HOOSIERS OPEN SEASON VS.<BR> WESTERN MICHIGAN - Indiana University Athletics

September 7, 1998

HOOSIERS OPEN SEASON VS.
WESTERN MICHIGAN

GAME ONE: Saturday's game is the season opener for Indiana. It is IU's latest starting date since they opened the 1992 season on September 12, a 16-0 victory over Miami (Ohio) ... Saturday's game will be played on natural grass. It is the first IU football game played on a natural surface at Memorial Stadium since 11/22/69 ... Indiana is 6-2 in season openers in the 1990s, including a 24-10 victory over Western Michigan in 1995 ... Kickoff from Memorial Stadium (52,354) is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. EDT ... Saturday's game will be followed by a GTE Fireworks Show ... Tickets can be ordered throughout the week at the IU Ticket Office (1-800-447-GOIU) ... Western Michigan opened its season with a 37-23 win over Northern Illinois on September 3. The Broncos have won their last seven games, the nation's fourth-longest winning streak ... Indiana is 1-0 all-time against WMU and holds a 22-4-1 record against teams from the Mid-American Conference ... IU is 4-0 in night games at Memorial Stadium.

Television and Radio:
TELEVISION: NONE
RADIO: Locally: WBWB-FM (96.7) and 50-stations radio network

Indiana Injuries:
The following Indiana players are currently on the injured list:

INDIANA-WESTERN MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS:
Hoosiers with ties to WMU and the state of Michigan: 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) ... Asst. head coach Pete Schmidt, a native of Port Austin, Michigan, 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 ... 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.

Broncos with ties to IU and the state of Indiana: Running backs coach Deon Chester spent the 1995 and 1996 seasons as the receivers coach at IU. He played as a prep at Castle H.S. in Newburgh, Ind., the same high school that produced current IU players Jeremy Johnson and Vince Lidy ... freshman defensive back Wes Dodson played at Northwood H.S. in Nappanee ... freshman defensive lineman Jake Gasaway prepped at Lowell H.S. ... sophomore defensive end Scott Karstens played at Lafayette Harrison, senior tackle Mike Kershner played at Plymouth H.S., and junior cornerback Wes Searer played at Elkhart Central.

THE MATCHUP:
The Hoosiers and the Broncos will be meeting for only the second time when the two teams play this Saturday. Indiana defeated Western Michigan, 24-10, in a game played at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 1995. The Hoosiers broke open a 10-10 game at halftime with 14 unanswered second-half points. Quarterback Chris Dittoe completed 14 of 25 passes for 241 yards.

SO YOU THOUGHT IU WAS YOUNG IN 1997?
With only five players who are in their final year of eligibility in 1998, Indiana will field one of the nation's youngest football teams. Only 43 players on the IU roster have ever seen action in a game for the Hoosiers. The following is a list of tentative starters by eligibility:

SR.	JR.	SO.	rFr.	Fr.
3	11	6	2	0

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.

Western Michigan's Gary Darnell: This Moore, Okla., native orchestrated the biggest turnaround in Division I college football in 1997 as his first year at Western Michigan saw the Broncos compile an 8-3 record and a second place finish in the MAC's West Division. Darnell, 49, who previously served as the defensive coordinator at Texas (1992-96) and was an assistant at Notre Dame and Florida, was named Western Michigan's 13th head football coach on December 14, 1996.

The 28-year college coaching veteran was the defensive coordinator at Florida from 1988-89 and served as the Gators' interim head coach for the final seven games of 1989.

As a senior at Oklahoma State in 1969, Darnell earned All-Big Eight honors as a linebacker. The following year he served as a graduate assistant. He joined the OSU staff on a full-time basis in 1971.

INDIANA POSITION-BY-POSITION BREAKDOWN:
QUARTERBACK - It's been a long time since the competition for the starting quarterback job at Indiana has created this much excitement and discussion. The battle between junior Jay Rodgers and freshman Antwaan Randle El has been waged throughout the spring and fall and both will likely see considerable action in 1998. Heading into week 1 both quarterbacks are still vying for the top job. Add Earl Haniford and highly regarded freshmen Tommy Jones and Gibran Hamdan to the group and Indiana potentially has one of the finest quarterbacking casts in the Big Ten Conference.

Rodgers has started 16 consecutive games after taking over the starting job 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."

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 Indiana University 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." Randle El could also see action at wide receiver, running back, cornerback and as a kick returner. The redshirt freshman also plays in the backcourt for the IU basketball team.

