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(11/22/04 4:25am)
It's unfortunate that the Hoosier football team had to end its season on a loss, but what's more devastating is the fashion in which it lost. The team practically stood by and watched as Purdue rolled up 763 total yards and 63 points with the utmost of ease. The Boilermakers were able to gain 250 offensive yards before the first quarter was over while the score at halftime was 42-10.\nThe Boilermakers scored on their first three possessions and never looked back. In fact, the only time the game was "close" was in the second quarter after junior safety Will Lumpkin returned a fumble for a touchdown, bringing the score to 21-10. On the next drive, however, Purdue found the end zone again, eliminating any hopes the Hoosiers had of making a comeback.\nBasically, the Hoosier offense was unable to do much of anything and having their defense on the field seemed like a mere formality as Purdue gained 37 first downs and converted 10 times on third down. One could make the argument the team collectively played its worst game during DiNardo's tenure.\nHowever, as bad as the loss was, let's not forget how much the team has improved. Yes, a 3-8 record is nothing to celebrate, but the Hoosiers were in position to win five of the games they lost this season. Statistically speaking, the defense has not improved much, but they are creating more turnovers and scored five times, which is an IU record. Aided by the play of senior quarterback Matt LoVecchio, the offense steadily improved throughout the year. While offense has not been much of a problem for the Hoosiers in recent years, the team now is able to move the ball more effectively against even the toughest defenses.\nSo ends a third straight season under DiNardo without a postseason appearance. Altogether, IU is 8-27 under the guidance of DiNardo, including a 3-21 mark in conference play. However, as staggering as those numbers are, the fact of the matter is that DiNardo does have this team headed in the right direction. The team is playing harder and was competitive in most of the games this season, with the exception of the contests against Kentucky and Purdue. \nSo while it's unfortunate for the Hoosiers to end their season on such a sour note, it's a little refreshing to know the team is on its way to becoming a solid Big Ten football team. As for the seniors, some will have a chance at the NFL, while the rest will have to move into life without football. The trips have been fun and the games often had me on the edge of my seat, but as somebody once said, "All good things must come to an end"
(11/19/04 5:19am)
When IU and Purdue University face off for the Old Oaken Bucket this weekend, you can forget about any kind of records, stats, numbers or any other sort of collection of data, for that matter. It really doesn't matter that Purdue is averaging almost 300 passing yards a game, or that IU's defense gives up close to 30 points a contest. It wouldn't matter if the Boilermakers were still undefeated and the Hoosiers hadn't won a game. When these two teams meet for the 107th time Saturday, either team is capable of winning.\nEntering this game are two teams with seasons gone wrong. IU got off to a 2-0 start, including a win over then-No. 24-ranked Oregon, but then lost five in a row, virtually eliminating any chance the Hoosiers had at a postseason appearance. \nPurdue was 5-0, ranked and considered a legit contender for a Rose Bowl appearance until the Boilermakers dropped four in a row by a combined 10 points. The Boilermakers gained bowl eligibility last week by defeating a weak Ohio State team, despite having had to start a turnover-prone backup at quarterback in Brandon Kirsch. \nWhen you look a little closer, the teams begin to resemble one another even more. Both teams can run and pass the ball well on offense, and both teams feature a senior quarterback, which is unheard-of for the Big Ten this season. Additionally, both teams have defenses that can create turnovers and havoc for opposing offenses, but still have not been able to close out close games.\nWin or lose, this is the last game of the season for the Hoosiers, the same of which cannot be said for Purdue. The Boilermakers are 6-4 overall this season, making them bowl eligible, but six wins won't get you far in the bowl world. An additional win could push Purdue up a few bowls, which would, in turn, mean more money for the school and the Big Ten. \nBut do the Hoosiers really care about that? I highly doubt it. Just because IU can't accomplish anything with a win over Purdue doesn't mean the team's taking this game lightly. And just because the so-called "experts" most likely will pick Purdue to win -- considering it's in West Lafayette -- that still does not mean the Hoosiers are going to roll over for the Boilermakers. \nIn the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, nobody rolls over, and nobody takes the game lightly.\nAt the end of the day Saturday, somebody will score a key touchdown or make a play that proves to be the turning point of the game, but nobody will care about stats. IU coach Gerry DiNardo and Purdue coach Joe Tiller both will be willing to take a win, even if it's not pretty. And the players, well, all the players will be playing for pride and respect. Just don't remind DiNardo of the one stat that still haunts him -- he is winless against Purdue since his arrival in Bloomington.
