Will ISU Athletics Ever be able to take the "Next Step"?

[Sycamore624]

Like everyone else the disappointing end to another exciting and promising football season has me wondering if we as a athletics program will ever be able to take that next step? The rise of the football program from where we was just a few years ago has been amazing but is our window of opportunity running out for that next level with Bell's time almost over at State? We have the right coaching staff and seem to have the players capable of making the playoffs and causing some issues but it just doesn't happen with another late season collapse.

The same could be said for our hoops programs. I like our coaching staffs but it seems like we will never be able to have the type of success as other mid majors similar to us. Yearly we see the likes of Wichita State,Dayton,Butler,VCU and others not only have success but be constant NCAA tourny teams. Why not us?

 

[TreeTop]

I feel like we have taken the next step. Consider that the previous step was losing losing losing. We've now taken the next step, that step being consistent winning seasons. Basketball and Football both with 3 winning seasons in a row.

So, now we want to take it to the next level...NCAA every year and FCS Playoffs every year......that's a tougher one to achieve. But yes, I think we can and will achieve that if Lansing and Miles stay at State.

 

[isuboiler]

How much money do you donate to athletics? If no one donates money, it's hard to take that next step.

I started donating in 2011 and doubled it 2012. I'm an avid Purdue and ISU fan, but gearing more donations to ISU of late.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I feel like we have taken the next step. Consider that the previous step was losing losing losing. We've now taken the next step, that step being consistent winning seasons. Basketball and Football both with 3 winning seasons in a row.

So, now we want to take it to the next level...NCAA every year and FCS Playoffs every year......that's a tougher one to achieve. But yes, I think we can and will achieve that if Lansing and Miles stay at State.

Well said!!

 

[bent20]

The football program actually has taken the next step, I agree. We're better than we've been in two decades. That said, let's expect more. I know our coach and players do.

 

[hans1950]

There's great competition for the athletes we need to have greater success in football and basketball.If we can make ISU a place kids want to attend and play sports we should have more successful teams.Coaches and facilities have to be top notch and a lot of schools our size have great facilities.More success should bring more money to upgrade football with eventually a new stadium but this will take some time obviously.We can't afford to miss on very many athletes in football with only 63 schollies to give.Once again everyone is looking for the same guys with only so many to go around.

It's a long road and patience will be needed but we are on a upward path that just needs to continue.Keeping good coaches is very important also and both sports are in good hands presently.Just keep working hard,we'll see what happens.

 

[Fiji Bill 72]

I know it has been thrown around before, but I wish the university would take the lead and start a fund-raising program to build a new stadium. It might take years, but at least the drive will have started. With that, continue to support the coach and his efforts to keep us in a position to win the conference. Eventually, that, too, will come.

 

[Gotta Hav]

I feel like we have taken the next step. Consider that the previous step was losing losing losing. We've now taken the next step, that step being consistent winning seasons. Basketball and Football both with 3 winning seasons in a row.

So, now we want to take it to the next level...NCAA every year and FCS Playoffs every year......that's a tougher one to achieve. But yes, I think we can and will achieve that if Lansing and Miles stay at State.

In my book, this is getting to the next level...plus throw in a NCAA Basketball appearance in there just 2 years ago, and MVC Basketball Tournament Championship...plus everything that's happened positively in Baseball (post season invitation) and all the Championship things that have occured in Track and Field, and Cross Country.....could it be greater? Yes, but ISU has made tremendous strides in the last 3 - 4 years in all sports.

 

[Sycamore Proud]

We are also proud of the academic performance of many of the athletes and teams.

 

[Bally #50]

Like everyone else the disappointing end to another exciting and promising football season has me wondering if we as a athletics program will ever be able to take that next step? The rise of the football program from where we was just a few years ago has been amazing but is our window of opportunity running out for that next level with Bell's time almost over at State? We have the right coaching staff and seem to have the players capable of making the playoffs and causing some issues but it just doesn't happen with another late season collapse.

The same could be said for our hoops programs. I like our coaching staffs but it seems like we will never be able to have the type of success as other mid majors similar to us. Yearly we see the likes of Wichita State,Dayton,Butler,VCU and others not only have success but be constant NCAA tourny teams. Why not us?

SP, that is a GREAT question. I haven't taken my computer in to get "cleaned up" but I HAVE been missing in action for 5 days or so. I am enjoying the good life in South Carolina and of course, am enjoying it. My answer? Sort of yes in hoops and NO in football. I do feel we have upped our game in basketball to be contenders in the MVC and I see no reason why we won't continue to improve. As someone else pointed out, that answer is predicated on Greg sticking around. As for football, we FINALLY have consistency but have we taken the next step? No, and not until we take it up a notch. Like hoops, I feel we have become consistent, but this season puts an exclamation point on what I have saiid and many on here have also said, when are we going to win the BIG ONE? Getting close sucks. The victory in Fargo was awesome and to be honest, it caught many of us by surprise. Losing those two games late in the season say we are not there yet. Period. As negative as it sounds, I did not think we would win at Youngstown. Why you ask? Because we NEVER WIN THE BIG ONE. It's just that simple. We'll never know if we would have made the field, but we couldn't even beat a team we were favored to win. Nobody feels worse for our seniors than I do (well maybe NSF) but let's face it, we were TWO games away from making the field. Until we get over that hump, in my mind, we are not there. Prove to me that the Fargo win was no a fluke, make the playoffs and then we can talk about taking the next step.

 

[needles]

The next step, it will take more money and better facilities. With both we can recruit better athletes, with out them and it will be the same old same old at ISU. Like it or not it is a facility arms race out there and we are losing that race.

