Sports

Wishing I could make it rain like Pacman

By Mike Abrams · Wednesday, Oct. 15,2008 9:55 p.m.

LAS VEGAS – Sometimes, the smartest move is to fold. That statement is extremely relevant for a lot of businesses in Las Vegas. Last week, the Indiana Daily Student sent me to Vegas for an extensive research trip for this column. Before you run to the newsroom to grab an application, let me tell you that the Indiana Daily Student didn’t pay a cent for my trip. National sports columnists don’t get top priority on budgetary concerns, and I doubt they will ever pay me a dime past the amazing weekly salary I currently rake in.

Sophomore midfielder Daniel Kelly moves the ball upfield against UC Santa Barbara Sept. 27 at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Kelly and the Hoosiers face Notre Dame tonight.

IU men's soccer team gets ‘motivation’ for Freitag, make strides

By Greg Rosenstein · Wednesday, Oct. 15,2008 9:54 p.m.

Dropping out of the national rankings and falling further back in the Big Ten, IU men’s soccer coach Mike Freitag decided to change up his typical practice regimen this week. His players responded. “I found out that these guys need external motivation,” Freitag said. “If you lose, you have to run. ... I didn’t have those punishments before. We had a long discussion as a team on how to get things right. You get it out in the air, talk about it, and go back to work, and that is what we did.” The Hoosiers face No. 9 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. today at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Senior midfielder John Mellencamp said the added passion in practice is necessary for his team’s crucial matchup against the Fighting Irish. “It was one of the most intense trainings I have seen this season,” he said. “There was a lot more competition today and guys were taking things personally on the field. No one wanted to lose a single thing they did today, and that is the mind-set that gets you ready to play a game.”

Lewis listed as questionable for Saturday’s matchup with Illinois

By Ryan Gregg · Wednesday, Oct. 15,2008 12:54 a.m.

More than 55 percent of the IU football team’s offensive production was in a protective boot Tuesday. IU coach Bill Lynch said junior quarterback Kellen Lewis sustained a high ankle sprain during last Saturday’s 45-9 loss to Iowa, the team’s fourth consecutive loss, and is listed as questionable for this weekend’s contest at Illinois.Audio: Lynch's press conference

The fans need a new AD to lift their spirits

By Chris Engel · Tuesday, Oct. 14,2008 11:08 p.m.

The IU Athletics Department has had a rough past 12 months. Real rough.Things were much better for the IU faithful just a year ago on the week of Hoosier Hysteria. Former men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson and the Hoosiers had high expectations heading into the season. Some even thought the duo of Eric Gordon and D.J. White could lead the team to the Final Four.

Hoosiers miss Middleton

By Dave Leno · Tuesday, Oct. 14,2008 11:04 p.m.

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.

IU football coach Bill Lynch speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. Lynch's 2-4 Hoosiers will take on Illinois on Saturday night in Champaign, Ill.

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

By Lee Hurwitz · Tuesday, Oct. 14,2008 11:03 p.m.

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.

Former basketball player Vaden arrested in Bloomington on Saturday

By Ben Phelps · Tuesday, Oct. 14,2008 5:29 p.m.

Former IU men’s basketball standout Robert Vaden was arrested Saturday morning on suspicion of public intoxication, said Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada, reading from a police report.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning gets set to throw in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL football game on Sunday in Indianapolis. Indianapolis won 31-3.

Manning had 2nd summer knee surgery

By Michael Marot · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 11:13 p.m.

One surgery wasn’t enough to fix Peyton Manning’s left knee. Colts coach Tony Dungy confirmed Monday, after nearly two months of deflecting questions, that Manning was operated on a second time before returning to the field in late August. Dungy doesn’t believe the second operation – to fix an infected bursa sac – was the reason the team had a sluggish start this season. “I don’t think it set him back. It was part of the rehab process,” Dungy said Monday. “The time frame we were initially looking at was when he came back.” Manning was not available in the locker room Monday, a day after the Colts routed Baltimore 31-3, in what was easily his best game of the season.

IU hockey sweeps 2 with Wright State to hit 4-0

By Tyler James Perry · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 11:11 p.m.

The IU club hockey team swept Wright State in Dayton, Ohio. Over the weekend, moving them to 4-0 on the year. On Friday, the Hoosiers got behind early, but came back to win 7-4 with a strong third period. Adam Logue and Dan Keeney both exploded, notching two goals and two assists each. IU dominated the ice with 35 shots on goal, compared to 18 for the Raiders. On Saturday, the game was closer, with the Hoosiers coming out on top 4-3 after a wild second period.

Weezy a sports pundit?

By Bryan Payton · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 11:09 p.m.

In a weekend when I can honestly say I watched very little sports, it appears from the looks of SportsCenter to be one of great excitement. I was researching for this week’s column by surfing the Web, and I came across a lot of interesting material. In an article written by ESPN columnist Mark Schlabach, I noticed Clemson fired their football coach, Tommy Bowden, after a disappointing 3-3 start. Chicago Tribune reporter Fred Mitchell wrote about how the Falcons pulled off a miracle in beating the Chicago Bears. ESPN NASCAR blogger Ryan McGee mentioned Cindy McCain showed up at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., to watch the NASCAR Bank of America 500. But finally, I came across Lil’ Wayne’s ESPN blog to find some baseball news, and I thought, “Wait a minute. Did I just see a blog by Lil’ Wayne? The same rapper who released The Carter III earlier this year? Young Money? Weezy?”

