Indiana University Athletics
RECAP:
Indiana vs. Michigan
10/4/1997 12:00:00 AM | Football
RECAP:
Indiana vs. Michigan LAST WEEK
The sixth-ranked Michigan Wolverines lived up to their number-six ranking in a 37-0 victory over Indiana. The Wolverines' effort spoiled head coach Cam Cameron's debut vs. the school where he coached as an assistant and graduate assistant for 10 seasons. A total of 42,240 fans attended Indiana's homecoming game.
Indiana stopped the Wolverines on the first series of the game as MLB Jabar Robinson (16 tackles, 2 for loss) tackled RB Chris Floyd (10-29-13LG) for a 1-yd. loss on a 3rd-n-1 from the UM-44. However, Michigan would score on its next offensive possession as K Kraig Baker connected on a 27-yd. FG with 7:04 remaining in the 1st qtr. On Indiana's first possession following Baker's field goal, the Hoosiers drove from their own 44-yard line to the UM-19. QB Jay Rodgers (24-15-115-2INT) found FB Chris Gall (6-50 receiving) on a 23-yd. pickup that moved IU deep into Michigan territory. However, on a 1st-n-10 on the UM-19, Rodgers fumbled and Michigan DE Glen Steele recovered.
After Michigan was forced to punt on its next series, Indiana went 3-and-out. Michigan took over on its own 13-yd. line with 3:05 remaining in the 1st qtr. and QB Brian Griese (26-16-201-1TD) engineered a 12-play-87-yd.-4:31 minute drive that was capped by a 3-yd. TD run by RB Chris Howard (6-14 rushing, 7-65 receiving). Michigan, who led just 3-0 at the end of the 1st qtr., went on to score 28 points in the second stanza and took a 31-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
It was Michigan's stable of running backs that hurt Indiana all day long. However, most of the damage was done through the air as Griese found the backs on numerous screen passes. The Maize and Blue had nine different players tally receptions of 10 yards or longer.
One of the headliners for Indiana was P Alan Sutkowski. Sutkowski was 6-50.7-72LG punting vs. the Wolverines. He had punts of 44, 33 (downed at MI-13), 36, 61 (punt returner tackled on MI-12), 58, and 72 yards.
September 30, 1997
To see the results of the Indiana vs. Michigan game, please go to the Schedule page (graphically enhanced) right after the game, and stay tuned to this page for new press releases!
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Indiana vs. Michigan
GAME FIVE
Saturday's homecoming game is Cam Cameron's first Big Ten home game as a
head coach. It will also mark his first coaching appearance vs. the
Wolverines, as he served as an assistant coach and graduate assistant at
Michigan from 1984-93 ... Kickoff from Memorial Stadium (52,354) is
scheduled for 11:20 p.m. EST/12:20 p.m. EDT ... Tickets can be ordered
throughout the week at the IU Ticket Office (1-800-447-GOIU) ... The
IU-Michigan game will be broadcast on ESPN Regional (the regional
television package formerly known as Creative Sports) ... Cameron and
his Indiana squad suffered a hard-fought, 27-26 loss at Wisconsin in the
Big Ten opener last Saturday. Indiana took a 26-24 lead with :53
remaining in the game on a 43-yd. FG by K Andy Payne. However, Badgers'
K Matt Davenport connected on a 43-ydr. with :06 remaining to win the
game for the Badgers ... Michigan improved its record to 3-0 with a
21-14 victory over Notre Dame in Ann Arbor last week.
THE MATCHUP
The Hoosiers and the Wolverines will be meeting for the 52nd time on
Saturday. Michigan leads the all-time series between the two teams,
42-9. The two teams met last season and the Wolverines came away with a
27-20 victory, despite trailing the Hoosiers 17-10 at halftime. On
October 25, 1987, Indiana took over sole possession of first place in
the Big Ten with a 14-10 homecoming win over Michigan. The Hoosiers had
not defeated Michigan for 20 years prior to this come-from-behind win in
a driving rain storm. It was the last time that the Hoosiers have
defeated the Wolverines.
HOOSIERS INJURY REPORT
The following Indiana players are currently on the injury list: senior
LB Mike Belu (dislocated patella, strained MCL; out), freshman FB Kyle
Enright (foot; out), sophomore RB Glynn Johnson (ankle, questionable),
redshirt freshman LB Ricky Nooft (abdominal strain; out), freshman LB
Nick Oleszcuk (blood clots; out), junior WR Jean Paul (abdominal strain;
doubtful), sophomore RB Jason Spear (hip pointer; probable), junior DB
Joshua Stoffregen (broken ankle; 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. "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 for 47 yards.
One week later, Rodgers had what you would 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.
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 freshman wide receivers who never played wideout in high school. Was 23-13-203-0-0-33LG passing against the Badgers.
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 saw late action in games 1 and 2. He did not play in games 3 and 4. At UNC, he 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 1-4.
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 recepts. 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 ... Johnson looked impressive in training camp and has challenged Spear for playing time. He saw reserve action in games 1-2, but missed games 3 and 4 with an ankle injury ... 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 ... 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 1-4 ... the most valuable player in the Michigan All-Star game in 1996, Grubbs 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 1-4 and saw action at tailback in game 3 vs. Kentucky, going 5-0 rushing.
