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(11/15/13 3:10am)
After receiving 11 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in IU's 52-35 win against Illinois, junior wide receiver Cody Latimer was voted the AT&T All-America Player of the Week. According to the website, ESPN analysts select four players each week of the regular season based on their performances during the previous week and the fans decide the winner.
(11/11/13 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Despite Illinois’ accumulation of more than one-third of a mile of total offense, IU’s defense came through in the clutch to give the Hoosiers a 52-35 victory at home Saturday. The Fighting Illini (3-6, 0-5) recorded a season-high 612 total yards against the Hoosiers (4-5, 2-3), but they were held scoreless for the final 12 minutes and 41 seconds of the game. “As long as the offense is scoring and putting up points, as long as we come out with Ws, the yards are something that we don’t worry about as much,” redshirt senior safety Greg Heban said. Heban said in recent weeks the Hoosiers have emphasized playing well at the end of games.“That’s something that we didn’t do as well last year, finishing the games, finishing up the season,” he said.On Saturday night the Hoosiers stonewalled Illinois’ offense when it mattered the most — in the fourth quarter.IU’s defense ended the game with two stops on fourth-and-10 and an interception in the end zone.Each of the Hoosiers’ scoring drives in the fourth quarter was followed by a stop on defense.“We just kept feeding off each other’s energy,” freshman defensive tackle Darius Latham said. “Offense would score, we know we gotta try to put the game up.”IU Coach Kevin Wilson said the defense and the offense need to feed off each other more often instead of there being “one side hot and one side cold,” something that took the Hoosiers three quarters to accomplish.“We had a few busted coverages and some missed tackles that led to easy Illinois scores,” Wilson said. “We just haven’t been consistent in our execution or fundamentals to play really good all the time.”The Hoosiers’ defense allowed 206 yards in the first quarter. Illinois redshirt senior Steve Hull, a former safety who made the switch to wide receiver this season, had nine receptions for 224 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns, all of which were career highs. Part of IU’s defensive struggles was a result of the Hoosiers’ sideline doubling as an infirmary on Saturday. Junior Forisse “Flo” Hardin, starting weakside linebacker, was out for the game with a rib injury.At one point three of IU’s starters in its secondary — Heban, junior cornerback Tim Bennett and junior safety Mark Murphy — were sidelined due to injuries.Freshman Clyde Newton made his first career start in place of the injured Hardin, and he recorded a game-high 11 tackles. “He’s been improving a lot throughout the year, and it was just good to see him come out and play the way he played,” Heban said. “We have a lot of faith in him, and he stepped up in Flo’s spot.”Freshman safety Antonio Allen suffered a season-ending knee injury in his first career start against Michigan, which meant redshirt juniors Brandon Grubbe, an IU walk-on who played running back for Butler in 2011, and Jake Zupancic, had to fill in for the Hoosiers at both safety positions.“They just came in and did a really good job,” Heban said. “It was just a great team win. It shows that even our backups are coming together, and it’s a good sign of a good team.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(11/10/13 2:27am)
IU Coach Kevin Wilson and several players talked to the media after the Hoosiers' 52-35 win against Illinois.
(11/08/13 5:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU football team’s dreams of bowl eligibility ride on defeating a team that hasn’t won a Big Ten game in more than two years. But the last conference opponent they defeated was IU.With four games remaining on their schedule, the Hoosiers (3-5, 1-3) need to win three of their final matchups to earn bowl eligibility. This journey begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at home against Illinois (3-5, 0-4). While the Hoosiers seek to advance to a bowl game for the first time since 2007, IU Coach Kevin Wilson said the impact of victories goes well beyond a single season record. “It just solidifies what you’re doing and keeping the energy of your fan base and recruiting,” Wilson said.Wilson acknowledged many people have written off IU’s year with one-third of the regular season remaining.“Prognosticators would say everything’s over,” he said. “But in our world, there is a lot of football to play, lot of things we can accomplish. Best thing to do, our constant goal is consistent improvement, constant improvement.”When Wilson looked ahead to Illinois, he drew a comparison between the Fighting Illini and the Hoosiers.“I expect Illinois to come much like us, hungry teams,” he said, referencing Illinois’ three wins and its pursuit of its first conference win of the season.The Fighting Illini haven’t defeated a Big Ten opponent since Oct. 8, 2011, when they topped IU 41-20 in Bloomington. On offense, senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase leads the Illinois offense. In his final year of eligibility, Scheelhaase is on track to have the best passing statistics — yards, completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns and quarterback rating — of his career.Despite having only one more pass attempt than carries this season, the majority of Illinois’ yards come through the air. Redshirt sophomore running back Josh Ferguson leads the Fighting Illini in rushing and receiving. The Naperville, Ill., native has 829 total yards of offense and seven touchdowns in his first season as a full-time starter. IU Defensive Coordinator Doug Mallory said Illinois’ skill players on offense impress him. He said the Fighting Illini play with greater tempo under first-year Offensive Coordinator Bill Cubit.“They’ve got two quality running backs, they’ve got three or four tight ends who are going to play and I think they’ve got good skill on the perimeter,” he said. Illinois’ offensive weapons will provide a challenge for IU’s defense, which ranks 116th in the country in points allowed per game. “We’ve got to keep building on that,” Wilson said. “We’ve got to keep fighting and playing in there.”Wilson said IU has been close to victory against good teams in its past two games, but the Hoosiers have been unable to get over the hump. “We’re at that part of the race where you can keep pushing or stop, and we’ve come too far to stop pushing,” Wilson said.Follow football reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(11/06/13 3:15am)
IU Football Coach Kevin Wilson was on the weekly Big Ten coaches teleconference on Tuesday afternoon to talk about the Hoosiers' upcoming matchup against Illinois.
