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(10/08/10 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU football team played in front of almost 53,000 fans last Saturday in a sellout at Memorial Stadium, and some IU players called it the best home atmosphere they had ever seen.This Saturday, the Hoosiers will take on No. 2 Ohio State in front of a crowd twice that size.The game will kick off at noon at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. For the Hoosiers (3-1, 0-1), a key to slowing the Buckeyes may be in IU’s offensive line.That line, which has allowed only four sacks this season, will have what may be its toughest test of the year Saturday. The Buckeyes (5-0, 1-0) feature a 4-3 defense that has been touted as one of the best in college football. The unit’s ability to disrupt the quarterback is one reason why the team is ranked No. 2 in the country.“They’re so fundamentally sound,” said IU tackles and tight ends coach Kyle Conner. “They’re always where they’re supposed to be in their scheme. They’re never out of their gap, and they play hard every single play to the whistle.”Senior defensive tackle Cameron Heyward anchors the Buckeyes’ defensive line. Heyward, who had the option to enter the NFL Draft last season with high chances of being a first-round pick, instead chose to stay at school and haunt opposing offensive lineman with his quick pursuit to the ball carrier.IU true freshman Harrison Scott simulated the role of Heyward in practice this week, even wearing Heyward’s No. 97. Matching up against Heyward will be IU left tackle Andrew McDonald who has been fairly successful protecting IU senior quarterback Ben Chappell’s blind side all year.“I’ve watched him on film, and he’s got some fast first moves, but I feel like I can get after him,” McDonald said. “He comes off the ball and gets his hands to your chest, but I feel like I’m prepared.”Heyward is the leader of a unit that has stopped its first five opponents. The Buckeye defense allows 14.2 points per game, which ranks 12th nationally and second in the Big Ten behind Iowa. This defense is allowing 242 yards per game, which ranks them fifth nationally.For the IU offense, the Hoosiers will enter the Horseshoe with an offense averaging 39.8 points per game, which is 13th-best in the country. Chappell ranks first in the Big Ten with 342.5 passing yards per game. IU sophomore running back Darius Willis has aided the passing attack by improving his blitz pickup out of the backfield. While Willis may not get as many touches as most feature backs do, he said he has embraced his blocking role in the offense. Willis said he is well aware of the challenge the Hoosiers’ pass protection will face against Ohio State.“Their defensive line is probably one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Willis said. “They come hard every snap. That’s a great front seven that they have.” One of the adjustments the Hoosiers made in practice this week was to switch to a silent snap count. The commonly used NFL technique will allow the Hoosiers offensive line and Chappell to communicate without dealing with the noise of 102,000 screaming Buckeye fans.Another adjustment the Hoosiers will have to accommodate is filling the hole left by the absence of senior offensive tackle James Brewer, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Junior Justin Pagan will replace Brewer in the starting lineup.Although the loss of Brewer takes away one of the offensive leaders, Chappell said he is looking forward to testing the Buckeye defense.“I am sure they will be ready to stop our passing game and anxious to stop our offense,” Chappell said. “The offense goes as the offensive line goes, there is no question about that.”
(10/04/10 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sometimes shootouts do not end up being all they are hyped up to be.That was not the case Saturday.Eight plays of more than 20 yards led Michigan to a 42-35 victory against IU in front of a sell-out crowd of 52,929 people. Even though IU senior quarterback Ben Chappell set records by completing 45-of-64 passes for 480 yards, it was not enough to out duel the Michigan offense.Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson tallied 494 all-purpose yards, ending the day with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Robinson’s 217 yards on the ground solidified his status as the nation’s leading rusher with 905 on the season. “He’s number one for the Heisman,” IU senior linebacker Tyler Replogle said. “He obviously is a great player. There’s not much else to be said.”The Heisman hopeful wasted little time padding his resume in his first career Big Ten start as quarterback.After Chappell led the Hoosiers to an opening drive touchdown, the Michigan offense took over on its own 24-yard line. A raucous IU crowd was quickly quieted.Robinson found a seam on the left side and took off for a 72-yard touchdown on his first carry of the day.“They came out flying, and I think it caught us off guard a little bit,” IU senior safety Mitchell Evans said.Just three minutes later, Robinson struck again.Having already eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark, Robinson showed off his arm, completing a 32-yard touchdown pass to receiver Roy Roundtree to give the Wolverines a 14-7 lead. After forcing IU to punt, Michigan took control at its own 19-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Robinson again went back to Roundtree. The duo connected on a 74-yard pass that set up the Wolverines two yards from the end zone. When the Wolverines appeared ready to take a two-possession lead, Robinson fumbled a botched snap, and Replogle pounced on the loose ball at the one-yard line.Chappell then led the Hoosiers on a 13-play, 99-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Darius Willis to tie the game at 14-14.The Wolverines then went on what turned out to be their longest drive of the day.The nine-play, 81-yard drive ended when tight end Kevin Koger caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Robinson. The 3:56 series was Michigan’s only scoring drive longer than two minutes.After IU tied the game at 21-21 to end the first half, Michigan continued its offensive trend.The Wolverines scored on the second play in the second half when Robinson found receiver Junior Hemingway on a slant. Hemingway then took the pass 70 yards to the house.“We made a few mistakes, but (Robinson) is a very good player,” IU junior defensive end Darius Johnson said. “You can’t make mistakes against a team like that. If you do, they make you pay for it.”Robinson wasn’t the only Wolverine who engineered a long touchdown. Michigan tailback Vincent Smith broke away for a 56-yard score late in the third quarter to put the Wolverines out in front, 35-28. The touchdown marked the fourth time the Wolverines had scored from 30-plus yards.Then, the Hoosiers’ defense responded.On the next three drives, IU allowed Michigan one first down and forced three straight punts.“I think we finally got used to the speed later in the game,” Evans said.With the game tied at 35-35 after a 19-yard touchdown pass to Willis on fourth down, the Michigan offense took control with 1:15 to play.Michigan decided to run the ball, which is uncharacteristic of a team working against the clock. Robinson ran three times, managing to get the Wolverines into IU territory with 29 seconds remaining. And Robinson had one more big play hiding up his sleeve. He hung in the pocket and took a shot from IU sophomore defensive tackle Larry Black Jr. as he completed a 42-yard bomb down the right sideline to Hemingway.Robinson then ran in a four-yard touchdown to give the Wolverines the 42-35 win.In a game where the Hoosiers won the time of possession by more than 23 minutes, the Wolverines still outgained the Hoosiers 574-568. It was a heartbreaking loss for a team that could not halt the big play ability of the Michigan offense despite matching its potency for the most part. “It was a different kind of game, in the sense of some of the traditional things like time of possession (don’t always tell the whole story),” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “Big plays today, on their part, won out.”
