Indiana University Athletics
IU, Duke Have Longstanding Respect
12/9/2015 4:50:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In an informal conversation at Cameron Indoor Stadium last Wednesday, Duke Athletic Director Kevin White and Indiana Director of Athletics Fred Glass shared mutual excitement over the possibility of their football programs meeting at the Pinstripe Bowl in New York.
"What a wonderful opportunity this would be if we brought both of these brands together," White recalled them saying.
Four days later, they got their wish.
Glass and White were together once again Tuesday in New York, joining their head football coaches in speaking with the media in preparation for a holiday matchup at Yankee Stadium. Both schools expressed mutual admiration for one another, adding to the excitement of the teams' first matchup since 1984.
"We are thrilled that we are able to be here," Glass said.
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, though not usual opponents, revealed that they've long admired one another from afar.
Their coaching trajectory at their current schools are actually quite similar.
After being hired in 2008, Cutcliffe won 15 games over his four seasons in Durham. By comparison, Wilson won 14 in his first four years in Bloomington.
But in their fifth seasons, each broke through.
Duke won six games in Cutcliffe's fifth year in 2012, sparking a streak of four consecutive bowl appearances. Indiana won six games this season, Wilson's fifth, and is looking to follow Duke's path.
"Coach Cutcliffe doesn't know this, but we've looked at Duke for a long time," Wilson said. "We actually appreciated his spring game being on ESPN3 because we watched it with our team, and watched the practice organization and the way the managers are working—the whole organization."
But while Wilson's program was studying Duke's trajectory, the Blue Devils were keeping an eye on Indiana themselves. Wilson's offenses have long been regarded as some of the best in the nation, and Cutcliffe has taken notice.
Cutcliffe called Wilson an example for offensive-minded coaches around the nation to study. Under Wilson's guidance, the Hoosiers have seen steady growth and set nearly 50 school records along the way.
"I have watched Kevin coach for a long time. Offensively, I don't know anybody better," Cutcliffe said, turning to Wilson. "I have tried to steal a lot of what you do."
Cutcliffe will likely have a hard time pulling any of Wilson's own tricks against him when they meet on the field at Yankee Stadium. The two have become very familiar with one another over the years.
And on ABC at 3:30 pm on Dec. 26, the rest of the country might, too.
"We've got one of the outstanding leaders in college athletics and one of the tremendous coaches in Kevin Wilson here," White said. "The job he's done at
Indiana is being widely talked about in college athletics. It's just amazing what he's accomplished."
The respect goes both ways.
"In previous years, Coach Wilson would show us a lot of articles or write-ups about the Duke program," Indiana senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. "We have a tremendous amount of respect for them and how Coach Cutcliffe has really stuck with his process…We've drawn a lot from that program."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In an informal conversation at Cameron Indoor Stadium last Wednesday, Duke Athletic Director Kevin White and Indiana Director of Athletics Fred Glass shared mutual excitement over the possibility of their football programs meeting at the Pinstripe Bowl in New York.
"What a wonderful opportunity this would be if we brought both of these brands together," White recalled them saying.
Four days later, they got their wish.
Glass and White were together once again Tuesday in New York, joining their head football coaches in speaking with the media in preparation for a holiday matchup at Yankee Stadium. Both schools expressed mutual admiration for one another, adding to the excitement of the teams' first matchup since 1984.
"We are thrilled that we are able to be here," Glass said.
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, though not usual opponents, revealed that they've long admired one another from afar.
Their coaching trajectory at their current schools are actually quite similar.
After being hired in 2008, Cutcliffe won 15 games over his four seasons in Durham. By comparison, Wilson won 14 in his first four years in Bloomington.
But in their fifth seasons, each broke through.
Duke won six games in Cutcliffe's fifth year in 2012, sparking a streak of four consecutive bowl appearances. Indiana won six games this season, Wilson's fifth, and is looking to follow Duke's path.
"Coach Cutcliffe doesn't know this, but we've looked at Duke for a long time," Wilson said. "We actually appreciated his spring game being on ESPN3 because we watched it with our team, and watched the practice organization and the way the managers are working—the whole organization."
But while Wilson's program was studying Duke's trajectory, the Blue Devils were keeping an eye on Indiana themselves. Wilson's offenses have long been regarded as some of the best in the nation, and Cutcliffe has taken notice.
Cutcliffe called Wilson an example for offensive-minded coaches around the nation to study. Under Wilson's guidance, the Hoosiers have seen steady growth and set nearly 50 school records along the way.
"I have watched Kevin coach for a long time. Offensively, I don't know anybody better," Cutcliffe said, turning to Wilson. "I have tried to steal a lot of what you do."
Cutcliffe will likely have a hard time pulling any of Wilson's own tricks against him when they meet on the field at Yankee Stadium. The two have become very familiar with one another over the years.
And on ABC at 3:30 pm on Dec. 26, the rest of the country might, too.
"We've got one of the outstanding leaders in college athletics and one of the tremendous coaches in Kevin Wilson here," White said. "The job he's done at
Indiana is being widely talked about in college athletics. It's just amazing what he's accomplished."
The respect goes both ways.
"In previous years, Coach Wilson would show us a lot of articles or write-ups about the Duke program," Indiana senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. "We have a tremendous amount of respect for them and how Coach Cutcliffe has really stuck with his process…We've drawn a lot from that program."
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