Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Wisconsin at Indiana
11/4/2017 3:56:00 PM | Football
No. 4/4 Wisconsin at Indiana
Nov. 4, 2017
Postgame Quotes
Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
COACH ALLEN: I'd like to start by saying it's a simple football game, but if you play, it's about protecting the football and creating takeaways. And you saw -- you play a high-caliber team like Wisconsin, when you play them straight up and it's even on takeaways and it was an even situation. We fumbled the football, and they go in and score.
Late in the second half, we get a chance -- we get the ball on the ground; we think we recovered, but we didn't. They get the ball, they drive on that. It was a seven-point game at the time. We had a chance to get the fumble and we didn't. Later in the half we get another fumble down by seven. Again, we get those fumbles, changes everything. We throw two picks, they go down and they score.
To me, we played a great football team today, but when you're minus in the takeaway ratio you're not going to win. To me, that's what it came down to. We didn't run the football well enough. That's for sure. We didn't stop the run well enough, for sure. But for me, it was all about takeaways than anything, and that's all I've got to say about that.
Q. At the end of the first half, you had three timeouts left with about two minutes to go. What was your thinking there?
COACH ALLEN: I wanted to protect the football because I understand how in the history of -- we were down by four and I felt like we obviously, when you talk about the time that's left there, we were on defense and they are going to punt the football, and they pinned us down, which I figured they would do.
So most of their kicks we were having to fair catch, so the bottom line was we were going to get the ball with about a minute or so to go, and I wasn't going to take the chance to turn the football over. At that point, it's totally me saying we're in a 4-point situation, I like where we are, and I didn't want to have a chance for them to get any momentum going into the half.
Q. After the Ellison fumble, what was the explanation from the official?
COACH ALLEN: The big thing was a whistle was blown. That became the issue, but apparently they said it wasn't blown. So that's all I was told. That's all I know.
Q. There was a flag after that, did they explain what that was for?
COACH ALLEN: They said somebody from our sideline was a little upset. So I wasn't even told who. So I don't know.
Q. How did you think Richard Lagow did?
COACH ALLEN: You know, he did some good things but he didn't protect the football. So that's really what it comes down to. But, yeah, he did some good things for sure. But it's about protecting the football. That's really -- it's just a huge, you can go back to all the stats -- gotta protect the football.
Q. How much do you think fatigue played a factor for your defense being out there so long?
COACH ALLEN: I'm sure it did. You know, they were kind of large, you know. So lean on your for a while, it takes its toll. And we're not very deep right now.
So but I thought our guys they fought. It just was they lean on you, they lean on you. They're just big, big men for sure, a lot of them. So that definitely took its toll.
Q. The schedule lightens up, even though it's still Big Ten football teams, these are not top 5 teams coming up, after four losses, how do you keep your team up, because it's a win-or-go-home for a bowl game at this point?
COACH ALLEN: It is. I think, you know, it's going to take a lot of leadership, both on the coaching staff and from our team, which I like the leadership on our team and I love our coaches.
So I feel good about us getting our guys in the right mindset. We just gotta physically get ourselves healed up so we can have a strong finish. But, yeah, it's definitely a tough mental battle that you find yourself in. But you know, that's really kind of -- as we have all experienced in life, sometimes life is not fair. Sometimes things happen, but you've got to learn to really fight through as a man, as a leader of your home.
So I think it's a great precursor to their future. So we're going to teach them about life. And I believe they're going to finish really well. And I think this team will be remembered as a team that played a very, very difficult schedule but finished well.
Q. What do you feel are three or four things you guys really need to do here to get the offense going in these final three games?
COACH ALLEN: First of all, you've got to run the football. And we have to be in the position where, if you can't just run it straight up, you've got to be able to set it up different ways. So wanted to be able to set it up from throwing the football to being able to run off the passing game, and wasn't able to get that done.
We had several sacks. That took away from some of our yards. But the ability to schematically run the football, and if they're going to overload the box, obviously make them pay in the perimeter. We just weren't able to take advantage of that.