(10/02/10 8:03pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Denard Robinson led the Michigan Wolverines (5-0, 1-0) to a 42-35 victory against Indiana (3-1, 0-1) in the Big Ten opener on Saturday with 217 yards rushing and five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing).The day featured some record-setting numbers with IU senior quarterback Ben Chappell completing 45-of-64 passes for 480 yards. The senior signal caller set the school record for completed passes, passes attempted and passing yards in a game.Chappell got his day off to a fast start, finding redshirt freshman receiver Duwyce Wilson in the end zone for a 5-yard pass. The touchdown capped off an 11-play, 77-yard drive that got the Hoosiers out to a 7-0 lead. It would be the last lead that the Hoosiers would have on the day.Robinson set the tone early, running for a 72-yard touchdown on Michigan’s second play from scrimmage. It was a play that quickly took the sail out of a sell-out crowd at Memorial Stadium.“He’s just a great athlete,” Lynch said of Robinson. “You can see it on film getting ready for him, but on the field you sense the same thing.”Just three minutes later, the Michigan offense struck again.After already eclipsing the 100-yard mark for rushing, Robinson connected with sophomore receiver Roy Roundtree for a 32-yard touchdown. The Wolverines took a 14-7 lead heading into the second quarter."They’re a big-play team, and it’s hard to replicate that overall speed when the Big Ten season comes,” IU senior safety Mitchell Evans said. “They came out flying, and I think it caught us off guard a little bit.”Michigan continued its big-play ability in the second quarter. A 74-yard pass to Roundtree had the Wolverines knocking on the door again at the IU 2-yard line.With the Hoosiers facing a two-touchdown lead to Michigan’s potent offense, it appeared that they were quickly slipping out of contention.But Robinson made his first mistake of the day. On what appeared to be a miscommunication between Robinson and Michigan center David Molk, the sophomore quarterback put the ball on the ground.IU senior linebacker Tyler Replogle pounced on the ball to give the Hoosiers possession on their own 1-yard line.With their starting field-position on their own goal-line, the Hoosiers responded.After sneaking the ball to get some breathing room, Chappell dissected the Michigan defense. Chappell led the Hoosiers on a 13-play, 99-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Darius Willis.That possession set the tone for a game that went back and forth throughout.A 21-21 tie at the half did not last long for the Hoosiers.Robinson started the second half in similar fashion as the first. This time, Robinson went to the air, completing a 70-yard touchdown pass to Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway.In what became typical fashion on Saturday afternoon, the Hoosiers offense answered.After empty possessions from IU and Michigan, Chappell again moved the Hoosiers down the field through the air. Three completions by Chappell got the Hoosiers to the Wolverine four-yard line, where Willis found the endzone for the second time of the day.A 28-28 tie was broken by another big play from the Michigan offense. Only this time, it wasn’t from the arm or legs of Robinson.Michigan sophomore Vincent Smith scored on a run from 56 yards out to give the Wolverines another one-touchdown lead with 6:10 left in the third.The theme of trading touchdowns was halted with both defenses recording multiple stops. The next seven drives ended with punts.“We saw that the offense was carrying the team the whole game, and we came to the conclusion that we needed to make some step to help them out,” IU junior defensive end Darius Johnson said.After allowing seven plays for over 20 yards, the IU defense got their offense the ball down 35-28 with 7:12 left in the fourth quarter.Chappell delivered again.With the game on the line, the Hoosiers were faced with a fourth-and-five on Michigan’s 19-yard line. Chappell hit Willis on a swing pass on the left sideline where he broke a tackle and found paydirt to tie the game at 35-35 with 1:15 remaining.Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, it was more than enough time for Robinson.Robinson got into the IU redzone with a 42-yard pass to Hemingway on a deep fade on the right sideline. The next play, Robinson ran it in for his second rushing touchdown of the game, giving Michigan a 42-35 win.The loss marks the Hoosiers' first of the year and the ninth time in a row that they have dropped the Big Ten opener.“That was a great football game. I’m really disappointed for our kids,” Lynch said. “Big plays today, on their part, won out.”
(10/01/10 4:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Nobody has come close to stopping Denard Robinson this year.All four of No. 19 Michigan’s opponents have let the sophomore quarterback take over the game with his arm and his legs.IU (3-0) will look to change that when it plays host to the Wolverines (4-0) in its Big Ten opener at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.Containing who many believe is the frontrunner in the race for the Heisman Trophy could be difficult for the IU defense.Robinson might be one of the most versatile dual-threat quarterbacks the Hoosiers have faced in recent memory.“He presents a different kind of challenge than anyone we’ve faced thus far,” co-defensive coordinator Brian George said. “I think he fits the system that they run perfectly.”Robinson leads the nation in rushing as a quarterback with 688 yards. He ran 57 times for 455 yards in Michigan’s first two games, leading the Wolverines to wins against UConn and Notre Dame.If that wasn’t enough offensive production, the sophomore sensation also passed for 430 yards and a pair of touchdowns in those contests.In the Wolverines’ 28-24 win at Notre Dame on Sept. 11, Robinson either ran the ball or threw it on a Michigan record 68 of 81 offensive plays.The theme of Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez’s offense has been simple — the football is in Robinson’s hands.The only time Robinson did not both throw and rush for a touchdown was last week in a 65-21 win against Bowling Green. Robinson injured his knee near the end of the first quarter when he ran out of bounds after a 47-yard run.The injury ended Robinson’s day as well as his streak of scoring both passing and rushing touchdowns. But Robinson still got his money’s worth in the first quarter, rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns.Robinson has led an offensive attack that has gotten big leads early in games. Michigan has outscored its opponents 56-10 in the first quarter this season.It is a statistic IU coach Bill Lynch said he believes reflects how good Michigan has been this season with Robinson at the helm.“Denard Robinson is scary good,” Lynch said. “I think when you have an explosive team that has success doing that early in the game, they’re going to come in with confidence that they’re going to do it again.”In preparation for Robinson, the Hoosiers have been mixing it up at practice this week. Senior safety Mitchell Evans and several running backs have attempted to give the defense a similar look to Robinson.“Obviously you want to use someone that has speed and is used to carrying the football to simulate him as opposed to a guy that usually drops back and throws the football or hands off to somebody else,” George said. IU has already faced multiple dual-threat quarterbacks this year. Towson’s Chris Hart and Western Kentucky’s Kawaun Jakes brought out both elements against the Hoosiers.“It prepares us a lot because it’s what we’ve been going against all season,” IU defensive tackle Larry Black, Jr. said. “It’s just that with (Robinson), he’s a lot faster than those other guys.”But the Hoosiers are not naive in thinking that Robinson is on the same level as Hart and Jakes. Black said the team has kicked up the intensity this week, knowing that a ranked Big Ten opponent and a Heisman Trophy candidate are strolling into Memorial Stadium as double-digit favorites.After suffering a 36-33 loss at Michigan last year, the Hoosiers will look to get revenge Saturday. IU has not beaten Michigan since 1987 and has not won a Big Ten opener since 2001.If the Hoosiers can stop Robinson, they will be in position to snap both streaks.“It’s Michigan,” Black said. “We showed that we can play with them, but now it’s time to go out and show that we can beat them.”
