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(11/17/00 4:54am)
In more ways than one, Saturday's game between the Hoosiers and No. 17 Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium will be a matchup between two teams that are polar opposites. They play different styles of football. One team might be headed for the Rose Bowl, while the other is set to close another disappointing season.\nThe Boilermakers, behind the strength of senior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Drew Brees, boast the fourth-best passing attack in the nation. Senior receiver Vinny Sutherland leads a trio of receivers who have each caught at least 50 balls.\nUnfortunately for the Hoosiers, IU has the statistically worst pass defense in the nation. The Hoosiers will be helped by the return of junior cornerback Sharrod Wallace, who should be back to his regular form after playing hurt against Wisconsin last week.\nWhile the Boilermakers (7-3, 5-2 Big Ten) will win or lose the game through the air, the Hoosiers (3-7, 2-5) will rely on the feet of junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El. Behind the option attack, IU is ranked fifth nationally in rushing with nearly 273 yards on the ground per game. Randle El is averaging 115.8 rushing yards per game.\nJunior running back Levron Williams, who hasn't played since pulling a groin at Illinois, will be a game time decision. If Williams can't go, freshman Brian Lewis, who ran well against the Badgers, will get the call.\nPurdue coach Joe Tiller said he is afraid of what Randle El and the Hoosiers' ground attack is capable of doing. Tiller has all the more reason to be afraid, after the Boilermakers allowed Michigan State to run them over with the option in their 30-10 loss in East Lansing last Saturday.\n"In the Big Ten Conference, no one executes (the option) better than Randle El does at IU," Tiller said. "Obviously, we're burning the midnight oil, and it's something we're hoping to get our team up to speed with."\nTiller said he thinks last week's performance by Purdue at Michigan State will make the Hoosiers even more inclined to use the option.\n"If you show a weakness in any area of the game, your opponents are going to continue to attack that until you prove that you've shored up the problem," Tiller said. "That's true of our alignments and what we're doing defensively."\nCoach Cam Cameron said he doesn't think the Boilermakers showed their best defense last weekend. Instead, Cameron thinks Purdue will come out and play much better.\n"I don't think their performance against Michigan State was really characteristic of them, either offensively or defensively," Cameron said. "Obviously, (the option) is one of our base plays, and we're going to run it no matter who we're playing."\nAlthough Purdue might have struggled with the option in the past, Cameron said he knows it will take more than just one offensive scheme to win.\n"You're not going to go beat anyone, especially a good football team, by just doing one thing," Cameron said.\nThe Hoosiers' offense will be playing against a very young defense that has matured quickly and played well in stretches. Freshman safety Stuart Schweigert leads the Boilermakers in tackles and junior linebacker Akin Ayodele leads the team with eight sacks.\nThe other main difference between the two teams is what this game means. The Hoosiers have stumbled throughout the year, losing five of their last six. \nPurdue, in their fourth year under Tiller, has finally joined the Big Ten elite. A win Saturday clinches a trip to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1967.\nThe Hoosiers could easily go into the game with the idea of playing the spoiler. If the Boilermakers lose, there is no way they could go to the Rose Bowl. Still, Cameron is more interested in getting back the Old Oaken Bucket, the trophy given to the winner each year. \nPurdue has held onto the bucket the past three years, winning in Bloomington last year, 34-31. The Boilermakers lead the bucket series 48-24-3 and the overall series 62-34-6.\n"We're going in there playing for the bucket, for the rivalry in the state and those type of things," Cameron said. \nFor senior defensive lineman Paul Mandina, this will be his last game at IU. As a captain, he said he has prepared his team to play Saturday. \n"We as captains, we've done a lot of motivating and trying to get people moving in the right direction," Mandina said. "But I don't think anything (else) needs to be said"
(11/16/00 4:56pm)
How does a defense go about stopping Drew Brees?\nFor that matter, can a defense stop Drew Brees? Purdue's senior quarterback, who is winding down his campaign for the Heisman Trophy, has shown that might not be possible. A defense can only hope to slow him down.\nBrees has torn through the Big Ten, completing 266 of 444 passes for 3,177 yards and 23 touchdowns, against just 11 interceptions. What makes Brees all the more dangerous is his ability to move around the pocket and create plays for himself and his receivers down the field.\nHaving spent nearly three full seasons in the same offense under Purdue coach Joe Tiller, Brees is comfortable in the Boilermakers' offensive scheme. He also knows how to pick apart opposing defenses.\n"He reads defenses really well, and he's a pretty mobile quarterback," Hoosier senior defensive tackle Paul Mandina said. "We're going to do whatever we can to get to him. He does a great job of beating pressure."\nBrees has completed at least 52 passes to three different receivers. The leader has been senior wide receiver Vinny Sutherland with 59 catches for 882 yards and 11 touchdowns.\nMaking Brees all the more effective has been the emergence of a running game in the form of sophomore running back Montrell Lowe. Taking the pressure off Brees, Lowe has rushed for 711 yards and two touchdowns on 168 carries.\nBrees is the second-leading rusher for Purdue (7-3, 5-2 in Big Ten play). While evading defensive pressure, Brees has rushed for 461 yards and four touchdowns this season.\n"That was the difference in the Michigan game, his ability to run the football," IU coach Cam Cameron said. "When you throw as well as he does and complete as many balls and you add another 500 yards (rushing), that really helps you. He has continually improved his game."\nBrees and the entire Purdue offense create the ultimate problem for a defense since they can run and throw the ball. The Boilermakers defeated the Hoosiers (3-7, 2-5) at Memorial Stadium last November in their 34-31 win.\n"You have to be aggressive and be smart, and you have to find a way to eliminate mistakes," Cameron said. "You're talking about one of the top offenses in the country. You don't necessarily go out and stop an offense like that."\nWhen Brees can't beat the pass rush is when a defense can slow him down. In the Boilermakers' last two games, a win against Ohio State and a loss at Michigan State, Brees has thrown seven interceptions. The combination of good downfield coverage and a solid pass rush has proven effective against Brees.\n"You have got to pick and choose when you do that because when you come after him he's got people out in space," Cameron said. "You have got to find some creative ways to create pressure without trying to get people matched up one-on-one in space."\nTiller and the offensive coaches have helped Brees get away from defensive pressure by creating pass plays that get the ball out of Brees' hands quickly.\nSo how can the Hoosiers slow down the mighty Drew Brees? Cameron's idea is to bring out more defensive backs.\nFrom Brees' perspective, it doesn't matter to him if the Hoosiers are able to stop him. With a Rose Bowl bid on the line for the Boilermakers, Brees only has winning on his mind, not statistics and the Heisman.\n"We're still playing for the Rose Bowl," Brees said. "The Heisman is not up to me."\nWith Purdue having such an explosive offense, perhaps the best way for IU to combat the offensive barrage is to have a short memory. If Brees does make a big play, the Hoosiers will need to get refocused in a hurry.\n"We're going to try to emphasize our players being players and not focusing back on if something bad occurs," Mandina said. "We know what we're up against"
(11/13/00 5:04am)
It seemed like a harmless penalty -- something that wouldn't hurt the Hoosiers in the big picture. But it would start the downward spiral that would ultimately lead to the Hoosiers' 43-22 loss to Wisconsin Saturday at Memorial Stadium.\nIU had a 6-0 lead as the first half was coming to an end. The Hoosiers (3-7, 2-5 Big Ten) had the ball and had worked their way to the Badgers' 10-yard line with just under two minutes on the clock. Facing a third down and needing four yards, sophomore tight end Bobby Brandt was whistled for a false start, pushing IU back five yards.\nThis is where things went downhill for the Hoosiers. On the next play, junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El was flushed from the pocket and rolled to his right. Forced to make a play on the move, Randle El tried to squeeze a pass into junior receiver Derin Graham in right corner of the end zone. The pass was picked off by Wisconsin's defensive back Mike Echols for a touchback.\n"I was trying to give (Graham) a chance when it comes to just making a play on a third down, but it was too short," Randle El said. "(Echols) made a great play on it to pick it off."\nThe Badgers (7-4, 4-4), starting from their own 20-yard line with 40 seconds on the clock, quickly moved down the field behind the arm of redshirt freshman quarterback Jim Sorgi. With starter Brooks Bollinger out of the game in the first quarter with a sprained ankle, Sorgi filled in and brought the Badgers back.\nWith 15 seconds left in the half, Sorgi hit sophomore receiver Lee Evans for a 25-yard touchdown to give the Badgers a 7-6 lead at the break.\n"That's a 10 point swing in the last minute of the half," coach Cam Cameron said. "We were never able to get ourselves back into position after that."\nIU forced three Badger fumbles in the opening 30 minutes, but the Hoosiers' offense was only able to muster two field goals by Andy Payne.\nJust as well as the Hoosiers' defense played, the Badgers defense also played well. The interception by Echols, one of four on the day by Wisconsin, sparked the Badgers.\n"There was a buzz throughout the team," Evans said of Echols' interception. "We just started going."\nCameron could not help but wonder how the game would have been different had Randle El been able to dispose of that last pass.\n"We're with a minute to go in the half and you're throwing the football to give yourself an opportunity to score," Cameron said. "If it's not there, we have to make sure we get an incompletion and get (a field goal)."\nAlthough things seemed to unravel at the end of the first half, the Hoosiers remained focused.\n"There was never a thing of backing down or anything like that," Randle El said. "We just had to come out and make plays."\nThe importance of the last 60 seconds of the first half was only accentuated by the way the Badgers came out in the second half. Sorgi led Wisconsin through an 80-yard drive that consumed the first five minutes of the third quarter that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end John Sigmund. The play gave the Badgers a 14-6 lead.\nThe Hoosiers responded with a touchdown of their own to make the score 14-12, but Wisconsin would hold the lead the rest of the way as they eventually turned the game into a blowout. In the end, the bad penalties in crucial situations and poor decisions that mired that last minute of the first half led IU to their demise Saturday.\n"All those things," Cameron said, "add up to reasons why you're not able to take advantage of opportunities"
