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(09/19/11 4:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With both the season and home openers in the past, IU managed to find one more first for the Kevin Wilson era Saturday afternoon: a win.The Hoosiers emerged victorious for the first time in 2011, defeating South Carolina State 38-21 at Memorial Stadium to give Wilson his first victory as a college head coach.“It feels good to get that first win,” sophomore wide receiver Kofi Hughes said. “Hopefully it’s just going to jump start more wins to come.”IU never trailed in the game and led by at least 10 points for 54:20 of the contest.Despite the score, the Hoosiers’ performance was marred by a team-record 20 penalties. Wilson said he is not necessarily discouraged by the seemingly careless nature of the team’s play.“You could pull up a lot of conference champions that have 12 penalties because they’re aggressive, they’re assertive, and things just happen,” Wilson said. “We’re trying to be that way. I’m not justifying it. I’m not condoning it.”Many of the penalties were false start calls on IU offensive linemen, particularly senior left tackle Andrew McDonald and freshman right tackle Peyton Eckert. Eckert was one of three true freshman to start on the offensive line Saturday for the Hoosiers, joining guards Bernard Taylor and Collin Rahrig.“As we got into Tuesday, we thought those guys were playing harder so we went with them, and as we went through the week they actually practiced even better as they saw that they were going to play, and the other guys didn’t respond well,” Wilson said. “It’ll be interesting to see again if a guy’s got some fiber and a guy’s got some pride. He’ll come back scratching and fighting.”One notable penalty not on the offensive line was an intentional grounding penalty on sophomore quarterback Dusty Kiel in the fourth quarter that cost the Hoosiers 12 yards on second down. The drive did not get better, with an incomplete pass and then a punt.Though Kiel played several plays, sophomore Edward Wright-Baker started for the third consecutive game. Statistically, it was his strongest effort as quarterback — completing 21 of 27 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. The first of Wright-Baker’s touchdowns was a 30-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Duwyce Wilson.“I did better in the first half — throwing the deep ball, getting it up to Duwyce on the fade and the post route,” Wright-Baker said. “There is still a lot to improve on, but the game is getting slower to me now.”Duwyce Wilson finished with six receptions for 101 yards to lead the team.On the ground, true freshman running back D’Angelo Roberts ran for 102 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.“My line did very well, so everything was in place, and I just did what I needed to do with the ball,” Roberts said. “I just felt comfortable out there. Everything started kicking in together, and everyone meshed together as a team. We just worked from there.”On the third-quarter touchdown drive that ended with a seven-yard Roberts run for a touchdown, the Bloomington North High School product carried the ball on eight of the drive’s 10 plays for a total of 47 yards.“He has some energy,” Coach Wilson said. “He does have a lot of fire, and he does have a lot of passion. He’s a tough dude, and that’s something we need, and it’s nice to see him transfer that into some plays.”Coach Wilson viewed the first win for the new coaching staff as a useful benchmark that proves the team is on the right path.“To get some Saturday reward is something deeply needed, and so hopefully that will continue,” he said. “You keep trying to go to the well and ask them to keep working hard and have a great attitude and coming to work. When you have a couple of hiccups and end up on the wrong side of the ledger, you worry about that in the coaching transition.”
(09/16/11 4:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers need only to look within their conference’s recent history for a reminder to not overlook Football Championship Subdivision teams such as South Carolina State.“College football is so competitive now that any team can beat any team on a given day,” junior defensive tackle Adam Replogle said. “Appalachian State beat Michigan when they were top-five, so everyone knows that everyone can play ball.”IU Coach Kevin Wilson knows from experience that FCS teams, including Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents such as the Bulldogs, can be dangerous. Wilson spent 1988 as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at North Carolina A&T, a MEAC school.“It is a very athletic conference and in a great region, and because it is FCS, they get a lot of bouncebacks,” Wilson said. “Whether they get disenchanted where they are or they don’t like where they are at, (players) will sign with a Division I program and then transfer. And so, if they transfer down to an FCS program, you can play right away without sitting out a year.“The MEAC gets some bouncebacks or some guys that didn’t do well in school or had an issue or it didn’t work out and he wanted to play right away.”SC State entered the season as the preseason favorite in the MEAC after winning the conference crown the past three seasons.“South Carolina State will come in as athletic and fast and solid on defense as most folks we are going to play,” Wilson said. “They have a running-style offense and a punt returner who averages 22 yards a pop. We don’t have 22 yards total in punt return yardage this year, and their guy is averaging 22 yards a pop. It will be a challenge, and we better be up for it or we will be embarrassed.”Perhaps the greatest difference between the Bulldogs and other teams IU faces this season is their lack of size. The SC State starting defensive line averages about 263 pounds.“They might be smaller, but to me it looks like they’ve got some strength to them,” Wilson said. “They are not going to be 300 pounds across the front and be this big wall that you can’t move, but they are going to be strong. They may not be the most overwhelming size guys, but they are going to have strength and they are also going to play with some speed. They’ve got speed on the front and also on the back end.”SC State employs their defensive speed by frequently switching between a multitude of formations and necessitating a week of heavy film study for the IU offense.“They’re all pretty small guys, but they move a lot. They stunt a lot,” junior center Will Matte said. “For defenses like that, you just watch film and pick out when and where they’re going to move. They don’t really have big interior guys, but they have a lot of defensive formations and blitzes. Every snap, it’s almost like they’re moving to a different gap.”The Bulldog secondary features safety Christian Thompson, a former Auburn Tiger who leads the defense with 15.5 tackles and a pair of interceptions. However, the Hoosier receiver corps is bolstered by the reemergence of sophomore wide receiver Duwyce Wilson, who caught a touchdown pass last week against Virginia. He joins a group that already included senior Damarlo Belcher and sophomore Kofi Hughes.“With Duwyce and Damarlo, you have to feel like you’re playing at a high level,” Offensive Co-coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Johns said. “Kofi Hughes is really playing good, solid football for us. Right now we feel good about them and bringing the freshmen along and some of those younger guys.”Kevin Wilson said he believes that, despite the Bulldogs playing in a lower classification, they match up fairly well against the Hoosiers. He also said they utilize their athletes in such a way to be competitive with anyone.“They know that they are going to have good enough athletes that they don’t try to over-coach them,” Kevin Wilson said. “They are very solid and solid in their structure. You watch their kids, and they cut it loose and play really good football.”
