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(04/15/11 5:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With spring practice ending, here are five things to watch for in the spring game:Quarterback battleRight now it appears sophomores Edward Wright-Baker and Dusty Kiel are competing for the starting job. The two quarterbacks will likely be placed on separate teams in the spring game, so whoever performs better may have a leg up going into the offseason.Neither player has been available to the media since early in the spring, and IU coach Kevin Wilson said he is no closer to naming a starter.Wright-Baker and Kiel made brief appearances in five games last season, but with an entire new offensive philosophy in place, the starting job is up for grabs.When asked if he had a timeline for naming a starter, quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said, “When’s the first game? The week before is when we’ll name a starter.”SecondaryParticularly, senior cornerback Andre Kates. Kates was suspended before the Northwestern game last season due to critical tweets and didn’t play in another game. The junior college transfer is back with the team now and ready to make an impact.On Sunday, keep an eye on how much Kates plays, how many good plays he makes and how many times he gets beat. While one scrimmage doesn’t mean a whole lot, the spring game could be a tryout of sorts for Kates. The battle between wide receivers and the secondary should also be interesting. A core of Tandon Doss, Damarlo Belcher and Terrance Turner dominated the Hoosiers’ secondary a year ago, but only Belcher returns from that group. Can the cornerbacks and safeties finally hold their own?Wilson’s new offenseWhat will he run? How often will he use the tight end? Will he go with five wide receivers?All of the questions should be answered Saturday. Wilson probably won’t reveal all of his formations, but fans should get a good idea of how the offense will look in the fall.Defensive energyWe know co-defensive coordinator Mike Ekeler has plenty of energy, but will his defense match it on the field?The Hoosiers have to be better than the team that gave up 34 points per game last season.Nick TurnerWith Darius Willis still out due to injury, Turner has a big opportunity to show he deserves more carries.The Southport High School (Indianapolis) grad carried the ball 28 times for 157 yards last season, but 67 of those yards came on one carry against Wisconsin. Turner was used sparingly as a speed back in 2010. He added some weight in the offseason — he is now up to 187 pounds according to the team’s website — and wants to prove he is an every-down back.With Willis’ injury history, he may have to be.
(04/08/11 2:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>James Hardy always planned to earn his college degree. There was never a doubt in his mind, not even when he left IU for the NFL after his junior year in 2008. He said it was a dream of his to play professional football, but he also has other ambitions — ambitions that require him to graduate from college.The former IU wide receiver and new member of the Baltimore Ravens is back in Bloomington this semester to finish his final 12 credit hours and to train for next season.Hardy also took six online classes while playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2008 and 2009.“This is the best decision I’ve ever made in my life,” said Hardy, whose classes include theater and acting, bowling, ballroom dancing and public speaking. “When I left, I had everything set up for me to come back. School was always on my mind. I’ve always just enjoyed learning. Now with the lockout in place, I felt this was the perfect time to come back.”Rookie highs and lowsAfter leaving IU as the Hoosiers’ all-time receiving leader in touchdowns (36), yards (2,690) and receptions (186), Hardy’s confidence was at an all-time high.He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2008 draft (41st overall), and he said he felt ready to prove he could produce at the next level.Early in his rookie season, he did.Hardy caught his first career touchdown pass in just his second career game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His ego began to inflate. Hardy was headed for stardom — or so he thought.“I’m thinking I’m about to be a pro-bowl superstar,” he said. “That’s what was going through my mind.”Hardy was having fun. He used his first paycheck to take his grandma and his parents to Vegas so they could “see the bright lights.”But after such a successful start, Hardy suddenly received the wake-up call of his life.He tore a ligament in his left knee in December of his rookie campaign and struggled for the remainder of the season. He caught only nine passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns on the year.The next season was even worse. Hardy suffered from a sports hernia and couldn’t recover as quickly as expected. When he was finally healthy, he sat the bench.For the year, he had one catch for nine yards.“It’s tough. With the career he had at Indiana, you expect great things from him,” said former IU receiver Terrance Turner, a former teammate of Hardy. “That just teaches you anything can happen in the NFL. It’s all about productivity. Injuries happen, so you just have to take advantage of things when they come your way.”‘I’m glad it happened this way’Hardy admits now he didn’t know what to do when the injuries hit. He was lost. He felt the Bills organization losing faith in him.For the first time, Hardy couldn’t be the athletic star he had always been.“It was one of the most difficult times of my life,” he said. “I had never been injured. I was just curious, I didn’t understand. Why now? I had personal goals that I wanted to attain. When that didn’t happen, it made me look at life totally different.”During his extensive rehab process, Hardy prayed a lot. He desperately needed guidance, but he couldn’t find any.But as time went on, Hardy began to turn a negative into a positive. He said he began to believe he had to go through the bad days to experience the good ones again. “I feel that I got hurt just so God could show me the things that he’s shown me,” the Elmhurst High School (Fort Wayne) product said. “If I would have had success right out of the gate, I wouldn’t see what I see now.”Former IU wide receivers coach Billy Lynch said Hardy is a new person after going through his injury battles.Lynch and Hardy still talk on a regular basis. Before Lynch left for his new job at Rice University in Texas, the two had a two-hour conversation at Lynch’s house about football and life. “He’s learned so much about life in general,” Lynch said. “When we have this conversation five years from now, I think we’ll look back and say it was the best thing that ever happened to him.”A new opportunityHardy said he knew the day was coming. He hadn’t produced in Buffalo, and he expected to get cut.Even so, Bills general manager Buddy Nix’s words hurt. They meant that Hardy had been a failure in the eyes of the Bills organization.“When stuff like that happens, you know what’s coming,” the 6-5, 220-pound Hardy said. “But I took it like a man. I didn’t show any emotions. I know I’m going to be great. Not one organization and not one person is going to make me believe that I’m not.”Hardy said he doesn’t feel any animosity toward Buffalo. In retrospect, he’s thankful the Bills cut him when they did so he could find a new home. But at the time, Hardy struggled to collect himself. He realized he was going to have to start all over and prove himself worthy of being signed.Hardy said he worked out for seven NFL teams and received contract offers from all of them. That’s when he had a lengthy discussion with Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. Newsome told Hardy that he and Ray Rice were on their draft board in 2008. Hardy was off the board by the time Baltimore was on the clock at No. 55 in the second round, so the Ravens went with Rice.Hardy said he liked Newsome because he believed in the young receiver, despite all he had been through.“He doesn’t know what happened in Buffalo and he doesn’t care,” Hardy said of Newsome. “He said he wants to be in a partnership with me to make my dreams come true.” Still a HoosierHardy said part of the reason he came back to Bloomington now was to see how the new coaching staff was running the IU program.He’s said he is still very much a Hoosier at heart and wants to see his school make it back to a bowl game.To help the Hoosiers do that, Hardy has spent time teaching IU receiver Damarlo Belcher about his experiences.“I wanted to help him with all the things I have learned,” Hardy said. “I have taken him under my wing as a littler brother because I wish I had somebody like that when I was here.”Hardy said he is determined to make it to the top. He rises at 5:30 a.m. each morning and is out on the football field by 7 a.m. to begin training for the day. He finally has a second chance at his dream, and he doesn’t plan on needing another one.“This is a game where only the stars survive,” Hardy said. “All the greats get cut at one point in time. “Not on my watch will that happen to me again.”