(11/10/00 5:59am)
Barry Alvarez isn't afraid to say it. He won't try to fool his team or the press by lying to them. The naked truth is, the Wisconsin coach is terrified of Hoosier junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El.\nAlvarez is not alone. If there is a way to contain Randle El, nobody has found the solution. Last week against Illinois, Randle El ran over, under and through the Illini for 209 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Randle El's 209 yards was his second 200-yard rushing effort in three games, the other coming in a win against Minnesota last month.\nEven though he feels his team has played well against the option, Alvarez is still concerned about getting a leash on Randle El.\n"We feel our team is option sound, but this option is a little bit different because of the guy running it," Alvarez said. "You can be as sound as you want and still not be able to tackle (Randle El)."\nWhat makes things more difficult in Alvarez's mind is Randle El's ability to both run with and throw the ball. Tackling Randle El has not typically been classified as an enjoyable task.\n"The scariest thing is being athletic enough to bring him down," Alvarez said. "You can't overplay the run or the pass. I've never seen a player who can dominate a game the way he has. I've just never seen anybody who's capable of doing that. He's probably just one of the most gifted athletes I've ever seen."\nBadger junior linebacker Nick Greisen, named Big Ten defensive player of the week Monday, will be a key factor in limiting Randle El and the Hoosiers' potent running game. Greisen said Wisconsin will approach Randle El as just another running back.\n"We look at him as another back," Greisen said. "He's gotten a lot better at passing, but as long as everybody takes care of their responsibility, we should be able to shut them down."\nHaving said all of this, Alvarez has reason to be encouraged based on what the Badgers did last year to Randle El and the Hoosiers. Wisconsin ambushed IU for a 59-0 win last year in Madison. Randle El was limited to 28 rushing yards on 18 carries as IU was held to 278 total yards.\n"Everybody has to have a responsibility and they have to be very disciplined to have any chance to be successful," Alvarez said. "Last year, we jumped up on them. I think they probably had to get away from their game plan."\nThe Hoosiers have not forgotten that Saturday afternoon last October. IU coach Cam Cameron said he hopes the memory of last year's embarrassment can serve as motivation.\n"I think there's some circumstances there, but the bottom line is that the score speaks for itself," Cameron said. "There's not a lot of talk about it. Just write it down. I think that says enough."\nEven though Wisconsin (6-4, 3-4 in Big Ten play) doesn't have the record or national status they had last year at this time, the Badgers are still playing well. Wisconsin's four losses have been by a total of 28 points, including three-point losses to Northwestern and Michigan.\n"I think it's very deceiving for people to think that Wisconsin isn't one of the best teams in this league," Cameron said. "They had some adversity early in the year. They seem to have gotten through that and seem to be getting back on track."\nThe Badgers did face some tough games without some of their key players. Junior cornerback Jamar Fletcher and junior running back Michael Bennett, amongst others, missed time due to suspensions stemming from a merchandise discount scandal.\n"They've got their skill people on offense playing at a high level, especially the last few weeks," Cameron said. "Defensively, they're back to playing the way they are accustomed to playing. This is an awfully, awfully, good Wisconsin ball club coming in here at this point in time."\nA key to the Badgers' recent success has been the improved health and play of sophomore quarterback Brooks Bollinger and Bennett. In the past five games, Wisconsin has averaged over 140 yards rushing and more than 208 yards through the air per contest.\nWith much of the attention on Randle El, Bollinger is ready to do what he has to.\n"Their offense has put up some big numbers this year," Bollinger said. "That means we're going to have to put some points on the board and be able to control the ball and make first downs."\nWith Bollinger handling the offense, Alvarez's defense will try to stop something that seems to be unstoppable at times. Alvarez said he can only hope.
(11/06/00 6:21am)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Paul Mandina stared with a stoic look on his face at the brown lectern before him. Mandina scratched his head as he tried to explain the frustration after the Hoosiers had just lost another close football game. Illinois squeaked past IU, 42-35, before 54,283 fans, ending the Hoosiers' bowl chances.\nThe Hoosiers' senior defensive tackle and co-captain could not find the words.\n"It's indescribable," Mandina said.\nFor the second consecutive week and the fourth time this season, IU put itself in position to win a football game before watching its hard work dissolve in the wake of a few plays. In a script that seems to stay the same with only the names of the opponents changing, the Hoosiers still have not found a way to win close games.\nAfter IU (3-6, 2-4) tied the game at 35 on junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El's fourth touchdown run of the game with 5:08 left in regulation, the Illini (5-4, 2-4) marched down the field. A pass interference call on junior cornerback Marcus Floyd set up Illinois at the Hoosiers' 13-yard line. \nIn the end, Illini junior quarterback Kurt Kittner scored from one yard out for the win with 25 seconds left. Two last-gasp passes from midfield fell to the ground, and the Hoosiers have lost four out of their last five.\n"There's not a lot that can be said that hasn't been said before," coach Cam Cameron said. "I've never been around a group of guys that do so many good things and come up short. That's the bottom line."\nOnce again, besides two or three mistakes, the Hoosiers played well enough to win. IU ran for 447 yards on the ground. After working the outside with the option early, the Hoosiers attacked the middle of the field throughout the rest of the game with junior running back Levron Williams and senior fullback De'Wayne Hogan.\nBy the end of the day, Williams had run for 161 yards and Hogan had piled up 76 yards and a touchdown. But the star again was Randle El, who ran for 209 yards and the four of the Hoosiers' five touchdowns.\n "(Randle El) has had a lot of good performances," Cameron said. "That may have been his best."\n Illinois coach Ron Turner praised Randle El as one of the best players in the country before and after the game.\n "I said earlier in the week he is the best player in college football and I have not changed my opinion," Turner said.\n The Illini were sparked by Kittner's play, who rebounded from a bad day at Michigan State last weekend to throw for 277 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-29 passing. Sophomore flanker Aaron Moorehead repeatedly burned the Hoosiers' secondary with double moves and finished the day with five receptions for 103 yards and two scores.\nJunior cornerback Sharrod Wallace missed the game for IU. Redshirt freshman Duane Stone and Floyd, a former running back, picked up most of the playing time Saturday. Kittner attacked the inexperienced cornerbacks throughout the game.\n"That wasn't a surprise," Cameron said. "It was obvious. Illinois did a nice job of exploiting that."\nIllinois got on the scoreboard first with an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown by freshman Christian Morton. The play was the latest display of the shaky special teams that have plagued the Hoosiers throughout the year.\n"My No. 1 concern going into the year was the kicking game," Cameron said.\nFreshman punter Ryan Hamre handled the first punt, which went 32 yards. Cameron switched to Randle El for the next kick, and Randle El delivered a 55-yard bomb. Then, in the fourth quarter, Randle El punted for the second time in the game.\nThis time, five Illinois defenders, including starting defensive linemen senior Fred Wakefield and junior Terrell Washington, circled and repeatedly punished Randle El after he got the kick away. Roughing the kicker was called on the Illini and unsportsmanlike conduct was whistled on the Hoosiers after a coach ran onto the field to protect Randle El.\n"I got attacked," Randle El said. "They were just trying to get me off my game. I got my own shots in."\nCameron did not accuse the Illini of playing dirty or trying to hurt Randle El because he was having such a good game.\n"(Turner) would not do something to try and hurt a guy," Cameron said. "He's just too classy."\nEarly in the game, the Hoosiers moved at will up and down the field. IU grabbed its first lead at 14-7 with a four-yard Randle El scamper with less than one minute gone in the second quarter.\n"They never stopped us," Randle El said. "We turned the ball over twice and had a few big penalties."\nThe biggest turnover came at a bad time for the Hoosiers. IU had moved to the Illini goal line in the middle of the third quarter trailing 28-21. As Randle El was about to enter the end zone, senior linebacker Robert Franklin stripped him of the ball and Washington recovered for Illinois at their own two-yard line.\n"I should have just covered up the ball more than I did," Randle El said. "That's a mistake on my part."\nThat play and the entire game could serve as an example of the whole season from the Hoosiers' perspective. Even though IU was knocked out of bowl contention with the loss Saturday, they said they are still keeping the faith.\n"It's always one or two plays that get us," Randle El said. "We'll get something going, sooner or later."\nAs much as the players and coaches believe in the system and each other, Cameron said he knows there can only be so many moral victories in one season. \n"The bottom line is to win football games and we didn't do that," Cameron said.