(09/30/10 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jibreel Black was supposed to be IU’s top recruit for the 2010 season.He was supposed to be the replacement for Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton at defensive end. He was supposed to be playing on the same defensive line as his older brother, sophomore defensive tackle Larry Black Jr.Jibreel will be at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, playing on the same field as his brother. However, when IU faces Michigan at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, the two brothers will reunite on the field as opponents — not as teammates as they originally planned.That plan was rewritten when Jibreel decommitted from IU to play in his home city for the University of Cincinnati. The move came after IU blew a 25-point lead last October to lose at Northwestern, 29-28.With Jibreel’s future team at 4-4, his hometown Bearcats were garnering national attention with a 7-0 record and a No. 5 ranking. Jibreel made the decision to decommit from IU and accepted a scholarship offer from Cincinnati, citing IU’s lack of success combined with the Bearcats’ emergence.As a freshman at IU last year, Larry often talked about how talented Jibreel was and how excited he was that he was coming to IU. Larry was disappointed that his little brother would not be joining him in Bloomington but understood it was his decision to make.“It was his choice and his decision,” Larry said. “I knew he had a lot of opportunities to choose where he wanted to go, and that was the place he felt was better for him.”But the four-star recruit was thrown another curveball when Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly left to coach Notre Dame. With Kelly gone, Jibreel knew he had to weigh his options. After a weekend visit to Michigan in January, Jibreel committed to play for Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez on a defense that struggled during a 5-7 campaign in 2009.Jibreel has played in each of the Wolverines’ four games so far this season. While he has yet to make his first collegiate tackle, his big brother approves of his performance.“I try and watch all his games when we’re not playing,” Larry said. “He’s been looking good, and I’m really proud of him.”Saturday’s game will mark the first time the Black brothers have ever played against each other. While they will not be on the field at the same time, Larry assures bragging rights will be up for grabs.“We trash talk all the time,” Larry said. “We’ve been going at it every day, so it’s going to be fun.”Although Jibreel was a more highly touted prospect out of high school, Larry has been the one setting the bar with accolades. Last year, Larry was named to the Sporting News Freshman All-America team.Co-defensive coordinator Brian George said the improvements Larry has made since his freshman year have made him an important part of the Hoosiers’ pass rush.“I think he was a little under-recruited in high school,” George said. “I think that the things that came out about his character and his worth ethic said that this guy’s got a pretty high ceiling.”Instead of watching film with Larry on how to stop Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, Jibreel goes up against him every practice. Larry admitted he might have tried getting some pointers on Robinson from Jibreel.“I’ve been trying to get them, but it hasn’t been working,” Larry said with a laugh.Larry and Jibreel will leave all kidding aside when the two square off in the two teams’ Big Ten opener. The IU coaching staff might wish that they had both Black brothers, but they know both are a key asset to their respected programs.“They’re both big, strong and fast, and they’re both people of great character,” George said. “They’re the kind of people you want to be in your football program.”
(09/27/10 3:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ted Bolser is already in the IU record books as a redshirt freshman.The IU tight end tied the school record for the most touchdowns in a season by a tight end.Bolser’s two touchdowns helped lead IU to a 35-20 win against Akron on Saturday. The two scores gave Bolser four on the year, tying the record held by Bob Stephenson, who recorded four touchdowns in 1979.Having already recorded at least one touchdown in each of the first three games, Bolser is on pace to shatter the 31-year-old record.“It’s something special,” Bolser said. “Tying it is only one thing, but beating it is another, and I can only hope to do that.”After senior quarterback Ben Chappell led the Hoosiers into the red zone on their first drive, he found Bolser wide open in the back corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass.Less than eight minutes later, Bolser struck again.On what appeared to be the same exact route as his first touchdown, Chappell hit Bolser in the back corner of the end zone for an 8-yard connection to give IU a 14-3 lead.“For some reason the safeties were biting really hard inside,” Bolser said. “I knew I could use my speed to get my step inside and get outside.”Chappell found a tight end in the red zone well into the second quarter. However, instead of connecting with the usual suspect in Bolser, Chappell scrambled to find junior tight end Max Dedmond for a 2-yard score to give the Hoosiers a 21-6 lead with 5:38 remaining in the first half.The tight end tandem’s three touchdowns against the Zips were more than IU tight ends scored all last season.Getting the ball to the tight end might not have been the IU way of years past, but Bolser sensed that tide is quickly changing.“It used to be whenever they would throw the ball to the tight end, we would be fortunate enough,” Bolser said.Red zone offense was an area in which Lynch knew his team had to improve coming into 2010. Production from the tight ends adds another element to an offense that is averaging 41.3 points per game heading into Big Ten play.“We always knew Max could be a good receiver, but Teddy gives us something a little bit different because he can get down the field,” Lynch said. “The tight end isn’t necessarily (Chappell’s) first option, but he sure finds them.”When Bolser was asked why he believes he has been open so often in the first three games, Dedmond jumped in before Bolser could give an answer.“Speed. Ted’s got great speed,” Dedmond said. “Seriously, this guy’s got wide receiver speed, and he can block like a tight end.”Being an integral part of the offense as receivers is something the two tight ends had been working toward since they got to IU.“That’s what we wanted to accomplish this year. As a group, we wanted to step up and be big playmakers,” Dedmond said. “I think as a group, we’ve really come a long way.”
(09/24/10 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Watching game film on the same team two weeks in a row is a rarity.But that is exactly what IU did due to a pure coincidence in scheduling.Just as last week against Western Kentucky, IU game-planned this week for an opponent that played Kentucky the week prior. A week ago, Western Kentucky played IU following a 63-28 loss to UK. This time, the Hoosiers prepared for an Akron team that lost to Kentucky 47-10 last week. The Hoosiers (2-0) dissected game film this week from an Akron (0-3) team that has struggled in its first three games. In the Zips’ loss at Kentucky, Akron struggled offensively.The IU coaching staff took advantage of watching game film with a common opponent.“The biggest thing that it helps you with in a back-to-back is personnel,” IU wide receiver coach Billy Lynch said. “You see how they matched up to Western Kentucky’s personnel, and you see how they matched up to Akron’s personnel.”After watching film on WKU tailback Bobby Rainey running for 184 yards and two touchdowns against UK, the IU defense noticed the adjustments Kentucky made in its game.The Zips are a team that also runs the football, using a two-back set with seniors Alex Allen and Nate Burney. While Burney does not compare to Rainey’s statistics, they share a similar running style.Burney is 5-foot-6, 170 pounds and relies on his speed to get yardage. After rushing for 119 yards against Gardner-Webb University, Burney struggled against UK. Going against a bigger SEC defense, Burney had 10 carries for 22 yards and had a limited role.These backs lead a running game that totaled 37 carries for just 67 yards against UK. Akron quarterback Patrick Nicely was 4-of-19 for 57 yards against UK. This statistic may play into IU’s 154.5 average passing yards allowed in its first two games.If the Hoosiers want to force Nicely to beat them through the air, they could mirror UK’s mentality in which it blitzed regularly against the sophomore to tally five sacks.The flaw UK showed against WKU and Akron is their inability to stop the passing game. Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline received little pressure from Akron and was able to go through his full progressions.“I think it has helped us a lot from a personnel standpoint more than maybe an offensive philosophy standpoint,” Lynch said.The offense sees similarities between Kentucky’s roster and IU’s roster, especially in the passing game.“Kentucky has some big receivers like us, so we’re going to stick to our game plan like we did last week,” IU wide receiver Damarlo Belcher said.Game planning aside, the Hoosiers coaching staff said it is important to not get caught looking ahead to the start of the Big Ten schedule, especially since the team faces No. 21 Michigan next week.“I don’t think anybody is looking ahead,” IU offensive coordinator Matt Canada said.
