Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Closes Season at Purdue
11/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Indiana Closes Season at Purdue
GAME ELEVEN - Indiana will travel to West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday, November 21 to take on the Purdue Boilermakers. Game time at Ross-Ade Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m. The game will not be televised. Saturday's game will mark the 101st meeting between the two teams and it will be the 74th meeting for the Old Oaken Bucket, one of college football's most coveted trophies...IU will enter Saturday's game with a 4-6 overall record and a 2-5 mark in the Big Ten while Purdue is 7-4 and has notched a 5-2 conference mark...junior DB Curtis Randle El was named Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Week following his performance in last week's 20-19 victory over Minnesota. He tallied 7 tackles, including 2 for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. His second quarter interception led to Indiana's first touchdown. He sacked Minnesota quarterback Billy Cockerham for a 5-yd. loss on a 4th-down and seven at the IU-28 with 1:00 remaining in the game to help secure the victory.
TELEVISION - None
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:
TE Bobby Brandt (r. knee) - out
TE Randy Maxwell (concussion) - out
LB Jason McWilliams (r. knee)- out
DT A.C. Myler (both knees) - out
RB Frankie Franklin (knee) - probable
WR Levron Williams (ankle) - probable
DE Adewale Ogunleye (ribs) - probable
CB Sharrod Wallace (foot) - questionable
SS Justin Smith (shoulder) - questionable
WR O.J. Conner (groin) - questionable
THE MATCHUP
Today's game between Indiana and Purdue will be the 101st meeting between
the two schools in football. Purdue leads the all-time series against the
Hoosiers, 60-34-6, but Indiana has won seven of the last 11 games played
between the two schools...the Hoosiers defeated the Boilermakers in the
last game played between the two teams in West Lafayette by a score of 33-16
in 1996 ...IU's last victory over the Boilermakers in Bloomington was a
24-17 win in 1993, with Purdue winning last year's game 56-7...The matchup
will mark the 74th time that the two teams have battled for the Old Oaken
Bucket, with the Boilermakers leading the series since the battle for the
Oaken Bucket began, 46-24-3.
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.
Purdue's Joe Tiller - In his second season as the coach of the Boilers, Tiller came to Purdue in 1997 following an eight-year stint as the head coach at Wyoming. In his eight years in Laramie, Tiller compiled a 39-30-1 record. In 1993, he led the Cowboys to a share of the WAC title and a berth in the Copper Bowl. Last season, Tiller led Wyoming to a 10-2 record and a WAC championship. In his first year at the Boilers' helm, he led Purdue to a 9-3 record, including a 33-20 win over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.
Prior to his efforts at Wyoming, Tiller coached at Montana State (1964-70), his alma mater, and Washington State (1971-73) before moving to the Canadian Football League.
Tiller spent nine seasons (1974-82) with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. After four years as offensive and defensive line coach and one season as interim head coach he moved into the front office where he served as director of player personnel for five seasons.
In 1983, Tiller began his first tenure as a Purdue football coach. He served as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach from 1983-86 before leaving to take the offensive coordinator's job at Wyoming. He was the coordinator at Wyoming for two seasons prior to his return to Washington State in 1989. Tiller served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Washington State for two seasons before becoming the head coach at Wyoming in 1991.
MAKING EACH TRIP COUNT -- 100% Red Zone Efficiency
Indiana has made 25 trips inside its opponents "red zone"
(a first-down play inside the 20-yard line) this year and has scored on
every visit (19 touchdowns, 6 field goals).
PAYNE NAMED GROZA AWARD SEMIFINALIST
Sophomore kicker Andy Payne has been selected as one of 20 semifinalists
for the Lou Groza Award by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the
Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award Committee. A national panel of voters
made up of media representation, NFL kickers, conference officials, and
previous award winners will narrow down the top 20 semifinalist to the three
finalists. The winner of the award will be announced on December 8, 1998,
at the Sheraton West Palm Beach Hotel.