The penalties were costly at times to kill some drives; but against a team like this, they're going to make running the ball tough. So you really have to throw it well, and we didn't throw it well enough, nor did we protect it when we were throwing it.
But to me that still goes back to turning the ball over. But we've got to run the football is to me number one. And number two, for us, is doing a better job of creating takeaways on defense. I keep saying it. At least we got the ball out today. Now we've got to come up with it.
So those things to me are going to be key factors in the next couple of weeks.
Indiana Player Quotes
Fifth-Year Senior Richard Lagow
On today's game…
I think today's going to make us look in the mirror a little bit with our costly penalties and turnovers. It wasn't so much about what they were doing on defense; rather, we were shooting ourselves in the foot.
Football is a hard game, stuff happens, not everyone is out there trying their absolute hardest to win every Saturday. That's part of football, it happens and we'll try to learn from it.
On looking ahead to the next three games and sticking together as a team…
It's extremely important, and it starts with the seniors on the team. We understand that we have three games left that are guaranteed. We're trying to get everyone rallied up and ready to make this run.
On getting the start today…
I felt pretty good at first, I didn't feel rusty or anything. I felt comfortable back there. As the game went on, there were some plays you wish that you could do over again, but for the most part I felt pretty good.
Fifth-Year Senior Chase Dutra
On stopping the run...
They were able to reach some of our backers and we misfit a couple of the runs obviously right out of the gate, the first one was a misfit. We had to buckle down and it was a tough day on the run game. We are going to have to watch film and learn how to correct that.
On the key games coming up...
I was telling on the radio, these next three weeks, I only want dogs by my side. If you're not coming in every single day to get better and get better every single day that you're here for the next three weeks, I don't want you to even come into the facility. I need some people who are coming out here and giving it all they got. I'm not saying anything. I know I already have those dudes right now. But I know if you're not playing or if you're hurt, if you're not coming in to make this team better I don't want you coming into he facility. Period.
Senior Tegray Scales
On what makes Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor so difficult to stop…
He's a tough runner. He doesn't go down on the first contact. He just keeps his legs moving. He's a bigger back that we've faced this year so we had to do a better job of wrapping up. I also have to look at myself in the mirror. I missed quite a few tackles today. He's just a bigger back that doesn't go down on the first contact.
On his first-quarter interception in the end zone…
We just had a blow up. They drove the whole field down there and I think somebody hit him or it was a tip pass, I don't even know and I just had to make a play on the ball.
On moving forward with the next three games…
Pretty much like you said, we know what we have to do and we know what position we're in. We're up for the challenge. Things in the Big Ten right now, things aren't going our way, so we just need to bounce back and be ready to compete.
On Wisconsin's drives late in the game…
It was frustrating. We can't give a team like this those types of breaks and try to come back, so it was very frustrating. We didn't make the plays at the point of attack and they did. We just put ourselves in a hole that we couldn't get back from.
Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Opening Statement
I was really proud of the way the guys played and competed. We knew going in this was going to be a challenging game. We have a lot of respect for what Coach Allen is doing. As we watched and prepared for it, I felt like (Indiana) was a really good team and I still feel that.
I thought our guys played and responded and made plays. Certainly, we didn't start the way we want with a turnover in the red zone. I thought our guys, particularly Alex, kept his poise and kept playing and takeaways were a big part of the game. I thought our defense did a heck of a job. Guys had to step up and step in and that was fun to see them make some big plays. They were resilient and I appreciate that. We want them to enjoy this one and then we have to move forward and find ways to get better.
In getting over slow starts…
I think the response is that they are confident and they know there is still football to be played. Today, we had a chance to have a good start by driving it down and JT had a couple big runs early, but we didn't finish. I think it's just important to keep playing and you do want to start better than we have been. You don't want to be behind the eight ball. But I think they do a nice job of focusing in on the moment. I think they have confidence in each other and know that it's a long game and you just have to continue to play no matter what happens.
On if slow starts will catch up with them…
I think it makes it harder to win. Any time you turn the ball over when you have an opportunity to get points. I think each game is different. We'd like to start fast and if we don't, we just have to figure out a way to keep plugging and play.
