Indiana University Athletics
Game Nores for Saturday's Game Against Kentucky
9/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 11, 2000
Indiana vs. Kentucky
ESPN2 National Broadcast
Saturday, September 16, 2000
5 p.m. EST/6 p.m. EDT
Commonwealth Stadium - Lexington, Ky.
The Game: Indiana will play its first road contest of the season on Saturday when it travels to Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., to take on SEC rival Kentucky. The game will mark the 31st meeting between the two schools.Last year, UK defeated Indiana, 44-35, before 39, 146 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. Despite a fumble recovery by DE Adewale Ogunleye late in the game with IU trailing 41-35, it wasn't enough as an interception by Kentucky's Eric Kelly and a field goal by Marc Samuel with 1:30 remaining in the contest sealed the victory for the Wildcats. Indiana and Kentucky have met every year since 1987.
National Television: The IU-UK game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. The broadcast crew consists of Mark Jones (play-by-play), Gino Toretta (analyst) and Rob Stone (sideline).Indiana is scheduled to appear on ESPN2 twice more this season, vs. Penn State at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis (10/28) and at Purdue (11/18). Indiana's season opener vs. N.C. State was also nationally televised by ESPN2.
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.
Johnny Anderson: A junior college transfer prior to the 1999 season, this talented, physical safety made an immediate impact last fall as he was the primary nickel back. Anderson was the leading tackler in the season opener against North Carolina State with 9 tackles, including 7 solo tackles.|
Versie Gaddis: A 5-foot-10, 188-pound, wide receiver, Gaddis had a fine season debut in the season opener vs. North Carolina State. He hauled in 4 receptions for a team-high 108 yards and one TD. In the ’99 opener vs. Ball State he tallied 3 receptions for 117 yards and 2 TDs. Gaddis is an IU graduate.
Glynn Johnson: Another Indiana University graduate, this speedy running back has made himself a very good special teams player. Johnson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career but did appear in 11 games last fall.He rushed for 99 yards in a game at Minnesota in 1997.
Paul Mandina: A 6-foot-4, 310-pound, defensive tackle was one of Indiana's most consistent
defenders throughout the 1999 campaign. He finished the season with 40 tackles, including 4 for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. In the 2000 season opener he recorded a tackle and a pass broken up.
Antwaan Randle El: A Heisman Trophy candidate, this 5-10, 194-pound signal callerrecorded 321 total yards against N.C. State to move into third place on Indiana's career total yardage list with 6,004 yards. Last year he reached 3,000 career yards passing and 1,500 career yards rushing faster (19 games) than any player in Division I history.
Kemp Rasmussen: Recognized by ESPN-The Magazine as one of the emerging defensive ends in college football, this junior started 11 games in 1999 and recorded 42 tackles, including 11.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. Rasmussen also broke up 3 passes, forced 2 fumbles, and blocked a kick. In the season opener vs. N.C. State he recorded a sack.
Indiana's Injury Report
Sophomore LB Herman Fowler – Right Middle Finger (Probable)
Sophomore DT Jamil Frink – Sick (Out)
Sophojmore CB Greg Goss – Right Ankle (Out)
Freshman WR Travis Haney – Left Knee (Out)
Sophomore WR Glenn Johnson – Turf Toe (Out)
Freshman S Matt Mason – Left Shoulder (Out)
Sophomore LB Shane Moat – Right Knee (Questionable)
Sophomore DT Sean Nelson – Left Shoulder (Out)
Indiana (0-1) vs. Kentucky (1-1)
When: Saturday, September 16, 2000; 5 p.m. EST
Where: Commonwealth Stadium (67,530)
Television: ESPN2 National Broadcast
Radio: Indiana University Radio Network - 50 affiliates
Indiana Coach Cam Cameron: 10-24, fourth season
Kentucky Coach Hal Mumme: 19-18, fourth season
Series History: Indiana leads 16-13-1
Last Game: Kentucky 44, IU 35 in 1999
Big Ten Rankings:
Offense:
Passing Avg./Game - Antwaan Randle El (2nd - 240.0)
Total Offense - Antwaan Randle El (2nd - 321.0)
Receiving Yards/Game - Versie Gaddis (2nd - 108.0)
Defense:
Interceptions - Joslin Goodman (T-3rd - 1.0)
Speciality:
Kick Returns/Avg. - Derin Graham (1st - 29.4)
Team Statistics NCAA Ranks
| Indiana | Statistic | Kentucky |
| 236.0 (11th) | Rushing Offense | 120.0 (70th) |
| 240.0 (7th) | Passing Offense | 352.0 (5th) |