 

[IndianaState45]

Well what isn't being seen yet is the impact of football being fully funded at 63 scholarships. If I recall correctly last season was the first time we had 63 full rides to offer either in state or out of state. I believe three seasons ago we were sitting around 43 full ride equivalents funded by the school (it was a complicated mess...something like only 50% could be out of state and only funded for 43 total..) It will take some time for those extra high caliber players to develop and show up on game day...but the pipeline should be stronger than ever. Facilities are nice but who's paying for my school will trump that any day. That "win" for football will be bigger than anything we've done aside from bringing Trent to ISU. The next step? Facilities ... the little stuff like training tables and book allowances and the ability to redshirt all freshmen. Which I believe we did this season. Imagine if Shakir had TWO more seasons...or if Alex Jones, Alex Sewall, Ryan Roberts, Brock Lough, etc were suited up this past season because they were 5th year seniors. It's coming. Let's pray we keep Prettyman and Trent around.

 

[treeman]

i think for Indiana State athletics to take the next step the women sports have to start performing at the level the men are. every guy sport at ISU has had at least 3 winning seasons in a row, conference championships (except football), ncaa tourney births, and a lot of individual achievements the past couple of years. it's time for the girls to raise their profile a little. if we can sustain the level of success we have had recently as well as increase enrollment ISU will start to get respect from everyone.

 

[needles]

I was not aware the ISU was not a fully funded football program just three years ago. Twenty additional scholarships is huge. If we want to attract the type of athlete that will take us to the next level a scholarship offer from ISU is just one of several they will have to choose from. Though it may be a superficial reason to choose a school, facilities play a huge part in a student athletes decision. Quite frankly our facilities are sub par. The stadium is, well not good, many high schools have strength complexes as good as ours. No indoor facility to speak of, well you get the picture. And really I get the big picture, we are what we are and we have what we have. Do the best with what we have because its all we have and likely all we are going to have.

 

[IndianaState45]

Yea.. last year it was fully funded. The class before (RS freshmen this year) it was a little better but the kids that are sophmores were brought in at a significant scholarship disadvantage. Even more importantly is the removed restriction on out of state scholarship treatment. We used to treat all kids out of state like lepers because the accountants at ISU charged the athletic department over 2X against the athletic budget AND were not even funded at the in state 63 allotment if I recall correctly. Our rival schools on the other hand not only were fully funded, but reduced out of state tuition to in state levels after a year.... Now we can compete and go after any athlete anywhere...... basically our sports teams have been competing in a soap box derby with our car using square wheels... until we finally joined the second half of the 20th century last year. Can't wait until the 21st century.... Facilities !! Endowments!!

 

[4Q_iu]

Lepers??? Not exactly the truth...

Yea.. last year it was fully funded. The class before (RS freshmen this year) it was a little better but the kids that are sophmores were brought in at a significant scholarship disadvantage. Even more importantly is the removed restriction on out of state scholarship treatment. We used to treat all kids out of state like lepers because the accountants at ISU charged the athletic department over 2X against the athletic budget AND were not even funded at the in state 63 allotment if I recall correctly. Our rival schools on the other hand not only were fully funded, but reduced out of state tuition to in state levels after a year.... Now we can compete and go after any athlete anywhere...... basically our sports teams have been competing in a soap box derby with our car using square wheels... until we finally joined the second half of the 20th century last year. Can't wait until the 21st century.... Facilities !! Endowments!!

It all comes down to $$$; do we HAVE it? are we willing to SPEND it? are we willing to find a way to AFFORD the athletic scholarships...

In essence, the scholies are waivers FROM tuition, correct? ergo, the University has to have the ability to AFFORD to waive the cost of 63 in-state and out-of-state scholarships.

Dr Bradley was able to make the commitment to not only the scholarships but facilities as well. Are ours as good as they could/should be?
No.
Are they better than what they were? Of course (I don't think they could have gotten worse.)

Let's hope next season has us thumping one of the two Big Ten teams on the schedule and WIN the games we MUST win (Ill State, Youngstown State) AND stop scheduling NAIA and Div II schools. A another win over a Pioneer school or a OVC, other FCS school (hell a good LOSS) would have helped us more than Quincy...

Consistently win 7-9 games a year -- THAT will get us better players, more $$$ and a new stadium

 

[IndianaState45]

It all comes down to $$$; do we HAVE it? are we willing to SPEND it? are we willing to find a way to AFFORD the athletic scholarships...

In essence, the scholies are waivers FROM tuition, correct? ergo, the University has to have the ability to AFFORD to waive the cost of 63 in-state and out-of-state scholarships.

Dr Bradley was able to make the commitment to not only the scholarships but facilities as well. Are ours as good as they could/should be?
No.
Are they better than what they were? Of course (I don't think they could have gotten worse.)

Let's hope next season has us thumping one of the two Big Ten teams on the schedule and WIN the games we MUST win (Ill State, Youngstown State) AND stop scheduling NAIA and Div II schools. A another win over a Pioneer school or a OVC, other FCS school (hell a good LOSS) would have helped us more than Quincy...

Consistently win 7-9 games a year -- THAT will get us better players, more $$$ and a new stadium

Sure it's true. We couldn't afford them. So we recruited less of them on scholarship. We're saying the same thing I think.

 

[4Q_iu]

Sure it's true. We couldn't afford them. So we recruited less of them on scholarship. We're saying the same thing I think.

Prolly so; though I don't agree with your characterization some kids being treated as lepers.