Indiana University Athletics
Weekly Press Release for Game Against Illinois
10/30/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, October 4, 2000
12:10 p.m. EST/11:10 p.m. CST
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Ill.
ESPN Regional Broadcast
The Game: Indiana (3-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) travels to Champaign, Ill., on Saturday, November 4, to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (4-4 overall, 1-4 Big Ten). The game will be telecast regionally by ESPN-Plus with Wayne Larrivee, Randy Wright and Peggy Kusinski calling the action. Both teams are coming off of setbacks this past Saturday as Indinaa fell to Penn State, 27-24, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis and Illinois lost at East Lansing, Mich., to Michigan State, 14-10. Versus Penn State, junior RB Levron Williams rushed 20 times for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns. Indiana won last year's meeting between the two teams, 34-31 in overtime after the Hoosiers had trailed 28-7 late in the third quarter. Indiana QB Antwaan Randle El accounted for 422 total yards and four touchdowns. Following its loss to Indiana, Illinois went on to win five out of its final seven games.
The New Coaches: There will be several new faces on the IU coaching staff this fall. Joining the staff are offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Hal Hunter, defensive coordinator James Bell, outside linebackers coach Dick Flynn and defensive kicking game coordinator Tom Harp.
Hunter comes to IU from LSU where he served as the offensive line coach. As the interim head coach he led the Bayou Bengals to an upset win over Arkansas in last year's season finale.
Bell was most recently the defensive coordinator at Wake Forest where he was responsible for turning around a struggling defense and making it one of the nation's best. In 1999 the Demon Deacons capped a 6-5 regular season with a 23-3 victory over Arizona State in the Aloha Bowl. Wake Forest held its opponent to 20-or-fewer points in eight of 12 games and ranked third-or-better in the ACC in every major defensive category.
Flynn joins the IU staff after spending six seasons as the head coach at Central Michigan. He helped lead the Chippewas to the 1994 MAC championship with a 9-3 overall record. He spent 16 seasons as the school's defensive coordinator.
Harp has served as a head football coach at Cornell (1961-65), Duke (1966-70) and Indiana State.
The Captains: This past spring it was announced that fifth-year senior and Indiana University graduate Versie Gaddis, a wide receiver, along with fifth-year defensive tackle Paul Mandina, senior safety Johnny Anderson, junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El and junior Kemp Rasmussen were selected as captains by their teammates. During training camp, graduated senior running back Glynn Johnson and senior safety Johnny Anderson were added as captains.
Honoring Pete Schmidt: Pete Schmidt, who served as Indiana's assistant head coach from 1997-00, lost his battle with lymphoma on Friday, September 29. He was 52-years-old and is survived by his wife, Becky, and three children, Amy, Peter and Sarah. Prior to his arrival at Indiana, Schmidt served as the head football coach at Albion College from 1983-1996. He compiled a 106-26-5 record and led the Britons to five NCAA playoff appearances and nine Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships. In 1994, Albion posted a perfect 13-0 record and defeated Washington & Jefferson, 38-15, to win the NCAA Division III national championship. Following the '94 season, Schmidt was named the Division III NCAA National Coach-of-the-Year and also walked away with Chevrolet National Coach-of-the-Year honors.
Said head coach Cam Cameron, "It's not often you get an opportunity to hire one of your idols yet I was fortunate to be able to do that four years ago when I hired Pete. He will always be an inspirational and motivating force in my life and the lives of many others."
Added Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, "Our state and the coaching profession has lost a great person. I know of few people who had as many friends as Pete Schmidt and that's because he was a special man. And to Pete's family, I want to express my condolences and my sympathies on behalf of myself and my entire coaching staff."
Indiana will wear a helmet sticker that says "Pete" throughout the 2000 campaign.
Explosive Offense: Averaging 433.8 yards per contest, Indiana is currently 15th in Division IA football in total offense and ranks eighth nationally in rushing offense (257.6 ypg). That total ranks second in the Big Ten. Indiana is 21st nationally and third in the Big Ten in scoring offense (33.4 ppg).
IU has scored 30-or-more points in 12 of its last 19 games, including 6-of-8 games in 2000. This fall, IU recorded 38 points and tallied 2 TDs of over 50 yards in the opener vs. N.C. State and scored 34 points and recorded nine plays of 20-or-more yards at UK. In game three vs. Cinci., Indiana scored 42 points and recorded six plays of over 20 yards, including three plays of 50-or-more yards. IU also recorded 17 plays of 10-or-more yards vs. the Bearcats. Versus Iowa, IU tallied 45 points and recorded 23 plays of 10-or-more yards. The Hoosiers averaged 8.2 yards per carry. IU tallied 442 total yards at Northwestern. Versus Minnesota, Indiana's 51 points was its highest scoring output in a Big Ten game since IU scored 52 at Purdue in 1988.
Exclusive Company: In 30 career games, junior QB Antwaan Randle El has rushed for 2,454 yards and passed for 5,357. In game six at Michigan he became only the second player in Div. IA history to pass for 5,000 yards and rush for 2,000 (La.-Lafeyette's Brian Mitchell). With a career-high 187 rushing yards vs. Iowa, he became only the sixth player in Div. IA history to gain 2,000 career yards rushing and 4,000 career yards passing.
