Indiana University Athletics
Ball State (0-0) vs. Indiana (0-0)
8/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Where: Memorial Stadium (52,354)
Radio: Indiana University Radio Network - 50 affiliates
Indiana Coach Cam Cameron: 6-16 in his third season
Ball State Coach Bill Lynch: 21-24 entering his fifth season at Ball State and 57-36-3 overall (9 years)
Series History: Indiana leads 1-0
Last Game: Indiana 33, Ball State 6; Sept. 6, 1997
Indiana in Season Openers: 66-38-7
Cameron Teams in Season Openers: 1-1
Indiana in home openers at Memorial Stadium: 25-14; Indiana has not lost a home opener since 9/8/84 when Kentucky defeated Indiana
Indiana vs. non-conference opponents in 1990s: 19-7-1
Indiana vs. non-conference opponents at home in '90s: 15-2
Indiana vs. the Mid-American Conference: 23-4-1
Cam Cameron vs. the Mid-American Conference: 2-0
Cam Cameron Teams in September: 3-4
THE COACHES
Indiana's Cam Cameron: Head coach Cam Cameron enters his third
season at the Indiana helm. He is widely regarded as one of the finest young
coaches in the game. Cameron began his career at the University of Michigan
where he spent eight years as an assistant coach after joining the Wolverines
in 1984 as a graduate assistant. From 1994-96, Cameron spent three seasons
as the quarterbacks coach of the Washington Redskins. While at Michigan
and Washington, Cameron was credited for the development of quarterbacks
Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Todd Collins, Gus Frerotte, and Trent Green.
Prior to joining the University of Michigan staff, Cameron (2/6/61) played
both basketball and football at Indiana University. He prepped at Terre
Haute (Ind.) South High School.
Cameron and his wife, Missy, have three children, Tommy, Danny, and Christopher.
Ball State's Bill Lynch: This Indianapolis native is entering
his fifth season at the helm of the Ball State Cardinals. He has compiled
a 21-24 overall record at the school, including a 1-10 mark in 1998. Lynch
began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator at Butler University,
his alma mater. He went on to spend the 1984 season at Northern Illinois
as the school's offensive coordinator and the same year went on to serve
as an assistant with the Orlando Renegades of the USFL.
From 1985-89, Lynch returned to Indianapolis to serve as Butler's head
coach before becoming the offensive coordinator at Ball State (1990-92).
After three seasons with the Cardinals, Lynch was placed in charge of the
quarterbacks at Indiana University from 1993-94 before returning to Ball
State where he has spent the past four seasons.
In nine years as a collegiate head coach, Lynch's teams have won five
conference titles.
Lynch, 45, and his wife, Linda, have four children.
INDIANA's INJURY REPORT:
Senior FB David Ballou - left knee (out)
RS freshman TE Bobby Brandt - left ankle sprain (probable)
Redshirt freshman DT Jamil Frink - right knee (out)
Senior WR Terry Kramer - right shoulder (questionable)
Freshman RB Brian Lewis - pelvis (out)
Redshirt DL Sean Nelson - left knee (out)
Sophomore TE Craig Osika - left ankle (probable)
Senior G Matt Snyder - lower back strain (questionable)
Senior FB Jason Spear - high left ankle sprain (questionable)
Sophomore LB Justin Smith - right wrist (probable)
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
· Indiana's record in season openers: 66-38-7
· Indiana's record in season openers at Memorial Stadium: 25-14 and Indiana has not lost a home opener since 9/8/84 when Kentucky defeated Indiana, 48-14.
· Yes, that is long hair hanging out of offensive tackle Pita Elisara's helmet. Elisara is a native of American Samoa and the hair is a tribute to his native land.
· Adewale Ogunleye: Its pronounced Add-uh-wallay Oh-goon-lay-eh and yes, he is the CAREER sack and tackle for loss leader at Indiana with 26.5 and 53, respectively.
· Cam Cameron's first career victory was at the expense of Ball State when Indiana defeated the Cardinals, 33-6, on September 13, 1997.
· Sophomore free safety Greg Yeldell is the national high school record holder in the triple jump (53' 11 1/4") and participates in track and field for the Hoosiers.
· Randle El, the last name of Curtis and Antwaan, is of Muslim origin, however, both Antwaan and Curtis are Christians.
· Jeremi Johnson, a 260-pound freshman fullback from Louisville, Ky., is wearing jersey number one this fall. Cameron promised the number to Johnson, provided he enter training camp at 260 pounds after weighing close to 300 pounds during the spring.
· Ball State will face Indiana sophomore quarterback Antwaan Randle El for the first time on Saturday. However, they could have found themselves matched against the exciting quarterback more often if Randle El would have decided to attend Ohio University. Randle El has made it well known that Ohio University was his second choice behind Indiana on his list of schools that he wanted to attend as a senior at Thornton High School in Riverdale, Illinois.
· Highly regarded college football writer Gene Wojciechowski selected Antwaan Randle El as the Big Ten player he would like to see play every week during the season.
· Quarterback Antwaan Randle El needs 127 rushing yards to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career. He needs 211 rushing yards to surpass Harry Gonso (1,083) to become IU's leading career rusher as a quarterback.
· Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye needs 3.5 sacks to reach 30 for
his career.
THE SERIES
Surprisingly, Indiana and Ball State have met only one time on the football
field prior to Saturday's game, having played one another on September 13,
1997. In that game, Indiana opened its home campaign with a 33-6 victory
over the Cardinals before 38,006 fans at Memorial Stadium. The game was
Cam Cameron's first home contest at the helm of the Hoosiers. QB Jay Rodgers
completed 27 of 39 passes for 408 yards and five touchdowns as the Hoosiers
broke open a 7-6 halftime lead with 19 third-quarter points. Rodgers's 408
passing yards is the best single-game passing yardage total in school history.
