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(09/04/09 5:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There were plenty of red flags being raised in “The Rock” on Thursday night, but very few were being waved by a burly cheerleader in the end zone. The unveiling of a new stadium and experience created quite a buzz around Bloomington for the summer months, and the IU football team treated their fans to a much-expected victory over Eastern Kentucky. However, the first question that will come from the mouths of the IU faithful is “So?” Who can blame them? All summer, we have had three points stressed to us out of IU camp: The offensive line is experienced, Ben Chappell is the unquestioned leader of the team and the heralded defensive line is poised for redemption. Coming out of their week-one victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision school in EKU, the validity of all three points are brought under scrutiny.All night long, the offensive line was flagged for false starts and holding penalties, killing momentum and putting the team in an unnecessary hole. All night long, Chappell missed plays he should have made and converted on ones he shouldn’t have, leaving Hoosier nation scratching their heads. T.J. Pryor and Cody Watts had all day in the EKU pocket to find receivers, forcing fans to send out a missing persons report on senior defensive ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton. Yes, throughout the game, the previously mentioned sore spots showed signs of brilliance. The offensive line gave Chappell plenty of time to throw for 326 yards and Kirlew recovered a game-altering fumble near his own goal line. However, it’s important to consider the source. While everyone wearing cream and crimson will tell you that a “win is a win,” fans are not going to be impressed with a six-point win over Eastern Kentucky. The sign hung between sections 22 and 23 asking “EK-Who?” is all the evidence you need. Now, IU has a week and change to prepare for an even tougher opponent in Western Michigan, and they have an awful lot on their plate to chew.Chappell’s 300-plus yards passing pale in comparison to the numbers he could have had if he had hit his open receivers consistently, including one bomb intercepted in the end zone. The offensive line needs to find a way to keep the penalties down to a minimum – or at least wait until the ball is snapped to commit their infraction. Kirlew and Middleton need to get their names in the sack column, rather than watch the ball whizz past their ears. On a night when Hoosier fans could have been out celebrating the start to a new year, they are instead left up all night shaking their heads. Next time, they need to find a way to make them jump around and sleep like babies. Don’t forget about wearing out the cheerleaders, either.
(09/03/09 3:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU football team is set to begin its 2009 campaign today at Memorial Stadium, and Athletics Director Fred Glass wants nothing more than to see his stadium filled in his first game as AD. Normally, the product on the field, is not enough to drag fans from the tailgate fields or the comfort of their own couches. This year, there are actually a number of reasons to put the body paint on and hang out with 52,000 of your closest friends. 5. Pack the new “Rock” Tonight, fans will get their first look at the stadium’s brand new segment behind the North End Zone. But who wants to see a bunch of empty seats? In last year’s home opener against Western Kentucky, 30,067 seats were filled – only about 63 percent of the stadium’s maximum capacity at the time. This year, the new horseshoe design screams for a great game atmosphere – but only if butts are in the seats. 4. New sheriff in town Entering the new season, fans still seem a bit shell-shocked by the dismissal of former quarterback Kellen Lewis. His former backup, Bloomington native Ben Chappell, finally has complete control of his hometown team, and it’s time for people to jump on his bandwagon. He only threw four touchdowns all last year, but with the knowledge and experience he gained in camp, he could meet that mark through one game. 3. The Band-Aids are off Last season, the Hoosiers saw their team fall apart to injuries in almost every position. Safeties Austin Thomas, Jerimy Finch and Nick Polk missed a combined total of 17 games. On offense, sophomore wide receiver Tandon Doss missed four games and senior running back Bryan Payton missed the final three games of the year. Not to mention the catastrophic implosion on the offensive line. This year, the big names you missed last year