The tiny South Dakota town of Rosholt isn’t all that far from the North Dakota state line, and it’s a place where football allegiances are split between the Jackrabbits and the Bison all year long — though never more pronounced than right now.
The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits from Brookings and North Dakota State University Bison from Fargo will play for the Football Championship Subdivision title on Sunday in Frisco, Texas. It’s a matchup fans of the rival programs have been hoping for since the schools, separated by 189 miles, began their moves to Division I at the same time in 2004.
Friends Lisa Braun and JoAnn Foltz sat at the same table during happy hour at the Corner Bar in Rosholt this past week. Braun is Team Jackrabbit. Foltz is Team Bison.
Braun’s son went to SDSU, and the recently retired physician assistant used to drive across the state line to her job in Wahpeton.
“I was one of three SDSU fans at the clinic there having to put up with all the Bison fans for about 15 years,” she said. Braun considers it a respectful rivalry, but she was speaking for fellow Jacks fans when she said: “We’re tired of the Bison always winning.”