Indiana University Athletics
IU at Kentucky Game Notes
9/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOOSIER HEADLINES
Two games, two wins. The Hoosiers are now 2-0 for the first time since the 1996 season after a 30-24 win at No. 24/24 Oregon on Sept. 11. The win marked the first victory on the road over a ranked opponent since the Hoosiers defeated then No. 22 Michigan State on Nov. 10, 2001 (37-28). The victory snapped Oregon's 22-game non-conference winning streak at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks last lost at home on Oct. 18, 1997 to Utah (31-13). The victory was also the first over a Pac-10 team since defeating then No. 15 Washington, 14-7, on Sept. 23, 1978.
The 30 points scored against No. 24/24 Oregon and the 41 in the season-opener against Central Michigan are the most points posted in back-to-back games by a Hoosier team during the Gerry DiNardo era. It's the best back-to-back point output in victories since the 2001 season against Northwestern (56) and Michigan State (28).
Sophomore running back Lance Bennett's 98-yard kickoff return for touchdown in the third quarter was IU's longest since Derin Graham (9/18/99) 90-yarder vs. Kentucky. His return is the second-longest in Indiana history.
IU forced three turnovers in the first quarter and tied a school-record by forcing Oregon into seven turnovers for the game (four fumbles, three interceptions). Buster Larkins, Herana-Daze Jones, Paul Szczesny and Kyle Killion all had fumble recoveries, while Larkins, Jones, and Killion had interceptions. The old record had stood since 1946, when Indiana forced Minnesota in seven turnovers.
Indiana and Kentucky will face off for the 35th time this weekend. IU holds a 17-16-1 advantage over UK, but the Wildcats have won two of the last three meetings. UK defeated Indiana in last year's meeting, 34-17, in Bloomington on Sept. 20. The first meeting between the two teams in Bloomington during the 1893 season ended in a 24-24 tie.
In Indiana's first two games, the Hoosiers have been outgained offensively, but have come out ahead in each tilt. Against Oregon, the Ducks outgained the Hoosiers 495-198. In the season opener against Central Michigan it marked the first time since Oct. 23, 1999, that Indiana won a game despite being outgained offensively. In 1999, IU defeated Iowa, 38-31, even though the Hoosiers were outgained 552-357.
The last time Indiana opened the season with a 3-0 mark was the 1994 season when the Hoosiers defeated Kentucky in Lexington, 59-29. IU tallied a total of 650 yards of total offense, including 587 yards on the ground en route to the 3-0 start.
JONES WINS DEFENSIVE HONOR
Herana-Daze Jones was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for games played the weekend of Sept. 11. With Indiana leading 30-24 late in the fourth quarter, Jones intercepted Oregon quarterback Kelle Clemens pass with 3:42 to play in the final quarter. Oregon had been driving down the field and had the ball on the IU 16-yard line. Jones added 9 total tackles, including one for loss, and a fumble recovery.
HOOSIER RANKED AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
According to the latest NCAA Division I football statistics of Sept. 11, the Hoosiers rank first in the country in kickoff returns, with an average of 51.2 yards per return. IU ranks 7th in the country with a turnover margin of 2.5. Indiana rank's in the top-35 in net punting (31st; 40.08 yards) and scoring defense (34th; 17 points per game). Lance Bennett rank's first in the country in kickoff returns (46.25 per return) and Bryan Robertson is third in the country with 1.5 field goals per game.
GOOD RETURNS CONTINUE
Indiana had 123 kickoff return yards at Oregon, with 98 of them coming on a touchdown return by Lance Bennett. The return was the second longest in IU football history. It was the first score for Bennett, who had a team-high return of 70 years last season against Indiana State. It was the first kickoff return since Derin Graham had a 90-yarder vs. Kentucky on Sept. 19, 1999.
In the season opener, IU had 133 kickoff return yards against Central Michigan, including a career-long 71-yarder from Courtney Clency.
MILITARY HEROES
Indiana's Sept. 25 game against Michigan State has been designated Hoosier Military Heroes Day. Any active or retired military members can get a free ticket for themselves and $10 tickets for their family by showing their military OID.
THE ROBY WATCH
Senior wide receiver Courtney Roby is poised to rewrite the Hoosier pass catching record book this fall. The Indianapolis native hopes to become the first IU wideout since Bob Stephenson (1979-81) to lead the Hoosiers in receiving for three straight seasons. More impressively, he needs 24 more catches and 545 more receiving yards to become Indiana's career leader in both categories.
