Indiana University Athletics
GRAHAM NOTEBOOK: Bouncing Back and Building for a Better Day
10/22/2018 8:50:00 PM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Reakwon Jones was on the phone and heard the screaming.
A tree came crashing down onto his family's house in Lynn Haven, Fla., as monstrous Hurricane Michael raged onshore Oct. 10.
"All the cell towers were down … the only phone service that worked was MetroPCS, so I was able to call my stepdad," Jones, Indiana's standout redshirt junior linebacker, recalled during Monday in Bloomington. "While everything was going on, I would
call them every few hours to check in and see how they're doing.
"While I was on the phone, a tree … fell on the house … and I heard everyone scream. It broke my heart because I couldn't be there and then just hearing them go through that ... my mom told me that my little sister was crying the whole time."
Michael was the strongest storm on record to ever hit the Florida panhandle. Its 155 mile-per-hour peak winds ranked fourth among all hurricanes to ever hit the continental United States. It slammed into short between Panama City and Mexico Beach with record storm-surge.
Heading into this week, Michael's death toll stood at 36, with expectations it would continue to rise.
Jones' family members survived. Their homes did not.
"The hurricane pretty much destroyed the whole city," Jones said. "I think five schools are completely gone. My mom's house is gone. All our clothes and stuff that was in the house … gone.
"My father's house got destroyed completely. I still haven't been able to talk to him because there's not much service or anything in the city, so it's hard to talk. My nephew is still there and the looting, the civil (unrest) ... it's getting bad. I've been praying and trying to find out how to keep up with people and how to help from up here."
Jones, 725 miles away when the storm hit, was unable to help beyond trying to find comforting and supportive words to say whenever the spotty phone service allowed.
"At first, I felt helpless," he said. "I felt really down, because everybody wants to be there with their family or friends when they're going through something tough. To actually hear the pain in their voice when I was talking to them, it hurt.
"But my mom (Tanya Mitchell Broxton) is really strong and she encouraged me, no matter what, if I'm OK, then she'd be OK. That helped me, too, to just be able to go through the day and take my focus off that for a little bit and focus on things up here."
Jones had a football game to play.
He dedicated his play that Homecoming day to his family and his city. But the game against Iowa did not go well. Tears came afterward.
"It was really emotional for me," Jones said. "I went out there and wanted to win that game for my city … I wanted to play as hard as I could for my city. I felt like I went out there and played as hard as I could. I did everything in my power.
"Then just to see the results in that game, it broke my heart. I broke down after the game. It was just tough. Coach Kane (Wommack, the Hoosiers' linebackers coach) and the support staff here really helped me get through it after the game and continue to help me. It was just great to see that the coaches are there for me and care for me and (that they) tried to figure out how to help me get through this."
Jones expressed his appreciation to his teammates and the broader IU staff, too, all of whom checked in with him and began working on ways to help. Mike Doig and player development director Mike Pechac looked to see if Jones' family had the
wherewithal to drive up for last Saturday's Penn State game.
"We were working all week to figure a way to get them up here," Jones said. "I really needed it and they really needed it, too, just to get away and be able to lay eyes on each other and let each other know that everything was going to be OK."
They laid eyes on each other during The Walk, the traditional passage of the team through fans past Assembly Hall, before the Penn State game.
There they were. His mother. His sister T'yana. His brother Omari. His stepdad Marcus.
"I got to see them at The Walk, which was extremely emotional," Jones said. "I just couldn't believe that they were there. My mom's only been up here one other time. It was when she dropped me off for college. So she hasn't been to Bloomington since then. My brother, my sister and my stepdad have never been here.
"Just to see them in person, in Indiana, was crazy. I knew they were coming, but at the same time I couldn't believe that they were here. I was extremely happy. I felt the same again. I was smiling. It was just a great all-around feeling just to have them here to support me, then I support them."
The Hoosiers sustained another setback on the field, though this time the game was more spirited and competitive from the IU perspective, and the aftermath for Jones was also different than the previous week.
"After the game, I got to hang out with them," Jones said. "They stayed with me because they couldn't afford to stay anywhere else. They stayed with me in my little one-bedroom with my two dogs. We made it work.