(11/05/13 5:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When he was a kid growing up in Indianapolis near Butler University, he would climb out of his window to the roof of his house and watch fireworks shows sponsored by the university. That’s how Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass developed his love for pyrotechnics. “That was always a lot of fun and even as an adult, I enjoy watching the fireworks up near our lake cottage,” Glass said.Though he acknowledges fireworks are something he has enjoyed since he was a “wee lad,” Glass is quick to mention he had help with the implementation of the pyrotechnics at home games. Glass and IU Athletics asked Pat Kraft, formerly a Senior Assistant Athletic Director at IU and currently a Deputy Athletic Director at Temple University, for consulting advice to improve the Hoosiers’ gameday experience. Glass said Kraft really pushed the fireworks option for Memorial Stadium. On any given home game, there could be up to six instances of fireworks at Memorial Stadium.IU contracts two companies, Ramsey Pyrotechnics and Thomas James Productions, to assist with the fireworks. Ramsey is in charge of the fireworks launched into the air. Thomas James Productions specializes in the smoke and run-on fireworks.About 20 minutes before kickoff, the first barrage is set off to let the tailgaters know the game is almost underway. The next set is timed to coincide with the singing of the national anthem. “I really enjoy that they go off when we’re singing about the rocket’s red glare,” Glass said.The football team’s entrance onto the field is complete with clouds of smoke and the third round of fireworks. Glass said IU Athletics is now also setting off fireworks before the halftime show ends to let fans know when to return to their seats so they don’t miss the start of the second half. “A lot of our fans enjoy the pass-out policy,” Glass said. “They can go out and hang out at halftime and hopefully come back in.” Glass recalled one gameday when he was at an IU tailgate and fireworks went off during halftime.“These people were standing around going, ‘What the hell is he doing now shooting these fireworks off randomly?’” he said. “They’re not random because it’s going to be kickoff in 10 minutes.”Though those fireworks serve a purpose, they’re not the show Glass loves seeing the most.Glass’ second-favorite fireworks spectacle is the symphony of the IU Marching Hundred playing during the William Tell Overture timeout as fireworks are set off in the background.“It’s the greatest timeout in college basketball at Assembly Hall,” he said. “I think it’s really translated well there at the end of the third quarter, the ‘Lone Ranger’ theme song. At the end of that, we shoot off the fireworks and show them up on the Jumbotron, which is cool.”Nothing can top his love for the sights and sounds that come with IU’s victory fireworks and the Hoosier football team singing the school’s fight song with the student section, which Glass said is really what gives him the most pride. Glass acknowledges though fireworks are fun, they’re just one piece to the puzzle.“I don’t think there’s any one silver bullet that makes the games great, so we’re doing a lot of different things,” he said. Memorial Stadium’s Knothole Park, Jumbotron and the run-ons held before the game are several of the other gameday enhancements IU Athletics has implemented to increase the appeal of Hoosier football Saturdays in Bloomington.IU Athletics tries to use the fireworks strategically. “I think it just makes it fun, makes it an event,” Glass said.While he admits he occasionally worries about the impact of the fireworks when he sees small children closing their eyes and covering their ears, he said kids generally love them. “They kind of get the blood flowing, they get your attention,” he said. “We’re just doing everything we can to create excitement in and around the stadium to support the excitement on the field.”Though the fireworks can improve the gameday experience for IU fans at Memorial Stadium, Glass said the Hoosiers’ performance on the field is what really determines attendance and fan support. “Of course, the most important thing is the play on the field and with the way our offense is playing, they’re kind of shooting fireworks of their own,” Glass said. “I’m glad they’re competing with our fireworks for being the most explosive portion of Saturdays at Memorial Stadium.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(11/04/13 3:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Down by three points with 25 seconds left in the game, IU was on Minnesota’s 9-yard line with second down-and-goal. IU sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld threw a swing pass to sophomore running back Tevin Coleman to try to exploit a matchup against Minnesota’s man defense. Sudfeld’s pass was behind the line of scrimmage, making it a lateral. “We just kind of got caught in the wrong look, and I thought maybe I put the ball a little behind Tevin,” Sudfeld said.Coleman bobbled the throw and gave up on the ball after it dropped to the ground.“It was behind me, but I just tried to make a play out of it,” Coleman said. “It didn’t happen.” Thinking the play would be ruled an incomplete pass, Coleman abandoned the play. Since the ball was lateralled, the ball was still live in play.Sudfeld realized the play wasn’t over, so he took off running to try to recover the fumble.“I was hoping the defense didn’t notice, but they picked it up,” he said.Minnesota linebacker Aaron Hill picked up the loose ball and ran 21 yards down the sideline before Coleman tackled him.“After I’d seen the guy pick it up and start running, I tried to make him fumble,” Coleman said.When Minnesota took over on offense near midfield, the Golden Gophers only had to hand the ball off twice to running back David Cobb in order to run out the clock and leave Bloomington with a 42-39 victory. Sudfeld said there are a lot of things he wants to take back.“(It was) just an unfortunate play and kind of really bad timing,” he said. “I should have just thrown it away.”IU Coach Kevin Wilson said on a swing play, there’s always a chance for a lateral.“It just didn’t get executed right,” he said.Wilson said the offensive players around the fumble didn’t jump on the loose ball like they should have. He said in a close game, the fundamentals of grabbing the loose ball and giving it to the referee are very important.