(11/03/00 10:11am)
Kurt Kittner didn't shy away from criticizing his performance last weekend in Illinois' 14-10 loss at Michigan State. The Illini junior quarterback said even his mom could have made some of the throws he couldn't.\n"Not good," Kittner said of a 13-for-29 passing performance that gained 104 yards. "I am very disappointed in myself. I feel like I played like a freshman again."\nThis is how most of the season has gone for Illinois (4-4, 1-4 in Big Ten play). Much like the Hoosiers, the Illini had big plans this year. After an 8-4 season a year ago, Illinois had its eyes set on a possible Big Ten title. \nBut after a tough loss to Michigan to open its conference schedule, the Illini have been caught in a downward spiral. Illinois has lost four of its last five games and are suddenly in danger of missing the bowl season altogether.\nBesides Kittner's play, Illini coach Ron Turner said he has been disappointed in the way Illinois has squandered chances to win football games.\n"It comes back to us," Turner said. "We have to take advantage of opportunities when they are there to score points."\nThe Hoosiers know what it's like to miss opportunities. IU lost three games in the closing moments of the fourth quarter that they could have easily won, including last week's 27-24 loss to Penn State in Indianapolis.\n"They've had a lot of close ballgames, and we've got three ballgames that were extremely close, where if you make a play here or make a play there and take advantage of an opportunity, you're looking at a completely different set of circumstances," coach Cam Cameron said. "I think they're in the same position."\nIllinois still has a good shot at becoming bowl-eligible, but it must win tomorrow because it will soon play Ohio State and Northwestern, both ranked teams. The Hoosiers are still bowl-eligible but will need to win both.\n "I think this becomes the next opportunity for both of our ballclubs, which is to go in and win, play as well as we can possibly play and make the plays that need to be made," Cameron said. "That's what the ballgame will come down to."\n IU beat Illinois last year in Bloomington in a fourth quarter rally that ended in a 34-31 Hoosier win last October. In that game, junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El ran for three touchdowns and kept the Hoosiers in the game before throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to junior running back Levron Williams on IU's first overtime possession.\nEven though Randle El defeated the Illini last year, Cameron said he doesn't expect Illinois to change its defensive scheme for the game.\n"They may adjust something in their secondary, but I think most people will be reluctant to just come in with some magic defense to try to stop any one person," Cameron said. "If you take everybody else away, obviously, he's going to try to create some things, which he has done numerous times."\nThe Illini will try to steady their offense with junior running back Rocky Harvey and sophomore running back Antoineo Harris, who have each run for more than 500 yards this season and accounted for seven touchdowns.\nTurner will be looking for Kittner to return to the form that had some people touting him as a Heisman Trophy candidate at the beginning of the year.\n"I've never seen an athlete at any level not have an off day," Turner said. "He had an off day. I'm confident he'll bounce back."\nThe Hoosiers are looking at this game from the standpoint that it is just one more step toward a bowl berth. Instead of collectively looking at the final three games, IU is solely focused on Illinois.\n"We've still got three games to play, no matter how you look at it," Cameron said. "It's not a one-game season. One of our goals would be to play in post-season. This game gets you one step closer to that. That's why we're not focusing on three games. We're focusing on one game"
(11/02/00 4:22am)
As the season progresses, the Hoosiers' offense continues to focus more on the rushing game. IU has had success doing so, averaging 257.6 yards per game on the ground, the eighth best rushing attack in the nation.\nAt the same time, the Hoosiers are 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. More and more the passing game has become a forgotten facet of IU's offense. With the Hoosiers having lost three of their last four games, a revitalization through the air might be in order.\nA main target that seemed to disappear as of late is senior wide receiver Jerry Dorsey. The main deep threat for IU, Dorsey has hauled in 16 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns. Most of Dorsey's impact was early in the season, but it seems teams have figured out how to slow him down.\n"Yeah, they're over covering a little bit," Dorsey said. "I'm a deep threat, so I figured they might double cover me or something like that."\nThe Hoosiers ran the ball on all but two of their first-quarter plays Saturday night. Junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El's first pass was deep and intended for Dorsey. The Nittany Lions intercepted the throw.\n"People have done a better job of taking him away," coach Cam Cameron said. "He had a couple of opportunities in the Penn State game, and one of them was intercepted, and the second was a pass thrown a bit behind him."\nGaddis took advantage of the extra room the defense and has made 25 catches for 488 yards and two touchdowns.\nCameron thinks opponents have focused on Dorsey in the past few games because he came off a great start earlier in the year. During the full season, Cameron thinks Dorsey and Gaddis will have the same number of opportunities to make plays.\n"I think it's just one of those cases where he did some things early in the year, and now opponents are focusing on taking him out of the picture," Cameron said. "Now that has opened up Gaddis in the past few weeks. We'd like to think that over the course of the season that will balance itself out a little bit."\nThe Hoosiers are averaging 179.8 yards per game through the air. Last year, the passing offense was much more prolific while both Dorsey and Gaddis finished the year with more than 600 receiving yards each.\nDorsey doesn't care if the IU offense continues to focus on the ground game. As long as the Hoosiers are playing well, Dorsey will do what he's asked to do.\nDorsey has gotten used to not only running routes, but also opening up room for the strong ground game.\n"We just put in the offense and just run," Dorsey said. "Plus, I'm starting to enjoy blocking anyway"
(10/30/00 5:49am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- In four years, he has done a lot of things. He brought in his own players and coaches. He installed a high-powered offense with a talented quarterback. He was able to move a home game to Indianapolis. \nBut coach Cam Cameron hasn't been able to teach his team one crucial aspect of football.\nCameron has not taught the Hoosiers how to finish football games.\nIn the latest disappointing game Saturday, IU once again led for most of the game before falling apart in the end. Penn State senior kicker Ryan Primanti knocked in a 39-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to propel the Nittany Lions to a 27-24 win before 43,122 spectators at the RCA Dome Saturday night.\nThe Hoosiers held the lead until Penn State (4-5, 3-2 Big Ten) tied the game at 21 with 1:50 left in the third quarter on a two-yard touchdown pass from Nittany Lion senior quarterback Rashard Casey to junior tight end John Gilmore. Penn State took the lead on its next possession on another 39-yard field goal by Primanti.\nIU followed with a 16-play, six-minute drive that went deep into Nittany Lion territory. The drive ended with a 29-yard field goal by senior kicker Andy Payne with 1:59 left in the game. \nAlthough there was a controversial no-call on Penn State's winning drive, Cameron said the Hoosiers inability to get in the end zone on that drive was the decisive factor.\n"If we get down there, especially late in the ballgame, we have to score," Cameron said. "That's the story of the ballgame in our minds as coaches. We had opportunities to score, we just didn't execute. That was the difference in the ballgame."\nLast week against Minnesota, IU (3-5, 2-3) was able to make plays on both sides of the ball. The defense created two turnovers against the Gophers in the fourth quarter that led to touchdowns for the Hoosiers. Saturday, IU didn't step up in the fourth quarter.\n"We just didn't make the plays we made a week ago and that's the difference in the ballgame," Cameron said. "In close ballgames you're going to have to make plays and eliminate turnovers. If you do that, you win. If you don't, you come up short."\nOn the other hand, the Nittany Lions did the things they had to do in order to win in the late stages of the game. Casey said he knew his team had a chance since the Nittany Lions had been able to finish games earlier in the season.\n"I never really thought we were out of it," Casey said. "I think our two-minute offense is one of the better parts of our game."\nPenn State coach Joe Paterno gave credit to his quarterback for his execution. \n"I thought it was great," Paterno said of Casey's play in the last two minutes. "He took his time. He was careful. He didn't try to do it all in a hurry. He did a great job."\nCasey outdueled IU's junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El throughout the game. Casey threw for 198 yards and a touchdown on 18 of 23 passing and no interceptions. Randle El, on the other hand, completed just nine of 22 passes for 88 yards and three interceptions. After rushing for 210 yards last week against Minnesota, Randle El was held to 66 yards on the ground.\nIn the week leading up to the game, there had been some talk of Randle El saying he plays at a higher level than Casey. Casey said he kept Randle El's words in mind during the game.\n"Yeah, he made some comments, but I can play with him on my worst day," Casey said. "Talking doesn't get the job done."\nEarly in Saturday's game, the Hoosiers used a steady ground game to move down the field with ease. IU threw the ball only three times in the first half. Junior running back Levron Williams had another good game with 135 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Williams scored the first points of the game with a 25-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter.\nPenn State responded with a drive that lasted more than six minutes and was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Larry Johnson. After senior fullback De'Wayne Hogan scored from five yards out with just more than nine minutes left before halftime, Nittany Lion junior tailback Eric McCoo evened the score at 14 with a five-yard touchdown scamper eight minutes later.\nOn the Hoosiers' second scoring drive, Randle El was hit awkwardly and was replaced by sophomore quarterback Tommy Jones for three plays before returning for the rest of the game.\n"He's fine," Cameron said. "He got his knee tangled up a little bit."\nThe Nittany Lions had a shot at the lead early in the third quarter when they drove to the Hoosiers' two-yard line. On third down, McCoo ran outside and was grabbed by sophomore safety Ron Bethel. While Bethel brought him down, junior linebacker Justin Smith knocked the ball loose and junior cornerback Sharrod Wallace picked it up and ran back to the Hoosiers' 31-yard line.\nOn the play, Wallace sprained his ankle and was out for the rest of the game.\n"That hurt us," Cameron said. "He's playing good. That hurt us and they took advantage of it and that's to their credit."\nSenior defensive tackle Paul Mandina said his team would respond to the tough loss next week at Illinois.\n"This hurts a little bit, but we're going to rebound from it," he said.\nIn the same day that his wife Missy gave birth to their fourth child, Cameron took responsibility for his team not getting the job down in the final moments of the game.\n"Mom got her job done, but dad didn't," Cameron said.
