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(09/27/07 4:00am)
When it comes to skateboarding, my knowledge ends somewhere around kick-flips and the Flying Tomato. \nBut thanks to an adolescence that was dominated by video games and ESPN, I feel like I'm qualified enough to make this statement: "skate." was made for gamers, not skaters. \nThe controls are as smooth and enjoyable as freshly paved asphalt. You have full control of holds, spins, tricks and ollies. It is a complete makeover from the traditional "Tony Hawk" game controls that extreme sport gamers have grown accustomed to. Instead of being button-based, the controls revolve completely around the thumb sticks and triggers. \nThe skating areas in "Tony Hawk" look like cramped jail cells compared to the vast levels found in "skate." The layout and map somewhat resemble "Grand Theft Auto," and there are enough secret ramps, poles and tricks for you to live out your inner Bart Simpson until your little extreme heart is content. \nBut prepare to be let down when attempting to complete the obligatory challenges required throughout the Career Modem. It focuses too much on completing specific tasks and not pure skating. For a game that was most likely designed for a lazy demographic, shouldn't this game require more chilling? The actual story line has big-budget movie-like footage that features more skateboarding cameos than a medicinal marijuana clinic. But the challenges are forced and frequent, leaving you frustrated and far away from beating the game. \nEA Sports integrates a lot of features used in the company's other games into "skate." The replay controls are almost identical to "Madden," and there are hundreds of items to unlock, from clothing to different skaters -- another EA trademark. \nOverall, the game bails out when trying to appeal to skateboarding fans. The product placement is painful at times -- T-Mobile Sidekicks, anyone? -- and the annoying bystanders while you are skating are unnecessary and unavoidable. In an attempt to mimic reality, "skate." has security guards roaming certain areas that will clothesline you if you skate in a restricted area. Will EA Sports feature streakers in its next edition of "FIFA"? \n"skate." does a good job of distinguishing and separating itself from the "Tony Hawk" series but fails to appeal to skating enthusiasts. My advice for the sequel: Put Shaun White on the cover.
(09/27/07 4:00am)
SEASON 5 PREMIERE: 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, on FX \nSUMMARY: Season four was interesting but definitely not as thrilling as previous ones. Last season was full of business-selling, illegal kidney harvesting and devastating baby news for Julia (Joely Richardson) and Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh). Plus Matt McNamara (John Hensley) got married and had a baby with Scientology-crazed Kimber Henry (Kelly Carlson). The season ended with Julia and Sean finally divorcing and Sean moving to Los Angeles. Of course, after his business partner Sean left, Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) also moved to L.A.\nPREDICTION: Season five promises to be bigger and better. Sean and Christian will likely struggle with love and their new role as small fish in a big silicone pond. TV Guide promises Julia will be back this season -- flying into L.A. periodically -- along with Matt, Kimber and their baby. Also, Julia will enter a relationship with a new character played by Portia de Rossi, Ellen Degeneres' real-life love interest.
(09/27/07 12:05am)
Historically speaking, IU isn’t supposed to do well in the Big Ten.\nThe last time the Hoosiers finished first in the conference – and in turn went to its only Rose Bowl – was in 1967. But with a slightly weaker Big Ten this year – and arguably one of the more talented IU football teams in recent years – nothing is out of the realm of possibility.\n“We all talk about what a crazy year it’s been in college football,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “We go back, the start of every college football year is crazy. There’s things that happen all the time that you can’t believe happen and maybe a couple of them happen a little closer to home. But as the season goes on, I think things will calm out a bit and the really good football teams will be really good.”\nA couple of weeks into the season, traditional Big Ten powers have not looked like themselves. Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern and Minnesota look like middle-of-the-road teams and have yet to gain national attention. The only team winning soundly to this point is Penn State – a team the Hoosiers play at home this year.\nHowever, it is just September, and it is too early to predict how the conference season will play out. Lynch knows this all too well and is telling his team they haven’t done anything yet.\nAll of the players refused to answer any questions regarding Big Ten teams until they play Illinois on Sept. 22.\n“Well honestly, we can’t look too far ahead,” junior wide receiver James Hardy said Sept. 12. “After this week, then we can evaluate what we need to do to the next week.”\nThe last time IU reached a bowl game was in 1993. They played in the Independence Bowl and were throttled 45-20 by No. 22 Virginia Tech.\nBut could this year be different?\nThe Big Ten has players like Michigan’s Mario Manningham, Ohio State’s Jim Laurinitis and Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill. However, with some of the conference’s top teams coming out of the gate, there exists the possibility for other teams to jump in and take advantage of opportunities – possibly teams like IU.\nThe Hoosiers play seven home games this season. Their remaining road games are at Iowa (Sept. 29), at Michigan State (Oct. 13), at Wisconsin (Oct. 27) and at Northwestern (Nov. 10). Of those teams, only the Badgers were named one of the pre-season Top three teams in the Big Ten. Not to mention, IU does not play Michigan or Ohio State this year.\nAnd though Big Ten play has just begun, the Hoosiers are counting down the games.\n“I’m excited for it,” said sophomore defensive lineman Greg Middleton. “I didn’t get to play much in the Big Ten last year, so I’m looking forward to making some plays.”\nIn preparation for playing against Big Ten schools this year, the Hoosiers opened their season against two Mid-American Conference schools. \nThough MAC schools are not perennial national powerhouses such as Michigan or Ohio State, Hardy said he has noticed the differences between the two conferences.\n“MAC teams are more hungry, more determined,” Hardy said. “They feel they should be able to play in the Big Ten. So for the most part, I think that they have a grudge on their shoulder to try and prove to us that they’re better than us.”\nWhile the excitement of playing Big Ten opponents and possibly reaching a bowl game will drive the Hoosiers in the coming weeks, so does playing against certain teams.\nFor Middleton, the team he wants to play against the most was a no-brainer.\n“Purdue,” Middleton said. “I committed there (initially), or whatever, and it’s a long story.”