are back, and the last time they were out there together, they went to the Insight Bowl. 2. It’s cheaper than a party The old saying around the tailgate field is that partying is much more fun than an IU football game. In these economic times, is it really the best idea to hit the nightlife scene instead of jumping around the bleachers with your frat brothers? This year, student tickets are $5. Compare that to the $6 it will cost you to buy just one pitcher of Bud Light at Nick’s on a Thursday, and you have yourself a no-brainer. You can also bring your friends from other schools into the student section this year for the same price. And, as always, the bars will still be open for business once you leave. 1. Not your daddy’s game day From “Kicks for Keeps” to the red-light specials, Glass has put nearly all of his effort in his short tenure to enhance the game day experience at Memorial Stadium. The well-documented changes will take place for the first time tonight, and I am envious of the people who will be in the stands as I watch from my bird’s-eye view on top of “The Rock.” Glass has stressed that he wants people to treat each football game like Little 500, which has to grab the attention of every IU student. It’s up to the upperclassmen to lead the younger students on a new rampage to the new Memorial Stadium. Just make sure you cross 17th Street. Ryan's Prediction: IU 34 - EKU 14
(08/28/09 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Ace Ventura’s world clashed with the Miami Dolphins in a search for their mascot, he stumbled into cracking the case when an ex-kicker kidnapped Dan Marino with the intent to kill, screaming repeatedly, “Laces out!”And you thought kickers weren’t tough.During this season, the Hoosiers hope to avoid a similar situation despite turnover in both the placeholder and kicker position.Heading into his third season, IU football coach Bill Lynch and his staff are stressing one simple motto: Play the next play.The universal slogan preaches to the players that no matter how good or bad the last play was, the next one is where their focus should shift.It works for everyone – except the kicker and holder.How can players who touch the field only a handful of times move on from their previous performance, especially when their one play affects the game in such a do-or-die way?Placeholder Teddy Schell, taking over the full-time holder responsibilities with the graduation of Dustin Hass, knows exposure on the field goal unit comes with a price.“If you screw up, that’s the only way you are going to get noticed,” Schell said.While the kicking game is important to every team, history has proven that the Hoosiers count on every point their field goal team can produce.Of their 39 victories during the past 10 years, 13 of them have been decided by three or fewer points. Half of the team’s top 10 on the school’s all-time scoring list are kickers.Last year alone, kicker Austin Starr accounted for 23 percent of the team’s points, leading the squad with 57 total points. In fact, Starr led the team in scoring in each season since 2006.In order for the kicker to produce all these points, the holder and the long snapper have to do their jobs correctly.For co-special teams coordinator Dennis Springer, a good field goal starts and ends with the holder. Through this year’s camp, Springer has had to coach a new No. 1 holder in Schell.“He’s as important as anyone on that team,” Springer said. “I tell him all the time that he’s the leader of that extra point and field goal team. His energy and his ability to get that snap down, no matter where it is, is extremely important.”Not only does the team have a new holder, but also a battle for a Starr replacement.No one questions Starr’s performance on the field, as his numbers are good for sixth all-time on the IU scoring list, but Schell is happy to have more easygoing kickers in his first year as a full-time holder.“Austin was a lot more meticulous about where he wanted the ball,” Schell said. “I always say that I have it much easier than Dustin Hass. These kickers are a little bit more forgiving.”Long snapper Jeff Sanders, the man responsible for getting the ball to Schell, feels confident in his ability to make a seamless transition between Haas and Schell.“I’m there to make his job easy,” Sanders said. “As long as I put it right there in the bread basket there shouldn’t be any problems.”With a team that is expected by everybody to fight for every point, the growth and development of Sanders, Schell and whoever wins the kicking battle is arguably going to have the most impact.Just pay attention to where you line up those laces.