Sophomore Earl Haniford could also see some action. 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, 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. Gall is expected to be one of the Big Ten's finest fullbacks in '98. 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.

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 fullback spot. Also vying for playing time at fullback are sophomore David Ballou and redshirt freshmen Kyle Enright and Andrew Kaiser.

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 is wide open heading into the fall with sophomores De'Wayne Hogan, Marcus Floyd, Glynn Johnson and junior college transfer Frankie Franklin all expected to challenge for playing time.

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 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 pressed 225 pounds 25 times), Hogan's punishing running style seemed to fuel the Hoosiers' entire offense at times in '97.

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, will look to compete for playing time 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.

Although both were unable to practice in 1997 and again this past spring, former high school standouts Levron Williams and Derin Graham are eligible for the 1998 season and have impressed many observers during summer training camp.

Conner, a tall, wiry, receiver finished his freshman campaign with 28 catches for 520 yards and 2 touchdowns. Browning also contributed to the offensive attack by adding 24 catches for 367 yards. He played in the final 10 games of the season and started five contests.

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.

Junior Terry Kramer, who was awarded a scholarship on September 1, will also compete for playing time. True freshman Ron Bethel will likely be redshirted.

TIGHT ENDS - Junior Randy Maxwell, last year's starter at tight end, returns. 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.

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 will see action in 2-TE sets. True freshman tight end Craig Osika has had an impressive fall and may see action.

OFFENSIVE LINE - One of the key developments of training camp has been the competition for several offensive line spots. Departed are two NFL draft picks, last year's left tackle Chris Liwienski (cut by the Detroit Lions in training camp) 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 have also graduated. The only returning starter is junior Craig Robeen who is penciled in to start at right tackle.

Cameron and his staff have been extremely impressed by junior college transfer Pita (pronounced Peeka) Elisara throughout training camp. He is slated to start at left tackle in the season opener. The Palomar (Calif.) J.C. product was one of the country's top junior college linemen last season.

Among the expected starters heading into game 1 are juniors Chad Miller (center) and Matt Snyder (right guard) and sophomore James Broyles (left guard). Looking to provide depth are juniors Jeremy Johnson (tackle), Doug Baumgarten (tackle), and Jason Stealy (center/guard), sophomore Patrick Mallory (guard), and redshirt freshman Nate DeArmond (guard). True freshman guard Enoch DeMar has been very impressive during training camp and could see action. Sophomore Nick Abruzzo moved from defensive end to tackle midway through training camp and could provide additional depth. He had a very solid scrimmage on August 28.

DEFENSIVE LINE - There is no question that the defensive line should be a team strength in 1998. First-team All-Big Ten defensive end Adewale Ogunleye leads the group after finishing last season with 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Although just a sophomore in 1997, Ogunleye's tackle for loss tally was the second highest single-season total in school history behind Van Waiters' 24 during the 1986 campaign. Along with Ogunleye, senior Bryan Bobay (defensive end) and junior Jason Czap (defensive tackle) have emerged to earn starting spots heading into the season opener.

Sophomore Paul Mandina played with the first unit most of the summer at middle guard but suffered a bursa sac injury. He is probable to see action in the season opener vs. Western Michigan. True freshman A.C. Myler could earn the starting spot at middle guard. Along with Ogunleye, Bobay, Czap, Mandina, and Myler, senior defensive end Aaron Williams, junior defensive tackle Damian Gregory, DE/DT Kemp Rasmussen, and senior Brady Shields should all see action.

Gregory, who started 10 games in 1997 before breaking his wrist at Minnesota in the next to last game of the season, has been suspended for the season opener for failing to pass a conditioning test. He finished last season with 14 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. In just two seasons, the combination of Ogunleye and Gregory have accounted for 53 tackles for loss and 23 sacks.

Williams, who passed on an opportunity to be selected in the Canadian Football League draft this offseason, showed great improvement in 1997 and finished the year with 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 interception.

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 222 career tackles. He finished with a team-leading 101 tackles last season, including 12 for loss, on his way to earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

After Robinson, junior Brad Gecina has stepped up and moved into the starting role at SAM linebacker.

"Brad Gecina was our most improved defensive player this past spring," said Cameron. "He was a pleasant surprise and he really played the best of any of our linebackers."

Sophomore Joslin Goodman will look to back up Gecina and junior Pat Kraft will see action at middle linebacker along with Robinson.

