Setting The Stage: The Indiana State Sycamores continue year three of the "Lou West Era" on Saturday, September 15, when they travel to Southeast Missouri State for its second of three consecutive games against a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Saturday night's game is set for a 7:00 p.m. (ET) kick at Houck Stadium (10,000). The game will be carried live on WSDM-FM (92.7). Brian Fritz and Pete Emmert will call the action once again for the WTWO NewsChannel 2 Radio Network. The game can be heard live world-wide on www.crock927.com. The game will be televised live over the internet using the latest web stream technology on www.gosycamores.com. Cameras high atop Houck Stadium will send digital images directly into Sycamore fan's homes. The cost of this pay-per-view event is $6.95 and can be purchased directly on www.gosycamores.com.
A Little History: This is the 103rd season of college football at Indiana State University, dating back to 1896. The university did not field teams from 1899-1900; 1908 or from 1910-1919. ISU owns an all-time record of 338 wins, 434 losses and 22 ties on the gridiron. Indiana State is competing for the 23rd consecutive season as a member of the Gateway Football Conference.
Skiding Against The Valley: With its 32-17 loss to Austin Peay on Saturday night, the Indiana State Sycamores have dropped each of its last five non-conference affairs against members of the Ohio Valley Conference. The last time ISU picked up a win over the OVC was in 2004 when the Sycamores down UT-Martin in the season's fourth game. Prior to the current five-game skid versus the OVC, the Sycamores had been victorious in the previous six meetings against the Ohio Valley.
Historic Game: When Southeast Missouri State University hosts Indiana State University on Saturday night for a football game at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Mo., history will be made. The two teams, who compete at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, are each coached by African-Americans - Tony Samuel at Southeast Missouri and Lou West at Indiana State. The contest will mark what is believed to be the first time in history of the FCS level that two programs led by black coaches from non-Historical Black Colleges have squared off with each other. An asterisks will be attached to the game due to a one-game suspension that West will serve. The Sycamores used an ineligible player in the squad's 28-22 win over Missouri State in 2006, and Saturday's contest will mark West's suspension as levied by the NCAA last December. West will still lead his team in preparations for the game and will be in attendance, but will not be on the sideline and will not have any contact with the team. His record will be credited with a win or charged with a loss depending on the outcome of the game.
The Indiana State Coach ? Indiana State head coach Lou West is 1-23 with the Sycamores as a collegiate head coach. He has never faced Southeast Missouri State. Coach West is 0-5 against members of the Ohio Valley Conference, falling twice previously to Murray State and Eastern Illinois as well as to Austin Peay last week. Following Saturday's game against SEMO, the Sycamores will face off against yet another member of the OVC next week in Eastern Illinois. West picked up his first collegiate victory on October 21, 2006 ? a 28-22 victory on Homecoming over Missouri State.
The Indiana State Acting Head Coach ? Due to the one-game suspension of head coach Lou West during Saturday's contest at Southeast Missouri State, Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Blair Hrovat (pronounced ROW-vat) will be the Sycamores' acting head coach. Hrovat was the head coach at Allegheny College from 1998-2002. He compiled a record of 26-14 in his four seasons at the helm of the NCAA Division III school.
The Southeast Missouri State Head Coach ? SEMO is led by second-year head coach Tony Samuel, and is 5-8 at the helm of the Redhawks. Samuel has never faced Indiana State.
The Sycamores Against The Redhawks ? Indiana State owns a 3-2 record all-time against Southeast Missouri State. ISU is 2-1 all-time on the road against the Redhawks, while the Sycamores have won each of the last three meetings in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met on the gridiron was in 1999, when Indiana State walked away with a 34-13 victory in Terre Haute. ISU was led by Tim McGuire in that victory. McGuire is now the defensive coordinator at Southeast Missouri State.
The Scouting Report ? Southeast Missouri State is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and play their home contests at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Redhawks opened the season with a 59-3 loss at FBS Cincinnati before returning home last week to beat Southwest Baptist by a score of 38-14.
