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.
Monday, May 19, 2008
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.
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Volume One, Number Twelve
April 30, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
ISU's Faulkner invited to Saints’ mini-camp; Linebacker led ISU last season with 113 tackles
By David HughesThe Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Playing on a 0-11 Indiana State football team last fall did not keep NFL scouts from noticing senior outside linebacker Shonda Faulkner.
On Tuesday, Faulkner told the Tribune-Star that he has been invited to participate in the New Orleans Saints’ mini-camp for rookies May 9-11 at New Orleans. He has not signed a free-agent contract, but he hopes to receive an offer from the Saints based on his performance at mini-camp.
Faulkner, who graduated from ISU in December with a degree in communications, said he received a call from the Saints after the NFL Draft ended Sunday night.
“I’m very, very excited,” Faulkner said in a phone interview from his home in Poukeepskie, N.Y. “I’m not sure of the defense that they run, but I think I can get in there and battle for a position.”
In 2007, Faulkner led the Sycamores in tackles (113), tackles-for-loss (five) and fumble recoveries (three) and tied for the team lead in interceptions with one. Yet ISU did not win a game for the second time in his three seasons there.
“I was kinda worried about that,” Faulkner said, admitting that he did not know if the Sycamores’ lack of success would affect the NFL scouts’ perception of him as a player. “But I’m happy with what’s going on right now.”
Listed at 6 feet, 1 inch and 215 pounds in the Indiana State football media guide last fall, Faulkner said he’s worked hard in the offseason to increase his bodyweight to 228 pounds. He also mentioned that he’s bench-pressed 315 pounds for 12 repetitions and he’s been timed in the 40-meter dash in 4.48 and 4.50 seconds as recently as March 7.
Before the NFL Draft, “Pro Football Weekly” had Faulkner rated 45th in the nation among college outside linebackers in the publication’s annual draft preview.Faulkner, 24, was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Before coming to ISU, he attended Hudson Junior College.
The Saints, coached by former Indiana State assistant Sean Payton, finished 7-9 last season. That tied Carolina for second place in the NFC South, two games behind division winner Tampa Bay.
Indiana State football great Rich Dawson’s son Aaron working way through college, professional hockey ranks
By Dennis ClarkThe Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute will never be confused with Hockeytown U.S.A., a slogan popularly adopted by the ice hockey hotbed of Detroit, Mich.
While Aaron Dawson, 23, didn’t live in Terre Haute for long, he is a likely National Hockey League prospect. After all, he went unsigned as a fourth round draftee of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2003 amateur entry draft.
If the last name Dawson rings a bell, his father Rich was a two-time (1983-84) All-Missouri Valley Conference performer at center on Indiana State’s football team. Those two seasons, the elder Dawson played on 9-3 and 9-4 Sycamores’ teams that reached the NCAA I-AA playoffs.
“I graduated early in Dec. 1984. I took some classes in the second semester [in 1985] while I was getting ready for pro football,” Rich recalled of a time when he was a free agent signee of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National Football league. “My wife and I lived in an apartment near [Memorial] Stadium at that time.”
Also during that time span, Aaron was born in Terre Haute on March 11, 1985.
“I played in all four preseason games for the Cardinals later that summer, then the coach called me in to his office. He told me to hand in my playbook and get a job,” Rich laughed.
With his football career suddenly over, Dawson moved his family back to his native Peoria, Ill. Raised in Peoria, Aaron has filled out even bigger than his dad, currently 6-foot-6, 235 pounds. But instead of following in his dad’s footsteps in football, he has developed into an outstanding ice hockey defenseman.
“I was eight years old when I started playing organized hockey,” Dawson said. “I played in Peoria until I was 14, then I spent a year playing for Team Illinois in Chicago.”When Dawson was 17, he was drafted to play Major Junior A hockey in the Ontario Hockey League. Dawson spent five years playing with the Peterborough Petes — a city located an hour and 20 minutes east of Toronto — starting with what would have been his junior year at Peoria Notre Dame High School.
“The OHL is a step up from Junior hockey programs in the U.S. … the U.S. program is more for players who want to play Division 1 [college programs]. The OHL is for players who want to turn pro.
“During the hockey season, I went to public high school in Peterborough,” Dawson explained. “But I came back [to Peoria] after the season to finish out my junior and senior years … I wanted to graduate with my friends.“Our academics were monitored a lot during the school year. There was no free wheeling, very structured. We had an academic advisor and good grades were a prerequisite for playing.”
Dawson explained his not signing with the NHL’s Carolina team in 2003, saying, “There was the [NHL] strike at the time which made things challenging to come into the league then. I was also recovering from shoulder surgery which had delayed my progress.”He played with the Petes for five years, their team winning the league championship in his final season of 2005-06. That year, he scored 12 points as a defenseman (two goals, 10 assists), but added four goals and two assists in the playoffs.
Dawson was also named the OHL’s most improved player after that championship season. During his time with the Petes, Dawson’s most recognizable teammates are current NHL players Eric and Jordan Staal.
“There are 20 teams in the [OHL] and the regular season consists of 68 games,” Dawson noted. “There are four rounds of playoffs — all best-of-seven. I played 91 games that last season. We didn’t get done until the middle of May.”Since he was a drafted member of the OHL, he is currently utilizing a key league benefit of a full-ride scholarship at a four-year college in Canada. For the past two seasons, he has played for the hockey team at the University of Prince Edward Island, where Dawson is majoring in business with a minor in economics.
“I still want to play hockey professionally, hopefully in the National Hockey League someday,” Dawson said. “When I left the Petes, I came home and went through a tryout with the [high minor league team] Peoria Rivermen.
“They offered me a contract, but I didn’t sign. I’m looking right now for stability. I decided the best plan was to have my degree as a backup if hockey doesn’t work out.“I had heard a lot of good things about UPEI, that it was a good place,” he noted.
“When I went on my recruiting trip, I really enjoyed myself. I felt like I had known them forever.”
Dawson plans to play his junior and senior seasons at UPEI, then see about pro hockey. In his two college seasons, he has scored 21 points (five goals, 16 assists).
He loves the Charlottetown area, where UPEI is located, saying, “The winters are tough. But it is really pretty here in the summer.”
Asked if he emulates the style of play of any current NHL player, he quickly said, “Chris Pronger. He’s a great player. He plays smart but is also tougher than nails.”
Aaron made a special point of thanking his father and mother for their support over the years, saying, “I had a lot of homesickness when I was 16 years old. Being away from mom and dad was tough … I had to learn from my mistakes.
“I got through that, but I still missed my family and friends. I missed a lot of time when my little sisters were growing up. “I also can’t thank my dad or mom enough for driving me to Chicago [for Team Illinois] … two nights a week making the six-hour round trip for practices, then to games on the weekend. They would get off work and do all that driving. They never complained.”
Aaron and Rich have returned to Terre Haute a few times over the years, most recently playing together in a ISU football golf outing the day prior to the annual Blue-White spring scrimmage on April 19. Rich was a teammate of new ISU head coach Trent Miles his last two seasons.
Rich presently owns a pipe contracting company in Peoria.
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INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 11
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Eleven
April 25, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
PICTURES FROM INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING CAN NOW BE VIEWED
For those of you who weren't able to attend last week's Indiana State Football Golf Outing at Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, here are some pictures (courtesy of GoSycamores.com, the official website of Indiana State University Athletics).
Just click on the link below in order to take a look at the 159 pictures available on the website.
- - GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI CURRENTLY IN THE INDIANA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Thanks to former Sycamore Charlie Karazia for sending along this list of former Indiana State football personnel who are now enshrined in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
1976 Charles Bush, James Conover, Dick Martin , Bob Nesbit
1977 N. E. “Gene” Wernz
1979 Paul Beck
1981 Stewart “Red” Faught
1985 Ward Brown, Jerry Huntsman
1988 Thomas Stirling
1996 Ed Robertson
1998 Joe Goodman
2000 Vincent Allen
2001 Phil Teegarden
2003 Rich Dodson
2006 Charlie Karazsia
SOME QUICK NOTES
--I didn't get a chance to touch base with all of the former players who attended either the football golf outing or the Blue-White Scrimmage last weekend at Indiana State. After the fact, I learned that Charlie Karazsia was at the golf outing and that Kenny Monroe was at the scrimmage. Sorry guys! I didn't mean to leave you unmentioned.
Some of the others that I neglected to mention from the weekend included Chris Yeakey, Howard Holmes, and Tim Herrin.
--In my last newsletter, I listed a large group of former players, coaches, student managers that I had lost track of. Sadly to say, I was informed by former Indiana State Sports information director Ed McKee that Jerry Huntsman (who was the head football coach at ISU in the late 1960s and early 1970s) had died a couple of years ago.
