College

Search Results

Close Previous Now showing: of Next

Previous Next Close

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

August 29, 2010

Fouch vital in ISU football's desire for balance

Todd Golden The Tribune-Star The Tribune Star Sun Aug 29, 2010, 05:00 AM EDT

TERRE HAUTE — Asked whether he noticed that a good portion of Indiana State’s football fanbase was taking a wait-and-see approach as to how valuable he might be to the Sycamores’ offensive fortunes, Indiana State quarterback Ronnie Fouch just smiled wryly.

He knows.

He knows others have come before him and failed to give ISU’s offense the balance it desperately seeks. He knows the pressure is on him more than ever to get the Sycamores’ program moving in the right direction.

And perhaps more so than any of his predecessors, he knows if he fails to give ISU a passing game, the entire fate of the team might go down with him.

“I sense that a little bit. I’ve heard a lot about the past quarterbacks and I can tell people aren’t really sold on me yet,” Fouch said. “I’m not worried about it. It’s not my job to worry about what other people think. All I’m worried about is helping these guys win games.”

Fouch, who transferred to ISU from the University of Washington, is the third quarterback in as many years of the Trent Miles era to come into the program as the man to solidify the position.

To put it mildly, the last two would-be saviors didn’t pan out.

In 2008, there was Calvin Schmidtke, who had signed a letter-of-intent at Washington State out of high school. A Washington native, Schmidtke was released by the Cougars before he enrolled because of legal problems at home. Trouble with the law followed him to Terre Haute, where he was infamously arrested and tazed during the 2008 season. Ineffectiveness also forced the team to turn to option quarterback Ryan Roberts. Schmidtke was eventually released from the team.

In 2009, Wyoming transfer Chris Stutzriem arrived. Stutzriem, who had beaten Tennessee as Wyoming’s starter in 2008, earned ISU’s starting role out of 2009 preseason camp, but infamously lost four fumbles on quarterback-center snap exchanges during ISU’s embarrassing 26-20 overtime loss to Quincy in the season opener. Stutzriem also had trouble with his release as he was trying to guide passes to receivers. His 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame also made him a sitting duck in the pocket as ISU’s young offensive line struggled in its 2009 trial by fire.

Stutzriem eventually lost the starting job, and by the end of the season, Roberts was once again running the show as an option quarterback. Stutzriem has since transferred to Morningside College in Iowa.

The result of having to lean on Roberts was that ISU had the one of the most anemic passing games in the FCS Division, averaging just 92.91 yards per game (116th out of 118 FCS schools), which led to having the worst total offensive output of any FCS team at 190.73 yards per game. ISU also averaged a FCS-worst nine points per game in scoring offense.

Fouch arrives with fellow transfer Coy Glass, who became available when his previous school, Hofstra, eliminated its football program. But from the first snaps of spring practice, Fouch has been the anointed starter and is the one being called upon to improve ISU’s passing numbers.

“My opportunity here is a fresh start on my career. I’m here to be a leader. These guys are looking for someone to win ballgames and take them to the next level,” Fouch said.

Fouch started eight games for Washington in 2008. He threw for 1,334 yards, four touchdowns and 13 interceptions. After a coaching change prior to the 2009 season, Fouch did not play for the Huskies last year.

“He’s got experience at the highest level. He’s been in the battles. He knows what’s going on. He can make adjustments to get out of bad plays and he gives us leeway as coaches to be able to do more,” Miles said.

Fouch has a maturing cast around him that Miles hopes is ready to make strides. It starts in the backfield as Darrius Gates returns for his senior season. Gates rushed for 266 yards last season as he spelled leading rusher Antoine Brown and played in passing downs. Gates rushed for 566 yards during his sophomore season, and with the hope that ISU will produce some semblance of a passing game, he believes he can get back to that level of production.

“We’re going to be more balanced and I’m excited about it. It feels good to finally feel like other teams will have to gameplan for our quarterback and not just our running game. No more eight in the box, teams will have to respect our passing game,” Gates said.

Behind Gates are freshmen Shakir Bell and George Cheeseborough, both of whom came from Warren Central High School’s powerful program. Bell is the first Parade All-American to ever play for ISU as he rushed for 3,105 yards for the Warriors, the second-highest total in the nation. Cheeseborough, who has been bothered by a hamstring through preseason camp, rushed for 1,273 yards for the Warriors last season and was an All-State running back.

Gates, Bell and Cheeseborough are all under 5-foot-9. So while ISU will have speed, it won’t have a lot of brawn in the backfield, save returning fullback Brock Lough.

