INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Twelve
April 30, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
ISU's Faulkner invited to Saints’ mini-camp; Linebacker led ISU last season with 113 tackles
By David HughesThe Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Playing on a 0-11 Indiana State football team last fall did not keep NFL scouts from noticing senior outside linebacker Shonda Faulkner.
On Tuesday, Faulkner told the Tribune-Star that he has been invited to participate in the New Orleans Saints’ mini-camp for rookies May 9-11 at New Orleans. He has not signed a free-agent contract, but he hopes to receive an offer from the Saints based on his performance at mini-camp.
Faulkner, who graduated from ISU in December with a degree in communications, said he received a call from the Saints after the NFL Draft ended Sunday night.
“I’m very, very excited,” Faulkner said in a phone interview from his home in Poukeepskie, N.Y. “I’m not sure of the defense that they run, but I think I can get in there and battle for a position.”
In 2007, Faulkner led the Sycamores in tackles (113), tackles-for-loss (five) and fumble recoveries (three) and tied for the team lead in interceptions with one. Yet ISU did not win a game for the second time in his three seasons there.
“I was kinda worried about that,” Faulkner said, admitting that he did not know if the Sycamores’ lack of success would affect the NFL scouts’ perception of him as a player. “But I’m happy with what’s going on right now.”
Listed at 6 feet, 1 inch and 215 pounds in the Indiana State football media guide last fall, Faulkner said he’s worked hard in the offseason to increase his bodyweight to 228 pounds. He also mentioned that he’s bench-pressed 315 pounds for 12 repetitions and he’s been timed in the 40-meter dash in 4.48 and 4.50 seconds as recently as March 7.
Before the NFL Draft, “Pro Football Weekly” had Faulkner rated 45th in the nation among college outside linebackers in the publication’s annual draft preview.Faulkner, 24, was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Before coming to ISU, he attended Hudson Junior College.
The Saints, coached by former Indiana State assistant Sean Payton, finished 7-9 last season. That tied Carolina for second place in the NFC South, two games behind division winner Tampa Bay.
Indiana State football great Rich Dawson’s son Aaron working way through college, professional hockey ranks
By Dennis ClarkThe Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute will never be confused with Hockeytown U.S.A., a slogan popularly adopted by the ice hockey hotbed of Detroit, Mich.
While Aaron Dawson, 23, didn’t live in Terre Haute for long, he is a likely National Hockey League prospect. After all, he went unsigned as a fourth round draftee of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2003 amateur entry draft.
If the last name Dawson rings a bell, his father Rich was a two-time (1983-84) All-Missouri Valley Conference performer at center on Indiana State’s football team. Those two seasons, the elder Dawson played on 9-3 and 9-4 Sycamores’ teams that reached the NCAA I-AA playoffs.
“I graduated early in Dec. 1984. I took some classes in the second semester [in 1985] while I was getting ready for pro football,” Rich recalled of a time when he was a free agent signee of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National Football league. “My wife and I lived in an apartment near [Memorial] Stadium at that time.”
Also during that time span, Aaron was born in Terre Haute on March 11, 1985.
“I played in all four preseason games for the Cardinals later that summer, then the coach called me in to his office. He told me to hand in my playbook and get a job,” Rich laughed.
With his football career suddenly over, Dawson moved his family back to his native Peoria, Ill. Raised in Peoria, Aaron has filled out even bigger than his dad, currently 6-foot-6, 235 pounds. But instead of following in his dad’s footsteps in football, he has developed into an outstanding ice hockey defenseman.
“I was eight years old when I started playing organized hockey,” Dawson said. “I played in Peoria until I was 14, then I spent a year playing for Team Illinois in Chicago.”When Dawson was 17, he was drafted to play Major Junior A hockey in the Ontario Hockey League. Dawson spent five years playing with the Peterborough Petes — a city located an hour and 20 minutes east of Toronto — starting with what would have been his junior year at Peoria Notre Dame High School.
“The OHL is a step up from Junior hockey programs in the U.S. … the U.S. program is more for players who want to play Division 1 [college programs]. The OHL is for players who want to turn pro.
“During the hockey season, I went to public high school in Peterborough,” Dawson explained. “But I came back [to Peoria] after the season to finish out my junior and senior years … I wanted to graduate with my friends.“Our academics were monitored a lot during the school year. There was no free wheeling, very structured. We had an academic advisor and good grades were a prerequisite for playing.”
Dawson explained his not signing with the NHL’s Carolina team in 2003, saying, “There was the [NHL] strike at the time which made things challenging to come into the league then. I was also recovering from shoulder surgery which had delayed my progress.”He played with the Petes for five years, their team winning the league championship in his final season of 2005-06. That year, he scored 12 points as a defenseman (two goals, 10 assists), but added four goals and two assists in the playoffs.
Dawson was also named the OHL’s most improved player after that championship season. During his time with the Petes, Dawson’s most recognizable teammates are current NHL players Eric and Jordan Staal.
“There are 20 teams in the [OHL] and the regular season consists of 68 games,” Dawson noted. “There are four rounds of playoffs — all best-of-seven. I played 91 games that last season. We didn’t get done until the middle of May.”Since he was a drafted member of the OHL, he is currently utilizing a key league benefit of a full-ride scholarship at a four-year college in Canada. For the past two seasons, he has played for the hockey team at the University of Prince Edward Island, where Dawson is majoring in business with a minor in economics.
“I still want to play hockey professionally, hopefully in the National Hockey League someday,” Dawson said. “When I left the Petes, I came home and went through a tryout with the [high minor league team] Peoria Rivermen.
“They offered me a contract, but I didn’t sign. I’m looking right now for stability. I decided the best plan was to have my degree as a backup if hockey doesn’t work out.“I had heard a lot of good things about UPEI, that it was a good place,” he noted.
“When I went on my recruiting trip, I really enjoyed myself. I felt like I had known them forever.”
Dawson plans to play his junior and senior seasons at UPEI, then see about pro hockey. In his two college seasons, he has scored 21 points (five goals, 16 assists).
He loves the Charlottetown area, where UPEI is located, saying, “The winters are tough. But it is really pretty here in the summer.”
Asked if he emulates the style of play of any current NHL player, he quickly said, “Chris Pronger. He’s a great player. He plays smart but is also tougher than nails.”
Aaron made a special point of thanking his father and mother for their support over the years, saying, “I had a lot of homesickness when I was 16 years old. Being away from mom and dad was tough … I had to learn from my mistakes.
“I got through that, but I still missed my family and friends. I missed a lot of time when my little sisters were growing up. “I also can’t thank my dad or mom enough for driving me to Chicago [for Team Illinois] … two nights a week making the six-hour round trip for practices, then to games on the weekend. They would get off work and do all that driving. They never complained.”
Aaron and Rich have returned to Terre Haute a few times over the years, most recently playing together in a ISU football golf outing the day prior to the annual Blue-White spring scrimmage on April 19. Rich was a teammate of new ISU head coach Trent Miles his last two seasons.
Rich presently owns a pipe contracting company in Peoria.
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 11
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Eleven
April 25, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
PICTURES FROM INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING CAN NOW BE VIEWED
For those of you who weren't able to attend last week's Indiana State Football Golf Outing at Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, here are some pictures (courtesy of GoSycamores.com, the official website of Indiana State University Athletics).
Just click on the link below in order to take a look at the 159 pictures available on the website.
- - GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI CURRENTLY IN THE INDIANA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Thanks to former Sycamore Charlie Karazia for sending along this list of former Indiana State football personnel who are now enshrined in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
1976 Charles Bush, James Conover, Dick Martin , Bob Nesbit
1977 N. E. “Gene” Wernz
1979 Paul Beck
1981 Stewart “Red” Faught
1985 Ward Brown, Jerry Huntsman
1988 Thomas Stirling
1996 Ed Robertson
1998 Joe Goodman
2000 Vincent Allen
2001 Phil Teegarden
2003 Rich Dodson
2006 Charlie Karazsia
SOME QUICK NOTES
--I didn't get a chance to touch base with all of the former players who attended either the football golf outing or the Blue-White Scrimmage last weekend at Indiana State. After the fact, I learned that Charlie Karazsia was at the golf outing and that Kenny Monroe was at the scrimmage. Sorry guys! I didn't mean to leave you unmentioned.
Some of the others that I neglected to mention from the weekend included Chris Yeakey, Howard Holmes, and Tim Herrin.
--In my last newsletter, I listed a large group of former players, coaches, student managers that I had lost track of. Sadly to say, I was informed by former Indiana State Sports information director Ed McKee that Jerry Huntsman (who was the head football coach at ISU in the late 1960s and early 1970s) had died a couple of years ago.
I knew that Jerry, who also was an assistant athletic director for the Sycamores after his retirement as head coach, had experienced health problems in the past. But I was not aware that he had died.
--I recently made some inquiries to the College Football Hall of Fame as to what it would take to nominate former Indiana State running back Vincent Allen. Here is a copy of the email that I received from Hillary Jeffries, director of special projects for the Hall of Fame:
Hi Tom,
I hope this finds you well.
I have attached the criteria as well as the nomination form for the College Football Hall of Fame. Pending Mr. Allen meets all criteria, he will not be considered until 2009. Nominations are not due until the first of December.
There are two Hall of Fame classes each year: 1) Football Bowl Subdivision and 2) Divisional (includes FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA).
Should you have any questions or need anything else, please don't hesitate to reach me at 800.486.1865 or via email at hjeffries@footballfoundation.com. Take care.
Thanks,
Hillary
Hillary A. Jeffries
Director of Special Projects
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
433 East Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1130
Irving, TX 75039
972.556.1000, ext. 217
www.footballfoundation.com
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE GUIDE
CRITERIA:
1. FIRST AND FOREMOST, A PLAYER MUST HAVE RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALLAMERICA
RECOGNITION BY A SELECTOR RECOGNIZED BY THE NCAA AND
UTILIZED TO COMPRISE THEIR CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS.
2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the NFF’s Honors Court ten years after his last
year of intercollegiate football played.
3. While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his postfootball
record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen,
carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community. Consideration may
also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
4. In accordance to the 50-year rule*, players must have played their last year of intercollegiate
football within the last 50 years. For example, to be eligible for the 2009 ballot, the player must
have played his last year in 1959 or thereafter. In addition, current professional players and / or
coaches are not eligible until retirement.
5. A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement or immediately following retirement
provided he is at least 70 years old. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must
have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600
winning percentage*.
VOTING PROCEDURE:
1. Nominations may be made by any dues-paying member of The National Football Foundation, or
by athletics directors, coaches or CoSIDA members representing dues-paying colleges or
universities.
2. Statistics, records and personal recommendations by coaches, fellow players and opponents are
all considered.
3. The National Football Foundation staff will screen each candidate. After ascertaining that the
nomination satisfies all requirements, the nominee is submitted to the District Screening
Committee (DSC) nearest to the institution where the nominee played. New nominees as well as
individuals who appeared on the previous year’s ballot will be included in this process.
4. The top vote-getters from the DSC are forwarded to The National Football Foundation staff for
inclusion on the ballot. (The ballot also carries names of candidates held over from the previous
year. These carryover names are referred to as “automatic holdovers” and are decided upon by
the Honors Court.)
5. The ballot of players and coaches is mailed to all dues-paying members of The National Football
Foundation for a member vote. The results are compiled and provided to the Honors Court,
which determines the final class members, to be used as a reference.
* Those players that do not comply with the 50-year rule and coaches that have not won 60% of their
games may still be eligible for consideration by the FBS (formerly Division I-A) and
Divisional Honors Review Committees, which examine unique cases.
DID YOU KNOW?????
--That ISU strength and conditioning coach Lee McCormick is leaving to take a similar position at the University of Texas. Lee is a Terre Haute native (played at Terre Haute South Vigo High School) and played wide receiver at Murray State (after transferring from ISU).
--That the daughter of former Indiana State quarterback Reggie Allen was a senior on the Notre Dame women's basketball team this past season?
--That the Terre Haute Tribune-Star newspaper will be running a feature story on former Sycamores center Rich Dawson and his son Aaron next Tuesday. Aaron, who was born in Terre Haute while Rich was toiling for the Sycamores, was a fourth-round draft pick of Carolina in the 2004 NHL draft.
--That former Indiana State offensive tackle Chris Hicks is on several major alumni committees at Indiana State? Or that one of Chris' ISU offensive line teammates, ex-Sycamores center Ron Carpenter, is on the search committee to help select a new president of Indiana State? Way to go guys!!!!
--That your voices are being heard within the athletic department at Indiana State. Keep in contact with head coach Trent Miles, recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, assistant athletic director John Sherman and Athletic Development Assistant Jackie Gustafson. Remember to ask them how you can help the program.
--And one final note. Think good thoughts about former Indiana State fullback Harry Turner as he continues to battle health problems. "Harry O" is confined to a wheelchair, but he's hanging in there so far.
Volume One, Number Eleven
April 25, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
PICTURES FROM INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING CAN NOW BE VIEWED
For those of you who weren't able to attend last week's Indiana State Football Golf Outing at Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, here are some pictures (courtesy of GoSycamores.com, the official website of Indiana State University Athletics).
Just click on the link below in order to take a look at the 159 pictures available on the website.
- - GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI CURRENTLY IN THE INDIANA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Thanks to former Sycamore Charlie Karazia for sending along this list of former Indiana State football personnel who are now enshrined in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
1976 Charles Bush, James Conover, Dick Martin , Bob Nesbit
1977 N. E. “Gene” Wernz
1979 Paul Beck
1981 Stewart “Red” Faught
1985 Ward Brown, Jerry Huntsman
1988 Thomas Stirling
1996 Ed Robertson
1998 Joe Goodman
2000 Vincent Allen
2001 Phil Teegarden
2003 Rich Dodson
2006 Charlie Karazsia
SOME QUICK NOTES
--I didn't get a chance to touch base with all of the former players who attended either the football golf outing or the Blue-White Scrimmage last weekend at Indiana State. After the fact, I learned that Charlie Karazsia was at the golf outing and that Kenny Monroe was at the scrimmage. Sorry guys! I didn't mean to leave you unmentioned.
Some of the others that I neglected to mention from the weekend included Chris Yeakey, Howard Holmes, and Tim Herrin.
--In my last newsletter, I listed a large group of former players, coaches, student managers that I had lost track of. Sadly to say, I was informed by former Indiana State Sports information director Ed McKee that Jerry Huntsman (who was the head football coach at ISU in the late 1960s and early 1970s) had died a couple of years ago.
I knew that Jerry, who also was an assistant athletic director for the Sycamores after his retirement as head coach, had experienced health problems in the past. But I was not aware that he had died.
--I recently made some inquiries to the College Football Hall of Fame as to what it would take to nominate former Indiana State running back Vincent Allen. Here is a copy of the email that I received from Hillary Jeffries, director of special projects for the Hall of Fame:
Hi Tom,
I hope this finds you well.
I have attached the criteria as well as the nomination form for the College Football Hall of Fame. Pending Mr. Allen meets all criteria, he will not be considered until 2009. Nominations are not due until the first of December.
There are two Hall of Fame classes each year: 1) Football Bowl Subdivision and 2) Divisional (includes FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA).
Should you have any questions or need anything else, please don't hesitate to reach me at 800.486.1865 or via email at hjeffries@footballfoundation.com. Take care.
Thanks,
Hillary
Hillary A. Jeffries
Director of Special Projects
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
433 East Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1130
Irving, TX 75039
972.556.1000, ext. 217
www.footballfoundation.com
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE GUIDE
CRITERIA:
1. FIRST AND FOREMOST, A PLAYER MUST HAVE RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALLAMERICA
RECOGNITION BY A SELECTOR RECOGNIZED BY THE NCAA AND
UTILIZED TO COMPRISE THEIR CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS.
2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the NFF’s Honors Court ten years after his last
year of intercollegiate football played.
3. While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his postfootball
record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen,
carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community. Consideration may
also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
4. In accordance to the 50-year rule*, players must have played their last year of intercollegiate
football within the last 50 years. For example, to be eligible for the 2009 ballot, the player must
have played his last year in 1959 or thereafter. In addition, current professional players and / or
coaches are not eligible until retirement.
5. A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement or immediately following retirement
provided he is at least 70 years old. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must
have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600
winning percentage*.
VOTING PROCEDURE:
1. Nominations may be made by any dues-paying member of The National Football Foundation, or
by athletics directors, coaches or CoSIDA members representing dues-paying colleges or
universities.
2. Statistics, records and personal recommendations by coaches, fellow players and opponents are
all considered.
3. The National Football Foundation staff will screen each candidate. After ascertaining that the
nomination satisfies all requirements, the nominee is submitted to the District Screening
Committee (DSC) nearest to the institution where the nominee played. New nominees as well as
individuals who appeared on the previous year’s ballot will be included in this process.
4. The top vote-getters from the DSC are forwarded to The National Football Foundation staff for
inclusion on the ballot. (The ballot also carries names of candidates held over from the previous
year. These carryover names are referred to as “automatic holdovers” and are decided upon by
the Honors Court.)