What's Transpired ? Indiana State opened its season at Indiana and fell by the score of 55-7. ISU's lone touchdown in the game came late in the first quarter when Alex Thomas recovered a loose fumble near the goal line and rolled untouched into the end zone to cut the Hoosier advantage down to 14-7 with just over four minutes remaining. In week two, the Sycamores dropped a hard-fought 32-17 decision to Austin Peay of the Ohio Valley Conference.
Sharing The Wealth ? Senior Brian Jackson led the Sycamores' receiving efforts against Austin Peay with five receptions for a total of 70 yards. He proved to be the lone Indiana State receiver to record a multi-catch game on the day as eight other Sycamores each had one pass reception versus the Governors.
Home Opening Defeat ? Following Saturday night's 32-17 loss to Austin Peay in the home opener for the Sycamores, ISU is now 52-34-4 in home lid lifting affairs. Head coach is 0-3 in home openers, with all three of those defeats coming against members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
Working Hard On The Field And In The Classroom ? Indiana State has captured the Gateway Football Conference All-Academic Award, as announced by the league office at Media Day on Tuesday, July 24.
The All-Academic Award was established in 2004 to help bring attention to institutional academic excellence. It is based on the average student-athlete grade-point average for the academic year. The GPA calculations are calculated for all student-athletes in the Gateway who compete, practice or receive athletic aid during the academic year. The award for Indiana State is based on accomplishments during the 2006-07 academic year. Southern Illinois and Western Illinois shared the initial award (for the 2004-05 academic season), while SIU earned the honor for the 2005-06 season.
Indiana State placed a league-high five student-athletes on the Gateway Football Conference's Academic All-Conference Team. Among the five honorees for Indiana State was first-team member Kyle Hooper, who makes his second consecutive appearance on the league's top academic squad. Representing the Sycamores on the second team were wide receiver Carl Berman; defensive back Bryan Jackson, quarterback/wide receiver Ben Schmidt and offensive lineman Fred Staugh. In addition, Jackson earned First Team Academic All-District Honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Preseason Selections ? The Indiana State Sycamore football team has been picked to finish seventh this fall in the Gateway Football Conference according to a preseason poll of league head coaches, sports information directors and a media panel. In addition, senior Shonda Faulkner was been named an honorable mention selection to the preseason all-conference squad. The preseason poll was released as part of the Gateway Football Media Day activities today (July 24).
Faulkner, a senior this fall for the Sycamores, is a linebacker. Last season, he played in nine games, posting 63 total tackles. He was credited with 27 solo stops, including six tackles for losses as well as a trio of sacks. Faulkner recorded a season-best 13 tackles at Western Illinois, while his three sacks finished the year ranked 11th-best in the Gateway. His 63 total stops were 17th-best in GFC play.
Northern Iowa garnered 11 first place votes in earning the league's preseason championship nod. Right behind the Panthers were Illinois State, Youngstown State and Southern Illinois. Rounding out the poll were Western Illinois, Missouri State and the Sycamores.
Murphy Named One Of League's Top Newcomers In 2006 ? Indiana State junior quarterback Reilly Murphy (San Diego, Calif./Grossmont JC) was named to the Gateway Football Conference's All-Newcomer Team last season.
Murphy, a seven-game starter at quarterback, completed 143-of-261 passes for 1,747 yards and eight touchdowns this year. He tossed a season-long 55-yard pass in the season opener at Purdue. An able bodied runner, Murphy rushed for 167 yards on 73 attempts with six touchdowns during the season.
His 212.7 yards of total offense per game were ranked second-best in the league and finished 27th in the nation. Murphy connected on 26-of-46 passes for 279 yards with a passing TD as well as a rushing score in the season finale against Illinois State.
Up Next ? Indiana State returns to action on Saturday, September 22 when the Sycamores host Eastern Illinois of the Ohio Valley Conference. Kick-off is set for 6:00 p.m. (ET).