(09/23/10 4:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>More and more teams seem to want taller wide receivers who create mismatches against opposing corners.Damarlo Belcher fits that bill.At 6 feet 5 inches, Belcher is close to half a foot taller than any defensive back who might cover him. Belcher’s big frame has helped him become IU’s leading receiver for the first two games this season. He has hauled in 17 receptions for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns.The junior wideout has been a crucial weapon in the Hoosiers’ first two games of the season. Whether by converting on third down with a five-yard out or going over the top for the deep ball, Belcher has been the catalyst for IU’s offense.“It’s definitely an advantage being my size,” Belcher said. “I just turn into an assassin, definitely when it’s a smaller corner.”With junior receiver Tandon Doss on the bench for the first game against Towson, Belcher had added responsibilities to make sure the offense did not skip a beat.The upperclassman rose to the occasion, recording seven catches for 92 yards and a 41-yard touchdown on a wide-open go-route down the sideline in the second quarter.The Fort Wayne native led IU’s offensive attack en route to a 51-17 victory against Towson. Belcher has worked to become a more reliable game-to-game receiver and made it a point not to peak during the season opener.“My biggest problem has been my consistency,” Belcher said. “The coaches told me a while back that sometimes I play like an All-American and sometimes I play like another Big Ten receiver.”Belcher had no drop-off in IU’s second contest following a 16-day layoff.With Doss back in the lineup, Belcher did anything but play like a second-fiddle wideout. Belcher had his best game as a Hoosier with 10 catches for 135 yards. Both were career highs that carried the Hoosiers to a 38-21 victory at Western Kentucky.“I was focused, and I was in the zone,” Belcher said. “We hadn’t played in 16 days, and I was just ready to play.”Most college football fans look at a guy like Doss and consider him the No. 1 receiver. Doss ranked second in the Big Ten with 77 receiving yards per conference game as a sophomore in 2009, but right behind him at No. 4 in the conference was Belcher, raking in 71.1 yards per Big Ten contest.The coaching staff knows that it is unfair to call Belcher a No. 2 to Doss.“We’re not ranking them,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said about Belcher. “He is certainly one of the premier receivers in the league in my opinion.”Doss garnered preseason All-Big Ten honors, but Belcher has been making a name for himself. Through three weeks of play, Belcher ranks second in the conference in both receptions (17) and in receiving yards (227).In addition, he accumulated his statistics in just two games while all other Big Ten teams have played three. Height alone has not been the main reason for Belcher’s fast start. The coaching staff noticed the receiver filled out more in the off-season, adding muscle to further develop his repertoire. “He’s turned into a man out there,” wide receivers coach Billy Lynch said. “He’s always had unbelievable feet and allusiveness for his size, but adding the physicality has really made him a complete receiver.”
(09/21/10 6:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Soft-spoken, model student and polite.Those three characteristics usually do not describe a Big Ten linebacker.But these traits have helped build IU senior Tyler Replogle into the man he is today. As one of two captains on the team, Replogle has become the defensive anchor. Whether it is a rotating defensive linemen or making a big open-field tackle, Replogle’s attitude embodies his role as captain.“He’s the kind of kid where if you ask him to jump three feet, he’ll jump eight feet,” co-defensive coordinator Brian George said.When Replogle was in high school, he would dead sprint roughly 400 yards from the locker room to the practice field. When George was recruiting Replogle, this intense habit jumped off the table.“That tells you everything you need to know about Tyler,” George said.The Centerville, Ohio, native came to IU as the No. 22 middle linebacker in the country by Scout.com.For many programs, having a true freshman play in the opener might not turn any heads. But for coach Bill Lynch, this was making a statement about his confidence in Replogle. Lynch has redshirted all but six true freshmen during his four-year tenure at IU. It was clear from the beginning that the coaching staff had big plans in store for Replogle.“We knew right away that he was a mature football player,” George said. “The physical part at that time had to catch up a little bit with the mental preparedness.”As a sophomore, Replogle found himself behind Matt Mayberry and Will Patterson on the depth chart at middle linebacker. Similar to all good students, Replogle treated it as a learning experience.“I learned how hard you have to work and all the extra stuff you have to do,” Replogle said.Lynch found different ways to get Replogle in games, and he became a key asset to the special teams unit. “I don’t think fans understand how hard special teams is,” Replogle said. “I think it makes you a lot better.” Replogle’s special teams efforts earned him not only IU’s special teams player of the year but also a starting spot at linebacker in the final two games of the season.If IU fans had not heard of Replogle, they certainly did after his performance against in-state rival Purdue. A team season-high 19 tackles and his first career sack earned Replogle the Terry P. Cole “Impact Player” Award as the Hoosiers’ most outstanding player in the 2008 Oaken Bucket Game.That game began a career at IU filled with success.In the 2010 season opener against Towson, the Tigers appeared to convert a third-and-four with a pass over the middle. It was exactly what IU did not want to see after going three-and-out on its first series. Amid the pileup, Replogle somehow came running out with the football in his arms.The play had to be reviewed because nobody saw Replogle get the ball. The replay showed that while making the tackle, Replogle had seamlessly taken the ball from the Towson receiver.Replogle’s interception set up a short field that led to a quick IU touchdown.The two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection has shown that being calm, cool and collected works on the football field.“He puts us in the right situation on every play,” George said. “He is the perfect captain.”