Nov. 4, 2017
Postgame Quotes
Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
COACH ALLEN: I'd like to start by saying it's a simple football game, but if you play, it's about protecting the football and creating takeaways. And you saw -- you play a high-caliber team like Wisconsin, when you play them straight up and it's even on takeaways and it was an even situation. We fumbled the football, and they go in and score.
Late in the second half, we get a chance -- we get the ball on the ground; we think we recovered, but we didn't. They get the ball, they drive on that. It was a seven-point game at the time. We had a chance to get the fumble and we didn't. Later in the half we get another fumble down by seven. Again, we get those fumbles, changes everything. We throw two picks, they go down and they score.
To me, we played a great football team today, but when you're minus in the takeaway ratio you're not going to win. To me, that's what it came down to. We didn't run the football well enough. That's for sure. We didn't stop the run well enough, for sure. But for me, it was all about takeaways than anything, and that's all I've got to say about that.
Q. At the end of the first half, you had three timeouts left with about two minutes to go. What was your thinking there?
COACH ALLEN: I wanted to protect the football because I understand how in the history of -- we were down by four and I felt like we obviously, when you talk about the time that's left there, we were on defense and they are going to punt the football, and they pinned us down, which I figured they would do.
So most of their kicks we were having to fair catch, so the bottom line was we were going to get the ball with about a minute or so to go, and I wasn't going to take the chance to turn the football over. At that point, it's totally me saying we're in a 4-point situation, I like where we are, and I didn't want to have a chance for them to get any momentum going into the half.
Q. After the Ellison fumble, what was the explanation from the official?
COACH ALLEN: The big thing was a whistle was blown. That became the issue, but apparently they said it wasn't blown. So that's all I was told. That's all I know.
Q. There was a flag after that, did they explain what that was for?
COACH ALLEN: They said somebody from our sideline was a little upset. So I wasn't even told who. So I don't know.
Q. How did you think Richard Lagow did?
COACH ALLEN: You know, he did some good things but he didn't protect the football. So that's really what it comes down to. But, yeah, he did some good things for sure. But it's about protecting the football. That's really -- it's just a huge, you can go back to all the stats -- gotta protect the football.
Q. How much do you think fatigue played a factor for your defense being out there so long?
COACH ALLEN: I'm sure it did. You know, they were kind of large, you know. So lean on your for a while, it takes its toll. And we're not very deep right now.
So but I thought our guys they fought. It just was they lean on you, they lean on you. They're just big, big men for sure, a lot of them. So that definitely took its toll.
Q. The schedule lightens up, even though it's still Big Ten football teams, these are not top 5 teams coming up, after four losses, how do you keep your team up, because it's a win-or-go-home for a bowl game at this point?
COACH ALLEN: It is. I think, you know, it's going to take a lot of leadership, both on the coaching staff and from our team, which I like the leadership on our team and I love our coaches.
So I feel good about us getting our guys in the right mindset. We just gotta physically get ourselves healed up so we can have a strong finish. But, yeah, it's definitely a tough mental battle that you find yourself in. But you know, that's really kind of -- as we have all experienced in life, sometimes life is not fair. Sometimes things happen, but you've got to learn to really fight through as a man, as a leader of your home.
So I think it's a great precursor to their future. So we're going to teach them about life. And I believe they're going to finish really well. And I think this team will be remembered as a team that played a very, very difficult schedule but finished well.
Q. What do you feel are three or four things you guys really need to do here to get the offense going in these final three games?
COACH ALLEN: First of all, you've got to run the football. And we have to be in the position where, if you can't just run it straight up, you've got to be able to set it up different ways. So wanted to be able to set it up from throwing the football to being able to run off the passing game, and wasn't able to get that done.
We had several sacks. That took away from some of our yards. But the ability to schematically run the football, and if they're going to overload the box, obviously make them pay in the perimeter. We just weren't able to take advantage of that.
The penalties were costly at times to kill some drives; but against a team like this, they're going to make running the ball tough. So you really have to throw it well, and we didn't throw it well enough, nor did we protect it when we were throwing it.
