Indiana University Athletics
Monday Press Conference Notebook
11/6/2017 5:36:00 PM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The math is stark now.
Indiana football needs to win out through the balance of its regular-season schedule, starting with Saturday's 12 p.m. (ET) game at Illinois.
Coach Tom Allen's Hoosiers are 3-6 after four straight losses, with three guaranteed games left. But goals worth attaining remain available.
IU hasn't had a winning season since 2007. The Hoosiers haven't had a bowl win since 1991. This year's team could still change both of those realities. It could still make its mark.
But it must remain hungry to change trajectory after a front-loaded league schedule took its toll.
The biggest single factor in IU's struggles so far is perhaps the quality of opposition. The Hoosiers have run a scheduling gauntlet featuring five Top 20-ranked league foes (three ranked in the Top 4 when IU faced them).
No other team in the nation has met three Top 5 teams. Only one other, West Virginia, has met five ranked foes.
Big Ten road assignments are always challenging and Indiana has two of those left – Saturday and the Nov. 25 finale at Purdue – and host an improving Rutgers team in between. But none of the remaining opponents standing between Indiana and bowl eligibility are ranked.
So there is a chance, on paper, for Indiana to finish the season strongly. Are the Hoosiers mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to do so?
"We all understand where we are and what we need to do," Allen said Monday. "There is a sense of urgency that I believe we have to have and we will have. We have some great leaders in that senior class."
Allen brought all his seniors to the front of the team room Sunday to emphasize what is at stake and for whom the team needs to rally.
"I wanted those guys in front of them just to symbolically show what this is all about," Allen said. " … I want (the team) to look them in the eye and want the seniors to look them in the eye and understand what's at stake the last three weeks of the season.
"Special group of (seniors) here with us, and it's all about people. I made that a point at that time as well. The motivation for us is from within. It's the guys 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. The guys beside them is a special group, the seniors."
Whatever the final math shows this season, expect Allen – who ends every press conference with his mantra "L.E.O.", the acronym for "Love Each Other" – to remain firmly in the people business.
QB QUESTIONS
Fifth-year senior Richard Lagow started Indiana's first four games at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey started the next four. After Ramsey sustained a leg injury at Maryland two weeks ago, Lagow filled in well and started last Saturday's loss to Wisconsin.
Ramsey's availability remains uncertain this week. And the Hoosier coaches have worked to get true freshman Nick Tronti – who had planned to redshirt – up to speed as a backup.
Allen, asked about Ramsey's progress rehabilitating the injury, said, "That will continue to progress. We would love to be able to get him physically ready to go. We'll know more as the week unfolds. Had him out there yesterday working through everything and throwing some balls. Continue to rehab. We would love to get him back, but we don't know yet."
And Allen confirmed the Hoosiers would have had to burn Tronti's redshirt had Lagow gone out against the Badgers.
"You have that conversation about Nick Tronti and his redshirt and what that all looks like," Allen said. "We've had those conversations prior … we were very up front with him about that, and his family. We talked that through and they knew exactly what could happen … didn't really feel like Peyton was ready to go yet; Nick would've had to go. But, yeah, you would like to preserve his redshirt if at possible."
IU offensive coordinator Mike DeBord felt Lagow had some mixed results Saturday but appreciated that the senior was ready to go.
"There were throws he made that were great throws and there were some he wished he probably had back," DeBord said of Lagow. "One interception was not his fault – it was a receiver not being in a certain spot and he was anticipating (he would be) – and the other one was.
"But he's just been a guy who's been steady in all ways. I know he had weeks off and then had to come back and play, and sometimes that's tough. Especially against man coverage, you have to be accurate with the ball all the time … I think he'll continue to get better with that."
DeBord appreciated getting Tronti some repetitions in practice, with Ramsey sidelined, with an eye toward building depth for next season and beyond.