(04/01/11 2:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Mike Ekeler walked around the Memorial Stadium field before practice, interacting with his new players.He fist bumped some, high fived others. “Run through people today,” he told one player.“High energy practice,” he yelled to another.As soon as Ekeler’s linebackers heard his name, they couldn’t help but smile. They were excited about what the new linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator is trying to build.“I sometimes wondered ‘What are the top schools doing that makes them better than us?’” senior linebacker Leon Beckum said. “We got a coach from a top school, so now we’re doing what they’re doing. We’re confident right now.”Ekeler left his job coaching the linebackers at Nebraska to branch away from coach Bo Pelini. He wanted to prove that he could do it on his own.Ekeler understood the challenge in front of him. He knew the Hoosiers’ defense was ranked 102nd in points against last season, allowing 34 per game.But Ekeler was confident he could help turn it around.His players saw that from their new coach, and they bought into Ekeler almost immediately.“A lot of his techniques should make us unblockable this season,” senior Jeff Thomas said. “He’s a great coach. I feel like he’s one of those guys who likes a new challenge, and he’s getting one with Leon, me and all the other linebackers.”Like many of the IU players, Thomas and Beckum have lost weight since winter. Thomas said he lost 16 pounds and is down to 240, while Beckum dropped eight or 10 pounds and is down to 215.“The name of the game is speed,” Ekeler said. “If you’re a linebacker and you’re weighing 255 pounds — and I’m not a genius — but if you get down to 235, you’re probably going to be a little faster now. That’s kind of what our guys are starting to see.”The Hoosiers are still in the early stages of spring practice, but Beckum and Thomas already said they feel like Ekeler understands them as players and human beings.It started the night Ekeler accepted the IU job when he called each of his linebackers individually and talked to each of them for almost an hour.He told them it would take a lot of work to accomplish their goals but that they could have fun along the way. He told them he was going to push them to their limits and make them the best players they can be.“I had no idea who he was when he called,” Thomas said. “I had never heard of him.”Four months later, Thomas knows exactly who he is.“Getting off blocks,” Thomas said when asked in what area he needs to improve. “Not running straight up into the line, holding depth.“It’s taken me time to get used to (Ekeler’s) stuff because I’ve never done that sort of stuff before.”Ekeler admitted his linebackers have “many needs” to address before they open next season in September.He plans to address a need every day until then — with a few fist bumps in between.“You can’t accomplish anything without enthusiasm,” Ekeler said. “You’ve got to go out there and bust your tail, but you can do it with a smile on your face.”
(03/25/11 3:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Damarlo Belcher no longer eats at McDonalds. The IU senior doesn’t stop for his comfort meal of 10 chicken nuggets, large fries, two cheeseburgers and a large soda like he used to.He still craves fast food, but Belcher understands a change in diet will only benefit him on the football field next season.With the help of a new dietitian, Belcher has cut out nearly all junk food — he only eats out on special occasions — and has started choosing healthier items. He even eats fruits now, a food group he admitted to neglecting in the past.“I love pineapples,” he said. “I’ve been eating a lot more fruit. It’s crazy. I can’t even remember the last time I had an unhealthy meal.”Belcher’s new diet, combined with coach Mark Hill’s conditioning program, has helped Belcher transform his body. He’s trimmed some fat and replaced it with lean muscle. He’s gotten faster with change-of-direction drills. He’s gotten bigger and stronger in the weight room.Belcher now feels ready to lead the Hoosier receivers.“It’s just me and all the younger guys now,” Belcher said. “I have to do my job and bring those guys along, get those guys ready to play. I can’t catch all the balls myself. I’m going to need those guys to play too.”With the departure of Terrance Turner and Tandon Doss, Belcher will be responsible for helping sophomores Duwyce Wilson and Kofi Hughes transition under a new coaching staff.The younger receivers looked to Belcher for guidance when former IU coach Bill Lynch was fired in November and continue to emulate Belcher’s actions on and off the field. For a while, there was doubt as to whether Belcher would return to school or enter his name in the NFL Draft. Belcher, who led the Big Ten with 78 receptions last season, spent time discussing the decision with his mother before deciding to stay a Hoosier for one more year.“I was real close to leaving,” Belcher said. “Once I heard coach (Kevin) Wilson was coming, that kind of changed my mind right there. I was excited because I knew he could bring some great things to the table here.“I definitely still think about getting ready for the draft with those guys. It crosses my mind all the time. But I’m glad I stayed.”Duwyce Wilson said he was somewhat surprised when he heard Belcher was returning to school.“He’s a great receiver. I thought he was gone for sure,” Duwyce Wilson said. “It’s a great thing to have him back to lead us and help us win games.”Coach Wilson sweetened the pot for Belcher when he signed former Northwestern wide receivers coach Kevin Johns to the same position.Johns was recently named the top wide receivers coach in the Big Ten by Rivals.com and helped develop Northwestern’s Jeremy Ebert, a 2010 first team All-Big Ten selection.Ebert, though, stands just 6-foot and weighs 195 pounds. Johns said he has yet to work with a receiver the size of Belcher.“I’ve been impressed,” Johns said of the 6-foot-5-inch, 214-pound Belcher. “His size and speed is a rare combination. Because I’ve never worked with a guy of his size before, I think that will be one of the exciting differences of working with this group.”Johns said he is still in the process of getting to know his receivers. He said he always has a notebook in hand when he meets with one of his players, jotting down notes about each individual’s personality traits.To Belcher, that’s a good thing. He said he feels comfortable with his position coach after only a short time because he knows how much Johns cares.“He’s a great coach,” Belcher said. “He’s just a smart guy, an offensive mastermind. He’s taught us so much since he’s been here. There’s nothing wrong with learning more than you knew in past years.”Belcher said he is focused more than ever this spring because so much is different. He’s now the team’s top receiver, and he knows he must lead by example.For Belcher, that means hitting the jug machine to make sure he doesn’t drop critical passes. That means running routes hard every time. And it means cutting out weekend trips to McDonalds, as hard as it may be.“You just have to watch what you put in your body,” Belcher said. “If we want to win games in the fourth quarter, we’ve got to have the energy to do it.”