“We plan to give them reps every game. None of them are big backs. We’ll have to rotate to keep them fresh,” Miles said.

They will run behind an offensive line that returns all five starters and adds senior Pat Burke, a former starter who missed the 2009 season with a shoulder injury.

ISU’s receiving corps also has new blood. Junior college transfers John Goodlett, Justin Hilton and Ednut Egberongbe all saw action with the Blue starting team during the Aug. 21 Blue-White Game. The JUCO trio have earned practice reps along with incumbents Bryant Kent (20 catches, 326 yards, 2 TD), Larry Lacotti (18 catches, 101 yards), Tanner Riley (three catches, 45 yards) and redshirt freshman Leonard Riston. Alex Jones (five catches, 54 yards) and Michael Mardis (12 catches, 105 yards) return at tight end.

Whether Fouch succeeds as ISU’s next new hope or whether it’s Glass or one of the other six quarterbacks on the roster, Miles said ISU’s fate rides on the revival of its passing game.

“We have to be able to throw the ball or we don’t have a chance. We’re not an option football team. We have to be more than one-dimensional to save our defense and special teams. It is huge for us,” Miles said.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Copyright 2012 News From Terre Haute, Indiana. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

College

• Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process

  When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.

  February 12, 2012 6 Photos  

• ISU's Webb wins heptathlon

  Indiana State’s Robert Webb captured the heptathlon Saturday at the Grand Valley State Big Meet as he totaled the second most points in ISU history while dominating the event. Webb scored 5,140 points, which is second only to former Sycamore Anthony Bertoli’s 5,189 points in 2008.
  Webb, a senior, established three more personal best efforts enroute to the overall victory as he ran 8.45 in the 60 meter hurdles and 2 minutes, 50.73 seconds in the 1,000 meters while also clearing 13-1 1/2 in the pole vault. Webb entered the second day of the event in the lead with 2,893 points after winning three of the four Friday events and setting personal bests in the long jump and shot put.

  February 12, 2012  

• Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU

  Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.

  February 11, 2012 1 Photo  

• ‘Frustrated’ Sycamores regroup to face Southern Illinois

  Indiana State’s men’s basketball struggles have hit one Sycamore senior hard.

  February 11, 2012  

• Thomas nets double-double as ISU women end losing streak

  The halftime speech is one of the most time-worn clichés in sports, but once in a while, it’s meaningful. It certainly was for the Indiana State women’s basketball team on Friday against Bradley.

  February 11, 2012  

• Sycamore women looking to snap six-game losing streak

  The Indiana State women’s basketball team is in dire need of a victory in Hulman Center this weekend.
  Bradley visits Terre Haute tonight looking to sweep the season series from the Sycamores, who are in jeopardy of the program’s first seven-game losing streak since the 1995-96 season.
  “I think it should [add to motivation]. There’s no doubt that group in the locker room in there is very disappointed,” Coach Teri Moren said. “As I keep saying, we’re in a rough patch right now, and there’s no group of kids that wants to get right back on track more than they do.”

  February 10, 2012  

• Leonard dominates in first half, but IU, Zeller earn the victory

  The first half belonged to Illinois’ Meyers Leonard.
  The win belonged to Indiana and Cody Zeller.
  The 23rd-ranked Hoosiers (19-6, 7-6 Big Ten) took advantage of a glaring free-throw discrepancy to defeat the Illini 84-71 on Thursday.

  February 10, 2012 1 Photo  

• Rose women roll; Dickerson becomes all-time assists leader

  Rose-Hulman senior Alisa Dickerson became the college’s career leader in assists as the Engineers cruised past Defiance 60-33 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference women’s basketball Saturday afternoon in Hulbert Arena.

  February 10, 2012  

• MVC’s worst a tantalizing option for ISU

  Even though the Indiana State men’s basketball team has played better of late, having won three of its last four games, there’s only one team with a worse record in the Missouri Valley Conference standings than the Sycamores.

  February 8, 2012  

• Sycamores can’t stop Stutz, Shockers

  All or nothing. It was that kind of game for Wichita State center Garrett Stutz. Unfortunately for Indiana State’s men’s basketball team, the “all” came in the second half.

  February 5, 2012  

• McWhorter’s fortunes rise with ISU’s

  More so than any other Sycamore, Steve McWhorter might embody the decline and the recent rise of the Indiana State men’s basketball team.

  February 4, 2012  

• Johnson dominates again for ISU track

  Felisha Johnson continued to dominate women’s weight throw while two Indiana State hurdlers moved into today’s finals after solid performances in the preliminaries Friday at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame.

