By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Two years after leading the Sycamores to the FCS Playoffs for the first time in 30 seasons, former Indiana State quarterback and all-time leading passer Mike Perish is returning to the Sycamore football program as the wide receivers coach under head coach Mike Sanford.
Perish, who put together one of the best single-season offensive efforts in Indiana State history during the historic 2014 campaign, completes Sanford's 2016 staff following the hires of cornerback/nickelback coach Maurice Crum Jr. and special teams/tight ends coach Gary Hyman back in February.
“Mike Perish is an outstanding addition to our staff,” Sanford said. “He had an excellent career at Indiana State, capped off by being the quarterback who led us to the first playoff appearance in 30 years. He has been preparing himself for this moment. He already understands our offense, so it will be a very good transition for us and for him coming into this position. I see a very bright future for him.”
Perish – a native of Frankfort, Ill., and graduate of Marist HS – played at Indiana State from 2012-2014 after transferring from Western Michigan in 2011. In those three seasons, Perish became one of the greatest to ever don a Sycamore uniform, becoming ISU's all-time leading passer and destroying several single-season records along the way in 2014.
That season, Perish earned Second-Team All-MVFC honors as he led a potent Sycamore offense that propelled ISU to a playoff berth and a first-round victory over Eastern Kentucky – Indiana State's first in the playoffs since 1983. That season, Perish rewrote the record book, becoming the single-season record holder in: offensive plays (589), total offense (3,309, broke Blayne Baggett's 2005 record by nearly 500 yards), pass attempts (528), pass completions (324), passing yards (3,515, breaking Baggett's 2005 record by more than 800 yards), completion percentage (61.4) and touchdown passes (21).
In that playoff victory at Eastern Kentucky, Perish also set single-game records in completions (41) and passing yards (407) as the Sycamores routed the Colonels 36-16. Perish would finish his career with 10 250-yard passing games and second all-time in total offense (6,373) behind two-time MVFC Player of the Year, Jeff Miller (7,519).
Mike Perish Career Notes
- Sycamore QB from 2012-14 (transferred from Western Michigan)
- 2014 Second-Team All-MVFC selection
- 2012 MVFC All-Newcomer selection
- All-time leader in career passing yards – 6,716
- 2nd all-time in total offense – 6,373
- Single-season record holder in: offensive plays (589); total offense (3,309); pass attempts (528); pass completions (324); passing yards (3,515); completion percentage (61.4); and touchdown passes (21).
- Single-game record holder in: completions (41, at Eastern Kentucky, 2014, FCS Playoffs First Round); passing yards (407, at Eastern Kentucky, 2014, FCS Playoffs First Round); completion percentage (88.5, vs. Quincy, 2013); consecutive completions (12, vs. Quincy, 2013).
- 10 career 250-yard passing games
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Indiana State football begins spring practice this afternoon at Memorial Stadium, kicking off a month of work before the annual Spring Game on Fri., April 29, at 4 p.m.
The Sycamores are coming off a tough 5-6 season that saw close losses to five-time defending national champions North Dakota State and No. 3 Illinois State. The Missouri Valley Football Conference once again sent five teams to the FCS Playoffs, which accounted for five of ISU's six losses in 2015 (the other being at Purdue).
This season, the Sycamores do not have to play perennial playoff contender South Dakota State, but rather pick up their in-state rival South Dakota for the first time since 2013. The 2016 season will also include a trip to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers in potentially the final season that the Sycamores and many other FCS programs will be able to square off against Big Ten schools.
On the field, the Sycamores will feature the top-returning offensive producer in the Valley in quarterback Matt Adam, who finished 2015 with the third-best offensive season in Indiana State history at 2,592 total yards – second in the conference only to national leader Mark Iannotti of Southern Illinois (3,911). Adam will also have plenty of weapons on offense, including potential NFL caliber wide receiver Robert Tonyan Jr. and running backs LeMonte Booker and Roland Genesy. The Sycamore defense also returns familiar faces such as linebacker Jameer Thurman and safeties Marcus Gray and Tsali Lough.
Spring ball will feature 11 practice sessions and three situational scrimmages before the Spring Game on April 29.
Indiana State will also hold its Pro Day on Wednesday morning for six departing Sycamores: tight end (and current thrower on the ISU track and field team) Jamar Brown, wide receiver Gary Owens, safety Mark Sewall, cornerback Travis Starks, linebacker Kendall Walker and linebacker Connor Underwood.
Tues., March 29: Practice #1
Wed., March 30: Pro Day
Thurs., March 31: Practice #2
Fri., April 1: Practice #3
Tues., April 5: Practice #4
Wed., April 6: Practice #5
Thurs., April 7: Practice #6
Fri., April 8: Scrimmage #1
Tues., April 12: Practice #7
Thurs., April 14: Practice #8
Fri., April 15: Scrimmage #2
Tues., April 19: Practice #9
Thurs., April 21: Practice #10
Fri., April 22: Scrimmage #3
Tues., April 26: Practice #11
Fri., April 29: Spring Game, 4 p.m., Memorial Stadium
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
