Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA TRAVELS TO ANN ARBOR TO FACE MICHIGAN
10/19/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
INDIANA TRAVELS TO ANN ARBOR TO FACE MICHIGAN
GAME SEVEN: Indiana will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday, October 24 to take on the Michigan Wolverines. The game is Michigan's homecoming. Saturday's contest will be televised by ESPN and will begin at 11:10 a.m. EST/12:10 p.m. EDT...Indiana will enter Saturday's game with a 3-3 record, including a 2-1 mark in the Big Ten, after defeating Iowa in Bloomington last Saturday, 14-7. Redshirt freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle El was the co-Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week. He led IU to 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points by producing scoring drives of 99 and 75 yards. In beating Iowa, the Hoosiers became the first team in Big Ten history to lose to a team by 60 or more points and then defeat the same team the next season. Indiana is tied with North Carolina State for the NCAA lead in interceptions (13 in 6 games). Michigan enters Saturday's game with a 4-2 overall record and a perfect 3-0 Big Ten mark. The Wolverines defeated Northwestern this past Saturday, 12-6, in rain-soaked Evanston.
TELEVISION AND RADIO
TELEVISION: ESPN
Dave Barnett - Play-by-Play
Bill Curry - Analyst
Dave Ryan - Sideline
RADIO: Locally: WBWB-FM (96.7) and 50-station radio network
Play-by-Play: Don Fischer
Color Analyst: Buck Suhr
Pregame/Halftime: Joe Smith
INDIANA INJURIES
The following Indiana players are currently on the injured list:
FB Rob Bouchard (r. knee) - out
TE Bobby Brandt (r. knee) - out
TE Randy Maxwell (concussion) - out
LB Jason McWilliams (r. knee)- out
DL Jason Timberlake (l. knee) - out
CB Maurice Tucker (elbow) - doubtful
RB Glynn Johnson (r. knee) - probable
INDIANA-MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS
Hoosiers with ties to the University of Michigan and the state of Michigan:
Head coach Cam Cameron was an assistant coach and graduate assistant at
the University of Michigan from 1984-93...defensive coordinator Jon Heacock
served as a graduate assistant at the University of Michigan (1988-89)...receivers
coach T.J. Weist is a native of Bay City, Michigan, and was an assistant
at Michigan (1990-93)...asst. head coach Pete Schmidt, a native of Port
Austin, Michigan, was a graduate assistant in 1981. He was the defensive
coordinator at Stockbridge High in Michigan (1970-73) and then went on to
become the head coach at Okemos High in Michigan (1974-81) before serving
as the head coach at Albion College from 1983-96...defensive line coach
Ted Daisher is a graduate of Western Michigan. He played football for the
Broncos from 1975-77. Daisher served as defensive line and outside linebackers
coach at Eastern Michigan from 1985-88...linebackers coach Ron Burton coached
linebackers at Eastern Michigan from 1995-96...junior linebacker James Lamar
played at Ypsilanti High School...redshirt freshman tight end Sterling Mintzer
prepped at Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School...redshirt freshman tackle
Garon Oseff played at West Bloomfield High School...freshman defensive lineman
Kemp Rasmussen played at Lapeer West High School...junior guard Jason Stealy
played at Marshall High School in Marshall, Mich.
Wolverines with connections to the state of Indiana: The following five
Wolverines played at Indiana high schools: Sophomore tight end Chad Carpenter
(Bloomington South), redshirt freshman DL Bill Seymour and senior QB Scott
Driesbach (Penn HS in Mishawaka), senior K Kraig Baker (Terre Haute North
HS), and sophomore FB Ray Jackson (Lawrence Central HS in Indy)...defensive
line coach Brady Hoke coached at Yorktown (IN) HS and quarterbacks coach
Stan Parrish was a G.A. at Purdue (1975-76) and was head coach at Wabash
from 1979-83.
THE MATCHUP
The Hoosiers and the Wolverines will be meeting for the 53rd time this Saturday.
Michigan leads the all-time series between the two teams, 43-9. Michigan
won last year's meeting, 31-0. In the last meeting between the two teams
in Ann Arbor was in 1996. 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.
THE COACHING CAPSULES
Indiana's Cam Cameron: Appointed head football coach on Nov. 26, 1996,
the 37-year-old Cameron spent three seasons (1994-96) as the Washington
Redskins quarterbacks' coach prior to taking over the IU helm before last
season. 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 while
in Ann Arbor.
Cameron is not new to Indiana as he was a member of the Indiana's 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 (1982-84) while playing for Bob Knight. In 1984, he competed in basketball while attending graduate school.
While in Washington, Cameron helped improve the Skins from 3-13 during his first season in 1994 to a 9-7 mark in 1996. He is widely credited for the development of quarterback Gus Frerotte who was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1996 season. Cameron 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 three sons, Tommy, Danny, and Christopher.
Michigan's Lloyd Carr: A native of Hawkins County, Tenn., Carr is an 19-year veteran of the Univ. of Michigan. He began coaching at Michigan in 1980 as the secondary coach under head coach Bo Schembechler. He worked with the defensive backs from 1980-86, prior to becoming the defensive coordinator in 1987. He remained as the Wolverines' defensive coordinator from 1987-94 and took on added responsibilities as the Wolverines' assistant head coach beginning in 1990. Last season, Carr led the the Wolverines 12-0 record and a co-national championship.
On May 16, 1995, Carr was named the interim head coach of the Wolverines following the resignation of Gary Moeller, who served as head coach from 1990-94. Carr's "interim" title was removed the following year.
Prior to arriving in Ann Arbor, Carr, 52, served as defensive backs coach at Eastern Michigan for two years (1976-77) prior to working in the same capacity at Illinois for the next two seasons. Before coaching at the college level, Carr worked as an assistant coach at Detroit's Nativity HS and as a head coach at John Glenn High School in Westland, Mich.
