Thanksgiving is a bit different for IU’s football players.
While the general student population is on a week-long break, the players are at work preparing for a matchup against Purdue Saturday at noon.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving.
“No one is going to be sitting in a dorm by themselves,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said.
It’s part of a Thanksgiving holiday team tradition Wilson had during his time as an offensive coordinator in Okhlahoma.
The team ate a Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday night together before practicing early Thursday morning. Wilson said Monday that the Hoosiers would finish practice by 11 a.m. Thursday, allowing players to return home for Thanksgiving in the afternoon before returning Friday before noon.
Wilson usually limits the distance players can travel to about as far as the Indianapolis area. Some players will invite teammates to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families.
Senior Shane Wynn, a Cleveland native, plans to spend his time with senior Isaiah ‘Zeke’ Roundtree in Indianapolis. Senior cornerback Michael Hunter, a Louisiana native, spent Thanksgiving with senior Nick Stoner last year in Greenwod, Ind.
Others will spend the day with Fellowship of Christian Athletes representatives or other IU coaches.
"Everybody is going to be at coach (Deland) McCullough’s house or they’ll be over at coach (William) Inge on the grill smoking on his barbecue deal.” Wilson said. “We’ll do something for the guys.”