(11/15/04 5:18am)
I don't know how much value you can find in a loss, but there must be something good that can come of IU's near victory Saturday against Penn State. Just one yard separated the Hoosiers from beating the Nittany Lions for the first time in school history. But as much as another loss hurts, you can still find evidence of success.\nFor starters, the Hoosier defense has become a force opponents no longer anticipate playing against. Against the Nittany Lions, the IU defense intercepted two passes, returning one of them for a touchdown. The defense still is prone to giving up a lot of points, but no longer rolls over at the first sign of defeat. This season, the Hoosier defense has returned four turnovers for touchdowns -- a first for IU football. \nOn the offensive side of the ball, things have been going well for the Hoosiers for years, but the team now finds more variety of play calling, including reverses and options to wide receivers. But the most important upgrade on the offense has been the inclusion of the tight ends -- something severely lacking earlier this season.\nThough the play calling has been vastly improved, I must question the coaching staff's decision to run the ball on all four downs during the Nittany Lions goal-line stand at the end of the game. Penn State has a notoriously fierce defense, so I just wonder why IU didn't think about something like a naked quarterback bootleg, or maybe just a simple play-action pass to the tight end? How about a corner route to Travis Haney? Haney would've had close to five or six inches on the PSU defensive back, so all IU quarterback Matt LoVecchio would've had to do was throw the ball up. \nHindsight is said to be 20/20, but DiNardo stated in his post-game press conference that the team had no intentions of throwing the ball in that situation. I understand that coaching staffs have specific game plans for specific situations, but did they seriously think four runs could win the game, or were they being lazy and hoping that somehow a back would find his way over the line? \nNo matter how you look at it, IU has grown and improved immensely as a team. The team is on a path to success, but has seemingly taken a few wrong turns on the way. \n Next weekend when the Hoosiers face off against in-state rival Purdue, they won't be looking for value or for a successful goal-line touchdown. \nAll the Hoosiers want to do is leave West Lafayette with a win.
(11/12/04 5:48am)
This weekend, the Hoosiers will try to do something that's never been accomplished in school history. It's not anything similar to a national championship or a bowl game. In fact, it's not even close to beating a team like USC or Oklahoma. To make history this weekend, all IU needs to do is beat Penn State.\nOn the surface, this really doesn't appear to be too difficult a task. This season, the Nittany Lions are just 2-7 overall and have yet to win a Big Ten game. They've lost six straight games and their only two victories came over two MAC schools. Additionally, besides Penn State's two wins, the team hasn't managed to score more than 13 points against anybody. \nThese are sad times for the once great Penn State team. PSU coach Joe Paterno hasn't found much success since his team joined the Big Ten. Paterno became the all-time leader of Division I wins only to see Florida State coach Bobby Bowden pass him later that season. It seems Paterno's best days are past him, but how can you fire a legend?\nLooks can be deceiving, though. As stagnant as Penn State's offense has been, it has somewhat made up for it with a stingy defense that ranks among the best in the country. No opponent has scored more than 21 points against the Nittany Lions. Iowa only managed a mere six points when it played Penn State, though it was enough to win as the Nittany Lions were able to score just four points -- on two safeties.\nWhen you look at the records, this is yet another game that doesn't seem to matter. With both teams already eliminated from playing in the postseason, you wouldn't expect either team to play hard, but they will.\nPenn State needs to win out to prove the team is still capable of winning, thus easing the minds of the Paterno critics out there. It appears the Nittany Lions have some decent talent but haven't been able to put it together in recent years. Quarterback Zack Mills was once thought of as the next great Penn State signal caller, but so far this season, he has tossed more interceptions than touchdowns. Nonetheless, Mills is a gamer who is always capable of bringing his best.\nThe Hoosiers want to win out the rest of their schedule to end up with a 5-6 record, which would make this Gerry DiNardo's best season at IU by far and would show that the team's on the right track. Winning would also give IU some well-deserved momentum heading into next season.\nNeither team is playing for a chance at a bowl game, or even a glance at the top 25 for that matter. But both teams will fight hard to win this game because they're fighting for something more than a bowl game or ranking. These two teams will play for pride on Saturday because, at this point, it's one of the few things left to drive them. For the IU seniors, this will be last chance to take the home field, and they will do it with nothing but pride.
(11/08/04 5:23am)
With all the momentum on their side and only minutes left in the game, it looked as if the Hoosiers' hopes for a bowl game would remain alive -- that was until IU turned the ball over. \nRedshirt freshman quarterback Blake Powers took over for an injured Matt LoVecchio, who played well all day completing 15 of 17 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. On a third down, Powers looked long but came up short and threw his first interception of the day. The momentum swung toward Illinois, and the Fighting Illini responded with a score on the heels of some big Pierre Thomas runs.\nI don't believe that Powers is to blame, in fact, I don't think there's anybody you can really blame for the Hoosiers' 26-22 loss to Illinois. But, I do want to know why IU coach Gerry DiNardo decided to have Powers throw on first and third down when all the Hoosiers needed to do was run the clock down. Two of the three downs in Powers' first series were spent on incomplete passing plays that could've taken close to an extra minute off the clock if the Hoosiers ran the ball. By the way, the Fighting Illini scored with just 30 seconds left, proving that the extra minute would've been invaluable to the Hoosiers' cause.\nIn a game where it seemed that everything was going right for the Hoosiers, it's hard to believe one bad series could cost them the game. \nBesides LoVecchio's performance, junior receiver Jahkeen Gilmore and sophomore tight end Chris Rudanovic both had career receiving days. Gilmore scored on an 80-yard pass on the first play of the game while Rudanovic led the team in receptions, catching six passes for 62 yards.\nDefensively, IU found another freshman gem in cornerback Leslie Majors. Against the Illini, Majors broke up five passes while helping the secondary shut down the Illini passing game. \nOverall, Illinois had a hard time moving the ball until the fourth quarter when the Hoosier defense inexplicably let the Illini run all over them. Illinois tailback Thomas sliced through the IU defensive line and energized an Illini team that didn't have much to celebrate about -- yet. Illinois soon found the end zone, eliminating any and all chances the Hoosiers had at a bowl game.\nSo, while we can sit here and wonder what if, Gerry DiNardo will be reaching for the aspirin and trying to forget the fourth quarter. He will be wondering why he thought it was a good idea to have Powers throw so much, but he also has to face his third consecutive losing season in Bloomington.\nI think we could all use some aspirin.