A three-sport athlete at Riverview (TN) HS, Carr was an all-state QB
in football. Collegiately, he spent three seasons at Missouri before transferring
to Northern Michigan where he quarterbacked the Wildcats to an undefeated
season.
POSITION BY POSITION BREAKDOWN
QUARTERBACK - The battle for the starting quarterback job between junior
Jay Rodgers and redshirt freshman Antwaan Randle El was waged throughout
the summer and was not decided until the week prior to game 1 vs. Western
Michigan. A redshirt freshman, Randle El was unable to throw for most of
the summer because of a broken wrist that he suffered in the Red-White Spring
Game. Despite the injury, he played well throughout training camp and eventually
earned the starting nod after the team's final intrasquad scrimmage.
Randle El, a partial academic qualifier in 1997 who also plays in the backcourt for the IU basketball team, earned the starting nod in the season opener and answered the call. Playing in his first college game, he finished 29-22-385-3TDs passing and finished 23-82-3TDs rushing. His 467 yds. of total offense is the all-time Indiana University record and was the 9th-best total in Big Ten history. He was recognized as co-Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week for his efforts.
In game 2 at Kentucky, Randle El was 34-12-162-1 INT passing. He had a 3-yd. TD run in the 2nd qtr. that gave the Hoosiers a 10-3 lead.
Randle El proved that his performance vs. WMU was no fluke as he put together another phenomenal effort at Cincinnati as he ran, caught, and threw for a score. Randle El finished 18-113-1TD rushing, 21-9-186-1TD passing, and was 1-51-1TD receiving. He finished the game with 299 yds. of total offense. On a 1st-n-10 from the IU-49 at Cinci., Randle El caught a 51-yard TD from WR O.J. Conner on a double pass.
Randle El was 19-10-145-2INT passing vs. Wisc. His 17-yd. rush at the end of the first half helped set up a 45-yd. FG by K Andy Payne that gave IU a 6-3 lead heading into halftime. He continued his stellar play at MSU as he rushed 21 times for 134 yards and 1 TD (the single-best single-game rushing yardage total by a QB in IU history). He was also 16-10-147-0-0 passing. He helped lead the Hoosiers back from a 16-0 deficit and into the lead (24-16) in the fourth qtr. IU would lose in double-OT, 38-31. Said Joe Falls of the Detroit News, "But if you were a neutral fan, you had to come away shaking your head in awe at the performance by Antwaan Randle El, Indiana's redshirt freshman quarterback. I thought I had seen the premier quarterback show of the season when Donovan McNabb of Syracuse ran Michigan ragged in the second game of the season.
If Barry Sanders was a quarterback, this is what he would look like. Michigan State had no idea how to stop him ­­ not his snake-like running, his pitchouts on the option or his passes. His performance (21 runs for 134 yards, 10 of 16 passing for 147 yards: total 281 yards) was simply sensational, and they say he can play basketball as well as he can football."
The 5-10, 177-pound, Thornton, Ill., native won co-Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors for the second time this season following his performance in a 14-7 win over Iowa. He finished 16-84-1TD rushing, 19-8-114-1INT passing and led Indiana on fourth-quarter scoring drives of 99 and 75 yards. He tallied on an 8-yd. touchdown run with :41 remaining in the game to give IU a 14-7 lead after throwing to WR Levron Williams for a two-point conversion. The first fourth-quarter scoring drive was 15 plays, covered 99 yards, and elapsed 6:12 off of the clock. That drive pulled IU to within 7-6 after the extra point attempt was blocked. Indiana took possession again trailing 7-6 with 1:58 remaining in the game.
Randle El, a partial academic qualifier last season, practiced but did not play in '97. Said WMU coach Gary Darnell after game 1, "He was like trying to catch a 180-pound bass."
Prior to the season opener, Rodgers had started 15 consecutive games after taking over the starting role in a game at Michigan in '96. The Austin, Texas, native completed 58.2 percent of his passes in '97, the third-best single season passing percentage in school history behind former NFL signal caller Babe Laufenberg and current Washington Redskins' quarterback Trent Green. His 2,156 passing yards last season were good for fifth on the IU single season passing yardage list. Rodgers saw action during IU's last drive @ Cinci and was forced to play late in the 4th qtr. and in overtime at MSU when Randle El left with a head injury. Rodgers found TE Craig Osika for a 15-yd. scoring pass on a 1st-n-10 play in the first overtime to give IU a 31-24 advantage. Rodgers finished 5-3-24-1TD passing against the Spartans.
Add Earl Haniford and highly regarded freshmen Tommy Jones and Gibran Hamdan to Randle El and Rodgers and Indiana has one of the finest quarterbacking casts in the Big Ten Conference.
Haniford backed up Rodgers last season and has shown improvement. One of the most prolific passers in the history of high school football, Cameron says this former high school All-America selection has some ability. "He can bring a lot of different things to the table. He just continues to do everything he can to get done what we want to get done."
Tommy Jones and Gibran Hamdan are big, mobile, true freshmen who have a lot of ability. Jones, the top-rated quarterback in the state of Ohio last season, earned postseason All-America honors in '97 and was named as one of the top 90 players in the country by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report. Hamdan, one of the nation's top prep baseball players in '97, is a 6-5, 225, strong-armed QB who was the Virginia Independent Schools Player-of-the-Year last season.
FULLBACK - Senior Chris Gall returns this fall as the starting fullback and team co-captain. A former walk-on, Gall was Indiana's most consistent offensive performer throughout the '97 season and was recognized as the team's co-MVP (along with safety Kywin Supernaw) following the '97 campaign. He finished last with 54 catches in 10 games despite suffering a left knee sprain in game 10 at Minn. that sidelined him for the season finale vs. Purdue. Gall was expected to be one of the Big Ten's finest FBs in '98 and has played extremely well throughout the season.
