Bonnie Ryan
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Four former Indiana State football players were named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Silver Anniversary Team, the league office has announced. Sycamore honorees included David Wright (1992-95), Dan Brandenburg (1992-95), Shannon Jackson (1996-99) and Kyle Mitchell (2002-05).

Founded in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, the MVFC is celebrating its 25th season of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) football during the 2009 season. As part of a season-long celebration, the conference is paying tribute to its all-time greats by selecting the Silver Anniversary Team.

Team composition for the league's Silver Anniversary Team was determined by a committee and fan voting.  Nearly 2,500 votes were cast on-line from July through mid-October. The conference office, with consultation from institutional personnel, compiled the list of honorees on the ballot.

Wright was a four-time all-conference running back who went on to earn second-team All-America honors in 1992. No. 4 all-time with 5,341 all-purpose yards, he garnered first-team all-league status in 1992, 1993 and 1995, and was a second-team selection in 1994.

Brandenburg was a three-time all-conference defensive lineman (1993-95) and a two-time All-American in 1994 and 1995. He ranks fourth all-time with 32 sacks.

Jackson, who is 10th all-time in sacks (24), was named to four all-conference teams as a defensive lineman. He was a first-team awardee in 1997 and 1999, as well as second-team in 1998 and an honorable mention pick in 1996. Jackson was also named a third-team All-American in his sophomore and senior years. He now serves as defensive coordinator for ISU.

Mitchell is the most recent ISU defensive lineman on the list, having earned a spot on the All-MVFC squads all four years of his career. After an honorable mention accolade as a freshman, Mitchell was a first-teamer from 2003 to 2005 and tallied 25.5 sacks, good for eighth all-time.

Among the 67 players selected to the Silver Anniversary Team, 24 earned first-team honors three or more times in their careers, including Wright, Brandenburg and Mitchell.

In the league's first 24 seasons, league members have combined for two national championships, four national championship game appearances, and 14 national semifinal trips.  Valley Football student-athletes and coaches have earned 19 different National Player or Coach of the Year designations, and the league had a myriad of student-athletes who collected All-America honors and earned national academic distinction.

Missouri Valley Football Conference Silver Anniversary Team

OFFENSE

DEFENSE