(09/20/10 3:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — College football games are won and lost on third down.For the IU football team Saturday, the game was won on third down.Converting 10 of 12 third downs helped the Hoosiers claim a 38-21 victory at Western Kentucky.IU senior quarterback Ben Chappell converted time and time again to keep drives going. Whether he was hitting IU junior wideout Damarlo Belcher on an out route or finding senior receiver Terrance Turner on a slant across the middle, Chappell continuously went through his progressions to find the open man on third down.Chappell’s favorite target of the day was Belcher, who recorded his first career hundred-yard game. Belcher’s 10 catches and 135 yards both represented career highs.Chappell’s third-down excellence resulted in a career-high 366 passing yards and three touchdown passes. On third-down passing plays, Chappell was a perfect 8-for-8 with 119 yards and a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Tandon Doss.“It’s a good feeling to have him as your quarterback because he’s in total control offensively,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “I think everybody feeds off of him because they have so much confidence in him.”A fumble by sophomore running back Darius Willis on the second play from scrimmage set the tone for a running game that struggled throughout the day. With limited holes opening up for Willis and the rest of the IU backs, it was up to the fifth-year senior to keep the IU offense afloat.Chappell responded.When the Hoosiers trailed 7-0 and faced a third-and-four in the first quarter, Chappell found Belcher for a 19-yard gain to keep the chains moving. Facing a third-and-nine at the end of the quarter, Chappell again found the Fort Wayne native for a 21-yard completion.“It makes me a lot more confident because that’s what I want as a receiver,” Belcher said. “I want him to throw me the ball on that third-and-short. I want to get that first down.”Fittingly, the drive ended with Belcher hauling in an 11-yard catch and faking out a couple of Western Kentucky defensive backs to get the Hoosiers their first touchdown of the contest.The IU receivers’ significant size advantage against the Hilltoppers’ defensive backs was evident as early as pregame warmups.“They have some trees over there, and we have grass,” Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart said.The early success of Belcher opened up Chappell’s arsenal of weapons for third-down conversions throughout the game. Turner and freshmen Duwyce Wilson and Ted Bolser each had key third-down conversions to keep the Hoosiers’ drives in progress.Chappell’s plethora of weapons to go to on third down is a strength Lynch has repeatedly stressed.“He doesn’t have any favorites,” Lynch said. “I think that’s why our wideouts run so hard because they know if they get open, they got a chance of the ball coming to them.”Lynch had emphasized improving on the team’s 2-for-10 third-down conversion rate in its season opener against Towson during the 16-day layoff.“We weren’t as good as we needed to be in the opener,” he said. “That’s something we went back to and worked very hard on.”Chappell’s performance showed that having a fifth-year guy at quarterback can be advantageous when trailing on the road.“Game experience from last year has definitely helped and knowing that every game is a long game where you can’t get too high or too low,” Chappell said.The Hoosiers did not have to face that problem Saturday. A 2-0 start was the goal coming in, and that is precisely what the team will take back to Bloomington.“I think we have a maturity about this football team,” Lynch said. “That’s kind of the makeup of this team.”
(09/17/10 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The last time the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers won a football game was Sept. 20, 2008. It was a 50-9 win for the Hilltoppers against Murray State, a team that IU had just beaten two weeks prior. Since that game, WKU has dropped 22 in a row.The Hoosiers will look to make the streak 23 at 5 p.m. Saturday in Bowling Green, Ky. The first home game of the year for the Hilltoppers comes after losing by a combined score of 112-38 against Kentucky and Nebraska, two BCS conference opponents. IU’s Big Ten association will not be enough to intimidate a battle-tested Western Kentucky squad.“Every week you’ve got to be hyped up or you’ll get upset,” senior linebacker Tyler Replogle said. “We’re hyped up, and I’m sure they are too.” Instead of playing non-BCS conference teams in their non-conference schedule, Western Kentucky has taken a different approach to improving its program. Alabama, Virginia Tech and Tennessee are a few of the top-tier FBS programs that Western Kentucky has played in the past three years.In addition to facing some of the country’s elite programs, the Hilltoppers possess one of the nation’s elite running backs.Junior Bobby Rainey is currently the fourth leading rusher in the nation with 339 rushing yards. Rainey gave No. 8-ranked Nebraska all it could handle, racking up 155 rushing yards and a touchdown in the team’s 49-10 loss.Proving the first week was no fluke, Rainey ran into Kentucky and one-upped his performance from the first game. Rainey posted 184 rushing yards with a pair of touchdowns in the Hilltoppers’ 63-28 loss at Lexington.Physically, Rainey does not impress at 5-foot-7, but IU coach Bill Lynch knows that there’s more to him than meets the eye.“He’s a short, compact, fast guy,” Lynch said. “But he breaks tackles, he can make you miss and he’s a competitor.”Stopping the run is an area that IU struggled with against Towson in the opener, allowing 227 rushing yards. Lynch said he believes the game will have a similar feel to an opening game for a team that has only one game under its belt.If the Hoosiers can take care of the Hilltoppers, it would mark the fourth straight time in Lynch’s career that the Hoosiers would start 2-0. Being the first Big Ten opponent the Hilltoppers have ever played host to, Lynch knows what this game means to their program.“I know they’ve been looking forward to Indiana coming down there since this thing got on the schedule,” Lynch said.
(09/15/10 2:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tandon Doss has waited a long time to make his debut this season.IU’s junior wideout has been sidelined with a groin injury for the past two weeks, which prevented him from playing in the season opener.At Western Kentucky this Saturday, Doss will return to the offense he thrived in last season. Having played in all of spring and summer practices, Doss worked toward repeating the success he had in the IU offense last year. As a sophomore last season, Doss garnered All-Big Ten accolades with his team-leading 77 receptions and 962 yards. The 77 receptions ranked him second all-time for receptions in a season in IU history.With just more than a week until the first game of the season, a lingering injury is the last thing any football player wants to acquire. Unfortunately for Doss, he suffered a groin injury in late August that kept him out of practice leading up to the season opener.“He has worked extremely hard this season and any time a kid works that hard you hate for him to miss any playing time,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. Instead of dwelling on the negative side of the injury, Doss focused on improving the mental part of his game.“I’m sitting there watching everybody else play, and obviously it’s tough but you got to stay mentally locked in,” Doss said.Without Doss, the Hoosiers still put up 51 points against Towson in the season opener on Sept. 2. Doss’ standout teammate, junior Damarlo Belcher, hauled in seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.An unconventional bye in the second week of the season may not have appealed to the masses, but for Doss it could not have come at a better time.With the bye week, Lynch had the luxury of not rushing Doss back on the field. However, keeping Doss off the field was a task in itself.“He really wanted to go and we said no, then he wanted to go Saturday and we said no,” Lynch said.Eventually, Lynch granted Doss his wish, and Doss practiced in full pads on Monday for the first time since the injury. Throwing one of the elite receivers in the Big Ten back into the lineup is something senior quarterback Ben Chappell does not take for granted.“He’s the type of guy that you just want to get the ball in his hands because he’s a playmaker,” Chappell said.Even though Doss has missed several practices, Chappell said he believes the two can resume last season’s success.“The past two summers and obviously all of last season I’ve been throwing to him pretty much every day,” Chappell said. “Even if he hadn’t practiced a day this week, I’d still feel comfortable throwing him the ball because of all the work we’ve put in.”In addition to being a threat to torch a secondary, Doss represents a dangerous weapon on special teams. He was named first team All-Big Ten punt returner by Athlon Sports. Last season, Doss led the Big Ten in all-purpose yards per game with 138.8 yards.Having the versatile Doss back in full swing will bring back a critical centerpiece of this team. Improving on an All-Big Ten season is a tall task, but Doss is ready to prove that last year was no fluke.“I can’t wait,” Doss said.
