Sycamores face Eastern Illinois today

ISU Sycamores host Eastern Illinois Panthers today

TERRE HAUTE, IN - (9-27-2003) — Looking for their first win since 1993 against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, Indiana State enter today’s contest with a 2-2 record heading into the non-conference finale. Today’s game is the 73rd renewal of one of the Midwest’s most fierce rivalries with ISU holding a slim 35-34-3 all-time advantage. Ever since the two teams first locked horns in 1902, the Sycamores held a distinct advantage in the series, until recently as the Panthers have taken the last seven meetings between the two schools.

ISU is led by junior Jake Shields, whose 148.5 rushing yards per game average is the best in the nation after four weeks of play. The Sycamores are ranked 47^th in the country according to the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and they face off against an EIU team that was bumped from the rankings after a 21-14 loss to Illinois State on Saturday. Today’s game is televised locally by WTWO-TV with Jason Pensky (play-by-play) and Jeremiah Johnson (color) on the call beginning at 1:00 p.m.

THE SETUP — Its one of the Sycamores’ oldest rivals as the Eastern Illinois Panthers travel to Terre Haute to face Indiana State. EIU has won their last seven games against ISU and the Sycamores are looking to break a seven-game Panther winning streak that dates back to 1993. Entering today’s contest, the Sycamores are 2-2 while Eastern is 1-2. Today’s match is part of the Gateway/Ohio Valley Conference Challenge, in which the Gateway leads 7-0.

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 19-41, while his eight-year career mark stands at 26-56, 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 0-3 all-time against Eastern Illinois.

THE EASTERN ILLINOIS COACH — Eastern Illinois is coached by the legendary Bob Spoo, who is in his 17th season as the helm of the Panthers. Spoo, who enters today’s game with an 11-3 record all-time against the Sycamores, is Eastern Illinois’ all-time most successful coach.

THE SERIES — Indiana State leads the series 35-34-3, holding a 15-8-0 advantage in Terre Haute since 1954.

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

SHIELDS RACES PAST MURRAY — Junior Jake Shields narrowly missed his second 200-yard rushing game of the season as he broke open a 42-yard run to open the Sycamores' 17-10 victory over Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State en route to a final game total of 196 yards on 24 carries, an average of 8.2 yards per run against the defending OVC co-champions.

SHIELDS RACES PAST MURRAY — Indiana State defeated Murray State in its first of two games in the Gateway-Ohio Valley Challenge series, winning for the first time in school history at Murray, Ky., and in the process breaking the Racers eight-game home winning streak.

THE KING AND I — Senior Ryan King continues to be a featured receiver for the Sycamores as a tightend, catching seven passes for 87 yards against the Racers.

PRECISION GUIDED MISSILES — Freshman Jake Schiff had another efficient performance against Murray State as he completed 11 of his 15 pass attempts against Murray State, giving him a 51-75 mark on pass attempts, a 68.5% clip.

USA-365.com provides live Internet audio streaming with Brian Fritz providing the play-by-play and Ben Wagner with the color commentary. The pre-game show starts at 12:45 p.m., with the kick-off set for 1:05 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.