The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Troy Walters has resigned after one season as offensive coordinator for the Indiana State football program to accept the position of wide receivers coach at Texas A&M.
Last season Walters was in charge of the Sycamore quarterbacks and wide receivers in addition to his duties as offensive coordinator. Walters will replace Steve Kragthorpe as the wide receivers coach with the Aggies after Kragthorpe suddenly resigned Monday to be with his family as they face certain medical issues.
A search has already begun to find a replacement for Walters in the coming days.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I have accepted an offer to be the wide receivers coach at Texas A&M,” Walters said. “I would like to thank coach Trent Miles and Indiana State University for giving me my first opportunity to develop young men. Indiana State football will forever have a place in my heart.”
Walters helped Miles earn his first collegiate head coaching victory on October 24 when the Sycamores downed Western Illinois 17-14. On the playing field, running back Darrius Gates was an All-MVFC honorable-mention selection.
“I want to thank coach Walters for his hard work and dedication to the Indiana State football program,” Miles commented. “We certainly hate to lose a talented young coach like Troy, but it is a compliment to his talents that Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman looked immediately to him when their position became open. We all wish Troy the best as he moves on to the next step in his coaching career. I will be working hard over the next several days to fill this vacancy in our coaching staff.”
Walters began his NFL playing career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2000 after being selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He finished his rookie season with a 23.1 kickoff-return average, seeing action in 12 games. After working for another season primarily as a return specialist with the Vikings, Walters took his talents to the Indianapolis Colts.
In 2003, Walters started four of 15 games for the Colts and posted career-best numbers with 36 pass receptions for 456 yards and three touchdowns. He recorded receptions in 12 outings, including 10 multiple-reception games. In 2005, he saw action in all 16 games in Indianapolis, making one start at wide receiver and finished the season with 14 receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. That season he set single-game career-bests with eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown at Seattle on Christmas Eve.
After moving to the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, Walters played in 15 games and had 23 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He scored the Cardinals’ first touchdown of 2006 when he pulled in a 2-yard pass in the first quarter of the season opener versus San Francisco.
Walters wrapped up his professional career in 2007 with the Detroit Lions. While there, Walters saw action as both a wide receiver and punt return specialist.
Prior to working in the professional ranks, Walters won the Bilentnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver in college football as a senior with 74 catches for 1,456 yards and 10 touchdowns at Stanford. He had 244 pass receptions for 3,986 yards with 26 touchdowns and reached the end zone three times on punt returns. His 3,986 yards receiving was seventh in the history of college football and his 244 pass receptions were 19th.
Walters was born in Bloomington and was a standout high school football player at A&M Consolidated High School School in College Station. His father, Trent Walters, has been an assistant coach at Indiana, Louisville, Washington, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Notre Dame in the college ranks while working in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.
Baseball
• North Terre Haute completes pool rout — At Pendleton, North Terre Haute completed pool play Monday at the Little League state tournament with its third consecutive 10-run-rule victory.
North beat New Castle 12-1 as R.J. Easton had a homer and a double and T.J. Collett, Nick Rush, Brandon Taylor and Cody Maloon combined on a one-hitter on the mound.
North begins single-elimination finals play at 8 p.m. today.
North Terre Haute 302 43 — 12 16 0
New Castle 000 01 — 1 1 2
T.J. Collett, Nick Rush (2), Brandon Taylor (3), Cody Maloon (5) and Maloon, Collett (2); May, Darling (1), McIlwain (2), King (5) and Renner. HR — NTH: Easton.
Highlights — For North Terre Haute, R.J. Easton was 2 for 2 with a 2-run homer and a double; Logan Grim was 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and a run; Travis Adams was 3 for 4 with a double and 2 runs; T.J. Collett was 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and 3 runs; Brett Herndon was 2 for 3 with a double; Brandon Taylor was 1 for 3 with a double and 2 runs; Cody Maloon was 1 for 3 with a double; Brayton Hoopingarner was 1 for 2 with a run; and Austin Turner was 1 for 3 with a run.
Next — North Terre Haute won its pool and plays the runner-up from another pool, probably Ben Davis, at 8 p.m. today.
• Riley 10s eliminated — At Lexington, Ky., Riley’s 10-year olds lost to Scott County, Kentucky, on Sunday and were eliminated in the semifinals of the Cal Ripken League’s Ohio Valley Regional.
No further details were available.
• Riley 11s win — Riley’s 11-year-olds won the Pepsi Popcan Invitational last weekend, following a victory at the Boonville Invitational the week before.
Riley beat Happy Valley 10-0, Edgewood 6-5 and North Terre Haute 3-2 at the Popcan tournament.
Team members are Nick Barrett, Will Buchanan, Wiley Clinkenbeard, Kavan Crowell, Grant Dennany, Ryan Friedrich, Ethan Hunter, Cody Moshak, Conner Owen, Nick Payne, Tony Smodilla and Blake Speth. Manager is David Friedrich, coaches are David Owen and Jonathan Hunter.
Golf
• Qualifying begins — At West Lafayette, three players tied for first Monday in the first round of qualifying for the boys state junior championships at Purdue University.
Jake Groninger, Nick Grubnich and Dylan Meyer all had a 1-under-par 71.
Thomas Goss of Terre Haute tied for 12th with 73.
Other players and their scores Cory Gertz of Terre Haute 81, Nathan Pirtle of Sullivan 83, Brandon Bekkering of Clinton 84. Eric Gertz of Terre Haute 88.
Qualifying continues today with match play beginning Wednesday.
• Ace — At Mark’s Par Three, Nancy Padan of Terre Haute recorded a hole-in-one Monday on the 105-yard eighth hole.
Padan used a 7-iron for the shot witnessed by her husband, Bill Padan, and her daughter Sarah Padan.