(09/16/11 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Host Max McCombs is joined by fellow football beat writer Alex McCarthy, columnist Justin Albers, and former football beat writer Connor O'Gara to discuss IU's loss to Virginia and upcoming game against South Carolina State.Click the link to the right to listen.
(09/16/11 4:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers need only to look within their conference’s recent history for a reminder to not overlook Football Championship Subdivision teams such as South Carolina State.“College football is so competitive now that any team can beat any team on a given day,” junior defensive tackle Adam Replogle said. “Appalachian State beat Michigan when they were top-five, so everyone knows that everyone can play ball.”IU Coach Kevin Wilson knows from experience that FCS teams, including Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents such as the Bulldogs, can be dangerous. Wilson spent 1988 as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at North Carolina A&T, a MEAC school.“It is a very athletic conference and in a great region, and because it is FCS, they get a lot of bouncebacks,” Wilson said. “Whether they get disenchanted where they are or they don’t like where they are at, (players) will sign with a Division I program and then transfer. And so, if they transfer down to an FCS program, you can play right away without sitting out a year.“The MEAC gets some bouncebacks or some guys that didn’t do well in school or had an issue or it didn’t work out and he wanted to play right away.”SC State entered the season as the preseason favorite in the MEAC after winning the conference crown the past three seasons.“South Carolina State will come in as athletic and fast and solid on defense as most folks we are going to play,” Wilson said. “They have a running-style offense and a punt returner who averages 22 yards a pop. We don’t have 22 yards total in punt return yardage this year, and their guy is averaging 22 yards a pop. It will be a challenge, and we better be up for it or we will be embarrassed.”Perhaps the greatest difference between the Bulldogs and other teams IU faces this season is their lack of size. The SC State starting defensive line averages about 263 pounds.“They might be smaller, but to me it looks like they’ve got some strength to them,” Wilson said. “They are not going to be 300 pounds across the front and be this big wall that you can’t move, but they are going to be strong. They may not be the most overwhelming size guys, but they are going to have strength and they are also going to play with some speed. They’ve got speed on the front and also on the back end.”SC State employs their defensive speed by frequently switching between a multitude of formations and necessitating a week of heavy film study for the IU offense.“They’re all pretty small guys, but they move a lot. They stunt a lot,” junior center Will Matte said. “For defenses like that, you just watch film and pick out when and where they’re going to move. They don’t really have big interior guys, but they have a lot of defensive formations and blitzes. Every snap, it’s almost like they’re moving to a different gap.”The Bulldog secondary features safety Christian Thompson, a former Auburn Tiger who leads the defense with 15.5 tackles and a pair of interceptions.However, the Hoosier receiver corps is bolstered by the reemergence of sophomore wide receiver Duwyce Wilson, who caught a touchdown pass last week against Virginia. He joins a group that already included senior Damarlo Belcher and sophomore Kofi Hughes.“With Duwyce and Damarlo, you have to feel like you’re playing at a high level,” Offensive Co-coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Johns said. “Kofi Hughes is really playing good, solid football for us. Right now we feel good about them and bringing the freshmen along and some of those younger guys.”Kevin Wilson said he believes that, despite the Bulldogs playing in a lower classification, they match up fairly well against the Hoosiers. He also said they utilize their athletes in such a way to be competitive with anyone.“They know that they are going to have good enough athletes that they don’t try to over-coach them,” Kevin Wilson said. “They are very solid and solid in their structure. You watch their kids, and they cut it loose and play really good football.”
(09/14/11 4:40pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Perhaps the biggest flaw of The Horrible Crowes’ “Elsie,” the
side-project debut of Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon, is that it
is not exactly what he wanted it to be — the Tom Waits to Gaslight’s
Bruce Springsteen.
Indeed, several of the songs sound only a small step removed from the
Gaslight Anthem’s breakout sophomore effort, “The ’59 Sound.” At the same time, though, that same batch of songs also comprises many of the record’s highlights.
“Go Tell Everybody” is a prime example of this
one-step-away-from-Gaslight sound. Crisp drumming and Fallon’s familiar
smoky howl, which is in top form in nearly every track, punctuate a tale
of anger after betrayal. This would all sound like vintage Gaslight if
it were not joined by organ that overtakes the guitar and leads the
sonic charge surprisingly well.
Two tracks later, the album hits its high point with the one-two-three
punch of “Ladykiller” (the album’s non-Gaslight sound at its most
effective), “Crush” (a ’59 Sound clone that builds to a powerful climax)
and soulful rocker “Mary Ann.”
Unfortunately, the dull “Cherry Blossoms” precedes the trio and breaks
up what would otherwise be a stellar eight-song streak on a record just
similar and different enough from Gaslight to perfectly tide over fans
until the band’s next album.
