University of South Dakota Athletics

History

This endowment was established to honor the memory of Tim McFarland, a 1987 graduate of USD. Tim, a native of Armour, S.D., ranks as one of the all-time greats in USD's offensive line. He was named to the Associated Press Little All-American second team and a Football News Honorable Mention All American in 1986. A first team All-NCC Offensive Guard and first team Academic All-NCC selection in 1986, McFarland served as team co-captain. He was selected to the NCC's All American Team in 1985.

A four-year starter, McFarland played in 49 straight games and was a member of two consecutive playoff teams, including the 1985 team that reached the DII semifinals and the 1986 team that reached the DII title game. He helped lead USD to a 21-6 record. McFarland was part of an offensive line that set a school record 3,465 rushing yards and 32 points per game in 1986. The team's 352 points was a school record until broken in 2005. He blocked for the five backs that set an NCAA record (across all divisions) by each rushing for 100 yards in a 52-0 win over St. Cloud State in 1986. The performance earned USD the ESPN's Unsung Heroes honor.

McFarland was a three-year starter for the Coyotes and later received a free agent tryout in 1987 with the Arizona Cardinals. McFarland was all state as a prep in both football and basketball at Armour, helping the Packers to a state basketball title game in 1983. He received a BSBA degree in 1987 from USD. Tim was inducted into the USD Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2008, Tim McFarland died of cancer at the age of 44.

Fund Notes

Started in 2009, recipients of this scholarship must be enrolled or accepted by USD and must meet all eligibility requirements for the athletics department and the football program. A student who receives this scholarship one year is eligible for consideration in any other year.