(09/09/10 2:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Mitchell Evans has never cared where he was on the football field, as long as he was on it. Evans just wanted to play football for the Cream and Crimson.The senior safety has been shuffled around the IU football team’s starting lineup ever since he came to Bloomington. Whether it was playing safety, wide receiver, quarterback, returning kickoffs or even punting, Evans has been the ultimate utility man for the Hoosiers.Evans’s journey began when he came to IU in 2007 as an All-State quarterback and safety at Milton Union High School in West Milton, Ohio. With the highly-touted Kellen Lewis having a stronghold on the quarterback position, Evans switched from quarterback to safety in pre-season camp.“We knew where he was when we were recruiting him, and that’s why we wanted him,” co-Defensive Coordinator Joe Palcic said. “Defensively, we knew that he could play safety, and that’s where we wanted him from the get-go.”The switch paid dividends for Evans, giving him the chance to show off his relentless tackling abilities on special teams. Evans was one of two true freshmen to play in the 2007 season, playing every game at safety or on special teams.With the heralded James Hardy departing to the NFL after the 2007 campaign, Evans switched to wide receiver to add some needed depth. Not only did Evans play in all 12 games in 2008 as a wideout, he also played quarterback in three games and was named IU’s special teams player of the week on six separate occasions. Evans quickly became a guy that needed to be on the field as often as possible.“We just wanted to get him out on the field somehow,” Palcic said.That theme carried over to the 2009 season. In addition to appearing in every game as a receiver, he also became the quarterback in the Wildcat formation.Evans got the chance to display his plethora of talents in the Oct. 17, 2008 homecoming win against Illinois, as he rushed for 84 yards, caught three passes, recorded eight tackles and kicked a pooch punt that resulted in a fumble that went the Hoosiers’ way. That versatility led IU to its only Big Ten win in 2009.Already used to the transition process, Evans switched back to safety in the offseason, spending spring and summer re-learning the position he had played as a freshman.“I had to kind of get the cobwebs out,” Evans said. “The coaches and the players all helped me transition back into it.”He wasted little time.In IU’s season-opening contest against Towson on Sept. 2, Evans recorded an interception of Towson quarterback Chris Hart.“That was a great feeling,” Evans said. “The defense loved it, and they were all excited, and it’s good to see guys flying around having fun like that.”Besides making catches, Evans also displayed what has made him a special teams rock the past few years. Evans came out of nowhere and made two touchdown-saving tackles against the Tigers. While such tackles may not show up in the box score, Evans’s efforts are far from lost from this coaching staff.“When I think of Mitchell Evans, I think of him as a steady guy,” Palcic said.Evans might not earn a spot as one of the all-time IU greats, but he said he hopes his role as the human Band-Aid for the Hoosiers will not soon be forgotten.“I’d like consider myself a football player,” Evans said. “I’d like people in the future to think of me as a guy that just likes to go out and play the game and play it right.”
(09/03/10 4:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior quarterback Ben Chappell and sophomore running back Darius Willis took a well-deserved early shower Thursday night. Chappell and Willis’ near-perfect first half gave the Hoosiers all they needed to defeat Towson 51-17.Chappell, a Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award nominee, was given a short field to work with for IU’s second drive of the game thanks to an interception from senior linebacker Tyler Replogle. Five plays and a touchdown pass to wide-open freshman tight end Ted Bolser was all Chappell needed to get the Hoosiers a lead they would never relinquish.And Chappell’s performance was done without his go-to man, junior wide receiver Tandon Doss. The offensive line did not allow a sack, which helped Chappell dice up Towson’s undersized secondary.The early success of the passing game opened up the floodgates for a hungry Willis. The sophomore running back that was hobbled by injuries last season reminded IU fans of his big-play ability, busting out for a 49-yard run to give the Hoosiers a 14-0 lead.Although Willis had big games against Michigan and Purdue in 2009, injuries prevented a breakout season. Besides showing off his big play ability, Willis bounced off Towson defenders all night. “Darius runs the ball hard and usually doesn’t go down on first contact,” Chappell said. “Being balanced like that is huge for us and allows us to move the ball.”Willis has demonstrated an ability to bounce it to the outside, but the sophomore made a statement with his power Thursday. Ending his night early, Willis finished with 102 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. IU’s offensive production continued in the second quarter. Three minutes in, Chappell hit junior receiver Damarlo Belcher down the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown pass. The Chappell-to-Belcher connection became an early trend, with Belcher tallying seven first half receptions.Halfway through the third quarter with IU holding a secure 48-14 lead, Chappell and Willis were given the rest of the night off. IU coach Bill Lynch recognized the significance of an early win, even if it was not against a Big Ten caliber opponent.“Every win is so important in Division 1A college football,” Lynch said.
(09/02/10 4:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU football team will look to extend its streak of six straight opening game wins when it takes on Towson at 7:30 today at Memorial Stadium.IU coach Bill Lynch enters his fourth season having won three previous opening games. In those openers, the Hoosiers have outscored their opponents 105-33. In fact, IU is one of five Football Bowl Subdivsion teams that have started 2-0 every season since 2004, joining USC, Alabama, Wisconsin and Kansas.While the trend favors the Hoosiers, Lynch knows how close his team was to letting the opener get away in 2009. A late fumble recovery helped seal IU’s 19-13 victory against Eastern Kentucky.This year, the Hoosiers will look to set a more convincing statement in the opener. Limiting mental errors is an area that Lynch has repeatedly stressed.“In an opener, you’ve got to make sure you have the right people playing, that you’re prepared, that you don’t beat yourself with turnovers with mistakes in substitutions, or penalties or kicking game mistakes,” Lynch said. “That’s something that we’ve worked very hard on.”The Hoosiers represent the only BCS conference team that Towson will face this season. A victory against a Big Ten school would be a considerable lift for a team that won two games last season. The big stage has potential to spark a Football Championship Subdivision team such as Towson.“Obviously we’re expecting a very good football team and a very hungry football team to come in here on Thursday,” co-defensive coordinator Brian George said.It will be critical for the underdog Towson to stop IU’s offense. Senior quarterback Ben Chappell and the Hoosier offense will look to exploit a Towson defense that allowed 36.5 points per game in 2009. Although the numbers are not in Towson’s favor, Lynch is not about to underestimate an opposing defense.“We’re going to see a very athletic defensive team with some good guys inside,” Lynch said.Chappell will not have the luxury of throwing to junior receiver Tandon Doss, who will be out Thursday with a groin injury. Senior Terrance Turner, junior Damarlo Belcher and freshman Duwyce Wilson make up a receiving corps that will have a significant size advantage over the Towson secondary. Reeling in big down field catches could result in a big opening win for the Hoosiers.The motto for this team throughout the offseason has been “Finish.” Finishing blocks, finishing runs and finishing games has driven the IU players since the beginning of spring practice. Against Towson, the Hoosiers will look to do something similar to their season motto — start.“I don’t care if you open with a non-conference team, a traditional rival or if you open in the Big Ten,” Lynch said. “It’s always about your own team in that opener.”