But to me that still goes back to turning the ball over. But we've got to run the football is to me number one. And number two, for us, is doing a better job of creating takeaways on defense. I keep saying it. At least we got the ball out today. Now we've got to come up with it.
So those things to me are going to be key factors in the next couple of weeks.
Indiana Player Quotes
Fifth-Year Senior Richard Lagow
On today's game…
I think today's going to make us look in the mirror a little bit with our costly penalties and turnovers. It wasn't so much about what they were doing on defense; rather, we were shooting ourselves in the foot.
Football is a hard game, stuff happens, not everyone is out there trying their absolute hardest to win every Saturday. That's part of football, it happens and we'll try to learn from it.
On looking ahead to the next three games and sticking together as a team…
It's extremely important, and it starts with the seniors on the team. We understand that we have three games left that are guaranteed. We're trying to get everyone rallied up and ready to make this run.
On getting the start today…
I felt pretty good at first, I didn't feel rusty or anything. I felt comfortable back there. As the game went on, there were some plays you wish that you could do over again, but for the most part I felt pretty good.
Fifth-Year Senior Chase Dutra
On stopping the run...
They were able to reach some of our backers and we misfit a couple of the runs obviously right out of the gate, the first one was a misfit. We had to buckle down and it was a tough day on the run game. We are going to have to watch film and learn how to correct that.
On the key games coming up...
I was telling on the radio, these next three weeks, I only want dogs by my side. If you're not coming in every single day to get better and get better every single day that you're here for the next three weeks, I don't want you to even come into the facility. I need some people who are coming out here and giving it all they got. I'm not saying anything. I know I already have those dudes right now. But I know if you're not playing or if you're hurt, if you're not coming in to make this team better I don't want you coming into he facility. Period.
Senior Tegray Scales
On what makes Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor so difficult to stop…
He's a tough runner. He doesn't go down on the first contact. He just keeps his legs moving. He's a bigger back that we've faced this year so we had to do a better job of wrapping up. I also have to look at myself in the mirror. I missed quite a few tackles today. He's just a bigger back that doesn't go down on the first contact.
On his first-quarter interception in the end zone…
We just had a blow up. They drove the whole field down there and I think somebody hit him or it was a tip pass, I don't even know and I just had to make a play on the ball.
On moving forward with the next three games…
Pretty much like you said, we know what we have to do and we know what position we're in. We're up for the challenge. Things in the Big Ten right now, things aren't going our way, so we just need to bounce back and be ready to compete.
On Wisconsin's drives late in the game…
It was frustrating. We can't give a team like this those types of breaks and try to come back, so it was very frustrating. We didn't make the plays at the point of attack and they did. We just put ourselves in a hole that we couldn't get back from.
Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Opening Statement
I was really proud of the way the guys played and competed. We knew going in this was going to be a challenging game. We have a lot of respect for what Coach Allen is doing. As we watched and prepared for it, I felt like (Indiana) was a really good team and I still feel that.
I thought our guys played and responded and made plays. Certainly, we didn't start the way we want with a turnover in the red zone. I thought our guys, particularly Alex, kept his poise and kept playing and takeaways were a big part of the game. I thought our defense did a heck of a job. Guys had to step up and step in and that was fun to see them make some big plays. They were resilient and I appreciate that. We want them to enjoy this one and then we have to move forward and find ways to get better.
In getting over slow starts…
I think the response is that they are confident and they know there is still football to be played. Today, we had a chance to have a good start by driving it down and JT had a couple big runs early, but we didn't finish. I think it's just important to keep playing and you do want to start better than we have been. You don't want to be behind the eight ball. But I think they do a nice job of focusing in on the moment. I think they have confidence in each other and know that it's a long game and you just have to continue to play no matter what happens.
On if slow starts will catch up with them…
I think it makes it harder to win. Any time you turn the ball over when you have an opportunity to get points. I think each game is different. We'd like to start fast and if we don't, we just have to figure out a way to keep plugging and play.
Players Mentioned
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