The Jackrabbits dominated the skies even before the opening kickoff in the FCS title game in Frisco, Texas, Jan. 8. 
That’s because coach John Stiegelmeier’s football squad was supported by a contingent from the 114th Fighter Wing at the South Dakota Air National Guard base in Sioux Falls. Five pilots, two of whom are SDSU alums, were part of the flyover just before kickoff.
The pilots buzzed 1,000 feet over Toyota Stadium at 12:58:30 p.m., exactly 4 minutes and 30 seconds before South Dakota State kicked off to North Dakota State University.
On Saturday, the pilots made the 1-hour, 40-minute flight from Sioux Falls to a Dallas-area base, where the flyover was launched from on Sunday.
Pilots from the 114th Fighter Wing who participated in the FCS flyover are, from left, Maj. Blake “Beaker” Schneider, a 2009 SDSU grad; Maj. Brian “Fletch” Leber; Lt. Col. Darin “Evil” Doctor; and Capt. Guy “Dawg” Bauermeister. Not pictured is ground pilot Lt. Col. Casey “Amish” Minor, a 2007 SDSU grad.
Maj. Jessica Bak, executive officer for the 114th Fighter Wing, said the pilots flew their F-16s through the clear Dallas sky at a speed of 425 mph.
They quickly landed at Carswell Field, a Joint Reserve Base at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, and returned back at Toyota Stadium an hour later to be recognized by the crowd of more than 18,000. “From the airmen who painted the wing tanks to those that prepared and launched the jets, we had quite a few service members who were excited to support SDSU and this flyover,” said Lt. Col. Casey “Amish” Minor. “As an SDSU graduate myself, I was honored to be part of the game-day events and represent both the university as well the South Dakota Air National Guard.”
The formation lineup included: Capt. Guy “Dawg” Bauermeister; Maj. Brian “Fletch” Leber; Lt. Col. Darin “Evil” Doctor; Maj. Blake “Beaker” Schneider, a 2009 SDSU grad; and ground pilot Minor, a 2007 SDSU grad. They were able to watch the third and fourth quarters of the game from the north end zone.
While the pilots wore the standard olive jumpsuits, there was blue underneath, and the jets’ wing tanks were lettered in blue with “GO JACKS,” “EARS UP” and “SDSU.” That was a championship game addition painted by the 114th Maintenance Group’s Structures airmen in Sioux Falls, Bak said.
The ceremonial flyover was requested by Toyota Stadium owners through the governor’s office after SDSU beat Montana State in the semifinals, Bak said. The 114th worked with Southwest Sport Partners, the game-day consulting company, and received approval by the FAA as well as the secretary of the Air Force, public affairs office.
The 114th’s allegiance to the Jacks has been particularly strong the past few seasons. Aerospace Ground Equipment technician Jessica Janke is the older sister of star twin receivers Jaxon and Jadon Janke.
Dave Graves
