TERRE HAUTE — If Indiana State football coach Trent Miles’ blueprint to bring the Sycamore program back to respectability works, the players he’ll be depending on to see his plan through are currently taking their lumps as underclassmen.
Some more than others, some less than others. And then there are the select few freshmen who have stood out and have been ISU contributors ahead of the learning curve.
Defensive end Ben Obaseki and center FN Lutz fit into the latter category. Both freshmen have had a big impact at various positions. Obaseki has started at end all season. Lutz moved into the offensive line early in the campaign and has since settled in as the starting center.
“They’re kids with great potential, their best football is ahead of them. They’re good people and they love football,” Miles said. “I’m a little surprised they weren’t both recruited by MAC schools.”
Obaseki, a Washington, Ind., native, impressed the coaching staff during the summer preseason and quickly earned a starting spot. Along with linebacker Jacolby Washington (59 tackles), Obaseki’s been the freshman who’s had the most impact on the ISU defense. He has 24 tackles, two of them for a loss and has two sacks. Obaseki had a key sack in ISU’s 17-14 victory over Western Illinois on Oct. 24.
“I came into the season just trying to make the travel squad, I didn’t expect the season I’ve been having,” Obaseki said. “[Defensive coordinator] Shannon Jackson has helped me out a lot, but really, it’s just about hard work and keeping my nose to the grindstone.”
Obaseki defined himself as a hybrid type of end; he excels, or wants to excel, as a speed-rusher and power-rusher. It has also helped him that he has experienced line mates, notably seniors Dan Millington and Nate Brown.
“It’s helped me a lot. From the start, Dan Millington has taken me under his wing and has shown me the ropes and the other guys have encouraged me and kept me working hard,” Obaseki said.
Miles has been high on Obaseki all season.
“Before he leaves here, he’ll be an all-conference defensive end. It should be written on the wall for him. He has speed, strength and toughness. It’s hard to beat that,” Miles said.
Lutz, who hails from Lafayette, was plugged into the offensive line during ISU’s game at Louisville on Sept. 3. Lutz then replaced Corey Bichey at left guard for ISU’s game against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 10. Guard is Lutz’s natural position and the one he played in high school at Lafayette Harrison.
With ISU’s offensive line struggling in the first half of the season, the decision was made to move Lutz to center. He was behind Ben Geffert on the depth chart at Northern Iowa on Oct. 3. But the decision was made to move Geffert to guard and Lutz started at center when ISU played at Illinois State on Oct. 17.
“They had me at center when I first came here, then they put me at left guard. They did some changing up at the line [in late September] and I was back at center,” Lutz said. “I was nervous for that Illinois State game, I had never played center in a game before, I was worried about the snaps. But once I got over that, I knew I could incorporate my guard technique and be OK.”
Lutz’s first name is FN, the letters are not initials. It’s a tradition that’s been passed down in his family for three generations.
“Capital F, capital N, no periods,” said Lutz, who was also twice-named Indiana State Fair Woodworker of the Year. “My grandpa’s grandpa was named Franklin Norris Lutz, everyone called him FN for short. So my great-grandpa named my grandpa FN after him and its been carried down ever since.”
Miles has appreciated the stability Lutz has helped foster in an ISU offensive line that has gradually improved as the season has progressed.
“FN is just a good old country farm boy that likes to wear his cowboy boots and is a tough kid who loves football. Whatever he lacks size-wise [officially Lutz is 6-foot-3, 275 pounds], he’ll make up in the weight room and he’ll be a good football player,” Miles said.
• ISU travels to Missouri State today — Last season, the Bears dealt the Sycamores one of their biggest heartbreaks during the 33-game losing streak. ISU led 21-14 and Missouri State was down to its last play in regulation. Missouri State quarterback Cody Kirby completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Chris Geisz as time expired. Missouri State then plowed the shell-shocked Sycamores in overtime for a 27-24 victory, which ended ISU’s 2008 season on a decided downer.
The Sycamores (1-8, 1-5) have since put the losing streak behind them, but the Bears also aren’t the same team ISU faced last season. Missouri State (5-4, 3-3) has refined an already good passing game.
“They’re a lot better. [Kirby] is probably the best throwing quarterback in the conference and they have an All-American tight end [Clay Harbor] who’s a NFL prospect,” Miles said.
ISU rushed for 291 yards against the Bears last season, including 237 yards for Darrius Gates, but Missouri State has since gone to a 3-4 defense and improved drastically in defending the run. The Bears are middle-of-the-pack in the conference statistically on defense.
For the third week in a row, there are no changes in ISU’s starting lineup and there are no injuries. The stability is a welcome happenstance for Miles.
“It’s huge. We have continuity. The best thing about it is we have the chance to do this over the next two or three years. We just need a few wins,” Miles said.
Indiana State University
Pair of ISU freshmen ahead of curve on gridiron
- Indiana State University
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One out away from win, ISU falls to Boilermakers
So close, yet so close?
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Maynard to serve as interim president of ISU Foundation
The Indiana State University Foundation Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Jack Maynard to serve as the foundation's interim president. Maynard will remain provost and vice president of academic affairs for the university during his interim role with the foundation.
