Indiana State Sycamores
Encyclopedia
The Indiana State University
Sycamores are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Indiana State University. They are members of the Missouri Valley Conference
, joining in the 1977-78 academic year; past conference memberships include the Indiana College Athletic League (1895–1922), the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference
(1922–1950), the Indiana Collegiate Conference
, (1950–1968) and the Midwestern Conference (1970–1972). The Women's teams were members of the Gateway Conference (est. 1985) prior to the Gateway merging with the Missouri Valley Conference in 1992.
The most successful teams, since inception, are the Men's Basketball team, the Baseball team and both the Men's and Women's Track and Field squads.
Indiana State current (and discontinued) programs have won more than 75 Conference titles.
They were the NCAA College Division (Div II) National Runner-Up in 1968 and the NCAA Division I National Runner-Up in 1979.
The 1950 team sent 8 players to the 1951 Pan-American Games Gold Medal-winning Team. Head Coach John Longfellow also served as co-head coach of the Pan-American team.
Kurt Thomas led the Men's Gymnastics Team to the 1977 NCAA National Championship. In 1973 and 1979, they men finished 3rd place in the NCAA Championships. In 1971, Coach Grete Treiber led the ISU Women's gymnastics team to a National Runner-up finish at the AIAW National Championships. In 1964, Coach Roger Counsil led the ISU Men's Freshman Gymnastics team to a National Runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships.
The Sycamores have won 32 individual national championships; 21 by men and 11 by women.
NCAA Individual Titles (27):
(Indoor 55M, 200M 1993 & 1994)
(Outdoor 100M, 200M 1993, Outdoor 100M 1994)
(All-Around 1977, 1979, Parallel Bars 1977, 1979, Horizontal Bar 1979)
^ Indoor: 14' 9" - NCAA Record
~ Outdoor: 14’ 7.25” - NCAA Record
(Rings 1970, 1972)
(Sidehorse 1964)
(Horizontal Bars 1964)
(Rings 1973)
(Pommel Horse 1973)
(Horizontal Bar 1974)
(Pole Vault 1968)
(Heavyweight 1982)
(110M High Hurdles 1990)
(60M Hurdles 2001)
NAIA Individual Titles (5):
(1M Diving 1963, 1964; 3M Diving 1964)
(3M Diving 1965)
(200M Freestyle 1965)
The University hosted the 1975 NCAA Gymnastics National Championships.
Indiana State University hosted the 10th NCAA Wrestling Championships in 1937; remarkable considering the school had yet to establish a wrestling program.
, cross-state Ball State Cardinals
(formerly a regional campus of Indiana State) with whom the Sycamores football team competed for the Victory Bell, the Evansville Purple Aces
and the nearby Eastern Illinois Panthers
.
. The marching band performs at home football games and is the feature band at the Brickyard 400.
There are two alternating bands that play at men's and women's basketball games. They are known as the Blue and White Basketball Bands.
and Butler Bulldogs
, the university created an Indian mascot named Chief Quabachi in 1969. The university dropped Chief Quabachi as a mascot in 1989.
(Basketball Coach)
Larry Bird
(Basketball)
Kurt Thomas
(Gymnastics)
Bruce Baumgartner
(Freestyle Wrestling)
Glenn M. Curtis
(Basketball Coach)
Tunch Ilkin
(Football)
Clint Barmes
(Baseball)
Zane Smith
(Baseball)
Dave Schellhase
(Basketball Coach)
Carl Nicks
(Basketball)
Wally Johnson
(Baseball)
Benita Edds (Olympic Archery)
Vencie Glenn
(Football)
Bryan Leturgez
(Olympic Bobsledding)
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
Sycamores are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Indiana State University. They are members of the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
, joining in the 1977-78 academic year; past conference memberships include the Indiana College Athletic League (1895–1922), the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference
Indiana Intercollegiate Conference
The Indiana Intercollegiate Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States from 1922 to 1950. It consisted of schools in Indiana....
(1922–1950), the Indiana Collegiate Conference
Indiana Collegiate Conference
The Indiana Collegiate Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States from 1951 to 1979. It consisted of schools in Indiana....
, (1950–1968) and the Midwestern Conference (1970–1972). The Women's teams were members of the Gateway Conference (est. 1985) prior to the Gateway merging with the Missouri Valley Conference in 1992.