Gall caught 3 passes for 23 yards in the '98 season opener vs. WMU including a 6-yd. TD pass from Randle El in the 4th qtr. Gall also added a 38-yd. kickoff return late in the first qtr. that helped set up IU's third touchdown.
Gall had a stellar contest in game 2 at UK. Early in the second qtr. he took a handoff from Randle El and ran 53 yards to the UK-12. On the very next series, on a 1st-n-10 from the UK-33, Gall rushed off right guard for a 33-yd. TD. The 53-yard rush and the 33-yard touchdown run were both career-longs. Gall finished with a career-high 100 rushing yards on 5 carries.
At Cinci in game 3, Gall continued to show why he was IU's co-MVP in '97 as he finished 10-47-2TDs rushing. In a 4th qtr. series, Gall strung together carries of 11, 7, and 7 yards­­the last run a 7-yd. score on a 2nd-n-3 from the Bearcat 7-yard line. He did not catch a pass against the Bearcats, breaking a string of at least one reception in 13 consecutive games.
Gall put together another solid effort vs. Wisc. as he finished 14-44-1TD rushing and 3-20 receiving. With :33 seconds remaining in the third qtr. he scored on a 4-yd run to give IU a 20-17 lead. In game 5 at MSU he was 13-41-1TD rushing and 7-73 receiving. He scored on a 2-yd. run with 1:17 remaining in the third qtr. that gave the Hoosiers a 17-16 lead.
In game 6 versus Iowa, Gall was 2-8 receiving and 5-10-1TD rushing. He scored on a 1-yd. run with 8:40 remaining in the fourth qtr. that pulled IU to within one point of the Hawkeyes, 7-6.
Moving from TB to FB during spring practice prior to the '98 campaign was junior Jason Spear. He showed flashes of being a steady Big Ten TB during the '97 campaign and has put on additional strength and muscle to handle the various demands of the position. He was 3-10-5LG rushing at Cincinnati.
TAILBACK - While senior co-captain Chris Gall has proven to be one of the finest all-around FBs in the Big Ten in '98, the starting tailback role has been up for grabs throughout the season with sophomores De'Wayne Hogan and Marcus Floyd, and junior college transfer Frankie Franklin all seeing action. Despite not having an established tailback, the Hoosiers currently rank 16th in the country with a 226.2 rushing yards per game average.
Floyd received the most playing time in games 3-4 while Franklin saw the bulk of the action in games 5 and 6. In game 6 vs. Iowa, Franklin topped the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in his college career as he rushed 28 times for 146 yards. He became the fourth IU player to top the 100-yd. rushing mark in a game this season (Randle El on two occasions, Floyd, Gall). In game 5 at MSU, Franklin rushed 17 times for 75 yards and 1 TD. He scored on an 11-yd. scamper on an option with 7:42 left in the third qtr. that pulled IU to within 16-10. Franklin, a J.C. transfer, saw 4th qtr. action against the Bearcats and finished 5-51-1TD rushing, including a nifty 32-yard TD run on a 3rd-n-2 late in the 4th qtr. He was the state of Florida's "Mr. Football" in 1995.
Sophomore Levron Williams will likely split time between wide receiver and running back throughout the season. He suffered a sprained ankle at practice on Sept. 15 and missed games 2-3. He saw one play of action in game 4 vs. Wisconsin and returned to action in game 5 at MSU but played exclusively at WR. He was 1-2 rushing in one play of action at tailback in game 6 vs. Iowa.
Williams, one of the nation's most highly recruited running backs two years ago, opened the WMU game as the starting TB and rushed 3 times for 32 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 81 yards and 1 touchdown.
Hogan started six games as a true freshman last season and rushed for 506 yards and 4 TDs. He carried 34 times for 124 yds. and 2 TDs in game 4 at Wisc. in '97 and he rushed 38 times for 164 yds. and 1 TD vs. Illinois. The 164-yd. effort vs. the Illini marked the most rushing yds. by a true freshman at IU since current RBs coach Anthony Thompson rushed for 207 yds. vs. Wisc. in 1986. A physical specimen (has bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times), Hogan's punishing running style seemed to fuel the Hoosiers' entire offense at times in '97. In the '98 season opener vs. WMU he rushed 17 times for 72 yards. He was 13-70-20LG rushing in game 2 at Kentucky.
Marcus Floyd, who saw limited time as a wide receiver as a true freshman
in '97, had the finest game of his young career in game 3 at Cincinnati.
Although he had just 1 carry for 16 yards heading into the game, he finished
17-105 rushing. Floyd also played well vs. Wisc. as he rushed 12 times for
68 yards.
WIDE RECEIVERS - Without question, Indiana had the youngest receiving
corps in country in 1997. The unit couldn't have been any more inexperienced
as true freshmen occupied the top three receiver spots on the IU depth chart.
O.J. Conner, Tyrone Browning, and Marcus Floyd (who has since moved to RB)
all saw action at wide receiver in '97.
Indiana's most consistent receiver through the first five games has been sophomore Tyrone Browning. He is averaging 96.3 receiving yards per contest. In game 1 vs. Western Michigan, Browning caught 13 passes for 258 yards and 1 TD. The yardage total is the second-best total in Big Ten history behind Indiana's Thomas Lewis who tallied 285 yds. at Penn State in '93. Browning was 5-55-19LG receiving at UK in game 2. Browning also contributed to the offensive attack in '97 by adding 24 catches for 367 yds. He played in the final 10 games of the '97 season and started five contests. Browning and Versie Gaddis started at wide receiver in game 3 at Cincinnati. Browning was 3-83-1TD-36LG receiving, including a 36-yd. TD reception on a 1st-n-10 play in the 2nd qtr. Browning led all IU receivers in receptions and yards vs. Wisconsin as he finished 4-83-32LG receiving. He started at flanker in game 5 at MSU and finished 2-25-18 receiving. He was 4-74-31LG receiving in game 6 vs. Iowa. He had a key 31-yd. reception from Randle El on a 1st-n-10 from the Iowa-40 late in the fourth qtr. that moved the ball to the Iowa-9. The drive would eventually result in the game-clinching touchdown.