• Other quarterbacks gaining 2,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing in a career are as follows: Major Harris, West Virginia, 1987-89 (2,030 rushing, 4,834 passing); Brian Mitchell, La.-Lafayette, 1986-89 (3,335 rushing, 5,447 passing); Rickey Foggie, Minnesota, 1984-87 (2,038 rushing, 4,903 passing); John Bond, Mississippi State, 1980-83 (2,280 rushing, 4,621 passing); Prince McJunkins, Wichita State, 1979-82 (2,047 rushing, 4,514 passing).
Randle El National Player of the Week: In recognition of his effort vs. Minnesota, Randle El earned Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week (5th time of his career) honors and national player-of-the-week recognition from CNN/SI. He was also one of only two players mentioned on the USA Today's Heisman list in the "On Fire" category. Versus the 22nd-ranked Gophers, the signal caller broke his own school record with 473 total yards in a 51-43 victory. He rushed 27 times for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns and completed 12 of 21 passes for 263 yards and 2 scores. In doing so, he became only the 5th player in Div. IA history to rush for 200 yards and pass for 200 yards in the same game.
2,000 Career Yards Rushing: With 187 rushing yards in game four vs. Iowa,Antwaan Randle El became only the 34th quarterback in Division I-A history to record 2,000 career rushing yards. With 2,388 career rushing yards, the IU signal caller is currently 14th on the NCAA career rushing list for QBs.
| Rank | Name | Yards | TDs | Games |
| 1. | Dee Dowis, Air Force | 3,612 | 41 | 47 |
| 10. | Michael Carter, Hawaii | 2,534 | 39 | 46 |
| 11. | Corby Jones, Missouri | 2,533 | 38 | 39 |
| 12. | Antwaan Randle El, Indiana | 2,454 | 31 | 30 |
| 13. | Chad Nelson, Rice | 2,415 | 24 | 40 |
| 14. | Bill Deery, William & Mary | 2,388 | 19 | 33 |
Mr. Touchdown: With two touchdowns passing and two scores rushing vs. Minnesota, Antwaan Randle El has now accounted for 32 passing touchdowns and 31 rushing touchdowns during his 30-game career. Randle El is responsible for 196 points through the air (including two two-point conversions) and 186 points rushing. Michigan's Rick Leach (1975-78) is the only player in the history of college football who scored 200 points and passed for 200 points (scored 204, passed for 270) during a career. Randle El has achieved his current total in only 30 career games.
Randle El Leading the Nation in Rushing Yards by a Quarterback: With 793 rushing yards in eight games, junior QB Antwaan Randle El's 99.1 rushing yards per game is the top rushing average by a Division I-A quarterback. Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler (95.4 ypg) and Nebraska's Eric Crouch (84.9) are the only other quarterbacks among the top 50 nationally in rushing yards per game.
Passing the 1,000-Yard Mark: With 38 yards rushing vs. Penn State, senior FB De'Wayne Hogan has now rushed 252 times for 1,005 yards and 9 touchdown during his career.
Smith Among Big Ten Leaders in Sacks and Tackles for Loss: Justin Smith (Indianapolis/ Warren Central), a 6-foot, 218-pound, junior linebacker and Butkus Award candidate is currently tied for the Big Ten Conference lead in sacks (6) and tackles for loss (13). Versus Penn State, Smith forced a fumble at the goal line that was recovered by Sharrod Wallace. Versus Minnesota, Smith forced a fourth quarter fumble by QB Travis Cole that helped seal the victory. Earlier in the season, he was named Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Week for his performance in game four vs. Iowa. Smith recorded 13 tackles, including 6 tackles for loss (-35 yards) and 4 sacks (-31 yards). He also broke up a pass. On Iowa's second possession of the game he sacked QB Jon Beutjer for a 7-yard loss on a 3rd-n-8 from the IU-39. At the end of the first half, sacked Beutjer for a 9-yard loss on a 1st-n-goal from the IU-5-yard line and followed up that play up on second down with a pass broken up that ultimately forced a field goal.
Randle El Climbs Big Ten Career List: With 473 total yards in game seven at Minnesota, Randle El moved into 8th place on the Big Ten's career total offense list with 7,657 yards. He currently trails Wisconsin's Darrell Bevell (7,686 total yards from 1992-95) for the seventh spot on the list. Only six players in Big Ten history have surpassed 8,000 total offensive yards. Remarkably, six of the players in the top 10 played either collegiately or professionally in Indiana. The list as as follows:
| Rank | Name | Yards |
| 1. | Drew Brees, Purdue (1997-Present) | 11,381 |
| 2. | Chuck Long, Iowa (1981-1985) | 10,254 |
| 3. | Mark Hermann, Purdue (1977-1980) | 9,134 |
| 4. | Art Schlichter, Ohio State (1978-1981) | 8,850 |
| 5. | Jack Trudeau, Illinois (1981, 1983-1985) | 8,640 |
| 6. | Len Williams, Northwestern (1990-1993) | 8,029 |
| 7. | Antwaan Randle El, Indiana (1998-Present) | 7,811 |
| 8. | Darrell Bevell, Wisconsin (1992-1995) | 7,686 |
| 9. | Scott Campbell, Purdue (1980-1983) | 7,526 |
| 10. | Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (1996-1999) | 7,429 |
Succes in the Red Zone: Indiana has been very successful inside the red zone (1st down play inside the 20-yard line). On 27 penetrations, Indiana has scored 26 times (23 touchdowns, 3 field goals). One red zone series without points was a drive by the second team offense late in a win vs. Cincinnati. Indiana also failed to score trailing Kentucky 41-34 late in the fourth quarter late in game two at Kentucky.
