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(04/22/10 4:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When former IU offensive lineman Rodger Saffold III was a sixth grader in Bedford, Ohio, he told his father what he wanted to do with his life.“‘I’d love to play in the NFL,’” Rodger II fondly remembered his son saying. “I said, ‘Well, if you want to do that, let’s sit down and figure out what we need to do to get you there.”With today’s 2010 NFL Draft that dream becomes a reality.Saffold, who after his senior season in Bloomington was regarded as second-day pick, has recently shot up the draft boards and is one of the top offensive line prospects available. If selected in the first round, he will be the first IU player taken since wide receiver Thomas Lewis in 1994. Saffold’s overall size, natural athleticism and above-average balance and agility have NFL general managers coveting the Hoosier. A starter at left tackle since midway through his freshman year, Saffold allowed only one sack in 2009.But getting to this point hasn’t been easy. Since the age of 12, Saffold followed a daily routine: go to school, then train for football. After classes, he would lift weights and condition at the Euclid Sports Plant, as well as work on his protection skills with other offensive lineman. He also attended Ohio State football camps for years. By the time he reached high school in talent-rich Northeast Ohio, the transition from middle school competition wasn’t hard. “When football came, it was almost easy to me,” Saffold said.After starting at offensive tackle and defensive end for much of his career at Bedford High School, he finished his career on the 2005 first team All-Lake Erie League. Though his skills on the field were remarkable, former Bedford coach Brian Staats marveled most at Saffold’s leadership ability.“Especially his senior year, he really grew into a leadership role,” Staats said. “He would take the bull by the horns, so to speak. He really made sure guys did the right thing.” When Saffold reached the college ranks, he wasn’t the prototypical offensive lineman. But according to IU coach Bill Lynch, his progression throughout four years was unmatched.“He physically wasn’t the size you are looking for in a Big Ten tackle at the time, but you knew he was going to get bigger,” Lynch said. “As he has gone through the years, he has gotten bigger, stronger, worked very hard in the weight room and developed himself not only into a great college player but someone who could get drafted early in the NFL Draft.”After earning many accolades during his senior season at IU, Saffold focused this offseason preparation on the draft. He trained six days a week at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., to work on every aspect of his game. In the East-West Shrine game — an all-star game featuring many of the nation’s top prospects — and the NFL Combine, his hard work was on full display. In practices leading to the East-West game, Saffold dominated all individual drills and proved his skill against defensive linemen of other top conferences. During the NFL combine, his scores were among the highest of all offensive line participants.“It showed that I could go against speed rushers and go against defensive ends from all over the country,” Saffold said. “That was definitely a big turning point.”On Thursday night, Saffold will watch the NFL draft with family and friends at a local sports bar in Bedford. It will be a night, he said, he will never forget. “It’s been a real process from beginning to end,” Saffold said. “Instead of looking at the final picture, I have to look at all of the things I’ve gone through to make it here. I’ve just taken it a little bit at a time.”
(04/13/10 12:30am)
Dustin Brown, assistant brewer at the Bloomington Brewing Company, takes his job seriously.
(02/25/10 5:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>He stands at midcourt, surveying each angle of the hardwood floor that bears his name. Wearing olive green pants below a black adidas sweatervest, he calmly watches the high school basketball players in faded purple and white practice jerseys work on shooting drills.His six assistants stand at different baskets spread out in the Bloomington High School South gym. With a small group of players in front of them, they relay the head coach’s message on how to properly execute the fundamentals.For J.R. Holmes — the head coach of the No. 1 team in Indiana and 2009 State Champions — continued success is built at practice.
(01/13/10 3:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the final whistle blew in IU’s 31-20 loss to Penn State on Nov. 14, the players walked out of Beaver Stadium knowing any shot of going to a bowl game was gone. Well, except for senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew.The second-team All-Big Ten performer was recognized at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 as a member of the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. The honor, given to student-athletes for their extraordinary efforts off the field, was presented to 22 players out of the record 106 originally nominated. He is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and recently graduated with a double major in management and public financial management from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Kirlew is also an active member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program and has volunteered in the past at the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington. In addition, he studied abroad in Italy during the summer of 2006 and worked with President Obama’s campaign in 2008 by registering voters. IU junior wide receiver Terrance Turner said Kirlew is a guy who “everyone looked up to.”“That would be the first guy I give it to,” Turner said of the award. “He is someone who can be the face of a program. He lets everyone know what a true college athlete should be in and out of the classroom and on and off the field.” Former IU running back Bryan Payton echoed Turner’s sentiments. “He was a guy that was really essential to the maturity of the team,” Payton said. “He is always going to be looking out for others, and I have no doubt in my mind he is going to be successful in football and whatever he wants to do afterwards.” In addition to being honored at halftime of the Bowl Championship Series game in New Orleans, the award recipients took time to help in the community.The day before the Sugar Bowl, the players woke up early to visit Andrew H. Wilson elementary school, which has been closed since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Kirlew and his teammates helped clean and prepare the school, which is set to reopen later this month.“The greatest thing is we knew we were doing good,” Kirlew said of his experience at the elementary school. “This school was going to open and there was a lot they needed to do. It is definitely something that we will remember for the rest of our lives.” Later that day, the players attended the Allstate Fan Fest, where they were recognized for their efforts on stage before a Lady Antebellum concert. That night, some of the players watched New Years fireworks on the waterfront. “We all had a great time,” Kirlew said. “To have a lot of good guys together, doing good things, it was really motivational.” But while his time at IU is complete, his football career is anything but finished. Kirlew will participate in the Pro Football Hall of Fame “Texas vs. Nation Challenge” on Feb. 6. He is also preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine in February and the NFL Draft in April. He is currently at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., where he works on agility training, weight training and his specific position on the defensive line. Kirlew is also being taught how to improve his mental conditioning, nutrition, vision and preparation for the media. “The whole program is just amazing,” he said. “The goal by them is to make sure you are not surprised by anything you might see. I think they are doing a phenomenal job.”