Sophomore Versie Gaddis, who missed the entire '97 season after reconstructive knee surgery, has started games 3-6 after showing signs this past spring why he was considered as one of the Big Ten's ascending young stars in '96. Gaddis did suffer a shoulder injury during training camp that slowed his progress. One of just four true freshmen to win a letter in '96, he caught 7 passes for 146 yards (team-leading 20.9 average) that season but suffered a torn ACL during the first day of spring drills in '97. This season, he saw his first action of the year in game 2 at UK and earned a starting assignment and was 2-38-19LG receiving in game 3 at Cinci. His 19-yd. reception of a batted pass on a 3rd-n-10 play in the first qtr. was his first reception since the '96 season. Gaddis was 1-19 receiving vs. Wisc. He made a difficult catch on a slant in the 4th qtr. He also had 1 reception at MSU.
Although both were unable to practice in '97 and again this past spring, former high school standouts Levron Williams and Derin Graham became eligible this season and have impressed many observers. Williams, who started at tailback in game 1, was 2-81-43LG-1TD receiving in the season opener vs. Western Michigan and Graham had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Wisconsin. Graham saw the most extensive action of his career at Cinci and was 2-50-40LG receiving.
Williams missed games 2 and 3 with an ankle injury. He played one play late in the Wisconsin game and returned to action when he opened at split end at MSU. He caught 2 passes for 54 yards, including a 43-yard scamper in the 2nd qtr. that helped lead to a 31-yd. Andy Payne field goal. Williams was 2-32-23LG receiving in game 6 vs. Iowa. Trailing 7-6 with 1:58 remaining in the 4th qtr., Indiana took possession of the ball at its own 25-yd. line and Williams caught a 23-yd. pass that moved the ball to the IU-48. Indiana would score on the drive and Williams would catch a pass from Randle El on a two-point conversion attempt to give IU a 14-7 lead.
Conner, a tall, wiry, receiver finished his freshman campaign 28-520-2 TDs receiving. He was 3-33 receiving in the '98 opener vs. WMU. He started games 1-2 at the split end spot. He started at split end in the season opener vs. WMU when Williams earned the starting tailback nod and in game 2 when Williams missed the game with an ankle injury. Conner threw a 51-yd. touchdown pass to QB Antwaan Randle El on a double pass in game 3 at Cincinnati. Conner is now 4-4-125-1TD passing in his young career.
TIGHT ENDS - Junior Randy Maxwell, last year's starter at tight end, will miss the remainder of the season because of multiple concussions, the most recent coming in game 1 vs. WMU. After a solid sophomore season, Maxwell had an excellent spring and often drew praise from the IU coaching staff. One of the team's most tenacious players, he has earned a reputation for his work ethic and excellent hands. Maxwell started all 11 games last season and finished the season with 15 receptions. He earned the start vs. WMU in the 1998 season opener.
Redshirt freshman Sterling Mintzer has the ability to be a contributor and has shown signs that he has the potential to become a playmaker. He has played in games 1-6 and earned starts in games 2, 3 and 6. He made the first catch of his career in the Cinci. game. True freshman Craig Osika had an impressive training camp and has seen action in games 2-6 and earned a start vs. Iowa when the Hoosiers opened in a 2-TE set. Early in the 3rd qtr. at UK, Osika made a key 34-yd. recept. from Randle El on a 3rd-n-14 from the IU-35 that kept a drive alive. It was the first reception of his young career. He made the biggest play of his young career in OT at MSU when he grabbed a 15-yd. TD pass from Jay Rodgers that gave IU a 31-24 lead.
OFFENSIVE LINE - One of the key developments throughout camp was the competition for several O-line spots. Departed are two NFL draft picks, last year's left tackle Chris Liwienski (Minnesota Vikings' practice squad) and left guard Victor Allotey (Buffalo Bills' 53-man roster). Center Chris Lee (Blue-Gray Game participant following the 1997 season) and right guard Khalfani Banks also graduated.
The young, unproven, offensive line has improved throughout the year and has helped IU average 428.5 yards per game through the season's first six contests. The group of Elisara (LT), Broyles (LG), Miller (C), Snyder (RG), and Robeen (RT) have started every game as a unit. The group had started a total of 11 games (all by Robeen) heading into the '98 campaign.
The only returning starter is junior Craig Robeen who has started games 1-6 at right tackle. Robeen missed much of the second half of game 2 at Kentucky with a knee injury. He was replaced by Jeremy Johnson.
Cameron and his staff have been extremely impressed by junior college transfer Pita (pronounced Peeka) Elisara throughout the year. He has started at LT in games 1-6 and has been impressive. The Palomar (Calif.) J.C. product was one of the country's top junior college linemen in 1997.
Juniors Chad Miller (center) and Matt Snyder (right guard) and sophomore James Broyles (left guard) also earned starting nods in game 1 vs. WMU and helped the offensive unit tally 587 yards of total offense. The line was widely credited for IU's fourth-quarter success on several fourth-quarter drives in game 6 vs. Iowa that helped the Hoosiers score 14 unanswered points to secure a 14-7 victory.
DEFENSIVE LINE - There is no question that the D-line was expected be a team strength in '98 and the group has lived up to its advanced billing. First-team All-Big Ten DE Adewale Ogunleye leads the group after finishing last season with 21 TFLs and 10 sacks. Although just a soph in '97, his TFL tally was the second highest single-season total in school history behind Van Waiters' 24 during the '86 campaign.
