DAVID HUGHES: Bedridden in his 60s, Poncho Martin fighting for his life … and ISU's football program

Indiana State University’s eighth annual “Give to Blue 2026 Day” is rapidly approaching — April 15 to be exact.

“Give to Blue Day is a fundraising and engagement opportunity for Sycamores all around the world to come together to joyfully give and boldly support Indiana State students, scholarships and programs,” the givetoblue.indianastate.edu/ website explains. “Become a social ambassador, help spread the word and give generously to support current and future Sycamores!”

Although I’m an ISU graduate — and probably the only sports reporter in the Midwest with a master’s degree in criminology — I ordinarily would not write about a fundraising campaign such as this.

Then I heard there is a specific drive featuring former ISU football standout Ed “Poncho” Martin.

Poncho is involved with this?! In that case, count my blue butt in.

For those not familiar with Poncho Martin, he was an NCAA Division I-AA (basically FCS) All-American defensive end and four-year letterwinner (1980 to 1983). An All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 1982 and 1983, he was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Week six times during his collegiate career.

According to gosycamores.com , Martin was the first Sycamore football player to be named to multiple first-team All-America squads, being chosen as a Kodak All-American (Division I-AA), a Sporting News All-American (Division I-AA) and an Associated Press All-American (Division I-AA) in 1983.

Back then, I noticed the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Martin was a force in “The Dungeon” basement weightroom inside the ISU Arena as well.

Poncho was drafted in the seventh round of the 1984 National Football League draft by the Dallas Cowboys and in the sixth round of the United State Football League draft by the Pittsburgh Maulers. He eventually signed with the USFL’s Los Angeles Express to play linebacker for two seasons.

After the USFL folded in August 1986, Poncho joined the Dallas Cowboys. But knee injuries forced an early retirement. Martin returned to Indiana State, completing his degree in communications, then signed with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts in March 1996 before retiring for good during preseason training camp.

Jumping ahead a little, Martin ended up being inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

All of that is impressive enough. He was one of ISU’s greatest football players ever.

But what’s more impressive is the opponent he’s been beating since August 2016. On Oct. 5, 2017, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS aka Lou Gehrig’s disease).

According to radicava.com , here is a brief description of the disease: “ALS attacks nerve cells, called motor neurons, that control voluntary muscles [the muscles we are able to control]. When these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement are lost. This leads to progressive weakness and disability. People living with ALS eventually lose their strength, ability to move their arms, legs and body and the ability to breathe on their own. In most cases, their minds remain sharp and alert.”

Martin says doctors told him in 2016 that he would likely die between 2019 and 2021.

Not so fast, medical “experts”!

Bedridden, totally paralyzed and no longer possessing the ability to speak or eat on his own, Poncho Martin — who will turn 64 on May 29 — is still very much alive and cared for by his devoted wife Michelle.

There is no cure for ALS, although research is ongoing.

Martin uses “eye-gaze” technology to communicate with friends, which I am honored to be one of on Facebook and hopefully in person someday.

Judging by the private Facebook messages that I receive from Poncho on a variety of subjects, he is most definitely sharp and alert.

So what does Poncho Martin — now living in McDonough, Ga. — have to do with “Give to Blue Day 2026”?

Well, a former ISU running back named Lindsey Montgomery (class of 1986) became friends with the slightly older Martin while they were teammates in Terre Haute. Montgomery has remained an active alumnus over the years, living in Glenarden, Md.

“I met Poncho on a recruiting trip,” said Montgomery, who came from Cincinnati. “Bobby Turner was the running-backs coach and he was recruiting in my area.”

When Montgomery arrived, ISU running back James Banks (also from Cincinnati) showed him around campus.

“Coach Turner would talk to my parents about Poncho,” Montgomery recalled. “[Martin] could play basketball too. He was the only [football player] who lettered his freshman year.

“So when I got to Indiana State, I met Poncho … and everybody liked him. He would always make sure that you fit in.”

Martin clearly made a lasting impression on Montgomery off the Memorial Stadium turf and on it.

“He was all over the place [during games],” Montgomery said. “Poncho would go the extra mile. … He dominated the Missouri Valley [as a junior and senior].”

Montgomery described Martin as “a great player and a great teammate.”

After both graduated, Montgomery and Martin lost touch for several years, as many friends do.

Then in 2018, Montgomery started helping Indiana State raise money for projects.

“I happened to talk to some people who knew Poncho [as older adults] and I helped him raise money for his [ALS],” Montgomery mentioned, referring to sky-high medical bills that weren’t covered by Michelle Martin’s insurance at her place of employment.

In recent years, Montgomery shared an idea about improving the long-term success of ISU’s football program with some of his old-school teammates. Most approved … and that idea was to create a fundraising campaign for the ISU Foundation in honor of Poncho Martin.

This scholarship will assist Indiana State football student-athletes with college-related expenses, allowing them to better focus on their academics, football responsibilities and overall development within the program.

“All donated funds will be managed and invested by the Indiana State University Foundation,” Montgomery explained on his Facebook page.

“To establish an endowed scholarship, an initial minimum of $25,000 is required [soon increasing to $50,000]. Once endowed, any amount above the minimum generates an annual payout of 3.75% [expected to increase to 4% over the next two years].”

As part of the Give to Blue 2026 Day, Montgomery is asking ISU’s former football players, alumni and “friends of the program” (i.e., financially successful boosters) to contribute what they can.

“This is our opportunity to honor him now — to give him his flowers while he is still here — by creating a permanent legacy that reflects his leadership, resilience and love for Indiana State football,” Montgomery said of Poncho Martin, who granted permission to use his name with this fundraiser.

Montgomery said longtime ISU coach Dennis Raetz has promised to donate $2,000 to the fund, which Montgomery has nicknamed “Mona Lisa, She’s Hungry for a Title.”

“I need committed individuals who are willing to help, share ideas and serve in any capacity to make this vision a reality,” Montgomery added.

“I am available to talk and open to all suggestions. Let’s get started and build something meaningful together.”

Montgomery offered his email address ( Lindsey.Montgomeryjr@gmail.com ) and phone number (301-357-6259) to anyone who wants more information about the Martin fund.

“It’s got to start now,” Montgomery emphasized.

Not to rub it in, but ISU’s season records in football this decade have been 3-9 in 2025, 4-8 in 2024, 1-10 in 2023, 2-9 in 2022, 5-6 in 2021 and no season in 2020 (because of the COVID-19 pandemic).

Not that Indiana State is likely to win a national championship anytime soon, but if the Indiana Hoosiers can climb to the top of the college football mountain in two years, the Sycamores can start churning out winning seasons on a more regular basis.

It would put a smile on Poncho Martin’s face.