Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Travels to East Lansing to take on the Spartans
10/5/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
October 5, 1998
Indiana Travels to East Lansing to take on the SpartansGAME FIVE: Indiana will play its first Big Ten road game of the
season on Saturday, October 10, when the Hoosiers travel to East Lansing,
Mich., to take on the Michigan State Spartans. Game time is set for 11:10
a.m. EST/12:10 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised on ESPN ... IU will
enter Saturday's game with a 2-2 overall record and an 0-1 mark in the Big
Ten after falling at home to Wisconsin last Saturday, 24-20. IU held the
13th-ranked Badgers to 253 total yards. Junior DE Adewale Ogunleye tallied
2 tackles for loss, moving him into a first-place tie on IU's career tackle
for loss list with Van Waiters (44 TFL from 1983-87). Sophomore Derin Graham
tallied a 100-yard kickoff return for a score to open the second half. He
earned Big Ten Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors for his efforts ...
MSU will bring a 2-3 record (0-1 Big Ten) into Saturday's game. The Spartans
defeated in-state foe Central Michigan last week, 38-7. They have also posted
an impressive 45-23 victory over Notre Dame.
TELEVISION AND RADIO
TV: 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) - out
WR Levron Williams (l. ankle) - doubtful
RB Glynn Johnson (r. knee) - questionable
INDIANA-MICHIGAN STATE CONNECTIONS:
Hoosiers with ties to Michigan State and the state of Michigan: 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 ...
head coach Cam Cameron was an assistant coach and graduate assistant at
the University of Michigan from 1984-93 ... linebackers coach Ron Burton
coached linebackers at Eastern Michigan from 1995-96 ... 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 coach at Michigan (1990-93) ... junior linebacker James
Lamar played at Ypsilanti H.S. ... redshirt freshman tight end Sterling
Mintzer prepped at Orchard Lake St. Mary's H.S. ... freshman tackle Garon
Oseff played at West Bloomfield H.S. ... freshman defensive lineman Kemp
Rasmussen played at Lapeer West High School ... junior guard Jason Stealy
played at Marshall High School in Marshall, Mich.
Spartans with ties to Indiana University and the state of Indiana: Offensive
coordinator/quarterbacks coach Gary Tranquill was the head coach at Ball
State in 1970 ... running backs coach Bobby Williams was a graduate assistant
at Purdue for six months and a running backs and defensive backs coach at
Ball State from 1983-84 ... freshman punter Craig Jarrett prepped at Martinsville
High School ... sophomore safety John Marynowski attended Homestead High
School in Fort Wayne ... senior center Jason Strayhorn played high school
football at North Central High School in Indianapolis.
THE MATCHUP
Indiana and Michigan State come into Saturday's game having met 48 times
previously. Michigan State leads the all-time series, 33-13-2, including
a 17-5-1 advantage in games played in East Lansing ... The Spartans forfeited
a 27-21 win in 1994 ... Michigan State has won the last three meetings between
the two schools, including a 38-6 victory in Bloomington last season ...
Indiana last defeated the Spartans on October 30, 1993, by the score of
10-0. IU's stingy defense allowed Michigan State just 41 yards rushing and
held the Spartans to 161 yards in total offense, after Michigan State came
into the game averaging 399 yards a game. The win was also the last time
that IU defeated a ranked opponent, as the Spartans were ranked 22nd nationally
at the time. IU was ranked 23rd at the time of the game.
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 State's Nick Saban: The 46-year-old Saban is in his fourth year as head coach of the Spartans. Saban was the first coach in Michigan State football history to lead his team to bowl games in each of his first three seasons, taking the Spartans to the Independence Bowl in 1995, the Sun Bowl in 1996, and the Aloha Bowl last season. Michigan State finished in a sixth-place tie with Iowa in the Big Ten standings in 1997. During Saban's first two years at the helm he led the club to back-to-back fifth place finishes in the Big Ten Conference.
From 1983-87, Saban served as the secondary coach and defensive coordinator at Michigan State. He played a key role in the Spartans' Big Ten championship in 1987 and their 1988 Rose Bowl victory over Southern California before moving to the NFL.
Saban served as the secondary coach for the Houston Oilers from 1988-89. In 1990, he assumed head coaching duties at Toledo where he registered a 9-2 record in his only season at the school. From there, Saban moved on to Cleveland where he served as the defensive coordinator for the Browns from 1991-94. In '94, the Browns allowed the fewest points of any team in the NFL.
Prior to his first stint at Michigan State, Saban served as an assistant
at Navy (1982), Ohio State (1980-81), West Virginia (1978-79), and Kent,
his alma mater, from 1973-76.