“Don’t just assume anything,” Wilson said. “It was poor execution and really not an ideal call at that time in the game, and because of it, we lost the game.”The fumble came after IU turned a 22-point deficit into a four-point lead thanks to 26 unanswered points in the second half. Minnesota quickly regained the lead with three minutes left in the game, setting up IU’s potential game-winning drive.IU junior wide receiver Cody Latimer said it was “just jaw-dropping” because the Hoosiers were so close to victory.“We should’ve had it, we need it, and it just slipped right out of our hands (with) a couple seconds left to go on the goal line,” he said.Wilson said IU didn’t play well early, but the players battled and hung in the game.“We had a lot of chances, but I made a poor call, and we did not execute the play at the end,” he said. “As coaches, we have to help them out at the end and make the right plays, and that last one was not the right call.”Coleman said the loss was a really tough one to swallow.“I’m not happy at all, not cheerful at all,” he said, barely above a whisper. “(We) just have to keep on going.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(11/04/13 3:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In its Homecoming matchup against Minnesota, IU lost 42-39 to fall to 3-5 (1-3 Big Ten). With a chance to improve its record to 0.500, match its highest single season win total in the IU Coach Kevin Wilson era and pull within two wins of bowl eligibility, the Hoosiers turned the ball over inside the red zone in the waning seconds.On second-and-goal from the 8-yard line, sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld threw a swing pass behind the line of scrimmage to sophomore running back Tevin Coleman. Coleman couldn’t handle the throw and, thinking the play would be ruled an incomplete pass, he gave up on the play. But the ball was still live, and Minnesota linebacker Aaron Hill picked up the fumble. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson started for the first time since the Hoosiers matchup against Navy on Sept. 7. Roberson was 8-of-18 for 80 yards and one touchdown in the first half. Wilson said with the way Minnesota’s defense was set up, IU’s coaching staff thought the Hoosiers needed to run the ball against man coverage.“Our backs did well today, and we thought Tre would take part in that,” he said.Minnesota completed a 40-yard completion on a flea flicker pass on the first play from scrimmage, which fueled a seven-play scoring drive that ended in a touchdown reception by Derrick Engel.The Hoosiers reached the red zone three times in the first quarter but had to settle for field goals inside the Minnesota 20-yard line on two of those possessions.“We left three scoring opportunities empty,” Wilson said.IU’s defense also missed opportunities in the first half. With Minnesota leading 14-13, Golden Gophers freshman quarterback Mitch Leidner fumbled twice and nearly threw an interception, which was dropped by IU cornerback Michael Hunter. Minnesota went on to score a touchdown on that possession as part of a 28-0 scoring run in the second and third quarters.Down 28-13 at halftime, IU’s coaching staff decided to play Sudfeld at quarterback in the second half. “Tre was just a little bit off in the first half, as was the rest of the offense,” Wilson said.IU trailed 35-13 midway through the third quarter, and the student section was nearly empty. IU then scored 26 unanswered points. “There was a stretch at the end where we were really playing well together and had a lot of momentum,” Wilson said.The Hoosiers’ offense started to click with Sudfeld at quarterback. He was 13-of-20 for 189 yards and two touchdowns. IU’s running game had new life in the second half. Sophomore running back Tevin Coleman and senior running back Stephen Houston combined for 151 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries in the second half. For the game, IU’s running back duo compiled 219 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. “We changed it up a little and went out of pistol, and that worked a lot for the O-line to get their blocks right and for us to see the holes better,” Coleman said.The Hoosiers failed a pair of two-point conversions in the fourth quarter after their final touchdowns of the game.Wilson said the coaching staff talked about the different scenarios and whether to go for two. “Maybe we were being a little bit over-aggressive in hindsight,” he said.IU briefly reclaimed the lead late in the fourth quarter after a 30-yard touchdown strike from Sudfeld to junior wide receiver Cody Latimer, but Minnesota quickly countered.“Our guys fought back, and we had a lot of good fight, but we’re gonna need to figure out ways to win in the end,” Sudfeld said.Golden Gophers sophomore quarterback Philip Nelson threw what proved to be the winning touchdown pass to red shirt freshman tight end Maxx Williams with just more than three minutes remaining. “I thought we had the best chance to win that game, and I’m really disappointed for our players,” Wilson said.Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS
(11/02/13 4:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In advance of Saturday's game against Minnesota, the IDS asked Minnesota Daily football beat writer Nate Gotlieb about the Minnesota offense and Coach Jerry Kill.IDS Philip Nelson and Mitch Leidner have both played at quarterback throughout the season. How does Minnesota use both quarterbacks on offense?Minnesota uses both quarterbacks the same way. Both facilitate a run-first offense and occasionally pass. The problem was that both struggled in the Gophers' first two Big Ten games. Nelson appeared to be the unquestioned starter going into the season but but struggled against Iowa on Sept. 28. Leidner started against Michigan the following week, but the Gophers still lost by more than four touchdowns. Leidner has started the past two games but Nelson has relieved him in the second quarter in both. It's a baffling system, but almost everyone in Minnesota has just come to accept it now that the Gophers are winning. Both are equally good runners, but Nelson is arguably a better passer. Coaches say they want to get both reps during the game but then decide on one -- the "hot hand," so to speak. That's been Nelson the past two weeks. IDS Minnesota's quarterbacks have combined for more than 600 