(09/12/11 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a game where momentum ebbed and flowed with the turnover battle, IU’s turnover-fueled comeback in the second half was effectively negated by a turnover of its own.Sophomore quarterback Edward Wright-Baker fumbled with 1:13 remaining in a tie game on IU’s own 14 yard line.It set up Virginia’s game-winning field goal and canceled out a 28-point second half rally by the Hoosiers. However, had it not been for turnovers forced by the Hoosier defense, the game would likely not have been that close to begin with.“It was a lot of momentum swings,” sophomore cornerback Lawrence Barnett said. “When we made turnovers, the offense came out and made plays.”With IU still trailing by 13 points late in the third quarter, Virginia fumbled the ball on a punt return, allowing sophomore wide receiver Kofi Hughes to recover the ball and give the Hoosiers a short field. IU scored 73 seconds later.During Virginia’s next drive, the Cavaliers’ march downfield was cut short when Virginia running back Perry Jones fumbled after a hit from senior strong safety Jarrell Drane. Barnett picked up the ball and ran back untouched for a touchdown that gave the IU its first lead of the game.“I just went in there and hit him,” Drane said. “The ball was on the wrong side, I think. I hit him, and I saw the ball come out. I tried to pick it up, but I saw Lawrence picked it up before I did.”Drane said senior free safety Chris Adkins had been in a similar situation earlier in the game and had tipped Drane off to the Virginia offense’s blocking tendencies.“Give the credit to Chris Adkins,” Drane said. “He told me earlier that he was in the same situation. He was able to shoot that gap, and nobody blocked him. I was down in that same situation, and I shot the gap. Nobody blocked me. I hit him, and he fumbled.”Sophomore cornerback Greg Heban, who picked off the Cavaliers’ first play from scrimmage in the first quarter, helped the IU defense end a third consecutive Virginia possession with a turnover when he intercepted quarterback Michael Rocco’s pass at the Indiana 24-yard-line.“Watching all the film and everything slowed the game down a little bit,” Heban said. “I was able to understand the receiver’s route, the quarterback drops and everything. It was just right place, right time, I guess.“The momentum shifts so much during the game. Once Lawrence got that fumble recovery, I feel like the momentum shifts straight to our side. We were rolling.”Once again, the IU offense capitalized on the turnover with a score to take a 31-23 lead that ultimately did not hold up.Wright-Baker credited the defense with giving the offense momentum to begin their drives.“It energized us a lot,” Wright-Baker said. “It pumped us up. It gives us a chance to score.”Beyond simply energizing the offense, Barnett said he thinks the turnovers affected another party as well and hopes they will continue to do so this season.“I just think that the plays we made energized the crowd, and the crowd stuck there with us,” Barnett said. “Every home game, every away game, we need a good crowd. The crowd stuck in there with us even though we were down 23-3. The crowd stuck in and they helped us come back.”
(09/09/11 6:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Much of humanity’s best art has resulted from grief and agony. The creative explosion that followed the devastation of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 provided evidence of this. Filmmakers, musicians, writers and even comedians coped with the impact of the attacks by continuing their craft in its wake. For the world of showbiz, it was the ultimate non-surrender. Here’s a look at some of the best art from the last decade made with the memory of 9/11 squarely in the rearview mirror:“United 93”Too soon, audiences said to the film’s intense re-creation of the events of 9/11. But now is the right time to experience Paul Greengrass’ real-time suspense story. He depicts 9/11 as no more than a normal day, free of heroes and villains, and leaves us only with the basic human acts of courage, fear and strength from these unfortunate victims.-Brian Welk“25th Hour”In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Barry Pepper look out their penthouse as Ground Zero looms in plain sight. Spike Lee shows in “25th Hour” that New York was never the same after the attacks. Despite uncertainty and a newfound identity crisis in the city, these survivors remain rooted to their home and each other.-Brian WelkSteve Earle, “Jerusalem”Earle’s tenth album is a sobering look at America and the world post-9/11. On “Amerika V. 6.0 (The Best We Can Do)” Earle uses his best Rolling Stones impression to expose the cash-hungry elitism of the so-called American Dream, while the controversial “John Walker’s Blues” is an objective look at John Walker Lindh’s vilification. The most powerful moment, though, is the closing title track’s message, not of despair in the Middle East, but of hope.-Max McCombsBrian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris, “Ex Machina”In the 50-issue comic book series “Ex Machina,” Mitchell Hundred (as costumed crime-fighter The Great Machine) stops the second plane from hitting the World Trade Center’s south tower using his superpower of communication with machines, and he is later elected mayor of New York City. Remaining ever sensitive to the tragedy, Brian K. Vaughan’s multi-genre “what if” story raises important questions about politics and dependence on government in post-9/11 America.-Vanessa TorlineThe Daily Show with Jon Stewart, “September 20, 2001”Jon Stewart doesn’t always do pathos, and when he does, he often makes us wish he would go back to playing the buffoon. But on his first episode back after the attacks, the “Daily Show” host tearfully delivered a nine-minute monologue that concluded with the powerful sentiment that the new view from Lower Manhattan in the absence of the World Trade Center is the Statue of Liberty. “You can’t beat that,” he says, and, of course, he’s right.-Brad SandersSleater-Kinney, “One Beat”While not a full-on concept record, the excellent sixth album by Washington riot grrl trio Sleater-Kinney is firmly rooted in post-9/11 reflection. Unlike the country music cheerleaders who dropped countless flag-waving singles in the wake of the tragedy, Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker trade verses on “Far Away” and “Combat Rock” that channel the pain of the attacks while looking to the future with a sadly prescient uncertainty, not mere vengeance.-Brad Sanders
(09/09/11 4:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Football beat reporters Alex McCarthy and Max McCombs and columnist
Justin Albers discuss last week’s loss to Ball State and preview
Saturday’s home opener against Virginia in the inaugural edition of the
Hoosier Hype podcast.Click the link to the right to listen.
(09/09/11 3:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two seasons ago, the Hoosiers travelled to Charlottesville, Va., for a seemingly even matchup between two teams looking for a non-conference statement win.They left with a 47-7 loss, managing barely half as many yards on offense as the Cavaliers, a team that would go on to a 3-9 record and fire their coach following the season.“It was a bad feeling — still sticks with me,” junior defensive tackle Larry Black Jr. said. “It was just one of the worst games I’ve been involved in.”Saturday brings IU’s chance for revenge when the Hoosiers host Virginia at Memorial Stadium.Five of IU’s projected starters for Saturday, including Black, also started against Virginia in 2009. Joining Black in a second start against the Cavaliers are fellow junior defensive tackle Adam Replogle, senior wide receiver Damarlo Belcher, senior offensive lineman Justin Pagan and junior center Will Matte.“It’s going to be great to line up against them,” Black said. “They have great players, but we also have great players. It’s going to be a great matchup. We’re ready to attack them.”Compared to Black, Replogle is not in as vengeful a mindset, noting that Virginia is now coached by Mike London rather than by Al Groh, as they were in 2009.“It was two years ago,” Replogle said. “We’ve played a lot of football since then. Everybody’s gotten better.“There really isn’t revenge. It’s just I’m trying to win and trying to compete and trying to beat the guy in front of me.”Pagan finds his motivation somewhere between that of Black and Replogle, acknowledging that such a loss could never be completely out of a player’s mind.“It’s in the past, but it’s always in the back of your mind,” Pagan said. “We’re just trying to go out there and compete for this year.”Aside from just motivation, the defeat two years ago gave Black and his veteran teammates an idea of what kind of play to expect from the Cavaliers and how to exploit them.“Their offensive line — they’re pretty big but not, maybe, as mobile,” Black said. “We’ve just got to use some of our movement to our advantage. We just have to play our technique and play our style, and everything will take care of itself.”Though he did not start against Virginia in 2009, senior safety Chris Adkins, a cornerback at the time, played in the game and well remembers the events surrounding it. The country was in the midst of a swine flu scare and coincidentally, numerous players on the team feel ill, though it was ultimately determined not to be the flu.Still, Adkins took no chances after seeing many of the team’s starters miss a week of practice. He wore a protective mask on the plane before making a pair of solo tackles in the loss.With a new coaching regime and swine flu no longer a threat, Adkins said his focus is on the present.“I don’t really feed off of past losses from years past, because those are previous teams,” Adkins said. “Obviously, this is a completely different team, and I’d like to think that as far as seniors, this is our era and we’re not necessarily thinking about those kind of things.”
