By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football will open the 2015 season at home on Saturday against the Butler Bulldogs. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
No. 20/21 Indiana State Sycamores (0-0, 0-0 MVFC)
Head Coach: Mike Sanford | Third Season | 25-60 career record (eighth season) | 9-17 at ISU
Butler Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 Pioneer)
Head Coach: Jeff Voris | 10th Season | 69-83 career record (15th season) | 54-48 at Butler
QUICK HITS
• The Sycamores and Bulldogs will meet up for the 35th time in their histories to open the 2015 season at Memorial Stadium on Sat., Sept. 5 at 3:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
• Indiana State begins the season ranked No. 20 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the STATS FCS Poll. ISU is one of six Valley teams to being 2015 ranked.
• Indiana State is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory after going 8-6 in 2014, which included its first trip to the playoffs since 1984 and first playoff win since 1983.
• The Sycamores return 15 total starters from 2014's superb team, including nine on defense.
• This marks the 111th season of football at Indiana State, dating back to 1896. The University did not field teams from 1899 to 1900, 1908 or from 1910 to 1919. ISU owns an all-time record of 375-500-22 and is competing for the 30th consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
About Butler
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Butler comes into Terre Haute this Saturday following a 4-7 campaign in 2014, which includes a 2-6 mark in the Pioneer Football League. The Bulldogs put up 351.9 yards and 23.4 points per game, but allowed 423.7 yards and 27.7 points per game on defense. Butler returns both quarterbacks who saw action in 2014 -- senior Matt Shiltz and junior Malcolm Weaver. Weaver plaed in 11 games, passing for 1,010 yards and five touchdowns compared to Shiltz's 1,324 yards and 10 TDs in only six games -- during which he completed 62 percent of his passes. Other returning offensive weapons include running back Sam Schrader (604 yards, nine TDs, 8.2/avg.) and wide receiver Marquese Martin-Hayes (604 yards, 2 TDs). However, they have to replace all-purpose yardage leader Derek O'Connor, who put up 898 yards and six TDs in 2014. Butler also has to replace leadig tackler JoJo Ciancio (83 tackles, three INTs), but do return second-leading tackler Sean Horan (80 tackles, 9.0 TFL).
SERIES HISTORY - BUTLER LEADS 25-8-2
The series history between the Sycamores and Bulldogs is a peculiar one that stretches all the way back to 1904. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 25-8-2, which is thanks to Butler taking or tying the 26 matchups until Indiana State broke free at home in 1967 (23-7). Since, the Sycamores are 8-1.
Indiana State Notes
HOME/SEASON OPENERS
Indiana State is 43-59-7 all-time in season openers, but have fared better in home openers at 60-35-3. ISU has not had a home opener since 2010 (St. Joseph's, W, 57-7), which is also Indiana State's last season opening victory.
#20/21 INDIANA STATE
For a school-record 11th-straight week, Indiana State is ranked in the national top-25. This preseason, the Sycamores were rewarded for last season's playoff run with a No. 20 ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll and a No. 21 ranking in the STATS FCS Preseason Poll. The Sycamores are one of six Missouri Valley Football Conference schools ranked in both top-25 polls, coming off a season that saw all five Valley playoff teams win in the first round and saw North Dakota State and Illinois State meet up in the national title game.
CONNOR UNDERWOOD, PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Senior linebacker Connor Underwood is looking to end his stellar Sycamore career on a good note, and the people at STATS have him pegged to do so, naming him to their Preseason All-American squad. Underwood was named a First-Team All-American by The Sports Network at the end of 2014, as well as a Second-Team honoree by the Associated Press. Underwood finished second in MVFC Defensive Player of the Year voting, as well as ninth in the national Buck Buchanan Award voting. In 2014 alone, Underwood broke both the single-season (13.5) and all-time (28.5) sacks record at Indiana State, as well as the school record in tackles for loss with 25 for a whopping 84 yards.