(09/26/07 11:51pm)
Any two dynamic players put together on the football field can equal a powerful duo.\nWell, last year Kellen Lewis and James Hardy found each other, and they continue to put together jaw-dropping performances in their second year together. Now, as they begin Big Ten play, the aura of the Lewis/Hardy tandem will be put to the test.\n“They’re both good football players,” Lynch said. “I think the longer guys play together, the better feel they have for one another, and that’s two good football players who hopefully will keep going because they’ve played pretty well to this point.”\nSince Lewis first appeared in the Hoosiers’ 24-23 win over Ball State on Sept. 9, 2006, the sophomore quarterback and the junior wide receiver have made something of a name for themselves. In 12 games, Lewis has found his favorite target 53 times for 816 yards and 14 touchdowns.\n“It’s not enough,” Hardy said. “If we have to score 10 touchdowns in a game, we’re going to have to step up and take the responsibility.”\nWhat may be even more striking than simply the numbers they have produced is that the two got better during Big Ten play last year. In an upset win over then-No. 13 Iowa on Oct. 14, Hardy caught eight balls for 104 yards and three touchdowns. Two weeks later, Lewis found the 6-foot-7 wideout in the end zone four times as the Hoosiers drubbed Michigan State 46-21.\nSince then, the two have hooked up for 100-plus yard games three times, and two more multi-touchdown games. And they’re not done yet.\n“Coming from high school, I don’t think I had a receiver over 6’1”,” Lewis said. “The idea of me just throwing it up is kind of hard for me.\n“It’s another one of those things that once he does it once, then you just get more and more confidence, and the more and more he does it, then the more and more you don’t mind taking that 50/50 risk, or in his case, because of his height, a 90/10 risk.”\nThat risk has certainly come with reward. \nIn the four times Hardy has caught more than one touchdown in a game, the Hoosiers won. In the season opener against Indiana State this year, Hardy reeled in 58- and 79-yard touchdown passes.\n“It’s exciting,” junior wide receiver James Bailey said. “It’s exciting watching them make plays, because we’re all on the same team and each play counts.”\nHaving helped each other out immensely, Hardy currently sits in fifth place for total touchdowns in IU history with 26. He is in second place for wide receivers, four scoring catches short of Jade Butcher’s 30. Lewis has also moved into sixth place in total touchdowns with 25.\n“It’s an honor for me to actually have my name recognized with those other guys that are Indiana legends,” Hardy said. “It’s an honor for me to be in that category.”\nIn preparation for this season – and Big Ten play – Lewis and Hardy continued to develop the rapport they built in their first season working with each other. Practicing routes, watching videotape and even taking a trip to Disney World gave Lynch’s playmakers a fair amount of summer work.\nHardy also said he watched video of Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson as well because, in order to be the best, he said, you have to study the best. But when asked if he follows any of the wideout talent in the Big Ten, Hardy said he doesn’t, choosing to concentrate on his play over that of other receivers.\nWith the talent the Big Ten possesses at quarterback, such as Michigan’s Chad Henne and Purdue’s Curtis Painter – who throw to Biletnikoff Award candidates Mario Manningham and Dorien Bryant, respectively, Lewis said he is somewhere in the middle of the conference among signal callers.\n“He is just a sophomore still, and I think we get ahead of ourselves in where he is,” Lynch said. “He is obviously a talented young guy and a very good quarterback that has matured since his first start.”\nAfter having garnered plenty of respect for their play, the only thing eluding Lewis and Hardy would be a berth in a bowl game. The desire to “play 13” has suddenly become a real possibility after the duo led a potent offense to a 3-1 start to open the season.\nAnd with talent on both sides of the ball not seen in Bloomington in recent years, Lewis and Hardy have the talent and motivation to bring the Hoosiers something they haven’t had in 14 years – a chance to play past Thanksgiving.