I knew that Jerry, who also was an assistant athletic director for the Sycamores after his retirement as head coach, had experienced health problems in the past. But I was not aware that he had died.
--I recently made some inquiries to the College Football Hall of Fame as to what it would take to nominate former Indiana State running back Vincent Allen. Here is a copy of the email that I received from Hillary Jeffries, director of special projects for the Hall of Fame:
Hi Tom,
I hope this finds you well.
I have attached the criteria as well as the nomination form for the College Football Hall of Fame. Pending Mr. Allen meets all criteria, he will not be considered until 2009. Nominations are not due until the first of December.
There are two Hall of Fame classes each year: 1) Football Bowl Subdivision and 2) Divisional (includes FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA).
Should you have any questions or need anything else, please don't hesitate to reach me at 800.486.1865 or via email at hjeffries@footballfoundation.com. Take care.
Thanks,
Hillary
Hillary A. Jeffries
Director of Special Projects
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
433 East Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1130
Irving, TX 75039
972.556.1000, ext. 217
www.footballfoundation.com
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE GUIDE
CRITERIA:
1. FIRST AND FOREMOST, A PLAYER MUST HAVE RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALLAMERICA
RECOGNITION BY A SELECTOR RECOGNIZED BY THE NCAA AND
UTILIZED TO COMPRISE THEIR CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS.
2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the NFF’s Honors Court ten years after his last
year of intercollegiate football played.
3. While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his postfootball
record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen,
carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community. Consideration may
also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
4. In accordance to the 50-year rule*, players must have played their last year of intercollegiate
football within the last 50 years. For example, to be eligible for the 2009 ballot, the player must
have played his last year in 1959 or thereafter. In addition, current professional players and / or
coaches are not eligible until retirement.
5. A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement or immediately following retirement
provided he is at least 70 years old. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must
have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600
winning percentage*.
VOTING PROCEDURE:
1. Nominations may be made by any dues-paying member of The National Football Foundation, or
by athletics directors, coaches or CoSIDA members representing dues-paying colleges or
universities.
2. Statistics, records and personal recommendations by coaches, fellow players and opponents are
all considered.
3. The National Football Foundation staff will screen each candidate. After ascertaining that the
nomination satisfies all requirements, the nominee is submitted to the District Screening
Committee (DSC) nearest to the institution where the nominee played. New nominees as well as
individuals who appeared on the previous year’s ballot will be included in this process.
4. The top vote-getters from the DSC are forwarded to The National Football Foundation staff for
inclusion on the ballot. (The ballot also carries names of candidates held over from the previous
year. These carryover names are referred to as “automatic holdovers” and are decided upon by
the Honors Court.)
5. The ballot of players and coaches is mailed to all dues-paying members of The National Football
Foundation for a member vote. The results are compiled and provided to the Honors Court,
which determines the final class members, to be used as a reference.
* Those players that do not comply with the 50-year rule and coaches that have not won 60% of their
games may still be eligible for consideration by the FBS (formerly Division I-A) and
Divisional Honors Review Committees, which examine unique cases.
DID YOU KNOW?????
--That ISU strength and conditioning coach Lee McCormick is leaving to take a similar position at the University of Texas. Lee is a Terre Haute native (played at Terre Haute South Vigo High School) and played wide receiver at Murray State (after transferring from ISU).
--That the daughter of former Indiana State quarterback Reggie Allen was a senior on the Notre Dame women's basketball team this past season?
--That the Terre Haute Tribune-Star newspaper will be running a feature story on former Sycamores center Rich Dawson and his son Aaron next Tuesday. Aaron, who was born in Terre Haute while Rich was toiling for the Sycamores, was a fourth-round draft pick of Carolina in the 2004 NHL draft.
--That former Indiana State offensive tackle Chris Hicks is on several major alumni committees at Indiana State? Or that one of Chris' ISU offensive line teammates, ex-Sycamores center Ron Carpenter, is on the search committee to help select a new president of Indiana State? Way to go guys!!!!
--That your voices are being heard within the athletic department at Indiana State. Keep in contact with head coach Trent Miles, recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, assistant athletic director John Sherman and Athletic Development Assistant Jackie Gustafson. Remember to ask them how you can help the program.
--And one final note. Think good thoughts about former Indiana State fullback Harry Turner as he continues to battle health problems. "Harry O" is confined to a wheelchair, but he's hanging in there so far.
Volume One, Number Eleven
April 25, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
PICTURES FROM INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING CAN NOW BE VIEWED
For those of you who weren't able to attend last week's Indiana State Football Golf Outing at Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, here are some pictures (courtesy of GoSycamores.com, the official website of Indiana State University Athletics).
Just click on the link below in order to take a look at the 159 pictures available on the website.
- - GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI CURRENTLY IN THE INDIANA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Thanks to former Sycamore Charlie Karazia for sending along this list of former Indiana State football personnel who are now enshrined in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
1976 Charles Bush, James Conover, Dick Martin , Bob Nesbit
1977 N. E. “Gene” Wernz
1979 Paul Beck
1981 Stewart “Red” Faught
1985 Ward Brown, Jerry Huntsman
1988 Thomas Stirling
1996 Ed Robertson
1998 Joe Goodman
2000 Vincent Allen
2001 Phil Teegarden
2003 Rich Dodson
2006 Charlie Karazsia
SOME QUICK NOTES
--I didn't get a chance to touch base with all of the former players who attended either the football golf outing or the Blue-White Scrimmage last weekend at Indiana State. After the fact, I learned that Charlie Karazsia was at the golf outing and that Kenny Monroe was at the scrimmage. Sorry guys! I didn't mean to leave you unmentioned.
Some of the others that I neglected to mention from the weekend included Chris Yeakey, Howard Holmes, and Tim Herrin.
--In my last newsletter, I listed a large group of former players, coaches, student managers that I had lost track of. Sadly to say, I was informed by former Indiana State Sports information director Ed McKee that Jerry Huntsman (who was the head football coach at ISU in the late 1960s and early 1970s) had died a couple of years ago.
I knew that Jerry, who also was an assistant athletic director for the Sycamores after his retirement as head coach, had experienced health problems in the past. But I was not aware that he had died.
--I recently made some inquiries to the College Football Hall of Fame as to what it would take to nominate former Indiana State running back Vincent Allen. Here is a copy of the email that I received from Hillary Jeffries, director of special projects for the Hall of Fame:
Hi Tom,
I hope this finds you well.
I have attached the criteria as well as the nomination form for the College Football Hall of Fame. Pending Mr. Allen meets all criteria, he will not be considered until 2009. Nominations are not due until the first of December.
There are two Hall of Fame classes each year: 1) Football Bowl Subdivision and 2) Divisional (includes FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA).
Should you have any questions or need anything else, please don't hesitate to reach me at 800.486.1865 or via email at hjeffries@footballfoundation.com. Take care.
Thanks,
Hillary
Hillary A. Jeffries
Director of Special Projects
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
433 East Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1130
Irving, TX 75039
972.556.1000, ext. 217
www.footballfoundation.com
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE GUIDE
CRITERIA:
1. FIRST AND FOREMOST, A PLAYER MUST HAVE RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALLAMERICA
RECOGNITION BY A SELECTOR RECOGNIZED BY THE NCAA AND
UTILIZED TO COMPRISE THEIR CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS.
2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the NFF’s Honors Court ten years after his last
year of intercollegiate football played.
3. While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his postfootball
record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen,
carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community. Consideration may
also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
4. In accordance to the 50-year rule*, players must have played their last year of intercollegiate
football within the last 50 years. For example, to be eligible for the 2009 ballot, the player must
have played his last year in 1959 or thereafter. In addition, current professional players and / or
coaches are not eligible until retirement.
5. A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement or immediately following retirement
provided he is at least 70 years old. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must
have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600
winning percentage*.
VOTING PROCEDURE:
1. Nominations may be made by any dues-paying member of The National Football Foundation, or
by athletics directors, coaches or CoSIDA members representing dues-paying colleges or
universities.
2. Statistics, records and personal recommendations by coaches, fellow players and opponents are
all considered.
3. The National Football Foundation staff will screen each candidate. After ascertaining that the
nomination satisfies all requirements, the nominee is submitted to the District Screening
Committee (DSC) nearest to the institution where the nominee played. New nominees as well as
individuals who appeared on the previous year’s ballot will be included in this process.
4. The top vote-getters from the DSC are forwarded to The National Football Foundation staff for
inclusion on the ballot. (The ballot also carries names of candidates held over from the previous
year. These carryover names are referred to as “automatic holdovers” and are decided upon by
the Honors Court.)
5. The ballot of players and coaches is mailed to all dues-paying members of The National Football
Foundation for a member vote. The results are compiled and provided to the Honors Court,
which determines the final class members, to be used as a reference.