(03/11/11 5:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU running back Darius Willis will not be suspended by the University for an alleged domestic assault, a source close to Willis said Thursday. The woman involved in the case filed a protective order against Willis on Jan. 14.Willis was facing a possible six-month suspension from the Office of Student Ethics, which would have prohibited him from playing football for the Hoosiers during the 2011-12 season, according to the source.The sophomore met with a representative from the Office of Student Ethics Thursday afternoon where he was told he was “not responsible” for the allegations against him, according to the source.The source said the ethics board was close to suspending Willis at the preliminary hearing on March 4, but discrepancies in witness statements caused the case to be extended to this week.According to the source, the woman’s two witnesses were allowed to hear each other’s testimony during the hearing. Even so, the witnesses stories didn’t match, the source said.“Every time we think there’s a fact in the case, it gets overturned by a discrepancy,” the source said Monday. “Every time it appears to be case closed, there’s a discrepancy found that forces it to continue.”The source said Willis first learned of the allegations Jan. 18 when he received the protective order in the mail. The initial protective order lasted for two years, according to the source. Willis challenged it and had it reduced to six months because he was “not a threat of any kind in the future,” the source said.According to court documents, the female said Willis choked her and pushed her on the bed, then threw her across the room. She said Willis looked down at her and said, “That felt good. I ain’t felt like that in a while.”The source said all of that information about the alleged encounter on Dec. 14 is untrue. According to the source, the woman went to Willis’ house to confront him about cheating on her with another woman. The source said the woman hit Willis in the head and he laughed. When Willis leaned down to pick up the headphones the female student had knocked off, she slapped him across the head, according to the source. That’s when Willis told the woman to leave. According to the source, Willis and the woman never went into the bedroom. The source also said the woman didn’t have any belongings at Willis’ residence, disputing her statement that Willis threw her belongings at her.After filing a protective order 30 days after the alleged incident, the student first went to Middle Way House, which assists victims of domestic violence. According to court records, the woman was accompanied by two friends. Staffers at the Middle Way house told the student to go to the emergency room.The source said records at Middle Way House describe two friends carrying the student, but at the hospital, she had no one carry her according to hospital records. The student said she received a wheelchair, but the hospital said she declined the wheelchair and left under her own power, according to court documents.According to the source, the student refused to have the hospital collaborate with Middle Way House on the conflicting reports. The emergency room report acquired through court documents showed that the student complained of pain in her lower back, right knee and neck. She had no bruising or broken bones. But according to court documents from a visit to a doctor later that week, she developed bruises on her right elbow, left upper arm and right knee.Willis, an Indianapolis native and former Franklin Central High School standout, won the Indiana Mr. Football award in 2007. He missed most of last season with a knee injury.
(03/10/11 10:29pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU running back Darius Willis will not be suspended by the University for an alleged domestic assault, a source close to Willis said Thursday. The woman filed a protective order against Willis on Jan. 14.Willis was facing a possible six-month suspension from the Office of Student Ethics, which would have prohibited him from playing football for the Hoosiers during the 2011-12 season, according to the source.The sophomore met with a representative from the Office of Student Ethics Thursday afternoon where he was told he was “not responsible” for the allegations against him, according to the source.Continue checking idsnews.com for updates.
(02/28/11 5:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS — Tandon Doss was already a step behind some of his peers when he was unable to show off his skills at the Senior Bowl. Doss left IU after his junior year and was ineligible to participate in the event.He put himself further behind this weekend when he declined to participate in drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. Doss had surgery to repair two torn groin muscles after the college football season and is still two to three weeks from fully recovering. That hasn’t stopped the former Hoosier from garnering attention from NFL Draft experts. “I like the way that he developed,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said. “He’s got a little length to him. Not many people know about him because he was at Indiana. As far as upper-tier wide receivers, he’ll have to prove it, but I think he’s a guy that’s definitely draftable.”ESPN analyst Todd McShay went a step further. “I think he’s the most underrated wide receiver in this class,” he said. “He has great hands. Not good hands, he has great hands. He can improve a little bit as a route runner, and he’s not overly elusive at all. But he gets up the field in a hurry. He’s quick. He has great body control.”Alabama’s Julio Jones and Georgia’s A.J. Green appear to be the top-two receiving prospects in the class with everybody else jockeying for a position behind them. Doss said Saturday he was trying to use the combine as an opportunity to show off some interviewing skills and tell teams why they should draft him.“I’m trying to sell my versatility, my work ethic and that I’m a playmaker wherever you put me,” the former Ben Davis High School standout said. “I’m trying to make the most of my opportunity with the coaches and show them the type of person I am.”So where will he be drafted? A lot of that will depend on how he performs in his pro day at IU on April 6. At this point, though, McShay said he likes Doss’ chances. “There are two elite receivers in this class, but after that, I think you could make an argument that Doss is third,” he said. “I have him as my fourth receiver, but I think he’s in the late-first, but closer to early-second-round range.”Brewer, Turner begin workoutsFormer IU offensive lineman James Brewer and wide receiver Terrance Turner did participate in drills during the weekend. Turner, who will be fighting for a draft spot, said the combine experience was different than what he expected it would be.“When you see it from afar, you see the running and the jumping — you see the performances,” Turner said. “When you’re here, it’s a little bit more depth. It’s been good. It’s been a lot of waiting, a lot of tests and everything, but it’s been good.”Brewer’s athleticism was questioned during the weekend, but he performed well in many of the events. McShay said he believes there is a spot for Brewer in the NFL.“He fits for certain people,” he said. “Very good size, could play with better leverage. Not a great athlete. At right tackle or inside at guard, he’s got a chance to be a starter in the NFL. Probably third round or, worst case, fourth round.”