(09/26/07 10:44pm)
So, I spoke to Blake Powers today for two reasons. One, I needed to talk to him about an article that I'm writing. The other, which is by far the most important, is what's going in the blog. It's a new segment of Under the Rock that I like to call "The funny but unrelated to football segment of the blog." Why is it funny? Well, I've yet to completely figure that out. I just think it's interesting to see what the other players find interesting. So without further ado, here is my conversation with Blake Powers:
(09/26/07 2:54am)
At Saturday’s 27-14 loss to Illinois, rows of IU fans had left the game before the final seconds ticked off.\nAs the players looked to the stands to gain some sort of inspiration to make a comeback, for the first time this year they saw empty seats and defeated fans.\n“You can see it during the game, and all of a sudden, they just leave,” junior wide receiver James Hardy said. “For us, as hard as we’ve been working, we’ve been working to put this program to where it needs to be. We just need the support.”\nA bruised ego won’t be the only adversity facing the Hoosiers as they head to Iowa this weekend and try to rebound from a loss in which IU coach Bill Lynch said his team simply got outplayed. The Hoosiers will need to improve defensively from their performance against Illinois if they want to leave Iowa with a win. \nIU will also have to face Iowa without one of its offensive contributors. During the loss to Illinois last Saturday, sophomore running back Demetrius McCray hit the injured list for the second time this year, and the versatile back will miss this weekend’s game because of a foot injury. Lynch did not speculate on how much time he would miss.\nHowever, Lynch hinted at the possibility of McCray’s injury giving sophomore running back Bryan Payton the opportunity for more carries and possibly making a difference against Iowa. Payton, who has only played in three games, is averaging six yards per carry with a touchdown.\n“It’s an opportunity for him, and he played well on Saturday,” Lynch said. “I thought he knocked it in there pretty good for the opportunities he had.”\nWhile the IU running game will be filling holes because of injuries, the defensive front seven will be working this week to close their gaps against Iowa running back Albert Young. It won’t be easy. Young runs behind an offensive line that features three blockers who weigh more than 300 pounds and all stand at or above 6-foot-5.\nIU will also need to get to the quarterback as much as possible Saturday – something they were unable to do against Illinois. After jumping out to a nation-leading 17 sacks through the first three games of the season, IU notched only one sack against the Fighting Illini, currently good for third in the country overall. \nIU faced a roadblock in that category because of Illinois’ use of the option and quarterback Isiah “Juice” Williams’ ability to move in and out of the pocket.\nSaturday, they face a drop-back quarterback in Jake Christensen of the Hawkeyes.\n“You could sense that in a really tough environment, and in a really physical ball game, he was a competitor all the way until the last throw,” Lynch said of Christensen’s play in Iowa’s loss to Wisconsin last week. \nThe Hoosiers will spend the rest of the week learning all about the Hawkeyes. But one-third of the way through the season, it’s also the time of year when they will begin to assess themselves as well.\n“One thing that we’ll have to learn is how we’re going to deal with this adversity, being the first loss of the season,” sophomore safety Austin Thomas said. “We haven’t really learned that much yet. We’ve only played one Big Ten game, and we’ll learn more after this week.”
(09/24/07 5:08am)
Having emerged victorious from its first three games, the IU football team was and played like the nation’s seventh-ranked rushing offense and 10th-ranked offense.\nBut when the Hoosiers played Illinois Saturday, all of the praise given to IU throughout the first three weeks of the college football season didn’t matter. Redeeming themselves from a last-second loss last year in Champaign, the Fighting Illini easily defeated the Hoosiers 27-14.\n“There were a couple of looks where we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off,” sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis said.\nEntering the game, the IU defense had played all season without facing a tough opponent for four quarters. IU coach Bill Lynch's defense had only allowed 65 yards on the ground a game, recorded 17 sacks – tops in the nation – and had forced 10 turnovers all year, while only giving up four of its own. On the offensive end, the Hoosiers had rushed an astounding 258 yards a game.\nBut wins don’t come on paper, and Illinois made short work of an IU team that came into Saturday with a lot of confidence.\nUsing a combination of the option and handoffs, Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall ran through seam after seam in the IU defense. Spinning and juking his way downfield, the junior ran for a career-high 214 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield. Mendenhall also caught three balls – one for a touchdown.\nAfter Saturday’s performance, Mendenhall earned the respect of IU’s defense.\n“Last year I didn’t think he was that much of a factor,” junior linebacker Geno Johnson said. “But this year, I would say he’s ranked in the top five of running backs I’ve faced.”\nRunning for a majority of their plays, the Illini were able to control the game clock through long drives that were sustained on several long-yardage third down runs.\nAs hard as it was for the Hoosier front seven to stop Mendenhall and quarterback Isiah “Juice” Williams, they were unable to continue their streak of sacks and looked lethargic at times against the Illinois offensive line.\nWilliams hit the ground only one time during the game, while Lewis continued to feel pressure. After being named Big Ten offensive player of the week last week, Lewis completed 26 of 51 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked seven times. Lewis speculated that was the most amount of passes he’s thrown in his career.\n“The game just dictated that,” Lynch said. “We wanted to play it very similar to what we’ve done the first three weeks. The score and the way they were playing and the success – or lack thereof – of some things led us to throw it.”\nWatching the Illini rushing attack chew up yard after yard from the sideline, the combination of Lewis, junior running back Marcus Thigpen, sophomore running back Demetrius McCray and senior fullback Josiah Sears failed to muster up any consistent attack of its own when it was its turn to answer. The IU backfield combined for a below-average 134 yards.\nAnd then the Hoosiers turned the ball over.\nFor the first time this season, IU found itself committing turnovers, rather than cleaning up after the other teams’ messes. \nThigpen fumbled on the first drive of the game. Then sophomore wide receiver Ray Fisher fumbled inside the red zone and junior wide receiver James Hardy fumbled inside \nthe 40.\nCalls and breaks didn’t go the Hoosiers’ way either. One IU punt was blocked and another punt return was muffed by the Illini, only to have a Hoosier recovery taken away because of a penalty.\n“I’m not going to sit here and criticize the officials,” senior cornerback Tracy Porter said. “That’s not what I do. But as I recall, there’s no halo rule in college football. A guy pushed James (Bailey) into the returner, he muffed the ball and I dived on it. Obviously the officials felt a different way.” \nJust as the Hoosiers tried for one final touchdown, Lewis was intercepted in the end zone with a minute and a half left, effectively ending whatever hope IU had remaining.\n“You can’t give a team that,” Lewis said. “That’s field goal opportunities gone, touchdown opportunities gone. You take away points from yourself and you give it to them.”\nThe lone bright spot for the Hoosiers was Porter. On the second play from scrimmage, Porter made a spectacular single-handed interception and followed that one up with a red zone interception in the third quarter to give the Hoosiers yet another chance at making \na comeback.\nOnly that comeback never happened, and IU’s goal of going to a bowl game took its \nfirst hit. \n“But it’s just one game,” Lynch said. “And there’s a lot of football left. I didn’t see anybody quitting out there – I saw them playing to the end.”