5. The ballot of players and coaches is mailed to all dues-paying members of The National Football
Foundation for a member vote. The results are compiled and provided to the Honors Court,
which determines the final class members, to be used as a reference.
* Those players that do not comply with the 50-year rule and coaches that have not won 60% of their
games may still be eligible for consideration by the FBS (formerly Division I-A) and
Divisional Honors Review Committees, which examine unique cases.
DID YOU KNOW?????
--That ISU strength and conditioning coach Lee McCormick is leaving to take a similar position at the University of Texas. Lee is a Terre Haute native (played at Terre Haute South Vigo High School) and played wide receiver at Murray State (after transferring from ISU).
--That the daughter of former Indiana State quarterback Reggie Allen was a senior on the Notre Dame women's basketball team this past season?
--That the Terre Haute Tribune-Star newspaper will be running a feature story on former Sycamores center Rich Dawson and his son Aaron next Tuesday. Aaron, who was born in Terre Haute while Rich was toiling for the Sycamores, was a fourth-round draft pick of Carolina in the 2004 NHL draft.
--That former Indiana State offensive tackle Chris Hicks is on several major alumni committees at Indiana State? Or that one of Chris' ISU offensive line teammates, ex-Sycamores center Ron Carpenter, is on the search committee to help select a new president of Indiana State? Way to go guys!!!!
--That your voices are being heard within the athletic department at Indiana State. Keep in contact with head coach Trent Miles, recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, assistant athletic director John Sherman and Athletic Development Assistant Jackie Gustafson. Remember to ask them how you can help the program.
--And one final note. Think good thoughts about former Indiana State fullback Harry Turner as he continues to battle health problems. "Harry O" is confined to a wheelchair, but he's hanging in there so far.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 10
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Ten
April 21, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE WRAPS UP SPRING FOOTBALL DRILLS WITH BLUE-WHITE SCRIMMAGE
With plenty to prove, salvaging ISU program ties team together
Sycamores compete in annual Blue-White scrimmage
By Todd Golden, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Suiting up for a program that’s lost 37 of its last 38 games, there wasn't an Indiana State Sycamore on the field during the Blue-White scrimmage who didn't have something to prove.
Salvaging Sycamore football is the tie that binds all of ISU’s coaches and players. But within the framework of team-wide improvement, the degree to which each player has something to prove varies by the player.
That contrast was evident when it came to two of the best performers on the field during Saturday’s offense vs. defense scrimmage, won 35-29 by the offense as a modified scoring system was used.
Antoine Brown rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns and was one of two ISU running backs to top the century mark. Darrius Gates led the way with 127 yards and a touchdown. Brown has shone under the brightest lights of college football, having transferred by way of Kentucky from the Southeastern Conference to the Gateway Football Conference.
“I was just trying to show all of the players and show all of the coaches I can play ball. I came from the University of Kentucky, so I have to prove I can bring my game everytime,” Brown said. “The bar is higher for me. I have a lot of pressure. I have to try to change this program around.”
Meanwhile, ISU’s leading tackler comes from a more humble background. Walk-on linebacker Josh Jenkins was so far under the radar, his hometown wasn’t even identified on the roster distributed to fans at Memorial Stadium.
Jenkins made the fans take notice. He had 14 tackles, twice as many as fellow walk-on Chris Stepp had.
“They gave me the opportunity to walk-on and all I can do is just fight for a position,” said Jenkins, who is from Greenwood and who played at Indianapolis Roncalli. “I was nervous. I have something to prove. I have to prove I’m not a walk-on, I’m a player.”
Miles was impressed with players on both sides of the ball.
“Josh played a lot of snaps, we only have two scholarship linebackers, but you can’t take that away from Josh. He had a good spring,” the ISU coach said. “And our two backs ran well and our line blocked well for them.”
In the big picture, Miles wasn’t exclusively looking at position battles or any other aspect that usually comes with the spring game. Saturday’s scrimmage was a simple who could play and who couldn’t proposition.
“I liked the fact they were spirited and they showed some passion was there. The passion was there,” Miles said.
Chuck Dowdell had a solid day numbers-wise at quarterback, completing 8 of 12 for 140 yards and a touchdown in an ISU offense that skewed conservative. Backup Matt Seliger, who starred at Terre Haute North, completed 4 of 5 for 41 yards.The flip side of the offensive production were the struggles on the defensive side. ISU’s runners averaged 6 yards per carry and ISU’s receivers averaged 15.1 yards per catch. ISU’s offense scored easily on the first two drives of the game and would lead 28-8 at halftime. The defense did better in the second half, scoring 21 points in the modified scoring system thanks to two forced turnovers and four three-and-out stops.
“They ran the ball well on us, but we made it really simple for the defense out there. They couldn’t do some of things we’ve practiced on. I saw some guys running up to hit, but they ran the ball too much and had too many big plays,” Miles said.
The Sycamores coach was pleased ISU came out of the game injury-free. No mean feat considering nearly half of the intended fall roster isn’t even eligible for practice yet.
ISU will come together with its full contingent of players — according to Miles, 36 to 42 future Sycamores will join the existing roster — in August in preparation for the season opener on Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan.
2008 Blue-White Game
Offense (White) 35, Defense (Blue) 29
Rushing — Darrius Gates 16-127, Antoine Brown 19-124, Matt Seliger 5-44, Chuck Dowdell 6-14, Tyler Williams 3-10, Robert Barcliff 4-6, Josh Jones 1-0.Passing — Dowdell 8-12-1, 140 yards, 1 TD; Seliger 4-5-0, 41 yards; Kyle Toney 0-2-0, 0 yards.
Receiving — Verlain Betofe 3-88, Ryan Patrick 3-41, 1 TD; Gates 2-19, Jeramie Gray 2-12, Williams 1-18, Gabe Mullane 1-3.
Tackles (leaders) — Josh Jenkins 14, Chris Stepp 7, Russell Dedeaux 5, Kevin Wilson 5.Sack — Dan Millington.
Interception — Donye McCleskey.
THREE FORMER LITTLE ILLINI CONFERENCE STANDOUTS TO PLAY FOR SYCAMORES IN 2008
Three LIC players bring Valley, family ties to young Sycamore football team
By Andy Amey, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — The high schools that make up the Little Illini Conference aren’t among the bigger ones in Illinois, and it’s certainly not every year that three LIC athletes earn Division I college football scholarships. Three LIC football players heading to the same school might be unprecedented, in fact.
Which worries coach Trent Miles of Indiana State — the school that signed Cumberland’s Kye Butler, Marshall’s Travis Johnson and Palestine-Hutsonville’s Ryan Roberts — not one bit.
“I’m not concerned, because I got to know them as competitors and people,” the new Sycamore coach said last week of his LIC recruits — part of a recruiting class ranked among the best in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
“And I got to know their ability. Go back and remember [former ISU linebacker] Craig Shaffer,” Miles said. “He came here from a smaller school as a linebacker at 185 pounds … and he developed into a big-time athlete [who played several seasons of professional football]. It’s what’s in their heart. They all bring something we need. We want to start [our recruiting] at home, and they’re three of the best athletes in the area.”
Sycamore fans will be able to see the three players in action in about two months at the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association’s all-star game. Until then, they’ll have to trust the word of former LIC coach Troy Johnson.
“Ryan Roberts is probably the purest athlete in the whole LIC,” last season’s Marshall coach — now Miles’ linebacker coach at ISU — said recently. “He was a force. Obviously we had 11 guys watching him when he was on offense, and we stayed away from him as much as we could when he was playing defense. And he’s a good kid: we never saw him drop his head, and he was always playing hard.“
Kye Butler is obviously a huge kid,” Johnson continued, “and he had some of the best hands in the conference. We always knew where he was at too, and when he played defensive end we did what we could to stay away from him.”
Travis Johnson is Troy Johnson’s son.“Four years ago I was trying to move him out of the quarterback position, and thank God I didn’t,” the coach said. “The next thing you know, he’s got every passing record Marshall keeps.
“That was a team effort, but we’ve had some pretty good quarterbacks here,” the future Sycamore’s father continued. “He showed some football smarts, knowing not to throw long every time and knowing where his checkdowns were, and the other kids caught the ball … he was a linebacker on defense too, and it’s great to have a quarterback with a linebacker mentality.”
So far, the younger Johnson isn’t looking to be a Sycamore linebacker like his father was.
“With my weight, I’m just looking at [playing] quarterback right now,” said Travis Johnson, who is currently 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds. “I’m doing everything I can [to get bigger].”
Both coach and son joked, however, that by playing quarterback Travis Johnson can finally be coached — and yelled at — by someone else.
“I loved playing for my dad,” Travis said. “It’ll be a little different with him on the defensive side, but it should be fun.”
Travis Johnson is also looking forward to playing with two of his former opponents.
“Kye Butler and Ryan Roberts were two of the best athletes in our conference,” he said. “I can’t wait to play in the all-star game with them.“Kye has unbelievable hands — you usually don’t find big kids with those soft hands — and Ryan has unbelievable speed and is outrageously athletic.”
The 6-4, 195-pound Roberts was also a quarterback for the Pioneers, but isn’t expecting to have to battle Travis Johnson for that position with the Sycamores.
“I think I’ll most likely play wide receiver,” said the two-sport star, who was also a linebacker and strong safety for Palestine-Hutsonville. “As long as I can help and contribute, that’s all that matters to me.”
Roberts saw most of his action for the Pioneers at safety during his freshman year, then started both ways the next three seasons. He’s the program’s all-time leading passer and rusher and has its most wins ever by a quarterback, he said, and was also recruited for basketball. In that sport, he broke the Hutsonville career scoring mark previously held by his father, Greg Roberts.
“After coach Johnson went [to Indiana State], it was pretty easy [to decide to go there for football],” Roberts said. “It’s close to home, and knowing some [other recruits] made my choice easier.”
Playing with Butler and Travis Johnson is “pretty nice,” Roberts said.
“I’ve known ‘em since we were all younger … we were usually pretty competitive [with one another]. Me and Kye would be in a play, but after it was over we’d be laughing and talking. It’s nice we’re not big enemies anymore.”
“It’s nice to go [to college] with people you know,” agreed Butler, currently 6-5 and 225 pounds and expecting to grow.
“He’ll put on 20 or 30 pounds of good weight the first year,” Troy Johnson predicted. “And he loves the game, because his dad’s a coach.”
“I’ve had a good time [coaching Kye],” said coach Todd Butler of the Pirates. “There were ups and downs with it, of course … and he didn’t just get coached the two and a half hours of practice. He’s watched a lot of film, and he spent a lot of time at practice even before he was in high school.”
The younger Butler was a three-year starter for a Cumberland team that’s made the Illinois playoffs three of the past four years, and had some significant receiving statistics for a run-oriented offense.
“We could just throw it up for him,” his father noted.“I’m a big, pretty strong kid, and a good runner,” said Kye Butler, maybe the most heavily recruited player of the three. “I need to work on my blocking a little bit.
"When I went [to ISU] for my visit, I really liked the coaching staff, and it seemed like a great place to be,” he added. “It will be a great experience to play with [Johnson and Roberts]; they were the best in the LIC.”
With ISU’s spring football practice having ended with Saturday’s Blue-White game, the three might also be getting a little more rest. The Indiana-Illinois time difference has been a mixed blessing for the three, who have often come to watch morning practices and then returned to Illinois in time for school. They’ve been getting up at 2 a.m. to do so. That dedication has also impressed Miles.
“Kye Butler is an athletic tight end who’s going to get bigger, and his dad’s a coach,” Miles said. “Ryan Roberts is a really, really good multitalented athlete who can play, and Travis [Johnson]? Travis is going to be a football player.“We can win with guys like that, and we will.”
Sycamores pick up another recruit
Indiana State has signed another high school football recruit for the 2008 season, inside linebacker Almondo “Al” Vick (6-1, 240) from Southfield Lathrup High School in Michigan.
Vick could end up playing either inside linebacker or could be used as a defensive end to take advantage of his quickness and speed as a pass rusher.
The Sycamores also reportedly added a wide receiver from the same high school, but details on that recruit are sketchy.
According to ISU sources, the football program could have as many as 45 new players on the roster when preseason drills begin in August. That total includes the 31 players added in signing day in February along with a large group of “preferred” walkons.
In years past – especially during the Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson and Dennis Raetz coaching regimes – Indiana State utilized a large, and very successful, walkon program. That program is being revitalized under the guidance of head coach Trent Miles and recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey.
Good turnout for Indiana State Football Golf Outing
A year ago, approximately 40 or so golfers assembled for the annual Indiana State Football/Ballyhoo Golf event, which serves as a fund-raiser for the Sycamores football program.
This year, 90 golfers got together at the Idle Creek Golf Club on the south side of Terre Haute for a day of fun and a chance to reconnect with Sycamores football. The goal for the 2009 event is to have an excess of 120 golfers take part in the outing.
Kudos to Assistant Athletics Director John Sherman for piecing everything together and a pat on the back to Dave Brazier and the people at the Ballyhoo for helping to sponsor the day of golf as well as to Idle Creek Golf pro (and former Sycamores basketball standout) Ray Goddard.
Among the former Indiana State players taking part in the golf outing were Richard Moss, Eric and Kirk Christensen, Robert Egidi, John Sahm, Corey Potter, John Deem, David Busch, Kyle Bibbs, Dre’ Knox, Quentin Mikell, Kurt Bell, Rob Hufty, Chuck Orlando, Tim Swanson, the Barrett Brothers (Chris, John and Greg), Kevin Cox, Pete Georges, David Allen, Rich Dawson, Doug Hurt, Gary Nickleson, and Milton Seaton.
Your trusty newsletter editor was there as well, but we won’t talk about me getting a golf cart stuck in the mud (with Dennis Raetz sitting next to me).
One other highlight of the golf outing included head coach Trent Miles showing off the Sycamores' new football helmet. For those who played under Coach Raetz, the design will be somewhat familiar -- a metallic white helmet with the script Sycamores in black in front of the state of Indiana (which is in ISU navy blue), with a star where Terre Haute is located, on each side. The helmet also has a blue stripe down the middle and a white face mask. It's somewhat similar to what the players at the University of Tennessee wear.
Nice turnout of former players on hand for Blue-White Scrimmage at Memorial Stadium
In addition to the golf event, there was a great mixture of former players prowling the sidelines at Saturday’s Blue-White scrimmage.
Ex-players such as Mel Burks, John Brewer, Chris Hicks, Vincent Allen, Kurt Bell, Doug Arnold, Quentin Mikell, Tim Swanson, Chuck Orlando, Chris Barrett, Greg Barrett, Kevin Cox, Milton Seaton, Darren Tucker, and Rob Hufty were on hand.
We ran into former ISU assistant coach Bob Warren there as well. Bob coached defensive backs under Tom Harp in the late 1970s and he has also served as an assistant football coach at Terre Haute South Vigo High School.
Coach Warren told me that ex-ISU offensive line coach Bill Dole is retired and living in Fresno, California. Those of you who would like to contact Bill let me know. I have his phone number and address.
One special guest, of sorts, at the scrimmage was Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who was there watching the action and meeting former players along with his son Marcus and his wife. Marcus Lewis will be a freshman linebacker for the Sycamores in the fall.
Goodbye to Brett Burchette, hello to Jackie Gustafson
The ISU Football Golf Outing was one of the last major events for outgoing assistant athletic director Brett Burchette, who will be leaving in a few weeks to attend graduate school as he works towards his master’s degree.
In the short time that he was at Indiana State, Brett did a very good job and the athletic department will surely miss him. Under his direction, the department re-instituted the Sycamore Varsity Club and revitalized the I-Men’s Association. His last day is July 1.
Assuming many of his responsibilities now will be former Indiana State women’s basketball player Jackie Gustafson. All former ISU football players are urged to call and touch base with Jackie, especially when it comes to making any type of financial donations to the football program.
Jackie’s email address is jgustafson@isugw.indstate.edu. Her phone number there is 812-237-3958.
And just one addendum to contacting Jackie or assistant athletic director John Sherman about making any type of financial contributions to the football program. There are always items that is needed that may not have been covered by the existing athletic department budget.
It might be a good idea to contact head coach Trent Miles or John Sherman and ask them what -- if anything -- they need that would help make things run more smoothly. Any contributions along those lines would undoubtedly go a long way in helping the program in a major way.
Some other phone numbers and email addresses of interest:
Head coach Trent Miles, 812-237-4074, tmiles6@isugw.indstate.edu
Recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, 812-237-3812, rcaskey@iisugw.indstate.edu
Assistant athletics director John Sherman, 812-237-3047, jsherman1@isugw.indtate.edu
MAKE TRAVEL AND HOUSING PLANS TO ATTEND THE 2008 HOME OPENER AND THE 2008 HOMECOMING GAME
There has been some questions concerning interest for a pair of Indiana State Football Reunion events this upcoming season. Indiana State will open the 2008 home season on Saturday, September 27 against Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is set for 12:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
The 2008 Homecoming Game will be Saturday, October 25 against South Dakota State. Kickoff for that game will be at 2:05 p.m.