(08/26/09 3:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On a freezing November afternoon, with the metal bleachers feeling like ice without a body to warm them, a large, white sheet protruded from the student section with the words “Fire Lynch.” The sign of protest came in last season’s final home game, a 55-20 drubbing at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers. Since then, a barrage of comments, Web sites, Facebook groups and tweets have poured into the Indiana mainstream calling for the dismissal of IU football coach Bill Lynch. My question is: Why? I know the obvious answers that are sure to be thrown at me. Yes, the team couldn’t stop the run, score points or win a meaningful game in the Big Ten. Admittedly, last year was atrocious. But does anyone remember how the team performed in 2007, Lynch’s first year as coach? In that year, the team rewrote the school’s offensive history books, beat the teams it should have beaten and went to its first bowl game in 13 years. Lynch’s 7-5 in-season record was the best for any Hoosier coach in his first year since 1905 and a contract extension through 2012 followed.Then, as I saw the Badgers pound the ball down our throats, the honeymoon officially died. With such a Jekyll-and-Hyde-type of two-year stint, it’s hard to get a reading on Lynch as the head coach of this football team. However, a number of situations play into figuring out why 2007 and 2008 were such different seasons: • A good chunk of NFL-caliber players were in their prime in ’07 and left before ’08 began.• The offensive line was absolutely ravaged by injuries last year, making running and passing the ball a nightmare.• The injuries to quarterback Kellen Lewis put Ben Chappell in charge of the spread offense, a formation his abilities simply aren’t compatible with.• Safety Austin Thomas, a member of the injury list for all but six games last year, was somehow the team leader in interceptions with two.Now, let’s take a look at this year’s situation:• Heading into 2009, the Hoosiers return 35 upperclassmen, 17 scholarship seniors and 18 scholarship juniors.• The offensive line, headlined by seniors Roger Saffold and Pete Saxson, is finally fully healed. • Chappell is set to run the pistol offense, a formation designed to fit his abilities. • The defensive backfield, which has Thomas and Nick Polk healthy and Ray Fisher making the switch to corner from wideout, is sure to grab more than six interceptions this year.Even with all these issues resolved, there is still one looming factor that might put a damper on the Hoosiers’ hopes.It’s a cliché at this point, but, as the differences between Lynch’s first and second year show, if any Big Ten team’s success this season depends on staying healthy, it’s the ’09 Hoosiers. The injuries last season not only knocked out star players, but they forced in players too immature to deal with the situation at hand. Their immaturity showed in the second-half of games, when each team makes changes, It’s on the players to respond to those changes. Last year, with freshmen and sophomores running the show in most positions, the Hoosiers were outscored 208-75 in the second half, with only 17 points scored in the fourth quarter all year. Now, a full year is under the belt for the youngsters, and the seniors are coming off the injury list ready to make a splash. As for Lynch, he refuses to let the pessimism of the fans get in the way of his team’s preparations for a year in which he hopes will be a turning point for the Hoosiers football program. “That stuff doesn’t really enter our minds,” Lynch said, “But you have to be that way, because, obviously, if you dwell on that, then you’re not doing your job, which is getting this team ready to play.” Is it honestly the best football decision to fire Lynch now, before he has a chance to show he can win with his guys, and begin building from the ground up again, like the school has done with coaches like Gerry DiNardo in the past? Maybe the Hoosier haters are right, and Lynch ultimately isn’t the man for the job. For now, let’s see what he can do with a healthy group of experienced players.
