Last Saturday, the IU football team (6-4, 2-4) celebrated becoming bowl eligible, something it had not done in more than a decade.\nBy Sunday morning, the celebration was a thing of the past, and preparing for this weekend’s game at Northwestern is now the only thing on the Hoosiers’ radar.\n“We have to win the seventh game, and we have to keep going,” senior offensive lineman Charlie Emerson said. “Everybody’s playing for something at this point in the season. We just have to prepare like we normally do and play hard.”\nPreparation should not be as hard this week as in weeks past. The Wildcats feature a spread offense similar to the one IU deploys. Using a four-wide receiver set, mostly out of the shotgun, the Wildcats ride the pass-happy offense of coach Pat \nFitzgerald. \nSenior linebacker Adam McClurg said playing a spread offense is something the defense looks forward to, because they practice against it all year. \n“I’m used to it, so it’s more like going back to what I know,” McClurg said. “Michigan State, we got a big dose of power. But it’s really exciting to get back to the spread offense.”\nSaturday’s game will also feature the return of running back Tyrell Sutton. Sutton has 310 yards rushing in four games and is averaging 5 yards per carry.\nIU coach Bill Lynch differentiated his team from Northwestern at his weekly press conference. He said Fitzgerald’s squad resembles Minnesota more than IU, because the Wildcats like putting receivers in motion and using bunch formations.
Northwestern one win short of eligibility\nIn their second year under Fitzgerald, the Wildcats (5-5, 2-4) are vying for their first bowl appearance since 2005. Coming off two straight losses to Purdue and Iowa, Northwestern has a lot to play for, as the team will likely need to win its final two games in order to secure a bowl bid.\n“We prepare every week just like it’s another game,” Emerson said, “and I’m sure they’re going to come out even hungrier.”
Starr one field goal short of record\nAfter hitting a 30-yard field goal in the first quarter Saturday against Ball State, junior kicker Austin Starr has now made 14 consecutive field goals and is 17-18 on the year, including 8-8 on kicks between 40-49 yards.\nThe 17th field goal tied the record for most field goals made in a season, set by Pete Stoyanovich in 1988. Starr was also named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, an award given each year to the best kicker in the nation. \n“What he’s done, his numbers are amazing,” Lynch said. “It’s a little bit like a golfer. Sometimes, there’s such a flow to it, and a technique type thing, that he can get himself straightened out even in the midst of a practice.”
Overcoming injuries\nAfter suffering several injuries at Wisconsin on Oct. 27, the Hoosiers are getting some of those players back this week. Senior center Ben Wyss is questionable for this weekend with a broken foot, and senior offensive lineman John Sandberg will take the snaps at center this week in practice.\nSenior defensive lineman Joe Kremer, senior cornerback Leslie Majors and junior wide receiver James Bailey are all likely to play this weekend. However, sophomore running back Demetrius McCray is still nursing a foot injury, and his return is questionable.\n“It’s a tough injury for that position,” Lynch said. “It’s predicated on running and cutting. I don’t really have a good feeling on where he’ll be by the end of the week.”