Five Yards Per Carry: In 2000, every IU player (seven individuals) that has carried the football more than one time is averaging at least 5.0 yards per carry. Leading rusher QB Antwaan Randle El averages 5.6 yards per carry while junior RB Levron Williams averages 7.0 yards per tote. Redshirt freshman RB Brian Lewis averages 6.5 yards per attempt while fullbacks Jeremi Johnson and De'Wayne Hogan average 5.2 per attempt.
Quick Facts About the Contest:
Indiana (3-5) vs. Illinois (4-4)
When: Saturday, November 4, 2000; 11:10 p.m. CST/12:10 p.m. EDT
Where: Memorial Stadium; Champaign, Illinois
Television: ESPN Regional Telecast
Radio: Indiana University Radio Network - 50 affiliates
Indiana Coach Cam Cameron: 13-28, fourth season
Illinois Coach Ron Turner: 22-31 in five seasons overall and 15-27 in four seasons at Illinois
Series History: Illinois leads 37-13-3
Last Game: Indiana 34, Illinois 31 (OT) at IU on 10/2/99
Current Streak: Indiana won in 1999; Illinois won in 1998
First Meeting: 1899; Indiana won 5-0
Indiana's Record in Champaign: 7-24-1
Big Ten Rankings:
Offense:
Total Offense - Antwaan Randle El (2nd - 266.0 ypg)
Rushing - Antwaan Randle El (5th - 99.1 ypg)
Defense:
Sacks - Justin Smith (tied-4th - 6)
Tackles for Lost - Justin Smith (3rd - 13)
Tackles - Johnny Anderson (10th - 8.6 tpg)
Fumbles Forced - Justin Smith (t-3rd - 2.0 per game)
Speciality:
Field Goal Percentage - Andy Payne (4th - 75.0 percent)
Scoring (kick) - Andy Payne (5th - 6.1 ppg)
Team Statistics NCAA Ranks
| Indiana | Statistic | Illinois |
| 253.50 (8th) | Rushing Offense | 177.88 (29th) |
| 179.75 (86th) | Passing Offense | 210.63 (63rd) |
| 433.25 (15th) | Total Offense | 388.50 (44th) |
| 33.38 (21st) | Scoring Offense | 26.00 (58th) |
| 178.63 (86th) | Rushing Defense | 196.63 (97th) |
| 285.0 (114th) | Passing Defense | 179.38 (18th) |
| 463.63 (112th) | Total Defense | 376.00 (70th) |
| 37.63 (109th) | Scoring Defense | 20.75 (39th) |
| 9.78 (53rd) | Punt Returns | 9.32 (60th) |
Individual Statistics NCAA Ranks
| Indiana | Name | Rank | Actual |
| Total Offense | Antwaan Randle El | 12th | 266.00 |
| Rushing | Antwaan Randle El | 27th | 99.13 |
| Rushing | Levron Williams | 47th | 81.75 |
| Kickoff Returns | Derin Graham | 27th | 23.85 |
Indiana Injury Report
Sr. Joslin Goodman (LB) - Thumb (out)
So. Greg Goss (CB) - Right Ankle (out)
Fr. Travis Haney (WR) - Left Knee (out)
So. Glenn Johnson (WR) - Turf Toe (questionable)
Fr. Matt Mason (S) - Left Shoulder (out)
So. Sean Nelson (DT) - Left Shoulder (out)
Jr. Sharrod Wallace (CB) - Ankle (probable)
The Coaches:
Illinois' Ron Turner
Born: December 5, 1953
Family: Turner and his wife, Wendy, have two sons, Morgan 14, and Cameron, 12, and daughters Callan, 9, and Madison, 7.
Coaching Experience: College - Illinois head coach, 1997-present, Chicago Bears assistant (1993-1996), San Jose State head coach (1992), Stanford assistant (1989-1991), Texas A&M assistant (1988), USC assistant (1985-87), Pittsburgh assistant (1983-1984), Northwestern assistant (1981-1982), Arizona assistant (1978-80), and Pacific graduate assistant (1977).
Education: Graduated with a B.A. from the University of the Pacific in 1977 where he played wide receiver from 1975-76.
Bowl Participation: As a head coach: 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl.
Indiana's Cam Cameron:
Born: February 6, 1961 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Family: Married to Missy and the couple lives in Bloomington with their four children, Tommy, Danny, Christopher and Elizabeth Anne.
Coaching Experience: College - Indiana head coach (1997-present), Michigan assistant coach (1986-1993), Michigan graduate assistant (1984-85); NFL - Washington Redskins assistant (1994-96).
Education: Graduated from Terre Haute (Ind.) South H.S.; Earned a bachelor's degree in business from Indiana in 1983 .
Bowl Participation: As a coach: 1993 Hall of Fame Bowl, 1992 Rose Bowl, 1991 Rose Bowl, 1990 Gator Bowl, 1989 Rose Bowl, 1987 Rose Bowl, 1986 Rose Bowl, 1985 Fiesta Bowl, 1984 Holiday Bowl.
Milestones: Junior QB Antwaan Randle El needs three passing touchdowns to tie Steve Bradley (35, 1983-85) for first place on IU's career touchdown passing list. Randle El is currently tied for second with Harry Gonso (32 TD passes from 1967-69).
Now That's a Wow: If WR Jerry Dorsey is able to garner 46 more receiving yards and QB Antwaan Randle El tallies 46 more rushing yards, Indiana will have a career 5,000-yard passer (Randle El), 2,500 yard rusher (Randle El), 1,500-yard rusher Levron Williams 1,000-yard rusher (De'Wayne Hogan) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Versie Gaddis and Dorsey) on its roster at the same time.
