Q and A with Ariy-El
October 21, 2008
Ariy-El Boynton
Q: The game at Indiana State is already a win for the SDSU football team, right? Those Sycamores are awful!
– Robert, Volga
A: In the words of ESPN’s Game Day analyst Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend!” I am sure head coach John Stiegelmeier and staff will be sure to remind the Jacks that every team is dangerous, especially in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The last time SDSU had an “easy win” it was against Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas, on Sept. 27. The Jacks needed the largest comeback in Missouri Valley Football history to beat the Lumberjacks, 46-44. So the Jackrabbit players will not need any more reasons to play 60-minutes of good football.
To add intrigue to this game, Indiana State’s last win in the last four years was at ISU’s 2006 homecoming against Missouri State.
SDSU happens to play Indiana State at its homecoming.
Constantly SDSU players and coaches chant that their goal is to be “1-0 every week.”
So while some may look ahead to Missouri State, my guess is that players won’t take the game lightly.
While the win is not a done deal, your last comment is correct.
Indiana State so far has been bad to say the least. ISU is 0-7 and had its best shot at a win against Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 27. ISU fell to SEMO, 24-21. Indiana State has lost 21 games in a row. The Sycamores’ last win on the road was in 2004.
Each week on the Missouri Valley Football Conference radio report, you can hear Sycamores head coach Trent Miles’ voice filled with less optimism with each passing week.
If Miles and gang cannot upset the Jacks this week at homecoming, the team is likely to go 0-12 on the year. I wonder if Indiana State’s athletic director Ron Prettyman will keep Miles after the head coaches’ struggles?
After ISU hosts the Jacks, the Sycamores hit the road against two tough Missouri Valley Football teams in North Dakota State and Youngstown State.
ISU will close out the year against Northern Iowa and Missouri State at home. The banged-up Youngstown Penguins or the Missouri State Bears could be the best chance for ISU to get a win in the last four weeks.
Editors note: Keep the questions coming! Ariy-El will answer questions every week.