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(10/11/13 4:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The last time IU won its conference road opener, the Hoosiers went to a bowl game. Indiana defeated Iowa 38-20 on Sept. 29, 2007 en route to a 7-5 record.In their five conference road openers since then, the Hoosiers are 0-5.“It’ll definitely be a test for our team because it will be a pretty hostile environment,” sophomore cornerback Michael Hunter said. “Adjusting to the loudness, that’s the offense. The defense won’t have as big as an adjustment.”For the first time this season, IU (3-2, 1-0) will play a game on the road. The Hoosiers play at Michigan State (4-1, 1,0) Saturday at noon, and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN2.All time in East Lansing, IU is 6-22-1 against the Spartans with its last win coming more than a decade ago, in 2001.IU had a unique schedule to open up the football season, with five straight home games to open up the slate. Going on the road, the team has to do a bit of adjusting, junior wide receiver Nick Stoner said.“You’ve got to create your own energy, that’s a big thing,” he said. “We’re used to that, we’ve been doing that for a while.”Spartan Stadium can hold up to 75,000 people. The biggest crowd IU has played in front of this year was just over 49,000 against Missouri.“Just create your own energy because you won’t have the home crowd out there to get the momentum going,” Stoner said. “You’ve got to create it yourself.”The last time IU traveled to East Lansing, the team lost 55-3 during the 2011 season. The game was the most lopsided result in the series since 1957, when Michigan State defeated IU 54-0.Hunter, who redshirted last year, played in that game two years ago as a freshman. The one thing he said he remembers is, “Freshman year was freezing cold.”On Saturday, the high is projected to be 73 degrees and partly cloudy.Hunter said Spartan Stadium was one of the four or five most hostile venues he’s played in during his career.“We’ve got a great opponent this week going on the road,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said. “Our first road test, playing very, very well, close to being a top-25 team.”During Wilson’s tenure, IU is 1-7 on the road against Big Ten opponents. The team’s one win came against Iowa last year. The victory marked IU’s first win against an FBS opponent outside the state of Indiana since 2009, when IU defeated Akron.One major difference on the field is that Michigan State features a true grass field. Memorial Stadium has had a FieldTurf surface since 2008. Despite not playing on turf, players aren’t worried about their speed guys being slowed down, Stoner said.“The guys on the opposite side are playing on the same surface,” he said. “If it slows us down at all, it’s slowing them down too.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(10/10/13 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On the inside of his right index finger, he had the phrase, “Don’t praise yourself let others praise you,” tattooed in his mother’s handwriting.On his other index finger, the phrase, “When you become wealthy and rich and powerful, don’t say I did this, because God gave me strength,” is tattooed in his father’s handwriting.Both are phrases of humility that keep junior wide receiver Nick Stoner grounded.“If I start to brag about myself, I can just put them up to my mouth and shush myself,” he said. Stoner is one of the best athletes on the team, many of his teammates said.He’s a Christian who isn’t afraid to speak his mind.Stoner might live in Africa after he graduates from IU with a degree in sociology and minors in psychology and religious studies.“Me and my two best friends want to go be missionaries,” Stoner said. “I’m not sure where, maybe Africa or something. I also thought about going to seminary school ... if that’s not what God wants me to do, I’d go to law school.”Faith is important to Stoner. He’s helped other people on the team grow in their faith.Sophomore cornerback Michael Hunter is one of them.“He sends me quotes now and then, sends me Bible verses,” Hunter said. “He’s outspoken, and he’ll talk about it whenever.”Bible verses cover Stoner’s body. In all, he has eight tattoos of verses.Besides an IU symbol, all of Stoner’s tattoos concern his faith. He’s spent between $1,200 and $1,300 on his tattoos.Stoner pulls up the sleeve on his right arm and shows off a tattoo that mentions the Bible verse Romans 1:16.“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”“Being a Christian, people are like, ‘Oh, that kid’s weird. He doesn’t drink, smoke, have sex,’ or any of that stuff,” Stoner said. “I’m unashamed of what I believe in.”He points to another tattoo. This one looks like a robot crossing his arms, and next to the image it says, “John 8:32.”It refers to the verse that reads, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”“This is a robot, and when you’re a robot you don’t know the truth,” Stoner said, pointing to the image. “When you’re a robot, you’re not free.“People are telling you what to do and you just go through the motions ... That’s why he’s crossing his hands. He wants to be set free, and the truth will set you free.”Stoner openly shares his faith, so going to Africa after graduation is a natural next step.The idea first hatched when he left for college, he said, roughly three years ago.Why Africa? The scenes of another continent fascinate Stoner and his friends.“I know my buddy is a real nature guy,” Stoner said. “While also serving Africa, some parts can be just an absolute beautiful place.”Before potentially going to Africa, Stoner has some work to do both in football and track. He is on both teams for IU, making him a rare two-sport athlete. He said his experience in track helps him in football, and vice versa.He ran a 100-meter dash in 10.66 seconds in high school, which won the Indiana state title.Stoner said he’s run the 100-meter dash in 10.4 or 10.5 seconds, but those were hand-held times and not official.The Center Grove High School graduate hasn’t officially run the 40-yard dash yet, but he said in high school his coach clocked him at 4.37 seconds.“But, that was my own coach, so he may have given me a little bit,” he said.Several players think he is one of the fastest players on the team.Hunter said he is the fastest, while others would like to see a race between the team’s speedsters.“I don’t think he’s the fastest,” senior wide receiver Duwyce Wilson said. “We have a freshman who’s pretty blazing fast (LaRay Smith). And between Nick and (junior wide receiver) Shane Wynn, I don’t know. So, he’s probably top three.”Unlike other players, Stoner’s speed translates well onto the turf, co-offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. “The thing I’ve always said about Nick is he plays as fast as he is,” Johns said. “Some guys have the track speed, but it doesn’t always translate onto the football field.”Between football and track, Stoner said he doesn’t have a lot of free time, especially in the spring when he has practice for both.“We definitely have respect for him,” Hunter said. “The commitment to football is extremely tough. And, also, add another sport to that? That’s tough.”Due to three receivers ahead of him, Stoner does not see much time on the field. Junior Cody Latimer, senior Kofi Hughes and Wynn are some of the conference’s best.But Stoner takes advantage of any playing time he gets, even if it’s on the special teams unit.Last week in IU’s victory against Penn State, Stoner was named one of the special team players of the game by IU Coach Kevin Wilson. So far this season, Stoner has nine catches for 167 yards and a touchdown. Despite averaging less than 35 receiving yards per game, he isn’t looking for more playing time.“I’m not that kind of guy that’s like, ‘I want to be in more,’” Stoner said. “I just want the team to succeed.”Besides everything he does on the field, Hunter said Stoner’s athletic prowess expands to dancing, too.