Column: IU football is on the rise

No matter the circumstances or the realm, the journey to the proverbial peak is bound to be filled with setbacks and overwhelming challenges.

The Indiana Hoosiers find themselves at the infant stage of that journey, perhaps the most trying segment of the race to the top.

Garnering the strength and resolve to develop a consistent approach is the task facing IU Coach Kevin Wilson and his program.

Saturday evening’s painful loss to Ball State might have been temporarily damaging to the psyche of Wilson’s team, but it won’t be a permanent detractor.

Concisely, it can’t be. The Hoosiers must have a short memory if they wish to shed the label of laughing stock of the Big Ten Conference.

The Hoosiers have made encouraging steps, albeit baby ones, toward ridding themselves of the persistent negativity and failure that has haunted the program since a rare bowl berth five years ago.

It all begins with the ability to run the football consistently, a trait found in the nation’s elite teams every year.

The Alabamas, LSUs and Oregons of the world come to mind when discussing this topic, all three of which find themselves in the top five of the national rankings more often than not.

The Hoosiers have shown life in that facet of the game, which should give Hoosier Nation reason to be optimistic.

Wilson’s running back quartet of freshman Tevin Coleman, junior Stephen Houston and sophomores D’Angelo Roberts and Isaiah Roundtree have been the primary source of the Hoosiers’ 637 net rushing yards through the season’s first three games.

They’ve accumulated those yards at an impressive clip, too, at 4.8 yards per carry.

For perspective, the Hoosiers find themselves ranked 32nd nationally in rushing yards per game with an average of 212.

That gleaming statistic has to be music to offensive coordinator Seth Littrell’s ears, as presumptive starting quarterback sophomore Cameron Coffman won’t be relied upon to march the offense down the field with his arm.

Possessing a potent rushing attack with an inexperienced quarterback may appear to be an easy offense to game-plan against, but opposing defensive coordinators shouldn’t be so quick to assume.

Coffman, though a first-year starting quarterback, doesn’t lack the experience necessary to be an effective leader of the offense.

Last season, Coffman led Arizona Western Community College to its third consecutive league championship, a sign of the leadership capability that prompted the IU coaching staff to offer him a scholarship.

That offer has certainly paid dividends for the Hoosier offense. Since sophomore Tre Roberson was lost for the season against Massachusetts, Coffman has racked up 410 passing yards while completing 70.2 of his attempts. Most importantly, Coffman hasn’t turned over the ball.

The Peculiar, Mo., native, has exemplified poise and composure not typically found in a young quarterback at the highest level of collegiate football.

Coffman likely wasn’t part of Wilson’s plans entering the current season, but he, along with the potent rushing attack, will be enough to prevent an offensive drought without
Roberson.

The baby steps have been taken. Now it’s time for the Hoosiers to grow up and take the long strides desired by a starved fan base.

­— ckillore@indiana.edu