(11/23/09 4:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As IU senior linebacker Matt Mayberry sat in the locker room after his team’s 38-21 loss to Purdue, he struggled to take off his jersey for the final time.“Just knowing that this is going to be last time I am ever going to play here at Memorial Stadium, its very tough,” Mayberry said. “The whole game, I tried to give it my best and leave it all on the field.”For 21 seniors on Saturday, their time under the lights against Purdue was not only the culmination of a 4-8 season. It was also the end of their collegiate careers.And unfortunately for the Hoosiers, it had to come against the rival Boilermakers.“Purdue just being our rival, playing for the Old Oaken Bucket, it was a special moment,” Mayberry said. “Disappointing it didn’t go our way.”In a game with nothing more than pride on the line, Purdue appeared to want it more.Boilermaker quarterback Joey Elliot found three different receivers for touchdowns in the first half as Purdue went into the visiting locker room leading 21-7.Running back Al-Terek McBurse immediately added to his team’s total to start the second half when he took a kick return 87 yards into the end zone.“It was the worst thing that you could have happen to you,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “You dig your way back into it and it’s 21-7 at half and you come out and all of sudden you’re down three scores. But we kept battling.”Despite the large deficit, IU didn’t back down as it was strengthened by the senior class.Junior quarterback Ben Chappell found junior wide receiver Mitchell Evans in the end zone from 12 yards out to bring the Hoosiers within 14 points. IU responded again after a field goal by Purdue’s Carson Wiggs.Chappell connected with sophomore wide receiver Damarlo Belcher for a 28-yard touchdown to make the score 31-21 with 8:04 remaining in the game.But Purdue’s next drive left little time on the clock, leaving IU no chance for a last-minute comeback.Although IU did not earn the victory, senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew said he was pleased his team did not give up early.“We could have gone so many different directions being the last game,” Kirlew said. “We went into the locker room and got our minds together and fought hard. I’m proud of the way the guys finished and I hope they take the progress from this season.”For Evans, what hurt most was sending the senior players out with another loss.“I think everyone is just thinking about the seniors,” Evans said. “The things they have done in the offseason for this team. They changed where the program is going.”Even with a finish at the bottom of the Big Ten standings, there was noticeable improvement from years past.The Hoosiers were predicted to have a last-place finish in the conference, but battled tough in close losses to Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State. Multiple games this season came down to a final play or a particular call deciding the outcome.This development can be traced to the hard work of 21 seniors, senior offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said.“We basically have been trying to put this team back on the right path after really being in shambles last year,” he said. “We wanted to make sure everyone knew how relentless and tough we were, and how we were willing to fight to the very end.”
(11/21/09 10:06pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a rivalry matchup with nothing more than pride on the line, Purdue appeared to want it more.The Boilermakers earned the Old Oaken Bucket with a 38-21 win against IU on Saturday.IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell was 23-39 for 266 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while freshman running back Darius Willis led the way with 149 yards on the ground. Purdue was effective in the air with 205 yards and four touchdowns by Boilermaker quarterback Joey Elliot. Running back Jaycen Taylor added 114 yards.The Boilermakers were up 28-7 early in the third quarter and did not allow the Hoosiers to get close enough for a comeback. The telling stat was turnovers, which IU committed four of in the game.“What was uncharacteristic was what I think was the difference in the game—turnovers and the kicking game,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “Purdue, give them credit particularly in the first half, took advantage of the turnovers. When you make those kind of mistakes, its on us.”The first drive for the Hoosiers did not start as they had hoped.On the third play of the game, Chappell rolled to his right to pass but was hit hard from behind by Boilermaker defensive tackle Mike Neal. The ball came out of Chappell’s hands and was recovered by Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short at the IU 16 yard line. On Purdue’s fifth play from scrimmage after the turnover, Elliot found Taylor out on the flat and proceeded to run for the touchdown and a 7-0 advantage.A blocked field goal attempt by IU kicker Nick Freeland with 7:41 remaining in the first quarter gave the ball back to Purdue just minutes later.Elliot led an efficient drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to running back Dan Dierking and the 14-0 lead. The Boilermakers got on the board again with just over two minutes left before half. On the ninth play of the drive, Elliot rolled right and found fullback Jared Crank open in the end zone for the 13-yard score.But IU responded right before halftime.After a nice kick return by sophomore wide receiver Tandon Doss, Chappell directed a carefully executed final drive of the quarter. With 22 seconds remaining, he tucked the ball and ran in from one-yard out to bring the score to 21-7.IU hoped their score just before halftime would carry the momentum in its favor for the second half. Purdue running back Al-Terek McBurse had other plans.McBurse took the opening kickoff of the half 87 yards to the end zone to provide a 28-7 Boilermaker lead.“That was tough because we came out in the second half with a whole different mindset,” IU senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew said. “We were ready to go. It was tough giving up the touchdown so quickly when we were trying to come back.”Despite the quick score, the Hoosiers would not go away.With 9:25 left in the third quarter, Chappell found junior wide receiver Mitchell Evans in the middle part of the end zone to bring the score to within 14 points.IU senior offensive lineman Roger Saffold said execution on the ground was key on that drive.“We were able to open up some seams by pushing people passed and cutting other people off, which allowed (Willis) to do what he does best,” Saffold said. “The big thing for Darius is that he knows how to fight for those extra couple of yards.”Purdue quickly responded with a field goal of their own to make the score 31-14 going into the fourth quarter. But even with a late touchdown grab by IU sophomore wide receiver Damarlo Belcher, the Hoosiers were unable to overcome their rivals at Memorial Stadium.“Purdue just being out rival, playing for the Old Oaken Bucket, it was a special moment,” senior linebacker Matt Mayberry said. “It just didn’t go our way.”
