Indiana University Athletics
RECAP
Indiana vs. Ohio State
10/20/1997 12:00:00 AM | Football
RECAP
Indiana vs. Ohio State
Indiana faced its third consecutive opponent ranked among the top 12 teams in the country when the Hoosiers paid a visit to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes this past Saturday. Indiana fell to Ohio State, 31-0.
Ohio State drove to the IU-12 on its opening series of the game but sophomore DT Damian Gregory (4 tackles for loss) blocked a 29-yd. K Dan Stultz field goal attempt. The score remained tied at 0-0 until RB Michael Wiley (5-57-1TD-29LG) scored on an 18-yd. TD run with 2:43 remaining in the first qtr. to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 advantage. Ohio State would receive its next scoring opportunity after Indiana QB Jay Rodgers (21-8-73-2INT) was intercepted by CB Gary Berry (2 INTs on the day) at the OSU-23. Berry returned the interception 39 yards to the IU-38. The Buckeyes would score four plays later when QB Joe Jermaine (10-4-36-1TD-2INT) found TE John Lumpkin (3-79-1TD-46LG) on a 10-yd. pass play that gave the Buckeyes a 14-0 lead. Ohio State would take a 21-0 lead just minutes later when DL Clinton Wayne intercepted a Rodgers pass and ran 38 yds. for a touchdown.
Despite taking a 21-0 deficit into the locker room at halftime, Indiana's defense harassed Ohio State's offense throughout the day. Indiana tallied 16 tackles for loss (58 yards in losses), 5 sacks (32 yards in losses) and 2 interceptions. Sophomore DE Adewale Ogunleye and Gregory created the most havoc. Ogunleye notched 7 tackles, including 4 sacks (-28 yards), 2 forced fumbles, and 2 passes broken up. Gregory, who had five tackles for loss vs. Michigan State one week earlier, tallied 4 tackles for loss, including 1 sack. DE Aaron Williams and CB Curtis Randle El tallied interceptions and LB Vince Lidy had a fumble recovery.
Ohio State would close the scoring with 10 second half points, including a 55-yd. FG by Stultz and a 8-yd. TD pass from Wiley to Steve Wisniewski with 1:24 remaining in the third quarter.
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October 14, 1997
PRE-GAME NOTES
Indiana vs. Ohio State
Primary Contact: Todd Starowitz
Phone: (812) 855-9399 Fax: (812) 855-9401
Web Site: www.athletics.indiana.edu
Week Seven: Saturday, October 18, 1997
Indiana Hoosiers (1-5, 0-3) vs. #12 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1, 1-1)
Ohio Stadium -- 11:30 p.m. EST/12:30 EDT
GAME SEVEN
Saturday's game at Ohio State will mark Indiana's third consecutive game
against an opponent ranked among the top 12 teams in the country. It is
Indiana's fifth game against a team ranked in the top 25 in this week's
USA Today Coaches' Poll ... Because Saturday's game will be televised on
ESPN2, kickoff from Ohio Stadium (89,841) has been moved to 11:30 p.m.
EST/12:30 p.m. EDT ... Indiana lost to Michigan State this past
Saturday, 33-6, despite trailing just 10-6 at halftime ... Ohio State
lost a classic Big Ten tilt at top-ranked Penn State this past Saturday,
31-27, despite tallying 565 yards of total offense ... Saturday's game
is the 75th meeting between the Buckeyes and Hoosiers. OSU leads the
all-time series, 57-12-5, including a 38-10-4 advantage in Columbus. In
last year's game, Ohio State clinched a berth in the Rose Bowl with a
hard-fought 27-17 victory over the Hoosiers before 49,271 fans in
Bloomington. The game was tied 10-10 midway through the fourth
quarter.
COACHES
Cam Cameron: Cam Cameron is back home again in Indiana. Appointed head
football coach on Nov. 26, 1996, the 36-year-old Cameron spent the past
three seasons as the Washington Redskins quarterbacks' coach. Prior to
joining the 'Skins, Cameron spent 10 years at Michigan where he coached
the receivers and quarterbacks as an assistant coach and graduate
assistant. He was a part of six Big Ten championship teams.
Cameron is not new to Indiana as he was a member of the Hoosiers' football team from 1979-83. He served as the squad's backup QB in 1982 and 1983. He graduated from IU in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in business management and education. Cameron also lettered in basketball three times, from 1982-84, while playing for Bob Knight. In 1984, he played while attending graduate school.
While in Washington, Cameron helped improve the Skins from 3-13 during his first season in 1994 to 9-7 in 1996. He is widely credited for the development of quarterback Gus Frerotte who was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1996 season. He has coached current NFL QBs Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Gus Frerotte, Heath Shuler and Todd Collins.