(08/20/09 5:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two-a-day practices, more than anything else, show the difference between the players in the pads and the press that wants to be in those pads. Attending a two-session practice is a necessary evil for the athletes and a dream come true for the scribes. IU football coach Bill Lynch opened up the doors to his team’s most private sanctuaries to select members of the media Wednesday, and I was fortunate enough to represent the IDS. 7:00-7:45 am: Review of practice To kick off the day, Lynch gathers his staff into one of the many new positional meeting rooms in the North End Zone to watch tape from the previous day’s practice and discuss what needs to be improved. 8:00-8:30 am: Wide receiver positional meeting Given the option to choose any positional meeting I wanted, I chose the group with the most potential to breakout this season in the wideouts. Wide receivers coach Billy Lynch went over the same tape gone over in the previous meeting with his boys, pointing out flaws or great strides made during the session. Freshman wide receiver Duwyce Wilson was joked with for hitting the freshman wall when we walked in looking tired, and Billy Lynch spent some time coaching him up on his assignments during two-minute drills. 9:00-11:30 am: Practice No. 1 The first of two practices begin with players in half pads, looking fired up for some football. Some defensive backs put in their own version of Hank Williams’ “Are You Ready For Some Football?” during stretches. The team wanted to concentrate on their two-minute offense, and they spent much of their 7-on-7 and full-team practices practicing that. Some standouts from the morning practice include freshmen Wilson and Edward Baker-Wright, tight end Max Dedmond, and wideout Terrence Turner. Baker-Wright showed great arm strength and a lot of potential for the future, Dedmond was spot-on with his crack blocks, and Turner blew away the competition with his route running. 11:30 am-12:30 pm: LunchThe players and media enjoyed a high-protein and carbohydrate lunch of grilled chicken, beef casserole, and beef ravioli for their mid-day break. 12:30-1:30 pm: Defensive staff meeting After sitting in the wideout meeting and spending most of my time watching the offense during practice, I figured I would stay fair and balanced by checking in with the defense. Surprisingly, the defensive coaches were much more subdued in the meeting than the offensive staffs, but they noted what was needed to be worked on and let their voices be heard later in practice. They seemed particular happy with the play of the defensive line on run plays, something that really hurt the Hoosiers last season. 1:30-2:00 pm: Full staff meeting The entire IU coaching staff assembled in the team room to discuss the afternoon practice and the rest of the week. Bill Lynch delegates a lot of responsibilities to his staff, trusting they will make the right decision in most cases. 3:00-3:30 pm: Special teams meeting With the two-minute drill covered in the morning, the staff wants to focus on special teams during the afternoon. The coaches go over blocking assignments for kickoff returns and onside kicks, telling the players to be prepared to work on these things in practice. 3:30-4:00 pm: Defensive backs positional meeting Defensive backs coach Joe Palcic seemed pretty happy with his group’s performance through the day, and he gave some pointers to strong safety Austin Thomas and others on positioning in zone coverages. 4:00-6:30 pm: Practice No. 2 With the sun out in full strength and the team in full pads, the second session kicks off – this time, literally. The return team dominated the coverage team the first few times, but once everyone got settled in, the returner, usually Ray Fisher or Zach Davis-Walker, were limited to around the 30 yard line. In 7-on-7 and full team drills, the defense stole the show this time around, as cornerback Richard Council gave quarterback Ben Chappell a headache all day and former-receiver Ray Fisher made a great break on the ball to pick off Chappell in the end zone. The highlight of the day, however, came when a botched snap on a field goal attempt was picked up by kicker Nick Freeland, who looked to throw the ball away-hitting assistant head coach Dennis Springer square in the head and sending Bill Lynch to the ground in laughter. 6:30-7:45 pm: Dinner On the menu tonight: pizza, pasta, and ice cream. The players and coaches alike seem very happy practice is done for the day. 7:45-8:45 pm: Offensive staff meeting The offensive staff gets together one more time to look at tape from the day’s afternoon practice, and they like what they see, particularly from the running backs and wide receivers. They discuss some things that need to be worked on the next day, and proceed to the next meeting. 8:45-9:15: Full team meeting To wrap up the day, the team gathers in the team room for a special guest speaker, who got the team riled up with visions of the best Indiana football team there ever was for 2009. They also watch a tape of Springer’s head meeting the football from the afternoon, sending the room into bursts of laughter. The meeting breaks, and the team heads off to enjoy their hour of down time until lights out, and the process starts all over again.
