Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs Penn State
10/10/2015 6:29:00 PM | Football
Indiana vs. Penn State
October 10, 2015
Indiana Head Coach Kevin Wilson
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Opening Statement
Our football team didn't play as well as a group today; there was a little bit more individualism. We need our leaders to tighten up, tighten down the screws. We need to be a lot better if we want to reach the goals we've set. I'm disappointed we did not play better. I'm disappointed truly in getting beat today...because we did get beat. We need to respond. I thought we had a good week in practice. I thought we were ready to go, but at the same time there was just a little bit more selfishness with our actions today just playing and functioning as a football team. Today Penn State was a much better football team across the board.
Penn State was very solid. They got after us and did a great job. Offense had very low execution. Defense was in a bad situation. Our defense gave them a few big plays based on where they were. We've got to keep working day to day and say congrats to Penn State...they really got after us.
Q: What was the process in deciding if Sudfeld or Howard would play?Â
A: Wait to see what they could do and yesterday they practiced a little more. Jordan [Howard] did not do as much but Nate [Sudfeld] could of played, he just wasn't very mobile. We just had to see how many plays they could withstand and see if they could protect themselves. He could have played last week...he was cleared but personally I did not feel as good. His knee was "available" but I thought he was limited enough that I did not want to put him in harms way today. As for Zander [Diamont], I don't think it is that bad. We will see what he's got and will move forward with him.
Q: Was that a bit of a "double whammy" for Zander [Diamont]? Is it just a concussion he is dealing with or is it kind of an arm shoulder deal?Â
A: I think a little bit of both. He's got to get back and get it looked at. I don't think it's an extent of anything except the shoulder. The hit was what it was. He was out and we will get him back and looked at.
Q: What was the explanation on the play where it looked like it was helmet to helmet then all of a sudden you were back 15 yards?Â
A: We had run, in our tempo, the exact same play a couple plays in a row. It took them about 8 more seconds to spike the ball and I started complaining then they decided to throw a flag for unsportsmanlike. The ball was inside the hash. I told the referees I just thought that the second one was a bit more diplomatic than I'd like. Put it down, lets go play then they got mad at me. Like I said you just missed the crown of my quarterback. It really hurts.
Q: Do you think the environment contributed to the penalties?Â
A: There was only one penalty in the first half.
Q: It may be too early for this but are you concerned with the direction of the morale as we get deeper into the season?Â
A:Â I don't think so I think we've been good. I just think this is the first time I'd like to. I think we've got a really good group and I think that they're good enough to understand what they're playing for and how to fight. I think we can play hard and keep getting better.
Q: What do you see from the running game today?
A:Â Again, if you're not functioning your protection or your route running where you can throw the ball it's easy to become a one-dimensional team. We never stressed it out there today. We never got them, except for one drive and we didn't put any stress on their defense. They were able to function. Were on the road, we have to work on player communication. Were playing at Maryland and Michigan State and its all about the road environment. We've done the offense enough and we need to communicate. We didn't stress Penn State and that's a part of the passing game. If you cant really strike the fear in them that you're going to throw the ball, they can really function and react. We just have to get things back on track here.
Indiana PlayersÂ
Ricky Jones | R-Jr. | WR | #4
Q: It may be too soon to even evaluate this but, what would you say morale is right now? Kind of the highs and lows of the last couple weeks.
A: I just think the offense has to step up. The defense, I think, is playing pretty well. It looks pretty bad by stats but if you actually watch the game, the offense let them off the hook a lot of times without scoring, three-and-outs, different things like that. So, the defense eventually gets tired. I definitely just feel like, as a leader on the offensive side, we have to step up and make plays. Right now we're not doing that.
Q: Now you personally had a quiet first half, and kind of stepped up in the second half with four or five catches. Was there anything in particular that you noticed that contributed to that?
A: It's just a few play calls that came my way. I think we need more of that. We just have to step up on offense, I don't think we're playing very well the last few games. Our defense is playing well though so we just have to do that.
Q: Does it almost feel like a gut-punch for you guys? I mean week after week it seems like its injury after injury.
A: It comes with playing college football, guys go down all the time, so it definitely is just the next man up, and he has to step up. It's just a part of football, it's a part of life.
Nick Mangieri | Sr. | DE | #56
Q: As far as the morale is for the team, [does it change at all] by the end of the season?
A: There's a lot to play for. We just got to come back tomorrow, watch the film and get ready for Rutgers.
Q: Were you guys surprised at how much (Christian) Hackenberg kind of scrambled around and made some plays with his legs?
A: You know he is an athletic guy, obviously he likes to stay in the pocket but I think we were getting back there enough where he kind of had to use his legs.
Q: For you, as a defensive lineman do you kind of feel like Darius [Latham] helped you guys out, and was the same old Darius as before?Â
A: Obviously him being out there helps us out a lot.
