INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number 18
July 3, 2008Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com;
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
ISU football beefs up its offensive line with 6-foot-5, 310 pound tackle
By Todd GoldenTerre Haute Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — According to Matt Duke, one of the reasons he’s coming to play football at Indiana State is to give the Sycamores an infusion of something they’ve sorely lacked in recent seasons.“Coach [Trent] Miles cleaned house with some guys who didn’t have the right attitude and didn’t have the right effort. Which is good,” Duke said. “Coach Miles wants me to come in and bring some intensity, which is something the team needs.”ISU is giving Duke something in return … a second chance.Duke, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound tackle who played last fall at Arizona Western College, signed a letter of intent to play for the Sycamores. He will be eligible this fall. Duke will have three years of eligibility remaining. When Duke was recruited out of Jacksonville (Fla.) University Christian, he was ranked 79th nation in the nation among tackles by ESPN. ISU beat out BCS schools South Florida and Central Florida for Duke’s services.Duke ended up at Arizona Western, a junior college, by way of FCS power program Georgia Southern, where Duke was a redshirt for one season. Before he ever played a down for the Eagles, Duke was dismissed from the team in May 2007 after he was one of four Eagles’ players arrested after an incident in the parking lot of a Brad Paisley concert in Statesboro, Ga. in April 2007.“It’s great that I was given a second chance and I want to make the most of it. A lot of people don’t get a second chance,” Duke said. “I was with some wrong people and at the wrong time.”According to an article in the April 30 Statesboro (Ga.) Herald, two of Duke’s then-teammates, Benjamin Granitz and Kevin Michael Van Kirk, were seen by a Georgia Southern Police officer allegedly breaking into parked cars in the parking lot of the concert venue. The Georgia Southern officer confronted Van Kirk and he was arrested while allegedly looking through the glove compartment of a car. Granitz had walked away moments before.Additional Georgia Southern Police arrived and witnessed Granitz riding away in a pickup truck. The truck, driven by Georgia Southern player Charles DeCarlo, attempted to flee, but was stopped by a Georgia Southern officer. Duke was inside the truck at the time. When officers searched the truck, they found a Glock pistol underneath some clothing, though the article did not reference who the gun belonged to.Three days later, Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher dismissed Granitz, Van Kirk and Duke from the team. According to Duke, the only thing he was eventually charged with was trespassing.Miles steadfastly defended Duke and believes that he was a victim of circumstance.“[Duke] isn’t someone who should have a dark cloud over him, he was around some kids who did something wrong,” Miles said. “We do our research, we do our homework. [Duke] was around something when it happened, and if you’re around it, you’re going to get labeled with it, but this is a fine young fine man.”Duke’s signing comes a week after ISU inked quarterback Calvin Schmidtke, who was dismissed from Washington State after legal issues involving a DUI and other traffic violations.Miles said Duke has had no legal troubles since and also praised Duke’s academic commitment.Duke played right tackle at Arizona Western, but Duke said he was a left tackle in high school and at Georgia Southern. Miles liked Duke’s flexibility and said he could play on either side.“He plays hard from the time the ball is snapped to the whistle he’s got good feet and he’s big,” Miles said. “He can move around well and he plays the game with a passion.”His presence is a boost for an ISU offensive line that was depleted to the bone during a winless 2007 season and that will have plenty of new faces in 2008.“I enjoyed the town and I like what coach Miles is doing with the team. I think he’s really going to get it going there,” said Duke, who noted that he chose ISU over South Florida and Central Florida due to the prospect of more potential playing time.
Sycamore Recruits Play in Wabash Valley All-Star Football Game
South rallies to win All-Star game
By Andy Amey
Terre Haute Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The play that probably determined the outcome of Saturday night’s Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association All-Star Game in Memorial Stadium will never show up on any stat sheet.But a block by Terre Haute South’s Brock Lough to spring his former high school teammate and future Indiana State University teammate Koby Kraemer on a punt return early in the third quarter — a hit that had to be heard by every one of the approximately 3,000 people in the stands — was cited by many people afterward as a big key in the first-ever victory by the South all-stars, who eventually made their second comeback for a 32-27 decision.The first two quarters couldn’t have gone much worse for South, which trailed 14-0 and didn’t have a first down until the final minute of the second quarter. Then, when South put together a last-minute drive to the 1-yard line, its bid for a touchdown to end the half was thwarted when Casey’s Luc Yates ripped the ball out of the hands of the South ball carrier inches short of the goal line.“What a heartbreaker,” South coach Steve Weber of Linton said after the game when looking back at that play. “We had a lot of plays [in the first half] that could’ve went [for big gains], but we just weren’t connecting. We were dropping the ball on the carpet, or it was going off our fingertips. But then we just started to make plays.”The South comeback started with a three-and-out defensive series, and it also included a crucial injury from North’s standpoint.Marshall quarterback Travis Johnson, whose running and throwing had keyed North’s first-half offensive dominance, has been described as a quarterback with linebacker tendencies, and on the first play of the second half those instincts proved costly.“We had a little run to the left,” Johnson explained after the game, his left arm wrapped. “I tried to help move the pile … and I looked down and my arm was hanging there. Some bad karma, I guess.”“We played extremely well the first half,” said North coach Chris Barrett of Terre Haute North. “Offensively we had about three turnovers that stopped ourselves, and then in the third quarter the wheels fell off … and our quarterback gets [what was thought to be] a broken wrist.”The North punt went to Kraemer, who immediately had a potential tackler near him. But so was Lough.“I was trying to stiff-arm that guy. He had a hold of me, but I saw Brock coming out of the corner of my eye,” Kraemer said.“I missed a sack right before that,” recalled Lough, “and I was pretty upset. I saw the guy had a hold of Koby, and that he wasn’t looking at me.“Koby always says I don’t hit anybody, so I made sure he saw that.”“I felt bad for that kid [trying to tackle me], because he didn’t see [Lough’s block] coming,” Kraemer said.Kraemer wound up dancing his way 34 yards to the North 39-yard line. On the seventh play of that drive he got open for a 5-yard touchdown pass from Red Hill’s Chris Wampler, and South was on its way.After another three-and-out series for North, Kraemer got free again, this time for a 35-yard bomb from Palestine-Hutsonville’s Ryan Roberts, and Roberts’ second straight 2-point conversion run put South ahead 16-14. Two plays after that, an interception by South Putnam’s Josh Sanders was one play ahead of a 35-yard strike from Wampler to his high school teammate Brad Padgett, and a third conversion by Roberts had South ahead 24-14 after less than nine minutes of the third quarter.That interception was thrown by Cumberland’s Kenny Flood, who was pressed into service as his team’s emergency quarterback. And then Flood became the story of the game for awhile.He took the North team 65 yards in nine plays, completing a 23-yard third-down throw to North Putnam’s Kyle Rooker and then getting a 27-yard touchdown pass when Terre Haute North’s Brandon Dorsett outmaneuvered a defender for a spectacular catch at the goal line. That cut the lead to 24-20.When North got the ball back again, Flood marched the team 66 yards in seven plays. A 34-yard completion to Northview’s Jered Timm was the big play, and Flood scrambled twice in a row — the last for 14 yards — to the touchdown that put North ahead 27-24 with 8:29 left in the game.“Travis came out hurting, and John [Garvin of Terre Haute North] couldn’t throw [long because of a shoulder injury]. So I was like ‘Oh, great’ [when I had to play quarterback]. I hadn’t thrown since the end of the [high school] season,” Flood said afterward.“We had no running plays [”He had like five reps all week in practice,” Barrett noted] because I didn’t know them, so I just passed on every down, or scrambled when nothing was open.”Flood had been Cumberland’s quarterback, but wasn’t going to play there for the all-star week. “[Receiver] was what they told me,” he said. “I went out and bought these gloves [to catch the ball] and everything, and then I didn’t get to use them in the second half.”“Kenny came in and did a great job,” Barrett said, “and when we got down, we showed a lot of character coming back.”South had one comeback left too, and this one was in Roberts’ hands. On the 75-yard, nine-play drive that gave the lead back to South, Roberts ran six times — including a 35-yarder — and occasionally lined up in an unorthodox backfield that offered little deception.“That was ‘snap it to him and let him run,’ ” cracked Sullivan offensive lineman Mike Market of that formation, which worked for the fourth-down touchdown run with 3:45 left. “That’s when the big guys show the way for me,” Roberts agreed.North picked up a pair of first downs, but then suffered an interception — by Kraemer — with less than a minute to play.“Coach [Mark] Raetz [of Terre Haute South] told me if the situation called for it, I might have to play some defense,” said Kraemer, who was just about as busy with the all-stars as he had been for the Braves, “and he signalled me in the very last series.”Kraemer’s finish to the game was a little better than his start. “It couldn’t have got any worse,” he said.He fumbled on the opening kickoff, thanks to a big hit by North Putnam’s J.T. Francies and a recovery by Casey kicker Josh Dunckel, and three plays later North was in the lead after a touchdown pass from Johnson to Timm.South got a pair of fumble recoveries by Lough — setting an all-star record — and another from North Central’s Jared Ross that kept North from taking more advantage of South’s early offensive woes. But between the two Lough recoveries, North also put together a 73-yard, 12-play drive capped by Rooker’s 2-yard touchdown run. And then there was the devastating end of the half for South.“[North] had all the momentum, but we felt like we could win if we just played our game,” Kraemer said later.“We started off kind of slow,” added Roberts. “But after Wampler hooked up with Koby in the end zone, everything opened up for us.”Lough’s block was vital, Weber said, adding, “There were a ton of plays that turned it around, but he was one of the playmakers … what a great effort. These guys could’ve gone in [at halftime] and folded up. They didn’t fold.”“A lot of kids made a lot of good plays,” said Barrett, who added that Lough’s block “definitely” helped fire up the South sideline. “And then there was Koby being Koby,” Barrett added.n Awards — Five different all-stars earned scholarships for their work during the week, one of them getting a second for his family.Roberts and Rooker were awarded the Hall of Fame Scholarships, selected by their teammates. Varda Scholarships, picked by the coaches, went to Kye Butler of Cumberland and Ethan Brewer of Linton; Brewer’s older brother Adam was a Hall of Fame winner two years ago. And Kyle Fahey of Rockville was the first winner of the Brett Eitel Memorial Scholarship for his academic work.Fahey’s high school teammate Zach Clapp, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the recent baseball season, was one of the North captains.South All-Stars 32, North All-Stars 27North 14 0 6 7 — 27South 0 0 24 8 — 32North — Jered Timm (Northview) 18 pass from Travis Johnson (Marshall), 10:51 1st; Josh Dunckel (Casey) kickNorth — Kyle Rooker (North Putnam) 2 run, 0:16 1st; Dunckel kickSouth — Koby Kraemer (Terre Haute South) 5 pass from Chris Wampler (Red Hill), 7:01 3rd; Ryan Roberts (Palestine-Hutsonville) runSouth — Kraemer 35 pass from Roberts, 3:32 3rd; Roberts runSouth — Brad Padgett (Red Hill) 35 pass from Wampler, 3:08 3rd; Roberts runNorth — Brandon Dorsett (Terre Haute North) 27 pass from Kenny Flood (Cumberland), 0:43 3rd; kick blockedNorth — Flood 14 run, 8:29 4th; Dunckel kickSouth — Roberts 1 run, 3:45 4th; Nick Straka (Red Hill) runNorth SouthFirst downs 16 13Rushes-yards 26-48 32-137Passing yards 260 148Comp-Att-Int 20-34-2 9-22-0Return yards 20 50Punts-avg 3-26 6-29Fumbles-lost 6-3 5-2Penalties-yards 2-19 2-10Individual statisticsRushing — North: Rooker 10-25, Flood 4-15, Jake Peters (Cumberland) 3-6, Grant Mitchell (Riverton Parke) 3-6, Johnson 4-4, John Garvin (Terre Haute North) 2-minus 8. South: Roberts 12-75, Wampler 6-22, Paul Miller (Olney) 5-15, Josh Kincaid (Robinson) 4-9, Straka 2-8, Kraemer 3-8.Passing — North: Flood 12-18-2, 146 yards; Johnson 8-14-0, 114; Garvin 0-1-0; Rooker 0-1-0. South: Wampler 8-17-0, 113; Roberts 1-5-0, 35.Receiving — North: Dorsett 6-56, Daniel Martin (Rockville) 4-54, Timm 3-71, Alan Wolter (Marshall) 3-31, Rooker 2-31, Kye Butler (Cumberland) 2-17. South: Kraemer 6-87, B.Padgett 1-35, Michael Woodsmall (North Central) 1-20, Zach McVaigh (Olney) 1-6.