(08/18/09 11:18pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While the current state of the IU football team is still up for debate, there is little argument over what impact the newly constructed North End Zone facility will have on the future of the program: It’s going to be substantial. As regal and daunting as it looks from the outside, the new facility is just as professional and developmental on the inside. From their 20,000-plus square foot upgrade of a weight room to the academic centers just down the hall, current and future Hoosiers will have everything they need to excel in every facet during their stay in Bloomington. Head coach Bill Lynch didn’t hide the fact that his new asset will only grow in reputation past the new crop of freshmen. “The vision of the building probably helped, but they couldn’t see it,” Lynch said. “The group that we now have verbally committed saw much more of a finished product. It certainly has helped quite a bit.” For some of the incoming players, like Columbus, Ind. native Dusty Kiel, a three-star recruit by Rivals, what was already installed at IU paled in comparison to the new facility.When asked how much impact the new digs had on his college choice, Kiel said, “To be honest, none. IU is close to home and I really liked the coaches.” For others, like Jeffersonville, Ind. product Edward Wright-Baker, who declined offers from Louisville and Purdue, the North End Zone’s amenities, such as the new and improved weight room, was too intriguing of a pitch to turn down. “The first time I saw that, I wanted to throw down my stuff and get to lifting,” Wright-Baker said. Even the position meeting room, a spot where players have fantasized about naps for decades, proved to be a selling point to Wright-Baker, as he said it’s nice to be “locked in a cage where you can just focus.” Meanwhile, the days and years ahead for Lynch and his staff do appear to be getting surprisingly brighter, given the team’s disappointing three-win season following their Insight Bowl loss. In the construction phase of the facility, Indiana roped in 19 letters of intent. As they finish up their move into their new home, the Hoosiers have 21 verbal commitments. While not as strong and much more fickle than a LOI, the high volume of verbal commitments shows progress that Lynch fully attributes to their newest addition. “We’re recruiting against some pretty good football programs in the Big Ten and around the country. I know that when they came here after visiting one of our competitors, they didn’t see the same commitment to football,” Lynch said. “Now, when they come and walk through here, they’re going to say football is important at Indiana.”
(05/18/09 12:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Having the No. 2 player and being the No. 11 overall team in the nation, the IU men’s golf team had high hopes for postseason play this year. With a 12th-place finish in their NCAA Regional play, however, the Hoosiers are ending their season on a sour note. IU started the three-day tilt in last place, but a strong finish on the final day with a -7 score kept the Hoosiers from the cellar, with the low-round score going to Ben Hogan Award finalist Jorge Campillo. Individually, junior Alex Martin finished highest for the Hoosiers in 27th place. Campillo had his worst finish of the year, placing 40th. True freshmen Chase Wright and David Erdy joined their teammates in the top 50, finishing 44th and 49th, respectively. The event became Campillo’s last at IU, and now he awaits the results of the Ben Hogan Award decision. The two-time Big Ten Golfer of the Year will be competing professionally in Europe this summer.
(05/10/09 11:41pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After falling short of a Big Ten Championship, the No. 11 IU men’s golf team is setting off for the Sunshine State for the NCAA Regionals. The Hoosiers were given a No. 2 seed in their region, ranked only behind the No. 1 team in the country, the University of Georgia. IU has one familiar face in the crowd, with Big Ten rival Iowa given the 11th seed. Last year, IU advanced to the NCAA championship bracket, finishing 21st. Senior Jorge Campillo, winner of his second Big Ten Player of the Year Award, finished second individually in the championships, and he knows what he has to do to win this year. “I need to improve my putter,” Campillo said. “My pace on the greens has been off in the last few tournaments and I couldn’t make any putts. I need to hit the driver more consistent. If I can improve those two things, I will be good to go.”