(11/05/04 5:46am)
Among the many cornfields and farms that reside in the countryside of Illinois lies the university, another Big Ten school that places much more emphasis on basketball than football. This weekend, the Hoosiers travel to Champaign to face the Fighting Illini on the Illini's Senior Day. \nThough the teams have similar records, the Hoosiers are looking to continue to scrap their way to a .500 record and a possible bowl game while the Fighting Illini are just hoping for, well, anything resembling a win.\nIt wasn't long ago that Illinois won the Big Ten championship in football, but in recent years the program has tapered off to the tune of three wins in the past two seasons combined. So far this year, where there have been many signs of improvement for the Hoosiers, there have been only a few for the Fighting Illini. \nSuffice to say, it really doesn't matter what the team's records are entering this game because it's important to both teams.\nOffensively, the Hoosiers have taken off. Last week against Minnesota, IU gained 399 total yards on offense, highlighted by the 254 rushing yards gained by the Green-Ellis, Taylor and Washington committee. But more important than the total number of yards was the excellent play of the offensive line which will be extremely important for the Hoosiers if they want to beat Illinois. The Fighting Illini employ an attacking defense that boasts a lot of speed, so the IU offensive line will need to pick up everybody that's rushing Matt LoVecchio.\nOn the defensive side of the ball, the Hoosiers were finally able to put together four solid quarters of defense, limiting the potent Minnesota rushing attack to just 169 yards while turning an interception into a touchdown. The defense has fought through injuries and inconsistent play through the help of its leaders, Kyle Killion and Herana-Daze Jones, both of whom are among the top 10 leaders in tackles in the Big Ten. In order to earn a win over Illinois, the Hoosiers will need Killion and Jones to be all over the field and keep the defense focused.\nTo the Fighting Illini's credit, the team does have a few playmakers. Sophomore tailback Pierre Thomas currently ranks No. 24 in the country in all-purpose yardage and is always a threat when he touches the ball. Senior quarterback Jon Beutjer is in the midst of his sixth year of college football, so by now you have to figure that he's somewhat decent of a quarterback. But no matter how well Thomas and Beutjer play, they still have to go against an IU defense that's found its confidence.\nThe Hoosiers are very capable of winning this game and moving within one game of a 5-5 mark, though it's not easy to win in Champaign. The last time IU won at Illinois was in 1979, and the Fighting Illini dominate the overall series, 40-18-3. \nThis game is a benchmark in the DiNardo program. Back-to-back Big Ten wins is a serious step in the right direction, but a loss would fill familiar shoes for the Hoosiers.
(11/01/04 5:14am)
The strong wind you felt Saturday was a result of the changing season, but it was also a collective sigh of relief that came from Gerry DiNardo and his coaching staff on the heels of the Hoosiers' first Big Ten victory this season. The win was the Hoosiers' second victory over a ranked team this season, and the last time the Hoosiers beat two ranked teams in one season was when the team defeated Michigan and Ohio State in 1987.\nIt appeared the Hoosiers were destined for another loss after surrendering 14 first quarter points. The Golden Gophers scored on their first two consecutive drives and were moving the ball effectively through the air and on the ground. But Minnesota didn't count on DiNardo to open up his playbook a little and to vary up the rushing attack by infusing Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington into the scheme. It also didn't hurt that quarterback Matt LoVecchio found six different targets to throw to, or that tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his first 100-yard game since the Hoosiers traveled to Lexington, Ky., Sept. 18.\nAbove all though, I believe the fate of the Hoosiers in this game depended on one play that was made at the beginning of the second quarter. Driving down the field in attempt for a third score, Golden Gopher quarterback Bryan Cupito dropped back and fired a pass to his receiver along the right sideline. With the high speed winds and some good intuition, junior safety Will Lumpkin got a jump on the ball, made the pick and returned it 42 yards, giving the Hoosiers six points and all the momentum they would need to win the game. It's a shame that just 22,282 people were in attendance for Homecoming and for the Hoosiers' third win of the season.\nI can't believe only 22,282 people went to this game. You know how bad that is? That's less than half the stadium capacity. That's 5,000 less people than were at last year's Homecoming game which at that time set an IU record for lowest attendance at a Homecoming game. Now, a new record has been set. Congratulations. I'm not sure how fewer fans are going to the games despite the improvement in play of IU. I do know a lot of people who are able to make it to the tailgate, only to spend the whole time drinking in a field and listening to the game on a car radio. \nCome on people. I love to tailgate just as much as the next person, but I also like to watch football and support the Hoosiers, and they could use all the support they can get.\nThis IU team is 3-5 overall which is good when considering the fact the team only won two games all of last season. The Hoosiers' next two games are against the hapless Fighting Illini and the once great Penn State -- two very winnable games for IU. Fans, do your best to support the Hoosiers and show up to a game once in a while. At least the team is beginning to show up.