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason (85) is tackled after a reception, by Indianapolis Colts' Melvin Bullitt (33) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday in Indianapolis. The Colts won 31-3, marking the team's first regular-season victory at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Colts go on the offensive on defense, dominate Ravens

By Michael Sanserino · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 1 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS – Four sacks, three interceptions and four fumbles: Through four quarters Sunday, the Colts looked like they had the best defense in the NFL. And they owe it all to their offense. An Indianapolis defense that was built to play with a lead finally got to play with one during Sunday’s 31-3 win against the Baltimore Ravens. By the time the Colt’s defense gave up its first first down of the game, the offense had already scored two touchdowns. That, coach Tony Dungy said, was key.

Hoosiers slip to 1-5 in Big Ten with weekend losses to Iowa, Minnesota

By Ari Shifron · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 12:59 a.m.

After taking a step forward last weekend, the IU volleyball team took two steps back this weekend. The step forward – when IU recorded its first Big Ten win against Michigan State and ended the Spartans’ 10-game winning streak Oct. 3. The steps back – this past weekend in its most recent matches, as IU suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 12 Minnesota on Friday and fell to Iowa 3-2 on Saturday. The Iowa match was particularly heart-breaking, as the Hoosiers led 2-1 before losing the final two games. In the fifth game, IU led as late as 11-9 before ultimately losing 15-12. Junior outside hitter Kelsey Hall said the Hoosiers are searching for answers right now.

1st conference win, home win come in 2-1 defeat of Michigan

By Nathan Hart · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 12:56 a.m.

With two goals in the second half and a defensive effort not seen in previous Big Ten conference games, the IU field hockey team defeated Michigan 2-1 Sunday afternoon in Bloomington. Junior midfielder Meg O’Connell deflected a shot from senior back Dani Castro into the goal midway through the second half to tie the game 1-1. Junior forward Alina Valenti added a goal with eight minutes remaining in the game to give IU (7-6, 1-3) a lead it would not relinquish. “We fought and scratched and clawed our way in that game, and we never gave up,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “The key element today was our communication. It was really strong on defense and on attack. It was just a full team effort.”

Hoosiers snap scoreless streak but go 0-2 in weekend’s games

By Brandon Smith · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 12:55 a.m.

Coming into the weekend’s match-ups with Wisconsin and Northwestern, the IU women’s soccer team was still looking for its first conference win. Without two of their starting forwards, things where complicated for the Hoosiers. Junior Liz Holby, who leads the team in points and goals, and freshman Carly Samp did not play because of injuries.

Hoosiers swing and miss

By Dave Leno · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 12:54 a.m.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Not after last season’s mountainous climb to a bowl game. As speedy as the IU football program spiked in 2007, it’s plummeted even faster in 2008. We lamented on how scrawny, how spare, how sub-par the Hoosiers’ non-conference schedule is. And, while skeptics said early wins were a must, IU’s three straight conference losses proved their theory correct. Michigan State was strike one. Minnesota, strike two. Iowa, strike three. The Hoosiers are out.

Floundering IU squad shut out in road loss to Spartans

By Greg Rosenstein · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 12:52 a.m.

Facing the top goal-scorer in the Big Ten, the IU men’s soccer team knew it needed to contain Michigan State senior forward Doug DeMartin from the opening whistle. The Hoosiers held DeMartin in check until the 82nd minute, when he gave the Spartans a late lead. Michigan State freshman midfielder Domenic Barone put the game’s final goal away just 39 seconds later to upset the Hoosiers 2-0 in East Lansing on Sunday. IU coach Mike Freitag said his team’s loss resulted from slow play on the field.

Lynch: Iowa ‘beat us just about every way’ Saturday

By Ryan Gregg · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 12:51 a.m.

Following a 45-9 loss to Iowa in Bloomington, IU coach Bill Lynch played it straight. “You have to do something in the kicking game. Go get a turnover, do something offensively” he said. “They beat us just about every way.” It would be hard to disagree. On offense, IU capped off only two drives in a dozen with scores, and the Hoosiers were only in Hawkeye territory five times.

IU senior defensive lineman Arik Wolf takes a moment on the sideline near the end of the Hoosiers 45-9 loss to Iowa on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

By Lee Hurwitz · Monday, Oct. 13,2008 12:49 a.m.

Bill Lynch sat at the podium as he began to search for a way to grasp the loss his team just suffered. He didn’t find anything. 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 on Saturday, the promise the program displayed in 2007 continues to quickly fade away. “We have to play better,” Lynch said. “That’s what we’ll go back to working on.” “You have to do something to turn it. You have to do something in the kicking game, go get a turnover, do something offensively. ... They beat us just about every way.” The boos started to come out as early as the first quarter, and halfway through the third, the fans had had enough. As the game got out of hand, the student section dissipated as quickly as Iowa running backs Shonn Greene and Jewel Hampton hit the gaping holes in the IU defensive line. Greene and Hampton provided the force – the duo ran for 229 yards and four touchdowns – while quarterback Ricky Stanzi picked apart the IU secondary. Stanzi threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns while the Hoosiers displayed a penchant for giving up the big play.

Sophomore quarterback Ben Chappell is tackled at the line of scrimmage during the Hoosiers 45-9 loss to Iowa on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. The 2-4 Hoosiers suffered its fourth loss in a row.

Hoosiers drop fourth in a row

Saturday, Oct. 11,2008 3:13 p.m.

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.

LIVE: Indiana vs. Iowa

Saturday, Oct. 11,2008 11:38 a.m.

The IU football team kicks off against Iowa at Memorial Stadium at noon. Follow the game as IU football reporters Lee Hurwitz and Ryan Gregg and columnist Dave Leno provide continuous updates at Under the Rock.