“The kid’s got moves,” Hunter said. “He’s one of the best dancers on the team.”When asked to expand, Hunter was unsure of whether to reveal such intimate details about his friend.“I don’t know if I should have added that,” Hunter said. “He might like it or he might not. But, he’s one of the best on the team.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(10/08/13 1:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Before the season, IU Coach Kevin Wilson said he wanted his offense to complete 70 percent of its passes. After five games, sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld is at 64 percent.“What are we doing that can get us at 70 percent?” Wilson said. “And that doesn’t mean you’re throwing dinks all day. What can you do to get the run game and get the balance?”If Sudfeld completes 70 percent of his passes, it would be a first for IU. No quarterback in the program’s 129-year history has had a 70-percent completion rate for a season, and none have been close. The IU completion percentage record is held by former IU quarterback Ben Chappell. In 2009, he completed 63 percent of his passes.However, reaching the goal is feasible, many coaches and players said. But completing more passes is directly correlated to run game production, Wilson said.“When you have the run game, you’re throwing easier completions,” he said. “The (opponent’s defensive) line is not worried about rushing the quarterback because they got to play gap sound. Your play action and things are easier because you’re not second-and-long or third-and-long.”Despite the emphasis on the goal, completion percentage does not seem to be directly linked to wins. In the Hoosiers’ three wins this season, Sudfeld has completed 64 percent of his passes, and in the two losses there has been no difference. He’s still completed 64 percent of his passes.What seems to be a more indicative statistic is pass attempts.In IU’s three wins, Sudfeld has averaged 27 pass attempts per game. Conversely, in the two losses he has averaged 40.5 pass attempts per game.The team had to play from behind in the two losses and therefore was not able to get much of a run game going.“He has a lot of room to grow,” senior receiver Duwyce Wilson said. “He’s still a young quarterback, and he’s a film head and a football junkie. And he won’t be happy with anything below a 95 percent. He’ll get that right.”To hit the goal, IU will have to overcome a history of having, what they consider, sub-par completion rates.During Coach Wilson’s first year in 2011, the combination of quarterbacks completed 56 percent of their passes. Last year, then-sophomores Cam Coffman and Tre Roberson combined with Sudfeld to complete 61 percent of their passes.Despite not coming close in previous years, the coaching staff said it believes hitting the goal is possible. “Very feasible,” co-offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. “We have missed a lot of easy shots that we feel like we shouldn’t have. And thrown some interceptions like we talked about, that we shouldn’t have. So I think it’s very feasible, and I’m sure Nate will tell you the same thing.”One thing junior receiver Nick Stoner said he can do as a receiver is just catch passes.But, he said running cleaner routes so Sudfeld can have an easier throwing window is the most important thing he can do.Duwyce has a metaphor that helps the Hoosiers try and reach the goal. He said Wilson stresses the 70 percent goal, but it shouldn’t stop there.“As a team it should be more than 70 percent, but 70 percent is not a failing grade,” Duwyce said. “Just keep your porch clean and good outcomes will come after that.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(10/07/13 3:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU carried a narrow four-point lead going into the fourth quarter against Penn State Saturday at Memorial Stadium.That would quickly grow.IU tacked on 23 points in the fourth quarter to beat Penn State for the first time in program history, winning 44-24.“We didn’t do this for just us,” junior cornerback Tim Bennett said. “We did it for the past Indiana teams that never beat Penn State.”At the beginning of the fourth quarter, sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson plunged into the end zone, giving IU a 28-17 lead. After Penn State failed to convert on fourth down, IU took over on downs from the Penn State 33-yard line. Two plays later, sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld found senior receiver Kofi Hughes, who made the sliding 36-yard touchdown catch.On the ensuing kickoff, junior wide receiver Cody Latimer recovered the fumble. It took one play for the Hoosiers to capitalize. Roberson scampered to the left and found an opening. He extended the ball and high stepped into the end zone for the 9-yard touchdown run. The result was imminent, and the sideline erupted along with the stands.The 21 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter helped IU (3-2, 1-0) secure the victory against Penn State (3-2, 0-1). The 23 fourth quarter points the Hoosiers scored is the most fourth quarter points for an IU team in 23 years.When sophomore cornerback Michael Hunter was asked if this was the biggest victory of his career, he responded, “Yes sir, definitely. And I think there’s more to come.”The win marked the first time IU has won its Big Ten opener since 2000.After the game, the IU players ran to the east end of the sideline. They raised their helmets up and sang the IU fight song along with the student section.Players and IU Coach Kevin Wilson said that’s where the celebration stopped.“I don’t think our kids were smiling on the sideline or celebrating,” Wilson said. “They weren’t going crazy in the locker room.”The IU secondary couldn’t contain Penn State receiver Allen Robinson. He caught 12 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns.Robinson’s 12 catches were the second most in Penn State’s history.“We went back and forth today,” Bennett said. “He’s a very good wide receiver. He’s going to be in the NFL in the near future.”Robinson wasn’t the only Nittany Lion setting records. Freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg was 30-55 for 340 yards and three touchdowns. His 55 pass attempts are a new Penn State record.Despite offensive proficiency, Penn State Coach Bill O’Brien wasn’t impressed.“We didn’t play well, didn’t coach well,” he said. “And we have a long way to go.”After throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns, Sudfeld is now tied for 10th all-time in career touchdown passes at IU with 20.“Coach always said this 2013 Indiana team has never lost to this 2013 Penn State team and vice versa,” Sudfeld said.Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(10/05/13 8:45pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson took a knee, IU secured it’s first ever victory against Penn State. IU (3-2, 1-0) defeated Penn State (3-2, 0-1) 44-24 on a rainy Saturday.The Hoosiers broke open the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to put IU up for good.Junior receiver Cody Latimer went over 100 yards for the third consecutive game. He had nine catches for 140 yards.Sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld was 23-38 for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Tevin Coleman was effective on the ground, getting 92 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown that went for 44 yards that put the Hoosiers up 21-14.Before today, IU had been 0-16 all-time versus Penn State and had not won their opening Big Ten game since 2000.The much hyped receiver Allen Robinson had a big game for Penn State. The junior had 173 yards on 12 catches for two touchdowns.True freshman Christian Hackenberg was effective for Penn State. He was 30-55 for 340 yards and three touchdowns. He threw no interceptions.Penn State had one turnover, and was 1-for-5 on fourth down conversions in the game. Despite holding the ball for 35 minutes and 11 seconds, IU outgained Penn State in total offense 486 to 410.
