TERRE HAUTE — The fall weather has been amazing in the Wabash Valley — aside from the rain, of course — and nobody’s enjoying it more than Sycamore Sam, the Indiana State athletics mascot.
Sam fit me into his/her — the furry, blue woodland creature has no species or gender — busy schedule to discuss Sycamore athletics.
I offered to buy Sam a beer to get the conversation rolling, but it turns out his/her drinking is limited to a couple glasses of white wine each week.
Even during the football losing streak, I asked?
The football season is no time to drink, said Sam, who assured me he/she is of legal drinking age. All of the 32 consecutive losses hurt equally, but alcohol is not the answer.
What is your answer for football turning things around?
When I was a baby growing up on the Wabash River all alone — my mother left me for dead, probably due to my freakish blue fur — I realized that you have to find where you fit in and embrace being part of a new family. When the folks at Indiana State brought me in, they treated me like one of their own. I think coach Trent Miles is trying to do the same thing with his players. It will take time, but he will bring in the talent to compete with the teams on their schedule and eventually win.
That may be, Sam, but some of those losses are pretty ugly. Shouldn’t we see some progress by now?
Do you see a headset on my giant head? I didn’t think so. I’m not a coach!
OK, calm down, Sam. I realize football may be a touchy subject for you right now. Let’s move on to the other ISU fall sports. Are you enjoying the volleyball, soccer and cross country teams?
Yes, I am. The Sycamore runners are looking good and the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet is coming up Saturday. This meet is huge, and always features some of the top contenders for the NCAA championship. This year is no different as Jenny Barringer — 9th place in the 2008 Olympic steeplechase — is back for Colorado and she is a course record waiting to happen. On the men’s side, German Fernandez of Oklahoma State is a future Olympian, but he’s only a sophomore for the title-seeking Cowboys.
I just don’t understand why the other schools don’t allow their mascots to come. But I warned that duck from Oregon not to come over here. I saw on YouTube a couple years ago that he beat up Washgington State’s Cougar pretty bad, and I text-messaged him that he wouldn’t stand a chance against me.
He took down a cougar, wow. That must be an impressive duck?
No, cougars are wimps. You know that cougar that was running wild around Terre Haute earlier this year? Let’s just say, I’ve still got stew in my freezer.
Well, I had no idea, you had such a vicious streak, Sam. Let’s change the subject to something a little more cheery.
Let’s talk about basketball, then. Geez, what kind of reporter are you? Ask me a question about basketball.
OK, Sam. Did you see the news about Jake Kelly being eligible for this season?
See the news? Jake Kelly is one of my top friends on Facebook. We chat. Get with the program.
Of course. So what do you think that means for the Sycamores this season?
It should be a great season. Coach Kevin McKenna has a lot of talent, especially in the backcourt. As Harry Marshall said in the Kelly story in the newspaper, it really helps the team’s depth.
Ah, so you do read the newspaper, Sam? I was beginning to worry we had lost the mascot demographic.
Despite all the talk about the demise of the business, I think newspapers will change with the times and remain relevant. There will always be interest in reading about sports, right?
I can’t argue with you there. So how many victories would you say for ISU? Does Kelly make them a 20-win team?
First off, there’s more to this team than Jake Kelly. Get over your man crush already … Harry Marshall has developed into a great penetrator in the backcourt, Louisiana Tech transfer Dwayne Lathan is also very quick and eligible, Koang Duluony has a 7-foot wingspan, Josh Crawford has added some bulk and Brant Leitnaker is healthy. These guys showed some promise last year, at least at the end of the year when Jay Tunnell was draining 3-pointers all over the place.
Speaking of draining 3-pointers, Kelsey Luna was among the NCAA leaders in 3-point shooting last year until her season-ending knee injury really hurt the hopes for the women’s basketball team last season. What do you expect from the ISU women’s team?
I think Luna will be outstanding in her senior season. If Illinois transfer Chelsea Buher can step in and take pressure off Luna to do the scoring, and the other newcomers can provide some quality minutes, then it could be a special season.
They also have 15 total players to work with, and, looking at the rest of the Missouri Valley Conference, I think it’s going to be a down year in the league. I know coach Jim Wiedie is hungry to make it to the NCAA Tournament so maybe this is the year that program finally makes it.
