Longtime Indiana State Athletics employee and supporter Tom James has been named alumni liaison for the Sycamore Football program, ISU Director of Athletics Sherard Clinkscales and head coach Curt Mallory announced Aug. 8.
James will assist the football program and coaching staff with maintaining relations with Indiana State football alumni, as well as helping coordinate alumni events at home and on the road throughout the season.
“He is a huge asset to our football program,” Mallory said. “Anybody who has ever played here at Indiana State knows Tom.”
A staple of Sycamore Football for more than four decades, James began as a student manager for the team as a high school senior at Terre Haute North in 1975 – making the upcoming 2017 season his 42nd to be associated with Indiana State. In 1979, James began his career as a sports information director as a student worker, which led to being named an assistant SID in 1982. James worked in the sports info office at Indiana State in that capacity until 1997.
“I bleed blue, I bleed Indiana State football, and that’s my passion and that’s my family,” James said.
Since, James helped begin the Indiana State Football Alumni Association in 2009, which has included a frequent newsletter that goes out to former student-athletes, coaches and managers. James is also in charge of a football alumni Facebook page.
“We just want to make sure everybody’s on the same page,” James said. “A lot of alums want to come out and contribute to the program in different ways.”
“It’s going to take everybody,” Mallory said. “We need everybody a part of the team. The only chance we’re going to have to build a championship program is to have everybody involved.”
In addition to his commitments to Indiana State, James has also covered the Indianapolis Colts on a regular basis since 1999. He covered three Super Bowls as a professional football writer in total, including two with the Colts at Super Bowl XLI and Super Bowl XLIV.
