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(04/30/09 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This is the last thing the IU football team needs.Aside from Kellen Lewis’ choices off the field, the highly productive athlete was the catalyst, perhaps the only spark, to an offense that has produced mediocre numbers in recent seasons. That 3-9 record? It would have been more like 1-11 last season if you subtracted Lewis from the equation. His versatility heavily outweighed former IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El’s antics and, on most occasions, he was called upon to pick up his teammates’ slack. He has led the team in rushing the last two out of three seasons, while still keeping his passing efficiency similar to the other gun-slingers in the Big Ten. It even got to the point where having a star running back and receiving core weren’t necessary. As proficient as Marcus Thigpen was, offensive coordinator Matt Canada would often call for QB sneaks, using the I-formation as a decoy. And as proficient as slot receivers Andrew Means and Ray Fisher were, Lewis made opposing defenses spend double, sometimes triple, the time preparing for him than the old unit. Lewis lifted the spirits of Hoosier nation, making a bunch of doubters believe games, not bars, were worth attending on Saturdays. Austin Starr might have kicked IU to the Insight Bowl in 2007, but without No. 15, the Cream and Crimson would not have pictures to show off from Arizona. However, hidden behind the glitz and glamour, Lewis’ leadership was always in question. That’s why it comes as no surprise that when Lewis broke team rules, IU coach Bill Lynch dismissed him for good. The IU Athletics Department had no choice. Inundated with criticism that has stemmed from the Kelvin Sampson era, Fred Glass’ administration ultimately has to be up-front about everything from compliance with coaches to distasteful actions concerning players. This case is a prime example of the zero-tolerance rule, and its use will indirectly cast the department in a positive light because they gave Lewis the boot regardless of how many butts he puts in Memorial Stadium’s stands. No matter how eye-catching, jaw-dropping his gambits were on the field, Lewis was never a captain. Nor did he act like one. Of course, he was very cordial and actually quite fun to interview after practices and games. But most players put on a mask when they talk to the media and, quite frankly, I believe Lewis was the ringleader. I don’t see how he can back-stab his teammates, the coaching staff and the forefathers of the program again after missing all of spring practice last year due his first violation of team rules. They all welcomed him back with open arms and, after talking to the quarterback-turned-wide receiver numerous times, he felt accepted, too. Now, though, there is probably a “no vacancy” sign in the IU football program for Lewis. This development puts enormous pressure not only on quarterback Ben Chappell and the rest of the Hoosiers, but on Lynch, the man who’s been the prime target for criticism after that shellacking from Purdue in November. As his players go their own ways for the summer, it’s back to the drawing board for the IU coaching staff. They’ll have to scratch formations, devise new schemes and, most importantly, find a tag-team partner for Chappell, now the full-time maestro of the offense. So much for all that optimism during spring practice.
(04/28/09 3:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Marcus Thigpen knew ESPN wasn’t going to rave over his blazing speed during last weekend’s NFL Draft coverage. He was an undersized IU wide receiver-turned-running back who stood in the shadow of Kellen Lewis and wasn’t the go-to guy in the red zone because of James Hardy’s presence.Gerald Brown, who was the Hoosiers’ running backs coach for six seasons, believed Thigpen had the potential to turn professional when he recruited the Detroit native out of Mumford High School.“He was an explosive running back, and he was also the state champion in track,” said Brown, now the Atlanta Falcons’ running backs coach, in an e-mail. “He is an explosive runner, has outstanding speed and did a really good job for us.”Still, Thigpen wasn’t used to his full potential in an offense lost in transition. He might have been the first Hoosier to boast 1,000 rushing, receiving and kickoff return yards.But the versatile athlete only averaged 7.8 carries per game and netted a meager seven rushing touchdowns in his senior season – arguably the most important time to showcase talent for scouts.Thigpen’s chances of being drafted were improbable.The odds seemed impossible.However, his TV was still on, loud and clear.“I was hopeful someone would pick me up in the seventh round, but that didn’t happen,” Thigpen said in a phone interview. “I wasn’t devastated, but I stayed positive, praying some team would call.”Five minutes later, one did.The New York Giants reached out to him first.The only problem was Thigpen didn’t have cell phone service at the time, and the call, probably the most life-changing moment he’ll ever experience, went straight to voicemail.“I couldn’t call the Giants back because I didn’t have a number for them,” Thigpen said.In typical fashion, New York’s NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, attempted to swipe a player the Giants’ organization was targeting.Just minutes after Thigpen missed the call and his phone restored some juice, the Eagles asked him if he had signed with another team yet.“I told them no,” Thigpen said. “They wanted me as a slot receiver and a kick returner. Basically, I was happy.”Along with eight other players, Thigpen signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Eagles, a team that carries mediocre wide receivers and a lackluster special teams unit.He believes if it wasn’t for that missed call, he would most likely be in the New York, not Philadelphia, papers by now.Back in Bloomington, his former coach is pleased to hear one of his former players signed with an NFL team.“We are proud of Marcus and pleased he received this opportunity,” IU coach Bill Lynch said in a press release. “He made a tremendous impact on our program and has a bright future ahead of him.”Thigpen said he understands most undrafted free agents don’t make the 53-man roster.He admitted whether it’s the practice squad or the roster, he’ll be glad just to call football his everyday occupation.“I’ve heard all the critiques before,” Thigpen said. “The odds are against me like they were in the draft. Hopefully, I’ll prove that I belong in the NFL.”
