Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Seniors Embrace ‘All-Time-High’ Football Urgency
11/10/2017 1:40:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - And so they gathered, in front of their Indiana football teammates, making a final pitch to ensure everyone was ready for the challenge the program hasn't successfully faced in a generation.
The seniors took center stage last Sunday night at coach Tom Allen's instruction amid win-or-else pressure. Symbolism merged with reality. Allen wanted to put faces to the stakes; he pushed for an understanding that while victory is paramount, people will always matter more.
"I wanted (the players) to look (the seniors) in the eye and wanted the seniors to look them in the eye and understand what's at stake the last three weeks of the season," Allen says.
"It's a special group of guys here with us, and it's all about people."
Allen has spent the season striving for the right mix of inspiration and perspiration in the quest for a breakthrough season that continues to remain just out of reach.
Did he find it?
Stay tuned.
"The motivation for us is from within," he says. "It's the guy that's next to you. It's not about the challenge before you, it's those who are beside you. That's what I believe is a powerful thing that our guys have bought into."
Here's what else the Hoosiers (3-6) have bought into – they have three Big Ten games left to become bowl eligible. They have to win them all, two on the road.
The good news -- Illinois (2-7), Rutgers (4-5) and Purdue (4-5) all have losing records. The wave of ranked teams is over.
The bad news -- IU hasn't won three straight conference games in a single season since 1993, when it won four straight as part of a 7-1 start.
It starts Saturday at Illinois, which has lost seven straight and has scored fewer than 18 points in five of them.
"We're in crunch time now," fifth-year senior kicker Griffin Oakes says. "We've got to take one week as if it's the whole season. We have to win that season, and then move on to the next one. We have three of those left."
Two years ago, Indiana had to win its final two games to become bowl eligible – and did. Could that experience help?
"We did it before, and it was a tough stretch (at Maryland and at Purdue), and it was only two games," Oakes says. "This won't be easy, but we have a chance."
Chance comes with familiarity.
"It's almost like high school postseason," Oakes says. "You lose and you go home."
After two straight bowl appearances, home is the last place the Hoosiers want to spend the holidays. In other words, earn another bowl bid.
"I always want to finish as best as I can," Oakes says. "I want one more chance with the guys. If we can do everything in our power to get these three wins and go somewhere, that would be a dream come true. The urgency is at an all-time high."
Allen emphasized that urgency on Sunday by spotlighting the seniors.
"We have some great leaders in that senior class," he says. "I wanted the whole team to look them in the eye and know as they prepare for this huge game for us, which is the biggest game because it's our next game, we all understand where we are and what we need to do.
"I wanted those (seniors) in front of them just to symbolically show what this is all about."
In terms of what was said, senior defensive back Tony Fields took charge.
"He addressed the whole team," senior linebacker Tegray Scales says. "He said, we have to finish. Do it for the seniors, do it for us. Over these last couple of weeks, everybody buy in. Whatever happens, happens, but buy in and create memories."
Redshirt junior receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. has some ideas on how to help the buy-in.
"We want everyone to give his all," Cobbs says. "The seniors want to finish the year off right, finish on a positive note. We asked everybody to give it his all every day."
As for perspective, Cobbs says, "It's tough to win three Big Ten games in a row at any program. We have a lot riding on this. We're not going to let it overwhelm us. Do all the little things right, take it one week at a time."
You do that, fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow says, by pushing but not punishing.
"The seniors wanted to address everybody and make sure everybody is on the same page and in the right state of mind for this run we have to go on," he says. "We want to finish the season the right way, get to a bowl game and make sure we're enjoying each other at the same time."
Adds senior defensive end Robert McCray III: "The main thing was coming together. No matter what, we're fighting together. We're still progressing. We're still on a mission. We've got to finish the year. We're not holding our heads."
Fifth-year senior safety Chris Dutra challenged teammates right after last Saturday's loss to Wisconsin that if you're not fully committed to doing what needed to be done, get out. He continues to reiterate that message.
"I try to challenge everyone to take it day by day," he says. "If you're not here to get better, then don't come. You might as well go home for the next three weeks.
"It's challenging everyone. If there's something wrong in practice, all the little things, you have to hold them accountable and get better day by day."
Sunday's senior display added a visual element to that theme.
"Coach Allen pretty much brought the seniors up and wanted the whole team to take a look at us, how much we put into the program," Dutra says. "How many hours and how hard we work. He wants everyone in the room to finish for us. That's a big thing. Some people might want to shut down or think that it's over. He was trying to get us all to come together and buy in. No matter what, we have to keep fighting, keep learning. It's important to buy into these last three weeks.
So the Hoosiers vow to push. Along the way, Allen adds, focus won't turn to recklessness or carelessness. Team leadership is too strong.
"It's just a sense of urgency that you have to understand where we are. But I think that can be a good thing. I do. That's how I look at it. I'm one of those that's always looking for every angle of motivation with our team.
"I think our guys understand that concept. You don't want them to press. Just go out there and play your hardest and play your best.
"You just want to make sure that everything they can do in their preparation is being attended to. Every film session, every little thing they can gain in practice reps, mental reps, staying after practice working on this, working on that, getting proper rest, all those things that go into playing your best.