Payne has connected on 10 of 11 field goals this season. He is 6 of 6
on kicks inside of 40 yards and has connected on 4 of 5 kicks in the 40-49
yard range.
ROBINSON JOINS 300 TACKLE CLUB · Looks to Move into Top 5 on
All-Time IU List
Senior co-captain Jabar Robinson, a Butkus Award nominee, tallied 9
tackles vs. Ohio State to reach the 300-tackle plateau for his career. He
added 16 tackles to his tally in game 9 at Illinois and 12 more in a game
10 win over Minnesota to bring his career total to 329. He 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.
Indiana University All-Time Tackle List
1. Joe Norman, 444, 1975-78
2. Willie Bates, 384, 1985-88
3. Donnie Thomas, 369, 1973-75
4. Craig Walls, 342, 1979-81
5. Mark Weiler, 337, 1981-84
HOW'S THAT FOR A TURNAROUND?
In eight games against opponents whom IU played in '97, the Hoosiers
have totaled a 136-point turnaround (Kentucky +38; Wisconsin -3; Michigan
State +25; Iowa +69; Michigan +26; Ohio State 0, Illinois -32, Minnesota
+13).
BILL ARMSTRONG · SPIRIT OF INDIANA
That is the sticker that Indiana will be wearing on its helmets throughout
the 1998 campaign. Armstrong, retired president of the IU Foundation, died
Friday, July 17, 1998 in Bloomington. He was 80. Anyone who knows him realizes
that no words better describe him than "Spirit of Indiana."
BLAME IT ON "EL" NINO
With 143 rushing yards in a game 10 win vs. Minnesota, redshirt freshman
quarterback Antwaan Randle El became the first quarterback in IU history
to notch four 100-yard rushing games in his career (Harry Gonso, 3, 1967-69).
With 110 yards rushing in game 7 at Michigan he became Indiana's all-time
single season rushing leader at the quarterback position with 666 yards
(Gonso, 512 rushing yards in 1967). He now has 809 rushing yards this season
and has thrown for 1,654 yards and 6 touchdowns. He is currently in third
place on IU's single season total offense list with 2,463 yards. He trails
Trent Green (2,829 in 1991) and Steve Bradley (2,561 in 1984).
THE ANTWAAN RANDLE EL QUOTEBOOK
Spartan DT Robert Newkirk: "It was like 'Tom and Jerry' and I was
the big cat chasing the little mouse. He was unbelievably quick and made
a lot of good decisions."
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."
Wisconsin DE Tom Burke: "I don't think I'd be sane enough to play football anymore if I had to go against a quarterback like (him) every Saturday."
Western Michigan head coach Gary Darnell: "He was like trying to catch a 180-pound bass."
Iowa head coach Hayden Fry: "Their quarterback is one of if not the most exciting quarterbacks I've seen in this conference in years and years and years. He's extremely gifted, talented, he's got an excellent arm, throws the ball well, but he's probably as good an option quarterback as anyone in the country. He's very bright, makes good decisions and he's got a good supporting cast. He's truly special. He's kind of like I was talking about (current Atlanta Falcon) Tim Dwight. He was worth the price of admission. Come watch this kid play. I've only had a couple players like that in all my coaching. He's so similar (to Dwight). The great thing about this kid is he's taking every snap. He's going to make something happen. We can't impersonate him at all (in practice). Every film I've looked at, you can tell that the defensive teams they're playing against underestimate just how quick and fast this kid really is."
Michigan State linebacker Courtney Ledyard: "When you go against someone as good as he is, it can be rough. ... he is a great player who will make plays out of nothing."
Michigan State's Nick Saban: "He's a great player and you have to do things perfectly to contain him."
Saban said Randle El reminded him of Freddie Solomon, who the Spartan
coach played against in college. Solomon, who went on to become a receiver
for the San Francisco 49ers, was a quarterback at the University of Tampa.