(04/22/09 1:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Like most coaches, IU football coach Bill Lynch casts a tame poker face during the most uncomfortable situations.The bland facial features and monotone voice inevitably make it tough to interpret his emotions.But on occasion, one can see through the disguise and translate his feelings, particularly when he’s contrasted with former coach Terry Hoeppner.Hoeppner, as most of us know, was more famous for his frequent public appearances than on-the-field antics.When Lynch was promoted after Hoeppner’s tragic death in 2007, the masses wrongfully assumed the new head coach had to emulate his predecessor’s image.Truth is, no matter how much you loved Hoeppner, it’s unfair to say Lynch must follow suit.Coaches operate under their own systems, even when it comes to meet-and-greets in the community.Although some students argued Lynch was not physically noticeable at locations other than the football field last year, he is ensuring that nonsense ceases in 2009.By the time fall camp rolls around, Lynch will have made about 70 public appearances, with approximately 25 of those visits to greek houses, residential halls and classrooms all over campus.On Monday, Lynch stopped by two sororities, Alpha Chi Omega and Kappa Delta, and one fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, while the houses were eating dinner.He gave away prizes, talked some football and even tested the brothers’ and sisters’ knowledge about their chapters’ histories.Some laughed and others were in a state of shock, but most were attentive when they saw Lynch up close.“I think the girls realize it’s a huge honor for Coach Lynch to be here, so they do take it seriously,” Alpha Chi Omega President Hannah Reifel, a junior, said. “It’s always nice to meet coaches in person because they do a lot for the University.”Each speech lasted 10 to 15 minutes, and more than 30 members were present at each of the three houses.Before I followed Lynch’s tour, I was particularly interested in how he would entice students to come to games instead of spending most of their Saturdays in the tailgating fields.Would he beg on one knee?Make his players give speeches?No. He did neither of those things.Instead, Lynch was blunt and honest about increasing student attendance for this upcoming season.“I am not here to beg for your support, but that’s really my pitch,” Lynch said to the Beta house. “I know the greek system does some wonderful things like Dance Marathon and Big Man on Campus. We need that spirit at football games, too. If fraternities and sororities come, others will follow.”Sophomore Brian Rans said it was great seeing Lynch in his own dining hall, sharing laughs with his Beta brothers.But like many, he is a realist.“I think this team just has to win to get students from the tailgate fields back into the stadium,” Rans said. “They have a better team this year, so attendance should go up.”It doesn’t take research from an acclaimed professor to understand that winning records directly correlate with booming attendance.Unfortunately for non-power football schools like IU, we live in a “what have you done for me lately” society. So, when the Hoosiers boast below a .500 record, it’s not surprising students won’t even walk across 17th Street toward Memorial Stadium.Junior and Kappa Delta President Emily Hughes said even if Lynch’s squad doesn’t capture victories in the fall, visiting students is a good attempt to get them back on the gridiron bandwagon. “It’s a great PR move because our girls will tell other members of the chapter and friends all over campus that Bill Lynch stopped by,” Hughes said. “Now, he’s not just a face. I got to know him. All the girls got to know him. I’m thankful he talked to us.”
(04/20/09 3:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whether you’re a critic, a fan or a love-to-hate sports columnist, don’t don the John Madden costume when analyzing IU’s spring football game. Save the comprehensive breakdown for the fall and do us all a favor: hold off on the analyst apparel until Halloween.That message probably needs to be reinforced to my colleagues in the media more so than spectators, because the press takes this intra-squad game too seriously.Year after year, writers, broadcasters and even Joe, who blogs in his underwear, draw too many conclusions from this gridiron grudge that settles only bragging rights, not records.And year after year, the storylines are the same – IU looks good here, questionable there and the players want to put the past behind them.I’m not saying this ritual isn’t necessary. It’s always good experience to play 11 guys on each side of the ball and have them go at it.But two interspersed teams, an officiating crew and people in the stands don’t simulate a real game.No matter if they’re wearing the same or different-colored jerseys, the bout is operated under one playbook, one coaching staff and one squad split up only for the time being.“Everyone knows everyone’s plays, which is a wrinkle,” said junior quarterback Ben Chappell, who tossed 205 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 28-27 loss to the Crimson team. “I think we are going to tell from the summer how we are going to do in the fall more than the spring. We got to keep everyone here working hard.”That’s not to say Saturday’s game wasn’t a springboard for the summer and fall months.Instead of holding the magnifying glass and dissecting every intangible element in the four 12-minute quarter contest, consider the promise in some players.Running backs Trea Burgess, Demetrius McCray and Darius Willis combined for 256 yards and four touchdowns.The backfield’s stellar performance ensures IU coach Bill Lynch is committed to the downhill running game he introduced after spring break.On the flip side, it doesn’t ensure more yards on the ground come fall, because Ohio State, Virginia and Penn State, not the Hoosiers, will be lining up opposite those backs.The Spring Game is essentially another experiment.Because the squad is halved, second- and third-stringers transform into starters and some first-team guys are forced to play other positions.Take sophomore wide receiver Tandon Doss, for example.Aside from totaling 61 receiving yards, Doss netted 133 yards on five kick returns for the Cream’s special teams unit.Twenty-six yards per return is a good average, considering IU didn’t take any kickoffs to the house last year.However, Doss’ prolific return game doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll gain 853 special teams yards, like Marcus Thigpen did last season.His effort, moreover, tells the coaching staff he’s a legit player to compete for the job.It’s basically laissez-faire teaching, a chance for coaches to evaluate the team’s improvement throughout the 15 allotted spring practices.Lynch admitted he takes a step back from his everyday role and allows his squad to compete without any demonstrations or interruptions.“I’ve always felt like Spring Games are for the players,” Lynch said. “(The coaches) get 14 cracks, and (the players) got to do what we tell them to do. On the 15th day, they get to kind of go out and play.”So before you go on a rant on how this scheme works and that one doesn’t, remember that spring practice just concluded.Reserve the stringent critique for the fall, when IU competes in games that actually mean something.
(04/15/09 4:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Broadcasters barely mention his name on Saturdays.Newspapers, Web sites and even the most die-hard fan blogs will sometimes go a full season without citing his role on the team.Junior Jarrod Smith is a lineman, a position that is rarely the opponent’s focal point, a position that doesn’t get the praise it rightfully deserves.But the Fairborn, Ohio, native’s mentality is team first, No. 52 second, which explains why he’s moving from the offensive line to defensive tackle.“Any time you change positions, it’s tough at first,” Smith said after Saturday’s second spring scrimmage. “I don’t think there’s more pressure on the defense than the offense.”That’s where I disagree.The addition of Smith isn’t the only shakeup on defense.Ray Fisher flipped from wide receiver to cornerback, and several returning starters, including defensive end Jammie Kirlew, linebacker Will Patterson and safety Austin Thomas are sidelined with injuries.Last season, IU suffered the injury bug so bad, it was almost OK to use it as an excuse for the disappointing 3-9 record.Not this year, though – not with this rigorous schedule that boasts many bowl teams.The Hoosiers’ defense must step up even more than the offense.With quarterback Ben Chappell and wide receiver Kellen Lewis running the show, Bill Lynch’s squad will score more points than you might predict.But the question becomes, will the defense stop the opposition?Unlike the offense’s shift to the pistol formation, the defensive unit is keeping its 4-3 scheme.Up front, Kirlew leads the line, and his counterpart Greg Middleton must emulate his 2007 season, which saw him register 16 sacks – the best in the nation.Earlier this spring, Kirlew said Middleton, who was suspended at the beginning of last year, is making great strides on and off the field.If both ends perform at their highest levels, quarterbacks will have a tough time scrambling away from the pocket.As for stopping the run, that’s where Patterson, Matt Mayberry and Justin Carrington come into play.All three are seniors, and all three should be able to hold the Big Ten’s power runners to fewer than 100 yards on game day.Lynch said if there’s one fundamental skill his squad needs to master, it’s tackling.“We need to tackle better,” Lynch said. “Last year, we let a lot of running backs get second chances to gain more yards.”The pass defense wasn’t worth bragging about either.IU allowed its adversaries to throw for more than 3,000 yards in 2008 and surrendered 20 touchdowns.Fisher, who stands at just 5 feet, 9 inches, will be defending one corner with Chris Adkins on the other side in 2009.The safety positions are up for grabs.Jerimy Finch, who did not see a lot of time last season, is expected to be refreshed and ready to start in the fall. He’s looked really impressive in spring practice and is probably the only Hoosier who can keep up with the speedy Lewis in the open field. The other deep man could be the injured Thomas or Jarrell Drane.Adkins said the most glaring difference you’ll spot on defense is tighter coverage – a change that’s necessary if IU wants to upset some top-notch opponents.“That’s what spring practice is for,” he said. “We’re experimenting, and come the fall, we’ll be ready to shock some teams.”