(09/23/07 2:49pm)
I cannot stress how important the Illinois game was to this team. At 4-0, all the Hoosiers would need for the rest of this year is two more wins. Now they need three and have to go through a scarier schedule than originally thought. That being said, it is obviously still possible for IU to play 13 - hopefully for us in Arizona or Florida, which wouldn't be a bad trip to make. But in all seriousness, I think this game and rebounding from this game is absolutely pivotal for this team. Through their first three games, the Hoosiers faced some stiff competition but none with the talent of Illinois. If they can come back and win three more games, it would be an impressive comeback. Let's take a look at the rest of the Hoosiers' schedule.
(09/21/07 4:43am)
For weeks, IU coach Bill Lynch and his team dodged questions regarding the Big Ten. They played under the adages “we’re going to take it one game at a time,” and “we’re not going to look ahead.”\nThat time is over now, and the real season begins Saturday, when the 3-0 Hoosiers take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1). To the team and the fans, this means one thing – Big Ten season is here.\n“Illinois is a really good football team that has made really good progress over the last three years,” Lynch said. “They’ve played very well, and we’re anxious to get going.”\nBut conference play won’t begin easy for Lynch and IU.\nIllinois is coming off a resounding 41-20 at Syracuse last week and will have extra motivation to beat the Hoosiers after losing in Champaign, Ill., last year as time expired. That game – a 34-32 win on Oct. 7, 2006 – turned around the season for IU, which won on a game-winning field goal by junior kicker Austin Starr.\nStarr said this year’s game will prove to be just as pivotal.\n“It’s huge,” Starr said. “This is a very important game, just like every week. Every week, that game on Saturday is important, but this is a big one. So throughout this week, we’re going to practice the way we know how to practice and we’re going to be well prepared and ready to play our best.”\nThe preparation that goes into playing a team such as Illinois is somewhat equivalent to studying the Hoosiers’ own game film. Fighting Illini sophomore quarterback Isiah “Juice” Williams is a dual threat who can make plays in the air as well as with his legs.\nLast week against Akron, the Hoosiers defended a similar quarterback in Carlton Jackson, not to mention their own sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis, who is known for his ability to sprint downfield when the pocket collapses.\n“He looks like a big, strong kid,” senior cornerback Leslie Majors said. “When he tucks that ball, he’s like a running back, so that’s how I’m going to approach him.”\nOn the offensive side of the ball, the IU running attack will have to face its toughest opponent yet in linebacker Jeremy “J” Leman.\nAfter its first three games, the IU offense has averaged 258.7 rushing yards per game. Leman, who Lynch described as a prototypical Big Ten linebacker, is third in the nation with 39 tackles. He also has 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.\nThough either IU’s rushing attack or the Illini defense will have to give way this weekend, Lynch said one player doesn’t change the way the Hoosiers will run the ball.\n“You don’t want to all of a sudden change a lot of things for one game,” Lynch said. “Football is a game of repetitions, and the more reps that you get at anything, you’re going to get better at it.”\nIt’s been a while since the Hoosiers finished with a winning record in the Big Ten. They haven’t accomplished the feat since 1993. And because of that, Lynch’s squad is conscious of the importance of this game, as a win will bring momentum into Iowa next week.\n“It would be a huge emotional swing to go and get that first Big Ten win,” Majors said. “That confidence and everything, it carries on.”
(09/20/07 3:15am)
Hey guys, I'd like to put together a mailbag for us to answer all of your IU football-based questions on our blog, "Under the Rock." If you would be so kind, please send your questions, comments, or concerns to ljhurwit@gmail.com. Let's make this work because we at the IDS love to hear what you are all thinking out there. Thanks for reading.