GATEWAY CONFERENCE NOW MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
ST. LOUIS — Presidents of the nine-member Gateway Football Conference and the 10-member Missouri Valley Conference have approved a rebranding initiative that changes the football conference name from the Gateway Football Conference to the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The change is effective immediately.It represents the second name change for the football league, which begins its 24th season this fall. Initially, the conference competed under the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference (1985-91) and the Gateway Football Conference (1992-2007).“This is going to allow the Missouri Valley Football Conference members to take advantage of year-long positive exposure received by the Missouri Valley Conference,” said Missouri Valley Football Conference commissioner Patty Viverito. “Both leagues have developed a tremendous brand name, but the timing for the name change is right. The league expands July 1 with two new members, and with this new, stronger lineup, rebranding now makes sense.”
Although the league will share the Missouri Valley name, the football-playing members will compete under a separate administrative umbrella, as the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference will remain separate entities.Members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (and initial year of membership) include Illinois State University (1985), Indiana State University (1986), Missouri State University (1985), North Dakota State University (2008), the University of Northern Iowa (1985), South Dakota State University (2008), Southern Illinois University (1985), Western Illinois University (1985), and Youngstown State University (1997).Five Missouri Valley Football Conference members also compete in the Missouri Valley Conference (Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, and Southern Illinois). Three league schools compete in the Summit League (North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Western Illinois), while Youngstown State competes in the Horizon League for its other sports.
Indiana State selects Daniel Bradley as next president
By Sue LoughlinTerre Haute Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Indiana State University has selected Daniel J. Bradley, president of Fairmont State University, as its 11th president pending board approval at an upcoming trustee meeting, the university announced late Tuesday afternoon.“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to be president of ISU and to live in Terre Haute,” said Bradley, 58, who was vacationing in Montana. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”Michael J. Alley, president of the ISU board of trustees, described Bradley as someone “who brings a wealth of experience in many areas including institutional planning, fundraising and government relations. I am confident that Dan will lead Indiana State University to even greater heights.”Trustees will confirm the appointment at a special meeting at 9 a.m. July 9 in the State Room of Tirey Hall. Bradley expects to assume his responsibilities by early August. His salary will be $265,000, Alley said. None of his salary or benefits will come from the ISU Foundation.Bradley said he and his wife will live in Condit House, now used for some administrative offices including the university president’s. Richard Landini was the last ISU president to use Condit House as a residence.“I just think that a college campus without a president residing on it is kind of a hollow place,” Bradley said. “It makes campus a different place when the president lives there.”Trustees had told him they were interested in Condit House again becoming the president’s residence, he said.Some renovation will be required to convert it back to a residence, Alley said.Alley said that all three finalists were outstanding and presented themselves favorably on campus. After trustees deliberated for about 2 1/2 hours Thursday, they reached consensus that Bradley was the right person to lead ISU.Among the key attributes was the fact that Bradley is an experienced university president and has served as Fairmont State’s president for the past seven years. He has experience developing and implementing a university strategic plan, and he’s a proven fundraiser, Alley said. Bradley initiated Fairmont State’s first-ever capital campaign, which will be successfully completed this fiscal year.Bradley also has experience working with the West Virginia Legislature on funding and other issues, Alley said.Alley described Bradley as a strong communicator and consensus builder who will keep people on campus informed. Trustees also believed that Bradley and his wife, Cheri, “fit in well with the campus community as well as Terre Haute,” Alley said. The announcement was delayed until Tuesday because ISU and Bradley had to work out terms of his employment contract, which is substantially complete, although some items still must be finalized, Alley said. Bradley is on vacation with his family in Montana, where they own a home. “We had a bald eagle sitting outside our front window,” he said during a telephone interview.Bradley said part of the reason he wanted to come to ISU was because of its size, location and program mix. He especially is interested in ISU’s focus on experiential learning and student involvement in the community. “That is a real attraction” that can help differentiate ISU from other universities, he said.He has emphasized building a strong relationship between Fairmont State University and the Fairmont community. He recognizes that ISU, too, has placed a high priority on strengthening its relationship with Terre Haute.He describes his personal leadership style as straightforward and goal-oriented. ISU’s prospective 11th president said he is committed to open communication; he wants the campus to know what he is thinking, and he wants to know what is on the minds of faculty, staff and students. At Fairmont State, he’s accomplished that through providing regular reports to campus that serve as newsletters; posting his campus presentations on the university Web site; and having monthly breakfasts with randomly chosen faculty and staff and lunches with students. He hopes to continue those types of things at ISU.He said he has an open door policy and answers his own e-mail. If someone is in the outer office and he’s not busy with a meeting, “They are welcome to come in and talk to me,” he said previously.He places high priority on making decisions in a way that is inclusive and gives everyone an opportunity to provide feedback.Challenges in public higher education tend to focus on two issues, he said. “Where will the money come from, and who are the students going to be?” he said. He acknowledged that he still has a lot to learn about specific challenges faced at ISU.Bradley and his wife have three sons, John, 33, Joe, 31, and Clayton, 29. They also have three grandchildren.Bradley has served as the president of Fairmont State in Fairmont, W.Va., since 2001. He previously occupied a variety of positions at Montana Tech in Butte, including vice chancellor for academic affairs and research, dean of engineering and head of their petroleum engineering department. During Bradley’s tenure at Fairmont State, the institution has grown substantially, more than $100 million in construction projects have been completed, computing infrastructure has been upgraded, a strong distance education program has been developed, and graduate programs have been launched in education, business and social sciences.“Public higher education is in a state of great change. The need to respond effectively to this rapidly evolving landscape will require hard work, imagination and entrepreneurship. I am convinced ISU is up to that task,” he said.Bradley indicated his wife, Cheri, also is excited about this opportunity.“Cheri was impressed by the beauty of the campus and by the warm reception she received from community leaders and others who will soon be friends. She looks forward to building relationships both on and off campus,” Bradley said.Born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Bradley immigrated with his parents to California when he was 7. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Bradley earned a doctorate in physical chemistry from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa and a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology.Bradley succeeds Lloyd W. Benjamin III, who will step down from the presidency June 30 at the end of eight years of service.