"You have to always get your No. 2 guy ready," DeBord said. "Peyton is getting better every day, but we didn't know where he'd be at game time. So therefore we had to get Nick Tronti a lot of reps. We don't want to play him right now, because of his redshirt (situation) but, if we had to …
"He's a lot better (now) because he understands the system. Coming in new (this fall), it's new terminology, new plays, everything's new. And then he hasn't had a lot of reps because Peyton and Rich got all the reps. So this past week was one week where (Nick) got a lot of reps and we saw a lot of good things out of him. But, again, he's a true freshman. That's a position where it takes a lot of time to develop to where you need to be, at a certain level."
NO GRAYBEARDS
DeBord also thinks the offensive line positions, as with quarterback, require experience and playing time for full development. But he is currently overseeing the first O-line in his long coaching career that doesn't feature a single senior.
"That, obviously, will help out for the future, guys playing and getting experience (and then returning)," DeBord said. "But that's another position where you'd like older guys to be playing. You always have a senior or two in there, usually, through the years."
Allen agreed. "When I think about offensive lineman, you think about fifth-year seniors, older guys," Allen said. "That's the one position you really want to have a good core of experience and physical maturity.
"We've had injuries as well as youth, I think the combination of the two has made it hard. We just are going to continue to make it a priority (to run the ball). Those guys are working hard to, number one, get healthy, and number two, to play well together."
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
One of IU's most experienced offensive linemen, redshirt junior left guard Wes Martin, earned Offensive Player of the Game in the Wisconsin outing.
"Wes Martin … continues to be rock solid on the offensive line, as both a leader and in his performance," Allen said.
Senior end Robert McCray III was the Defensive Player of the Game with four solo tackles including two sacks, the first multi-sack game of his career.
"Robert McCray probably played his best game I believe since I've been here," Allen said. "Couple of sacks; caused one of the (3 Wisconsin) fumbles and had several (quarterback) hurries.
"I thought he was very physical in the run game, which we have to have that from him. Really challenged him. Applaud his effort and how well he played. We need that the final stretch from him. Really proud of Robert and the way he performed."
Griffin Oakes, one of 20 contestants remaining for Lou Groza Award honors as the nation's top kicker, booted a field goal in the second quarter Saturday to raise his numbers this year to 12-of-13 in that department and is now 27-of-28 on extra points, with both the misses coming on blocks. He also made a tackle Saturday and was named Special Teams Player of the Game.
Scout Team Players of the Week included Derrian Meminger and Joshua Brown on defense and Jack Moran, Phil Benker and Sam Garvin on offense.
IRON MEN
Senior linebackers Tegray Scales and Chris Covington played all 80 defensive snaps Saturday against Wisconsin, supplying 12 and nine tackles respectively, behind only the career-high 15 posted by classmate Chase Dutra from his safety spot.
"Tegray and Chris Covington played every snap … and that's hard, really hard," Allen said. "So they're giving us phenomenal effort … but there is no question that's hurting us (in the late stages of games), especially against a big, big physical team like that.
"I think 60 is about (the optimal limit on snaps). If you get a chance to get him off the field for 15 or 20 snaps, that would be ideal. In that kind of a big, physical pounding game, I think that would be a good balance.
"They're going to play some special teams plays, too. There is probably no magic number, but if I can find a way to get a guy off the field 15 to 20 snaps and feel good about the guy coming in to take his place, you would feel like you had a good solid back up."
TEN HEADING HOME
Chicago product Covington is one of 10 Indiana players who hail from the state of Illinois.
The others are Ben Bach, Simmie Cobbs Jr., Danny Friend, Chris Gajcak, Juan Harris, Jack Moran, Johnny Pabst, Allen Stallings IV and Nile Sykes.
Another group of 10 for the Hoosiers this season are the true freshmen who have seen action thus far:
Harry Crider, Morgan Ellison, Ty Fryfogle, Juan Harris, LaDaimion Hunt, Peyton Hendershot, Raheem Layne, LeShaun Minor Jr., Whop Philyor and Michael Ziemba.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The math is stark now.
Indiana football needs to win out through the balance of its regular-season schedule, starting with Saturday's 12 p.m. (ET) game at Illinois.