SIX SYCAMORES NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MVFC
Coming off a historic 2014 season, Indiana State was honored with six Preseason All-MVFC honorees heading into the 2015 season: senior All-American linebacker Connor Underwood; 2015 second-team honorees Travis Starks (senior, cornerback) and Mark Sewall (senior, safety); junior long-snapper Joshua Appel; and honorable mentions LeMonte Booker (junior, running back/return specialist) and Jamar Brown (junior, tight end). Underwood was also named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-American team, following a superb 2014 campaign that saw him named to both the First-Team All-America team by The Sports Network and the Second-Team by the Associated Press.
RETURNING DEPTH FOR 2015
Indiana State returns much of its stellar 2014 team with 15 total starters returning – including an incredible nine starters from ISU's tough defense. The Sycamores actually have ten starters returning to the defense this season when counting linebacker Jordan Jackson, who saw considerable starting action his freshman season in 2013 before missing 2014 due to an injury. In addition to Jackson, the Sycamores have an incredible second level with All-American linebacker Connor Underwood, 2014 ISU tackle leader Kendall Walker and outside backer Jameer Thurman. The secondary also looks strong with Preseason All-MVFC honorees Mark Sewall and Travis Starks, as well as other veterans in Alex Stowers, Tsali Lough and Phil Wilson. ISU also returns 56.5 percent of its receiving production from 2014's explosive offense, including its top two receivers in Gary Owens (815 yards) and Robert Tonyan, Jr. (747 yards).
Indiana State Offensive Notes
QB COMPETITION
One question mark still on the ISU depth chart is at quarterback, where head coach Mike Sanford is mulling over sophomore Matt Adam or former Cal signal caller Zach Kline. Adam captured the imagination of Sycamore fans last season against Illinois State after he nearly pulled off a comeback win over the No. 15 Redbirds after Mike Perish was knocked out with an injury. Kline, meanwhile, spent 2014 at Butte College following his freshman season at Cal in 2013, in which he saw action in six games, going 43-of-82 for 443 yards and three touchdowns.
PLENTY OF TARGETS
Whomever the starting quarterback is, he will have plenty of options in distributing the ball. ISU's top-two receivers from 2014 return in Gary Owens (815 yards) and Robert Tonyan, Jr. (747), as do veterans Sampson Levingston and tight end Jamar Brown -- the latter of whom is the top-returning receiving tight end in the MVFC in 2015.
IN THE BACKFIELD
Another key offensive weapon for the Sycamores will be junior starting running back LeMonte Booker, who is in his first season in possession of the starting job. Booker was ISU's second-best rusher in 2014 behind Buck Logan, running for 367 yards on 64 touches and three touchdowns. Booker is also a threat on kick returns, as he put up 413 yards on 22 returns -- yielding an average of 18.8 per return, the best average returning to the MVFC this season.
STRETCHING THE FIELD
At 6-5 and 240 pounds, junior All-MVFC tight end Jamar Brown is going to keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night in 2015. Brown is the top-retunring receiving tight end in the MVFC this season after hauling in 29 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Brown had his breakout on the big stage in ISU's historic playoff victory over Eastern Kentucky, catching six passes for 63 yards in a Sycamore offensive explosion.
DEPTH ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE
The offense can go nowhere without a solid offensive line. The Sycamores, it just so happens, return a bevy of starting experince across the offensive line -- including four of the five starters. Dakota Vermillion (left tackle), Zach Borens (left guard), James Officer (center), Evan Goebel (right guard) and Preston Collier (right tackle) will be the Sycamore starting line, with the junior college transfer Collier the only starter without any experience. Across the starting offensive line, ISU holds an average height of 6-6 and weight of 330 pounds.
Indiana State Defensive Notes
NINE STARTERS RETURNING
Indiana State returns nine starters to its defense from 2014: defensive linemen Conlan Cassidy and Alec Lyons; linebackers Jameer Thurman, Connor Underwood and Kendall Walker; and all four defensive backs in Mark Sewall, Travis Starks, Alex Stowers and Phil Wilson.These nine Sycamores made up 58.5 of all ISU tackles in 2014 (656 of 1,121).