(04/08/09 4:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If the first offensive drive in last Saturday’s intra-squad-controlled scrimmage foreshadows frequent play-calls in the fall, the IU football team will surrender leads more often than it plays catch-up.Quarterback Ben Chappell jogged onto the turf at Memorial Stadium as if he had been defending the Rock for a decade. He backpedaled a few steps from his center, Will Matte, and lined up in the pistol formation – the Hoosiers’ new offense that resembles a shotgun. But Chappell is a yard or two closer to his blockers. Behind him was running back Bryan Payton, who after a hand-off exchange with Chappell displayed some knee-breaking jukes good enough to move the chains. One play. First down. Chappell received the next signal from the sideline, one that’s probably circled, highlighted and in large, bold font in the playbook. He went back to pass and quickly spiraled the ball into Kellen Lewis’s breadbasket, watching the quarterback-turned-wide receiver burst for a 30-yard touchdown while defenders appeared in slow motion.Two plays. Six points.And yes, players were trying to hit the speedster because Lewis doesn’t sport the black, “can’t-hit-the-quarterback” jersey anymore.If IU has any shot to beat any conference foes in its challenging schedule, Chappell, Lewis and Payton must set the tone early and take control when things go into disarray. Don’t be alarmed if you see the ball in their hands when the game is on the line, either.But by all means, this is not a three-man team.The pistol offense can only function properly if the whole team works together rather than as separate entities on the field.IU coach Bill Lynch said wide receivers Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher – both sophomores – are Chappell’s prime targets as well.In nearly every post-game press conference last season, the Hoosiers’ opponents confessed they had a spy who shadowed the explosive Lewis for all 60 minutes.Chances are Lewis will have a spotter again, even if he’s not the quarterback.That being the case, offensive coordinator Matt Canada uses Doss and Belcher to alleviate the pressure on Lewis. Both are taller than Lewis and are useful for fade routes in the red zone, an area in which IU isn’t statistically noteworthy.The 300-plus in attendance also saw depth at the ground game, an intangible element that’s been absent since former coach Bill Mallory’s famous run call for college hall of fame running back Anthony Thompson.Lynch understands his squad scored only 19 rushing touchdowns last season and is committed to restoring the lost art.On Saturday, Payton worked with Trea Burgess, Demetrius McCray and Shawn Major-Winston, which added some versatility to the field.One of the main problems last year was that the coaching staff gave Marcus Thigpen the bulk of the carries, and other teams began to take notice.This year, though, there’s not just one running back. You might see as many as four.Payton and McCray are two hard-nosed runners who can seemingly blow past any linebacker or tackle.Burgess and Major-Winston are quick to the outside and are tough to catch in the open field.When IU competes against the perennial powers, all four backs have a good chance of playing. Adept defenses usually will gear up for one solid running back, whereas the Hoosiers bring four unique styles to the table.With 21 seniors and 20 juniors, Lynch’s squad can’t make excuses about inexperience when it battles Ohio State, Michigan and Virginia.If the Hoosiers use the pistol offense backed by Chappell, Lewis and Payton to their advantage, football might be the talk of the town before you leave for winter break.
(03/30/09 2:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>NORMAL, Ill. – Coaching sometimes is so black and white, everyone seems to think they can to do a better job.One tiny mistake – heck, it could be asking a rival for advice – will prompt scrutiny you wouldn’t even wish on Purdue.It’s a profession that, from the outside, looks like a lot of fun.But on the inside, behind closed doors, work isn’t so glamorous.The pressure is always on as if it’s game seven of the World Series.And there’s nobody more suited to handle that pressure than IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack, who is dealing with a program that hasn’t captured a Big Ten regular season title since the 1982-83 season.Along with some of Hoosier Nation, she said goodbye to four seniors who helped establish the foundation upon which IU will build in the future.Amber Jackson, Kim Roberson, Lydia Serfling and Whitney Thomas didn’t have their best games at Sunday’s WNIT quarterfinal against Illinois State – they totaled only 24 of the team’s 55 points – but junior Jamie Braun said she plans to reinforce the seniors’ lessons next season and certainly won’t forget the mark they left on the program.“I think with me and all the other underclassmen, we realize how close we actually have to be as a unit,” an emotional Braun said after the 66-55 loss. “We have to know each other, think about that on the court and just be close on and off the court.”Echoing Braun’s comments, Legette-Jack is a firm believer in tight-knit relationships – a problem several teams have encountered.If there’s one Greenspan hire to this day that should receive applauding, it’s his acquisition of Legette-Jack.We need to appreciate the fire, the passion and the energy she brings to women’s basketball.She understands what it takes to prevail in the toughest of times.She understands how to be an efficient leader and instill that mentality, that unprecedented mind-set into her players.Even if there are more fans traveling on the road than showing up at Assembly Hall, she still has an agenda to put the program back on the map. As this season progressed, the four seniors grasped Legette-Jack’s attitude, and it showed in the most turbulent times.IU lost four straight Big Ten games in February, the most important month of any college basketball season.However, amid that downtrodden stretch, the Hoosiers didn’t panic.Legette-Jack wouldn’t let them.They stormed right back to win six of their last nine, including the Big Ten conference tournament and WNIT.So was it disheartening to see the Hoosiers exit the floor for the final time?Not so much.The future is set thanks to the seniors’ devotion to improve this program, even if they’ll be going professional in something other than basketball.As for Legette-Jack, she’s here to stay.And that’s something you should be optimistic about.