* Those players that do not comply with the 50-year rule and coaches that have not won 60% of their
games may still be eligible for consideration by the FBS (formerly Division I-A) and
Divisional Honors Review Committees, which examine unique cases.
DID YOU KNOW?????
--That ISU strength and conditioning coach Lee McCormick is leaving to take a similar position at the University of Texas. Lee is a Terre Haute native (played at Terre Haute South Vigo High School) and played wide receiver at Murray State (after transferring from ISU).
--That the daughter of former Indiana State quarterback Reggie Allen was a senior on the Notre Dame women's basketball team this past season?
--That the Terre Haute Tribune-Star newspaper will be running a feature story on former Sycamores center Rich Dawson and his son Aaron next Tuesday. Aaron, who was born in Terre Haute while Rich was toiling for the Sycamores, was a fourth-round draft pick of Carolina in the 2004 NHL draft.
--That former Indiana State offensive tackle Chris Hicks is on several major alumni committees at Indiana State? Or that one of Chris' ISU offensive line teammates, ex-Sycamores center Ron Carpenter, is on the search committee to help select a new president of Indiana State? Way to go guys!!!!
--That your voices are being heard within the athletic department at Indiana State. Keep in contact with head coach Trent Miles, recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, assistant athletic director John Sherman and Athletic Development Assistant Jackie Gustafson. Remember to ask them how you can help the program.
--And one final note. Think good thoughts about former Indiana State fullback Harry Turner as he continues to battle health problems. "Harry O" is confined to a wheelchair, but he's hanging in there so far.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 10
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Ten
April 21, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE WRAPS UP SPRING FOOTBALL DRILLS WITH BLUE-WHITE SCRIMMAGE
With plenty to prove, salvaging ISU program ties team together
Sycamores compete in annual Blue-White scrimmage
By Todd Golden, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Suiting up for a program that’s lost 37 of its last 38 games, there wasn't an Indiana State Sycamore on the field during the Blue-White scrimmage who didn't have something to prove.
Salvaging Sycamore football is the tie that binds all of ISU’s coaches and players. But within the framework of team-wide improvement, the degree to which each player has something to prove varies by the player.
That contrast was evident when it came to two of the best performers on the field during Saturday’s offense vs. defense scrimmage, won 35-29 by the offense as a modified scoring system was used.
Antoine Brown rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns and was one of two ISU running backs to top the century mark. Darrius Gates led the way with 127 yards and a touchdown. Brown has shone under the brightest lights of college football, having transferred by way of Kentucky from the Southeastern Conference to the Gateway Football Conference.
“I was just trying to show all of the players and show all of the coaches I can play ball. I came from the University of Kentucky, so I have to prove I can bring my game everytime,” Brown said. “The bar is higher for me. I have a lot of pressure. I have to try to change this program around.”
Meanwhile, ISU’s leading tackler comes from a more humble background. Walk-on linebacker Josh Jenkins was so far under the radar, his hometown wasn’t even identified on the roster distributed to fans at Memorial Stadium.
Jenkins made the fans take notice. He had 14 tackles, twice as many as fellow walk-on Chris Stepp had.
“They gave me the opportunity to walk-on and all I can do is just fight for a position,” said Jenkins, who is from Greenwood and who played at Indianapolis Roncalli. “I was nervous. I have something to prove. I have to prove I’m not a walk-on, I’m a player.”
Miles was impressed with players on both sides of the ball.
“Josh played a lot of snaps, we only have two scholarship linebackers, but you can’t take that away from Josh. He had a good spring,” the ISU coach said. “And our two backs ran well and our line blocked well for them.”
In the big picture, Miles wasn’t exclusively looking at position battles or any other aspect that usually comes with the spring game. Saturday’s scrimmage was a simple who could play and who couldn’t proposition.
“I liked the fact they were spirited and they showed some passion was there. The passion was there,” Miles said.
Chuck Dowdell had a solid day numbers-wise at quarterback, completing 8 of 12 for 140 yards and a touchdown in an ISU offense that skewed conservative. Backup Matt Seliger, who starred at Terre Haute North, completed 4 of 5 for 41 yards.The flip side of the offensive production were the struggles on the defensive side. ISU’s runners averaged 6 yards per carry and ISU’s receivers averaged 15.1 yards per catch. ISU’s offense scored easily on the first two drives of the game and would lead 28-8 at halftime. The defense did better in the second half, scoring 21 points in the modified scoring system thanks to two forced turnovers and four three-and-out stops.
“They ran the ball well on us, but we made it really simple for the defense out there. They couldn’t do some of things we’ve practiced on. I saw some guys running up to hit, but they ran the ball too much and had too many big plays,” Miles said.
The Sycamores coach was pleased ISU came out of the game injury-free. No mean feat considering nearly half of the intended fall roster isn’t even eligible for practice yet.
ISU will come together with its full contingent of players — according to Miles, 36 to 42 future Sycamores will join the existing roster — in August in preparation for the season opener on Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan.
2008 Blue-White Game
Offense (White) 35, Defense (Blue) 29
Rushing — Darrius Gates 16-127, Antoine Brown 19-124, Matt Seliger 5-44, Chuck Dowdell 6-14, Tyler Williams 3-10, Robert Barcliff 4-6, Josh Jones 1-0.Passing — Dowdell 8-12-1, 140 yards, 1 TD; Seliger 4-5-0, 41 yards; Kyle Toney 0-2-0, 0 yards.
Receiving — Verlain Betofe 3-88, Ryan Patrick 3-41, 1 TD; Gates 2-19, Jeramie Gray 2-12, Williams 1-18, Gabe Mullane 1-3.
Tackles (leaders) — Josh Jenkins 14, Chris Stepp 7, Russell Dedeaux 5, Kevin Wilson 5.Sack — Dan Millington.
Interception — Donye McCleskey.
THREE FORMER LITTLE ILLINI CONFERENCE STANDOUTS TO PLAY FOR SYCAMORES IN 2008
Three LIC players bring Valley, family ties to young Sycamore football team
By Andy Amey, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — The high schools that make up the Little Illini Conference aren’t among the bigger ones in Illinois, and it’s certainly not every year that three LIC athletes earn Division I college football scholarships. Three LIC football players heading to the same school might be unprecedented, in fact.
Which worries coach Trent Miles of Indiana State — the school that signed Cumberland’s Kye Butler, Marshall’s Travis Johnson and Palestine-Hutsonville’s Ryan Roberts — not one bit.
“I’m not concerned, because I got to know them as competitors and people,” the new Sycamore coach said last week of his LIC recruits — part of a recruiting class ranked among the best in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
“And I got to know their ability. Go back and remember [former ISU linebacker] Craig Shaffer,” Miles said. “He came here from a smaller school as a linebacker at 185 pounds … and he developed into a big-time athlete [who played several seasons of professional football]. It’s what’s in their heart. They all bring something we need. We want to start [our recruiting] at home, and they’re three of the best athletes in the area.”
Sycamore fans will be able to see the three players in action in about two months at the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association’s all-star game. Until then, they’ll have to trust the word of former LIC coach Troy Johnson.
“Ryan Roberts is probably the purest athlete in the whole LIC,” last season’s Marshall coach — now Miles’ linebacker coach at ISU — said recently. “He was a force. Obviously we had 11 guys watching him when he was on offense, and we stayed away from him as much as we could when he was playing defense. And he’s a good kid: we never saw him drop his head, and he was always playing hard.“
Kye Butler is obviously a huge kid,” Johnson continued, “and he had some of the best hands in the conference. We always knew where he was at too, and when he played defensive end we did what we could to stay away from him.”
Travis Johnson is Troy Johnson’s son.“Four years ago I was trying to move him out of the quarterback position, and thank God I didn’t,” the coach said. “The next thing you know, he’s got every passing record Marshall keeps.
“That was a team effort, but we’ve had some pretty good quarterbacks here,” the future Sycamore’s father continued. “He showed some football smarts, knowing not to throw long every time and knowing where his checkdowns were, and the other kids caught the ball … he was a linebacker on defense too, and it’s great to have a quarterback with a linebacker mentality.”
So far, the younger Johnson isn’t looking to be a Sycamore linebacker like his father was.
“With my weight, I’m just looking at [playing] quarterback right now,” said Travis Johnson, who is currently 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds. “I’m doing everything I can [to get bigger].”
Both coach and son joked, however, that by playing quarterback Travis Johnson can finally be coached — and yelled at — by someone else.
“I loved playing for my dad,” Travis said. “It’ll be a little different with him on the defensive side, but it should be fun.”
Travis Johnson is also looking forward to playing with two of his former opponents.
“Kye Butler and Ryan Roberts were two of the best athletes in our conference,” he said. “I can’t wait to play in the all-star game with them.“Kye has unbelievable hands — you usually don’t find big kids with those soft hands — and Ryan has unbelievable speed and is outrageously athletic.”
