Whenever Indiana State University is mentioned in a sports-related context, it is usually referred to as the school where Larry Bird played.

However, the Cyclone football team only knows it as the opponent in Thursday night’s season opener. Indiana State is entering its second season under head coach Tim McGuire and is looking to improve upon its 5-6 record of a year ago.

The Sycamores are members of the Gateway Football Conference and have one of the up-and-coming running games in Division 1-AA. McGuire has become adept at teaching the triple option offense and popping in the occasional play-action pass.

The Sycamores return 10 starters on offense this season and have excellent depth at the quarterback and running back positions. Sophomore Sheraton Fox will return to do the signal calling after leading the team in rushing with 431 yards.

“Fox is an excellent option quarterback and [Indiana State] also rushed for over 200 yards per game with that option offense,” Cyclone head coach Dan McCarney said.

Fox also managed a team-high 345 yards through the air on only 14 completions.

Backing up Fox will be veteran Steve Englehart. Englehart started five games under center last year and threw for 330 yards while gaining 329 yards on the ground.

When Fox and Englehart are not running the ball, they will be tossing it to Jared Sessum. Joining Sessum in the backfield will be right halfback Matt Nelson and fullback John Effinger.

From a statistical standpoint, it is obvious that Indiana State relies on its running game for most of its offensive punch. However, when the Sycamores decide to pass they have big-play capabilities.

Indiana State’s top three receivers last season were all running back,s with Nelson, Sessum and Keith Herron hauling in five receptions apiece. That may not seem like much, but Nelson’s three grabs accounted for 181 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard scamper.

Herron also capitalized on the receiving end by reaching pay dirt three times in his five catches. Split end Marcus Clayton averaged 31.7 yards on three catches while senior speedster James McAtee reached the endzone on both of his receptions from 47 and 44 yards out.

Defensively, the Sycamores are led by All-American candidate DeJuan Alfonzo. At his cornerback position, Alfonzo has picked off seven passes the past two seasons while breaking up 16 pass attempts.

Alfonzo may see some time at receiver this season and also excels on the special teams. He racked up 178 yards returning punts including a 67-yard touchdown. Alfonzo is also the school’s all-time leader in blocked kicks with six.

Indiana State’s strength defensively comes at the corners from defensive ends Shannon Jackson and Troy Lefevra.

“We have tremendous respect for both of them,” McCarney said. “They play the game the way it is supposed to be played.”

Jackson has tallied 17 sacks over his three-year career while managing 187 tackles.

The man in the middle for the Sycamores will be hard-hitting Tony Pryor. From his inside linebacker position last season, Pryor recorded a team-high 147 tackles. At only 205 pounds, Pryor relies on his quickness and reckless abandon to chase down running backs. Pryor also has a nose for the ball, returning two fumbles for touchdowns last season.

The special teams may be a concern for Indiana State as it relies on true freshman Mike Megyesi to handle both the punting and place-kicking duties. Alfonzo will return punts once again and is always a threat to take one the distance.

One of the keys to Thursday’s game will be how well Indiana State responds to a much bigger Cyclone squad. The Sycamores boast only one offensive lineman over 300 pounds while the entire O-line for Iowa State tips the scales at 300-plus.

Some of the key match-ups to watch will be Cyclone receiver Damien Groce and Alfonzo. Alfonzo has been known to take away the other team’s leading receiver and will most likely lock horns with Groce.

This should free up Iowa State’s Chris Anthony on the other side. Anthony had a breakthrough season in 1998 with 42 receptions and will look to continue his progress at the wideout position.

Another interesting situation will arise when the Cyclones encounter much smaller but quicker defensive ends than they are used to Iowa State will try to use this distinct size advantage to run off tackle but may have difficulty slowing down Indiana State’s up-field pass rush.

As always, special teams will live up to their name and prove to be an important factor in deciding the outcome of the game. Iowa State must keep both eyes on Alfonzo at all times. When he isn’t returning punts, he is blocking them.

When it is all said and done, the winner of this contest will undoubtedly be ISU. Which ISU is the question.