TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State football coach Trent Miles is not usually one who has trouble finding motivation for his teams. With the 2012 season beginning today with ISU’s first official practices, Miles has turned to history as motivation.
During a Missouri Valley Football Conference teleconference on Thursday, Miles noted that ISU has not had three consecutive winning seasons since the Sycamores did it from 1967-69. This ISU team, which is coming off back-to-back 6-5 campaigns, has a chance to end 44 years of frustration.
While Miles focused on erasing a historic blot, he also wants the Sycamores — who were ranked 22nd in a national poll this week and who have been picked as high as 14th in the nation in one preseason publication — to keep their feet on the ground.
“I want to come in and get everyone on the same page. I don’t want them believing the hype. We just want to go to work. We want to be a disciplined football team that’s mentally tough,” Miles said.
While the Sycamores have enjoyed some national attention in preseason polls, they got a reminder on how difficult it will be to compete in a deep MVFC in 2012. ISU was chosen fifth in the conference preseason poll.
On the other hand, ISU has more preseason All-MVFC players than any other conference team. Running back Shakir Bell, center FN Lutz, defensive end Ben Obaseki, linebacker Aaron Archie, linebacker Jacolby Washington and punter Lucas Hileman were all honored.
It’s an interesting contrast for the Sycamores. The returning talent is mixed with unproven players at several key positions — most notably at quarterback.
“We lost a lot. We lost key guys, but we have a lot of key guys that are back. We’ve got guys, we just have to get them on the same page,” Miles said.
ISU’s quarterback situation became even more murky when junior college transfer Blake Loncar left the team on Thursday. Miles indicated that Loncar will no longer play college football.
That leaves ISU with Western Michigan transfer Mike Perish, redshirt freshman Trent Lancaster and true freshman Robert Tonyan Jr.
“We have to get a quarterback, that’s a huge one for us. Someone has to step up. We have to find some leadership and find guys who can take pressure off Shakir,” Miles said.
There is also no change in the current status of Lutz, who injured his knee during the last play of April’s Blue and White game. Lutz will be evaluated in the early part of fall practice and a determination on him will be made at a later date.
ISU will begin practice today with conditioning at 6 a.m. A regular practice is scheduled to occur at 6 p.m., but could be pushed back if heat is too extreme at that hour. Miles said the heat is a concern, but he tries to work around it as much as humanly possible.
“We don’t ever go in the middle of the day. If the heat goes to a certain index, we’ll go early in the morning. I’m not going out there at 105 degrees, but 95 degrees? You just deal with that at this time of year. You’re going to be playing in it too,” Miles said.
Aside from Lutz, Miles noted that defensive lineman Garrison McElroy (back) and running back Luke Harris (knee) will be limited when practice begins.
• FCS postseason to be expanded — MVFC commissioner Patty Viverito indicated during Thursday’s teleconference that the long-anticipated move to a 24-team FCS playoff field was to be voted upon on Thursday. Later in the day, the NCAA approved the 24-team field starting with the 2013 season.
The playoff field currently consists of 20 teams.
With that format, eight teams will be seeded in the playoffs instead of the current five. It will likely guarantee the MVFC champion a home game in future playoff fields.
MVFC preseason poll
1. North Dakota State (37) 379
2. Northern Iowa 300
3. Youngstown State 291
4. Illinois State (1) 287
5. Indiana State 228
6. South Dakota State 182
7. Southern Illinois 167
8. South Dakota 97
9. Western Illinois 90
10. Missouri State 69
MVFC Preseason Team
Offense
QB — Kurt Hess, Youngstown State
RB — Shakir Bell, Indiana State
RB — Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State
FB — Jordan Neukirch, Illinois State
WR — Aaron Rollin, South Dakota State
WR — Tyrone Walker, Illinois State
TE — MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois
OL — Chris Elkins, Youngstown State
OL — Jimmy Holtschlag, Western Illinois
OL — FN Lutz, Indiana State
OL — Mark Pratt, Youngstown State
OL — Bryan Witzmann, South Dakota State
K — Tyler Sivertsen, Northern Iowa
Defense
DL — Kenneth Boatright, Southern Illinois
DL — Ben Obaseki, Indiana State
DL — Nate Palmer, Illinois State
DL — Kayon Swanson, Southern Illinois
LB — Aaron Archie, Indiana State
LB — Evan Frierson, Illinois State
LB — Tyler Starr, South Dakota
LB — Jacolby Washington, Indiana State
DB — Colten Heagle, North Dakota State
DB — Varmah Sonie, Northern Iowa
DB — Marcus Williams, North Dakota State
DB — Winston Wright, South Dakota State
P — Lucas Hileman, Indiana State
Ret — Steve Strother, Southern Illinois
College
Sycamore gridders get to work
ISU begins football practice today at 6 p.m.
- College
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. -
ISU track sending record 22 to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it. -
Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley
Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt. -
Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard
Indiana State coach Teri Moren believes the addition of five more newcomers to the program — in addition to the five who had already joined the program earlier this calendar year — will provide her coaching staff the athleticism and depth it needs to play a successful, up-tempo brand of basketball next season.
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Metro roundup: Woods softball takes seventh in national tournament
The St. Mary-of-the-Woods softball team finished seventh in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association softball tournament on Tuesday at Firestone Stadium.
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Metro Roundup: Indiana State’s Shakir Bell on Performance Awards watch list
College Football Performance Awards has announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA FCS Running Back Award, and Indiana State’s Shakir Bell earned a spot on the list.
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ISU baseball team builds on success with 14-2 rout
Indiana State’s baseball victory over Alcorn State on Friday would take on more meaning Saturday if the Sycamores could build momentum and pick up on the good work they did in Friday’s ninth-inning rally.