Two games, two wins. The Hoosiers are now 2-0 for the first time since the 1996 season after a 30-24 win at No. 24/24 Oregon on Sept. 11. The win marked the first victory on the road over a ranked opponent since the Hoosiers defeated then No. 22 Michigan State on Nov. 10, 2001 (37-28). The victory snapped Oregon's 22-game non-conference winning streak at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks last lost at home on Oct. 18, 1997 to Utah (31-13). The victory was also the first over a Pac-10 team since defeating then No. 15 Washington, 14-7, on Sept. 23, 1978.
The 30 points scored against No. 24/24 Oregon and the 41 in the season-opener against Central Michigan are the most points posted in back-to-back games by a Hoosier team during the Gerry DiNardo era. It's the best back-to-back point output in victories since the 2001 season against Northwestern (56) and Michigan State (28).
Sophomore running back Lance Bennett's 98-yard kickoff return for touchdown in the third quarter was IU's longest since Derin Graham (9/18/99) 90-yarder vs. Kentucky. His return is the second-longest in Indiana history.
IU forced three turnovers in the first quarter and tied a school-record by forcing Oregon into seven turnovers for the game (four fumbles, three interceptions). Buster Larkins, Herana-Daze Jones, Paul Szczesny and Kyle Killion all had fumble recoveries, while Larkins, Jones, and Killion had interceptions. The old record had stood since 1946, when Indiana forced Minnesota in seven turnovers.
Indiana and Kentucky will face off for the 35th time this weekend. IU holds a 17-16-1 advantage over UK, but the Wildcats have won two of the last three meetings. UK defeated Indiana in last year's meeting, 34-17, in Bloomington on Sept. 20. The first meeting between the two teams in Bloomington during the 1893 season ended in a 24-24 tie.
In Indiana's first two games, the Hoosiers have been outgained offensively, but have come out ahead in each tilt. Against Oregon, the Ducks outgained the Hoosiers 495-198. In the season opener against Central Michigan it marked the first time since Oct. 23, 1999, that Indiana won a game despite being outgained offensively. In 1999, IU defeated Iowa, 38-31, even though the Hoosiers were outgained 552-357.
The last time Indiana opened the season with a 3-0 mark was the 1994 season when the Hoosiers defeated Kentucky in Lexington, 59-29. IU tallied a total of 650 yards of total offense, including 587 yards on the ground en route to the 3-0 start.
JONES WINS DEFENSIVE HONOR
Herana-Daze Jones was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for games played the weekend of Sept. 11. With Indiana leading 30-24 late in the fourth quarter, Jones intercepted Oregon quarterback Kelle Clemens pass with 3:42 to play in the final quarter. Oregon had been driving down the field and had the ball on the IU 16-yard line. Jones added 9 total tackles, including one for loss, and a fumble recovery.
HOOSIER RANKED AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
According to the latest NCAA Division I football statistics of Sept. 11, the Hoosiers rank first in the country in kickoff returns, with an average of 51.2 yards per return. IU ranks 7th in the country with a turnover margin of 2.5. Indiana rank's in the top-35 in net punting (31st; 40.08 yards) and scoring defense (34th; 17 points per game). Lance Bennett rank's first in the country in kickoff returns (46.25 per return) and Bryan Robertson is third in the country with 1.5 field goals per game.
GOOD RETURNS CONTINUE
Indiana had 123 kickoff return yards at Oregon, with 98 of them coming on a touchdown return by Lance Bennett. The return was the second longest in IU football history. It was the first score for Bennett, who had a team-high return of 70 years last season against Indiana State. It was the first kickoff return since Derin Graham had a 90-yarder vs. Kentucky on Sept. 19, 1999.
In the season opener, IU had 133 kickoff return yards against Central Michigan, including a career-long 71-yarder from Courtney Clency.
MILITARY HEROES
Indiana's Sept. 25 game against Michigan State has been designated Hoosier Military Heroes Day. Any active or retired military members can get a free ticket for themselves and $10 tickets for their family by showing their military OID.
THE ROBY WATCH
Senior wide receiver Courtney Roby is poised to rewrite the Hoosier pass catching record book this fall. The Indianapolis native hopes to become the first IU wideout since Bob Stephenson (1979-81) to lead the Hoosiers in receiving for three straight seasons. More impressively, he needs 24 more catches and 545 more receiving yards to become Indiana's career leader in both categories.
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
Wednesday, June 03