Coach Tom Allen's Hoosiers are 3-6 after four straight losses, with three guaranteed games left. But goals worth attaining remain available.
IU hasn't had a winning season since 2007. The Hoosiers haven't had a bowl win since 1991. This year's team could still change both of those realities. It could still make its mark.
But it must remain hungry to change trajectory after a front-loaded league schedule took its toll.
The biggest single factor in IU's struggles so far is perhaps the quality of opposition. The Hoosiers have run a scheduling gauntlet featuring five Top 20-ranked league foes (three ranked in the Top 4 when IU faced them).
No other team in the nation has met three Top 5 teams. Only one other, West Virginia, has met five ranked foes.
Big Ten road assignments are always challenging and Indiana has two of those left – Saturday and the Nov. 25 finale at Purdue – and host an improving Rutgers team in between. But none of the remaining opponents standing between Indiana and bowl eligibility are ranked.
So there is a chance, on paper, for Indiana to finish the season strongly. Are the Hoosiers mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to do so?
"We all understand where we are and what we need to do," Allen said Monday. "There is a sense of urgency that I believe we have to have and we will have. We have some great leaders in that senior class."
Allen brought all his seniors to the front of the team room Sunday to emphasize what is at stake and for whom the team needs to rally.
"I wanted those guys in front of them just to symbolically show what this is all about," Allen said. " … I want (the team) to look them in the eye and want the seniors to look them in the eye and understand what's at stake the last three weeks of the season.
"Special group of (seniors) here with us, and it's all about people. I made that a point at that time as well. The motivation for us is from within. It's the guys 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. The guys beside them is a special group, the seniors."
Whatever the final math shows this season, expect Allen – who ends every press conference with his mantra "L.E.O.", the acronym for "Love Each Other" – to remain firmly in the people business.
QB QUESTIONS
Fifth-year senior Richard Lagow started Indiana's first four games at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey started the next four. After Ramsey sustained a leg injury at Maryland two weeks ago, Lagow filled in well and started last Saturday's loss to Wisconsin.
Ramsey's availability remains uncertain this week. And the Hoosier coaches have worked to get true freshman Nick Tronti – who had planned to redshirt – up to speed as a backup.
Allen, asked about Ramsey's progress rehabilitating the injury, said, "That will continue to progress. We would love to be able to get him physically ready to go. We'll know more as the week unfolds. Had him out there yesterday working through everything and throwing some balls. Continue to rehab. We would love to get him back, but we don't know yet."
And Allen confirmed the Hoosiers would have had to burn Tronti's redshirt had Lagow gone out against the Badgers.
"You have that conversation about Nick Tronti and his redshirt and what that all looks like," Allen said. "We've had those conversations prior … we were very up front with him about that, and his family. We talked that through and they knew exactly what could happen … didn't really feel like Peyton was ready to go yet; Nick would've had to go. But, yeah, you would like to preserve his redshirt if at possible."
IU offensive coordinator Mike DeBord felt Lagow had some mixed results Saturday but appreciated that the senior was ready to go.
"There were throws he made that were great throws and there were some he wished he probably had back," DeBord said of Lagow. "One interception was not his fault – it was a receiver not being in a certain spot and he was anticipating (he would be) – and the other one was.
"But he's just been a guy who's been steady in all ways. I know he had weeks off and then had to come back and play, and sometimes that's tough. Especially against man coverage, you have to be accurate with the ball all the time … I think he'll continue to get better with that."
DeBord appreciated getting Tronti some repetitions in practice, with Ramsey sidelined, with an eye toward building depth for next season and beyond.
"You have to always get your No. 2 guy ready," DeBord said. "Peyton is getting better every day, but we didn't know where he'd be at game time. So therefore we had to get Nick Tronti a lot of reps. We don't want to play him right now, because of his redshirt (situation) but, if we had to …
"He's a lot better (now) because he understands the system. Coming in new (this fall), it's new terminology, new plays, everything's new. And then he hasn't had a lot of reps because Peyton and Rich got all the reps. So this past week was one week where (Nick) got a lot of reps and we saw a lot of good things out of him. But, again, he's a true freshman. That's a position where it takes a lot of time to develop to where you need to be, at a certain level."
