Indiana University Athletics
Alex Perry Profile
4/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 10, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - When Indiana offensive lineman signee Alex Perry helped Morris (Ill.) High School to the 2005 Illinois Class 6A State Championship last November, it marked the Redskins' first state title since 1984. According to Perry, the triumph means much more than a championship ring or a banner hanging in the school gymnasium.
"The biggest lesson I learned from the 2005 season was definitely teamwork," Perry said. "We faced a lot of controversy with switching coaching staffs and then obstacles throughout the season, but we all pulled together and accomplished a lot together."
That impressive list of credentials included a state quarterfinal victory over perennial nemesis Joliet Catholic that helped ensure a perfect 14-0 record and a final No. 16 national ranking. The next objective is to continue this success at the collegiate level.
"The amazing campus, great academics, Big Ten Conference and great coaches drew me to Indiana," Perry said. "Indiana is a great place with great coaches, and it is a sleeping giant in the Big Ten."
Perry is the latest in a long legacy of former Morris High School football stars in his family. His father, Mark, brother, Brian, brother-in-law, Alex, and cousin, Derek, all suited up for Morris. In fact, Derek went on to play collegiately at Missouri. This lineage proved to be beneficial both on-and-off the field.
"It definitely helped coming from an athletic family, because I got to be around sports since I was real little and learned a lot and developed a love for competition," Perry said. "They all helped in the recruiting process by just supporting my decisions and helped answer any questions that I had."
The 6-7, 251-pound Perry was one of four Morris seniors to sign a national of letter intent to continue their playing career at the collegiate level. Collectively, they provided additional support for one another,
"Any time we had a question about recruiting, we would ask each other what they thought and learn from each other's experiences," Perry said. "It definitely was very helpful."
Perry looks to build a similar rapport with his Hoosier teammates, especially among the "Seven Blocks of Limestone." IU head coach Terry Hoeppner has labeled the seven offensive linemen that the IU signed as the "Seven Blocks of Limestone," a takeoff of Fordham's "Seven Blocks of Granite" that included eventual Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi.
"The o-line has great camaraderie because all five have to be on the same page and work together ," Perry said. "If one person messes up, it makes the whole line look bad."
The notoriety of the "Seven Blocks of Limestone" has fueled Perry's off-season conditioning program.
"I think my biggest asset is my agility and flexibility," Perry said. "I mostly just want to keep working on getting bigger, stronger and faster and just improve my overall game."
Perry is one of several IU signees who has visited practice this spring and will be in attendance at the April 15 Cream and Crimson intrasquad scrimmage. The early exposure to the Hoosier program left a lasting impression.
"After attending practice, I was real surprised with how fast paced the practices are," Perry said. " I thought the team was looking pretty good that early in the spring and that there is a lot of potential for this team."
IU's 2006 spring season concludes with the annual Cream and Crimson intrasquad game on April 15 at 4 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
IU season ticket holders will also have the opportunity to renew their season tickets before the April 17 priority deadline to save 10-percent off the price of an adult ticket. Please call 855-4006 or 866-IUSPORTS for more information.