(11/20/09 4:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When IU senior safety Nick Polk – originally from Milwaukee – first visited Bloomington, he didn’t know anything about the school’s rivalry with Purdue. Things have changed. “I had no clue until I stepped foot on campus,” Polk said. “I honestly never knew I could dislike a different team as much as them until I stepped on the field for the first time. They don’t like you and you don’t like them, so it was just on from there.” IU and Purdue have faced off 84 times for the Old Oaken Bucket, with the Boilermakers leading the series 55-26-3. The Old Oaken Bucket was the chosen award when proposed at a combined meeting of the Chicago chapters of the IU and Purdue alumni organizations in 1925. IU alumnus Wiley J. Huddle and Purdue alumnus Fritz Ernst originally found the bucket on a farm in southern Indiana. For Indiana residents, the history of the Old Oaken Bucket and the IU-Purdue rivalry is well known, it was anything but that for out-of-state players. IU senior cornerback Ray Fisher said growing up, there was only one true rivalry. “Being a Cleveland guy, all I heard was Ohio State and Michigan,” Fisher said. “I never really heard about it until I was getting recruited. Since I’ve been here, it’s been a really big game.” In fact, 15 of the 22 projected IU starters this weekend are from states other than Indiana. This includes four of the five offensive linemen and nine of the 11 defensive players. Despite this, Hoosier faithful should not worry about a lack of passion Saturday. For senior linebacker Justin Carrington, who grew up in Virginia, the intensity of the rivalry has grown on him during his time in Bloomington. “I was driving with my girlfriend the other day and I saw someone with a Purdue bumper sticker. I was like, ‘Hey babe, why don’t you hit them?’” Carrington said jokingly. “It’s funny how it changes just being a part of Indiana.”IU senior linebacker Matt Mayberry echoed the comments of Carrington. “I didn’t know about it right away,” said Mayberry, who is from Darien, Ill. “People who are from Indiana know (Purdue) really well. Everyone gets jacked up and ready to go. This is our bowl game.” IU coach Bill Lynch said his out-of-state players, especially the seniors, truly understand what it means to face the Boilermakers. Last year, IU lost to Purdue 62-10 in West Lafayette. This season, the Hoosiers are aiming for a different outcome. Both teams share a 4-7 record and are ineligible to make a bowl game. That being said, neither team wants to end on a negative note. And the rivalry means something as well. “Just remembering the score from last year, and thinking about how we played, it was disappointing,” said IU senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew, a native of Florida. “This is a big rivalry game. We are going to bring everything we have.”
(11/16/09 2:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – With the score tied 10-10 and 6:54 remaining in the third quarter, junior quarterback Ben Chappell dropped back and threw a short screen pass to junior running back Trea Burgess.But the high-floating ball bounced off the outstretched fingertips of Burgess and landed directly into the hands of Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman, who ran 73 yards for a touchdown and a seven-point advantage.For the Hoosiers, it was all downhill from there.“It turned out to be really huge,” senior running back Bryan Payton said of the interception. “I don’t know what they were saying in the locker room or what their psyche was, but I’m sure they needed that. Any time you get sudden change like that, it hurts.” IU lost to Penn State 31-20 in State College, Pa., and fell to 4-7 on the season. The defeat eliminates any chance of a bowl game berth for IU.Chappell was 32-51 for 298 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Hoosiers’ running backs had a total of 48 yards on the ground and scored no touchdowns.In contrast, Penn State totaled 181 yards rushing and mounted two touchdowns. The Nittany Lions’ ability to control the second half proved to be the difference on Saturday.In the third quarter, Penn State had possession for more than 11 of the 15 total minutes. The final drive of the quarter for the Nittany Lions used the remaining 5:50 on 14 plays as they marched to the IU 2-yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Nittany Lion running back Evan Royster rushed for a 2-yard touchdown to make the score 24-10. “They weren’t doing anything special, just running a little outside-bounce play,” IU senior linebacker Matt Mayberry said. “They just got the yards that they needed.”IU responded with a 38-yard field goal from freshman kicker Nick Freeland on their next drive.Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, Penn State did not back down.With 10:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, Nittany Lion quarterback Daryll Clark led a 12-play drive that culminated in the senior passer rushing one yard for a touchdown to go up 18 points.The Hoosiers answered with an efficient drive of their own. Chappell calmly moved the ball downfield, using six completions to reach the Penn State 5-yard line. He then connected with sophomore wide receiver Tandon Doss in the back of the end zone to bring IU to within 11 points with 1:08 left in the game.The small amount of time remaining provided little chance for a Hoosier comeback, and the game ended in a victory for the Nittany Lions.“It’s pretty disappointing,” Chappell said. “We moved the ball in the first half, got some turnovers that we didn’t capitalize on. We just didn’t make the plays.”Chappell’s 51 attempted passes were the most he has thrown for one game in his career. IU’s inability to run the football, particularly in the second half, was a main reason for that statistic. The Hoosiers’ effective defense in the first half was also not the same in the final 30 minutes of the game.Clark constantly found open receivers, and Penn State’s rushing attack of Royster and Stephfon Green appeared to wear down the IU defensive line in the final minutes.IU coach Bill Lynch said his team fought hard, but could not capitalize when it needed plays most.“Well, it was a good, hard-nosed football game,” Lynch said. “I really thought our kids came out and played hard and created some turnovers, but we just did not take advantage of enough of them. Give (Penn State) a lot of credit. That’s an outstanding defensive football team they have.”
