ISU football prepares for season opener

The newly renovated entrance to the Indiana State football locker room welcomes players and personnel with past success of NFL players who once adorned the Sycamore logo, giving pride the school and motivating players to work hard.

Just past the success stories sits an LED clock counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds to the next game, a constant reminder to be ready.

0 Days-22 Hours-0 Minutes till the change begins.

On Saturday, ISU will kick off against St. Joseph's University under the lights of Memorial Stadium for their only night home game.

St. Joe's (0-1) played their home opener against Truman State last Saturday, falling 13-3. 

The Sycamores have not won a home opener since 1996 and, after the debacle against Quincy last year, who ISU faces in two weeks, Miles knows not to take smaller teams for granted and avoid the crushing blow of losing a very winnable game.

"They have some good skill," Miles said. "They are a well-coached team with a good receiver and some good [defensive backs] and are well-coached. It is going to be a battle like every game."

 0 Days-21 Hours-44 Minutes till someone steps up as a leader.

This season marks the third year of Miles' tenure as head coach. Although one win sets alone on his résumé, Miles has a young and talented team he is excited to put on the field that hopes to erase the ghosts of losing past, exorcising demons of past let downs.

"We've grown a lot since then," Miles said. "We are going to play hard and aggressive like we should have been playing. Depth, preparation and experience is going to help this team out this year. We are young, but we have guys that been in the fire. We have moved on and don't talk about [the past]."

0 Days-A Few Hours-Couple of Minutes till the fans start showing their support.

As a head coach, Miles has been a motivator to this team since day one and hasn't relented. His style of coaching is mixture from his long journey back home to take over a team desperate for change. 

The wins go to the players and assistants; losses go on him. 

Credit for execution goes to the individuals who took part; lack of execution will always be his burden to carry.

He is on a mission to win and will take all blame for anything less. 

No rallying cries. No cliché slogans slapped around campus. He simply wants the University, fans and community to be proud of the team.

"They are a young, energetic team that has worked off their tails," Miles said. "They deserve to have [the community] to come and watch this team reap their reward."

0-Days-A Few Hours-Couple of Minutes till ISU gets their opportunity

With junior transfer, Ronnie Fouch, taking snaps under center, the ISU offense will not be limited to just simply running the ball all of the time. 

Plus, a revamped receiving core with transfers like junior Ednut Egberongbe, sophomore John Goodlett and junior Justin Hilton, ISU has outside speed and more options for the passing game, especially with healthy tight ends that seem to be making an impact.

A deep running core with senior Darrius Gates, freshman Shakir Bell and sophomore George Cheeseborough will also be an immediate improvement adding experience and leadership, speed and finesse and hard-nose technique, respectively. And with a larger and improved offensive line, the running game may be on the verge of being one of the better attacks in the last decade.

Defensively, ISU has never looked faster with their defensive backs and safeties flying around the field, closing in on players quickly. While upfront, the defensive line brings a grit and toughness that has been lax during this stretch run of unwanted losing seasons.