National Signing Day in The Wabash Valley

We'll update as the day goes along, but here is a list of the Indiana State Football signings and high school athletes from across the Wabash Valley that are making their college choices today. It's a very exciting day for student athletes and Sycamores across The Valley.

  Terre Haute South Braves:
  Danny Etling: Purdue Football- Quarterback
  Logan Hambrock: Indiana State Track
  Tyler Seibert: Indiana State Track
  Alex Davis: Indiana University Diving

  Terre Haute North Patriots
  Calvin Blank: Ball State Football
  Austin Lewis: Western Michigan Football
  Lee Davis: Army Football
  Chanli Mundy: Indiana University Cross Country

                  

                         Linton-Stockton Miners:
                         Clayton French: Marian Univeristy Golf

South Knox Spartans:
Adam Elkins: University of Saint Franics Soccer





                                                    

Vincennes Lincoln:
                                                    
 Gannon Brochin:  Georgian Court Soccer
 Eric Ramirez: University of Southern Indiana Soccer





  




  Indiana State Football:
  (Courtesy of ISU Athletics: http://tinyurl.com/a2sxkzt)

Name Pos. Height Weight Class Hometown/Previous School Highlight Video Matt Adam QB 6-1 210 Fr. Camino Capistrano, Calif./Tesoro HS Highlights Justice Berry WR 6-2 205 Jr. Coffeyville CC Highlights Zach Borens OL 6-8 350 Fr. Marion, Iowa/Marion HS Highlights Antonio Broadus DE 6-3 230 Fr. Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit HS Highlights Lonnell Brown DB 5-7 155 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Juice Davis WR 5-10 185 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Rhys Felton P 6-3 210 Jr. Melbourne, Australia/John Curtin HS/Grossmont CC Highlights Kyani Harris WR 5-10 170 Jr. Daly City, Calif./Jefferson HS/San Francisco City College Highlights Jordan Jackson LB 6-1 230 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central HS Highlights Miguel Johns WR 5-11 185 Jr. Newton, Kan./Newton HS/Hutchinson CC Highlights Aaron Killebrew DB/KR 5-10 165 Fr. Evansville, Ind./Harrison HS Highlights Dejuan Lang CB 5-9 180 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Tyler Lee CB 6-2 180 Fr. Xenia, Ohio/Xenia HS Highlights Sampson Levingston WR 6-1 200 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS Highlights Weston Painter DT 6-3 260 Fr. New Haven, Ind./Snider HS Highlights Braxton Shirley TE 6-3 245 Fr. Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo HS Highlights Dimitri Taylor RB 5-10 190 Fr. Wheaton, Ill./Montini Catholic Highlights Jameer Thurman DB 6-0 195 Fr. Hillside, Ill./Proviso West HS Highlights T.J. Tuuu OLB 6-2 215 Jr. Seaside, Calif./Seaside HS/Monterey Peninsula College Highlights

Mayer: A Disappointing National Championship

One of my biggest pet peeves in sports are awful championship games, especially when that game has an incredible amount of hype. I'm not sure there could have been much more anticipation for Alabama vs Notre Dame. Arguably, the two most storied programs in college football going head to head for the right to call themselves the champions.

Most everyone could admit that Alabama was the superior team coming in despite their one loss and Notre Dame's undefeated record. Nick Saban has created an almost unstoppable machine in Tuscaloosa. Despite that, this was not a "Alabama is going to absolutely crush the Irish, Notre Dame has no chance" situation.

Personally, I thought Notre Dame would win the game by a point or two. I figured, Alabama is bigger, faster, and stronger; but Notre Dame plays just like them and has found a way to win all year. A low scoring defense oriented ball game could really go either way. Well, I was wrong. Very wrong.

This wasn't a beat down or a butt whooping. It was a thrashing, an embarrassment, a demolition derby. This game looked like the Patriots playing a high school all star team....it wasn't even close. Honestly, you could tell after the first couple of series (despite some questionable referee calls) that the Irish were going to have a very long night.

Courtesy nypost.com

Admittedly, I wanted Notre Dame to win. It was one of the few times I have ever rooted for the Irish, but I savored the thought of seeing the SEC and its most dominant team not win the National Championship...again.  More then anything though, I wanted a classic. I wanted to witness history, a gritty hard fought game that came down to the last second where one play won the game creating a moment everyone watching would never forget. Instead, I wasted about four hours of my life.

A couple of conclusions can be reached from this game.

1. Despite their other disappointing bowl losses the SEC is still far and away the best conference in college football. More then that, Alabama is a superpower. They may win another three titles in the next four years, it wouldn't surprise me. Nick Saban is quickly turning into a legend. As our own Grant Pugh said day after day, give Saban a month to game plan and he's going to win. I agree.

2. Notre Dame was not the first or second best team in the country, but it was still a great season. I think most of us knew this going into the game. The Irish probably should have lost to Pittsburgh and Stanford, but got lucky. Still, a program that was buried for over 20 years is most definitely back and Brian Kelly has them on the right track. 

