Indiana University Athletics
Competition Level High Early for IUFB
8/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 5, 2014
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana football team won't see an opponent for 25 more days, but that doesn't mean the competitive juices haven't been flowing through two days of preseason practice. As they'll do throughout the next three weeks, the Hoosiers only have themselves to battle against.
"Even off the field, it's always the same thing, whether it be just playing ping pong or video games," senior center Collin Rahrig said. "We're constantly at each others' necks. That's how you get that competition and how you raise the bar every day."
That mindset serves one common purpose, to make the Hoosiers on the other side better.
"It's a year-round event for us, competing whether it's on the field or off the field," senior linebacker Flo Hardin said. "We're always on edge between the offense and defense but at the end of the day, we're all family."
The bar Rahrig referenced will be raised Wednesday when the Hoosiers strap on pads for the first time this fall.
"That's the whole thing about football, contact," Hardin said. "We're going to see what our freshmen are really about now and how our team is going to be."
FOOTBALL SHAPE
In his first fall camp with the Hoosiers, defensive line coach Larry McDaniel couldn't be more pleased with his group's preparations leading up to fall camp.
"I think our guys had an excellent summer," McDaniel said. "They ran well. They lifted well. It makes our job that much easier when we get them on the field right now. I'm very happy with how they did in the summer."
Ready for camp? Check. Now, McDaniel is tasked with getting the defensive line ready for August 30, or as he calls it, in "football shape."
"You can do everything in the world to try to simulate it, but there's only certain things you can do to get ready for football and that's what we're trying to do now."
BIG TEN NETWORK IN B-TOWN
The Big Ten Network opened its 14-stop tour in Bloomington on Tuesday by visiting IU's practice and setting up shop inside Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers will be featured on BTN Live Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. ET, but they were initially impressed during Tuesday's workout.
"They're flying around," BTN analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion Howard Griffith said. "At first glance from a conditioning standpoint, this team looks really good and so much better than they did when this group first took over. I think they're headed in the right direction. They've obviously had a very good offseason and a very good spring."
The offense, which set seven team single-season records in 2013, continues to impress BTN lead studio host Dave Revsine.
"It's hard to come out here and not be impressed just by the pace they play at," Resvine said. "(Nate) Sudfeld has a great arm and great touch. I think the offensive line is underrated. I don't think people understand throughout the Big Ten just how good this group is. A lot of stuff to be impressed by."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It's sky high. Bottom line, when you're a lineman, that's your time. Now that we get the pads on, they're excited to go and looking forward to big things."
-Coach Larry McDaniel on the defensive line's excitement for pads Wednesday
 Photos | DL Coach Larry McDaniel | LB Flo Hardin | C Collin Rahrig
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana football team won't see an opponent for 25 more days, but that doesn't mean the competitive juices haven't been flowing through two days of preseason practice. As they'll do throughout the next three weeks, the Hoosiers only have themselves to battle against.
"Even off the field, it's always the same thing, whether it be just playing ping pong or video games," senior center Collin Rahrig said. "We're constantly at each others' necks. That's how you get that competition and how you raise the bar every day."
That mindset serves one common purpose, to make the Hoosiers on the other side better.
"It's a year-round event for us, competing whether it's on the field or off the field," senior linebacker Flo Hardin said. "We're always on edge between the offense and defense but at the end of the day, we're all family."
The bar Rahrig referenced will be raised Wednesday when the Hoosiers strap on pads for the first time this fall.
"That's the whole thing about football, contact," Hardin said. "We're going to see what our freshmen are really about now and how our team is going to be."
FOOTBALL SHAPE
In his first fall camp with the Hoosiers, defensive line coach Larry McDaniel couldn't be more pleased with his group's preparations leading up to fall camp.
"I think our guys had an excellent summer," McDaniel said. "They ran well. They lifted well. It makes our job that much easier when we get them on the field right now. I'm very happy with how they did in the summer."
Ready for camp? Check. Now, McDaniel is tasked with getting the defensive line ready for August 30, or as he calls it, in "football shape."
"You can do everything in the world to try to simulate it, but there's only certain things you can do to get ready for football and that's what we're trying to do now."
BIG TEN NETWORK IN B-TOWN
The Big Ten Network opened its 14-stop tour in Bloomington on Tuesday by visiting IU's practice and setting up shop inside Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers will be featured on BTN Live Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. ET, but they were initially impressed during Tuesday's workout.
"They're flying around," BTN analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion Howard Griffith said. "At first glance from a conditioning standpoint, this team looks really good and so much better than they did when this group first took over. I think they're headed in the right direction. They've obviously had a very good offseason and a very good spring."
The offense, which set seven team single-season records in 2013, continues to impress BTN lead studio host Dave Revsine.
"It's hard to come out here and not be impressed just by the pace they play at," Resvine said. "(Nate) Sudfeld has a great arm and great touch. I think the offensive line is underrated. I don't think people understand throughout the Big Ten just how good this group is. A lot of stuff to be impressed by."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It's sky high. Bottom line, when you're a lineman, that's your time. Now that we get the pads on, they're excited to go and looking forward to big things."
-Coach Larry McDaniel on the defensive line's excitement for pads Wednesday
Click here for complete coverage in Fall Camp Central.
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