'Sycamores' nickname and evolution of mascot
Early on in the school's history, the athletes were referred to as the "Fighting Teachers" (School's original name was "Indiana State Teachers College), until the students chose the name "Sycamores", from the abundance of Sycamore trees in Indiana and especially in the Wabash River Valley; though it is believed that the students voted on 'Sycamores' on a lark, never thinking it would win. During the 1950s and 60s, the sycamore tree itself was used as Indiana State's mascot. However, as a tree does not lend itself well to an athletic mascot, especially considering Indiana State's in-state rivalries with the Ball State Cardinals and Butler Bulldogs, the university created an Indian mascot named Chief Quabachi, and his Princess, in 1969. This change paid homage to the fact that ISU was the "State" university of a state named after Indians (prior to statehood Indiana was primarily inhabited by Indians). However, the university bowed to political correctness and stopped using Chief Quabachi as a mascot in 1989. For six years, Indiana State did not have a mascot, until 1995, a blue-and-white "furry woodland creature" named "Sycamore Sam" was developed to replace Chief Quabachi and continues to serve as Indiana State's mascot.Teams
Indiana State field team in 5 sports for Men; Baseball, Basketball, Cross-Country, Football and Track and Field and 7 sports for Women; Basketball, Cross-Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field and Volleyball.The most successful teams, since inception, are the Men's Basketball team, the Baseball team and both the Men's and Women's Track and Field squads.
Indiana State current (and discontinued) programs have won more than 75 Conference titles.
Basketball
National Champions
The Men's Basketball team won the 1950 NAIB National Championship and finished as National Runner-Up in 1946 and 1948.They were the NCAA College Division (Div II) National Runner-Up in 1968 and the NCAA Division I National Runner-Up in 1979.
The 1950 team sent 8 players to the 1951 Pan-American Games Gold Medal-winning Team. Head Coach John Longfellow also served as co-head coach of the Pan-American team.
Kurt Thomas led the Men's Gymnastics Team to the 1977 NCAA National Championship. In 1973 and 1979, they men finished 3rd place in the NCAA Championships. In 1971, Coach Grete Treiber led the ISU Women's gymnastics team to a National Runner-up finish at the AIAW National Championships. In 1964, Coach Roger Counsil led the ISU Men's Freshman Gymnastics team to a National Runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships.
The Sycamores have won 32 individual national championships; 21 by men and 11 by women.
NCAA Individual Titles (27):
- Holli Hyche (Indoor/Outdoor Track) - 7
(Indoor 55M, 200M 1993 & 1994)
(Outdoor 100M, 200M 1993, Outdoor 100M 1994)
- Kurt Thomas (Gymnastics) - 5
(All-Around 1977, 1979, Parallel Bars 1977, 1979, Horizontal Bar 1979)
- Kylie Hutson (Indoor; Outdoor Track) - 4
- (Indoor and Outdoor Pole Vault 2009, Indoor and Outdoor Pole Vault 2010^,~)
^ Indoor: 14' 9" - NCAA Record
~ Outdoor: 14’ 7.25” - NCAA Record
- David Seal (Gymnastics) - 2
(Rings 1970, 1972)
- Curt Hahn (Gymnastics) - 1
(Sidehorse 1964)
- Ken Scorra (Gymnastics) - 1
(Horizontal Bars 1964)
- Bob Mahorney (Gymnastics) - 1
(Rings 1973)
- Ed Slezak (Gymnastics) - 1
(Pommel Horse 1973)
- Rick Danley (Gymnastics) - 1
(Horizontal Bar 1974)
- Mike Hanna (Outdoor Track) - 1
(Pole Vault 1968)
- Bruce Baumgartner (Wrestling) - 1
(Heavyweight 1982)
- Chris Lancaster (Outdoor Track) - 1
(110M High Hurdles 1990)
- Aubrey Herring (Indoor Track) - 1
(60M Hurdles 2001)
NAIA Individual Titles (5):
- John Caddell (Swimming & Diving) - 3
(1M Diving 1963, 1964; 3M Diving 1964)
- Mike Lane (Swimming & Diving) - 1
(3M Diving 1965)
- Larry Dalton (Swimming & Diving) - 1
(200M Freestyle 1965)
Championship Host
Indiana State University has hosted eight (2002, 2004–2010) NCAA Division I cross country championships at the spectacular LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. They have been selected to host the 2011 and the 2013 championships.The University hosted the 1975 NCAA Gymnastics National Championships.
Indiana State University hosted the 10th NCAA Wrestling Championships in 1937; remarkable considering the school had yet to establish a wrestling program.
Indiana Collegiate Conference
30 titles in baseball, men's basketball, men's cross-country, men's golf, football, men's swimming, men's track & field and wrestling.Gateway Conference
4 titles in women's basketball, women's track & field and women's cross-country.Missouri Valley Conference
47 titles baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track & field and men's and women's cross-country.- NOTE—All of the above championships are pulled from the media guides available at www.gosycamores.com or from the Indiana State archives (each yearbook from 1896-1993 is available)
Rivalry
Indiana State University's rivalries include the Illinois State RedbirdsIllinois State Redbirds
The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level . The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, cross-state Ball State Cardinals
Ball State Cardinals
Ball State University's athletic teams are called the Cardinals. The Cardinals are part of the NCAA Mid-American Conference and located in Muncie, Indiana...