This season, Ogunleye has lived up to the preseason hype that saw him make numerous preseason All-America teams. He has tallied 30 tackles, including 11 for loss and five sacks. He also has a fumble recovery. He has moved into first place on the all-time IU career TFL list with 47. He tallied 3 TFLs and 2 sacks in the season opener vs. WMU. He added 1 sack at UK in game 2. He sacked QB Tim Couch for a 10-yd. loss on a 3-n-11 play from the UK-31 in the 3rd. qtr. He added two more tackles for loss in game 6 vs. Iowa. Ogunleye is currently second on the IU career sack list (23.5).
Along with Wale', senior Bryan Bobay (DE) and junior Jason Czap (DT) emerged to earn starting spots in the season opener. Bobay did not start game 2 at UK as he spent most of the night prior to the game driving to and from Bloomington to be with his wife, Tracey, who was thought to be in labor with their second child. The Bobay's had a son, Thomas, prior to the Wisc. game.
Sophomore Paul Mandina played with the first unit most of the summer at middle guard but suffered a bursa sac injury during camp. He returned to start at defensive tackle in the season opener vs. WMU and tallied 4 tackles, including 1 for loss. Mandina was unable to play in game 2-3 because of the knee injury but returned to action in game 4 vs. Wisconsin and made 1 tackle. He saw extensive action in game 5 at Michigan State and played well. He tallied the first sack of his career when he threw MSU quarterback Bill Burke for a 8-yd. loss on a 3rd-n-10 from the IU-21.
Junior DT Damian Gregory, who started 10 games in '97 before breaking his wrist at Minn. in the next to last game of the season, was suspended for the '98 season opener for failing to pass a conditioning test. He returned to the starting lineup in game 2 at UK and tallied 5 tackles and 1 PBU. He played very well in game 4 vs. Wisc. as he finished with 7 total tackles. He followed up his effort vs. the Badgers with a 10 tackle, 3 sack, performance at MSU. He is a Lansing native and had 5 TFLs in the 1997 MSU game played in Bloomington.
Williams, who passed on an opportunity to be selected in the CFL draft this offseason, has shown great improvement. He earned the start at DE in place of Bobay at UK in game 2 and recovered a fumble for a TD in the third qtr. that gave IU a 27-10 lead. He started and continued to play well at Cinci. as he tallied 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 PBU. He sacked Cinci. QB Chad Plummer for a 12-yard loss on a 1st-n-10 from the C-34 in the 2nd qtr. He tallied 2 more tackles for loss vs. Wisc. In game 5 at MSU he made a huge play when he sacked Burke for a 17-yd. loss on a 3rd-n-6 from the IU-47 in the 3rd qtr. IU would score on its next drive to take the lead 17-16.
Senior DT Brady Shields tallied the first INT of his career in the 2nd qtr. of game 2 at Kentucky when he stepped in front of a QB Tim Couch pass at the line of scrimmage on a 1st-n-10 from the IU-38.
True freshman A.C. Myler has been impressive and saw action in game 2 at Kentucky at middle guard and extensive action in game 3 at Cinci. He tallied 1 tackle in the Cinci. game and helped force a fumble at Kent. He has not played in games 4-6.
LINEBACKERS - The Hoosiers return one of the Big Ten's better defenders in senior co-captain and Butkus Award nominee Jabar Robinson. Robinson, who started all 11 games at MLB in '97, has tallied 285 career tackles. He finished with a team-leading 101 tackles in 1997, including 12 for loss, on his way to earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
Robinson had 9 stops in season opener vs. WMU. He had a standout performance in game 2 at UK as he twice intercepted QB Tim Couch in the first half. He also tallied 18 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. His first qtr. interception of Couch helped set up a 41-yard FG by K Andy Payne and his 2nd qtr. INT led to a 33-yd. TD run by fellow co-captain Chris Gall on the ensuing series. Robinson tallied his third interception in two weeks in game 3 at Cinci. Robinson again led the team in tackles in game 4 vs. Wisconsin with 11 and with 10 more at MSU. He also made a big play in the MSU game when he stepped in front of a Bill Burke pass on a 3rd-n-2 from the IU-28 in the 4th qtr. IU would score on the ensuing drive to take a 24-16 lead. He again led the team in tackles with 10 stops in game 6 vs. Iowa. Robinson is currently tied for eighth in the country in INT per game average (0.67)
After Robinson, junior Brad Gecina has stepped up and moved into the starting role at SAM linebacker. He started there vs. WMU and tallied 6 tackles and 1 pass broken up and led the team in tackles at Cinci with 8. He had three stops vs. Wisconsin and played well at MSU, tallying 4 tackles.
"Brad Gecina was our most improved defensive player this past spring," said Cameron.
Sophomore Joslin Goodman has backed up Gecina and junior Pat Kraft backs up Robinson.
Redshirt freshman Devin Schaffer and sophomore Tony Brown have competed for the other outside linebacker job. Schaffer started the season opener vs. WMU and tallied 2 tackles, including 1 for loss. Brown saw action in 6 games as a true freshman in 1997 and has seen extensive action in games 2-6. He tallied 1 tackle vs. the Wildcats and 4 at Cinci, including 1 for loss. He had the most productive game of his young career vs. Wisconsin as he tallied 3 tackles, including 2 for loss. Made two solid defensive plays in the first half as he tackled Eddie Faulkner for a 5-yd. loss on a 2nd-n-14 on the Badgers' second series and he tackled Ron Dayne for a 2-yd. loss on a 1st-n-10 at the 50-yard line in the 2nd qtr.
Schaffer played well in game 6 vs. Iowa and tallied 5 tackles, including 1 for loss. Brown had 3 tackles vs. the Hawkeyes.
DEFENSIVE BACKS - While Indiana's receiving corps was one of America's youngest groups in '97, the IU secondary will be the youngest position grouping on the '98 squad. With the departures of seniors Joey Eloms (Seattle Seahawks practice squad), Kywin Supernaw (Detroit Lions practice squad), and Joe King, the secondary was an area of concern heading into the '98 campaign. However, the young unit has played well at times throughout the year.