(02/25/11 3:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>James Brewer earned praise when he reportedly dominated the competition at the Senior Bowl last month. Sports Illustrated said he “established himself as the best blocker at the event.”Now he is in Indianapolis for the NFL Draft Combine. Through all the kind words, Brewer remains the same humble guy he was as an offensive tackle at IU and a guard at Arlington High School in Indianapolis. He knows the odds of succeeding in the National Football League are against him, and he understands how much hard work it will take to play at the highest level.So Brewer ignores everything. Somebody says he did well? Who cares? He knows he can do better.His quarterback pats him on the back to thank him for giving him time to throw? Brewer said he knows he has to do it again.“You have to stay humble, period,” said Brewer. “You can’t ever feel like you made it. Even if I get drafted, I won’t feel like I made it. Just because I got drafted won’t mean I’m going to play full-time. You’ve got to stay humble and know that you’re here for a reason because being invited to the combine is a great honor.”Brewer, a 6-foot-6-inch, 330-pound lineman, did not begin playing football until his senior year of high school. He had been a basketball player as a sophomore at Warren Central in Indianapolis and as a junior at Lawrence Central in Lawrence, Ind.Since he picked up football, Brewer’s been through his share of challenges.He was redshirted his freshman year at IU in 2006 and then missed most of the next two seasons due to injuries. Brewer faced the possibility of never playing a college game. Some wondered if he was a bust.But he didn’t quit. Brewer started all 12 games at right tackle the following year and helped protect his roommate and quarterback, Ben Chappell. Last season, he started nine games and received an All-Big Ten honorable mention from the league’s coaches and media.Even though he picked up football later than most, Brewer developed a love for the game and a dream to play on Sundays.“It started as a tool I was going to use to go to school for free,” he said. “But after a while, it became something that I was passionate about. The opportunity to play at the next level and push yourself even more was something I really was excited about.”Brewer has the opportunity to go through the draft preparations with three of his college teammates: Tandon Doss, Terrance Turner and Chappell. Of those three, Doss and Turner are also participating in the combine.The four stay in contact as much as possible and try to help each other with various areas of the process.“It’s good to know guys you played with are going through the same thing you’re going through,” Turner said. “If you have any questions come up, you always have someone to turn to.”Brewer, who has spent the past two months training in Florida, began his combine work Wednesday by getting the necessary tests at an Indianapolis hospital. He started the weightlifting events Thursday and will finish with the running stations tomorrow.Turner said he believes Brewer will impress scouts with his performance this weekend.“He’s really, really athletic,” Turner said. “I think that helps him out a lot. He’s quick enough to go toe-to-toe with the smaller defensive ends.”While Brewer admitted it was good to be home, he said staying focused is something of a challenge.“The nice thing about it is, when this is all over, I’m only a few minutes from Bloomington and everybody I know,” he said. “But for the four days I’m at the combine, you’ve got to shut some people out. There’s no time to talk or hang out. For the most part, it’s all business right now.”
(02/10/11 8:37pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Recently-hired running backs coach Jemal Singleton is leaving IU for a job with Oklahoma State. Singleton is the fourth coach Kevin Wilson has lost in about a month, joining Brent Pease (Boise State), Jerry Montgomery (Michigan) and Corey Raymond (Nebraska).This decision comes only a week after Wilson finally solidified his entire staff. A source with knowledge of the situation said several players are starting to get frustrated.“These players have been talking to these coaches about turning things around,” the source said. “And then they leave without even talking to the players. It’s pissing them off.”
(02/03/11 5:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU football coach Kevin Wilson tried to write it off with a joke.“They are leaving IU with a perfect record,” he said before the assembled media for National Signing Day. “When has that ever happened before?”On the same day Wilson and his staff introduced 21 new players to the IU program, Wilson announced that two more coaches had decided to leave the program.Jerry Montgomery, defensive line coach for three weeks, is gone. Corey Raymond, cornerbacks coach for about a month, is gone.That makes three guys — if you include Brent Pease — who have accepted IU jobs, then pursued opportunities elsewhere. I was the first to commend Wilson for putting together a solid staff several weeks ago, and I still think this group can be good. After all, Montgomery wasn’t the first choice of co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory and Mike Ekeler, and Raymond wasn’t Wilson’s first choice.But it is still a little worrisome. Think about the players, who were trying to move on after Bill Lynch was fired and were getting used to a new position coach. How do you think they feel right now?I’m not saying this is going to hurt the Hoosiers in the long run because I don’t believe it will. I’m not even saying I blame Wilson for letting the coaches go.It is troubling, however, that these guys said they wanted to help rebuild the IU football program and then bolted for bigger, better programs before beginning to help get that done. (Montgomery is going to Michigan, Raymond to Nebraska).What if recruits — the same kids IU signed today — decide they don’t want to be part of the rebuilding project either?“When you run with the big dogs, things like that happen,” IU Athletics Director Fred Glass said. “When you’re pursuing high-quality guys, you may have potential for a little more turnover than if you had guys that nobody wants.”He paused for a moment and continued.“I don’t think we’ve missed a beat. I’m still thrilled with the staff Kevin has assembled.”As for the actual recruiting part of Recruiting Day, I thought Wilson and his staff did a good enough job in a short period of time.The Hoosiers managed to keep the majority of the recruits Lynch had gathered and they picked up a few solid players late in the process. I think wide receiver Shane Wynn — who had offers from Ohio State and USC, amongst others — will be an impact player in Wilson’s offense.“That shows Kevin can recruit with the big boys,” Glass said.In a couple years, Wynn, along with commit Cody Latimer, could replace what Tandon Doss brought to the team. “(Wynn) brought something we needed,” Wilson said. “He’s a big-time playmaker, a little quick guy. He’s a guy we could use out of the slot to give us some juice.”IU’s new class isn’t great and it isn’t bad. The important thing is it’s good enough. Wilson understands how to develop talent — especially offensive talent — and he has proven through the years that three-star recruits can be stars at the collegiate level (Sam Bradford, anyone?). Even though he’s lost a few guys from his coaching staff, I continue to like Wilson more and more each time I hear him speak — especially when he talks about his philosophies. “Every freshman plays until he shows he can’t.”It’s comments like that one that make me believe Wilson is going to be a successful head coach.