POSITION BREAKDOWN
QUARTERBACK - It's been a long time since the competition for the starting
quarterback job at Indiana had created as much excitement and discussion
as it did heading into the 1998 campaign. The battle between junior Jay
Rodgers and redshirt freshman Antwaan Randle El was waged throughout the
spring and fall and was not decided until late in the week prior to game
1 vs. Western Michigan. A redshirt freshman, Randle El got the starting
nod in the season opener and answered the call. Making his first collegiate
start, he completed 22 of 29 passes for 385 yards and 3 TDs and ran 23 times
for 82 yards and 3 scores. His 467 yards of total offense is the all-time
IU record and 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 completed 12 of 34 passes for 162 yards and 1 interception. He
had a 3-yd. touchdown 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 touchdown. Randle El finished 18-113-1TD rushing, 21-9-186-1TD passing, and was 1-51-1TD receiving. He finished the game with 299 yards of total offense and 164 all-purpose yards. On a 1st-n-10 from the IU-49 at Cinci., Randle El caught a 51-yard touchdown from wide receiver O.J. Conner on a double pass. Randle El was 19-10-145-2INT passing and 23-34 rushing vs. Wisconsin. His 17-yd. rush at the end of the first staff helped set up a 45-yard field goal by K Andy Payne to give IU a 6-3 lead heading into halftime.
Randle El, a partial academic qualifier last season, practiced but did not play in 1997. His practice performances have made him one of the most talked about young players in the history of the IU football program. Cameron likes the package he brings to the table. "He's more than just an athlete. He's a guy who can throw the football, is smart and is a competitor." Said WMU coach Gary Darnell, "He was like trying to catch a 180-pound bass." The redshirt freshman also plays in the backcourt for the IU basketball team.
Prior to the season opener, Rodgers had started 16 consecutive games after taking over the starting role in a game at Michigan in 1996. The Austin, Texas, native completed 58.2 percent of his passes in 1997, 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 yards list. Cameron says of Rodgers, "Over the next couple of years, he has a chance to become an extremely smart quarterback. He does a lot of things well and he will continue to get better and better."
Add Earl Haniford and highly regarded freshmen Tommy Jones and Gibran Hamdan to Randle El and Rodgers and Indiana potentially has one of the finest quarterbacking casts in the Big Ten Conference.
Haniford backed up Rodgers last season and has shown improvement over the last year. One of the most prolific passers in the history of high school football, Cameron says this former high school All-America selection has shown steady improvement. "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 1997 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 1997, is a 6-5, 225, strong-armed quarterback 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 1997 season and was recognized as the team's co-Most Valuable Player (along with safety Kywin Supernaw) following the 1997 campaign. He finished the 1997 season with 54 catches in 10 games despite suffering a left knee sprain in game 10 at Minnesota that sidelined him for the season finale vs. Purdue. Gall is expected to be one of the Big Ten's finest fullbacks in '98 and has played extremely well this season.
Gall caught 3 passes for 23 yards in the 1998 season opener vs. Western Michigan including a 6-yd. TD pass from Antwaan Randle El in the 4th qtr. Gall also added a 38-yard kickoff return late in the first qtr. that helped set up IU's third touchdown.
Gall had a stellar contest in game 2 at Kentucky. 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. touchdown. The 53-yard rush and the 33-yard touchdown run were both career longs. Gall finished the game with a career-high 100 rushing yards.
At Cincinnati in game 3, Gall continued to show why he was IU's co-MVP in 1997 finishing 10-47-2TDs rushing. In a 4th qtr. offensive series at Cinci., 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. UW in game 4 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.
Moving from tailback to fullback during spring practice prior to the 1998 campaign was junior Jason Spear. He showed flashes of being a steady Big Ten tailback during the 1997 campaign and has put on additional strength and muscle to handle the various demands of the position. Spear was 3-10-5LG rushing in game 3 at Cincinnati.
TAILBACK - While senior co-captain Chris Gall is expected to be one of the finest all-around fullbacks in the Big Ten in 1998, the starting tailback role has been up for grabs throughout the season with sophomores De'Wayne Hogan, Marcus Floyd, and junior college transfer Frankie Franklin all seeing action. Floyd, however, has seen the most playing time in games 3-4.
Sophomore Levron Williams will likely split time between wide receiver and running back throughout the season but 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.
Williams, one of the nation's most highly recruited running backs two years ago, opened the Western Michigan game as the starting tailback and rushed 3 times for 32 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 81 yards and 1 touchdown.