(10/27/00 6:16am)
It's a home game, but it isn't at Memorial Stadium. The game is away from home, but the Hoosiers will be considered the home team. Either way, when the Hoosiers travel to Indianapolis Saturday for their meeting with Penn State at the RCA Dome, the site and stadium won't be important to them.\nBuilding on last weekend's win against then-ranked Minnesota, the Hoosiers are confident.\n"I thought we played with a lot of spirit and enthusiasm (last weekend), and I think we'll bring that no matter where we play the game," senior receiver Versie Gaddis said. "It's going to be exciting playing in the RCA Dome."\nThe University decided to move the game from Memorial Stadium to the RCA Dome before the 2000 season in an attempt to increase the fan base throughout the state.\nThis weekend's game, labeled the Steak 'n Shake Hoosier Football Classic, will mark the first time IU has played a game in Indianapolis since a 34-7 loss to Illinois in 1984.\nFor IU coach Cam Cameron, the publicity surrounding the move to the RCA Dome seems to have gone well both for his team and the University.\n"All indications are that the promotion of the game has gone well," Cameron said. "They expect a big crowd and a lot of things will go on that are good for our fans and good for Indianapolis. It sounds like there is going to be a big crowd there."\nCameron said he hopes the presence of a larger crowd might help his team play with more energy against a Penn State (3-5, 2-2) team that has been up and down during the season.\n"How (the crowd) directly relates to our football team is to come out ready to play, flying around and get the crowd involved in the ball game," Cameron said. "That will be the important thing. Let's play well enough to get the crowd going."\nThis season, the Nittany Lions have played and lost two games, one of which was played inside a dome in Minnesota, and both of which were played on on artificial turf. This will be the first game of the season in which IU will play in a dome or on Astroturf.\nThe artificial surface could be an opportunity for IU to attack Penn State on the ground and through the air. With the speed of junior runningback Levron Williams, Gaddis and junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El, things could open up more than last weekend since artificial grass tends to be a faster surface than real grass.\n"We'll play the game anywhere as long as we have the opportunity to go out there, play hard and have an opportunity to win the game," Cameron said. "I don't care where we play."\nThe Hoosiers will get acclimated to the artificial grass with a walk-through on the field late Friday afternoon.\nAlthough the Hoosiers will have to travel farther than they usually do for a home game, they will said they will feel comfortable at the RCA Dome.\n"We're looking at home because we're in Indiana," Williams said. "Even though we're traveling 46 miles to play in the dome, we're still at home"
(10/26/00 4:44am)
Saturday, Levron Williams wanted to make a statement. The Hoosiers' junior running back was returning from nagging injuries that limited his play in the previous two games. In the third quarter of the Hoosiers' 51-43 win against then-No. 22 Minnesota, Williams got his chance.\nWith his team trailing 29-24 toward the end of the third quarter, Williams took a pitch from junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El and scampered 36 yards down the sideline for his second touchdown of the game.\nAs he entered the end zone, Williams could have pulled up and began the celebration. Instead, Williams lowered his shoulder and leveled a Golden Gopher defender, much to the delight of his teammates.\n"(Williams) hitting him in the end zone was key," Randle El said. "That kind of sparked everything else. He doesn't do that a lot because he usually makes people miss, but to see him run people over is great."\nThe 6-foot-4, 221-pound Williams finished the afternoon with 134 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. He knew he was going to have a big game, especially after coach Cam Cameron told him he was going to get the ball.\n"(Cameron) let me know personally to go run hard," Williams said. "(He) told me before the game I have to come running. He said we're going to run on these guys."\nFreshman Brian Lewis played in the majority of the losses at Northwestern and Michigan. Lewis is not as big as Williams and limited the running game to the outside with the option.\nWilliams has both the speed to run outside and the power to take the ball up the middle and break tackles. Against Minnesota, the Hoosiers attacked the middle of the field with isolation plays that opened holes for Williams and others.\n"We worked on it in practice the past week," Williams said. "I think if we can attack up the middle, we can isolate them a little. We now have a threat inside or outside."\nAs much as Williams has taken advantage of running on the outside with option pitches from Randle El, he likes to punish tacklers in the hole just as much.\n"I want to get better at that," Williams said. "(Running backs coach Anthony Thompson) tells us all the time to run people over ... to let them know you\'re out there running hard."\nCameron said this week he wants to continue to use Williams up the middle to give Randle El a break.\n"We need a play or two where Antwaan doesn't have to run down the line with the ball," Cameron said. "It's nice to know we can go back and hand the ball off to somebody to let him catch his breath."\nWilliams said he doesn't mind taking over.\n"I don't mind running it," Williams said. "I'm trying to get better at that. Running off tackle is one of my weak spots, and I'm going to run off tackle a little more the next couple of weeks."\n As a team, IU rushed for 348 yards on 54 carries. Cameron credited his offensive line for doing their job.\n "I thought our guys did alright," Cameron said. "We missed some blocks but it wasn't due to a lack of effort. Those guys in there are coming off the football and doing everything they can do to block people."\n Although the running plays up the middle were working well against Minnesota, so was the option. Randle El made a number of impressive pitches that surprised the defense, but not Williams.\n"I'm around it at practice, so whatever type of pitch he throws, I'm ready for it," Williams said.\nBeyond just helping the running game on the outside, the inside work of Williams and the offensive line also opens up more holes in the secondary for Randle El to throw to. Randle El threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns against the Gophers Saturday.\nSenior wide receiver Versie Gaddis said the duo of Williams and Randle El makes the offense much harder for defenses to figure out.\n"It makes the whole offense run better when you got the running game and the passing game going," Gaddis said. "Whenever you try to stop the run, the pass is open and when the pass is open it goes right back to (the run)."\nThis week against Penn State in Indianapolis, Williams hopes to continue his play from last week. \n"It was a pretty good day, but not a great day," Williams said. "I'm feeling pretty good. (I'm going to) just go out and work hard in practice"
(10/24/00 5:14am)
After a 58-0 loss to Michigan last weekend, coach Cam Cameron said he should be held responsible for the Hoosiers' poor performance. But after IU's 51-43 win against Minnesota, the players feel otherwise.\n"Everybody blames Cam, but he can't play the game," junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El said. "He knows football. He does everything right that needs to be done."\nEven if that means stepping back and letting the players take control. That is just what Cameron did last week after the complete meltdown at Michigan. \n"At times the head coach needs to shut up," Cameron said.\nWith that in mind, the captains gathered the team Oct. 15 to get things moving in the right direction.\n"(Cameron) kind of let us take over the team as captains and let us lead and everybody else follow," Randle El said. "At some point, the captains had to come and not ask the team what they want, but come up with something like, it's going to be our way or you don't have to be here."\nThe captains asked the team to take more pride in their work on the field and do their jobs.\n"I think we began winning that game on Sunday," senior defensive tackle and co-captain Paul Mandina said. "What that created was more of a unified team and people being accountable for themselves and accountable for their actions."\nThe Hoosiers (3-4, 2-2) have also begun to turn to, rather than turning to outside sources for inspiration. In front of the Homecoming crowd of about 30,000 at Memorial Stadium, Randle El said the players knew they had to rely on one another.\nBoth the offense and defense responded to the meeting. Randle El surpassed his previous school record for total yardage in a game with 473 yards, including 210 on the ground. Junior running back Levron Williams ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.\nSenior receiver and co-captain Versie Gaddis had 155 yards on six catches. Gaddis scored the Hoosiers' first touchdown with an over-the-shoulder grab in the end zone on a 24-yard pass from Randle El.