(01/28/11 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While other NFL Draft prospects are getting an opportunity to improve their stock through the Senior Bowl and other events, former IU wide receiver Tandon Doss is working behind the scenes.Doss said he knows that since he decided to forgo his senior season to enter the draft, he has to make good use of every opportunity to show his talent through events like pro days and the NFL Combine.For the last month Doss has been training near Sarasota, Fla., in an effort to get himself ready for those events. He wakes up at 6 a.m. and begins conditioning drills at 8 a.m. From there, Doss practices some of the drills, such as the 40-yard dash, which he will encounter at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis during the final week of February.Doss, a former Ben Davis High School standout, then works with other wide receivers for about 90 minutes before breaking for lunch. After that, it’s on to weightlifting and more combine drills before finishing the day at about 4 or 5 p.m. Former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde is among the notable individuals leading the drills.“He does everything with us,” Doss said. “He’s there to give us pointers, and he’s trying to stay in shape himself. He loves the game, and he just wants to be part of the group.”Early projections say Doss will be taken in either the third or fourth round because of the deep class of receivers this year. According to Rivals.com, Doss is ranked behind Georgia’s A.J. Green, Alabama’s Julio Jones, Maryland’s Torrey Smith, Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles and Pittsburgh’s Jon Baldwin.Doss said he knows that anything could significantly affect his draft status, but he said he’s not worried about any of that. He just wants to enjoy the journey and continue to improve.“There’s always going to be pressure, but you can’t focus on that,” Doss said. “You just have to trust in your abilities and be confident. I pray a lot — that keeps me focused and clears my mind. I don’t really worry about 40 times or anything like that. I just want to learn as much as I can while I’m here and make the most of my opportunity.”Doss proud of BrewerFormer IU offensive lineman James Brewer made headlines earlier this week when he reportedly dominated the competition at the Senior Bowl.Doss said he heard about Brewer’s success and is ‘proud of him.’“We never get the props that we deserve at Indiana,” Doss said. “It’s great to hear one of your teammates could go that high in the draft. I hope he continues to work hard and doesn’t let all of this talk get to his head.”
(01/11/11 3:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the month-plus since Bill Lynch was fired as IU football coach, Athletics Director Fred Glass and new coach Kevin Wilson have completely changed the Hoosiers’ football program.A school that had previously been unwilling to spend significant money on football suddenly opened its wallet. A school that had settled for a group of unproven men who had never won at the highest level suddenly attracted coaches who have.This program now looks dramatically different — dramatically better.Starting in 2005, it looked like IU had come up with a philosophy for hiring head coaches: Find a decent guy from a non-BCS conference, pay him a salary lower than most Big Ten coaches and try to slowly build a “contender.” First it was Terry Hoeppner, who coached at Miami University (OH) before joining the Hoosiers. I still believe Hoeppner would have been successful here, but that’s beside the point — he wasn’t a big hire.Then there was Bill Lynch, who was close to Hoeppner and served as his assistant coach. Lynch had a wildly mediocre 37-53 record as the Ball State head coach, which made many believe his hire was an emotional one and nothing else.Now it’s Wilson, who will be paid more than $1 million a year to turn the program around. He has won at the highest level, albeit not as a head coach. But he won’t have to do it alone, not after putting together a great staff.(Note: Even though Brent Pease returned to Boise State, the staff is still in good shape. Wilson is one of the best offensive minds in the country, and if necessary, he can call the plays and serve as offensive coordinator.)These coaches — Mike Ekeler, Corey Raymond and Mark Hagen, among others — are winners. It’s hard for me to recall a better IU staff than this one.“I love the fact that he got a bunch of been-there, done-that guys,” Glass said last week. “I’m thrilled with the staff he (Wilson) put together, and I think they are, not surprisingly, built out of the same mold as coach Wilson himself.”It starts with Wilson, who seems to have everything Lynch lacked: fire, accountability, a plan. Many of the guys he hired have some sort of connection to him. Lynch’s staff was also made up of guys he felt comfortable with.Unlike Lynch, however, Wilson found coaches who have been with winning programs at BCS schools.Ekeler and Doug Mallory, who coached together at LSU, replace Brian George and Joe Palcic, who coached under Hoeppner at Miami. LSU went to BCS bowls. Miami did not.Hagen, who worked with some great defensive linemen at Purdue, replaces George as defensive tackles coach. Hagen has been recognized as a top-25 recruiter in the nation. George has not.Getting the picture?I love what Wilson has done in such a short time. I know he’ll continue to work and make improvements.What impact all of this will have on recruiting has yet to be determined. If Wilson can recruit players like he has recruited coaches, however, it won’t be long before the Hoosiers are back in bowl games on a consistent basis.The simple fact is this: These coaches aren’t used to losing, and they won’t accept losing. Even if the Hoosiers play 13 next year, it won’t be enough for Wilson and company — Big Ten titles and BCS bowls are the goal. Even if they never get there, it’s encouraging to know that’s the target.Think Lynch ever thought he could win a conference crown at IU? I don’t.“I’m not a glass half-full guy. I’m probably a glass three-quarters full guy,” Ekeler said last month. “I’ve never stayed home on Christmas, and I don’t plan on ever doing that.”E-mail: jmalbers@indiana.edu
(01/11/11 3:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the month-plus since Bill Lynch was fired as IU football coach, Athletics Director Fred Glass and new coach Kevin Wilson have completely changed the Hoosiers’ football program.A school that had previously been unwilling to spend significant money on football suddenly opened its wallet. A school that had settled for a group of unproven men who had never won at the highest level suddenly attracted coaches who have.This program now looks dramatically different — dramatically better.Starting in 2005, it looked like IU had come up with a philosophy for hiring head coaches: Find a decent guy from a non-BCS conference, pay him a salary lower than most Big Ten coaches and try to slowly build a “contender.” First it was Terry Hoeppner, who coached at Miami University (OH) before joining the Hoosiers. I still believe Hoeppner would have been successful here, but that’s beside the point — he wasn’t a big hire.Then there was Bill Lynch, who was close to Hoeppner and served as his assistant coach. Lynch had a wildly mediocre 37-53 record as the Ball State head coach, which made many believe his hire was an emotional one and nothing else.Now it’s Wilson, who will be paid more than $1 million a year to turn the program around. He has won at the highest level, albeit not as a head coach. But he won’t have to do it alone, not after putting together a great staff.(Note: Even though Brent Pease returned to Boise State, the staff is still in good shape. Wilson is one of the best offensive minds in the country, and if necessary, he can call the plays and serve as offensive coordinator.)These coaches — Mike Ekeler, Corey Raymond and Mark Hagen, among others — are winners. It’s hard for me to recall a better IU staff than this one.