SportsBuzzard 1
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
If nothing else, I know how to connect dots. I have trouble matching colors and clothes, but connecting the dots is one of my strengths. Enough about me, this story isn’t about me it is about another one of our bloggers.
It all started about a year ago. The buzzard launched our second football season, and we were in desperate need of local coverage and insight from the center part of the state. Yes, yes, underserved and underrepresented as always.
I had lined up a blogger who was nervous about entering into the sometimes blood sport of blogging on a sports site. Without going into details the blogger posted and received a rather benign comment from what appeared to be a particularly knowledgeable fan from the Winner area. The comment apparently was much like one of Muhammad Ali’s legendary hits, as it floated like a butterfly but stung (to the blogger at least) like a bee. The blogger was knocked out of the box with his first post. TKO in the first round.
I was now officially desperate to have someone report from central South Dakota. What to do? There was only one option I could come up with, email the commenter and anoint him the new blogger. Throw the old Hail Mary and see what happens. Lo and behold he took the bait, and started reporting as Sod Buzzard almost immediately.
The rest, as they say, is history. A couple of times a week you can count on Sod to give the straight skinny from what he lovingly calls the Pheasant Belt. Others have since adopted the lingo the ‘Pheasant Belt’, but that is another topic and another story.
So, what does this have to do with connecting the dots? All the talk of concussions this season along with the recent article about a former Sioux Falls man helped coalesce for me the above story about Sod Buzzard.
Some background is in order. The former Sioux Falls resident, Mr. Derek Amato, dove into a swimming pool a few years ago and hit his head, causing a sever concussion. The downside was that Amato lost 35% of his hearing because of the concussion. The upside was that Amato emerged as a musical savant—-he was subsequently selected as the Artist of the Year by the Association of Independent Artists, and now makes his career as a musician. Prior to the accident Amato was a hobby musician, now he is a musical savant.
I have concluded much the same happened to our friend Sod Buzzard. Seems in the Winner victory in the Dome in 1989 our friend Sod Buzzard sustained a concussion. Prior to that time he wasn’t much for writing, anything longer than the annual Christmas card was considered a novel. However, after the concussion in the Dome Sod Buzzard emerged a prolific writer and sports historian, a journalistic savant. Winner Warrior facts that were buried deep in his brain now explode out of his head and are turned into thought provoking posts. If you doubt me, read one of Sod’s most recent posts on the SDHSAA seeding format: Click here to read “Choking on the Seeds.”
So, what is the take home message? Concussions are a very real and unfortunate part of football, but once in a great while from a concussion a savant is born.
The Sports Buzzard is fortunate to have Sod Buzzard as part of our flock.
Tags: Winner
Posted in Football | 1 Comment »
SportsBuzzard 1
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Listen to the live to the play-by-play of New Underwood vs Kadoka starting at 6:45 p.m. MST.
This one should be a harbinger of things to come with west river 9 man football this season. In addition to the live play-by-play join in on the live chat and score updates! Click Here to join the fun
Tags: Kadoka, New Underwood
Posted in Football | No Comments »
SportsBuzzard 1
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Do buzzards and crows mix? Ditto Tigers and Kougars?
Well, the answers to those questions will become clearer on Friday at 7 p.m. MST when the Sports Buzzard will cover this week’s 9 man Game O’ the Week live from the crow’s nest in Kadoka.
Click Here To Listen Live
That’s right, listen to the game live and join in the interactive chat when the Tigers square off against the Kougars.
We have already given in-depth coverage of the Tigers and their quest to run deeper into the playoffs come post season: Click here for Tiger pre-season information.
Both teams had bye weeks last week so it remains to be seen what tricks the 9A Kougars and Coach Chad Eisenbraun have up their paws for the Tigers. One thing is for sure, the Kougars sport some beeeeeeeef on their line as their roster includes seven players that are +200 lbs. Click here to see the Kougars roster. You can bet that Tiger Coach Clint Nelson has been thinking of ways of offsetting the Kougars size advantage.
The question that lingers though is whether the Kougars have the speed necessary to stop Mr. Alex Anderson? Listen live starting at 7 p.m. on Friday for all the action!
Alex Anderson leads the Tigers through a pre-season drill.