\nGaddis' play helped create more holes for Randle El on the ground. Overall, the Golden Gophers were off-balance for much of the game. \n"The passing game had a lot to do with us running the option," Randle El said. "They kind of got confused. They didn't know what we were going to do. Once you get them off-balance, you can basically do anything you want."\nThe defense didn't post the numbers the offense did, but the defense finally made the plays they hadn't made all year. Junior cornerback Sharrod Wallace intercepted a Travis Cole pass in the fourth quarter in Hoosier territory. The play led to a 35-yard touchdown run by Williams.\nOn the Gophers' next offensive play, junior linebacker Justin Smith blitzed and blindsided Cole, who fumbled the ball. Mandina recovered the ball at the Minnesota 29-yard line. Randle El then ran from a yard out to all but end the game.\n"Plays like that can determine the outcome of a ball game," Mandina said.\nThe defense was inspired by a speech former Hoosier standout Adewale Ogunleye gave the night before the game. Ogunleye spoke about his experience with the Miami Dolphins, which boasts one of the best defenses in the NFL.\nOgunleye told the defense to have confidence. His speech, along with the Michigan loss, led the defense to turn things around.\nWith the Hoosiers two games under .500 before Saturday's game, IU knew it would have to play as a team and win.\n"We kind of played off each other, and that's what we love to do," Randle El said. "If we would have lost, it would have been devastating to us. I think we as captains came together."\nMinnesota coach Glen Mason said he was impressed with IU's ability to turn things around after the loss to the Wolverines.\n"For them to regroup says a lot about Cam Cameron and his coaching staff and the type of young men they have in their program," Mason said.
(10/20/00 5:43am)
To this point, Minnesota coach Glen Mason has succeeded where IU coach Cam Cameron has failed. Both hired in 1997, Mason has revitalized the once-dormant Gopher program to respectability and has taken his team to a bowl game. Cameron has yet to do either of the two.\nThis season, once again, Mason has the Golden Gophers on the move with a three-game winning streak and in a four-way tie for first place in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers have hit a wall the last two weeks and have slipped to 2-4 and 1-2 in the conference.\nMason has done an excellent job restoring his team's confidence after Minnesota (5-2, 3-1) stumbled to a 2-2 start out of the gates. He said the team was playing well, but the past few weeks they have been making the plays.\n"It's amazing what's happened over the course of a couple of weeks," Mason said. "You go from 2-2 to 5-2, and like I always say, perception is more important than fact. Everything changes."\nA big part of the Gophers' recent success has been the play of junior quarterback Travis Cole. The season began with Cole mired in a quarterback competition with the highly regarded freshman Asad Abdul-Khaliq. \nAbdul-Khaliq has put up solid numbers, throwing for 602 yards and seven touchdowns in five games. Still, the inability of Abdul-Khaliq to make good decisions in critical moments led Mason to turn to Cole.\nSo far, Cole has thrown for 773 yards and five touchdowns. As a team, the Gophers offense is scoring 31 points per game. Cole said he has gained confidence with each game and is ready to be a team leader.\n"The more comfortable I get in there, the better," Cole said. "I don\'t think I\'ve earned the right to be a leader on this team, but then again, you\'re the head guy on offense. I try to lead by example as much as possible."\nCole has a major weapon to throw to in 6-foot-3 receiver Ron Johnson. The junior has tallied 36 receptions for 622 yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, behind a good offensive line, sophomore running back Tellis Redmon is averaging over 92 yards per game to go along with five touchdowns. \nCameron has been impressed with the Gophers offense and the way Cole has played.\n"Cole has a good understanding of what they are trying to do when they have a no-back, one-back set," Cameron said. "When they come in with two backs, they do a good job of keeping you out of balance."\nThe other part of the improvement by the Gophers has been the sharp play of their secondary. Senior strong safety Clorenzo Griffin leads Minnesota with 51 tackles to go along with an interception. Junior cornerback Willie Middlebrooks has 31 tackles and an interception.\n"I think they have the best corner in the league in (Middlebrooks)," Cameron said. "Maybe he's not the most talented, but he plays the best. He is a big guy who just locks up on you man-to-man. He's run with every guy in the league for the last few years."\nIf there was any doubt about the Gophers\' mental toughness, it was laid to rest with their win at then-No.5 Ohio State. There was the incessant talk of Mason, who has played and coached for the Buckeyes, using the game as an audition for a future job.\n"A lot's being said because I played and I coached there," Mason said. "I spent a lot of time there. I had some emotions when I was on the bus. But once I got there and got in the locker room with my players, it\'s coaching football."\nIn the end, with the Gophers clicking, the Hoosiers will need to play much better than the way they have in the past two weeks. If Cameron is to get his team to play as well as or better than Mason\'s, he will have to prepare them mentally, after the loss at Michigan last Saturday. \n"That\'s one thing we\'ve addressed," Cameron said. "We obviously have to get over that hurdle, mentally. We\'ve been talking about mental toughness and the way winners think."\nOne thing that Cameron said he has working in his favor is that the Hoosiers are getting sick of losing. They want to start winning, just like the Gophers are.\n"They are embarrassed,\" Cameron said of his players. "I think they are upset. I think they are disappointed, which you want them to be"
(10/17/00 5:33am)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It was a microcosm of one of the longest afternoons in the history of Hoosier football. Although the game was over long before the play, the exchange was representative of the problem that plagued IU all afternoon in its 58-0 loss to Michigan Saturday at Michigan Stadium.\nJust after the Wolverines scored their final points, junior receiver Derin Graham was returning the ensuing kickoff for the Hoosiers (2-4, 1-2 in Big Ten play). Like the team had done all afternoon, Graham hesitated at about the 20-yard line. A split second later, two Michigan players planted Graham before he could get moving again.\nWhat happened next was the story of the day for the Hoosiers. Although it is understood the Wolverines have superior natural talent, that talent wasn't the decisive factor Saturday.\n"I don't think it was physical," junior defensive end Kemp Rasmussen said. "I think it was more mental."\nThere are plenty of reasons that could have caused the mental breakdown. There were nearly 111,000 fans at Saturday's game. The game was also a regional telecast on ABC. With all of the media attention, all the distractions were in place for the Hoosiers to make a number of mental blunders. And they did.\nOn their second possession, IU drove a considerable part of the field as they trailed 3-0 early on. Junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El converted a couple of third downs with two passes to senior receiver Versie Gaddis. Then things fell apart for IU.\nRandle El threw a soft pass into the flat for sophomore fullback Jeremi Johnson. The pass was perfect, but Johnson wasn't. The ball slipped through Johnson's hands and into the grasp of Michigan junior cornerback Todd Howard at the Wolverines' 34-yard line. \nMichigan took the ball and marched down the field for its first of many touchdowns. Although they were down 10-0, the Hoosiers were still in the ballgame. Once again, they drove down the field with ease. But, once again, IU was its own worst enemy. \nOn second down deep in Michigan territory, junior center Craig Osika airmailed a snap out of the shotgun formation over Randle El's head. The play put the Hoosiers in a third and 45 situation -- one teams don't plan for. IU coach Cam Cameron had Randle El punt the ball. Randle El did just that, but the ball went into Osika's back for a two-yard loss. \nFreshman Ryan Hamre had his punt on fourth down blocked and returned for a touchdown by Wolverine junior Marquise Walker. \n"You can't beat anybody playing the way we did (Saturday)," Cameron said. "No excuses."\nMichigan coach Lloyd Carr called the play one of the game's big moments that enabled the Wolverines to put some distance between themselves and IU.\n"That was a big play -- maybe the turning point," Carr said.\nRandle El said his team played well during much of the first half. But, in the end, the Hoosiers' own errors led to their downfall.\n"They got the momentum, and we couldn't get it back," Randle El said. "We were moving the ball, but then early turnovers killed us and put our defense in bad situations."\nOn the Hoosiers' next possession, Randle El fumbled the ball off junior running back Levron Williams' hip. Michigan scored quickly again as they posted 35 points in the second quarter alone. They had three scoring possessions lasting less than 30 seconds.\nAfter the game, Randle El was asked what he could do to help his teammates keep the faith that things will get better. Randle El said he is confident in his teammates, but doesn't know where things will go from here.\n"The belief factor of the team is all right," Randle El said. "I'm not sure what we're going to do as captains."\nSaturday's mental collapse might have left Randle El without answers, but Cameron said he knows one thing that needs to happen; he knows who is responsible for this weekend's debacle.\n"You saw the same thing I saw," Cameron said. "The head football coach needs to do a better job. I'm accountable"