We would like as many players to return for the first game at Memorial Stadium to help support Trent Miles, his coaching staff and players. The same goes for Homecoming, where there is always a good turnout of former players.
If there are any of you who would like to form some sort of committee to help plan activities for those two dates (such as having large tents available both dates for cookouts), please feel free to proceed. Just let us know what we can do to help. Chris Hicks planned such a reunion two seasons ago with several of his late 1970s teammates and it was a big success (they watched the Sycamores get their lone win in the past three years).
Did you know????
--That the son of former Indiana State All-Missouri Valley Conference center Rich Dawson was a former fourth-round draft pick of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes?
Aaron Dawson stands in a 6-5 and 220 pounds and is a defenseman. Rich and Aaron played in the ISU Football golf outing last Friday in Terre Haute in a foursome with Indiana State Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman and ex-Sycamores baseball standout Brian Dorsett. Brian is a successful auto dealer in Terre Haute now and is the current president of the I-Men’s Association.
--That Pat McKee, the younger brother of former ISU sports information director Ed McKee, will be inducted into the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame? Pat is the longtime prep editor of the Indianapolis Star.
--That former ISU assistant football coach Marty Fine is now the head coach at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Marty is in his fifth year at the school. Here is his email address: mfine@bryant.edu.
--That ex-Indiana State defensive coordinator (under Jerry Huntstman) Doug Kay is in his third season as the head coach of the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers. Kay coached at ISU from 1967-69.
--And, finally, that there is now a contact page on the Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter Blog page.
Just click here http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/ and take advantage of the opportunity to let people know what you’re doing now or to just make a few comments. And, as a reminder, the newsletter editor will be keeping an eye out to make that all comments are in good taste.
Where are?????
--Mike Sotak, Royce Allen, David Vandercook, Willie Weber, Scott Zeiser, Kenny Klein, John Wayhart, Terry Dzmiera, Dan Hall, Pat Teefy, Larry Brumfield, Jim Brumfield, Don Jackson, Kevin Jackson, Donnie Warner, D.A. Daniels, Zach Washington, Jimmy Edwards, Reggie Allen, Kyle Frondorf, Steve Elmlinger, Todd Jochem, Kirk Wilson, Eddie Ruffin, John Spradley, Keith Ward, Mike Johannes, Scott Bridges, Joe Downing, Terry Bell, Dwight Tripp, Dale Harvel, James Massey, Walter Seaton, Chuck Standiford, Milt Allen, John Stites, Hubert Moore, Chris Delaplaine, Mike Rutherford, Brian DeCree, Dan Galbriath, Rick Murphy, Bob Pychinka, Carroll Puricha, Bimbo Cecconi, Jerry Huntsman, Dick Comar, Jim Donahue, Max Payne, Ron Green, Keith Herron, Lavent Blaylock, Tori Vactor, Sam Logan, Dan Brandenburg, Steve Brandenburg, Matt Nelson, Cornell Johnson, Kent Drew, Carl Berman, Derrick Franklin, Darrold Clardy, Mike Megyesi, Kevin Henderson, Craig Shaffer, Dennis Teegarden, Bob Koehne, Matt Cole, Blayne Baggett, Chris Johnson, Steve Schmid, Dietrich Lapsley, Joe Stellern, Jim Shaughnessey, Bobby Boyce, Jerry Boyce, Kyle Hooper, Soso Dede, Craig Hamblet, Chris Libaire, Mike Brantley, Pat Jordan, Dennis Wilkerson, Bruce Montagner, O.B. Barnett, Mark Hardy, Bill Griffith, Ken Monroe, Jim Keister, Steve Steinway, John Montgomery, John Skelton.
Just a few names of some former Sycamores players, coaches and student managers from the top of my head who seem to be missing. And if there some names not mentioned that you know the wherabouts of, let us know. Send email addresses so we can add them to the football alumni newsletter email list.
And I need updated email addresses for the following: Kurt Bell (home if possible), Kevin Buchanan, Rodney Porter, Brian Krueger.
Volume One, Number Ten
April 21, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE WRAPS UP SPRING FOOTBALL DRILLS WITH BLUE-WHITE SCRIMMAGE
With plenty to prove, salvaging ISU program ties team together
Sycamores compete in annual Blue-White scrimmage
By Todd Golden, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Suiting up for a program that’s lost 37 of its last 38 games, there wasn't an Indiana State Sycamore on the field during the Blue-White scrimmage who didn't have something to prove.
Salvaging Sycamore football is the tie that binds all of ISU’s coaches and players. But within the framework of team-wide improvement, the degree to which each player has something to prove varies by the player.
That contrast was evident when it came to two of the best performers on the field during Saturday’s offense vs. defense scrimmage, won 35-29 by the offense as a modified scoring system was used.
Antoine Brown rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns and was one of two ISU running backs to top the century mark. Darrius Gates led the way with 127 yards and a touchdown. Brown has shone under the brightest lights of college football, having transferred by way of Kentucky from the Southeastern Conference to the Gateway Football Conference.
“I was just trying to show all of the players and show all of the coaches I can play ball. I came from the University of Kentucky, so I have to prove I can bring my game everytime,” Brown said. “The bar is higher for me. I have a lot of pressure. I have to try to change this program around.”
Meanwhile, ISU’s leading tackler comes from a more humble background. Walk-on linebacker Josh Jenkins was so far under the radar, his hometown wasn’t even identified on the roster distributed to fans at Memorial Stadium.
Jenkins made the fans take notice. He had 14 tackles, twice as many as fellow walk-on Chris Stepp had.
“They gave me the opportunity to walk-on and all I can do is just fight for a position,” said Jenkins, who is from Greenwood and who played at Indianapolis Roncalli. “I was nervous. I have something to prove. I have to prove I’m not a walk-on, I’m a player.”
Miles was impressed with players on both sides of the ball.
“Josh played a lot of snaps, we only have two scholarship linebackers, but you can’t take that away from Josh. He had a good spring,” the ISU coach said. “And our two backs ran well and our line blocked well for them.”
In the big picture, Miles wasn’t exclusively looking at position battles or any other aspect that usually comes with the spring game. Saturday’s scrimmage was a simple who could play and who couldn’t proposition.
“I liked the fact they were spirited and they showed some passion was there. The passion was there,” Miles said.
Chuck Dowdell had a solid day numbers-wise at quarterback, completing 8 of 12 for 140 yards and a touchdown in an ISU offense that skewed conservative. Backup Matt Seliger, who starred at Terre Haute North, completed 4 of 5 for 41 yards.The flip side of the offensive production were the struggles on the defensive side. ISU’s runners averaged 6 yards per carry and ISU’s receivers averaged 15.1 yards per catch. ISU’s offense scored easily on the first two drives of the game and would lead 28-8 at halftime. The defense did better in the second half, scoring 21 points in the modified scoring system thanks to two forced turnovers and four three-and-out stops.
“They ran the ball well on us, but we made it really simple for the defense out there. They couldn’t do some of things we’ve practiced on. I saw some guys running up to hit, but they ran the ball too much and had too many big plays,” Miles said.
The Sycamores coach was pleased ISU came out of the game injury-free. No mean feat considering nearly half of the intended fall roster isn’t even eligible for practice yet.
ISU will come together with its full contingent of players — according to Miles, 36 to 42 future Sycamores will join the existing roster — in August in preparation for the season opener on Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan.
2008 Blue-White Game
Offense (White) 35, Defense (Blue) 29
Rushing — Darrius Gates 16-127, Antoine Brown 19-124, Matt Seliger 5-44, Chuck Dowdell 6-14, Tyler Williams 3-10, Robert Barcliff 4-6, Josh Jones 1-0.Passing — Dowdell 8-12-1, 140 yards, 1 TD; Seliger 4-5-0, 41 yards; Kyle Toney 0-2-0, 0 yards.
Receiving — Verlain Betofe 3-88, Ryan Patrick 3-41, 1 TD; Gates 2-19, Jeramie Gray 2-12, Williams 1-18, Gabe Mullane 1-3.
Tackles (leaders) — Josh Jenkins 14, Chris Stepp 7, Russell Dedeaux 5, Kevin Wilson 5.Sack — Dan Millington.
Interception — Donye McCleskey.
THREE FORMER LITTLE ILLINI CONFERENCE STANDOUTS TO PLAY FOR SYCAMORES IN 2008
Three LIC players bring Valley, family ties to young Sycamore football team
By Andy Amey, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — The high schools that make up the Little Illini Conference aren’t among the bigger ones in Illinois, and it’s certainly not every year that three LIC athletes earn Division I college football scholarships. Three LIC football players heading to the same school might be unprecedented, in fact.
Which worries coach Trent Miles of Indiana State — the school that signed Cumberland’s Kye Butler, Marshall’s Travis Johnson and Palestine-Hutsonville’s Ryan Roberts — not one bit.
“I’m not concerned, because I got to know them as competitors and people,” the new Sycamore coach said last week of his LIC recruits — part of a recruiting class ranked among the best in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
“And I got to know their ability. Go back and remember [former ISU linebacker] Craig Shaffer,” Miles said. “He came here from a smaller school as a linebacker at 185 pounds … and he developed into a big-time athlete [who played several seasons of professional football]. It’s what’s in their heart. They all bring something we need. We want to start [our recruiting] at home, and they’re three of the best athletes in the area.”
Sycamore fans will be able to see the three players in action in about two months at the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association’s all-star game. Until then, they’ll have to trust the word of former LIC coach Troy Johnson.
“Ryan Roberts is probably the purest athlete in the whole LIC,” last season’s Marshall coach — now Miles’ linebacker coach at ISU — said recently. “He was a force. Obviously we had 11 guys watching him when he was on offense, and we stayed away from him as much as we could when he was playing defense. And he’s a good kid: we never saw him drop his head, and he was always playing hard.“
Kye Butler is obviously a huge kid,” Johnson continued, “and he had some of the best hands in the conference. We always knew where he was at too, and when he played defensive end we did what we could to stay away from him.”
Travis Johnson is Troy Johnson’s son.“Four years ago I was trying to move him out of the quarterback position, and thank God I didn’t,” the coach said. “The next thing you know, he’s got every passing record Marshall keeps.
“That was a team effort, but we’ve had some pretty good quarterbacks here,” the future Sycamore’s father continued. “He showed some football smarts, knowing not to throw long every time and knowing where his checkdowns were, and the other kids caught the ball … he was a linebacker on defense too, and it’s great to have a quarterback with a linebacker mentality.”
So far, the younger Johnson isn’t looking to be a Sycamore linebacker like his father was.
“With my weight, I’m just looking at [playing] quarterback right now,” said Travis Johnson, who is currently 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds. “I’m doing everything I can [to get bigger].”
Both coach and son joked, however, that by playing quarterback Travis Johnson can finally be coached — and yelled at — by someone else.
“I loved playing for my dad,” Travis said. “It’ll be a little different with him on the defensive side, but it should be fun.”
Travis Johnson is also looking forward to playing with two of his former opponents.
“Kye Butler and Ryan Roberts were two of the best athletes in our conference,” he said. “I can’t wait to play in the all-star game with them.“Kye has unbelievable hands — you usually don’t find big kids with those soft hands — and Ryan has unbelievable speed and is outrageously athletic.”
The 6-4, 195-pound Roberts was also a quarterback for the Pioneers, but isn’t expecting to have to battle Travis Johnson for that position with the Sycamores.
“I think I’ll most likely play wide receiver,” said the two-sport star, who was also a linebacker and strong safety for Palestine-Hutsonville. “As long as I can help and contribute, that’s all that matters to me.”
Roberts saw most of his action for the Pioneers at safety during his freshman year, then started both ways the next three seasons. He’s the program’s all-time leading passer and rusher and has its most wins ever by a quarterback, he said, and was also recruited for basketball. In that sport, he broke the Hutsonville career scoring mark previously held by his father, Greg Roberts.
“After coach Johnson went [to Indiana State], it was pretty easy [to decide to go there for football],” Roberts said. “It’s close to home, and knowing some [other recruits] made my choice easier.”
Playing with Butler and Travis Johnson is “pretty nice,” Roberts said.
“I’ve known ‘em since we were all younger … we were usually pretty competitive [with one another]. Me and Kye would be in a play, but after it was over we’d be laughing and talking. It’s nice we’re not big enemies anymore.”
“It’s nice to go [to college] with people you know,” agreed Butler, currently 6-5 and 225 pounds and expecting to grow.
“He’ll put on 20 or 30 pounds of good weight the first year,” Troy Johnson predicted. “And he loves the game, because his dad’s a coach.”
“I’ve had a good time [coaching Kye],” said coach Todd Butler of the Pirates. “There were ups and downs with it, of course … and he didn’t just get coached the two and a half hours of practice. He’s watched a lot of film, and he spent a lot of time at practice even before he was in high school.”
The younger Butler was a three-year starter for a Cumberland team that’s made the Illinois playoffs three of the past four years, and had some significant receiving statistics for a run-oriented offense.
“We could just throw it up for him,” his father noted.“I’m a big, pretty strong kid, and a good runner,” said Kye Butler, maybe the most heavily recruited player of the three. “I need to work on my blocking a little bit.
"When I went [to ISU] for my visit, I really liked the coaching staff, and it seemed like a great place to be,” he added. “It will be a great experience to play with [Johnson and Roberts]; they were the best in the LIC.”
With ISU’s spring football practice having ended with Saturday’s Blue-White game, the three might also be getting a little more rest. The Indiana-Illinois time difference has been a mixed blessing for the three, who have often come to watch morning practices and then returned to Illinois in time for school. They’ve been getting up at 2 a.m. to do so. That dedication has also impressed Miles.
“Kye Butler is an athletic tight end who’s going to get bigger, and his dad’s a coach,” Miles said. “Ryan Roberts is a really, really good multitalented athlete who can play, and Travis [Johnson]? Travis is going to be a football player.“We can win with guys like that, and we will.”
Sycamores pick up another recruit
Indiana State has signed another high school football recruit for the 2008 season, inside linebacker Almondo “Al” Vick (6-1, 240) from Southfield Lathrup High School in Michigan.
Vick could end up playing either inside linebacker or could be used as a defensive end to take advantage of his quickness and speed as a pass rusher.
The Sycamores also reportedly added a wide receiver from the same high school, but details on that recruit are sketchy.
According to ISU sources, the football program could have as many as 45 new players on the roster when preseason drills begin in August. That total includes the 31 players added in signing day in February along with a large group of “preferred” walkons.
In years past – especially during the Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson and Dennis Raetz coaching regimes – Indiana State utilized a large, and very successful, walkon program. That program is being revitalized under the guidance of head coach Trent Miles and recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey.
Good turnout for Indiana State Football Golf Outing
A year ago, approximately 40 or so golfers assembled for the annual Indiana State Football/Ballyhoo Golf event, which serves as a fund-raiser for the Sycamores football program.
This year, 90 golfers got together at the Idle Creek Golf Club on the south side of Terre Haute for a day of fun and a chance to reconnect with Sycamores football. The goal for the 2009 event is to have an excess of 120 golfers take part in the outing.
Kudos to Assistant Athletics Director John Sherman for piecing everything together and a pat on the back to Dave Brazier and the people at the Ballyhoo for helping to sponsor the day of golf as well as to Idle Creek Golf pro (and former Sycamores basketball standout) Ray Goddard.
Among the former Indiana State players taking part in the golf outing were Richard Moss, Eric and Kirk Christensen, Robert Egidi, John Sahm, Corey Potter, John Deem, David Busch, Kyle Bibbs, Dre’ Knox, Quentin Mikell, Kurt Bell, Rob Hufty, Chuck Orlando, Tim Swanson, the Barrett Brothers (Chris, John and Greg), Kevin Cox, Pete Georges, David Allen, Rich Dawson, Doug Hurt, Gary Nickleson, and Milton Seaton.
Your trusty newsletter editor was there as well, but we won’t talk about me getting a golf cart stuck in the mud (with Dennis Raetz sitting next to me).
One other highlight of the golf outing included head coach Trent Miles showing off the Sycamores' new football helmet. For those who played under Coach Raetz, the design will be somewhat familiar -- a metallic white helmet with the script Sycamores in black in front of the state of Indiana (which is in ISU navy blue), with a star where Terre Haute is located, on each side. The helmet also has a blue stripe down the middle and a white face mask. It's somewhat similar to what the players at the University of Tennessee wear.
Nice turnout of former players on hand for Blue-White Scrimmage at Memorial Stadium
In addition to the golf event, there was a great mixture of former players prowling the sidelines at Saturday’s Blue-White scrimmage.
Ex-players such as Mel Burks, John Brewer, Chris Hicks, Vincent Allen, Kurt Bell, Doug Arnold, Quentin Mikell, Tim Swanson, Chuck Orlando, Chris Barrett, Greg Barrett, Kevin Cox, Milton Seaton, Darren Tucker, and Rob Hufty were on hand.