The Hoosiers struck first when Rodgers connected with junior TE Bryan Bobay on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter. Ball State moved deep into Indiana territory twice in the second quarter but could muster only two field goals ­­ 29 and 32-yard efforts by K Brent Lockliear.
The complexion of the game changed drastically early in the second half. Indiana opened the third quarter with the ball and it took just three plays and :28 seconds for the Hoosiers to find pay dirt as Rodgers connected with WR Dorian Wilkerson (5-130-1TD) on a 9-yard pass play that increased the Indiana lead to 13-6. On Ball State's next offensive possession, junior DB Brian Coleman intercepted a QB Jake Josetti (29-14-229-2INT-0TD) pass and returned it 29 yards to the Ball State 32-yard line. Five plays later, Rodgers found freshman WR O.J. Conner on a 15-yard hookup to give the Hoosiers a 19-6 advantage. The extra point was missed.
Two scoring tosses, both from Rodgers to junior FB Chris Gall (5-34-12LG-2TDs receiving) ended the scoring. It was the first time since September 8, 1979, that an Indiana running back had two touchdown receptions in the same game (Lonnie Johnson at Iowa).
INDIANA VS. THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Indiana University has had very good success against the Mid-American
Conference on the football field as evidenced by its 23-4-1 overall record
(.839 winning percentage) against MAC schools. Miami (Ohio) has had the
most success against Indiana, having tallied a 3-10-1 record. The only other
MAC team to defeat Indiana is Ohio University.
"JOHN, YOU WEAR THE BALL STATE UNIFORM AND I'LL
WEAR THE IU JERSEY."
Saturday's game will be a trying, yet fun and proud day for John and
Nancy Lidy. The Newburgh, Ind., couple has sons who play for both Indiana
and Ball State. Fifth-year senior, Vince, plays linebacker for the Hoosiers
and Allen, a sophomore, plays linebacker for the Cardinals. Both played
football for their dad at Castle High School.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE TWO YEARS MAKE
Although Indiana played Ball State only two seasons ago, only 15 Indiana
players who registered any type of offensive or defensive statistic (including
tackles) or was a starter in that game are currently on the Indiana roster.
The list includes: Narlin Clancy, O.J. Conner, Jason Czap (started), Joslin
Goodman, Earl Haniford, Glynn Johnson, Vince Lidy, Mike McGrath, Adewale
Ogunleye (started), Andy Payne, Curtis Randle El, Craig Robeen (started),
Patrick Shaw, Jason Spear (started at tailback), and O.J. Spencer.
NOT QUITE AS INEXPERIENCED ANYMORE
With only five players in their final year of eligibility in 1998, the
Hoosiers received national attention for their youth. While the 1999 Indiana
club is still quite young at several positions, this year's squad will be
Cam Cameron's most experienced by far as 32 players (not including punter
Drew Hagan and kicker Andy Payne) have started games during their IU career
and 49 players have appeared in at least one game.
INDIANA - BALL STATE CONNECTIONS
Ball State Cardinals with ties to Bloomington and Indiana University:
Four Ball State coaches have direct ties to Bloomington and Indiana University.
Head coach Bill Lynch was the quarterbacks coach at Indiana University from
1990-92 ... defensive ends coach Ted Huber was the head coach at Bloomington
South High School from 1976-79 and was an assistant coach at Indiana from
1980-83. While an assistant at Indiana, one of the team's players was Cam
Cameron ... inside linebackers coach Curt Mallory was a graduate assistant
at Indiana from 1993-94 and his father, Bill, was the head coach of the
Hoosiers from 1984-96 ... defensive tackles coach Larry McDaniel played
defensive tackle at Indiana and earned letters from 1989-92 and is a 1993
graduate of Indiana University. He was an offensive graduate assistant on
Cam Cameron's staff in 1997 ... redshirt freshman tailback Nick Dunbar starred
at Bloomington South High School ... redshirt freshman wide receiver Robert
Dascal also prepped at Bloomington South ... sophomore inside linebacker
Allen Lidy is the brother of Indiana senior linebacker Vince Lidy ... sophomore
wide receiver Billy Lynch spent several years living in Bloomington while
his dad was an assistant on former head coach Bill Mallory's staff.
CAM CAMERON ACCOLADES
· "Best Coach in the Big Ten" - The Sporting News
· The Big Ten's "Hot Coach" - CNN/SI
· One of the Nation's Five Hot Coaches - cbssportsline.com
INDIANA RECEIVES NATIONAL ATTENTION
"No longer is football just something to do until the arrival of basketball season. That's not to suggest that six wins over the past two seasons is something that is satisfying to coach Cam Cameron, but there is reason to believe that the string of narrow defeats that kept a lid on last season's expectations will not occur in 1999. The difference between 4-7 and 7-4 can often be found in a few plays each week. This year the Hoosiers believe those snaps of the ball will go their way." [August 19, 1999]
Gene Wojciechowski, one of college football's most respected writers, spoke highly of the Hoosiers and sophomore quarterback Antwaan Randle El on espn.go.com. Wojciechowski wrote, "...the Big Ten deserves 10 big questions about the 1999 season." Question number three asked, "You can watch one player every week. Who would it be? Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El. The Human Two-Minute Drill." [August 19, 1999]
ESPN.COM selected Indiana as its surprise team in the Big Ten in 1999. [August 19, 1999]
CNNSI.COM: "Hot Coach - Cam Cameron, Indiana "
"Coaches from around the country flocked to Bloomington this spring to
see Cameron's innovative combo offense, where he's been known to run the
option one down, a three-receiver set the next. With Randle El and the entire
offensive line returning, the third-year coach's rebuilding project is on
the verge of fruition." [August 1, 1999]
CBSSPORTSLINE.COM: cbssportsline.com recognized Cam Cameron as one of five "Hot" Coaches in the college game along with John Chavis (Tennessee defensive coordinator), Greg Davis (Texas offensive coordinator), Ricky Hunley (Missouri associate head coach), and Bobby Pruett (Marshall head coach). The same web site also mentioned Indiana as a team that did not go to a bowl in 1998 but will rebound in 1999. It also mentioned Indiana as one of 15 teams on an upswing entering 1999. [August 5, 1999]
SPORT Magazine: SPORT Magazine has named redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy Jones as one of three freshmen to watch in the Big Ten Conference in 1999. The 6-4, 234-pound, Jones is a product of Eaton, Ohio. He is expected to back up Antwaan Randle El, the 1998 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year, this fall. [August issue]
Said Mel Kiper, ESPN's National Football League draft analyst: "I think there are some teams with tough roads: Michigan, even with a good team, has a rugged schedule at Syracuse, Wisconsin, Michigan State, improved Indiana and Penn State." [August 13, 1999]
Said ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit on the 8/28 production of ESPN gameday: "There are certain teams in college football this year -­ California, Stanford, Indiana -- who are really going to upset some teams."