"Seniors are different because there is no next year for seniors. That's why it's valuable to have strong leadership from that group and strong play from that group, because they have a different sense of urgency about them than a freshman who just got here."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - And so they gathered, in front of their Indiana football teammates, making a final pitch to ensure everyone was ready for the challenge the program hasn't successfully faced in a generation.
The seniors took center stage last Sunday night at coach Tom Allen's instruction amid win-or-else pressure. Symbolism merged with reality. Allen wanted to put faces to the stakes; he pushed for an understanding that while victory is paramount, people will always matter more.
"I wanted (the players) to look (the seniors) in the eye and wanted the seniors to look them in the eye and understand what's at stake the last three weeks of the season," Allen says.
"It's a special group of guys here with us, and it's all about people."
Allen has spent the season striving for the right mix of inspiration and perspiration in the quest for a breakthrough season that continues to remain just out of reach.
Did he find it?
Stay tuned.
"The motivation for us is from within," he says. "It's the guy that's next to you. It's not about the challenge before you, it's those who are beside you. That's what I believe is a powerful thing that our guys have bought into."
Here's what else the Hoosiers (3-6) have bought into – they have three Big Ten games left to become bowl eligible. They have to win them all, two on the road.
The good news -- Illinois (2-7), Rutgers (4-5) and Purdue (4-5) all have losing records. The wave of ranked teams is over.
The bad news -- IU hasn't won three straight conference games in a single season since 1993, when it won four straight as part of a 7-1 start.
It starts Saturday at Illinois, which has lost seven straight and has scored fewer than 18 points in five of them.
"We're in crunch time now," fifth-year senior kicker Griffin Oakes says. "We've got to take one week as if it's the whole season. We have to win that season, and then move on to the next one. We have three of those left."
Two years ago, Indiana had to win its final two games to become bowl eligible – and did. Could that experience help?
"We did it before, and it was a tough stretch (at Maryland and at Purdue), and it was only two games," Oakes says. "This won't be easy, but we have a chance."
Chance comes with familiarity.
"It's almost like high school postseason," Oakes says. "You lose and you go home."
After two straight bowl appearances, home is the last place the Hoosiers want to spend the holidays. In other words, earn another bowl bid.
"I always want to finish as best as I can," Oakes says. "I want one more chance with the guys. If we can do everything in our power to get these three wins and go somewhere, that would be a dream come true. The urgency is at an all-time high."
Allen emphasized that urgency on Sunday by spotlighting the seniors.
"We have some great leaders in that senior class," he says. "I wanted the whole team to look them in the eye and know as they prepare for this huge game for us, which is the biggest game because it's our next game, we all understand where we are and what we need to do.
"I wanted those (seniors) in front of them just to symbolically show what this is all about."
In terms of what was said, senior defensive back Tony Fields took charge.
"He addressed the whole team," senior linebacker Tegray Scales says. "He said, we have to finish. Do it for the seniors, do it for us. Over these last couple of weeks, everybody buy in. Whatever happens, happens, but buy in and create memories."
Redshirt junior receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. has some ideas on how to help the buy-in.
"We want everyone to give his all," Cobbs says. "The seniors want to finish the year off right, finish on a positive note. We asked everybody to give it his all every day."
As for perspective, Cobbs says, "It's tough to win three Big Ten games in a row at any program. We have a lot riding on this. We're not going to let it overwhelm us. Do all the little things right, take it one week at a time."
You do that, fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow says, by pushing but not punishing.
"The seniors wanted to address everybody and make sure everybody is on the same page and in the right state of mind for this run we have to go on," he says. "We want to finish the season the right way, get to a bowl game and make sure we're enjoying each other at the same time."
Adds senior defensive end Robert McCray III: "The main thing was coming together. No matter what, we're fighting together. We're still progressing. We're still on a mission. We've got to finish the year. We're not holding our heads."
Fifth-year senior safety Chris Dutra challenged teammates right after last Saturday's loss to Wisconsin that if you're not fully committed to doing what needed to be done, get out. He continues to reiterate that message.
"I try to challenge everyone to take it day by day," he says. "If you're not here to get better, then don't come. You might as well go home for the next three weeks.
"It's challenging everyone. If there's something wrong in practice, all the little things, you have to hold them accountable and get better day by day."
Sunday's senior display added a visual element to that theme.
"Coach Allen pretty much brought the seniors up and wanted the whole team to take a look at us, how much we put into the program," Dutra says. "How many hours and how hard we work. He wants everyone in the room to finish for us. That's a big thing. Some people might want to shut down or think that it's over. He was trying to get us all to come together and buy in. No matter what, we have to keep fighting, keep learning. It's important to buy into these last three weeks.
So the Hoosiers vow to push. Along the way, Allen adds, focus won't turn to recklessness or carelessness. Team leadership is too strong.
"It's just a sense of urgency that you have to understand where we are. But I think that can be a good thing. I do. That's how I look at it. I'm one of those that's always looking for every angle of motivation with our team.
"I think our guys understand that concept. You don't want them to press. Just go out there and play your hardest and play your best.
"You just want to make sure that everything they can do in their preparation is being attended to. Every film session, every little thing they can gain in practice reps, mental reps, staying after practice working on this, working on that, getting proper rest, all those things that go into playing your best.
"Seniors are different because there is no next year for seniors. That's why it's valuable to have strong leadership from that group and strong play from that group, because they have a different sense of urgency about them than a freshman who just got here."
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