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The Indiana Daily Student

sports football

Wilson: 'We don't talk about replacing Antonio, we talk about getting this team stronger'

Head coach Kevin Wilson watches from the sidelines as IU loses to Penn State, 13-7, on Nov. 8, 2014 at Memorial Stadium.

IU Coach Kevin Wilson went on SiriusXM’s College Sports Nation radio on Friday as his first media appearance since the arrest of former IU safety Antonio Allen.

Allen was arrested Tuesday evening by the Indiana State Police for allegedly possessing and selling heroin, cocaine and ?methamphetamine.

In the interview with Jack Arute and former coach Houston Nutt, Wilson was asked just once about the loss of Allen.

“Our thoughts are not necessarily the production of Antonio (Allen),” Wilson said, “but as a football team, how can we continue to grow and be stronger? To grow and be better teammates?”

He then began speaking about helping Allen and sounded scattered in his response.

“Maybe our guys tried to help,” Wilson said. “I use the analogy (that) a patient can be saved and be getting treatment for an illness, and sometimes it doesn’t work.”

Wilson continued, stopping himself in the middle of one thought as if to redirect to another.

“So maybe we tried to help. If he didn’t need help, great. Could we have helped better? If we didn’t help, look at what ... I immediately took it into outside (unclear) of Antonio trying to support him but moving forward and doing what’s right for the program and university guidelines.”

Wilson then moved the topic of conversation toward his team as a whole. He said it’s been his closest group to date, and the team battled down the stretch in spite of quarterback issues.

“I felt the way we finished last year Jack, our kids started fighting for themselves,” Wilson said. “We are taking a situation with Antonio and our team to make sure we start being not just a buddy and a pal, but start being a friend and a teammate and start doing things stronger across the board.”

Wilson said this doesn’t just apply to Allen’s situation, but also class attendance and treating people well.

He also spoke of bringing in transfer players from UAB and how the culture is to thank for the impressive recruiting classes.

“We’ve got a bunch of good kids, I like where we are at,” Wilson said. “Don’t like this situation, but we don’t talk about replacing Antonio, we talk about getting this team stronger.”

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