QUOTABLE
Head coach Cam Cameron on the final intrasquad scrimmage of training
camp: " Well, we found out last night that we are certainly fortunate
we didn't have to play a game today. We have to learn how to play faster.
We have to learn that just because you set up a game situation doesn't mean
that everything automatically gets faster and that you aren't automatically
going to play better. We really weren't very good in the kicking game, on
offense, or on defense. We quickly realized we had to get out here today
and get some things done, and the tempo today was better, but we've really
got a long way to go."
Cameron on the possibility of QB Antwaan Randle El playing another position: "He is our quarterback, period. The idea that he is going to play another position stemmed from his unselfishness. He made a statement to someone that he'd play wherever he needed to play to help us win. He can do all of those things and we've had him do that. I think we need to see a threat on every play. It'll be nice to watch the young [quarterbacks] come along and if they're good enough then we might find a way to get them in there. But, Antwaan is our quarterback."
Cameron on Randle El: "Antwaan is one of those unique players. All that charisma is fine, but you've still got to be able to play. The great thing is that he steps on the field with that same personality and enhances our ability to win football games. And people are drawn to that. Sometimes you see charismatic guys like him who aren't really quite as talented, or you see a great player who doesn't really have the charisma. I think we all really enjoy the players who have both."
Cameron on the general positive attitude of the team: "I think work ethic brings that. When you work hard you tend to feel better about yourself and better about each other. I would imagine that's where that comes from. I think overall the leadership on this team is positive. That helps. I don't think guys who are going to lead this team are going to let guys walk around with long looks on their faces."
Cameron on playing freshmen in the secondary: "There is some young talent back there and that is obvious. You'd prefer not to play freshmen but if those veteran guys don't get in better shape and come on any faster then they're going to have to compete with those guys and they created that situation."
Cameron on making big step forward in 1999: "I think that we will take a big step, there is no question in my mind. How that is measured in wins and losses will be the final analysis. This team has already taken a big step in everything we are doing and now we have to transfer that to the football field. Every year your schedule changes and that's the difficult thing at times to measure."
Sophomore quarterback Antwaan Randle El on the improvement that the offense needs to make: "It has to be a combination of both the running game and the passing game. We need to get our passing game going from the very beginning of the season because if we get our passing game going it is definitely going to help our running game."
Randle El on his attitude: "My personality is never going to change. My attitude is always about the same. I'm outgoing. I'm a little bigger and stronger, but I have not lost any speed with the added weight. That's about the only thing that is different."
Randle El on seven home games and home-field advantage: "I think that we are pretty much looking at it the same as we did last year. Just the fact of finishing the game and that all goes back to conditioning. To work hard and commit yourself to the whole game and not letting up. As far as the home games, that helps everybody out with the crowd behind us and we just have to look forward to that support."
Randle El on the national media attention he has received: "I enjoy all of this because I'm just blessed and a lot of people don't get this far at all. Now that I have, I want to make the most of it. It's something you want to do, no matter what. Autographs, whatever. How many kids grow up and someone wants their autograph? I love it. I like this, too, giving out information to you guys because you know you want it right, ha ha."
Randle El on opposing defenses focusing on stopping him: "(Tailbacks) Frankie Franklin and Levron Williams have stepped up, big. I feel our fullbacks and our receivers are going to do a good job, too. I think we've got some guys going. I know other teams are going to focus defensive schemes around me, so we need guys to step up and play - and I think we've got guys who will do that."
Senior defensive end Adewale Ogunleye on returning to Indiana: "I did talk to key people from the NFL personnel department. They just tell you how much they think about you. They ask if you're a talented person and if an extra year might do you some good. I have not really sat down with a scout to tell me what I need to improve upon. I think the best person for that is Coach Cam because he was in the NFL and he would tell me exactly what I need to do."
QUARTERBACKS
As a former quarterbacks coach at the University of Michigan and with
the Washington Redskins, Cam Cameron has tutored some of the finest quarterbacks
in the game today. Now, at Indiana, he is fortunate to have a corps of signal
callers that has the potential to become one of the nation's finest groups.
In 1998 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year Antwaan Randle El (Riverdale, Ill./Thornton), redshirt freshmen Tommy Jones (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton) and Gibran Hamdan (N. Potomac, Md./Bishop O'Connell), junior Earl Haniford (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville), and talented walk-on freshman Brad Cupito (Cincinnati/McNicholas), Cameron has a quarterbacking corps that brings a variety of skills to the table.
Indiana's quarterback talent was one of the most talked about college football topics this past spring as ESPN-The Magazine, CNN/SI, and The Sporting News, all discussed the possibility of Antwaan Randle El seeing some playing time at wideout while redshirt freshman Tommy Jones moves under center.
