Indiana University Athletics
Notes From Media Day
8/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
August 9, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. - The buzz surrounding Indiana football is spreading fast, as the Hoosiers met with over 60 members of the media Friday in Bloomington. With head coach Gerry DiNardo addressing the media for about 30 minutes and the players meeting with the media by position, the event served as a microcosm for interest in the program in general. Last year's media day saw 10 members of the media come to Bloomington to meet with the Hoosiers. With the media contingent increasing from 10 to 60 in the span of one year, the positive steps taken by the program are coming to light.
Following is a look at what the players had to say to the media about a wide variety of topics:
Full Transcript of Gerry DiNardo Press Conference
I think the best way to start is to go back in time a little bit...it appears that it's been a good summer for our team. By rules we don't have contact with the team while they're working out so it's just basically a feeling you get from visiting with some of them. We're going to do our conditioning test Saturday at 12:01 better known as tonight at midnight. By NCAA rules you can not do a conditioning test with the coaches present unless it's the day of practice. So we were originally going to do the conditioning test on Friday but we had a conflict with finals because of the summer school second session. So the conditioning test was going to be this morning but when we had the conflict we moved it to Thursday. We were recently told we could not do it by NCAA rules so we moved it to 12:01 tonight so we would be in compliance. You can do the test without the coaches there prior to 12:01 so that's kind of how that evolved to that. The players are excited as funny as that sounds.
There are a couple of reasons they're excited about this and that is because they're still sleeping now...and the other reason is we cancelled Saturday morning's practice as a result.
I wanted to practice. We were originally scheduled to do the shuttle - when I say originally scheduled I mean Thursday - from midnight to three in the morning and then we had a penalty run for the guys who didn't pass the shuttle at six and then practice at 7:30. Then we had the staff scheduled at the shuttle and practice and that sort of dampened their spirits so I cancelled morning practice. But I think we've had a good summer, but I'll know more at three in the morning. You're more than welcome to get my report at three in the morning. It'll be available from three in the morning to three ten and after that it won't be available and after that I'm not going to speak about it. So any of you guys who want to do it right, be there.
I had mentioned in the past, most recently in Chicago at media day, that one of our biggest challenges this year is going to be with our numbers. And I've been part of teams that have had small numbers. You have to organize a little differently than you do if you have a deep team. You've got to be careful how you practice. You want your guys to have their legs when they play the game on Saturday, especially your defensive players when it comes to special teams. It takes a great deal of organization to make sure that you're practicing the right way with a team that doesn't have great numbers. My experience in the XFL benefits me there as the NFL does - that's one of our challenges.
Along with that same saying is that we're constantly talking to our team about excelling in the things that take no talent - not that we don't have talent, we do have talent - but there's certain things in football that you can be good at, that you can excel in, that take no talent.
The obvious ones are that you can do a great job with penalties, you can line up onsides every single time. It doesn't take any talent, it just takes discipline, it takes conditioning, it takes attention to detail. You can hustle to the football. Those type of issues will be very critical to our success this fall. So, the low numbers aren't an excuse, it's a fact and you have to deal with it. You deal with it the way you organize and structure practice and you deal with it by being a well-conditioned team and you deal with it with bringing attention to detail of things that you can do well that don't necessarily take depth or talent. So that's kind of where we are - we haven't practiced with the varsity, we've practiced two days with the freshmen; they've had four practices. We started out with 34, 20 scholarship freshmen and 14 walk-ons. We lost one walk-on so we're down to 33. Thirty-three freshmen and we'll have 100 guys at camp. We have 100 guys at camp, which is five under the limit you're allowed. You're allowed 105 at camp and once school starts you're allowed to take the seal off and go. So we have four practices in two days with the freshmen. Again, I maintain you'll see a good number of them either playing special teams or being in the two-deep and ultimately, over the course of the season, at least one of the freshmen could possibly start.
Having said all that, I'll be glad to answer any easy question you might have.