(03/25/09 4:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Unless the Hoosiers throw for a game-winning touchdown or stop a mind-blowing running attack in the closing seconds, IU coach Bill Lynch isn’t going to be the most forthright guy in his post-game press conference.It’s pretty standard aimless discourse, cute cliches, rhetorical questions and attempts to spin anything that comes across as detrimental to the program.Obviously, he’s not alone. This methodical dialect is the nature of the coaching business, one that calls for the protection of pertinent information.Lynch, like many of his colleagues across the country, acts in this manner not to leave the media hanging, but to hide any formations and schemes the opposition shouldn’t experience until gameday.However, he’s no politician during the off-season. At Monday’s media gathering, Lynch wasn’t all about the meaningless words and non-explanations.He was blunt, honest and straightforward.“Last season was ugly – we all know that,” Lynch said. “We’re definitely changing up a lot of things, probably more so than I’ve ever done from year to year.”Among his new implementations, Lynch said IU must gain respect in its running game. The system, I can assure you, won’t resemble the Anthony Thompson era; however, just bolstering the backfield attack will alleviate a lot of pressure off quarterbacks Kellen Lewis and Ben Chappell.You’re probably saying to yourself, “wanting something is one thing and actually doing it on the field is another,” but I’m taking Lynch for his word this time.And you should, too.The Hoosiers only registered 167 yards per game in 2008, a statistic probably inflated by the long-distance scores of former running back Marcus Thigpin.The two players who will fill this void are Bryan Payton and Demetrius McCray.Look for more handoffs this upcoming season as Lynch and offensive coordinator Matt Canada try to establish a downhill running style, something Hoosier nation hasn’t seen since the Bill Mallory years.As for the guy handing the running backs the ball, it’s a toss-up at this point.This no-huddle offense will revolve its tactics around multiple quarterbacks.Some don’t like the two-quarterback system, but Chappell and Lewis do balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses.Lynch believes Chappell is more dynamic when there’s a featured back, whereas Lewis is more useful in the spread, a formation that gives him the option to tuck and run.So, will Chappell conduct the offense more than Lewis? I’m not drawing any conclusions, but there’s a strong possibility Lewis will line up more at wide receiver this year to add another game changer to the 11 men on the field. Having said that, No. 15 is and will always be a college quarterback whether you think that position suits him best for the next level or not. If Lewis is out wide, behind Chappell are up-and-coming arm slingers Teddy Schell and Adam Follett.I’m not a stats freak like Bloomington’s Jeff Saragin, but whoever the quarterback is, he must improve two areas more so than the rest: third downs and red zone touchdowns.The Hoosiers only moved the chains 28 percent on third downs and were a mere 15-33 in the red zone last season.If Lynch’s vow to change the offense stands true, I only see those numbers going up.
(03/23/09 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Seniors Kim Roberson and Whitney Thomas deserved better. Last Monday, the NCAA selection committee turned its back on IU and offered Minnesota – the other Big Ten bubble team – an at-large bid to the Big Dance instead.Mind you, the Golden Gophers tied the Hoosiers for fifth in the conference and won the only head-to-head meeting.However, their showing in the Big Ten Tournament did not match IU’s competitiveness against Michigan or Purdue in Indianapolis.If anything, the cream and crimson should have been selected before its adversary. It was a catastrophic mistake that left Roberson and Thomas tearful after the field of 64 was revealed.But at the same time, the snub should motivate the Hoosiers to deliver in clutch moments like Sunday’s WNIT second-round game against Dayton.The Flyers sparked a 13-4 run in the waning minutes to tie the Hoosiers with 0.6 seconds.From her own baseline, Thomas threw the ball to Roberson but an inadvertent whistle halted play.Lucky for the home team, the official’s mistake made way for a timeout with 0.2 seconds remaining.IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack drew up the buzzer-beater that you’ve hopefully seen on TV by now.Out of the huddle, the roles flopped. Roberson’s job was to heave the ball to the basket while Thomas would break and tip it in.It was one of those plays you dream about being part of.“How ironic the last play of the game involved the two kids that stayed through three coaches,” Legette-Jack said after the thrilling 59-57 win. “To receive that 20-win season on the backs of the two kids that started this whole thing off makes my heart beat a little bit harder.”What also makes Roberson and Thomas special are their quests to improve the program.The duo might not get over not making the tournament in their last years in candy-stripes, but both have helped mature a basketball team waiting to break out of its shell.They are laying a foundation junior guard Jamie Braun will build upon next season.Braun echoed the lessons the senior class taught, especially the belief that any player can make the shot when the game is on the line.“When you have five people out there that are confident enough to want the ball, it makes all the difference,” Braun said. “It may be at the last second shot, but it’s still going to be a high percentage shot.”Yes, even with a mere 0.2 seconds, the Hoosiers believe they can hit an “are you kidding me” game-winner.Usually WNIT teams are so disappointed about not dancing in March, they don’t possess the appropriate attitude to succeed in the least convincing situations.But not IU.If it’s the WNIT, so be it. The Hoosiers are out to win it all.“We’re upset and disappointed that we didn’t make the NCAA tournament, but we’re not going to hang our heads,” fellow senior Amber Jackson said. “We are really trying to play as long as we can to pursue a championship and hang a banner.”
(03/11/09 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I hate – no, despise – showboats on the gridiron. Just make the play, huddle-up, then approach the line of scrimmage. It’s really that simple.Too many college athletes want to be the face of their sport – not in the Michael Jordan sense, but in the Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens sense.That’s why I admire IU defensive tackle Greg Brown, who graduated in December.Brown is the epitome of the blue-collar football player. He brings his lunch pail to every game and does everything in his power to help the team win. Taunting is not in his vocabulary.OK, it’s not like the guy never gets excited after making a crowd-pleasing play.If Brown spins past a guard on the line and sacks a quarterback, you’ll know. He’ll occasionally slap a high five or perhaps chest-bump one of his teammates. But by no means is he over-the-top like some not-so-camera-shy athletes out there.Ironically, though, Brown wants to follow in former NFL star Warren Sapp’s footsteps.Sapp was more known for his loudmouthed, egotistical personality in his 13-year career than his adept skills on the field.Still, Brown looks up to Sapp. He doesn’t know him personally, but aspires to become the same type of defensive lineman – one who gives the opposing offensive coordinator chills on gamedays.But Brown has to take a different approach than his idol to fulfill his NFL dream.Sapp suited up for Miami, one of the most storied programs in college football.After a stellar career at The U, the OB Killa – I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt – was selected 12th overall in the 1995 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Brown’s case is quite the opposite.He doesn’t have a phone book filled with NFL scouts. He doesn’t have an e-mail inbox cluttered by general managers either. Not yet at least.Brown played for IU, a basketball-driven school that casts a shadow on a football program waiting to burst out of its shell.Since his sophomore season, he has started in every game and has always been one of the leading tacklers on the squad.At one point, Brown, Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew were on the line together. You can’t get better than that.Still, NFL teams haven’t taken notice. That’s where IU’s Pro Day comes in.NFL scouts visited IU on Tuesday to hold a mini-combine – a once-in-a-lifetime shot for Brown to prove his legitimacy.Along with 11 other Hoosiers, Brown ran the 40, showcased his footwork in cone drills and tested his anaerobic strength in the weight room.His times were eye-popping for a 299-pound defensive tackle. Brown ran a 5.09 sec. 40-yard dash – nearly two seconds better than his springtime run. His best 20-yard shuttle time clocked in at 4.45 seconds. And in the gym, Brown said he impressed some scouts with 25 repetitions at 225 pounds. With numbers like that, NFL scouts definitely are going to take a look at this kid. Now, the hard part of waiting begins.Brown’s agent said he hopes teams will contact the Centerville, Ohio, native within the next month. If that happens, Brown will be granted a private workout amid team personnel.It’s a road few travel because few succeed.But Brown’s not caught up in past experiences.He’s focused on his game and, more importantly, is determined to make noise in arguably the toughest professional sports organization in the country.Just not the kind of noise Sapp or any showboat displays.