(05/08/09 3:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For each of the 11 years IU coach Mike Mayer has led the men’s golf program, at least one IU golfer has played for the All-Big Ten team.Put him down for two more this year. Senior Jorge Campillo and junior Alex Martin, the duo leading the No. 10 Hoosiers into the NCAA Regionals as a second-seed team, are now first-team All-Big Ten players. Campillo took it one step further, winning his second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Year Award. The appointment marks the third time a Hoosier has won the title in consecutive seasons, joining Jeff Overton and Randy Leen on the list. It is also only the fifth time in Big Ten history that a player has won the award consecutively. Campillo is also a finalist for the Ben Hogan Award, given out annually to college golf’s top player. Last season, Campillo closed the year out with a Big Ten championship, but Mayer said Campillo took his game to a different level this year.“He closed the season real strong last year,” Mayer said. “This year, he has been, overall, a more consistent player.” Mayer can still have hopes for a future without Campillo. He said Campillo is a real asset to the younger players due to his work ethic at practice and his love of helping his teammates hone their game. “I think he gets a kick out of these new kids,” Mayer said, “He sees a lot of promise in our freshmen.” The influence also found its way to the other Hoosier recognized this week. Recruited for the first-team All-Big Ten, Martin said he owes a great deal of his success to his senior teammate. “Jorge has been an outstanding leader to this team in many aspects besides his unbelievable play,” Martin said. “He is encouraging to the other team members and was encouraging to me throughout my career.” He said he hopes he can learn from Campillo’s example and lead the team, something Mayer fully anticipates. “Alex is a solid player with very consistent play, and the team will be expecting the same next year,” Mayer said. Martin’s 72.70 scoring average is second on the team, behind Campillo, and is currently 12th on the Hoosiers’ all-time list. After the fall season, Golf World dubbed Martin as the Mid-Season Most Improved Player. Martin said his biggest leap this season was an increase in his self-confidence to win tournament titles. “I probably had the ability to win last year, but this year I came in really believing I could, and as a result I won at Illinois’ tournament and have gotten six top-10 finishes,” Martin said. The Hoosiers’ next challenge comes May 15, when they travel to Florida for the NCAA Regionals. They will need to finish in the top five in order to advance for the second straight season. When the season does wrap up, the two Hoosiers will take decidedly different paths. Campillo plans to compete professionally in Europe, while Martin is looking forward to a busy summer of amateur play. Although losing the nation’s top-ranked player would hurt any program, Martin gives hope to the future. “Losing Jorge next year will make for a tough spot to fill,” Martin said. “But I know my teammates and I will work hard over the summer so that we can try and keep IU a top-15 team.”
(05/07/09 4:50pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With a No. 1 national ranking, senior Jorge Campillo named a finalist for the Ben Hogan Award, awarded to the nation’s top college golfer, Thursday. The award is presented May 22. Fellow finalist Rickie Fowler of Oklahoma State looks to be the first-ever repeat winner. Clemson’s Kyle Stanley rounds out the pool of finalists. With six top-five finishes, including three tournament victories, Campillo earned his spot among the nation’s best. His strong play has also put him in top company in IU’s record books, currently listed in second on the school’s all-time career scoring average list. Campillo was also recently named the Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. If he is selected as the victor, Campillo would be the first Hoosier in history to take home the Hogan award. Campillo will lead his team into the NCAA Regionals May 15, and looks to improve upon his second-place finish in last year’s NCAA Championships.
(05/04/09 3:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Already knowing it is going to participate in the NCAA Regionals later this month, the No. 10 IU men’s golf team entered the Big Ten Championship focused on capturing the title.After an up-and-down weekend, the Hoosiers fell short, finishing third. Senior Jorge Campillo, one year after winning the individual Big Ten Championship, finished sixth.IU started the tournament on a strong note Friday, tying for third with Minnesota after two rounds. Day two presented more challenges for the Hoosiers, and they slipped to seventh.IU wrapped up the tournament with strong play from junior Alex Martin, whose team-best 71 pushed him to finish 10th individually. Joining Martin and Campillo in the top 25 was freshman David Erdy, who rebounded from a rough couple of rounds with a 72 to place 22nd.Luckily for the Hoosiers, they still have a chance to end their season on a high note. IU will participate in NCAA tournament play for the second -straight year. The field will be announced Monday.