Regarding quarterbacks:
Going into spring, we didn't think we could come out of spring with a starting quarterback because Gibran (Hamdan) was playing baseball and Tommy (Jones) was coming out of shoulder surgery. I think we stayed with our plan - I don't know at the end of the spring that we knew who our starting quarterback was.
We started with three freshmen quarterbacks Jerohn Fields, Graeme McFarland and Allen Webb. Jerohn is going to move to wide receiver - after speaking with him last night. He's got a chance to go out there and compete and he's been splitting time and I know some guys in practice, you've seen them play both but he's going full-time to wide receiver. So we'll have the two freshman quarterbacks Allen and Graeme and then we'll have Matt LoVecchio who will be ineligible this year. We also have Eric Moore as a non-scholarship player who's a quarterback but he's going to be ineligible because he's a transfer. His grandfather Wally coached here. He was my offensive line coach in college. Eric is going to be with us, but he's going to be ineligible this season.
Evaluating the upcoming season:
The starting battle is between Gibran and Tommy. They're both full steam now, they both know the offense. Again to go back to the depth issue...they both deserve a chance to play with the first offensive line. There's going to be a separation - our second center is a true freshman. So, we have a very inexperienced second line and to be fair to Gibran and Tommy, they both have to play with the ones and that's a practice organization issue. If you keep them both, you can play Tommy with the ones and Gibran with the twos, next time you come out they can switch. I don't think we can evaluate Tommy and Gibran fairly unless they both play with the ones and so we're no further along than we were after the spring games. And we're looking for one of the true freshmen to be the third quarterback.
Regarding the loss of so many fifth year seniors with talent and leadership:
Well I think both are challenges - I don't know that the one is more difficult than the other. You know, I've said this before - I haven't really watched tape - I guess the most I've watched, I've watched some TV copies of some games for different reasons and Antwaan was obviously a phenomenal player so he jumps out at you but I really haven't evaluated the guys that we lost other than watching TV copies and knowing what everyone else knows - that Antwaan was really special. So I don't know what we lost.
From a leadership standpoint, having done this three times, I am really slow to even ask the seniors for leadership because I think it's something that's earned and I don't know that we are there yet. We're a little slow yet. I'm going to get with the seniors at the end of camp instead of the beginning. So I don't know what I'm going to be asking. I haven't even asked them to replace the leadership.
Regarding Brian Lewis and training camp:
Brian appears to have had a very good summer. He appears to be very excited about the season. We'll see what kind of condition he's in tonight. I'm expecting in very good condition...we know what Yamar (Washington) can do and we know what Courtney (Clency) can do. We don't know what the freshmen can do and we need to find out.
This camp isn't going to be about sitting freshmen on the sidelines and giving the veteran guys reps that we saw in the spring. I really haven't had an evaluation from the spring of veteran players - not the starters. I mean, Brian Lewis is going to get the reps attention. We're going to get him ready to play. Who's the next tailback in the game, I don't know. But I know what Courtney can do and I know what Yamar can do. Much like the NFL, you've made some draft picks and you've drafted them and you have to see if they can play. I'm going to put those young guys in with the twos, sometimes with the ones. So I'm going to bring Brian Lewis along and I'm going to find the next tailback. It may be Yamar or Courtney. I already know what they can do. We don't have time to check out all the tailbacks that are behind Brian so that's going to be our approach. Tailback is one place we think the freshmen can help. So we're going to find out if Chris (Taylor), Marlin (Lynch) or Sean Miller can play.
Regarding the wide receivers:
I didn't really think we competed in the spring. I think we just had a bunch of guys out there running routes. I didn't see any fire. I didn't see any competition. I didn't see much out there. I told them that, otherwise I wouldn't tell you. So I told them the same thing - I don't like what I see out there in a competitive nature. I think they're all nice guys and good athletes and all that but I want some guys that can compete.
