Broadcaster Press 5 March 3, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com OF VERMILLION DOME SWEET DOME By Alan Dale The Plain Talk The Midwest is not known for its difficult roadways lined with glorious mountains or better yet, being actually a part of the mountain. There are rarely any real difficult stretches of rolling hills, so in essence the Midwest is what it is: flat. South Dakota is no different for the most part, once you venture far enough past the Black Hills. Yet, when one gets to the Southeastern part of the state, there is one vision that begins to loom in the distance upon nearing Vermillion. The land may lie flat, but one of the region’s most recognizable structures - the University of South Dakota DakotaDome serves as a testament to the rise of the school’s athletic department. Home to five intercollegiate sports, including basketball, football, volleyball, track and field and swimming and diving, the Dome has been a part of the state landscape since 1979 when it was originally constructed. “The Dome is the symbol for athletics at USD,” the university’s sports information director Bryan Boettcher said. “Every sport and each studentathlete utilizes the Dome in some way. Having an indoor facility that can accommodate every team in a northern climate has been an incredible asset for USD for nearly four decades.” Twenty-two years later the 10,000 seat Dome received an upgrade via a new $13M steel roof. Additional upgrades have followed – including the installation of a customized Daktronics Sports Marketing video board, concourse and concession improvements, women’s locker room renovation and press box updates. Then came the 2007 renovation of the sports medicine area, replacement of men’s locker room, reconstruction of the equipment room and replacement of the arena floor. But more than that, the Dome means football for South Dakota and once it went up the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) gave birth to the high school playoffs for the sport. “I brought teams in here against them when I was with Northern Colorado,” current USD football coach Joe Glenn said. “One year we got beat and went on to win the national championship. It put Vermillion on the map. People talk about it. It was one of the first domes built. It’s been just fabulous for a new facility, a game site. It’s got the big time feel of it.” Long-time USD head athletic trainer and Director of Sports Medicine, Bruce Fischbach, has lived in Vermillion for nearly 30 years and has raised a family here. He knows quite well what the Dome means to the city. “It’s a signature and something you see on the horizon driving into town,” Fischbach said. “You are amazed at how big it is and how much it can hold. It’s of huge relevance for us. It’s allowed things to come here (to Vermillion) that may not have been here before. “It’s a centerpiece for activity.” Fischbach also noted that the SDHSAA had the “security” to have a place to play where the weather was warm and always the same come high school playoff time. That enabled the association to have a final stop for a playoff tournament to wrap a season up. SDHSAA Quote. The ability to house football with a perfect backdrop has its drawbacks for other sports. “It’s a dome, so it’s suitable for football, but it’s not suitable for basketball and volleyball and that’s why we moved volleyball upstairs a few years ago and building an arena for basketball,” James Bandy, USD’s Senior Associate Athletic Director – Internal Operations, said. “For football it’s great because we are in South Dakota so in late October, early November people don’t mind sitting in 72 degree temperatures with no rain or wind.” The DakotaDome is one of only five collegiate domes of its kind along with facilities at Idaho and Idaho State Universities, Northern Arizona University and Syracuse University (New York). The Dome relevance is so profound to the area that not only does it host Vermillion High Tanager football games, but it also hosts Briar Cliff University (Sioux City) contests as well as a number of university-related events such as this past weekend’s Relay For Life (see related story). All this was made possible over three decades ago, thanks in part to the works of Carl Miller. “Carl Miller, he was the heart behind it, the idea behind it, the original fundraiser behind it,” Glenn said. “He was the man who moved the plans through the students, the alumni, the locals, and the state. You talk about a gut check to do this. He had tremendous vision.” Glenn is a 1971 graduate of USD and he says socially not much changed, but just the school’s athletic image got a boost. “Athletically and socially it’s pretty much the same, but to go inside and practice when you have snow, wind, rain… the Dome got it right,” Glenn said. “It still has the ‘wow’ factor.” The tales of the first days of the Dome still resonate. “People talk about that during the old Division II days, I hear how some of how those football and basketball games where competitive and it was a good place to play,” Bandy said. “There was a lot of spirit in here and it was a tough place for the other teams to come play.” The Dome could be a great host for events like concerts, but due to so many scheduling conflicts, that possibility is lessened. “We entertain those ideas and we wish we could, but with just the 17 teams practicing all the time…,” Jeanette Hubert, Assistant Athletic Director for Administration in charge of scheduling said. “When we had the Farm Show, our basketball teams practiced at the high school and we’ve had other teams displaced too, which is tough for a Division I school. Our first priority is first to the student athletes and to get organized in regards to their schedules.” The Dome did host bands Incubus in 2007 and last year’s show featuring Time Flies. Mostly you will see commencement or smaller, local events fill in the scheduling gaps in the dome. With the creation of the new basketball arena – set for opening in the fall of 2016 – the Dome will remain relevant as it is today. Hubert still gets plenty of requests to use the Dome. “The ones I usually get are not from the area and don’t know the dome, don’t know our