It’s only natural for seniors to become reflective during the final week of the season.
A finite end to their college careers is in sight. The Hoosier seniors will take the field at Memorial Stadium one final time Saturday at noon against Purdue looking for their fourth win of the season.
But when senior receiver Shane Wynn mentioned to IU Coach Kevin Wilson that it was his last week of football on Sunday, Wilson had to quickly correct him.
“I said, ‘No, no, no, no, this is your best week,’” Wilson said. “Because the way I look at it, if you have consistency and (are) constantly getting better, this should be your best week.”
Wilson and IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns both talked at length about Wynn on Monday and commended what he has done for the IU program in his four seasons with the team.
Wilson and Johns both came to Bloomington just prior to the start of the 2011 season—Wynn’s freshman year.
Both coaches have spent their entire IU careers with Wynn and have grown close to him off the field in the process.
On the field, the 5-foot-7 Cleveland native has been a consistent weapon for IU whether he be lined up on the outside, in the slot or back to return kicks on special teams.
"I think he has embraced our coaching, and to me he's always been one of the guys that was a great extension of what we were trying to do," Wilson said.
Wynn leads IU with 50 catches for 661 yards and three touchdowns in what has been a relatively down year for the passing attack.
For his career, he has 182 catches for 2,139 yards and 20 touchdowns.
But before Wynn hangs up his IU jersey for good, Johns wants to send Wynn out with one final victory.
IU will be looking to defend the Old Oaken Bucket Trophy for the first time since the 1993-94 seasons.
“For Shane Wynn to be able to go on throughout his life and tell people he won two in a row and won his last game, that to me is more important than anything for me as a coach or anything as a staff,” Johns said.
“I need to send Shane Wynn out of here a winner.”
Allen records career-day against Ohio State
Some days, things just fall into place on the football field.
The past Saturday was one of those days for Antonio Allen.
The sophomore safety had 11 tackles and two interceptions in IU’s 42-27 loss to Ohio State. Allen said it was the first time he’s ever had two interceptions in any game, high school and pee-wee football included.
In practice, IU has put more emphasis on tip drills and forcing turnovers in recent weeks, but Allen admitted the first interception in the opening quarter was more a product of good fortune than practice.
As he was running, he slipped and fell to the ground. By the time he gathered himself, the ball was already in front of him. All he had to do was reach out and the interception practically fell into his lap.
“I seen him and I was breaking, but I fell,” Allen explained. “So I just dove my body out there.”
It was one of those types of games for Allen who is essentially playing in his first full season after missing the final five games of 2013 with an ACL injury.
He added a second interception in the opening minutes of the second quarter to put an end to a Buckeye drive that seemed destined to end with points.
Allen intercepted Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett on the IU 3-yard line and returned it 18 yards. On the ensuing offensive possession, IU went 59 yards and scored on a field goal.
Allen said he keyed in on Barrett’s eyes throughout most of Saturday’s loss and was able to anticipate where he was going with the ball.
“He was looking his receivers all the way down,” Allen explained. “I was just looking him eye-to-eye.”
Allen’s two interceptions were the bulk of three forced turnovers for the Hoosiers on Saturday.
IU now has 10 interceptions on the season, already three more than last year, and has forced four fumbles.
“It was really good to see and of course, they’ve got a great offense and Barrett’s a heck of a player,” Wilson said. “So to do it against speed and a good opponent on the road shows some focus and that’s something to build on so it’s good for Antonio and our defense.”
Seniors still battling injury
Seniors Nick Stoner and D'Angelo Roberts are still recovering from injuries, but Wilson said he'd like to see both of them take the field Saturday in their final games.
Roberts suffered a concussion two weeks ago against Rutgers, but was able to take one snap against Ohio State last weekend.
Wilson said he doesn't expect there to be any issues for Roberts moving forward, so he should be expected to play.
Stoner hasn't taken the field since injuring a hamstring against Michigan Nov. 1, but Wilson has said each of the last three weeks that he was likely to play.
After IU's loss to Ohio State last weekend, Wilson said Stoner was among the first to text him and compliment the team's effort and apologize for not being able to play.
Wilson responded by telling him he needed him Saturday.
"And I really need him Saturday just for him," Wilson said. "Because I think it would be a nice deal as a senior to suit up one last time for that game. So we'll see. No guarantees, but he's doing light jogging today, just a little, but I'd love getting him back, just for him as a senior."
Wilson pumps up the media
IU junior running back Tevin Coleman is near the 2,000 yard mark and is making a case for national awards and recognitions and IU Coach Kevin Wilson thinks the media can help.
During his weekly press conference, he urged the media to get voting for his star running back.
“You guys can vote him for all-conference, All-American,” Wilson said. “You can pump it up and get those pens going—everybody has got Twitter. Let’s go, rock and roll.”
