TERRE HAUTE, IN (10-12-2002) — The Indiana State Sycamores open the home portion of its Gateway Conference schedule when it hosts Southwest Missouri State, Saturday, October 12 at Memorial Stadium (cap. 12,764). The game, set to be broadcast in the Terre Haute area on WTWO-TV, is set to kick off at 6:37 p.m., CDT.

The Records - Indiana State enters the contest at 2-4/0-1 GFC, following last Saturday's conference-opening, 16-31 loss at Youngstown State. Two losses have come against Div. I-A competition (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 both come at home (14-10 victory over Cumberland and 34-31, 2ot, vs. Murray St.). SMS brings records of 3-3/0-2 GFC into Saturday's contest, with conference losses coming at Illinois State (20-30) and against Youngstown State (17-24).

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 14 victories and 36 defeats, while his six-year career mark stands at 21-51, 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.  SMS head coach Randy Ball (Truman State '73)) is 19-20 in his fourth season at SMS and 83-61-1 in his 13th year overall as a head coach.

The Series - Indiana State trails the series, 6-10-0.  However, the series is tied, 4-4, in games contested in Terre Haute.  Last season witnessed the Sycamores taking a 25-19 victory in Springfield, MO.