setup or don’t know our community,” Hubert said. “Concerts no, because we don’t have any local promoters here. You need promoters (in the town) to do that. We really hope that when the arena gets built we’ll have more opportunities.” Despite the building of the new sports arena, the Dome will continue to hold a special place in the future of USD. The Dome will become an even better facility as progress continues,” Boettcher said. “The arrival of the arena allows us to remodel the west side of the Dome which could include new offices, new locker rooms, and more seating options for fans. In addition, athletes who compete in football, track and field, soccer and softball will have more access to the Dome than ever before plus increased flexibility in the scheduling of practices and events.” While growth occurs the Dome will remain a stop in Vermillion that has made the city have its own unique stamp – one of only five like it in America. “It’s certainly an icon here,” Bandy said. “Coming in from certain areas of the city you can see it coming in over the horizon. When you think of Vermillion you think of the DakotaDome.” Ready To See Red By Alan Dale The Plain Talk What they do is probably even more difficult than people who perform in the same discipline and yet make millions of dollars. Dancing, singing, performing in front of an audience and/ or camera is a special skill that only a certain samplesize of people actually make the ‘big-time’ in the art. For a high school student however, it is a balancing act between schoolwork from all directions, sports, job, parents, siblings, friends, significant others, and just having time for themselves. Oh and they still have to memorize all their lines, moves, and cues. Yes…what members of Vermillion High School’s Rhythm in Red go through during the show choir season is arguably more difficult than anything the professionals go through in preparation simply because it isn’t their job. The commitment though, is as taxing as it is rewarding. On Saturday, Rhythm in Red plays host to the 7th annual show choir event – The Vermillion Invitational - to be held at the Vermillion High School most of the day, with the finals set for 6:45 p.m. The Rhythm in Red exhibition performance is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Costs to attend are $10 individual tickets for the whole day, $30 for a family (two adults and up to three kids), while programs are $2. To get to this point, the team has performed well in Sioux Falls and Aberdeen in recent weeks in preparation for this weekend, even if they won’t technically be able to James Heating & Cooling “Quality Service with Reasonable Prices.” “Serving the Vermillion Area Since 1993” Vermillion, SD 57069 • 605-624-9140 Our Services Include: • Furnace and A/C Replacement/Repair • Hot Water Boiler Replace and Repair • Air Duct Cleaning • Window Replacements • In Floor Heating Systems Licensed & Insured • Call for a FREE Estimate IMMEDIATE OPENINGS OAKWOOD APARTMENTS •AFFORDABLE RENT ADJUSTMENT FOR YOUR INCOME •LARGE 2 AND 3 BEDROOM RENTAL UNITS •STOVE, REFRIGERATOR & AIR CONDITIONING •OFF-STREET PARKING AND PLUG-INS •UTILITIES INCLUDED •ON-SITE COIN LAUNDRY •PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT & SAND BOX •3 BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS CALL NIKKI OR DAVE (605) 624-9557 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY compete in their own event. Regardless, the hours of toil and hard work have paid dividends for a group of students who take their craft seriously and hope to continue carrying on a legacy of top notch performances. “It’s more than just singing Affordable Monuments by Mollet Memorials Tablet: 2’6” x 0’6” x 1’8” Base: 3’4” x 1’0 x 0’6” Monuments 1,760 Starting $ at Price includes: Design, Lettering, Setting & Cement Foundation “Create a Legacy” Contact Marlon Mollet 605-360-9656 or visit molletmemorials.com Pleasant Valley Township Board of Equalization Meeting March 16th, 7:00 pm Brandi Johnson Residence 30630 Frog Creek Rd. 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Squirrel & Long Tail Horse Windmill Weights, Advertising Clocks & Signs, Many Great Vintage Toys, Gas & Oil Collectibles of All Types, Winchester & Keen Kutter Tools, Bear Trap Cylinder Record Player w/ Morning Glory, Roseville Pottery, Glassware, Lamps, Seed Sacks, Primitives, Calendars, Railroad Lanterns, Nice Offering of International Harvester Collectibles Plus Much More ! See WWW.MCHJAUCTIONEERS.COM For Listing and Photos TERMS: CASH - OR BANKABLE CHECK - NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS OR THEFT AUCTION CONDUCTED BY: CREAMER HEIMES JANSSEN AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERS L.LC. AUCTIONEERS: Ryan Creamer 402-254-9753 Alton Heimes 402-254-3315 Roger Janssen 402-388-4409 225 ACRES OF YANKTON COUNTY REAL ESTATE FOR SALE BY SEALED BIDS AND PRIVATE AUCTION The following described farmland located in Yankton County, South Dakota will be offered for sale by sealed bid with a private auction to follow for successful, qualified bidders: The S 1/2 NE 1/4 and SE 1/4, Except Madsen Tract A, Section 12, Township 96, Range 54 The farmland is located 4 miles West of 4-Way Stop in Viborg and 1 1/2 South. This parcel consists of approximately 195 acres of tillable farmland according to FSA records and 27 acres of pasture. Sealed bids will be accepted at the office of Gary Ward, 109 North Main Street, Viborg, SD 57070 until 5:00 p.m. on March 8, 2015. The three highest bidders and any bidders within ten percent (10%) of the highest sealed bid will be notified and invited to attend a private auction to be conducted at the office of Gary Ward in Viborg, SD on March 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. The Seller reserves the right to reject any and all bids. 10% down is due upon acceptance of the bid. The balance of the purchase price will be due at closing. Closing will be on or before April 15, 2015. The cost of title insurance will be shared equally between Buyer and Seller. Intereseted parties should contact Daryl Madsen, phone number (605) 660-1039, or madsenfarms@ gmail.com for bidding instructions, offer sheets, FSA and soil survey maps.