Indiana University Athletics
Pannozzo To Miss Next Three Games
11/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.Indiana senior middle linebacker John Pannozzo suffered a hand injury in the Oct. 29 Michigan State game and will be sidelined for the final three regular season games, IU head coach Terry Hoeppner announced today. Pannozzo is the Hoosiers' third leading tackler (52 stops) and is second on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
A three-year starter at fullback, Pannozzo moved to middle linebacker last spring and immediately established himself as the anchor of the IU defense. The 5-11, 235-pound Pannozzo earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for his six tackles (team-high three for loss), one forced fumble and one sack in Indiana's season-opening 20-13 victory at Central Michigan. Pannozzo also recovered a fumble and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State on Oct. 22.
Pannozzo may miss Indiana's next three games, but he will still play a key role in the Hoosiers' season goal of playing 12 games and advancing to a bowl.
"John is not only a solid linebacker, but he has been an outstanding leader all season," Hoeppner said. "Thus, he has already vowed to do anything possible to help this team reach a bowl game so that he and the other seniors can close out the year with a postseason appearance. We will certainly miss John's presence in the middle of our defense, but we're also confident that the other guys on defense will step up in a big way, starting this Saturday against Minnesota."