Born Feb. 6, 1961, Cameron and his wife, Missy, who is from Bloomington, have two sons, Tommy 3, and Danny, 1 and 1/2.
John Cooper: The 60-year-old Cooper is in his 10th season as the Buckeyes head coach. In the 1990s, Cooper has coached the Buckeyes to a 69-20-3 record, the best overall mark of any team in the conference. In the past four seasons, the Buckeyes have won two Big Ten titles and the Rose Bowl following the 1996 season. Last year's team finished second in the national rankings, the best finish for an OSU team since 1973. In winning the Rose Bowl, Cooper became the first coach to lead a Pac 10 and Big Ten team to Rose Bowl victories.
Cooper's first head coaching job came at Tulsa in 1977. In his eight years at Tulsa he led the school to six consecutive winning seasons and five consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships. After compiling a 57-31 record with the Golden Hurricane, he left the school to take the head coaching position at Arizona State in 1985. In only his second season at ASU, Cooper's Sun Devils defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The victory, and a 10-1-1 record, helped Cooper earn National Coach of the Year honors in 1986.
Cooper spent time as an assistant coach at a number of schools. He served as an assistant at Iowa State, Oregon State, and UCLA. He also spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator at Kansas and was an assistant at Kentucky.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?
In the first eight weeks of the season, Indiana will face six
opponents currently ranked in the top 25 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll
that was released October 12. Based on this week's poll, no other team
in the country will play this many ranked teams during the first eight
weeks of the season. The University of Arizona is the only team that
will play 5 teams ranked in the top 25 in the first eight weeks. A total
of 3 teams (Florida, Illinois, Northwestern) will play four teams ranked
in the top 25 during the same span.
Indiana played 4th-ranked North Carolina (6-0) in the season opener, 5th-ranked Michigan (5-0) on Oct. 4, 11th-ranked Michigan State (4-0) this past Saturday, and 24th-ranked Wisconsin (6-1) on Sept. 27. Indiana will face 12th-ranked Ohio State (5-1, only loss to #1 Penn State) this Saturday, prior to paying a visit to 15th-ranked Iowa (4-1, only loss to Ohio St.) next week.
QUARTERBACKS
Sophomore Jay Rodgers, a product of Westlake High School in Austin,
Texas, earned the first starting nod of his collegiate career at
Michigan in Indiana's seventh game of the 1996 campaign. A redshirt
freshman in 1996, Rodgers held onto the first-team quarterback role in
games 8-10 (Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State), only to have a
concussion against the Buckeyes force him out of action for the season
finale at Purdue one week later.
First-year head coach Cam Cameron quickly ended any discussion of a quarterback controversy by naming Rodgers the Hoosiers' starting quarterback after the second day of spring practice this past April. "Jay separated himself in the spring," said Cameron. "Our offense will adapt to his skills as opposed to forcing him to adapt to the system." A quick learner of Cameron's offensive system, Rodgers showed signs of being effective both as a runner and passer in 1996. Last year, he completed just under 50 percent of his passes and threw for 600 yards in limited action. He also ran for 177 yards and 4 scores.
Rodgers earned the starting nod at North Carolina in game 1 and completed 12 of 23 passes for 53 yards and 1 INT. Rodgers' favorite receiver was junior FB Chris Gall who had a total of 8 receptions (7 from Rodgers) for 47 yards.
One week later, Rodgers had what you could call a break-out game in the Hoosiers' home opener vs. Ball State. Rodgers finished 39-27-408-1INT-5TDs passing. In doing so, he set a new IU individual school record for passing yards with 408. He surpassed Babe Laufenberg who threw for 390 yds. vs. Iowa in 1982. He was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week for his accomplishments.
Rodgers struggled at times vs. Kentucky but still finished 45-28-288-2INT-0TD passing. The 45 attempts and 28 completions were both career-highs ... although not spectacular at Wisconsin in game 4, Rodgers moved the club at times despite throwing to three true freshmen wide receivers. He was 23-13-203-0-0-33LG passing against the Badgers ... followed up his performance at Wisconsin with a 24-15-115-2INT effort vs. Michigan. Completed 16 of 24 passes for 186 yards in game 6 vs. Michigan State.
Redshirt freshman, and Martinsville, Ind., native Earl Haniford is currently second on the depth chart at quarterback. Haniford, a high school Parade All-America selection and 1995 Indiana "Mr. Football" is the Indiana record holder and ranks 3rd all-time nationally with 11,100 career passing yards. He ranks fifth all-time nationally with 111 TD passes. "Earl just has a better look on his face [this fall], which makes for a better look on our face," said assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Pete Schmidt.