(09/07/11 4:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It is quite possible this season that redshirt freshman guard Cody Evers, listed at 310 pounds, will throw a block allowing a player less than half his size to race down the field.True freshman wide receiver Shane Wynn stands at listed measurements of 5-foot-7 and 153 pounds.Despite that, Wynn has quickly found a niche in the IU football team in the wide receiver rotation and as part of special teams.“We knew before he got here that he was going to have good speed and good explosiveness,” Offensive Co-coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Johns said. “What we didn’t know was how quickly he would learn the offense. He was here in the summer. He started learning it, and he’s done a great job. That’s what’s helped him play more than anything else.”Wynn is currently second on the depth chart at one of the wide receiver positions behind senior Dre Muhammad. Both players typically play an inside receiver position, often the home for smaller receivers.“I think he’s someone like me in the sense that he’s a smaller-type receiver,” Muhammad said. “You’ve got to go out there and be tougher than, say, a Damarlo Belcher or a Duwyce Wilson because you go against guys bigger than you.”However, Johns believes that Wynn may actually benefit to some extent from his stature.“Sometimes when you’re a little shorter it gives you a chance to run routes a little bit better,” Johns said. “You can hide your pads a little bit better. You can get around guys a little bit better. It’s not a huge advantage, but it doesn’t hurt him, either.”As a backup wide receiver, Wynn had two catches for 27 yards in IU’s Saturday loss to Ball State.His most important contributions this season, though, could come returning kicks alongside true freshman running back Matt Perez.“I’m the off-returner. Shane’s the guy who catches and I’ll lead him up through it,” Perez said. “I’m kind of a bigger guy, so I can block. I’ll be able to block if he leaks through. Shane’s real shifty. He’s got good breakaway speed. I think he could definitely break a lot of long ones this year.”Coming out of Glenville Academic Campus in Cleveland, Wynn was offered football scholarships by Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and USC, but ultimately chose IU for the opportunity to play for Kevin Wilson.“I ended up at IU because I like Coach Wilson,” Wynn said. “Real cool coach, player’s coach, and my mom likes him. I liked it on my visit. Coach Wilson got straight to the point. He ain’t tell no lies to me. He ain’t sugarcoat anything. He just told me to come here and work hard. I like coaches that are just true to the game and true to me.”Wynn is the smallest player on IU’s roster by 13 pounds, but it is not the first time he has found himself in such a scenario.“I’ve been small my whole life,” Wynn said. “I just have to work harder than the bigger guys. Just keep pushing, just keep fighting.”Muhammad said he believes that Wynn’s fighting instincts are what have allowed him to find a place on the field so quickly, and they are only improving.“I think Shane actually has gotten a little bit tougher, but at the same time, he came in and he’s been tough from the get-go,” Muhammad said. “I think that the way he plays is the way he has to play his whole life, so I think toughness is something that just stuck with him.”While Wynn is nearly always the smallest player on the field, Perez said he believes the sheer breadth of what Wynn can do with his speed more than makes up for it.“He’s very fast. He’s quick,” Perez said. “He can juke people like it’s no one’s business. He’s got good hands. He’s a good competitor. I think he brings a lot of good things to the offense. A good speed receiver who can hit it up the seams and catch bubbles on the outside and make people miss and make big plays.”
(09/06/11 2:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>No one on the IU football team is blaming Saturday’s upset to Ball State on the element of surprise.Players said they knew what was coming and simply were beat up in the trenches.“They beat us up front, I guess, and they played better than us,” senior middle linebacker Jeff Thomas said. “We knew what was coming, and we prepared well. We just didn’t go out there and execute.”Despite leading at the half, the favored Hoosiers opened the Kevin Wilson era Saturday with a 27-20 loss to the Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.The Hoosiers were efficient during their opening drive, gaining 76 yards on 15 plays in 6:04, including five runs apiece in the IU debuts of sophomore running back Stephen Houston and redshirt freshman running back Matt Perez. Perez capped it off with a nine-yard run for a score.After their second drive stalled, the Hoosiers again found success with speedy offense on the third drive, ending with a 65-yard bomb from sophomore quarterback Edward Wright-Baker to senior wide receiver Damarlo Belcher for a the second score.“It was just an all-go,” Wright-Baker said. “I see him one-on-one. It’s the best player on the field. I’m going to throw it to him.”From that point on, the IU offense gradually slowed down. A second-quarter drive ended with a field goal in Ball State territory and would prove to be IU’s last lengthy drive until a garbage-time drive ended with another field goal.In his first game as IU’s starting quarterback, Wright-Baker was 20-of-32 for 271 yards and a touchdown. However, he was often forced to scramble out of the pocket and misfired on several passes to slow down drives in the second half.“I think I did well,” Wright-Baker said. “It’s my first game, my first starting game. I think I did all right. I think I can improve. Everyone can improve. I need to get the ball to Damarlo more, work on my footwork, work on fakes. I can improve on everything.”Wright-Baker emerged from a lengthy preseason battle to start the game, but Wilson was reluctant to name him as the certain starter for the rest of the year.“I just think the last couple weeks — with ball security, taking care of the ball, throwing it in the right place — he had just been cleaner,” Wilson said. “I think a couple times he looked the wrong way, got bluffed and took off scrambling where he didn’t need to. First true game under his belt, he’ll grow from that.“Tre (Roberson) and Dusty (Kiel) have been doing awfully good and they’ll keep plugging and keep pushing and we’ll see how it plays out. (Wright-Baker) played tonight. I guess he’s the starter.”Belcher noted the quarterback’s play came despite being frequently forced to run from blitzing defenders.“The line didn’t get the block well enough,” Belcher said. “Every time I looked back he was scrambling, probably a breakdown in our line. The line’s got to give him a little bit more time to get the ball out. We need to get better at that.”Junior center Will Matte said he thought Wright-Baker played well as the starter, but said the offensive line, including him, did not adequately protect him. “Ed had some good poise in there, but we didn’t protect for him very well,” Matte said. “He controlled the ball game for most of it and made a great throw to Damarlo for the touchdown. We’ve just got to do a better job as an o-line.”After IU’s initial offensive success early, Matte said Ball State brought pressure that was not unexpected but was still effective in defeating IU’s offensive line and chasing Wright-Baker out of the pocket.