Todd Golden
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State’s football program has not won a season opener since 1996, a streak of 13 consecutive opening day losses.
None of them were good for the Sycamores, but of the opening day defeats, none stick out quite like last year‚s 26-20 home overtime loss to NAIA Quincy. It was a nightmare served to the Sycamores via their own mistakes and an inability to put Quincy away when given the chance. It continued ISU’s nation’s worst losing streak at 27 losses and made the 7,216 fans who attended the game — many of whom did not return for another — wonder whether it would ever end.
The loss riled ISU‚s administration (Quincy was paid $30,000 to open the season) and put a sour note on the season before it had a chance to get going.
It was a humiliation.
One year gone, and with Saint Joseph’s coming to Memorial Stadium at 7:05 p.m. tonight for the 2010 lid-lifter, ISU finds itself in what it hopes is a much happier, and more confident, place.
ISU had a nation-high nine true freshmen on the roster for the Quincy loss, and those players are a year older and experienced — many of whom have become dependable starters.
There‚s far more depth on both sides of the ball and an infusion of talent on the offensive side of the ball ˆ including new starting quarterback Ronnie Fouch, a largely new receiving corps and promising freshmen running backs Shakir Bell and George Cheeseborough ˆ that should make things far more stable on the offensive side of the ball than they were for the 2009 season
Given that, ISU coach Trent Miles and some of the Sycamores were in no mood to attach any significance to this year‚s opener based on the tribulations of last year‚s Quincy loss.
“It doesn’t weigh on our minds. We don’t let it. We don’t discuss it. We’ve moved on, we‚ve grown a lot since then. It’s not even a thought,” Miles said.
Guard Ben Geffert, who was thrust into the starting center role against Quincy last year having never played the position at the collegiate level and who was involved with four key quarterback-center snap exchange fumbles, was even more succinct.
“Last year is gone. We’ll worry about Quincy when we play them later this year [Oct. 2],” said Geffert, who has solidified his spot on the offensive line as the starting left guard.
But not everyone has forgotten the way the Quincy loss cast the 2009 season in a dour tone — until ISU finally broke through with a victory over Western Illinois in October to end a losing streak that had grown to 33 defeats.
“That loss last year has been eating at us since it happened. We’ve been focused this week to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” ISU safety Alex Sewall said.
Some of the same conditions that were in play for the Quincy loss last season are applicable again this season. Like Quincy, St. Joe‚s is a non-Division I opponent, so the expectation is there among most that ISU should win. Also like last season, ISU is working in a new quarterback and a new offense for the first time.
“Last year [with the losing streak], I think we had guys who weren‚t sure we could do it. Now we‚ve got the win, we got some momentum, and we know we can win if we play like we should,” Sewall said.
Unlike last season, ISU’s foe has a game under its belt. St. Joe’s lost 23-13 to Truman State last Saturday at Rensselaer.
The Pumas were down 20-0 at halftime before they put second half points on the board to make the final outcome respectable. St. Joe’s offensive production was hampered by the inability to protect quarterback Mike Hladik, who was sacked eight times. As a result, the Pumas finished the game with minus-14 yards rushing.
Still, Hladik managed to pass for 238 yards and completed 21 of 39 passes when he was upright. Receivers Julian Walker (8 catches, 80 yards) and Mack Ogletree (5 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD) were reliable targets.
“It means a lot that they have a game under their belt. They’ve got their game speed down and they’ve got those butterflys out of their system of the unknown. It means a lot,” Miles said.
Like most Division II teams, St. Joe’s has size at certain positions, but not consistently across any one of its units.
“They‚ve good some good receivers, they’ve got some good skill players, they’ve got a couple of good DBs and some good guys up front. It’ll be a battle,” Miles said.
The Sycamores are relatively healthy. Starting cornerback Larry Carter has not practiced and is doubtful for tonight’s game, which means there will be three newcomers starting in ISU’s secondary. All other starters are expected to be ready.