(10/29/04 5:15am)
The Hoosiers finally could catch a break this season. After two tough road trips and two tough losses, the team returns to Bloomington to face Minnesota during Homecoming weekend. Since IU's upset over then-No. 24 Oregon, the team has been on a steady decline despite increasingly good play. \nThe Hoosiers now have the chance to right the ship, but it won't be easy. The No. 23-ranked Golden Gophers are 6-2 (3-2 Big Ten) this season, and they have one of the more prolific offenses in the country, featuring the two-tailback tandem of Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III.\nA win this weekend for the Hoosiers could change their season, though that doesn't necessarily mean a win against Minnesota would send the Hoosiers to a bowl game. After Minnesota, IU has two games against conference cupcakes Illinois and Penn State, so we could potentially see a nice little win streak happening if the Hoosiers are able to prevail over the Golden Gophers Saturday afternoon.\nUnfortunately for the Hoosiers, a victory over Minnesota seems unlikely. The Hoosiers have a difficult time stopping runs, which is bad news because the Golden Gophers like to run -- a lot. Together, Minnesota's top two tailbacks have combined to rush for 1,757 yards already this season. Comparably, the Hoosiers' top two tailbacks have combined to rush for just 637 yards. This does not bode well for the IU defense that has allowed almost 5-1/2 yards per carry to opponents this season.\nOffensively, who knows which Hoosier team will show up? Quarterback Matt LoVecchio has been more effective through the air, yet the running game has come to a halt. BenJarvus Green-Ellis has seen his yards per carry fall to an average of exactly three yards over the past three games, while backup tailback Chris Taylor continues to state his case for the starting job. Hopefully Gerry and Co. will give Taylor more carries against Minnesota because the IU running game will suffer for yet another weekend otherwise.\nThe benefit of Homecoming weekend usually doesn't have much effect on football games anymore, yet the Hoosiers do have a definite advantage working in their favor this weekend. Back in 2000, the Golden Gophers came to Bloomington during Homecoming weekend, and similarly, the Hoosiers entered that game with just two wins. In a back and forth game that saw absolutely no defense, the Hoosiers came out on top, 51-43. At the time, Minnesota was the conference front runner with a 5-2 overall record. This year, Minnesota is 6-2 and still stands a chance to make a run at a Big Ten title.\nHopefully Homecoming weekend will provide the Hoosiers with a little spark. If they are able to pull out a victory, their season, which was considered dead after losing to Northwestern and Ohio State, will still have a little life left in it.
(10/25/04 5:00am)
How low do you go before you make the decision to pull the plug? \nIs five losses in a row enough? \nIf you ask Gerry DiNardo, the answer would without a doubt be 'no,' but the fact of the matter is that the Hoosiers need to win the rest of their games to become bowl eligible. \nIs it possible? Well, of course. \nIs it likely? Not really.\nThe Hoosiers' loss to Ohio State Saturday hurt more than just another tick in the loss column. The Hoosiers lost starting cornerback Tracey Porter to injury, but more importantly, the loss represented the practical end to the season for IU. Yes, IU still has games against fellow Big Ten bottom feeders Illinois and Penn State, but the other two remaining games are against Minnesota and Purdue.\nIn his post-game press conference, DiNardo had this to say about IU's running game, "We have struggled most of the year. We are trying to devise some ways to generate a running attack." \nOK, this is basically coach speak for, "We can't run the ball, and we honestly have no idea how to fix it." \nThe coaching staff must not be thinking too hard about the running game situation because I have a one-step solution for it; bench BenJarvus Green-Ellis. I never thought I would have to utter these words, but unfortunately it has come time. Against the Buckeyes, backup tailback Chris Taylor managed to rush for 53 yards on nine carries while Green-Ellis managed a meager 31 yards on 18 carriers behind the same injury-plagued line. That adds up to a 1.5 yards per carry average. If you simply fell over, you could probably gain more yards than that And hey, would it hurt the Hoosiers to give Yamar Washington a few touches in these next few games?\nDefensively, the team played well for the most part, except for at the beginning when the Buckeyes scored on back-to-back drives. Oh, I forgot to mention the fact that the Buckeyes were using their backup quarterback, their third string tailback and a new offensive line. Maybe all those changes benefited Ohio State, or maybe the Hoosiers are forever destined to have a mediocre defense. For the sake of the team, let's hope it was the former and not the latter.\nOn a brighter note, congratulations are again in order for senior wide receiver Courtney Roby. During Saturday afternoon's game, Roby became the all-time receiving yards leader in IU history, which is yet another testament to how much Roby has brought to the IU football program. One can only imagine where the Hoosier passing game would be without him.\nThe Hoosiers have a chance to reach the program's best record since the 2000 season if they simply split the next four games, however, at the rate the team's playing, winning two games might be a stretch.