Randle El Among Elite on Division I-A Career Yards Per Game List: Having recorded 7,811 total yards in 30 games, junior QBAntwaan Randle El's current 260.4 total yards per game average would place him 22nd in Division IA history in career yards per game (minimum 5,500 yards) according to the 2000 NCAA Record Book (does not include players currently competing). Randle El's current total would place him ahead of many of the biggest names in college football history. Others in the the top 45 include: 27) Peyton Manning, Tennessee, 250.5; 28) Randall Cunningham, UNLV, 249.2; 30) Joe Hamilton, Georgia Tech, 247.4; 34) Bernie Kosar, Miami (Fla.), 242.8; 38) Cade McNown, UCLA, 238.3; and 45) Kordell Stewart, Colorado, 234.5.
Quick Strike Offense: Indiana's offense is quickly earning a reputation for its ability to score from anywhere on the field. Along with this quick strike ability comes short scoring drives. Of its 42 scoring drives in 2000, the Hoosiers have scored in four minutes or less on 33 drives. Versus Northwestern, four of Indiana's scoring drives were less than one minute.
Williams' Yards Per Carry: During his career, junior Levron Williams has carried 217 times for 1,527 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is averaging a staggering 7.0 yards per carry.
Off to a Fast Start: Indiana has scored first in each of its six of its first eight games games in 2000. To date, Indiana has outscored its opponents 56-37 in the opening quarter, 117-67 in the first half, and prior to game five at Northwestern, had trailed for a total of 5 minutes and 15 seconds. Indiana's 28 first half points vs. Cincinnati was its highest total since scoring 31 vs. Western Michigan in the season opener of the 1998 season (9/12/98). Indiana's first scores are as follows: Versus Penn State, RB Levron Williams scored on a 25-yard touchdown run with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter. Versus Minnesota, WR Versie Gaddis scored on a 24-yard pass reception from QB Antwaan Randle El with 10:42 remaining in the first quarter. Versus Iowa, WR Derin Graham scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone with 10:23 remaining in the first quarter. Versus Cincinnati, junior running back red on a 7-yard touchdown run with 12:48 remaining in the first quarter. In game two att Kentucky, Indiana scored with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter on a 3-yard run by quarterback Antwaan Randle El. In the season opener vs. N.C. State, fullback De'Wayne Hogan scored on a 10-yard run with 10:23 remaining in the first stanza.
Taking it the Distance: Junior wide receiver Derin Graham has proven himself to be one of the finest return men in the Big Ten Conference. He currently ranks 19th nationally with a 25.1 average. In game two at Kentucky, he turned in a highlight film return as he jumped over a pile of would-be tacklers, balanced himself with his free hand, and raced 86 yards to the UK-one-yard line. He recorded a 54-yard return in the season opener vs. North Carolina State and a 45-yard return in game three vs. Cincinnati.
During his career he has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, one in each of the past two seasons. He returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown vs. Kentucky in 1999 and recorded a 100-yard return vs. Wisconsin in 1988. In 1999 he also recorded 19 receptions for 405 yards and one touchdown.
Off to a Fast Start II: With 192 points in its first six games, IU has surpassed its point total of the entire 1997 season, Cam Cameron's first at Indiana. The Hoosiers scored 120 points in 1997. Indiana has also scored more points this season than it did in all of 1995 and 1992.
Dorsey a Big Play Weapon: SeniorJerry Dorsey's two 50-plus-yard receptions were the third and fourth catches of his career of 50 or more yards. Versus the Bearcats, Dorsey recorded a 50-yard touchdown in the first half and a 53-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. His 125 receiving yards marked the third time during his career that he has tallied a 100-yard receiving game. Versus Iowa, Dorsey recorded a touchdown reception and picked up a key first down late in the fourth quarter that kept a scoring drive alive.
Taking it the Distance: Junior wide receiver Derin Graham has proven himself to be one of the finest return men in the Big Ten Conference. He currently ranks 27th nationally with a 23.9 average. In game two at Kentucky, he turned in a highlight film return as he jumped over a pile of would-be tacklers, balanced himself with his free hand, and raced 86 yards to the UK-one-yard line. He recorded a 54-yard return in the season opener vs. North Carolina State and a 45-yard return in game three vs. Cincinnati.
During his career he has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, one in each of the past two seasons. He returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown vs. Kentucky in 1999 and recorded a 100-yard return vs. Wisconsin in 1988. In 1999 he also recorded 19 receptions for 405 yards and one touchdown.
Gaddis and Dorsey: With 21 yards receiving vs. Iowa, senior wide receiver Versie Gaddis now has 1,008 career receiving yards. The Atlanta, Georgia, product has 72 career receptions for 1,345 yards and five touchdowns. He recorded a 70-yard touchdown reception in the season opener vs. North Carolina State. Senior Jerry Dorsey, a junior college transfer prior to the 1999 season, has recorded 47 career receptions for 954 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Career Highs for Gaddis: Senior wide receiver Versie Gaddis tallied career highs in both receptions and receiving yards when he recorded 6 catches for 155 yards and one touchdown in game seven win vs. Minnesota.
Payne Sets FG Distance Record: Senior kicker Andy Payne's 53-yard field goal vs. Minnesota was a career-long and set a Memorial Stadium record for an IU player. The Memorial Stadium record is held by Jim Gallery of Minnesota who kicked a 57-yard field goal on 10/17/81.