(05/01/09 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After five months of intense competition, the No. 10 IU men’s golf team will finally have a chance to accomplish the one goal it set this fall: win a Big Ten championship. The Big Ten Championship tournament will take place this weekend in State College, Penn. Last year, IU placed fourth as a team, but senior Jorge Campillo took home the previous season’s individual title. Campillo returns this season as the undoubted favorite to win. The senior has led his team all season long with six top-five finishes. He has also been tagged as a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award, given to America’s top college golfer. The Hoosiers can also expect strong play from their freshman class. Last week, Golfstat dubbed IU’s class of 2012 as the 11th best group of first-year players in the nation. David Erdy and Chase Wright have played the biggest role in that ranking, having both competed in at least seven events, with Erdy competing in all 10. The Hoosiers will enter the championship with confidence. IU proved to be one of the Big Ten’s best in February when it took first place in the Big Ten Match Play Championship. The tournament does not affect the Hoosiers’ postseason hopes. However, a Big Ten championship would give them a higher seed in the NCAA Regionals.
(04/27/09 3:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On the NCAA Regional berth bubble, the IU women’s golf team knew it needed a strong tournament performance.With a sixth-place finish this weekend in West Lafayette, the Hoosiers were left in limbo.“We are right there,” said IU coach Clint Wallman. “I have no idea whether or not we are going to get in right now.” The Hoosiers started the weekend ninth, climbed into seventh on day two and continued their ascent in day three, finishing sixth. Wallman said the team had a sense of urgency in the final day after their slow start. “We were quite a few shots behind teams we had to beat to qualify for regionals, and our girls really stepped up,” Wallman said.Individually, Wallman pointed out the strong play of sophomore Cecilia Orevik, who shed 10 strokes off her previous best score of the tournament with a 72 in the final round to propel the Hoosiers forward. Junior Anita Gahir finished tops in the team once again, placing ninth. Juniors Laura Nochta and Kellye Belcher and senior Amber Lindgren were next among top finishers, all tying for 32nd. Nochta and Gahir were both named second-team All-Big Ten, and Nochta also collected the Sportsmanship award following the tournament. For the Hoosiers, they must now wait for their fate to be decided, as the field for NCAA play will be decided at 4 p.m. today.
(04/23/09 3:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After watching the football and basketball teams get new facilities, the golf program must have thought it was a good idea. The men’s and women’s teams broke ground Wednesday on a new team facility, expected to be completed Aug. 20. Both programs will move to the new building, which will be built next to the current IU Golf Team Practice Facility. The new building will serve as place for the team to gather. The coaches are appreciative of the new building, according to an IU Athletics news release. “This is another big step for the golf programs at Indiana University,” men’s coach Mike Mayer said in a statement. “To have a ‘home’ where we can meet, socialize and recruit will be a big asset for both programs. It’s been a long time coming, but our time is finally here.” The new building will officially begin construction May 4. The facility will have new office and locker rooms, a team room, a study room and a club repair room, according to the release.“It will definitely be state-of-the-art with the new teaching room, and I am looking forward to August when we can move in,” women’s coach Clint Wallman said in a statement. The new building will also include a teaching area where IU golfers can work on their game with the help of technology. IU officials hope to later add an indoor putting green and an outdoor patio, according to the release.
(04/20/09 3:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a slow start to day one, the No. 6 IU men’s golf team responded with a resilient effort.IU climbed from 11th place to finish the day in fifth at the Boilermaker Invitational in West Lafayette.The day marked the end of the regular season for the Hoosiers. With this weekend’s finish, the team has top-five finishes in nine out of the 10 tournaments in which it participated this year. Its next challenge comes in the form of the Big Ten Championships in State College, Penn.As a team, the Hoosiers finished fourth in last year’s tournament, but senior Jorge Campillo took home top honors.In his final regular season tournament as a Hoosier, Campillo had a score of 212 and was the team’s top performer with a fifth-place finish, his sixth top-five finish this season.Junior Alex Martin joined Campillo with a final round score of 69 and a total of 215, a score that moved him to seventh place.The Hoosiers already know whom they will be playing in the NCAA Regionals, but IU coach Mike Mayer was adamant in saying that knowledge will not deter his team from its original goal.“The only thing on our mind right now, as it has been all season, is the Big Ten championship,” Mayer said. “Once that is over, then we can get ready for postseason play.”