(10/13/00 7:14pm)
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is in a predicament IU coach Cam Cameron was in earlier this season. Cameron saw his team drop its first two games after holding big first half leads. \nAfter last weekend, Carr and his Wolverines for the second time this year dropped a halftime lead and lost, this time at Purdue, 32-31. \nMuch like the Hoosiers did earlier in the season, the Wolverines (4-2, 2-1) repeatedly tried to give the game away before the Boilermakers eventually took it with a field goal with four seconds left.\nCarr said he was very upset with the loss and how his team let an opportunity go by, but took full responsibility.\n"Winning is about finishing, and what I saw in the second half I don't like," Carr said. "What I saw is a direct reflection of the way I coached and I don't like that either. I didn't see anything in the second half I liked."\nAt the core of the second-half letdown was a poor defensive effort by the Wolverines, who led at the half 28-10. The Wolverines yielded a school-record 540 total yards and allowed the Boilermakers to convert 14 of 18 third down attempts. Purdue outscored Michigan 22-3 after the break. \nWolverine senior cornerback James Whitley attributed the debacle to a number of things, but singled out a lack of effort on the part of his defensive cohorts.\n"I think we got a little lazy on offense and defense in the second half," Whitley said. "We didn't do a particularly good job of tackling and we missed a lot of assignments. Those were some of the main (problems)."\nThe same second half debacle led to the Wolverines' demise at UCLA earlier in the year. Michigan held a 20-10 lead in the third quarter before the wheels fell off, and the Bruins rallied to win 23-20.\nNo matter what the score or situation is, Carr is not in the losing business and he made that clear to his team.\n"I've never had a good loss," Carr said. "I've never been part of a good loss. I don't think I ever will."\nThe Hoosiers (2-3, 1-1) pose the same type of problems for the Wolverines that Purdue did, mainly because of their quarterback. Junior Antwaan Randle El, like Purdue's Drew Brees, has the ability to throw and run with the ball. \nIn fact, the Hoosier offense is averaging 470.6 yards per game, good enough for second in the conference. IU leads the Big Ten in scoring with 38.4 points per contest.\n"(IU) has the capability of scoring a lot of points and scoring fast so we have to stay on our toes and be prepared," Whitley said.\nWhitley has especially been impressed with Randle El.\n"Randle El is a good quarterback," Whitley said. "He's pretty much like Drew Brees. He can throw the ball and scramble. We'll have to be well aware of his ability to make plays and just stay on our toes."\nFor the Wolverines offense, things couldn't get much better for them than what they did in the first half last week at Purdue. Michigan scored four touchdowns on four possessions, all of which were 80 yards or longer.\n"We've probably never played better when you look at the first half," Carr said. "We dominated the line of scrimmage up front. You can't play any better against a very good defense."\nCameron, a former Michigan assistant coach, agreed with Carr.\n"The way Michigan played in that first half is as well as I've seen a team play both offensively and defensively in this league," Cameron said. "So, I think that tells you what kind of team we're getting ready to play."\nThe Hoosiers defense struggled last week at Northwestern, giving up 292 yards rushing to junior Wildcat running back Damien Anderson. The front of the defense struggled in particular, but Carr is still concerned about the play of Hoosier junior linebacker Justin Smith.\n"He's a guy they bring on a lot of blitzes," Carr said. "He's a tremendous athlete and can make plays. Anytime you have a guy like that you have to have the means to deal with him because if you don't, he'll disrupt the offense."\nIn the end, in beating Michigan, Purdue could be hurting IU without even playing them. The Wolverines seem to be eager to get back in the win column and back in control of their own destiny in the Big Ten. \n"It's really a pride thing," Whitley said. "We have to pick it up. This week will be a very intense week of practice and we'll be well prepared for this Saturday"
(10/10/00 6:38am)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Damien Anderson is a simple man without much flash. He doesn't ask about his statistics or other personal accolades. He only asks one thing of his coaches and teammates, and that is patched on the plain black shirt that he wears underneath his letterman jacket. He wants them to "trust" him.\nApparently Northwestern does.\nThe Wildcats rode the coattails of their 5-foot-11, 202-pound junior running back as they shredded the Hoosiers Saturday 52-33 at Ryan Field. Anderson rushed for a career-high 292 yards on 36 carries and scored four touchdowns.\nAnderson didn't put much stock in his numbers. Instead, he was more interested that the Wildcats won.\n"I try not to even pay attention to stats," Anderson said. "I'm the kind of guy who just wants the team to win. The only thing that matters to me is winning."\nCoach Cam Cameron said his team was aware of Anderson and how much the Wildcats rely on him. The Hoosiers (2-3, 1-1) didn't make things better by having their worst tackling performance of the season.\n"He's just an excellent, excellent back," Cameron said. "We were aware of that, but when you miss tackles, you compound the problem."\nNorthwestern defensive end Dwayne Missouri can attest to Anderson's abilities after watching him in practice. Missouri knew Anderson was capable of carrying the Wildcats.\n"When you see some of the moves he makes in practice, you can see where he is getting better," Missouri said. "He's definitely gotten a lot better."\nAnderson averaged 8.1 yards per carry Saturday. He increased his average with a 73-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that gave the Wildcats (5-1, 3-0) a 21-7 lead. That run gave him 172 yards rushing in the game, and there was still 12:22 left before halftime.\nNorthwestern's trust in Anderson has paid big dividends. In their last three games, the Wildcats have scored 136 points. Last season, Northwestern managed 141 points all season. In those three games, Anderson has averaged more than 228 yards per game.\nWhen he arrived before last season, Wildcat coach Randy Walker challenged Anderson to become the team leader. Anderson accepted the test. \n"He's made a real choice in his life about being special, and not just on the football field but all the time," Walker said. "You can just see in his eyes and the way he came to work every day that it's important to him. He's got a lot of pride."\nAnderson said he is happy with how far he has come, but he is still looking to do more for his teammates.\n"I know I'm not a complete player and I have a long way to go," he said. "I just try to get better at every aspect of my life because that affects all of our players."\nWith that in mind, the astronomical numbers Anderson has been putting up didn't catch Walker off-guard.\n"The real great ones want it, and they want it every down, and they don't think anyone is going to tackle them," Walker said. "The thing I challenge him with is to take that attitude with him wherever he goes."\nThe Hoosiers were compounded by a number of offensive sets that ranged from the shotgun to four wide receivers. Northwestern junior quarterback Zak Kustok also operated without a huddle at some points in the game. In all, the Wildcats amassed 536 yards of offense to score more than 50 points for the first time since 1958.\n"The whole tempo of the offense gives me more running room simply because they don't know what to expect," Anderson said. "When the offensive line does a great job like it did today and making holes, I just try my best to run through them."\nIU and its ground game struggled throughout as junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El was hit early and often by the Wildcats' defense. The Hoosiers finished with 174 yards on the ground, well below their season average of 299 yards per game.\n"I thought we had a good and assertive plan," Walker said. "Our kids played really well on that side of the ball and made some plays."\nWith Anderson in the backfield and the Big Ten wide open, the Wildcats have an opportunity to make some more noise on the national level. Although he said he just wants his team to win, Anderson likes to score points for his team. He said he forgets his yardage totals, but at least he does keep touchdowns in mind, such as the four he had Saturday.