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Are their runs typically designed rushes or are they simply efficient at scrambling from the pocket when a play breaks down?The 11 rushing touchdowns are by design, but the 600 rushing yards are not. The Gophers often run quarterback sneaks near the goal line. Nelson scored on two one-yard runs last week. Leidner scored four rushing touchdowns in his first start and all were 10 yards or less. Minnesota loves to let its big quarterbacks sneak behind its big offensive line. But the 600 rushing yards are a different story. Those are about half designed and half improvised and most came earlier in the year when the Gophers were playing lower-tier opponents. Nelson and Leidner still run anywhere from 10-20 times a game but they haven't needed to run as much because Minnesota's running backs have been effective. IDS What is the latest update on the health and involvement of Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill, who has suffered from seizures this season?Kill addressed the media Tuesday and said he is playing more of a behind-the-scenes role. Kill did not give any specifics on his condition but said he will be driving by February. He currently cannot drive because of his epilepsy. Kill said he was at practice everyday last week in an observational role. He said he has done a lot of recruiting in these past few weeks. Kill will attend the Indiana game and will sit in the coaches' box but he did not say Tuesday what role he'll play in managing the game. IDS What is the mindset of the players and/or the fan base after Minnesota rebounded from two tough losses with two big wins, then having four challenging games remaining on the schedule?Minnesota's fan base is cautiously excited and the players seem to believe anything is possible at this point. Players appear to know sustaining their success will be a challenge but they also appear to be embracing that challenge. Minnesota's students are fair-weather football fans, though they have become more supportive of the team since Jerry Kill arrived. The student section was full when the Gophers played Iowa after a 4-0 start but it was only half-full last Saturday (Technically it was full. But the upper desk was clouded in Nebraska red). A win against Indiana on Saturday and TCF Bank Stadium should be full when Minnesota plays Penn State on Nov. 9. A loss and the buzz is dampened.
(11/02/13 3:42pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Minnesota sophomore Philip Nelson and freshman Mitch Leidner have split time as quarterback this season.Nelson has had more pass attempts, but Leidner has completed a higher percentage of his throws and for more yards per attempt. Both quarterbacks have more rushes than completions this season.Each quarterback has started four games. Minnesota has called Leidner’s number first in each of the past three games. “Both those quarterbacks can run if they want to,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said. “They’re not flashy, but they’re big enough quarterbacks that they will run them 15, 18, 20 times, almost like a second runner.”Wilson said Leidner isn’t a tailback, but he runs like a bigger tailback. “He’s a rumbling, stumbling guy, and all of the sudden he might be 15, 20 for a big one,” Wilson said.Wilson said Minnesota’s attitude on offense is similar to that of Navy. Both schools want to pound the ball on the ground.“It’s a different style, but it’s like Navy, and to execute with a run, run, run,” he said. The Golden Gophers run the ball on almost 73 percent of their plays. Along with Minnesota’s quarterbacks, running backs David Cobb and Rodrick Williams Jr. power the nation’s 23rd best team in rushing yards per game.Wilson said Minnesota’s run-heavy offense can set up the pass when the Golden Gophers decide to air it out.“They had one at Nebraska and missed a guy on a play action,” he said. “(Minnesota) had a tight end on the corner, and he probably scores or gets close if he gets it.”Wilson drew a parallel from Nelson to the sixth man on a basketball team. “He comes in and brings new life to the team,” Wilson said.No matter which quarterback is on the field for the Golden Gophers, Wilson said he has respect for both.“They can get on the perimeter, run boot, play action game,” he said.Wilson said Minnesota’s passing numbers — a combined 55 percent completion percentage, 983 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions — are not more impressive due to weekly missed opportunities by the Golden Gophers’ offense.Forcing stops on third downs will be critical for IU’s defense.“Look at the number of third downs that we got that we let them off the field. Michigan State made 8, 9, 10 in a row,” Wilson said. “They made their touchdowns on third downs.“So you want to change the scheme, we got a guy there to make the tackle, shoot your guy is there to make the play and get him on the ground.”Wilson said IU has to force Minnesota off schedule by forcing third-and-long scenarios.He said the Golden Gophers’ offense doesn’t score a lot unless their opponents give them easy scoring chances.“If we play on our heels, they’ll stay on schedule,” he said.In the bye week, the Hoosiers focused on third-down conversions, how to keep the ball, creating turnovers and the fundamentals of tackling. IU Defensive Coordinator Doug Mallory said IU worked on tackling, technique and fundamentals every day during the bye week, in part because of the new players and coaches on the roster. “These are short things that we want to concentrate on to see if we can be stronger down the stretch,” Wilson said.“We’re going to be in close games. We have a chance to be in exciting games if we play well and how to find a way to make that play or two to get over the hump.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(10/29/13 6:17pm)
IU Football Coach Kevin Wilson was on the Big Ten coaches weekly teleconference on Tuesday afternoon. Here's what he had to say leading up to the IU-Minnesota matchup in Bloomington at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
(10/22/13 8:57pm)
The IU football team's 2013 recruiting class that was assembled by Coach Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers' coaching staff was the best recruiting class in school history. According to 247 Sports' composite rankings, IU's 2013 class is 42nd in the country, with four four-star and 15 three-star recruits.