(10/22/04 6:06am)
Let's hope the bye week for the Hoosiers was as productive as it could've been because this weekend the team travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face a troubled Buckeye squad. While the Hoosiers' season took a turn south after losing at Kentucky, they have a chance to right the ship with a victory over Ohio State this weekend.\nI know you're sitting there and saying to yourself, "Does IU really stand a chance against Ohio State this weekend?" and I'd like to respond with, "Did I stutter?" No. Maybe you haven't been paying much attention to the Buckeyes' performance this season so far, but I know I have, and it's been ugly.\nEarly in the season, the Buckeyes were able to win close games against Cincinnati, Marshall and N.C. State, echoing versions of recent Ohio State teams that won any close game they were in. But then, something funny happened. The Buckeyes paid a visit to Northwestern and watched in disbelief as the Wildcats rolled to a double overtime victory. \nBig deal, it was a road game, right? The following weekend, the punchless Buckeye offense managed to throw up only 13 points while allowing 24 to Wisconsin. It gets worse. The Buckeyes traveled to Iowa last weekend only to watch the Hawkeyes steamroll their way to a 33-7 victory in which the only Buckeye score came in garbage time against Iowa's second team. Things are bad in Columbus, to say the least.\nIn the meantime, the Hoosiers have had the benefit of the bye week to heal up, watch extra tape and practice more than they usually would. With a healthier and more rested team, there is no better time to surprise the Buckeyes in Columbus than this weekend. In the past, it would be almost inconceivable to think IU could defeat the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium, but my, how the tables have turned.\nHow bad is Ohio State this season? Well, after losing a record 14 players from last year's team to the NFL Draft, the Buckeyes have not only managed to lose back-to-back games for the first time under the tenure of Jim Tressel, they also are off to their first 0-3 start in the Big Ten since Kirk Herbstreit was their quarterback. In fact, things are so bad in Columbus that many people are already questioning Tressel's coaching despite a giant National Championship trophy that is still sitting snug in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.\nIn my most recent column, following the Northwestern game, I was uncharacteristically hard on the Hoosiers. I have since dumped the attitude because I know what this IU team is capable of, and I believe they will showcase it this weekend against the Buckeyes. The simple fact about the Buckeyes is that they're playing scared. It is a young team, afraid to make mistakes and if the Hoosiers are able to get it going early, I believe it will be a good weekend for IU.
(10/22/04 5:33am)
IU Offense: The Hoosiers have made huge strides in the passing game in recent weeks, and the running game can't be far behind. The Hoosiers will pass early and often to test the young Buckeye secondary, and expect a huge day from Courtney Roby who should easily shred the soft zone defense.
(10/11/04 5:16am)
The Hoosiers loss in Evanston,Ill., was more than just another mark in the loss column. It was full of pain and devastation, and not because of the hits sustained during the game.\nAgainst Northwestern, the Hoosiers finally found their second-half game that they had been lacking all season. If only IU could've found their overtime game as well.\nBefore I get to the quagmire known as the IU football program, let me first touch on two Hoosier bright spots. First of all, let's congratulate Matt LoVecchio on achieving a career high in passing yards. Against Northwestern, LoVecchio finally looked like a complete quarterback by leading the Hoosiers in the air as well as on the ground. Secondly, let's give Courtney Roby a round of applause. Saturday, he became IU's career receptions leader and is closing in on becoming IU's all-time leader in yards received. Roby has been a rock solid receiver since the moment he arrived on campus, and if you see him out, you should shake his hand and thank him for his contributions to an IU program that has been seemingly forever stuck in a state of football doldrums.\nNow let me shift my focus to game against Northwestern. What does it say about this IU team when two different players can achieve career best marks and still lose? Is IU football forever destined to be bad no matter how well the team performs? Let's hope not, especially for you 857s.\nOffensively, it appears the Hoosiers have finally found a rhythm. LoVecchio has steadily improved from week to week and, from a numbers standpoint, had his best game as a collegian. Unfortunately, as the passing game has begun to improve, the running game is taking steps (and yards for that fact) backwards. Against Northwestern, BenJarvus Green-Ellis was held to less than three yards per carry and less than 50 total yards before overtime. It seems as though Green-Ellis' play has slowly been declining since the beginning of the season and I'm not one to believe in a "sophomore slump." I think he's still basking from last year's accomplishments and might want to hit a hole every now and then. I can't remember the last time he broke a tackle. And let's be honest, there haven't been gaping holes created by this injury-riddled offensive line.\nBased on past IU defenses, this unit looks like the steel curtain. The team in no way resembles past versions of itself. The defense is creating turnovers and making third-and-short stands. But they don't seem to have the talent or depth to put a whole game together and have more brain farts than me (but that's a closed-door conversation). \nFor some reason though, the defense can't stop teams with running quarterbacks. Nonetheless, it's refreshing to know the Hoosiers don't have to rely entirely on their offense any more -- which is convenient since the offense is one of the bottom feeders in the Big Ten.\nIU coach Gerry DiNardo has his team headed in the right direction but who knows how long it'll take to get there. Whether it's next week or next season, the Hoosiers are close to turning the corner and finally becoming a force in the Big Ten. Maybe by your senior year, freshmen.
(10/08/04 5:41am)
This weekend could prove to be one of the most exciting weekends in college football of the year. Many teams have reached a turning point in their season culminated by decisive match-ups this Saturday. Some teams, such as USC, California, Georgia, Wisconsin and Purdue, are looking to remain undefeated and begin their trip to the Orange Bowl while others, such as LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and Maryland look to get their season back on track. IU, while not similar in terms of record, fits into the second category.\nAfter squandering halftime leads at Kentucky and against Michigan State, and then losing to Michigan last weekend, the Hoosiers find themselves stuck between a glacier and the earth's core. With six games remaining on the schedule, IU needs to win four in order to become eligible for a bowl game. That number becomes much more significant when you consider the fact that there only two home games left, and the road schedule includes trips to Ohio State and Purdue.\nSo can the Hoosiers do it? Can they win enough games to become bowl eligible? To be honest, I don't know. I'm not an expert and I don't want to pretend to be one. But I like to believe that these Hoosiers are capable of something they haven't been capable of in the past few years, and that is to be a player in the Big Ten battle. Past Hoosier teams already would've rolled over and played dead at this point in the season, but like I said earlier this year, these are not your Hoosiers of old.\nFor starters, the Hoosiers need to beat Northwestern. This game can't be viewed as just another Big Ten game or just another game against the Wildcats. This is a must-win for IU. The Hoosiers need to prepare for this game mentally as if they were going to play a team such as Purdue, USC, Oklahoma or Georgia. \nYes, it's true that Northwestern currently has the same record as IU, but they are by no means similar. This is the same Northwestern team that dismantled a talented Buckeye team last weekend en route to a 27-20 overtime upset victory in Evanston, Ill.\nIn earlier columns, I mentioned that the Hoosiers would be able to prove something even if they lost to Oregon and Michigan, but now the Hoosiers must win in order to prove themselves. This IU team is by far capable enough to win four more games, but it must start against Northwestern. \nThis weekend, the nation will be in for a college football treat. As college football fans, we'll be treated to some incredible match-ups including Texas-Oklahoma, USC-Cal, Wisconsin-Ohio State, Tennessee-Georgia and Michigan-Minnesota. The IU-Northwestern game can be lumped into that category, not because of the team's records, but because of the importance of the game to each team's season.
