SPORTS

Indians Prepare for 2005 Season
Jesse Lewis | For the Wichitan

The Midwestern State Indians football team has once again donned the pads they last wore in November in Golden, Colo.
The Indians have lost some of their key seniors, like Marcus Stenix, who was a huge contributor on defense during his three seasons playing for MSU. Linebackers Kevin Taulton and Cornelius Cooper helped the defense rank among the top in run-stop defenses in the nation. Both are among the seniors lost.
On the other side of the ball, the Indians have lost the leadership of offensive lineman Dwight Williams, who started four years for MSU.
During winter break, the team worked to improve themselves from the previous season. The athletes have been running and lifting every day of the week, even waking up at 5:45 in the morning to run. All the working out is in preparation to take the team further than the first round of the playoffs.
This spring, the Indians’ goals are set higher. They intend to make the playoffs and advance further in the tournament.
“I believe that this group of guys has some strong leaders guiding them,” head coach Bill Maskill said.
“There is no doubt that we will go far in the playoffs next season,” defensive coordinator Cary Fowler said. “I feel that they have grown and were able to get a feel of how it feels to make it to the playoffs.”
The Indians were able to show off their skills in an Iron Indian Challenge, something that strength and conditioning coach James Childers devised to show how hard the guys had been working during the off season.
Practices are designed to get the new transfers ready for the upcoming season.
The practices will be just like those held during the season.
“We will simulate the same type of practice we do during the season, with the exception of there will be no practice on Thursday,” Maskill said.
The seniors came up with the idea of forming accountability teams. The teams are designed to help fellow teammates stay eligible in class, be held accountable for their actions and keep the team bonds close.
Wide receiver Andre Kelsick said the accountability team is something that was needed to help the team stay close in the spring and also bring the new transfers closer to the players who had already bonded.
The Indians will begin the 2005 season on Sept. 3 at home against Southwestern Okla. at 7 p.m.