1968 Indiana State Sycamores football team
1968 Indiana State Sycamores football | |
---|---|
Conference | Independent |
1968 record | 9–1 |
Head coach | Jerry Huntsman |
Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
The 1968 Indiana State Sycamores football team represented Indiana State University in the 1968 college football season. It was the 3rd season of Head Coach Jerry Huntsman's tenure and his finest season as the head of the ISU program. It was the first nine-win season in the history of the program and remains only one of three such seasons. It is the winningest season in the history of the program with a .900 winning percentage. Future NFLer Jim Brumfield was a member of the squad[1][2] as was future Indiana State University Hall of Famer Verbie Walder[3]
It marked the first season since 1950 the Sycamores were not a member of a conference.[4] A charter member of the Indiana Collegiate Conference; Indiana State resigned from the conference prior to the football season; in a bit of irony, the Sycamores would defeat every former conference foe; this after finishing 2nd in each of the previous two seasons.
Six Sycamores set school records during the season, Verbie Walder would set a school record for total offense (1,102 yards); Jim Brumfield, increased his career scoring record to 114 points, in addition to setting new records in rushing (single game) with 182 yards (vs. DePauw) and rushing (season) with 916. Dean Klink established a new school career rushing record at 1,496; he remains at #11 in school history. Steve Schmid established a new single season record for touchdown reception (8), it would be tied in 2015 (by Gary Ownes) and be broken by (Robert Tonyan) in 2016. Schmid also set new marks in career receptions (69) and receiving yards (814). Both records have since fallen.
On the defensive side of the field; Butch Penn set a new school record with a 95-yard interception return and Mike Russell intercepted nine passes on the season - exceeding the entire ISU team in 1967.[5][6]
Two team records were also set; total points scored (274) and most interceptions (25).[7]
Despite the team strong finish; the earlier loss to Akron, kept the Sycamores from a berth in the Grantland Rice Bowl.
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 14 | 2:00 pm | at Eastern Illinois* | Lincoln Field • Charleston, IL | W 23–0 | |||||
September 21 | 8:00 pm | Akron* | Rubber Bowl • Akron, OH | L 13–41 | |||||
September 28 | 1:30 pm | at Butler* | Butler Bowl • Indianapolis, IN | W 28–12 | |||||
October 5 | 2:00 pm | Northern Illinois* | Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN | W 19-7 | |||||
October 12 | 2:00 pm | at Saint Joseph's* | Memorial State • Terre Haute, IN | W 48-6 | |||||
October 19 | 1:30 pm | at Valparaiso* | Brown Field • Valparaiso, IN | W 28-0 | |||||
October 26 | 2:00 pm | at Evansville* | Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN | W 40-14 | |||||
November 2 | 2:00 pm | at Ball State* | Ball State Stadium • Muncee, IN | W 20-14 | |||||
November 9 | 2:00 pm | at DePauw* | Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN | W 41-17 | |||||
November 16 | 2:00 pm | at Western Illinois* | Hanson Field • Macomb, IL | W 14-10 | |||||
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from The Sports Network FCS Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
References
- ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrumJi20.htm
- ↑ http://www.gosycamores.com/hof.aspx?hof=98
- ↑ http://www.gosycamores.com/hof.aspx?hof=26
- ↑ http://www.gosycamores.com/documents/2016/11/29/1968.pdf
- ↑ http://www.gosycamores.com/documents/2016/11/29/1969.pdf
- ↑ http://www.gosycamores.com/sports/2010/6/2/204954465.aspx
- ↑ http://www.e-yearbook.com/sp/eybb
- ↑ DeLassus, David. "Indiana State Yearly Results: 1960–1964". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ↑ http://gosycamores.com/documents/2016/11/29/1964.pdf