1968 Indiana State Sycamores football team

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1968 Indiana State Sycamores football
ConferenceIndependent
Record9–1
Head coach
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1967
1969 →
1968 NCAA College Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 San Diego State   –   9 – 0 – 1
No. 3 Chattanooga   –   9 – 1 – 0
Indiana State   –   9 – 1 – 0
Indiana (PA)   –   9 – 1 – 0
Nevada Southern   –   8 – 1 – 0
UC Riverside   –   7 – 1 – 1
Ashland   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 7 Eastern Michigan   –   8 – 2 – 0
Lincoln (MO)   –   8 – 2 – 04
St. Norbert   –   6 – 2 – 1
Tennessee State   –   6 – 2 – 1
Hawaii   –   7 – 3 – 0
No. 14 Tampa   –   7 – 3 – 0
No. 17 Akron   –   7 – 3 – 1
Northeastern   –   6 – 3 – 0
Southern Illinois   –   6 – 3 – 0
Cortland   –   5 – 3 – 0
Boston University   –   5 – 3 – 1
Northern Arizona   –   6 – 4 – 0
Pacific (CA)   –   6 – 4 – 0
Samford   –   6 – 4 – 0
Northern Michigan   –   5 – 4 – 0
Parsons   –   5 – 4 – 0
Drake   –   5 – 5 – 0
UC Santa Barbara   –   4 – 4 – 1
Santa Clara   –   4 – 5 – 0
Portland State   –   4 – 6 – 0
Wayne State (MI)   –   3 – 6 – 0
Wabash   –   3 – 6 – 0
Colorado College   –   2 – 6 – 0
Kentucky State   –   2 – 7 – 0
Milwaukee   –   2 – 7 – 0
Lake Forest   –   2 – 8 – 0
Northern Illinois   –   2 – 8 – 0
Mississippi Valley State   –   1 – 7 – 0
UC San Diego   –   0 – 7 – 0
Rose Poly   –   0 – 8 – 0
Cal Poly Pomona   –   0 – 10 – 0
Rankings from AP small college poll

The 1968 Indiana State Sycamores football team represented Indiana State University in the 1968 NCAA College Division football season. It was the third 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] Head Coach Jerry Huntsman was named the NCAA District Coach of the Year.[8]

Despite the team strong finish; the earlier loss to Akron, kept the Sycamores from a berth in the Grantland Rice Bowl. Ironically, Akron received the berth; largely on their win vs. the Sycamores.

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 142:00 pmat Eastern Illinois
W 23–05,000[9]
September 218:00 pmat Akron
L 13–4143,068
September 281:30 pmat Butler
W 28–124,100
October 52:00 pmNorthern Illinois
W 19–74,000–5,602[10]
October 122:00 pmSaint Joseph's (IN)dagger
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Terre Haute, IN
W 48–614,378
October 191:30 pmat Valparaiso
  • Brown Field
  • Valparaiso, IN
W 28–06,978
October 262:00 pmEvansville
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Terre Haute, IN
W 40–146,120
November 22:00 pmat Ball State
W 20–1413,200[11]
November 92:00 pmDePauw
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Terre Haute, IN
W 41–178,803
November 162:00 pmat Western Illinois
W 14–103,900

[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jim Brumfield Stats".
  2. ^ "Jim Brumfield (2006) - Hall of Fame".
  3. ^ "Verbie Walder (1984) - Hall of Fame".
  4. ^ "1968 Indiana State Football Media Guide" (PDF).
  5. ^ "1969 Indiana State Football Media Guide" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Historical Indiana State Football Media Guides".
  7. ^ E-Yearbook.com - Search and browse yearbooks online!
  8. ^ "HUNTSMAN, JERRY | Indiana Football Hall of Fame".
  9. ^ "Indiana State Deals EIU 23-0 Defeat". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. September 15, 1968. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Bob Barnet (November 3, 1968). "Late Pass Beats Cards, 20-14". The Muncie Star. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
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