(09/18/07 2:14am)
After torching Akron last weekend in a 41-24 win in Bloomington, sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis was named Big Ten offensive player of the week Monday.\nLewis is now a three-time recipient of the award in his 13 career starts at quarterback.\nThe Jacksonville, Fla., native ran for 199 yards against the Zips – the third-highest rushing total by a quarterback in IU history. Former IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El holds the top two slots in the category with 210- and 209-yard performances.\nLewis also ran for two touchdowns and completed 19 of 24 passes for 137 yards and three more scores through the air. His completion percentage of 79.2 is the second-highest for a game in school history.\nAside from recording gaudy numbers in the game against Akron, Lewis is statistically one of the better quarterbacks in the NCAA through three weeks of play. After three games, Lewis is first in the nation in rushing for quarterbacks (105.7 yards per game), 15th in total offense (320 yards per game) and 24th in passing efficiency (151.4).
(09/17/07 4:29am)
With the defensive formations it used Saturday, it seemed as if Akron thought IU was a pass-happy offense.\nIt thought wrong.\n“We had a lot of fun today,” sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis said. “It was one of those games where I was proud of my receivers, because they never once complained about how many throws they were getting; how many catches they were getting. They just kept blocking the corners, and that allowed us to get a lot of rushing yards.”\nThe Zips played a 3-3-5 defense, and Lewis was all too happy to exploit that in a 41-24 IU victory. IU gained 338 yards on the ground – 199 coming from Lewis. It was the first time the Hoosiers recorded more than 300 rushing yards in a game since running for 305 yards against Kentucky in 2005.\nRacking up 475 total yards, the IU offense exposed holes in an Akron defense that held Ohio State to just three points in the first half last week. And while the defense gave up 370 yards, the Hoosiers still forced two turnovers and added four sacks to their NCAA-leading total of 17.\nThough IU coach Bill Lynch said total offense is not a statistic the Hoosiers focus on, junior running back Marcus Thigpen took satisfaction with the job the offense did Saturday.\n“There’s a lot of pride in that because early on, we couldn’t really get the running game established at all,” Thigpen said.\nThe ball bounced the Hoosiers’ way early.\nJust 1:30 into the first quarter, a fumbled snap was recovered by sophomore linebacker Will Patterson. The Hoosiers soon took their first lead on a field goal by sophomore kicker Austin Starr.\nA stagnant Akron defense then produced a quick three and out, punting to the IU 31-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Lewis faked a handoff and sprinted 64 yards – the longest run of his career.\nInside the five-yard line, the Hoosiers were unable to put the ball in the end zone on their first three plays. But on fourth down, Lewis found wide open senior fullback Josiah Sears in the flat for a six-yard touchdown.\n“It was one of those things where we were getting down to the goal line and we kind of had a lot of mental mistakes,” Lewis said. “In some cases, we’re not even blocking guys on the sides that we’re running to, so it’s something we have to work on.”\nAfter an Akron field goal, IU began to drive, again through the running game. This time, it was sophomore running back Demetrius McCray who gained 39 yards on four carries during the drive. However, Lewis was intercepted at the goal line, and momentum shifted.\nWith sophomore quarterback Carlton Jackson inserted into the game, Akron went on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.\n“I thought their quarterback was pretty good,” Lynch said. “He was slippery, and he made us miss some. We hadn’t seen a whole lot of him on tape, but he was a difference.”\nOn the Zips’ ensuing possession, Jackson led the Zips 78 yards on seven plays, capping the drive with a 21-yard touchdown strike.\nWith just minutes remaining in the half, the Hoosiers responded. Starting on their 23-yard line, Lewis led IU on a drive that nearly died at the Akron 24. Lewis threw to a heavily covered Ray Fisher in the flat on third down. The sophomore wide receiver made a defender miss and scampered 24 yards to tie the game at 17-17 going into the half.\n“I’m glad halftime came, because I think we had a chance to go in and regroup,” Lynch said. \nIU came out re-energized at the start of the second half. \nLewis handed off to Thigpen on the first play of the half, and he took off down the left side for 59 yards. After again stalling inside the 10-yard line, Starr hit a field goal to take back the lead.\nOnce again, IU forced Akron to go three-and-out. Riding Lewis’ scrambling ability, the Hoosiers embarked on a 14-play, 81-yard drive. Accounting for nearly half the yardage on the drive, Lewis ran up the middle for a touchdown to give IU a 27-17 lead.\nBut Akron did not go away.\nWith time winding down, Jackson orchestrated an 80-yard drive that ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle to cut the deficit to three.\nBut for every play Akron made, the Hoosiers answered.\nHelped by a pair of pass interference calls, Lewis, McCray and Thigpen ran through the Akron defense en route to Lewis’ second rushing touchdown of the afternoon. Up 34-24 with six minutes left, there was little time left for the Zips to come back. Just to make sure, Lewis found junior wide receiver James Hardy in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass to ice the game.\nNow, with non-conference play all but over, the Hoosiers will welcome Illinois to Bloomington next weekend.\n“This team is not the team we’ve been in the last couple of years,” Hardy said. “I feel each and every guy has the determination to get victories, and now it’s time to get ready and look forward to the Big Ten season.”