(10/05/13 5:43pm)
IU is one half away from its first victory against Penn State in program history, leading 13-7 on a soggy day in Bloomington.
(10/04/13 6:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU will try Saturday to do something it has never done before: beat Penn State.“The dynamics are different every year,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said. “We’re not bringing all the teams back and playing one in a row and all that deal. This is the only time this team will have a chance to play this game.”The Hoosiers (2-2) kick off Big Ten play against Penn State (3-1). All-time, IU’s record against Penn State is 0-16.Kickoff is at noon for IU’s fifth consecutive home game to open up the season. Despite starting the 114th year of Big Ten play, junior receiver Shane Wynn said it’s just another game.“I wouldn’t say excited about it,” Wynn said. “We treat every game like it’s a big game. So it’s just a regular schedule to us now.”Both teams are coming off bye weeks after completing the non-conference portions of their schedules. The Nittany Lions’ lone loss came against Central Florida, 34-31.The team spent the bye week preparing like a winning team, trying to improve its mindset, Wilson said.“We went out this past week coming off a loss and did not really kill our guys,” Wilson said. “We coached our guys like a winning team and the things we think they needed to do to improve to win.”Penn State true freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg has taken over the reins for former quarterback Matt McGloin, who is now with the Oakland Raiders.“We’re always up to the challenge,” junior safety Mark Murphy said. “They got a great young quarterback and a good offensive line.”The freshman is averaging 257 passing yards per game and has a 136.8 passer efficiency, which rank third and eighth respectively in the conference.In comparison, sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld is averaging 287 passing yards a game with a 164.2 passer efficiency.“Their freshman quarterback is really solid,” Wilson said. “Playing in a scheme where they understand how to take advantage of his strengths and not stress him out as a freshman with protections and run game balance and screen and in their play calls and whatnot.”Penn State comes in with a balanced running game. They have three running backs averaging between 60 and 75 rushing yards a game.IU has the Big Ten’s most prolific offense. They are averaging 547 yards a game, best in the conference. Both the Hoosiers’ quarterback and running back are among the conference’s elite. Sudfeld is second in passing yards per game and sophomore running back Tevin Coleman is fifth in rushing yards per game.Penn State features one of the conference’s most stout defenses. The Nittany Lion defense gives up 14.5 points per game, the second best figure in the conference.In its last game, the defense pitched a shutout against Kent State during the 34-0 route.“Defensively, as always, some stout up front, typical Penn State,” Wilson said. “Solid strong at backer, really good up front, big D tackle, couple active ends.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(10/02/13 2:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Penn State’s the Daily Collegian football beat reporter Anna Orso answered some questions about IU’s upcoming match up with Penn State this Saturday. She touches on the play of Penn State’s freshman quarterback as well as which defensive players to watch for the Nittany Lions.IDS: IU is 0-16 all-time against Penn State. What is the perception of Indiana football on the Penn State campus?ORSO: That’s definitely an interesting question. The perception of Indiana has always, and to some degree, still is, “Oh well, it’s just Indiana.” But at the same time, I know Penn State football fans, and they follow along with conference play and how each of their opponents are looking. I think there’s a decent number of Penn State fans who have seen the success Indiana’s offense has had thus far, and are a bit scared about this Saturday. I’ve even heard a few predict it could be Penn State’s first loss against the Hoosiers.IDS: Penn State is 3-1 on the year, with its only loss coming against Central Florida 34-31. Did Central Florida just have the better team or did Penn State let one slip?ORSO: It’s tough to say. After the game, I was certain Penn State’s defense handed them one, and I still contend that group of guys made some mistakes on the night. And they admitted it, too. The front four couldn’t generate anything resembling a pass rush, two young corners in Jordan Lucas and Trevor Williams played pretty awful coverage all night and nearly every single Penn State defender whiffed on a tackle in open space. But, after watching UCF play with the big dogs and put up a fight against South Carolina, I’ve been convinced they’ve got a prolific offense led by quarterback Blake Bortles who is quite impressive to watch. IDS: How does freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg look taking over for former quarterback Matt McGloin?ORSO: Matt McGloin was a bit of a late bloomer, so when it comes to Christian Hackenberg’s level of play relative to his age, he’s lightyears ahead of where McGloin was. McGloin had a bit more confidence, a bit more edge and a bit more swagger because he was a senior and was able to do so. We’re seeing Christian Hackenberg emerge from his shell more and more each week, and there’s been serious improvement. This kid played some fantastic football through nonconference play, looks exceptionally comfortable with his line and has showed he is a serious force to be reckoned with.He’s showed his age, though, and has made some bad decisions, held the ball too long, thrown into tight coverage, etc., which has led to some turnovers. But all in all, this 18-year-old has potential, and we’re seeing him get better before our eyes.IDS: What makes wide receiver Allen Robinson so hard to cover?ORSO: Allen Robinson is just an absolute freak athlete. I mean, there’s really no other way to describe it. He is just a total freak of nature. He’s got unimaginable speed and just has this ability to get around corners, make them miss and execute the big play every time. He makes fantastic cuts — and late cuts at that — that we’ve seen rattle secondaries. The only success we’ve seen against him is when defenses can double cover him while simultaneously pass rushing well to pressure Hackenberg to throw a screen or pass it off closer to the box. IDS: Who are some players to watch on the defensive side of the ball for Penn State as they try and stop IU’s Big Ten leading offense?ORSO: Returning middle linebacker Glenn Carson has been a rock and is quite consistent. He leads the team with 29 tackles. Next to him will be Mike Hull, who is a talented linebacker but suffered an injury during Penn State’s season opener, so the linebacker unit has been missing him. He’ll most likely play Saturday, so look for him to be hungry for some big plays. Up front, 2012 Freshman of the Year Deion Barnes is really still waiting for his 2013 breakout game. An effective pass rusher, this guy has been relatively quiet so far this year. And next to him, big defensive tackle DaQuan Jones has posted some big numbers thus far and has proved a good run defender. He’s been called one of the best DTs in the conference.Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/27/13 2:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The 16th hole was falling apart.Elizabeth Tong’s tee shot went into the deep rough. She couldn’t find it and had to hit another one.Even her mom starts to get on her case, “Sweetie why don’t you go back and ...”“Hit another one? Yeah, I know,” Tong snaps back.But now she’s on the green, a chance to get some sort of redemption from the devilish hole at Purgatory Golf Course in Noblesville, Ind. where her team, IU women’s golf, competed in the season’s first event Sept. 8.Several area schools competed in the invitational in the IU Fall Kickoff. Players from top-finishing teams Louisville, Xavier, Cincinnati and six other schools are on the course alongside Tong.Tong focuses on the putt in front of her and takes four practice strokes. She addresses the ball, looks up and eyes the path of her shot a final time.She strikes.Nope. Pushed it to the right. Hands on her knees, she stares at the ground. She’ll record a seven on the hole, a triple bogey. After shooting 36 through the first nine holes, she’s on pace to record a 42 on this side if she pars out.“Two different players from the front nine to the back nine,” her mom said, walking away from the green. “It’s early in the season. That’s the problem. Her game isn’t sharp enough yet.”***Last summer, Tong spent up to three and a half hours at the driving range every day.She went in between classes for the Kelley School of Business’s I-Core program. The 20-year-old junior is a marketing major. She had a set routine every time she visited the range. First, she hit balls for about 90 minutes. Then, she went to the putting green. She tried to perfect her stoke using a mechanism that helps with precision.Tong brought the putting tool from her home in Ontario, Canada. Placing the putter head inside the machine, she tries to eliminate variation in her swing.Usually, she spent an hour putting.Finally, she practiced her short game for an hour. Chipping and bunker play.Every day she grinds, hoping to reach her dream.Last year, for the first time since she was about 4-years-old, Tong allowed herself to entertain this dream.She wants to go pro.“I know I’m not good enough to be a professional player yet,” Tong said. “But I have a couple years trying to get there. But it’s out there. I want a shot.“I want at least a shot rather than not trying for it at all.”Her coach, Clint Wallman, is reminded of his past pro players when he watches Tong.But when asked whether he thinks Tong will make it, he’s unsure at first.“I mean, that’s a big question,” Wallman said. “I can tell you this. From a talent standpoint, from a fitness standpoint, from a shot-making standpoint, she has all the tools, not only to make it, but to be very successful.”She’ll have to improve, he said. Especially her putting. He wants her to make birdie putts 20 to 25 percent of the time. At the Sept. 8 invitational, she made only 14 percent of her birdies.If she wants to make it pro, she’ll have to go through the rigorous qualifying school, the program prospective golfers go through to attain professional status.It’s a three-stage process involving 234 holes of golf in three separate tournaments. It costs $5,500 if players end up qualifying for all three stages and earn their professional status.“And it’s not always about her and what’s she’s capable of doing,” Wallman said. “It’s the timing and who’s in the (qualifying) school with her, where it’s located. There’s a lot of variables there outside her control that have a bearing if she will play on the tour.”If she doesn’t make it, Tong said she wants to work in the tourism industry. She’s on track to have a degree in two years from Kelley — the country’s 10th-best business school, according to U.S. News & World Report,. She wouldn’t be the same person if she had never picked up a golf club, Tong said. A key skill she learned is how to keep her cool.“Golf is a sport where you really have to look like everything’s going well all the time,” she said. “You have to be so calm.”Despite missing several putts on the 36-hole invitational today, she scarcely lost her composure. The other two other competitors sulked when things went awry. Once, a competitor from Notre Dame beat the ground with her putter after she missed a putt. Tong’s teammates admire her poise.“She keeps a level head,” teammate Marissa Decola said. “I learned a lot from that because you can’t get mad out there, especially when you’re out there for 12 hours.”Elizabeth knows the odds are against her dream of reaching the pros. But she wants a shot.“I say they are slim,” she said, “but they aren’t impossible.”***It’s the last hole at the Sept. 8 competition. Tong has another birdie attempt, a five footer.She’ll find out in a few minutes that her team placed second. Louisville won by 27 strokes.But for now she focuses on the putt.She kneels down with her Scotty Cameron putter in hand, trying to read any break in the green.The time is 6:33 p.m. Nine hours and 52 minutes ago she teed off on the first hole. She birdied the first hole, making the putt look easy. But that was almost ten hours and seven miles of walking ago. She’s seen 27 birdie putts so far and made only four.This one is just five feet, though. She approaches the ball and takes three practice strokes. She’s not thinking about her putting stroke or her technique. She’s imagining which side of the hole she wants the ball to roll into.“It helps me keep confident,” she said.She looks up and eyes her path. She strikes. Hopefully for the last time today.Nope, missed again.Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/26/13 4:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Marlee Case was kicked out of two homes by the time she was 16.A combination of an abusive stepfather and an angry stepmother has left her financially independent for the past four years, she said.Like many IU students, the sophomore pays for her own schooling. She does so through a Veterans Affairs stipend from her father’s enlistment in the Air Force, independency claims and of course, loans.“College was always going to be an option for me,” she said. “I wasn’t never going to go.”As a youth development major, she hopes to find a job in her hometown of Elkhart, Ind., to help children like her, who didn’t grow up learning about financial literacy. But the University does not do enough to help students understand money matters, she said.The average student who attends college in Indiana will graduate with $27,500 of debt, according to a press release from MoneySmarts, a program from the IU Office of Financial Literacy. Debt after graduation increases to $28,434 for IU students.The Office of Financial Literacy was launched in July 2012, Director of Financial Literacy Phil Schuman said. Financial literacy groups across campus have seen limited results in reaching students so far this year. Money Management workshops are staged in the School of Public Health. The first of seven financial workshops from the school took place last week.Forty-five chairs were set up for the presentation from Deb Getz, a professor in the School of Public Health. Six people showed up, including Case, and by the end of the hour-long session, there were only four people remaining.Topics brought up by the students included student loan debt, which credit cards to apply for and which budgeting apps are most helpful.This is the third semester the School of Public Health has been host to these workshops.“And I’ve been appalled by the lack of knowledge,” Getz said. “The students came in not understanding the difference between a loan and a grant.”Schuman is also the director of MoneySmarts, which he said is just getting off the ground. The program consists of peer tutoring sessions, which have been in operation since early September, in Teter, Forest and Briscoe Academic Support Centers.Schuman said he has students come to him with more general questions about how to reduce their college costs.“I think they’re coming to us with that general question of how they can just lower their cost while they are at IU,” Schuman said.Schuman’s group directs them on how to get jobs, how to pay for food and what scholarships to apply for.Getz’s workshop was the first of seven workshops the School of Public Health will offer this semester. Getz said students always become more conscious of money troubles later in the semester, and she expects better attendance in the future. She isn’t discouraged by the lack of turnout yet, she said.But for now, the workshops are mostly empty.“I think a lot of them aren’t comfortable with where they might go and get assistance or don’t even know that there are people here that understand their concern,” Getz said.Senior athletic training major Laze Black was one of four students who stayed for the whole session. She said she was surprised there weren’t as many people as she expected. In previous years, the room has been close to capacity, she said.These workshops aren’t the only avenue for students to gain financial literacy. However, other resources, such as MoneySmarts, don’t appear to be drawing large crowds either.According to a press release from MoneySmarts, the program has already provided more than one million minutes of financial literacy and personal finance education to students through Buttonwood, the online financial literacy education program.Students can go to these sessions and ask any questions they might have about their finances. Junior Jonathan Hawkins is one of nine peer advisors for the group.Hawkins is in Teter every Monday for three hours for students to come in and talk to him. So far, he hasn’t had any people come in.Hawkins said because the group has just started, they haven’t gotten their name out there yet. He said he thinks this explains the lack of attendance and interest in MoneySmarts.Schuman said he doesn’t see this as the students having a lack of interest in the group. Instead, he said, the responsibility is on MoneySmarts to get students to come.MoneySmarts representatives also give talks to resident assistants in other dorms. Schuman said he hopes the resident assistants will pass along the information to their residents.The group uses student peers for guidance to relate to the students more.“Going to college today is much different from when professors and parents went to college,” Hawkins said. “And it’s a lot easier to talk with people your own age.”Even though students don’t seem to be taking advantage of financial literacy classes, they do have questions.“I don’t want to say (students) are stupid when it comes to finances,” Schuman said. “But people think students have a lack of financial information. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I think there’s a lot of talk about it.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/25/13 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The whole process takes 1.2 seconds.There’s no time to think when senior kicker Mitch Ewald attempts a field goal. No thoughts run through his mind.“That’s just muscle memory,” Ewald said. “And if you’ve done muscle memory drills, and you get out there on the field, you’ve done it a million times.”Ewald is already one of the most storied kickers in IU history. The four-year starter is four field goals away from having the most in school history. He also has the most points of any IU kicker in the program’s 129-year history. His kicking prowess and reputation instills confidence in his teammates.