The Indiana State Sycamores football team is the NCAA Division I football program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Playoffs in the 2014 NCAA Division I Football Championship. While their first season was 1896, most of the records from 1896 to 1899 have been lost over time. In addition, the university did not field a football team on a consistent basis until 1923. The Sycamores' greatest season was 1983, when coach Dennis Raetz led them to the 2nd round of the 1983 NCAA Division I Football Championship and ended the season with a record of 9–4 and #5 ranking. The Sycamores also appeared in the 1984 and 2014 NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. Raetz is the winningest Head Coach in Indiana State football history (94–105–1) over 18 seasons. Jerry Huntsman (43–24–1 .640) has the highest winning percentage of all Sycamore Head Coaches and Tom Harp led the Sycamores thru the transition from a Division II independent program to Division I status with the Missouri Valley Conference. Harp's stepson, Cam Cameron, would also gain renown as a college and NFL coach in his own right.

The Sycamore sidelines have been the foundation for several NFL Head Coaches and long-time Assistant Coaches; notable coaching alumni include: Super Bowl Champion Head Coach Sean Payton (1990–1991); 2-time Super Bowl Champion Assistant Coach Bobby Turner (1975–1982) who is also a 1972 graduate of Indiana State; Super Bowl Champion Assistant Coach Kirk Olivadotti (1998–1999); Super Bowl Champion Assistant Coach Chris Wilson (1993–1994, 1997); Alvin Reynolds (1982–1992), Class of 1982); Pete Hoener (1978–1984); Dick Jamieson (1978–79); David Hutchison (2002–2006); graduate assistant Stan Schwartz would win 4 Grey Cups with the Calgary Stampeders. The new Baltimore Ravens Head Coach Jesse Minter spent 4 seasons (2009–2012) on the Sycamore sideline before following Trent Miles to Georgia State.

The Indiana State Sycamores play their home games at Memorial Stadium, which seats 12,764.

History

Classifications 1896–1951: NCAA open classification 1952–1964: NCAA / NAIA (dual membership) 1965–1972: NCAA College Division 1970–1973: NAIA Division I 1973–1975: NCAA Division II 1976–1977: NCAA Division I 1978–1981: NCAA Division I–A 1982–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference membership 1896–1933: Independent 1934–1949: Indiana Intercollegiate Conference 1950–1967: Indiana Collegiate Conference 1968–1972: Independent 1973–1975: Division II Independent 1976–1977: Missouri Valley Conference (Division I) 1978–1981: Missouri Valley Conference (Division I-A) 1982–1985: Missouri Valley Conference (Division I-AA) 1986–present: Gateway Football Conference / Missouri Valley Football Conference

Conference championships 1964 Indiana Collegiate Conference 6–2 4–2

The 1964 Indiana State Sycamores football team shared the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) title in 1964 with four other teams (Ball State, , , , with the Sycamores finishing with a 4–2 conference record and a 6–2 overall mark.

Bowls and playoffs Bowl games The Sycamores have participated in one bowl game, garnering a record of 0–1. 1949 Shrine Bowl Southern Illinois L 14–41

Division I NCAA Playoffs The Sycamores have appeared in the NCAA Division I Football Championship three times. Their combined record is 2–3.

1983 NCAA Division I First RoundQuarterfinals Eastern IllinoisSouthern Illinois W 16–13 (2OT) L 7–23 1984 Pecan Bowl Middle Tennessee State L 41–42 (3OT) 2014 NCAA Division I First RoundNCAA Division I Second Round Eastern KentuckyChattanooga W 36–16L 14–35

Rankings The Sycamores reached the AP and United Press International Top Ten mid-way through the 1974 season; they would not return to the Top Ten until the 1983 season when they finished #5; they finished the 1984 season ranked #5 as well after spending six weeks ranked #1 in the Polls. The Sycamores were ranked for nine weeks of the 2014 season and an additional four weeks during the 2015 season. The 2018 Sycamores finished #25 in the final FCS coaches poll.

