Indiana University Athletics
Wilson Outlines Spring Game After Busy Practice
4/9/2016 4:52:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson left Saturday's indoor practice pleased with the way his players played and said he was looking forward to heading into IU's Spring Game week.
"The kids had a lot of energy, a lot of juice," Wilson said. "I thought our defense tackled much better, a lot of intensity. The offense did make some plays, but again, all in all, I'm very pleased with where we are. And we've got a long way to go, but it's the best I've seen our team, and I'm excited about it."
Cold temperatures moved Indiana's practice inside Mellencamp Pavilion because Wilson said the coaching staff "wanted a good go." By the end of the practice, he said the Hoosiers had taken more snaps from the line of scrimmage than any spring practice up to this point.
Along with a conventional scrimmage, Indiana ran various situational plays designed to simulate game situations as Wilson often likes to do. He made a point of including kicking opportunities as IU looks to build on junior kicker Griffin Oakes' Big Ten Kicker of the Year season and to help the punters out as the Hoosiers search for Erich Toth's replacement.
"A lot of work, a lot of volume," he said. "The kids handled it well."
Wilson also revealed the format of Friday's Spring Game, which will be a mix of conventional scrimmage and practice immediately following the women's Little 500 race at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
The game will begin with a youth clinic on the Practice Fields open to kids 12 and under starting at 5 p.m. Former players will be on hand to help run the free football clinic.
Around 5:45 p.m., Memorial Stadium will open to the public and players will take the field to stretch and start one-on-one work and drills for an hour. Wilson said the crowd will be able to participate and engage in practice during this time before the scrimmage starts at 7 p.m.
Immediately following the spring game, Flosstradamus will headline the Little 500 concert at the stadium.
"So there's a lot of good activity," Wilson said. "Weather's looking awesome. I know our team is excited. Hope to have a great crowd. It's going to be a heck of a day."
