Sycamores host Youngstown State today

ISU Sycamores host Youngstown State Penguins today

TERRE HAUTE, IN - (10-18-2003) — The Sycamores (3-4, 0-2 Gateway) take on the Youngstown State Penguins Saturday at 1:05 p.m. (CDT). Kickoff is set for Memorial Stadium.

Heading into today’s contest against Youngstown State, the Sycamores (3-4, 0-2 Gateway) are looking for their first conference win of the year and their second ever win against the visiting Penguins. Indiana State who had to play without the services of their leading rusher Jake Shields (bruised ribs) last week at Northern Iowa, look to get back on track today at Memorial Stadium.

The staunch Sycamore defense continues to be tough as ever as defensive end Kyle Mitchell returned an interception and recovered a fumble as ISU attempted to complete a comeback at the UNI Dome last week. With three of ISU’s last five games inside Memorial Stadium, the Sycamores are looking to finish off the Gateway schedule in strong fashion beginning today against YSU. Brian Fritz (play-by-play) and Ben Wagner (color commentary) have the call live at 12:40 p.m. (CDT/EST) on www.USA-365.com.

THE SETUP — Indiana State and Youngstown State both enter today’s contest needing a win to stay in the Gateway Football Conference race as the Sycamores are 3-4, 0-2 Gateway while Youngstown State is 4-3, 1-1 Gateway.

THE INDIANA STATE COACH — Indiana State head coach Tim McGuire (Nebraska ‘75) is in his sixth season at the helm of the Sycamore football program. His record at ISU stands at 20-43, while his eight-year career mark stands at 27-58, including two seasons as the head coach at Morningside College. This season is McGuire’s 11th as a member of the Sycamores’ coaching staff. McGuire is 0-5 against Youngstown State all-time.

THE YOUNGSTOWN STATE COACH — Youngstown State is led by third-year skipper Jon Heacock who is 19-9 overall and at the Ohio school.

THE SERIES — Youngstown State owns the all-time series against the Sycamores with an 11-1 advantage, including the last six.

INDIANA STATE CAPTAINS — Captains for the 2003 season are: TE Ryan King, OL Matt Griebel, CB Clythel Branson and SS Larry Thompson.

MITCHELL TAKES MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS — Indiana State Sycamore defensive end Kyle Mitchell was named Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week after a huge day defensively against Northern Iowa as ISU came up just short in their comeback attempt against the Panthers. Mitchell got ISU on the board down 19-0 early in the fourth quarter when he picked off a Panther pass and raced down the field for a 72-yard touchdown return, the first such return by a Sycamore since the 1995 season. Then he recovered a Panther fumble later in the contest that set up ISU's second scoring drive, moving them within a touchdown at 22-14. On the Sycamores ensuing defensive stop, Mitchell made two of the three tackles to give Indiana State the chance at a thrilling victory. (See also Kyle Mitchell Named Gateway Football Co-Defensive Player of the Week.)

HE COULD GO ALL THE WAY! — Indiana State's Kyle Mitchell became the first Sycamore to return an interception for a touchdown since the 1995 season and his 72-yard scamper was the third-longest ever interception return for a touchdown in school history.

FINALLY ON FOURTH— ISU's first fourth down conversion of the season was its biggest of the Northern Iowa game, when they needed fourth and inches at the UNI 41-yard line with just under two minutes to go. ISU's Sidney Montfort pounded through the line for the yard before ISU eventually threw an interception in the waning seconds of the contest.

LIVE AUDIO STREAMING — ISU and the YSU Penguins battle for the 13th time today as Brian Fritz (play-byplay) and Ben Wagner (color commentary) call all of the action live on USA-365.com beginning with the pre-game at 3:40 p.m. and the kick-off at 4:05 p.m. CDT/EST on www.USA-365.com.

New to USA-365.com this season is a special audio archive of the previous Indiana State University Football game. MP3 audio file downloads are updated each week and are now free at ISU Football MP3 Audio Archives.