Protecting the Quarterback: Despite starting an offensive line that features four players who, prior to this season, had not played in a college game as an offensive lineman and another, Enoch DeMar, who moved from guard to tackle during the preseason, Indiana has allowed only six sacks in eight games. Also, starting center Craig Osika was a center prior to this season, left tackle A.C. Myler was a defensive tackle and guards Anthony Oakley and Sione Ohuafi are redshirt freshmen.
Points, First Downs, and Total Yardage vs. Minnesota Best of Cameron Era: One week after Minnesota had held Ohio State to 200 total yards in Columbus, Indiana scored 51 points, recorded 611 total yards and 30 first downs against the Golden Gophers. All three totals are statistical highs during the Cam Cameron era at Indiana. Indiana's school record for yards is 650 which was set at Kentucky on 9/17/94. The school record for first downs (35) was also set in that game.
Big Plays: Of Indiana's 36 touchdowns in 2000, 12 scores have been from 20-or-more yards. Versus N.C. State in the season opener, IU scored from 57, 70 and 36 yards. The Hoosiers recorded a 50-yard touchdown vs. Cincinnati, a 62-yard tally vs. Iowa, and a 47-yard score vs. Minnesota. In 2000, Indiana has recorded 44 plays from the line of scrimmage of 20-or-more yards. At its current pace, the Hoosiers are on pace to match its staggering 1999 toal of 60 plays of 20-or-more yards.
Randle El Achieves Another NCAA Mark: With 210 yards rushing and 263 yards passing in a 51-43 victory over 22nd-ranked Minnesota, junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El became only the fifth player in Division I-A history to rush for 200 yards and pass for 200 yards in the same game. The list (in order of total yardage) is as follows: Marques Tuiasosopo, Washington vs. Stanford (202 rushing, 307 passing) on 10/30/99; Reds Bagnell, Pennsylvania vs. Dartmouth (214 rushing, 276 passing) on 10/14/50; Brian Mitchell, La.-Lafayette vs. Colorado St. (271 rushing, 205 passing) on. 11/21/87; Antwaan Randle El, Indiana vs. Minnesota (210 rushing, 263 passing) on 10/21/00; Steve Gage, Tulsa vs. New Mexico (212 rushing, 209 passing) on 11/21/87. Ironically, IU graduate assistant Ned James is the only player in NCAA history to pass for 400 yards and rush for 100 yards in a single game when he did so for New Mexico vs. Wyoming on 11/1/86 (118 rushing, 406 passing).
Position Changes: Since last season, head coach Cam Cameron has made several significant position changes that he believes will greatly benefit the Indiana football team.
a) Honorable mention All-Big Ten tight end Craig Osika from tight end to center. Said Cameron, "He really has handled the transition well and I think, as Hal Hunter and I were talking just the other night, it's not like we are moving an offensive tackle under center. We're moving a guy that's an athlete number one. Secondly, he's a guy that has already played. Craig is doing an excellent job and he is going to be a guy that is just going to get better every snap. Here for a while I'm sure there will be some bumps along the road but he is doing everything we expect and probably a little bit more."
b) Sophomore tight end Kris Dielman has moved from tight end to defensive tackle but has seen action at tight end. Other changes include: Enoch Demar from left guard to right tackle; A.C. Myler from defensive tackle to left tackle; and Colin Christopher from defensive tackle to guard. Christopher will miss the season with a knee injury sustained while playing basketball during the offseason.
In with the New: First-year offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Hal Hunter is earning his pay check. Not one player on Indiana's starting offensive line played in his current spot last season. In 1999, sophomore left tackle A.C. Myler was a defensive tackle, redshirt freshman left guard Anthony Oakley was redshirted, junior center Craig Osika played tight end, redshirt freshman Sione Ohuafi was redshirted and sophomore tackle Enoch DeMar played left guard. DeMar is the only one of the five that saw any playing time as a member of the offensive line. Despite the inexperience and youth, Indiana is averaging 33.4 points per game and 433.8 yards per contest, including 254.0 rushing yards per game. Indiana has allowed only six sacks in the first six games of the 2000 campaign.
In the Classroom: •Indiana's 15 Academic All-Big Ten honorees in 1999 were the most in school history
•Of last year's senior class, 30 of 32 have graduated
•Junior linebacker Justin Smith, junior defensive end Kemp Rasmussen and sophomore tackle Enoch Demar are all legitimate Academic All-America candidates
ESPN-THE MAGAZINE Cites Rasmussen: Junior defensive end Kemp Rasmussen was cited by ESPN-The Magazine as one of 10 emerging defensive ends in the country. Last fall, the 6-foot-3, 265-pounder started 11 games and recorded 42 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.Through the first six games of the 2000 campaign, Rasmussen has recorded 24 tackles, including 7 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He has also tallied five passes broken up.
Cameron Hires Harp: Head coach Cam Cameron has added Tom Harp, his step-father, to the Indiana coaching staff to replace Pete Schmidt who is currently battling cancer. Harp has served as a head football coach at Cornell (1961-65), Duke (1966-70) and Indiana State and will primarily coach the defensive special teams.
Thompson Named Interim Assistant Head Coach: In Pete Schmidt's absence because of cancer, running backs coach Anthony Thompson will serve as IU's assistant head coach. Thompson was the runner-up to Houston quarterback Andre Ware in the 1989 Heisman Trophy race. He almost had to prove himself in a head coaching capacity as Cam Cameron's wife, Missy, delivered 8-pound, 3-ounce, Elizabeth Anne, just hours prior to the Penn State game on OCtober 28 in Indianapolis. Cameron was at Bloomington Hospital for the delivery and would have missed the game vs. the Nittany Lions if not for the timely delivery.