The 6-4, 195-pound Roberts was also a quarterback for the Pioneers, but isn’t expecting to have to battle Travis Johnson for that position with the Sycamores.
“I think I’ll most likely play wide receiver,” said the two-sport star, who was also a linebacker and strong safety for Palestine-Hutsonville. “As long as I can help and contribute, that’s all that matters to me.”
Roberts saw most of his action for the Pioneers at safety during his freshman year, then started both ways the next three seasons. He’s the program’s all-time leading passer and rusher and has its most wins ever by a quarterback, he said, and was also recruited for basketball. In that sport, he broke the Hutsonville career scoring mark previously held by his father, Greg Roberts.
“After coach Johnson went [to Indiana State], it was pretty easy [to decide to go there for football],” Roberts said. “It’s close to home, and knowing some [other recruits] made my choice easier.”
Playing with Butler and Travis Johnson is “pretty nice,” Roberts said.
“I’ve known ‘em since we were all younger … we were usually pretty competitive [with one another]. Me and Kye would be in a play, but after it was over we’d be laughing and talking. It’s nice we’re not big enemies anymore.”
“It’s nice to go [to college] with people you know,” agreed Butler, currently 6-5 and 225 pounds and expecting to grow.
“He’ll put on 20 or 30 pounds of good weight the first year,” Troy Johnson predicted. “And he loves the game, because his dad’s a coach.”
“I’ve had a good time [coaching Kye],” said coach Todd Butler of the Pirates. “There were ups and downs with it, of course … and he didn’t just get coached the two and a half hours of practice. He’s watched a lot of film, and he spent a lot of time at practice even before he was in high school.”
The younger Butler was a three-year starter for a Cumberland team that’s made the Illinois playoffs three of the past four years, and had some significant receiving statistics for a run-oriented offense.
“We could just throw it up for him,” his father noted.“I’m a big, pretty strong kid, and a good runner,” said Kye Butler, maybe the most heavily recruited player of the three. “I need to work on my blocking a little bit.
"When I went [to ISU] for my visit, I really liked the coaching staff, and it seemed like a great place to be,” he added. “It will be a great experience to play with [Johnson and Roberts]; they were the best in the LIC.”
With ISU’s spring football practice having ended with Saturday’s Blue-White game, the three might also be getting a little more rest. The Indiana-Illinois time difference has been a mixed blessing for the three, who have often come to watch morning practices and then returned to Illinois in time for school. They’ve been getting up at 2 a.m. to do so. That dedication has also impressed Miles.
“Kye Butler is an athletic tight end who’s going to get bigger, and his dad’s a coach,” Miles said. “Ryan Roberts is a really, really good multitalented athlete who can play, and Travis [Johnson]? Travis is going to be a football player.“We can win with guys like that, and we will.”
Sycamores pick up another recruit
Indiana State has signed another high school football recruit for the 2008 season, inside linebacker Almondo “Al” Vick (6-1, 240) from Southfield Lathrup High School in Michigan.
Vick could end up playing either inside linebacker or could be used as a defensive end to take advantage of his quickness and speed as a pass rusher.
The Sycamores also reportedly added a wide receiver from the same high school, but details on that recruit are sketchy.
According to ISU sources, the football program could have as many as 45 new players on the roster when preseason drills begin in August. That total includes the 31 players added in signing day in February along with a large group of “preferred” walkons.
In years past – especially during the Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson and Dennis Raetz coaching regimes – Indiana State utilized a large, and very successful, walkon program. That program is being revitalized under the guidance of head coach Trent Miles and recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey.
Good turnout for Indiana State Football Golf Outing
A year ago, approximately 40 or so golfers assembled for the annual Indiana State Football/Ballyhoo Golf event, which serves as a fund-raiser for the Sycamores football program.
This year, 90 golfers got together at the Idle Creek Golf Club on the south side of Terre Haute for a day of fun and a chance to reconnect with Sycamores football. The goal for the 2009 event is to have an excess of 120 golfers take part in the outing.
Kudos to Assistant Athletics Director John Sherman for piecing everything together and a pat on the back to Dave Brazier and the people at the Ballyhoo for helping to sponsor the day of golf as well as to Idle Creek Golf pro (and former Sycamores basketball standout) Ray Goddard.
Among the former Indiana State players taking part in the golf outing were Richard Moss, Eric and Kirk Christensen, Robert Egidi, John Sahm, Corey Potter, John Deem, David Busch, Kyle Bibbs, Dre’ Knox, Quentin Mikell, Kurt Bell, Rob Hufty, Chuck Orlando, Tim Swanson, the Barrett Brothers (Chris, John and Greg), Kevin Cox, Pete Georges, David Allen, Rich Dawson, Doug Hurt, Gary Nickleson, and Milton Seaton.
Your trusty newsletter editor was there as well, but we won’t talk about me getting a golf cart stuck in the mud (with Dennis Raetz sitting next to me).
One other highlight of the golf outing included head coach Trent Miles showing off the Sycamores' new football helmet. For those who played under Coach Raetz, the design will be somewhat familiar -- a metallic white helmet with the script Sycamores in black in front of the state of Indiana (which is in ISU navy blue), with a star where Terre Haute is located, on each side. The helmet also has a blue stripe down the middle and a white face mask. It's somewhat similar to what the players at the University of Tennessee wear.
Nice turnout of former players on hand for Blue-White Scrimmage at Memorial Stadium
In addition to the golf event, there was a great mixture of former players prowling the sidelines at Saturday’s Blue-White scrimmage.
Ex-players such as Mel Burks, John Brewer, Chris Hicks, Vincent Allen, Kurt Bell, Doug Arnold, Quentin Mikell, Tim Swanson, Chuck Orlando, Chris Barrett, Greg Barrett, Kevin Cox, Milton Seaton, Darren Tucker, and Rob Hufty were on hand.
We ran into former ISU assistant coach Bob Warren there as well. Bob coached defensive backs under Tom Harp in the late 1970s and he has also served as an assistant football coach at Terre Haute South Vigo High School.
Coach Warren told me that ex-ISU offensive line coach Bill Dole is retired and living in Fresno, California. Those of you who would like to contact Bill let me know. I have his phone number and address.
One special guest, of sorts, at the scrimmage was Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who was there watching the action and meeting former players along with his son Marcus and his wife. Marcus Lewis will be a freshman linebacker for the Sycamores in the fall.
Goodbye to Brett Burchette, hello to Jackie Gustafson
The ISU Football Golf Outing was one of the last major events for outgoing assistant athletic director Brett Burchette, who will be leaving in a few weeks to attend graduate school as he works towards his master’s degree.
In the short time that he was at Indiana State, Brett did a very good job and the athletic department will surely miss him. Under his direction, the department re-instituted the Sycamore Varsity Club and revitalized the I-Men’s Association. His last day is July 1.
Assuming many of his responsibilities now will be former Indiana State women’s basketball player Jackie Gustafson. All former ISU football players are urged to call and touch base with Jackie, especially when it comes to making any type of financial donations to the football program.
Jackie’s email address is jgustafson@isugw.indstate.edu. Her phone number there is 812-237-3958.
And just one addendum to contacting Jackie or assistant athletic director John Sherman about making any type of financial contributions to the football program. There are always items that is needed that may not have been covered by the existing athletic department budget.
It might be a good idea to contact head coach Trent Miles or John Sherman and ask them what -- if anything -- they need that would help make things run more smoothly. Any contributions along those lines would undoubtedly go a long way in helping the program in a major way.
Some other phone numbers and email addresses of interest:
Head coach Trent Miles, 812-237-4074, tmiles6@isugw.indstate.edu
Recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, 812-237-3812, rcaskey@iisugw.indstate.edu
Assistant athletics director John Sherman, 812-237-3047, jsherman1@isugw.indtate.edu
MAKE TRAVEL AND HOUSING PLANS TO ATTEND THE 2008 HOME OPENER AND THE 2008 HOMECOMING GAME
There has been some questions concerning interest for a pair of Indiana State Football Reunion events this upcoming season. Indiana State will open the 2008 home season on Saturday, September 27 against Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is set for 12:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
The 2008 Homecoming Game will be Saturday, October 25 against South Dakota State. Kickoff for that game will be at 2:05 p.m.
We would like as many players to return for the first game at Memorial Stadium to help support Trent Miles, his coaching staff and players. The same goes for Homecoming, where there is always a good turnout of former players.
If there are any of you who would like to form some sort of committee to help plan activities for those two dates (such as having large tents available both dates for cookouts), please feel free to proceed. Just let us know what we can do to help. Chris Hicks planned such a reunion two seasons ago with several of his late 1970s teammates and it was a big success (they watched the Sycamores get their lone win in the past three years).
