Indiana University Athletics
IU Coaches Seeing Fruits Of Their Labor
12/25/2015 5:00:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
NEW YORK - The bowl experience is something coaches talk about cherishing.
Head coach Kevin Wilson reminisced about going to bowls as a player the day Indiana found out it was going to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in New York. He talked about how the pomp and circumstance around the game will stick with a player throughout their life and how he keeps some of the sweatshirts and mementos from his playing days.
But partially lost in the experience is how rewarding it is for Indiana's coaching staff. Wilson and his assistants, the ones here today and the ones that have come and gone, have been rewarded with the bowl game they set out to reach five years ago when Wilson took the job in Bloomington.
Getting to New York was an achievement in its own for Indiana's staff. Indiana offensive coordinator Kevin Johns called it tangible evidence that the program is moving the direction the coaching staff wants it to move.
"To us coaches, that's huge," Johns said. "It's rewarding just from where we were five years ago to where we are now. You talk about getting over the hump, we think we're right there. We're close to knocking down the door and having this experience every single year."
There lies the ultimate goal: consistent success.
Indiana won just one game in Wilson's first season. He relied on true freshmen starters like now-senior Jason Spriggs to build the program the way Wilson wanted it over time, knowing it would be a process.
Spriggs has reached All-America status now. He's seen the rebuild and the effort the coaches have poured into the program since he arrived on campus Wilson's second campaign.
For them to have success has been a rewarding sight to players like him.
"It's hard to say they're feelings on the bowl, but you can see the excitement in the thought they're trying to instill in us that this is a serious thing," Spriggs said. "We're here to go home as champions. I think that's really what they are showing all of us."
Defensive coordinator Brian Knorr went to four bowl games as a player. He's experienced the excitement of heading to a bowl game now from both perspectives, though he admits his experience in the early 1980's was probably a little different than his players' experience today.
Knorr said seeing players like fifth-year senior bandit Zack Shaw and senior defensive end Nick Mangieri enjoying themselves has made the trip to New York even more rewarding.
"From a coach's perspective, the people you deal with the most, you're grateful for them," Knorr said. "For us, it's a grind. We've been working non-stop. You get up, but it's exciting. It's exciting to be able to play a very good team in Duke."
With kickoff rapidly approaching, Indiana's attention has turned to the game and beating Duke. They're trying to keep the week as normal as they can without sacrificing any of the enjoyment of New York.
But the trip so far has been what Wilson said he wanted. All that's left is to add a final win.
"It's going to be a great experience in so many ways," Wilson said. "And it all comes back to a football game. But this bowl is awesome. This city's big time."
IUHoosiers.com
NEW YORK - The bowl experience is something coaches talk about cherishing.
Head coach Kevin Wilson reminisced about going to bowls as a player the day Indiana found out it was going to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in New York. He talked about how the pomp and circumstance around the game will stick with a player throughout their life and how he keeps some of the sweatshirts and mementos from his playing days.
But partially lost in the experience is how rewarding it is for Indiana's coaching staff. Wilson and his assistants, the ones here today and the ones that have come and gone, have been rewarded with the bowl game they set out to reach five years ago when Wilson took the job in Bloomington.
Getting to New York was an achievement in its own for Indiana's staff. Indiana offensive coordinator Kevin Johns called it tangible evidence that the program is moving the direction the coaching staff wants it to move.
"To us coaches, that's huge," Johns said. "It's rewarding just from where we were five years ago to where we are now. You talk about getting over the hump, we think we're right there. We're close to knocking down the door and having this experience every single year."
There lies the ultimate goal: consistent success.
Indiana won just one game in Wilson's first season. He relied on true freshmen starters like now-senior Jason Spriggs to build the program the way Wilson wanted it over time, knowing it would be a process.
Spriggs has reached All-America status now. He's seen the rebuild and the effort the coaches have poured into the program since he arrived on campus Wilson's second campaign.
For them to have success has been a rewarding sight to players like him.
"It's hard to say they're feelings on the bowl, but you can see the excitement in the thought they're trying to instill in us that this is a serious thing," Spriggs said. "We're here to go home as champions. I think that's really what they are showing all of us."
Defensive coordinator Brian Knorr went to four bowl games as a player. He's experienced the excitement of heading to a bowl game now from both perspectives, though he admits his experience in the early 1980's was probably a little different than his players' experience today.
Knorr said seeing players like fifth-year senior bandit Zack Shaw and senior defensive end Nick Mangieri enjoying themselves has made the trip to New York even more rewarding.
"From a coach's perspective, the people you deal with the most, you're grateful for them," Knorr said. "For us, it's a grind. We've been working non-stop. You get up, but it's exciting. It's exciting to be able to play a very good team in Duke."
With kickoff rapidly approaching, Indiana's attention has turned to the game and beating Duke. They're trying to keep the week as normal as they can without sacrificing any of the enjoyment of New York.
But the trip so far has been what Wilson said he wanted. All that's left is to add a final win.
"It's going to be a great experience in so many ways," Wilson said. "And it all comes back to a football game. But this bowl is awesome. This city's big time."
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