Although intrigued by the possibilities, Cameron was much more guarded in his analysis of the situation, "He is our quarterback, period. The idea that he is going to play another position stemmed from his unselfishness. He made a statement to someone that he'd play wherever he needed to play to help us win. He can do all of those things and we've had him do that. I think we need to see a threat on every play. It'll be nice to watch the young [quarterbacks] come along and if they're good enough then we might find a way to get them in there. But, Antwaan is our quarterback."
Randle El, one of the most athletic quarterbacks in college football, may be the top all-purpose quarterback in the country. He also has a very strong arm and throws the ball very well on the run. One of CNN/SI's 11 frontrunners for the 1999 Heisman Trophy as named following the 1998 season, he is expected to be one of the nation's most explosive offensive weapons this fall. In 1998, he became the first IU quarterback to tally four career 100-yard rushing games. He started 11 games at quarterback and completed 127 of 273 passes for 1,475 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 873 yards and 10 scores. In his first collegiate start vs. Western Michigan in the '98 season opener, Randle El completed 22 of 29 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns and ran 23 times for 82 yards and three scores in a 45-30 win.
Jones and Hamdan received rave reviews from fans, media, and coaches, alike, throughout their respective redshirt campaigns in 1998. Jones, an Ohio native and one of the nation's most highly recruited quarterbacks last year, is 6-foot-4, weighs 234 pounds, and has been favorably compared to former Notre Dame quarterback Rick Mirer at the same stage of development. Jones has the ability to make all of the throws and the athleticism to be an effective scrambler. He showed positive signs in the 1999 Red-White Spring Game as he led the White team to two fourth-quarter scores. Jones found wide receiver Versie Gaddis on scoring passes of 22 and 35 yards to give the White team its deciding margin of victory, 33-28.
Hamdan, who plays first base as a member of the IU baseball squad, is a prototypical pocket passer with a rifle for an arm. He missed most of spring drills because of baseball.
Also competing for playing time will be junior Earl Haniford. One of the most decorated high school passers of all time, this Martinsville, Ind., product has proven to be effective in the short passing game. He saw action in seven games in 1997 and completed 14 of 33 passes for 121 yards. He threw for 11,100 yards and 111 touchdowns during his high school career.
Said Randle El, "People have no idea how much Earl means to us quarterbacks of the field. He helps us tremendously with our reads and being another coach on the sideline. People may not realize it, but he is a huge key to our success."
FULLBACKS
Chris Gall, a two-time IU Most Valuable Player and honorable mention
All-Big Ten selection, has graduated and leaves a vacancy at fullback. However,
it is one that talented senior Jason Spear (Logansport, Ind./Logansport)
and junior De'Wayne Hogan (Indianapolis/Ben Davis) look forward to filling.
Also in the mix should be junior David Ballou and true freshman Jeremi Johnson
(Louisville, Ky./Ballard).
Gall, who was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers last month, played in the Blue-Gray Game on December 25, 1998, and finished his career having played in 40 games, including 20 starts. In 1998, he finished second on the team in receptions with 30 and rushed for 329 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had one receiving touchdown. As a junior, Gall led the team with 54 catches.
Despite Gall's departure, the coaching staff feels confident about the abilities of Spear and Hogan. Unfortunately, Spear suffered a high ankle sprain last week and has not practiced since although he is expected to return to practice prior to the season opener vs. Ball State.
Spear, a converted tailback who spent the 1998 campaign as Gall's backup, played in 11 games as a junior and rushed seven times for 28 yards. While playing tailback as a sophomore in 1997 he rushed for 333 yards, including a 120-yard performance at North Carolina in the season opener. He also finished the '97 campaign with 33 receptions, including a team-record setting 16 vs. Purdue in the season finale. Spear, now 5-10 and weighing 238 pounds, has all of the physical attributes anyone is looking for in a fullback. This past spring he tallied a vertical jump of 31.5 inches, ran a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash, and bench-pressed 370 pounds.
Competing for the starting job with Spear will be De'Wayne Hogan. Another converted tailback, he was IU's leading ground gainer in 1997 as he rushed 149 times for 506 yards and four touchdowns, including a 164-yard performance vs. Illinois. In 1998, Hogan was forced to battle through numerous nagging injuries and appeared in only four games (1 start). He rushed for 72 yards vs. Western Michigan in the season opener and 70 yards at Kentucky one week later.
Another workout warrior, the 6-0, 230-pound, Hogan bench pressed 225 pounds an incredible 31 times and had a vertical jump of 30 inches during spring testing.
Said Cameron about Hogan this past spring, "Hogan looks good. His body type is more set for the fullback position. He's not quite fast enough to play tailback. This allows him to keep his natural weight."
One of IU's strongest players, junior David Ballou had an impressive early spring before suffering a knee injury during spring practice. He has not practiced during training camp and is expected to be out several more weeks. The 6-foot-2, 253-pound, Ballou ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, vertical jumped 31 inches, and bench pressed 425 pounds during spring testing. He also bench pressed 225 pounds 29 times, the second-highest total on the team behind Hogan.
One of the many intriguing freshmen who is on campus for the first time this fall is Louisville's Jeremi Johnson. One of the country's most highly recruited fullbacks who turned down a scholarship offer from Florida State to make the short trip to Bloomington, Johnson has had a solid training camp and may very well see playing time this fall.
RUNNING BACKS
One of the most intriguing battles of training camp has been at the
tailback position. It has been hotly contested between senior Frankie Franklin
(Jacksonville, Fla./Holmes J.C.) and sophomore Levron Williams (Evansville,
Ind./Bosse).
Franklin, Williams, and Marcus Floyd earned starting assignments at different times throughout the 1998 campaign and both Franklin and Floyd tallied a 100-yard rushing game. The Hoosiers also averaged 195.5 rushing yards per game in 1998.