  February 4, 2012  

• Indiana State women lose at Illinois State

  Playing short-handed again, Indiana State’s women suffered their sixth straight Missouri Valley Conference basketball loss Friday night, falling 78-67 to host Illinois State.

  February 4, 2012  

• Indiana, Purdue meet with both looking to regain momentum

  Indiana University’s stint in the Top 25 may be coming to an end. Purdue is just looking for a winning streak.

  February 4, 2012  

• ISU women looking to end five-game losing streak at Illinois State

  Within a few points in the final minutes, Indiana State had chances to win women’s basketball games at Missouri State and Wichita State last weekend.
  But the Sycamores lost for the fourth and fifth straight games, also losing freshman Jessica Valley for the season at Wichita State. The promising backcourt player tore the ACL in her right knee and began strengthening exercises this week in order to make plans for surgery.

  February 3, 2012 1 Photo  

• ISU Senior Day game to be televised on ESPN

  The Missouri Valley Conference announced Thursday that Indiana State’s regular season finale against No. 12-ranked Creighton on Feb. 25 in Hulman Center has been chosen as the MVC’s “wild card” game that will be telecast on either ESPN or ESPN2.

  February 3, 2012  

• Hoosiers load up on in-state players

  With a 1-11 record in his first season as IU football coach, Kevin Wilson knew there were a lot of holes to fill in terms of personnel.

  February 2, 2012  

• Wabash Valley verbal commitments

  February 2, 2012  

• It’s on: Sycamores, Bulldogs to play at Hinkle on Feb. 18

  How badly did Indiana State want to get Butler as its BracketBusters opponent?
   

  January 31, 2012  

• METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors

  Four Rose-Hulman athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly honors, the HCAC announced Monday.
   

  January 31, 2012  

• Hoosiers reclaim needed offensive momentum

  Indiana hadn’t allowed an opponent to shoot better than 40 percent in three straight games heading into Sunday’s home game against Iowa.

  January 30, 2012  

• Sycamores will have to match Aces’ toughness

  Indiana State men’s basketball coach Greg Lansing has an enduring respect for the toughness Evansville coach Marty Simmons coaxes out of his Purple Aces.

  January 29, 2012  

• WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rose, The Woods post weekend victories

  Rose-Hulman relied on a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to earn a 55-44 women’s basketball victory Saturday over Mount St. Joseph.

  January 29, 2012  

• ISU's Stacia Weatherford sets school record in 60-meter hurdles

  Indiana State junior Stacia Weatherford set the school record in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, while sophomore Greggmar Swift dominated the action in the men’s 60 hurdles during competition Saturday at the Indiana Relays.

  January 29, 2012  

• Rose takes first in Engineer Track and Field Invitational

  Rose-Hulman relied on nine event victories, 13 top-two finishes and three school records for a strong performance at the ninth annual Engineer Track and Field Invitational on Saturday.
  The men’s squad captured first place honors in a meet that featured two of the nation's top 20 NCAA Division III squads and 12 institutions from seven states.  The day’s competition also included 10 meet records.

  January 29, 2012  

• Mattox’s 31 not enough for ISU women

  Indiana State pulled within 63-57 with a 6-0 run with 8 minutes, 50 seconds remaining Friday night at JQH Arena, but the Sycamores lost 84-70 to host Missouri State in a Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game.

  January 27, 2012  

• Mattox, Sycamores staying positive on road trip to Missouri State, Wichita State

  Indiana State seniors Brittany Schoen and Deja Mattox are within striking distance of passing 1,000 points in their women’s basketball careers, and they would join classmate Shannon Thomas in that club. Schoen needs just 16 points, while Mattox is 89 points away.
  But Mattox has been on a roll of late, scoring a team-high 15.1 points through ISU’s 4-3 start to Missouri Valley Conference play.

  January 27, 2012 4 Photos  

• IU triumphs

  When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.

  January 23, 2012  

• ISU women nipped at buzzer

  Creighton sophomore Carli Tritz — blanketed by Indiana State senior Brittany Schoen — had just two points at halftime Friday in Hulman Center.

  January 21, 2012  

• ISU needs to find chip on its shoulder

  When one looks back at the totality of Indiana State’s 2010-11 men’s basketball season, there’s a recurrent theme that tied together the high points in a 20-14 campaign. A recurrent theme that might give ISU a lifeline in what has been a disappointing 2012 season.

  January 21, 2012  

• More College Headlines

© 2012 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. · CNHI Classified Advertising Network · CNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2012. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope. Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
Privacy Policy | AP News Registry privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
Advertiser Index

Events by eviesays.com

News From Terre Haute, Indiana 222 S 7th St Terre Haute, IN 47807