We ran into former ISU assistant coach Bob Warren there as well. Bob coached defensive backs under Tom Harp in the late 1970s and he has also served as an assistant football coach at Terre Haute South Vigo High School.
Coach Warren told me that ex-ISU offensive line coach Bill Dole is retired and living in Fresno, California. Those of you who would like to contact Bill let me know. I have his phone number and address.
One special guest, of sorts, at the scrimmage was Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who was there watching the action and meeting former players along with his son Marcus and his wife. Marcus Lewis will be a freshman linebacker for the Sycamores in the fall.
Goodbye to Brett Burchette, hello to Jackie Gustafson
The ISU Football Golf Outing was one of the last major events for outgoing assistant athletic director Brett Burchette, who will be leaving in a few weeks to attend graduate school as he works towards his master’s degree.
In the short time that he was at Indiana State, Brett did a very good job and the athletic department will surely miss him. Under his direction, the department re-instituted the Sycamore Varsity Club and revitalized the I-Men’s Association. His last day is July 1.
Assuming many of his responsibilities now will be former Indiana State women’s basketball player Jackie Gustafson. All former ISU football players are urged to call and touch base with Jackie, especially when it comes to making any type of financial donations to the football program.
Jackie’s email address is jgustafson@isugw.indstate.edu. Her phone number there is 812-237-3958.
And just one addendum to contacting Jackie or assistant athletic director John Sherman about making any type of financial contributions to the football program. There are always items that is needed that may not have been covered by the existing athletic department budget.
It might be a good idea to contact head coach Trent Miles or John Sherman and ask them what -- if anything -- they need that would help make things run more smoothly. Any contributions along those lines would undoubtedly go a long way in helping the program in a major way.
Some other phone numbers and email addresses of interest:
Head coach Trent Miles, 812-237-4074, tmiles6@isugw.indstate.edu
Recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, 812-237-3812, rcaskey@iisugw.indstate.edu
Assistant athletics director John Sherman, 812-237-3047, jsherman1@isugw.indtate.edu
MAKE TRAVEL AND HOUSING PLANS TO ATTEND THE 2008 HOME OPENER AND THE 2008 HOMECOMING GAME
There has been some questions concerning interest for a pair of Indiana State Football Reunion events this upcoming season. Indiana State will open the 2008 home season on Saturday, September 27 against Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is set for 12:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
The 2008 Homecoming Game will be Saturday, October 25 against South Dakota State. Kickoff for that game will be at 2:05 p.m.
We would like as many players to return for the first game at Memorial Stadium to help support Trent Miles, his coaching staff and players. The same goes for Homecoming, where there is always a good turnout of former players.
If there are any of you who would like to form some sort of committee to help plan activities for those two dates (such as having large tents available both dates for cookouts), please feel free to proceed. Just let us know what we can do to help. Chris Hicks planned such a reunion two seasons ago with several of his late 1970s teammates and it was a big success (they watched the Sycamores get their lone win in the past three years).
Did you know????
--That the son of former Indiana State All-Missouri Valley Conference center Rich Dawson was a former fourth-round draft pick of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes?
Aaron Dawson stands in a 6-5 and 220 pounds and is a defenseman. Rich and Aaron played in the ISU Football golf outing last Friday in Terre Haute in a foursome with Indiana State Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman and ex-Sycamores baseball standout Brian Dorsett. Brian is a successful auto dealer in Terre Haute now and is the current president of the I-Men’s Association.
--That Pat McKee, the younger brother of former ISU sports information director Ed McKee, will be inducted into the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame? Pat is the longtime prep editor of the Indianapolis Star.
--That former ISU assistant football coach Marty Fine is now the head coach at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Marty is in his fifth year at the school. Here is his email address: mfine@bryant.edu.
--That ex-Indiana State defensive coordinator (under Jerry Huntstman) Doug Kay is in his third season as the head coach of the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers. Kay coached at ISU from 1967-69.
--And, finally, that there is now a contact page on the Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter Blog page.
Just click here http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/ and take advantage of the opportunity to let people know what you’re doing now or to just make a few comments. And, as a reminder, the newsletter editor will be keeping an eye out to make that all comments are in good taste.
Where are?????
--Mike Sotak, Royce Allen, David Vandercook, Willie Weber, Scott Zeiser, Kenny Klein, John Wayhart, Terry Dzmiera, Dan Hall, Pat Teefy, Larry Brumfield, Jim Brumfield, Don Jackson, Kevin Jackson, Donnie Warner, D.A. Daniels, Zach Washington, Jimmy Edwards, Reggie Allen, Kyle Frondorf, Steve Elmlinger, Todd Jochem, Kirk Wilson, Eddie Ruffin, John Spradley, Keith Ward, Mike Johannes, Scott Bridges, Joe Downing, Terry Bell, Dwight Tripp, Dale Harvel, James Massey, Walter Seaton, Chuck Standiford, Milt Allen, John Stites, Hubert Moore, Chris Delaplaine, Mike Rutherford, Brian DeCree, Dan Galbriath, Rick Murphy, Bob Pychinka, Carroll Puricha, Bimbo Cecconi, Jerry Huntsman, Dick Comar, Jim Donahue, Max Payne, Ron Green, Keith Herron, Lavent Blaylock, Tori Vactor, Sam Logan, Dan Brandenburg, Steve Brandenburg, Matt Nelson, Cornell Johnson, Kent Drew, Carl Berman, Derrick Franklin, Darrold Clardy, Mike Megyesi, Kevin Henderson, Craig Shaffer, Dennis Teegarden, Bob Koehne, Matt Cole, Blayne Baggett, Chris Johnson, Steve Schmid, Dietrich Lapsley, Joe Stellern, Jim Shaughnessey, Bobby Boyce, Jerry Boyce, Kyle Hooper, Soso Dede, Craig Hamblet, Chris Libaire, Mike Brantley, Pat Jordan, Dennis Wilkerson, Bruce Montagner, O.B. Barnett, Mark Hardy, Bill Griffith, Ken Monroe, Jim Keister, Steve Steinway, John Montgomery, John Skelton.
Just a few names of some former Sycamores players, coaches and student managers from the top of my head who seem to be missing. And if there some names not mentioned that you know the wherabouts of, let us know. Send email addresses so we can add them to the football alumni newsletter email list.
And I need updated email addresses for the following: Kurt Bell (home if possible), Kevin Buchanan, Rodney Porter, Brian Krueger.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI CONTACT PAGE
Former Indiana State University Football players who would like to register comments can do so here.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 9
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Nine
April 15, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING FRIDAY IN TERRE HAUTE;
ANNUAL BLUE-WHITE SPRING GAME SET FOR SATURDAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
It would appear as if the Ballyhoo/Indiana State University Football Golf Outing, which is scheduled for Friday (April 18) at the Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, has attracted a large group of participants. Idle Creek is located on the south end of Terre Haute, in the Springhill area.
Idle Creek Golf Community
Terre Haute - Idle Creek Golf Course - Golf Course - AOL City Guide
As of last weekend, there were 19 foursomes (or 76 golfers) set and ready to take part in the annual fund-raising effort for the Sycamore football program. That number is up considerably from the last several years. All monies raised at the golf outing will go directly to the Indiana State Football Program.
Also, the annual Indiana State Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage is set for 1 p.m. Saturday (April 19) at Memorial Stadium. The exact format of the scrimmage had not been determined at press time.
All former players, coaches, student managers and athletic trainers are invited to attend both the golf outing (even as observers) and the scrimmage.
PLAYER NUMBERS DOWN DURING SPRING BALL 2008
It will be interesting to see how the Indiana State football coaching staff conducts the Saturday workout since player numbers are down for this first spring under Trent Miles as the team’s head coach. Indiana State has approximately 43 players taking part in the spring workouts.
The Sycamores are down on offensive and defensive linemen (five on each side of the ball) due to graduation from the 2007 team, injuries and from the decision from the previous coaching staff to not recruit a large number of offensive and defensive linemen.
And those are not the only positions where ISU is currently shorthanded. The Sycamores used just two quarterbacks in last Saturday’s scrimmage – Terre Haute natives Matt Seliger and Kyle Toney.
The presumptive starter heading into this fall, sophomore Charles Dowdell, was held out of the workout (presumably for disciplinary reasons since he was seen running steps throughout the morning practice). Another quarterback that had been on the roster, sophomore Evan Parker, was also not available.
Speaking of discipline and accountability, those have been the big watchwords since Miles and his coaching staff took over the program.
If players don’t want to do the things necessary to rebuild the program (go to class on a regular basis, attend tutoring sessions, made grade requirements, go to the weight room when scheduled, miss or being late for positional and team meetings or practices, bad attitudes, off field activities), they pretty much end up cutting themselves from the team.
TALENT THIN RIGHT NOW
As evidenced by the program’s 1-32 record over the past three seasons, the talent level currently on the Indiana State football roster is pretty thin. But that could be about to change.
The Sycamores’ coaching staff signed 31 players in February and have around 10 more joining the team as preferred walk-ons this summer. There may also be some Division I-A transfers coming into the program, although that won't be known until other schools around the country end their spring workouts.
One thing is certain, though. Several of the incoming freshmen arriving on campus in August could find themselves fighting for starting positions when the season starts.
During the recruiting process, I was asked what can the ISU coaching staff do in order to entice players to a program that has been struggling so much in recent years. They can promise playing time early if they’re good enough.
A player can go to one school and sit the bench for a year or two, or they could come to Indiana State and have the opportunity to start right off the bat.
As a forecast for what to expect in 2008, Indiana State could be more talented than in recent seasons but could also be very, very young. But if this recruiting class is as good as some people think that it may be (ranked second-best recruiting class in the Gateway Conference, eight-best in I-AA football), they could be the foundation for a huge turnaround in the Sycamores’ fortunes in the coming years.
BRIGHT SPOTS…..
--Yes, Indiana State does have a tight end in its offense. After not utilizing a tight end the last couple of seasons, the Sycamores will have a tight end involved in the offense this season.
ISU coaches moved former linebacker Josh Jones to tight end this spring and he has made a pretty good impression on observers. The Mooresville, Ind., junior appears to be a tough-minded kid who is willing to make the tough catch over the middle or to run a seam route up the field.
Another intriguing possibility is 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman Joe Wingis, who has been moved from wide receiver to tight end. He’s kind of light (just 200 pounds), but the St. John, Ind., native is still becoming acclimated to his new position.
--In addition to using a tight end again, the Sycamores are also using a fullback in its offense. The tight end and fullback psotions were non-factors in the ISU offense the last two seasons.
--Two running backs who have caught our eye are University of Kentucky transfer Antoine Brown and sophomore Darrius Gates. Brown’s body shape and running style sort of reminds us of former Indiana State running back Tori Vactor.
Gates has more moves and utilizes a shake-and-bake style. He often makes a positive play out of a negative one.
The problem with both backs, as well as the other running backs on the team, is that the depth and talent is so thin up front along the offensive line, it’s hard to really get a line on how good they could be.
--Sophomore placekicker Corey Varnadore (Tallahassee, Fla.) seems to have good range from about 45 yards and in. The Sycamores’ coaching staff have been working Varnadore a lot this spring, attempting to put him in pressure situations to see how he reacts. The results have been pretty good so far.
--Mix and match. That’s what the Indiana State football coaching staff has been doing this spring in an attempt to get their best players on the field. Positional changes have been instituted in order to get that accomplished.
STILL NEED EMAIL ADDRESSES, PASS THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES, CALL YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES
I don't want to keep bugging everybody, but I still need email addresses for former players. If you have a former teammate who is not receiving this Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter, send him a copy. Or tell him about it so that he can send me his email address.
If your former teammates don't have email or dont own a computer, give them a call and see if you can entice them to get involved again in Sycamore football. You guys are the best representatives that the ISU football family has. Get the word out that everybody's help is needed.
Get involved. It doesn't matter whether you were the star of the team, the fifth-string offensive or defensive tackle, a student manager who didn't get to travel or the athletic trainer who got teased all the time by the players. Or whether you played for Bill Jones, Paul Selge, Jerry Huntsman, Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson, Dennis Raetz, Tim McGuire or Lou West.
Indiana State Football Needs You....again!!!!
Volume One, Number Nine
April 15, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING FRIDAY IN TERRE HAUTE;
ANNUAL BLUE-WHITE SPRING GAME SET FOR SATURDAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
It would appear as if the Ballyhoo/Indiana State University Football Golf Outing, which is scheduled for Friday (April 18) at the Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, has attracted a large group of participants. Idle Creek is located on the south end of Terre Haute, in the Springhill area.
Idle Creek Golf Community
Terre Haute - Idle Creek Golf Course - Golf Course - AOL City Guide
As of last weekend, there were 19 foursomes (or 76 golfers) set and ready to take part in the annual fund-raising effort for the Sycamore football program. That number is up considerably from the last several years. All monies raised at the golf outing will go directly to the Indiana State Football Program.
Also, the annual Indiana State Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage is set for 1 p.m. Saturday (April 19) at Memorial Stadium. The exact format of the scrimmage had not been determined at press time.
All former players, coaches, student managers and athletic trainers are invited to attend both the golf outing (even as observers) and the scrimmage.
PLAYER NUMBERS DOWN DURING SPRING BALL 2008
It will be interesting to see how the Indiana State football coaching staff conducts the Saturday workout since player numbers are down for this first spring under Trent Miles as the team’s head coach. Indiana State has approximately 43 players taking part in the spring workouts.
The Sycamores are down on offensive and defensive linemen (five on each side of the ball) due to graduation from the 2007 team, injuries and from the decision from the previous coaching staff to not recruit a large number of offensive and defensive linemen.
And those are not the only positions where ISU is currently shorthanded. The Sycamores used just two quarterbacks in last Saturday’s scrimmage – Terre Haute natives Matt Seliger and Kyle Toney.
The presumptive starter heading into this fall, sophomore Charles Dowdell, was held out of the workout (presumably for disciplinary reasons since he was seen running steps throughout the morning practice). Another quarterback that had been on the roster, sophomore Evan Parker, was also not available.
Speaking of discipline and accountability, those have been the big watchwords since Miles and his coaching staff took over the program.
If players don’t want to do the things necessary to rebuild the program (go to class on a regular basis, attend tutoring sessions, made grade requirements, go to the weight room when scheduled, miss or being late for positional and team meetings or practices, bad attitudes, off field activities), they pretty much end up cutting themselves from the team.
TALENT THIN RIGHT NOW
As evidenced by the program’s 1-32 record over the past three seasons, the talent level currently on the Indiana State football roster is pretty thin. But that could be about to change.
The Sycamores’ coaching staff signed 31 players in February and have around 10 more joining the team as preferred walk-ons this summer. There may also be some Division I-A transfers coming into the program, although that won't be known until other schools around the country end their spring workouts.
One thing is certain, though. Several of the incoming freshmen arriving on campus in August could find themselves fighting for starting positions when the season starts.
During the recruiting process, I was asked what can the ISU coaching staff do in order to entice players to a program that has been struggling so much in recent years. They can promise playing time early if they’re good enough.
A player can go to one school and sit the bench for a year or two, or they could come to Indiana State and have the opportunity to start right off the bat.
As a forecast for what to expect in 2008, Indiana State could be more talented than in recent seasons but could also be very, very young. But if this recruiting class is as good as some people think that it may be (ranked second-best recruiting class in the Gateway Conference, eight-best in I-AA football), they could be the foundation for a huge turnaround in the Sycamores’ fortunes in the coming years.
BRIGHT SPOTS…..
--Yes, Indiana State does have a tight end in its offense. After not utilizing a tight end the last couple of seasons, the Sycamores will have a tight end involved in the offense this season.
ISU coaches moved former linebacker Josh Jones to tight end this spring and he has made a pretty good impression on observers. The Mooresville, Ind., junior appears to be a tough-minded kid who is willing to make the tough catch over the middle or to run a seam route up the field.
Another intriguing possibility is 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman Joe Wingis, who has been moved from wide receiver to tight end. He’s kind of light (just 200 pounds), but the St. John, Ind., native is still becoming acclimated to his new position.
--In addition to using a tight end again, the Sycamores are also using a fullback in its offense. The tight end and fullback psotions were non-factors in the ISU offense the last two seasons.
--Two running backs who have caught our eye are University of Kentucky transfer Antoine Brown and sophomore Darrius Gates. Brown’s body shape and running style sort of reminds us of former Indiana State running back Tori Vactor.
Gates has more moves and utilizes a shake-and-bake style. He often makes a positive play out of a negative one.
The problem with both backs, as well as the other running backs on the team, is that the depth and talent is so thin up front along the offensive line, it’s hard to really get a line on how good they could be.
--Sophomore placekicker Corey Varnadore (Tallahassee, Fla.) seems to have good range from about 45 yards and in. The Sycamores’ coaching staff have been working Varnadore a lot this spring, attempting to put him in pressure situations to see how he reacts. The results have been pretty good so far.