(10/21/13 3:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the first time since Sept. 1, 2012, redshirt sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson led the Hoosiers in passing yards. On Saturday at Michigan, he replaced sophomore Nate Sudfeld, who has started the past five games for IU, after the Wolverines took an early lead. Roberson threw for a career-high 288 yards in a losing effort as the Wolverines escaped the Hoosiers’ second half push to win 63-47. With heavy rain pouring down on Ann Arbor for most of the day, IU Coach Kevin Wilson said the weather may have hindered Sudfeld’s effectiveness against Michigan. Sudfeld played the entire first quarter, completing five of nine passes for 85 yards.IU scored first when Sudfeld found junior wide receiver Cody Latimer for a 59-yard touchdown. “These last couple games, it’s just kind of been if we need a shot in the arm,” Wilson said about Roberson replacing Sudfeld this season. Sudfeld said the ball may have slipped a few times, but he said he felt IU’s offense was doing all right with him in the game. However, Sudfeld and Wilson said the weather presented a better opportunity for Roberson, who has more of a running threat, to be successful.Roberson played almost the entire second and third quarters. Sudfeld’s only two plays in the third quarter were when Roberson’s helmet was knocked off by a Michigan defender and, by rule, Roberson was forced to go to the sideline for at least one play. In the middle two quarters, Roberson was 12 of 18 for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Trailing 49-47 with eight minutes 34 seconds remaining in the game, IU got a stop on its own goal line when Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner fumbled a snap and IU linebacker David Cooper pounced on the loose ball. When IU took over after the turnover, Roberson was injured on the Hoosiers’ first play on the ensuing drive.Roberson said his hand will occasionally cramp, and before second down, he felt his hand was “stuck.” “I couldn’t open it up, so I had to go out,” he said. Wilson said the coaching staff initially thought Roberson broke his hand on the play. “His thumb was pointed cockeyed,” Wilson said. Sudfeld, who hadn’t played since IU’s first drive of the second half, replaced Roberson but threw an interception on his first pass attempt. “We’re always taught to stay ready,” Roberson said. “He was ready, so he gave it a good shot, and they just made a good play on the ball.”On first-and-10 from IU’s 14-yard line, Sudfeld saw that Latimer had a few steps on the cornerback defending him and threw a 20-yard pass down the sideline.Michigan safety Thomas Gordon was providing defensive support over top and leaped in front of Latimer for the interception. “I mean, that one stinks because you want to come in and lead the drive,” Sudfeld said. “(I was) just trying to do too much, but I got to be ready at all times. That’s my fault ... just a bad mistake on my part.”Roberson had a trainer rub his hand while he was on the sideline, and he returned to the field for the Hoosiers’ next possession.He engineered a nine-play, 45-yard drive, but was picked off at Michigan’s 6-yard line after a miscommunication with junior wide receiver Nick Stoner. “It was a bad decision by me,” Roberson said. “I thought he was doing something different, and I threw the pass, which I really shouldn’t have, and it was all on me.”Roberson finished 16-23 on pass attempts for 288 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.He also added 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The quarterback tandem combined for 24 of 42 passes for 410 yards and four touchdowns. Despite the Hoosiers’ air attack, IU’s pair of interceptions ended critical fourth quarter drives, and the turnovers thwarted potential comeback attempts. Senior wide receiver Kofi Hughes said the offense’s first priority is to take care of the ball.“Our defense created turnovers today,” he said, “but when we turn the ball over it’s like it never happened, so, as an offense, we can’t turn the ball over.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(10/17/13 4:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the second time in two weeks, IU will travel to the Great Lake State for a conference matchup.IU will go to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face Michigan as the Wolverines look to recover from a 43-40 loss in quadruple overtime at Penn State last week. The Hoosiers (3-3, 1-1) haven’t faced Michigan (5-1, 1-1) since 2010, and none of the players currently on IU’s roster have played at Michigan Stadium. Michigan has historically been a challenging opponent for IU on paper.IU is 9-52 all-time against the Wolverines, and the team’s last win came almost 26 years ago to the day of Saturday’s matchup. IU Coach Kevin Wilson said the Michigan football program is as good as any in the country. “It is a quality program, tradition, team, talent, facilities, coaching,” he said. “It’s a great challenge, great opportunity, and look forward to this week for our kids working with it.”Similar to Wilson, Michigan Coach Brady Hoke began his Big Ten coaching career in 2011.The Wolverines are 24-8 under Hoke, and Michigan has not lost at home since his arrival. “To play on the road and to win on the road is difficult,” Wilson said. Dealing with the road atmosphere won’t be the only challenge the Hoosiers will face at the Big House.Michigan junior quarterback Devin Gardner is a dual-threat player under center who has averaged almost 300 all-purpose yards per game this season. “He’s not truly a running quarterback,” Wilson said. “He’s a guy that would just pick his spots. They do some designed quarterback run but not a lot.”The Wolverines are a run-first offense, rushing the ball on almost 63 percent of their snaps. Mallory said allowing explosive plays is holding the Hoosiers back from playing good defense.Michigan State rushed for a combined 103 yards on three separate carries last Saturday. Wilson said Michigan looks to run the ball 35 to 50 times per game and complement its rushing attack with 25 to 30 pass attempts.“Two good players with receiver Jeremy Gallon and their tight end Funchess, a really good mismatch and a very good receiving tight end,” Wilson said.He said when defenses cover Gallon and Funchess, they don’t cover Gardner. “He has a nice knack of going through progression one and two and scrambling out and getting five and six and eight yards, extending plays,” Wilson said.Gardner’s ability to escape the pocket could be problematic for an IU defense that allowed Michigan State to convert a first down on 10 of its 14 third down plays last weekend. “If you cannot get off the field on third down with as many opportunities as we had, you don’t have a chance to be successful,” Mallory said. “Those are the things we’re trying to get corrected.”Wilson said facing Michigan’s offense will be a challenge and an opportunity that the Hoosiers anticipate.“It’s obvious from last game we’ve got to keep making defensive strides, consistency,” Wilson said.