Did you know????
--That the son of former Indiana State All-Missouri Valley Conference center Rich Dawson was a former fourth-round draft pick of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes?
Aaron Dawson stands in a 6-5 and 220 pounds and is a defenseman. Rich and Aaron played in the ISU Football golf outing last Friday in Terre Haute in a foursome with Indiana State Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman and ex-Sycamores baseball standout Brian Dorsett. Brian is a successful auto dealer in Terre Haute now and is the current president of the I-Men’s Association.
--That Pat McKee, the younger brother of former ISU sports information director Ed McKee, will be inducted into the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame? Pat is the longtime prep editor of the Indianapolis Star.
--That former ISU assistant football coach Marty Fine is now the head coach at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Marty is in his fifth year at the school. Here is his email address: mfine@bryant.edu.
--That ex-Indiana State defensive coordinator (under Jerry Huntstman) Doug Kay is in his third season as the head coach of the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers. Kay coached at ISU from 1967-69.
--And, finally, that there is now a contact page on the Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter Blog page.
Just click here http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/ and take advantage of the opportunity to let people know what you’re doing now or to just make a few comments. And, as a reminder, the newsletter editor will be keeping an eye out to make that all comments are in good taste.
Where are?????
--Mike Sotak, Royce Allen, David Vandercook, Willie Weber, Scott Zeiser, Kenny Klein, John Wayhart, Terry Dzmiera, Dan Hall, Pat Teefy, Larry Brumfield, Jim Brumfield, Don Jackson, Kevin Jackson, Donnie Warner, D.A. Daniels, Zach Washington, Jimmy Edwards, Reggie Allen, Kyle Frondorf, Steve Elmlinger, Todd Jochem, Kirk Wilson, Eddie Ruffin, John Spradley, Keith Ward, Mike Johannes, Scott Bridges, Joe Downing, Terry Bell, Dwight Tripp, Dale Harvel, James Massey, Walter Seaton, Chuck Standiford, Milt Allen, John Stites, Hubert Moore, Chris Delaplaine, Mike Rutherford, Brian DeCree, Dan Galbriath, Rick Murphy, Bob Pychinka, Carroll Puricha, Bimbo Cecconi, Jerry Huntsman, Dick Comar, Jim Donahue, Max Payne, Ron Green, Keith Herron, Lavent Blaylock, Tori Vactor, Sam Logan, Dan Brandenburg, Steve Brandenburg, Matt Nelson, Cornell Johnson, Kent Drew, Carl Berman, Derrick Franklin, Darrold Clardy, Mike Megyesi, Kevin Henderson, Craig Shaffer, Dennis Teegarden, Bob Koehne, Matt Cole, Blayne Baggett, Chris Johnson, Steve Schmid, Dietrich Lapsley, Joe Stellern, Jim Shaughnessey, Bobby Boyce, Jerry Boyce, Kyle Hooper, Soso Dede, Craig Hamblet, Chris Libaire, Mike Brantley, Pat Jordan, Dennis Wilkerson, Bruce Montagner, O.B. Barnett, Mark Hardy, Bill Griffith, Ken Monroe, Jim Keister, Steve Steinway, John Montgomery, John Skelton.
Just a few names of some former Sycamores players, coaches and student managers from the top of my head who seem to be missing. And if there some names not mentioned that you know the wherabouts of, let us know. Send email addresses so we can add them to the football alumni newsletter email list.
And I need updated email addresses for the following: Kurt Bell (home if possible), Kevin Buchanan, Rodney Porter, Brian Krueger.
Volume One, Number Ten
April 21, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE WRAPS UP SPRING FOOTBALL DRILLS WITH BLUE-WHITE SCRIMMAGE
With plenty to prove, salvaging ISU program ties team together
Sycamores compete in annual Blue-White scrimmage
By Todd Golden, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Suiting up for a program that’s lost 37 of its last 38 games, there wasn't an Indiana State Sycamore on the field during the Blue-White scrimmage who didn't have something to prove.
Salvaging Sycamore football is the tie that binds all of ISU’s coaches and players. But within the framework of team-wide improvement, the degree to which each player has something to prove varies by the player.
That contrast was evident when it came to two of the best performers on the field during Saturday’s offense vs. defense scrimmage, won 35-29 by the offense as a modified scoring system was used.
Antoine Brown rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns and was one of two ISU running backs to top the century mark. Darrius Gates led the way with 127 yards and a touchdown. Brown has shone under the brightest lights of college football, having transferred by way of Kentucky from the Southeastern Conference to the Gateway Football Conference.
“I was just trying to show all of the players and show all of the coaches I can play ball. I came from the University of Kentucky, so I have to prove I can bring my game everytime,” Brown said. “The bar is higher for me. I have a lot of pressure. I have to try to change this program around.”
Meanwhile, ISU’s leading tackler comes from a more humble background. Walk-on linebacker Josh Jenkins was so far under the radar, his hometown wasn’t even identified on the roster distributed to fans at Memorial Stadium.
Jenkins made the fans take notice. He had 14 tackles, twice as many as fellow walk-on Chris Stepp had.
“They gave me the opportunity to walk-on and all I can do is just fight for a position,” said Jenkins, who is from Greenwood and who played at Indianapolis Roncalli. “I was nervous. I have something to prove. I have to prove I’m not a walk-on, I’m a player.”
Miles was impressed with players on both sides of the ball.
“Josh played a lot of snaps, we only have two scholarship linebackers, but you can’t take that away from Josh. He had a good spring,” the ISU coach said. “And our two backs ran well and our line blocked well for them.”
In the big picture, Miles wasn’t exclusively looking at position battles or any other aspect that usually comes with the spring game. Saturday’s scrimmage was a simple who could play and who couldn’t proposition.
“I liked the fact they were spirited and they showed some passion was there. The passion was there,” Miles said.
Chuck Dowdell had a solid day numbers-wise at quarterback, completing 8 of 12 for 140 yards and a touchdown in an ISU offense that skewed conservative. Backup Matt Seliger, who starred at Terre Haute North, completed 4 of 5 for 41 yards.The flip side of the offensive production were the struggles on the defensive side. ISU’s runners averaged 6 yards per carry and ISU’s receivers averaged 15.1 yards per catch. ISU’s offense scored easily on the first two drives of the game and would lead 28-8 at halftime. The defense did better in the second half, scoring 21 points in the modified scoring system thanks to two forced turnovers and four three-and-out stops.
“They ran the ball well on us, but we made it really simple for the defense out there. They couldn’t do some of things we’ve practiced on. I saw some guys running up to hit, but they ran the ball too much and had too many big plays,” Miles said.
The Sycamores coach was pleased ISU came out of the game injury-free. No mean feat considering nearly half of the intended fall roster isn’t even eligible for practice yet.
ISU will come together with its full contingent of players — according to Miles, 36 to 42 future Sycamores will join the existing roster — in August in preparation for the season opener on Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan.
2008 Blue-White Game
Offense (White) 35, Defense (Blue) 29
Rushing — Darrius Gates 16-127, Antoine Brown 19-124, Matt Seliger 5-44, Chuck Dowdell 6-14, Tyler Williams 3-10, Robert Barcliff 4-6, Josh Jones 1-0.Passing — Dowdell 8-12-1, 140 yards, 1 TD; Seliger 4-5-0, 41 yards; Kyle Toney 0-2-0, 0 yards.
Receiving — Verlain Betofe 3-88, Ryan Patrick 3-41, 1 TD; Gates 2-19, Jeramie Gray 2-12, Williams 1-18, Gabe Mullane 1-3.
Tackles (leaders) — Josh Jenkins 14, Chris Stepp 7, Russell Dedeaux 5, Kevin Wilson 5.Sack — Dan Millington.
Interception — Donye McCleskey.
THREE FORMER LITTLE ILLINI CONFERENCE STANDOUTS TO PLAY FOR SYCAMORES IN 2008
Three LIC players bring Valley, family ties to young Sycamore football team
By Andy Amey, Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — The high schools that make up the Little Illini Conference aren’t among the bigger ones in Illinois, and it’s certainly not every year that three LIC athletes earn Division I college football scholarships. Three LIC football players heading to the same school might be unprecedented, in fact.
Which worries coach Trent Miles of Indiana State — the school that signed Cumberland’s Kye Butler, Marshall’s Travis Johnson and Palestine-Hutsonville’s Ryan Roberts — not one bit.
“I’m not concerned, because I got to know them as competitors and people,” the new Sycamore coach said last week of his LIC recruits — part of a recruiting class ranked among the best in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
“And I got to know their ability. Go back and remember [former ISU linebacker] Craig Shaffer,” Miles said. “He came here from a smaller school as a linebacker at 185 pounds … and he developed into a big-time athlete [who played several seasons of professional football]. It’s what’s in their heart. They all bring something we need. We want to start [our recruiting] at home, and they’re three of the best athletes in the area.”