Despite the absence of Williams who missed his second consecutive game with an ankle injury, the Hoosiers rushed for 359 yards in game 3 at Cincinnati.
Hogan started six games last season as a true freshman and rushed for 506 yards and 4 touchdowns. He carried 34 times for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns in game 4 at Wisconsin in 1997 and he rushed 38 times for 164 yards and 1 touchdown vs. Illinois. The 164-yard effort vs. the Illini marked the most rushing yards by a true freshman at IU since current running backs coach Anthony Thompson rushed for 207 yards versus Wisconsin in 1986. A physical specimen (bench presses 225 pounds 25 times), Hogan's punishing running style seemed to fuel the Hoosiers' entire offense at times in '97. In the season opener vs. Western Michigan 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 1997, 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, Floyd finished 17-105 rushing. Floyd also played well vs. Wisconsin in game 4 as he rushed 12 times for 68 yards for an average of 5.7 yards per carry.
Junior college transfer Frankie Franklin saw fourth quarter action against the Bearcats and finished 5-51-1TD rushing, including a nifty 32-yard touchdown run on a 3rd-n-2 late in the 4th qtr. Franklin was the state of Florida's "Mr. Football" in 1995.
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.
Sophomore Versie Gaddis, who missed the entire 1997 season after reconstructive knee surgery, has started games 3 and 4 after showing signs this past spring why he was considered as one of the Big Ten's ascending young stars in 1996. Gaddis did suffer a shoulder injury during summer training camp that has slowed his progress but he did see action at Kentucky and earned the starting nod at split end in game 3 at Cincinnati and in game 4 vs. Wisconsin. Gaddis, who was one of just four true freshmen to win a letter in 1996, caught 7 passes for 146 yards (team-leading 20.9 average per catch) that season but suffered a torn ACL during the first day of spring drills in 1997. He was lost for the season after reconstructive knee surgery but has since returned and has the speed and ability to be an important contributor at wideout. He 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 1996 season. Gaddis was 1-19 receiving in game 4 vs. Wisconsin. He made a difficult catch on a slant in the fourth qtr.
Although both were unable to practice in '97 and again this past spring, former high school standouts Levron Williams and Derin Graham are eligible for the '98 season and have impressed many observers early this season. Williams 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 Cincinnati and was 2-50-40LG receiving.
Indiana's most consistent receiver through the first four games has been sophomore Tyrone Browning. In game 1 vs. Western Michigan, Browning caught 13 passes for 258 yards and 1 touchdown. The yardage total is the second-best total in Big Ten history behind Indiana's Thomas Lewis who tallied 285 yards at Penn State in 1993. Browning was 5-55-19LG receiving at Kentucky in game 2. Browning also contributed to the offensive attack in 1997 by adding 24 catches for 367 yards. He played in the final 10 games of the 1997 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.
Conner, a tall, wiry, receiver finished his freshman campaign with 28 catches for 520 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was 3-33 receiving in the 1998 opener vs. Western Michigan. 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 against Western Michigan in game 1. 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 at tight end in 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 1-4 and earned starts in game 2 at Kentucky and game 3 at Cincinnati in place of Maxwell. He made the first catch of his career in the Cinci. game. True freshman tight end Craig Osika had an impressive training camp and has seen action in games 2-4. Early in the 3rd qtr. at Kentucky, Osika made a key 34-yd. reception 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.
OFFENSIVE LINE - One of the key developments throughout training camp was the competition for several offensive line spots. Departed are two NFL draft picks, last year's left tackle Chris Liwienski (Minnesota Vikings' practice squad) and left guard Victor Allotey (currently on 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 continued its maturation process in game 3 at Cinci as it helped the IU offense tally 583 yards of total offense, including 346 rushing yards. The group of Elisara (LT), Broyles (LG), Miller (C), Snyder (RG), and Robeen (RT) have started games 1-4 as a unit. The group had started a total of 11 games (all by Robeen) heading into the 1998 campaign.
The only returning starter is junior Craig Robeen has started games 1-4 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 training camp. He started at left tackle in games 1-4 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. Western Michigan and helped the offensive unit tally 587 yards of total offense. All three also earned starting spots in games 2-4. They helped the Hoosiers tally 330 and 583 yards of total offense at Kentucky and at Cincinnati, respectively.