(09/16/07 2:03pm)
With the defensive formations they used Saturday, it seemed as if Akron thought IU was a pass-happy offense. \nThey thought wrong.\n“We had a lot of fun today,” sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis said. “It was one of those games where I was proud of my receivers, because they never once complained about how many throws they were getting, how many catches they were getting. They just kept blocking the corners and that allowed us to get a lot of rushing yards.”\nThe Zips played a 3-3-5 defense, and sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis was all too happy to exploit that in a ¬¬41-24 Hoosier victory. IU gained 338 yards on the ground – 198 coming from Lewis. It was the highest rushing total the Hoosiers recorded in a game since running for 305 yards against Kentucky in 2005.\nRacking up 475 yards, the IU offense exposed holes in an Akron defense that held Ohio State to just three points in the first half last week. And while the defense gave up 350 yards, the Hoosiers still managed to force two turnovers and add four sacks to their NCAA-leading total of 17.\nThough IU coach Bill Lynch said total offense is not a stat the Hoosiers focus on, junior running back Marcus Thigpen took satisfaction with the job the offense did against Akron.\n“There’s a lot of pride in that because early on, we couldn’t really get the running game established at all,” Thigpen said. “Seeing 330 yards and all, it’s a good thing.”\nThe ball bounced the Hoosiers way at the start of the game. Just 1:30 into the first quarter, a botched snap led to a fumble recovery by sophomore linebacker Will Patterson. The Hoosiers ended up taking their first lead on a field goal by sophomore kicker Austin Starr. \nA stagnant Akron defense then produced a quick three and out, punting to the IU 31. On the first play from scrimmage, Lewis faked a handoff and sprinted downfield 64 yards – his longest run of his career. \nFrom inside the five, the Hoosiers were unable to put the ball in the end zone on the first three plays – evoking memories of a turnover on downs from the one-yard line on Western Michigan last week. But on fourth down, Lewis found a wide open Josiah Sears in the flat for six on a play action fake.\n“It was one of those things where we were getting down to the goal line and we kind of had a lot of mental mistakes,” Lewis said. “In some cases, we’re not even blocking guys on the sides that we’re running to, so it’s something we have to work on.”\nAfter an Akron field goal, IU began to drive again through the use of its running game. This time, it was sophomore Demetrius McCray who gained 39 yards on four carries during the drive. However, Lewis was intercepted at the goal line, causing a momentum shift.\nWith new quarterback Carlton Jackson inserted into the game, Akron went back to work. Jackson led the Zips on a 10 play, 80 yard drive for a touchdown. The Hoosier offense, on the other hand, was unable to find its receivers or gain any yards on the ground.\n“I thought their quarterback was pretty good,” Lynch said. “He was slippery, and he made us miss some. We hadn’t seen a whole lot of him on tape, but he was a difference.”\nOn the Zips’ ensuing possession, Jackson led another touchdown drive. In just seven plays, Jackson led the Zips 78 yards, capping the drive with a 21-yard strike over the middle.\nThough only minutes remained in the half, the Hoosiers responded. Starting on their 23-yard line, Lewis led IU on a drive that nearly died at the Akron 24. Lewis threw to a heavily covered Ray Fisher in the flat on third down. The sophomore wide receiver made a defender miss and scampered 24 yards to tie the game at 17-17 going into the half.\n“I’m glad halftime came, because I think we had a chance to go in and regroup,” Lynch said. “We had two straight football games where we were ahead 31-7 at the half. Guys think that’s the way it’s going to be every week – it’s not. We kind of got hit in the mouth there in the second quarter and kind of took it.”\nA reenergized Hoosier team came out to start the second half. Lewis handed off to Thigpen on the first play of the drive, and the running back took ran down the left side of the field for 59 yards. After again stalling inside the 10-yard line, Starr hit a field goal to give the Hoosiers back the lead.\nOnce again, the IU defense forced Akron to a three and out. Taking advantage of Lewis’ ability to scramble out of the pocket, the Hoosiers embarked on a 14-play, 81-yard drive. Accounting for nearly half of the yardage, Lewis ran up the middle for a touchdown to give IU a 27-17 lead.\nAnd yet Akron did not go away.\nWith his team down 10 points and time dwindling, Jackson orchestrated an 80-yard drive that ended on a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field to cut the deficit to three.\nBut for every play, every touchdown Akron made, the Hoosiers answered.\nHelped by a couple of defensive pass interference calls, Lewis, McCray and Thigpen ran through the Zips defense en route to Lewis’ second rushing touchdown of the afternoon. Up 34-24 with six minutes left in the game, there was too little time left for the Zips to make up the difference. Just to make sure, Lewis found junior wide receiver James Hardy in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 17.\nNow with non-conference play all but over, the Hoosiers will prepare to welcome Illinois to Bloomington next weekend.\n“This team is not the team we’ve been in the last couple of years,” Hardy said. “I feel each and every guy has the determination to get victories, and now it’s time to get ready and look forward to the Big Ten season.”
(09/14/07 5:05pm)
Hey guys, I'd like to briefly apologize for a use of word that I had put down about Teddy Schell. As a journalist, I regret using that word as it harshly conveyed what I had viewed. I apologize once again, and thank you to all who have pointed out that I went a little too far. Thanks to all the readers who come on to our blog and we hope you keep coming.
(09/14/07 3:38am)
Having been to practice quite a few times this year, I think it's safe to talk about the depth of the IU quarterback chart. As your starter, we obviously have sophomore Kellen Lewis. Backing him up is freshman Ben Chappell, who is backed up by freshman Teddy Schell. Last but not least, senior Blake Powers is trying to get back into the swing of things, as he has been converted back to quarterback, after trying tight end.