The Pumas and Sycamores were Indiana Collegiate Conference foes from 1950 to 1968 and have played each other 27 times, with ISU winning 15 of the match-ups. ISU has won the last five meetings and have not lost to St. Joe’s since 1965.
Today’s lineups
Indiana State offense St. Joseph’s offense
Pos Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. Player Ht. Wt. Yr.
WR Justin Hilton 6-3 190 Jr. WR Mack Ogletree 6-0 192 Sr.
WR Leonard Riston 5-11 180 Fr. WR Julian Walker 5-11 169 Fr.
LT Mike Smith 6-3 310 Jr. LT Wes Schroder 6-1 305 Sr.
LG Ben Geffert 6-3 285 Jr. LG Cody Blue 6-3 251 Jr.
C FN Lutz 6-3 275 So. C Joe West 6-0 258 Sr.
RG Pat Burke 6-4 320 Sr. RG Thomas Good 6-2 297 Jr.
RT Casey Paswater 6-4 285 So. RT David Taylor 5-11 248 Jr.
TE Alex Jones 6-3 235 Jr. TE Matthew Hoekzema 6-3 237 Fr.
QB Ronnie Fouch 6-2 215 Jr. QB Mike Hladik 6-3 237 Jr.
RB Darrius Gates 5-9 190 Sr. RB Jashon Banks 5-11 202 Sr.
FB Brock Lough 6-0 220 So. FB Cameron Cullers 6-1 234 Jr.
PK Cory Little 6-0 180 Fr. PK Kevin Quackenbush 6-1 171 Jr.
Indiana State defense (4-3) St. Joseph’s defense (3-3-5)
Pos Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. Player Ht. Wt. Yr.
DE Ben Obaseki 6-3 235 So. DE Sam Gonzales 6-4 248 Jr.
DT Rod Hardy 6-2 295 Jr. NT Mike Malone 6-1 324 So.
DT Nate Brown 6-0 252 Jr.
DE Jacolby Washington 6-1 235 So. LB Kenneth Lee 6-3 206 So.
SLB Ryan Roberts 6-4 215 Jr. LB Cameron Ellsberry 5-11 229 Jr.
MLB C.J. Cook 6-0 230 Jr. LB James Wyatt 6-2 193 Sr.
WLB Santino Davis 6-1 220 Jr. CB Ronnell Tibbs 6-1 174 Sr.
CB Calvin Burnett 5-9 160 Fr. CB Kevin Isom 5-9 165 Jr.
CB Johnny Towalid 5-11 165 So. FS David Wallace 6-0 181 Sr.
SS Alex Sewall 6-1 210 Jr. FS Roderick Gray 5-10 181 Sr.
FS Larry King 6-2 205 Fr. SS Ben Gomes 5-10 170 Jr.
P Santino Davis 6-1 220 Jr. P Kevin Quackenbush 6-1 171 Jr.
ISU-SJU at a glance
The matchup — The Indiana State Sycamores play host to the Saint Joseph’s Pumas in the season opener for the Sycamores.
Kickoff — 7:05 p.m. today.
Site — Memorial Stadium
Records — It is ISU’s opener. St. Joseph’s is 0-1. The Pumas lost to Truman State 23-13 on Aug. 28.
Broadcasts — Radio: ESPN Radio 1130 & 1300. Internet: The game will be webstreamed at GoSycamores.com.
Coaches — Trent Miles (1-22) is in his third season at ISU. A.J. Ricker (0-1) is in his first season at St. Joseph’s.
Series — ISU leads 15-12. The Sycamores have won five in a row in the series, including a 38-7 victory in the last meeting in 1998. The Pumas’ last victory came in 1965. ISU has not won its season opener since 1996.
Injuries — For ISU, RB Luke Harris (knee) is out. CB Larry Carter (leg) is questionable.
— Todd Golden