ISU’s presidential pick Bradley makes impressive decision to live in Condit House
By Mark BennettTerre Haute Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Some evenings, students saw Richard Landini picking up a stray piece of trash off the lawn.He hated litter. He loved Indiana State University. The students knew that, because he lived there, literally. Landini’s home for all of his 17 years as the university’s president was the stately Condit House, right in the middle of campus. He let former President Gerald Ford sleep in the guest room, after delivering a lecture. A wake for Landini’s wife Phyllis was conducted inside the house.“The front door was open for students, and the back door was open for friends,” recalled John Newton, the long-time executive director of ISU Alumni Affairs.Landini, Newton explained, “was president 24 hours a day.”Landini retired in 1992, and died in 2004. But one segment of his collegiate lifestyle is about to be rekindled at a pivotal moment in its history. Daniel J. Bradley, who was selected last week to become ISU’s 11th president, intends for he and his wife, Cheri, to live in the Condit House. He’ll be the first ISU president to do so, on a full-time basis, since Landini.“I just think that a college campus without a president residing on it is kind of a hollow place,” Bradley told Tribune-Star education reporter Sue Loughlin. “It makes campus a different place when the president lives there.”Bradley hasn’t even officially taken office yet, with the board of trustees expected to approve his hiring on July 9, but he’s already made an impressive decision. It can’t be written off as merely symbolic. The Bradleys will actually be living on campus, along with the 3,000 resident students. When problems arise, President Bradley will be easy to find.The students will notice, said Newton, who emphasized his strong support for the past two presidents who chose to live off campus — John Moore, who succeeded Landini in 1992, and Lloyd Benjamin, whose eight-year stint officially ends Monday.“The students would see it more so than anyone else, that they’re in this thing together — not only within the campus community, but the community of Terre Haute,” said Newton, now in his 35th year as an ISU staffer.With a young family, Moore briefly lived in the Condit House when his presidency began, while their home south of Terre Haute was being built. The Condit House had its living quarters converted into administrative offices, while also maintaining a museum-like atmosphere. When Benjamin succeeded Moore in 2000, Condit House kept that mix of office space and artifacts as Benjamin also chose a house south of Terre Haute.Actually, only two other ISU presidents — Landini and his predecessor, Alan Rankin — ever resided in Condit House.The home was built in 1860, five years before ISU was founded, and contains historical items and furnishings left by Helen Condit. Today, it is registered as an Historic American Building with the U.S. Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. Helen Condit called that Italianate structure home her entire life, from 1874 to 1962.“She basically lived her life here, and watched the campus grow up around her,” said Teresa Exline, university spokesperson.After Condit’s death, it was given to ISU, and became its Office of Alumni Affairs until 1966, when the university’s new president decided to live there. The rear portion of the building was expanded. The Rankins hosted teas for student groups, receptions for dignitaries, and distinguished alumni gatherings, Newton recalled.“It was their home,” he said.When Rankin retired and Landini and his family arrived in 1975, they also made that spot on campus their home.It’s significant that Bradley, currently the president of Fairmont State University in West Virginia, will revive that tradition. ISU is in the midst of regrouping itself after a tumultuous period as the school struggled to curb a declining enrollment, mend divisions between administration and faculty, and plot a new, distinct niche among the state’s public colleges.At the very least, Bradley’s plan to live on campus boosts morale. It begins a tighter bond between the president, the faculty, the students and Terre Haute.“It’s kind of reassuring the president trusts the city enough and the people on campus enough” to live there, said Charles Parker, an ISU junior from Youngstown, Ohio.“I think it allows the president to have a closer feel to the campus,” said Parker, a 25-year-old pre-pharmacy major.The building already has security equipment, which will be reassessed as it transforms back into a residence, Exline explained. Some other renovation will also be necessary as those administrative offices, including Exline’s, move to an undetermined location.On Wednesday afternoon last week, Benjamin sorted through papers in his Condit House office and wrapped up his last working day as president. He said Bradley’s plan to live in the Condit House “can be done. It’s certainly a grand place.”The incoming president’s choice to reside in that “grand place” enhances the possibility that more people will use that same phrase to describe ISU.
Indiana State Football Alumni Notes and Quotes
--The ISU football alumni feedback to the newsletter concerning the recent announcement that former Washington State quarterback signee Calvin Schmidtke had decided to play for the Sycamores has been decidedly positive. That type of response speaks very well for the alumni as much as it does for the faith that they have in new head coach Trent Miles and his coaching staff.
The suggestion of establishing a mentoring program for current players with help from former players is a positive step. Alums can offer their support by emailing, calling or writing the ISU football office or by emailing, calling or writing Athletic Director Ron Prettyman.
--Former Sycamores assistant football coach Doug Kay will not return as the head coach of the Arena Football League 2's Columbus Destoyers.
--Ex-ISU assistant coach Bruce Cowdrey is currently the head coach of the Peoria (Ill.) Pirates of the Arena Fotoball League 2. Cowdrey is the head coach and vice-president of football operations for the Pirates.
--James Banks, the son of former Indiana State running back James Banks, has signed a contract to play with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. The CFL's regular season began last week.
Banks was a standout prep quarterback at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, earning All-America honors, before matriculating to the University of Tennessee. He eventually concluded his collegiate career as a wide receiver at Carson-Newman College.
--Chris Kupets, the son of former ISU linebacker Mark Kupets, will be playing basketball atr East Carolina University. The younger Kupets, who's sisters Ashley and Courtney have competed on the University of Georgia's women gymnastics team, is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound point guard who played last season at the Patterson School in Lenoir, North Carolina.
Prior to that, he was a standout at Cedar Shoals High School in Georgia. Courtney Kuperts was a member of the United States' 2004 women's Olympic gymnastics team.
--And, finally, the home base of the Indiana State University Football Alumni Newsletter is finally set up in a different location. My family and I moved into a new house (new to us, but it was built in 1963) about three weeks ago. We still have plenty of unpacked boxes to go through and furniture to put away.
I have taken adavantage of the place with its spacious basement to build myself a complete office. So if any of you happen to be rolling through the area (I am now located very close to Ben Davis High School here on the west side of Indy), let me know.
One other thing. The Indianapolis Colts annual training camp will be at Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute from July 24 to August 15. I will be there in my job covering the Colts for the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. I'd like to invite as many of you as possible to stop by and watch the practices.
The camp is free to the public, although parking does cost (monies go to the Rose-Hulman athletic fund). If you do come by, look me up. A stop at the Bally would be a good nightly diversion.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 17
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number 17
June 24, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SYCAMORES GET FORMER WASHINGTON STATE QUARTERBACK PROSPECT
According to sources, former Washington State University quarterback recruit Calvin Schmidtke has decided to attend Indiana State University in the fall.
Schmidtke had signed a national letter of intent with Washington State in the spring after a highly successful prep career at Lakewood, Wash., High School. Lakewood is in the Tacoma, Wash., area.
Rated as one of top recruits in the Northwest, the six-foot, 195-pound signal caller completed 76 percent of his passes as a senior -- racking up 2,724 yards and 37 TDs with only 5 interceptions. He also rushed for 10 scores as he was named as the 2007 Tacoma News-Tribune's All-Area Player of the Year and was named first team All-State by the Seattle Times.
He also earned Associated Press first-team Class 2B All-State honors following his junior season at Life Christian Academy when he threw for more than 3,000 yards, completing 66 percent of his passes, and posting 46 TDs vs. 15 INTs. Was an all-league choice as an Life Christian Academy sophomore after passing for a school record 2,379 yards with 23 TDs and 10 interceptions.
He is expected to be eligible to play as a true freshman this season. Schmidtke also recruited out of high school by Washington, Hawaii, Boise State and Colorado.
Washington State had released Schmidtke from his national letter of intent in May after the player had been cited 11 times in the past 18 months, and has faced alcohol- and drug-related charges. According to news reports, seven of the violations were related to traffic stops.
Still, the ISU coaching staff felt comfortable with bringing Schmidtke in for a visit. He reportedly made his decision to attend Indiana State on Tuesday (June 24).
Volume One, Number 17
June 24, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SYCAMORES GET FORMER WASHINGTON STATE QUARTERBACK PROSPECT
According to sources, former Washington State University quarterback recruit Calvin Schmidtke has decided to attend Indiana State University in the fall.
Schmidtke had signed a national letter of intent with Washington State in the spring after a highly successful prep career at Lakewood, Wash., High School. Lakewood is in the Tacoma, Wash., area.
Rated as one of top recruits in the Northwest, the six-foot, 195-pound signal caller completed 76 percent of his passes as a senior -- racking up 2,724 yards and 37 TDs with only 5 interceptions. He also rushed for 10 scores as he was named as the 2007 Tacoma News-Tribune's All-Area Player of the Year and was named first team All-State by the Seattle Times.
He also earned Associated Press first-team Class 2B All-State honors following his junior season at Life Christian Academy when he threw for more than 3,000 yards, completing 66 percent of his passes, and posting 46 TDs vs. 15 INTs. Was an all-league choice as an Life Christian Academy sophomore after passing for a school record 2,379 yards with 23 TDs and 10 interceptions.
He is expected to be eligible to play as a true freshman this season. Schmidtke also recruited out of high school by Washington, Hawaii, Boise State and Colorado.
Washington State had released Schmidtke from his national letter of intent in May after the player had been cited 11 times in the past 18 months, and has faced alcohol- and drug-related charges. According to news reports, seven of the violations were related to traffic stops.
Still, the ISU coaching staff felt comfortable with bringing Schmidtke in for a visit. He reportedly made his decision to attend Indiana State on Tuesday (June 24).
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 16
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number 16
June 3, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SYCAMORES ADD LATE SIGNEES, PREFERRED WALKONS TO 2008 RECRUITING LIST
Indiana State University 2008 Football Recruiting List
(as of 6/3/08)
*denotes invited/preferred walkons
+denotes transfers
#will also play baseball
Indiana State has added a total of 47 new players to its roster since signing day in February. Here is the most complete list of recruits and preferred walkons who will be attending ISU in the fall.
Aaron Archie LB Detroit, MI/Cass Tech
Alex Bettag* LB Lincoln City, IN/Heritage Hills
Corey Bichey OL Ambridge, PA/Ambridge
Jared Blue ATH Vincennes, IN/Lincoln
Evan Borders OL Cincinnati, OH/Colerain
Ethan Brewer* RB/LB Linton, IN/Linton
Jacob Bridwell* LB Bedford, IN/North Lawrence
Jordan Bright DE Cincinnati, OH/Wyoming
Antoine Brown+ RB Portage, IN/Portage/University of Kentucky
Kye Butler* TE Toledo, IL/Cumberland
Ray Beyers* RB/DB Fort Wayne, IN/Wayne
C.J. Cook LB Columbus, IN/North
Reece Craig* RB Bedford, IN/North Lawrence
Brandon Dorsett# WR Terre Haute, IN/North
Julian Easterly CB Detroit, MI/Cass Tech
Aaron Edwards* OL Terre Haute, IN/North
Jared Fohrman* + P/PK Stevens Point, WI/Stevens Point/Rochester (MN) CC
Rod Hardy DL Indianapolis, IN/Pike
Taylor Johnson RB Jacksonville, FL/Bartram
Travis Johnson* QB Marshall, IL/Marshall
Alex Jones FS Centerville, IN/Centerville
Koby Kramer# ATH Terre Haute, IN/South
Marcus Lewis LB Cincinnati, OH/Indian Hills
Brock Lough LB Terre Haute, IN/South
Chris Maybrey* PK Martinsville, IN/Martinsville
Connor McSorley* OL Bedford, IN/North Lawrence
Mitch Miller* OL West Ottawa, MI/West Ottawa
Nick Milne* DE Streamwood, IL/Streamwood
Joey Moore* OL Terre Haute, IN/North
Tony Morang FB St. John, IN/Lake Central
Michael Palmer DL South Bend, IN/Riley
Casey Paswater OL Columbus, IN/North
Kyle Ratliff* OL New Albany, IN/New Albany HS
Darrell Ricker* LB Indianapolis, IN/Pike
Ryan Roberts* WR/DB West York, IL/Hutsonville
Alex Sewall FS Western Springs, IL/Lyons Township
Brad Shirrell* FB/DE Greenwood, IN/Greenwood
Mike Smith OL Mishawaka, IN/Penn
Aaron Stewart OL Clarksville, IN/Jeffersonville
Jeremy Turner* WR Indianapolis, IN/Pike
Almondo Vick LB Lathrup Village, MI/Southfield Lathrup
Nate White WR Kalamazoo, MI/Comstock
Nate Williams DL New Haven, MI/New Haven
Nick Williams DL St. John, IN/Lake Central
Justin Wood OL Greenwood, IN/Greenwood
Jesse Wright TE Columbus, IN/North
Lawrence Young DL Detroit, MI/Renaissance
EIGHT INDIANA STATE RECRUITS TO PLAY IN INDIANA NORTH-SOUTH ALL-STAR GAME IN JULY
The eight Indiana State recruits scheduled to take part in the 2008 Indiana North-South All-Star game, whch will be played at North Central High School in Indianapolis, include Brandon Dorsett (South), Jared Blue (South), C.J. Cook (South), Alex Jones (South), Casey Paswater (South), Justin Wood (South), Michael Palmer (North), and Mike Smith (North).
