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Indiana Looking To Get Back On Track Against MSU
10/20/2015 2:01:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kevin Wilson is upset.
Not because of something his team did, but rather, something his team is capable of doing.
"We're sitting here 4-3," Wilson said. "And I kind of like it, because we're 4-3, and we're mad."
Mad because Wilson would argue his team is better than its record shows. Indiana won its first four games for the first time since 1990 before falling just short of upsetting No. 1 Ohio State, falling to Penn State on the road and letting a late lead slip away against Rutgers one week ago.
Indiana (4-3, 0-3) has an opportunity to make up for its recent struggles against No. 7 Michigan State (7-0, 3-0) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in East Lansing, Mich. The Old Brass Spittoon trophy will be on the line, but Wilson's team doesn't necessarily need the extra motivation.
"We've got to stay focused," fifth-year senior center Jake Reed said. "We did a pretty good job building the first four weeks, and I think we kind of took a step back, and it's kind of hard to get refocused after that. But we need to. I think everyone is locked in and trying to get whatever we had back."
The Spartans have won 33-of-36 games, have an expectation for winning and don't let close games dictate their play. After escaping with a 31-24 road win against Rutgers, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said he wasn't comfortable, "but you just keep playing."
The same could be said last week when the Spartans scored on a fumbled punt as time expired to stun Michigan. Four of Michigan State's seven wins this season have been decided by a single score or less, including their last three, which have been decided by a combined 14 points against Purdue, Rutgers and Michigan.
The Spartans haven't panicked in the close games. They've kept playing.
It's exactly what Wilson's Hoosiers have strived to do all season. While Michigan State kept playing when Rutgers kept up, Wilson said Indiana let its guard down and ultimately lost in a similar one-possession game for the second time in three weeks.
Wilson spoke highly of Michigan State's program in his weekly press conference Monday for just that. He described the Spartans as a program IU should work to emulate.
Michigan State just wins.
"As we move forward, that's what we're trying to get to because that's the program that we respect and admire and love the way they play," Wilson said. "And we just got to keep building and get our program to play with the effort and the intensity and to function the way they function to win close games and keep doing things to close things out."
Michigan State is a more balanced team than in recent seasons. The offense has been among the conference's best over the last three seasons, but the defense has been the Spartans' backbone. That changed last year with the emergence of Connor Cook, who has lost just one Big Ten football game as a starter.
Cook is fourth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (238.9) and third in passing efficiency. He's thrown just two interceptions all season.
"We've got to step up against him," freshman safety Jonathan Crawford said. "Make sure we've got the playbook down, make sure our keys are in and focus up and make plays when we can."
And when they do make those plays, Wilson said his team needs to continue to make them. It's part of handling success better, which he said Indiana hasn't always done.
But the first step toward handling success is having it. Sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said winning the Old Brass Spittoon back would be a good way to start.
"It's a pride thing," Cobbs said. "You're fighting for something your school can have if you win that game. We want to bring the trophy back for ourselves and coaches and our fans and the school. It's definitely a big game for us."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kevin Wilson is upset.
Not because of something his team did, but rather, something his team is capable of doing.
"We're sitting here 4-3," Wilson said. "And I kind of like it, because we're 4-3, and we're mad."
Mad because Wilson would argue his team is better than its record shows. Indiana won its first four games for the first time since 1990 before falling just short of upsetting No. 1 Ohio State, falling to Penn State on the road and letting a late lead slip away against Rutgers one week ago.
Indiana (4-3, 0-3) has an opportunity to make up for its recent struggles against No. 7 Michigan State (7-0, 3-0) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in East Lansing, Mich. The Old Brass Spittoon trophy will be on the line, but Wilson's team doesn't necessarily need the extra motivation.
"We've got to stay focused," fifth-year senior center Jake Reed said. "We did a pretty good job building the first four weeks, and I think we kind of took a step back, and it's kind of hard to get refocused after that. But we need to. I think everyone is locked in and trying to get whatever we had back."
The Spartans have won 33-of-36 games, have an expectation for winning and don't let close games dictate their play. After escaping with a 31-24 road win against Rutgers, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said he wasn't comfortable, "but you just keep playing."
The same could be said last week when the Spartans scored on a fumbled punt as time expired to stun Michigan. Four of Michigan State's seven wins this season have been decided by a single score or less, including their last three, which have been decided by a combined 14 points against Purdue, Rutgers and Michigan.
The Spartans haven't panicked in the close games. They've kept playing.
It's exactly what Wilson's Hoosiers have strived to do all season. While Michigan State kept playing when Rutgers kept up, Wilson said Indiana let its guard down and ultimately lost in a similar one-possession game for the second time in three weeks.
Wilson spoke highly of Michigan State's program in his weekly press conference Monday for just that. He described the Spartans as a program IU should work to emulate.
Michigan State just wins.
"As we move forward, that's what we're trying to get to because that's the program that we respect and admire and love the way they play," Wilson said. "And we just got to keep building and get our program to play with the effort and the intensity and to function the way they function to win close games and keep doing things to close things out."
Michigan State is a more balanced team than in recent seasons. The offense has been among the conference's best over the last three seasons, but the defense has been the Spartans' backbone. That changed last year with the emergence of Connor Cook, who has lost just one Big Ten football game as a starter.
Cook is fourth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (238.9) and third in passing efficiency. He's thrown just two interceptions all season.
"We've got to step up against him," freshman safety Jonathan Crawford said. "Make sure we've got the playbook down, make sure our keys are in and focus up and make plays when we can."
And when they do make those plays, Wilson said his team needs to continue to make them. It's part of handling success better, which he said Indiana hasn't always done.
But the first step toward handling success is having it. Sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said winning the Old Brass Spittoon back would be a good way to start.
"It's a pride thing," Cobbs said. "You're fighting for something your school can have if you win that game. We want to bring the trophy back for ourselves and coaches and our fans and the school. It's definitely a big game for us."
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