“You know, I can still get mad on the sidelines and be mad we’re getting off the field,” senior receiver Kofi Hughes said. “But as soon as you run past Mitch, you’re saying, ‘All right, at least we’re getting a little something.’Just because you know it’s going in.”Ewald has consistently been among the nation’s best kickers. For the third straight year, he was named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award, the award given annually to the nation’s best kicker.The next step for Ewald after he graduates with his management degree from SPEA could be the NFL. The senior is just seven points away from passing former Hoosier quarterback Antwaan Randle El for second most points in school history. Ewald is also the most accurate kicker in school history.His accuracy is what makes him elite. In the NFL, there are six kickers who are 25 and under and played Division I football. Thus, they are comparable to Ewald’s age and have kicked recently in college football.Looking at their college statistics, Ewald places second among them in field goal accuracy with respect to their college statistics.Only Baltimore Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker had a higher college field goal percentage then Ewald, connecting on 83.3 percent of his kicks while at the University of Texas. Ewald is not far behind. So far as a Hoosier, he has hit 80.4 percent of his field goal attempts.He has made 45 of 56 field goals in his career. He is also 128 for 129 in extra points, with his lone miss coming last season.“Yeah, that was unfortunate,” Ewald said of his miss. He shook his head at the memory. “I was hoping to keep that streak alive, but you just have to bounce back and move on from there.”Ewald came into college as a highly targeted high school prospect.He was ranked as the third best kicker in the country according to Rivals.com and fourth according to ESPN.com.He weighed 145 pounds coming into college. He knew strength was something we would need to improve. The Naperville, Ill., native hit the weight room and impressed his teammates. On the 2013 roster, Ewald is listed at 176 pounds.“If you saw him working out with us, you wouldn’t think he was a kicker,” senior safety Greg Heban said. “You’d think he was a receiver, a cornerback or something. He’s got hands. He’s got it all for a kicker.”Teammate Hughes echoed Heban’s proclamations about Ewald. Hughes said he’d be a receiver if he wasn’t a kicker.“When we warm up sometimes, Mitch will happen to slip into our pat and go drill,” Hughes said. “He’ll be out there catching balls when Coach Wilson’s not looking. So I think that’s pretty funny.”Still, after all his weight room experience, none of Ewald’s 45 career field goals have been over 50 yards. His career long at IU is 49 yards. But people on the team know he is capable, including Ewald.“As far as leg goes in the NFL, I think I have it,” Ewald said. “I’m not the biggest or strongest guy in the world, but a lot of it is based off of consistency and how accurate you can be.”IU Coach Kevin Wilson said his kicker consistently knocks in 50-plus yard field goals during practice and believes he has the leg to kick in the NFL.Whether or not Ewald will hear his name called at the NFL Draft next April is unknown.But his coach thinks he has the tools to succeed in facets of life besides football.“He’ll be successful at whatever he does,” Wilson said during Big Ten Media Day in Chicago this July. “Whether he’s an NFL guy, he’ll be back here in Chicago and own one of these big buildings or something. He’s a gifted kid.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/23/13 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Coming into the contest against Missouri, IU’s offense was putting up gaudy numbers.The Hoosiers were sixth nationally, averaging 50 points per game. They were third in total touchdowns, eighth in the country in total yards, averaging 571 yards per game, and 11th in passing yards per game.“I thought offensively we were lethargic,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said after the 45-28 loss to Missouri Saturday night. “I thought our kids were walking around ... Our tempo needs to be quicker.”IU’s usually proficient offense was stymied by Missouri. IU scored a touchdown in the final minute that had no bearing on the outcome. Otherwise, it had a 20-point output.“We have a lot of work to do,” sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. “But it’s tangible work, and we see what we can fix, so we’re excited.”Sudfeld’s statistics had been among the conference’s best before Saturday. He led the Big Ten in touchdowns, yards and passer efficiency.Against the Tiger defense, the California native struggled mightily. He threw three interceptions and completed just 54 percent of his passes. He had been above 70 percent before the game.“Nate’s played awfully, awfully well,” Wilson said. “And we’ve said it before — tonight he didn’t get a lot of help.”Sudfeld was benched for sophomore Tre Roberson in the second half in an attempt to give the Hoosier offense a spark.Although Roberson’s statistics were slightly better in that he completed 57 percent of his 14 pass attempts and threw no interceptions, he was unable to jumpstart the Hoosier offense and put long drives together while the game was still competitive.After the game, Wilson said there is no quarterback controversy. They will continue playing two quarterbacks. Whether Sudfeld or Roberson was at the helm, the Tiger front seven were unrelenting in their pressures.“Bottom line, they just kicked our tails up front,” Wilson said.Missouri defensive lineman Kony Ealy registered a pick-six in the second quarter. Ealy put his hands up to block the incoming Sudfeld pass and, instead, made the athletic play and caught the ball. “It’s a quick throw, so you’re not really looking at the rush,” Sudfeld said. “I probably called the wrong protection or did something wrong. You’re not really looking at the D-line, especially on a quick throw. He just made a really good play.”Junior wide receiver Cody Latimer said the team needs to have more balance in its next game.“We need to get our run game established,” Latimer said. “And stop doing silly turnovers.”IU’s running game couldn’t get going either. Sophomore running back Tevin Coleman was bottled up for 54 yards on 15 carries, good for a 3.6-yards-per-rush average.Senior running back Stephen Houston had three carries for two yards.Last week both Coleman and Houston went over the 100-yard mark, with Houston leading the way with 153 yards.“We were trying to get our run game going,” Latimer said. “The run game wasn’t going good as usual.”Latimer had an effective first half. The junior had 134 yards on just seven catches. In the second half, he had one catch for two yards — a microcosm of IU’s offense.“The offense got in rhythm three or four drives,” Wilson said.Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/22/13 1:52am)
Turnovers have played a major part in the first half.
