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(07/15/10 12:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The only quarterback ever to lead Indiana University to victories against Michigan and Ohio State in the same season has been inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame — but that’s only part of the story.The rest is of a father of four who has twice defeated cancer and the support of a University that feels more like a family than an institution.Dave Schnell has twice been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Schnell encountered his first fight with ALL while trying to slim down, which for him symbolized a strange and unfortunate irony.“I weighed 270 pounds and I was trying to lose weight, and then all of a sudden I became ill in 2007 and I dropped down in weight,” Schnell said. “After the chemotherapy I was on a ventilator and they read my Last Rites to me.”However, Schnell continued to fight, refusing to give in or give up.“I came through that, but when I came out of the hospital, I weighed 187 pounds,” Schnell said. “I looked in the mirror and it was like, where did I go? I felt like a skeleton.”Schnell thought he had won his battle against cancer. Three years later, he found out he was wrong.Earlier this year, Schnell suffered a relapse of the leukemia he originally battled in 2007. Schnell was admitted for chemotherapy as doctors attempted to remove the cancer from his body.Five weeks later, Schnell left the hospital 50 pounds lighter — but he also left cancer-free, having bested the illness for a second time in four years. Since that time, Schnell has been recovering at his Indiana home and spending time with his children.The relapse happened shortly after Schnell learned of his Indiana Hall of Fame honor, and he was unable to attend the ceremony himself. His mother Peg, along with former IU teammate Anthony Thompson and former IU coach Bill Mallory, was part of the contingent that represented Schnell when he was inducted earlier this summer.When describing what it was like to represent his former quarterback, Mallory spoke with a self-proclaimed tremendous amount of respect for Schnell not only as a player, but as a person as well.“I was very pleased and excited for Dave,” Mallory said. “It’s a great honor for an excellent career that he had not just at IU, but also in high school.”Schnell called the induction bittersweet, though he was able to watch a recorded version of the ceremony on DVD. The disc included an emotional speech from his former college coach that had Schnell dreaming of a comeback.“I got a chance to watch the ceremony when I got home from the hospital, and to hear coach Mallory talk about my career was special,” Schnell said. “He started getting fired up in that video, and I told Coach afterward that I was getting goose bumps and that I was ready to go out and play again.”With the memories of the induction ceremony still fresh, Schnell is eager to visit Richmond, Ind., and see his plaque among those of other greats who have been inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.“It’s on my list of things to do,” Schnell said. “Once I get my feet back under me I’ll go over and check everything out. It’ll be interesting to see.”Hoosiers for LifeBoth Thompson and Mallory have reached out to Schnell over the last few years as he’s battled his illness, each carrying their time at IU with Schnell over to a life-long friendship. Thompson, who rushed for 65 touchdowns in his career and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1989, had been able to offer not only encouragement as a friend, but spiritual guidance as well.After playing in the NFL for a few seasons, Thompson returned to his college town with a new vision for his life and is now the pastor of the Lighthouse Community Church.Thompson speaks of Schnell not as a former teammate, but as a current one, this time in a new arena.“When you see a teammate in this situation, it just really makes you think about the game of life and how we really need to love our family members because you never know when you’ll see them for the last time,” Thompson said. “Dave is going through a tough situation, and with the thoughts and prayers of everyone, he’ll preserve through another battle.”With Schnell hoping to be fully recovered in the near future, a visit to IU to hear Thompson preach in front of his congregation also occupies a spot on his to-do list.“I told Coach Mallory that sometime soon when I get through this illness that I want to come to Bloomington and hear Anthony give a service, because I thought he was that good,” Schnell said. “He really prayed hard for me, and it was really inspiring.”Thompson and Mallory represent a larger contingent of the IU community that has offered their support to Schnell, which was evident two years ago when Schnell visited Bloomington and took part in the 1988 Liberty Bowl championship team reunion.“All the players and everybody associated with the University was very supportive,” Schnell said. “It really comes down to an individual saying ‘I have to do this myself,’ but they were very supportive and it’s been a positive situation.”A positive demeanor might not be what you would expect from someone who’s been through what Schnell recently has, but that sentiment comes from someone who has spent his entire life refusing to have a negative outlook on what lies ahead.“You weren’t going to keep Dave down, I tell you,” Mallory said. “That’s just the way that he is with his illness that he’s encountering right now. Dave is going to come out swinging, and he’s going to do what it takes to succeed and win.”A Winner Schnell’s undefeated record against cancer is an extension of the exemplary performance he gave while quarterback for the Hoosiers.