(10/04/00 5:08pm)
His picture in the 2000 Hoosier football media guide says it all. Under position, sophomore Kris Dielman is listed as a defensive tackle. In the picture alongside his career statistics, Dielman is hauling in a reception as a tight end.\nSuch is the life of Dielman, who plays both defensive tackle and tight end for IU. He is getting the job done on both sides of the football. After four games, Dielman has helped the Hoosiers (2-2, 1-0) contain the running game with four unassisted tackles. At the same time, Dielman has helped the running game with his solid blocking and has chipped in a touchdown reception.\nLast season, he worked strictly as a tight end. He finished his freshman year with five receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown while playing behind junior Craig Osika. Although Dielman didn't see much time at tight end in high school, he made the adjustment with ease.\n"In high school, I played tight end and linebacker," he said. "When they told me I was going to play tight end in college, it wasn't that bad."\nWhen the coaching staff moved Osika to center, Dielman might have thought his time at tight end would be increased. But by the time spring practice was in full swing, coach Cam Cameron had other ideas.\n"It was really from the beginning going back to spring practice," Cameron said. "He's 290 pounds, and we recruited him at 240. It started when we thought it would be a good move to help our defense to move him to defense."\nIn the spring, Dielman was aware the coaches had an idea about moving him. The development of sophomore tight end Bobby Brandt made the idea more feasible.\n"It all kind of happened once spring ball came up," Dielman said. "They just started asking me about me moving over to defense."\nAlthough he might have liked his chances of becoming the starter at tight end, Dielman made no complaints when the switch was made.\n"I didn't mind," Dielman said. "Whatever way to get on the field, it doesn't matter to me."\nCameron was impressed with how Dielman handled the move, especially considering Cameron wanted to have Dielman's presence on both sides of the football.\n"He said he'd do whatever we needed him to do," Cameron said. "I said, 'I'd like to keep you at tight end in short yardage and goal line.'"\nJunior quarterback Antwaan Randle El said the corps of receivers he is able to throw to makes his job easier even on the ground.\n"They play a big part of the option," Randle El said. "They take pride in doing it, they know when they get a certain block."\nOn the flip side, the defense struggled out of the gates. North Carolina State and Kentucky posted 41 points on the Hoosiers. Both games were losses for IU, though the offense was scoring 36 points per game.\nDielman said there weren't any negative sentiments between the two units. Instead, the offensive and defensive teams wanted each other to do well.\nAgainst Cincinnati, the defense met the level of play of the offense in a 42-6 win against the Bearcats. The improved defensive performance was the result of the defense sticking to a basic formula of not allowing the big play.\n"We make a lot of good plays but then there's always a few plays that we mess up on, and that's where they put up points on us," Dielman said. "There's always room for improvement, and there's a lot that needs to get down. I think we're doing pretty good."\nThe other part of the improvement has been Dielman's and the rest of the defense's ability to understand new defensive coordinator James Bell's system.\n"We're to the point now where we know it and we can see things now that we couldn't see in the spring or during training camp," Dielman said. "So now there should be a lot of mistakes that we don't make any more just because we know the system."\nBy playing both ways, Dielman spends a good deal of time on the field. Still, he said he doesn't feel as if he is over-extending himself physically.\n"It's not that bad," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "If I need a breather, they'll give me one."\nWith Dielman's presence on both sides of the ball, each unit has played well lately. Cameron said he has been pleased with Dielman's self-sacrificing attitude that continues to make the Hoosiers better.\n"If you know Kris Dielman, you know he's a special kid," Cameron said. "He's done a great job"
(10/02/00 5:28am)
In many ways, Saturday night at Memorial Stadium unfolded like the first two games the Hoosiers lost to open the 2000 season. In the end, junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El did something he wasn\'t able to do in those first two losses.\nHe refused to let his team lose and willed IU to a 45-33 victory against Iowa in front of 31,225 fans. After a quick start, the miscues began to accumulate for the Hoosiers, much like they did when IU lost early leads to North Carolina State and Kentucky, starting the season with two consecutive losses.\nEven though they scored the first 21 points of the game, the Hoosiers saw the Hawkeyes rally to close within five points at 31-26 with 4:33 remaining in the game. When IU got the ball back, Randle El took matters into his own hands.\nOn the fifth play of the drive, Randle El sprinted to his left on the option. When the defender approached, Randle El faked the pitch to junior running back Levron Williams. The fake enabled Randle El to scamper down the sidelines for a 62-yard touchdown to make the score 38-26 in favor of the Hoosiers with 2:07 left.\nAs if one play to save the day wasn\'t enough, Randle El was called on again after Iowa closed the margin to 38-33 with 1:32 left in the game. Randle El responded by marching the Hoosiers down the field and capping the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run with just over a minute left to end the scoring.\nFighting back emotions after the game, IU coach Cam Cameron had trouble putting his star quarterback\'s performance into words. Cameron said Randle El was moved to play better because of the death of assistant coach Pete Schmidt Friday.\n"I don\'t know what to say," Cameron said, with tears in his eyes. "(Randle El) plays like that a lot, but there was an added significance in this ballgame."\nRandle El said he was focused on winning the game despite the grave circumstances surrounding Schmidt\'s death.\n"That was a point in the game where I felt I needed to step in and get things going," Randle El said of the late touchdowns. "I felt that we were stalling a little bit so I just tried to help us out."\nIowa coach Kirk Ferentz was pleased that his team made the game close, but he said his team could not overcome IU\'s talent and their own mistakes.\n"Our guys never quit, but until we solve some problems, we simply aren't going to win games," Ferentz said.\nAs a team, the Hoosiers rushed for 432 yards in amassing 543 total offensive yards. Randle El led the attack as he rushed for a career-high187 yards. Williams had 133 yards on 17 carries.\nRandle El's rushing total set a record for most yards on the ground by an IU quarterback. Randle El became only the sixth player in NCAA Division I history to rush for 2,000 yards and throw for 4,000 yards in a career.\nA major reason for the success of the Hoosiers\' ground game was the offensive line. Although they were thought to be the weak link at the outset of the season, they showed their toughness Saturday.\n"We just never quit," sophomore tackle A.C. Myler said. "That was our goal coming into the week and we accomplished it. We\'re very happy with the way we played, but we made some mistakes out there. We're just trying to get better week after week."\nThrough the air, Randle El completed only nine passes for 111 yards. The focus during the week was to try to run the ball in the middle of the Hawkeye defense. Randle El said the game was made easier because Iowa\'s defense played the same scheme it has played all year.\n"We went into the game saying we were going to take what they were giving us," Randle El said. "If we don\'t have to pass, we won't. (Iowa) ran everything we worked on in practice."\nEven though the Hawkeyes put up 33 points and 532 yards of offense, IU showed some flashes of strength on defense.\nWith Iowa playing freshman quarterback Jon Beutjer, IU defensive coordinator James Bell sent a number of blitzes that kept the Hawkeye offense periodically off balance. Beutjer threw four touchdown passes, but was sacked four times by junior linebacker Justin Smith -- who was named to the preliminary Butkus Award Watch List.\nSmith, who had 13 tackles overall, said some things just happened to work out for him Saturday in order to make the plays he did.\n"We really didn\'t do anything different," Smith said. "It's a simple scheme, but we still have some kinks. It\'s just a matter of time."\nIn what seems to be the normal pattern of a football game, the Hoosiers got off to a quick start before losing control. Even though the first offensive play was a 21-yard reception by senior wide receiver Versie Gaddis, Randle El and his feet sparked the rest of IU\'s initial drive. The Hoosiers scored when junior receiver Derin Graham recovered Randle El\'s fumble in the end zone with 10:23 left in the first quarter.\nAfter a second consecutive defensive stop, it was Williams\' turn to showcase his running ability. Williams rushed eight times on the drive for 53 yards, including a three-yard touchdown run to give the Hoosiers a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.\nThe Hawkeyes used a fumble by freshman running back Brian Lewis in the fourth quarter to make things interesting. Beutjer connected with junior wide receiver Chris Oliver for a 69-yard touchdown with 1:32 left in the fourth.\nDespite the late heroics of Beutjer and his strong arm, Cameron knew his quarterback would not stand to lose Saturday night.\n"(Randle El) was not going to let us get beat," Cameron said.