Tags: Kadoka, New Underwood
Posted in Football | No Comments »
SportsBuzzard 1
Sunday, August 29th, 2010
Although there was limited action in Week zero (not sure why the SDHSAA cannot start counting with “1”) there were some stellar performances, to name a few in no particular order:
Alek Dallman (RCC)—great special teams play
Jake Weber and Casey Guliuzza (RCC)—defense
Tyler Richardson (STM)—121 yards rushing
Bryan Cooley (Sturgis)—two rushing TDs
Alex Litzen (RCS)—two TDs and 139 yards receiving
Hayden Hast (RCS)—9-11 passing for 189 yards
However, only one player can be recognized as a “Monster” and this week’s Monster Player of the Week is the Scoopers Clint Wilson. Despite being keyed on all night by the Brandon Valley Lynx defense Wilson still managed to rush for 172 yards on 31 carries and score two touchdowns in a Monster performance. Congrats Clint!
Clint Wilson, Monster Player of the Week!
Tags: Oelrichs, Rapid City Central, Rapid City Stevens, Spearfish, St. Thomas More, Sturgis
Posted in Football | 1 Comment »
SportsBuzzard 1
Sunday, August 29th, 2010
The new look Cobblers took the field yesterday. I am sure there will be 2000 pounds of analysis on the game, for the RCJ report click here.
One of my all-time favorite buzzards on the ground supplied some great pictures of the action:
Alek Dallman (#10) on a kick-off return.
Others in photo:
Bobby Wessel (#9)
Asau Rodriguez (#47)
Jake Sharp (#7) on a sweep to the right, accompanied by JT Harper (#12).
Casey Guliuzza (#30) with a quarterback sack.
Others in photo:
Ryan Jackson (#90)
Dom Smith (#19) and Jake Weber (#55) team up for a tackle.
Others in photo:
Hunter Jackson (#20)
Bobby Wessel (#9)
Taton Bolton (#41) on the tackle.
Others in photo:
Dylon Wilson (#78)
Dom Smith (#19)
Jake Weber (#55)
Tags: Rapid City Central
Posted in Football | No Comments »
SportsBuzzard 1
Friday, August 27th, 2010
The SB will provide a live stream and play-by-play from Dutton Field of the Douglas vs STM game tonight starting at 5:30 p.m. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ACTION
Posted in Football | 1 Comment »
SportsBuzzard 1
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
There has been a lot written lately about concussions and football.
Probably the most succinct local treatment of the subject was by Glazed Donut Hole (click here for that report).
Even as a youth watching Frazier vs Ali I wondered about the damage to the body, and in particular, the brain. With the physicality of football players, even with SD high school football players, a likely outcome of a sharp hit to the head is a concussion. The eureka moment—all of the sudden—is the long-term impact caused by the concussions can cause a lifetime of disability.
So what is the answer? Stop playing the game? Unless liability becomes a concern I don’t see that happening. Here are some out-of-the-buzzard box ideas (some more wacko than others perhaps):
- Put extra cushy foam on the outside of the helmets rather than ultra-stiff and strong polycarbonate. Ever since Riddell started using plastic for the outside shell in 1939 the helmet became an asset to the tackler and a potential concussion to all who wears them. I suspect most concussions occur by helmet to helmet contact.
- Return to the leather helmet. Ok, this one is way out there, but think of it like the renaissance of wood bats with baseball. Maybe if everyone wore a leather helmet there would be more finesse tackling and less helmet-assisted tackling?
- Get rid of pads and helmets all together and play flag football. Crazy? Perhaps, but when was the last time you left a flag football game and didn’t see some great athleticism? Sure the kids were probably 8 years old, but if lawyers get involved on the liability side of things at the high school level this might not end up being such a nutty idea.
What are some other ideas that might address this issue short of not playing the game?
Posted in Football | No Comments »
SportsBuzzard 1
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
Every season we update the team pages including a list of 2010 college football players. Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, please realize the lists are as complete as we can make them based upon the rosters posted by each university.
We don’t try and differentiate between redshirts vs active players, if they are on the roster they make the list, if a coach says they are playing we add them to the list. So, if you notice that we have missed someone please let us know by sending an email to admin@sportsbuzzard.com
By the numbers……RCC has the most players on the list with 10. They are followed by STM with 9, Harding County with 7, and Lyman, Winner and Belle each with 5. What does this all mean? I’d be curious to hear what those out in buzzardland think.