I tried to get a hold of Jerry Rice. Try to get a hold of those Jerry Rice tapes - any of you seen the tapes where he talks about his training...well, I can't have Rice - he doesn't have any eligibility - but I want a guy who works how Jerry Rice works. He works hard and I want someone who works how Jerry Rice works.
Regarding the kicking game:
Well, I can seriously tell you that I think we've gotten better - that doesn't mean we're not still terrible. We've been working hard. We'll see if we've gotten better at kicking and punting the ball.
As far as getting punts blocked and those sort of things, that's an attitude in regard to whether the stars on the special teams really believe in the significance and the results of the plays. You look at the tape of last year and they weren't a very deep team. All of the starters were on special teams, they just didn't play very well. So this year the challenge is going to be, because we're not a deep team, starters are still going to have to play on special teams. If they perform the way they performed last year with punts blocked, we'll go backwards. So they're going to have to make the decision that because we're not a deep team, not only do we have to be on special teams, we have to perform like it was our primary position. I don't know that we're there yet. If we don't get there it'll be a nightmare.
Regarding spring ball:
I think that I like most about the defense is that most practices, and I won't say all, but they are in great spirits. I had a great feeling that they enjoyed playing with one another and had good chemistry. On offense, I like the leadership of Enoch DeMar and I would like to see it rub off on some more people. I'd say that is where we will start on offense.
Regarding Louisville players:
Herana-Daze (Jones) had a terrific spring. One of his main goals this summer was to put on some weight. He was light in the spring. I saw him last night at the team meeting, and he looks very well. He really hustles to the ball and works very hard.
Ron Bethel is an example of a guy who early in the spring really struggled with the transition, I think Ron would tell you this. I think it's hard for any team to go through a transition of coaches. He was a secondary player and we moved him to linebacker and that was difficult for him and then a new coaching staff and new philosophy was difficult for him. He didn't start the spring playing very well and about halfway through the spring it looked like he had made the decision that he was going to buy into this and was going to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. He had a terrific second half of the spring and obviously that's where we're hoping he picks up.
Regarding Herana-Daze Jones:
No question - he runs very well. He's one of those guys who brings a lot of chemistry and a lot of spirit to the defense.
Regarding the main problem on defense:
I never watched them play defense last year, so I don't know. One of our challenges will be, depending on how a team decides to attack us - we're not a very big, physical team that will play well against teams that maybe want to attack us from a wide open formation. But that's got to play itself out. But as it compares to the past, I don't know. I'm not going to speculate.
Regarding his experience at Vanderbilt and LSU:
A lot of things about the IU job are halfway between Vanderbilt and LSU. Academically, I think that's a true statement. Talent is another issue that probably falls in that category. Somewhere between - whether it's halfway between or leans a little bit towards LSU or a little bit towards Vanderbilt. Not to make a blanket statement, but to support somewhat - when we went to LSU, we had a number of players who ended up being NFL draft picks. So it was a pretty talented team we took over when we went to LSU. Not as talented as when I left but pretty talented.
Regarding the state of the program at IU:
The quality of the young people is really outstanding and that's really important, something to build on. Part of our team, some of our athletes could play anywhere in the country, that's something to build on. A team that's not very deep and not large in numbers and that's something that you have to match, you don't build on it other than recruits. The character of the team from a non-football standpoint, I find it is very high and that's pretty important when you're going through a lot of change and asking young people to do some things they haven't done before.
In response to the question "Is three weeks long enough for training camp?":
Yes. The rule is 29 practice opportunities. We play our first game before the first day of classes so we're fine, so between spring practice and this, it's plenty of time.
Regarding Derek Barnett, defensive end:
Here's the feel we have - the defensive coaches watched some tape of last year and they came out of those film sessions really excited about Derek. He didn't participate in spring practice because it was post-surgery. He's been in terrific condition since we've been here. He's got a great spirit. I would say too that if he's not one of our better players on defense this fall we've really misjudged him. We're expecting a lot from him. We wished he was with us in spring. He was there every day but obviously he didn't participate. So we have high expectations of him, very high.