Williams moved to tailback this past spring after splitting time between wide receiver and tailback last fall.
"Right now I think we are a ways away from getting done what we need to get accomplished," said running backs coach Anthony Thompson. "We need a back that can be able to carry the ball at least 25 or 30 times a game. We have some guys who should be able to grow into that. Frankie Franklin got quite a few reps last year. Levron (Williams) is a new addition to our tailback family. We have to get those guys, more than anything, mentally tough so that they are able to run the ball 20 to 30 times a game."
Franklin, the state of Florida's "Mr. Football" in 1995 and a transfer from Holmes (Miss.) Junior College prior to the 1998 campaign, showed positive signs throughout last season that he can be a quality Big Ten ballcarrier during his senior campaign. Despite only starting two contests because of nagging injuries, he rushed for 386 yards and two touchdowns. He had his finest stretch of the season beginning with game five at Michigan State as he rushed 17 times for 75 yards and one touchdown in an overtime loss at Spartan Stadium. One week later he rushed 28 times for a career-high 146 yards in a 14-7 win over Iowa. He followed that performance one week later at Michigan by carrying 10 times for 83 yards before suffering a sprained knee. In the 1999 Red-White Spring Game, Franklin rushed 10-47-1TD.
"Frankie's come a long way," said Thompson. "When he first came in [in 1998] he couldn't run the mile-and-a-half or anything. Now he's in pretty decent shape. Frankie loves the game of football. He cares about football and that's why I think he'll get better because he cares about the game."
Williams saw most of his action at wide receiver in 1998. He moved to tailback during the spring and has had a very impressive training camp.
"I was always ready to play both positions at any time," Williams said. "It's better to get the ball in the back because you can see the defense better rather than being a receiver with your back turned to a defender."
Said Cameron, "I asked him this winter, `What position do you really want to play?'" Cameron said. "He said tailback, I said 'OK, then based on your height you need to gain 15 pounds of muscle in the weight room and if you gain 15 pounds by spring ball, we'll give you a shot at it' and he did it. So that's why he's there. He earned the right to be there."
In 1998, Williams spent most of the season fighting through an ankle injury that he suffered during a practice prior to the Kentucky game. He did, however, see action at tailback versus Western Michigan, Iowa, and Illinois, and rushed six times for 56 yards. One of the country's most highly recruited players in 1997, Williams has a unique blend of speed, power, and finesse.
Another Florida product, Floyd (Bartow, Fla./Bartow) played in 11 games (six starts) in 1998 and finished as the club's fourth-leading rusher with 323 yards. He also caught 12 passes for 87 yards. In game 3 vs. Cincinnati he rushed 17 times for a career-high 105 yards. Floyd tallied a 36-inch vertical leap during spring testing.
Freshmen A.C. Carter (Cincinnati/Princeton), who ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash this summer, and Brian Lewis (St. Louis/Pattonville), who will miss several weeks with an injury to his pelvis, are both extremely talented and may see playing time along with junior Glynn Johnson (Cincinnati/Walnut Hills) who rushed for 99 yards in a game at Minnesota in 1997. He has been plagued by nagging injuries throughout his career.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The biggest question mark on the offensive side of the football is at
wide receiver where juniors Versie Gaddis (Atlanta/Frederick Douglass) and
O.J. Conner (Gary, Ind./Westside), and sophomore Derin Graham (Indianapolis/Ben
Davis) headline a group whose development will be looked upon as vital to
how much success the Hoosiers will achieve in 1999. All three have the ability
to contribute. Also looking to compete for playing time will be senior Terry
Kramer (Tell City, Ind./Tell City), who suffered a shoulder injury during
camp, and newcomer Jerry Dorsey (Hopkinsville, Ky./C.C. of San Francisco),
who will be expected to contribute immediately, and true freshmen Glenn
Johnson (Clewiston, Fla./Clewiston), L.J. Parker (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa
Hills), and Jade Pruitt (Dayton, Ohio/Dunbar).
"I think this is one of the areas where we can be the most improved because we are so young at this position," said head coach Cam Cameron.
Conner battled injury throughout the 1998 season after turning in a very solid 1997 campaign when he started 10 games and caught 28 passes for 520 yards and two touchdowns. He played in eight games last fall and had his most productive game of the year when he caught three passes for 33 yards in a 45-30 win vs. Western Michigan. He also had a solid spring and caught 10 passes in the final spring scrimmage.
Graham, an Indianapolis Ben Davis product, was another wideout who saw the first playing time of his career in 1998. He had a solid season as a third wide receiver and as IU's primary kickoff returner, finishing the year with nine receptions for 121 yards. He earned Big Ten Special Teams Player-of-the-Week accolades after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in game four vs. Wisconsin.
Gaddis, who missed the entire 1997 season with a torn ACL, returned to action last season and played in 11 games (four starts) and caught five passes for 78 yards. He looked much improved this past spring and was the Most Valuable Player of the 1999 Red-White Spring Game. He caught five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came in the fourth quarter to give the White team its deciding margin in a 33-28 win.
Junior college transfer Jerry Dorsey, who finished second nationally among all JUCO wide receivers with 83 catches last season at the City College of San Francisco, will be looked upon to contribute immediately and should have the ability to meet these expectations.
TIGHT END
While the wide receiver position is essentially up-for-grabs, Cameron
and the entire coaching staff are extremely excited about the play of young
tight ends Craig Osika (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) and Bobby Brandt (Lancaster,
Pa./Manheim Township). Both have the size, running ability, and hands to
become two of the finest tight ends in the Big Ten Conference. Added to
the mix are two talented true freshmen, Kris Dielman (Troy, Ohio/Troy) and
Ken Gipson (Detroit/Pershing). Both have huge upsides to their potential
and it is likely that Dielman will see playing time this fall. Dielman had
a very impressive intrasquad scrimmage on August 27.