“Ball State adjusted well,” Matte said. “They threw in a lot more blitzes. We had prepared for that. Honestly, it just came down to us, at least as an o-line, not doing the fundamentals that we’ve been practicing. That’s the disappointing part. It was just that simple, and we didn’t do it right.”Most notable among the Hoosiers’ offensive woes in the second half was a fourth-and-3 situation on the Ball State nine-yard line early in the final quarter with IU trailing 24-17. Wilson elected to go for the conversion after consulting with his defensive assistants, but Wright-Baker’s pass fell incomplete.“We can’t go out and play afraid,” Wilson said. “We can’t go out playing scared. We can’t worry about worst-case scenarios. We’ve got to be aggressive. We’ve got to be smart.”Meanwhile, in the second half, Ball State continued to power through the middle of the IU defense with quarterback Keith Wenning throwing for 173 yards and two touchdowns while also gaining 62 yards and an additional score with his feet.IU will return to Bloomington for its home opener against Virginia on Saturday.Both Wilson and his players said they remain optimistic about the rest of the season because of their offseason training, despite Saturday’s loss.“We worked hard all summer, put a lot of work in, a lot of time,” Belcher said. “This ‘L’ don’t mean anything. We’ve just got to come back next week, get better and prepare for Virginia.”
(09/04/11 2:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Despite leading at the half, IU opened the Kevin Wilson era Saturday with a27-20 loss to Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium.The Hoosiers were swift and efficient on their opening drive, gaining 76 yards on 15 plays, including five runs apiece in the IU debuts of sophomore running back Stephen Houston and redshirt freshman running back Matt Perez. Perez capped it off with a 10-yard run for a score.After their second drive stalled, the Hoosiers again found success with their speedy new offense on the third drive, ending with a 65-yard bomb from sophomore quarterback Edward Wright-Baker to senior wide receiver Damarlo Belcher for a second score.From that point on, the IU offense gradually slowed down. A second-quarter drive ended with a field goal in Ball State territory and would prove to be IU’s last lengthy drive until a garbage time drive ended with another field goal.Meanwhile, Ball State continued to power through the middle of the IU defense with quarterback Keith Wenning throwing for 174 yards and two touchdowns while also gaining 62 yards and an additional score with his feet.In his first game as IU’s starting quarterback, Wright-Baker was 20 of 32 for 271 yards and a touchdown. However, he appeared hesitant at times and misfired on several passes to slow down potential IU drives in the second half.IU will return to Bloomington for their home opener against Virginia next Saturday.
(09/04/11 12:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Kevin Wilson’s offenses at Oklahoma were known for a frenetic tempo and through one half of play, it appears Wilson has brought that pace to IU. The Hoosiers hold a 17-14 lead over Ball State after one half of play at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.IU outgained Ball State in yardage 226-155 in the first half, in large part due to a 65-yard bomb from sophomore quarterback Edward Wright-Baker to senior wide receiver Damarlo Belcher for IU’s second score.As reported by the IDS Friday, Wright-Baker emerged as the starter after a long battle to replace Ben Chappell. Thus far, he has done little to suggest he will relinquish the role soon. Through one half, he is 12 for 16 for 159 yards with one touchdown.Redshirt freshman Matt Perez and sophomore junior college transfer Stephen Houston have split carries at running back. Perez scored the first touchdown for IU and each back has 37 yards on eight carries.IU’s defense, however, has looked porous up the middle on both runs and passes, allowing 156 yards.Stay tuned to Hoosier Hype for continuing coverage and check back to idsnews.com after the game for a recap.
(09/02/11 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Coach Kevin Wilson will be in good company as he coaches his first game for the school. He needs only to look across the field.On the opposing sideline, Pete Lembo will be leading the Ball State Cardinals for the first time after five seasons leading Elon’s team.Wilson is quick to point out the differences for each coach at their respective new schools.“Coach Lembo’s been a head coach, had staff, had philosophy, had things in place,” Wilson said. “I’m sure the transition has probably been cleaner, probably better than ours as far as coaches knowing each other, working together, knowing how they want to structure practice.”However, Wilson still recognizes that the methods used by Lembo and his staff have been modified since his arrival at Ball State, making it difficult to plan against his new squad for lack of frame of reference.“Even though you know what their coaches have done, they did it at another school,” Wilson said. “Does that mean that the personnel fit? Every coach always tweaks to his personnel, so just because they ran plays last year at Ball State doesn’t mean the new staff runs it. Just because they did it at Elon doesn’t mean they do it there.”Co-Offensive Coordinator Rod Smith recognized the difficulty of planning for Ball State but noted that they is in a similar situation when dealing with IU’s new staff.“It’s hard,” Smith said. “It’s always the question of the unknown. Will they do what they did in the past or is there something new? I’m sure they’re going through the same thing. It’s never easy. With someone else, you have actual footage and you know exactly what they’re going to do and how they’re going to be for the most part.”For the players, the situation essentially doubled the amount of film study necessary for the season opener.“We just have to watch more film than we usually would,” senior guard Justin Pagan said. “We have to watch personnel and scheme.”With the departure of two-year starter Ben Chappell, the starting quarterback job has been an open competition since spring practices.Wilson acknowledged during fall camp that the competition, initially open among all five signal callers on the roster, had been narrowed to a final three of sophomores Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker and true freshman Tre Roberson. A depth chart was released Monday revealing the starters and top backups at every position except quarterback.Wilson has said multiple quarterbacks could play in the opener, and he might not reveal the starter until game time. This will give him and his staff as much time as needed to choose a quarterback they are confident in.“The issue with them all is just the consistency and do you totally trust them?” Wilson said. “The old saying is ‘The game’s called football, and we put the game in their hand.’”Whomever the quarterback is, he will not be handing off to either of the Hoosiers’ top two returning rushers from last season. Junior running back Darius Willis and sophomore running back Nick Turner have each been ruled out from Saturday’s opener due to injuries.Neither was listed among the top two at running back on Monday’s depth chart. Redshirt freshman Matt Perez is instead slated to start.Injuries at running back are but one of the challenges Wilson faces in his first game as a college coach. The Hoosiers leader believes the team is ready, though, thanks to practices that are designed to be more difficult than games. Wilson just hopes it translates onto the field at game time.“We‘re getting judged by the score, but it will hopefully be an easier environment,” Wilson said. “Do (the players) trust the process? Can they take the things that were emphasized in the practice situations? Can they take the things that were emphasized in the meeting rooms and apply that to the game?”