(10/04/04 5:57am)
Saturday was a most uneventful day in the realm of college football. Yes there were some upsets and some games between ranked teams, but everything turned out to be a little bland. \nIt all started when IU and Michigan were playing. On a Matt LoVecchio quarterback sneak from the one-yard line, LoVecchio originally scored on the play, but the officials decided to intervene. Instant replay was used, and then used again, until the officials finally found the wrong spot for the ball and the wrong amount of time for the clock. The review took well over 10 minutes, thanks in large part to the poor replay system and the bumbling idiot himself, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. Luckily, the Hoosiers scored to make the game 14-7 at halftime. \nEverything went downhill for IU when the second half started. The Wolverines made the Hoosiers look like a high school football team en route to 21 second-half points and another victory.\nAfter walking home, I walked up the stairs to my porch only to find a friend of mine passed out on the couch with a bag of tortilla chips all over him. I then walked inside to find a house full of drunk people who failed to understand how I was still sober while the sun was still out.\nAfter anxiously awaiting the kickoff to the Auburn-Tennessee game, the college football gods again let me down. I had been ready to watch a true battle between two unbeaten and Top 10-ranked teams, only to see Auburn steamroll the Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn.\nAt this point, a Styrofoam cooler has been crushed into a million pieces and my room a resting place for this mess. The remaining roommates and friends who hadn't yet passed out from the mixture of tequila and rum they had been consuming at the tailgate began finding places to pass out. I was determined to not let a Saturday be ruined by a Hoosier loss or passed out roommates. \nSure enough, there had to be some good football still on, or at least I thought. I then found the Ohio State and Northwestern game. I found this game unbearable to watch. The Wildcats absolutely shredded the Buckeye's defense, and to be honest, the game shouldn't even have gone to overtime. \nAt this point, I was just ready to turn the TV off but soon "SportsCenter" would be on so I had to watch. Upon watching "SportsCenter," I saw something that made my day a little better. They were showing highlights of the IU-Michigan game, and they showed John Pannozzo's hit on Michigan punt returner, Leon Hall. They then showed it again and again, but somehow they failed to show anything else the Hoosiers did right on Saturday. Maybe ESPN was a little limited on quality viewing material -- much like myself.\nI suppose there will be days like this; days when even college football doesn't feel entertaining. Saturday's game between IU and Michigan could've been worse -- the Wolverines could've brought their marching band with them.
(10/01/04 5:51am)
I'm going to let you all in on a little secret of mine. Well, for those of you who know me, it's not that much of a secret, but it's something I feel everybody should know.\nI am a die-hard Ohio State football fan, and I have been my entire life. Being born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, just a 10-minute drive from Ohio Stadium, there really wasn't much of a choice for me. To live in Columbus and not be a Buckeye fan is considered sacrilegious. But I'm not going to spend the rest of the article talking about why I love Ohio State football because I know you probably don't want to hear it. Instead I'm going to tell you about my distaste for that team up north, and I'm not talking about Purdue. I'm referring to the team that resides in the bleak town of Ann Arbor.\nFor those of you planning on attending the game between IU and Michigan this Saturday, I would recommend you bring some ear plugs to drown out the awful sound known as the Wolverines' fight song -- "Hail to the Victors." \nIf you've ever had the pleasure of seeing a Wolverine football game in person, then you've experienced their fight song close to 1,000 times before halftime. For some unknown reason, the Wolverine marching band feels the need to play the fight song after every play, no matter how good or bad the team did. Sacked for a 10-yard loss? Play the fight song! Going to the restroom? Play the fight song! I'd rather pick up trash along the highway than hear that song.\nMany people have come up to me this week and asked me if the Hoosiers have any chance against the Wolverines this weekend. The answer is the same every time: Of course. \nLast year IU kept the game close until late in the third quarter, and so far this season, Michigan has not impressed. The Wolverines dropped a game to a punchless Notre Dame squad, and they almost lost at home to San Diego State. Michigan can be beat. The Wolverines are a power running team with no good running backs, and even though they have some of the best receivers in the country, they are starting a true freshman at quarterback. Additionally, while their defense is filled with playmakers like cornerback Marlin Jackson, there are some holes.\nThe Hoosiers can win this game, but they will need to do many things well. First and foremost, the play calling needs to be improved, and the team needs to be a second-half team. But above all, the Hoosiers need to come into this game angry, and I'm not talking about the kind of angry like you're angry because the coach told you to be. I'm talking about the feeling I have when I watch the Buckeyes play the Wolverines. A feeling so deep and rich that the words I'd like to use to describe it can't be printed. I can only hope that somehow the Wolverine marching band will be left behind.