"Solomon was the last quarterback that I've ever seen as quick and
elusive and that could accelerate like (Randle El) did," said Saban.
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 53 tackles for loss and 26.5 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 and is also in first place on the IU all-time sack list after a sack of Ohio State QB Joe Germaine in game 8.
Indiana Career Sack Leaders
1. 26.5 Adewale Ogunleye, 1996-
2. 25.0 Van Waiters, 1983, 85-87
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. 53 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 2,023
yards in the season's first 10 games for an average of 202.3 ypg. IU's rushing
totals in games 1-10 are as follows: Western Michigan (202), Kentucky (168),
Cincinnati (346), Wisconsin (146), Michigan State (251), Iowa (244), Michigan
(200), Ohio State (77), Illinois (185), and Minnesota (204).
DON'T THROW MY WAY -- IU leads Nation in Interceptions
Indiana is tied for first (Southern California, Wisconsin, and Auburn) among
all NCAA Division I football teams in interceptions with 18 after its first
10 games. Eight different Indiana players have pilfered passes this season
(Greg Yeldell-5, Jabar Robinson-4, O.J. Spencer-3, Michael McGrath-2, Justin
Smith-1, Brady Shields-1, Brandon Rodgers-1, Curtis Randle El 1). The IU
record for interceptions in a season is 22 which was set in 1945.
IU's season interception totals in the 1990s are as follows: 1998 (18
after 10 games), 1997 (14), 1996 (17), 1995 (11), 1994 (16), 1993 (14),
1992 (11), 1991 (10), 1990 (19).
YELDELL NAMED NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
True freshman safety Greg Yeldell, a product of East Spencer, N.C.,
was recognized as the National High School Track & Field Athlete of
the Year by Track & Field News in October. He is the national high school
record holder in the triple jump with a leap of 53' 11 1/4". An 11-time
state track and field champion, Yeldell had three interceptions in game
7 at Michigan and tallied the first INT of his career one week earlier during
a 14-7 victory over Iowa. He tallied 8 tackles and 2 passes broken up in
game 8 vs. Ohio State. In a game 10 win vs. Minnesota he notched 5 tackles,
including 1 for loss, recovered a fumble on special teams, and tallied the
fifth INT of the year. He is currently tied for 10th nationally in interceptions.
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 - Antwaan Randle El (18-113-1TD) and Marcus Floyd -
17-105-0TD
at Michigan St. - Antwaan Randle El (21-134-1TD)
vs. Iowa - Frankie Franklin (28-146-0TD)
at Michigan - Antwaan Randle El (26-110-0TD)
vs. Minnesota - Antwaan Randle El (26-143-1TD)
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 then 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 19-10-145-2INTs passing vs. Wisconsin. 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 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 started game 7 at Michigan and tallied the third 100-yard rushing game of his career as he rushed 26 times for 110 yards. One week later vs. top-ranked Ohio State, Randle El finished 31-16-218-1TD-1INT passing. Versus Illinois in game 9, Randle El finished 39-20-193-2INTs passing and 18-77-1TD rushing. He scored on an 18-yd. run in the first quarter that gave IU a 7-0 lead.
In a 20-19 win over Minnesota in game 10, Randle El rushed 26 times for a career-high 143 yards and 1 touchdown. In doing so, he becomes the first quarterback in IU history to tally four 100-yard rushing games in a career. He also threw for 1 touchdown.
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 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 yardage list. Rodgers saw action during IU's last drive at 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 returned 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 S Kywin Supernaw) following the '97 campaign. He finished 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 1998 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 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 yds. 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 a game 6 win 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. Gall had a busy day in game 9 at Illinois as he was 9-52-18 LG rushing and 7-28-11LG receiving.
Gall played very well in a game 10 win vs. Minnesota as he helped IU finish with 204 rushing yards, the sixth time this season that the Hoosiers have reached the 200-yard rushing plateau.
