VERMILLION, S.D. — The University of South Dakota football team concluded the final week of Fall Camp on Friday night with a mock game, heading into the first game week of the 2024 season this upcoming week against Northern State.
 
The final week of camp saw the team start to shift gears to focusing on Northern State next week. Head coach Bob Nielson commented: "we're building and working on schemes and to prepare for (Northern State), and our guys were locked in today and ready to work hard and prepare, and you got a mock game scrimmage to kind of wrap up the week."
 
The Yotes used Friday's mock game to dot the I's and cross the T's ahead of opening week next Thursday. Running through game-like situational work was the main focus as thew team gets "one step closer to game day."
 
See final comments from both Nielson and the coordinators again spoke about the conclusion of camp and heading into the first game week of the 2024 season. See the full comments below.
 
Head Coach Bob Nielson
On the productivity of 2024 Fall Camp
"Camp seems long with the fact that we don't start school till Monday (Aug. 26), and so we picked up really an extra week when our guys had nothing to think about except for football, and I think we took full advantage of that."
 
Associate HC/DC Travis Johansen
On flipping the script and heading into Game Week
"We're getting ready to, you know, hit some guys on the other side that's not their own teammates. It's incredibly exciting to have an opponent that's not each other.
 
"I think it's fun to watch the guys at this point, offensively and defensively, look at each other more as teammates than adversaries. It's been a great back and forth in camp. But now it's time to point our attention towards Northern State, and I think our football team in general is very excited about it."
 
On the scrimmage opportunity to wrap up the week
"The more we can just free, flow, and compete in an open setting, it just helps us get prepared for the for the regular season. You know, every day we're doing something situationally, but when you actually line it up and play full quarters and things like that."
 
Message to Coyote Nation heading to next week's season opener
"We can't wait for that first third down in (the Dome). Hopefully we don't see one red seat because this whole thing's blacked out, but this thing should be rocking on third down (on Thursday)!"
 
OC Josh Davis
On wrapping up the month-long Fall Camp
"It feels good as we wrap up camp. We had our learning curves, and, you know, we're excited about game week to start physically getting after people from another school. It's going to be fun for us, and we are relatively healthy as a football program: offense, defense, and special teams; right where we wanted to be."
 
"We feel good about the physical work we did throughout camp, but being healthy is so important, and that's where Coyote football is heading into game one."
 
Message to Coyote Nation heading into the regular season
"My message to Coyote Nation is to show up and show support. You know, get loud and enjoy the experience of a game day here in Vermillion and to create that home environment that gives us a true advantage throughout our non-conference play.
 
"Into (Missouri Valley Football) conference play, we need every single one of you guys to show up and bring a loved one with you to fill (the Dome) up."

Don't forget to grab your tickets for Northern State next Thursday, August 29 in the black out inside the DakotaDome, as well as tickets for the rest of the Coyote football season. Link to buy tickets found above.