Terre Haute, IN (11-16-2002) — The Indiana State Sycamores close out the 2002 campaign when they host Illinois State, Saturday, November 16 at Memorial Stadium. The contest, set to kick off at 1:05 p.m., CST, will also represent the final collegiate contest for 15 Indiana State players.

What's at Stake - For the Sycamores, a win would give them their first six-win season, as well as their first non-losing season, since going 6-5 in 1996.  Entering the game with a 4-0 home record, a victory would also mark the first undefeated home season since going 4-0 in 1985.

The Records - Indiana State enters the contest at 5-6/3-3 GFC, riding a two game win string following last Saturday's 21-14, win at Southern Illinois. The Sycamores have nonconference losses against two Div. I-A programs (17-48 at W. Michigan, 21-23 at Ball State), as well as a 19-26 loss at #13 Eastern Illinois.  The Sycamores' victories have come against Cumberland (14-10), Murray State (34-31 2ot) SMS (23-20 ot), Northern Iowa (21-19) and at Southern Illinois (21-14). Conference losses have occurred at Western Kentucky (7-24), Western Illinois (21-52) and Youngstown State (16-31).  Illinois State brings records of 5-5/3-3 GFC, and rides a two-game losing skid heading into Saturday's contest.

The Coaches - Indiana State head coach Tim McGuire (Nebraska '75) is in his fifth season at the helm of the Sycamores football program.  McGuire's record as head coach at Indiana State stands at 17 victories and 38 defeats, while his six-year career mark stands at 24-53, including two seasons as the head coach at Morningside College (1981-82).  This season is McGuire's 10th as a member of the Sycamores' coaching staff.  Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson (Tulsa '81) is 35-30 in six years as a head coach and 14-18 in his third season with the Redbirds.

The Series - In what is one of the Sycamores' longest-running football rivalries, dating back to the 1924 season, Indiana State holds a 27-24-2 advantage, despite dropping the last four contests.  The Sycamores hold an 18-7-2 record in games contested in Terre Haute.

Radio Broadcast - The Indiana State Radio Network coverage of Sycamores football can be heard on flagship station WSDM-FM 97.7 in Terre Haute, as well as WITZ-AM 990 in Jasper.  Exclusive Internet Radio coverage can be heard on the 24 kbps audio stream of USA-365.com.  Broadcast time is 12:40 p.m. for the Pregame show, 1:05 p.m., CST, for the kickoff.