(03/09/09 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – Twenty minutes after the final whistle blew, the Hoosiers’ locker room was silent, as if jerseys and equipment were the only things inside.Kim Roberson could not keep her chin up.Whitney Thomas did everything she could to fight back the tears.Even IU women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack had to compose herself in a chair after talking to media members about the heartbreaking loss.Unlike Thursday, the coaches and players didn’t grab their catered post-game meals so fast. They had just lost to Purdue in the conference tournament’s second round. And, more importantly, they failed to pop the bubble – the Hoosiers can’t do anything more to improve their credentials for an NCAA Tournament bid.The selection committee has a tough task ahead, especially when dissecting the Big Ten conference.Ohio State, Michigan State and Purdue are locks. Iowa advanced to the tournament’s semifinal round, which leads me to believe the Hawkeyes will crack the top 64 too.Then come the bubble teams – IU and Minnesota.The committee has not accepted five Big Ten teams since 2006’s Big Dance.Vera Jones, an analyst for the Big Ten Network and former IU assistant coach, told me what hurts IU’s chances, more than anything, is the conference’s mediocrity and youth.Ohio State set itself apart early in the season. The other 11 teams played cat-and-mouse and shuffled positions throughout.Many of the coaches at Conseco Fieldhouse this weekend echoed her comments on the Big Ten’s depth.But all would agree with Jones’ assessment that the ACC, Big East and SEC draw more attention to the committee because they possess more Ohio State-caliber teams.That’s why the IU locker room looked so disheartened. The Hoosiers knew they needed to knock off the defending Big Ten champion Boilermakers to boost their legitimacy.It would have been another huge win added to a resume some might perceive as under-qualified.When examining the Hoosiers, the committee will ask the ultimate question – “What have you done for me lately?”Unfortunately for IU, its results in the tail end of the schedule will hurt its chance to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Legette-Jack.Including the conference tournament, the Hoosiers went 4-of-6 in their last 10 games. The four wins – two against Michigan and one each against Northwestern and Wisconsin – came against teams who were scratched off the March Madness list a month ago.Add those results to the squad’s overall record and you get a 19-10 season, only one victory higher than last season.Mind you, 18 wins in 2008 did not live up to NCAA Tournament expectations. The mark solidified a first round bye in the WNIT.You can argue the signature wins against Michigan State and Purdue during the regular season will increase IU’s odds.But I’m afraid that’s not enough.The Hoosiers know that’s not enough.They desperately needed that game Friday against third-seeded Purdue.If you don’t believe me, the devastation and dead silence inside the locker room should tell the story.
(03/04/09 5:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jammie Kirlew was lost for words. And to be honest, I felt for the Hoosier defensive end. I really did. After Purdue’s 62-10 massacre in November, there sat Kirlew in a cheap, rusty chair outside the visitors locker room attempting to say something, anything that would make the media frenzy go faster. Tick by tick, he had to dodge hardball questions as if he was a politician debating the iconic talk show host Chris Matthews. “Should Bill Lynch return as coach?” “How come certain players never gave it their all every down?” These were a few of the questions Kirlew was asked following the bloodbath in West Lafayette.It was what Kirlew called “the worst post-game interview of (his) college career.” “Not only do I not want to be in that situation again, I won’t be,” said Kirlew, a senior on the 2009 squad, in a recent phone interview. “My teammates won’t be put in that position either. We will not repeat last year’s season.”The passion in his voice traveled through the airwaves quite clearly. He didn’t pause much. He didn’t make excuses for the disheartening and downtrodden season, either. In my mind, I pictured Kirlew, hot-blooded, working himself into a state resembling a typical pre-game routine. But, amid all the negativity and “what-ifs” pinned at 2008, the reigning team MVP expressed some optimism pinpointed toward the 2009 season. Kirlew hopes the new 12-game schedule will culminate with a bowl appearance. “Our goal, first and foremost, is to win a Big Ten Championship,” Kirlew said. “In the back of our minds, we all know how much a bowl game will mean to the program moving forward.” The Hoosiers cannot emulate last season’s style of play. The coaching staff would be better off demanding that the video coordinator trash most of the film – only a select few plays are worth archiving. In many ways, the 2009 schedule is more difficult than 2008’s.First and foremost, IU isn’t fortunate enough to host eight games at home like last year. That was a gift, a rarity in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Instead, the team will host six, which will be better for the program anyway.No matter how many times the Hoosiers get blown out, they need to compete against bigger, more revenue-generating programs. As good as Ball State and Central Michigan were, IU should schedule even tougher opponents – schools who regularly plan for a bowl trip in their primary budget meetings. IU Athletics Director Fred Glass is slowly beginning this style of scheduling already, locking Virginia for a home-and-home series this season and next. Some of you naysayers might disagree with Glass and I, arguing that a cushioned schedule is best for this lost-in-transition team.I beg to differ. IU will face two of the most storied programs in college football history when Michigan and Ohio State come back into the frame. And as recruiting classes become stronger, it will be best for the younger student athletes to experience first-hand how top-notch teams separate themselves from their adversaries.Kirlew admitted the 2009 schedule is tough, but fitting for a squad searching for success. “There’s definitely challenges to come. No question,” Kirlew said. “But we are going to fight. More than last year; more than ever. As a leader and as a senior, my job is to make that message very clear to the younger guys on the team.”