Sounds like you’re informed and ready for basketball season Sam. I’d imagine you’ll be at the Block Party on Friday?
Yes, the Block Party is a great way for fans to come out and meet the players on both teams and talk with other fans, while also getting a good look at the Sycamores in practice.
When he’s not having imaginary conversations with mascots, Craig Pearson can be reached by e-mail at craig.pearson@tribstar.com or by phone at (812) 231-4357.
College
'Till It's Over: State of Sycamores … an imaginary conversation with Sam
- College
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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. -
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.
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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.
- Wabash Valley verbal commitments
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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?
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METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors
Four Rose-Hulman athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly honors, the HCAC announced Monday.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. -
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.
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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. -
IU triumphs
When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.
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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.
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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.
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ISU women look to reverse recent trend vs. Creighton
The Creighton women’s basketball team has won three of their last four games in Hulman Center. While the Bluejays have been one of the winningest programs in the Missouri Valley Conference — with at least 12 league wins in seven of the last nine seasons — the Bluejays’ success in Terre Haute would need to end if the Sycamores want to show that their 4-1 start to league play is not a fluke.
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Hoosiers, Buckeyes meet after suffering upsets
Ohio State standout Jared Sullinger blames himself for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes’ most recent loss.
“There were times in the Illinois game where I just kind of took a break on the defensive end instead of the offensive end and it cost us,” Sullinger said, referring to a 79-74 setback on Tuesday. -
Rose drops pair to Transylvania
Transylvania withstood a second half charge by Rose-Hulman to earn a 60-46 men’s basketball victory in a battle of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference co-leaders Saturday.
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Bradley shoots down ISU women
The Indiana State women’s basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Bradley team on Saturday afternoon, as the Sycamores dropped a road contest 79-58 inside the Renaissance Coliseum.
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Defense fails ISU again in loss at Southern Illinois
Defense wins championships. So what does lack of defense do?
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ISU women pick up big road win against defending champion Northern Iowa
Brittany Schoen hit a 3-pointer to begin the second half that put Indiana State ahead 36-25. The senior’s shot and ISU’s stingy defense helped the Sycamores pull ahead by as many as 16 in the second half on the way to a 68-62 triumph at Northern Iowa.
Indiana State moved into a tie for first place with a 4-0 record. -
Grueling stretch of MVC schedule continues at SIU
It’s a stretch of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule Allen Iverson would love.
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team travels to Southern Illinois tonight for a rare Friday night game. It is the second of three games ISU — and the rest of the MVC teams — will play in a six-day span.
Included is a Friday-Sunday swing for each league school. All teams will play one home and one road game in those three days. -
IU suffers first loss this season in Assembly Hall
So much for Indiana’s perfect record at Assembly Hall.
Minnesota held off a late rally by the seventh-ranked Hoosiers to win 77-74 on Thursday night, the Golden Gophers’ first win in the Big Ten this season and the first time since 1985 that Minnesota defeated a ranked college basketball team on the road. -
Ivy Tech to host ‘Faces in the Crowd’ political exhibit
Ivy Tech Community College-Wabash Valley welcomes “Faces in the Crowd: Indiana and the Political Process,” a traveling exhibition of the Indiana Historical Society through Feb. 2.
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Theatrical group to perform ‘Bachelor of Death’ murder mystery
Indiana State University will host the Random Acts Murder Mystery/Student Leader Dinner on Feb. 3 at Hulman Memorial Student Union Dede I.
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Yeargin, Odum fight ailment as a pair
Often overlooked, athletic trainers are as much a part of the fabric of a team as the players and coaches are.
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Evansville will test ISU’s toughness
Indiana State’s fall-from-ahead 69-63 loss to Missouri State on Saturday exposed several problems on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, but the root cause can be traced back to the lack of a important quality.
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Missouri State takes game from Indiana State in second half
Hulman Center is no longer impregnable. Missouri State’s men’s basketball team stormed the Indiana State parapets in the second half and the Sycamores offered little resistance until it was too late.
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Rose wins twinbill
Playing an afternoon doubleheader inside Hulbert Arena, the Rose women routed Mount St. Joseph 71-40 to post their largest margin of victory since the 2006-07 season when the female Engineers defeated St. Mary-of-the-Woods by 41.
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