“I love the fact that he got a bunch of been-there, done-that guys,” Glass said last week. “I’m thrilled with the staff he (Wilson) put together, and I think they are, not surprisingly, built out of the same mold as coach Wilson himself.”It starts with Wilson, who seems to have everything Lynch lacked: fire, accountability, a plan. Many of the guys he hired have some sort of connection to him. Lynch’s staff was also made up of guys he felt comfortable with.Unlike Lynch, however, Wilson found coaches who have been with winning programs at BCS schools.Ekeler and Doug Mallory, who coached together at LSU, replace Brian George and Joe Palcic, who coached under Hoeppner at Miami. LSU went to BCS bowls. Miami did not.Hagen, who worked with some great defensive linemen at Purdue, replaces George as defensive tackles coach. Hagen has been recognized as a top-25 recruiter in the nation. George has not.Getting the picture?I love what Wilson has done in such a short time. I know he’ll continue to work and make improvements.What impact all of this will have on recruiting has yet to be determined. If Wilson can recruit players like he has recruited coaches, however, it won’t be long before the Hoosiers are back in bowl games on a consistent basis.The simple fact is this: These coaches aren’t used to losing, and they won’t accept losing. Even if the Hoosiers play 13 next year, it won’t be enough for Wilson and company — Big Ten titles and BCS bowls are the goal. Even if they never get there, it’s encouraging to know that’s the target.Think Lynch ever thought he could win a conference crown at IU? I don’t.“I’m not a glass half-full guy. I’m probably a glass three-quarters full guy,” Ekeler said last month. “I’ve never stayed home on Christmas, and I don’t plan on ever doing that.”E-mail: jmalbers@indiana.edu
(01/10/11 5:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU offensive coordinator Brent Pease will return to Boise State to become the offensive coordinator there, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Sunday night.The story was first reported by a Boise, Idaho, television station Saturday afternoon.Pease, who served as the Broncos’ wide receivers coach last year, was announced as IU’s offensive coordinator Dec. 30. Boise State’s previous offensive coordinator, Bryan Harsin, was recently named the offensive coordinator at the University of Texas.Pease had to make a decision about his future Saturday, when he decided to return to the Broncos, according to the source.The source said Pease had signed a contract with IU but said he was not forced to make a payment to the school when he backed out. IU coach Kevin Wilson was “a complete professional” in dealing with the matter, the source said.“He probably wasn’t happy, but he understood,” the source said.Pease’s move means Wilson will have to reopen his search for an offensive coordinator. Wilson has already hired two defensive coordinators, a cornerbacks coach, a defensive line coach and a wide receivers coach.
(01/10/11 5:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____> While the IU student body took some time off to enjoy the holidays, new IU football coach Kevin Wilson spent much of the last few weeks working to fill out his staff.As promised, Wilson focused on the defensive side of the ball first, hiring former Nebraska linebackers coach Mike Ekeler and former New Mexico defensive coordinator Doug Mallory to serve as his co-defensive coordinators. Ekeler will coach the linebackers, and Mallory will coach the safeties.Ekeler, who coached against Wilson in last month’s Big 12 title game, had a great deal of success during his three years with the Cornhuskers. This past season, linebacker Lavonte David was seventh in the country with 145 tackles in the regular season. David was the runner-up for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.Ekeler’s move from a successful program surprised some, but he said it was time to move on and get out on his own.“With me being the linebackers coach and Bo being a defensive guy, I needed to branch out in order to really grow as a coach,” Ekeler said. “That’s what excites me coming into Indiana.”“As a player, I played for Bill Snyder at Kansas State back when we turned it around. It was an awesome experience as a player, and I really want to be part of that as a coach,” Ekeler said.Mallory, the son of former IU football coach Bill Mallory, served as the Hoosiers’ defensive backs and special teams coach from 1994 to 1996. Mallory worked with Ekeler at Louisiana State from 2005 to 2007 and was a part of the LSU teams that played in the Sugar Bowl in 2007 and the BCS National Championship in 2008.Mallory’s New Mexico defense struggled last season, allowing 44.3 points per game. The Lobos finished the season 1-11 overall.Corey Raymond (cornerbacks) and Mark Hagen (defensive tackles and special teams) were later hired to round out the defensive staff.Raymond, a former NFL player, spent the last two seasons coaching the cornerbacks at Utah State. He said he’s excited for the challenge of helping turn the Hoosiers’ defense around.“We’re going to play lights out, play with a very aggressive style and challenge people every day,” Raymond said. “We have to make sure we develop that culture of competing every day.”Hagen, a former IU football player, spent the last 11 years with Purdue. During his time in West Lafayette, Hagen coached the linebackers, defensive tackles and special teams.The former Boilermaker turned Hoosier will bring to Bloomington his ability to recruit. He was named one of the Big Ten’s top recruiters in 2010 and was on a 2005 Rivals.com list of the top 25 recruiters in the country.Pease chooses Boise State over IU Wilson also looked to beef up his offensive staff, intending to hire former Boise State assistant coach Brent Pease to lead the offense and former Northwestern wide receivers coach Kevin Johns for the same position.However, Pease decided to return to Boise State after initially agreeing to be the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator. This came on the heels of the news that the Broncos’ former offensive coordinator, Bryan Harsin, would take the same job at the University of Texas. This new opportunity was too much for Pease to pass up, as he decided to leave the Hoosiers for his old team. Pease, who had been mentioned for several head coaching positions, helped Boise State post a record of 61-5 and win four Western Athletic Conference titles in five seasons. Pease was a part of the 2007 Boise State team that beat Wilson’s Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl.Johns’ hiring occurred almost simultaneously with junior wide receiver Tandon Doss’ decision to declare for the NFL Draft. Johns said Doss’ status “wasn’t even part of the equation.”Like many of the other staff members, Johns worked with Wilson in the past. The two coached together at Northwestern from 1999 to 2001 when Johns was an offensive graduate assistant and Wilson was the offensive coordinator.“We won a Big Ten Championship together, and we really have remained close friends since then,” Johns said. “I know he’s done a lot of great things at Oklahoma, so I’m excited to learn his offense and the things they’ve done there.”Johns also had high praise for the current group of IU receivers, including junior Damarlo Belcher, redshirt freshman Duwyce Wilson and true freshman Kofi Hughes.“When you look at the receivers Indiana has put on the field these last couple of years, they’re as good a group as any in the Big Ten,” said Johns, who will also serve as the passing coordinator.Belcher returns, Doss exits IU’s top two receivers from last year — Doss and Belcher — each made decisions about their football futures during the break.Doss will forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft. The receiver had 63 catches for 706 yards and seven touchdowns last season. For his career, Doss caught 154 balls for 1,854 yards and 13 scores.Originally rated as a 2-star recruit by Rivals.com coming out of Ben Davis High School, Doss quickly grew into one of the Big Ten’s best all-around receivers. The Indianapolis native ran for 163 yards and a touchdown last season.When it came down to it, Doss said that he couldn’t risk coming back and watching his draft stock fall.“I couldn’t take my chances with an unknown. I would be taking a leap of faith if I stayed because I don’t know what’s going to happen here,” said Doss, who will leave school to begin training in Florida. “It’s time for me to move on. I wish them (Hoosiers) the best of luck.”Belcher, who had submitted his papers to the Draft Advisory Board, decided to return for his senior season.A source said the Fort Wayne North Side product was predicted to go in a “good round” by the Advisory Board, but he wanted a chance to work with the “great staff” Wilson has put together.Belcher led the Big Ten with 78 receptions and was seventh in the conference with 832 receiving yards last season.
