Indiana University Athletics
PRE-GAME NOTES
Indiana vs. ILLINOIS
10/28/1997 12:00:00 AM | Football
PRE-GAME NOTES
Indiana vs. ILLINOIS
Primary Contact: Todd Starowitz
Phone: (812) 855-9399 Fax: (812) 855-9401
Web Site: www.athletics.indiana.edu
Week Nine
Saturday, November 1, 1997 -- 1:00 p.m.
GAME NINE
Saturday's contest vs. Illinois is Indiana's first game against an
unranked opponent since September 27, when the Hoosiers fell to the
Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, 27-26 ... Indiana traveled to Iowa City
this past Saturday and was handed a 62-0 defeat by the Hawkeyes ...
Illinois hosted Purdue for homecoming this past Saturday and fell to the
Boilermakers, 48-3 ... Saturday's game from Indiana's Memorial Stadium
(52,354) will not be televised and will begin at 1:00 p.m. ... Tickets
for Saturday's game (Parents' Weekend) may be ordered throughout the
week at the IU Ticket Office (1-800-447-GOIU) ... Saturday's matchup
will pit Cam Cameron, who coached for three years under Norv Turner with
the Washington Redskins, against Turner's older brother, Ron, who is in
his first season as the head coach of the Illini ... Illinois has a
36-15-3 series advantage over the Hoosiers, including a 12-8-1 mark in
Bloomington ... The last IU victory came in 1987, when Indiana defeated
Illinois, 34-22.
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.
Ron Turner:
Ron Turner, 43, is in his first season as the head football
coach at Illinois. Prior to arriving at Illinois, Turner served as the
Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from
1993-96. While with the Bears, Turner helped produce a productive "pro
style" offense. In 1995, Turner's offense produced two 1,000-yard
receivers (Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway) and a 1,000-yard rusher
(Rashaan Salaam).
THE MATCHUP
Saturday's game will be the 55th meeting between Indiana and Illinois
... Illinois has a 36-15-3 series advantage, including a 12-8-1 mark in
Bloomington ... The Illini own a five-game winning streak against the
Hoosiers, including a thrilling 46-43 overtime win in Champaign last
season. The game was the first OT contest in Big Ten history ...
Indiana's last victory came in 1987, when the Hoosiers defeated
Illinois, 34-22 ... IU's largest margin of victory occurred in 1979 when
the Hoosiers posted a 45-14 victory ... Illinois' largest victory margin
came in 1914 when the Illini tallied a 51-0 shutout of the Hoosiers.
HOOSIERS INJURY REPORT
The following Indiana players are currently on the injured list: senior
LB Mike Belu (dislocated patella, strained MCL; out), FB Bryan Bobay
(broken right fibula; out), junior DB Brian Coleman (shoulder strain;
out), freshman WR O.J. Conner (broken finger; probable), junior FB Chris
Gall (sprained ankle; probable), sophomore RB Glynn Johnson (sprained
ankle, probable), redshirt freshman LB Ricky Nooft (abdominal strain;
out), and senior WR Dorian Wilkerson (shoulder, out).
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.
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.
Through 8 games in 1997, Rodgers has completed 57.8 percent of his passes, completing 130 of 225 attempts. He has thrown 5 touchdowns and 10 INTs.
Rodgers earned the starting nod at North Carolina in game 1 and finished 23-12-53-1INT. His 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 record for passing yards with 408. He surpassed Babe Laufenberg who threw for 390 yds. vs. Iowa in 1982. Rodgers was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week for his efforts.
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. Rodgers 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. MSU.
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 Indiana's "Mr. Football" in 1995 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.
Haniford has seen late action in games 1, 2, and 5-8. He did not play in games 3 and 4 but saw action 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. Haniford completed 1 of 5 passes vs. Michigan St. Two of his passes vs. MSU were dropped by receivers. Saw his most extensive action of the season at OSU in game 7 as he finished 7-5-71 passing. However, Haniford did throw an interception on a 1st-n-10 from the OSU-24 early in the 4th qtr. At UNC in the season opener, completed the first pass of his career to Gall for a total of 9 yds. 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 1-8.
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).
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 in game 3 vs. UK and finished 3-10-1TD rushing, 2-3 receiving. He 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 throughout the day. 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. Played well one week later vs. Michigan State. Despite a nagging knee injury, rushed 23-78-9LG and finished 4-50-32LG receiving. Hogan earned the fourth start of his career vs. OSU and finished 21-40-8LG rushing, 1-4 receiving. Also started at Iowa in game 8, however, Spear saw most of the action for the Hoosiers.