The Kicker's Shoes: Senior placekicker Andy Payne, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 1998, wears a size 9 shoe on his kicking foot and a size 11 on his plant foot while kicking. He likes the compact feel that the smaller shoe affords him. Said Payne, "I have to scrunch my toes up a little bit, but for me it's worth it. You can make better contact with the ball. With a big old football shoe, you have a big tongue over it, big shoelaces, and there's just more padding. This way, you really feel the ball when you're kicking it, and that's something kickers like." In his first three seasons, Payne made 40-of-54 field goal attempts (74 percent). Inside 40 yards, he's missed only four of 31 career attempts (87 percent). He is also handling IU's punting duties this fall.
True Freshmen Make Appearance: Of the true freshmen who arrived in Bloomington on Friday, August 11, only defensive tackle Steve Williams, running back Rashon Myles, tight end Aaron Halterman and linebacker Brandonn Baker have seen action this fall. Myles saw extensive playing time during the fourth quarter of game three vs. Cincinnati and rushed 11 times for 61 yards, including runs of 16, 11 and 10 yards. Baker saw his first action and started in game seven vs. Minnesota.
Randle El Named to O'Brien List as one of Nation's Top Quarterbacks: Junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El was named to the watch list for the 2000 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, given annually to the nation's top college quarterback. The Davey O'Brien Advisory Committee is comprised of nationally known sportswriters and commentators.
Player Spotlight: Adam Braucher
So./Fr. Kicker
Personal
Hometown: Punta Gorda, Fla.
Date of Birth: August 4, 1981
Academic
Major: Sports Broadcasting
Favorite academic class: Sociology
Future aspirations: Become an ESPN Broadcaster/Analyst
Favorites
Favorite food: Peanut Butter
Favorite Bloomington restaurant: Janko's
Favorite campus spot: HPER
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Favorite musical artist: Clint Black
Favorite TV show: South Park
IU Football
Strongest player: The team...when we play together
Hardest hitter: Kris Dielman
Which player will make the biggest impact this year? Johnny Anderson
Favorite memory of the 1999 season: Orlando Spencer's tackle in the final seconds at Iowa
Dielman a True Thowback Although he played tight end as a true freshman last fall, sophomore Kris Dielman moved to defensive tackle this past spring, added almost 40 pounds, and played extremely well at his new position. However, his physical toughness also lends itself to the tight end position. He saw 16 snaps on offense and 27 snaps on defense vs. N.C. State. In game two vs. Kentucky, Dielman caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Randle El on one of his 16 offensive snaps. He also saw 17 snaps at defensive tackle. He saw more than 20 snaps on both sides of the ball in game three vs. Cincinnati. He caught a 4-yard touchdown pass at Northwestern and recorded the first tackle for loss of his career. Versus Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State, he played primarily on offense. He has also become a terror on the kickoff receiving team as he consistently pancakes opponents.
Like Father Like Son?: True freshman walk-on linebacker/long snapper Chris Bayh is the son of former United States Senator Birch Bayh and the half-brother of Evan Bayh, the current U.S. Senator from Indiana.
Indiana University Graduates: Three players on this year's roster have already earned their undergraduate degrees. The list includes wide receiver Versie Gaddis (general studies with minor in communications), running back Glynn Johnson (School of Public and Environmental Affairs) and Orlando Spencer (English education).
Spreading the Ball Around: Featuring one of the nation's most exciting and explosive offenses, IU was the only Division I college football team in 1999 to produce a 2,000-yard passer (Antwaan Randle El), two 750-yard rushers (Randle El and Levron Williams) and two 600-yard receivers (Jerry Dorsey and Versie Gaddis). All four players return this fall. Williams averaged 6.9 yards per carry in 1999 while Dorsey and Gaddis became the first receiving duo at IU to both reach 600 receiving yards in the same season since 1983.
Two is Better than One: Indiana is widely regarded as having the best pair of fullbacks in the Big Ten Conference in senior De'Wayne Hogan and sophomore Jeremi Johnson. The emergence of the 5-foot-11, 275-pound, Johnson and the consistent play of the 6-foot, 232-pound Hogan sparked a fierce competition for playing time this spring. The two are platooning this fall.
In the season opener vs. North Carolina State both fullbacks scored touchdowns. Hogan rushed 11 times for 54 yards and one score and Johnson rushed 3 times for 21 yards and a touchdown and caught 2 passes for 21 yards. One week later at Kentucky, Hogan rushed for 62 yards on four carries and caught one pass for 6 yards while Johnson rushed 2 times for 4 yards and caught a 26-yard pass from quarterback Antwaan Randle El . In game three vs. Cincinnati, Hogan scored his second touchdown of the season. Against Iowa, the two combined for 48 total yards. In game 5 at Northwestern, Hogan rushed 3-18-1TD and Johnson carried 7-32-1TD. Johnson also caught three passes. At Michigan, the two combined for 11 yards on 3 carries. In game seven vs. Minnesota, Hogan caught 2 passes for 56 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown reception from Antwaan Randle El .
Hogan started six times at fullback in 1999 and carried 30 times for 119 yards and one touchdown. He was hampered by injuries as a sophomore but started at tailback as a freshman in 1997. He appeared in eighth games (six starts) and rushed for a team-leading 506 yards, including a 164-yard effort vs. Illinois. He has bench pressed 225 pounds over 30 times.