(09/01/10 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU football team already has a lot of new faces on defense. Now, those new faces must also master a new defensive scheme, the 3-4.Traditionally a pro-style defense, the 3-4 features three-down linemen and four linebackers, taking away a lineman and adding another linebacker. Instead of dwelling on the complications of learning another defense, the unit has taken a liking to running it in spring and summer practices. The new scheme opens up a variety of possibilities that has players buzzing.“Speaking from the defensive players, we’re really excited about it,” senior linebacker Tyler Replogle said. “It allows us to get some of those athletic defensive ends and linebackers in — like a Darius Johnson or a Kevin Bush — to send them on some blitzes so it frees up some linebackers, and it allows them to get in and get some sacks and (tackles-for-loss).”While the speed on the ends is critical to running a successful 3-4, having a nose tackle to plug up the middle is equally important. Sophomore defensive tackle Larry Black, Jr., looks to fill that role. Black, who burst onto the Big Ten scene last year, earned a spot on the Sporting News freshman All-America and All-Big Ten teams. Co-defensive Coordinator Brian George said he has a lot of confidence in having Black take on a couple of offensive linemen.“A big reason of why we did this was because we knew we had some big guys on the inside that we felt pretty good about coming out of last year, and we found a way to get more of those bigger body guys on the field at once,” George said.Although the defense has gradually incorporated the 3-4 throughout the spring and summer, they have also continued to practice their base 4-3 scheme. The coaching staff has made it clear that neither scheme will be used exclusively, forcing opposing teams to plan for both and adding the element of confusion.“We thought that making the offense prepare for both a 4-3 and a 3-4 will make it more difficult for them not only in preparation but during game time. Going back and forth between the two will confuse the offense a bit,” Co-defensive Coordinator Joe Palcic said.The defense also hit the film room to better understand the 3-4. The Hoosiers spent a portion of the off season watching film on NFL defenses that run the scheme. The top five teams in total defense in the NFL last year all ran a base 3-4. The success of the revived scheme has also made its way into some of nation’s most historic programs. Both Texas and Alabama ran the 3-4 frequently on their way to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.All schemes aside, the Hoosiers’ defensive unit knows it must improve on its 31.8 points per game allowed in 2009 to be successful. The first test comes Thursday against a Towson offense that averaged just more than 13 points per game in 2009. The new-look defense looks to prove to the Hoosier faithful that it has a new soul on the defensive side of the ball.“They’re flying around, playing with enthusiasm, getting to the ball and as a result, creating turnovers,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “That’s the way I envision this defense playing.”
(03/22/10 2:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Angel Escobedo will go down as one of the greatest wrestlers in IU history. The senior wanted nothing more than to establish that with a second national title to cap off his IU career. Unfortunately for Escobedo, that was not in the cards at the NCAA Championships in Omaha, Neb., last weekend.A third-place finish at the 125-pounds weight class makes Escobedo the first four-time All-American in school history. Saturday closed Escobedo’s final season at IU at a place that he is all too familiar with — the podium.“I was happy that I was able to come back and win at wrestle backs, but at the same time, it’s sad to know that my college career is over,” Escobedo said.Since Escobedo underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason, another national title has been the driving force behind his impeccable work ethic. Simply winning a match was not enough to satisfy Escobedo. The Griffith, Ind., native has earned the reputation of a gym rat throughout his time at IU.Most wrestlers usually throw on some warmups after a match and join their teammates on the bench for the rest of the meet. Escobedo is not one of those guys.Because Escobedo was usually wrestling in the first match of the night, he would throw on his warmups and jump rope to get another workout in. And if he was not doing that, he was just another assistant coach on the bench, engaged in every match. The passion for excellence that Escobedo has exemplified during his time at IU is something that will be hard to replace for this program.Division-I sports have increasingly struggled with the loyalty of coaches and players in the past few years, but Escobedo has been the poster child for a student-athlete maintaining loyalty to a school. As a four-time high school state champion in Indiana, Escobedo could have wrestled at Iowa, where wrestling national champions are seemingly grown in the cornfields. But Escobedo decided to stay in state and try and bring IU back to the top of the Big Ten. It is a decision Escobedo is constantly asked about by reporters. And it is answered the same way every time.“I don’t regret my decision to come to IU,” Escobedo said. “Wrestling for IU has helped me grow as a wrestler and it has helped me grow as a person, which is why I don’t think I’d be the person I am today if I had went to Iowa.”Escobedo’s resume from his five years at IU is nothing short of historic. He is the first Hoosier to win three Big Ten titles, one of 10 Hoosiers to win a national championship and now an All-American for the most times in school history. While he fell short of his main goal last weekend, Escobedo leaves IU with a legacy that will live on for future generations.“Angel’s season, to me, is not defined by that one match,” IU coach Duane Goldman said. “He has been so special to our program and has been such an ambassador for us. Student athletes like Angel don’t come around often. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had one as talented as Angel in my career.”
(03/12/10 2:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU wrestling team will come into the NCAA Championships on March 18 in Omaha, Neb., with six of its own looking to make their mark on the national stage.Improving on last year’s 24th-place finish has been the goal of this experienced team all season.As the No. 1 seed at 125 pounds, senior Angel Escobedo will attempt to repeat his run that landed him a national title two years ago. With a record-breaking third Big Ten title and perfect 33-0 record under his belt, Escobedo is once again the favorite to win.The first round has Escobedo grappling with Princeton’s Garrett Frey to kick off his final weekend donning the cream and crimson.Senior heavyweight Nate Everhart is another Hoosier wrestling in his final match next week. After going undefeated in the regular season, Everhart suffered his first loss in the heavyweight final of the Big Ten Championships to Iowa’s Daniel Erekson.The 35-1 Everhart now comes into next weekend’s action with a No. 6 seed in the heavyweight bracket where he will face Boise State‘s Samuel Zylstra. Everhart has yet to lose as underdog this year, as he displayed best in his impressive run to the heavyweight title at the Cliff Keen Invitational in December.Joining the two seniors next weekend will be the former Bloomington High School South duo, juniors Paul Young and Kurt Kinser.Young’s fifth-place finish at 165 pounds in the Big Ten tournament was enough to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, placing him at the No. 12 seed.Kinser had to wait until Wednesday night to find out his NCAA Championships fate. But Kinser’s fifth-place showing at 157 pounds at the Big Ten Championship and battle-tested body of work was enough to convince the committee of his worthiness for an at-large bid.Junior Eric Cameron also received an at-large bid at 184 pounds on Wednesday, which will mark his second-straight trip to the NCAA tournament.Sophomore Matt Powless, who earned an automatic bid with a seventh-place finish in the 197-pound division at the Big Ten Championships, rounds out the IU qualifiers. This will be Powless’ first trip to the NCAA Championships.