(01/10/11 2:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU offensive coordinator Brent Pease will return to Boise State to become the offensive coordinator there, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Sunday night.The story was first reported by a Boise, Idaho, television station Saturday afternoon.Pease, who served as the Broncos wide receivers coach last year, was announced as IU’s offensive coordinator Dec. 30. Boise State’s previous offensive coordinator, Bryan Harsin, was recently named the offensive coordinator at University of Texas.Pease had to make a decision about his future Saturday, when he decided to return to the Broncos, according to the source.The source said Pease had signed a contract with IU but said he was not forced to make a payment to the school when he backed out. IU coach Kevin Wilson was “a complete professional” in dealing with the matter, the source said.“He probably wasn’t happy, but he understood,” the source said.Pease’s move means Wilson will have to reopen his search for an offensive coordinator. Wilson has already hired two defensive coordinators, a cornerbacks coach, a defensive line coach and a wide receivers coach.
(01/03/11 7:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU star wide receiver Tandon Doss will forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft, as first reported by the IDS. Doss met with new IU coach Kevin Wilson on Monday to inform him of his decision.Doss is declaring now because he believes his stock is as high as it is going to get, especially since the Hoosiers will have a young starting quarterback next season, a source said.“While my experience at Indiana was great, my decision came down to the fact that I could not pass up the opportunity to start my professional career,” Doss said in a release. “Entering the NFL Draft was the best decision for myself, and most importantly, my family. My experience at IU was great and helped lay the foundation for my future. I can assure you that I will work hard and represent Indiana University in a first-class manner.“I would like to thank Coach Lynch, Coach Billy Lynch, all my coaches, the training staff and the support staff,” Doss said. “I also wish Coach Wilson and his staff the best of luck. I know they will do a great job. Lastly, I want to thank all the Indiana fans for their support. I hope all of you will continue to follow me as I move on to the NFL.”Doss, an Indianapolis native, caught 63 passes for 706 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 163 yards and a score.Doss is rated as the No. 9 wide receiver prospect, according to nfldraftscout.com.Doss’ decision means Damarlo Belcher will be the Hoosiers’ top returning receiver next season. Receivers Kofi Hughes and Duwyce Wilson should also have an increased role in the offense.
(12/08/10 5:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Kevin Wilson is the right hire at the right time for the IU football program.He’s a safe hire, and he’s a smart hire.While I believe IU Athletics Director Fred Glass should have interviewed more candidates — namely former Miami (Fla.) coach Randy Shannon — he had a set plan, and I can’t fault the guy for executing it.Glass wanted someone familiar with the Midwest and the Big Ten, which Wilson is from his time with Northwestern. Glass wanted a guy with a vision to win at IU. After listening to him speak on Tuesday, it was clear he has that vision.Wilson is Glass’s guy, and he got him after only a nine-day search.“I think I know what it takes to win in this league,” Wilson said. “I think we showed that by what we were able to do at Northwestern. They’ve been able to keep that thing going.”He’s already got his sights set on a bowl game.“I didn’t come here on a hope or a whim. We’ve got a process of how to prepare through 12 months to go out there for those 12 opportunities and get No. 13. I think that’s a process that’s proven it’s going to win.”After so many unsuccessful coaches, Glass knew he had to do something different to change the culture surrounding the IU football program. He had to find a great coach with a history of winning, pay that coach an amount commensurate with the rest of the Big Ten’s coaches and commit to that coach for the long term.What did he do? He found a guy in Wilson who has been part of a winning culture at Oklahoma and gave him a salary that will pay him $1.2 million per year for seven years.Check, check and check.The big question Glass had to answer with this decision was “can this coordinator be a good head coach?”It’s hard for me to answer that one way or another at this point, but I do like Wilson’s attitude coming into the job. He didn’t smile much during the press conference, which tells me he’s all business. Plus, he answered questions as if he expects to win quickly. “We could play them in the championship game if they’re good enough to win their division,” Wilson said, speaking about Nebraska. “We’ll see if they can get there.”Now, though, it’s important for Wilson to hit the ground running. Wilson should spend as much time as he can in the next few weeks filling out a staff. Even though his coaching status for Oklahoma’s bowl game against Connecticut is still up in the air, Wilson needs to close the door on that now and focus 100 percent of his time and energy on the Hoosiers.The current players need guidance. The recruits need to know Wilson is committed. And Wilson needs to put together a great staff because, as he noted on Tuesday, he can’t do it by himself.“I’m going to take some time because I do have time. I need to get it right,” he said. “Right now it’s a very open-ended process. We’re going to evaluate what we’ve got, what we need, what we’re looking for and find a good fit.”One of the most important decisions Wilson will make in the coming weeks will be that of selecting a defensive coordinator.Wilson is a brilliant offensive mind who has had great success as a coordinator, but IU has struggled for years to find a defense. Since Glass didn’t make that a priority in his search, Wilson must make it one in his. He cannot — I repeat: he cannot — re-hire former defensive coordinator Joe Palcic, a guy Wilson coached while at Miami (Ohio) University. He has to put personal feelings aside — as Glass did when he fired Bill Lynch — and make the move that can take this program to the next level.“You win in the Big Ten, and you win championships by playing D, and we’re going to play some great defense,” Wilson said. Only nine days after Glass made a decision he hoped he’d never have to make, the IU athletics director made the announcement he will ultimately be remembered for.The hire wasn’t as safe as Brady Hoke and it wasn’t as groundbreaking as Jim Harbaugh. Wilson lies somewhere in between.But this hire is a solid one for the Hoosiers, one that could help them turn the program back in the right direction.
