Indiana University Athletics
First and Ten with Don Fischer
9/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2005
Don Fischer is in his 33rd year as the "voice" of Indiana football and is excited about the team's 3-0 start. Fischer recently sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to share his thoughts on what he has seen thus far in 2005 and what he expects the rest of the way.
On the team's 3-0 start:
"The fact that Indiana is 3-0 at this point is a major plus. As important as being 3-0 is the way our fans have reacted to it, and that is huge. The turnout for the third ballgame against Kentucky, yeah it's a rivalry game, but Indiana fans haven't acted like it's a rivalry game in recent years. This year they did. They showed up, were loud, had a great time and obviously helped the ballclub. Just being 3-0 is very important for this team and this program, especially because of the new coaching staff."
On the team's overall play:
"The overall play has been good, but I don't think it has been great. I don't think we have performed as well as we can in any of the three games up to this point, with the exception of Kentucky, but they have played well enough to win. The one thing this team has done that previous Indiana teams haven't done in recent years is find a way to win tough ballgames. In the first two, they found a way to win. That is very important to the program and for the team's mentality. The one thing I have seen that is much improved has been the attitude. You can just see the players enjoying themselves and working hard. These guys go out and are practicing and playing like they really want to be there. That is the new attitude at Indiana."
On sophomore quarterback Blake Powers:
"Blake is starting to look like the guy we saw in spring practice two years ago. I thought at that time Powers would be the starter last year, but he didn't get much of an opportunity. This spring, he was obviously struggling with the new system and all the learning that was involved with it. He didn't look comfortable, but he has come back this fall and looks like a different football player. He has played great."
On Bill Mallory, "The Walk" and "The Rock":
"Coach Hep is a smart guy, and he proved it by bringing Coach Mallory back to the talk to the team before the Kentucky game. No body has more passion about that particular team than Coach Mallory does, so that was a stroke of genius. "The Walk" has just taken off. Everyone has really embraced it. It has been a tremendous new addition to what we are tying to do as a tradition. I love "The Rock." I think it is appropriate, and it brings another symbol into play. It gives people something they can grab on to, and I think it is a great new tradition."
On the Big Ten season:
"I don't think there is any question that Indiana has as tough a road as any team in the Big Ten the rest of the way. They play the best teams in the conference. It's not going to be easy, but no body thought it would be at the beginning of the season. This team has gotten better in each of its first three weeks. I think this team will be a team that has to be reckoned with in the Big Ten. Now, that doesn't mean they are going to win every game or they are going to go to a bowl game, but their opportunity is right there in front of them. If they recognize that and bust their tails, there is no doubt in my mind they can achieve that."
