Indiana University Athletics
True Hoosiers Bailey & Rogers Cherish Their Final Campaign
9/15/2016 10:07:00 AM | Football
By: Nick Reith
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - At long last, the Indiana football team rang in their 2016 home schedule on Sept. 10 against Ball State. The Hoosiers filed out of the North End Zone before running through the cannons, touching Hep's Rock along the way.
For fifth-year senior center Wes Rogers, it's the best feeling in the world.
"The fireworks are going off and the stands are going crazy," Rogers described the game day sensation. "That's why we love to play football, for that experience. We wanted to be able to play in front of thousands of people cheering for us."
Rogers and his fellow fifth-year offensive lineman, Jacob Bailey, have begun their final season with the Indiana Hoosiers. The pair, roommates since the first day of freshman year, can't believe that their five years with IU is coming to an end after this season.
"It's really crazy to think about being here for half of a decade, longer than we were in high school," Bailey said. "It's gone by fast, that's for sure. If I could give advice to the young guys, it would be that time flies, so you have to make the most of your time. That's what we're hoping to do this season."
What may be even more surprising for Rogers and Bailey is that they reached this point in the first place. Both grew up in the Indianapolis area, attending high schools separated by a one-mile stretch of 56th Street. Rogers, a graduate of Lawrence Central, can hardly believe how far he and Bailey, a Cathedral alum, have come in five years.
"I remember after the first couple days of football, I couldn't fathom how I was going to make it to this point," Rogers reminisced on his first few days in Bloomington. "We've all changed so much over the years thanks to great weight coaches and position coaches, and we've all matured a lot and been around the system, so we know the right way to go about things."
Being fifth-year players, Rogers and Bailey have seen nearly all of head coach Kevin Wilson's six-year tenure at Indiana. The seniors have noticed a significant culture change from their freshman season to this year, which has made it easier for newcomers to "buy in" to the Indiana way of doing things.
"When you have constant, steady leadership, you're going to grow with that consistency," Bailey said. "Being the class after his first season, we all signed up for Coach Wilson and his staff, and the other classes followed suit. Now, there's an increased sense of pride and confidence in what we do. We came here to win games at IU, and that's what everyone else came to do as well."
Rogers and Bailey aren't ready for their collegiate careers to end, and they'll cherish every moment of the 2016 season. The friendships they've made with teammates and coaches will last a lifetime, as will their connection with IU football and Indiana University.
For now, they'll suit up with their teammates and run through the cannons seven more times. Rogers and Bailey will don their #65 and #70 jerseys and run side-by-side into Memorial Stadium, each time feeling the same excitement as they had their first.
"It's an honor to have that jersey on with my state on the front," Bailey said. "I take great pride in being a part of the Indiana football team. I try to go out and do the best I can, knowing that if we can get some wins, it will hopefully make the fall better for all Hoosiers."