| 476.0 (9th) | Total Offense | 472.0 (11th) |
| 38.0 (21st) | Scoring Offense | 30.5 (42nd) |
| 73.0 (21st) | Rushing Defense | 160.0 (77th) |
| 401.0 (113th) | Passing Efficiency Defense | 168.5 (35th) |
| 474.0 (107th) | Total Defense | 328.5 (56th) |
| 41.0 (107th) | Scoring Defense | 24.5 (69th) |
| 25.0 (102nd) | Net Punting | 34.91 (54th) |
| 10.5 (43rd) | Punt Returns | 1.5 (107th) |
Individual Statistics NCAA Ranks
| Indiana | Name | Rank | Actual |
| Rushing | Antwaan Randle El | 50th | 81.0/ypg |
| Passing Efficiiency | Antwaan Randle El | 22nd | 150.96 |
| Total Offense | Antwaan Randle El | 7th | 321.0/ypg |
| Receiving Yards/Per Game | Versie Gaddis | 10th | 108.0/ypg |
| Receiving Yards/Per Game | Jerry Dorsey | 46th | 79.0/ypg |
| Interceptions | Joslin Goodman | 11th | 1.0/pg |
| Punt Returns | Derin Graham | 42nd | 10.5 |
| Kickoff Returns | Derin Graham | 11th | 29.4 |
| All-Purpose | Derin Graham | 14th | 176.0 |
THE COACHES:
Kentucky’s Hal Mumme
Born: March 29, 1952 in San Antonio, Texas
Family: Married to the former June Leishman and has two daughters, Leslie and Karen, and a son, Matt.
Coaching Experience: College - Kentucky head (1997-present), Valdosta State head (1992-96), Iowa Wesleyan College head (1989-91), Texas El-Paso (1982-85), West Texas State assistant (1980-81).High School - Copperas Cove (Texas) head (1986-88), Arkansas Pass (Texas) (1979), Moody (Texas) assistant (1976-78).
Education: Graduated from Thomas Jefferson (Dallas, Texas) H.S.; Earned B.S. in history from Tarleton State in 1975.
Bowl Participation as Coach: 1999 Homepoint.com Music City Bowl, 1998 Outback Bowl, 1990 Steamboat Classic, 1989 Steamboat Classic.
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 three children, Tommy, Danny and Christopher.
Coaching Experience: College: Indiana head coach (1997-present), Michigan assistant coach (1986-93), Michigan graduate assistant (1984-85); NFL: Washington Redskins asst. (’94-96).
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.
INDIANA-KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS: Linebacker coach Ron Burton coached the defensive backs at Morehead State in Morehead, Ky. from 1994 ... defensive coordinator James Bell served a stint as defensive backs coach at Louisville from 1993-1994.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE: Indiana scored 30-or-more points in six different contests during the 1999 campaign and tallied a staggering 60 plays of 20-or-more yards. It didn't take take long for the Hoosiers recorded 38 points and tallied two touchdowns of over 50 yards in the season opener.
SMITH NAMED TO BUTKUS WATCH LIST: Justin Smith (Indianapolis/Warren Central), a 6-foot, 218-pound, junior linebacker, has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List. Sponsored by Cooper Tire and presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc., the Butkus Award is presented to the nation's best collegiate linebacker. Smith is one of 70 linebackers nationally to make the initial watch list.
In the season opener vs. N.C. State he recorded 6 tackles, including 1 sack. He started 11 games at linebacker last fall and led Indiana in tackles with 89, including 4 for loss, one interception, and 3 passes broken up. He played the entire 1999 campaign with a broken wrist. An extremely good student, Smith has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
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 will still see 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 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
99 PERCENT OF 1999 OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION RETURNS: Over 99 percent of Indiana's offensive production returns in 2000, including leading rusher Levron Williams (817 yards, 6.9 yards per carry), leading passer Antwaan Randle El (2,277 yards and 17 TDs) and leading receiver Versie Gaddis (633 yards). Last season, Indiana was the only Division I college football team to produce a 2,000-yard passer (Randle El), two 750-yard rushers (Randle El and Williams) and two 600-yard receivers (Jerry Dorsey and Versie Gaddis). All four players return this fall.
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.
RANDLE EL FEATURED IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PHOTO: Junior Heisman Trophy candidate Antwaan Randle El was featured in a two-page staged photo in Sports Illustrated that began an article about multi-dimensional quarterbacks. The photo featured the elusive quarterback being chased by monsters.