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. Spear played well while seeing limited action in game 8 vs. Ohio State as he tallied 1 rush for 5 yards and was 1-11 receiving.
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 22nd in the country with an average of 202.3 rushing yards per game.
Floyd received the most playing time in games 3-4, 8 and 10 while Franklin saw the bulk of the action in games 5-7 and 9. Franklin missed game 8 vs. Ohio State with a strained right knee. In game 6 vs. Iowa, he 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 three occasions, Floyd, Gall). Franklin was 10-83 rushing in game 7 vs. Michigan, including a career-long 59-yard rush that helped set up a 31-yd. Andy Payne field goal that closed Michigan's lead to 14-10 with 5:11 remaining in the third qtr. 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 has seen limited action at running back throughout the season. One of the nation's most highly recruited running backs two years ago, he opened game 1 vs. Western Michigan as the starting TB and rushed 3 times for 32 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 81 yards and 1 touchdown.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 a game 6 win vs. Iowa and also saw one play of action at tailback in game 7 at Michigan. Williams started game 9 at Illinois at tailback but was forced to leave the game early in the first quarter after reinjuring his ankle. He finished 2-22-16LG rushing. He did not play running back in game 10 vs. Minnesota.
Hogan started six games as a true freshman in 1997 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 (he has bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times), Hogan's punishing running style seemed to fuel the Hoosiers' entire offense at times in 1997. 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. He started game 8 vs. Ohio State when Franklin missed the game with a knee injury and finished 8-35-12LG rushing. Floyd played well in a reserve role in game 9 at Illinois as he finished 4-41 receiving, both of which were career highs. He played well in a game 10 victory over Minnesota as he finished 13-49-12LG-1TD rushing. He scored the first touchdown of his career on a 5-yard run with 12:46 remaining in the second quarter that pulled IU to within 12-7.
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 10 games has been sophomore Tyrone Browning. 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. He is averaging 75.1 receiving yards per contest. In game 1 vs. WMU, 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 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. Wisc. 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 a game 6 win 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. Browning was 6-77-17LG receiving in game 9 at Illinois.
Sophomore Versie Gaddis, who missed the entire '97 season after reconstructive knee surgery, 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 a game 6 win 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. Williams tallied the first 100-yd. receiving game of his career in game 8 at Ohio State when he was 5-105-1TD-37LG. He caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Randle El at the end of the first half.
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 6-5-128-1TD passing in his young career. Conner missed games 9 and 10 with a pulled groin.
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 in 1997 and finished the season with 15 receptions. He earned the start vs. WMU in the 1998 season opener and has missed games 2-10.
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 every game and earned starts in games 2-3, 6 and 8. 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 2-10 and earned a start vs. Iowa when the Hoosiers opened in a 2-TE set. He also started game 7 at Michigan (saw action lined up at split end during the contest) and games 9 and 10. Early in the 3rd qtr. at Kentucky, 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. In OT at Michigan State he grabbed a 15-yd. TD pass from Jay Rodgers that gave IU a 31-24 lead. Osika tallied the second touchdown of his career in game 10 at Minnesota when he caught a 5-yd. scoring pass from Antwaan Randle El on a third-down play with 2:31 remaining in the second quarter that pulled IU to within 19-14.
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 202.3 yards per game on the ground through the season's first 10 contests. The group of Elisara (LT), Broyles (LG/RG), Miller (C), Snyder (RG/LG), 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 1-10 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 1-10 and has been impressive. He is being considered for All-America honors. The Palomar (Calif.) J.C. product was one of the country's top junior college linemen in 1997.
Juniors Chad Miller and Matt Snyder and sophomore James Broyles also earned starting nods in game 1 vs. WMU and helped the offense tally 587 total yards. 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.
Snyder was recently named to the GTE Academic All-District V Football Team. He has a 3.38 grade point average in accounting.