--Mix and match. That’s what the Indiana State football coaching staff has been doing this spring in an attempt to get their best players on the field. Positional changes have been instituted in order to get that accomplished.
STILL NEED EMAIL ADDRESSES, PASS THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES, CALL YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES
I don't want to keep bugging everybody, but I still need email addresses for former players. If you have a former teammate who is not receiving this Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter, send him a copy. Or tell him about it so that he can send me his email address.
If your former teammates don't have email or dont own a computer, give them a call and see if you can entice them to get involved again in Sycamore football. You guys are the best representatives that the ISU football family has. Get the word out that everybody's help is needed.
Get involved. It doesn't matter whether you were the star of the team, the fifth-string offensive or defensive tackle, a student manager who didn't get to travel or the athletic trainer who got teased all the time by the players. Or whether you played for Bill Jones, Paul Selge, Jerry Huntsman, Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson, Dennis Raetz, Tim McGuire or Lou West.
Indiana State Football Needs You....again!!!!
Friday, April 11, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 8
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Eight
April 10, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SCRIMMAGE SET FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 12 AT MEMORIAL STADIUM; ALUMNI ARE INVITED/WELCOME TO ATTEND
Indiana State will conduct its second intrasquad scrimmage of the spring Saturday, April 12 at Memorial Stadium. The workout is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude around noon.
All former players, coaches, student managers and trainers are invited to attend the practice.
Who knows? What with the player numbers down during spring practice, if the former players get too close to the turf, there might be a good chance that some of the alums may be asked to suit up and show the current players how things are supposed to be done.
2008 INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/WITH KICKOFF TIMES ANNOUNCED
TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State University announced a 12-game football schedule for the 2008 season Wednesday. ISU will play 5 home games under first-year coach Trent Miles.
The Sycamores will open the season Thursday, Aug. 28, when they travel to Eastern Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will mark the first time ISU has faced the Eagles since the Sycamores walked away with a 21-14 decision in 2001.
ISU graces the turf at Memorial Stadium in coach Miles' home debut when it hosts Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 27 with kick-off slated for 12:05 p.m.
The Sycamores open Gateway Football Conference play on Oct. 4 when they host Illinois State at 12:05 p.m.Tickets are on sale now at the Hulman Center ticket office.
One addition to the ticket options for the 2008 is the the Junior QB Club, which will prove to be a way for kids to join in the fun and excitement of Sycamore Football. Any child who is entering the eighth grade in 2008 or younger can sign up for the club and receive all the great benefits including a membership card, t-shirt, football poster and much more to be announced throughout the course of the year.
2008 ISU football schedule
Aug. 28 — at Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 — at Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — at Northern Illinois, time to be announced
Sept. 27 — Southeast Missouri State, 12:05 p.m.Oct. 4 — Illinois State, 12:05 p.m.
Oct. 11 — at Southern Illinois, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 — at Western Illinois, 4 p.m.
Oct. 25 — South Dakota, 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 1 — at North Dakota State, 2 p.m.
Nov. 8 — at Youngstown State, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 — Northern Iowa, 12:05 p.m.N
ov. 22 — Missouri State, 12:05
New offensive coordinator Diedrick’s experience could be just what ISU football program needs
By David Hughes, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — What do quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe, Marques Tuiasosopo, Brady Quinn and Chuck Dowdell have in common?
All have been coached by Bill Diedrick, Indiana State’s new offensive coordinator.The hiring of Diedrick was announced in February and he’s currently in his second week of spring practices with the Trent Miles-coached Sycamores.
“Bill brings great knowledge and experience that’s unbelievable at any level, let alone at this level [NCAA Football Championship Subdivision],” Miles said after Saturday’s scrimmage at Memorial Stadium. “The things that he’s done in his career and the knowledge that he has, you couldn’t find a better person to come in here and help get this going.
“We’re very fortunate [to have Diedrick at Indiana State]. Bill and I have a very, very good working relationship and we’re friends off the field. It was just the right timing. The opportunity arose … and it’s a good fit. It’s great to have him here, because it’s not going to do anything but make our offense better. Our quarterbacks are going to learn faster than they could learn from anybody out there.”
Diedrick, who’s also the ISU quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, said he doesn’t mind that the program has compiled a 1-32 record over the last three seasons.
“It’s not so much the team being 1-32,” he insisted. “I think that my relationship with Trent, him being given the opportunity to have his own program … and I was looking to come back south [from Canada]. It gave me an opportunity to help a friend out and start and develop a program.”
Diedrick, 61, previously coached at the University of Hawaii, two high schools in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth College, Montana State, Idaho, Washington State, the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos, the University of Washington, Stanford, Notre Dame and, most recently, the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts.
Diedrick, who worked with Bledsoe one season at Washington State and Quinn two seasons at Notre Dame, has guided 10 quarterbacks who ended up in the NFL.
“To me, it’s fun to be able to work with great competitors and watch a kid develop and have an opportunity to raise above his skills and play in the NFL,” Diedrick reflected. “You look at the 10 kids that have had that opportunity … it’s a lot of fun because they’re great competitors.
"Of those 10, only three of them ever started as a freshmen. Drew Bledsoe was one, Brady Quinn was another and Marques Tuiasosopo [at Washington] was the other. So everybody wants to come in and play as a freshman, but not very many guys are truly committed in what it takes to do to prepare themselves and to be able to come in and have an opportunity to play, let alone start as a freshman.”
Since the start of Indiana State’s spring practices March 30, Diedrick said he’s noticed “good improvement” from Dowdell, a freshman who started much of the 2007 season.
“He’s starting to get the ball located a lot better,” Diedrick pointed out. “I think his reads have been good. We’re really working on his mechanics — the little things, all the things that are important, the things that he probably hasn’t really had an opportunity to do.
“I mean, he played a little bit of receiver and a little bit of quarterback last year. You know, all of those kids [on ISU’s offense] are totally inexperienced. They’re like babes with diapers. It’s like getting them started from ground zero. But I’m pleased with where Chuck is right now. I know he’s got a lot more growth ahead of him this spring.”
Miles said Diedrick’s influence on Dowdell and the back-up quarterbacks will be positive.
“You’re going to see progress from the position and from each individual, not just in football but as a leader,” Miles emphasized. “He teaches them how to be a leader. He teaches them how to operate the offense and do the things it takes to be the field general.”
Dowdell, for one, appreciates all the instructions he’s received from Diedrick in a relatively short period of time.
“I feel coach Diedrick has helped out everybody from starting quarterback to fourth string,” Dowdell said. “He’s got good enthusiasm.”
Diedrick also has observed progress from the offensive unit as a whole.
“I think the biggest thing that I’ve really seen is in effort given,” he mentioned. “I think that there’s been good progress and improvement. We’re not nearly where we would like to be, by any means. But it all starts at ground zero and it really starts with each individual giving great effort on a consistent basis and I think that we’re getting closer to having that. Once a young man and a group can do that, they’ll be able to make plays.”
Diedrick made no statistical predictions for the 2008 season, which opens Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan, but he did say that ISU will run a multiple offense.
“I think the important thing about that is you really have to design or mold or shape that offense according to the personnel that you have,” he explained. “So that’s really the big thing this spring. We’re kinda throwing a lot at ’em, seeing who can learn and who can’t. What they can’t do is probably as important as what they can do. Then we’ll modify that in the offseason.
“You also have to take a look at all the young kids coming in [this summer] because those guys are probably going to be put in a position where they’re going to be playing quite a bit. So it will be a very multiple offense and it will be shaped into what our skills allow us to do. I think it all starts with the quarterback position.”
ISU will conduct another public scrimmage from about 10 a.m. to noon Saturday (April at Memorial Stadium. The final spring practice will be April 19 when the annual Blue/White Scrimmage takes place.
FORMER SYCAMORES RUNNING BACK TONY COFIELD DIES
Details are sketchy, but we have received word that former Indiana State running back Tony Cofield died recently. Tony played at ISU in the late 1970s.
Our condolences to the Cofield family. If we get any more information, it will be included in a future Indiana State football newsletter.
NEED UPDATED EMAIL ADDRESSES
The response to the Indiana State Football Alumni newsletter and new blog page have been outstanding so far.
We've been able to piece together a good-sized list of email addresses for former players, student managers, trainers and coaches. But some of the email addresses that I am now using aren't working.
Some, like Denver Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner, get bounced back to me on a regular basis because Bobby doesn't like email (and, consequently, his email box with the Broncos is full).
Others, I have typed in the email addresses that former players have given me, but they don't seem to work well. So I need updated email addresses for Kurt Bell, Kevin Buchannan, Brian Krueger, Rodney Porter, and Marty Murray.
If some of you who are receiving the newsletter would prefer me sending it to your work address instead of home, or home instead of work, let me know and get me the new/updated email addresses.
Also, please get the word out about the newsletter and if you know of anyone who wants to be added, please let me know. This newsletter and the blog page have been put together to keep you guys in touch with the program once again.
RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR....
--Just a remeinder, but this newsletter is not a product of Indiana State University or its athletic department. I have taken on the project as sort of my contribution to a football program that has done a lot for me over the years.
--The continuing friendships with former coaches and players goes on to this day. I often tell people how amazing it is for me to be covering the NFL Combine each year and to see so many ex-indiana State coaches and alums now associated with the league.
To have Tennessee Titans assistant head coach Dave McGinnis (former Sycamores defensive backs coach) holler out my nickname down a crowded hallway at the Indiana Convention Center in his Texas twang is an experience in itself and something to cause a chuckle or two.
Or to have the opportunity to touch base with people like Bobby Turner (Denver), Alvin Reynolds (Atlanta), Pete Hoener (San Francisco), Dave Magazu (Carolina), Cam Cameron (Baltimore), Sean Payton (New Orleans) or Mike Ornstein on a regular basis is great.
Talking to Tunch Ilkin before and after an Indianapolis Colts/Pittsburgh Steelers game is always interesting. Tunch is an analyst on the Steelers' radio network. And getting together with the likes of Chris Hicks, Vincent Allen, Mel Burks, Greg Washington at ISU games and Hall of Fame inductions brings back a lot of memories. Those guys, along with people like Larry Fitzgerald and Matt Blane, took me under their wings when I was a fresh-faced freshman student manager back in the late 1970s.
--And speaking of Vincent Allen, how about a letter-writing campaign to have "Slick" inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend. Vincent ran for over 1,000 in four straights seasons at ISU, becoming one of the first players in college history to accomplish that feat (regardless of NCAA division).
--Any feelings out there about starting up an Indiana State Football Alumni Association? Comments? Suggestions? Perhaps coming up with some yearly positional awards to hand out to current players at the end of each season? Or maybe have fund-raisers and endowing some sort of ISU Football Alumni scholarship? Or some other ways to give back to the program?
HOW CAN I HELP THE INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL PROGRAM?
I'm often asked by alums how they can help promote the football program. You can do that in many ways. If it's within your means, you can send financial donations to the athletic department and earmark them specifically for football. They will allow you to do that now.
Gifts in kind are also allowed. So if you have some sort of product that would help the program, you can check that out. Host fund-raising golf outings with former ISU players in your respective areas and make donations to the football program through the athletic department.
You can also help out by just being around the program on a regular basis once again. Showing up at practices and games if your time and schedule allows would be greatly appreciated by the coaching staff and players. Let them know that you care!
Keeping an eye out for prosepctive recruits and letting the coaching staff know who they are. Contact recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey or head coach Trent Miles with any suggestions. Videotaping local high school games off your television and sending the tapes to the coaches would be a big help.
Constant correspondence with people like ISU Athletic Director Ron Prettyman and the members of the Board of Trustees is a must. Share with them your feelings on ways to improve the football program. If you like what has been done so far, speak up. If you think they can do better, tell them that too (but in a respectful way).
If you live in Indiana -- particuarly in the Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Evansville areas -- you can write/call your local sports media outlets and attempt to pressure them to do a better job of covering ISU football on a regular basis.
We can all bellyache about what has or hasn't been done in the past. Believe me, I have made my feelings known quite publicly. Previous athletic administrators (and they know who they are) did their level best to try and downgrade the football program.
But it's still hanging on and hanging in there. Also, the communication with you guys, the ISU football family, has been lackluster at best in the past. But complaining about what has happened won't help Trent Miles and his program right now.
Talk up ISU football in your home areas, especially if you live in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio. The program has been way down in recent years. That's a fact and there's no way to sugar coat it.
But if you want to see it get better, you can step up to the plate and help when needed. As they say, you can be a part of the problem by sitting back and deciding to not get involved. Or you can be a part of the solution and help things get better.
Volume One, Number Eight
April 10, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SCRIMMAGE SET FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 12 AT MEMORIAL STADIUM; ALUMNI ARE INVITED/WELCOME TO ATTEND
Indiana State will conduct its second intrasquad scrimmage of the spring Saturday, April 12 at Memorial Stadium. The workout is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude around noon.
All former players, coaches, student managers and trainers are invited to attend the practice.
Who knows? What with the player numbers down during spring practice, if the former players get too close to the turf, there might be a good chance that some of the alums may be asked to suit up and show the current players how things are supposed to be done.
2008 INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/WITH KICKOFF TIMES ANNOUNCED
TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State University announced a 12-game football schedule for the 2008 season Wednesday. ISU will play 5 home games under first-year coach Trent Miles.
The Sycamores will open the season Thursday, Aug. 28, when they travel to Eastern Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will mark the first time ISU has faced the Eagles since the Sycamores walked away with a 21-14 decision in 2001.
ISU graces the turf at Memorial Stadium in coach Miles' home debut when it hosts Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 27 with kick-off slated for 12:05 p.m.
The Sycamores open Gateway Football Conference play on Oct. 4 when they host Illinois State at 12:05 p.m.Tickets are on sale now at the Hulman Center ticket office.
One addition to the ticket options for the 2008 is the the Junior QB Club, which will prove to be a way for kids to join in the fun and excitement of Sycamore Football. Any child who is entering the eighth grade in 2008 or younger can sign up for the club and receive all the great benefits including a membership card, t-shirt, football poster and much more to be announced throughout the course of the year.
2008 ISU football schedule
Aug. 28 — at Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 — at Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — at Northern Illinois, time to be announced
Sept. 27 — Southeast Missouri State, 12:05 p.m.Oct. 4 — Illinois State, 12:05 p.m.
Oct. 11 — at Southern Illinois, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 — at Western Illinois, 4 p.m.
Oct. 25 — South Dakota, 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 1 — at North Dakota State, 2 p.m.
Nov. 8 — at Youngstown State, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 — Northern Iowa, 12:05 p.m.N
ov. 22 — Missouri State, 12:05
New offensive coordinator Diedrick’s experience could be just what ISU football program needs
By David Hughes, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — What do quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe, Marques Tuiasosopo, Brady Quinn and Chuck Dowdell have in common?
All have been coached by Bill Diedrick, Indiana State’s new offensive coordinator.The hiring of Diedrick was announced in February and he’s currently in his second week of spring practices with the Trent Miles-coached Sycamores.
“Bill brings great knowledge and experience that’s unbelievable at any level, let alone at this level [NCAA Football Championship Subdivision],” Miles said after Saturday’s scrimmage at Memorial Stadium. “The things that he’s done in his career and the knowledge that he has, you couldn’t find a better person to come in here and help get this going.
“We’re very fortunate [to have Diedrick at Indiana State]. Bill and I have a very, very good working relationship and we’re friends off the field. It was just the right timing. The opportunity arose … and it’s a good fit. It’s great to have him here, because it’s not going to do anything but make our offense better. Our quarterbacks are going to learn faster than they could learn from anybody out there.”
Diedrick, who’s also the ISU quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, said he doesn’t mind that the program has compiled a 1-32 record over the last three seasons.
“It’s not so much the team being 1-32,” he insisted. “I think that my relationship with Trent, him being given the opportunity to have his own program … and I was looking to come back south [from Canada]. It gave me an opportunity to help a friend out and start and develop a program.”
Diedrick, 61, previously coached at the University of Hawaii, two high schools in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth College, Montana State, Idaho, Washington State, the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos, the University of Washington, Stanford, Notre Dame and, most recently, the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts.
Diedrick, who worked with Bledsoe one season at Washington State and Quinn two seasons at Notre Dame, has guided 10 quarterbacks who ended up in the NFL.
“To me, it’s fun to be able to work with great competitors and watch a kid develop and have an opportunity to raise above his skills and play in the NFL,” Diedrick reflected. “You look at the 10 kids that have had that opportunity … it’s a lot of fun because they’re great competitors.
"Of those 10, only three of them ever started as a freshmen. Drew Bledsoe was one, Brady Quinn was another and Marques Tuiasosopo [at Washington] was the other. So everybody wants to come in and play as a freshman, but not very many guys are truly committed in what it takes to do to prepare themselves and to be able to come in and have an opportunity to play, let alone start as a freshman.”
Since the start of Indiana State’s spring practices March 30, Diedrick said he’s noticed “good improvement” from Dowdell, a freshman who started much of the 2007 season.