Haniford has seen late action in games 1, 2, 5 and 6. He did not play in games 3 and 4 but saw his most extensive action of the season vs. Michigan in game 5. Was 7-4-24 yds. passing vs. the Wolverines. Completed the first three passes he attempted vs. the U of M, one each to TE Ben Klusmeyer, WR Jean Paul and RB Glynn Johnson. He also ran for a first down. Haniford completed 1 of 5 passes vs. Michigan St. Two of his passes vs. the Spartans were dropped by receivers. At UNC in the season opener, completed the first pass of his career to Gall for a total of nine yards and then threw three straight incompletions, including an INT on a "Hail Mary" pass to end the game.
Junior Jeff Kirn (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) played tight end throughout most of the 1996 season but was pressed into the backup role at quarterback in the season finale at Purdue. He took his only snap of the season on the game's final play. Kirn DNP in games 1-6.
RUNNING BACKS
This is a young, yet talented group of backs. Alex Smith, the 1994
UPI Freshman of the Year, left IU after his junior season to test the
waters of
the National Football League. In three seasons, Smith rushed for 3,492
yards and 21 TDs. The replacements for Smith have been true freshman
De'Wayne Hogan, sophomore Jason Spear and redshirt freshman Glynn
Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills).
The 5-11, 213-pound Spear is no stranger to filling Smith's shoes. In the Hoosiers' 1996 season opener at Toledo, the Logansport, Ind., product rushed 13 times for 73 yards and 3TDs. Smith also missed the Michigan State game with a thigh bruise and Spear stepped in and rushed for a career-best 103 yards on 26 carries.
Spear earned the starting nod in the 1997 season opener at North Carolina and rushed 29 times for a career-high 120 yards. His 120 rushing yards topped the total of any back who faced North Carolina last season. Only one back surpassed the 100-yard mark rushing against UNC in 1996 (Stephens, N.C. State, 15-106). Spear was 26-65-10LG vs. Ball St. In game 3 vs. Kentucky, had career highs in both receptions and yards as he finished 8-105-51LG receiving. Left the UK game in the 3rd qtr. with a hip pointer. Played at Wisconsin but was just 1-1 rushing as Hogan earned the starting nod. Did not play in game 5 vs. Michigan. Returned to action in game 6 vs. Michigan State and finished 6-15 rushing ... Johnson looked impressive in training camp and has challenged for playing time. He saw reserve action in games 1-2, but missed games 3 and 4 with an ankle injury. Returned to action in game 5 vs. Michigan and finished 4-9 rushing and 2-7 receiving. Had a career-long 17-yd. rush in game 6 vs. Michigan State ... Three freshmen, the 6-1, 220-pound Hogan, 5-9, 181-pound Robert Smith and 5-9, 188-pound Deion Grubbs displayed Big Ten ability during training camp. Hogan and Grubbs have been given the opportunity to contribute immediately.
Hogan was a first-team all-state pick in Indiana last season as he rushed for 1,874 yards and 20 TDs for state runner-up Ben Davis HS in Indianapolis. He saw his first action of the season in the 2nd half vs. UK in game 3 and finished 3-10-1TD rushing, 2-3 receiving. Scored on a 1-yd. TD plunge early in the 4th qtr. However, he burst onto the college scene one week later at Wisconsin. Despite making just his first college start, Hogan was 34-124-2TDs rushing and punished Badger tacklers with his north and south running style. Scored on a 7-yd. run midway through the 1st qtr. and tallied again on a 1-yd. plunge late in the 1st half. Earned the second start of his career vs. Michigan in game 5 and carried 13-32-12LG. Also had a then career-long 24-yd. reception vs. Michigan in game 5. Played well one week later vs. Michigan State. Despite a nagging knee injury, rushed 23-78-9LG and finished 4-50-32LG receiving ... Smith was a member of the Detroit News' "Dream Team" and was the Detroit city champion in the 100 meters at Martin Luther King HS. He has not played in games 1-6 and is expected to be redshirted ... Grubbs, the most valuable player in the Michigan All-Star game in 1996, has run a 10.5 100 meters in AAU track. He is a product of Detroit's Cooley High School. Grubbs participated in practice this spring.
Grubbs has seen special teams duty in games 1-6 and saw action at tailback in games 3, 5 and 6. Finished 2-8 rushing vs. Michigan State in game 6.
The fullback position is in the capable hands of former walk-on, junior captain Chris Gall (River Forest, Ill./River Forest). After a solid spring practice, Gall has been asked to do a little bit of everything in Cam Cameron's multi-dimensional offense. "The fullback position is critical in our offense," said Cameron.