(09/27/00 4:35am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning is like his father in many ways on the football field. But, there is one big difference between father and son.\nThe similarities are numerous. Both were big-name quarterbacks in college. Peyton played at Tennessee while his dad Archie ran the show at Mississippi. Both Mannings were high draft picks when they entered the NFL, Peyton in 1998 and Archie in 1971. \nThis is where the similarities end, and the big contrast comes into play. Where do the two differ? Simple. Son succeeds where his father once failed.\nIn his time, Archie Manning was a good starting quarterback who spent the first 12 years of his career in New Orleans. Although he was respected around the league for the way he played, Manning and the Saints never sustained much success.\nAfter starting his first 36 games in the NFL, Peyton Manning is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Beyond his own personal success, his Colts (2-1) are one of the best teams in football.\nIn his latest display, Manning carved up the vaunted Jacksonville defense for a franchise-record 440 yards passing and four touchdowns as the Colts ripped the Jaguars, 43-14 before a national television audience on Monday Night Football.\nIn all fairness to the elder Manning, he didn't have anywhere near the talent that surrounds his son. With wide receivers Marvin Harrison, Terrence Wilkins and Jerome Pathon as his targets, Manning has plenty of options he isn't afraid to go to. \nBy using all three wideouts, Manning is able to keep the defense off balance. He did just that Monday night, completing passes to six different players and having his four touchdown passes go to four different receivers.\nAfterward, Manning was pleased with how the entire offense and all of its firepower are coming together under his guidance.\n"It was good for us to show people and show ourselves that we have other weapons on offense and we can spread the ball around," Manning said. "Other teams will see that and realize that if they do try to double-team Marvin, then we can beat them with other guys."\nJacksonville coach Tom Coughlin came away from the game with a great deal of respect for Manning and his offense and how they dissected the Jaguars and their defensive scheme.\n"The Colts went all out on both sides and the points began to go on the board," Coughlin said. "Defensively, we could not stop anything."\nEven though Jacksonville actually did do a good job of containing Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James for most of the game, they still couldn't control Manning. \nAfter hitting Harrison for a 76-yard touchdown early in the game, Manning took note of the Jaguars moving their safety over on Harrison. Manning recognized the defensive adjustment and burned Jacksonville in other parts of the field.\n"It is just nice to have weapons," Manning said. "Marvin did not have as many catches as he usually does, but his presence was a big reason the other guys were getting catches."\nPollard, a six-year veteran, also saw what Manning did.\n"When they double Marvin, then you've got to go to Terrence," Pollard said. "With Terrence in there and getting him balls, he is going to make something happen." \nBeyond the skill positions, another reason why son is winning much more than his dad ever did is his offensive line. The Jaguars defensive line is amongst the best in the league, but the Colts didn't allow a sack all night. \n"I thought one of the keys to this game was if we could protect our quarterback, I thought we could throw the ball," Indianapolis coach Jim Mora said. "I thought we protected Peyton really well."\nAfter a rookie year that saw him make rookie mistakes, Manning has turned the corner much quicker than most NFL quarterbacks. The Colts won 13 games a year ago and the AFC East division before losing a divisional playoff game to the Tennessee Titans.\nThis year, Manning has already shown signs he has just gotten better as time has passed. Coughlin saw it first-hand and said the experience of playing against Manning and the Colts isn't something he enjoyed.\n"That was as bad a nightmare as it gets," Coughlin said.\nOn the other hand, Mora said he is glad to have Manning on his team. Mora also hopes the younger Manning continues to stray from the path his father carved in the NFL.\n"To be a good team you have to have people like that," Mora said.
(09/26/00 5:03am)
Paul Mandina predicted it at Big Ten Media Day at the end of July. He again said it would happen, with a slight quiver in his voice, after a tough 41-38 opening day loss to North Carolina State.\nFinally, in post-game interviews Saturday, Mandina, a senior defensive tackle, got his wish. He was asked about how much the defensive unit that he leads improved from the first two games of the year. At last, the defense had improved as he had promised it would.\nMandina and the Hoosier defense held Cincinnati to two field goals as IU romped to its first win of the year Saturday 42-6. The performance comes after two losses in which the Hoosiers (1-2) yielded 41 points to both the Wolfpack and Kentucky.\nThough the numbers differ sharply between the first two weeks and the past weekend, Mandina said he wasn't surprised.\n"I really don't think it was a surprise because we go out and plug away every single week," he said. "You have to give a lot of credit to Cincinnati, they really did a good job. But our guys don't quit. We learned a lot in these last two weeks."\nDefensive coordinator James Bell used 21 different defensive players in the game in an effort to keep players fresh. \nThe scheme worked. In the first two games of the year, the Hoosiers were giving up 24 points per game after halftime. The Bearcats (2-2) were shut out Saturday by IU's defense after halftime. Cincinnati also had to deal with the loss of its starting senior quarterback, Deontey Kenner, to an injury. Kenner did not play in the second half.\nDespite Kenner's absence, Mandina gave credit to his defensive teammates for learning the system and playing within it.\n"We're going to plan on doing that more and more as we got more guys seasoned and experienced with the game," he said of rotating defensive players in and out. "Our guys are starting to get the feel for what situations are like."\nCoach Cam Cameron said the formula to determine who will play defense won't be scientific. Those who play well will stay on the field.\n"We're just going to play some guys," he said. "The guys that play well and continue to do what the coaches do get to stay out there. When you don't, you get to come to the sidelines, and we're going to put somebody else in."\nBeyond conditioning, senior strong safety Johnny Anderson said the defense had the goal of making plays and getting the ball into the hands of the offense.\n"With the defense we just wanted to make big plays and slow their offensive game down and make them play short so we can get the ball back to our offense," he said.\nFrom an offensive perspective, junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El said it was great to see the defense make plays. He also said he expects to see more of the same throughout the rest of the year.\n"It just feels great to see them flying around and not letting the other team get into the end zone at all," he said. "It's something we haven't seen in awhile. They're competitive and they'll get better as they go along."\nSophomore safety Ron Bethel said he agreed with Randle El. Bethel is pleased with the way the defense responded to the need to step up, but he also sees room for improvement.\n"This wasn't even our best," Bethel said. "We're learning our keys more because this is a new defense. Every week we should get better. We can shut a team out." \nBefore the defense gets ahead of itself and tries to blank its opponents, Mandina is more interested in taking steady steps each week in progressing. Saturday was a huge step toward where Mandina and the Hoosier offense want to be.\n"This was a great feeling for the guys because you go out there and give so much effort, and put so much emotionally into the game," Mandina said. "When you come up short it really hurts. We needed this.
(09/25/00 6:14am)
It is the biggest stage in football. Everybody watches, and everybody who plays knows a national audience is watching and wants to perform to the best of their abilities.\nWith that in mind, it is fitting that some of the NFL's most dynamic players will perform tonight when the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Indianapolis Colts at 8 p.m. at the RCA Dome on Monday Night Football.\nFor Jacksonville (2-1), quarterback Mark Brunell and wide receiver Jimmy Smith will welcome back the third member of their trio this week. Running back Fred Taylor will see his first action of the season after he injured his knee in training camp.\nThe Colts (1-1) are coming off a disappointing 38-31 loss to the Oakland Raiders Sept. 10. With a by week to get their act back together, quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Marvin Harrison and running back Edgerrin James should be able to bounce back.\nManning has been quick to lead his team in trying to get over the disappointment of the loss to the Raiders. Oakland scored 31 unanswered points in a comeback victory. Manning said his team needs to forget about the past and focus on the present.\n"It's always frustrating when we lose," Manning said. "It's not going to get any easier. Jacksonville is one of the top teams in the league. Monday Night Football; everybody will be excited."\nAs far as the matchup with the three offensive stars from each team trying to outplay each other, Smith says the first priority is to win the ball game. But, beyond that, he will keep an eye on his counterparts' statistics.\n"Our first goal is to win the game, then, after the game, the trio will be looking at the stats to see who out-performed each other," Smith said. \nWith so many quality offensive players on the field, defensive presence will be at a premium. Outside of individual performances, Colts coach Jim Mora is looking for his team to improve defensively. \nIn particular, Mora said he wants to see his cornerbacks have consistent coverage downfield while his defensive line pressures the quarterback. To this point, one of the two isn't happening.\n"When we did have pressure, we had some problems with the coverage," Mora said. "When we had good coverage, we had problems with the pressure."\nMora has been trying everything to alter the success of his defense. The Colts are allowing 26 points per contest. In fact, Mora is so concerned with the pass rush, he has been sending all kinds of blitz packages.\n"We're sending safeties, corners, linebackers," Mora said. "We don't always do it just to rush the passer. We do it to cause problems in the run game, too. A lot of times, had we been in a little bit tighter coverage, we had a guy there to get a sack."\nJaguars coach Tom Coughlin should be thrilled to have Taylor back a knee injury. After putting up big numbers in their first two games, Jacksonville struggled in the rain against Cincinnati in a 13-0 win in their home opener. The lack of a ground game hurt them because their high-wire act was grounded.\nThe two teams have met only one other time, with Indianapolis beating Jacksonville 41-31 in 1995. The good news for the Jaguars is they are undefeated in Monday Night Football games at 5-0. The Colts will make their first appearance on Monday night since 1997.\nEven though it is early in the season, this game has a great deal of importance. A loss would give the Jaguars a second blemish on their record, which would be the same number of losses that they had last season before the playoffs.\nSimilarly, the Colts would suffer their second defeat if they were to lose Monday night. \nWith the game holding so much meaning, Manning hopes his teammates are ready to go to war with all of the Jaguars.\n"We've got a lot of work to do," Manning said.