Sycamore fans will be able to see the three players in action in about two months at the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association’s all-star game. Until then, they’ll have to trust the word of former LIC coach Troy Johnson.
“Ryan Roberts is probably the purest athlete in the whole LIC,” last season’s Marshall coach — now Miles’ linebacker coach at ISU — said recently. “He was a force. Obviously we had 11 guys watching him when he was on offense, and we stayed away from him as much as we could when he was playing defense. And he’s a good kid: we never saw him drop his head, and he was always playing hard.“
Kye Butler is obviously a huge kid,” Johnson continued, “and he had some of the best hands in the conference. We always knew where he was at too, and when he played defensive end we did what we could to stay away from him.”
Travis Johnson is Troy Johnson’s son.“Four years ago I was trying to move him out of the quarterback position, and thank God I didn’t,” the coach said. “The next thing you know, he’s got every passing record Marshall keeps.
“That was a team effort, but we’ve had some pretty good quarterbacks here,” the future Sycamore’s father continued. “He showed some football smarts, knowing not to throw long every time and knowing where his checkdowns were, and the other kids caught the ball … he was a linebacker on defense too, and it’s great to have a quarterback with a linebacker mentality.”
So far, the younger Johnson isn’t looking to be a Sycamore linebacker like his father was.
“With my weight, I’m just looking at [playing] quarterback right now,” said Travis Johnson, who is currently 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds. “I’m doing everything I can [to get bigger].”
Both coach and son joked, however, that by playing quarterback Travis Johnson can finally be coached — and yelled at — by someone else.
“I loved playing for my dad,” Travis said. “It’ll be a little different with him on the defensive side, but it should be fun.”
Travis Johnson is also looking forward to playing with two of his former opponents.
“Kye Butler and Ryan Roberts were two of the best athletes in our conference,” he said. “I can’t wait to play in the all-star game with them.“Kye has unbelievable hands — you usually don’t find big kids with those soft hands — and Ryan has unbelievable speed and is outrageously athletic.”
The 6-4, 195-pound Roberts was also a quarterback for the Pioneers, but isn’t expecting to have to battle Travis Johnson for that position with the Sycamores.
“I think I’ll most likely play wide receiver,” said the two-sport star, who was also a linebacker and strong safety for Palestine-Hutsonville. “As long as I can help and contribute, that’s all that matters to me.”
Roberts saw most of his action for the Pioneers at safety during his freshman year, then started both ways the next three seasons. He’s the program’s all-time leading passer and rusher and has its most wins ever by a quarterback, he said, and was also recruited for basketball. In that sport, he broke the Hutsonville career scoring mark previously held by his father, Greg Roberts.
“After coach Johnson went [to Indiana State], it was pretty easy [to decide to go there for football],” Roberts said. “It’s close to home, and knowing some [other recruits] made my choice easier.”
Playing with Butler and Travis Johnson is “pretty nice,” Roberts said.
“I’ve known ‘em since we were all younger … we were usually pretty competitive [with one another]. Me and Kye would be in a play, but after it was over we’d be laughing and talking. It’s nice we’re not big enemies anymore.”
“It’s nice to go [to college] with people you know,” agreed Butler, currently 6-5 and 225 pounds and expecting to grow.
“He’ll put on 20 or 30 pounds of good weight the first year,” Troy Johnson predicted. “And he loves the game, because his dad’s a coach.”
“I’ve had a good time [coaching Kye],” said coach Todd Butler of the Pirates. “There were ups and downs with it, of course … and he didn’t just get coached the two and a half hours of practice. He’s watched a lot of film, and he spent a lot of time at practice even before he was in high school.”
The younger Butler was a three-year starter for a Cumberland team that’s made the Illinois playoffs three of the past four years, and had some significant receiving statistics for a run-oriented offense.
“We could just throw it up for him,” his father noted.“I’m a big, pretty strong kid, and a good runner,” said Kye Butler, maybe the most heavily recruited player of the three. “I need to work on my blocking a little bit.
"When I went [to ISU] for my visit, I really liked the coaching staff, and it seemed like a great place to be,” he added. “It will be a great experience to play with [Johnson and Roberts]; they were the best in the LIC.”
With ISU’s spring football practice having ended with Saturday’s Blue-White game, the three might also be getting a little more rest. The Indiana-Illinois time difference has been a mixed blessing for the three, who have often come to watch morning practices and then returned to Illinois in time for school. They’ve been getting up at 2 a.m. to do so. That dedication has also impressed Miles.
“Kye Butler is an athletic tight end who’s going to get bigger, and his dad’s a coach,” Miles said. “Ryan Roberts is a really, really good multitalented athlete who can play, and Travis [Johnson]? Travis is going to be a football player.“We can win with guys like that, and we will.”
Sycamores pick up another recruit
Indiana State has signed another high school football recruit for the 2008 season, inside linebacker Almondo “Al” Vick (6-1, 240) from Southfield Lathrup High School in Michigan.
Vick could end up playing either inside linebacker or could be used as a defensive end to take advantage of his quickness and speed as a pass rusher.
The Sycamores also reportedly added a wide receiver from the same high school, but details on that recruit are sketchy.
According to ISU sources, the football program could have as many as 45 new players on the roster when preseason drills begin in August. That total includes the 31 players added in signing day in February along with a large group of “preferred” walkons.
In years past – especially during the Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson and Dennis Raetz coaching regimes – Indiana State utilized a large, and very successful, walkon program. That program is being revitalized under the guidance of head coach Trent Miles and recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey.
Good turnout for Indiana State Football Golf Outing
A year ago, approximately 40 or so golfers assembled for the annual Indiana State Football/Ballyhoo Golf event, which serves as a fund-raiser for the Sycamores football program.
This year, 90 golfers got together at the Idle Creek Golf Club on the south side of Terre Haute for a day of fun and a chance to reconnect with Sycamores football. The goal for the 2009 event is to have an excess of 120 golfers take part in the outing.
Kudos to Assistant Athletics Director John Sherman for piecing everything together and a pat on the back to Dave Brazier and the people at the Ballyhoo for helping to sponsor the day of golf as well as to Idle Creek Golf pro (and former Sycamores basketball standout) Ray Goddard.
Among the former Indiana State players taking part in the golf outing were Richard Moss, Eric and Kirk Christensen, Robert Egidi, John Sahm, Corey Potter, John Deem, David Busch, Kyle Bibbs, Dre’ Knox, Quentin Mikell, Kurt Bell, Rob Hufty, Chuck Orlando, Tim Swanson, the Barrett Brothers (Chris, John and Greg), Kevin Cox, Pete Georges, David Allen, Rich Dawson, Doug Hurt, Gary Nickleson, and Milton Seaton.
Your trusty newsletter editor was there as well, but we won’t talk about me getting a golf cart stuck in the mud (with Dennis Raetz sitting next to me).
One other highlight of the golf outing included head coach Trent Miles showing off the Sycamores' new football helmet. For those who played under Coach Raetz, the design will be somewhat familiar -- a metallic white helmet with the script Sycamores in black in front of the state of Indiana (which is in ISU navy blue), with a star where Terre Haute is located, on each side. The helmet also has a blue stripe down the middle and a white face mask. It's somewhat similar to what the players at the University of Tennessee wear.
Nice turnout of former players on hand for Blue-White Scrimmage at Memorial Stadium
In addition to the golf event, there was a great mixture of former players prowling the sidelines at Saturday’s Blue-White scrimmage.
Ex-players such as Mel Burks, John Brewer, Chris Hicks, Vincent Allen, Kurt Bell, Doug Arnold, Quentin Mikell, Tim Swanson, Chuck Orlando, Chris Barrett, Greg Barrett, Kevin Cox, Milton Seaton, Darren Tucker, and Rob Hufty were on hand.
We ran into former ISU assistant coach Bob Warren there as well. Bob coached defensive backs under Tom Harp in the late 1970s and he has also served as an assistant football coach at Terre Haute South Vigo High School.
Coach Warren told me that ex-ISU offensive line coach Bill Dole is retired and living in Fresno, California. Those of you who would like to contact Bill let me know. I have his phone number and address.
One special guest, of sorts, at the scrimmage was Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who was there watching the action and meeting former players along with his son Marcus and his wife. Marcus Lewis will be a freshman linebacker for the Sycamores in the fall.
Goodbye to Brett Burchette, hello to Jackie Gustafson
The ISU Football Golf Outing was one of the last major events for outgoing assistant athletic director Brett Burchette, who will be leaving in a few weeks to attend graduate school as he works towards his master’s degree.
In the short time that he was at Indiana State, Brett did a very good job and the athletic department will surely miss him. Under his direction, the department re-instituted the Sycamore Varsity Club and revitalized the I-Men’s Association. His last day is July 1.