“Dave was a winner,” Mallory said. “That’s the best way that I can describe him. You show me a good team, and I’ll show you a good quarterback — and Dave was the type of person who you wanted to lead your team.”Schnell was a three-year starter at IU and led the team to bowl appearances after the 1987 and 1988 seasons. The 1988 season ended with a 34-10 win against South Carolina in the Liberty Bowl, and Schnell was named Liberty Bowl MVP after throwing for a then-Liberty Bowl record 378 yards and two touchdowns.Though Schnell didn’t start for IU during his freshman season, he still made the coaching staff take notice.“I knew Dave was going to be what I though he would be — and that’s a winner for us,” Mallory said. “He was what I was looking for, which was a quality person with high character.”Schnell graduated from Elkhart Central High School in 1985, earning All-State and Parade All-American honors. He also was ranked as the No. 1 high school player in the country by Sports Illustrated after his senior year, prompting interest from a number of colleges with storied football programs. But in the end, he decided to stay in his home state and attend IU.His father passed away 10 days before Schnell signed his national letter of intent, but his father still influenced his college choice.“My dad really liked Coach Mallory and I really liked coach Mallory, and I ended up going to Indiana,” Schnell said. “I don’t have any regrets about it whatsoever.”Schnell didn’t know it at the time, but his time at IU and the work that he put in at countless practices would serve him even after he left Bloomington.“I told Coach Mallory that I never thought I would ever do anything in life again that was harder than what we did together at Indiana,” Schnell said.Schnell’s expectation is understandable, as overcoming cancer later in life isn’t something that most people plan for — though Schnell prepared for exactly that during his career at IU, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.“All the running and mental stress that I went through at IU made me mentally tough,” Schnell said. “Then I got sick, and I said, ‘Wow, all that really helped me through both of my bouts with cancer.’”For Schnell, refusing to give in doesn’t require physical strength or prowess, but rather the right mind set.“When you’re fighting cancer or any major illness, it not only takes a toll on you physically, but mentally as well,” Schnell said. “You have to be mentally tough and you never give up. You say you’re going to beat this thing, and that’s the way it is.”Coach, You Gotta Have PoiseThe 1987 season was expected to be the turning point in Coach Mallory’s tenure at IU, a season that could potentially bring a conference championship and a Rose Bowl bid to Bloomington.Mallory said that beating Ohio State was a major goal for the team that year — and one necessary to win the Big 10. He said it wouldn’t be easy, but Mallory also knew what it took to beat Ohio State, having previously been an assistant at that university under legendary coach Woody Hayes.However, the Rose Bowl bid took a hit after an early-season loss, and Mallory asked Schnell to take his game to another level.“I thought Dave needed to step up and show a little better poise as the quarterback because he was our leader,” Mallory said. “He didn’t lose us the game, but I felt that for us to beat Ohio State that his poise definitely had to be better because he was going to lead the way to make us a productive offense.”The season went on with improved results, and the team entered the Ohio State game sporting a 3-1 record and a mind set of making history, despite not having beaten the Buckeyes in 36 years.The game was tied 10-10 at halftime, and as the Hoosiers walked off the field and into the locker room, the Buckeye fans voiced their presence.“Ohio State fans are very vocal, and they got on our case and they made some strong comments,” Mallory said.Reliving a scene that took place almost 23 years ago, Mallory talks with such insight and joy, he makes you believe that it happened earlier that day, including details that have never faded from his memory.The Hoosiers stopped the Buckeyes on the first possession of the second half, helping set up the defining drive of the season for IU.Schnell and the rest of the offense then took the field. What transpired next is one of the most captivating moments of IU football lore.Schnell said that what he did next aged Coach Mallory considerably, but it also showed the confidence that he had in his team that season.After calling the play, Schnell took a few steps back and turned to the crowd. Instead of voicing any displeasure, he goaded the fans by raising his arms and motioning for them to make even more noise.Thompson was in the backfield for that moment and remembers the scene just as vividly as Schnell.“David begins to put his hands up and tells the crowed to get louder,” Thompson said. “Then we drove the ball down their throat and scored a touchdown. That’s the kind of leadership that Dave Schnell brought to the team.”Looking back, Schnell said he wouldn’t have changed a thing.“I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t think I could get away with it,” Schnell said. “But I had a good feel for my offense, and we were clicking on all cylinders.”Mallory walked up to Schnell after the touchdown and still remembers the look on his quarterback’s face after the season-changing moment.“I’ll never forget how focused he was — boy, you talk about having your jaw locked,” he said. “He pointed to me right in my chest about three times and he said, ‘Coach, you gotta have poise.’“That was Dave. He was a winner and that’s how he led.”IU went on to win the game 31-10, shutting out the Buckeyes in the second half.For Schnell, the game represented more than just a single moment.“We really wanted that win not only for ourselves, but for Coach and for the program — and we felt that we were turning the corner for the program with that win,” Schnell said.Later in the season, Schnell led the Hoosiers to a win over Michigan, completing a two-week period that saw IU take down the Big Ten’s two perennial powers.