Gall caught 8 passes for 47 yards against the Tar Heels in the season opener. He also helped pave the way for Spear's 120 rushing yards. Versus Ball State, Gall was 5-34-2TDs receiving. He caught a 12-yd. TD pass from Rodgers in the 3rd qtr. and a 6-yd. score in the 4th qtr. In doing so, Gall became the first Hoosier RB since 1979 to score two receiving TDs in one game (Lonnie Johnson at Iowa, 9/8/79). One week later vs. Kentucky, finished 7-68-18LG receiving. The 68 yds. receiving is Gall's career-high. Gall finished 2-24-15LG at Wisconsin in game 4 and 6-50-23LG vs. Michigan in game 5. Left game 6 vs. Michigan State in the 1st half with an ankle injury but had it taped and returned to the game. Finished 6-39 receiving ... Gall has 34 catches in the season's first six games ... Junior tight end/fullback Bryan Bobay and redshirt freshman David Ballou (Indianapolis/Avon) have served as Gall's backups. However, Bobay suffered a fracture right fibula in practice on Oct. 1 and will miss the remainder of the season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The starting wide receiver slots were left wide open throughout
training camp but three true freshmen, O.J. Conner (Gary,
Ind./Westside), Tyrone Browning (Evansville, Ind./Reitz), and Marcus
Floyd (Bartow, Fla./Bartow) have established themselves as the top
wideouts on the Hoosiers' depth chart.
Senior Dorian Wilkerson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla./Ely) (40 catches for 490 yards and 1TD in 1996) occupied one starting receiver spot in games 1-3 after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. However, he separated the same shoulder in practice prior to the Wisconsin game (Wed., 9/24) and will miss the remainder of the season. He had 11 catches for 194 yards in games 1-3. Wilkerson's half-brother, Ernest Bynes, 22, died on September 1, of bone cancer. Wilkerson flew home for the funeral and met the team in Chapel Hill on Friday evening prior to the UNC game. He was 1-9 receiving at UNC. One week later vs. Ball State, Wilkerson was 5-130-1TD receiving, including a 53-yd. reception from QB Jay Rodgers (a career-long for both players). Wilkerson's roommate, junior Jean Paul (Naples, Fla./Lely) only caught 3 passes for 29 yards last season, but had a solid fall and, if healthy, will look to contribute in a reserve role. Paul missed games 1-4 with a stress fracture of his pubis. Early indications were that he could be lost for the season, however, Paul traveled to Wisconsin for game 4 and saw 2nd half action in games 5 and 6, finishing 1-13 and 1-12 receiving vs. the Wolverines and Spartans, respectively. He is a member of the IU basketball squad ... Sophomore Versie Gaddis (Decatur, Georgia/Frederick Douglass) had offseason knee surgery and will likely miss the entire ^?97 campaign, although he has begun to participate in limited contact drills. Gaddis has not played in games 1-6 ... In Gaddis' absence, senior cornerback Joey Eloms (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia) was utilized as a wideout during the latter portion of spring practice. He emerged as a steady option at receiver. Eloms played well at flanker throughout the early fall and was asked to play on both sides of the ball in games 1-3. However, Eloms' roll on offense has all but ended because of the continuing emergence of the three freshmen wide receivers -- 6-2, 167-pound O.J Conner, 6-0, 166-pound Tyrone Browning and 5-9, 176-pound Marcus Floyd, who opened fall practice at defensive back but has since converted to wideout. Amazingly, neither Conner, Browning, nor Floyd saw limited action at wideout in high school (all three saw most of their action at other positions.) However, all three have been impressive in early-season action. In the season opener at North Carolina, Eloms played seven snaps on offense (1 rush for -4 yards) as Conner saw most of the action at the wideout opposite Wilkerson. Conner did not make a catch, however, films later showed that he caught a touchdown that was ruled out of bounds during the first quarter. Conner was 6-140-43LG-1TD receiving vs. Ball State and 1-9 receiving vs. Kentucky. He scored on a 15-yd. hookup with Rodgers in the 3rd qtr. vs. Ball St. to give the Hoosiers a 19-6 lead. Conner was 6-84-21LG receiving at Wisconsin, including two catches (both of 21 yds.) that helped set up an Andy Payne field goal that gave the Hoosiers a 26-24 lead with :53 seconds remaining. A former high school quarterback, Conner completed a 33-yd. pass to QB Jay Rodgers vs. Ball St. and a 2-yd. completion to Rodgers vs. Michigan State. Conner was 3-15-10LG receiving vs. Michigan in game 5. Played another solid game vs. Michigan St. in game 6 as he finished 3-84-42LG receiving. Had a 37-yd. reception from QB Jay Rodgers in the 1st qtr. that moved the ball from the MSU-49 to the MSU-12. The catch helped set up a 31-yd. FG by K Andy Payne. Also had a 42-yd. catch from Rodgers in the 3rd. qtr. ... Floyd and Browning did not play at North Carolina. However, Browning saw his first action as a collegian vs. Ball State. He was 2-21 receiving vs. the Cardinals and 2-16-12LG in game 3 vs. Kentucky. Had the finest day of his young career at Wisconsin, finishing 4-93-33LG receiving. Made catches of 33 and 8 yds. on a 3rd. qtr. drive. Floyd has seen limited action in games 4-6. He made the first reception of his career in game 5 vs. Michigan.