(09/02/11 4:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Coach Kevin Wilson will be in good company as he coaches his first game for the school. He needs only to look across the field.On the opposing sideline, Pete Lembo will be leading the Ball State Cardinals for the first time after five seasons leading Elon’s team.Wilson is quick to point out the differences for each coach at their respective new schools.“Coach Lembo’s been a head coach, had staff, had philosophy, had things in place,” Wilson said. “I’m sure the transition has probably been cleaner, probably better than ours as far as coaches knowing each other, working together, knowing how they want to structure practice.”However, Wilson still recognizes that the methods used by Lembo and his staff have been modified since his arrival at Ball State, making it difficult to plan against his new squad for lack of frame of reference.“Even though you know what their coaches have done, they did it at another school,” Wilson said. “Does that mean that the personnel fit? Every coach always tweaks to his personnel, so just because they ran plays last year at Ball State doesn’t mean the new staff runs it. Just because they did it at Elon doesn’t mean they do it there.”Co-Offensive Coordinator Rod Smith recognized the difficulty of planning for Ball State but noted that they is in a similar situation when dealing with IU’s new staff.“It’s hard,” Smith said. “It’s always the question of the unknown. Will they do what they did in the past or is there something new? I’m sure they’re going through the same thing. It’s never easy. With someone else, you have actual footage and you know exactly what they’re going to do and how they’re going to be for the most part.”For the players, the situation essentially doubled the amount of film study necessary for the season opener.“We just have to watch more film than we usually would,” senior guard Justin Pagan said. “We have to watch personnel and scheme.”With the departure of two-year starter Ben Chappell, the starting quarterback job has been an open competition since spring practices.Wilson acknowledged during fall camp that the competition, initially open among all five signal callers on the roster, had been narrowed to a final three of sophomores Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker and true freshman Tre Roberson. A depth chart was released Monday revealing the starters and top backups at every position except quarterback.Wilson has said multiple quarterbacks could play in the opener, and he might not reveal the starter until game time. This will give him and his staff as much time as needed to choose a quarterback they are confident in.“The issue with them all is just the consistency and do you totally trust them?” Wilson said. “The old saying is ‘The game’s called football, and we put the game in their hand.’”Whomever the quarterback is, he will not be handing off to either of the Hoosiers’ top two returning rushers from last season. Junior running back Darius Willis and sophomore running back Nick Turner have each been ruled out from Saturday’s opener due to injuries.Neither was listed among the top two at running back on Monday’s depth chart. Redshirt freshman Matt Perez is instead slated to start.Injuries at running back are but one of the challenges Wilson faces in his first game as a college coach. The Hoosiers leader believes the team is ready, though, thanks to practices that are designed to be more difficult than games. Wilson just hopes it translates onto the field at game time.“We‘re getting judged by the score, but it will hopefully be an easier environment,” Wilson said. “Do (the players) trust the process? Can they take the things that were emphasized in the practice situations? Can they take the things that were emphasized in the meeting rooms and apply that to the game?”
(08/31/11 3:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU football team will take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday to officially begin the Kevin Wilson era, but even with the season approaching quickly, uncertainties still abound.Wilson, along with his staff and players, cleared up some of the team’s mysteries in a press conference Tuesday.• Wilson did not name a starter, but he shed more light on the quarterback battle, mentioning that sophomore Edward Wright-Baker has looked better than sophomore Dusty Kiel on deep passes and true freshman Tre Roberson is the fastest runner of the three quarterback contenders.• Previously, Wilson mentioned the possibility of playing as many as three quarterbacks in Saturday’s opener.He did not rule that out Tuesday but said the use of quarterbacks will not be scripted prior to the game.• The question of who will call plays on offense was finally answered, for the most part. Wilson and Co-offensive Coordinators Rod Smith and Kevin Johns will call plays together. Wilson and Johns will be on the field and Smith in the booth. Wilson said he plans to be more involved early in the season when the playbooks will be somewhat limited on offense.“You always start a little bit limited because you build as you go through the year,” Wilson said.Smith said after Tuesday evening’s practice that Wilson will still have the final say on playcalling as head coach.“I’ll call the good plays, and the other coaches will call the bad plays,” Wilson joked.• Elections among the team have been conducted to determine a pool of candidates for captain consideration.The team will not announce season captains prior to playing Ball State, but rather will name captains on a game-by-game basis. Season captains will be named late in the season.• Monday’s depth chart revealed senior wide receiver Dre Muhammad, who only weeks ago was elevated from walk-on to scholarship, as a starter. Wilson said Tuesday that Muhammad will start at an inside receiver spot with true freshman Shane Wynn backing him up.Sophomore Kofi Hughes previously played inside but has practiced as an outside receiver during fall camp and is slated to start this season. Wilson said if other outside receivers play well, Hughes may move back inside.• Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach Doug Mallory said some true freshmen may play Saturday in the secondary, but not on the defensive line or in the linebacking corps.• Mallory said unlike on offense, the defensive playbook is unlikely to be limited in the early season.