3. Now more then ever college football needs a playoff. After that performance, I seriously doubt if Notre Dame gets past Oregon, Florida, or maybe Kansas State. Beyond the obvious stupidity of how the BCS works, the absurd length of time in between the season finale and championship game will finally be solved. (Also Nick Saban will no longer have a month to game plan and maybe that will give other teams a semblance of hope). I'm of the opinion that the playoff should be eight teams, but a playoff of any sort is progress.

Hopefully the divisional round of the NFL playoffs can make up for a college football championship game that was tough to watch.

Courtesy nbctv33.com

Pugh: ISU Welcomes Mike Sanford

Two weeks after Trent Miles leaves for Georgia State, Indiana State lands a new leader. ISU Athletic Director, Ron Prettyman, announced the hiring of Utah State Assistant, Mike Sanford, Friday afternoon. A formal news conference welcoming Sanford to the Sycamores will happen on Monday.

Courtesy: MyLVSports.com

Mike Sanford has built a very impressive resume over the last few years. He's currently the Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs/Tight Ends Coach at #22 Utah State. The Aggies finished the season 10-2 and will play Toledo Saturday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Utah State currently ranks 37th in the nation with 191.7 yards per game.

2012 was Sanford's first and only season with Utah State. Previously, he spent two seasons at the University of Louisville as an Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach. Prior to being a Cardinal, Sanford was Head Coach at UNLV from 2005-2009, with a 16-43 record in Vegas. His coaching resume was one of the big reasons he was high on Indiana State's list.

Sanford will inherit a different Indiana State team than Trent Miles did back in 2008. The Sycamores are no longer one of the nation's worst programs. They are also coming off three straight winning seasons for the first time since the 60's. Indiana State will have some holes to fill next season, but there's still plenty of talent around Sycamore county. Pairing one of the best running backs in the nation with an offensive minded Sanford could mean big things for the ISU offense in 2013.

Pugh: Welcome Back, College Football

Criminals. Sanctions. Controversy. A terrible offseason for college football has left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. I don't need to recap the tragic events at Penn State, or all of the headaches that conference realignment/playoff discussions bring. Tonight, we can turn the page on those things and focus on what matters most: playing the games.

Courtesy: USA Today

2012 season kicks off with a bang as #9 South Carolina travels to Nashville for a date with Vanderbilt. Closer to home, Ball State will start its season in Muncie under the lights. The important thing is that we can finally forget about all the bad things, and focus on a new season and the excitement that it brings.

Unlike any other sport, every week matters in college football. The games you play in August and September go a long way to determine your fate in December. As you move through the season, each week gets bigger and better as schools make their push for conference championships and national recognition. Coinciding with the start of the new school year, college football brings that fresh, new smell to the sporting world as fans prepare for the Fall season. It's about talking trash with your co-workers near the water cooler, showing off your school spirit (College Colors Day is Friday), and making Saturday your favorite day of the week. College football is back and it's time to celebrate!

Here's a look at some of the key matchups this opening weekend:

1) Notre Dame vs Navy, Saturday, 9 AM
The Irish travel across the pond for a showdown with the option offense. With some key suspensions, can they handle Navy or will the Midshipmen spoil the green party overseas?

2) Ohio vs Penn State, Saturday, 12 PM
The first game in a new era for the Nittany Lions. How will they respond after a tumultous offseason? Look out for Ohio. Frank Solich and this veteran group have enough tools to pull the upset.

3) Miami (OH) vs #18 Ohio State, Saturday, 12PM
Urban Meyer's first game of the Buckeyes era. They won't be bowling this season, but watch out for the Buckeyes. A favorable schedule means they could start 10-0 before showdowns with Wisconsin and Michigan.

4) #14 Clemson vs Auburn, Saturday, 7 PM
The suspension of all-world recevier Sammy Watkins leaves a big hole for the Clemson offense, but does Auburn have enough tools in the shed?  A chance for the ACC to get some national recogniton back by beating an SEC school in Atlanta.

5) Indiana State vs Indiana, Saturday, 8PM
With Isaac looming on the horizon, we might start calling this the "Water Bowl." Can ISU hang with a member of the Big Ten? This opener is a big measuring stick for both teams in what could be a surprise season.

6) #8 Michigan vs #2 Alabama, Saturday, 8PM
The biggest game of opening weekend. Okay, Big Ten, you want to climb out of the SEC doghouse...here's your chance. Denard Robinson vs Saban's defense in front of a national audience. Should be fun to watch.

7) Georgia Tech vs #16 Virginia Tech, Monday, 8PM
There's no NFL yet so we have an ACC showdown on Monday night. Georgia Tech will try to "option out" of Blacksburg with a win.

Just a sampling of some of the helpings that college football is offering us to feast on this weekend. There's a reason this sport begins around a holiday. Enjoy!