Assuming many of his responsibilities now will be former Indiana State women’s basketball player Jackie Gustafson. All former ISU football players are urged to call and touch base with Jackie, especially when it comes to making any type of financial donations to the football program.
Jackie’s email address is jgustafson@isugw.indstate.edu. Her phone number there is 812-237-3958.
And just one addendum to contacting Jackie or assistant athletic director John Sherman about making any type of financial contributions to the football program. There are always items that is needed that may not have been covered by the existing athletic department budget.
It might be a good idea to contact head coach Trent Miles or John Sherman and ask them what -- if anything -- they need that would help make things run more smoothly. Any contributions along those lines would undoubtedly go a long way in helping the program in a major way.
Some other phone numbers and email addresses of interest:
Head coach Trent Miles, 812-237-4074, tmiles6@isugw.indstate.edu
Recruiting coordinator Kyle Caskey, 812-237-3812, rcaskey@iisugw.indstate.edu
Assistant athletics director John Sherman, 812-237-3047, jsherman1@isugw.indtate.edu
MAKE TRAVEL AND HOUSING PLANS TO ATTEND THE 2008 HOME OPENER AND THE 2008 HOMECOMING GAME
There has been some questions concerning interest for a pair of Indiana State Football Reunion events this upcoming season. Indiana State will open the 2008 home season on Saturday, September 27 against Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is set for 12:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
The 2008 Homecoming Game will be Saturday, October 25 against South Dakota State. Kickoff for that game will be at 2:05 p.m.
We would like as many players to return for the first game at Memorial Stadium to help support Trent Miles, his coaching staff and players. The same goes for Homecoming, where there is always a good turnout of former players.
If there are any of you who would like to form some sort of committee to help plan activities for those two dates (such as having large tents available both dates for cookouts), please feel free to proceed. Just let us know what we can do to help. Chris Hicks planned such a reunion two seasons ago with several of his late 1970s teammates and it was a big success (they watched the Sycamores get their lone win in the past three years).
Did you know????
--That the son of former Indiana State All-Missouri Valley Conference center Rich Dawson was a former fourth-round draft pick of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes?
Aaron Dawson stands in a 6-5 and 220 pounds and is a defenseman. Rich and Aaron played in the ISU Football golf outing last Friday in Terre Haute in a foursome with Indiana State Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman and ex-Sycamores baseball standout Brian Dorsett. Brian is a successful auto dealer in Terre Haute now and is the current president of the I-Men’s Association.
--That Pat McKee, the younger brother of former ISU sports information director Ed McKee, will be inducted into the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame? Pat is the longtime prep editor of the Indianapolis Star.
--That former ISU assistant football coach Marty Fine is now the head coach at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Marty is in his fifth year at the school. Here is his email address: mfine@bryant.edu.
--That ex-Indiana State defensive coordinator (under Jerry Huntstman) Doug Kay is in his third season as the head coach of the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers. Kay coached at ISU from 1967-69.
--And, finally, that there is now a contact page on the Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter Blog page.
Just click here http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/ and take advantage of the opportunity to let people know what you’re doing now or to just make a few comments. And, as a reminder, the newsletter editor will be keeping an eye out to make that all comments are in good taste.
Where are?????
--Mike Sotak, Royce Allen, David Vandercook, Willie Weber, Scott Zeiser, Kenny Klein, John Wayhart, Terry Dzmiera, Dan Hall, Pat Teefy, Larry Brumfield, Jim Brumfield, Don Jackson, Kevin Jackson, Donnie Warner, D.A. Daniels, Zach Washington, Jimmy Edwards, Reggie Allen, Kyle Frondorf, Steve Elmlinger, Todd Jochem, Kirk Wilson, Eddie Ruffin, John Spradley, Keith Ward, Mike Johannes, Scott Bridges, Joe Downing, Terry Bell, Dwight Tripp, Dale Harvel, James Massey, Walter Seaton, Chuck Standiford, Milt Allen, John Stites, Hubert Moore, Chris Delaplaine, Mike Rutherford, Brian DeCree, Dan Galbriath, Rick Murphy, Bob Pychinka, Carroll Puricha, Bimbo Cecconi, Jerry Huntsman, Dick Comar, Jim Donahue, Max Payne, Ron Green, Keith Herron, Lavent Blaylock, Tori Vactor, Sam Logan, Dan Brandenburg, Steve Brandenburg, Matt Nelson, Cornell Johnson, Kent Drew, Carl Berman, Derrick Franklin, Darrold Clardy, Mike Megyesi, Kevin Henderson, Craig Shaffer, Dennis Teegarden, Bob Koehne, Matt Cole, Blayne Baggett, Chris Johnson, Steve Schmid, Dietrich Lapsley, Joe Stellern, Jim Shaughnessey, Bobby Boyce, Jerry Boyce, Kyle Hooper, Soso Dede, Craig Hamblet, Chris Libaire, Mike Brantley, Pat Jordan, Dennis Wilkerson, Bruce Montagner, O.B. Barnett, Mark Hardy, Bill Griffith, Ken Monroe, Jim Keister, Steve Steinway, John Montgomery, John Skelton.
Just a few names of some former Sycamores players, coaches and student managers from the top of my head who seem to be missing. And if there some names not mentioned that you know the wherabouts of, let us know. Send email addresses so we can add them to the football alumni newsletter email list.
And I need updated email addresses for the following: Kurt Bell (home if possible), Kevin Buchanan, Rodney Porter, Brian Krueger.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI CONTACT PAGE
Former Indiana State University Football players who would like to register comments can do so here.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NO. 9
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume One, Number Nine
April 15, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING FRIDAY IN TERRE HAUTE;
ANNUAL BLUE-WHITE SPRING GAME SET FOR SATURDAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
It would appear as if the Ballyhoo/Indiana State University Football Golf Outing, which is scheduled for Friday (April 18) at the Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, has attracted a large group of participants. Idle Creek is located on the south end of Terre Haute, in the Springhill area.
Idle Creek Golf Community
Terre Haute - Idle Creek Golf Course - Golf Course - AOL City Guide
As of last weekend, there were 19 foursomes (or 76 golfers) set and ready to take part in the annual fund-raising effort for the Sycamore football program. That number is up considerably from the last several years. All monies raised at the golf outing will go directly to the Indiana State Football Program.
Also, the annual Indiana State Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage is set for 1 p.m. Saturday (April 19) at Memorial Stadium. The exact format of the scrimmage had not been determined at press time.
All former players, coaches, student managers and athletic trainers are invited to attend both the golf outing (even as observers) and the scrimmage.
PLAYER NUMBERS DOWN DURING SPRING BALL 2008
It will be interesting to see how the Indiana State football coaching staff conducts the Saturday workout since player numbers are down for this first spring under Trent Miles as the team’s head coach. Indiana State has approximately 43 players taking part in the spring workouts.
The Sycamores are down on offensive and defensive linemen (five on each side of the ball) due to graduation from the 2007 team, injuries and from the decision from the previous coaching staff to not recruit a large number of offensive and defensive linemen.
And those are not the only positions where ISU is currently shorthanded. The Sycamores used just two quarterbacks in last Saturday’s scrimmage – Terre Haute natives Matt Seliger and Kyle Toney.
The presumptive starter heading into this fall, sophomore Charles Dowdell, was held out of the workout (presumably for disciplinary reasons since he was seen running steps throughout the morning practice). Another quarterback that had been on the roster, sophomore Evan Parker, was also not available.
Speaking of discipline and accountability, those have been the big watchwords since Miles and his coaching staff took over the program.
If players don’t want to do the things necessary to rebuild the program (go to class on a regular basis, attend tutoring sessions, made grade requirements, go to the weight room when scheduled, miss or being late for positional and team meetings or practices, bad attitudes, off field activities), they pretty much end up cutting themselves from the team.
TALENT THIN RIGHT NOW
As evidenced by the program’s 1-32 record over the past three seasons, the talent level currently on the Indiana State football roster is pretty thin. But that could be about to change.
The Sycamores’ coaching staff signed 31 players in February and have around 10 more joining the team as preferred walk-ons this summer. There may also be some Division I-A transfers coming into the program, although that won't be known until other schools around the country end their spring workouts.
One thing is certain, though. Several of the incoming freshmen arriving on campus in August could find themselves fighting for starting positions when the season starts.
During the recruiting process, I was asked what can the ISU coaching staff do in order to entice players to a program that has been struggling so much in recent years. They can promise playing time early if they’re good enough.
A player can go to one school and sit the bench for a year or two, or they could come to Indiana State and have the opportunity to start right off the bat.
