Indiana University Athletics
Shelby Seeking the Next Lockdown Corner
6/22/2016 9:34:00 AM | Football
By: Tori Ziege | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The IU football coaching staff has a combined five BCS National Championship appearances between them.
Three belong to head coach Kevin Wilson. The other two? To cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby.
Shelby knows better than anyone the level of work required of players in order to reach the title game. He lived it twice as a standout corner for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2001-04, and so he knows exactly what it will take from the IU secondary to get him back.
The next lockdown corner.
"When you get a lockdown corner it's somebody that can play man-to-man and shut down a receiver and lock that side of the field away," he said. "So when you say lockdown, that's just an individual, a corner, going against a receiver and not allowing that guy to make a catch."
The search to find a lockdown corner never stops. Shelby seeks them out on the recruiting trail, on the turf and in the classroom, where he challenges his players to display the mental toughness requisite of a lockdown corner.
Shelby himself earned All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors during his playing days in Norman — a living, breathing representation of the success on the field and off of it.
"Every day you're either getting better or you're getting worse," Shelby said. "People who play for championships, it's a mindset and a work habit. To get to that level, you have to show it in practice along with doing well in your classes. You have to be dedicated in all facets."
But for all his talk of lockdown corners, Shelby wouldn't go as far as to call himself one. Instead, he credits the lockdown corners around him, who he says elevated his play to be greater than his abilities.
Of all the memories and experiences concomitant with being a two-time title contender, Shelby said that his those spent in the company of his teammates are the most lasting. When Shelby is married this July, several of his Sooners teammates will be in attendance, eager to banter and reminisce about their playing days.
In the meantime, Shelby is busy making memories with his current team, the Hoosiers, who are competing informally this summer in the IUFB Summer Games. The Games include tasks such as ping-pong tournaments, NBA2K and a belly-flop contest.
"When the ping-pong game's all tied up and the next point wins, you can see who can lock in and get it done," Shelby said. "A lot of that translates to football. We do it in fun, but we also want to have guys out there competing and building team camaraderie."
As for the wedding, Shelby says he knows better than to get involved.
"The smartest thing I've learned is you stay out of the way," he said. "You just say 'That sounds good to me' and everyone is happy."
That works just fine for Shelby —
All the more time for him to discover the next lockdown.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The IU football coaching staff has a combined five BCS National Championship appearances between them.
Three belong to head coach Kevin Wilson. The other two? To cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby.
Shelby knows better than anyone the level of work required of players in order to reach the title game. He lived it twice as a standout corner for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2001-04, and so he knows exactly what it will take from the IU secondary to get him back.
The next lockdown corner.
"When you get a lockdown corner it's somebody that can play man-to-man and shut down a receiver and lock that side of the field away," he said. "So when you say lockdown, that's just an individual, a corner, going against a receiver and not allowing that guy to make a catch."
The search to find a lockdown corner never stops. Shelby seeks them out on the recruiting trail, on the turf and in the classroom, where he challenges his players to display the mental toughness requisite of a lockdown corner.
Shelby himself earned All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honors during his playing days in Norman — a living, breathing representation of the success on the field and off of it.
"Every day you're either getting better or you're getting worse," Shelby said. "People who play for championships, it's a mindset and a work habit. To get to that level, you have to show it in practice along with doing well in your classes. You have to be dedicated in all facets."
But for all his talk of lockdown corners, Shelby wouldn't go as far as to call himself one. Instead, he credits the lockdown corners around him, who he says elevated his play to be greater than his abilities.
Of all the memories and experiences concomitant with being a two-time title contender, Shelby said that his those spent in the company of his teammates are the most lasting. When Shelby is married this July, several of his Sooners teammates will be in attendance, eager to banter and reminisce about their playing days.
In the meantime, Shelby is busy making memories with his current team, the Hoosiers, who are competing informally this summer in the IUFB Summer Games. The Games include tasks such as ping-pong tournaments, NBA2K and a belly-flop contest.
"When the ping-pong game's all tied up and the next point wins, you can see who can lock in and get it done," Shelby said. "A lot of that translates to football. We do it in fun, but we also want to have guys out there competing and building team camaraderie."
As for the wedding, Shelby says he knows better than to get involved.
"The smartest thing I've learned is you stay out of the way," he said. "You just say 'That sounds good to me' and everyone is happy."
That works just fine for Shelby —
All the more time for him to discover the next lockdown.
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