(11/13/09 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As coach of Penn State for the past 43 seasons, Joe Paterno has been around football long enough to understand the importance of never looking past an opponent.“We’ve got a tough football game this week,” Paterno said. “Obviously, I haven’t spent much time looking at Michigan State, but I’ve looked at Indiana. Indiana has had some awfully tough luck – some of which was based on bad officiating.“We may not be good enough for Indiana, but we’ll find out,” he said.And while Paterno might not be sure of what to expect from the Hoosiers on Saturday, IU has a good idea about the team they will take on in Beaver Stadium.“They are a typical Penn State team in the sense that they are so well-balanced on offense – they can run it, they can throw it and have some great players,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “Defensively is probably their strength. When you look at the statistics and turn the film on, their front four is very, very good.” The focal point for the Hoosiers on Saturday will be establishing their offensive attack from the opening kickoff. But it won’t be easy.Led by an all-upperclassmen set of linebackers in Navorro Bowman, Sean Lee and Josh Hull, Penn State ranks in the top 10 nationally in total defense. The Nittany Lions are the No. 1 team in the Big Ten for sacks, tackles for loss, scoring defense and passing defense.A major threat on the defensive line is senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick, who has 36 tackles and leads the team with six sacks.“They are athletic, they have guys who blitz well and I think their front seven is the strength of their team,” IU senior running back Bryan Payton said. “Getting through their front seven will be the key to the game. They are a force to be reckoned with.”The Nittany Lions also have the second-best offense in the conference.Senior quarterback Daryll Clark has been efficient this season with 2,283 yards, 18 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in the air. He is second in the conference in passer rating, despite having his three starting wide receivers enter the season with 16 combined receptions in 2008.Junior running back Evan Royster provides excellent speed and versatility that has caused problems for opposing defenses. He is second in the Big Ten with an average of 89.5 rushing yards per game. IU freshman defensive tackle Larry Black said limiting Royster’s big play ability on Saturday is crucial.“He’s not like the backs we faced last week as far as size and weight, but he is a back that is shifty and quick,” Black said. “We are going to have to stay after him. They like to pass the ball based off of the run.” While balanced on both sides of the ball, Penn State has shown it is beatable.Last week on their home turf, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor threw two touchdowns and ran in another en route to a 24-7 win against the Nittany Lions. Penn State did not score a point in the second half and had possession in the fourth quarter for 2:43.In comparison, the Hoosiers had a breakout game against Wisconsin with 14 points in the fourth quarter of a 31-28 loss.“We had a good second half offensively, so we have to build on that,” IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell said. “It’s all about execution. If we execute better, I think we will be fine.”
(11/11/09 5:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It has been 18 years since Fox Sports broadcaster and former IU student Joe Buck last stepped foot on the Bloomington campus.But after touring the school Tuesday, he said not much has changed.“I think it stayed the same to a large degree, and I love that,” Buck said. “I want it to be like a time capsule that I can come back, and it feels like it did when I was here. It has changed, but still feels like Indiana.”Buck began his broadcasting career in the summer of 1989, while still an undergraduate majoring in telecommunications. That year he called play by play for the Triple-A Louisville Redbirds, before eventually landing the job as broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals. But despite his great passion for broadcasting early in life, Buck did not work for any journalism organization at IU. “For the Redbirds I was the radio voice, the traveling secretary and was doing a lot of things at a young age,” Buck said. “When I came back here for school, I just wanted to be a student. I didn’t want to have a job at the radio station, television station or newspaper. I just wanted to be a kid.”Since leaving IU, Buck has developed into one of the top broadcasters in sports. After just a few years in the business, he became the youngest play-by-play announcer to call a slate of NFL games on network television. He is currently the lead play-by-play announcer for Fox’s NFL coverage. In addition to his work with professional football, Buck is the lead broadcaster for Fox MLB games. He set another milestone at age 27 when he became the youngest person to broadcast a World Series game since 1953.Junior Dave Leno, journalism student and broadcaster for the IU Athletics Department, said Buck has been a major inspiration.“Joe Buck is as smooth as they come,” Leno said. “He is unquestionably one of the top sports broadcasters not only in the nation, but in the world. As an aspiring broadcaster like myself, I really look up to him and try to emulate his style.”On Tuesday night in front of a capacity crowd at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Buck spoke about his time at IU and his career in the broadcasting industry. IU School of Journalism Dean of Students Brad Hamm said it is an honor to have such a distinguished broadcaster and former student on campus.“It’s a nice opportunity for him to come back and see Bloomington,” Hamm said. “I met with him in St. Louis in the spring, and he had talked about wanting to come back to campus and walk around. You can relate to people who have been in the place you have been in, so it makes it especially nice for an IU person to return and speak.”Buck said on Tuesday he toured the campus and walked around the athletic facilities. He mentioned that while Assembly Hall looks the same, the new addition to Memorial Stadium is “incredible.”When asked about his most memorable moment at IU, Buck, who was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, said he could not pinpoint only one. “If I answer anything that were really some of my best memories, I would probably get arrested,” Buck said. “But when I felt this was really my place, it was probably my most fond memory. The fraternity stuff is great, but being part of the community here and feeling that this was my school is something that I won’t ever forget.”
