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November 14, 2009

Indiana State seniors happy football program is headed in right direction

Sycamores play final home game of season

By Todd Golden The Tribune Star Sat Nov 14, 2009, 12:33 AM EST

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.

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