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 the '97 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 in 1986).
This season, Ogunleye has lived up to the preseason hype that saw him make numerous preseason All-America teams. He has tallied 54 tackles, including 17 for loss and 8 sacks. He also has a fumble recovery. He has moved into first place on the all-time IU career TFL list with 53 and is also in first place on the IU all-time sack list with 26.5.
He tallied 3 TFLs and 2 sacks in the season opener vs. WMU. He added 1 sack at UK in game 2 when he threw 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. He tallied 1 sack in game 7 vs. Michigan when he threw QB Tom Brady for a 9-yd. loss early in the third qtr. In the third qtr. of game 8 vs. OSU, sacked QB Joe Germaine for an 11-yd. loss on a 1st-n-10 from the OSU-20. In game 9 at Illinois he sacked QB Kirk Johnson for a 7-yd. loss on a 3rd-n-13 from the IU-36 in the fourth quarter. He had 2 TFLs in game 10 win vs. Minnesota.
Along with Wale', senior Bryan Bobay (DE, since moved to tight end prior to the Michigan game) 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. Czap had a sack in game 7 at Michigan when he tackled QB Tom Brady for an 8-yd. loss on a 1st-n-10 from the UM-20 in the first qtr.
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 DT 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. He has also seen action in games 6-10 and may have had the finest game of his young career in game 10 vs. Minnesota as he finished with 4 tackles, including 2 for loss, and 1 sack. He tackled QB Billy Cockerham for a 6-yd. loss on Minnesota's first series of the game. He then sacked Cockerham for a 13-yard loss on a 1st-n-10 at the IU-19 late in the second qtr. that helped force a field goal that was missed.
Junior DT Damian Gregory, who started 10 games in '97 before breaking his wrist at Minn., 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. He was hampered by an ankle injury in game 7 vs. Michigan but played vs. Ohio State and tallied 2 tackles. Gregory tallied six tackles, including 1 for loss in game 9 at Illinois. Gregory had a stellar performance in game 10 vs. Minnesota as he notched 10 tackles, including 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
Williams, who passed on an opportunity to be selected in the CFL draft this past 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 a 17-16 lead.
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 UK at middle guard and 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 4-10 as he has tendonitis in both knees.
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 329 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 had 9 tackles in game 8 at Ohio State. His eighth tackle of the game, early in the fourth quarter, was the 300th of his career. Robinson, who also has four INTs in 1998, notched 16 tackles in game 9 at Illinois and 12 more in a game 10 win vs. Minnesota.
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. He had 7 solo tackles at Michigan. Started game 8 vs. Ohio State and played well as he tallied 2 tackles, including 1 for loss and 1 fumble recovery. On a 2nd-n-11 from the IU-11 early in the 2nd qtr., Gecina recovered a FB Matt Keller fumble that was forced by CB O.J. Spencer.
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 2-9. He tallied 1 tackle vs. UK 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. He 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. Schaffer continued his strong play vs. Michigan as he tallied a career-high 8 tackles, including 1 for loss. He had the finest game of his young career in game 10 vs. Minn. as he finished with 10 tackles, including a 9-yard sack of QB Billy Cockerham on a 2nd-n-23 from the IU-32 late in the first half.
DEFENSIVE BACKS - While Indiana's receiving corps was one of America's youngest groups in '97, the IU secondary is 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 1-10. He started the season opener vs. WMU and tallied 5 tackles and 1 PBU. He started game 2 at UK and tallied 7 tackles, including 1 for loss. He had 4 tackles vs. UW. Randle El sacked Iowa QB Randy Reiners in the first qtr. He finished the Iowa game with 9 tackles, including 1 for loss. He had 6 tackles, including 2 for loss, at Michigan. He notched 7 tackles, including 1 for loss in game 9 at Illinois. He also forced a fumble by RB Steve Havard early in the second qtr. that FS Mike McGrath returned 35 yards for a touchdown. Randle El won Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors for his performance in a 20-19 game 10 win vs. Minnesota. He tallied 7 tackles, including 2 for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. His second quarter interception led to Indiana's first touchdown. He sacked Minnesota quarterback Billy Cockerham for a 5-yd. loss on a 4th-down and seven at the IU-28 with 1:00 remaining in the game to help secure the victory.