(formerly a regional campus of Indiana State) with whom the Sycamores football team competed for the Victory Bell, the Evansville Purple Aces
Evansville Purple Aces
The Evansville Purple Aces represent the University of Evansville in NCAA Division I sports.-Purple Aces and Ace Purple:The University of Evansville's nickname, the Aces, was acquired after an opposing coach cracked a joke after losing to the Evansville College Pioneers in the 1920s...
and the nearby Eastern Illinois Panthers
Eastern Illinois Panthers
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the men's and women's athletic teams representing Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Eastern Illinois University's colors are blue and gray. Eastern Illinois sports teams, except for men's soccer and swimming teams, participate in NCAA Division I in...
.
Athletic bands
Indiana State's marching band is called the Marching SycamoresIndiana State University Marching Sycamores
The Pride of Indiana, also known as the Indiana State University Marching Sycamores, is the marching band of Indiana State University. The band performs at all ISU home football games as well as in the homecoming parade, the freshman "March Through the Arch", and other events on and off campus...
. The marching band performs at home football games and is the feature band at the Brickyard 400.
There are two alternating bands that play at men's and women's basketball games. They are known as the Blue and White Basketball Bands.
Mascots
During the 1950s and 60s, the sycamore tree itself was used as Indiana State's mascot. However, as a tree does not lend itself well to an athletic mascot, especially considering Indiana State's in-state rivalries with the Ball State CardinalsBall State Cardinals
Ball State University's athletic teams are called the Cardinals. The Cardinals are part of the NCAA Mid-American Conference and located in Muncie, Indiana...
and Butler Bulldogs
Butler Bulldogs
All but one of Butler University's 19 intercollegiate teams compete in the Horizon League, along with Cleveland State, Detroit, Green Bay, Loyola, Milwaukee, UIC, Valparaiso, Wright State and Youngstown State...
, the university created an Indian mascot named Chief Quabachi in 1969. The university dropped Chief Quabachi as a mascot in 1989.
Notable Athletes & Coaches
John WoodenJohn Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
(Basketball Coach)
Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
(Basketball)
Kurt Thomas
Kurt Thomas (gymnast)
Kurt Bilteaux Thomas is an American Olympic gymnast.While at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, Thomas became a member of the US Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics. In 1978, Thomas was the first American male gymnast to win a gold medal in floor exercise in a world championship...
(Gymnastics)
Bruce Baumgartner
Bruce Baumgartner
Bruce Robert Baumgartner is a retired American amateur wrestler and current Director of Athletics for the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania....
(Freestyle Wrestling)
Glenn M. Curtis
Glenn M. Curtis
Glenn M. Curtis is a former Head Basketball Coach. He was the Head Coach at Indiana State University from 1938-1946. He won 120+ games and led the Sycamores to three NAIA Tournaments, reaching the National Finals in 1946. The Sycamores also won the Midwest Invitational Tourney in 1946...
(Basketball Coach)
Tunch Ilkin
Tunch Ilkin
Tunch Ilkin is a Turkish sports broadcaster and a former American football player. He currently serves as a television and radio analyst for the Pittsburgh Steelers.-Biography:...
(Football)
Clint Barmes
Clint Barmes
Clint Harold Barmes [BAR-miss] is an American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He played for the Colorado Rockies from 2003-2010 and Houston Astros in 2011...
(Baseball)
Zane Smith
Zane Smith
Zane William Smith is a former American Major League baseball player.-Career:Smith, a left-handed pitcher, played collegiately at Indiana State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for...
(Baseball)
Dave Schellhase
Dave Schellhase
Dave Schellhase is a retired American collegiate basketball coach and basketball player in the National Basketball Association .-Evansville North:...
(Basketball Coach)
Carl Nicks
Carl Nicks (basketball)
Orlando Carl Nicks is a retired American American NBA player. At 6'1" 175 lb, Nicks played guard during his career.-Basketball career:...
(Basketball)
Wally Johnson
Wally Johnson
Wally Johnson was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.Johnson made his debut for Fitzroy in 1907 and finished the year as the club's joint Best and Fairest winner...
(Baseball)
Benita Edds (Olympic Archery)
Vencie Glenn
Vencie Glenn
Vencie Leonard Glenn is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana State.Glenn also played for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota...
(Football)
Bryan Leturgez
Bryan Leturgez
Bryan Leturgez is an American football player, track and field athlete and bobsledder who competed from 1987 to 1998.A native of Indiana he was born in Terre Haute and lived there off and on until 7th grade. Both his mother and father were in the education field and moved a number of times as...
(Olympic Bobsledding)