“I’ll never forget when we beat Michigan at our place 14-10,” Schnell said. “That’s something that I guarantee that most people didn’t think was going to happen going into the game. The fans were like a 12th man. They were very supportive and that helps you.”IU would go on to finish the season with an 8-4 record, including an appearance in the Peach Bowl.The season featured the evolution of Schnell as not just a great individual player, but as a team leader as well.“Dave took great pride in not only excelling himself, but he was also a team person,” Mallory said. “He really cared about his team and his teammates. He was focused on being a contributor to us as a team to make us a winner and make us a successful here and that’s exactly what he did.”Life After Football His days at IU weren’t the end or crescendo, but rather the beginning of Schnell’s successful life, both on and off the playing field. While some players struggle to adapt to life after a storied athletic career, Schnell moved seamlessly into business, founding Berkey Insurance.To his former coach at IU, Schnell’s success doesn’t come as a surprise.“He’s not a complainer — he never was,” Mallory said. “Dave is the kind of person that’s going to find answers to what he can do to succeed, and that’s why he’s been very successful.”Overcoming cancer once may very well cause someone to live life with a renewed enthusiasm, as it did with Schnell. Now having bested a relapse of his leukemia, Schnell enters every day with a revised set of priorities, having admitted that his temper has been curbed.“You look at things differently,” Schnell said. “When you go through something like this, you realize that in the grand scheme of things, stuff that used to bother you isn’t that big of a deal and that everything will be all right.”With plenty of life left to live and four children to watch grow up during the coming years, Schnell offers one final glimpse of his days playing quarterback at IU.“I’d love to do it again, I tell you,” Schnell said. “That was an awesome time in my life.”
(07/08/10 12:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the American sports conscience fixated on South Africa and the 2010 World Cup for the last month, much talk has focused on how the U.S. team can improve upon its quarterfinal finish when the event moves to Brazil in 2014. Improved coaching? Recruiting better players? Lessening distractions?Either way, former IU standout and current member of the New England Revolution Kevin Alston hopes he’ll occupy a roster spot on the American team should it qualify for the 2014 World Cup.“I’m definitely striving to play in a World Cup, and I hope I’m given that opportunity,” Alston said. “All I can really do is stay ready on my part and do what I need to do to put myself in the best position to perform.”Alston has already participated in international competition, playing in the 2007 Pan Am Games with current Hoosier and former teammate Daniel Kelly. Their teamwork on the field was bolstered by a sense of friendship and camaraderie that manifested itself as the team gelled between games.“It was a lot of good guys getting together, and it was a lot of fun,” Kelly said. “We learned a lot about each other.”The learning process for Kelly included getting to know Alston’s likeable and multifaceted personality.“Kevin likes to be a jokester,” Kelly said. “He has fun off the field, but when it comes to playing on the field, he’s serious. He’s just a good guy to be around.”Alston’s professional career was preceded by a standout three-year run in Bloomington, where he helped the Hoosiers regain some of the national prominence the team enjoyed through much of the quarter century before Alston’s arrival.IU won the Big Ten conference championship after Alston’s freshman season in 2006, and Alston went on to appear in 64 games in his career. During his time in Bloomington, Alston was twice an All-Big Ten selection while helping to lead the team to a winning record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons.Alston left IU in 2008 after his junior season to pursue his dream of playing professionally for a Major League Soccer team. A year later, he was drafted by the New England Revolution with the 10th overall pick of the MLS SuperDraft.Alston’s swift rise to the professional ranks fits right in with the pace of the game itself, which was the biggest adjustment he had to make after being drafted into the MLS, he said.“The college game is pretty physical, but it doesn’t compare to the professional level because everyone is fit and strong and technically good,” Alston said. “The play is better all around, and it’s a lot quicker and there’s more pressure. Everything is elevated.”In addition to adapting to the pace of the game, Alston has quickly learned that being a professional means more than just adjusting to changes on the field.“It’s such a long season that you don’t realize all the little things really matter in the end,” Alston said. “It’s taking care of your body and stretching, hydrating yourself, recovering fast and doing all the things you have to do to make sure that you stay on the field and make it to the end of the season.”With these tactics, Alston continues to hold up the reputation of a great defender that he cultivated while playing at Indiana.“He’s one of the best defenders I’ve ever played with,” Kelly said. “He’s reliable, and he can play both sides of the ball really well.”While Alston looks ahead to possibly playing for the United States in the 2014 World Cup, he continues to stay focused on his current role as an outside backer for the Revolution, constantly working and refusing to become stagnant even after realizing his dream.“I think I’m still making progress and picking up off of last season,” Alston said. “I’m working on things day in and day out and trying to improve in all aspects.”
