WIU at Indiana State (11/14/2015)

[ST_Lawson]

AT

Date/Time: 11/14 at 12:05 PM (Central)
Location: ISU's 12,764-seat Memorial Stadium
Weather Forecast: (as of 11/9) 49 degrees and sunny at kickoff, 0% chance of rain, high in the low 50s.
TV: Game will be on ESPN3/WatchESPN.com

ISU's Record:
ISU is 4-5 overall, 2-4 in the conference.
Wins over Butler (52-17), Southeast Missouri State (29-28), MSU (56-28), and SIU (39-36)
Losses against Purdue (38-14), SDSU (24-7), NDSU (28-14), ISUr (27-24), and UNI (59-13)
Following this weekend's game, ISU will finish out their season with a home game against Youngstown State.

The History:
The Leathernecks and Sycamores have played 38 times, with Western having a 23-15 record against them, including winning the last two meetings between the teams.

Key Players:
QB Matt Adam - averages 199.3 yards/game passing, has 18 TDs and 8 INTs in 9 games, and an overall completion rate of 57.8%. Also has 375 net yards rushing....604 gained and 229 lost...so I don't know how much of those are just sacks, or if he had a crazy scramble or snap that went haywire that lost him like 80 yards one time or something...for a 41.7 yards per game average and 3 TDs rushing.
RB LeMonte Booker - 62.4 yards per game average, 3 TDs through 7 games
RB Roland Genesy - 47.4 yards per game average, 2 TDs through 9 games
WR Tonyan Robert - 54.8 yards per game receiving, 6 TDs
WR Gary Owens - 61.2 yards per game receiving, 8 TDs
DB Marcus Gray - 65 tackles, 40 solo, 5 tackles for loss, 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries
LB Kendall Walker - 64 tackles, 35 solo, 1.5 for loss, 1 INT
LB Jameer Thurman - 60 tackles, 34 solo, 2 for loss, 2 INTs

Interesting connections:
Leatherneck DB David Griffith was HS teammates (Avon, IN) with ISU TE Jerry Stephen and PK Eric Heidorn
Leatherneck Fr LB Tom Rehfeld, Fr QB CJ Weydeman and Fr WR Brandon Gaston were HS teammates w/ four ISU players at Chicago's St. Rita HS.

Stat Analysis:
Full Stat Comparison
We have a better passing offense, they have a better rushing offense.
We have a better defense in terms of rushing and passing yards allowed, but the overall scoring defense is about the same.
Overall, I think we're pretty evenly matched, with a slight advantage to us.

[Western_101]

This will be WIU's last realistic shot at a win this year. I can't believe I'm saying this but if Coach Nielson cant pull out at least one more win, I would have serious reservations about retaining his services. I think he lost the team after the YSU game. Should have forgone the plane ride to Fargo and use some of that money to help defray the cost of buying out his remaining contract.

[sealhall74]

Listened to Coaches Show. Apparently, the coaches and players are still working toward a possible playoff slot. Who am I to rain on their parade? But we really needed the sense of urgency back on that rainy day against YSU.

[ST_Lawson]

Listened to Coaches Show. Apparently, the coaches and players are still working toward a possible playoff slot. Who am I to rain on their parade? But we really needed the sense of urgency back on that rainy day against YSU.

Well, technically we do still have a chance, so if they want to use it as motivation for this next game, then that's fine. Obviously it depends on how things play out for a bunch of other teams...and we'd have to pretty much completely demolish Indiana State and soundly defeat SDSU to get the "style points bonus" to maybe give us a shot. I guess it's good to have something to play for other than just "pride", which is really all this game is going to be. We could potentially play spoiler to SDSU...not dropping them out of the playoffs probably, but they wouldn't get a seed. Beyond that though, I don't see the playoff committee taking a 6-5 team when there's so much parity and confusion in the top 20 or so right now.

[Lynx]

Anyone have any insight to the players only meeting as reported by Ben Marth from WGEM? I would have loved to been a fly on the wall to hear what was said. Who are the leaders on this team? Novell seems to be emotionless on the sidelines from what I've seen at home, and ESPN3. For the last 3 weeks this team seems flat and playing with no emotion.

How come we have not seen McGuire play in the blow outs?

[Tootall]

Trenton's always stays calm, the coaches say he keeps them calm. I heard he called the meeting. Sean has mono what I was told. They say Norvell very vocal on the field . Not saying his Manning shows emotions like him. Kinda think no panicking is a good thing.

[wiu712]

Story about the "players only meeting" as seen on WGEM Sports with Ben Marth:
http://www.wgem.com/story/30487825/2015 ... -ndsu-loss

#18 Sean McGuire did not get into the game at Illinois State due to illness.

[rocki]

Trenton's always stays calm, the coaches say he keeps them calm. I heard he called the meeting. Sean has mono what I was told. They say Norvell very vocal on the field . Not saying his Manning shows emotions like him. Kinda think no panicking is a good thing.

It is a good thing, Tootall. I think sometimes we as fans get so involved (yes, I've been known to yell at the TV) that it seems like any reaction other than that seems to be interpreted as not giving a damn.

From the write-up on the meeting, it sounds like there is some disharmony among team members - but again, I'm just reading into it my interpretation of the article.

I truly hope they get it together and win out. If they can't win, I'd be happy to just see them be competitive and perform like we know they can.

Whichever, they're still my team and I'll back them to the end.

[Tootall]

I know there going to be fine. Really like a QB with a short memory. Like golf,that shots over time for next one. Now on defense which I played, very emotional, get in your face. Plus when winning everybody loves yah. When your not it's always coaching and or QB

[rocki]

As one who has a long memory, that is one of the reasons I don't play golf. (Ever see the commercial where the guy threw his clubs off a cliff? Yeah....pretty close imitation, lol!)