DYNAMIC DUO
The Sycamore secondary is anchored by senior Preseason All-MVFC defensive backs Mark Sewall (safety) and Travis Starks (cornerback). The pair are coming off an incredible 2014 season, in which they combined for 191 tackles (122 solo, 69 assisted), 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, eight interceptions (133 yards returned), 31 pass breakups (39 total passes defended) and three fumble recoveries. Individually, they both ranked second in the MVFC in INTs with four apiece, and Starks' 21 total passes defended led the conference.
TACKLING MACHINE
Senior linebacker Kendall Walker may not have gotten as many awards this preseason as his colleagues, but he has the numbers from 2014 to prove his worth. Walker was a one-man wrecking crew, leading ISU with 123 total tackles (50 solo, 73 assisted) and three forced fumbles. His 8.8 tackles per game was the second-best in the entire MVFC and his three forced fumbles ranked third in the conference as well. Walker hasn't gone unnoticed, though; he was a 2014 Honorable Mention selection, as well as a MVFC All-Academic Team member and a FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star.
Indiana State Coaching Staff
Head Coach Mike Sanford
Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 25-60 (.294) overall in his eighth season as a head coach and is 9-17 (.346) in his third season with Indiana State. He is 4-12 all-time in MVFC games, including an 2-6 mark at home and an 2-6 mark on the road. During his career, he is 18-24 in all home games, 7-36 on the road and 8-8 in games decided by three points or less. With the Trees, Sanford is 1-0 in overtime games and 0-1 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Sanford's 27th as the Indiana State head coach and his 87th as a collegiate head coach.
2014 In-Review
HISTORIC 2014
The Sycamores are coming off of one of the most memorable seasons in school history in 2014, in which ISU went 8-6 and clinched its first FCS playoff berth since 1984 as the last of five MVFC teams to get in. Indiana State then proceeded to win its first playoff game since 1983 after a 36-16 victory over No. 16 Eastern Kentucky. ISU also took down in-state FBS opponent Ball State to bring home the Victory Bell for the first time since 1987. The turnaround was swift and spectacular for head coach Mike Sanford, who took the Sycamores to the playoffs in his second season after finishing 1-11 his first season in Terre Haute in 2013.
Indiana State Counted Among The Most Improved In FCS Football
The Sycamores owned the biggest turnaround in FCS Football in 2014. Indiana State improved its 1-11 record in 2013 to an 8-6 mark in 2014. That equates to a +6.0 differential (take difference in number of wins, add difference in number of defeats and divide by 2) which was tops in the nation. Plus-six is the MVFC record, achieved twice in league history by Southern Illinois (2003) and Western Illinois (2010).
Connor Underwood Highlights Eight Sycamores Who Picked Up All-MVFC Honors
Indiana State junior linebacker Connor Underwood was a repeat selection on the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first team. He finished second in the MVFC Defensive Player of the Voting. Senior quarterback Mike Perish, junior defensive back Mark Sewall, junior defensive back Travis Starks and senior offensive lineman Aaron Jelovic were named to the All-MVFC Second Team. Junior linebacker Kendall Walker, junior wide receiver Gary Owens and sophomore deep snapper Josh Appel were each named honorable mention selections. Perish finished fifth in voting for the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year while head coach Mike Sanford was a close second in the MVFC Coach Of The Year balloting.
Sycamore Trio Named To MVFC All-Newcomer; All-Academic Teams
Indiana State junior wide receiver Gary Owens, junior punter Osborn Umeh and freshman defensive back Rondell Green were all named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team. Additionally, junior defensive back Mark Sewall (3.51 Business) as well as junior linebacker Kendall Walker (3.51 Sports Management) and sophomore linebacker Jameer Thurman (3.69, Civil Engineering) placed on the MVFC All-Academic Team
Sycamores With Eight Wins For The First Time Since Joining MVFC
The Indiana State Sycamores finished 2014 at 8-6 with a 4-4 record in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, giving ISU eight victories in a season for the first time in 29 seasons of MVFC play.
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