(02/18/09 5:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The NFL’s Scouting Combine is a make-or-break adventure.It’s a glimpse – a foreshadowing of what can be a successful future.It’s also a slayer – a crashing decrescendo of dreams first developed when prospects were just peewees.But given the yin-yang implications, Andrew Means does not fear failure.Rather, the former IU wide receiver understands he’s taking on a bridge in which few reach the other side.The six-day extravaganza is an intimidating one.Hundreds of NFL coaches and scouts will be watching his every move, every rep and every run.Hundreds of players, like Means, will be glancing over their shoulders observing the competition and praying they somehow, in some way will falter.There is no room for error.And to make matters worse, the star-studded athlete will be all by himself.Means is the lone Hoosier to participate in this year’s combine housed at Lucas Oil Stadium.He knows hoards of media aren’t going to bombard him with recorders, TV cameras and whatever gizmos and gadgets China is inventing. But he’s OK not being the face of the NFL Network during workouts.Despite those misses, Means will be taken into consideration just as much as Georgia’s Matthew Stafford, just as much as Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree.He said every player runs, lifts and conducts most of the same conditioning regiments except for position-specific drills.The equal opportunity assures Means he’ll get a fair shot.However, it doesn’t help diminish the goosebumps as his once-in-a-lifetime workout nears.“You definitely can’t avoid the nerves,” Means admitted. “It’s only natural. I’m constantly thinking about how things will play out.”His thought process, though, might be more at ease than others.Growing up in Avon Lake, Ohio, Means shared his love for pigskin with current Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. The two lived across the street from one another and, like their families, are still friends.That plays to Means’ advantage – especially as the combine lingers.Not many players can say they have a lifelong friend – or neighbor, for that matter – who caught the scouts’ eyes and plays in the NFL.Coincidentally, Means said he emulates his friend’s style on the field.Not a bad idea, since slot formations are becoming more frequent in NFL playbooks.“I definitely feel like I model myself after (Gonzalez),” Means said. “We’re both six-foot, white receivers who adapt well to different offensive schemes. We have a lot of versatility that can help many teams out there.”But the reality is most prospects don’t hear their name called on draft day.What if Means doesn’t impress the evaluators in Indy?Well, he has a fallback – to say the least.Means, who also suited up for the IU baseball team, was taken in the 11th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.He said he doesn’t want to downgrade the Reds in any way, but is thankful the organization is allowing him to pursue his dream.After the nerve-racking NFL experience, Means plans to attend Indiana’s Pro Day in early March and will join his baseball team for spring training.In the back of his mind, Means hopes the NFL will contact him. “I know I’m not the biggest name in the combine,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t surprise some people.”
(02/12/09 4:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It takes Nate Everhart more than an hour – almost two.Almost two hours until he rips off his jumpsuit and heads for the spotlight where hundreds of eyes are glued.As he approaches the mat, some stand up and cheer. Others make thunderous noise by stomping their feet on the bleachers.No, Everhart is not the Tijan Jobe of the IU wrestling team, nor is he a lame warm-up partner who rarely gets his number called.But, he is a fan favorite.Everhart wrestles as a heavyweight, the class for wrestlers weighing more than 197 pounds and the last class of every match.He could have chosen a sport that doesn’t make him sit on the bench longer than his teammates.His stature isn’t quite the makeup of a heavyweight wrestler. One might say his 240-pound muscular physique is more suited for the gridiron. Come to think of it, Everhart could make an immediate impact at linebacker when stopping the run.In fact, he was heavily recruited to play football while in high school.But – as most skeptical athletes say – the aura of IU and its prestigious athletics programs made the decision a no-brainer.“Originally, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play football or wrestle,” Everhart admitted. “Baseball even got in the mix too. But when it came down to it, I visited IU and instantly wanted to be a Big Ten wrestler.”It’s not like wrestling stood a distant third in Everhart’s eyes. It’s not like the coaches took a big gamble on this kid, either.Everhart undoubtedly possesses the necessary experience to tussle in the Big Ten, arguably wrestling’s most nomadic conference.He lived on the mat throughout high school, wrestling from a class as low as 171 and as high as 215 – versatile, to say the least.Everhart’s freshman year saw him bout at 197. And due to an injury in his sophomore season, he inevitably had to make the transition to heavyweight.Everhart said the heaviest opponent he wrestled weighed the maximum 285 pounds, 40 pounds heavier than Everhart. He chuckled when he relived that experience in his mind. As lopsided as that match was, the referee raised Everhart’s arm.“It’s definitely challenging at times to go up against guys who are more than 30 pounds heavier than me,” Everhart said after his 3-1 victory against Purdue’s Chris Kasten. “I’m undersized. I know that. But my mindset gives me an advantage over my opponents,” he said.Sounds a bit like Michael Phelps when he was rewriting Olympic history.Everhart doesn’t eat quite as much as Phelps, but close to it. He might not consume a whopping, yet sickening, 12,000 calories a day, but his 2,500 daily dosage is probably twice as much as the average Joe on campus eats.He plays the smart card, too.Like every well-trained athlete, Everhart understands what he can and cannot eat. That concentration, that determination to stay in tip-top shape, is what’s scripting a new chapter to his own career.Everhart is riding a five-match winning streak, one of his best runs all season. He currently boasts an impressive 21-11 record in his new class.On Friday, his arduous journey continues when he wrestles the No. 16 ranked heavyweight in the nation, John Wise of Illinois, the kind of matchup Everhart lives for.
(02/09/09 5:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Years from now, you’re going to take your children to their first major league baseball game.The moon-shot homers and the flaming fastballs will instantly turn them into fans – moreover, infant color commentators.And as the good parent, you’ll pretend to be just as excited.Why pretend?Because, unlike your son or daughter, you know the truth.You know America’s pastime is no longer America’s pastime. You know the game our fathers and their fathers and their fathers grew up with is internally tarnished.Like Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th home run ball, baseball will forever have an asterisk next to its name due to its association with steroid use.When Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s prestigious home run record, some (San Francisco fans) cheered. Most booed.Right before their very eyes, writers, TV personalities and fans alike were witnessing baseball’s downfall.Soon after, optimistic talks pointed to one player – one superstar who could potentially dethrone Bonds and put this whole steroid era to rest.The public tagged Alex Rodriguez, the youngest player to ever hit 500 home runs, as the sport’s savior.Surprise surprise, the highest paid player of all time is linked to steroid use, too.According to a Sports Illustrated report, Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids in 2003, his American League MVP season.The report said Rodriguez, while a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, was one of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.His name ended up on the infamous list six years ago when MLB issued a survey testing whether mandatory random drug testing was necessary.I’d say league Commissioner Bud Selig and his cronies were just a tad bit late, don’t you think?Now that the face of the league is under scrutiny, I’m more than convinced baseball is nothing but a game of lies and cheats these days.The blame, however, doesn’t solely fall on the players’ shoulders. The managers, trainers and more importantly, the somehow-always-innocent owners are the culprits, too.They could have stopped all this illegality.But instead, they turned their backs and supposedly knew nothing of the creams, needles and pills.That statement alone is more humorous than any joke in my Uncle Jay’s Tonight Show monologue.You don’t need ESPN’s Peter Gammons’ credentials to understand their dirty thought process – if sellouts were prominent and baseball’s popularity flourished across the country, it didn’t matter that players were gaining a competitive advantage.The Babe Ruths and Jackie Robinsons of baseball are the ones I feel for the most.The steroid era will forever cast a dark shadow on the sport the drugs made so bright and colorful.No wonder Aaron wouldn’t sit in the stands to watch Bonds break his record.Meanwhile, whether A-Rod admits taking steroids or not, his name will live in infamy. The same goes for Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens and Bonds. As eye-popping as their statistics are, none of the aforementioned will be inducted into the Hall of Fame unless their families physically steal and cast the ballots themselves.Jeb Bush, anyone?So when you’re at that game with your children, just play along. Enjoy the sport as if steroids never had an impact. When they grow older, remind your kids of the heroes of baseball – not the players who deteriorated it.