The complete list of players is as follows:
11AA
DOUGLAS
Tarron Teeslink (SD Mines)
Blake Pirkl (Chadron)
RCC
Will Mechling (DWU)
Brit Jones (DWU)
Nathan Wetz (DWU)
Dimitri Fahey (DWU)
Jessie Holz (DWU)
James Hansen (DWU)
Chapman Ham (Chadron)
Allan Schmaltz (Chadron)
Brandon Gorsuch (USD)
Nick Purcell (SDSU)
RCS
Zac Zandstra (BHSU)
Chris Dell (BHSU)
Brandon Sachs (DWU)
Alex Ferdinand (Chadron)
SPEARFISH
Nick Olson (BHSU)
Tonn Tetrault (BHSU)
STURGIS
Shane Whidby (DSU)
11A/B
BELLE FOURCHE
Zach Grapenstine (SD Mines)
Colen Kling (SD Mines)
Francois Barnaud (DWU)
Mike Barnaud (DWU)
Alex Kling (SDSU)
BENNETT COUNTY
Austin Haynes (BHSU)
Clint Sasse (Chadron)
CUSTER
Shea Koch (Chadron)
HILL CITY
Ryan Gimbel (DSU)
HOT SPRINGS
Dustin Fischer (SD Mines)
Lucus Runyon (Dickinson)
Stephen Engebretson (Dickinson)
LEAD/DEADWOOD
Josh Thompson (DWU)
RED CLOUD
Wade O’Bryan (Dickinson State)
STANLEY COUNTY
Shane Pearson (Dickinson State)
STM
Cory Hartley (USF)
Nick Tolsma (DWU)
Dane Carlson (DWU)
Conor Casey (Chadron)
Jared Jacobson (NSU)
Chris Hurd (NSU)
Dustin Nowotny (USD)
Kevin Robb (USD)
Jeremiah Brewster (Mary)
WINNER
Jayd Knodell (BHSU)
Todd Sherman (SD Mines)
Eric Schueth (DWU)
Seth Daughters (SDSU)
Dalton Daughters (DWU)
9AA/A/B
COLOME
Josh Sherman (SD School of Mines)
Ethan Vobr (DSU)
GREGORY
Luke Whalen (BHSU)
Sterling Boylan (BHSU)
Bo Bearshield (USF)
Brock Sinclair (NSU)
HARDING COUNTY
Sam Olson (BHSU)
Jason Latham (DWU)
Trent Turbiville (BHSU)
Jarel Hafner (Dickinson State)
Heath Hafner (Dickinson State)
Dalmin Gibson (Dickinson State)
Hazer Burghduff (Dickinson State)
Dave Nelson (Trinity Bible)
KADOKA
Zane Riggins (NSU)
LEMMON/MCINTOSH
Joe Sackmann (Dickinson)
LYMAN
Reed Reuman (BHSU)
Thomas Walling (BHSU)
Brian Kemnitz (SD Mines)
Tyler Ollerich (USF)
Skyler Eriksen (DWU)
NEW UNDERWOOD
Clayton Schleusner (BHSU)
NEWELL
Sterling Boylan (BHSU)
Brandon Fox (Mary)
PHILIP
Karch Foley (SD Mines)
Lincoln Smith (NSU)
Troy Guptill (Mary)
WALL
Derick Eisenbraun (BHSU)
Conrad Kjerstad (SDSU)
Tags: Belle Fourche, Bison, Colome, Custer, Douglas, Gregory, Harding County, Hill City, Hot Springs, Lemmon/McIntosh, Lyman, New Underwood, Newell, Philip, Rapid City Central, Rapid City Stevens, Red Cloud, Spearfish, St. Thomas More, Stanley County, Sturgis, Wall, Winner
Posted in Football | 2 Comments »
SportsBuzzard 1
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
It was roughly two years ago that we opened this little slice of heaven known as the Sports Buzzard. We didn’t tell too many people what we were conjuring up because we knew we had a long journey in front of us, and we still do. However, as soon as we launched our 2008 football site we started getting questions about our association with the just opened (at the time) Sports Buzz restaurant on Mt. Rushmore Road in Rapid City.
The questions were for obvious reasons. First, the name similarities, Buzz……Buzzard. Second, the restaurant used a Buzzard on their sign and in their menus! Now come on!
It was clear that sometime in our planning process we sustained a security breach. We quickly found the leaker and dispensed with that person much like we had to do with the blogger once know as SportsBuzzard2.
So, it was with some relief last month that I noticed that Sports Buzz restaurant changed their name to Big Mike’s (click here, bottom of hyperlinked article). Being the social person that I am I went into Big Mike’s today for a hamburger, and I am happy to report that the burger was very good. Way to go Big Mike!
However, there is some unfinished business here. Take a look at the sign in front of Big Mike’s:
The buzzard remains!
So, to paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, we offer the following plea to Mr. Big Mike:
“We welcome the start of football season; for we believe that fall and spring sports go together, that the advance of high school sports can only strengthen the cause of sports in general. There is one sign that you can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of sporting events. Mr. Big Mike, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for western South Dakota, if you seek sportsmanship, come here to this restaurant. Mr. Big Mike, tear down your buzzard!”
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