Commenting on the four returning starters on the offensive line:
Well, we have Enoch (DeMar) returning who really had a good spring. Bobby Brandt didn't participate at all at spring practices. He's coming off back surgery so let's wait and see the way we go with him. A.C. Myler, I'd rather talk about him after tonight's shuttle. Chris Jahnke played every day in the spring, had a good spring along with Enoch. Right now we have two returning offensive linemen from last year. We have Enoch and we have Chris. (Anthony) Oakley had an okay spring. I think the offensive line is going to be a little bit different. I have a little different play on it than perhaps you do.
Regarding getting fans into games:
I think there's a few ways you can get people in the stands. One is when you first take a job you can be external and share your enthusiasm and excitement with your team and your university and I believe we've done that. There is obviously a lot of marketing at every university and athletic department and that is in full-throttle here. But the most important thing we can do is to put a good product on the field. Again, my experience serves me well here, especially with what I need to accomplish. I need to concentrate now on the team, not be external, not worry about how it's being marketed or what's being said. That's for the experts in that field and I'm not going to get distracted by it. I'm going to do everything I can to put the best team on the field and win football games because that's how I can contribute to it the most. What fans are going to see is a team that plays hard, a team that's well-conditioned, a team that's disciplined, a team that will play an entire game. If they don't see that, I hope they will see enough to know that's where we're headed. I hope they see enough to know that's where we're going and we're going to continue to come back. But most importantly, the thing I can do is help put together a winning team and people will come to see a winning team.
Commenting on why the shuttle run is so important to the success of the team:
It's important for the seniors because to come to camp and to stay at camp you have to pass the shuttle. So, that's pretty important to a senior. Eight people passed this test January 15th on the team and I told them at that time that we we're going to take this test in August. I told them at that time that the fact that only eight passed was an indication that their body wasn't right. I told them when we test them in August it will be more of an indication of where their mind is and not their body. If you look at the test, our experience is no senior has ever failed this test in previous places. And traditionally 80-85 percent pass the test, so we know it's reasonable. It was proven in Nashville and it was proven in Baton Rouge. You tell a young person on January 15th that they have to perform a certain task in a reasonable amount of time. Based on the fact that it's happened before you're, not talking about their bodies, you're talking about their minds. That's why the test is so important because it will be a good indication of whether we've done a good job with our message. If the test isn't good tonight it will be my fault for not doing a good job sharing the message. That's why it's important.
Regarding Kris Dielman's transition from tight end to defensive line:
He's doing fabulous. I've said this before. I hate to repeat it, but it's better than making stuff up. When I asked him to move, I told him it was going to be worth it. I told him it was one of the five most critical decisions we were going to make as a football program in the first year of the program and that's where we are. He's brought a toughness to defense, brought an attitude, brought a spirit that we didn't have on the defensive line. If we could just get our defensive line coach, Joe Cullen, to show some enthusiasm, I think I'll be okay (laughs).
But (Dielman's) done a lot here, not just as a player, but with his presence and that's kind of what we're hoping for. It was a hard thing to do, for me to ask him to do that. I didn't know him very well and it was very hard for him to do and he's been fabulous.
Final comments of the afternoon:
I want to see guys excited out there!!! I just see guys running routes, running back to the huddle and I want to see more energy! There's nothing wrong with those guys - I like them all, I just want to like them more!!! I want to see some energy. I just don't see any energy out there, I don't like it. I like them, I just don't like the lack of energy.
And it goes back to the question, what state we found the program in. We found good kids here. And that's the start, so we're going to build on that.
HEAR WHAT THE QUARTERBACKS HAD TO SAY...
Quarterback Tommy Jones regarding the upcoming season:
"We have got a lot of guys back, and everyone is looking forward to getting out there. Coach's enthusiasm is great and we are just going to go day by day and always get better."