(07/08/10 12:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As Todd Yeagley prepares for the upcoming men’s soccer season, his first as IU’s coach, he does so under an intense spotlight, heightened expectations and a staunch sense of pride when he puts on the cream and crimson. That sense of pride contributed to U.S. News and World Report recently naming IU as the top college in the country for soccer fans.Yeagley was quick to point out that this honor would not be possible without the support of the student body and fans across the state.“We feel that we have the best fans in the country, and we have a long history of success within our program,” Yeagley said. “It’s nice to be recognized and have our fans recognized for all of the great support that they’ve given over the years.”Senior midfielder Daniel Kelly responded to the ranking with a sense of confidence.“Honestly, it’s not really surprising,” Kelly said. “In the past, we’ve always had fans come to the games, and they’ve always supported. Our fans are always supportive, and they want to see the players do well and succeed and see the program succeed.”An additional factor contributing to Indiana’s spot at the top of the list also resulted in the men’s team past successes on the soccer field: family.When Yeagley leads the Hoosiers this season, he’ll be standing on a field named after someone he knows intimately and who has greatly contributed to the national prominence that IU enjoys as a top soccer school — his father.Jerry Yeagley led IU to six of its seven national titles during his career from 1973 to 2003, and the University honored him by naming the field at Bill Armstrong Stadium after him in 2004.The sense of unity and outward support from the University continues to help draw recruits to Bloomington.“Family is really big at Indiana University, and that’s the main reason why our fan base is so huge and supportive of the team,” Kelly said. IU was bestowed with the honor based on fan support and the seven national championships the University has captured. Also honored were University of Maryland, Messiah College, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, Seattle University, Stanford University, UCLA and University of Virginia, all schools with soccer legacies. However, Yeagley, who played at IU under his father and was a four-time All-American, acknowledges that wasn’t always the case at IU. “My father often said that he couldn’t buy a soccer ball when he first got to Bloomington in 1963,” Yeagley said. “I know that my father and all the players over the years take a lot of pride in the growth of the program.”The tradition continues as the team grooms for the season opener, when IU welcomes Xavier to Bloomington in late August.“We bring other top teams from coast to coast to IU, and our fans appreciate that,” Yeagley said. “We’ve done that in the past, and we’ll continue to do that in the future.”
(06/02/10 11:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The ongoing battle over whether to site the first biomass incinerator plant in Indiana doesn’t seem like it will end anytime soon.Liberty Green Renewables, LLC, an Indiana-based company, made a proposal in January 2009 to build a 28-megawatt facility in Crawford, Ind., a rural community 64 miles south of Bloomington and a popular destination for canoe enthusiasts.However, partly because of hometown opposition, Liberty Green has yet to break ground.The two sides voiced their thoughts and concerns last week during a county commissioners’ meeting meant to set guidelines for an industrial license to operate within Crawford County. However, no specific guidelines were agreed upon, and the next step in this process will be a public meeting June 29. “The county commissioners have a big job in front of them,” said Larry Ott, a partner with Liberty Green who was in attendance at last week’s meeting. “Essentially, they have to make a law that will protect their citizens but also bring in business.” Liberty Green spokespeople have claimed the biomass plant will stimulate the local economy and create jobs. Terrance Naulty, a partner with Liberty Green, said an average of 100 skilled construction workers would be hired, with the peak construction period creating 175 jobs.If the plant becomes operational, 25 full-time positions would be available on-site, along with an additional 30 indirect jobs. These indirect positions would focus on collection and transportation of the woody biomass fuel burned at the incinerator plant, Naulty said. However, opponents of the plan worry that local residents won’t be adequately qualified for some, if not all, of the positions made available if the plant opens. Naulty said although he feels there are many skilled craftsmen living in Crawford County, he couldn’t specify how many jobs will go to local residents if the plant does eventually open.