(11/09/09 3:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Going into its matchup with No. 24 Wisconsin on Saturday, IU knew exactly what to expect from the Badgers’ top rushing attack.But it didn’t matter.The Hoosiers gave up 294 yards and three touchdowns on the ground en route to a 31-28 loss at Memorial Stadium.Wisconsin running back John Clay – who did not play in the second half because of a concussion – had 134 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. His counterpart, Badger running back Montee Ball, carried the load while Clay was on the sideline.The freshman rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on the afternoon.Multiple defenders were often needed to bring down both running backs because of the size of Clay and Ball, who weigh in at 248 and 225 pounds, respectively.“The thing about them is you really have to tackle them,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “You can get a first hit on them, but three yards later, it’s a first down. They are very physical, and they finish their runs very well.”After the game, Lynch said Wisconsin’s second quarter was a major factor in the outcome. “I thought they really controlled the first half,” Lynch said. “Early on, we played pretty well, but I thought they dominated the second quarter.”In that 15-minute period, the Badgers had the ball for almost 10 minutes. In comparison, the Hoosiers had possession for 5:15.Wisconsin gave the ball to Clay for seven of its nine plays before handing it off to Ball for a one-yard touchdown run in its second drive of the quarter.With 2:32 remaining in the half and the score at 17-14 in favor of the Badgers, Wisconsin went to the ground again. Clay carried the ball two times for 24 yards before scampering into the end zone from 14 yards out.Wisconsin’s running game did not slow down even after Clay was ruled out for the remainder of the game.Ball rushed for 85 yards in the final 30 minutes, routinely running down the clock and wearing down the IU defense. With 8:18 remaining in the game, Ball culminated a seven-play drive with a three-yard touchdown run.“They are big guys,” IU senior safety Collin Taylor said. “They could be playing linebacker or defensive end and are tough. But we knew that. We knew going in it was going to be a war.”And when the Hoosiers needed a defensive stop the most – down three points with just more than four minutes left – the Badgers’ tough running game continued.Ball rushed eight times for 30 yards on their final drive, forcing IU to use all of its time-outs and providing no chance for a Hoosier comeback drive.The effectiveness of Wisconsin’s running game also opened up its passing game, in which it successfully utilized the play-action fake for four quarters.Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said he was proud of the way his running backs set the tone Saturday.“John Clay, in the first half, was a machine,” Bielema said. “Ball was kind of like the Energizer Bunny. Every time he got a rep, he just kept grinning, smiling and gaining momentum. Our kids did enough to win.”
(11/07/09 3:51pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A main issue plaguing IU this season has been a lack of production in the fourth quarter. But despite scoring 14 points in the final period against Wisconsin, it was still not enough to earn the victory.The Hoosiers fell 31-28 to the Badgers after Wisconsin rushed for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Running back John Clay, who only played in the first half after suffering a concussion, finished wit h 134 yards and a touchdown. His counterpart, running back Montee Ball, added 117 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.IU quarterback Ben Chappell had an efficient game with 323 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. After IU freshman running back Darius Willis went out with a leg injury in the third quarter, IU senior running back Bryan Payton rushed for 48 yards on only eight carries.“Early on we played well, but I really thought they dominated,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “We have played some good football teams this year, but that is a very, very good football team.”The Hoosiers started the game as they had hoped. After a muffed punt early in the first quarter, IU got the ball at the Badger 10 yard line.Two plays into the drive, IU junior quarterback found IU sophomore wide receiver Tandon Doss in the left corner of the end zone for the early 7-0 lead.Wisconsin quickly responded with a score of its own. Clay began with a 48-yard run and was followed by two rushes for nine yards by fellow running back Montee Ball. Two plays later, Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien connected with wide receiver Isaac Anderson in the back of the end zone from 18-yards out to even the score.Tolzien next led an 18 play, 72-yard drive that culminated in a 26-yard field goal for the Badgers.And Wisconsin was not finished.Wisconsin got the ball back with 11:28 remaining in the half. Clay rushed for 33 yards on seven carries before Ball ran into the end zone from one yard out for a 17-7 advantage.With 2:32 left in half, IU got back on the board.On the third play of the drive, Chappell threw a high lob-pass that was caught by Doss in the left part of the end zone to bring the score within three.On Wisconsin’s next drive, Clay took over. The big running back carried the ball three times for 30 yards and finished with a 14-yard burst to the right part of the end zone for the touchdown and ten point lead.The score remained 24-14 at halftime. At this point of the game, Clay already totaled 134 yards and a touchdown.The third quarter was a defensive stalemate in which neither team was able to add to their total. The final 15 minutes, though, was an offensive battle.Early in the fourth, Chappell connected with junior wide receiver Terrance Turner in the end zone to make the score 24-21 in favor of the Badgers. “It’s kind of bittersweet,” Turner said of scoring his first touchdown of the season. “I would take the win any day. But it was good to get it and get the monkey off my back.”Wisconsin answered with a seven play, 78-yard drive that ended in a three-yard rush up the middle by Ball for the touchdown.On the next IU drive, junior running back Trea Burgess punched it in from two yards out to bring the score to 31-28.Chappell said he felt the momentum shift.“I think we had a chance,” Chappell said. “We believed the whole game if we could just get a break or two here, we knew we could move it on them. We were throwing it very well, so we just wanted to get the ball as much as could.”The Hoosiers had a chance to get the ball back one more time, but the Wisconsin running game was too much. Ball rushed eight consecutive times as the Badgers took the Big Ten contest with a three-point win. “It’s just frustrating overall not being able to pull it out,” Turner said. “We just have to make the plays when they come regardless of what side of the ball.”The Hoosiers will travel to Penn State next Saturday for a meeting with the Nittany Lions before facing rival Purdue at Memorial Stadium.