Osika, who was named second-team preseason All-Big Ten by Lindy's, started six games as a true freshman in 1998 and caught a pass in five different games. He made the most important catch of his young career when he grabbed a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jay Rodgers to give IU a 31-24 overtime lead at Michigan State. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound, Osika is extremely athletic and during spring testing bench pressed over 400 pounds, tallied a 31-inch vertical leap, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds. Osika has been hobbled by an ankle injury throughout camp.
Brandt, who has gained almost 40 pounds since arriving on campus, is a highly regarded redshirt freshman who missed his entire freshman campaign when he suffered a knee injury during training camp prior to the 1998 season. He tore the medial meniscus in his right knee in late October but was fully recovered this past spring and will be expected to provide immediate help in 1999. He caught a touchdown pass in the 1999 Red-White Spring Game. Brandt, with the exception of Antwaan Randle El, may be the best basketball player on the entire IU roster. He also has been struggling with a lingering ankle injury throughout training camp.
OFFENSIVE LINE
All five starters from last year's club will return this fall.
The veteran group, which includes four seniors and one junior, has combined
to appear in 98 career games, including 68 starts. The offensive line helped
the IU offense average 195.5 rushing yards per game last fall. A young group
of offensive linemen, highlighted by redshirt freshman Enoch DeMar and sophomore
Jamarkus Gorman, will push the incumbents for starting positions.
Last year's returning starters include seniors Pita Elisara (LT), Matt Snyder (G), Chad Miller (C) and Craig Robeen (RT). Junior James Broyles also returns and will be expected to compete for a starting job at one of the guard spots. Senior Doug Baumgarten (Bonita, Calif./Southwestern JC), juniors Nick Abruzzo (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffman Estates) and Patrick Mallory (Greenfield, Ind./Univ. of Evansville), sophomores Jamarkus Gorman (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Harding) and Nate DeArmond (Fort Wayne, Ind./Wayne), and redshirt freshmen Enoch DeMar (Indianapolis/Arsenal Tech) and Brett Taylor (Troy, Mich./Sterling Heights) should all compete for playing time.
Headlining the solid group of returning starters is All-Big Ten candidate Pita Elisara (American Samoa/Palomar, Calif., J.C.). He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from Football News in 1998. He started 11 games at left tackle last season and was one of just three players to make IU's exclusive ThunderDome Club for producing excellent play in at least eight of 11 games. Elisara missed one week of spring practice to attend his grandfather's funeral in Samoa.
Craig Robeen (Hardin, Ill./Calhoun) has started 22 consecutive games and played well throughout the 1998 season. He has the size and athleticism to become one of the finest offensive tackles in the Big Ten Conference. The coaches have been extremely pleased with the way he has improved during training camp. He is one of IU's tri-captains.
Senior Academic All-America candidate Matt Snyder (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) and junior James Broyles (Rensselaer, Ind./Kankakee Valley) return at the guard spots. Snyder, a GTE Academic All-District V selection last season, and Broyles started the first six games of the season at right guard and left guard, respectively, before switching positions for the remainder of the season. Snyder underwent knee surgery this past January but returned to participate in spring drills.
At center, senior Chad Miller (Lima, Ohio/Lima), a converted defensive lineman, played very well in 1998 and is expected to bring even more production to the center position this fall. He missed several practices during spring ball to attend a funeral and was replaced by Mallory, the co-Most Improved Offensive Player of the spring.
DeMar and Gorman have both had very good training camps and look to become the guards of the present and future. Both are athletically gifted and have made tremendous strides.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Defensive line coach Ted Daisher should have one of the Big Ten's top
units in 1999 with the return of seniors Adewale Ogunleye (Staten Island,
N.Y./Tottenville) and Jason Czap (Indianapolis/Warren Central). Add a talented
junior college transfer, several highly regarded redshirt freshmen, and
a good mix of players who have quality game experience, and this is a group
that has the potential to become a dominating unit.
Junior Paul Mandina (Rochester, N.Y./Webster) has moved into the starting middle guard position next to Czap while sophomore Kemp Rasmussen (Hadley, Mich/Lapeer West) has wrestled away the starting defensive end spot opposite Ogunleye. Senior Yeronimo Ciriaco (Bronx, N.Y./J.F. Kennedy), juniors Gordon Bramel (Lebanon, Ky./Marion County) and Tony Brown (Dayton, Ohio/Patterson), and redshirt freshmen Sean Nelson (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont), Jamil Frink (Bloomington, Ind./South), A.C. Myler (Detroit/Northwestern), and Shane Moat (Bloomington, Ind./South) should all compete for playing time.
Headlining this fine group is Ogunleye. A 1999 first-team preseason All-America selection by Playboy and collegefootballnews.com, this Staten Island, N.Y. product is Indiana's career leader in sacks (26.5) and tackles for loss (53). If he has another season such as he had in 1997 and 1998, he should be strongly considered for All-America honors and as a leading candidate for the Lombardi Award.
Said Ogunleye while speaking about being recognized as a preseason All-America selection, "Obviously, I am excited about the recognition but the key element of the entire thing is that it is a preseason award," said Ogunleye. "It is my responsibility to ensure that I do whatever needs to be done throughout this upcoming season to achieve what we want to get done as a team. Essentially, this rewards what I have done in the past and I am really focusing on the upcoming season right now. However, I am very aware that I wouldn't have received this recognition without my teammates' and coaches' help and I am pleased that it will bring additional attention to the IU football program."
Ogunleye, a team tri-captain, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors following his sophomore campaign and was a second-team selection in 1998. He decided to bypass the NFL draft to return to school for his senior campaign despite being projected by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper as a first-round pick if he would have decided to enter this past spring's draft.