NO GRAYBEARDS
DeBord also thinks the offensive line positions, as with quarterback, require experience and playing time for full development. But he is currently overseeing the first O-line in his long coaching career that doesn't feature a single senior.
"That, obviously, will help out for the future, guys playing and getting experience (and then returning)," DeBord said. "But that's another position where you'd like older guys to be playing. You always have a senior or two in there, usually, through the years."
Allen agreed. "When I think about offensive lineman, you think about fifth-year seniors, older guys," Allen said. "That's the one position you really want to have a good core of experience and physical maturity.
"We've had injuries as well as youth, I think the combination of the two has made it hard. We just are going to continue to make it a priority (to run the ball). Those guys are working hard to, number one, get healthy, and number two, to play well together."
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
One of IU's most experienced offensive linemen, redshirt junior left guard Wes Martin, earned Offensive Player of the Game in the Wisconsin outing.
"Wes Martin … continues to be rock solid on the offensive line, as both a leader and in his performance," Allen said.
Senior end Robert McCray III was the Defensive Player of the Game with four solo tackles including two sacks, the first multi-sack game of his career.
"Robert McCray probably played his best game I believe since I've been here," Allen said. "Couple of sacks; caused one of the (3 Wisconsin) fumbles and had several (quarterback) hurries.
"I thought he was very physical in the run game, which we have to have that from him. Really challenged him. Applaud his effort and how well he played. We need that the final stretch from him. Really proud of Robert and the way he performed."
Griffin Oakes, one of 20 contestants remaining for Lou Groza Award honors as the nation's top kicker, booted a field goal in the second quarter Saturday to raise his numbers this year to 12-of-13 in that department and is now 27-of-28 on extra points, with both the misses coming on blocks. He also made a tackle Saturday and was named Special Teams Player of the Game.
Scout Team Players of the Week included Derrian Meminger and Joshua Brown on defense and Jack Moran, Phil Benker and Sam Garvin on offense.
IRON MEN
Senior linebackers Tegray Scales and Chris Covington played all 80 defensive snaps Saturday against Wisconsin, supplying 12 and nine tackles respectively, behind only the career-high 15 posted by classmate Chase Dutra from his safety spot.
"Tegray and Chris Covington played every snap … and that's hard, really hard," Allen said. "So they're giving us phenomenal effort … but there is no question that's hurting us (in the late stages of games), especially against a big, big physical team like that.
"I think 60 is about (the optimal limit on snaps). If you get a chance to get him off the field for 15 or 20 snaps, that would be ideal. In that kind of a big, physical pounding game, I think that would be a good balance.
"They're going to play some special teams plays, too. There is probably no magic number, but if I can find a way to get a guy off the field 15 to 20 snaps and feel good about the guy coming in to take his place, you would feel like you had a good solid back up."
TEN HEADING HOME
Chicago product Covington is one of 10 Indiana players who hail from the state of Illinois.
The others are Ben Bach, Simmie Cobbs Jr., Danny Friend, Chris Gajcak, Juan Harris, Jack Moran, Johnny Pabst, Allen Stallings IV and Nile Sykes.
Another group of 10 for the Hoosiers this season are the true freshmen who have seen action thus far:
Harry Crider, Morgan Ellison, Ty Fryfogle, Juan Harris, LaDaimion Hunt, Peyton Hendershot, Raheem Layne, LeShaun Minor Jr., Whop Philyor and Michael Ziemba.
Players Mentioned
BAN
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DT
/ Football
DL
/ Football
K
/ Football
LB
/ Football
BAN
/ FootballFB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 9 (UCLA)
Thursday, October 23
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 9 (UCLA)
Wednesday, October 22
FB: Omar Cooper Jr. Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Stephen Daley Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21