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 73-13-3TDs. 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. one week later. 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, saw limited action in game 6 vs. Michigan State (6-15 rushing) and did not play in game 7 at Ohio St. Returned to action at Iowa and finished 10-28-8LG 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. Johnson saw limited action in games 7 and 8 at OSU and at Iowa ... In addition to Hogan, 5-9, 188-pound Deion Grubbs, also a true freshman, displayed Big Ten ability during training camp. Grubbs has been given the opportunity to contribute immediately. The most valuable player in the Michigan All-Star game in 1996, Grubbs has run a 10.5 100 meters in AAU track. A product of Detroit's Cooley High School, he participated in practice this spring. He has seen special teams duty in games 1-8 and saw action at tailback in games 3, 5, 6, and 8. Finished 2-8 rushing vs. Michigan State in game 6 and had a solid effort at Iowa where he finished 3-22-10LG ... 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. Gall, an all-Big Ten candidate, has 43 receptions in 8 games and has been Indiana's finest offensive player in 1997.
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 one week later, 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. Gall finished 2-24-15LG receiving at Wisconsin in game 4 and 6-50-23LG receiving 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. Despite nursing the ankle injury, Gall started vs. Ohio State and finished 4-17 receiving and 2-8 rushing. Left the Iowa game for several plays in the first half because of the ankle injury but returned and had a catch of 30 yds. from Rodgers in the 2nd qtr. and notched a career-long 32-yd. reception from Rodgers early in the 2nd half. Gall finished the game 5-92-32LG receiving ... Junior TE/FB 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. Ballou was 3-31 receiving, including a career-long 21 yard reception from Earl Haniford in the 4th qtr. at Ohio State. He also saw plenty of action at Iowa and had 2 receptions.
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 was 11-194 receiving 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 in 1996, but had a solid fall and has played in a backup role after recovering from an early season injury. Paul missed games 1-4 with a stress fracture of his pubis. Early indications were that he would be lost for the season, however, he saw 2nd half action in games 5-8, finishing 1-13 and 1-12 receiving vs. the Wolverines and Spartans, respectively. Paul was 2-40 receiving at Ohio State in game 7. He is also a member of the IU basketball squad ... Sophomore Versie Gaddis (Decatur, Georgia/Frederick Douglass) had offseason knee surgery and will miss the entire '97 campaign, although he has begun to participate in limited contact drills ... In Gaddis' absence, senior cornerback Joey Eloms (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia) was utilized as a wideout during the latter portion of spring practice. Eloms played 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 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. Floyd opened fall practice at defensive back but has since converted to wideout. Conner, Browning, and Floyd saw limited action at wideout in high school (all three saw most of their action at other positions.) However, all three have made strides as the season has gone along. In the season opener at North Carolina, Eloms played seven snaps on offense 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. BSU 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 FG that gave the Hoosiers a 26-24 lead with :53 seconds remaining. A former high school quarterback, Conner completed a 33-yd. throwback pass to QB Jay Rodgers vs. BSU and a 2-yd. completion to Rodgers vs. MSU. Played another solid game vs. MSU 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 UNC. However, Browning saw his first action as a collegian one week later vs. BSU. He was 2-21 receiving vs. the Cardinals and 2-16-12LG in game 3 vs. UK. 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. Browning started the second game of his career at OSU and finished 2-39-24LG receiving ... Floyd has seen limited action in games 4-8. 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
TE prior to suffering broken right fibula that ended his season at
practice on October 1 ... 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 and
his tenacious effort. 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 Maxwell was 1-14LG receiving at Iowa ... Bobay is a bruising
6-foot-1, 265-pounds, and also has the ability to get down field and
catch the ball. He played DE in both 1995 and 1996 and tallied 2 tackles
for loss in 1996, including 1 quarterback sack. Bobay made the first
catch of his career vs. BSU, 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 is lost for the season ... Klusmeyer
started 10 games in 1996 and caught 6 passes for 62 yards. He started
vs. BSU as the Hoosiers opened in a 3-TE set. DNP in game 4 at Wisc. but
replaced Bobay in games 5-8, earning starting assignments in games 5 and
6 as IU opened in a 2-TE alignment vs. Michigan and MSU. He was 1-7
receiving vs. the Wolverines.
OFFENSIVE LINE
One of the most interesting developments of the 1997 campaign has
been the play of the offensive line. WIth young skill position players
throughout the lineup, the offensive line has been tested from day one.
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. Liwienski had has best
game to date at Iowa in game 8. 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. Robeen had not
played a game prior to this season. Liwienski, Allotey, Lee, Banks, and
Robeen have all started games 1-8. The Hoosiers tallied 496 total yards
of offense vs. Ball State in game 2 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 3-8.
The O-line enabled junior RB Jason Spear to rush for 120 yards at UNC and De'Wayne Hogan to tally 124 yds. on the ground at Wisconsin. After the MSU game, Cameron said that he may give some reserves, most specifically Snyder, 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 RDE position in 1996 and will need to be replaced.
After moving into the starting lineup after the second 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.
