Savage Words: It’s time to bring back the Sioux Interstate Conference

Remember the Sioux Interstate Conference? 

Those of you of a certain age who followed prep sports in the area do.

The SIC consisted of the Sioux Falls high schools and their Sioux City counterparts. The league was formed in 1972 and created some spirited and bitter rivalries between Washington, Lincoln and Bishop O’Gorman in Sioux Falls, and East, West, North and Bishop Heelan in Sioux City. Sioux Falls Roosevelt later joined the league when it was established in 1991, creating a solid eight-team league.

The games were normally very good and well played, in front of some massive crowds. The SIC broke up in 1997, and at the time, it was understandable.

South Dakota and Iowa rules and seasons didn’t align. Girls basketball was played in the fall in South Dakota. In Iowa, it was played in the traditional winter season. There were also Title IX issues as the SIC didn’t include four girls’ sports in basketball, volleyball, tennis and gymnastics.

But those issues have since been ironed out and most of the schools are on the same platform in terms of rules, seasons and participation levels for both boys and girls.

So, I think it’s high time we start talking about resurrecting the SIC again. The games were so good, the travel was easy, and with the addition of Brandon Valley and Harrisburg, it would create a formidable conference.

Imagine this: from Sioux City, East, West, North and Heelan. From Sioux Falls, Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt, O’Gorman and Jefferson. And then the addition of Brandon Valley and Harrisburg, along with South Sioux City, Neb., and you’ve got a 12-team league that would no doubt produce some memorable moments.

Well, at least memorable moments created from good games.

Or, we can continue this present trend where some Class 11AAA football teams from South Dakota simply destroy some of their current competition. Over the last four weeks, Brandon Valley has beaten Rapid City Stevens, Roosevelt and Rapid City Central by a combined score of 163-24.

And it could have been a lot worse. I have little doubt the Lynx could have scored 100 points in all three of those games if the starters would have played throughout.

And I mean that. 100 points, easily.

Does it really make sense to have Central and Stevens make the 350-mile trip to the Sioux Falls metro four times each football season, just to get walloped?

When the Lynx left Brandon last Friday for Rapid City to play Central, that game was over before the bus got out of the BV parking lot. The Cobblers didn’t have a chance.

As a sportswriter, I guess I shouldn’t complain too much. In their 55-3 win over Stevens on Sept. 6, I had the game story written at halftime. I got a couple of quotes from head coach Matt Christensen after the game, plugged them into what I’d already written, and I was done with a cold beverage in my hand before 10 p.m.

I’ll get some push back on this suggestion of the SIC, and I understand it. It’s not about me or other adults who enjoy a good high school game, but I can’t imagine getting pummeled by 50 points each weekend is a positive experience for those kids on the losing end, either. 

Another reason the SIC broke up 28 years ago was because some South Dakota football coaches complained that they didn’t see most in-state competition until the playoffs. I get that, too, but I don’t think No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln is too terribly concerned about their opening round game in the playoffs when they’re scheduled to host Stevens, who they beat 62-14 in the season opener in August.

There’s gotta be a better way. I don’t know it, and I’ll be the first to recognize that there are probably administrative and scheduling issues that would be a nightmare for school activities directors to navigate.

But what I do know is that – even though I’ve been doing this for more than 30 years – I shouldn’t have the ability to write an entire game story before the third quarter even starts.

My guess is when Mitchell comes to town next Friday for a football game, they’d just as soon see the Lynx in Sioux City.

On the up side, I should have that story written by halftime, too.