“He’s starting to get the ball located a lot better,” Diedrick pointed out. “I think his reads have been good. We’re really working on his mechanics — the little things, all the things that are important, the things that he probably hasn’t really had an opportunity to do.
“I mean, he played a little bit of receiver and a little bit of quarterback last year. You know, all of those kids [on ISU’s offense] are totally inexperienced. They’re like babes with diapers. It’s like getting them started from ground zero. But I’m pleased with where Chuck is right now. I know he’s got a lot more growth ahead of him this spring.”
Miles said Diedrick’s influence on Dowdell and the back-up quarterbacks will be positive.
“You’re going to see progress from the position and from each individual, not just in football but as a leader,” Miles emphasized. “He teaches them how to be a leader. He teaches them how to operate the offense and do the things it takes to be the field general.”
Dowdell, for one, appreciates all the instructions he’s received from Diedrick in a relatively short period of time.
“I feel coach Diedrick has helped out everybody from starting quarterback to fourth string,” Dowdell said. “He’s got good enthusiasm.”
Diedrick also has observed progress from the offensive unit as a whole.
“I think the biggest thing that I’ve really seen is in effort given,” he mentioned. “I think that there’s been good progress and improvement. We’re not nearly where we would like to be, by any means. But it all starts at ground zero and it really starts with each individual giving great effort on a consistent basis and I think that we’re getting closer to having that. Once a young man and a group can do that, they’ll be able to make plays.”
Diedrick made no statistical predictions for the 2008 season, which opens Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan, but he did say that ISU will run a multiple offense.
“I think the important thing about that is you really have to design or mold or shape that offense according to the personnel that you have,” he explained. “So that’s really the big thing this spring. We’re kinda throwing a lot at ’em, seeing who can learn and who can’t. What they can’t do is probably as important as what they can do. Then we’ll modify that in the offseason.
“You also have to take a look at all the young kids coming in [this summer] because those guys are probably going to be put in a position where they’re going to be playing quite a bit. So it will be a very multiple offense and it will be shaped into what our skills allow us to do. I think it all starts with the quarterback position.”
ISU will conduct another public scrimmage from about 10 a.m. to noon Saturday (April at Memorial Stadium. The final spring practice will be April 19 when the annual Blue/White Scrimmage takes place.
FORMER SYCAMORES RUNNING BACK TONY COFIELD DIES
Details are sketchy, but we have received word that former Indiana State running back Tony Cofield died recently. Tony played at ISU in the late 1970s.
Our condolences to the Cofield family. If we get any more information, it will be included in a future Indiana State football newsletter.
NEED UPDATED EMAIL ADDRESSES
The response to the Indiana State Football Alumni newsletter and new blog page have been outstanding so far.
We've been able to piece together a good-sized list of email addresses for former players, student managers, trainers and coaches. But some of the email addresses that I am now using aren't working.
Some, like Denver Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner, get bounced back to me on a regular basis because Bobby doesn't like email (and, consequently, his email box with the Broncos is full).
Others, I have typed in the email addresses that former players have given me, but they don't seem to work well. So I need updated email addresses for Kurt Bell, Kevin Buchannan, Brian Krueger, Rodney Porter, and Marty Murray.
If some of you who are receiving the newsletter would prefer me sending it to your work address instead of home, or home instead of work, let me know and get me the new/updated email addresses.
Also, please get the word out about the newsletter and if you know of anyone who wants to be added, please let me know. This newsletter and the blog page have been put together to keep you guys in touch with the program once again.
RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR....
--Just a remeinder, but this newsletter is not a product of Indiana State University or its athletic department. I have taken on the project as sort of my contribution to a football program that has done a lot for me over the years.
--The continuing friendships with former coaches and players goes on to this day. I often tell people how amazing it is for me to be covering the NFL Combine each year and to see so many ex-indiana State coaches and alums now associated with the league.
To have Tennessee Titans assistant head coach Dave McGinnis (former Sycamores defensive backs coach) holler out my nickname down a crowded hallway at the Indiana Convention Center in his Texas twang is an experience in itself and something to cause a chuckle or two.
Or to have the opportunity to touch base with people like Bobby Turner (Denver), Alvin Reynolds (Atlanta), Pete Hoener (San Francisco), Dave Magazu (Carolina), Cam Cameron (Baltimore), Sean Payton (New Orleans) or Mike Ornstein on a regular basis is great.
Talking to Tunch Ilkin before and after an Indianapolis Colts/Pittsburgh Steelers game is always interesting. Tunch is an analyst on the Steelers' radio network. And getting together with the likes of Chris Hicks, Vincent Allen, Mel Burks, Greg Washington at ISU games and Hall of Fame inductions brings back a lot of memories. Those guys, along with people like Larry Fitzgerald and Matt Blane, took me under their wings when I was a fresh-faced freshman student manager back in the late 1970s.
--And speaking of Vincent Allen, how about a letter-writing campaign to have "Slick" inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend. Vincent ran for over 1,000 in four straights seasons at ISU, becoming one of the first players in college history to accomplish that feat (regardless of NCAA division).
--Any feelings out there about starting up an Indiana State Football Alumni Association? Comments? Suggestions? Perhaps coming up with some yearly positional awards to hand out to current players at the end of each season? Or maybe have fund-raisers and endowing some sort of ISU Football Alumni scholarship? Or some other ways to give back to the program?
HOW CAN I HELP THE INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL PROGRAM?
I'm often asked by alums how they can help promote the football program. You can do that in many ways. If it's within your means, you can send financial donations to the athletic department and earmark them specifically for football. They will allow you to do that now.
Gifts in kind are also allowed. So if you have some sort of product that would help the program, you can check that out. Host fund-raising golf outings with former ISU players in your respective areas and make donations to the football program through the athletic department.
You can also help out by just being around the program on a regular basis once again. Showing up at practices and games if your time and schedule allows would be greatly appreciated by the coaching staff and players. Let them know that you care!
Keeping an eye out for prosepctive recruits and letting the coaching staff know who they are. Contact recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey or head coach Trent Miles with any suggestions. Videotaping local high school games off your television and sending the tapes to the coaches would be a big help.
Constant correspondence with people like ISU Athletic Director Ron Prettyman and the members of the Board of Trustees is a must. Share with them your feelings on ways to improve the football program. If you like what has been done so far, speak up. If you think they can do better, tell them that too (but in a respectful way).
If you live in Indiana -- particuarly in the Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Evansville areas -- you can write/call your local sports media outlets and attempt to pressure them to do a better job of covering ISU football on a regular basis.
We can all bellyache about what has or hasn't been done in the past. Believe me, I have made my feelings known quite publicly. Previous athletic administrators (and they know who they are) did their level best to try and downgrade the football program.
But it's still hanging on and hanging in there. Also, the communication with you guys, the ISU football family, has been lackluster at best in the past. But complaining about what has happened won't help Trent Miles and his program right now.
Talk up ISU football in your home areas, especially if you live in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio. The program has been way down in recent years. That's a fact and there's no way to sugar coat it.
But if you want to see it get better, you can step up to the plate and help when needed. As they say, you can be a part of the problem by sitting back and deciding to not get involved. Or you can be a part of the solution and help things get better.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
NEW COORDINATOR TAKES CONTROL OF SYCAMORES OFFENSE
New offensive coordinator Diedrick’s experience could be just what ISU football program needs
By David Hughes, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — What do quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe, Marques Tuiasosopo, Brady Quinn and Chuck Dowdell have in common?
All have been coached by Bill Diedrick, Indiana State’s new offensive coordinator.The hiring of Diedrick was announced in February and he’s currently in his second week of spring practices with the Trent Miles-coached Sycamores.
“Bill brings great knowledge and experience that’s unbelievable at any level, let alone at this level [NCAA Football Championship Subdivision],” Miles said after Saturday’s scrimmage at Memorial Stadium.
“The things that he’s done in his career and the knowledge that he has, you couldn’t find a better person to come in here and help get this going.“We’re very fortunate [to have Diedrick at Indiana State]. Bill and I have a very, very good working relationship and we’re friends off the field. It was just the right timing. The opportunity arose … and it’s a good fit. It’s great to have him here, because it’s not going to do anything but make our offense better. Our quarterbacks are going to learn faster than they could learn from anybody out there.”
Diedrick, who’s also the ISU quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, said he doesn’t mind that the program has compiled a 1-32 record over the last three seasons.
“It’s not so much the team being 1-32,” he insisted. “I think that my relationship with Trent, him being given the opportunity to have his own program … and I was looking to come back south [from Canada]. It gave me an opportunity to help a friend out and start and develop a program.”
Diedrick, 61, previously coached at the University of Hawaii, two high schools in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth College, Montana State, Idaho, Washington State, the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos, the University of Washington, Stanford, Notre Dame and, most recently, the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts.
Diedrick, who worked with Bledsoe one season at Washington State and Quinn two seasons at Notre Dame, has guided 10 quarterbacks who ended up in the NFL.
“To me, it’s fun to be able to work with great competitors and watch a kid develop and have an opportunity to raise above his skills and play in the NFL,” Diedrick reflected. “You look at the 10 kids that have had that opportunity … it’s a lot of fun because they’re great competitors.
“Of those 10, only three of them ever started as a freshmen. Drew Bledsoe was one, Brady Quinn was another and Marques Tuiasosopo [at Washington] was the other. So everybody wants to come in and play as a freshman, but not very many guys are truly committed in what it takes to do to prepare themselves and to be able to come in and have an opportunity to play, let alone start as a freshman.”
Since the start of Indiana State’s spring practices March 30, Diedrick said he’s noticed “good improvement” from Dowdell, a freshman who started much of the 2007 season.
“He’s starting to get the ball located a lot better,” Diedrick pointed out. “I think his reads have been good. We’re really working on his mechanics — the little things, all the things that are important, the things that he probably hasn’t really had an opportunity to do.
“I mean, he played a little bit of receiver and a little bit of quarterback last year. You know, all of those kids [on ISU’s offense] are totally inexperienced. They’re like babes with diapers. It’s like getting them started from ground zero. But I’m pleased with where Chuck is right now. I know he’s got a lot more growth ahead of him this spring.”
Miles said Diedrick’s influence on Dowdell and the back-up quarterbacks will be positive.
“You’re going to see progress from the position and from each individual, not just in football but as a leader,” Miles emphasized. “He teaches them how to be a leader. He teaches them how to operate the offense and do the things it takes to be the field general.”
Dowdell, for one, appreciates all the instructions he’s received from Diedrick in a relatively short period of time.
“I feel coach Diedrick has helped out everybody from starting quarterback to fourth string,” Dowdell said. “He’s got good enthusiasm.”
Diedrick also has observed progress from the offensive unit as a whole.
“I think the biggest thing that I’ve really seen is in effort given,” he mentioned. “I think that there’s been good progress and improvement. We’re not nearly where we would like to be, by any means. But it all starts at ground zero and it really starts with each individual giving great effort on a consistent basis and I think that we’re getting closer to having that. Once a young man and a group can do that, they’ll be able to make plays.”
Diedrick made no statistical predictions for the 2008 season, which opens Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan, but he did say that ISU will run a multiple offense.
“I think the important thing about that is you really have to design or mold or shape that offense according to the personnel that you have,” he explained. “So that’s really the big thing this spring. We’re kinda throwing a lot at ’em, seeing who can learn and who can’t. What they can’t do is probably as important as what they can do. Then we’ll modify that in the offseason.
“You also have to take a look at all the young kids coming in [this summer] because those guys are probably going to be put in a position where they’re going to be playing quite a bit. So it will be a very multiple offense and it will be shaped into what our skills allow us to do. I think it all starts with the quarterback position.”
ISU will conduct another public scrimmage from about 10 a.m. to noon Saturday (April 12) at Memorial Stadium. The final spring practice will be April 19 when the annual Blue/White Scrimmage takes place.
By David Hughes, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — What do quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe, Marques Tuiasosopo, Brady Quinn and Chuck Dowdell have in common?
All have been coached by Bill Diedrick, Indiana State’s new offensive coordinator.The hiring of Diedrick was announced in February and he’s currently in his second week of spring practices with the Trent Miles-coached Sycamores.
“Bill brings great knowledge and experience that’s unbelievable at any level, let alone at this level [NCAA Football Championship Subdivision],” Miles said after Saturday’s scrimmage at Memorial Stadium.
“The things that he’s done in his career and the knowledge that he has, you couldn’t find a better person to come in here and help get this going.“We’re very fortunate [to have Diedrick at Indiana State]. Bill and I have a very, very good working relationship and we’re friends off the field. It was just the right timing. The opportunity arose … and it’s a good fit. It’s great to have him here, because it’s not going to do anything but make our offense better. Our quarterbacks are going to learn faster than they could learn from anybody out there.”
Diedrick, who’s also the ISU quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, said he doesn’t mind that the program has compiled a 1-32 record over the last three seasons.
“It’s not so much the team being 1-32,” he insisted. “I think that my relationship with Trent, him being given the opportunity to have his own program … and I was looking to come back south [from Canada]. It gave me an opportunity to help a friend out and start and develop a program.”
Diedrick, 61, previously coached at the University of Hawaii, two high schools in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth College, Montana State, Idaho, Washington State, the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos, the University of Washington, Stanford, Notre Dame and, most recently, the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts.
Diedrick, who worked with Bledsoe one season at Washington State and Quinn two seasons at Notre Dame, has guided 10 quarterbacks who ended up in the NFL.
“To me, it’s fun to be able to work with great competitors and watch a kid develop and have an opportunity to raise above his skills and play in the NFL,” Diedrick reflected. “You look at the 10 kids that have had that opportunity … it’s a lot of fun because they’re great competitors.
“Of those 10, only three of them ever started as a freshmen. Drew Bledsoe was one, Brady Quinn was another and Marques Tuiasosopo [at Washington] was the other. So everybody wants to come in and play as a freshman, but not very many guys are truly committed in what it takes to do to prepare themselves and to be able to come in and have an opportunity to play, let alone start as a freshman.”
Since the start of Indiana State’s spring practices March 30, Diedrick said he’s noticed “good improvement” from Dowdell, a freshman who started much of the 2007 season.
“He’s starting to get the ball located a lot better,” Diedrick pointed out. “I think his reads have been good. We’re really working on his mechanics — the little things, all the things that are important, the things that he probably hasn’t really had an opportunity to do.
“I mean, he played a little bit of receiver and a little bit of quarterback last year. You know, all of those kids [on ISU’s offense] are totally inexperienced. They’re like babes with diapers. It’s like getting them started from ground zero. But I’m pleased with where Chuck is right now. I know he’s got a lot more growth ahead of him this spring.”
Miles said Diedrick’s influence on Dowdell and the back-up quarterbacks will be positive.
“You’re going to see progress from the position and from each individual, not just in football but as a leader,” Miles emphasized. “He teaches them how to be a leader. He teaches them how to operate the offense and do the things it takes to be the field general.”
Dowdell, for one, appreciates all the instructions he’s received from Diedrick in a relatively short period of time.
“I feel coach Diedrick has helped out everybody from starting quarterback to fourth string,” Dowdell said. “He’s got good enthusiasm.”
Diedrick also has observed progress from the offensive unit as a whole.
“I think the biggest thing that I’ve really seen is in effort given,” he mentioned. “I think that there’s been good progress and improvement. We’re not nearly where we would like to be, by any means. But it all starts at ground zero and it really starts with each individual giving great effort on a consistent basis and I think that we’re getting closer to having that. Once a young man and a group can do that, they’ll be able to make plays.”
Diedrick made no statistical predictions for the 2008 season, which opens Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan, but he did say that ISU will run a multiple offense.
“I think the important thing about that is you really have to design or mold or shape that offense according to the personnel that you have,” he explained. “So that’s really the big thing this spring. We’re kinda throwing a lot at ’em, seeing who can learn and who can’t. What they can’t do is probably as important as what they can do. Then we’ll modify that in the offseason.
“You also have to take a look at all the young kids coming in [this summer] because those guys are probably going to be put in a position where they’re going to be playing quite a bit. So it will be a very multiple offense and it will be shaped into what our skills allow us to do. I think it all starts with the quarterback position.”
ISU will conduct another public scrimmage from about 10 a.m. to noon Saturday (April 12) at Memorial Stadium. The final spring practice will be April 19 when the annual Blue/White Scrimmage takes place.
2008 INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WITH KICKOFF TIMES
TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State University announced a 12-game football schedule for the 2008 season Wednesday. ISU will play 5 home games under first-year coach Trent Miles.
The Sycamores will open the season Thursday, Aug. 28, when they travel to Eastern Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will mark the first time ISU has faced the Eagles since the Sycamores walked away with a 21-14 decision in 2001.
ISU graces the turf at Memorial Stadium in coach Miles' home debut when it hosts Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 27 with kick-off slatedfor 12:05 p.m.The Sycamores open Gateway Football Conference play on Oct. 4 when they host Illinois State at 12:05 p.m.Tickets are on sale now at the Hulman Center ticket office.