(10/11/13 4:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the first time this season, the Hoosiers (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) will play on the road this weekend. IU will face Michigan State (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) at 12 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium in a battle for the Old Brass Spittoon. The Hoosiers haven’t defeated the Spartans since 2006, and IU’s last victory in East Lansing, Mich., was in 2001 when Antwaan Randle El led the team to a 37-28 win. While the Hoosiers no longer have the former Heisman Trophy finalist Randle El at quarterback, IU has a two-headed threat under center that leads the nation’s ninth-best offense in terms of yards per game. Sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld is 21st in the country in quarterback rating. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson played only seven snaps against Penn State but scored 14 points. The Hoosiers’ offense will face its toughest task of the season when it faces the Spartans’ defense. Michigan State leads the FBS in total yards allowed, pass efficiency defense and rushing defense. In four of the Spartans’ five games this season, they have limited their opponents to two touchdowns or fewer. IU Coach Kevin Wilson said Michigan State’s defensive personnel and schemes are very good, which allows them to stop the run. “They structurally know where to lineup,” he said. “They know where they’re supposed to be. They know where their eyes are.” Wilson said Michigan State’s Defensive Coordinator Pat Narduzzi is one of the best in the country. “They’re really strong in their blitz package of when they blitz and how they blitz,” he said.Not only have the Spartans held their opponents to an average of 203 yards per game, but MSU’s defense has also put points on the board as well. Michigan State’s defense has allowed eight touchdowns this season but it has also scored four touchdowns. IU Offensive Coordinator Seth Littrell said Michigan State’s defense is experienced in its scheme. “You watch on film, they’re well-trained with their eyes,where their eyes are supposed to be, what their keys are, and it doesn’t take them long once they see that key to get downhill on it,” he said.Littrell said the Spartans’ defensive line is big and long up front. “Their D-End (sophomore Shilique) Calhoun’s very active. He’s done a nice job on the edge for them this year,” he said. “ I guess as a team you’re going to see more length and size than some of the other ones you would see.”IU’s offense will have to overcome its second loss of a starting lineman this season. The Hoosiers lost sophomore Dan Feeney in fall camp, and redshirt sophomore right guard David Kaminski is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL against Penn State. “It’s always a little easier when you got a group that you feel extremely comfortable with and your calls become a lot easier,” Littrell said. “You don’t worry about ‘em as much but obviously we’ve had some nicks and we’ve had some injuries. That’s part of the game.”IU will adjust its offensive line with a “next man up” mentality. “I promise you this, we’ll line up with five guys and we’re gonna go out there, and when it’s all said and done, at the end of the day go out there and compete,” Littrell said.Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(10/07/13 3:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Leading by 11 with 14 minutes and 10 seconds remaining in Saturday’s game against Penn State, IU was about to break the game open.After sophomore running back Tevin Coleman was tackled for a loss on first down, the Hoosiers looked to pass on second down.IU Coach Kevin Wilson said the Hoosiers were trying to take some shots downfield and make high percentage throws. “It was supposed to be a quick pass to the left, but the linebacker got in the way of the throw,” sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld said.Sensing the pressure from Penn State’s defensive line, Sudfeld scrambled to his right. “The O-line had a great pocket,” he said. “I had all day to throw.”Senior wide receiver Kofi Hughes said he ran a slant route on the play, but after the play fell apart, he had to improvise. Hughes looked in the backfield and waved at the scrambling Sudfeld, then sprinted downfield. “If he’s looking at me, he’s booking it,” Sudfeld said. “That’s what we say. ‘If he’s looking, he’s booking.’ He just took off to the end zone.”Penn State’s single coverage allowed Hughes to run a step ahead of Penn State safety Trevor Williams, and he made a sliding catch under Williams’ arm in the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown. “In my head, everything was kind of slow motion,” Hughes said. “Just because I was thinking I ‘got to have light hands, light hands,’ so I just waited until the last minute so the DB wouldn’t turn around.”He said his sliding catch is something he had never practiced.“I’ve never done that before. It’s just instinct, man,” Hughes said. “It’s like you kind of just black out. You don’t know what you’re doing. You just see the ball in the air and just do whatever.” Sudfeld said he and Hughes have a good feel for each other.“Kofi and I just have a thing,” Sudfeld said. “He just took off to the back of the end zone, and I just gave it up to him. He went out and made a great play.”Junior wide receiver Cody Latimer said any catch Hughes makes is great.“He’s a great player, and he goes and attacks the ball,” he said.After IU senior kicker Mitch Ewald added the extra point, the Hoosiers had a 35-17 lead. They would go on to win 44-24.On Ewald’s ensuing kickoff, Penn State fumbled, and IU recovered. The Hoosiers would add another touchdown on their next play to make it 42-24.“To get to that point took a lot of stress off,” Wilson said of IU’s large fourth quarter lead.Coleman said it was Hughes’ 36-yard touchdown reception that was the big play.“It gave us a little boost and a lot of tempo to just go out there and play hard and play physical, and we knew that we could beat them,” he said. Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(10/04/13 6:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the first time in school history, IU has four 1,000-yard receivers on its roster at the same time. Seniors Kofi Hughes and Ted Bolser, along with juniors Shane Wynn and Cody Latimer, have more than 5,000 combined career receiving yards and 42 receiving touchdowns. Despite the collective and individual achievements of IU’s receiving core, the most accomplished receiver on the field Saturday, in terms of statistics, will not be donning cream and crimson. Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson has had 106 receptions, 1,495 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. Despite being suspended for the first half of the Nittany Lions’ season opener and having a bye last week, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior has 448 receiving yards, which ranks 17th in the country.IU Coach Kevin Wilson said Robinson has a good skill set that Wilson said might make him the best wide receiver in the Big Ten. Wilson said some of Robinson’s talent as a football player stems from his past as a basketball player.Robinson was the captain of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Michigan) basketball team his senior year. He averaged 23.7 points per game in the 2010-11 season and was an honorable mention all-state player in Class A.“I think (he) was a very talented basketball player in high school,” Wilson said. “He does have some substance, so he can make competitive plays.”Lining up across from Penn State’s top wide receiver will be the nation’s leader in pass breakups, IU junior cornerback Tim Bennett.Bennett has 10 breakups, including one touchdown-saving deflection this season. The Columbus, Ga. native is tied for 11th in the Big Ten with seven tackles per game.IU Defensive Coordinator Doug Mallory said Bennett has been one of IU’s best defenders through the Hoosiers’ first four games.Bennett saw action in 11 games last season after transferring from Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College, and he started three times. He made the full-time transition from safety to cornerback, where he has become a staple defender for the Hoosiers.The junior earned defensive player of the week honors after the Navy game, following a career-high 12 tackles and a touchdown-saving pass breakup.Bennett will have his work cut out for him as he looks to shut down Robinson, who has five receptions of at least 40 yards this season. “He’s got great leaps and great speed and very dynamic, his ability to adjust on the ball and make plays in space and all that,” Wilson said of Robinson. “He’s a quality complete football player receiver.“There might be faster guys, there might be bigger guys, but when he puts it all together, he’s one of the better receivers in the country.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(09/29/13 7:28pm)
Three and a half months removed from its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2010, the IU women's tennis team will kick off the 2013-14 season this weekend with its annual Hoosier Classic tournament.
(09/24/13 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When center Collin Rahrig takes the ball at the line of scrimmage, he’s filling big shoes, literally and figuratively.The Hoosiers returned nine offensive starters from last season, with the only voids on offense left by center Will Matte, who graduated from IU last December, and right guard Dan Feeney, who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in mid-August.The 6-foot-2, 292-pound Matte started 45 games at center, which is tied for the most career starts by a Hoosier offensive lineman.He didn’t allow a sack in 972 snaps in 2012 in addition to being a 21-time game captain in his IU career. He was also a member of the 2012 Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List, which is the annual award given to the best center in the country.In Matte’s absence, redshirt junior Rahrig has started at center in every game this season.“He had to get special shoes to fit him. They were pretty wide,” Rahrig said, laughing. Rahrig said it wasn’t only Matte’s large feet that made him stand out, but also how he carried himself.“Will was a competitor. He maybe was undersized just as I am, but he came every day and gave 110 percent,” Rahrig said. “He kind of just threw himself into the life of football.”Rahrig said he has tried to embrace his position and follow what Matte set up for his teammates.“He was a great leader last year, and I’m just kind of trying to take that over,” he said. IU Coach Kevin Wilson said Matte was one of the older players who “kind of bought in and took us hook, line and sinker,” but he said Rahrig is probably more talented. “A little bigger, Collin walked on. He’s got a little bit more range, length, as far as doing things,” Wilson said. “Not a slight of Will Matte, who was one of our better leaders and one of the best since we’ve been around here, but Collin is doing well. He should have a good year for us.”IU’s center said one of the best parts about the Hoosiers’ offensive line is the collective leadership.“We have some other guys who are also leaders on the offensive line,” Rahrig said. “That’s why it’s such a great feeling because it’s not just one guy. It’s all of us kind of at the same time going towards one goal.”He said the group mentality starts in the meeting room.“I sit next to the left guard, and the left tackle is next to him, and on the other side of Coach Frey it’s the other center and the right guard, right tackle,” Rahrig said. “We kind of work together hand-in-hand during practice, and everybody just checks everybody’s role that’s on the line.