FORMER SYCAMORES TIGHT END DON HITZ NAMED HEAD COACH AT TELL CITY HIGH SCHOOL
By Larry Goffinet, Sports Editor (Perry County News)
TELL CITY, Ind. -- Don Hitz, who has served as an assistant coach at Tell City and Heritage Hills, was named Tell City's new head football coach Tuesday.
Hitz, 44, served as an assistant coach at Tell City 1997-99 and returned to Tell City as an assistant for the 2007 season. He coached linebackers and receivers.
He was also an assistant at Heritage Hills 1994-96, where he coached junior high teams and the high school receivers.
Tell City Principal Dale Stewart said one other person was interviewed for the job but Hitz was chosen because of "his experience when he was here before and he's done some work with Coach Clayton at Heritage Hills, and all his references spoke highly of his ability.
"Plus I got to see his work in the classroom this year and how the students responded to him."
Hitz teaches English at Tell City High School so he should be able to start practice earlier each day than Elliott, who taught in Evansville the entire time he coached at Tell City.
Hitz said the reason he left Tell City after his first stint here was because he was in danger of losing his teaching position due to staff reductions.
With a young family, he said he needed to be sure of a job, so he went to work at Master Brand in Jasper as a corporate trainer.
He said he thinks he's ready to be a head coach now because "I've been around football all my life."
After graduating from Fairfield High School in a Cincinnati suburb in 1981, he earned a football scholarship to Indiana State University, where he played tight end until graduating in 1986.
"We had some really good years there," said Hitz. The Sycamores went 9-4 in 1983 and 9-3 in 1984.
The 1984 team was inducted into ISU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
Hitz said he plans to run a "multiple offense with a lot of pro sets. We're not going to throw as much as we did last year - we'll be pretty much 50-50."
He said the team's base defense will probably be a 5-2 "with some 4-3, depending on down and distance."
As for the outlook for the 2008 season, he said, "I think we can compete." But he acknowledged, "We have some holes to fill. We definitely need more linemen."
The Marksmen were 5-6 this year and have had only six winning records in the last 15 years.
Hitz said he thinks the program needs "consistency and building it up through the feeder program" to become a consistent winner again. "We've had four coaches in the last 12 years."
He said he plans to be here for a long run he would like to expand the feeder program. "I'd eventually like to see flag football in the grade school (this year Tell City had no football program below seventh grade)."
Hitz succeeds John Elliott, who resigned last November after three years at the Marksmen's helm.
Elliott said he "didn't feel the commitment was there from the administration to take the football program to the next level."
But Hitz said Tuesday, "This administration has been fantastic working with me. There's no doubt they're on board."
Two assistant coaches were also formally hired Tuesday: Bill Alvey, a Tell City High School teacher who has previous experience on the football staff, and Matt Goffinet, a student at the University of Southern Indiana who is majoring in elementary education and is a former Heritage Hills player.
Holdover asistants include Greg Kincaid and Dan Knepper.
Hitz and his wife, Cathy, have three children, daughter, Olivia, 11; and sons, Gabe, 9; and Jordan, 7.
SYCAMORES TRAVEL PLANS FOR THE EASTERN MICHIGAN GAME
The Indiana State Football Office asked me to relay this information for those former players who are planning to attend the season-opener at Eastern Michigan University (Thursday, August 28, 7 p.m.).
Per the note from the football office, the team is staying at the Crowne Plaza – Detroit Metro Airport and that anyone wanting to stay there should contact:Annette Beck Crowne Plaza Detroit Metro Airport734-729-2600 ext 7178 734-729-4624 sales office faxPlease let Annette know when they call that they were referred through Trent Miles or Kyle Caskey and she will book them there.
THE SEARCH IS ON FOR MEMBERS OF THE SYCAMORES' 1983 I-AA PLAYOFF TEAM
Indiana State is currently planning for member of the 1983 I-AA playoff team. The athletic department is putting together a reunion on November 22 against Gateway Conference foe Missouri State.
If anybody knows where these people are, please have them contact Indiana State assistant athletic director John Sherman at 812-237-3047 asap.
The list consists of:
Terry Bell
Mark Brice
Jeff Carmichael
Darrold Clardy
Jeff Cope
Willie Davis
Steve Dewey
Jimmy Edwards
Craig Elsmore
William Gilder
Darryl Harris
Bill Haynes
Scott Henson
Eric Hurt
Brian Marcum
Matt McDowell
Steve McKeel
Paul Prater
Kevin Ramsey
Maurice Sanders
Tracy Stewart
Jerry Sydorowicz
Kurt Theno
John Vanderbosch
Steve Voss
Perry Willett
Leonard Winborn
David Zubeck
And on a personal note, if anybody has email addresses for those guys, please pass them along to me. I'd like to add them to the ISU Football Alumni Newsletter.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR FORMER INDIANA STATE COACH TOM HARP
For those former players who would like to touch base with former ISU head coach Tom Harp, they may do so by emailing him at barbtom@earthlink.net or calling him at 910-949-2404.
Tom's stepson, Baltimore Ravens offensive coodinator Cam Cameron, said that Coach Harp would enjoy hearing from you.
FAN DRIVEN INDIANA STATE ATHLETICS WEBSITE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
This Indiana State athletics website Indiana State Board Indiana State Basketball Indiana State Football - Powered by vBulletin could certainly use the support of the football alumni.
While it was initially set up for men's basketball, the site does have pretty good forums for football too (as well as other Sycamores sports teams).
Click in, read and then leave a comment or two. Thanks!!!!!
Volume One, Number 16
June 3, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SYCAMORES ADD LATE SIGNEES, PREFERRED WALKONS TO 2008 RECRUITING LIST
Indiana State University 2008 Football Recruiting List
(as of 6/3/08)
*denotes invited/preferred walkons
+denotes transfers
#will also play baseball
Indiana State has added a total of 47 new players to its roster since signing day in February. Here is the most complete list of recruits and preferred walkons who will be attending ISU in the fall.
Aaron Archie LB Detroit, MI/Cass Tech
Alex Bettag* LB Lincoln City, IN/Heritage Hills
Corey Bichey OL Ambridge, PA/Ambridge
Jared Blue ATH Vincennes, IN/Lincoln
Evan Borders OL Cincinnati, OH/Colerain
Ethan Brewer* RB/LB Linton, IN/Linton
Jacob Bridwell* LB Bedford, IN/North Lawrence
Jordan Bright DE Cincinnati, OH/Wyoming
Antoine Brown+ RB Portage, IN/Portage/University of Kentucky
Kye Butler* TE Toledo, IL/Cumberland
Ray Beyers* RB/DB Fort Wayne, IN/Wayne
C.J. Cook LB Columbus, IN/North
Reece Craig* RB Bedford, IN/North Lawrence
Brandon Dorsett# WR Terre Haute, IN/North
Julian Easterly CB Detroit, MI/Cass Tech
Aaron Edwards* OL Terre Haute, IN/North
Jared Fohrman* + P/PK Stevens Point, WI/Stevens Point/Rochester (MN) CC
Rod Hardy DL Indianapolis, IN/Pike
Taylor Johnson RB Jacksonville, FL/Bartram
Travis Johnson* QB Marshall, IL/Marshall
Alex Jones FS Centerville, IN/Centerville
Koby Kramer# ATH Terre Haute, IN/South
Marcus Lewis LB Cincinnati, OH/Indian Hills
Brock Lough LB Terre Haute, IN/South
Chris Maybrey* PK Martinsville, IN/Martinsville
Connor McSorley* OL Bedford, IN/North Lawrence
Mitch Miller* OL West Ottawa, MI/West Ottawa
Nick Milne* DE Streamwood, IL/Streamwood
Joey Moore* OL Terre Haute, IN/North
Tony Morang FB St. John, IN/Lake Central
Michael Palmer DL South Bend, IN/Riley
Casey Paswater OL Columbus, IN/North
Kyle Ratliff* OL New Albany, IN/New Albany HS
Darrell Ricker* LB Indianapolis, IN/Pike
Ryan Roberts* WR/DB West York, IL/Hutsonville
Alex Sewall FS Western Springs, IL/Lyons Township
Brad Shirrell* FB/DE Greenwood, IN/Greenwood
Mike Smith OL Mishawaka, IN/Penn
Aaron Stewart OL Clarksville, IN/Jeffersonville
Jeremy Turner* WR Indianapolis, IN/Pike
Almondo Vick LB Lathrup Village, MI/Southfield Lathrup
Nate White WR Kalamazoo, MI/Comstock
Nate Williams DL New Haven, MI/New Haven
Nick Williams DL St. John, IN/Lake Central
Justin Wood OL Greenwood, IN/Greenwood
Jesse Wright TE Columbus, IN/North
Lawrence Young DL Detroit, MI/Renaissance
EIGHT INDIANA STATE RECRUITS TO PLAY IN INDIANA NORTH-SOUTH ALL-STAR GAME IN JULY
The eight Indiana State recruits scheduled to take part in the 2008 Indiana North-South All-Star game, whch will be played at North Central High School in Indianapolis, include Brandon Dorsett (South), Jared Blue (South), C.J. Cook (South), Alex Jones (South), Casey Paswater (South), Justin Wood (South), Michael Palmer (North), and Mike Smith (North).
