1979 Indiana State Sycamores football team
The 1979 Indiana State Sycamores football team represented Indiana State University in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. They were led by second-year head coach Dick Jamieson and played their home games at Memorial Stadium. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 8–3, 3–2 in MVC play to finish in third place. The roster included such standout performers as: Quarterback Reggie Allen, the 1979 MVC Offensive MVP; Defensive End Gerry Glusic, the 1979 MVC Defensive MVP; Defensive Back Alvin Reynolds; Linebacker Craig Shaffer, the 1981  MVC Defensive MVP; and Offensive Lineman Tunch Ilkin. Allen and Ilkin went on to long successful NFL careers, Reynolds as an assistant coach and Ilkin as a Pro Bowl-lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shaffer spent three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals Glusic was named to the AP All-American Team. Six Sycamores would be named to the All-MVC Team: Quarterback Reggie Allen, Wide Receivers Kirk Wilson & Eddie Ruffin, Lineman George DeTella, Defensive End Gerry Glusic and Defensive Back John Allman. Allen, Glusic and Ilkin have been inducted into the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame. 1979