Ramblings of the BHSU-SD Mines rivalry
Normally at this time, if time and space allowed, I would do a little (well, not always little because I write too much, like this blog) preview of the games. Although I am now an old retired sports editor, I feel the need to write about it again.
Hence, you are reading it now in Rich’s Mostly Disjointed Ramblings blog. If there was ever an accurate name for a blog, this might be it. I’ve actually had this blog floating around the World Wide WebSphere for several years, but an actual job writing sports came first.
I actually get to cover both games Saturday as a correspondent (fancy title for freelancer) for the Rapid City Journal. Now, when someone asks me as I walk in the King Center, “Are you working or watching?” I can say I’m working. I covered the first couple home games for the Hardrockers in early December and have only been watching since.
I’ll be the first to admit that many sports rivalries aren’t quite the same as they were back in the day. Political correctness has taken over the word rivalry.
Now, maybe that isn’t a bad thing. Many rivalries were a bit brutal. Some of you might remember the shenanigans done at South Dakota-South Dakota State games (deceased rabbits and coyotes, need I say more?). Living in Laramie and covering the University of Wyoming for over 20 years, there is/was no love lost between the two schools.
Black Hills State and SD Mines athletes and fans have had their share of scrapes throughout the years, although maybe not too many lately.
As a student at BHSU (actually it was Black Hills State College when I attended. Yeah, I’m old, but not old enough to attend when it was Black Hills Normal).
The Black Hills State-Mines rivalry in basketball doesn’t necessarily have the brawl nickname attached, like in football, but going back about 40-some years, I do remember one in particular.
There was one men’s game played in the old Cook Gymnasium I am referring to. Here’s a little background. What I’m about to reveal might be a little hazy in my mind due to a little pre-game warmup with my friends in downtown Spearfish (arm-curls) back then and the fact that it was about 40 years ago.
I had won some drawing to go out at halftime and attempt a half-court shot for a prize. Ironically, earlier (day before? That part is hazy), I was in the gym shooting around and nailed two in a row. I was feeling very confident. I failed miserably, not even hitting the rim. I might have been booed off of the court.
So as I left the court in shame and decided to use the restroom. As I opened the door, the lights were off so I turned them on. Inside was what I assumed were football players from both schools throwing punches. Apparently it was a continuation of the rivalry game played earlier. They stopped and just walked out like nothing happened.
OK, whatever I thought. I had business to take care of and there was the second half of the basketball game.
There’s no doubt that there are plenty of other similar stories from the past that can be shared by others, but that was mine and likely the only one I can still remember.
While working at the Journal, I’ve mentioned this and other fun facts to the BH and Mines coaches and players when talking about this rivalry. Another fun fact was back in the day, students at BH called Mines students Tinkers (based on they being brainiacs), and students at Mines called BH students Weavers for the what they perceived as the hardest class at BH was underwater basket weaving.
None of the recent coaches or students had ever heard of that, although they laughed.
Back in the day it was BH vs. Tech. Now it is BHSU vs. South Dakota Mines (or SD Mines). South Dakota Mines dropped the Technology part of its name a few years ago. Recently it was changed from South Dakota School of Mines to South Dakota Mines.
One coach that probably has some stories to share of the rivalry from back in the day is Yellow Jackets women’s head coach Mark Nore, a Belle Fourche native who played basketball at BH (1993-97), and now is in his 20th year as the women’s head coach.
Nore still calls his rivals Tech. He still gets it
By chance if you attend Saturday night’s games, you’ll see some camera crews running around, other than the local television sports dudes. They are there wrapping up a documentary film on the BH-Mines rivalry. It’s the first of six that is planned for D-2 and D-3 rivalries across the country. The crew was in Spearfish and Rapid City a couple of weeks ago getting footage of both schools and interviews with players, coaches and media that includes yours truly and longtime Mines play-by-play broadcaster and all-around good guy Tom Rudebush.
The documentary producer said they planned about five minutes each of airtime for Tom and myself, but I suggested that they probably should just use 30 seconds from me and 9 minutes and 30 seconds from Tom, who was smooth as melted butter in his interview, while I was like dry toast on a thirsty day.
The BHSU men are currently first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (14-4, 16-7), while the Mines men are in 12th place (7-12, 9-16) and have to win out and get some held to earn a playoffs berth. The BH women are tied for third (14-4, 16-8), while the Hardrocker women are also in 12th place at 5-14 and 5-20.
Black Hills State won both games handily earlier in Spearfish, but both Mines teams have won two straight and are at home. Going into the season, there had been four one-point games in the last six in the men’s series and Mines swept the Yellow Jacket women last season despite BHSU having the better record.
I’ll just end this ramble with a sports cliché. Throw the records out. It’s BHSU versus Mines. Anything can happen and probably will.
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