At CB, returning starter Curtis Randle El has started games 1-6. He started the season opener vs. WMU and tallied 5 tackles and 1 PBU. He started game 2 at Kentucky and tallied 7 tackles, including 1 for loss. He had 4 tackles vs. Wisconsin. Randle El sacked Iowa QB Randy Reiners in the first qtr. of game 6. He finished the Iowa game with 9 tackles, including 1 for loss.
True freshmen Maurice Tucker and Sharrod Wallace, along with sophomore O.J. Spencer, have all seen time. Tucker earned the start at the corner spot opposite Randle El vs. WMU and at Kentucky while Spencer started games 3-6. Tucker missed game 5 at MSU with a dislocated elbow suffered one week earlier vs. Wisc. Spencer, who started two games in '97, played primarily on special teams and in the Hoosiers' nickel package last year. He did not start the season opener vs. WMU but did tally an interception in the 2nd qtr. when he stepped in front of a QB Tim Lester pass at the IU-11. Spencer added to his interception total in week 2 at Kentucky when he intercepted a QB Tim Couch pass on a 2nd-n-15 from the IU-18 late in the fourth qtr. He tallied his third INT of the season when he intercepted Iowa QB Randy Reiners on a 1st-down play in the second qtr.
At safety, Cameron is extremely excited about redshirt freshman Justin Smith, one of the first players to earn a starting spot this fall. Smith tallied 1 takeaway in each of the season's first three games this season. He did not disappoint in game 1 vs. WMU as he tallied 10 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass broken up. He recovered a RB Robert Sanford fumble at the IN-30 in the third qtr. Smith also started in game 2 at Kentucky and tallied a fumble recovery. He continued his string of takeaways in game 3 at Cinci as he tallied the first INT of his career. He played extremely well in game 6 vs. Iowa as he tallied 6 tackles, including 2 sacks for 12 yards in losses. He sacked QB Randy Reiners for a 3-yd. loss on a 2nd-4 from the Iowa-24 in the 1st qtr. He made a key play late in the 3rd qtr. when he threw Reiners for a 9-yd. loss on a 2nd-n-10 from the IU-30. It would force on Iowa punt and IU would score a touchdown on its next possession.
Smith has been joined at the free safety spot by junior Mike McGrath and redshirt freshman Brandon Rodgers. True freshman Greg Yeldell, the national high school record holder in the triple jump, will also see playing time and started in the IU dime package at Kentucky. Yeldell tallied the first INT of his career in game 6 vs. Iowa when he intercepted QB Randy Reiners on a 4th-n-1 from the Iowa-32 yard line on the Hawkeyes' final drive of the game. He is a special teams standout.
McGrath made one of the game's biggest plays in the season opener vs. Western Michigan when he intercepted a QB Tim Lester pass on a 3-n-14 play from the WMU-48 in the 4th qtr. IU was leading just 38-24 at the time but scored on its very next possession following the turnover to take a 45-24 lead. He again made a big play when he intercepted Iowa QB Randy Reiners in the 4th qtr. of game 6.
KICKING GAME - In the kicking game, the most productive punter in the history of IU has graduated and that left the Hoosiers without an established punter. Junior college transfer Drew Hagan enrolled at mid-semester and punted during spring drills. He is the all-time high school record holder for extra points in a single season (87). Hagan punted 6 times for a 46.8-yd. average in game 2 at Kentucky. One of the punts was a career-long 72-yard boot. Hagan placed a punt inside the 5-yd. line vs. UW that helped set up an Andy Payne FG prior to halftime that gave IU a 6-3 lead. Hagan punted extremely well in game 6 vs. Iowa as he finished 7-42.7-66LG.
Sophomore K Andy Payne returns after an impressive freshman campaign.
He went from having to win his job in warmups prior to the '97 season opener
at North Carolina to kicking 15 FGs on the year. Payne had seven combined
field goals in games 9-10 and tied his own school record with four field
goals at Minnesota. So far in 1998, Payne has connected on 8 of 9 FGAs and
21 of 22 XPAs. He connected on a 31-yd. field goal attempt vs. WMU. He made
kicks of 41 and 36 yards in game 2 at Kentucky and he hit field goals of
42 and 49 yds. in game 5 at Cinci. The 49-ydr was a career long. Payne was
2-2 on FGAs vs. Wisconsin in poor weather conditions as he connected on
kicks of 30 and 45 yds. in the first half. He made a 32-yard attempt at
MSU.
Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood
Senior co-captain Jabar Robinson, a Butkus Award candidate, had one
of the finest performances by a Big Ten defender in recent memory in game
2 at UK. All the linebacker from Fr. Wayne, Ind., did was tally two interceptions
of Wildcat Heisman hopeful QB Tim Couch and notched 18 tackles, including
2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Robinson tallied another interception in
game 3 at Cincinnati when he stepped in front of a QB David Bertucci pass
in the 4th qtr. He tallied his fourth INT of the season in game 5 at Michigan
State when he intercepted QB Bill Burke in the fourth qtr. His 4 INTs ties
him for eighth nationally in INTs per game.
Wally's World
· Junior defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, a first-team All-Big
Ten selection in 1997, was named to three different preseason All-America
teams prior to the season. He was recognized as a second-team All-America
defensive lineman by Sport Magazine, Lindy's and Football News.
· The 6-foot-5, 260-pound, Ogunleye has notched 47 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks in his two-plus seasons at Indiana.
· Wale' moved into first place on the IU career tackle for loss list with 1 sack at Michigan State.