DEFENSIVE LINE - There is no question that the defensive line
was expected be a team strength in 1998 and the group has lived up to its
advanced billing. First-team All-Big Ten DE Adewale Ogunleye leads the group
after finishing the 1997 campaign with 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
Although just a sophomore in '97, Ogunleye's tackle for loss tally was the
second highest single-season total in school history behind Van Waiters'
24 during the 1986 campaign. Ogunleye tallied 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks
in the season opener vs. WMU. He added 1 sack and 2 tackles for loss (-12
yards) at Kentucky in game 2. He sacked QB Tim Couch for a 10-yard loss
on a 3-n-11 play from the UK-31 in the third qtr.
Ogunleye is currently second on the IU career sack list (22.5) and moved
into that spot by tallying yet another sack in game 3 at Cinci. In game
4 vs. Wisconsin, Wally moved into a first-place tie on the IU all-time TFL
loss list with 44. He ties Van Waiters who tallied 44 TFLs from 1983-87.
Along with Ogunleye, 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 Kentucky as he spent most of the evening 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. She had their second son, Tommy, prior to the Wisconsin 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. Western Michigan 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.
Junior defensive tackle Damian Gregory, who started 10 games in 1997 before breaking his wrist at Minnesota in the next to last game of the season, was suspended for the 1998 season opener for failing to pass a conditioning test. He returned to the starting lineup in game 2 at Kentucky and tallied 5 tackles and 1 pass broken up. He played very well in game 4 vs. Wisconsin as he finished with 7 total tackles.
Williams, who passed on an opportunity to be selected in the Canadian Football League draft this offseason, showed great improvement in '97 and finished the year with 6 TFL, 2 sacks, and 1 INT. He earned the start at DE in place of Bobay at Kentucky in game 2 and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the third qtr. that gave the Hoosiers a 27-10 lead. He started and continued to play well at Cinci. as he tallied 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 pass broken up. He sacked Cinci. QB Chad Plummer for a 12-yard loss on a 1st-n-10 from the C-34 in the 2nd qtr. Williams tallied 2 more tackles for loss vs. Wisconsin.
Shields tallied the first interception 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.
LINEBACKERS - The Hoosiers return one of the Big Ten's better defenders in senior co-captain Jabar Robinson. Robinson, who started all 11 games at middle linebacker in 1997, has tallied 265 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 Kentucky 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 field goal by K Andy Payne and his 2nd qtr. interception 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. It was the seventh pilfer of his career. Robinson again led the team in tackles in game 4 vs. Wisconsin with 11.
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.
"Brad Gecina was our most improved defensive player this past spring,"
said Cameron.
Sophomore Joslin Goodman will look to back up Gecina and junior Pat Kraft should see action at middle linebacker along with 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 saw extensive action in games 2-4. 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.
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 and has 9 INTs in 4 games.
At cornerback, returning starter Curtis Randle El has started games 1-4. He moved from CB to SS midway through the '97 season. 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. True freshmen Maurice Tucker and Sharrod Wallace, along with sophomore O.J. Spencer, will all see time at corner. Tucker earned the start at the corner spot opposite Randle El vs. WMU and at Kentucky while Spencer started games 3 and 4. Spencer, who started two games in 1997, 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.
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 the season opener 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 will be 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. He tallied 5 tackles.
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.
KICKING GAME - In the kicking game, the most productive punter in the history of Indiana University 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.
Sophomore K Andy Payne returns after an impressive freshman campaign.
He went from having to win his job in warmups prior to the 1997 season opener
at North Carolina to kicking 15 field goals on the year. He established
himself as one of the fine young kickers in the Big Ten. 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 connected on a 31-yard field goal attempt vs. WMU.
He connected on 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 yards in the first half. He is a perfect
7-7 on the season.
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 44 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks in his two-plus seasons at Indiana.
· Wally moved into a first place tie on IU's career tackle for loss list with a 2 TFL performance vs. Wisconsin in game 4 and into 2nd place on the IU all-time sack list with 1 sack at Cincinnati. In four games this season he has tallied 4 sacks and 8 tackles for loss.
Indiana Career Sack Leaders
1. 25.0 Van Waiters, 1983, 85-87
2. 22.5 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
1t. 44 Adewale Ogunleye, 1996-
1t. 44 Van Waiters, 1985-87
3. 40 Greg Farrall, 1988-91
4. 37 Nathan Davis, 1993-96
5. 35 Joe Huff, 1984, 86-88
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.
· 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.
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.
1998 UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART AS OF OCTOBER 5
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 26 DE'WAYNE HOGAN (So./So.)
or 24 Marcus Floyd (So./So.)/31 Frankie Franklin (Jr./Jr.)
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.)
62 A.C. Myler (Fr./Fr.)/73 Paul Mandina (Jr./So.)
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.)
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 indicated an injured player who will not play vs. Michigan State
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