CAMERON HIRES HARP TO STEP IN FOR SCHMIDT: 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.
SCHMIDT MEETS WITH MEDIA: Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Pete Schmidt met with the media on Friday, September 1. Schmidt, who is suffering from lymphoma, is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Said Schmidt who is planning to return to the field next fall, "Fourth-and-one is going to be a lot easier to call, and overtime won't be a problem for me. I just want them to go out there and let 'er rip. We're going to go out there and have some fun.''
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." During his career, Payne made 35-of-48 field goal attempts. Inside 40 yards, he's missed only four of 29 career attempts. He is also handling IU's punting duties this fall.
THOMPSON NAMED AS INTERIM 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 may have to prove himself in a head coaching capacity as Cam Cameron's wife, Missy, is expecting a baby in late October.
MUSIC SCHOOL?: In the current US News and World Report rankings, the Indiana University School of Music ranked second nationally. While no player on the current roster is enrolled in the school, several have music ability, including three starters. Senior wide receiver Jerry Dorsey and junior linebacker Justin Smith play the piano and sophomore tackle Enoch DeMar plays African drums. Smith also sings. Said DeMar, "I play African drums, African-Cuban drums, and I've played a djembe, a West African drum, since I was a kid. I like to do that. I love music, and listen to all kinds."
KUNG FU FIGHTING: Sophomore tackle Enoch DeMar is involved in Kung Fu, a sport in which has dad has been participating for about 20 years. DeMar should find the training useful as he moves from guard to tackle this fall.
HUNTER RETURNS TO SEC COUNTRY: Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Hal Hunter, most recently an assistant coach and interim head coach at LSU (1995-1999), returns to Lexington to face a familiar foe Hunter also coached against the Wildcats as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt from 1991-1994.
TRUE FRESHMAN MAKE APPEARANCE: Of the 18 freshmen who arrived in Bloomington on Friday, August 11, only defensive tackle Steve Williams, linebacker Brandonn Baker and tight end Aaron Halterman appeared in the season opener against North Carolina State.
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.
RANDLE EL ON CNN/SI'S HEISMAN SURVIVOR LIST: Like the hit television show Survivor, CNN/Sports Illustrated has placed junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El on an island of sorts as he is one of 16 players on the web site's Heisman list. Voters may vote one player off of the list every week and players are given immunity for stellar weekly performances.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:
Senior defensive tackle: Versie Gaddis
Personal
Name: Versie Gaddis
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Date of Birth: May 1, 1977
Academic
Graduate: General Studies/Telecommunication (minor)
Favorite academic class: Intro to Piano
Future aspirations: Stable job, Loving family
Favorites
Favorite food: Ice Cream
Favorite Bloomington restaurant: Mark Pi's
Favorite campus spot: HPER
Favorite movie: Rocky II, III, IV
Favorite musical artist: Noreaga
Favorite TV show: The Simpsons
IU Football
Strongest player: Shane Moat
Hardest hitter: Ron Bethel
Favorite memory of the 1999 season: Overtime victory against Illinois
Which player that people have not heard of will make the biggest impact this year?: Henry Frazier
is
DIELMAN A TRUE THROWBACK: 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 hiw new position. However, his physical toughness also lends itself to the tight end position where he saw significant snaps at both positions in the opener. As a true freshman, Dielman caught 5 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON?: NTrue 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). All three are enrolled in some type of post-undergraduate education.
SPREADING THE BALL AROUND: Featuring one of the nation's most exciting and explosive offenses, Indiana 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.
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 leads the Big Ten in kickoff returns with a 29.4 average. 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.
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 expected to platoon at the position this fall.
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.
TRYING TO MAKE HISTORY: In 22 career games, junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El has rushed for 1,661 career yards and passed for 4,022. To put those numbers in perspective, only five players in the history of college football have gained 2,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing.
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, Southwestern Louisiana, 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).
ONLY SOPHOMORE IN BIG TEN HISTORY: Last fall, quarterback Antwaan Randle El became the first sophomore in Big Ten Conference history to reach 5,000 total offensive yards.
RANDLE EL CLIMBING UP THE CAREER CHARTS: Randle El is rapidly approaching many Indiana University records. Of the major statistical categories, Randle El needs...
...940 total yards to move into first place on IU's career total offensive yards list (rushing and passing)
...11 touchdown passes to move into first place on IU's career touchdown passes list
EXPERIENCE COULD BE A FACTOR: Finally, after playing with freshman and sophomore dominated rosters for the past two seasons, Indiana will put a strong group of upperclassmen on the field this fall. This despite the fact that the IU roster maintains only several players in their final year of eligibility.
