Indiana University Athletics
Penn State Aftermath has IU Positioned for a Fix
9/30/2017 10:05:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana is way beyond the football moral victory stage.
You know that, right?
Tom Allen didn't take the head coaching job to lose competitively, to battle back from relentless mistakes and turnovers against a top-5 team only to, in the end, recognize it wasn't enough.
It's time to win and, in so many ways, the Hoosiers could have won on Saturday. They could have blown a hole in the Big Ten hierarchy on a crisp autumn day in Happy Valley.
That they did not reflects, to a big degree, self-inflicted misery.
Yes, No. 4 Penn State (5-0) inflicted misery with punishing hits and big-play aggressiveness in its 45-14 victory. It is 10-0 at Beaver Stadium against Indiana (2-2).
Still, IU's four turnovers (which resulted in 21 Penn State points) were game changers. Getting shut out in the second half was a big problem. Starting the game by allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown and then getting a roughing-the-punter penalty after forcing a punt that led to a Nittany Lion touchdown, well, it ruined any chance at victory.
And so Allen fumed.
As he told announcer Don Fischer during his post-game radio show, "It's extremely frustrating. It's very disappointing. It wasn't an effort problem."
And then …
"It's not good enough. We've got to get it fixed."
In so many ways, a banged-up IU defense throttled Penn State's potent offensive attack. It held the Nittany Lions to 39 rushing yards on 37 attempts.
That's 1.1 yards per carry for those keeping track.
Specifically, the Hoosiers kept superstar tailback Saquon Barkley under reasonable control. He rushed for just 56 yards on 20 carries. That's less than three yards a carry.
However, if you add Barkley's four catches for 51 yards, his 16-yard touchdown pass and his 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, well, the guy is the leading Heisman Trophy contender for a reason.
By the way, it was Barkley's first career TD pass and first kickoff return for a touchdown.
"We knew we had to stop him," Allen told Fischer. "You take away the strength of their team, hold him like we did …"
Indiana sacked quarterback Trace McSorley five times. It held Penn State to 6-of-18 on third-down situations. It got an interception from safety Jonathan Crawford that led to an IU touchdown.
And yet …
"Our defense played well," Allen told Fischer. "It was put in a lot of bad situations.
"That's what makes it so frustrating. You do some great things, but that's part of it."
All-America linebacker Tegray Scales came up huge with 11 tackles and three sacks.
"He's a special player and an even better person," Allen told Fischer. "He cares so much."
With defensive standout Marcelino Ball sidelined by an injury, safety Tony Fields was moved to Ball's husky position. He had a career-high 10 tackles.
Special teams struggled. It allowed Barkley's scoring kickoff return, had that roughing-the-punter penalty, and fumbled a punt that was returned for a Penn State touchdown.
"We had three huge special teams mistakes," Allen said. "That's on us."
Fifth-year senior Richard Lagow started and was 7-of-15 for 97 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey was 8-of-17 for 78 yards and a TD, plus an interception. He also rushed 12 times for 53 yards.
In terms of what that means for next Saturday's home game against Charleston Southern, Allen said, "We'll evaluate it and make a decision. (Ramsey) did some good things. We'll figure out who gives us the best chance to win."
As for the lack of second-half offense (IU was outscored 17-0 in the final two quarters), Allen said, "We've got to get better. We got shut out in the second half. That's unacceptable. We'll look at what we can do to get it fixed."
Ultimately IU's worst-possible start on Saturday -- a 28-0 first-quarter deficit -- had this silver lining:
The Hoosiers didn't quit.
Allen wants more than that. Not quitting is the minimum. The maximum is playing to your potential, and just a bit more.
And then winning.
IU couldn't do that on Saturday.
But it could for the rest of the Saturdays.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana is way beyond the football moral victory stage.
You know that, right?
Tom Allen didn't take the head coaching job to lose competitively, to battle back from relentless mistakes and turnovers against a top-5 team only to, in the end, recognize it wasn't enough.
It's time to win and, in so many ways, the Hoosiers could have won on Saturday. They could have blown a hole in the Big Ten hierarchy on a crisp autumn day in Happy Valley.
That they did not reflects, to a big degree, self-inflicted misery.
Yes, No. 4 Penn State (5-0) inflicted misery with punishing hits and big-play aggressiveness in its 45-14 victory. It is 10-0 at Beaver Stadium against Indiana (2-2).
Still, IU's four turnovers (which resulted in 21 Penn State points) were game changers. Getting shut out in the second half was a big problem. Starting the game by allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown and then getting a roughing-the-punter penalty after forcing a punt that led to a Nittany Lion touchdown, well, it ruined any chance at victory.
And so Allen fumed.
As he told announcer Don Fischer during his post-game radio show, "It's extremely frustrating. It's very disappointing. It wasn't an effort problem."
And then …
"It's not good enough. We've got to get it fixed."
In so many ways, a banged-up IU defense throttled Penn State's potent offensive attack. It held the Nittany Lions to 39 rushing yards on 37 attempts.
That's 1.1 yards per carry for those keeping track.
Specifically, the Hoosiers kept superstar tailback Saquon Barkley under reasonable control. He rushed for just 56 yards on 20 carries. That's less than three yards a carry.
However, if you add Barkley's four catches for 51 yards, his 16-yard touchdown pass and his 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, well, the guy is the leading Heisman Trophy contender for a reason.
By the way, it was Barkley's first career TD pass and first kickoff return for a touchdown.
"We knew we had to stop him," Allen told Fischer. "You take away the strength of their team, hold him like we did …"
Indiana sacked quarterback Trace McSorley five times. It held Penn State to 6-of-18 on third-down situations. It got an interception from safety Jonathan Crawford that led to an IU touchdown.
And yet …
"Our defense played well," Allen told Fischer. "It was put in a lot of bad situations.
"That's what makes it so frustrating. You do some great things, but that's part of it."
All-America linebacker Tegray Scales came up huge with 11 tackles and three sacks.
"He's a special player and an even better person," Allen told Fischer. "He cares so much."
With defensive standout Marcelino Ball sidelined by an injury, safety Tony Fields was moved to Ball's husky position. He had a career-high 10 tackles.
Special teams struggled. It allowed Barkley's scoring kickoff return, had that roughing-the-punter penalty, and fumbled a punt that was returned for a Penn State touchdown.
"We had three huge special teams mistakes," Allen said. "That's on us."
Fifth-year senior Richard Lagow started and was 7-of-15 for 97 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey was 8-of-17 for 78 yards and a TD, plus an interception. He also rushed 12 times for 53 yards.
In terms of what that means for next Saturday's home game against Charleston Southern, Allen said, "We'll evaluate it and make a decision. (Ramsey) did some good things. We'll figure out who gives us the best chance to win."
As for the lack of second-half offense (IU was outscored 17-0 in the final two quarters), Allen said, "We've got to get better. We got shut out in the second half. That's unacceptable. We'll look at what we can do to get it fixed."
Ultimately IU's worst-possible start on Saturday -- a 28-0 first-quarter deficit -- had this silver lining:
The Hoosiers didn't quit.
Allen wants more than that. Not quitting is the minimum. The maximum is playing to your potential, and just a bit more.
And then winning.
IU couldn't do that on Saturday.
But it could for the rest of the Saturdays.
Players Mentioned
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