(08/26/11 3:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During an IU offensive possession this season, think twice before getting a snack, taking a bathroom break or blinking.You might miss something big.“It’s a lot faster,” senior wide receiver Damarlo Belcher said. “Our offense last year was a no-huddle offense, but this one is just more fast-paced. As soon as the referee puts the ball down, we’re going.”While offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, IU Coach Kevin Wilson was known for orchestrating speedy no-huddle offenses that required players to be in peak physical condition. During two weeks in fall camp, a noticeably leaner IU squad showed that Wilson and his staff have brought his style of offense to Bloomington.“We’ve definitely got to be in shape for it,” Belcher said. “It’s a fast, fast, fast-paced offense.”The use of a no-huddle tempo will be one of few constants for the offense this season. Different formations will be used based on situations and player skills, but at its core, the offense will be a pro-style unit with multiple sets.“It’s our job to make sure our offense fits our players and not vice versa,” said Co-Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Johns. “We’re going to play up-tempo. We’re going to play multiple (sets) and try to utilize our talents.”At this point in fall camp, it is difficult to predict what types of plays and formations the team will use, as the first-year coaching staff is still analyzing what it has to work with.“We’re going to revolve everything around our best 11 players,” Johns said. “That’s what we’re trying to do right now is determine who those guys are.”Modern offenses, particularly fast-paced no-huddle units, often eschew the tight end and fullback positions. However, with the Hoosier returning sophomore Ted Bolser and senior Max Dedmond at tight end and redshirt freshman Leneil Himes — a converted tight end himself — at fullback, the positions are likely to have a place in the team’s offense this season.“On short yardage situations, we’re going to try to roll those guys out there,” Johns said. “As we get going with our tempo schemes, we’ll see how they fit from there.”If early practices and Wilson’s history are any indication, the offense will also feature several two-running-back sets. A recent practice had true freshman D’Angelo Roberts and redshirt freshman Matt Perez on the field together with the first unit rather than junior Darius Willis, who started multiple games the last two seasons.“My first year at Northwestern, every day in inside drills, we did I-formation plays,” Willis said. “(Two-back sets) will have a part. It fits killing the clock or coming out when you’re backed up or goal line and short yardage. It’s a part of it, and the better they play, then maybe it becomes a regular part of the offense.”Belcher said receivers are expected to do more in this year’s offense than in the past.“We got a lot more routes,” Belcher said. “As a receiver, you like that. I’m running routes that our inside guys run. It’s not just playing one position. We’ve got to learn all four spots on the field that our receivers can play in.”The offensive line’s job is essentially the same regardless of the offensive system they are in, offensive tackle Andrew McDonald said. Terminology and nuances differ between offenses, but at the end of the day, their jobs are the same.“Every coach comes in and has different ways of doing things,” McDonald said. “It’s more a kind of mental mindset of coming off the ball and blasting somebody and just doing your job and doing what you need to do to get that first down.”
(08/23/11 4:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Coach Kevin Wilson is not likely to use this article as bulletin-board material.“They don’t read the papers, so I ain’t trying to motivate them,” Wilson said. “I’ve already talked to them. They’ve already been motivated.”Wilson is hoping his own methods of motivation will do the trick. He had better, as he said his quarterbacks remain a long way from where he would like them to be by the season opener Sep. 3 against Ball State University.“We’re a long way away from having a good one,” Wilson said. “We just need to be better there.”At this point in the fall practices, the competition has effectively been narrowed down to three underclassmen from the five quarterbacks on the roster. Sophomores Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker and true freshman Tre Roberson comprise the top three contenders.“We’re playing a lot of young players so I’m sure it’s not as ideal as any person would want it, but they need to do better,” Wilson said. “They will. We’re pushing them.”Co-Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Rod Smith has been working with the quarterbacks throughout the fall and can now recognize the differences in what each quarterback brings to the team.“Dusty’s probably more of a pure thrower than all of them,” Smith said. “(He) spins the ball pretty nice. He’s had some experience. (He) still has a little bit of athleticism, has the feet to buy some time if he needs to.“Ed’s had a pretty decent camp so far as well. He’s got a big arm and a great build on him, athletic, moves well.”However, given the added experience each of them has compared to the team’s other quarterbacks, Smith is not satisfied with their performances thus far in camp.“I haven’t seen what I’m expecting out of both of them,” Smith said. “I thought they both had fairly decent springs. I want to see this fall camp elevated. I think they did some good things, but I think there’s a whole other level they can get to. A whole other level, maybe two.”Unlike Kiel and Wright-Baker, Roberson, still in high school at the time, was not at spring practices. However, Smith has been impressed with what Roberson has done to catch up to his veteran teammates this fall.“Tre, he’s such an athletic kid,” Smith said. “He’s a little bit dynamic in terms of his He throws a pretty nice ball. He’s a little raw mechanics-wise. We’ve got to keep working some fundamentals with him. That’ll keep going on throughout camp and throughout the year.”Still, his inexperience remains an issue, especially compared to counterparts with game experience.“He brings a little extra dimension that the rest of them really don’t have as much of, but he’s a young guy,” Smith said. “He’s never taken any college snaps. That’s his downside. We’ll see, but I’ve been pleased with his progress so far. He’ll keep coming. He’s got a long ways to go, but I’m pleased with him. I think he’s going to be a real good player before it’s all said and done.”Schematically, the offense is likely to be similar no matter who the starting quarterback ultimately is, Smith said. Likewise, the job of the team’s receivers is unlikely to vary based on the signal caller.“There’s a couple of different styles, but I think the one thing that’s constant is that all of our quarterbacks can run, so that’s a good thing,” sophomore wide receiver Kofi Hughes said. “I think they’re all pretty balanced. They run the option pretty well and they can all pass.”Smith partially blames the lack of a single quarterback emerging on the volume of new material the staff has expected them to master in a relatively short amount of time.“I think they’re thinking too much,” Smith said. “They’re not reacting. Any time you tie up the mind, you slow down the feet. The thought process isn’t quite the same. You’re just not letting it loose. You’re not playing fast enough.“We have thrown a lot at them this fall. I think once we start scaling back, we play a little better. We see some good things, but not nearly enough consistency that I’d like to see early on.”Co-Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Johns also recognizes the burden being put on the quarterback candidates now, but said it should ultimately make them better come game time.“We’re putting pressure on them and we’re going to see how they perform,” Johns said. “It’s the old John Wooden theory that practices are harder than games, and that’s what we’re trying to do right now.”As a former collegiate quarterback, Smith knows what to look for in practice as signs that a quarterback is ready to lead the team on the field.“At the quarterback position, you want to see completions. You don’t want to see turnovers. That’s where you start,” Smith said. “If you do that, then chances are you’re getting first downs, and if you’re getting first downs, then chances are you’re going to score touchdowns. You’re going to get points. That’s where it starts with the quarterbacks.”Even though it is not yet clear who the quarterback will be, the receivers aim to establish a rapport with all of the possible starters, recognizing that the quarterback who starts a game may not be the one who finishes it.“I want to establish chemistry with all of them so it really don’t matter who is considered the starter at quarterback,” senior wide receiver Dre Muhammad said. “I just want to have chemistry with every single one of them. I think that’s important in case one goes down. Then you have chemistry with the next one.”With chemistry being established among all potential quarterbacks and receivers, the coaching staff can take its time before the beginning of the season and ensure it chooses the best quarterback to start.“What’s the day of the first game? The night before, we’ll know,” Smith said. “We don’t have to have a set time. I’ve been doing this long enough that I think that’s way overblown. All it is is ‘who gives your team the best chance to win?’ That’s who you go with.”