(11/06/09 5:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On the Thursday afternoon before IU’s matchup against Illinois, senior safety Collin Taylor ran out onto the practice field as he normally does. Except this time, he heard the voice of IU co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic yell to him.“We were just running on the field, and he said, ‘Collin, you’ll do it on Saturday,’” Taylor said of being named a starter. “I went through practice and did not really think about it, but I was sitting in that locker room after thinking, ‘This is it. This is what I have been waiting for, and it finally came.’”Taylor, a former walk-on, is now a starting safety for the Hoosiers opposite senior Austin Thomas. With injuries to sophomore cornerback Chris Adkins and senior safety Nick Polk, the IU coaching staff called on Taylor to step up against Illinois, Northwestern and Iowa. He did just that.In last week’s matchup with the Hawkeyes, Taylor had two interceptions, a forced fumble and seven tackles (six solo). He has 20 tackles on the season.Off the field, he has worked to become a leader in the weight room and during early-morning conditioning. Thomas said despite being a former walk-on, Taylor possesses the intangibles to be a major contributor in the secondary.“He’s extremely athletic, has a great football mindset, great instincts and works hard day-in and day-out,” Thomas said. “Against Iowa, he came up with two big picks, and that was huge for us. He has really stepped up as a senior.” A wide receiver in high school, Taylor came to IU hoping to catch passes from quarterbacks. But despite making the transition to safety last season, Taylor is still hauling in throws – just not ones intended for him.A main reason he reached this point in his career is because of his strong effort on special teams. Palcic said Taylor’s intense work ethic was clear on each kick-off, field goal and punt. “I smile when I talk about him because he has done such a good job for us,” Palcic said. “He’s a kid that comes and watches extra film, pays attention during practice and does all the right things. All of a sudden, we get some injuries, and we put him in. It’s like he has played safety his whole career.” That strong determination stems from a family of IU athletes. His sister Jackie threw the discus and shot-put for the Hoosiers’ track and field team in 2004. In the late 1940s, his grandfather was a member of the IU tennis team. “I was just trying to follow in their footsteps,” Taylor said. “Once I got the opportunity, I tried to take full advantage of it.”Taylor said a common theme shared by his walk-on teammates is to play each game like it’s their last. With only three games remaining in his collegiate career – against Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue – you can expect Taylor to do nothing but that.“I just wanted to make the team,” Taylor said of when he originally chose IU. “If you would have told me back then that I would be starting, I wouldn’t have believed you. It has been a long journey, but I’m glad to finally be where I’m at now.”
(11/02/09 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the second week in a row, the Hoosiers were up by a double-digit margin at halftime against a Big Ten opponent.For the second week in a row, it wasn’t enough.IU lost 42-24 to No. 7 Iowa in Iowa City on Saturday, dropping the Hoosiers’ record to 4-5 on the season. The Hawkeye win preserves Iowa’s undefeated season (9-0) and continues its hope for a Bowl Championship Series game berth. And, similar to last weekend’s final-play loss to Northwestern, a major factor in the game was the lack of defense from IU in the fourth quarter.In that final period alone, Iowa scored 28 unanswered points, totaling 265 yards and four touchdowns. The Hoosiers, in comparison, earned 55 yards in that time.Iowa’s point total in the final 15 minutes on Saturday was more than it had scored in six different games this season.IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell said a lack of production from both sides of the ball was the difference on Saturday.“Every quarter is the same, we got to make plays,” Chappell said. “Right now, I guess you can say we are not making as many in the third and fourth as we are in the first and second. We got to step up and make some plays.”The momentum began to shift in favor of the Hawkeyes after Iowa’s first drive of the fourth quarter with the Hawkeyes down 24-14. Despite starting at his own eight-yard line, Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi connected with wide receiver Marvin McNutt at the Hawkeye 25-yard line. McNutt sprinted down the right sideline for a 92-yard touchdown reception that brought the Hawkeyes to within three points of the Hoosiers.On Iowa’s very next offensive play, Stanzi found wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos up the middle of the field. He cut to the right, outrunning three IU defenders for another touchdown and a 28-24 lead.Both passing touchdowns came on fake handoffs to the running back, plays that seemed to routinely work for the Hawkeyes.“They were just mental breakdowns,” IU senior safety Collin Taylor said. “Physically, we played with them all game. The defense played well, but we had just a couple breakdowns – mental mistakes – and we just let that slip away.”But Iowa was not finished.After a Hawkeye interception within IU’s territory, Iowa got the ball back with 10:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. Following a 19-yard pass to tight end Tony Moeaki, Iowa went to its run game.Running back Brandon Wegher carried the ball five consecutive times, culminating in a six-yard scamper into the end zone and the 11-point Hawkeye advantage.Iowa’s final drive of the game finished with a 27-yard touchdown run by Wegher with just more than one minute remaining in the game.Wegher, who started in place of injured running back Adam Robinson, had 118 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday against the Hoosiers. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said he was “really pleased” with Wegher’s performance.“It will be a good confidence-booster for him,” Ferentz said. “I think he rises to the competition. I think he embraced the challenge this week.”The loss forces IU to win two of its remaining three games – against Wisconsin, No. 12 Penn State and Purdue – to become bowl-eligible.“We got it to the fourth quarter again, but we couldn’t finish it off,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “There were some crazy plays in that football game from about the middle of the third quarter on. We just didn’t have enough plays in our own arsenal to hang with them.”