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 UK while Spencer started games 3-7,
9 and 10.
Wallace started at cornerback opposite Curtis Randle El in game 8 vs. Ohio
State and tallied 3 tackles. He missed game 10 with a foot injury.
Tucker missed games 5-8 with a dislocated elbow suffered vs. Wisc. but returned to see action on special teams in game 9 at Illinois and returned to the starting lineup in game 10 vs. Minnesota.
Spencer 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. He also forced a fumble by Ohio State FB Matt Keller in game 8. Spencer notched 6 tackles in game 10 vs. Minnesota.
At safety, Cameron is extremely excited about redshirt freshman Justin Smith. 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 UK 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 was again productive in game 9 at Illinois as he garnered 11 tackles, including 1 for loss. He was forced to miss game 10 vs. Minnesota because of a shoulder injury.
True freshman Greg Yeldell, the national high school record holder in the triple jump, has also seen extensive playing time at strong safety and in the nickel and dime packages throughout the season. He started in the IU dime package in game 2 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 notched 3 interceptions in a 21-10 loss at Michigan. In doing so, he tied the school record for INTs in a game. The last IU player to pilfer three passes in a single game was Tim Wilbur at Illinois on 11/10/79. Yeldell intercepted RB Walter Cross in the end zone on an option pass in the 2nd qtr. He intercepted QB Tom Brady on a 3rd-n-11 from the IU-43 in the 3rd qtr. and he intercepted QB Drew Henson late in the 4th qtr. In game 8 vs. Ohio State, Yeldell again played very well as he tallied 8 tackles and 2 passes broken up. He also made several key special teams tackles. Yeldell played extremely well in game 10 vs. Minnesota as he finished with 5 tackles, including 1 for loss, 1 fumble recovery and his fifth interception of the season when he intercepted QB Billy Cockerham on a 2nd-n-9 at the IU-46 early in the fourth quarter. His second quarter fumble recovery on a punt return helped set up IU's go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter.
The free safety spot has been occupied by junior Mike McGrath and redshirt freshman Brandon Rodgers.
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. He scored the first touchdown of his career in game 9 at Illinois when he returned a RB Steve Havard fumble 35 yards for a touchdown on a 2nd-n-1 from the Ill-30. He had 8 tackles in game 10 vs. Minnesota.
KICKING GAME - The most productive punter in the history of IU has graduated and that left the Hoosiers without an established punter. JC 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 UK, including 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. He punted extremely well in game 6 vs. Iowa as he finished 7-42.7-66LG. Hagan had a 63 yards punt in game 10 vs. Minnesota.
Sophomore K Andy Payne returns after an impressive freshman campaign.
The 1998 Lou Groza Award semifinalist 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 Minn. So far in 1998, Payne
has connected on 9 of 10 FGAs and 22 of 23 XPAs. He connected on a 31-yd.
field goal attempt vs. WMU. He made kicks of 41 and 36 yds. in game 2 at
UK 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 and a 31-ydr. at UM. He also connected on his only
FGA at Illinois, a 29-ydr. in the 3rd qtr.
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).
Game 7 at Michigan: Indiana goes into the locker room at halftime tied at 7-7 with the defending national champions but falls 21-10 before 110,863 fans. It is the largest crowd ever to see an Indiana University football game...True freshman safety Greg Yeldell ties an Indiana University record with three interceptions (off of three different Wolverines: Tom Brady, Drew Henson and Walter Cross) and has four interceptions in the last two weeks...freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle El recorded his third 100-yard rushing game of the season as he finishes with 110 yards on 26 carries...junior defensive end Adewale Ogunleye's second-half sack was the 24.5 of his career which moved him to within one-half sack of the all-time IU career sack record (Van Waiters, 25 from 1985-87).