Czap started 11 games at defensive tackle in 1998. He did not participate in spring drills because he is still recovering from a recurring wrist injury he sustained for the first time during the 1997 season. He earns significant playing time because his motor is always running. He tallied 26 tackles, including five tackles for loss and one sack, in 1998. He also forced a fumble.
Mandina, a middle guard, had a very impressive spring and will look to raise his playing level even higher this fall. Despite battling through a bursa sac injury in the 1998 preseason, he started the season opener and the season finale vs. Purdue. He had the most productive game of his young career when he recorded two tackles for loss, including one sack, in a game 10 win vs. Minnesota.
Sophomore Kemp Rasmussen played in 11 games in a reserve role in 1998 and will look to replace Aaron Williams (Arizona Cardinals free agent) at the defensive end spot opposite Ogunleye. Rasmussen tallied 12 tackles, including one for loss, last season. He is extremely active and explosive.
Bramel had a solid spring after doing a very impressive job throughout winter conditioning that put him in position to challenge for playing time at defensive end. He saw action on the goal-line unit at times last fall. Brown will also look to see playing time at defensive end after starting seven games at outside linebacker last season.
Redshirt freshmen Derek Barnett, Sean Nelson, A.C. Myler, and Jamil Frink have the ability to push for extensive playing time in 1999. All four have huge upsides to their potential. Barnett and Nelson were highly recruited and the two disappointed no one last fall. Both have added considerable size and strength to their already impressive frames. Barnett clocked a 2.45 in the 20-yard dash during spring testing which equates to wide receiver-type explosion off of the line of scrimmage. Nelson was held out of the final week of spring practice because of a hairline fracture of his fibula but he will return in time for training camp.
Add junior college transfer Dominique Smith (Coffeyville, Ks., J.C.), who signed with Tennessee as a prep, to the mix and you potentially have a special unit.
LINEBACKER
At linebacker, Jabar Robinson, a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention
selection, has graduated. Fifth on IU's career tackle list with 339, Robinson
will need to be replaced but there are capable players who are waiting in
the wings and looking for their opportunity to shine.
There were more changes at linebacker than any other position during spring drills as several played were either moved to linebacker or moved from one 'backer spot to another. Headlining these changes were the moves of sophomore Justin Smith (Indianapolis/Warren Central) from strong safety to SAM linebacker, Devin Schaffer (Indianapolis/Cathedral) from Whip to Mike, and Joslin Goodman (Osceola, Ind./Penn), who saw time at both Mike and Sam in 1998, to Whip. The alignment changes should enable defensive coordinator Jon Heacock's charges to play a faster, more attacking, style of defense. Other linebackers who should fit into the equation will be seniors Brad Gecina (Columbiana, Ohio/Crestview), Vince Lidy (Newburgh, Ind./Castle), and Pat Kraft (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel), and redshirt freshmen Derek Barnett (Evansville, Ind./Harrison), Jason McWilliams (Detroit/Denby) and Stephen Anthony (Bowling Green, Ky./Warren East).
Smith started nine games at strong safety as a redshirt freshman in 1998 and has tremendous potential. He finished the 1998 campaign with 64 tackles, including four for loss and two sacks. He also tallied one interception and recovered two fumbles. One of the finest young players in the Big Ten, he made plays all over the field last fall. Competing with Smith for playing time at Sam linebacker will be Brad Gecina. He stepped forward and moved into the starting role at Sam in 1998. Gecina went on to start eight games last season and recorded 34 tackles, including one for loss, and one fumble recovery.
The move of Schaffer from Whip to Mike should make the IU defense much faster as Schaffer plays extremely fast and has run a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. He has also recorded a 33.5-inch vertical leap. While splitting time with Tony Brown at Whip as a redshirt freshman last season, Schaffer appeared in 11 games (three starts) and notched 45 tackles, including four for loss and one sack. He tallied 10 tackles, including one sack, in a victory over Minnesota. Kraft will back up Schaffer and should be a solid performer on special teams. He is a former walk-on who received unused aid scholarships in 1998. Kraft saw special teams action, and limited action on defense, in 11 games last season.
At Whip, Goodman, Lidy, and Barnett should compete for playing time. Goodman saw time at both Mike and Sam linebacker in and recorded 14 tackles, including 1 for loss. As of today, he is the starter at Whip. Barnett moved to Whip from defensive end midway through training camp and will provide Goodman with a stiff challenge. Lidy is a solid special teams player who had a very impressive spring at Whip.
Two players who have shown good potential are McWilliams and Anthony. Both saw limited action this past spring because they were recovering from surgery on their right knees. However, they should be able to contribute this fall.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Despite the move of sophomore Justin Smith from strong safety to linebacker,
the IU secondary is a position grouping that continues to improve. Last
season the IU defense finished the year ranked third nationally in interceptions
due in large part to the play of a young, yet talented, secondary.
This year's group returns senior starters Curtis Randle El (Riverdale, Ill./Thornton) and Mike McGrath (Downers Grove, Ill./South), and junior O.J. Spencer (Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian). Randle El and Spencer started at cornerback last fall while McGrath was the starting free safety. Also primed to compete for extensive playing time are sophomore safety Greg Yeldell (East Spencer, N.C./North Rowan), sophomores Sharrod Wallace (Harrisburg, Pa./Hargrave Military), Maurice Tucker (Bartow, Fla./Bartow) and Brandon Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow), and senior safety Pat Shaw (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard). Junior college transfers Johnny Anderson (Ft. Pierce, Fla./C.C. of San Francisco) will likely be the team's nickel back and back up Yeldell at strong safety. Several true freshmen, headlined by Michael Hanley (Owensboro, Ky./Apollo) and Joe Gonzalez (Avon Lake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) should also compete for playing time. As of today, Yeldell is the only solid starter and should start the season opener at strong safety.