Indiana Career Sack Leaders
1. 25.0 Van Waiters, 1983, 85-87
2. 23.5 Adewale Ogunleye, 1996-
3. 22.0 Greg Farrall, 1988-91
4. 17.0 Joe Huff, 1984, 86-88
5. 16.0 Hurvin McCormack, 1990-93
Indiana Career Tackles for Loss
1. 47 Adewale Ogunleye, 1996-
2. 44 Van Waiters, 1985-87
3. 40 Greg Farrall, 1988-91
4. 37 Nathan Davis, 1993-96
5. 35 Joe Huff, 1984, 86-88
Ground Gainers
After tallying just 999 rushing yards all of 1997, IU has rushed for
1,357 yards in the season's first 6 games for an average of 226.2 ypg. IU's
rushing totals in games 1-6 are as follows: Western Michigan (202), Kentucky
(168), Cincinnati (346), Wisconsin (146), Michigan State (251), and Iowa
(244).
Leading the NCAA
Indiana is tied for the NCAA lead in interceptions with 13 after its
first six games. North Carolina State (6 games) and Wisconsin (7 games)
have also intercepted 13 passes in 1998. Seven different Indiana players
have pilfered passes this season (Jabar Robinson-4, O.J. Spencer-3, Michael
McGrath-2, Justin Smith-1, Greg Yeldell-1, Brady Shields-1, Brandon Rodgers-1).
The IU record for interceptions in a season is 22 which was set in 1945.
Sharing the Wealth
Four different IU players have tallied 100-yd. rushing games in 1998.
Quarterback Antwaan Randle El (twice), fullback Chris Gall, and tailbacks
Marcus Floyd and Frankie Franklin have all surpassed the century mark.
at Kentucky - Chris Gall (5-100-1TD)
at Cincinnati - A. Randle El (18-113-1TD) and Marcus Floyd (17-105-0TD)
at Michigan St. - A. Randle El (21-134-1TD)
vs. Iowa - Frankie Franklin (28-146-0TD)
INDIANA GAME-BY-GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Game 1 vs. Western Michigan - Indiana defeated Western Michigan in the
season opener, 45-30. The victory snapped the Broncos' 7-game winning streak,
the nation's fourth-longest...redshirt freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle
El, playing in his first college game, accounted for all six IU touchdowns.
He completed 22 of 29 passes for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns and carried
23 times for 82 yards and 3 additional scores. He wins co-Big Ten Offensive
Player-of-the-Week honors...sophomore wideout Tyrone Browning caught 13
passes for 258 yards and 1 touchdown. His 258 yards is the second highest
total in Big Ten history...Indiana tallies 587 yards of total offense and
garners three takeaways on defense.
Game 2 at Kentucky - Indiana lead 27-10 in the third quarter but fell to the Wildcats, 31-27...Indiana's defense intercepted Heisman Trophy candidate Tim Couch four times...senior linebacker Jabar Robinson tallied 18 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack...senior defensive end Aaron Williams scored a touchdown on a third quarter fumble recovery to give the Hoosiers a 27-10, third-quarter, lead...senior fullback Chris Gall rushed 5 times for 100 yards and 1 touchdown.
Game 3 at Cincinnati - A large contingent of Indiana fans help set a record attendance for a Cincinnati home game at Nippert Stadium (32,117). Indiana wins, 48-14...freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle El rushed for a touchdown, threw a touchdown pass, and caught a TD pass in the game. Randle El rushed 18 times for 113 yards. He became only the fifth quarterback in IU history to rush for 100 yards in a game...sophomore running back Marcus Floyd posted career rushing highs of 17 carries for 105 yards. It was the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. With Randle El and Floyd both topping the 100-yard mark, it was the first time two Hoosiers topped the century mark in the same game since September 17, 1994, when Alex Smith (221 yards) and Jermaine Chaney (167 yards) turned the trick vs. Kentucky...Jabar Robinson recorded his third interception of the season...sophomore kicker Andy Payne's 49-yard field goal in the second quarter was a career-long effort...Indiana scored its 120th point of the season equalling its season total for the 1997 campaign.
Game 4 vs. Wisconsin - Indiana lead thirteenth-ranked Wisconsin, 20-17, early in the fourth quarter but the Hoosiers are unable to hold on and fall to the Badgers, 24-20...sophomore wide receiver Derin Graham's 100-yard kickoff return to open the second half tied the Indiana record set in 1915 by Freal McIntosh against Washington & Lee. The return also broke the Memorial Stadium record of 97 yards by Arizona's Rick Stevenson in 1968. It was IU's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Duane Gunn's 97-yard return at Syracuse in 1981. Graham wins Big Ten Special Team Player-of-the-Week honors for his effort...Adewale Ogunleye tied the Indiana career record for tackles for loss with 44, tying him with Van Waiters who played for the Hoosiers from 1983-87...Andy Payne connects on both of his field goal attempts. He improves his season mark to 7 for 7 on FGAs.
Game 5 at Michigan St. - Indiana overcomes a 16-0 deficit to take
a 24-16 fourth-quarter lead at MSU. However, the Spartans rally to win 38-31
in 2 OT...Indiana's defense sacks quarterback Bill Burke six times. Junior
defensive tackle Damian Gregory, a Lansing, Mich., tallies three. Adewale
Ogunleye, Aaron Williams, and Paul Mandina also notch sacks. Ogunleye's
sack moved him into first place on IU's all-time tackle for loss list with
45...Antwaan Randle El suffers a concussion late in the fourth quarter that
forces him out of action for the remainder of the game. Before leaving he
rushes 21 times for 134 yards and 1 TD. The 134 yards were the most rushing
yards by an IU quarterback in school history. He also completed 10 of 16
passes for 147 yards...kicker Andy Payne's 32-yard field goal in the 2nd
qtr. extends his consecutive field goal streak to eight.