(10/30/09 4:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU senior cornerback Nick Polk is not scared of facing No. 4 Iowa on Saturday.In fact, he relishes the idea of going into Kinnick Stadium with a chance to upset the only undefeated team remaining in the Big Ten.“You are going into a very nice environment, and on Halloween, its definitely going to be wild,” Polk said. “I love playing at Iowa. We just have to go in with excitement and be ready to play.” The Hawkeyes (8-0) are led by a veteran defense that is among the nation’s best. This season, Iowa is top-20 in the country for total defense, passing defense, scoring defense and turnovers gained. It also leads Bowl Championship Series teams in interceptions with 15 on the year.Linebacker Pat Angerer has the most tackles for the Hawkeyes with 77 on the season. Iowa also boasts four different players with at least two interceptions. Safety Tyler Sash has five of the 15 total picks and is especially dangerous after the ball gets into his hands. He averages 23.4 yards per return after causing a turnover.Iowa rarely blitzes the quarterback and likes to drop back its secondary in hopes of causing an interception.IU junior wide receiver Terrance Turner said the Hoosiers must not allow the Hawkeyes to dictate the pace of the game.“You just go at them,” Turner said. “You don’t backtrack or wait for them. It’s about executing and doing the little things. If we do that, it will all work out.” But while Iowa is exceptional on defense, its offense is a different story.The Hawkeyes rank 10th in the Big Ten in total offense (No. 87 in the nation).Last week against Michigan State, Iowa needed a last-second touchdown pass in East Lansing to win 15-13 and preserve its national championship hopes.Though Hawkeye quarterback Ricky Stanzi may not be as prolific as some other Big Ten quarterbacks, he is efficient. This season, he has a passer rating of 126.9 after throwing for 1,715 yards and 12 touchdowns.Iowa’s ground attack is made up of running backs Adam Robinson (78.6 average yards per game) and Brandon Wegher.But, Robinson and offensive lineman Dace Richardson will not be playing on Saturday because of season-ending injuries suffered against the Spartans last week.Despite the injuries, IU coach Bill Lynch said preparation for the Hawkeyes remains the same.“They just seem to reload,” Lynch said. “The really good programs have depth where the next guy always steps in and plays. They have done that throughout the years.”The Hoosiers are looking to rebound from a 29-28 loss to Northwestern last Saturday. In that matchup, IU gave up 26 unanswered points to the Wildcats and dropped to No. 10 in the conference standings.And if IU wants to play in a bowl game, there is no better time to win than against the Hawkeyes on Saturday.“We have to go in confident and really just execute,” IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell said. “The key thing is making plays when they are there. We have to seize the opportunity when it’s given to us.
(10/28/09 4:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jibreel Black, a defensive end from Wyoming, Ohio and the top IU recruit for next season, has switched his commitment from IU to the University of Cincinnati. Jibreel Black, the brother of current freshman starting defensive tackle Larry Black, is a four-star recruit on Scout.com and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com. “I have been thinking about the decision for the past two weeks,” Jibreel Black said. “I just really wanted to do something that was in my heart from the start, and that was to attend the University of Cincinnati.”Black is 6 feet 3 inches, 253 pounds and possesses the pass-rushing ability to get to the opposing quarterback. He said when originally considering schools, he chose IU before Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State and Kentucky. John Decker, editor of Scout’s IU affiliate Hoosier Nation, said the departure has a major impact on the 2010 IU recruiting class. He also said that because of the early success of his brother Larry Black, who was ranked lower than his younger brother when he was in high school, Jibreel Black has a nearly high potential once he reaches the college ranks.“Anybody would say that he was the marquee guy in the class,” Decker said. “They have some needs on the defensive line, losing (IU senior defensive ends) Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew, so now the challenge is that they make sure that he is the only one that this happens with. It’s a big loss.”Cincinnati (7-0) is currently ranked No. 5 in The Associate Press poll and No. 8 in the Bowl Champion Series Standings. IU is 4-4 and coming off a 29-28 loss to Northwestern on Saturday.Jibreel Black said his decision to decommit from IU in favor of Cincinnati was partially based on the current status of both programs. “I would be lying to tell you it didn’t,” Jibreel Black said. “The past is what you have as an indicator of the future. I told coach Lynch I was thankful for everything he did for me, but I think I will have a better opportunity at the University of Cincinnati right now than I do at IU.”Wyoming High School football coach Bernie Barre said the choice was not easy.“I think the more he thought about it, the more he thought, ‘This was not what I wanted to do,’” Barre said. “Obviously he has a great deal of respect for coach Lynch and the IU coaching staff, but he felt like going to the University of Cincinnati would be best for him.” Jibreel Black said he spoke with his brother before making the final decision. “I talked to him to let him know,” Jibreel Black said. “He said, ‘Do what is best for you. Whatever fits you, do it.’ I did what I felt was best for me.”
(10/27/09 3:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jibreel Black, a defensive end from Wyoming, Ohio and the top IU recruit for next season, has switched his commitment from IU to the University of Cincinnati.Black, the brother of current IU starting defensive tackle Larry Black, is a four-star recruit on Scout.com and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.“I have been thinking about the decision for the past two weeks,” Jibreel Black said. “I just really wanted to do something that was in my heart from the start, and that was to attend the University of Cincinnati.”He said his decision to decommit from IU in favor of the Bearcats was partially based on the current status of both programs.“I would be lying to tell you it didn’t,” Jibreel Black said. “The past is what you have as an indicator of the future. I told Coach Lynch I was thankful for everything he did for me, but I think I will have a better opportunity at the University of Cincinnati right now than I do at IU.”Cincinnati (7-0) is currently ranked No. 5 in the AP poll and No. 8 in the BCS Standings. IU is 4-4 and coming off a 29-28 loss to Northwestern on Saturday.Jibreel Black said he spoke with his brother before making the final decision.“I talked to him to let him know,” Jibreel Black said. “(Larry) said, ‘Do what is best for you. Whatever fits you, do it.’ I did what I felt was best for me.”For a full Q & A with Jibreel Black, check out Hoosier Hype.