As a forecast for what to expect in 2008, Indiana State could be more talented than in recent seasons but could also be very, very young. But if this recruiting class is as good as some people think that it may be (ranked second-best recruiting class in the Gateway Conference, eight-best in I-AA football), they could be the foundation for a huge turnaround in the Sycamores’ fortunes in the coming years.
BRIGHT SPOTS…..
--Yes, Indiana State does have a tight end in its offense. After not utilizing a tight end the last couple of seasons, the Sycamores will have a tight end involved in the offense this season.
ISU coaches moved former linebacker Josh Jones to tight end this spring and he has made a pretty good impression on observers. The Mooresville, Ind., junior appears to be a tough-minded kid who is willing to make the tough catch over the middle or to run a seam route up the field.
Another intriguing possibility is 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman Joe Wingis, who has been moved from wide receiver to tight end. He’s kind of light (just 200 pounds), but the St. John, Ind., native is still becoming acclimated to his new position.
--In addition to using a tight end again, the Sycamores are also using a fullback in its offense. The tight end and fullback psotions were non-factors in the ISU offense the last two seasons.
--Two running backs who have caught our eye are University of Kentucky transfer Antoine Brown and sophomore Darrius Gates. Brown’s body shape and running style sort of reminds us of former Indiana State running back Tori Vactor.
Gates has more moves and utilizes a shake-and-bake style. He often makes a positive play out of a negative one.
The problem with both backs, as well as the other running backs on the team, is that the depth and talent is so thin up front along the offensive line, it’s hard to really get a line on how good they could be.
--Sophomore placekicker Corey Varnadore (Tallahassee, Fla.) seems to have good range from about 45 yards and in. The Sycamores’ coaching staff have been working Varnadore a lot this spring, attempting to put him in pressure situations to see how he reacts. The results have been pretty good so far.
--Mix and match. That’s what the Indiana State football coaching staff has been doing this spring in an attempt to get their best players on the field. Positional changes have been instituted in order to get that accomplished.
STILL NEED EMAIL ADDRESSES, PASS THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES, CALL YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES
I don't want to keep bugging everybody, but I still need email addresses for former players. If you have a former teammate who is not receiving this Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter, send him a copy. Or tell him about it so that he can send me his email address.
If your former teammates don't have email or dont own a computer, give them a call and see if you can entice them to get involved again in Sycamore football. You guys are the best representatives that the ISU football family has. Get the word out that everybody's help is needed.
Get involved. It doesn't matter whether you were the star of the team, the fifth-string offensive or defensive tackle, a student manager who didn't get to travel or the athletic trainer who got teased all the time by the players. Or whether you played for Bill Jones, Paul Selge, Jerry Huntsman, Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson, Dennis Raetz, Tim McGuire or Lou West.
Indiana State Football Needs You....again!!!!
Volume One, Number Nine
April 15, 2008
Editor: Tom James, TJames1475@aol.com
ISU Football Alumni Blog Page: http://isufootballalumni.blogspot.com/
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL GOLF OUTING FRIDAY IN TERRE HAUTE;
ANNUAL BLUE-WHITE SPRING GAME SET FOR SATURDAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
It would appear as if the Ballyhoo/Indiana State University Football Golf Outing, which is scheduled for Friday (April 18) at the Idle Creek Golf Course in Terre Haute, has attracted a large group of participants. Idle Creek is located on the south end of Terre Haute, in the Springhill area.
Idle Creek Golf Community
Terre Haute - Idle Creek Golf Course - Golf Course - AOL City Guide
As of last weekend, there were 19 foursomes (or 76 golfers) set and ready to take part in the annual fund-raising effort for the Sycamore football program. That number is up considerably from the last several years. All monies raised at the golf outing will go directly to the Indiana State Football Program.
Also, the annual Indiana State Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage is set for 1 p.m. Saturday (April 19) at Memorial Stadium. The exact format of the scrimmage had not been determined at press time.
All former players, coaches, student managers and athletic trainers are invited to attend both the golf outing (even as observers) and the scrimmage.
PLAYER NUMBERS DOWN DURING SPRING BALL 2008
It will be interesting to see how the Indiana State football coaching staff conducts the Saturday workout since player numbers are down for this first spring under Trent Miles as the team’s head coach. Indiana State has approximately 43 players taking part in the spring workouts.
The Sycamores are down on offensive and defensive linemen (five on each side of the ball) due to graduation from the 2007 team, injuries and from the decision from the previous coaching staff to not recruit a large number of offensive and defensive linemen.
And those are not the only positions where ISU is currently shorthanded. The Sycamores used just two quarterbacks in last Saturday’s scrimmage – Terre Haute natives Matt Seliger and Kyle Toney.
The presumptive starter heading into this fall, sophomore Charles Dowdell, was held out of the workout (presumably for disciplinary reasons since he was seen running steps throughout the morning practice). Another quarterback that had been on the roster, sophomore Evan Parker, was also not available.
Speaking of discipline and accountability, those have been the big watchwords since Miles and his coaching staff took over the program.
If players don’t want to do the things necessary to rebuild the program (go to class on a regular basis, attend tutoring sessions, made grade requirements, go to the weight room when scheduled, miss or being late for positional and team meetings or practices, bad attitudes, off field activities), they pretty much end up cutting themselves from the team.
TALENT THIN RIGHT NOW
As evidenced by the program’s 1-32 record over the past three seasons, the talent level currently on the Indiana State football roster is pretty thin. But that could be about to change.
The Sycamores’ coaching staff signed 31 players in February and have around 10 more joining the team as preferred walk-ons this summer. There may also be some Division I-A transfers coming into the program, although that won't be known until other schools around the country end their spring workouts.
One thing is certain, though. Several of the incoming freshmen arriving on campus in August could find themselves fighting for starting positions when the season starts.
During the recruiting process, I was asked what can the ISU coaching staff do in order to entice players to a program that has been struggling so much in recent years. They can promise playing time early if they’re good enough.
A player can go to one school and sit the bench for a year or two, or they could come to Indiana State and have the opportunity to start right off the bat.
As a forecast for what to expect in 2008, Indiana State could be more talented than in recent seasons but could also be very, very young. But if this recruiting class is as good as some people think that it may be (ranked second-best recruiting class in the Gateway Conference, eight-best in I-AA football), they could be the foundation for a huge turnaround in the Sycamores’ fortunes in the coming years.
BRIGHT SPOTS…..
--Yes, Indiana State does have a tight end in its offense. After not utilizing a tight end the last couple of seasons, the Sycamores will have a tight end involved in the offense this season.
ISU coaches moved former linebacker Josh Jones to tight end this spring and he has made a pretty good impression on observers. The Mooresville, Ind., junior appears to be a tough-minded kid who is willing to make the tough catch over the middle or to run a seam route up the field.
Another intriguing possibility is 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman Joe Wingis, who has been moved from wide receiver to tight end. He’s kind of light (just 200 pounds), but the St. John, Ind., native is still becoming acclimated to his new position.
--In addition to using a tight end again, the Sycamores are also using a fullback in its offense. The tight end and fullback psotions were non-factors in the ISU offense the last two seasons.
--Two running backs who have caught our eye are University of Kentucky transfer Antoine Brown and sophomore Darrius Gates. Brown’s body shape and running style sort of reminds us of former Indiana State running back Tori Vactor.
Gates has more moves and utilizes a shake-and-bake style. He often makes a positive play out of a negative one.
The problem with both backs, as well as the other running backs on the team, is that the depth and talent is so thin up front along the offensive line, it’s hard to really get a line on how good they could be.
--Sophomore placekicker Corey Varnadore (Tallahassee, Fla.) seems to have good range from about 45 yards and in. The Sycamores’ coaching staff have been working Varnadore a lot this spring, attempting to put him in pressure situations to see how he reacts. The results have been pretty good so far.
--Mix and match. That’s what the Indiana State football coaching staff has been doing this spring in an attempt to get their best players on the field. Positional changes have been instituted in order to get that accomplished.
STILL NEED EMAIL ADDRESSES, PASS THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES, CALL YOUR FORMER TEAMMATES
I don't want to keep bugging everybody, but I still need email addresses for former players. If you have a former teammate who is not receiving this Indiana State Football Alumni Newsletter, send him a copy. Or tell him about it so that he can send me his email address.
If your former teammates don't have email or dont own a computer, give them a call and see if you can entice them to get involved again in Sycamore football. You guys are the best representatives that the ISU football family has. Get the word out that everybody's help is needed.
Get involved. It doesn't matter whether you were the star of the team, the fifth-string offensive or defensive tackle, a student manager who didn't get to travel or the athletic trainer who got teased all the time by the players. Or whether you played for Bill Jones, Paul Selge, Jerry Huntsman, Tom Harp, Dick Jamieson, Dennis Raetz, Tim McGuire or Lou West.
Indiana State Football Needs You....again!!!!
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