(09/13/07 5:44am)
I got a little bored today and decided to check where the IU football team ranked statistically in the NCAA and the Big Ten through its first two games. Though I knew the Hoosiers have been playing sound football this year, I was incredibly surprised when I found out the following statistics.
(09/12/07 3:08am)
Scoring 92 points in two games might look nice on paper, but IU coach Bill Lynch knows better than that.\nAfter witnessing his team commit 11 penalties for 93 yards against Western Michigan Saturday – mistakes that could have cost his team the game – Lynch hinted that those penalties will be a focus in this week's practice.\n"We're going to address it this week," Lynch said. "Let's put it this way, pre-snap and post-snap, you'd like to alleviate that."\nPre- and post- snap penalties accounted for nine of the 11 penalties the Hoosiers committed Saturday. In the season opener against Indiana State, IU also committed another seven penalties for 75 yards.\nAnd while the Hoosiers have been able to put points on the board in their first two games, Lynch is well aware of how badly penalties can kill a drive.\nAgainst the Broncos last weekend, IU experienced firsthand how penalties can cost them points during a game.\n"I know at one point, there was a time in the red zone and that kind of hurt us," junior defensive lineman Greg Brown said. "Not to point fingers or anything like that, but as a whole we need to work on the pre-snap penalties that could affect us during the game."\nControlling those pre- and post- snap penalties this weekend against Akron – a team that held Ohio State to only three points in the first half of their matchup last weekend – will be crucial when playing the Zips' talented defense, he said.\n"They were really solid, they're a good defensive football team," Lynch said. "They'll play that 3-5-3 scheme that Indiana State played, and they've got the big guys up front that you need in that defense, and then they've got five guys that are really active. They didn't back off Ohio State, they came right after them."\nThough Akron had a hard time moving the ball last week – the team scored two points, recorded 69 yards of total offense and gained only three first downs against Ohio State – Lynch credits that to the Buckeyes' defense, not to a lack of offense on Akron's part.\n"Ohio State's defense is awful good," Lynch said. "I've been in games against Ohio State, so I know what that's like."\nBut while penalties played a big part in last weekend's game against Western Michigan and will certainly be a focus of this week's practice in preparation for Akron, they weren't the only miscues that nearly cost the Hoosiers a 27-point lead last weekend.\nSophomore wide receiver Ray Fisher, who caught a career-high seven passes for 77 yards against the Broncos, said the reason for the comeback was because the team lost focus.\n"Coming back out, it was raining and we had a couple of players complaining about how it was slippery," Fisher said. "You just can't think about that. You have to get jacked up and play to the best of your ability."\nDuring his press conference, however, Lynch disagreed with his wideout and said the Hoosiers didn't lose their focus or poise. Rather, they did not take advantage of opportunities in the end zone, and they allowed a game-changing play at the wrong time.\nWith just less than five minutes to go in the third quarter, Broncos running back Brandon West returned junior Austin Starr's kickoff 98 yards for a score.\n"The kickoff return was the big play," Lynch said. "That was one where we kind of kicked ourselves right into the situation, because they'd set up a different kind of return than what they'd been running. That got them their momentum back."\nAfter a week of practice, Lynch said he is confident his team will limit the miscues that could have cost them a victory against Western Michigan.\nAnd though penalties can hurt a team more than they can help it, Fisher echoed his coach's confidence.\n"It damages your team, but you have to bounce back from it," Fisher said. "You just have to go play-by-play. If you jump offsides, you have to refocus and regain your confidence"
(09/10/07 5:05am)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Something got into the IU defense Saturday night – something Hoosier fans aren’t accustomed to seeing. \nUnder rainy conditions at Western Michigan and playing against a near-capacity crowd, the Hoosiers’ defense swarmed all over the field, causing five turnovers and eight sacks and forcing the Broncos to platoon three quarterbacks in a 37-27 IU victory. It was the most turnovers the Hoosiers had forced since Oct. 28 of last year, when they had four in a 46-21 win against Michigan State.\n“It was a really good win to come up here,” said IU coach Bill Lynch. “Having experienced coaching here before, I know this is a tough place to win, and when you get one, you’re awful happy with it.”\nAfter initially taking a 7-3 lead over the Hoosiers, nothing went right for the Broncos. Deep in IU territory, Bronco quarterback Tim Hiller threw an interception straight into the hands of IU freshman safety Mitchell Evans at the goal line.\nWhen the Hoosiers’ offense failed to score off the first turnover of the game, IU defensive linemen Greg Brown and Greg Middleton took matters into their own hands. On the Broncos’ fifth play from scrimmage, Brown broke through an offensive line that had held up to that point and forced Hiller to fumble. Middleton, who also came streaking through to rush the passer, picked up the loose ball and scampered 44 yards for the score.\n“That was huge,” Lynch said. “When Greg ran that thing back, any time it jumps from a three point game to a 10 point game, it gives you pretty good momentum.” \nBrown’s sack was the third of the game. IU would sack Bronco quarterbacks five more times, to give them a total of 13 sacks on the year. The Hoosiers only recorded 14 sacks all of last year.\nBut after two quick turnovers, the IU defense wasn’t done. After Western Michigan replaced Hiller with quarterback Drew Burdi, junior cornerback Chris Phillips forced yet another fumble on a cornerback blitz. A Hoosier recovery led to junior wide receiver James Hardy’s first reception of the night – a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kellen Lewis – to give the Hoosiers a 24-7 lead.\nThe ensuing drive introduced the IU defense to the third Bronco quarterback, Thomas Peregrin, who threw his first interception of the game only three plays later. Evans was once again on the receiving end of the turnover and became the first true freshman to intercept two passes in a game since senior cornerback Tracy Porter did so against Central Michigan in 2004.\n“I just try to keep positioning,” Evans said. “We talk every day about positioning in your drops and alignment and it all helps getting to the ball. I just tried to focus on that, read my keys and play football.”\nEvans’ second interception led to Hardy’s second touchdown of the night, an 11-yard strike from Lewis with only three seconds left in the half.\nOn the opening drive of the second half, the Broncos lost another quarterback fumble – their fifth consecutive turnover.\n“We put emphasis on creating turnovers,” Porter said. “So the thing that we do, first guy hit him and wrap him up and everybody else go in and try to strip the ball. I think we did a great job with that.”\nThough the Broncos made a significant comeback in the second half that made IU fans uneasy, the 21 points the Hoosiers scored off of turnovers put the game too far out of reach.\n“We learned that we can play in a hostile environment,” Porter said. “We didn’t get rattled. We went out and took care of business.”