(02/04/09 4:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Practices are tough to watch these days for Tory Yamaguchi.Whenever she spots a catcher’s mitt, the former IU softball standout can’t help but reminisce of the days when she signaled for changeups and fastballs.“I have so many fond memories being a player here,” Yamaguchi said. “But I think I’m ready to watch the game outside the diamond now.”Not as a spectator, though.Rather, the Hoosiers’ all-time home run leader begins what she hopes will become a successful coaching career. And lucky for her, she’s going to start by volunteering this season for IU – the school she still calls her home away from home.“When I found out IU hired (head coach) MichelleGardner, I e-mailed her instantly,” Yamaguchi said. “I told her I had a year left of grad school and was eager to learn the art of coaching.”It’s no surprise Gardner granted Yamaguchi’s request. After all, Gardner added a pro to her staff.Last February, Yamaguchi was one of 24 college seniors chosen in the National Pro Fastpitch draft. Even though going pro wasn’t her priority, she saw the experience as another opportunity to sharpen her knowledge of the game. When her senior season ended in Bloomington, it was off to Allentown, Pa., for a summer job of playing ball with the Philadelphia Force.“Turning pro was honestly an afterthought,” Yamaguchi said. “Most players stop after college and move on to something else.”That plan wasn’t Yamaguchi’s, though.When she joined the Force she found herself behind a veteran catcher. Making matters worse, the team picked up another catcher who supplemented the College World Series game-winning pitcher.Her job, consequently, was to warm pitchers up.“Don’t feel bad for me about my pro experience,” Yamaguchi said. “I actually had a great time in the bullpen learning from some of the best players around. I earned their respect.”Yamaguchi knows a thing or two about overcoming obstacles. In 2003, her first season with the cream and crimson, she had to redshirt due to a shoulder surgery.After two years of ball, her health once again took a turn for the worse. The star-studded catcher had to do the unthinkable – move back home for the year because of a serious illness.“When I was injured and sick it was really hard to watch the games, let alone not be around the team,” Yamaguchi said. “But it was never like ‘Boy, I’ll never recover.’ I was eager to get back as soon as possible and show my teammates that an injury or illness won’t stop me from playing the game I love.”Picking the brain of this softball mastermind, one quickly realizes there’s nothing but herself that can stop her from succeeding.She’s the type of player who’s bound to become a head coach one day.There’s a saying in baseball that goes, “Catchers always make good coaches” because they act as the commanders in the field while still playing. The same can be said of softball.“Since I was little, my goal was to get four years of collegiate softball in,” Yamaguchi said. “Now that those days are over, I’m ready to coach and help the Hoosiers succeed.”
(01/28/09 4:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Most coaches hate road games. However, IU women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack said she doesn’t mind them. Since she took the oath in 2006 to roam the sidelines, she knew many possessed the utmost disregard and a blind eye toward women’s basketball. She knew the band and the players’ families were the only guarantees night in and night out. Sooner or later, Legette-Jack realized she needed to send a message that would really hit Hoosier nation hard. And after a home loss to Xavier earlier in the season, she did just that. “We feel like we have a home-court advantage when we are on the road, and that’s unbelievable,” the third-year coach said. “The worst number I see here is 506 on a Sunday afternoon when our women compete for our University and our community.” Fast forward 16 games from that very call-out, and boy, have things changed. Now, not just moms and dads, drummers and tuba players come to the games, but students are filing into Assembly Hall when the women’s squad sports those candy stripes. With the help of more attendees, IU (14-4, 7-2) currently sits in second place and is in the hunt to capture its first Big Ten title since the 1982-83 season. It has taken a long time, but it’s gratifying to see fans support a team that isn’t the athletics department’s money-maker. You would think people would take advantage of dirt-cheap tickets – less than $10 for general admission and free for students with their IU IDs – to witness Division I basketball before their very eyes. Yet preconceived notions dictate society, especially when it comes to gender equality in sports. The common perception is the women’s game is beneath the men’s. Not true. The competition is just different. Of course, women don’t play above the rim. They preach more team orientation, whereas the men’s game tends to rely on the superstar and feeds off of his presence. So to say Legette-Jack’s team isn’t as entertaining as Tom Crean’s group is both bogus and inconsiderate. If anything, Crean realizes Legette-Jack is reshaping the views of women’s athletics just as much as he’s molding the public’s opinion of his team. Her team’s tenacity and relentless effort led by two 1,000-point scorers – junior guard Jamie Braun and senior Whitney Thomas – have put women’s hoops back on the map. Not to mention Legette-Jack’s exuberance and zest for coaching makes fans believe IU can stand toe-to-toe against powers like Connecticut, Duke and North Carolina. So when Purdue traveled south for its annual rivalry with IU, Legette-Jack knew fans were coming. She was right. “How about that crowd?” Legette-Jack said in sheer excitement. “Four thousand fans and it seemed like there were about 10,000 fans.”Next, the Hoosiers went back on the road. They traveled to Wolverine country and earned another solid conference victory against Michigan. Then it was on to Illinois, the worst team in the Big Ten. IU lost.But now it’s time to head back to Bloomington, and heads won’t be down for long. After all, Legette-Jack and her Hoosiers are returning to Assembly Hall – a place they finally can call home.
(12/05/08 4:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A blanket of snow will soon cover Memorial Stadium and spring practice is months away. But let’s not say the turf should be converted into a hockey rink because the Hoosiers failed to reach a second-consecutive bowl game. Even after a downtrodden and meager attendance 2008 season, IU football is and will always be at or near the top of the list of revenue-generating sports on campus – the other 21 varsity teams depend on the program’s financial success. So when the Hoosiers struggled through the 2008 season, the fans took it out on the coach rather than the program as a whole. To lose nine out of 12 games is one thing, but to keep replacing coaches every two to three seasons is another. It’s absurd and inconsiderate to say the least, and a lack of continuity is a recipe for disaster. Somehow, some way, IU must convince an agitated fan base that 2008 was a fluke. Somehow, some way, reality has to set in that IU coach Bill Lynch is here to stay. And on that note, I commend incoming IU Athletics Director Fred Glass for speaking up about Lynch’s future despite not wearing his AD hat until Jan. 2, 2009. One might ask, “Why did Glass feel obliged to confront the coaching skepticism before outgoing AD Rick Greenspan cleans out his Assembly Hall office?” “We had information that the transition of athletics director was being used against the program to create some doubt in some of the minds of our potential recruits,” Glass said in an interview with the Indiana Daily Student. “It’s awkward, obviously, in the transition since I’m not actually the athletics director yet, and Rick Greenspan is still there. But it seemed to me out of the three of us (Glass, Greenspan and Lynch), I could be the only one who can speak definitely about (Lynch’s) future.”Thank goodness he did.No, Lynch is not as charismatic and self-promoting as former IU coach Terry Hoeppner. You don’t see him at your fraternity house or on a beat-up billboard while driving down State Route 37. He’s better off staying behind closed doors with his coaching staff, reconfiguring the Hoosiers’ formations and schemes anyway. After all, Glass said improvement is a must. “I’m a big believer in ‘you are what you are,’ and if you’re 3-9, you’re 3-9,” Glass said. “But having said that, the aspirations for the football program at Indiana University are to win Big Ten championships. I’m not satisfied being at the bottom of the pack. I’m not satisfied being in the middle of the pack. I want to win Big Ten championships, and that’s the direction we’re going to take this program.” Lynch’s current contract runs through July 1, 2012. He is one of the lowest-paid coaches in the Big Ten, and some say to get rid of Lynch because he’s inexpensive compared to other FBS coaches.Folks, the athletics department cannot afford to pay for a coach’s golf game. Keep in mind, IU has the second-lowest athletic budget in the Big Ten – Northwestern is last. Glass even said it himself: “I do think contracts need to mean something, and that was a very important piece of my analysis. I hope Coach Lynch is successful through his current contract and beyond. At the same time, I also expect improvement, and Coach Lynch does as well.” Glass exemplified what “true” leadership encompasses – taking a bold stance on a highly controversial issue. And for that Mr. Glass, I thank you. I hope your message knocks some sense into the critics out there.
