Football

From Starr-struck to Starr-less

IU kicker Austin Starr used to be automatic. Last season especially. Experts tabbed him as one of the nation’s top kickers. A 40-yarder, a chip shot, it didn’t matter. Every boot was destined to split the uprights. This year, though, Starr’s golden foot has vanished.How could a finalist for the Lou Groza award – given to college football’s top kicker – meld into a Mike Vanderjagt? It’s perplexing, I know.

Hoosiers fall in 5th straight

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The IU football team was outplayed in seemingly every facet of a football game possible Saturday, as they dropped their fifth straight contest. This defeat came at the hands of border rivals Illinois (4-3, 2-2), a 55-13 drubbing. The Hoosiers (2-5, 0-4) were outgained 563 total yards to 313. It is the fourth time on the skid IU allowed more than 40 points, while it has scored only 29 total in their last three games. The Hoosiers were without starting quarterback Kellen Lewis who suffered a high-ankle sprain against Iowa last weekend. Replacing him was sophomore Ben Chappell. In his first collegiate start, Chappell was 12 for 29 with 172 yards and no scores. The Bloomington native was sacked 4 times.

A Hoosier upset at Illinois? It’s possible

Dynamic offense awaits skidding 2-4 Hoosiers

A missed block, a missed assignment or pouncing for the ball at the wrong time. That’s how the option can kill you.IU was on the losing end of that formula when the Hoosiers (2-4, 0-3) played Illinois (3-3, 1-2) a year ago at the Bloomington version of Memorial Stadium. Rashard Mendenhall, quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn thoroughly exposed the IU defense, running for 288 yards.This time around, expect more of the same.

IU might be without QB Lewis Saturday against Illinois

Halting the negative momentum a four-game losing streak carries will not be easy for the IU football team (2-4). Making the task more difficult will be the possible absence of the Hoosiers’ offensive catalyst, Kellen Lewis. During practices this week, Lewis wore a protective gray immobilizing boot around his right ankle, nursing what IU coach Bill Lynch called a high-ankle sprain. “(We) went through halftime, got it re-taped and all that, and we thought that it would loosen up and we’d get him going in the second half, and it never loosened up," Lynch said of Lewis' injury sustained against Iowa. “Some athletes bounce back pretty quickly. He really hasn’t been hurt much, so we haven’t really been through this in terms of how quickly he can bounce back. Certainly, we’re hopeful that a guy like that can bounce back quicker than our 300-pound guys, just because of his body type.”

Hoosiers miss Middleton

It was all beginning to unfold – the Iowa game, the season, everything. One blow and the Hoosiers’ defense is down, lying flat on the canvas. In more cases than one, it’s unable to gain consciousness before the 60 minutes expire. Saying IU has trouble recovering from its opponent’s punches is an understatement. Whether it’s a run up the gut or a play-action pass, the Cream and Crimson’s corner is often on the losing side. We saw it especially against Ball State, Michigan State and Iowa.

Lynch’s success last year still in some fans’ minds

It was barely into the third quarter during Saturday’s game against Iowa when the “boos” started coming down. Eventually losing 45-9, the IU football team felt its fans show their displeasure simply by leaving, making the student section as empty as the North End Zone Project. For IU student junior Rich Lesser, the 2008 football season has shown the Hoosiers are once again comfortable at the bottom of the Big Ten. “It’s what I expected,” Lesser said. “I didn’t think we’d be as good as last year, but I thought we may have a chance to be as good as last year. As of now, it doesn’t look too good.” With a lack of support in the student section throughout their current four game losing streak, IU coach Bill Lynch urged the fan base during his weekly press conference Tuesday to continue to give the Hoosiers support regardless of the team’s 2-4 record.

Hoosiers drop fourth in a row

For the fourth straight week, the IU football team found itself leaving the gridiron on a sour note as the Iowa Hawkeyes stormed into Bloomington and downed the Hoosiers with ease. Last year, playing a team like Iowa was business as usual. But as evidenced by the half-empty Memorial Stadium in the third quarter, the deflated IU sideline and the 45-9 loss, the promise Lynch instilled in the program last year continues to slowly fade away.

Some students dissatisfied with Lynch

Post Hardy, football still looking for answers to offensive quandries

Ball State receiver, Love 'improving'

MUNCIE – Ball State receiver Dante Love has made great progress in his recovery from a career-ending spinal injury and might be released from a rehabilitation center this week, coach Brady Hoke said.Love, who took a head-on hit during the Cardinals’ 42-20 win against IU on Sept. 20, underwent surgery one day after the game.

Time to see more of Chappell

Offense falls short in 16-7 loss this weekend

MINNEAPOLIS – Converting on only one of 10 third downs and recording just a single score, the IU football team’s offense sputtered to a 16-7 defeat on the road at Minnesota. The loss shoots IU’s record below .500 at 2-3, and marks the team’s second straight Big Ten loss to open conference play at 0-2.

Frustrated: Football team falters on 3rd downs in loss to Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – Coming into Saturday’s matchup against Minnesota, it looked as though the IU football team’s offense might be able to score big against the host Golden Gophers.The Hoosiers (2-3, 0-2) came into Saturday’s game ranked second in the conference in both total offense and rushing offense.By contrast, Minnesota entered the contest ranked ninth in both total defense and rushing defense. Statistics aren’t always what they appear to be.Despite the difference in rankings, the Gophers prevailed to defeat the Hoosiers, 16-7.In the first half, the Hoosiers only held the ball for 9:27, and out of their seven possessions in that frame, the visitors from Bloomington went three-and-out four times, and none lasted more than three plays.As a result, the Hoosiers were limited to 17 first-half plays as opposed to the 40 plays the Golden Gophers ran.

Who will be Mr. October?

Metrodome notoriously unkind to visiting Hoosiers

The last time the IU football team knocked off the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, the price of a gallon of gas was about $1.08. Now at .500 through four games, IU faces Minnesota, who “is a good football team and a much-improved football team from a year ago,” said IU coach Bill Lynch. IU pummeled Minnesota 40-20 at Memorial Stadium last season, but this weekend, the team plays in Minneapolis, a place where the Hoosiers haven’t won in 15 years. This time around, there could be some fresh faces taking the field for the Cream and Crimson.

Memorial Stadium ain’t so memorial

Hoosiers give up 42 in loss to Michigan State

For the second straight week the Hoosiers let up 42 points, and for the second straight week, they lost. Instead of Michigan State dealing the final blow of the game it was IU who did itself in their 42-29 defeat.With 1:39 left in the third quarter, backup quarterback Ben Chappell connected with sophomore wideout Terrance Turner for a 97-yard touchdown strike. The play made both the Michigan State and Hoosier crowds stand up and cheer. The Hoosier crowd was happy because of the touchdown, the Spartans because there was a little yellow piece of cloth 108 behind Turner’s touchdown celebration.

Thigpen shines in Hoosier defeat at the hands of the Spartans

For the second straight week the Hoosiers let up 42 points, and for the second straight week, they lost.

The ring-er of fire, he burns, burns, burns