Game 6 vs. Iowa - For the first time this season Indiana enters the
fourth quarter of a game behind on the scoreboard but this time Indiana
scores 14 unanswered points to win, 14-7. In doing so, IU becomes the first
team in the history of the Big Ten Conference to lose to a team by 60 or
more points and then turn around and defeat the same team the next season...QB
Antwaan Randle El wins co-Big Ten Player-of-the-Week honors as he finishes
16-84-1TD rushing, 19-8-114-1INT passing. He leads Indiana on fourth-quarter
scoring drives of 99 and 75 yards, tallying on an 8-yd. touchdown run with
:41 remaining in the game to give IU a 14-7 lead after passing to WR Levron
Williams for a two-point conversion. The first fourth-quarter scoring drive
was 15 plays, covered 99 yards, and took 6:12 of the clock. That drive pulled
IU to within 7-6. The extra point attempt was blocked. Indiana took possession
again, this time at its own 25, trailing 7-6 with 1:58 remaining in the
game. Randle El was 2 of 3 for 54 yards passing on the drive and capped
it with an 8-yd. scoring run...Indiana tallies 3 more interceptions to improve
its NCAA-leading total to 13...junior running back Frankie Franklin rushes
28 times for 146 yards. He becomes the fourth Indiana player to rush for
over 100 yards in a game this season (A. Randle El on two occasions, Marcus
Floyd, Chris Gall).
The Cam Cameron Show: One of the nation's finest coaches shows, The
Cam Cameron Show allows viewers throughout Indiana and the Midwest to go
behind the scenes of Indiana University football.
The Cam Cameron Show, hosted by former IU basketball standout John Laskowski, is a fast-paced, informative, television program that allows fans to see Indiana football at its finest.
The list of affiliates is as follows (check your local listings; all times are local)
Indianapolis - WTTV - 11:30 a.m.
Fort Wayne - WKJG - 11:00 a.m.
South Bend - WHME - 7:30 p.m.
Evansville - WEVV - 10:30 a.m.
Louisville - WFTE - Noon
Terre Haute - WTHI - 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.
Merrillville - WYIN - 11:30 a.m.
Cincinnati - WBQC - 11:30 a.m.
Dayton - MVC - 5:30 p.m.
Chicago - TCI of Northeast Illinois - 7:00 p.m.
Cleveland, Ohio - WAX 35 - 11:30 a.m.
Big Red Football: IU play-by-play announcer Don Fischer will be hosting
the Big Red Football Show on WTIU this fall. The first show will air on
Monday, September 7 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
Cam Cameron Weekly Radio Show: One of the country's finest sports
broadcasters, Don Fischer is the host of the Cam Cameron weekly call-in
show. The show will air on over 50 affiliates throughout the state of Indiana
on Thursday nights at 7:05 p.m. EST. Click on the link to listen to the most recent show.
Go back to the Top
1998 UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART AS OF OCTOBER 19
OFFENSE
SE 5 LEVRON WILLIAMS (So./So.)
2 Versie Gaddis (Jr./So.)/4 O.J. Conner (So./So.)
LT 74 PITA ELISARA (Jr./Jr.)
77 Jeremy Johnson (Sr./Jr.)
LG 66 JAMES BROYLES (Jr./So.)
70 Enoch DeMar (Fr./Fr.)
C 77 CHAD MILLER (Sr./Jr.)
61 Jason Stealy (Sr./Jr.)
RG 65 MATT SNYDER (Sr./Jr.)
76 Nate DeArmond (So./Fr.)
RT 78 CRAIG ROBEEN (Sr./Jr.)
64 Nick Abruzzo (Jr./So.)
TE 88 STERLING MINTZER (So./Fr.)
89 Craig Osika (Fr./Fr.)
FL 23 TYRONE BROWNING (So./So.)
19 Derin Graham (So./So.)
QB 11 ANTWAAN RANDLE EL (So./Fr.)
12 Jay Rodgers (Sr./Jr.)
RB 31 FRANKIE FRANKLIN (Jr./Jr.)
24 Marcus Floyd (So./So.)/26 De'Wayne Hogan (So./So.)
FB 40 CHRIS GALL (Sr./Sr.)
28 Jason Spear (Jr./Jr.)
DEFENSE
DE 93 ADEWALE OGUNLEYE (Sr./Jr.)
92 Kemp Rasmussen (So./Fr.)
DT DAMIAN GREGORY (Sr./Jr.)
73 Paul Mandina (Jr./So.)/62 A.C. Myler (Fr./Fr.)
DT 68 JASON CZAP (Sr./Jr.)
56 Brady Shields (Sr./Sr.)
DE 99 AARON WILLIAMS (Sr./Sr.)
46 Bryan Bobay (Sr./Sr.)
LB 94 TONY BROWN (So./So.) or
8 Devin Schaffer (So./Fr.)
LB 55 JABAR ROBINSON (Sr./Sr.)
47 Pat Kraft (Jr./Jr.)
LB 58 BRAD GECINA (Sr./Jr.)
51 Joslin Goodman (So./So.)
CB 9 O.J. SPENCER (Jr./So.)
21 Maurice Tucker (Fr./Fr.)
CB 10 CURTIS RANDLE EL (Jr./Jr.)
22 Sharrod Wallace (Fr./Fr.)
SS 27 JUSTIN SMITH (So./Fr.)
20 Greg Yeldell (Fr./Fr.)
FS 38 MIKE McGRATH (Sr./Jr.)
34 Brandon Rodgers (So./Fr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
P 48 Drew Hagan (Jr./Jr.)
24 J.R. Drummond (So./Fr.)
K 30 Andy Payne (Jr./So.)
49 Matt Rials (Fr./Fr.)
KO 30 Andy Payne (Jr./So.)
48 Drew Hagan (Jr./Jr.)
H 12 Jay Rodgers (Sr./Jr.)
11 Antwaan Randle El (So./Fr.)
PR 5 Levron Williams (So./So.)
23 Tyrone Browning (So./So.)
KR 19 Derin Graham (So./So.)
31 Frankie Franklin (Jr./Jr.)
PC 53 Colin Frost (Fr./Fr.)
66 James Broyles (Jr./So.)
KC 66 James Broyles (Jr./So.)
53 Colin Frost (Fr./Fr.)
Italics indicates an injured player who will not play in the next game
Go back to the Top