“Liberty Green can’t at this time provide a definitive breakdown of where the employees will live and how many will commute from surrounding communities,” Naulty said. “However, it is likely that there will be qualified Crawford County residents for almost all positions. Liberty Green will hire the most qualified applicants.” Gordon Smith is the owner of Cave Country Canoes on Main Street, in the hub of Milltown. Smith said that on the busiest days of the summer, as many as 550 canoes will be rented out to navigate the Blue River, mostly by people visiting from neighboring counties and states. With Cave Country Canoes representing a major draw for tourists, Smith said the biomass plant might have an adverse effect on his business. “It’s the only draw for tourism here in Milltown,” Smith said. “It’s hard to say what effect the biomass plant would have, but it certainly would not be helpful to tourism, and tourism is the main business of the county.” Concerned Citizens of Crawford County, a grassroots group opposed to the plant, formed shortly after Liberty Green proposed the facility. Concerned Citizens co-chair Cara Beth Jones said that since the proposal was made, this possibly life-changing event has been the sole focus of the group. Since its formation, the group has collected more than 2,200 signatures for a petition against the proposed incinerator plant, which is more than double the population of Milltown, Jones said. The additional signatures come from residents in bordering counties, who might also be affected by the plant. Residents Rodney and Linda Jenkins are active members of Concerned Citizens and live less than a mile away from the proposed plant site. “Rodney and I have been on the phone many times and been awake at four in the morning,” Jones said. “A lot of us still work, and we go to the meetings anyway. It’s pretty much been very consuming and very stressful.” Liberty Green has met with Milltown residents on several occasions and has also created a website, http://libertygreenrenewables.com, where people can learn more about the project, Naulty said. Liberty Green has been working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to gain the necessary air and water permits from the state. IDEM spokesman Rob Elstro said the timeline for each application process is different, with some permits being processed in a few weeks and others taking more than a year. Liberty Green originally planned to obtain a state air permit earlier this year, but the company has yet to receive permits of any type from the state. This is partly because of Milltown’s reaction and also the complex nature of the facility being proposed, which is the first of its kind in Indiana.“We look to make sure that the permit is applicable for the facility, and we look at the permit process until it is complete,” Elstro said. “We wait until we have all of the data that is necessary and that the permit is protective of health, human and environment.” Throughout this process, Elstro said IDEM has been working with Liberty Green to craft a permit that will allow the facility to run while at the same time abiding by state and federal regulations. Liberty Green may begin construction if it obtains all of the appropriate state and federal permits for air and water quality from IDEM, though it’s clear Jones isn’t willing to concede anything. “I feel that maybe this is my own little battle, and I have as much right, I believe, to be here and enjoy this environment as Liberty Green has,” Jones said. IDS reporter Becki Schildhouse contributed to this article.
(05/24/10 12:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Between shouts of encouragement, parents and neighbors share conversation. Between the falling raindrops, youngsters rush by, chewing hot dogs and sucking on lollipops. Between sharply hit liners and soft fly balls, more than a dozen children create a charming chaos on a bordering playground. Amid the clamor taking pace in the stands, the Bloomington South High School Panthers collided with the Terre Haute South High School Braves on a field that looked more like a dishrag than a diamond on this particular night.However, this serene setting at Bloomington’s Winslow Fields might come to symbolize an aberration more than the norm of teenage life if budget cuts continue to gnaw away at high schools across the state of Indiana.High school administrators are turning to creative ways to ensure their athletic programs aren’t negatively impacted by the decreases in funding that have hit high schools statewide, and they’ve found they have community support. Expensive athleticsNumerous Indiana high schools, such as Franklin Community High School, are forcing students to pay an unprecedented fee for the ability to participate in high school sports. Franklin has imposed a fee of $25 per sport per student to compensate for transportation funding that was lost in recent budget cuts, principal Craig McCaffery said. McCaffery said the decision to impose the fee has been made public through broadcasts of school board meetings and that there hasn’t been any backlash directed toward his office. “I haven’t received any negative feedback at this point,” McCaffery said. Franklin’s fee seems scant compared to other schools’ fees in Indiana, which can climb as high as $200, McCaffery said. All of the money accrued from the fees at Franklin will be designated for transportation costs. Students who want to play but are unable to pay the fee have an additional option — performing community service. Anderson Community School Corporation has also implemented a fee for student athletes, $10 per sport and $5 for students who are on either a free or reduced lunch program, athletic director Steve Schindler said.Anderson’s decision has also been incorporated seamlessly into student life. “It came up at one school board meeting, and two months later it was instituted,” Schindler said. Indiana High School Athletic Association commissioner