The fullback position is in the capable hands of former walk-on, junior 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. "Chris had a very impressive spring and we are expecting him to have a strong season for us."
Gall caught 8 passes for 47 yards against the Tar Heels. 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. He has 22 catches in the season's first four games ... Junior tight end/fullback Bryan Bobay and redshirt freshman David Ballou (Indianapolis/Avon) will serve as Gall's backups.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The starting wide receiver slots have been 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 is expected to miss the remainder of the season. He had 11 catches for 194 yards in games 1-3. His 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 has missed games 1-4 with a stress fracture of his pubis. His status is still unknown but early indications lend to the notion that he could be lost for the season. However, Paul did travel and dress for game 4 at Wisconsin. He is a member of the IU basketball squad ... 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. Wilkerson 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) ... 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 1-4 ... In Gaddis' absence, senior cornerback Joey Eloms (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia) was utilized as a wideout during the second half of spring practice. He emerged as a steady option at receiver. Eloms has 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 played wideout in high school. 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. ... 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.
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 has emerged as the
second-team tight end. Expect all three to see playing time ... "We have
some flexibility with three different types of tight ends. I envision
all of them playing at different times during the season." ... 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 ... 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 ... 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.
OFFENSIVE LINE
One of the most pleasant surprises for Cameron and his staff during
spring practice was the development of the offensive line. Cameron fully
expects the Hoosiers to be among the Big Ten's best along the offensive
line of scrimmage ... "The offensive line is the strength of our team,"
said Cameron. "This line has a chance to be an excellent Big Ten unit.
We have the experience, with a number of seniors, and a nice blend of
younger talent."
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 1-4. 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 and 4.
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.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Former University of Michigan standout, and six-year NFL veteran Mike
Teeter inherited a young, and talented group of defensive linemen that
has a chance to be a special unit. 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,
headlines 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-(-2) for loss. Ogunleye notched 1 sack (-9 yards) and 2 tackles for loss vs. Kentucky and had 4 stops, including 2 - (-4 yards) at Wisconsin ... 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 ... Talent laden Damian Gregory (Lansing, Mich./Sexton), a part-time starter in 1996, started games 1-3 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 ... 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. Williams returned to the starting lineup at Wisconsin and notched 3 stops, including 1 for loss ... Returning letterman, senior Al Haywood (Chicago, Ill./Corliss), will be looked to back up Jones at defensive tackle. He had a pass deflection at UNC ... 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, while Gordon Bramel (Lebanon, KY/Marion County) has seen increased action, playing in games 2 and 3.
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 ... 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) and freshman Joslin Goodman (Osceola, Ind./Penn) have
stepped to the forefront. 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 vs. Wisconsin. However, Lamar saw extensive action vs. the Badgers and had 11 tackles and a pass broken up.
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.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
While inexperience may be the buzzword at linebacker, the secondary
should be a position of experience and strength 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 th starter at strong safety
after opening the Wisconsin game at that spot.
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.
All-Big Ten candidate 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 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. Eloms 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. 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 ... 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 ... 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 but is now backing up Kywin Supernaw at free safety ... With 32 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 ... Other defensive backs who will be looked upon to contribute are Randle El and redshirt freshman O.J. Spencer (Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian). Spencer will play in the nickel and dime packages 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. ... 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.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Hoosiers have one of the Big Ten's most productive 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 42.9 average.
Sutkowski 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.
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.
Senior CB Joey Eloms has returned both punts and kicks in 1997. He is averaging 25.0 yards per kickoff return and 6.4 yards on punt returns.
The kickoff team recovered a 3rd qtr. onsides kick vs. Ball State in week 2.
DID YOU KNOW?
- ... that 301 of the Hoosiers' 345 net yards at Wisconsin were gained by true freshman and that every point was scored by a freshmen (true freshman RB De'Wayne Hogan (12) and redshirt freshman Andy Payne (14))?
- ... that QB Jay Rodgers has thrown for 200+ yards in each of the last three games. The last Hoosier QB to achieve such a mark was Trent Green, who threw for 200+ yards in the first four games of the 1992 season
- ...that the Hoosiers' one-point loss at Wisconsin was Indiana's first one-point defeat since Nov. 25, 1989, when IU fell to Purdue, 15-14?
- ... that Indiana's 441 passing yards vs. Ball State was the 10th best single-game passing mark in the history of the Big Ten Conference?
- ... that prior to O.J. Conner's and Dorian Wilkerson's 100-plus yard receiving games vs. Ball State, the last time two Indiana receivers surpassed the 100-yd. receiving mark in a game was 10/3/92 when WRs Eddie Baety (10-120) and Scott McGowan (6-106) reached the plateau at Michigan State?
- ... O.J. Conner's 140 receiving yards vs. Ball St. was the most by an Indiana receiver since 12/31/93 when Thomas Lewis had 177 yds. vs. Virginia Tech in the Independence Bowl?
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