(10/26/09 2:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Evanston, Ill. – The Hoosiers’ 29-28 loss to Northwestern on Saturday can be summed up in one word: collapse.After surging to a 28-3 lead, IU (4-4) gave up 26 unanswered points to the Wildcats (5-3) in a pivotal Big Ten matchup. The second half proved to be the difference, as the Hoosiers failed to capitalize despite three interceptions by Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka.IU’s defeat greatly diminishes any hope for a bowl berth, with the Hoosiers facing three top-25 teams in a row before rival Purdue visits Memorial Stadium to conclude the regular season.“It was a tough loss for us,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “They made more plays down the stretch than we did. I thought our kids played hard, but we just did not make any plays in the second half to score points. “Although the defense did give up yards, they did create turnovers. The inability to take advantage of that eventually caught up with us.”IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell finished 16-27 for 163 yards. The ground attack was led by freshman running back Darius Willis with 103 yards, though 70 of those came on a touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.The game began to unravel for the Hoosiers with 4:07 remaining in the second quarter.Kafka’s one-yard touchdown run brought the score within 18 points and shifted the momentum toward the Wildcats. A three-and-out for IU gave the ball back to Northwestern less than two minutes later. Kafka led a 10-play, 84-yard drive that culminated in an eight-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Zeke Markshausen with seven seconds left in the half. Northwestern’s score trimmed its deficit to only 11 and the Wildcats received the ball to begin the third quarter.The deciding factor in the second half was Northwestern’s ability to take advantage of opportunities while IU could not.Punting from his own 23-yard line, IU sophomore Chris Hagerup had his kick blocked into the end zone and recovered for a safety to make the score 28-19. The most crucial play of the game came with 1:48 remaining in the third quarter. On the Northwestern one-yard line, the Hoosiers elected to go for a touchdown rather than a field goal. IU junior wide receiver Mitchell Evans lined up at quarterback and rolled right, looking for senior tight end Troy Wagner. With Wagner covered in the end zone, Mitchell ran toward the left sideline but was inadvertently tripped by his own offensive lineman two yards shy of the goal line. “It was a play that we put in this week and worked all week, but Northwestern did a good job covering it,” Evans said. “Troy got held up a little bit – the guy stuck to his hip the whole time – so I just tried to make the most of it and it was close. They made a good play.”On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Kafka took his team to the Northwestern 49-yard line. He followed with a 51-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Andrew Brewer to make the score 28-26 in favor of the Hoosiers.After two IU drives resulted in zero points, the Wildcats took control.A 13-play drive by Northwestern ended in a 19-yard field goal by kicker Stefan Demos for the 29-28 lead with 21 seconds remaining in the game.The Hoosiers had a final chance to score in the last seconds of the game, but freshman Nick Freeland’s 59-yard attempt fell short of the crossbar. Freeland’s longest field goal of the season stands at 38 yards, and Lynch said Freeland had never attempted to kick a field goal from that distance before.“In that situation, you have the wind at your back, what are the odds of throwing a Hail Mary for a score?” Lynch said. “The decision is between throwing it in the end zone or trying a long field goal. We felt it gave us our best chance at that time.”Chappell said that IU’s inability to score in the second half was a major factor on Saturday.“It hurts, no question,” Chappell said. “We let it get away. But give Northwestern credit – they never quit.”The running game was almost non-existent in the second half with only 22 yards on the ground. In that period, Chappell was 7-16 for 78 yards and no touchdowns.Kafka’s quick, short throws also exposed an IU secondary that was injury-plagued and ranked last in the Big Ten for passing defense. “This one hurts, but we are definitely positive,” IU senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew said. “They were resilient. We just have to find ways to continue to play for four quarters and finish the game.”
(10/24/09 9:35pm)
After giving up 26 consecutive
points without a response, IU fell 29-28 to Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., on
Saturday.
(10/23/09 2:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With two defensive coordinators barking orders and teaching schemes at the same time, it’s inevitable to have an occasional disagreement on the field.But IU senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew said IU co-defensive coordinators Brian George and Joe Palcic have never overstepped each other while preparing for an opponent.Ever.“Thinking about it, that probably happens a lot,” Kirlew said. “But I have just never seen it happen. They work perfectly with each other. You would think those guys are brothers.”This connection between the two coaches began at Miami University (Ohio) in 1999. At the time, George was a graduate assistant and Palcic was the linebacker coach for the RedHawks. After serving in many different jobs on staff, George and Palcic were named co-defensive coordinators for Miami in 2004.When then-Miami coach Terry Hoeppner took the position at IU one year later, his young defensive coordinators came with him.“We have never been a coordinator without each other,” Palcic said. “It’s really all we know.”But though they may share the same job title, the specific responsibilities to the team are much different.Palcic is in charge of the secondary unit – linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties – and George leads the defensive line. This allows the coaches to focus on their area of expertise and never get in the way of each other in practice.During games, Palcic sits in the press box scanning the field while George stands on the sideline. Palcic is in charge of selecting the play and relaying it to George through a headset, who then tells the players. But if George strongly disagrees with the decision, he has the ability to change it.“We have disagreements, but every staff has that,” Palcic said. “If one of us feels strongly enough to want to veto it, we go ahead and veto it. He’ll change it right there and that’s what we go with. We never second-guess what we call.”George said the overall game plan is decided well in advance from the opening whistle. With each circumstance covered, all that is left is execution on the field. Because of this, both coordinators have a good idea of where the other stands.“As we go through practice each week, we work all the different situations and we talk about what we want to call at different points,” George said. “At times, I know what he is going to say and I know it goes the other way as well. We have been doing it for long enough together that there is a pretty good synergy of being on the same page.”That chemistry off the field has translated to a successful season in 2009.In the Big Ten, the Hoosiers are in the top six teams for sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers gained. Kirlew leads the conference in forced fumbles and is third in sacks. IU senior linebacker Matt Mayberry is in the top 10 for total tackles.George said he and Palcic’s close friendship makes the job more enjoyable.“We both have the type of personality where we really don’t care who gets the credit,” George said. “Over the years we have both been able to compromise on things, and understand that our livelihood depends on us being able to work as a unit, just like the team. From that standpoint, it has worked very well.”