(09/20/13 2:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The conference has won seven straight BCS national titles. But IU isn’t playing the entire conference Saturday night.“I mean, we’re excited,” junior wide receiver Cody Latimer said. “But we’re just treating it like another game. We’re not going to make this a Superbowl game or anything.”When IU (2-1) welcomes Missouri (2-0) at 8 p.m. Saturday, it will be the first time since 2005 that the Hoosiers have played an SEC team.“The hype they’re given is deserved,” sophomore cornerback Michael Hunter said of the SEC. “They have won most of the BCS national championships.”IU has an all-time winning record against the conference. IU is 30-23-3 overall and 6-2-2 against Missouri. But the last time the Hoosiers played, IU’s quarterback, sophomore Nate Sudfeld, wasn’t born yet.This is the only occurrence of Big Ten and SEC programs playing each other this season. Despite this, IU isn’t focused on representing its conference.“I just want to represent my team, my family and represent Indiana and play hard for them,” sophomore running back Tevin Coleman said.On whether this could be a statement game for the Big Ten conference, Hunter had a simple answer.“No,” he said. “I have to go out there and play for my teammates first and foremost. And prove to the fans and community and Indiana that we can compete against these high-caliber teams.”Forget about the ore of an SEC team, Hunter said. Missouri is a good team by themselves, and they must be respected.“Yes sir, definitely. Not only because they’re an SEC team but because they are a quality team. They’re going to air the ball out.”Playing for one of the nation’s top football conferences demands a tough schedule. Last year Missouri had the toughest schedule in the nation, IU Coach Kevin Wilson said.“Last year they’re 5-7 in their first year in the SEC,” Wilson said, “playing probably the toughest schedule, no matter how you want to look at it last year.”Missouri played Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M last season. They lost all those games.Those five teams finished No. 9 or higher in the final AP poll last season. In comparison, IU played only two teams that finished ranked in the top 25 of the final AP poll.The night game will be the Hoosiers third of the young season, with the 8 p.m. kickoff being the latest. “In the night game, days are longer, and it’s kind of dragged out,” Latimer said. “When you got the noon game, you’re up and ready to go, and it’s nonstop.”However, many of the players like night games because it reminds them of playing in high school. And they said the fans are more hyped.“Playing under the lights is fun,” Latimer said with a smile.Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/19/13 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>He’s a backup.Fifth-year running back Stephen Houston transferred to IU during the 2011 season.Since he’s been a Hoosier, he’s led the team in rushing attempts, touchdowns and yards.But not this year. Now he’s a backup, which came as a surprise to him.Sophomore running back Tevin Coleman was named the starter in August, but Running Backs Coach Deland McCullough said the staff knew Coleman would be the starter in the spring.“Coach said we were neck and neck,” Houston said. “But at the same time, you can’t complain about it. So you got to go out there and control what you can control.”Houston’s statistics are virtually identical for the past two years. In 2011, he averaged 67 rushing yards per game. In 2012 it was 62 yards per game. Through three games this year, the senior is averaging 65 rushing yards per game.The difference is somebody’s ahead of him on the depth chart. Coleman is averaging 111 rushing yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry.“You still have to be a great teammate,” Houston said. “I’m still cheering him on, asking him what is he seeing out there, so when I go out there, I will be able to pinpoint it and find it.”Houston said he isn’t worried about who starts the game — he’s concerned about who finishes. McCullough said he shouldn’t worry about who starts the season either.“Stephen has been around and seen how this thing goes around,” McCullough said. “Last three years he’s seen other guys start ahead of him. He kept on working. He won’t get in any funk because he’s been in this situation the last two years. He didn’t start the season the last two years.”Last week against Bowling Green, Houston took advantage of the 13 carries he was given. He ran for 162 yards and broke big runs of 60 and 50 yards.Coleman ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first time in a decade two Hoosiers rushed more than 100 yards in a game. After the game, Coleman said he was happy for his teammate.“I was happy for Steve because he’s my backup, and I was happy for him to go good,” he said. “He’s a competitor, and he’s good.”Coleman had a career-high 19 carries compared to Houston’s 13.Houston said he wants more.“I may not be getting the carries that I want,” he said. “But at the same time, I have to make light of my opportunities.”In an interview earlier this season, McCullough said Coleman was an A- player and Houston was a B player. He said Houston needs to run more like his weight.“That’s been the challenge for Stephen,” McCullough said. “Can he consistently run like a 225-pound guy? (Coleman) is only 205-pounds and he runs big. Stephen’s challenge consistently has been to run hard. He doesn’t always run hard.”Houston said is it up to the coaches who starts. He will prepare each week as though he’ll be the primary back. But he said he is hesitant as to whether he should be the starter.“That’s up to the coaches,” he said. “I’m just going out there and play hard. If they maybe go and start me later on down the road, that’s on them.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/16/13 5:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers’ sideline erupted when Bowling Green running back William Houston was stopped on fourth down. The drive had lasted over seven minutes, but it netted the Falcons no points.After allowing 444 rushing yards and 41 points against Navy last week, IU’s much maligned defense held the Falcons to just three points.“Last week they were the worst defense who ever played in the history of the universe, if you listened,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said.IU (2-1) grounded Bowling Green (2-1) with a score of 42-10 and great offensive and defensive efforts Saturday afternoon. “We got beat bad,” Bowling Green Coach Dave Clawson said. “We got whipped in every aspect of the game.”The Hoosiers torched the normally stout Falcons’ defense for 601 total yards. IU had a balanced attack on the ground. Senior Stephen Houston and sophomore Tevin Coleman combined for 284 yards.The starter, Coleman, had 129 yards on 19 carries for two touchdowns. His backup, Houston, had an arguably more efficient game with 155 yards on just 13 carries.Both had big runs. Houston made several big plays, with runs of 60 and 50 yards.“I ain’t broke the seam for a long time,” Houston said. “I got kind of winded, but with time, I’ll start to get my wind back.”Not to be outdone, sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld was dynamic in his first career start. The California native was 17-26 for 335 yards and three total touchdowns. The Bowling Green coach called him a “stud” after the game. Sudfeld said they were ready for Bowling Green’s man defense.“At times it can feel a little disrespectful if you’re trying to man us up,” he said. “We feel like we have play makers. And we proved it today with guys making big catches in tight coverage.”IU’s wide receiver trio of senior Kofi Hughes and juniors Cody Latimer and Shane Wynn accounted for 252 yards and two touchdowns.Latimer led the way with six catches for a career high 137 yards and one touchdown.