Sports

COMMENTARY: When football becomes just a game

EDITOR'S NOTE: Bryan Payton is a national sports columnist for the Indiana Daily Student and a running back for the IU football team. This column is his reaction to a career-ending injury sustained by Ball State wide receiver Dante Love in the Hoosiers' game Saturday against Ball State. Going into this past weekend, I planned to write about the Tampa Bay Rays or maybe how politics affects the world of sports, or maybe even the week in football. But after Saturday night, I quickly changed my mind.

Ball State says career over for injured player

Ball State announced Monday that senior wide receiver Dante Love is expected to lead a healthy life after extensive rehabilitation from a cervical spine fracture and spinal cord injury suffered Saturday night during his team’s 42-20 win against IU. But he is never expected to play football again, according to a Ball State news release. “His football career is expected to be over,” Ball State coach Brady Hoke told The Associated Press. “He has touched a lot of lives, and he will continue to do so.”For senior tight end Darius Hill, Monday’s news came as a relief.“It’s been pretty tough knowing he’s not going to be with us, but he’s always going to be a part of this team,” he told the AP. “It definitely takes a lot (of the concern) off, knowing that he’s going to be all right down the road.”

IU recruit enjoys visit, looks for doctor’s release to play

IU recruit Derek Elston hasn’t played basketball in more than four months. The senior forward from Tipton, Ind., suffered a torn meniscus at an AAU event on May 17 and underwent surgery just four days later to repair his knee.

Junior golfer Martin ties for 1st in Illinois

Last week at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate, junior Alex Martin didn’t even crack the top 25, falling in the final round to tie for 28th overall and third-best among Hoosier golfers. What a difference a week makes.

The glory of old IU?

Hoosiers like to consider their athletics department among the Big Ten’s elite.  But Big Ten title times have been tough in Bloomington lately. 

Reality sets in

Shocked? I’m not. Concerned? I am. What you saw against Western Kentucky and Murray State compared to Saturday’s game with Ball State was not a different IU team.

Hoosiers lose 42-20 against Ball State

IU might have landed the first punch, but the Hoosiers were the ones trying to pick themselves up off the canvas Saturday night after a 42-20 beating at the hands of visiting Ball State. For the first time ever, the Cardinals beat the Hoosiers, and they did so in astounding fashion. IU, a team that has aspirations of a second straight bowl game, was throttled by a hungry Ball State team.

Lewis struggles against Ball State

Kellen Lewis misses James Hardy, and on Saturday night, it showed.The world Lewis lives in – one where Hardy is no longer available as his favorite target – came crashing down as Ball State’s 86th-ranked defense easily held the Hoosiers to one offensive touchdown.Losing 42-20 in a dramatic setback for the Hoosiers, it was Lewis who looked lost on a continuous defense. The defense had its fair share of gaffes, but Lewis, who is ranked as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten, erred all night.“I was rushing myself a little too much,” Lewis said. “This was the first game that we’ve been down and obviously, we never really had the lead. It’s something we have to learn from.”Lewis overthrew errant passes, as other throws were rocketed into his receivers’ hands, only to bounce out.

Nochta impressive in New Mexico; IU 9th

Junior Laura Nochta had a summer of firsts. In the Women’s Ohio State 85th Amateur Championship, Nochta carded her first round under 70, with a course-record 67. A few days later she recorded her first hole-in-one.

No. 14 IU men's soccer team defeats Wisconsin 3-2

Funk keys road win for Hoosiers; No. 6 Iowa comes next

Junior forward Haley Funk is not used to playing on a fast, dry pitch. But when the IU field hockey team was desperate for a score, Funk used the dry turf and bouncy ball to her advantage. She scored a goal early in the second half to help lead IU (5-3) to a 2-0 victory over Ball State (1-7) Saturday in Muncie.

Indianapolis, we have a problem ... Well, a few problems

It’s fourth-and-one for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and quarterback David Garrard drops back to pass. Peyton Manning and the Colts just marched down the field and scored to put Indy up by one point, and as Garrard sits in the pocket, hae has just 29 seconds to put the Jags in field-goal range to try and eek out a win. He looks to his right and throws a pass that falls 10 yards away from the closest Jacksonville receiver.

IU takes 2 of 3 matches but loses TIS Invitational

Starting strong is only good if you finish the job thoroughly. Such a lesson was learned by the IU volleyball team at this weekend’s TIS Bookstore IU Invitational. After opening the tournament with convincing victories against George Mason and Ball State on Friday, IU ran into a wall Saturday against Cincinnati.

Injured Ball State receiver expected not to play football again

Update: According to a Ball State press release, Dante Love's injury was so severe in nature that his football career is expected to be over.However, the release states after a rehabilitation period, Love should be able to live a normal and healthy life.

Overtime magic grand for Hoosiers against Loyola

Junior midfielder Kristin Arnold has been in this position before. Arnold and the Hoosiers (5-4) were dead-locked at 1-1 with Loyola (Chicago) after the end of regulation. Arnold, who led the Hoosiers in points last season, netted her first goal of the season in the second minute of the sudden-death overtime period, securing the win for IU. Arnold has a knack for coming up big for the Hoosiers in these situations. This was her fourth career extra-period goal and her sixth game-winning goal.

IU humbled at home by Cardinals

The Hoosiers looked confused and outclassed in their 42-20 loss at home to Ball State on Saturday. Ball State controlled the game all evening, and the play on the field felt more lopsided than the score reflected.

Ball State wide receiver injury undergoes surgery on spine

UPDATE (1:50 p.m.): Ball State wide receiver Dante Love underwent an approximately five hour long surgery in Indianapolis Saturday night into Sunday morning, according to a press release."Dante Love suffered a cervical spinal chord injury fracture which required surgery to stabalize the fracture," said Ball State team physician and orthopedic surgeon Jay Matchett in the statement. "He is currently moving all four extremities."

Ball State wide receiver leaves game on stretcher

Memorial Stadium hit its loudest decibel level of the game midway through the second quarter. The IU football team had just had a huge momentum swing, when freshman corner Chris Adkins jarred the ball loose from Cardinal standout wide receiver Dante Love, and the ball was returned for a touchdown, pulling the Hoosiers within a two points at 14-12. But silence instantly overcame the crowd when it became apparent Love hadn’t been moving since the hit.

Volleyball set to host TIS Bookstore Invitational

Kruger nets 2 goals on former team as Hoosiers are upset

Thursday night, Butler did something it has not done since 1997: beat an IU women’s soccer team. The Hoosiers dropped back to .500 (4-4) after being upset 2-1.