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Indiana State’s Rupe gets test today at No. 13 Purdue
Indiana State’s late-scheduled baseball game at No. 13 Purdue today has many benefits, not the least of which is that ISU’s NCAA Tournament chances increase merely by playing the game as the Sycamores’ strength of schedule gets a shot in the arm.
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Sycamores get brooms out: ISU needs 1 more win to claim MVC
Indiana State’s baseball team had won every Missouri Valley Conference series it had played this season, but one nagging thought was on the Sycamores’ minds as they suited up Sunday to play Southern Illinois.
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ISU rallies for 2nd straight MVC title
A strong Sunday performance lifted Indiana State’s men to a second straight Missouri Valley Conference track championship Sunday at Wichita State.
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Win over SIU puts Sycamores in first place
As Indiana State’s baseball team tried to climb to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference mountain on Saturday against Southern Illinois, it stood to reason that the air would get more rarefied as they neared the summit.
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ISU gives Bacus run support, win
Starting pitchers tread on shaky ground when the topic of run support comes up. To broach the topic if they’re not getting it can be a dicey proposition in the clubhouse.
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ISU adds showdown with Purdue
Butler’s overbooked baseball schedule is doing wonders for Indiana State’s baseball slate … and possibly … for ISU’s at-large chances for the NCAA baseball tournament.
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Metro roundup: ISU’s Lucas honored by Missouri Valley again
For the fifth time in the last nine weeks, Indiana State junior catcher Jeremy Lucas has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
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Bad day at the office: Factors within & beyond Sycamores’ control conspire in loss
Indiana State’s baseball team hasn’t chalked up many bad days during a 36-12 campaign, but Sunday’s 8-2 loss to Wichita State in the series finale between the two teams would be an exception.
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Three Sycamores get wins at IU
Three Sycamores posted wins in the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana University Friday in the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.
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Rapid response lifts Sycamores over Shockers
At some point last week, the Indiana State right fielder previously known as Robby Ort decided to shorten his chosen name and identify himself as Rob Ort.
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Pickoff move a weapon for Manaea
If all Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea did right for the Sycamores was to retire batters at the plate, no one would have any complaints.
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Sycamores top Shockers in 10 innings in MVC series opener
If free baseball is what you want, Indiana State has what you need. For the sixth time in the span of a month, ISU’s series opener went extra innings.
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Indiana State sophomore Greggmar Swift has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, according to an announcement from the league office Tuesday.
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Greg Goode to return to Indiana State as governmental relations director
Greg Goode is returning to Indiana State University as its executive director for governmental relations, ISU President Dan Bradley announced today.
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ISU goes to well too many times
Perhaps the most unnecessary pursuit for a Wabash Valley sports fan during the now-completed weekend was watching the first few innings of nonconference college baseball between Indiana State and visiting Nebraska-Omaha.
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For more than 43 years more than 14,000 high school students have been able to explore what their future job could be like, experience college campus life and earn university credit during one-week seminars in the Summer Honors Program at Indiana State University.
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ISU baseball living on the edge
Indiana State’s baseball team got its game against Nebraska-Omaha in Saturday between morning and evening rain showers. But in the wake of another walk-off 3-2 victory against the struggling Mavericks, one might be forgiven if they felt the Sycamores are walking between the raindrops a bit.
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Providing perspective: ISU’s vets have 2009 as window into 2012
Indiana State’s baseball team has reached dizzying heights, but if the Sycamores have any trouble keeping their feet on the ground, they can turn to three teammates who can remind them how dangerous it can be to get complacent.
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Missouri State wins MVC golf championship as expected
Missouri State was a unanimous pick to win the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Golf Championship, the pollsters citing their experience with four upperclassmen.
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Sycamores drop finale
Despite freshman Megan Stone hitting her second career home run in the last three games, the Indiana State softball team fell in the series finale 9-1 to Illinois State.
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ISU defined by resiliency as Illinois falls
If you had to pick one game that best exemplified Indiana State’s baseball season to date, you’d be hard-pressed to choose a better example than ISU’s 6-4 victory over Illinois at Bob Warn Field on Tuesday.
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Uphill Battle: ISU 23 strokes back of MVC leader No. Iowa
Indiana State maintained sixth place after two rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference Golf Championships, but the Sycamores face a tough challenge to move into the top half of the league after today’s final round at the Country Club of Terre Haute.
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Enter Cummings, exit McWhorter
All it took was a stat sheet to show Indiana State men’s basketball coach Greg Lansing the glaring need the Sycamores had as they built their 2013 team.
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TH golf community steps up for ISU
The Terre Haute golf community and the Indiana State women’s golf program can be a thriving partnership, and this week’s Missouri Valley Golf Championships have put that potential on display.
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ISU comes up big
Indiana State’s weekend baseball series with Dallas Baptist was ballyhooed as a make-or-break opportunity for the Sycamores to state their case for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
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Sycamores tied for 6th in MVC
Indiana State got off to a solid start, but a rash of bogeys on the back nine slipped the Sycamores into a tie for sixth place after the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Golf Championships at the Country Club of Terre Haute on Sunday.
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ISU baseball drops weekend series opener to DBU
Indiana State and Dallas Baptist are playing this weekend at Warn Field for the opportunity to position themselves for a NCAA baseball tournament at-large bid.
The first statement was made by the visiting Patriots. - ISU football hopes to survive as well as evaluate
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