Quarterback Tommy Jones regarding his outlook as it pertains to himself:
"I have got to go out and get better and be ready to do my best. Just looking over the playbook constantly and doing things like that to prepare. I can't wait to get started."
Quarterback Tommy Jones regarding Indiana's quarterback situation and the differences between himself and Gibran Hamdan:
"We are going to go out there and compete. I just want to help the team any way possible. We see things differently as far as progressions and things like that go, but we both have strong arms and good competitiveness."
Quarterback Tommy Jones regarding this year's coaches:
"Coach DiNardo is more disciplined. He demands more of us. We are going to do it his way or we may not be here. We have more conditioning after practice, and during the spring, he pushed us so hard that when it came time for the spring game, that didn't seem so hard."
Quarterback Tommy Jones regarding how he is coming along after off-season shoulder surgery:
"I feel great. I have spent all summer getting into shape and now I feel stronger and I am throwing the ball with more accuracy."
Quarterback Tommy Jones regarding what he brings to the team:
"Leadership, having fun, being demanding of myself and others. Just making sure guys are getting better."
Quarterback Gibran Hamdan regarding Indiana's quarterback situation:
"I am really looking forward to getting into camp because it was very hard to break into the position before with Antwaan (Randle El) here, but now Tommy (Jones) and I are here and we are both getting a shot at it. Antwaan was a great player, and I'm not Mel Kiper, but I know that there is nothing that guy can't do."
Quarterback Gibran Hamdan on playing both football and baseball:
"There has been a lot said about that. Yes, I did miss some practices during the spring and I did miss some meetings, but at the same time, I was getting experience in a Big Ten atmosphere and was in the middle of a playoff hunt. A lot of people don't get that chance to play two college sports, so really, I consider myself very lucky to be in this position."
Quarterback Matt LoVecchio regarding his plans for this year (he will redshirt after transferring from Notre Dame):
"I am here right now and I am going to sit back and learn the new system. As far as practice goes, wherever I can help, I will do what I can."
Quarterback Matt LoVecchio regarding the competition between Tommy Jones and Gibran Hamdan for the starting spot at quarterback:
"When you are in a situation like that, you just have to go out and control what you can control. The quarterback is in a lot of ways the leader of the team, but the common goal is to win games. They are going to go out and compete and the best quarterback is going to win."
Quarterback Graeme McFarland regarding the beginning of his college career:
"The whole summer, I have been anxious to get here. It's a lot busier than I thought it would be, but it has definitely been a lot of fun."
Quarterback Graeme McFarland regarding his surroundings:
"I am trying to learn as much as I can. It is good to be here with two fifth-year seniors and I am definitely trying to take advantage of their experience."
Quarterback Alan Webb regarding the opening of camp:
"It's a lot of hard work. The playbook is very overwhelming, but if I go one day at a time and give 100 percent, everything should be fine. I am just going to learn as much as I can and be a mentor where I can."
HEAR WHAT THE RUNNING BACKS HAD TO SAY...
Running Back Brian Lewis On The Upcoming Season:
"With Levron Williams, we had a good running back last year. There are big shoes to fill, but I'm not really looking at it like that. I'm just going to take my opportunities and take advantage of what's happening. I think we had a good spring and we're headed in the right direction. I'll just take it practice by practice and game by game and try to get better."
Running Back Sean Miller Regarding Playing Time As A Freshman:
"I am just going to do the best I can. Everything is going good and I'm picking up a lot of stuff. I just need to stay really focused. The offense is really new to me, so it's an adjustment. There's some stiff competition. Everyone looks sharp learning plays."
HEAR WHAT THE WIDE RECEIVERS HAD TO SAY...
Wide Receiver Glenn Johnson on expectations for the receivers this season
"As a group, we expect to step it up and make our offense happy. We need to do our job and make the team proud. We are adapting really well to our new coaching staff and are looking forward to the season."
