2008 Woodie Awards
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Typically, that is what could be said about any final score from the last 22 losing efforts of the Indiana State Sycamores (0-8, 0-4): 60-7, 56-0, 57-6 or even this past Saturday's 49-9 loss to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (4-4, 3-1). However, for those who were unable to see the game, the Sycamores played with passion, reverence and most importantly, with a winning attitude.
For the Trent Miles' era of ISU football, promises of change and rebuilding have been swept away by the scrutiny of this perpetual losing streak and underperformance by the team. But as the players and coaches know, this team is playing for the future with the young and talented pool of athletes who have decided to play here.
"I am proud of my football team," Miles said after the game. "I thought they played with a lot of energy and effort today, but we were beaten by a better football team."
"We are not where we want to be but they played with heart and [wanted to] go out and prove to the former players that they could do something to make them proud."
While the score reads as if ISU was blown out by a better opponent, the play and execution of the Sycamores showed progression and a glimpse into the talent that is waiting to take the stage.
"Obviously the score did not indicate what (the players) wanted to get accomplished," Miles said. "But you have to give all the credit to South Dakota State. They were the better football team and won the game."
Freshman backup safety turned quarterback Ryan Roberts had his first start of the season and from the beginning put a charge into the stagnant offense that has floundered for many games. Roberts ended the game 15-24 for 124 yards with one INT and zero touchdowns. While it may look like a mediocre performance, Roberts has only had four practices worth of QB repetitions and two games in college playing the position.
"Ryan has natural leadership ability … we have been begging for that, we have been searching for that," Miles said. "He is a great athlete and has a lot of things to work on, but he goes out and fights and is a good young man that can take hard coaching … I think (the players) rally around that and it elevates their play."
Sophomore running back Darrius Gates returned to his starting position and it was very apparent that his athleticism and football I.Q. had been missed. Gates became Roberts' best target, catching seven passes for 61 yards, often picking up crucial yardage and first downs. Gates made his mark on the team and riled the crowd into a frenzy when he tossed a 41-yard touchdown pass off a halfback option play to wide-open junior wide receiver Jeramie Gray.
Miles and company threw out convention Saturday, running trick plays such as halfback options with Gates, reverses with the wide outs and even a fake punt that picked up a first down. But what was unseen in the final score were the near misses and what-could-have-been plays.
Gates often had just one man to beat for a TD. Roberts was an inch or two high from completing a couple of long passes or needing one more juke to bypass an SDSU corner. The defensive line broke through and nearly tackled the SDSU running back for a safety … three times in a row. Freshman return man and wide receiver Koby Kraemer had at least three chances for a TD on the kickoffs. Two fourth down conversions, one that missed the end zone by one inch, and another inside the 10-yard line stopped ISU's momentum. Shoestring tackles and tipped passes were prevalent throughout the game … it was a story of "almost."
But what the people at Memorial Stadium Saturday understood is that there is now a prospect of a competition-hungry team that could defy the notion that a loss is always immanent and expected. Time will be the deciding factor for this young and inexperienced team and as the progression comes, so too will the atmosphere of success and winning.
ISU will take a shot at ending its losing streak against the North Dakota State Bisons in the Fargodome. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. CDT) Saturday.
( Trever Fehrenbach is a junior English major. He can be reached at sasspted@isugw.indstate.edu.)
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