University of South Dakota Athletics

South Dakota Fight Song: “South Dakota Victory”

Fight, South Dakota
You're the pride of the Western plain!
As we cheer each victory,
Ever loyal will our love remain for you South Dakota,
You're a great university!
So, Yipeeo, here we go forward today,

South Dakota victory!
Hail South Dakota, Pride of the West,
Old alma mater, Noblest and best,
We rally 'round thee, Marching abreast,
Hail thee! Hail thee! Riding the crest.
Thy sons and daughter ever will be
Loyal and true to thee. Rah! Rah! Rah!
Varsity, varsity Hail varsity! U-S-D!

South Dakota Nickname: The Coyotes

The University of South Dakota is the only NCAA Division I institution with the nickname of Coyotes (KI-Yotes).

According to the Argus Leader, the people of the Dakota territory were originally called Coyotes in the fall of 1863 following a horse race. That fall, a horse owned by members of Co. A. Dakota Cavalry beat a horse owned by a major in the 6th Iowa Cavalry in a race at Fort Randall. It was said that the Dakota horse ran like a coyote, and its owners at once gave the horse that name, which was almost immediately applied to the entire Dakota Company.

When the school's first yearbook was published in 1902, the editors had already dubbed the school's athletic teams “the Coyotes” and fixed the name ‘Coyote’ upon the annual's cover. A bronze Coyote statue, nicknamed the Legacy statue, was erected in 2012 on the campus lawn in front of Old Main.

The flagship institution in the state of South Dakota, it is only appropriate that the school mascot is the official state animal of South Dakota. The coyote was adopted as the state animal in 1949. At one time, “The Rushmore State” was nicknamed “The Coyote State" as early settlers listened to coyotes howling on the prairie at nighttime.

Don't get it twisted - the South Dakota Coyotes are pronounced with two syllables, KI-Yotes. Coyote fans will often shorten the nickname to the single syllable, Yotes, when cheering Go Yotes!

Charlie Coyote: Our Beloved Mascot

Charlie Coyote is the face of the University of South Dakota. Spot Charlie at athletic competitions, community events and charity events.

One of the first official Coyote mascots was a real Coyote pup, Snoopy, adopted in 1965. Snoopy was raised in captivity, purchased by donors when she was a month-and-a-half old. She was housed on campus and spent time hanging out with the Coyote cheerleaders.

The Charlie Coyote mascot act we know today began at athletic events in the 1970s. Mick Shaeffer helped create the legacy of Charlie Coyote before there was a DakotaDome. Shaeffer, a student in the early 1970s, helped design the costume and persona of Charlie Coyote. He spent more than five years as Charlie, including two while in medical school, entertaining the crowds at Inman Field and inside the New Armory. Radio broadcaster Doug Bartsow was given credit for coming up with the nickname “Charlie” for the mascot as Shaeffer performed.

Charlie Coyote quickly became famous. Every time South Dakota football and basketball teams traveled on the road, fans at the other school would ask, “Is Charlie coming?”

Charlie Coyote has become a valued part of the USD Spirit Squad.

Who's Been Charlie's “Inner Best Friend” Through the Years

Charlie's Experiences

In the first few years of Charlie, he received a handful of honors. He was the honorary parade marshal for the 1972 Dakota Days Parade, selected as an honorary member of the 1973 NCAA Division II all-tournament team in Saint Louis, Missouri, and in 1985 placed in the top-25 of an NCAA all-divisions mascot competition.

Charlie Coyote has also gotten into a little trouble on occasion.

Charlie once rode a bicycle across Inman Field for a delay of game penalty.

Sometime during the late 1970's or early 1980's, Charlie showed up at an SDSU basketball game in Brookings that he was banned from. He was removed from Frost Arena by SDSU security.

In the spring of 1986, Charlie was written up by security for squirting a squirt gun. When security asked him what his name was, he said Charlie Coyote. Security said it wasn't funny.

There were also the logistically difficult parts of being Charlie Coyote.

During the first game of the 1978 football season against Omaha, the temperature at Inman Field was 100 degrees. Charlie came to the game in uniform.

Nearly a decade later during the season opener of the 1987 football season, Charlie attempted to jump off a ramp and through a piece of paper. He wrecked, but suffered only minor injuries. KDLT, a Sioux Falls TV station, caught the whole thing on tape.

These days, Charlie Coyote plays it a little safer. He runs the Coyote football team out of the locker room behind the Harley motorcycle without any ramps in sight.

There have been a handful of Charlie Coyote costumes throughout the years. The current mascot outfit was introduced as the University began the transition to NCAA Division I. The athletic department wanted a sleeker version of Charlie with muscles, to show off the work he had done in the weight room.

Since the Division I transition, Charlie Coyote has followed the football team to the 2017 NCAA FCS playoffs and the women's basketball team to the 2014 and 2019 NCAA Tournaments.

Charlie has met quite a few famous people, including..

• Joe Robbie: owner of the Miami Dolphins
• Al Neuharth: founder of USA Today and chairman of Gannett
• Tom Brokaw: NBC news anchor
• Warren Burger: 15th Supreme Court Chief Justice

Dakota Days

Dakota Days (also known as D-Days) is a week-long Homecoming celebration on the University of South Dakota campus in October. The celebration dates back to 1914 when USD President Robert L. Slagle encouraged an event to promote campus spirit and harmony. Every year since, students have elected royalty, built floats for the Dakota Days parade in downtown Vermillion and partaken in countless events to celebrate Dakota Days.

One of the highlights of the week is the annual Dakota Days football game held at the DakotaDome on Saturday. The Coyotes hold a 64-33-5 record during that game.