FORMER SYCAMORES TIGHT END DON HITZ NAMED HEAD COACH AT TELL CITY HIGH SCHOOL
By Larry Goffinet, Sports Editor (Perry County News)
TELL CITY, Ind. -- Don Hitz, who has served as an assistant coach at Tell City and Heritage Hills, was named Tell City's new head football coach Tuesday.
Hitz, 44, served as an assistant coach at Tell City 1997-99 and returned to Tell City as an assistant for the 2007 season. He coached linebackers and receivers.
He was also an assistant at Heritage Hills 1994-96, where he coached junior high teams and the high school receivers.
Tell City Principal Dale Stewart said one other person was interviewed for the job but Hitz was chosen because of "his experience when he was here before and he's done some work with Coach Clayton at Heritage Hills, and all his references spoke highly of his ability.
"Plus I got to see his work in the classroom this year and how the students responded to him."
Hitz teaches English at Tell City High School so he should be able to start practice earlier each day than Elliott, who taught in Evansville the entire time he coached at Tell City.
Hitz said the reason he left Tell City after his first stint here was because he was in danger of losing his teaching position due to staff reductions.
With a young family, he said he needed to be sure of a job, so he went to work at Master Brand in Jasper as a corporate trainer.
He said he thinks he's ready to be a head coach now because "I've been around football all my life."
After graduating from Fairfield High School in a Cincinnati suburb in 1981, he earned a football scholarship to Indiana State University, where he played tight end until graduating in 1986.
"We had some really good years there," said Hitz. The Sycamores went 9-4 in 1983 and 9-3 in 1984.
The 1984 team was inducted into ISU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
Hitz said he plans to run a "multiple offense with a lot of pro sets. We're not going to throw as much as we did last year - we'll be pretty much 50-50."
He said the team's base defense will probably be a 5-2 "with some 4-3, depending on down and distance."
As for the outlook for the 2008 season, he said, "I think we can compete." But he acknowledged, "We have some holes to fill. We definitely need more linemen."
The Marksmen were 5-6 this year and have had only six winning records in the last 15 years.
Hitz said he thinks the program needs "consistency and building it up through the feeder program" to become a consistent winner again. "We've had four coaches in the last 12 years."
He said he plans to be here for a long run he would like to expand the feeder program. "I'd eventually like to see flag football in the grade school (this year Tell City had no football program below seventh grade)."
Hitz succeeds John Elliott, who resigned last November after three years at the Marksmen's helm.
Elliott said he "didn't feel the commitment was there from the administration to take the football program to the next level."
But Hitz said Tuesday, "This administration has been fantastic working with me. There's no doubt they're on board."
Two assistant coaches were also formally hired Tuesday: Bill Alvey, a Tell City High School teacher who has previous experience on the football staff, and Matt Goffinet, a student at the University of Southern Indiana who is majoring in elementary education and is a former Heritage Hills player.
Holdover asistants include Greg Kincaid and Dan Knepper.
Hitz and his wife, Cathy, have three children, daughter, Olivia, 11; and sons, Gabe, 9; and Jordan, 7.
SYCAMORES TRAVEL PLANS FOR THE EASTERN MICHIGAN GAME
The Indiana State Football Office asked me to relay this information for those former players who are planning to attend the season-opener at Eastern Michigan University (Thursday, August 28, 7 p.m.).
Per the note from the football office, the team is staying at the Crowne Plaza – Detroit Metro Airport and that anyone wanting to stay there should contact:Annette Beck Crowne Plaza Detroit Metro Airport734-729-2600 ext 7178 734-729-4624 sales office faxPlease let Annette know when they call that they were referred through Trent Miles or Kyle Caskey and she will book them there.
THE SEARCH IS ON FOR MEMBERS OF THE SYCAMORES' 1983 I-AA PLAYOFF TEAM
Indiana State is currently planning for member of the 1983 I-AA playoff team. The athletic department is putting together a reunion on November 22 against Gateway Conference foe Missouri State.
If anybody knows where these people are, please have them contact Indiana State assistant athletic director John Sherman at 812-237-3047 asap.
The list consists of:
Terry Bell
Mark Brice
Jeff Carmichael
Darrold Clardy
Jeff Cope
Willie Davis
Steve Dewey
Jimmy Edwards
Craig Elsmore
William Gilder
Darryl Harris
Bill Haynes
Scott Henson
Eric Hurt
Brian Marcum
Matt McDowell
Steve McKeel
Paul Prater
Kevin Ramsey
Maurice Sanders
Tracy Stewart
Jerry Sydorowicz
Kurt Theno
John Vanderbosch
Steve Voss
Perry Willett
Leonard Winborn
David Zubeck
And on a personal note, if anybody has email addresses for those guys, please pass them along to me. I'd like to add them to the ISU Football Alumni Newsletter.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR FORMER INDIANA STATE COACH TOM HARP
For those former players who would like to touch base with former ISU head coach Tom Harp, they may do so by emailing him at barbtom@earthlink.net or calling him at 910-949-2404.
Tom's stepson, Baltimore Ravens offensive coodinator Cam Cameron, said that Coach Harp would enjoy hearing from you.
FAN DRIVEN INDIANA STATE ATHLETICS WEBSITE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
This Indiana State athletics website Indiana State Board Indiana State Basketball Indiana State Football - Powered by vBulletin could certainly use the support of the football alumni.
While it was initially set up for men's basketball, the site does have pretty good forums for football too (as well as other Sycamores sports teams).
Click in, read and then leave a comment or two. Thanks!!!!!
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 15
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Fifteen
May 22, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE ANNOUNCES/DISPLAYS NEW UNIFORMS AND HELMET DESIGNS FOR 2008
Check out the new look for Sycamore football uniforms (both home and away) as well as Indiana State Head Coach Trent Miles displaying the new look helmet. In case you can't read the writing over the numbers, it says Indiana State. Sort of a throwback to the type of jerseys worn by ISU players back in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Sycamores' new attire will be on display for the first time in the season opener on August 28 at Eastern Michigan.
SYCAMORES HONORED BY THE GATEWAY CONFERENCE
A pair of Indiana State football seniors, Chris Alexander and Bryan McCulley, highlight at total of 25 Sycamore student-athletes who earned academic honors from the Gateway Footall Conference for their performance in the classroom.The President’s Council Academic Excellence Award requires a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (through fall 2007 semester), participation in athletics a minimum of two years, and the student-athlete must be within 18 hours of graduation. Receiving this honor for Indiana State were Chris Alexander as well as Bryan McCulley. The Sycamore duo were two of just nine student-athletes league-wide to earn the honor.Also, 61 student-athletes received the league’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award. That requires a minimum grade point average of 3.2 for the previous two semesters, a minimum 3.2 grade point average for the current term (Fall 2007), and participation in athletics. Freshmen are not eligible.Earning this designation from the league office for ISU were: Jack Byrne; Rodney Dedeaux; Russell Dedeaux; Brian Jackson; Josh Jones; Bryan McCulley; Gabe Mullane and Kyle Toney.In addition, the Gateway Conference has announced its Honor Roll, which recognizes academic achievement of football student-athletes. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student-athlete must have recorded a minimum 3.0 grade point average for a specified term (Fall 2007), must have been a member of an athletics team, and must have a minimum of 12 hours of enrollment during the fall.A total of 25 Sycamores were named to this list including: Chris Alexander; Jack Byrne; Jacob Carpenter; Rodney Dedeaux; Russell Dedeaux; Warren English-Malone; Shonda Faulkner; Chris Johansen; Josh Jones; Jordan Lewis; DeAndre Lott-Hancock; Broc Miller; Daniel Millington; Eric Monroe; Kyle Monroe; Gabe Mullane; Evan Parker; Shane Parson; Matt Seliger; Chris Stepp; Kyle Toney; Corey Varnadore; Michael Williams and Michael Woods.
JERIMY FINCH TO TRANSFER TO INDIANA
According to a story on Thursday's (5/22/08) Indianapolis Star webpage, former Warren Central (Indianapolis, IN) safety Jerimy Finch will be transferring to Indiana University. It had been reported that Finch would transfer to either IU or Indiana State from the University of Florida.
Here is the story that ran on the webpage:
Three weeks after getting his release from his scholarship at the University of Florida, former Warren Central standout Jerimy Finch confirmed (Thursday) he will transfer to Indiana University to play football.
Finch told The Star he is currently enrolled in online classes, and will take classes in IU's second summer school session which begins June 13.
Finch will likely have to sit out the 2008 season before having three years of eligibility beginning in 2009. But he said there is still the slim chance he could be eligible right away.
"I've decided to transfer to Indiana and I'm looking forward to continuing my career there," Finch said,. "My plan is to write a letter to the NCAA and request to play right away this season. After that we'll just see how it goes."
Finch was ranked No. 37 overall in the nation by rival.com and was the top-ranked safety in the country coming out of high school in the spring of 2007.
FORMER INDIANA STATE GRIDDER STANLEY SAJKO DIES
I recently received an email from John Newton of the Indiana State Alumni Association about the recent death of former ISU football standout Stanley Sajko. Sajko played at Indiana State 1945-47. Here is John's email:
"Tom 3 weeks ago I attended the funeral of Stanley Sajko (psy cho , as he would explain it) Class of 1948 in New Albany IN . He was base ball coach and AD at NAHS for a combined 38 years .He was originally from Sullivan IN and after serving in WWII he played football at ISTC in 1945,46,47 . In 1947 he was most valuable player and "legend" has it he paid his way through ISTC by driving the team bus forCoach John Wooden . The funeral was exceptionally meaningful with many stories told . Following the ceremony about 30 of his former players lined the center aisle of the church and the organist played Take Me Out To The Ball Game."John Newton
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!!
