SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota State University's rodeo team gave the boot to its smokeless tobacco sponsor - and gave up valuable scholarship money along with it.

"We felt that the image wasn't exactly right for South Dakota State University rodeo."
So the rodeo students discussed and then decided to end the Brookings college's contract...

[T]he decision was made...because team members wanted to promote a healthier image, McCutcheon said.

Most of the rodeo competitors are now nursing majors.

"We see what happens to people who do use tobacco," said Tabitha Sigman, 23, a Sturgis native and a nursing senior.

"To associate rodeo with health is a good idea in the long run."

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Associate rodeo with health? Is Tabitha the nursing major trying to be funny?

From nothing less than nurseweek.com:

There’s a saying among professional rodeo riders: If they ever woke up feeling good, they’d go to a hospital.

"In rodeo, it’s not a question of if they’ll get injured, but when," said Don Andrews, executive director of the Justin Sportsmedicine Program...

[T]he Justin Sportsmedicine Program is the official sports medicine provider at most major Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events...

The program has fine-tuned caring for cowboys, whose injuries can’t be compared to those of any other sport..."If a linebacker steps on you, it’s not likely to do a whole lot of damage. And you’re unlikely to have a fatality in football."

"It’s an extreme sport is what it is," Chambers said...Each event lasts about 8 seconds. And very few make it the whole 8 seconds."

Those 8 seconds are enough to wreck a body, causing contusions, dislocations, torn ligaments, punctured lungs, ruptured organs and concussions. "You see more trauma in a rodeo weekend than you see in an entire season of football or basketball," said certified athletic trainer and 19-year Justin veteran Larry Gardner, PT.

Having competed in barrel racing in my foolish youth and attended a number of rodeos, I can assure those "nursing students" (what an ironic career choice) that smoking is a lot less hazardous than being squished by a 2,000 lb. bull.

But can you imagine the hazzard if the bulls were smoking? Oh wait we're talking about dip that wasn't included in the MSA. I guess some people just aren't here for the party.