(08/11/11 3:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The music echoing across the practice field might as well be an alarm to the rest of the Big Ten, warning them IU football is doing things differently this year.“It’s a lot different,” sophomore cornerback Lawrence Barnett said. “The whole practice, there’s music blaring in the background. The atmosphere is just a lot better, a lot more energy.”The music during practice, ranging from Toby Keith to Lil Jon to Boston, is just one of a number of changes new head coach Kevin Wilson has made. It is perhaps most outwardly apparent at the first few practices of the season. Senior linebacker Jeff Thomas said he sees a practical benefit in it beyond simply energizing the team during practice.“I like the music,” Thomas said. “I think everyone else is liking it too. It’s definitely enjoyable.“And it makes it a little easier when you go to louder stadiums like Iowa or Wisconsin and you got to echo your calls and make everything louder because the crowd is loud.”In addition to the music during practices and offseason workouts, Wilson made it clear at the team’s Media Day Aug. 9, that he and his new staff have also focused on implementing other, less tangible changes in the team.“Ever since we’ve been here, we’ve tried to maintain a great attitude and a great work ethic and get better every day in a strong way,” Wilson said. “Our staff has embraced that in a great way. “I think our players are getting there. We need to keep building momentum with those guys.”The new approach has taken many forms, starting with hiring a nutritionist to supplement off season workouts and ensure the players eat healthy meals. The fresh strategy continues with fast-paced practices with players briskly jogging across the field from one drill to the next.At the media day, Thomas said he and his teammates can constantly feel the different atmosphere surrounding the team under an entirely new coaching staff.“Eating right, conditioning, playing hard, playing fast, playing smart, all these things that he instills in us in team meetings and spring practice and winter conditioning,” Thomas said. “I feel like everyone’s taken it to heart and everyone’s really bought into it.”Co-defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Mike Ekeler agrees with his linebacker. Ekeler said he believes by making expectations clear to his players, they are more willing to put in the work.“It’s a standard that we’re trying to instill,” Ekeler said. “You want to instill just a relentless pride in ‘this is how we do it.’ You demand it, and either it’s acceptable or it’s not. “That’s how we mold them. They said they want to be a great defense. We’re holding them to that standard.”On the other side of the ball, co-offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach Kevin Johns has also been pleased with the effort he has seen from his players early in fall practices.“The kids have done a great job of putting forth the effort that we want and playing as fast as we want,” Johns said. “They’ve had great attitudes and are trying to learn a little bit every day.”Players frequently described their new coach as upfront and honest. Wilson himself said he embraces those labels, as they are qualities he has seen in the head coaches he has worked for, including Bob Stoops at Oklahoma University and the late Randy Walker at Miami University and Northwestern University.“The only way players can respect you is if you’re shooting straight and working hard for them,” Wilson said. “That’s what we try to do. “I think I’ve had some great role models in how to keep things set forth and keep grounded and keep working hard. I try to do that as best I can.”
(08/08/11 12:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Current and former IU swimmers continued to compete at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships at the Stanford University Avery Aquatic Center in Palo Alto, Calif., with many posting times fast enough to qualify for the Olympic Trials.On Aug. 4, former IU All-American and 2008 NCAA champion Ben Hesan led the way, placing seventh in the 100-meter backstroke and qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the event along with sophomore James Wells.Hesan also qualified in the men’s 100-meter butterfly in 18th place.Senior Brittany Strumbel qualified for the trials after placing 26th in the women’s 200-meter freestyle with a personal best time of 2:01.33.Both IU representatives in the men’s 200-meter butterfly qualified with former Hoosier Todd Patrick, placing 20th, and senior Tyler Shedron taking 57th.The women’s 400-meter freestyle relay team of Strumbel, sophomore Stephanie Armstrong, senior Allysa Vavra and senior Courey Schaefer finished 12th.Vavra was far from done for the meet, however. She set a school record Friday in the women’s 400-meter individual medley, placing fourth in 4:43.98 and qualifying for the Olympic Trials.She followed that up Sunday with a qualifying 29th place finish in the women’s 200-meter butterfly.Senior Kim Tracey qualified as well in the women’s 400-meter individual medley, placing 63rd.Vavra’s relay teammates were not done either, as Strumbel, Armstrong and Schaefer teamed with sophomore Lindsay Vrooman to take ninth in the 800-meter freestyle relay.In the men’s edition of the race, IU finished fifth with the team of Shedron, senior Andrew Taylor, junior Eric Ress and Jim Barbiere.Junior Ashley Sprecht took 21st and qualified in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke Friday while junior Daniel Kanoor also qualified with a 36th place finish in the 50-meter freestyle.Saturday’s highlights included a pair of seventh place qualifying finishes by former Hoosiers, one by Patrick in the men’s 200-meter individual medley and the other by Ashley Jones in the women’s 200-meter backstroke.Junior Sam Trahin took 31st in the men’s 200-meter individual medley to qualify for the Olympic Trials as well, as did Ress in the men’s 10-meter freestyle with a 55th place finish.