For example, the Hoosiers have four players (O.J. Conner, Jerry Dorsey, Versie Gaddis, and Levron Williams) who have recorded 100-yard receiving games and four players (Marcus Floyd who now plays cornerback, De'Wayne Hogan, Antwaan Randle El, and Levron Williams) who have tallied 100-yard rushing games during their careers. Fifth-year senior Glynn Johnson recorded a 99-yard rushing game at Minnesota in 1997.
THE QUOTE BOOK:
Cameron on the North Carolina State game: "We played well enough to win the football game on the scorebaord, period. You can slice it any way you want. That football game was 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...
"(Randle El's) The best option quarterback I've ever seen. He's as good as everybody said. I give him the utmost respect. I'll probably never face a quarterback like that again. ... I knew he was good. I didn't know he was that good." - former Penn State and current Cleveland Browns linebacker LaVar Arrington
"Randle El's high-step makes the country's best linebacker, LaVar Arrington, look as mismatched as a guy trying to swat a fly with his hand. Randle El is so hard to track down that his pager needs a pager. He zigs. He zags. If he were a chemical, he would be mercury. If he were a signature, it would be illegible." - South Bend Tribune's David Haugh (10/7/99)
"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." - Ivan Maisel of Sports Illustrated
"Randle El is just a phenomenal athlete. He's such a good athlete, he makes up for any lack of size with his physical attributes and his speed and his great, strong arm." - Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning
"I don't know if I've ever been around a young man who did as much for their offensive football team as Randle El did. I tried to find him as quick as I could after the game and let him know I'm glad we don't play them again. He's really an outstanding football player. He loves to play and made so many plays when there was not a play to be made, and he kept that up the entire game." - North Carolina head coach Carl Torbush (9/11/99)
"He's a great quarterback. This is the first time I've ever seen him play and I thought I had some nifty moves and nifty feet but I think he's got an edge on me. I can go and look at film and analyze him as one to look up to." - North Carolina quarterback/point guard Ronald Curry (9/11/99)
"You know Drew is going to sit back there and throw 50 or 60 times and if he gets away, you probably could catch him from behind, but Randle El...there's no way you know what he's going to do. He's the hardest of all the quarterback we play. Of the quarterback in that state who are the toughest for a defense, I'd rate Randle El first, Brees second, and then (Notre Dame's Jarious) Jackson." - Michigan State strong safety Aric Morris (8/3/99)
"As for Randle El, he was as slippery as ever. They must soap him up before the games. He's like a water bug on the loose, and you can't help but imagine what it would be like to have him in the backfield with Barry Sanders. The defense would have to throw nets over them to catch them." - Joe Falls of the Detroit News (10/25/98)
"But they have some hope just because of the amazing talent of their 5-foot-7 (actually 5-10), 177-pound freshman quarterback. If he doesn't get squashed in the next couple of seasons, he could be another Fran Tarkenton in the making: Where is he? Here he is. Where? Over here. No, he's over there. He's gone! I'd pay to see him play every week. He is a one-man Harlem Globetrotters." - Joe Falls of the Detroit News (10/25/88)
"I don't think I'd be sane enough to play football anymore if I had to go against a quarterback like (him) every Saturday." - Wisconsin defensive end Tom Burke (10/4/98)
"Combined with his natural athleticism, Randle El is the Roadrunner of college football and everybody else is the Wile E. Coyote. You might be able to catch up with him, but you'll never catch him." - Rich Thomaselli of the Ann Arbor (Mich.) News (10/25/98)
"It was like 'Tom and Jerry' and I was the big cat chasing the little mouse." - Michigan State defensive tackle Robert Newkirk (10/11/98)
"He has great personality, great leadership skills and really wants to win. He's got everything a coach wants beyond just sheer talent, and he's got plenty of that." - Indiana head basketball coach Bob Knight (12/23/98)
"He's a great player. I wouldn't be surprised if he's All-Big Ten this year. Big players show up in big games. For a red-shirt to bring his team back in the fourth quarter, he's gonna be scary down the road. He already is." - Iowa defensive back Matt Bowen following Indiana's 14-7 win over Iowa on 10/17/98
"I'm telling you now, those people over there are crazy if they don't get out and watch that young man. He's truly special. He's one of the most exciting quarterbacks I've seen in this conference in years and years and years." - former Iowa head coach Hayden Fry (10/17/98)
"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." - www.collegefootballnews.com
"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." - www.foxsports.com