“We got a great bond as receivers,” Latimer said. “We got a good brotherhood. It doesn’t matter who gets the ball. We’re just going for wins so we can get a championship this year.”The Falcons recorded their lone touchdown on the special teams unit. With less than five minutes left in the first quarter, IU punter Erich Toth had his punt block by Bowling Green’s Paul Senn. Senn appeared to take the ball cleanly off Toth’s foot and returned it 56 yards for the touchdown. Bowling Green then kicked a field goal for the 10-7 lead.After that, the Hoosiers outscored the Falcons 35-0. Wilson stressed being ready to play but also having fun.“Let’s go out, and don’t worry about the season. Don’t worry about being a bowl team. We’re about today and this week,” Wilson said of his team’s demeanor. “So we just talked about having some fun and playing hard. No matter what happens, have some fun.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/16/13 3:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Of four Big Ten schools that competed in the Mary Fossum Invitational, IU finished last. The women’s golf team finished 11th overall out of 15 teams in East Lansing, Mich., this weekend.“Obviously we didn’t come here to come in 11th place,” sophomore Marissa DeCola said after the event.Michigan State, the team playing host to the Invitational, won the tournament with 28-over par score of 892. IU finished 47 strokes behind them. “Everybody is disappointed with the finish because everybody knows we’re capable of doing much better,” IU Coach Clint Wallman said.“But it’s not one of those things that’s going to define us or anything. It is what it is.”The 54-hole contest was IU’s second tournament of the year. The Hoosiers played 36 holes Saturday, finishing up with the final 18 on Sunday.Freshman Ana Sanjuan led the Hoosiers in total scoring. She was 13-over par for her three rounds of action. She tied for 21st overall of 93 competitors.“She has done really, really remarkable,” Wallman said. “Obviously she’s a talented player.”The Spain native was two-over par in her first collegiate event last weekend and has only been in the country for a few weeks.“I was really impressed because I knew she was playing with really good players,” junior Elizabeth Tong said. “So I wasn’t surprised that she played well. It’s really impressive as a freshman.”Five Hoosiers participated in the tournament. Tong had the lowest single round of the tournament for IU, two over-par 74.Her three rounds were 78, 74 and 78. Wallman said she was “average” last weekend, and he said she still doesn’t think she has unleashed her full potential.“I think Elizabeth had, again, an average tournament,” Wallman said. “(Saturday) she had two bad holes out of 36, which cost her. (Sunday) she had one bad hole, which cost her.”The junior started Sunday in 22nd place but finished 24th out of all competitors. She attributes some of her struggles to slow play in front of her.“I think it was the 11th or 12th hole and then the waiting got to me,” Tong said. “I just didn’t play as well after that.”DeCola had the highest round of any Hoosier. Her opening round of a 13-over par 85 set her back, but her final two rounds of 78 and 77 righted the ship.“It was definitely rough,” DeCola chuckled. “Sometimes you’re going to have those tournaments where you get a lot of bad breaks, and I had my fair share this weekend.”IU will fly to Colorado next week to participate in the Golfweek Conference Challenge. The event starts Monday, Sept. 23, and will last three days.Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(09/14/13 7:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After losing a non-conference game against Navy last week, IU took down Bowling Green 42-10 Saturday after the defense did not allow a touchdown. Nate Sudfeld got his first career start and delivered. The sophomore went 17-26 for 335 yards and added two touchdowns. He also ran for a one-yard touchdown.The only Falcon touchdown was a punt block that was returned 56 yards for a touchdown. Bowling Green missed two field goals.In Bowling Green’s previous two games, they had allowed an average of 3.5 points per game in the second half. Today, IU hung 21 second half points on the Falcons.IU was proficient in the running game, with both Tevin Coleman and Stephen Houston going more than 100 yards. Coleman had 129 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Houston averaged 12 yards a carry, while rushing for 155 yards on 13 carries.Cody Latimer had six catches for a game high 137 yards. The preseason Biletnikoff award preseason watch list nominee also had a touchdown.Despite the offense stalling twice inside the five-yard line, the Hoosier offense still scored 42 points and 601 total yards.On defense the Hoosiers were led by safety Greg Heban who had 12 tackles. Cornerback Tim Bennett had seven tackles and three pass break ups.
(09/14/13 6:01pm)
Despite not getting any points in two separate trips inside the Bowling Green 5-yard line, IU leads 21-10 at the half.
(09/13/13 3:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After IU’s loss against Navy last week, IU Coach Kevin Wilson said he thought the football team’s prep work was a little “casual” and unfocused.“I could sit up here and imitate Coach Knight’s game face,” Wilson said. “I don’t know if I buy that.”He said he wasn’t sure his team had that fighter’s look.IU (1-1) looks to bounce back against Bowling Green (2-0) Saturday as the two programs meet for the first time. Wilson said it won’t be an easy game.“I don’t think we have a team of arrogance, but I think we lost our edge,” Wilson said. “Again, we had a little bit of success and people patting you and you scored some points easy.”After a 41-35 loss in which the Hoosiers gave up 444 rushing yards to Navy’s triple option offense, senior wide receiver Kofi Hughes said the mood in practice has been physical.Working hard and limiting distractions after practice has helped, he said.“I know we had a really, really good Sunday practice,” Hughes said.They have been playing games to loosen up the players and coaches after practice, Wilson said.Last week a pair of sophomore quarterbacks saw time for IU. Tre Roberson got the start, but after not getting a first down in his first two series, he was benched for Nate Sudfeld, who went 31-42 for 363 yards and four touchdowns. “You can look at a stat and say, ‘Hey, that looks pretty good,’” Wilson said. “When you look at tape, that tape doesn’t lie. You can skew stats good or bad. Nate has gotten in games. He’s played well, but again, he’s got some nice parts.”Despite Sudfeld’s strong play, Wilson said he doesn’t know who will start against Bowling Green.“Somebody will go out there,” he said.The Falcons will trot out sophomore quarterback Matt Johnson, who is averaging 254 passing yards a game. Johnson took the starting job from senior incumbent Matt Schilz.Schilz has the third most passing yards in Bowling Green’s history and started every game last season as a captain and 35 of 37 games in his career. But he was benched against Tulsa after completing one of four passes for 12 yards in his first two series. Ever since, Johnson has held onto the starting job, leading his team to score 34 and 41 points in their opening two games.IU’s first two games began in the evening, but Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for noon. Despite being used to playing under the lights so far this year, Hughes said the earlier start time provides an edge.“I think it makes things a lot easier,” Hughes said. “I think the hardest thing about having a later game is all the down time.”For senior running back Stephen Houston, it isn’t about what the clock says on the wall. His internal clock will be ready.“Your body is going to tell you when it’s time to get up,” Houston said. “Just get in that mind set. So I would say no, this is not really a hard transition.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.