TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- After three weeks of a staggering heat wave in the Wabash Valley, it felt more like September than the dog days of August at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday evening as the Sycamores went through their sixth practice of the preseason.

With temperatures near or above 90 degrees for a better part of the last month in Terre Haute, the heat wave finally broke today and the workout was held in nearly ideal conditions as the skies were most sunny and the temperature hovered around 80 degrees and humidity was non existent.

The end of the heat wave brought a renewed intensity for the Sycamores as the team showed a ton of competitive spirit as the offense went against the defense in many drills.

After the team went through drills with their positions, the attention turned to special teams. Sycamore freshman Tanner Fritschle showed a powerful leg that caught the attention of head coach Trent Miles and the rest of the Sycamores as he boomed kick after kick into the end zone for touchbacks.

Additionally, Sycamore kickers Fritschle and Cory Little were a combined perfect in the field goal portion of the workout while Little, Fritschle and Santino Davis all got some punts up in the middle of the field.

The Sycamores held a short controlled scrimmage with Shakir Bell and George Cheeseborough scoring touchdowns from 20 yards out.

ISU then went to the goal line and the defense was a perfect 6-of-6 in stopping the Sycamore offense from inside the 3-yard line.

After skeleton work, the team continued to work in a scrimmage format with the workout ending on a long touchdown strike from Ronnie Fouch to Justin Hilton in the back corner of the end zone.

The Sycamore quarterbacks are led by Fouch, who is in his second-year with the program. The transfer from Washington and a native of California has a talented and deep group of receivers with which to spray the ball all over the field to. Last season, Fouch put together an all-conference caliber season and ranks in the program's Top 5 for passing yards and total offense. He is an honorable mention preseason All-MVFC selection this year.

Behind Fouch is senior Coy Glass, who transferred into the program from Hofstra one year ago. Glass saw nearly all of his action last season in the finale at Southern Illinois after Fouch left in his first offensive series with an injury. Fouch and Glass were cross-town rivals in Redlands, Calif., are no team mates with the Sycamores. Glass will be the sure-fire backup for Fouch again this season.

Redshirt freshman Chris O'Leary is a redshirt freshman and will see some action this season for the Sycamores. He has been working behind Fouch and Glass so far this season. O'Leary enjoyed a solid spring practice and will look to see action this season using his legs as well as his arm.

Caleb Watkins is a transfer from Bowling Green at the quarterback position. He has just had six days with the program but has shown flashes of a talented arm that passed for over 2,500 yards his senior season at Middletown High School in Ohio.

The fifth quarterback on the roster is Logan Rehrer, a freshman, who enjoyed a tremendous high school career and will be given a chance to grow as a player this season.

Don't forget to check out the attached photo gallery of some shots taken of the new practice facility at Memorial Stadium. The field is not ready for practice yet, but it has met the approval of several local geese, who have become fond of the soft grass surface. A small flock landed directly on the practice surface after the Wednesday workout and had to be gently coerced off the field before leaving their mark.

Thursday brings the first of five two-a -day workout sessions during the preseason. The team will practice at 10:00 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m., with both workouts being held at Memorial Stadium. In tomorrow's practice report, we will take a look at the Sycamore tight ends.