(12/03/10 5:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Imagine (or at least consider) the following:You are the CEO of an organization, and you are responsible for finding a replacement boss at one of your largest branches.You know the employees at the branch have the potential to help the company thrive, but the recently fired boss wasn’t able to get the most out of them.Your job is to find a good replacement, a guy who has had a lot of success running a branch of another organization. The problem is selling that replacement on the job you have to offer. The branch in question, after all, hasn’t had a lot of success in years. In fact, it has become one of your least successful branches.Seem like a challenge? That’s basically the situation IU Athletics Director Fred Glass is facing in his search for a new football coach.Glass has to find a guy who can take the Hoosiers’ program — a program that has won three Big Ten games in the last three years — to the next level. At Glass’ Sunday press conference, he was asked how he sells this job to the coach he wants. Or does he even have to since it is a Big Ten job?“I think it is a fantastic job. Certainly, properly understood, it will be highly sought after,” Glass said. “You alluded to the Big Ten Conference. I think that is huge. Not only because it is a prestigious conference, but also with the Big Ten Network and all the exposure that provides.”Glass went on to talk about the great facilities, the school’s academic programs and the money he is willing to pay for the right candidate.But the fact of the matter is, the Hoosiers’ on-field talent for next year won’t help Glass make this look like a good job.Ben Chappell is gone, so the team needs a new quarterback. Tyler Replogle is gone, so the team needs a new defensive leader. Terrance Turner is gone, so the team needs a new offensive leader. There’s a good chance Tandon Doss won’t be back next season, so the team will need a new do-it-all receiver.And Darius Willis is still a giant question mark, so the team may need a starting running back.So, you want the job?That is precisely the reason I think it will take Glass quite some time to find Bill Lynch’s replacement. He has to make a home-run hire, and I’m not sure he’s going to be able to do that.As the names of potential candidates continue to be thrown out on Twitter and elsewhere, I keep trying to figure out what each of those names would do with this program — or branch.At the time I am writing this column, these are the three most intriguing replacements.1. Randy Shannon, ex-Miami (Fla.) coach — Shannon is still a young (he’s 44), up-and-coming coach who had some success at Miami. Had his starting quarterback not been injured this season, he would probably still have a job and would have his team in a BCS bowl.Shannon has been rumored to have interest in the Minnesota job, so I would have to think he would have interest here if Glass asked. 2. Kevin Sumlin, Houston coach — Sumlin is a brilliant offensive mind who has quickly built Houston into a winner. Had the team not lost starting quarterback Case Keenum early in the season, Houston would likely be hovering around the 10-4 mark it posted in 2009.Sumlin also coached a high-powered offense at Oklahoma, serving the last two of his five years in Norman, Okla. as offensive coordinator.And he went to Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. Done deal, right?3. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy coach — Now this one is really intriguing.If Glass hires Niumatalolo (say that five times fast), the Hoosiers will likely change their entire offense to feature the triple option.Ed Wright-Baker — or even recruit Tre Roberson — and Darius Willis would make a pretty good combination if that were the case. Maybe a wholesale change in offensive philosophy would be good for IU.E-mail: jmalbers@indiana.edu
(11/29/10 5:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bill Lynch was not the right guy for his job.Fred Glass is the right guy for his.The IU Athletics Director made the right decision by firing Lynch, no matter how difficult that decision might have been.This move is a real sign Glass is committed to making this football program relevant. Three Big Ten wins in the last three years was not acceptable in any way, and Glass recognized it.“A lot of times, the right thing to do is also the hardest thing to do,” he said Sunday. “For me, this is one of those times.“Given the circumstances of the last three seasons, extending (Lynch’s) contract was not a viable option. It would send the wrong signal of what merited an extension at Indiana University.”This should be a bright day for Hoosier Nation. Glass, even after an emotional overtime win in the Old Oaken Bucket game on Saturday, fired a guy who wasn’t getting the job done.I have to admit, I didn’t think Glass would pull the trigger after Saturday’s win. I thought he would try to sell the improvement in record from 4-8 to 5-7. I thought he would say the team was one Damarlo Belcher dropped catch away from a bowl game.But he went in the opposite direction. And by doing so, he proved he’s willing to do whatever it takes to build a winner — even reach deep into the athletics department’s budget to provide the necessary funds.“We’re prepared to make the resources available to get the group that we want,” Glass said. “We understand that will probably be significantly more expensive than what we are spending now.”With that in mind, the obvious question now is, “What’s next?”Glass admitted he has a list of candidates in mind, but he would not elaborate as to who those guys might be. One has to believe, though, that with the funds now available and the facilities in place, Glass should be able to find a decent replacement.After all, Lynch’s salary of just more than $660,000 was the lowest in the Big Ten this season.Two potential candidates for the IU job — and I am only speculating — would be San Diego State’s Brady Hoke and former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.Leach was fired from Texas Tech after mistreating a player with a concussion and hasn’t been in coaching since. He’s a great offensive mind, and he helped turn the Red Raiders’ program around. A player I spoke with Sunday said Leach would be “tight,” but he didn’t see him coming to IU as coach next season.I don’t either. Glass can’t afford to take a chance on a guy with a checkered past because of what happened with Kelvin Sampson and Bob Knight in the men’s basketball program. Plus, Leach is going to be tied up in what could be a lengthy lawsuit with ESPN.Hoke, in my mind, should be one of Glass’ main targets. Hoke coached Ball State to a 12-1 season in 2008 and helped San Diego State to an 8-4 finish this season, a year after the team went 4-8.But would Hoke accept Glass’ offer if it was made? Only time will tell.Glass needs to move quickly on this search because a group of recruits is awaiting the direction of the program.Something tells me, however, it will take several weeks — or months — for Glass to find the guy he wants.Either way, though, Glass proved a lot with his decision Sunday. He proved he’s willing to do what it takes to win. He proved he’s not afraid to make a tough, emotional decision.And by doing those things, he proved he’s the right guy for the IU athletics director position.Now, though, comes what may be an even more difficult task: the search.E-mail: jmalbers@indiana.edu