Volume One, Number Fifteen
May 22, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE ANNOUNCES/DISPLAYS NEW UNIFORMS AND HELMET DESIGNS FOR 2008
Check out the new look for Sycamore football uniforms (both home and away) as well as Indiana State Head Coach Trent Miles displaying the new look helmet. In case you can't read the writing over the numbers, it says Indiana State. Sort of a throwback to the type of jerseys worn by ISU players back in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Sycamores' new attire will be on display for the first time in the season opener on August 28 at Eastern Michigan.
SYCAMORES HONORED BY THE GATEWAY CONFERENCE
A pair of Indiana State football seniors, Chris Alexander and Bryan McCulley, highlight at total of 25 Sycamore student-athletes who earned academic honors from the Gateway Footall Conference for their performance in the classroom.The President’s Council Academic Excellence Award requires a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (through fall 2007 semester), participation in athletics a minimum of two years, and the student-athlete must be within 18 hours of graduation. Receiving this honor for Indiana State were Chris Alexander as well as Bryan McCulley. The Sycamore duo were two of just nine student-athletes league-wide to earn the honor.Also, 61 student-athletes received the league’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award. That requires a minimum grade point average of 3.2 for the previous two semesters, a minimum 3.2 grade point average for the current term (Fall 2007), and participation in athletics. Freshmen are not eligible.Earning this designation from the league office for ISU were: Jack Byrne; Rodney Dedeaux; Russell Dedeaux; Brian Jackson; Josh Jones; Bryan McCulley; Gabe Mullane and Kyle Toney.In addition, the Gateway Conference has announced its Honor Roll, which recognizes academic achievement of football student-athletes. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student-athlete must have recorded a minimum 3.0 grade point average for a specified term (Fall 2007), must have been a member of an athletics team, and must have a minimum of 12 hours of enrollment during the fall.A total of 25 Sycamores were named to this list including: Chris Alexander; Jack Byrne; Jacob Carpenter; Rodney Dedeaux; Russell Dedeaux; Warren English-Malone; Shonda Faulkner; Chris Johansen; Josh Jones; Jordan Lewis; DeAndre Lott-Hancock; Broc Miller; Daniel Millington; Eric Monroe; Kyle Monroe; Gabe Mullane; Evan Parker; Shane Parson; Matt Seliger; Chris Stepp; Kyle Toney; Corey Varnadore; Michael Williams and Michael Woods.
JERIMY FINCH TO TRANSFER TO INDIANA
According to a story on Thursday's (5/22/08) Indianapolis Star webpage, former Warren Central (Indianapolis, IN) safety Jerimy Finch will be transferring to Indiana University. It had been reported that Finch would transfer to either IU or Indiana State from the University of Florida.
Here is the story that ran on the webpage:
Three weeks after getting his release from his scholarship at the University of Florida, former Warren Central standout Jerimy Finch confirmed (Thursday) he will transfer to Indiana University to play football.
Finch told The Star he is currently enrolled in online classes, and will take classes in IU's second summer school session which begins June 13.
Finch will likely have to sit out the 2008 season before having three years of eligibility beginning in 2009. But he said there is still the slim chance he could be eligible right away.
"I've decided to transfer to Indiana and I'm looking forward to continuing my career there," Finch said,. "My plan is to write a letter to the NCAA and request to play right away this season. After that we'll just see how it goes."
Finch was ranked No. 37 overall in the nation by rival.com and was the top-ranked safety in the country coming out of high school in the spring of 2007.
FORMER INDIANA STATE GRIDDER STANLEY SAJKO DIES
I recently received an email from John Newton of the Indiana State Alumni Association about the recent death of former ISU football standout Stanley Sajko. Sajko played at Indiana State 1945-47. Here is John's email:
"Tom 3 weeks ago I attended the funeral of Stanley Sajko (psy cho , as he would explain it) Class of 1948 in New Albany IN . He was base ball coach and AD at NAHS for a combined 38 years .He was originally from Sullivan IN and after serving in WWII he played football at ISTC in 1945,46,47 . In 1947 he was most valuable player and "legend" has it he paid his way through ISTC by driving the team bus forCoach John Wooden . The funeral was exceptionally meaningful with many stories told . Following the ceremony about 30 of his former players lined the center aisle of the church and the organist played Take Me Out To The Ball Game."John Newton
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!!
Monday, May 19, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 14
MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND THE ISU PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH ON SYCAMOREHOOPS.COM
A few weeks ago, I was clued in to a fan-based website that is devoted to the Indiana State University Athletics. The website, called sycamorehoops.com (here is the link http://www.sycamorehoops.com/), is ran by the same people who own the Ballyhoo Tavern in Terre Haute.
When attending the recent ISU Football Golf Outing and the get together afterwards, which was jointly sponsored by the Ballyhoo, Dave Brasier (Ballyhoo owner) mentioned the website and suggested that I take a look at it. He said that while it had been set-up as a way for fans to talk about the basketball program, it also had areas to discuss football, women’s basketball and other ISU sports.
Not long after covering the NFL Draft, I took Dave up on his suggestion and found the site. It’s pretty good. I have written a few things on there, including the following thread that I put together this morning.
Remember, these are my ideas and comments. But I thought maybe some of you might get a kick out of reading what I had to say. You may agree with all or some of what I wrote. Or you may disagree. But that’s okay. The purpose of writing what I did was to provoke some thought and discussion.
The topic this time was about getting more student participation at ISU home games. So, here goes:
“When i worked at ISU in the athletic department, we tried very hard to get students and student organizations to participate in the football program. Yes, we tried gimmicks. and even with the football program made consecutive trips to the I-AA playoffs in 1983 and 1984 (winning teams to be sure and the 1984 team was ranked No. 1 in I-AA for most of the regular season), the students still didn't show up in big numbers. We scheduled games at night so that they didn't compete with Purdue and IU afternoon home games. there were ticket price reductions, ticket giveaways, kids days (which didnt turn out well because parents just dumped their kids out at the stadium and let them run wild), and various other promotions. So the lack of student support at isu game has not been for the lack of trying by the isu athletic department, although here have been my biggest complaints (even when i worked there). Also some ideas to make things better: 1. Not many billboards around town, the area and the state promoting isu football and football ticket sales. 2. Not many television and radio commercials around town, the area and the state promoting isu football and football ticket sales. 3. The football program has always been the poor stepchild of the men's basketball program. If given some much-needed nurturing however, maybe (just maybe) the program could turn into the athletic department's Cinderella. 4. Be innovative with their marketing and promotion of the football program on campus and in the greater terre haute community. 5. In that vein, use the marketing classes at isu to help devise ways of communicating with the student body. Make it a class project where the best ideas get some sort of prize and where the project will be graded in class. That idea was used on a short-term basis when alvin reynolds received two votes for the heisman trophy in the mid-1980s. a marketing class took on that goal as a project and it worked. signs went up all over town and campus promoting alvin. it was the talk of the city for several weeks, the "our pal al" campaign. 6. Have the alumni association help set up bus road trips from various cities in the area and state to attend games in the fall. Bring alums in from the outside. 7. Get into area elementary schools with marketing and promotions. 8. Have a "can do" attitude instead of a "no we can't" attitude. 9. Have better communications with former players and work with them in developing (or re-developing) a connection to the football program. Be open to talk to former players instead of just tolerating them. When former players offer their help (whether it be financially or in other ways), don't automatically turn them downout of hand without first completely exploring the situation. I will say, though, that under ron prettyman's leadership as the school's athletic director, communication with former players has gotten noticeably better. but there's still a ways to go yet. 10. Think big. Think outisde the box. Yes, i know that funds are limited. But that still shouldn't limit ideas on how to better promote and publicize the football program. 11. Hire former Pacers, Colts and Indianapolis Ice marketing guru Ray Compton as a marketing consultant. He's always had great ideas for putting fannies in seats. 12. Quit complaining about what ISU doesn't have and start working at making things better. And some other comments as well:1. What's happened to the annual homecoming parade? It’s just a shell of what it used to be. Bring it back!!!!2. Didn't the marching band used to be a lot bigger and a lot louder in years past? I've seen bigger high school bands than what I've seen at recent ISU games. 3. Bring back the cannon at the football games. 4. Contrary to popular opinion, ISU’s football program does have a positive history. Make better use of it. Where are the banners from the 1983 and 1984 playoff appearances? They should be where fans (and recruits) can see them near the playing field. Place pictures up in the locker room of former players who have been in the NFL (also good for prospective recruits to see as well as current players to show what can happen if you have success). 5. Make the hill area behind the visitors bench at memorial stadium a perfect location for the students to tailgate and congragate. Let the students razz the visiting teams a little bit (sort of like they used to do near the visiting dugouts and bullpen at Sycamore Field in baseball or like they used to do in men's hoops). Right now, things are a little too comfortable for visiting teams. With the proper amount of security in the area, students can still get on the visiting players and coaches without causing some sort of incident. try to un-nerve the visiting teams a little bit. Well, those are just some of my proposals and suggestions. But hey, what do I know? I only worked there for nearly 15 years.”
And here is what I wrote recently about the ongoing search for a new president at Indiana State University:
“Let's hope that whoever they hire as ISU’s next president will be more of a Richard Landini in terms of sports rather than a John Moore or Lloyd Benjamin. ISU needs a president that understands having a strong intercollegiate athletics program -- from football to women's golf -- is integral in the building of a strong collegiate community. Landini was great for athletics for the most part. ISU needs a Landini or someone like former Rose-Hulman President Sam Hulbert.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
I received an email earlier this week from former Sycamore gridder Brian Bridgewater. Brian and his twin brother Bruce were included on a list that had put together in a recent newsletter as I tried to find out where some of the Sycamore football alumni were at.
Brian works as a Project Manager for Eli Lilly and is currently on a three-year assignment in Ireland. He and his family are living in Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland, where is working at a BioTech facility.
For those who would like to contact Brian, here is his email address: BRIDGEWATER_BRIAN_P@LILLY.COM. His brother Bruce’s email address is: brucebridgewater@vzw.blackberry.net.
I have also heard from former ISU quarterback Todd Jochem (tjochem@nauticom.net) along with ex-ISU players Mark Maley, Kevin Arnett and Ryan Knigga. Maley (margins@cybrr.com) played at ISU from 1970-73. Here is Arnett’s (2001) email address: Kevin_Arnett@sbcglobal.net as well as Knigga’s (1998-2000, rknigga@lburg.k12.in.us).