Head coaches

All Indiana State Coaching Records are available at: Dennis Raetz (Nebraska, 1968) 18 1980–1997 200 94–105–1 Wally Marks (Chicago, 1927) 16 1927–1930, 1933–1941, 1946–1948 125 62–56–7 Jerry Huntsman (Wabash, 1952) 7 1966–1972 68 43–24–1 Bill Jones (Ohio Wesleyan, 1939) 9 1957–1965 70 32–37–1 Curt Mallory (Michigan, 1990) 9 2017–present 94 29-66 Tim McGuire (Nebraska, 1975) 7 1998–2004 79 24–55 Art Strum (Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 1916) 6 1923–1926, 1932, 1942 43 21–20–2 Tom Harp (Muskingum, 1951) 5 1973–1977 51 20–31 Trent Miles (Indiana State, 1987) 5 2008–2012 56 20–36 Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1976) 4 2013–2016 48 18–30 Mark Dean (Northern Illinois, 1938) 5 1951–1954, 1956 39 15–20–4 Dick Jamieson (Bradley, 1961) 2 1978–1979 22 11–11 Phil Brown (Butler, 1923) 1 1944 8 5–2–1 J. Roy Goodlad (Wisconsin, 1929) 1 1931 7 4–3 CPO Bob LeCray (SE Okla St, 19--) 1 1945 6 2–4 Paul Selge (Indiana State, 1943) 1 1955 9 2–7 George Ashworth (Indiana State, 1935) 2 1949–1950 19 2–16–1 Lou West (Cincinnati, 1976) 3 2005–2007 33 1–32 various (7 others) 13 1896–1909, 1920–1922, 1943 42 9–28–5 PROGRAM TOTALS 116-yrs 1896-Pres. 1,019 414-583-23

Rivalries Ball State

From 1924 to 2023, the Sycamores played Ball State (Ind.) University 66 times; the series stands at 39–24–1 in favor of Ball State.

In 1940, the respective Blue Key chapters sponsored a trophy presentation, the 'Victory Bell' to reward the winner of the annual game between Indiana State and Ball State. The Sycamores lost the last game in Muncie. The game finished with a 45–7 loss for the Sycamores

Traditions

Homecoming The term Homecoming was first used in print announcements for the Alumni-Varsity Basketball Game on December 9, 1916. By the year 1919, this event became known as Blue and White Day and featured dances and entertainment for alumni of the Normal School. In 1921 the events were organized around a football game scheduled earlier in the autumn. A bonfire and pep rally were added to the festivities in 1922; the Blue-and-White Parade in 1923; and in 1937, Bette Whitmore (Kappa Kappa) was elected ISUs first Homecoming Queen.Indiana State University: About ISU: History and Traditions The 2010 season will mark the 106th season of Sycamore football and the 91st Homecoming; the Sycamores will face conference foe, Illinois State, on October 9. This will mark the 7th time that Illinois State has been the Homecoming opponent; following a tremendous victory (59–24) the Sycamores now own a 5–2 mark vs. Illinois State in Homecoming games.

As of 2012; Indiana State owns a 50–36–2 () record in Homecoming games; the outcomes of the remaining 5 games are unknown.

Victory Bell A symbol of the traditional rivalry in football between Indiana State and Ball State, the Victory Bell tradition was inaugurated in 1940 when the Blue Key chapters at both schools arranged to donate a bell to be presented to the victor of the football game. The idea was to start a traditional exchange of the bell as a means of improving relationships between the two student bodies. The Victory Bell series is 34–19–1 in favor of Ball State, though the Sycamores won their last meeting in 2014.

Stadiums Year Home 1896–1948 Multiple Venues; including Thompson Park, aka, Parsons Field. 1949–present Memorial Stadium, constructed in 1924.

The Sycamores have played football at venerable Memorial Stadium since the 1949 campaign. Originally constructed in 1922–24, at a cost of $450,000; the 12,764-seat stadium remains a fixture at the intersection of Wabash and Brown Avenues in Terre Haute, IN.

Memorial Stadium's inauguration was on May 5, 1925, as the local minor league baseball team, the Terre Haute Tots, hosted their Three-I League rivals, the Peoria Tractors, before an estimated crowd of 9,000. Among the esteemed visitors were Major League Baseball Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis and Charles Barnard of the Cleveland Indians.

The facility was acquired (via a 99-year lease) by Indiana State University in 1967. The installation of Astroturf made Indiana State the first university to own a football stadium with artificial turf.