At North Carolina in the season opener, Ogunleye picked up where he left off in 1996. 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 tallied 1 sack (-9 yards) and 2 tackles for loss vs. UK and had 4 stops, including 2 (-4 yards in losses) 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 and had a monster game in game 7 at Ohio State. "Wally" notched 7 tackles, including 4 sacks (-28 yards), forced 2 fumbles, and had 2 passes broken up vs. the Buckeyes. In the 4th qtr. at OSU, sacked QB Joe Jermaine twice on the same series, forcing fumbles on both plays. The second FF was recovered by LB Vince Lidy. Forced another fumble one week later, this time by Iowa RB Tavian Banks in the 3rd qtr. One play later, Wally tallied a sack (-8 yards) of QB Randy Reiners ... Senior DT Benyard Jones (Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee), who started 11 games in 1996, returns and has been 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 1-8 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. BSU. 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. MSU in game 6. The Lansing native notched 5 tackles for loss (-14 yards) vs. the Spartans. He tallied 4 more tackles for loss (-13 yards) at OSU in game 7 and also blocked a K Dan Stultz 29-yd. FGA on OSU's first offensive possession of the game. Gregory sacked Ohio State QB Stanley Jackson on a 3rd-n-5 from the OSU-38 early in the 2nd qtr. ... 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. BSU in game 2 coming off the bench. He 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. In game 7 vs. Ohio State, Williams intercepted QB Joe Germaine at the IU-45 and returned it 31 yds. to the OSU-24 ... Returning letterman, senior Al Haywood (Chicago, Ill./Corliss), has been looked upon to back up Jones at defensive tackle. He has played in all 8 games. Had a pass deflection at UNC and saw his most extensive action to date vs. Michigan in game 5. He 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 5-8. He 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, and 5-8.
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 ILB in defensive
coordinator Jon Heacock's scheme. Robinson tallied 7 tackles at North
Carolina in the 1997 season opener 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. Robinson also recovered a fumble early in the 1st
qtr. vs. the Badgers. He 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. Continued his fine play in game 7 at OSU when he had 14
tackles, including 3 for loss (-9 yards). He also had 1 PBU ... 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 in the season opener. Goodman
tallied 5 tackles while Czap hit QB Chris Keldorf on a blitz that
enabled Gregory to intercept a pass late in the first half. Czap also
had a sack at Iowa. Lidy recovered a QB Joe Jermaine fumble at OSU that
was caused by Ogunleye.
Toward the latter part of training camp, Czap was moved from DE to OLB and played well enough to earn himself a starting role. However, he moved back to DE vs. Ball State. Since then he has played almost exclusively at linebacker. Lidy held that role through the early portion of camp and earned the starting nod at BSU 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. He has played in games 4-8 and recovered a fumble at Iowa in game 8 ... The other outside linebacker position has been hotly contested between Lamar, Goodman, and most recently, Warnecke. All three 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. One week later at Ohio State, Warnecke had 7 tackles, including 2 for loss. He tackled OSU running back Matt Keller for a 4-yd. loss on a blitz early in the 1st qtr.
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 also 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 SS after opening the Wisconsin game at that
spot. Randle El has also started games 5-8.
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. BSU, 1 at Wisconsin and 2 more at OSU.
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 WR 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. Missed practice on Thursday and Friday prior to the Michigan State game to attend memorial services for his father who passed away one week earlier. Returned for game 6 vs. the Spartans and played in a reserve role. Returned to the starting lineup in game 7 at Ohio State ... 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. He led the club with 10 stops vs. UK 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. Tallied his second interception of the season in game 8 at Iowa when he picked off a QB Randy Reiners pass late in the first half ... 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 and forced a fumble vs. OSU on a punt coverage ... 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. Has played at SAM linebacker in games 6-8 ... Other defensive backs who have contributed 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 vs. UK, 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. Randle El intercepted a QB Joe Jermaine pass at Ohio State late in the 1st half ... Sophomore Michael McGrath (Downers Grove, Ill/South), has emerged as the Hoosiers' nickel back. He had a touchdown saving tackle vs. Michigan and had 9 tackles, including 2 for loss at Ohio State. Earned a start at Iowa in game 8 and had 11 tackles, including 8 solo stops.
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 42.8 average. Through
eight games, Sutkowski is averaging 42.9 yards per punt, this despite a
0 yard punt at Iowa. 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 and 9-44.3-67LG vs. Ohio State in game 7.
Sutkowski had three 50+-yard punts at OSU. Struggled at Iowa in adverse
weather conditions. Had a 0 yard punt after dropping a snap and had a
44-yd. punt returned for a touchdown by PR Tim Dwight.
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 UNC.
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 FGAs (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. He has since returned to the soccer team on a full-time basis.
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.
WHAT SOPHOMORE SLUMP?
Sophomore defensive linemen Adewale Ogunleye and Damian Gregory have
continued to make impact plays for the Hoosiers throughout the 1997
campaign. The two have tallied a combined 27 tackles for loss (120 yards
in losses) and 12 sacks (-83 yards) in 1997. A native of Staten Island,
New York, "Wally," as Ogunleye is called by his teammates, has at least
one tackle for loss in all eight games this season.
In 1996, Ogunleye tallied 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 quarterback
sacks, while Gregory tallied 3 tackles for loss.
THE TALLY: 45 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks between the two sophomores in the past two seasons.
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