Blake Ress said he is aware of this trend across the state, yet he also sees local leadership adequately managing the situation. “In some cases the schools feel that they have to recoup some money to continue their programs,” Ress said. “I think that within each school district, they’re making the best decision for their community.”Group effortAt Winslow Fields, teams are taking measures to ensure their players have the necessary resources to equip themselves for each season.Renee Jung has a daughter who plays softball for Bloomington South, and although the school has yet to implement a pay-to-play policy, she said, “We’d rather pay the fee than not be able to participate.” To help avoid this scenario, however, Jung helps collect a $5 admission fee from attendees of the softball game and notes that the team raises money through advertising both in the game program and banners that line the outfield fence.Bloomington South varsity softball coach Meg Montgomery oversaw the action and acknowledged that although the cuts haven’t had an impact on her team yet, she does foresee a scenario where her team might not always be immune to the budget cuts.“I know they’re looking into assistant coaches, and I would hate to lose my staff or have positions cut,” Montgomery said. As evidenced by smiles and cheers during the game, Montgomery said she enjoys her involvement with Panther softball. “I love it,” Montgomery said. “I wouldn’t be out here if I didn’t love coaching, and the biggest thrill for me is seeing these kids excel and achieve, and one of the greatest rewards that I have is seeing a kid mature through the years. I want them to focus on teamwork and work on communication skills between players, parents and coaches and carry that out into the workforce.” A family priorityAs she looks out onto the field, Jung adds her own thoughts about her daughter Audrey’s scholastic athletic experience. “She’s been playing since she was eight, so this is the big leagues for us,” Jung said. “Our daughter has been playing with her teammates since she started, so we’re like a family.” Darin Warthan, a fellow parent who has a daughter on the Panther team, shares a determination similar to Jung’s. “In order for my daughter to keep playing, I would do whatever it took. We’ve worked for many years to get to this point,” Warthan said. “We all get pretty geared up for it, and it’s a pretty big thing for our family. I’d say we put a lot of work into traveling, and the high school game is what we all look forward to.”
(05/24/10 12:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although the Hoosiers season ended in late November, the team has kept their focus on academics, repeating the success of the fall semester. Eighty-three members of the football team earned a 3.0 grade point average during the 2009-2010 academic year. Forty-two athletes earned the distinction in the fall and 41 athletes in the spring. These numbers represent more of the norm for the Hoosiers, with education being a staple of Coach Bill Lynch’s tenure.“Receiving a degree is the No. 1 priority, and not only do we want them to receive a degree, but we also want them to receive the best education that they can,” Lynch said. “There are times where I probably talk more about education than I do about football.” Senior linebacker Jamie Lukaszewski echoed Lynch’s sentiment. “Education is our No. 1 priority on the football team,” Lukaszewski said. “I remember from day one, coaches stressed that education is first and football comes second.” In addition to the 41 Hoosiers who were honored for their academic success, Lynch acknowledges that many other players have made strides despite not reaching the 3.0 mark. “I’m proud of the guys and what they’ve done, but I also saw a lot of improvements with kids who may not have reached the 3.0 level but who made great improvements over the previous semester,” Lynch said. “Each student has a different learning potential, and it’s our job to ensure that each player reaches his academic potential.” Lynch also mentioned the support of Athletics Director Fred Glass and the academic help the team receives during the year as vital parts of the Hoosiers’ success. Additionally, outside the locker room is a prominent sign stating the goals for the Hoosiers every year. They include “Earning a Degree from Indiana University” and “Win the Big Ten Championship,” with the former taking top billing, all of which has added to an environment where the players are expected to achieve excellence in the classroom. Senior linebacker Leon Beckum, a 2008 and 2009 Academic All-Big Ten honoree, said the players’ schoolwork is a point of camaraderie for the team. “Our players have an expectation when it comes to school to put in the time to go to class and do the work with no excuses,” Beckum said. “To be a good team, individuals on that team must do the right thing all the time.” In addition to the team goals, there is a list of players who have achieved academic success on the wall outside of the team room, standing as a daily reminder to the players as to what is expected of them. It also serves as a benchmark for players who might not have reached that standard yet. “I’ve heard on several occasions where kids have said, ‘Coach, I’m going to get my name on that board,’” Lynch said. “So, obviously it’s a source of motivation and one that we try to recognize for those that do have success.”