TIGHT ENDS
At tight end, spring practice saw sophomore Randy Maxwell
(Lawrenceburg, Ind./East Central) move past returning starter senior Ben
Klusmeyer (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) and into the starting tight end
role. Former defensive end Bryan Bobay (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Bishop Dwenger)
converted to tight end during spring ball and emerged as the second-team
tight end prior to suffering broken right fibula that ended his season
at practice on October 1. All three have seen playing time ... Maxwell
missed the early portion of the 1996 campaign with a strained knee but
went on to play in 7 games. He caught his only pass of the season
against Purdue. Although not overly big, Maxwell has impressed coaches
with his ability to catch the football. He was 2-9 receiving at UNC, 1-8
vs. Ball St., and 2-25-16 LG vs. UK. Maxwell did not catch a pass at
Wisconsin in game 4 but came back vs. Michigan and caught a career-high
3 passes for 22 yards ... Bobay is a bruising 6-foot-1, 265-pounds, and
also has the ability to get down field and catch the ball. He played
defensive end the past two seasons and tallied 2 tackles for loss in
1996, including 1 quarterback sack. Bobay made the first reception of
his career vs. Ball State, a 3-yd. 1st-qtr. TD from QB Jay Rodgers. He
was 1-2 receiving at Wisconsin. However, he suffered a broken right
fibula in practice on October 1 and will be lost for the season ...
Klusmeyer started 10 games in 1996 and caught 6 passes for 62 yards. He
started vs. Ball State as the Hoosiers opened in a 3-TE set. Did not
play in game 4 at Wisconsin but replaced Bobay in games 5 and 6, earning
starting assignments in both games as the Hoosiers opened in a 2-TE
alignment vs. Michigan and Michigan State. He was 1-7 receiving vs. the
Wolverines.
OFFENSIVE LINE
One of the most pleasant surprises for Cameron and his staff during
spring practice was the development of the offensive line ... The
offensive line blends both size and experience. Left tackle Chris
Liwienski (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) (6-6, 304) has begun his
third year as a starter and has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl
following the 1997 campaign. Guard Khalfani Banks (Naperville,
Ill./Central) (6-5, 324) started the first eight games of the 1996
campaign at tackle and guard Victor Allotey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln)
(6-4, 316) showed enormous potential in the spring after converting from
defensive tackle. Center Chris Lee (Anniston, Ala./Anniston) (6-3, 293)
has been solid in a reserve role at guard during the past three seasons
and is the starter at center, while sophomore Craig Robeen (Hardin,
Ill./Calhoun) (6-5, 311) is the starter at right tackle. Liwienski,
Allotey, Lee, Banks, and Robeen have all started games 1-6. The Hoosiers
tallied 496 total yards of offense vs. Ball State and may have played
their finest game as a unit at Wisconsin, enabling true freshman running
back De'Wayne Hogan to rush for 124 yards and 2 TDs ... Junior tackle
Greg Jenkins (Goshen, Ohio/Goshen), sophomores Jeremy Johnson (Newburgh,
Ind./Castle), Jason Stealy (Marshall, Mich./Marshall), and Matt Snyder
(Hartland, WI/Arrowhead), and redshirt freshman James Broyles
(Rennselaer, Ind./Kankakee Valley) will all look to add depth to the
offensive line. Both Snyder and Jenkins saw extensive action vs. Ball
State and played well, according to head coach Cam Cameron. Both also
saw action in games 3-6.
The O-line enabled junior running back Jason Spear to rush for 120 yards at North Carolina and De'Wayne Hogan to tally 124 yds. on the ground at Wisconsin. After the Michigan State game in game 6, Cameron said that he may give some reserves the opportunity to emerge along the offensive line.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Former University of Michigan standout, and six-year NFL veteran Mike
Teeter inherited a young, yet talented group of defensive linemen that
has a chance to be a special unit in the future. Headlining the D-line
is sophomore defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (Staten Island,
N.Y./Tottenville). Ogunleye, who was named IU's Most Valuable Defensive
Lineman in 1996, leads a group of returnees that started 29 of a
possible 33 combined games at left end and both defensive tackle
positions last season. Nathan Davis, a second-round pick of the Atlanta
Falcons, filled the right defensive end position in 1996 and will need
to be replaced.