Remember, we need more email addresses of former ISU players. I’m counting on you guys for some help. Thanks for all you’ve done so far!!!!
NO UPDATES YET ON POSSIBLE FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
We’re still waiting to see if Indiana State will be announcing any possible Division I football transfers.
There were mixed reports that former University of Florida safety Jerimy Finch was considering ISU and IU. One story, however, said that Finch (who attended Warren Central High School in Indianapolis) was prohibited from attending IU by the terms of his release from Florida. But that has not been confirmed.
When there is more definitive news on recruiting and potential transfers, we’ll pass it along.
A few weeks ago, I was clued in to a fan-based website that is devoted to the Indiana State University Athletics. The website, called sycamorehoops.com (here is the link http://www.sycamorehoops.com/), is ran by the same people who own the Ballyhoo Tavern in Terre Haute.
When attending the recent ISU Football Golf Outing and the get together afterwards, which was jointly sponsored by the Ballyhoo, Dave Brasier (Ballyhoo owner) mentioned the website and suggested that I take a look at it. He said that while it had been set-up as a way for fans to talk about the basketball program, it also had areas to discuss football, women’s basketball and other ISU sports.
Not long after covering the NFL Draft, I took Dave up on his suggestion and found the site. It’s pretty good. I have written a few things on there, including the following thread that I put together this morning.
Remember, these are my ideas and comments. But I thought maybe some of you might get a kick out of reading what I had to say. You may agree with all or some of what I wrote. Or you may disagree. But that’s okay. The purpose of writing what I did was to provoke some thought and discussion.
The topic this time was about getting more student participation at ISU home games. So, here goes:
“When i worked at ISU in the athletic department, we tried very hard to get students and student organizations to participate in the football program. Yes, we tried gimmicks. and even with the football program made consecutive trips to the I-AA playoffs in 1983 and 1984 (winning teams to be sure and the 1984 team was ranked No. 1 in I-AA for most of the regular season), the students still didn't show up in big numbers. We scheduled games at night so that they didn't compete with Purdue and IU afternoon home games. there were ticket price reductions, ticket giveaways, kids days (which didnt turn out well because parents just dumped their kids out at the stadium and let them run wild), and various other promotions. So the lack of student support at isu game has not been for the lack of trying by the isu athletic department, although here have been my biggest complaints (even when i worked there). Also some ideas to make things better: 1. Not many billboards around town, the area and the state promoting isu football and football ticket sales. 2. Not many television and radio commercials around town, the area and the state promoting isu football and football ticket sales. 3. The football program has always been the poor stepchild of the men's basketball program. If given some much-needed nurturing however, maybe (just maybe) the program could turn into the athletic department's Cinderella. 4. Be innovative with their marketing and promotion of the football program on campus and in the greater terre haute community. 5. In that vein, use the marketing classes at isu to help devise ways of communicating with the student body. Make it a class project where the best ideas get some sort of prize and where the project will be graded in class. That idea was used on a short-term basis when alvin reynolds received two votes for the heisman trophy in the mid-1980s. a marketing class took on that goal as a project and it worked. signs went up all over town and campus promoting alvin. it was the talk of the city for several weeks, the "our pal al" campaign. 6. Have the alumni association help set up bus road trips from various cities in the area and state to attend games in the fall. Bring alums in from the outside. 7. Get into area elementary schools with marketing and promotions. 8. Have a "can do" attitude instead of a "no we can't" attitude. 9. Have better communications with former players and work with them in developing (or re-developing) a connection to the football program. Be open to talk to former players instead of just tolerating them. When former players offer their help (whether it be financially or in other ways), don't automatically turn them downout of hand without first completely exploring the situation. I will say, though, that under ron prettyman's leadership as the school's athletic director, communication with former players has gotten noticeably better. but there's still a ways to go yet. 10. Think big. Think outisde the box. Yes, i know that funds are limited. But that still shouldn't limit ideas on how to better promote and publicize the football program. 11. Hire former Pacers, Colts and Indianapolis Ice marketing guru Ray Compton as a marketing consultant. He's always had great ideas for putting fannies in seats. 12. Quit complaining about what ISU doesn't have and start working at making things better. And some other comments as well:1. What's happened to the annual homecoming parade? It’s just a shell of what it used to be. Bring it back!!!!2. Didn't the marching band used to be a lot bigger and a lot louder in years past? I've seen bigger high school bands than what I've seen at recent ISU games. 3. Bring back the cannon at the football games. 4. Contrary to popular opinion, ISU’s football program does have a positive history. Make better use of it. Where are the banners from the 1983 and 1984 playoff appearances? They should be where fans (and recruits) can see them near the playing field. Place pictures up in the locker room of former players who have been in the NFL (also good for prospective recruits to see as well as current players to show what can happen if you have success). 5. Make the hill area behind the visitors bench at memorial stadium a perfect location for the students to tailgate and congragate. Let the students razz the visiting teams a little bit (sort of like they used to do near the visiting dugouts and bullpen at Sycamore Field in baseball or like they used to do in men's hoops). Right now, things are a little too comfortable for visiting teams. With the proper amount of security in the area, students can still get on the visiting players and coaches without causing some sort of incident. try to un-nerve the visiting teams a little bit. Well, those are just some of my proposals and suggestions. But hey, what do I know? I only worked there for nearly 15 years.”
And here is what I wrote recently about the ongoing search for a new president at Indiana State University:
“Let's hope that whoever they hire as ISU’s next president will be more of a Richard Landini in terms of sports rather than a John Moore or Lloyd Benjamin. ISU needs a president that understands having a strong intercollegiate athletics program -- from football to women's golf -- is integral in the building of a strong collegiate community. Landini was great for athletics for the most part. ISU needs a Landini or someone like former Rose-Hulman President Sam Hulbert.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
I received an email earlier this week from former Sycamore gridder Brian Bridgewater. Brian and his twin brother Bruce were included on a list that had put together in a recent newsletter as I tried to find out where some of the Sycamore football alumni were at.
Brian works as a Project Manager for Eli Lilly and is currently on a three-year assignment in Ireland. He and his family are living in Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland, where is working at a BioTech facility.
For those who would like to contact Brian, here is his email address: BRIDGEWATER_BRIAN_P@LILLY.COM. His brother Bruce’s email address is: brucebridgewater@vzw.blackberry.net.
I have also heard from former ISU quarterback Todd Jochem (tjochem@nauticom.net) along with ex-ISU players Mark Maley, Kevin Arnett and Ryan Knigga. Maley (margins@cybrr.com) played at ISU from 1970-73. Here is Arnett’s (2001) email address: Kevin_Arnett@sbcglobal.net as well as Knigga’s (1998-2000, rknigga@lburg.k12.in.us).
Remember, we need more email addresses of former ISU players. I’m counting on you guys for some help. Thanks for all you’ve done so far!!!!
NO UPDATES YET ON POSSIBLE FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
We’re still waiting to see if Indiana State will be announcing any possible Division I football transfers.
There were mixed reports that former University of Florida safety Jerimy Finch was considering ISU and IU. One story, however, said that Finch (who attended Warren Central High School in Indianapolis) was prohibited from attending IU by the terms of his release from Florida. But that has not been confirmed.
When there is more definitive news on recruiting and potential transfers, we’ll pass it along.
Friday, May 9, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER. 13
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Thirteen
May 6, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SYCAMORES IN RUNNING FOR FORMER WARREN CENTRAL STAR; FINCH TRANSFERRING TO EITHER IU OR INDIANA STATE ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS
Report from: The Indianapolis Star (5/6/08)
Former Warren Central High School football standout Jerimy Finch, who played at the University of Florida as a freshman last season, has been released from his scholarship and will transfer to another school.
Indiana appears to be a favorite.
Finch told The Star on Monday that he visited IU on Friday to talk with university academic advisers. He stopped short of saying he would enroll at IU, but said he hoped to make a decision by the end of the week.
"I'm back home and I've been to Indiana and talked to the people down there, but beyond that I really don't want to comment,'' Finch said.
IU is close to his Indianapolis home and he would be reunited with former Warren Central teammates Jeff Boyd, Chris Adkins and Andrew McDonald. Finch once gave IU an oral commitment before changing his mind late in the process and signing with Florida in February 2007.
The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun reported Monday (5/5/08) that Finch would likely transfer to Indiana or Indiana State.
If Finch went to Indiana, he would be required to sit out one season unless he petitioned the NCAA to play right away because of hardship.
Finch, a defensive back in high school, played linebacker at Florida. He played in the first three games as a freshman, recording seven tackles and an interception before suffering a broken leg that ended his season.
"My leg is a lot better but it's still not 100 percent,'' Finch said.
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL COACHES HITTING ROAD FOR IN-STATE RECRUITING
Now that spring football is over and second semester classes have been completed, the Indiana State football coaching staff have put the "Away On Business" signs up in their respective offices. Head coach Trent Miles and his assistant coaches will be hitting the road as the set out to visit as many Indiana high schools as they can over the next few weeks.
When Miles was hired as head coach back in January, one of his stated goals was to improve recruiting in the state of Indiana. To accomplish that, he wanted to renew the relationships (and most likely try to mend some fences) between his coaching staff and high school head coaches.
That process began a couple of months ago when Miles and his coaches were invited to speak at a meeting of the Indiana High School Football Coaches Association. Their reception, according to those who attended, was very cordial in most cases and better than expected from some of the state's premier high school coaching staffs.
In recent years, there had reportedly been increased (and probably much deserved) grousing from some high school coaches in the state that they had not saw, met or talked to anybody associated with the Indiana State football program.
Still, there is an apparent interest from those same coaches to work with the current ISU coaching staff now.
"People that we have talked to want Indiana State to be successful in football," one ISU assistant said later. "We have had people calling us, asking what they can do to help. And a lot of those people didn't even go to school at Indiana State. But they want to see all the college teams in the state be successful. They would much rather see the best kids stay in state to go to school, no matter if it's Notre Dame, Purdue, IU, Ball State, or us.
"And we've had people tell us that they didn't especially like seeing the (ISU's game) scores come up on their television screens the last few years. So they want to help. And we're very appreciative of that."