Mission accomplished.
The Sycamores were aggressive from the opening inning at the plate and starting pitcher Devin Moore gave them eight valuable and effective innings on the mound as ISU defeated Alcorn State 14-2 at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a really good experience for everybody. It felt great to finally come out here and put some things together. It’s also really nice when your offense puts a lot of runs on the board,” Moore said.
Moore’s eight innings of work were as valuable as gold to an ISU team that is short on quality arms due to injury and ineffectiveness. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and one of the two runs he conceded was unearned. -
Johnson, Lyke win MVC titles for ISU
Indiana State’s Felisha Johnson and Maurice Lyke were both crowned Missouri Valley Conference champions on Saturday during the MVC Track and Field Championships at Drake University.
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ISU earns badly-needed win
Alcorn State’s baseball team might be ranked in the bottom 10 in RPI and Indiana State might have never lost to a Southwestern Athletic Conference team. So it wouldn’t appear that a quality win was in the offing when Alcorn State visited Bob Warn Field on Friday.
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Metro roundup: RHIT’s Evans sets Div. III record in high jump
For the third time this season, Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans topped the NCAA Division III all-time national record in the outdoor high jump Friday night.
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ISU’s Mascari and Hope win MVC track & field titles
Indiana State produced two champions during the opening day of action in the Missouri Valley Conference track and field championships Friday at Drake. Freshman John Mascari, a Terre Haute native, won the men’s 10,000-meter race and Nicole Hope won the women’s pole vault for the second time in three seasons.
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ISU pole vault tradition continues with help from its author
Pole vault is track and field for the adrenaline junkie, Indiana State senior Nicole Hope proclaimed during a recent practice at Marks Field.
To catapult oneself about 14 feet into the air with a large $500 fiberglass pole on a daily basis is a risky endeavor.
“We have to be fearless. You can’t be afraid at all,” said Hope, who has also catapulted herself into the NCAA’s elite in the event, ranking 15th in the NCAA with her leap of 13-feet, 9 1/4. -
Sycamores searching for answers after seventh loss in eight games
These are the bad times for the Indiana State baseball team.
The will is there for the Sycamores to pull out of their worst slump of the season, but the results are not. The suffering continued on Wednesday at Bob Warn Field as Eastern Illinois defeated ISU 5-3. -
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU men's track picked first in MVC Championships, women second
The Indiana State men’s track team has won the last two Missouri Valley Conference outdoor championships, but the women have not stood on the top podium since 1999.
That may change this year, but the Sycamores will face some stiff competition in their quest for the championships. -
North grad Welker helps Whitson earn first NCAA bid as coach
Eastern Kentucky girls golf coach Mike Whitson, an alumnus of his employer, enjoyed his stay in Terre Haute as coach of Indiana State, where he started the women’s golf program.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman wins HCAC all-sports trophy
Rose-Hulman has won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s all-sports trophy for the fifth time in the past six year, the league announced Monday.
Rose tallied 66.5 points for its finishes in 11 men’s sports, just ahead of Franklin with 66. Hanover was third with 53 points. -
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman tennis falls in HCAC semifinal
Rose-Hulman’s hot streak in men’s tennis came to an end Saturday in the semifinal round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament at the West Indy Racquet Club.
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Manaea fights off bad hip, wet weather to toss four innings
Mother Nature has been the bane of the Indiana State baseball team’s existence all season. Eight games wiped due to weather are a testament to that. So it was no surprise, though no less disappointing, when she didn’t deal Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea the greatest hand on Saturday as he tries to recover from a hip injury.
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ISU track enjoys big night at IU's Billy Hayes Invitational
The Indiana State Sycamores either won or finished as the top collegian in 12 events, led by the record-breaking performance of senior Brandon Pounds at the 2013 Billy Hayes Invitational Friday at Indiana University.
Pounds broke his own school record to win the men’s hammer throw. -
Lansing looking for more home games for next fall
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team is looking for a few good games.
Home games that is.
The Sycamores have filled in most of the blanks in their nonconference schedule, but as ever, ISU coach Greg Lansing would like to visit the friendly confines of Hulman Center a bit more often. -
Secret weapon: Kelsey Rosselli finishing Woods career with a bang
At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, reporting game results to the Tribune-Star after a win or a loss is not always a high priority.
So when one of its athletes enjoys an outstanding season, like senior Kelsey Rosselli is doing for the Pomeroys’ softball team in 2013, media publicity doesn’t always follow.
In fact, her efforts almost seem like a government secret.
Rosselli’s name might sound familiar to longtime Terre Haute softball followers because she was a standout for North High School, from where she graduated in 2009.
Since then, she’s helped The Woods finish runner-up in three straight U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournaments in 2010, 2011 and 2012. -
ISU baseball gets back into rhythm with victory
Baseball is a rhythm game. With contests every day or five times a week in the case of many college programs, you have the chance to build on success or wallow in a slump.
Mother Nature took that rhythm away from Indiana State’s team last week. After a 7-1 loss to Indiana on April 24, ISU was supposed to play a three-game series at Tennessee-Martin, but it was wiped out by rain.
So the rhythm was disturbed, but perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing.
ISU was in a five-game losing streak before its unintended vacation and the Sycamores made a move in the right direction Wednesday with a 7-0 win over DePauw at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a disappointing weekend. We went all the way down to Tennessee and didn’t get to play. We sat around in the hotel room. We came here and it was still raining. It was nice to get out and see some live pitching,” ISU center fielder Landon Curry said. - More College Headlines
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
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