Indiana University Athletics
Practice Report: March 24
3/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bloomington, Ind. - A handful of former Indiana football standouts were on hand Thursday afternoon to take in the Hoosiers' third workout (first in pads) of the spring. Vic Malinovsky (1969, 1970), Terry Cole (1965-67), Ken Kaczmarek (1965-67), Carl Barzilauskas (1971-73), Doug Crusan (1965-67), Eric Stolberg (1967-69), Jade Butcher (1967-69), John Isenbarger (1967-69), former assistant and interim head coach Bob Hicks (1957-72) and Phil Westfall (1962, 64) are all impressed with the direction of the IU program.
"It is always good to be back here," Crusan said. "Coach (Terry) Hoeppner is a great guy. The players seem very responsive to him."
As season ticket sales steadily increase, Kaczmarek likes the buzz around the Indiana program.
"Coach Hoeppner has done a tremendous job generating enthusiasm around the program," Kaczmarek said. "The alumni, students and players really like him. He's a good fit for IU football."
In particular, Cole, Kaczmarek, Crusan, Stolberg, Butcher, Isenbarger and Hicks could reinforce Hoeppner's word(s) of the day: Rose Bowl. Cole, Kaczmarek, Crusan, Stolberg, Butcher, Isenbarger and Hicks either played or coached in the 1968 Rose Bowl against Southern California.
"After not winning many games as a sophomore and junior (1965 and 1966), it was a lot of fun to turn it around in 1967 - 9-1, Big Ten co-champions and go to the Rose Bowl," Crusan said.
Of course, Kaczmarek was instrumental in the Hoosiers' drive to Pasadena, stopping Purdue's Perry Williams on the goalline to force a fumble that Mike Baughman recovered en route to a 19-14 victory over the Boilers.
The current Indiana defense took a page from Kaczmarek's book at Thursday's practice, making several big plays in the inside run, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Linebacker Tyler Altman jarred freshman running back Dennis Underwood in the inside run drill, while defensive back Troy Grosfield (two interceptions) and safety Will Meyers (one interception) stood out in the 7-on-7 drill. Meyers and Aaron Mitchell picked off passes in the full team drill, and cornerback Buster Larkins had a solid open field stop on Yamar Washington.
Offensively, fullback Josiah Sears has proven to be a productive inside runner, and sophomore Ryan Skelton has shown reliable hands and impressive speed in the transition from safety to wide receiver. Underwood, who graduated from St, Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio in December so that he could enroll at IU and compete in spring drills, caught a screen in the right flat from redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Vlahogeorge and turned it into a nice gain. Finally, Vlahogeorge connected with wide receiver James Hardy on a few deep patterns. Hardy, who also plays forward on the Indiana basketball team, is back on the football field just eight days after the end of the Hoosiers' basketball season.
Hoeppner, assistant coach George Ricumstrict and Skelton had the following comments after practice.
Hoeppner on the Hoosiers' first day in pads: "I keep saying the (John) Pannozzo move (to linebacker) was a good move, and it looks more and more like that every day. It was a real test for him today, to see if he could get them lined up and find the football, and obviously, he can do that. He has to lead for us, and I think we have him at the right spot."
Hoeppner on the Hoosiers' progress from week one of spring drills to week two: "We'll come in early Friday morning and look at tape, and then they have the rest of the weekend off. It's a challenge for both the players and the coaches to get one day better every day. Players learn a lot, and coaches learn a lot."
Ricumstrict on the first day in pads: "It's exciting. I know for myself that I was excited. The kids are learning some new things, but football is football. The pads go on, the ball is snapped, and there is hitting on both sides."
Ricumstrict on Indiana's base defense: "The linebackers get the front set and make checks. In the run game, we like to play downhill, and in the pass game, we will be physical and try to reroute the wide receivers."
Skelton on move to wide receiver: "During winter conditioning, the coaches asked me to go to receiver. It seemed like a good idea, because I just wanted to get on the field. I am excited about it. I have worked on my speed and getting better hands."
Skelton on how his defensive back experience helps his transition to the offense: "I got very aggressive on defense, and that helps because now I know what the defense is trying to do."
"It is always good to be back here," Crusan said. "Coach (Terry) Hoeppner is a great guy. The players seem very responsive to him."
As season ticket sales steadily increase, Kaczmarek likes the buzz around the Indiana program.
"Coach Hoeppner has done a tremendous job generating enthusiasm around the program," Kaczmarek said. "The alumni, students and players really like him. He's a good fit for IU football."
In particular, Cole, Kaczmarek, Crusan, Stolberg, Butcher, Isenbarger and Hicks could reinforce Hoeppner's word(s) of the day: Rose Bowl. Cole, Kaczmarek, Crusan, Stolberg, Butcher, Isenbarger and Hicks either played or coached in the 1968 Rose Bowl against Southern California.
"After not winning many games as a sophomore and junior (1965 and 1966), it was a lot of fun to turn it around in 1967 - 9-1, Big Ten co-champions and go to the Rose Bowl," Crusan said.
Of course, Kaczmarek was instrumental in the Hoosiers' drive to Pasadena, stopping Purdue's Perry Williams on the goalline to force a fumble that Mike Baughman recovered en route to a 19-14 victory over the Boilers.
The current Indiana defense took a page from Kaczmarek's book at Thursday's practice, making several big plays in the inside run, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Linebacker Tyler Altman jarred freshman running back Dennis Underwood in the inside run drill, while defensive back Troy Grosfield (two interceptions) and safety Will Meyers (one interception) stood out in the 7-on-7 drill. Meyers and Aaron Mitchell picked off passes in the full team drill, and cornerback Buster Larkins had a solid open field stop on Yamar Washington.
Offensively, fullback Josiah Sears has proven to be a productive inside runner, and sophomore Ryan Skelton has shown reliable hands and impressive speed in the transition from safety to wide receiver. Underwood, who graduated from St, Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio in December so that he could enroll at IU and compete in spring drills, caught a screen in the right flat from redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Vlahogeorge and turned it into a nice gain. Finally, Vlahogeorge connected with wide receiver James Hardy on a few deep patterns. Hardy, who also plays forward on the Indiana basketball team, is back on the football field just eight days after the end of the Hoosiers' basketball season.
Hoeppner, assistant coach George Ricumstrict and Skelton had the following comments after practice.
Hoeppner on the Hoosiers' first day in pads: "I keep saying the (John) Pannozzo move (to linebacker) was a good move, and it looks more and more like that every day. It was a real test for him today, to see if he could get them lined up and find the football, and obviously, he can do that. He has to lead for us, and I think we have him at the right spot."
Hoeppner on the Hoosiers' progress from week one of spring drills to week two: "We'll come in early Friday morning and look at tape, and then they have the rest of the weekend off. It's a challenge for both the players and the coaches to get one day better every day. Players learn a lot, and coaches learn a lot."
Ricumstrict on the first day in pads: "It's exciting. I know for myself that I was excited. The kids are learning some new things, but football is football. The pads go on, the ball is snapped, and there is hitting on both sides."
Ricumstrict on Indiana's base defense: "The linebackers get the front set and make checks. In the run game, we like to play downhill, and in the pass game, we will be physical and try to reroute the wide receivers."
Skelton on move to wide receiver: "During winter conditioning, the coaches asked me to go to receiver. It seemed like a good idea, because I just wanted to get on the field. I am excited about it. I have worked on my speed and getting better hands."
Skelton on how his defensive back experience helps his transition to the offense: "I got very aggressive on defense, and that helps because now I know what the defense is trying to do."
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11