One addition to the ticket options for the 2008 is the the Junior QB Club, which will prove to be a way for kids to join in the fun and excitement of Sycamore Football. Any child who is entering the eighth grade in 2008 or younger can sign up for the club and receive all the great benefits including a membership card, t-shirt, football poster and much more to be announced throughout the course of the year.
2008 ISU football schedule
Aug. 28 — at Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 — at Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — at Northern Illinois, time to be announced
Sept. 27 — Southeast Missouri State, 12:05 p.m.
Oct. 4 — Illinois State, 12:05 p.m.
Oct. 11 — at Southern Illinois, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 — at Western Illinois, 4 p.m.
Oct. 25 — South Dakota, 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 1 — at North Dakota State, 2 p.m.
Nov. 8 — at Youngstown State, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 — Northern Iowa, 12:05 p.m.
Nov. 22 — Missouri State, 12:05 p.m.
The Sycamores will open the season Thursday, Aug. 28, when they travel to Eastern Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will mark the first time ISU has faced the Eagles since the Sycamores walked away with a 21-14 decision in 2001.
ISU graces the turf at Memorial Stadium in coach Miles' home debut when it hosts Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 27 with kick-off slatedfor 12:05 p.m.The Sycamores open Gateway Football Conference play on Oct. 4 when they host Illinois State at 12:05 p.m.Tickets are on sale now at the Hulman Center ticket office.
One addition to the ticket options for the 2008 is the the Junior QB Club, which will prove to be a way for kids to join in the fun and excitement of Sycamore Football. Any child who is entering the eighth grade in 2008 or younger can sign up for the club and receive all the great benefits including a membership card, t-shirt, football poster and much more to be announced throughout the course of the year.
2008 ISU football schedule
Aug. 28 — at Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 — at Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — at Northern Illinois, time to be announced
Sept. 27 — Southeast Missouri State, 12:05 p.m.
Oct. 4 — Illinois State, 12:05 p.m.
Oct. 11 — at Southern Illinois, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 — at Western Illinois, 4 p.m.
Oct. 25 — South Dakota, 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 1 — at North Dakota State, 2 p.m.
Nov. 8 — at Youngstown State, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 — Northern Iowa, 12:05 p.m.
Nov. 22 — Missouri State, 12:05 p.m.
Monday, April 7, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 7
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Seven
April 7, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
Miles is pleased with ISU football's scrimmage
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis stops by with his son Marcus to watch
By David Hughes, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — A couple of head coaches liked the effort they saw during Indiana State’s first football scrimmage of the spring Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium.
One of them was ISU’s first-year coach, Trent Miles.
“The enthusiasm was there,” Miles assessed. “Some of our execution wasn’t. I was happy with the way they ran around and tried to do things, but our execution was shoddy. It leaves a lot to be desired.
“We’re just so thin up front [in player numbers]. It’s unbelievable to me that you have so few offensive and defensive linemen in a program at the [NCAA] Division I level. We’re doing everything we can to fix it, but there are certain guys who have to play every single snap every day [in spring practice]. It’s unbelievable. But we’re fighting through it … and that’s all we can ask for now. Now we’ve just got to learn the techniques and get the execution down and pay attention to all the details.”
The other was not there to act as a head coach, but as a future player’s father — Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals. His son, linebacker Marcus Lewis of Cincinnati, will be an ISU freshman for the 2008 season.
“I thought the guys were flying around, being aggressive, hustling from drill to drill and spot to spot on and off the field,” the elder Lewis said. “I think, as a coach, that’s what you’re looking for.”
Asked if Indiana State was the right school for his son, Marvin Lewis replied: “It’s a good place to keep him in step and get him going.”
Saturday’s scrimmage lasted close to two hours and featured four completions from quarterback Chuck Dowdell to tight end Josh Jones, a former linebacker playing a position that has not been featured in the Sycamores’ offense since 2005. Three of the Dowdell-to-Jones hookups covered 34, 43 and 27 yards respectively.
“We’re gonna use the tight end,” Miles emphasized. “We’re gonna use one tight end, two tight ends. And in goal-line and short-yardage [situations], we’ll use three tight ends. We just have to go find them. We’ve signed a couple and Josh is definitely in the mix.
“Josh is having a really good spring. He’s a tough guy that plays hard and it matters to him. He’s got a lot of that pride to go out and do things the right way… We’re expecting big things out of Josh.”
“If one of those guys coming in [this summer] can be what we’re looking for in a tight end, there’s probably another position that Josh can go to, whether it be a second tight end or whatever,” ISU first-year offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick mentioned.
“But he’s really proven so far that he has the ability to play and I’m kinda pleased with how he’s progressed.”
Dowdell, a sophomore-to-be who redshirted in 2006 before starting much of last season, also is receiving positive reviews from the Indiana State coaching staff.
“Chuck’s making progress,” Miles said. “He’s learning the system. There’s a lot to learn. It’s a whole new system he’s never dealt with. This is his third position coach in three years. Once he starts to understand what coach Diedrick and the rest of the offensive staff are asking him to do, he’ll be fine, as will all of them.”
“I was really pleased with his decision making,” Diedrick added. “A couple little mistakes. One was with the depth of his drop. The other thing was the ball placement and location. Those things, we’ll continue to work on. But I’m happy with the growth that he’s made so far.”
“Things are going pretty well,” Dowdell noted. “We still had some little mental mistakes, but things are coming along.”
Backing up Dowdell were a pair of former Vigo County high school standouts — Matt Seliger of Terre Haute North and Kyle Toney of Terre Haute South.
Most of the running duties Saturday were handled by Antoine Brown, a transfer from the University of Kentucky, and Darrius Gates.
“I think they run pretty well,” Miles said. “I think you’ve got two guys that are pretty good football players and that you can go out and win games in the Gateway Conference with. Darrius can run and Antoine can run and run with power. I like what I see from those guys.”
Defensive highlights included interceptions by Elliott Thomas and Quinton Scott.On special teams, Corey Varnadore converted a 44-yard field goal that bounced off the crossbar before falling through the uprights.
All in all, Miles sounded pleased with his players’ progress after their fifth practice of the spring.“They’re seeing a better understanding of the schemes,” he said. “I think you’re seeing them apply some better techniques than the first day.
“You know, we’ve got a long way to go. But they’re starting to learn how we expect them to practice. They’re not there yet. Our tempo needs to be fast-paced and we need to run everywhere we’re going and do all the little things the right way. And they’re starting to learn how to do that. So it’s still a work in progress, but at least they’re starting to understand our expectation level.”
ISU’s next scrimmage will start at about 10 a.m. next Saturday. The final spring practice will be April 19 with the annual Blue/White Scrimmage.The Sycamores will open their season Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan.
MORE ON SATURDAY’S CONTROLLED SCRIMMAGE AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamores closed out the first week of spring football practice with a spirited one and a half hour scrimmage earlier today (April 5) at Memorial Stadium.
The team went through various situations, including goal line, down and distance and several game simulated drives.
Throughout most of the workout, sophomore Charles Dowdell saw the lion’s share of the snaps at the quarterback position and played well, completing 7-of-13 pass attempts, including four to converted tight end Josh Jones.
“Dowdell is really getting better each day,” first year head coach Trent Miles said. “He is working with his third position coach in as many years, so he is really trying to absorb a lot of information. Once he totally understands everything that we want him to do, he is going to be just fine.”
Jones, who has spent time during each of the past two seasons at linebacker, caught four passes on the day. He made a pair of spectacular 34 and 43 yard catches plus a 27-yard catch and run, all of the arm of Dowdell. The highlight of Jones’ day was a nine-yard grab just inside the goal line for the first touchdown of the day.
In the offensive backfield was Darrius Gates, who put together back-to-back 18-yard rushes during the game-like portion of the scrimmage and then finished the drive with a 3-yard plunge into the end zone on fourth and goal.
Also strong at tailback for ISU was transfer Antione Brown, who scored twice on the day with a 32-yard scamper early in the scrimmage and then a 1-yard drive to pay dirt in the goal line portion of the workout.
Redshirt freshman Tyler Williams also scored on the day with a 1-yard touchdown in the goalline drills as did Dowdell, who plowed through the pile for a 1-yard score during the same drill.
Sophomore kicker Corey Varnadore went 4-for-6 during the field goal portion of the day, including a best of 44 yards that split the uprights. Gabe Mullane got in several punts as well during the special teams portion of the day’s drills.
Defensively, the Sycamores acquitted themselves well holding the offense to limited success on most drives. Junior Elliott Thomas recorded an interception of Matt Seliger during skeleton drills while junior Quinton Scott posted a diving interception as well during the scrimmage portion of the day.
“We are seeing a better understanding of our schemes,” Miles commented after practice. “We still have along way to go, but the team is starting to learn exactly what we expect at practice. The guys still need to pick up the tempo a little bit, but I have been very pleased with the enthusiasm.”
Indiana State will practice on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and will also workout on Friday at 6 p.m. before holding its second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday.
NOTES FROM THE SCRIMMAGE:
DOUG ARNOLD, PAT DUNCAN ATTEND SATURDAY’S PRACTICE AT ISU
--Two former Sycamores, Doug Arnold (defensive tackle) and Pat Duncan (wide receiver), were in attendance at Saturday’s scrimmage at Indiana State.
ISU head coach Trent Miles introduced both Doug and Pat to the team after the two-hour scrimmage session and had both of them say a few words to the team. Duncan was there with his son, who may have an interest in playing for the Sycamores in 2009.
Miles referred to both Doug and Pat as members of the ISU football family, which is a large one and growing every day. As mentioned in past editions of this newsletter, all former Indiana State players, coaches, student managers and athletic trainers are invited and are welcome to attend all practices, workouts and scrimmages and to meet the current roster of players.
Miles is working hard to try to re-establish the connections between former players and the ISU program.
--Of the four quarterbacks on the Indiana State spring football roster, two are from Terre Haute. Seliger, currently No. 2, attended Terre Haute North High School while Kyle Toney (Terre Haute South) is No. 3. First on the depth chart, sophomore Charles Dowdell, attended Fort Wayne Northrop High School. Sophomore Evan Parker (Merrillville, Ind./Merriville HS) is the fourth quarterback on the team.
--In addition to the visit by incoming freshman linebacker Marcus Lewis and his father, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, on Saturday. Several other freshman-to-be also attended the scrimmage with their families. In fact, it seems as if a handful of incoming freshmen have been spending a lot of time watching the Sycamores during the first week of spring practice.
--One interesting sight after the scrimmage was Bengals coach Marvin Lewis in the coaching office at Memorial Stadium, standing at the whiteboard with a couple of the ISU coaches and diagramming some defensive alignments.
Except for that rare exception, Marvin Lewis was at the workout as a father with his son, watching intently from the sidelines. He also spend some time with former ISU head coach Dennis Raetz, who is now working as a part-time defensive assistant, and Sycamores athletic director Ron Prettyman.
-- Just one quick final note. I have started an ISU Football Alumni Blog Page. Here is the link: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/ Feel free to add it to your favorites list for easy reference and to check it out every day or every few days for any last-minute notices or information on ISU football.
I will attempt to keep it updated on a regular basis. While it's largely a work in progress, the blog will allow for you to make comments or ask me questions as well looking at previous editions of the newsletter. I will continue sending out a newsletter, but the blog page will also allow me to put more current information up rather than doing a quick email to everybody.
Also, if anybody has anything that they would like included on the page, just let me know.
GOLF OUTING COMING UP ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18
There appears to be a good group of former Indiana State players who have signed up to take part in the ISU football golf outing, which is scheduled for Friday, April 18 in Terre Haute. The golf outing is a fund-raiser for the Sycamore football program and everybody’s help is needed to make it a success.
As of Saturday, nearly 60 people had contacted assistant athletic director John Sherman. Those 60 do not include any members of the ISU athletic department, so there is a chance that there will be close to 18 foursomes ready to tee it up.
Time is running out to get your reservation in. So if you still have an interest in playing some golf, or even doing what I am planning (hanging out, seeing old friends and partaking of some cool beverages), call John Sherman ASAP (812-237-3047 or jsherman1@isugw.indstate.edu.
THE PUSH IS ON FOR ED “PONCHO” MARTIN TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE ISU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Editors note: I recently received this email from a friend of former Indiana State defensive end Ed “Poncho” Martin extolling his credentials to become a member of the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame.
“If there is any athlete that is deserving of induction into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame, it is Ed. “Poncho” Martin, a former Defensive End/Outside Linebacker that played for the Sycamores from 1980 to 1984. You see, though Indiana State’s football program had produced All-American honorees in the past, Ed Martin earned the unique distinction of becoming the first football player in the school’s history to be named to the 1st Team of a Division 1 or 1AA All-America Football Team. After the 1983 football season, he was selected 1st Team NCAA Division 1AA All-America for both the Kodak and Associated Press’ All-America Teams. Being recognized by both of the premiere selection committees was also a first for a Sycamore player. Prior to Ed, no other ISU player had received such recognition from both of the voting bodies.
You could say that distinction alone would merit being honored by the Sycamore Athletic Department, but it is Ed’s body of work over his career at Indiana State and beyond, that really makes him a worthy Hall of Fame inductee. Ed arrived as a freshmen in 1980 with pretty impressive credentials. He was a Special Mention All-State football player at Evanston Township High in Illinois, as well as captain of his high school basketball team. He also made the National Honor Society academically while in high school. The coaching staff at ISU knew they had a tremendous student-athlete on their hands when Ed accepted his scholarship to Indiana State. Over his four year career at ISU, Ed would demonstrate just how tremendous his football talents were.
The awards were numerous and included other firsts besides the aforementioned All-America selection. The accolades included:
Kodak 1st Team All-America Division 1AA 1983
Associated Press 1st Team All-America Division 1AA 1983
Sporting News Magazine 1st Team All-America Division 1AA 1983
Chicago Sports Magazine All-America Team 1983
Indiana State University “Defensive Player of the Year” 1983
Indiana State University “Defensive Player of the Year” 1982
Associated Press 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1983
Associated Press 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1982
United Press International 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1983
United Press International 2nd Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1982
Named Missouri Valley Conference “Defensive Player of the Week” Six (6) times during collegiate career
Drafted 7th Round Dallas Cowboys National Football League 1984
Drafted 6th Round Pittsburgh Maulers United States Football League 1984
Ed finished his career at Indiana State as runner-up for the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year (he lost out to Terry Taylor of Southern Illinois University). Additionally, Ed’s play on the field was the key ingredient in leading ISU to it’s first ever 9 game winning season and the school’s first ever post-season playoff appearance, as well as, ISU’s first ever Top 10 Division 1AA National ranking. The 1983 football team finished the year with a record of 9 and 4 (still tied for the most wins in a single season in the school’s history), finished the year ranked 5th nationally in Division 1AA, and made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division 1AA National Championship playoff (where they lost to eventual National Champions, Southern Illinois University).
The uniqueness of Ed Martin didn’t end when his college football career ended. Following the 1983-1984 football season, Ed became the first football player in ISU’s history to be drafted by two professional football leagues. In 1984 he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL) and the Dallas Cowboys of the National football League (NFL). Due to the competitive bidding for athletic talent, Ed actually ended up signing and playing with the Los Angeles Express in the USFL.
Unfortunately for Ed, a common enemy of football players everywhere prevented him from maximizing his opportunities in the pros. He suffered two knee injuries and was forced to retire early on in his pro career, before he could make his mark in the pro ranks. After the USFL folded in 1985, he joined the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, but due to the restricting effects of his knee injuries, his time in Dallas was all too brief. Not being able to be an impact player with the Cowboys, Ed left Dallas and returned to Indiana State where he completed the academic requirements to graduate and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from ISU. After graduating, he gave the NFL one more try, this time with the Indianapolis Colts. But once again, his bad knees prove to be too much to overcome. After a brief stint with Indy, Ed decided to retire from professional football permanently.
Always having the attitude of a winner, and the determination of a true warrior, Ed has made a success out of life after football. Following his playing days, Ed spent almost 10 years working in Hollywood, California in the field of Sports Commercial, Film, and Television Production. He worked as both a Technical Consultant and as a Stunt Utility Actor in commercials, films, and television shows that had a sports/football theme. Some of the projects that he was involved in included the movies “Jerry McGuire” with Tom Cruise, and “Executive Decision” with Halle Berry. Television projects have included “The John Laraquette Show” and HBO’s “Arliss.” Commercials have been for companies and products such as Snickers, Nike, and Coca-Cola. As well as contributing his talent to a live-action CD-ROM football game called “Mike Ditka’s Quarterback Attack.”
Having moved away from California in 1999 and returning to his birth place, Ed is now a Real Estate Investor and a licensed Real Estate Agent in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He is the father of three kids. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Sports Management. Ed will become the first person in his family to earn a Masters Degree. Given Ed’s penchant for first time accomplishments, there is no doubt that his family will soon be honoring him as their first Maters Degree recipient.
Ed has been the embodiment of what a successful student-athletic from Indiana State University is all about. The spirit of ISU athletics has been glorified through him, both in his professional career and his personal life. His accomplishments trumpet Ed’s worthiness of induction into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.”
