TERRE HAUTE — When Indiana State defensive end Daniel Millington and safety Donye McCleskey began their Sycamore careers in 2006, they took a leap of faith on a program that had an unsure future.
The Sycamores didn’t win much for the departing senior class and the current seniors had two head coaches and one interim coach, but the ISU seniors can walk away knowing they were part of group that solidified ISU football and put the program on solid ground.
“It definitely makes me feel good that I was part of the first step. I was part of getting it turned around, so when I come back, it [ital]will[ital] be turned around and I can go around bragging about playing for Indiana State. I’m glad to say I was one of those strong-minded individuals who didn’t run off and take the easy route and transfer. I stayed and we took the first step,” McCleskey said.
Eight ISU seniors — McCleskey, Millington, Mike Woods, Jeramie Gray, Jerry Calvert, Gabe Mullane, Elliott Thomas (who arrived in 2005) and Antoine Brown — will play their final game in a Sycamore uniform today as ISU entertains North Dakota State in the season finale.
When the current senior class came aboard, it was an open question whether ISU would commit to football. In their time, a new locker room was built, Memorial Stadium’s turf was replaced and a coaching change was made with the idea that football was a sport ISU intended to turn in the right direction.
“The transition has been unbelievable. It’s hard for those who aren’t in the program to see all of the little things that have been done,” Millington said. “Most people are judging the program on the win-loss total. I hope everyone’s patient. The work is being done inside the program, it will get done.”
ISU coach Trent Miles has only had two years with the current senior group, but he knows the sacrifces they’ve made to put ISU on the road to respectability after they played through very little thick and too much thin.
“They’ve stuck it out through the toughest times. I love ‘em for it. They tried to be leaders, they tried to do the right thing, they’ve lead us in the right direction looking forward. I’m very grateful for their perseverance.”
Millington and McCleskey’s class only won two games — Missouri State in 2006 and Western Illinois in 2009. Millington cherishes the win over the Leathernecks, but more for his teammates than himself.
“The excitement on everyone’s face, that meant a lot to me. Being able to give [younger players] what they’ve been waiting for, that meant a lot to me after we’ve been working together,” Millington said.
Millington is the only Wabash Valley player who will play in his last game and playing for the area has also meant a great deal to him.
“My time here has meant a lot to me. It means a lot to me to do what I can to turn the program around. Being from Terre Haute, playing in front of my family has meant a lot to me. I’ll cherish every bit of it,” Millington said.
n Struggling NDSU comes to Memorial Stadium — Unfortunately, the surprise team in the Missouri Valley Football Conference might be North Dakota State ... and it’s not for a good reason.
The Bison were chosen fourth in the MVFC preseason poll and got a first-place vote, but NDSU fell on hard times as it is 2-7 overall and 1-5 in the MVFC, one-half game ahead of the Sycamores for sixth-place. Until a 14-7 victory over Western Illinois on Oct. 31, the Bison had lost five straight.
“I don’t know why they have the record they have because they’re a good team. Their tailback is excellent, they’re big, they’re stout defensively,” Miles said.
Pat Paschall, the aforementioned tailback, isn’t just excellent, he’s the nation’s leading rusher at 141 yards per game. Shamen Washington, who averages a conference-best 27.8 yards per kick return also gives the Bison special teams a jolt.
If there’s a statistic that stands out in a bad way, its NDSU’s pass defense, ranked 113th in the nation in efficiency. However, ISU ranks 115th in pass offense and quarterback Ryan Roberts is banged up, so ISU will have to improve dramatically to take advantage.
ISU injuries will have a major impact on the Sycamores. Two-third of ISU’s linebacking corps — C.J. Cook and Jacolby Washington — are out. ISU will also be missing Koby Kraemer and Matt Seliger, they were hurt on consecutive plays last Saturday at Missouri State.
“We have more depth than we’ve had since I’ve been here. Guys have been waiting for their turn, especially at linebacker, we have a lot of talent there. They’ve been anxious all year to get their turn to play. This is their week, it’s their time to step up,” Millington said.
An ISU win would assure at least a tie for sixth place in the conference, a lofty finish considering ISU carried the nation’s longest losing streak into the conference season.
“We’re fighting for who’s going to be ahead of who in the conference. There’s a lot to play for tomorrow,” Millington said.
College
Indiana State seniors happy football program is headed in right direction
Sycamores play final home game of season
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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.
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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. -
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.
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‘Frustrated’ Sycamores regroup to face Southern Illinois
Indiana State’s men’s basketball struggles have hit one Sycamore senior hard.
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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.
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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.” -
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. -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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