After moving into the starting lineup for the third game of the 1996 season, Ogunleye tallied 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks, while emerging as one of the Big Ten's up-and-coming defenders.
Ogunleye picked up where he left off last season at North Carolina in the season opener. The sophomore tallied two sacks (-8 yds.) vs. the Tar Heels and put constant pressure on the UNC quarterbacks. He notched 6 tackles, including 1 for loss (-2 yards). Ogunleye notched 1 sack (-9 yards) and 2 tackles for loss vs. Kentucky and had 4 stops, including 2 - (-4 yards) at Wisconsin. Continued to make plays in game 5 vs. Mich. as he tallied 1 tackle for loss and 2 passes broken up. Had 1 TFL vs. MSU in game 6 ... Senior defensive tackle Benyard Jones (Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee), who started 11 games in 1996, returns and has looked impressive throughout the fall. Jones had 7 stops vs. BSU and earned the defensive game ball for his efforts. Also led all D-linemen at Wisconsin with 7 tackles and vs. Michigan with 8 stops ... Talent laden Damian Gregory (Lansing, Mich./Sexton), a part-time starter in 1996, has started games 1-6 at defensive tackle. With Indiana trailing UNC 7-3, late in the 2nd qtr., Gregory intercepted a Chris Keldorf pass on a 2nd-n-8 from the IU-35. It was Gregory's first career INT. Gregory had 2 sacks (20 yards in losses) vs. Ball State. Made a big play on a 3rd-n-8 from the WI-44, when he sacked Badger QB Mike Samuel for a 6-yd. loss. May have had his finest game of the season vs. Michigan State in game 6. The Lansing native notched 5 tackles for loss (-14 yards) vs. the Spartans. Junior Aaron Williams (Brampton, Ontario/Bramalea) started at the defensive end slot opposite Ogunleye in the season opener at UNC as Jason Czap moved to linebacker. Czap, however, returned to the defensive end slot vs. Ball State and vs. UK. Williams tallied 1 sack vs. Ball State in game 2 coming off the bench. Williams returned to the starting lineup at Wisconsin and notched 3 stops, including 1 for loss. Sacked Michigan St. QB Todd Schultz on a 3rd-n-11 from the MSU-30 in the 1st qtr. of game 6 that forced a fumble ... Returning letterman, senior Al Haywood (Chicago, Ill./Corliss), will be looked upon to back up Jones at defensive tackle. He had a pass deflection at UNC. Saw his most extensive action to date vs. Michigan in game 5 and tallied 1 stop ... Redshirt freshmen Paul Mandina (Rochester, NY/Webster) and Nick Abruzzo (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffman Estates) are running with the second unit behind Gregory and Williams, respectively. Mandina has seen action in games 1-3, and 5-6. Mandina recovered a fumble by Michigan's Anthony Thomas in the 4th qtr. of game 5. The fumble was forced by LB Joslin Goodman. Abruzzo tallied the first sack of his career when he sacked Michigan quarterback Tom Brady for a 9-yd. loss in the 4th qtr. of game 5.
Gordon Bramel (Lebanon, KY/Marion County) has seen increased action, playing in games 2, 3, 5, and 6.
LINEBACKERS
Former Dallas Cowboy, Phoenix Cardinal and Los Angeles Raider, Ron
Burton is in charge of the linebackers in 1997, the position on defense
with the fewest returning starters. However, Burton does have several
players who should make his job a little bit easier. The leader of that
group is, without question, junior Jabar Robinson (Ft. Wayne,
Ind./Snider). Robinson, a two-year starter had 63 tackles, 9 tackles for
loss, 3 INTs, 5 passes broken up and 1 fumble recovery in 1996. An
All-Big Ten candidate, Robinson's versatility allows him to play either
inside or outside backer, although he will play inside in defensive
coordinator Jon Heacock's scheme. Robinson tallied 7 tackles at North
Carolina and led the Hoosiers in tackles with 11 stops, including 2-(-4)
vs. Ball St. He tallied 7 stops vs. UK and 6 more at Wisconsin. He also
recovered a fumble early in the 1st qtr. vs. the Badgers. Robinson had a
strong effort in game 5 at Michigan as he notched 16 tackles, including
2 for loss. Had a big stop on a 3rd-n-1 with 12:20 remaining in the 1st
qtr. that forced a Wolverine punt. Led all Indiana tacklers with 9 stops
vs. MSU in game 6. Also had a pass deflection ... There has been a
battle for the linebacker spots surrounding Robinson and sophomore Jason
Czap (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), sophomore Vince Lidy
(Newburgh, Ind./Castle), sophomore James Lamar (Ypsilanti,
Mich./Ypsilanti), senior Aaron Warnecke and true freshman Joslin
Goodman (Osceola, Ind./Penn) have stepped to the fore. Czap and Goodman
earned the starting nods at Carolina. Goodman tallied 5 tackles while
Czap hit QB Chris Keldorf on a blitz that enabled DT Damian Gregory to
intercept a pass late in the first half.
