahoma quarterback and Aberdeen, S.D. native Josh Heupel led the Sooners to a 13-2 victory over heavily favored Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl, giving Oklahoma its first national championship in 15 years and its seventh overall. With a perfect 13-0 record, the Sooners finished the season as the nation's only unbeaten team.
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Billy Mills, Pine Ridge
Won 10,000-meter track title in then Olympic-record 28:24.4 at 1964 Games; in 1965 set world record for six miles (27:11.6).
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Frank Leahy, Winner
Notre Dame football coach from 1941 to '43 and '46 to '53 had six undefeated seasons and won five national championships.
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Garney Henley, Hayti
Was Canadian Football League All-Star nine straight years (from 1963 to '71) as a defensive back; moved to flanker in '72 and won league MVP award.
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FLASHBACK |
1989: An American Summer
After driving 3,000 miles, the travelers decided to take a break in a fun-filled town in western South Dakota
In answer to your first question, no, we did not spear fish in Spearfish. The town of some 5,700 people at the northern edge of the Black Hills was given its unusual name by early fur traders, who upon paddling down the canyon streams, saw Indians and trappers spearing fish in the clear waters.
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do South Dakotans root for? SI asked the Mount Rushmore State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Minnesota Twins | 41% |
New York Yankees | 6% |
Atlanta Braves | 5% |
No favorite | 15% |
Favorite NFL team
Minnesota Vikings | 33% |
Green Bay Packers | 12% |
Denver Broncos | 9% |
Dallas Cowboys | 8% |
Favorite NBA team
Minnesota Timberwolves | 18% |
Boston Celtics | 10% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 9% |
No favorite | 37% |
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Favorite NHL team
Minnesota Wild | 15% |
Colorado Avalanche | 6% |
No favorite | 57% |
Favorite pro team
Minnesota Vikings | 21% |
Minnesota Twins | 12% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Mike Miller | 19% |
Adam Vinatieri | 15% |
Billy Mills | 9% |
Lyle Alzado | 5% |
State's biggest rival
North Dakota | 29% |
Minnesota | 19% |
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More a fan of college or pro sports?
Pro | 66% |
College | 11% |
Equal | 22% |
Favorite sport to play
Golf | 19% |
Fishing | 17% |
Baseball/softball | 13% |
Hunting | 12% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 75% |
Winter Olympics | 49% |
Baseball | 44% |
Summer Olympics | 43% |
Baseball | 36% |
**Multiple responses allowed | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 402 South Dakota residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5%.
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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25.3 Estimated percentage of South Dakota residents age 16 and older who fish.
75 Points scored by South Dakota to win the 1958 NCAA Division II men's basketball championship.
44 Points scored by South Dakota State to win the 1963 NCAA Division II men's basketball championship.
69 Age of George Lee "Sparky" Anderson, the only South Dakotan inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
6-3 Score of the first annual Hobo Day football game between South Dakota State and Yankton College. Hobo Day is said to have originated as a way to boost school spirit after SD State lost its first two football games of the 1912 season.
4 Sports in which Yankton, S.D. native Adam Vinatieri lettered at Rapid City Central High School (football, soccer, track and wrestling).
4,462 Capacity of Sioux Falls Stadium, home of the Sioux Falls Canaries of baseball's independent Northern League.
10 Miles (round trip) in Castle Trail, the longest hiking trail in Badlands National Park.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Brett Favre
South Dakota is Minnesota Vikings territory, hence Favre's selection as No. 1 enemy. (Davis and Steinbrenner? Go figure.) Respondents' most hated opponents: the Green Bay Packers (21%) and the North Dakota State Bison (11%).
Brett Favre | 15% |
Al Davis | 7% |
George Steinbrenner | 5% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Nov. 2, 1889 (39th or 40th state; admitted on same day as North Dakota)
Area: 77,121 square miles
Bird: Ring-necked pheasant
Capital: Pierre
Economy: Agriculture -- Cattle, hogs, wheat, soybeans, milk, corn. Industry -- Food processing, machinery, lumber and wood products, tourism.
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Flower: Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla hirsutissima)
Population: 754,844 (46th)
Nickname: Mount Rushmore State
Pro sports teams: Sioux Falls Canaries (NLB); Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL); South Dakota Gold (USA-IBA)
Major college programs: University of South Dakota Coyotes; South Dakota State Jackrabbits
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