(Editors note: I also received this response from Ed himself. While he appreciates his friend’s attempt to sing his praises, Poncho himself would rather let the process take its own course.)
“Hello Tom:
It's been a very long time. I take it that all is well with you. Michelle told me that she was starting a "writing campaign" for the school's hall of fame on my behalf. I told her not to frustrate herself, but she feels it's unfortunate that I have not been selected. I tell her It's just all apart of life.
Feel free to add me to your list of alum. My contact info is listed below. I see that Trent Miles has taken over the football program. I would love to see him be very successful. That would be a great 'feel good' story. Trent has great football knowledge. If he could get some recruits like the ones that came through around my time, he'll do extremely well. Maybe he could get Kevin Ramsey and Quintin Mikell to come back and coach with him.
As far as the ISU H-O-F goes, I don't hold be breath on what other people do. Like I told (his friend), I've got no control over those things. My accomplishments speak for themselves. If they don't compare favorably to other football players that have been selected ahead of me, then such is the opinion of those that vote on these matters.”
Volume One, Number Seven
April 7, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
Miles is pleased with ISU football's scrimmage
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis stops by with his son Marcus to watch
By David Hughes, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — A couple of head coaches liked the effort they saw during Indiana State’s first football scrimmage of the spring Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium.
One of them was ISU’s first-year coach, Trent Miles.
“The enthusiasm was there,” Miles assessed. “Some of our execution wasn’t. I was happy with the way they ran around and tried to do things, but our execution was shoddy. It leaves a lot to be desired.
“We’re just so thin up front [in player numbers]. It’s unbelievable to me that you have so few offensive and defensive linemen in a program at the [NCAA] Division I level. We’re doing everything we can to fix it, but there are certain guys who have to play every single snap every day [in spring practice]. It’s unbelievable. But we’re fighting through it … and that’s all we can ask for now. Now we’ve just got to learn the techniques and get the execution down and pay attention to all the details.”
The other was not there to act as a head coach, but as a future player’s father — Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals. His son, linebacker Marcus Lewis of Cincinnati, will be an ISU freshman for the 2008 season.
“I thought the guys were flying around, being aggressive, hustling from drill to drill and spot to spot on and off the field,” the elder Lewis said. “I think, as a coach, that’s what you’re looking for.”
Asked if Indiana State was the right school for his son, Marvin Lewis replied: “It’s a good place to keep him in step and get him going.”
Saturday’s scrimmage lasted close to two hours and featured four completions from quarterback Chuck Dowdell to tight end Josh Jones, a former linebacker playing a position that has not been featured in the Sycamores’ offense since 2005. Three of the Dowdell-to-Jones hookups covered 34, 43 and 27 yards respectively.
“We’re gonna use the tight end,” Miles emphasized. “We’re gonna use one tight end, two tight ends. And in goal-line and short-yardage [situations], we’ll use three tight ends. We just have to go find them. We’ve signed a couple and Josh is definitely in the mix.
“Josh is having a really good spring. He’s a tough guy that plays hard and it matters to him. He’s got a lot of that pride to go out and do things the right way… We’re expecting big things out of Josh.”
“If one of those guys coming in [this summer] can be what we’re looking for in a tight end, there’s probably another position that Josh can go to, whether it be a second tight end or whatever,” ISU first-year offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick mentioned.
“But he’s really proven so far that he has the ability to play and I’m kinda pleased with how he’s progressed.”
Dowdell, a sophomore-to-be who redshirted in 2006 before starting much of last season, also is receiving positive reviews from the Indiana State coaching staff.
“Chuck’s making progress,” Miles said. “He’s learning the system. There’s a lot to learn. It’s a whole new system he’s never dealt with. This is his third position coach in three years. Once he starts to understand what coach Diedrick and the rest of the offensive staff are asking him to do, he’ll be fine, as will all of them.”
“I was really pleased with his decision making,” Diedrick added. “A couple little mistakes. One was with the depth of his drop. The other thing was the ball placement and location. Those things, we’ll continue to work on. But I’m happy with the growth that he’s made so far.”
“Things are going pretty well,” Dowdell noted. “We still had some little mental mistakes, but things are coming along.”
Backing up Dowdell were a pair of former Vigo County high school standouts — Matt Seliger of Terre Haute North and Kyle Toney of Terre Haute South.
Most of the running duties Saturday were handled by Antoine Brown, a transfer from the University of Kentucky, and Darrius Gates.
“I think they run pretty well,” Miles said. “I think you’ve got two guys that are pretty good football players and that you can go out and win games in the Gateway Conference with. Darrius can run and Antoine can run and run with power. I like what I see from those guys.”
Defensive highlights included interceptions by Elliott Thomas and Quinton Scott.On special teams, Corey Varnadore converted a 44-yard field goal that bounced off the crossbar before falling through the uprights.
All in all, Miles sounded pleased with his players’ progress after their fifth practice of the spring.“They’re seeing a better understanding of the schemes,” he said. “I think you’re seeing them apply some better techniques than the first day.
“You know, we’ve got a long way to go. But they’re starting to learn how we expect them to practice. They’re not there yet. Our tempo needs to be fast-paced and we need to run everywhere we’re going and do all the little things the right way. And they’re starting to learn how to do that. So it’s still a work in progress, but at least they’re starting to understand our expectation level.”
ISU’s next scrimmage will start at about 10 a.m. next Saturday. The final spring practice will be April 19 with the annual Blue/White Scrimmage.The Sycamores will open their season Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan.
MORE ON SATURDAY’S CONTROLLED SCRIMMAGE AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamores closed out the first week of spring football practice with a spirited one and a half hour scrimmage earlier today (April 5) at Memorial Stadium.
The team went through various situations, including goal line, down and distance and several game simulated drives.
Throughout most of the workout, sophomore Charles Dowdell saw the lion’s share of the snaps at the quarterback position and played well, completing 7-of-13 pass attempts, including four to converted tight end Josh Jones.
“Dowdell is really getting better each day,” first year head coach Trent Miles said. “He is working with his third position coach in as many years, so he is really trying to absorb a lot of information. Once he totally understands everything that we want him to do, he is going to be just fine.”
Jones, who has spent time during each of the past two seasons at linebacker, caught four passes on the day. He made a pair of spectacular 34 and 43 yard catches plus a 27-yard catch and run, all of the arm of Dowdell. The highlight of Jones’ day was a nine-yard grab just inside the goal line for the first touchdown of the day.
In the offensive backfield was Darrius Gates, who put together back-to-back 18-yard rushes during the game-like portion of the scrimmage and then finished the drive with a 3-yard plunge into the end zone on fourth and goal.
Also strong at tailback for ISU was transfer Antione Brown, who scored twice on the day with a 32-yard scamper early in the scrimmage and then a 1-yard drive to pay dirt in the goal line portion of the workout.
Redshirt freshman Tyler Williams also scored on the day with a 1-yard touchdown in the goalline drills as did Dowdell, who plowed through the pile for a 1-yard score during the same drill.
Sophomore kicker Corey Varnadore went 4-for-6 during the field goal portion of the day, including a best of 44 yards that split the uprights. Gabe Mullane got in several punts as well during the special teams portion of the day’s drills.
Defensively, the Sycamores acquitted themselves well holding the offense to limited success on most drives. Junior Elliott Thomas recorded an interception of Matt Seliger during skeleton drills while junior Quinton Scott posted a diving interception as well during the scrimmage portion of the day.
“We are seeing a better understanding of our schemes,” Miles commented after practice. “We still have along way to go, but the team is starting to learn exactly what we expect at practice. The guys still need to pick up the tempo a little bit, but I have been very pleased with the enthusiasm.”
Indiana State will practice on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and will also workout on Friday at 6 p.m. before holding its second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday.
NOTES FROM THE SCRIMMAGE:
DOUG ARNOLD, PAT DUNCAN ATTEND SATURDAY’S PRACTICE AT ISU
--Two former Sycamores, Doug Arnold (defensive tackle) and Pat Duncan (wide receiver), were in attendance at Saturday’s scrimmage at Indiana State.
ISU head coach Trent Miles introduced both Doug and Pat to the team after the two-hour scrimmage session and had both of them say a few words to the team. Duncan was there with his son, who may have an interest in playing for the Sycamores in 2009.
Miles referred to both Doug and Pat as members of the ISU football family, which is a large one and growing every day. As mentioned in past editions of this newsletter, all former Indiana State players, coaches, student managers and athletic trainers are invited and are welcome to attend all practices, workouts and scrimmages and to meet the current roster of players.
Miles is working hard to try to re-establish the connections between former players and the ISU program.
--Of the four quarterbacks on the Indiana State spring football roster, two are from Terre Haute. Seliger, currently No. 2, attended Terre Haute North High School while Kyle Toney (Terre Haute South) is No. 3. First on the depth chart, sophomore Charles Dowdell, attended Fort Wayne Northrop High School. Sophomore Evan Parker (Merrillville, Ind./Merriville HS) is the fourth quarterback on the team.
--In addition to the visit by incoming freshman linebacker Marcus Lewis and his father, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, on Saturday. Several other freshman-to-be also attended the scrimmage with their families. In fact, it seems as if a handful of incoming freshmen have been spending a lot of time watching the Sycamores during the first week of spring practice.
--One interesting sight after the scrimmage was Bengals coach Marvin Lewis in the coaching office at Memorial Stadium, standing at the whiteboard with a couple of the ISU coaches and diagramming some defensive alignments.
Except for that rare exception, Marvin Lewis was at the workout as a father with his son, watching intently from the sidelines. He also spend some time with former ISU head coach Dennis Raetz, who is now working as a part-time defensive assistant, and Sycamores athletic director Ron Prettyman.
-- Just one quick final note. I have started an ISU Football Alumni Blog Page. Here is the link: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/ Feel free to add it to your favorites list for easy reference and to check it out every day or every few days for any last-minute notices or information on ISU football.
I will attempt to keep it updated on a regular basis. While it's largely a work in progress, the blog will allow for you to make comments or ask me questions as well looking at previous editions of the newsletter. I will continue sending out a newsletter, but the blog page will also allow me to put more current information up rather than doing a quick email to everybody.
Also, if anybody has anything that they would like included on the page, just let me know.
GOLF OUTING COMING UP ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18
There appears to be a good group of former Indiana State players who have signed up to take part in the ISU football golf outing, which is scheduled for Friday, April 18 in Terre Haute. The golf outing is a fund-raiser for the Sycamore football program and everybody’s help is needed to make it a success.
As of Saturday, nearly 60 people had contacted assistant athletic director John Sherman. Those 60 do not include any members of the ISU athletic department, so there is a chance that there will be close to 18 foursomes ready to tee it up.
Time is running out to get your reservation in. So if you still have an interest in playing some golf, or even doing what I am planning (hanging out, seeing old friends and partaking of some cool beverages), call John Sherman ASAP (812-237-3047 or jsherman1@isugw.indstate.edu.
THE PUSH IS ON FOR ED “PONCHO” MARTIN TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE ISU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Editors note: I recently received this email from a friend of former Indiana State defensive end Ed “Poncho” Martin extolling his credentials to become a member of the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame.
“If there is any athlete that is deserving of induction into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame, it is Ed. “Poncho” Martin, a former Defensive End/Outside Linebacker that played for the Sycamores from 1980 to 1984. You see, though Indiana State’s football program had produced All-American honorees in the past, Ed Martin earned the unique distinction of becoming the first football player in the school’s history to be named to the 1st Team of a Division 1 or 1AA All-America Football Team. After the 1983 football season, he was selected 1st Team NCAA Division 1AA All-America for both the Kodak and Associated Press’ All-America Teams. Being recognized by both of the premiere selection committees was also a first for a Sycamore player. Prior to Ed, no other ISU player had received such recognition from both of the voting bodies.
You could say that distinction alone would merit being honored by the Sycamore Athletic Department, but it is Ed’s body of work over his career at Indiana State and beyond, that really makes him a worthy Hall of Fame inductee. Ed arrived as a freshmen in 1980 with pretty impressive credentials. He was a Special Mention All-State football player at Evanston Township High in Illinois, as well as captain of his high school basketball team. He also made the National Honor Society academically while in high school. The coaching staff at ISU knew they had a tremendous student-athlete on their hands when Ed accepted his scholarship to Indiana State. Over his four year career at ISU, Ed would demonstrate just how tremendous his football talents were.
The awards were numerous and included other firsts besides the aforementioned All-America selection. The accolades included:
Kodak 1st Team All-America Division 1AA 1983
Associated Press 1st Team All-America Division 1AA 1983
Sporting News Magazine 1st Team All-America Division 1AA 1983
Chicago Sports Magazine All-America Team 1983
Indiana State University “Defensive Player of the Year” 1983
Indiana State University “Defensive Player of the Year” 1982
Associated Press 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1983
Associated Press 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1982
United Press International 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1983
United Press International 2nd Team All Missouri Valley Conference 1982
Named Missouri Valley Conference “Defensive Player of the Week” Six (6) times during collegiate career
Drafted 7th Round Dallas Cowboys National Football League 1984
Drafted 6th Round Pittsburgh Maulers United States Football League 1984
Ed finished his career at Indiana State as runner-up for the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year (he lost out to Terry Taylor of Southern Illinois University). Additionally, Ed’s play on the field was the key ingredient in leading ISU to it’s first ever 9 game winning season and the school’s first ever post-season playoff appearance, as well as, ISU’s first ever Top 10 Division 1AA National ranking. The 1983 football team finished the year with a record of 9 and 4 (still tied for the most wins in a single season in the school’s history), finished the year ranked 5th nationally in Division 1AA, and made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division 1AA National Championship playoff (where they lost to eventual National Champions, Southern Illinois University).
The uniqueness of Ed Martin didn’t end when his college football career ended. Following the 1983-1984 football season, Ed became the first football player in ISU’s history to be drafted by two professional football leagues. In 1984 he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL) and the Dallas Cowboys of the National football League (NFL). Due to the competitive bidding for athletic talent, Ed actually ended up signing and playing with the Los Angeles Express in the USFL.
Unfortunately for Ed, a common enemy of football players everywhere prevented him from maximizing his opportunities in the pros. He suffered two knee injuries and was forced to retire early on in his pro career, before he could make his mark in the pro ranks. After the USFL folded in 1985, he joined the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, but due to the restricting effects of his knee injuries, his time in Dallas was all too brief. Not being able to be an impact player with the Cowboys, Ed left Dallas and returned to Indiana State where he completed the academic requirements to graduate and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from ISU. After graduating, he gave the NFL one more try, this time with the Indianapolis Colts. But once again, his bad knees prove to be too much to overcome. After a brief stint with Indy, Ed decided to retire from professional football permanently.
Always having the attitude of a winner, and the determination of a true warrior, Ed has made a success out of life after football. Following his playing days, Ed spent almost 10 years working in Hollywood, California in the field of Sports Commercial, Film, and Television Production. He worked as both a Technical Consultant and as a Stunt Utility Actor in commercials, films, and television shows that had a sports/football theme. Some of the projects that he was involved in included the movies “Jerry McGuire” with Tom Cruise, and “Executive Decision” with Halle Berry. Television projects have included “The John Laraquette Show” and HBO’s “Arliss.” Commercials have been for companies and products such as Snickers, Nike, and Coca-Cola. As well as contributing his talent to a live-action CD-ROM football game called “Mike Ditka’s Quarterback Attack.”
Having moved away from California in 1999 and returning to his birth place, Ed is now a Real Estate Investor and a licensed Real Estate Agent in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He is the father of three kids. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Sports Management. Ed will become the first person in his family to earn a Masters Degree. Given Ed’s penchant for first time accomplishments, there is no doubt that his family will soon be honoring him as their first Maters Degree recipient.
Ed has been the embodiment of what a successful student-athletic from Indiana State University is all about. The spirit of ISU athletics has been glorified through him, both in his professional career and his personal life. His accomplishments trumpet Ed’s worthiness of induction into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.”
(Editors note: I also received this response from Ed himself. While he appreciates his friend’s attempt to sing his praises, Poncho himself would rather let the process take its own course.)
“Hello Tom:
It's been a very long time. I take it that all is well with you. Michelle told me that she was starting a "writing campaign" for the school's hall of fame on my behalf. I told her not to frustrate herself, but she feels it's unfortunate that I have not been selected. I tell her It's just all apart of life.
Feel free to add me to your list of alum. My contact info is listed below. I see that Trent Miles has taken over the football program. I would love to see him be very successful. That would be a great 'feel good' story. Trent has great football knowledge. If he could get some recruits like the ones that came through around my time, he'll do extremely well. Maybe he could get Kevin Ramsey and Quintin Mikell to come back and coach with him.
As far as the ISU H-O-F goes, I don't hold be breath on what other people do. Like I told (his friend), I've got no control over those things. My accomplishments speak for themselves. If they don't compare favorably to other football players that have been selected ahead of me, then such is the opinion of those that vote on these matters.”
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