Toward the latter part of training camp, Czap was moved from defensive end to linebacker and played well enough to earn himself a starting role. However, he moved back to DE vs. Ball State and will likely continue to play in both positions. Lidy held that role through the early portion of camp and earned the starting nod at Ball St. as Czap started at DE. Freshman Tony Brown (Dayton, Ohio/Patterson) saw the first action of his career at Wisconsin in game 4. He had 1 tackle. He emerged prior to the Wisconsin game and is now listed as the backup behind Czap ... The other outside linebacker position has been hotly contested between Lamar and Goodman. Both have the versatility to effectively defend both the run and the pass. Goodman started the season opener at UNC, while Lamar started vs. Ball St. and tallied 5 stops. Lamar also opened vs. Kentucky only to give way to Goodman in games 4-5. However, Lamar saw extensive action vs. the Badgers and had 11 tackles and a pass broken up. Lamar had 6 tackles vs. Michigan in game 5 and Goodman forced a 4th qtr. fumble by the Wolverines' Anthony Thomas in the 4th qtr. Senior Aaron Warnecke opened at SAM linebacker vs. the Spartans and had 4 tackles.
Senior Kevin Glaser (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) is the backup at middle linebacker. He had a huge hit on special teams at Wisconsin when he decked Badger KOR Ahmad Merritt. He had an 11-yd. KOR in game 5 vs. Michigan.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
While inexperience may be the buzzword at linebacker, the secondary is
a position of experience in 1997. At the end of the spring, three
starting positions were solidified, with seniors Joey Eloms (Ft. Wayne,
Ind./Concordia) and Joe King (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Coconut Creek) slated
to start at cornerback and senior Kywin Supernaw (Skiatook,
Okla./Skiatook) penciled in at free safety. Sophomore Patrick Shaw (Ft.
Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard) had an impressive training camp and took the
starting strong safety job from incumbent Aaron Warnecke (Fairland,
Ind./Triton Central) in games 1-3. However, Shaw is now backing up
Supernaw at free safety as Curtis Randle El (Riverdale, Ill./Thornton)
is currently the starter at strong safety after opening the Wisconsin
game at that spot. Randle El also started games 5 and 6.
The Hoosiers' secondary intercepted two passes (in addition to one by DT Damian Gregory) at North Carolina in the season opener and added two more vs. Ball State and 1 at Wisconsin.
Joey Eloms returns following a 1996 campaign that saw him miss the final seven games of the year with a broken leg. He also saw a significant amount of time at wide receiver in games 1-3 of the 1997 campaign but has since returned to defense on a full-time basis. On a 1st-n-10 from the IU-16 late in the 3rd. qtr. of game 1, Eloms intercepted a Chris Keldorf pass on the 1-yd.-line to thwart a UNC drive. Eloms had a fumble recovery that he returned for 20 yds. vs. Kentucky. He also made two big plays at Wisconsin, recovering a WR Chris Chambers fumble in the 3rd qtr. that helped set up a 30-yd. FG by Andy Payne that gave the Hoosiers a 23-17 lead. He also set up a RB De'Wayne Hogan TD run in the 2nd qtr. when he intercepted a QB Mike Samuel pass at the IU-30 and returned it 42 yds. to the WI-28. Had 1 PBU in game 5 vs. Michigan. Missed practice on Thursday and Friday prior to the Michigan State game to attend memorial services for his father who passed away. Returned for game 6 vs. the Spartans and played in a reserve role ... Supernaw is a 6-1, 209-pound, free safety who has earned a reputation for his physical style of play. He also intercepted a Keldorf pass in the season opener at UNC, this one on the Tar Heels' opening drive of the game. The pilfer helped set up a 35-yd. FG by Andy Payne that gave the Hoosiers a 3-0 lead with 3:34 remaining in the 1st qtr. He led the club with 10 stops vs. Kentucky in game 3. Early in the 1st qtr. at Wisconsin in game 4, forced a fumble with a vicious hit on TE Ryan Sondrup. The fumble was recovered by CB Joe King. Had 7 stops, including 2 tackles for loss in game 5 vs. Michigan. Also had a vicious tackle that was highlighted on ESPN's Sportscenter ... King started all 11 games as a junior in 1996 and tallied 40 tackles, 2 INTs and 8 passes broken up. King had a fumble recovery in game 4 at Wisconsin ... Shaw started against Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan in 1996. He recovered a fumble against Illinois and had 10 tackles against Iowa. Started games 1-3 of the 1997 campaign but is now backing up Kywin Supernaw at free safety ... With 33 career starts, Warnecke is IU's most experienced player. However, he did miss spring drills when he reported to camp with a stress fracture in his foot. He began to see some time at outside linebacker in practice prior to game 5 vs. Michigan ... Other defensive backs who will be looked upon to contribute are Randle El and redshirt freshman O.J. Spencer (Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian). Spencer has seen action in the nickel and dime packages and started game 6 vs. Michigan State, while Randle El has moved into the starting lineup at strong safety. Randle El blitzed several times off the corner vs. Ball St. and tallied 2 sacks for 18 yards in losses. He also notched an INT. He started game 3 at Kentucky, but missed much of the contest after suffering a hip pointer midway through the first half. Started game 4 at Wisconsin at SS in place of Patrick Shaw and notched 7 stops and 1 tackle for loss. Had 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 PBU vs. Michigan ... True freshman Brandon Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow) had a solid camp and has the tools to contribute at free safety ... Junior Brian Coleman (Neptune, N.J./Neptune), sophomore Michael McGrath (Downers Grove, Ill/South), redshirt freshman Narlin Clancy (Fort Wayne, Ind./Harding), and true freshman Justin Smith (Indianapolis/Warren Central) all have a chance to play. Coleman intercepted Ball State QB Jake Josetti in the 3rd. qtr. of the home opener and returned it 29 yds. to set up a 15-yd. TD pass from Jay Rodgers to O.J. Conner that gave the Hoosiers a 19-6 lead. However, Coleman suffered a shoulder injury in practice (10/2) prior to the Michigan game and did not play in games 5 and 6.
PUNTING
The Hoosiers have one of college football's best punters in senior
Alan Sutkowski (Griffith, Ind./Griffith), a second-team All-Big Ten
selection last year. Sutkowski averaged 43.3 yards per punt in 1996 and
is currently IU's career punting leader with a 43.1 average. Through
five games, Sutkowski is averaging 46.0 yards per punt. He was
6-43.5-53LG punting at North Carolina and 4-43.3-53LG vs. Ball State. He
punted 4-47.3-56LG vs. Kentucky, including punts of 56 and 50 yards and
1-IN-20. At Wisconsin in game 4, Sutkowski was 6-42.7-56LG punting,
including 3-IN-20. Had his finest game of the season vs. Michigan in
game 5. Was 6-50.7-72LG punting vs. the Wolverines. Had punts of 44, 33
(downed at MI-13), 36, 61 (punt returner tackled on MI-12), 58, and 72
yards. Was 8-47.8-58LG vs. Michigan State in game 6.
KICKING
The place-kicking duties were a question mark in the spring and had
yet to clear themselves up even hours prior to the season opener at
North Carolina. Junior Michael Irving (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor
Farrell) and redshirt freshman Andy Payne (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton
Southeastern) had battled for the job but the competition stiffened as
Cameron brought in three walk-ons from IU's top-ranked soccer team to
vie for field goal duties. Cameron had the kickers wage a kick-off
competition during the week prior to the North Carolina game and waited
until pregame warmups at North Carolina to make a decision on his
kicker.
In addition to Payne and Irving, Cameron took redshirt freshman soccer player Brad Griggs (Indianapolis/Warren Central) to Chapel Hill.
Payne made the most kicks in pregame warmups at UNC and went on to make both of his field goal attempts (35 and 32 yards) during the game. He missed his only FGA vs. Ball St. Irving handled the kickoff duties in games 1-3, and for the first half of game 4, before giving way to Payne. Griggs, a member of Indiana's top-ranked soccer team, earned the first playing time of his career vs. UK in game 3 when he connected on the Hoosiers' only extra point attempt.
Payne may have won the place-kicking job in game 4 at Wisconsin. He connected on all 4 FGAs, including kicks of 35, 32, 30, and 43 yds. The 43-ydr. gave Indiana a 26-24 lead with just :53 seconds remaining in the game. Payne also handled kickoff duties in the second half vs. the Badgers. Was 1-2 on FGAs vs. Michigan St. in game 6.
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