(09/27/04 4:51am)
This weekend we saw the true face of the Hoosiers. The problem, though, is that there's two of them. On one hand, you have the team that played in the first half against the Spartans. This is the team that dominated Central Michigan and upset Oregon in Autzen Stadium. On the other hand, you have the team that played in the second half. This is the team that let Kentucky score at will and Saturday they let the Spartans put 23 points in the second half.\nAgainst the Spartans, the Hoosiers were dominant in the opening half. The offense moved the ball well and the defense resembled that of the Chicago Bears in the mid-'80s. The Spartans were held to less than 30 yards passing until the middle of the second quarter and had a hard time doing much of anything on offense. Going into the half, the Hoosiers were leading 20-7 and the score could've been even more lopsided had the Hoosiers converted on every trip in the red zone.\nThen came halftime. The Spartans came out in the second half and turned the tables on IU. Michigan State dominated the second half in every aspect of the game. The Spartans were able to run and pass almost seemingly at will. The Hoosier play calling grew incredibly predictable as they ran the same halfback draw over and over again. The Spartans held IU scoreless in the second half as they rolled to a 30-20 win. And don't forget Spartan quarterback Drew Stanton, who ran all the field like he was Dante Hall.\nOffensively, I believe there is one type of play that could pay dividends for the Hoosiers. If the Hoosiers threw in a little play action, they would be able to open up the passing game immensely. One thing I noticed while I was watching the game was that the Spartans shut down tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis because they swarmed to him after every snap.\nDefensively, it seems IU would benefit with a few more blitzes. While the defensive line and linebackers played well against the Spartans, it seemed every time they came after the quarterback that they came up a little short. If the Hoosiers continue to fail at putting pressure on the quarterback, then it'll be a long day next Saturday against Michigan. \nThis weekend, the Wolverines put up over 30 points against the vaunted Iowa defense which is not good news for IU. The Wolverines have one of the most talented group of receivers in the country and will give the Hoosier secondary fits.\nWhat IU needs to do is not exactly something you can practice. It seems the Hoosiers have a difficult time remaining successful through all four quarters of the game. The team has the talent and ability to be a better team, and the potential to go to a bowl game if they can work out just a few kinks. I believe the team will be able to turn it around, even if it doesn't happen against Michigan.
(09/24/04 5:44am)
Think back to all those times when you were watching football and saw something on the TV replay that the officials somehow missed. You wished and swore that someday instant replay would be used in college football. Well, this year you finally got your wish.\nIn case you didn't know, the Big Ten has decided to implement instant replay in every conference football game this season on a trial basis.\nBasically, at every conference game, there will be some old guy sitting in a booth with a digital TV and a TiVo, watching every play to see if it needs to be reviewed or not. Then, if he sees something he needs to review, he'll radio down to an official on the field and notify them to stop play because the previous play is being reviewed. Then, if the old man finds something that needs to be changed, he'll let the official on the field know and the official will then let everyone else know. \nSounds simple. So why did it take an official 10 minutes to review a play of little significance in Wisconsin's home-opener against Central Florida?\nFor the NFL, instant replay works because they have a strict system set in place where coaches are given a set limit of two challenges per game and the officials are given only a minute and a half to review the play. The Big Ten, on the other hand, has no limits of any kind. The decision to overrule the play is entirely at the discretion of the man sitting in the booth.\nIs this what we really want in college football? \nTo me, one of the things I like most about college football is that it's so different from professional football. Next thing you know, they'll be implementing a high school lottery draft.\nOK, maybe that's stretching it a little bit. It's not that I'm against instant replay, I'm just against it being used in college football. College football is a game of momentum, much more so than professional football is. \nImagine watching your favorite team throw a Hail Mary for a touchdown only to find out that the play needs to be reviewed. At that point, the man in the booth could take either two minutes or half-hour deciding how the play should be ruled. To me, this is not the college football we've grown up with. One can only hope that the trial basis will either be fixed or scrapped before next season begins.
