Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Tuesday, Jan. 13
The Indiana Daily Student

IU freshman Lexie Woodson, No. 14, sets the ball as Ball State's Jennifer Boyd, No. 12, watches from across the net during the TIS Bookstore Invitational on Friday, Sept. 19 at University Gym. IU swept Ball State 3-0.

Newly refocused team to ‘fight for now’ after rough start

·

The women’s volleyball team took a step backward last weekend on the road against Minnesota and Iowa, putting them 1-5 in the Big Ten with only 14 matches left. “We just didn’t show up,” said senior captain Erica Short. “We didn’t enter the building. I don’t know who played last weekend. It wasn’t an IU program at all.”



IU sophomore Neil Wilmarth salutes the crowd following his goal assist to Andy Adlard during the Hoosiers 3-1 win against No. 9 Notre Dame on Thursday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

Finally

·

The bench players stood in their black warm-ups, some wearing red beanies, waiting for the game to end and for the celebration to begin. The Hoosiers (7-4-2) finally lived up to past legends and current expectations as they defeated No. 9 Notre Dame 3-1 on Thursday. Their first home victory since a 3-2 win against Big Ten foe Wisconsin on Sept. 21 and first upset of the year, Thursday’s match marked a turning point in the season. Brushing off an away defeat to Michigan State last week, the Hoosiers entered the match ready to start a winning streak. In a team meeting this week after practice, the players and coaches discussed their strengths and weaknesses. “It’s a game that shows the players have a feeling what’s it like to have to play a 90 minute game,” said IU coach Mike Freitag. “It’s a feeling we’ve had in other games, but now we can’t forget it.” One strength of the Hoosiers, depth, was forced into action in the game’s opening minutes. Sophomore defender Rich Balchan had his nose broken in a tussle in the sixth minute and left the game, Freitag said. Freshman Tommy Meyer took his place for the remaining minutes. In the 24th minute junior defender Kevin Alston rifled the ball from 25 yards out into the right corner for his second goal of the season. “It was a rush,” Alston said. “I didn’t really expect it. It felt great.” Three minutes later, senior forward Kevin Noschang hit the ball into the bottom left corner.


Indianapolis Colts running back Dominic Rhodes runs with the ball in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in an NFL football game in Indianapolis. Indianapolis won 31-3.

Colts add 3 RBs after injuries

·

The Indianapolis Colts needed help in their injury-depleted backfield. They expect three new running backs to fill the holes. With Pro Bowler Joseph Addai unlikely to play Sunday against Green Bay, and Mike Hart out for the rest of the season, the Colts added three running backs to the roster Wednesday, one day after acquiring defensive tackle John McCargo in a trade with Buffalo. The Colts addressed their most pressing need – a leaky run defense – with the trade for McCargo, but Sunday’s injuries to Addai and Hart changed their priorities.


The Indiana Daily Student

Burton puts Chase sights on Johnson

·

Forty-one-year-old Jeff Burton now has two race wins in 2008, but his victory Saturday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway outside of Charlotte, N.C., could not have come at a better time.


The Indiana Daily Student

Wishing I could make it rain like Pacman

·

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

·

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.”


The Indiana Daily Student

Lewis listed as questionable for Saturday’s matchup with Illinois

·

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 Indiana Daily Student

The fans need a new AD to lift their spirits

·

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.


The Indiana Daily Student

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.


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

·

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.



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

·

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.


The Indiana Daily Student

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

·

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.


The Indiana Daily Student

Weezy a sports pundit?

·

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

·

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.


The Indiana Daily Student

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

·

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.


The Indiana Daily Student

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

·

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.”


The Indiana Daily Student

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

·

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.