Player of the year

National Shakir Bell – 2011 Walter Payton Award Finalist (Top 2 vote receiver) Johnny Towalid – 2012 Co-National FCS Defensive Back of the Year (by College Football Performance)

Conference Edgar Freese – 1965 Indiana Collegiate Conference DT (Lineman) Reggie Allen – 1979 Missouri Valley Conference QB (offense) Gerry Gluscic – 1979 Missouri Valley Conference DE (defense) Craig Shaffer – 1981 Missouri Valley Conference LB (defense) Jeff Miller – 1984 Missouri Valley Conference QB (offense) Wayne Davis – 1984 Missouri Valley Conference DB (defense) Jeff Miller – 1985 Missouri Valley Conference QB (offense) Vencie Glenn – 1985 Missouri Valley Conference DB (defense) Derrick Franklin – 1991 Missouri Valley Football Conference RB (offense) Julian Reese - 2001 Missouri Valley Football Conference QB (Newcomer of the Year) Shakir Bell – 2011 Missouri Valley Football Conference RB (offense) Ryan Boyle - 2018 Missouri Valley Football Conference QB (Newcomer of the Year) Cade Chambers - 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference QB (Freshman of the Year)

Retired numbers

One Sycamore player has had his number retired by the school. Vincent Allen is the first, with his number 26 retired by the school on September 6, 2025. Indiana State Sycamores retired numbers No.PlayerPos.TenureNo. ret.Ref. 26 Vincent Allen Halfback 1973–77 2025

First-team All-Americans

Jeff Keller, DE – 1967 American Football Coaches Association Chris Hicks, OT – 1975 American Football Coaches Association Vincent Allen, RB – 1976 American Football Coaches Association Ed Martin, DE – 1983 American Football Coaches Association Wayne Davis, DB – 1984 American Football Coaches Association Vencie Glenn, DB – 1985 American Football Coaches Association Steve Mckeel DB – 1986 Associated Press Mike Simmonds, OT – 1986 American Football Coaches Association Steve McKeel DB – 1987 Associated Press Derrick Franklin, RB – 1991 Walter Camp, The Sports Network Shawn Moore, OG – 1993 American Football Coaches Association Dan Brandenburg, DT – 1994 American Football Coaches Association Dan Brandenburg, DT – 1995 The Sports Network, American Football Quarterly Tom Allison, PK – 1995 Don Hansen's Football Gazette Troy Lefevra, DE – 1998 Don Hansen's Football Gazette DeJuan Alfonzo, DB/RS – 1999 American Football Coaches Association Shakir Bell, RB – 2011 Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, The Sports Network Ben Obaseki, DL – 2011 Associated Press Joshua Appel, LS – 2015 STATS All-American Elijah Owns, QB – 2024 Phil Steele All-American

Academic All-American Gary Brown, E – 1971 Michael Eads, E – 1972 Mark Maley E −1973 Daniel Millington, DE – 2009 Alex Sewall, DB – 2011

NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Jeffrey Miller, QB – 1986

All-Conference

All-Indiana Collegiate Conference

Bob Masulovich, OL, 1952 Jack Griffith, OL, 1953 Bob Masulovich, OL, 1953 Jack Griffith, End, 1954 Bob Masulovich, OL, 1954 Bill Griffith, End, 1955 Wally Geib, OL, 1962 Joe Beach, DL, 1962 Wally Geib, OL, 1963 John Allen, OL, 1964 Rolland Beckham, OL, 1964 Arthur Fallon, OT, 1964 Willie Smith, End, 1964 Emmitt "Tank" Tyler, FB, 1964 Edgar Freese, OL, 1965 Bernard Heins, OL, 1965 John Newbitt, HB, 1965 Bob Pychinka, LB, 1965 John Truitt, End, 1965 John Truitt, End, 1966 Joe Fiedler, C, 1966 Randy Payne, HB, 1966 Bob Pychinka, LB, 1966 Timon Kendall, OL, 1967 Rich Attonito, DB, 1967 Stan Worrall, DL, 1967

All-Missouri Valley Conference Vincent Allen, RB, 1977 Don Jackson, DB, 1977 Gary Gamen, DT, 1978 John Allman, DB, 1978 Kirk Wilson, WR, 1979 Eddie Ruffin, WR, 1979 George DeTella, OT, 1979 Reggie Allen, QB, 1979 Gerry Gluscic, DE, 1979