Quoted: Indiana vs. Georgia Southern
9/20/2017 2:59:00 PM | Football
By: Charlie Duffy
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana football team will be back at home on Saturday. IU (1-1) hosts Georgia Southern (0-2) at Memorial Stadium at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
"We will be recognizing our Insight Bowl team," head coach Tom Allen said. "It is their 10-year anniversary. We are excited to have coach Terry Hoeppner's wife, Jane, with us, along with some other players from that team. We will be wearing special uniforms in honor of Coach Hep and The Rock. We are looking forward to recognizing everything that Coach Hep means to our program."
Former head coach Terry Hoeppner had a vision for his takeover of the Indiana football program. He was brought to IU after six tremendous seasons at Miami (Ohio) in order to inject life into the school's football team. Unfortunately, just two years into his stint he passed due to complications from a brain tumor. His 'Play 13' mantra stuck with the team, who played inspired football the next season. The 2007 Hoosiers made Hep's dream a reality by strapping up the pads for a 13th game, the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma State. The bowl game marked the first time in over a decade IU played in the postseason. That team, and Coach Hep, will be honored at the game with The Rock-themed adidas uniforms.
"All week we were preaching that we needed to be more aggressive in the return game," redshirt junior return specialist and wide receiver J-Shun Harris II said. "Big plays and field position will help our offense. I wanted to continue to prove that I belong back there."
In the case of the Virginia game, a big play from the special teams helped seal Allen's first career victory at IU. After a critical error in the punt return game forced the Hoosiers to start a drive on their own 2-yard line earlier in the game, Coach Allen kept his faith in Harris. He rewarded his coach with a pair of electric returns, the first of which led to a touchdown scramble from quarterback Patrick Ramsey. The second a 44-yard touchdown. Harris was later named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
"Georgia Southern has a lot of great athletes," senior linebacker Chris Covington said. "We are going to have to play physical and play fast. We are going to have to play off blocks, get out and run and make plays."
The Eagles offense will present a different challenge for the Hoosiers defense with an option-heavy attack. Through two games this season, Georgia Southern's offense has rushed the ball 104 times for nearly 300 yards, while only attempting 30 passes. IU's defense has not been overly stout against the run early in the season, yielding nearly 175 yards per contest on the ground.
"The only way to get used to it is to be thrown into the deep end and to do it in practice," redshirt sophomore Haydon Whitehead said. "We did a lot of rush work at the beginning of practice, which was a little daunting, but it has helped me in the long run."
Leaving his home country of Australia might not have been Whitehead's adjustment upon moving to Bloomington. Getting acclimated to the rush with his Aussie-style of punting was something he, admittedly, struggled with at first. After spending most of his off-season training against the rush, the lefty has been added to the Ray Guy Award Watch List. Quite the adjustment for a first-time American football player.
"I think it helped us tremendously," fifth-year senior kicker Griffin Oakes said. "It showed our entire operation that the work we have put in is paying off. Hopefully we can continue that through the next slate of games."
Oakes, the 2015 Big Ten Kicker of the Year, nailed a 51-yard field goal right before the end of the first half against Virginia. The kick was important for a couple reasons. First, Oakes became IU's all-time leader in made field goals with 54. Secondly, snap-hold-kick operation was smooth, seamless and effortless. The hard work in the offseason and throughout the season has paid off. Last season, the kicking game was somewhat of an adventure. This season, at least for now, Oakes has figured to turn the page on the 2016 season.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana football team will be back at home on Saturday. IU (1-1) hosts Georgia Southern (0-2) at Memorial Stadium at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
"We will be recognizing our Insight Bowl team," head coach Tom Allen said. "It is their 10-year anniversary. We are excited to have coach Terry Hoeppner's wife, Jane, with us, along with some other players from that team. We will be wearing special uniforms in honor of Coach Hep and The Rock. We are looking forward to recognizing everything that Coach Hep means to our program."
Former head coach Terry Hoeppner had a vision for his takeover of the Indiana football program. He was brought to IU after six tremendous seasons at Miami (Ohio) in order to inject life into the school's football team. Unfortunately, just two years into his stint he passed due to complications from a brain tumor. His 'Play 13' mantra stuck with the team, who played inspired football the next season. The 2007 Hoosiers made Hep's dream a reality by strapping up the pads for a 13th game, the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma State. The bowl game marked the first time in over a decade IU played in the postseason. That team, and Coach Hep, will be honored at the game with The Rock-themed adidas uniforms.
"All week we were preaching that we needed to be more aggressive in the return game," redshirt junior return specialist and wide receiver J-Shun Harris II said. "Big plays and field position will help our offense. I wanted to continue to prove that I belong back there."
In the case of the Virginia game, a big play from the special teams helped seal Allen's first career victory at IU. After a critical error in the punt return game forced the Hoosiers to start a drive on their own 2-yard line earlier in the game, Coach Allen kept his faith in Harris. He rewarded his coach with a pair of electric returns, the first of which led to a touchdown scramble from quarterback Patrick Ramsey. The second a 44-yard touchdown. Harris was later named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
"Georgia Southern has a lot of great athletes," senior linebacker Chris Covington said. "We are going to have to play physical and play fast. We are going to have to play off blocks, get out and run and make plays."
The Eagles offense will present a different challenge for the Hoosiers defense with an option-heavy attack. Through two games this season, Georgia Southern's offense has rushed the ball 104 times for nearly 300 yards, while only attempting 30 passes. IU's defense has not been overly stout against the run early in the season, yielding nearly 175 yards per contest on the ground.
"The only way to get used to it is to be thrown into the deep end and to do it in practice," redshirt sophomore Haydon Whitehead said. "We did a lot of rush work at the beginning of practice, which was a little daunting, but it has helped me in the long run."
Leaving his home country of Australia might not have been Whitehead's adjustment upon moving to Bloomington. Getting acclimated to the rush with his Aussie-style of punting was something he, admittedly, struggled with at first. After spending most of his off-season training against the rush, the lefty has been added to the Ray Guy Award Watch List. Quite the adjustment for a first-time American football player.
"I think it helped us tremendously," fifth-year senior kicker Griffin Oakes said. "It showed our entire operation that the work we have put in is paying off. Hopefully we can continue that through the next slate of games."
Oakes, the 2015 Big Ten Kicker of the Year, nailed a 51-yard field goal right before the end of the first half against Virginia. The kick was important for a couple reasons. First, Oakes became IU's all-time leader in made field goals with 54. Secondly, snap-hold-kick operation was smooth, seamless and effortless. The hard work in the offseason and throughout the season has paid off. Last season, the kicking game was somewhat of an adventure. This season, at least for now, Oakes has figured to turn the page on the 2016 season.
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