DORSETT WANTS TO PLAY FOOTBALL, BASEBALL AT INDIANA STATE
The younger Dorsett is a standout pitcher at Terre Haute North High School. He has been a receiver on the Patriots' football teams. The senior Dorsett had a successful major league baseball career with a variety of teams, including the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.
Brandon had three homers and a .385 batting average prior to Monday’s 7-6 loss against Terre Haute South gave the Braves the Big Four title. His best high school sports memory is a game-winning touchdown he caught from (current ISU backup quarterback) Matt Seliger in 2006 to beat (Terre Haute) South at Memorial Stadium, and Brandon hopes to play football and baseball at Indiana State next year.
“He by no stretch has come close to the amount of potential he has,” North baseball coach Shawn Turner said. “We’re talking about a very talented player in football and baseball. If he’s able to put all his time into one sport, I think you’ll see a lot of improvement.”
Brandon loves each sport equally.
“To be honest, I love them both so much. It’s hard to pick out a favorite. In football, I love football, and in baseball season, I love baseball,” he said.
Brandon said he has never felt pressured to live up to his dad’s baseball success.
“I don’t want to say it’s pressure. I love having him there. He knows a lot about hitting,” Brandon said.
Brandon has also been called upon to be one of North’s top pitchers this season. His complete-game effort on the mound earned him the victory in the Patriots’ 11-8 victory against South on Thursday.
While Brandon has been a baseball contributor the past two seasons, he’s been counted on as a leader for his senior campaign.
“He’s been a bright spot offensively for a team struggling to find an identity,” Turner said early last week. “He saw varsity action as a sophomore and junior, but this year he’s got a defined role, where as he was a role player before. He’s one of the main cogs of the operation.”
In the days leading up to the Big 4 matchups last week, North was sitting with a disappointing 7-11 record.The Patriots are still a work in progress.
“I think we’re just as good as South is. We’re not working as good as a team as we could be,” Brandon said with the sectional just a few weeks away. “I think we’ll compete with some good teams.”
Volume One, Number Thirteen
May 6, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
SYCAMORES IN RUNNING FOR FORMER WARREN CENTRAL STAR; FINCH TRANSFERRING TO EITHER IU OR INDIANA STATE ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS
Report from: The Indianapolis Star (5/6/08)
Former Warren Central High School football standout Jerimy Finch, who played at the University of Florida as a freshman last season, has been released from his scholarship and will transfer to another school.
Indiana appears to be a favorite.
Finch told The Star on Monday that he visited IU on Friday to talk with university academic advisers. He stopped short of saying he would enroll at IU, but said he hoped to make a decision by the end of the week.
"I'm back home and I've been to Indiana and talked to the people down there, but beyond that I really don't want to comment,'' Finch said.
IU is close to his Indianapolis home and he would be reunited with former Warren Central teammates Jeff Boyd, Chris Adkins and Andrew McDonald. Finch once gave IU an oral commitment before changing his mind late in the process and signing with Florida in February 2007.
The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun reported Monday (5/5/08) that Finch would likely transfer to Indiana or Indiana State.
If Finch went to Indiana, he would be required to sit out one season unless he petitioned the NCAA to play right away because of hardship.
Finch, a defensive back in high school, played linebacker at Florida. He played in the first three games as a freshman, recording seven tackles and an interception before suffering a broken leg that ended his season.
"My leg is a lot better but it's still not 100 percent,'' Finch said.
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL COACHES HITTING ROAD FOR IN-STATE RECRUITING
Now that spring football is over and second semester classes have been completed, the Indiana State football coaching staff have put the "Away On Business" signs up in their respective offices. Head coach Trent Miles and his assistant coaches will be hitting the road as the set out to visit as many Indiana high schools as they can over the next few weeks.
When Miles was hired as head coach back in January, one of his stated goals was to improve recruiting in the state of Indiana. To accomplish that, he wanted to renew the relationships (and most likely try to mend some fences) between his coaching staff and high school head coaches.
That process began a couple of months ago when Miles and his coaches were invited to speak at a meeting of the Indiana High School Football Coaches Association. Their reception, according to those who attended, was very cordial in most cases and better than expected from some of the state's premier high school coaching staffs.
In recent years, there had reportedly been increased (and probably much deserved) grousing from some high school coaches in the state that they had not saw, met or talked to anybody associated with the Indiana State football program.
Still, there is an apparent interest from those same coaches to work with the current ISU coaching staff now.
"People that we have talked to want Indiana State to be successful in football," one ISU assistant said later. "We have had people calling us, asking what they can do to help. And a lot of those people didn't even go to school at Indiana State. But they want to see all the college teams in the state be successful. They would much rather see the best kids stay in state to go to school, no matter if it's Notre Dame, Purdue, IU, Ball State, or us.
"And we've had people tell us that they didn't especially like seeing the (ISU's game) scores come up on their television screens the last few years. So they want to help. And we're very appreciative of that."
DORSETT WANTS TO PLAY FOOTBALL, BASEBALL AT INDIANA STATE
From: Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Brandon Dorsett, the son of former Indiana State catcher Brian Dorsett, hopes to continues his athletic career with the Sycamores' football and baseball teams.The younger Dorsett is a standout pitcher at Terre Haute North High School. He has been a receiver on the Patriots' football teams. The senior Dorsett had a successful major league baseball career with a variety of teams, including the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.
Brandon had three homers and a .385 batting average prior to Monday’s 7-6 loss against Terre Haute South gave the Braves the Big Four title. His best high school sports memory is a game-winning touchdown he caught from (current ISU backup quarterback) Matt Seliger in 2006 to beat (Terre Haute) South at Memorial Stadium, and Brandon hopes to play football and baseball at Indiana State next year.
“He by no stretch has come close to the amount of potential he has,” North baseball coach Shawn Turner said. “We’re talking about a very talented player in football and baseball. If he’s able to put all his time into one sport, I think you’ll see a lot of improvement.”
Brandon loves each sport equally.
“To be honest, I love them both so much. It’s hard to pick out a favorite. In football, I love football, and in baseball season, I love baseball,” he said.
Brandon said he has never felt pressured to live up to his dad’s baseball success.
“I don’t want to say it’s pressure. I love having him there. He knows a lot about hitting,” Brandon said.
Brandon has also been called upon to be one of North’s top pitchers this season. His complete-game effort on the mound earned him the victory in the Patriots’ 11-8 victory against South on Thursday.
While Brandon has been a baseball contributor the past two seasons, he’s been counted on as a leader for his senior campaign.
“He’s been a bright spot offensively for a team struggling to find an identity,” Turner said early last week. “He saw varsity action as a sophomore and junior, but this year he’s got a defined role, where as he was a role player before. He’s one of the main cogs of the operation.”
In the days leading up to the Big 4 matchups last week, North was sitting with a disappointing 7-11 record.The Patriots are still a work in progress.
“I think we’re just as good as South is. We’re not working as good as a team as we could be,” Brandon said with the sectional just a few weeks away. “I think we’ll compete with some good teams.”
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 12
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.
Click here for 2008 Indiana State University Football Ticket/Game Promotion Information
http://www.gosycamores.com/pdf4/122455.pdf...
Thank You For Your Question!
Click on "Submit this Form" to send your question to Athletic Director Ron Prettyman.
Name
Email
Question
Wallpapers True Tones Video Clips Support Handset List Terms of Use Privacy Policy FAQ Alert Opt-Out Personalize your cell phone with the sights and sounds of Indiana State. You can stay up to date with our exclusive play-by-play ringtones or wallpapers featuring Indiana State greats from the past and the present.
Posters
All posters (pdf) are the original size of 17 x 22 inches.
2007 Spring Sports
2007 Fall Sports
2007-08 Men's Basketball
2007-08 Women's Basketball
Wallpapers
To Download Wallpapers: Click on the link below wallpaper of choice, then Right-Click or Control-Click with your mouse over the top of the wallpaper and choose "Save Image to the Desktop". All wallpapers are 1152 x 870 pixels. To display your wallpaper, follow these directions: For PC users: Go to Start - Settings - Control Panel and click on the Display icon. Under the Background tab, choose "Browse," locate the image, and click "OK" twice.For Mac users: Control-click on the Finder background and choose "Change Desktop Background..." Choose "Place Picture," locate the image, and choose "Set Desktop."
Baseball
Football
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Tennis
Softball
Track & Field
Volleyball
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Golf
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Tennis
Cross Country
Sycamore Logo
2007 Spring Sports Poster
2007 Fall Sports Poster
2007-08 MB Poster
2007-08 WB Poster
Click here for information on how top purchase Indiana State University Athletic Apparel
Store Front - GoSycamores.com - Official Team Store
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.
Click here for 2008 Indiana State University Football Ticket/Game Promotion Information
http://www.gosycamores.com/pdf4/122455.pdf...
Thank You For Your Question!
Click on "Submit this Form" to send your question to Athletic Director Ron Prettyman.
Name
Question
Wallpapers True Tones Video Clips Support Handset List Terms of Use Privacy Policy FAQ Alert Opt-Out Personalize your cell phone with the sights and sounds of Indiana State. You can stay up to date with our exclusive play-by-play ringtones or wallpapers featuring Indiana State greats from the past and the present.
Posters
All posters (pdf) are the original size of 17 x 22 inches.
2007 Spring Sports
2007 Fall Sports
2007-08 Men's Basketball
2007-08 Women's Basketball
Wallpapers
To Download Wallpapers: Click on the link below wallpaper of choice, then Right-Click or Control-Click with your mouse over the top of the wallpaper and choose "Save Image to the Desktop". All wallpapers are 1152 x 870 pixels. To display your wallpaper, follow these directions: For PC users: Go to Start - Settings - Control Panel and click on the Display icon. Under the Background tab, choose "Browse," locate the image, and click "OK" twice.For Mac users: Control-click on the Finder background and choose "Change Desktop Background..." Choose "Place Picture," locate the image, and choose "Set Desktop."
Baseball
Football
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Tennis
Softball
Track & Field
Volleyball
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Golf
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Tennis
Cross Country
Sycamore Logo
2007 Spring Sports Poster
2007 Fall Sports Poster
2007-08 MB Poster
2007-08 WB Poster
Click here for information on how top purchase Indiana State University Athletic Apparel
Store Front - GoSycamores.com - Official Team Store
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.
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