Randle El, who has played cornerback and safety during his career, has played in 32 career games (19 starts) and started 11 games in 1998. He is expected to see time at cornerback this fall but may just as easily see playing time at safety. He missed the entire spring while recovering from a stab wound to his abdomen. He is, however, expected to be 100 percent healthy by training camp. Last season, he tallied 64 tackles, including seven for loss and 2 sacks, and an interception. He won Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors following a game 10 win vs. Minnesota.
Spencer, a Jacksonville, Fla., native played in 10 contests and started eight games last fall. He finished tied for third on the club with 64 tackles, including one for loss. He also recorded three interceptions.
McGrath, who started 11 games at free safety in 1998, was one of three recipients of the ThunderDome Club award following the season for his above average play during at least eight of 11 weeks of the season. Extremely productive, McGrath finished second on the team in tackles with 80. He also had two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
The national high school record holder in the triple jump, Yeldell was nominated for Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year honors after a 1998 season that saw him tally five interceptions and earn IU Special Teams Player-of-the-Year honors. He finished the season with 41 tackles, including one for loss. He pilfered three passes in a game at Michigan. In doing so, Yeldell tied the NCAA record for interceptions in a game by a freshman. Yeldell missed all of spring practice because of his participation with the IU track team. In his absence, sophomore Brandon Rodgers saw most of the action with the first-team defense.
Wallace was named as the defense's Most Improved Player following spring drills. He will be expected to compete for a starting job at cornerback after seeing action in 11 games (two starts) last season. He tallied 18 tackles. Tucker is one of the team's fastest players. He started the season opener vs. Western Michigan last season and went on to start four games, despite missing the middle portion of the season with an elbow injury.
SPECIALISTS
Junior kicker Andy Payne, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 1998, and
senior punter Drew Hagan will return for the 1999 season. Payne connected
on 10 of 12 field goal attempts and 27 of 29 extra point tries last fall.
He now ranks fourth on IU's career field goal list with 25 and has connected
on 16 of 18 career field goals inside 40 yards.
Hagan punted in 11 games last season and averaged 36.2 yards per punt. He had at least a 47-yard punt in six games, including boots of 72 and 66 yards. Hagan is also expected to handle the kickoff chores.
1999 INDIANA FOOTBALL
Unofficial Depth Chart as of August 29
OFFENSE
SE 39 JERRY DORSEY (Jr./Jr.) 4 O.J. Conner (Jr./Jr.)
LT 74 PITA ELISARA (Sr./Sr.) 79 Doug Baumgarten (Sr./Sr.)/Brett Taylor
LG 70 ENOCH DeMAR (So./Fr.) 65 Matt Snyder (5th/Sr.)
C 77 CHAD MILLER (5th/Sr.) 54 Patrick Mallory (Sr./Jr.)
RG 66 JAMES BROYLES (Sr./Jr.) 55 Jamarkus Gorman (So./So.)
RT 78 Craig Robeen (5th/Sr.) 64 Nick Abruzzo (Sr./Jr.)
TE 89 CRAIG OSIKA (So./So.) 81 Bobby Brandt (So./Fr.)/Kris
Dielman
FL 2 VERSIE GADDIS (Sr./Jr.) 19 Derin Graham (Jr../So.)
QB 11 ANTWAAN RANDLE EL (Jr./So.) 14 Tommy Jones (So./Fr.)
RB 5 LEVRON WILLIAMS (Jr../So.) or 31 Frankie Franklin (Sr./Sr.)
FB 26 De'WAYNE HOGAN (Jr./Jr.) 28 Jason Spear (Sr./Sr.)/Jeremi Johnson
DEFENSE
DE 93 Adewale Ogunleye (5th/Sr.) 94 Tony Brown (Jr./Jr.)
MG 73 PAUL MANDINA (Sr./Jr.) 62 A.C. Myler (So./Fr.)
DT 68 JASON CZAP (5th/Sr.) 98 Dominique Smith (Jr./Jr.)/Jamil Frink
DE 92 KEMP RASMUSSEN (So./Fr.) 98 Dominique Smith (Jr./Jr.)/Sean Nelson
WLB 51 JOSLIN GOODMAN (Jr./Jr.) 72 Derek Barnett (So./Fr.)
MLB 8 DEVIN SCHAFFER (Jr./So.) 47 Pat Kraft (5th/Sr.)
SLB 27 JUSTIN SMITH (Jr./So.) 58 Brad Gecina (5th/Sr.)
CB 21 MAURICE TUCKER (So./So.) 7 Michael Hanley (Fr./Fr.)
CB 22 SHARROD WALLACE (So./So.) 10 Curtis Randle El (Sr./Sr.)
SS 20 GREG YELDELL (So./So.) 13 Johnny Anderson (Jr./Jr.)
FS 38 MIKE McGRATH (5th/Sr.) 25 Joe Gonzalez (Fr./Fr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
P 48 DREW HAGAN (Sr./Sr.) 30 Andy Payne (Sr./Jr.)
K 30 ANDY PAYNE (Sr./Jr.) 23 Adam Braucher (Fr./Fr.)
KO 48 DREW HAGAN (Sr./Sr.) 30 Andy Payne (Jr./So.)
H 17 GIBRAN HAMDAN (So./Fr.) 14 Tommy Jones (So./Fr.)
PR 19 DERIN GRAHAM (Jr./So.)
KOR 19 DERIN GRAHAM (Jr./So.) 23 A.C. Carter (Fr./Fr.)
PC 53 COLIN FROST (So./So.) 81 Bobby Brandt (So./Fr.)
KC 66 JAMES BROYLES (Sr./Jr.) 81 Bobby Brandt (So./Fr.)