(04/20/09 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the final tournament of the regular season, the IU women’s golf team showed it can compete in the postseason with a fifth-place finish in the Lady Buckeye Invitational in Columbus, Ohio.The Hoosiers got strong play once again from junior Anita Gahir, who finished sixth individually with a score of 225. Joining Gahir in the top 30 were juniors Kellye Belcher, at 16th, and Laura Nochta, at 26th, and sophomore Cecilia Orevik, at 17th.The Hoosiers’ next test will be the Big Ten Championships, which could determine if the team will qualify for the NCAA Regionals. IU coach Clint Wallman said he sees the showing as a step up toward the postseason.“I though it was a very positive performance,” Wallman said, “It was good to get to play a challenging course, much like the challenge we will face this week at the Big Ten Championships.”IU did place third among fellow Big Ten teams in Columbus, a feat that could be a boost of confidence for a team who finished fourth in last year’s Big Ten Women’s Golf Championship.
(04/17/09 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In its final tune-up before the Big Ten Championship tournament, the IU women’s golf team will head to Columbus, Ohio, for the Lady Buckeye Invitational. IU did not compete in the tournament last year. The last time it attended was in 2007 when it tied for eighth. Laura Nochta and Anita Gahir, who finished in the top 40 in 2007, will be counted on to push IU further this year. Nochta and Gahir, both juniors, have each won Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week once this year, and both finished in the top 25 during a sixth-place finish at the IU Invitational. The Lady Buckeye Invitational will leave the Hoosiers only five days to prepare for the Big Ten Championship. IU finished fourth last year in the conference tournament, earning a trip to the 2008 NCAA East Regional.
(04/17/09 4:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a rough 14th-place finish, the No. 6 IU men’s golf team responded with a tournament victory on its home course. Now, the Hoosiers head to rival Purdue for the Boilermaker Invitational, but they are wishing they could flash to the future. “We might be looking ahead a little bit,” IU coach Mike Mayer said after last weekend’s victory. “Winning the Big Ten title is our only goal.” The Hoosiers tied for third at last year’s tournament, but if they get similar results, they could find themselves at the top this time. Senior Jorge Campillo was named Big Ten Men’s Golfer of the Week for the ninth time in his four-year career – the most by any Hoosier golfer – after winning at the adidas Hoosier Invitational. Campillo is also closing in on school history. Last weekend he passed former Hoosier Jeff Overton for second all-time on the season round average list (70.46).
(04/13/09 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If their last performance served as a wake-up call, consider the Hoosiers wide awake. The No. 6 IU men’s golf team responded from a season-worst finish last week with a resounding effort this weekend, winning the adidas Hoosier Invitational by 27 strokes against defending champions Eastern Kentucky.“Our expectations coming into this tournament were quite simple: We wanted to win,” IU coach Mike Mayer said. “We proved without a shadow of a doubt that we are the superior team.”The Hoosiers’ victory is their third this spring, and their eighth top-five finish out of nine tournaments this year. They finished 14th out of 15 teams last weekend at the United States Collegiate Championships but responded with Mayer’s 15th career victory this weekend.Senior Jorge Campillo, recently ranked the No. 1 collegiate golfer, won individual honors with a 10-under par total. His only competition came from freshmen teammates David Erdy and Chase Wright, who finished second and third, respectively.
(04/10/09 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After its worst finish this season, the IU men’s golf team hopes to prove this weekend it still belongs among the elite in the Adidas Hoosier Invitational on the IU Golf Course. The Hoosiers struggled in the United States Collegiate Championship earlier this week, finishing 14th out of 15 teams, making it the only tournament where they have not finished fifth or better.They entered that tournament ranked No. 4 nationally and will need a stronger finish this weekend to stay in the top five.IU did get another impressive performance from senior Jorge Campillo at the championship. Campillo tied for 11th place individually, his team-leading eighth top-25 finish this season.Last year, the Hoosiers finished fourth at the adidas Hoosier Invitational. But IU did not have a chance to improve its first-round score because the final round was canceled due to rain.