(03/08/10 5:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Big Ten Championships did not go the way the Hoosiers envisioned this weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich. An eighth-place finish was an improvement from last year’s ninth-place result, but it was not the strong finish to the season many had predicted. However, coming home with the 125-pound title and having four guys earn automatic trips to the NCAA Championships is not a bad consolation prize for the cream and crimson.The brightest moment of the weekend came when senior Angel Escobedo etched his name into the IU record books, becoming the first Hoosier ever to win three Big Ten titles.“It was definitely a challenge that I haven’t faced all year, but I knew that I needed to battle through adversity and find other ways to win,” Escobedo said.Waiting for Escobedo at Sunday afternoon’s 125-pound championship was Iowa’s No. 3 Matt McDonough, who came in at a perfect 32-0. In a battle of two undefeated lightweights, something had to give — luckily for Escobedo, it was McDonough’s undefeated season.After a series of stalemates, Escobedo found himself in an extremely rare position. The former national champion was down in riding time by more than one minute, which also meant he was technically losing the match.But Escobedo was not about to let a freshman keep him from making more Hoosier history. A couple of takedowns were all Escobedo needed to close out McDonough by a 6-4 final score. While he got Sunday started off with a bang for the Hoosiers, it would be the only time they would stand atop the podium.The Bloomington South duo of juniors Kurt Kinser and Paul Young both notched fifth-place finishes in their respective weight classes. The finish propelled Young to an automatic NCAA qualifier.Sophomore Matt Powless will be making his first trip to the NCAAs thanks to his seventh-place finish at 197 pounds.Rounding out the weekend for the Hoosiers was senior heavyweight Nate Everhart, who dropped his first match of the year to Iowa’s Daniel Erickson 9-6 in the final round. While Everhart had hopes of an undefeated senior campaign, he is still in position as one of the favorites to take home the heavyweight crown at the NCAAs.“Obviously, we could have done a lot better with all of the talent that we have,” Escobedo said. “But it’s a lot better that this happened in the Big Tens rather than at Nationals, because now we have two weeks to focus on what we did wrong.”
(03/05/10 3:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Forty-seven nationally ranked wrestlers, eight teams in the top 25, and 21 out of the last 30 National Championship teams are just a few reasons why the Big Ten is the best wrestling conference in the country. It is no secret the Big Ten Championships have more talent on display than any other conference tournament.This historic trend will continue as every Big Ten wrestler will look to punch a ticket to the National Championships this weekend at Michigan’s Crisler Arena.The event has plagued the No. 13 Hoosiers (16-3, 5-3), even in the years they showed national promise. They haven’t won a team title since the 1942-43 season and have placed in the top half only twice in the past decade. In 1996, when the Hoosiers went 6-1 in Big Ten play, they finished last. Even two-time 125-pound national champion and current IU assistant coach Joe Dubuque could never bring home a Big Ten title. IU coach Duane Goldman put it bluntly.“This tournament is a killer,” he said.Fortunately for the cream and crimson, this year is a different story.With the amount of upperclassmen and experience in the starting lineup, the Hoosiers enter Saturday with as good a chance as ever to prove they are among the nation’s elite.This year marks the first time the Hoosiers have finished above .500 in the Big Ten since 1996, which helps explain why half of the Hoosiers’ lineup is ranked in the top 14 nationally.Senior Angel Escobedo will look to bolster his impeccable resume this weekend, trying to become the first IU wrestler to ever win three Big Ten Championships. As the No. 1 wrestler nationally at 125 pounds, Escobedo will be tagged with the No. 1 seed and a target on his back.“This is when I do my best because guys come at me attacking, and it allows me to open my offense up and take them down,” Escobedo said.While Escobedo has already stood atop the Big Ten podium twice, coming in undefeated is uncharted territory. Not only did the former national champion tally his first 8-0 Big Ten season, he also has yet to record a mark in the loss column at an unblemished 30-0. Giving the favorite his first loss of the season will be the goal for all Big Ten wrestlers this weekend, but Escobedo is not about to let anyone get in the way of him stamping his name into the Hoosier record books one more time.“This is a program that has had such a rich history of great wrestlers, and to be the first one to ever win three Big Ten titles would mean a lot to me,” Escobedo said.But Escobedo’s repeated success in the Big Ten Championships has not resulted in top finishes for the Hoosiers in the past few years. The Griffith, Ind., native is the only one on this active roster to have captured the coveted Big Ten title. But undefeated senior heavyweight Nate Everhart hopes to change that soon.To fully understand how dominant Everhart has been, one must look at the work he did in the nonconference schedule.Everhart took down the top two seeds to earn the heavyweight crown at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in the beginning of December. Later that month, Everhart came back to Bloomington with the heavyweight title at the Southern Scuffle. The senior who started the year ranked No. 16 nationally has climbed his way to the No. 2 spot and is determined to bring home some more hardware this weekend.Powered by the perennially-winning seniors, the Hoosiers feel they are a team built for big tournament success. They finished sixth out of 44 teams at the Vegas Invitational and third out of 35 in the Southern Scuffle.But they aren’t alone. Junior Kurt Kinser, No. 8 at 157 pounds, has also risen through the ranks, giving the team hopes of a high finish. Kinser, a Bloomington native, was just a questionable takedown away from winning the 157-pound title at the Southern Scuffle. He has a quick pin ability that makes him a legitimate threat and gives the Hoosiers a chance to get some big team points. In a season that started with him sidelined because of injury, Kinser believes he is just hitting his stride going into this weekend.“I’ve been feeling really good, and I feel like I’m peaking at the right time,” Kinser said. “I feel like this is as strong as we’ve been since I’ve been here, and I think we’re ready to make a lot of big moves this weekend.”Two No. 1 seeds and five nationally ranked wrestlers could be the recipe for the Hoosiers’ success this weekend. They have not forgotten about their ninth-place finish last year, and they are poised in the face of redemption. “In the past, we’ve had the talent but we haven’t really had the depth to back it up,” Escobedo said. “This year, every guy up and down the starting lineup can make it to Nationals.”