Wide Receiver Courtney Roby regarding the receivers' role in the offense
"I feel that a lot of the offense will rely on the receivers this year. It will rely on how well we perform, especially with the new West coast offense. The receivers are going to have to step it up as a unit."
Wide Receiver Patrick Thompson Regarding the season
"For me it is a big adjustment because I transferred from quarterback to wide receiver. I am going to have to adjust to the new offense. It's going to be a big year for us, a lot of people are doubting us, but we have a lot to prove. I think as a team we are ready to put things together and make it to a bowl game."
Wide Receiver Michael Robinson on practice philosophy
"We need to work real hard and prepare for the season with our new coaching staff. We need to be confident in ourselves and our teammates. We are going into preseason with good attitudes. We are still getting to know each other because there are a lot of new faces. But everything is going really well."
Wide Receiver David Lewis regarding the year
"I am ready to get started. I am very excited about the season just like everyone else is. We have a good coaching staff behind us. We are doing a lot of new things that are a lot better and seem to be a good change for the program."
Wide Receiver David Lewis regarding the team
"We have small numbers this year, but I don't think that it will affect us much. We are going to have to work harder as a group. In practice the starters may have to help out with the scout team, but is something that we'll just have to adjust to, and we are all willing to make the adjustments."
Wide Receiver David Lewis regarding the 12:01 shuttle run
"We are ready to start playing tonight. It is exciting in a way because we are probably the only team up and running at midnight."
HEAR WHAT THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN HAD TO SAY...
Offensive lineman Anthony Oakley regarding the Hoosiers' off-season training
"We've been here all summer working hard, so we're in great shape. Especially when you have a new offense like we do, you've got to be in good condition. The new coaches have a lot of energy and do a real good job."
Offensive lineman Anthony Oakley regarding the season opener vs. William & Mary
"We have to approach every game like it's a conference game, with everything on the line. We know William & Mary is a dangerous team with a lot of good athletes. That's how people lose...by not focusing in on the opponent at hand. "
Offensive lineman Anthony Oakley regarding his increased leadership role
"As one of the veterans, I know that I have to step it up. When I was a freshman, I looked to some of the older guys for leadership, and now I'm one of the veterans that the younger guys look up to."
Offensive lineman Chris Jahnke regarding increased health awareness during summer workouts
"It hasn't slowed us down, but the training staff has been great - at every workout, very attentive and always making sure that there is plenty of water available."
Offensive lineman Chris Jahnke regarding the intensity of Coach DiNardo's 300-yard shuttle run conditioning test
"When we ran it in January, we had been off since the season ended, and it was just after the holidays. But it gave guys a taste of what to expect - Since then, we've been running it once or twice a week, and we're all in great shape."
Offensive lineman Chris Jahnke regarding his upcoming first season as the starting center
"I'm ready for it. The rest of the guys on the line expect a lot from me, just as I expect a lot from them. That's why summer workouts are so important, so you can build those relationships with your teammates."
Offensive lineman Justin Frye regarding his decision to come to Indiana, where his father, Kevin, was a part of the Hoosier program from 1977-81
"Coach DiNardo came to visit and he asked me to come here and visit. I was already pretty familiar with IU because of my dad, but I had an awesome visit. My dad was great about it - he told me that this was my decision and that I had to do what was best for me. He was not persistent in the least."
Offensive lineman Justin Frye regarding the biggest adjustment to college football, after one week of practice.
"Everything is on film, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Especially at the start of camp, the coaches are analyzing every detail, telling what you are doing well at, but also working to correct what you're not."
Offensive lineman Justin Frye regarding the adjustment from playing defensive line to offensive line
"Coach "D" came to me after the first few practices and said 'I saw you on defense, but I feel you are better suited to help us on offense." I said 'That's why you're the coach.' If it helps the team and also gives me a chance to get some playing time, then I'm all for it."
HEAR WHAT THE DEFENSIVE BACKS HAD TO SAY...