(11/24/08 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Even Hollywood’s award-winning writers could not have scripted a better ending to Purdue coach Joe Tiller’s career. For a guy who has spent 12 seasons pouring his heart and soul into a seesawing program, it was fitting his finale was a drubbing of IU. The 2008 Old Oaken Bucket game was so pain-free Saturday it was over in the first quarter. Somehow, some way, the Boilermakers scored on every offensive drive until late in the fourth as if they were trouncing on a peewee team. “Can it be any better than this? Not at all,” Tiller said among a media herd following his team’s 62-10 colossal victory against the Hoosiers. “I could not have scripted it any better. What a way to finish a season and career.” The story might have ended on a high note for Purdue’s winningest coach in school history. But every good conclusion prompts some opened-ended questions centered on the challenger’s future – what happens next to the IU football team? How do they restore success? This program, first and foremost, needs continuity. IU cannot fire a coach every two to three years and expect to compete for a bowl. Many fans wrongfully assume a new coach must log a winning record in his first few years. Not so. Realize this: Even the Big Ten’s greatest collegiate football coaches, such as Barry Alvarez, Lloyd Carr and Joe Paterno, needed time to build upon a foundation.And look what they’ve accomplished. A school that gravitates to success has an identity, a standard in place. The Hoosiers have been indefinable since the Cam Cameron era, largely due to instable leadership. And for that reason, IU coach Bill Lynch should be here to stay. If incoming Director of Athletics Fred Glass was to clean house within the football program, a new search would bring even more upheaval to his already heavy workload. Not to mention, verbal recruits might opt for elsewhere, and the program will consequently suffer.Whether you buy into Lynch’s system or not, his players keep reiterating he’s not the problem. “I love Coach Lynch. We love our coaches,” sophomore Tyler Replogle said emphatically after the loss. “We’re going to have a better future than everyone thinks.” The Hoosiers unquestionably have more above-average athletes than they’ve had in recent years, including the Anthony Thompson era when they had one great athlete and a bunch of other parts. The key now is to convert all those athletes, and the incoming recruits, into a cohesive, winning football team. 2008’s squad never came together. It’s clear some players gave it their all every down. Others appeared at times clueless between the sidelines. So many times, the Hoosiers could have capitalized on mistakes, and yet so many times they were the ones making them. It didn’t matter how many precious opportunities went to shreds. I think I speak for the vast majority of diehards when I say to the team, stop with the “We’re going to keep battling” slogans and unforgivable excuses for the team’s sloppy second half. Injuries definitely have affected this season. But it’s unfair to solely attribute injuries to a team’s regression.Maybe there’s an incoming writer who can restructure the program’s future. But right now, the script does not read award-winning.
(11/21/08 4:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>One year later, the tables have turned. No matter who hoists the Old Oaken Bucket on Saturday, IU and Purdue will hang up jerseys for the final time in 2008 – a year that encompassed countless misfortunes for both schools.But in a game of this magnitude, we must leave the past in the dust and feast our eyes only on this weekend. Forget the embarrassing 3-8 records. Forget the instabilities under center. Forget the costly turnovers, inexplicable play-calling and lack of fundamentals. This is a rivalry. A battle circled on your calendar the day the schedule is announced. A gridiron grudge that sees the most hostile crowd of the year. One game you simply can’t pass up. Yep, you can bet plenty of fights – and no, I’m not promoting – are going to break out. Alas, this is war. To say bragging rights are on the line is an understatement. Both schools hate, no, despise each other. If you are completely oblivious, look at those derogatory T-shirts out there. The IU faithful often sport “Puck Furdue” shirts. And as demeaning as that sounds, Purdue fans suit up in gear saying, “You can’t spell ‘stupid’ without ‘IU.’” Some say this rivalry won’t live up to last year’s thrilling finish in Bloomington. I say that’s bogus. No, this game might not come down to the wire, but it’s bound to feature the best action we’ve witnessed in 2008. You have to expect both teams are going to lay it all on the line. Not for the name on the back of their jerseys, but the one on the front. Like in 2007, there’s still a whirlwind of emotions surrounding this game. Many Hoosiers and Boilermakers will be standing between the sidelines for the last time as collegiate athletes. IU running back Marcus Thigpen, wide receiver Andrew Means and kicker Austin Starr, among others, will finish their FBS experiences in West Lafayette. IU coach Bill Lynch said his seniors will address the team before the first snap. Purdue’s losses to graduation might be even more devastating. Quarterback Curtis Painter, running back Kory Sheets and wide receiver Greg Orton, all of whom are top-notch players in the conference, will suit up in the gold and black locker room just one final time. Don’t forget Saturday’s festivities include a farewell salute to 12-year Purdue coach Joe Tiller. And, boy, does his team hope to send him out on the right note this weekend. It’s the Boilers’ job to send him off with both of his hands clenched in the air. It’s IU’s job to ruin Tiller’s finale.The Hoosiers won’t be defending the rock, but they’ll be defending the bucket. Some fans believe this is a lost season. Well, it’s definitely a regression, I’ll give you that. But IU has everything to play for on Saturday. This is a statement game for Lynch and company: a chance for the Hoosiers to show the state of Indiana they aren’t a fluke. Remember, this program is still in the midst of laying the foundation. Even though the Hoosiers won’t play 13, you have to expect IU to compete full-throttle against their arch enemy.After all, this is more than just a game. It’s a rivalry.