“We can work as one with our group of five guys, and that’s how you get the run game really working.”He said the offensive line had some newer players last season, so the unit wasn’t as cohesive as it is in 2013. “We didn’t have much time to get that little bit of flow with each other and get the run game going last year,” Rahrig said.He said since IU played a lot of young linemen last season, the line now knows what it’s up against. “I build up self-esteem, and then you kind of know you can play with anybody in this league,” Rahrig said. “I think that since we had a bunch of young guys, it was kind of like you went from high school straight to college and where all these guys are grown men.”IU’s center said many older linemen from the early seasons of the Wilson era left, and then the line “pretty much started from new.” “We’ve got some new guys with a lot of talent and the recruiting just keeps getting better and better so we just keep building,” Rahrig said. “It’s just amazing to see how we can just keep building from there and just progressing as an O-Line.”Rahrig said although there are some younger players who haven’t played as much, IU has “some pretty good depth.”The Hoosiers’ depth will be tested as the offensive line looks to replace Matte and Feeney. “We have some guys stepping up,” Rahrig said. “The show’s going to go on. Any of us could go down, and it’s still going to go on.”He said a couple of years ago it was hectic if players suffered injuries, and he could sense a “different kind of mood throughout the whole team.”“Now I feel like with the loss of Dan, I feel like someone can step up and take that role and do just as good, if not better,” Rahrig said.Despite the loss of Feeney, he said the team’s goal is to have the best offensive line in the Big Ten. “That’s our goal, and we’re gonna try our best to achieve that,” Rahrig said.The Hoosiers’ offensive line has not allowed a sack in three of the four games this season. On average, the unit is averaging one sack in every 38 pass attempts.Rahrig, a walk-on who earned scholarships in 2012 and 2013, had 14 starts in his career before making the full-time transition from guard to center, where he will play a key role in the Hoosiers’ pursuit of having the best offensive line in the conference. “No matter who your best player is, your center is kind of the leader of the line, kind of sets the tone, and that guy’s been good,” Wilson said of Rahrig.Wilson said center is a critical position because Rahrig must put the ball on target to the quarterback so the offense can move quickly and so his teammates can do their jobs.“By the way, there’s a dude about three inches away from you snorting at you that wants to get a hunk of you,” Wilson said. “It’s a very stressful position. He’s done an outstanding job.”Rahrig said he is more locked in to his role at center this season. “Now I’m pointing out where everybody’s at, calling checks, kind of just telling what even the down and the yardage is for the quarterback so they know,” Rahrig said. “They have so much going on, like, if we’re on third down how far we have to go so we don’t throw a seven-yard route when we need to go 10 yards. I think that’s a big help and kind of being more communication for them to improve everyone else around me.“I’ve tried to step up my leadership role then help guide those guys, especially with a guy like Dan Feeney going down, just trying to bring a younger guy up and then work him into our system even better than before.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.
(09/23/13 4:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Missouri Tigers traveled to Bloomington for the lone Big Ten-SEC regular season matchup of the 2013 regular season Saturday night and left Memorial Stadium with a 45-28 victory. The Hoosiers’ defense forced three turnovers and four punts but allowed 623 yards, which is the most yards IU has allowed at Memorial Stadium.Senior safety Greg Heban said the defense didn’t play as well as it needed to against Missouri’s well-balanced offense. “I just think we could’ve been a little more aggressive,” he said. “Besides that, I just think the execution we had — they kind of nickeled and dimed us.”Missouri quarterback James Franklin led the Tigers’ offense, completing 32-of-47 pass attempts for 343 yards and two touchdowns. Six different Missouri receivers recorded a reception against IU. Marcus Lucas and Dorial Green-Beckham both logged more than 100 receiving yards. Heban had two interceptions in the first quarter, and freshman linebacker Marcus Oliver forced a fumble early in the second quarter. “We got the turnovers, but the turnovers were really maybe just stops because it really happened in their end of the field,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said. After the Hoosiers tied the game with touchdowns on consecutive drives in the second quarter, Missouri defensive lineman Kony Ealy broke the game open with an interception return for a touchdown. “The guy made a heck of a play, and unfortunate for us and fortunate for them,” sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. “I wish I had that one back.”It was the first of three interceptions that Sudfeld threw on the night. Sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson also saw action under center Saturday night because Wilson said the Hoosiers needed a spark. “We will keep working both those guys in our game plan. There’s not a quarterback controversy,” he said. “We will just keep playing them and see how it goes. We put Tre in because we felt that we needed a little change of pace.”IU’s quarterbacks were a combined 29-of-53 on their pass attempts for 377 yards. The Hoosiers only ran the ball 26 times for 98 yards. Wilson said the key to the game was Missouri’s balance on offense and employment of a rushing attack that the Hoosiers lacked. “I think our opponent played with some balance on offense, and we didn’t,” he said. “That’s a credit to their defense and not a credit to ours. Their offense was well-executed, and we didn’t.”Missouri ran the ball by committee for 280 yards. Four Missouri players had double-digit carries, but sophomore tailback Russell Hansbrough was the Tigers’ only 100-yard back.Wilson said he appreciated the way that the Hoosiers fought, but IU has to learn to play more efficiently in big games.“We can’t fall behind, give up points and be a one-dimensional team,” he said.Wilson said it is disappointing for the Hoosiers to be 2-2 after a “pretty good non-conference schedule.”“We have an open week,” he said, “which will give us a chance to get some guys healthy, and we will see if we can do some self-evaluation on what we need to do to put our players in better positions and play at a higher level.”Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.