Redshirt freshman Devin Schaffer and sophomore Tony Brown will vie for the other outside linebacker job. Brown saw action in 6 games as a true freshman.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: While Indiana's receiving corps was one of America's youngest groups in 1997, the IU secondary will be the youngest position grouping on the 1998 squad. With the departures of seniors Joey Eloms (Seattle Seahawks practice squad) Kywin Supernaw (Detroit Lions practice squad), and Joe King, the IU secondary is an area of concern heading into the 1998 campaign.

At cornerback, returning starter Curtis Randle El will look to hold on to a starting spot. Randle El moved from cornerback to strong safety midway through the 1997 season but will return to corner for the 1998 campaign. True freshmen Maurice Tucker and Sharrod Wallace, along with sophomore O.J. Spencer, will all see time at cornerback. Spencer, who started one game in 1997, played primarily on special teams and in the Hoosiers' nickel package. Wallace enrolled this past spring and has been impressive. He transferred from Hargrave Military Academy.

At safety, Cameron is extremely excited about redshirt freshman Justin Smith, one of the first players to earn a starting spot this fall. He will be joined at the free safety spot by junior Mike McGrath and redshirt freshman Brandon Rodgers. True freshman Greg Yeldell may also see playing time.

KICKING GAME: In the kicking game, the most productive punter in the history of Indiana University has graduated and that leaves the Hoosiers without an established punter. Junior college transfer Drew Hagan enrolled at mid-semester and punted spring drills. He is the all-time high school record holder for extra points in a single season (87).

Sophomore kicker 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.

THE INDIANA QUOTEBOOK:
Bloomington Herald-Times' Gary McCann on freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle El: "Antwaan Randle El ia a 5-10, 177-pound bundle of energy, who smiles easily and never met a conversation he didn't like." [Bloomington Herald-Times, 8/30/98]

Head football coach Cam Cameron on Randle El: "He'll be on the field somewhere. He's too talented to be standing over there beside me." [Bloomington Herald-Times, 8/30/98]

Cameron on what he wants in a quarterback: "If I could pick a type quarterback I'd want every year it would be somebody like (former Michigan star) Rick Leach. A Jim Harbaugh would be second. But whoever it is has to be smart, able to move, be tough and make plays. And the bottom line is can you win." [Bloomington Herald-Times, 8/30/98]

Cameron on sophomore receiver Levron Williams who was one of the nation's most highly regarded running backs in 1996: "If that's what he wants to do, he can play running back. We need him at receiver right now. I'll tell you this: If he doesn't want to play wide receiver, he shouldn't have practiced the way he did the other day." [The Louisville Courier Journal, 9/1/98]

Cameron on IU's week-long training camp trip to Marshall, Ind.: "We're in a unique situation. I think we're the only team that plays its first game two weeks into the academic year. It was a chance for us to get away without any distractions. We're going to classes on Monday, so in our two weeks going into the Western Michigan game our guys will be going to class. We have the fewest number of two-a-days of anyone. [Camp] gives us an opportunity to get more done in a short period of time." [The Louisville Courier-Journal, 8/29//98]

Louisville Courier-Journal's Mike Grant on 1997 first-team All-Big Ten selection Adewale Ogunleye: "His voice is so soft it belongs in a library, not in the body of a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end whose raison d'etreis to devour quarterbacks. His conciliatory nature off the football field has drawn praise from the Indiana University coaching staff. Even his nickname, "Wally," sounds pleasant. But now they want Adewale Ogunleye to change his tune. No more Mr. Nice Guy." [The Louisville Courier-Journal, 8/23//98]

PLAYERS WEIGHT ROOM in honor of BILL MALLORY:
On Saturday, September 12, 1998, at 12:30 p.m. EST the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will be hosting a ceremony at the Memorial Stadium Football Complex (East Side) in which the existing weight room will be named the Players Weight Room in honor of Bill Mallory. Media are invited to attend.

Bill Mallory served 11 years at the helm of the Hoosiers and compiled a record of 69-77-3. Before joining Indiana as head coach in 1984, Mallory coached three other schools to national prominence. While compiling a 165-121-4 career record at Miami (Ohio), Colorado, Northern Illinois, and Indiana, Mallory became one of only seven coaches ever to guide three different programs to top 20 finishes in the national polls. In 1987, Mallory became the first Big Ten coach to be awarded back-to-back coach of-the-year honors. That year, he led the Hoosiers to an 8-4 record, a second-place finish in the Big Ten, and a Peach Bowl appearance. While at Indiana, Mallory led the Hoosiers to six bowl games including victories in the 1988 Liberty Bowl and the 1991 Copper Bowl. He also led IU to a top 20 ranking in 1988 and finished his career as IU's all-time winningest football coach with 69 wins.

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