Johnson played extensively as a true freshman in 1999 and earned a Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year nomination. He played in 11 games (four starts) and rushed 69 times for 282 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 90 yards and one score. Johnson had 50-plus yard rushing days at Penn State, vs. Northwestern, and at Iowa and scored on a 22-yard run vs. the Hawkeyes. He showed throughout the season that he has the ability to be a punishing blocker, catch the ball out of the backfield and run at the heart of an opponent's defense.
Now That's a Wow: With senior FB De'Wayne Hogan 33 rushing yards shy of 1,000 career rushing yards and senior WR Jerry Dorsey 46 yards short of 1,000 career receiving yards, Indiana has the potential to have a 5,000 yard passer, three 1,000-yard rushers (Randle El, Williams, Hogan) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Gaddis, Dorsey) on its roster at the same time.
The Quote Book:
Penn State head coach Joe Paterno on Indiana: "We made some mistakes, and that kid (Randle El) is an amazing athlete. They really had us on the run, they caught us in a couple of defenses with the right call, and that 5 (Williams) can run. We had to get used to the speed. Indiana played tough. They're no rinky-dinks."
Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El on Indiana's win over 22nd-ranked Minnesota:
"We were able to steal Minnesota's momentum and the offense and defense just started feeding off each other. Our coming back and not letting Minnesota get the best of us was our way of saying that we're not giving up this season."
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz on Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El: "Certainly, if you're going to talk about their team, you have to start with their quarterback. What a tremendous performer. He's a very productive quarterback with great speed (and) a dangerous thrower, but the thing that impresses me most out on the football field about him is the tremendous amount of heart that he plays with. I just cannot imagine, and I mean this with due respect to the other quarterbacks out there, but I can't imagine football player doing more for their team than he does.. He was quite an inspiration out there."
Cincinnati head coach Rick Minter on Indiana: "I played this team in 1994 in this same stadium (a 28-3 IU win), and this team has changed very positively in those years since Cam's arrival. They have recruited better and better players. I'm an old defensive guy, ladies and gentlemen. That's a tough offense to defend -- when you have got the elements of lead (option), run-action, misdirection, sprints ... They have put up three nice performances on offense the first three weeks of the season, so I think they will do some things in the Big Ten. That is a good football team you guys have here in Indiana. They obviously had some tough disappointments in their first two games, but they played extremely well today."
Rodney McKissic of the Cincinnati Post on Antwaan Randle El: "A defender can get close enough to Antwaan Randle El to lift his wallet - even close enough to swipe his shirt and shoes. And then, Randle El is gone. Trying to wrap up Randle El, Indiana University's blowtorch of a quarterback, is a lot like trying to run after a small motorcycle in your bare feet."
Cameron on Butkus Award Candidate Justin Smith: "Justin is a heckuva story from the standpoint that he was a cornerback in high school. He came to Indiana and we moved him to safety. He's continued to grow and develop physically and now he's over 225 pounds and we've moved him from safety now into linebacker. He's an extremely bright young man who is going to wind up being a four-year starter who has played two or three different positions. We're expecting a great year out of him and he's one of the leaders of our defense. He has some extremely high goals from the standpoint that he would like to be a Rhodes Scholar and an orthopedic surgeon some day. You're talking about a really bright young man who is really having a heckuva career for us."
Cameron on the Kentucky game: "It's really pretty simple. We made a critical mistake right before the half and a critical mistake at the end of the game.' I feel so bad for the guys in there. That's why I took so long to get out here. Good things are going to happen to this football team. The next nine weeks, we're going to have to prove it to you. But good things are going to happen. I told our team we're going to watch the film and see about 90 percent of what we're looking for in terms of effort and making plays. The other 10 percent is killing us. But that's the difference.''
Cameron on the North Carolina State game: "We played well enough to win the football game on the scoreboard, period. You can slice it any way you want. That football game was flat taken from Indiana University. Not from Cam Cameron, not from just our football team, it was taken from every single one of us. And you saw it with your own two eyes. I have never seen anything like that in my life."
Quarterback Antwaan Randle El when asked if he fumbled the first 15 snaps from new center Craig Osika who was converted from tight end: "If it wasn't the first fifteen snaps, it was the first thirteen (laughs)."
Said Sports Illustrated's Ivan Maisel on Antwaan Randle El: "I think if you were to question the defensive coordinators in the Big Ten about who they would least like to face on Saturday, I'd venture to guess that if Randle El wasn't first, he'd be in the top two."
Head coach Cam Cameron on the difficulty of the 2000 schedule: "Every team in the league is going to go through the same thing. Wisconsin was, I believe, the only team in the league to go without a bye, and all they did was win (seven) in a row. As it relates to the championship, which is what everybody is shooting for, that's really all you need to know. Obviously, it can be done. Our focus, obviously, becomes North Carolina State. And then a lot of things are going to happen by the time you get into the Big Ten schedule. We'll see if all those teams are still as highly ranked, but they're going to be good, I know that. Every team in our league has to go through, basically, the same sort of schedule.
www.collegefootballnews.com on Randle El: "Who's the most exciting player in the country? Who's the player the Big Ten coaches fear the most? Look to Hoosierland for junior Antwaan Randle El for the player, along with Vick, who's most worth the price of admission. When football is over, this guy is going to be a superstar broadcaster."