(09/20/04 6:00am)
Somewhere in the middle of Kentucky lies a city called Lexington. Lexington is a proud city whose passion for collegiate athletics runs deep. Having already been to the University of Kentucky to see the IU-Duke basketball game a few years ago, I thought I knew what to expect upon arrival in Lexington. Also considering the fact that Lexington, similarly to Bloomington, is first and foremost, a basketball town, I did not expect to see much enthusiasm for the Wildcat football team. I was dead wrong.\nDriving down North Broadway, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, everybody you see is wearing Wildcat blue, and the greater majority of these people were not obeying any open container laws the state of Kentucky might have. My esteemed IDS colleagues and I began to wonder why we were getting so many weird looks when we were stuck in traffic until somebody pointed out the fact that the license plate of our University-owned vehicle had the words "Indiana University" and "Trustees" written on it.\nWhen we thought we finally reached the entrance to the stadium parking lots, little did we know that we still had to wait through another 30 minutes of traffic, all the time passing by many heavily inebriated Wildcat tailgaters. I would estimate that a good 99 percent of people we passed by gave us a look that screamed, "Go home before I drink the rest of this beer and do something to make you regret driving through here." \nHowever, as awkward as our trip through traffic in Lexington might've been, we were treated with nothing but respect by everybody. I realized that maybe not all Kentucky students and fans exist for the sole purpose of hating the Hoosiers. They just like to enjoy a few brews and a good game, whether it's basketball or football.\nOnce the game was about to begin, you could see and feel how much the Wildcats matter to these people. Despite a 4-8 mark last season, the stadium was about 500 people short of its 65,000-plus capacity. And the team didn't just sprint out of the tunnel to the tune of their fight song, no, that's just not enough. The Wildcats had a full smoke screen and a pyrotechnics show to emphasize the fact that they were taking the field. I wondered if we had somehow got lost and accidentally ended up at the Miami Hurricanes game. I mean seriously, all this show for a team that was 0-1 up to this point? All this for a team that hasn't been good since the departure of Tim Couch? It just didn't seem right.\nBut that's when I realized the love and the passion the city of Lexington has for the Wildcats. It goes beyond football or basketball. It goes beyond the rivalry between them and us. It's just the simple fact these people love to get drunk in public and use the football game as an excuse to do so. Can you blame them?
(09/17/04 5:35am)
This weekend, the Hoosiers face one of their toughest contests of the season when they travel to Lexington, Ky., to face the Kentucky Wildcats. Sure the Wildcats haven't won a game yet, and yes, it's true that they have yet to score a point, but Kentucky is ready to make one of the easiest games on the Hoosiers' schedule into one of their hardest. \nFor starters, since Kentucky has ended its domination by Louisville, 28-0, the Wildcats have had two weeks to prepare for their game against the Hoosiers. On the other hand, IU has had a shortened week of practice because of their late return home from Oregon.\nAnother advantage the Wildcats have over the Hoosiers going into this game is the fact that IU has played two games while Kentucky has only played one. \nWhile this might not sound like a big deal, this gives Kentucky the opportunity to see how the Hoosiers have played in two different games while IU only has film from one Kentucky game. This gives Kentucky a little more preparation than the Hoosiers heading into Saturday.\nAdditionally, the Hoosiers are coming off an emotionally- and physically-draining win over Oregon, which saw the true character of the team tested over and over again during the second half. While the team is no doubt in high spirits, the fact remains that Kentucky will be well-rested coming into the game.\nOffensively, the Wildcats do not pose much of a threat. They have a new quarterback this season that has only completed 41 percent of his passes, and they don't have much of a running game. The only part of the Kentucky offense that might give the Hoosiers fits is the option play. The Wildcats' quarterback, Shane Boyd, has the ability to run, which is something of which the Hoosiers haven't seen much this season.\nDefensively, the Wildcats like to use the 3-4 formation, which is designed to stop the run and confuse the quarterback. This is something the Hoosiers haven't encountered yet and potentially could cause the Hoosier offense some problems. However, Louisville, who runs a similar offense to the Hoosiers, was able to put up 28 points on the Wildcats, which is a good sign for IU.\nThe Hoosiers stand a good chance to come away with their third consecutive victory this season, but they have many factors working in Kentucky's favor. The last time IU was victorious over Kentucky was in 2001, when the Hoosiers won 26-15 at home. The last time the Hoosiers won in Lexington was also the same time the Hoosiers started the season 3-0, a mere 10 years ago.
(09/13/04 5:18am)
The IU football team made one giant leap Saturday, and while it wasn't on the moon, it was still in unmarked territory. In case you haven't noticed yet, the Hoosiers beat No. 24 Oregon in Autzen Stadium, one of the toughest places for a visiting team to play.\nThe victory over the Ducks represents the first time the Hoosiers have beaten a ranked opponent since Oct. 12, 2002. It also marks the first time since 1996 that IU has started the season 2-0. But more than that, it represents the beginning of a new era of Hoosier football. \nThese are not your Hoosiers of old.\nAgainst the Ducks, the Hoosiers were not exactly spectacular. Offensively, IU sputtered through the game. Matt LoVecchio completed just six passes the entire game. BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 91 yards, but it took him a hefty 29 carries to get there. This is important because it shows the Hoosiers can win a game with defense, and I can't remember the last time that was said.\nThese clearly aren't the Hoosiers of old. \nThe Hoosiers shut out the Ducks throughout the first half while capitalizing on turnovers to build an insurmountable lead. In fact, the Ducks turned the ball over seven times during the game, something you might expect of previous IU teams.\nSo what's next for the Hoosiers? \nTheir next two games, against University of Kentucky and Michigan State University, are easily winnable. Kentucky has played poorly so far this year, and Michigan State dropped a game to Rutgers. If the Hoosiers are able to win their next two games, they would have a spotless 4-0 record and would begin to command attention from the top 25 polls. The fact we're able to sit here and consider the possibility speaks volumes about the job Gerry DiNardo and his staff have done to this team. The Hoosiers already have as many wins as they did all through last season, and are just one more shy of their total two years ago. \nThese are definitely not the Hoosiers of old. \nThe team has many areas where it can improve, especially on offense. But at this moment, perfecting the offense is the last thing on the Hoosiers' minds. The team came home with a victory over a ranked opponent, but more importantly, IU came home with a 2-0 record. While the stats might indicate otherwise, the fact remains the Hoosiers are undefeated. \nIf you want, you could call them perfect.