Safety Joe Gonzalez regarding building team identity
"I can relate this best to a high school experience. I went to a high school that had a lot of success. My junior year, we lost a lot of seniors to Division I schools, and we weren't expected to do well. We were a bunch of no-name guys who came together and ended up winning the state championship. Right now, here, not one person will set themselves away from the bunch. Everyone will try to come together and be equal to each other."
Safety Joe Gonzalez on progression throughout career
"Overall the goals have always been the same, to go to a bowl game. We have come short every year since I have been here. I will never forget looking at the faces of the seniors after the game we let slip and we became out of bowl contention. My time here is limited. I am trying to take advantage of every moment I have left."
Safety Will Lumpkin regarding expectations for the season
"We are all excited about the prospect of a new season. Coach DiNardo has created a new environment for us and it is an exciting new start for the program.
HEAR WHAT THE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN HAD TO SAY...
Defensive End Derek Barnett regarding the Aug. 31 season opener vs. William & Mary
"Our coaches will have us ready each week for whomever the opponent is. You see that in college football all the time - A team may play its big rival in two weeks, and they end up losing that week because they're already thinking about future opponents. We can't afford to do that."
Defensive End Victor Adeyanju regarding the team's mindset as practice gets underway
"We're definitely ready to go. You can only work out during the summer for so long, and then you're ready to go out and get after it."
Defensive End Victor Adeyanju regarding the intensity of Coach DiNardo's 300-yard shuttle run conditioning test
"I'm not worried about it - We've had all summer to work on meeting this time. We'll be ready."
Defensive Lineman Chris Beaty regarding media day
"Media Day is the kickoff to another season. It is great excitement. We have new coaches, new uniforms, and we are ready for a new season. We are going to work hard and we expect it to pay off."
HEAR WHAT THE LINEBACKERS HAD TO SAY...
Linebacker Deonte Smith regarding the linebackers' role this year:
"We are ready to step up this year and we are hoping to get things turned around. Last year, I don't think that we ever bought into the system. I think that everyone is on the same page this year, and we are just ready to get it done."
Linebacker Deonte Smith regarding expectations for the season
"We had a good spring and everyone is excited to play. We are playing really well right now. I think that everyone just wants to get out there and play some football."
Linebacker Ron Bethel regarding the year
"This year we want to win, we are hungry for it. We want to do our job on defense to help out the team. We are going to try and win it on defense."
Linebacker Herana-Daze Jones regarding the new coaching staff:
"Everything's going to change. He's (Coach DiNardo) doing everything different. Things are going to change. This year there is a new excitement. Everyone is excited and everyone wants to just go play. We just want to get into pads and play."
HEAR WHAT THE KICKERS HAD TO SAY...
Kicker Adam Braucher regarding the kicking game:
"(Tyson Beattie) is awesome. I don't want to build the guy up, but he will surprise some people this year. We had two punts blocked in the first game last year and we have to make sure things like that don't happen again. We can't constantly be having setbacks. A lot of people say kicking is 80 percent mental, but really, it is 50-50 mental and physical. There is so much technical stuff to it."
HEAR WHAT THE PUNTERS HAD TO SAY...
Punter Ryan Hamre On The Upcoming Season:
"This spring I had Coach (Brian) McNeely working really closely with me. I learned a lot and it made a huge difference. That's been the biggest difference from last year, that I've had someone working so closely with me. I changed my technique a little bit and it helped me get better. "
Punter Tyson Beattie On His Football Experience:
"I've played four years of American football. (Playing college football) is a huge step up for me. In Australia, it is competitive because half of the players are from America or Canada. It really set me up for this. I am prepared for the fact that this is going to be harder. The punt returners are more outstanding. It will be more difficult to try to keep them from returning."
Punter Tyson Beattie On Why He Decided to Come to Indiana:
"Indiana has an excellent kicking history. Memorial Stadium is such a nice stadium to kick in. This is such a nice place. It's a good college and I want to study education. I really enjoyed my visit to campus and all of the people I met last November."
