Indiana University Athletics
Crimson Ready to Answer The Bell
4/12/2017 5:19:00 PM | Football
By: Ben Segelbaum
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Led by assistant defensive coordinator Mark Hagen, Team Crimson is ready for tomorrow's Cream & Crimson game at Memorial Stadium.
"We started off with our top two free agents," Hagen said. "We targeted Ian Thomas on offense because we think he's a matchup problem. Not to take anything away from the other guys, but he's a difference-maker. Certainly, Marcelino Ball for the same reason. We felt he stands out as a defensive guy. Lot of good players out there. We started off with our top two targets and from there we just wanted to build a football team. I deferred to Coach Hiller and Coach Heard when it came time for an offensive pick. Coach Shelby and I were the brain trust on defense. We just went through and tried to build a football team. I love our team, love our team from top to bottom. There are some spots deeper than others but across the board we have a very solid Crimson football team."
With its first pick, Crimson went with linebacker Tegray Scales, an All-American last year. After the addition of a few more starting defensive players, Hagen liked where his team was going.
"I love our defensive roster," Hagen said. "I don't see any holes. I see a lot of guys that have played winning football on our side of the ball, on the D. I love our leadership with Tegray Scales, Rashard Fant and Marcelino Ball. It's a great trio to start with. You throw in Greg Gooch and a Jacob Robinson up front and fill in the pieces around him. You have an A'Shon Riggins out there. When you split your roster up in the spring, you aren't going to have the depth, but we love our chances on Thursday night."
Although the coaches were making the decisions, the players were having just as much fun being a part of the festivities.
"I like how they set it up with the whole draft, free agency and the perks that come with it. It was a fun experience," Ball said. "I feel everywhere we are stronger. D-line, secondary, linebackers, quarterback, o-line, running backs, we are stronger everywhere. We are going to blow them out."
Trash talk and joking aside, at the end of the day, the Hoosiers agree it's all about getting better and competing.
"It's always going to be a competition," Thomas said. "Everything was tough in the beginning, everybody going against each other but easing up at the end. It's really still a competition for the game."
With head coach Tom Allen, competing and having fun have intertwined this spring with the end result hopefully being a successful Cream & Crimson Game.
"I think any time you do this to finish up spring drills, it adds a competitive opponent to things," Hagen said. "It's not just going offensive versus defense, which we've done for three-and-a-half, four weeks. It's putting a nice twist on the game and they are playing for steak versus beans and hot dogs. There's a nice meal riding on it, good back and forth banter, a little bit of trash talk. When it's all said and done, we want to walk off the field healthy, shake hands and make it a good, competitive night."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Led by assistant defensive coordinator Mark Hagen, Team Crimson is ready for tomorrow's Cream & Crimson game at Memorial Stadium.
"We started off with our top two free agents," Hagen said. "We targeted Ian Thomas on offense because we think he's a matchup problem. Not to take anything away from the other guys, but he's a difference-maker. Certainly, Marcelino Ball for the same reason. We felt he stands out as a defensive guy. Lot of good players out there. We started off with our top two targets and from there we just wanted to build a football team. I deferred to Coach Hiller and Coach Heard when it came time for an offensive pick. Coach Shelby and I were the brain trust on defense. We just went through and tried to build a football team. I love our team, love our team from top to bottom. There are some spots deeper than others but across the board we have a very solid Crimson football team."
With its first pick, Crimson went with linebacker Tegray Scales, an All-American last year. After the addition of a few more starting defensive players, Hagen liked where his team was going.
"I love our defensive roster," Hagen said. "I don't see any holes. I see a lot of guys that have played winning football on our side of the ball, on the D. I love our leadership with Tegray Scales, Rashard Fant and Marcelino Ball. It's a great trio to start with. You throw in Greg Gooch and a Jacob Robinson up front and fill in the pieces around him. You have an A'Shon Riggins out there. When you split your roster up in the spring, you aren't going to have the depth, but we love our chances on Thursday night."
Although the coaches were making the decisions, the players were having just as much fun being a part of the festivities.
"I like how they set it up with the whole draft, free agency and the perks that come with it. It was a fun experience," Ball said. "I feel everywhere we are stronger. D-line, secondary, linebackers, quarterback, o-line, running backs, we are stronger everywhere. We are going to blow them out."
Trash talk and joking aside, at the end of the day, the Hoosiers agree it's all about getting better and competing.
"It's always going to be a competition," Thomas said. "Everything was tough in the beginning, everybody going against each other but easing up at the end. It's really still a competition for the game."
With head coach Tom Allen, competing and having fun have intertwined this spring with the end result hopefully being a successful Cream & Crimson Game.
"I think any time you do this to finish up spring drills, it adds a competitive opponent to things," Hagen said. "It's not just going offensive versus defense, which we've done for three-and-a-half, four weeks. It's putting a nice twist on the game and they are playing for steak versus beans and hot dogs. There's a nice meal riding on it, good back and forth banter, a little bit of trash talk. When it's all said and done, we want to walk off the field healthy, shake hands and make it a good, competitive night."
Players Mentioned
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