SDSU spring football notes 4/18
Here's the latest from South Dakota State spring football practice:
Junior college quarterback Zach Lujan has gone from verbal commitment to signee. Coach John Stiegelmeier said that the Jacks went looking for an insurance policy with Nate Meyer leaving and Austin Sumner having surgery; they believe they wound up with more than that.
"If we call on him, he's going to make a difference," Stiegelmeier said.
Also, it was crucial that Lujan's junior college coaches were willing to let him leave after just one season.
Stiegelmeier said that the staff recently went through the roster and made preliminary (and undisclosed) depth charts for fall camp. Why? To get an idea of what players are on the cutline. Those players were informed of their status, the idea being to give them a shot to pick it up, according to Stiegelmeier.
SDSU has launched a web site for its forthcoming football stadium. In addition to information and renderings, it lists prices for premium seating options and naming rights. Prices range from $3 million (the field) to $250K (the president's suite). Although it's unclear how many entrances are for sale, the list of items to be sold totals at least $21 million.
As for the premium seats, the cheapest option appears to be club seats at $750 per year for 10 years. That doesn't include a required "stadium gift" in the range of the same amount.
Not only is track standout Jeremiah Ary playing spring football, football standout Je Ryan Butler is dabbling in track – mostly as a way to get back in shape. He had a pair of offseason shoulder surgeries. Jacks track coach Rod DeHaven said that football isn't taking away from Ary's track efforts, and that Butler could potentially contribute in a couple of relays.
Lincoln High grad Sam Koob is a spring addition at the kicker spot. He's a former soccer player, and has a big leg. And new punter Ron Pavlik has an interesting story. He went to Chicago-area powerhouse Mount Carmel before Western Michigan then Murray State. Last year, he was a student assistant for the Jacks. Now, he's trying to make the roster.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.