(09/08/07 12:20am)
So, when we went to write the IU will win if, IU will lose if article for Friday's paper, I really wanted to put Western Michigan wide receiver Jamarko Simmons as the 'player to watch.' Unfortunately, we couldn't do that because we had to focus on an IU athlete. I understand. If it was Chad Henne, Jim Lauranitis, or some other ridiculous Big Ten opponent, then we could put them as the 'player to watch.' So since I couldn't really talk about Simmons in Friday's IDS, I'm going to do it right here.
(09/07/07 4:24am)
At his weekly press conference Tuesday, IU coach Bill Lynch could think of no better phrase to describe Kalamazoo, Mich., than as a “hornet’s nest.”\nOr at least that’s how he envisions the environment his football team will find itself in at 8 p.m. Saturday, when the Hoosiers take their 1-0 record to Western Michigan.\n“We have a real challenge on our hands this week, and I think our players understand that, and I know our coaching staff does,” Lynch said. “I spent a lot of years coaching in the Mid-American Conference, as did a lot of our staff, and we know that to go to Western Michigan, they’ve had this thing circled for a long time. It’s a very good football team.”\nThe Hoosiers opened the 2007 season with a 55-7 blowout win over Indiana State, scoring the most points by an IU team in an opener since a 1969 victory over Kentucky. Saturday night, the Hoosiers will play a team with a slightly higher talent level – and a little more speed – than the Sycamores.\n“They have a very good secondary with a lot of guys coming back this year,” said junior wide receiver James Hardy. “They have a lot of confidence in their corners and they think that we won’t be able to get off the press. It’s going to be a challenge for us, but I think we’re ready for it.”\nLast season, the Broncos finished the regular season with an 8-4 record, good enough to secure a spot in the International Bowl in Toronto against Cincinnati. Western Michigan went on to lose the game 27-24. After their home opener, the Broncos continued the losing trend by suffering a blowout of their own – a 62-24 loss at No. 3 West Virginia.\nLynch said Western Michigan’s competitiveness is not reflected by the box score from their game last week. But the Broncos are a team IU knows well.\n“Bill Cubit has been a really good head coach for a long time,” Lynch said. “I’ve known him a long time; his football teams are always well schooled and very tough to defend, because they’ll give you about as many formations as you’ll see all season in one game.”\nIn addition to the fact that much of the IU coaching staff spent at least a portion of their careers in the MAC conference, playing the Broncos will be a rematch of last year’s 39-20 IU victory at Memorial Stadium. \nHowever, this Hoosier team bares distinct differences to the one that played the Broncos a year ago. Leading the offense was now-senior quarterback Blake Powers, who has since been replaced by sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis. Back then, Lewis was nothing more than an unknown commodity, sitting behind Graeme McFarland in the depth chart.\nThough IU faces a fast defense this weekend that returns most of its starters from last season, Lewis said the talent within the Hoosier receiving corps will be good enough to counter the Broncos’ defense.\n“It’s nothing to really worry about; we’ve got a lot of speed on our side of the ball too,” Lewis said. “Obviously, we’re pretty deep at wide receiver, and we’ve got a lot of guys who can run around and catch the ball. I guess it will be a finesse vs. finesse match up.”\nBut this is also a defense that was seventh in the NCAA in turnover margin last year, forcing 12 fumbles and picking off 24 passes. Against the Football Championship Subdivision Sycamores, the Hoosiers fumbled the ball six times.\nForcing turnovers – while making sure the Hoosiers avoid them – is on Lynch’s priority list as well.\n“The ball can’t be on the ground when we’re playing,” Lynch said. “It’s a point of emphasis and on the other side, see if our defense can strip it and get it out. Anytime you go on the road to a tough situation, you have to take care of the football. If you can get some turnovers that can certainly be a big help.”