Game 8 vs. Ohio State: Before a crowd of 52,049 fans at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, top-ranked Ohio State breaks open a 21-7 halftime lead and cruises to a 38-7 victory. The crowd is the 13th largest in the history of Memorial Stadium and the first 52,000-plus crowd since 52,080 saw Indiana and Ohio State battle to a 27-27 tie in 1990...junior DE Adewale Ogunleye's third quarter sack of QB Joe Germaine moved him into first place on the IU all-time sack list with 25.5 (Van Waiters, 25.0)...senior linebacker Jabar Robinson tallied the 300th tackle of his career...with 5 catches for 105 yards, wide receiver Levron Williams surpasses the 100-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career.
Game 9 at Illinois: Indiana scores on its first possession, a 10-play, 84-yard, drive when QB Antwaan Randle El scampers 18 yards for a touchdown. Randle El finished the day 18-77-1TD rushing and 39-20-193-2INTs passing...free safety Mike McGrath tallies the first fumble recovery of his career and returns it 35 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter...the Hoosiers convert on both of their attempts inside the red zone (1 touchdown, 1 field goal) to improve their season total to scoring on 22 of 22 attempts (16 touchdowns, 6 field goals) inside the red zone (a first-down play inside the 20-yard line)...senior linebacker Jabar Robinson tallies 16 tackles, bringing his career total to 317.
Game 10 vs. Minnesota: IU scores 13 unanswered points to overcome
a 19-7 victory to win 20-19 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington...freshman
quarterback Antwaan Randle El became the first quarterback in IU history
to tally four career 100-yard rushing games as he rushes for a career-high
143 yards. He moved into third place on IU's single-season total offense
list with 2,463 yards. He trails Trent Green (2,829) and Steve Bradley (2,561)...the
Hoosiers rushed for 204 yards, the sixth time in 1998 that they have surpassed
the 200-yard plateau...IU made three successful trips inside the red zone
improving its season total to 25 of 25 attempts (19 touchdowns, 6 field
goals) ...Curtis Randle El played SS, CB, and OLB and tallied 7 tackles,
including 2 for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. He earned Big Ten Defensive
Player-of-the-Week honors for his efforts. His second quarter interception
led to Indiana's first touchdown. He sacked Minnesota QB Billy Cockerham
for a 5-yd. loss on a 4th down and seven at the IU-28 with 1:00 remaining
in the game to secure the victory...DT Damian Gregory tallied 10 tackles,
including 4 TFLs and 2 sacks.
1998 UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART AS OF NOVEMBER 16
OFFENSE
SE 5 LEVRON WILLIAMS (So./So.)
4 O.J. Conner (So./So.)/2 Versie Gaddis (Jr./So.)
LT 74 PITA ELISARA (Jr./Jr.)
71 Jeremy Johnson (Sr./Jr.)
LG 65 MATT SNYDER (Sr./Jr.)
70 Enoch DeMar (Fr./Fr.)
C 77 CHAD MILLER (Sr./Jr.)
61 Jason Stealy (Sr./Jr.)
RG 66 JAMES BROYLES (Jr./So.)
76 Nate DeArmond (So./Fr.)
RT 78 Craig Robeen (Sr./Jr.)
64 Nick Abruzzo (Jr./So.)
TE 89 CRAIG OSIKA (Fr./Fr.) or
88 Sterling Mintzer (So./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 24 MARCUS FLOYD (So./So.) or
31 Frankie Franklin (Jr./Jr.)/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 75 DAMIAN GREGORY (Sr./Jr.)
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.) 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 19 Derin Graham (So./So.)
23 Tyrone Browning (So./So.)
KOR 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.)