Wide receiver Versie Gaddis on addition of weight and Coach Cameron's comment saying ' We're so much faster, it's scary': "Most definitely (this addition of weight has not affected our mobility or speed). When you're talking ten or fifteen pounds, we're not talking about fat. That's not bacon, it's muscle (laughs)."
foxsports.com on Randle El: "If the question is: "Which quarterback would you rather have?" the answer might surprise you. For the vast majority of programs, except Purdue's and a few other high-powered passing games, the answer would be: "Randle El, without question. If Randle El has the kind of season he can and the Hoosiers win seven or more games, don't be surprised if two Big Ten quarterbacks are seated at the Downtown Athletic Club when this year's Heisman winner is selected."
Cameron on the possibility of playing sophomore Tommy Jones at quarterback and moving Antwaan Randle El to receiver: "Antwaan could help us at about five different positions, but you're not going to move him out from underneath center unless there is another quarterback we feel we can win with. It's all about getting our 11 best players on the field. If we feel Tommy Jones is one of our 11 best players, we wouldn't hesitate to get him out there."
Randle El on the versatility of running back Levron Williams: "We don't have to bring new receivers into the game. We just have to go to a different formation. A lot of backs can't do that. With him being as tall as he is and having the hands that he has, and him being able to run and play receiver, that's going to help us out a lot. It's a blessing he can do all those things."
Bill Jauss of the Chicago Tribune: "For wide-open, razzle-dazzle, big-play, high-octane offensive football, it's hard to exceed the fireworks Indiana and its irrepressible junior quarterback can provide."
Senior Paul Mandina on the team's 11-day training camp at the FCA National Headquarters near Marshall, Ind.: "You tell the freshmen that it's this place off in the woods. The air conditioning's not that good, (neither is) the water pressure. We change in a gym. It's sticky. There's no wind current with all the trees. You hear these stories and wonder what's good about this. But obviously when you get here, nothing could bring the team closer together. It forces you to concentrate on your teammates, offense and defense."
Randle El on free time at training camp: "You can lift weights or swim, that's pretty much it. And you don't want to swim. It's not a pool, it's a pond, and let's just say it's not exactly my idea of swimming."
Cameron on Butkus Award candidate Justin Smith: "Justin is a heckuva story from the standpoint that he was a cornerback in high school. He came to Indiana and we moved him to safety. He's continued to grow and develop physically and now he's over 225 pounds and we've moved him from safety now into linebacker. He's an extremely bright young man who is going to wind up being a four-year starter who has played two or three different positions. We're expecting a great year out of him and he's one of the leaders of our defense. He has some extremely high goals from the standpoint that he would like to be a Rhodes Scholar and an orthopedic surgeon some day. You're talking about a really bright young man who is really having a heckuva career for us."
Wide receiver Versie Gaddis on the wideouts inability to consistently catch the football in 1999: "At times last year, we were worried about catching the ball and getting going. It's not real difficult (to see) what our problem was. We just weren't watching the ball in much. We didn't just start working on that this summer; we started at the end of last year. . . ."We have speed, and we're going to get the yards. That will come, but we have to catch it first. We've just been working on catching the ball, over-exaggerating our technique, really concentrating on that because that really caused some problems last year, and we have to get that corrected."
Cameron on his goals for the IU football program: "Last year, we had a goal to go to a bowl game. If you finish in the top seven of our league, you're going to a bowl game, whether it be the Rose Bowl or a BCS bowl or someplace else. First, we've got to get into the upper half of this league. Once you do that, then you can start to see the championship. And that is the ultimate goal -- for us to win the Big Ten championship.
What They Are Saying About Indiana Quarterback Antwaan Randle El...
"That's the best player I've played against in my life. He's exceptional. What can I say." Minnesota All-America candidate DE Karon Riley (10/21/00)
"If you're just figuring out that Antwaan Randle El is a great player, you haven't been watching him." - Minnesota head coach Glen Mason (10/21/00)
"The Gophers can thank Randle El for its dose of craziness. The 5-10, 194-pound junior quarterback with the ballet dancer's feet and the high-speed motor of a Porsche, twisted, spun and churned out four touchdowns and a school-record 473 total yards." - Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (10/22/00)
"I'd vote Randle El for the Heisman Trophy." - Minnesota DT John Schlecht (10/21/00)
"If you're just figuring out "Any time you're playing against Randle El, it's not a good scenario. He is, I think, a great athlete, not a good athlete. He's a guy who can make plays I don't think anybody else, college or professional, can make. He has a very strong arm. He's very capable of throwing the football, but they utilize him in a way they can put a lot of points on the board. This guy was a point guard who could have played basketball at Indiana. I think Brees is a very good athlete but, in terms of quickness and speed, there is a marked difference." - Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr (10/10/00)
"As I said last week, he was just a phenomenal performer. I can't remember being on a field in my lifetime where one guy dominated the game like he did. He just played absolutely fantastic against us. We had a great respect for his ability to throw the ball, especially deep. I think he has a better supporting cast than he did a year ago. But he just controlled our football game. We just couldn't get a hand on him. He made plays in the passing game, but moreso in the running game. I knew he was extremely quick - we all knew that - but thought we saw another gear from him than we'd ever seen before. I thought he played faster than Eric Crouch of Nebraska, who has great speed." - Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz (10/10/00)
"Great performer. Glad we don't see him again this year. I hope he transfers or takes a job with somebody." - Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz (10/10/00)
"I haven't seen all the quarterbacks in the conference. I know there are some very good young quarterbacks in the conference. We just played against an exceptional talent in Drew Henson. Certainly, I think, from an athletic point of view, the most gifted
quarterback would have to be Antwaan Randle El at Indiana." - Purdue head coach Joe Tiller (10/10/00)