"We packed up in there, hung out and had fun, caught up, talked and shared feelings. It was just great. It was really good for me. It's really hard to focus, when you haven't seen your family in forever. Then something like that happens and I was able to see them and lay eyes on them to see that they were physically OK.
"They were excited to see me. My little brother and sister did not want to leave. They were fighting all day yesterday trying to stay longer, the whole week. But it is what it is. My stepdad (needed) to get back to work."
And now Jones has worked a way he can help from afar.
After clearing things with compliance, Jones was able to start a GoFundMe page for his family (who aside from Jones and Mitchell have the surname Broxton) and extended family who lost virtually everything in the storm. The public, including IU students and staff, are allowed to donate.
"I'm not looking for no big donors," Jones said. "Whatever someone can donate. We're grateful for anything that happens.
"We're just trying to find a way to restart and build on and move on in life and put this in the past. No one wants to hang on to this forever."
Here is the donation link, under the name of Jones' mom:
Jones is now preparing for Indiana's game Friday night at Minnesota and knows his family, even amidst a tragic natural disaster, remains strong.
"I know they're strong and they're going to get through things without me," he said. "They can and they did."
INJURY SIDELINES PENIX FOR THE SEASON
Adding to the pain of Indiana's 33-28 defeat Saturday to No. 18 Penn State was the loss of true freshman quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to an ACL knee injury during the third quarter.
"It's very upsetting," IU quarterbacking colleague Peyton Ramsey said Monday of seeing Penix go down. "Just to see how far he's come along, especially since the spring, you know, it's hard. It's hard for anybody. So you know it's tough.
"People were there, consoling him. They're there for him. The team's there for him. I'm here for him. I hope he knows that, and I think he does."
Penix will have season-ending surgery but qualifies automatically for a redshirt season, having played just three games while the NCAA now allows participation in four games while retaining redshirt status.
"He'll have surgery here in a few weeks, once that's appropriate," Hoosier head coach Tom Allen said. "And then he'll begin the process of getting back and had a great talk with him yesterday. And I know he's hurting and discouraged and down, but it's one of those things you've got to deal with. He has a great mentor in J-Shun Harris (who has successfully resumed his career after three ACL surgeries) to help him through.
" … It is a very tough thing for him to have to go through and my heart breaks for him … a tough blow for us and tough blow for him, but it's part of this tough game that we play. So thoughts and prayers with him through his recovery and we'll move forward."
Allen hopes to see Penix back for non-contact, 7-on-7 work in the spring and then be full-go by next summer. "(We) set that as a target goal – ready to go June 1, 100 percent full-bore," Allen said. "These are not what anybody wants. He's never had one before.
"But his faith and his family and his strength of character and his mindset will help him through this. He'll be a better player, more mentally tough individual, and he'll have a confidence about his ability to overcome things when this is all said and done.
Not what he wants to hear right now. He's still struggling."
Penix didn't struggle all that much during his limited action this fall. He completed 21-of-34 passes (.618) for 219 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 45 yards (6.4), showcasing talent afoot to go with a strong arm.
"He played well," Allen acknowledged. "So, yep, he's a good quarterback. Even better kid. So I'm glad he's a Hoosier."
Allen added that Reese Taylor – Indiana's prep Mr. Football after quarterbacking Ben Davis to an unbeaten Class 6A state championship season in 2017 and, this fall, has contributed to both IU's offense and defense from multiple positions – will take on backup quarterback duties behind Ramsey.
("Had) already moved him there, got a lot of work there," Allen said of Taylor at QB. "So that will be part of it, and (we will) continue to utilize him and do whatever we have to do to win football games."
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Stevie Scott, who netted his third 100-yard rushing game of the season Saturday (138 yards and q TDs) was named Indiana's Offensive Player of the Game.
Only two other true freshmen in Hoosier history have had more 100-yard rushing games as rookies, Anthony Thompson (1986) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2003).
Scott's current national ranks among freshmen rushers are first in carries (141), second in yardage (695) and fourth in touchdowns (6).
"He continues to play at a high level," Allen said, "And the offensive line did a great job blocking for him."
Sophomore Husky back Marcelino Ball was named Defensive Player of the Game after posting a game-high seven solo tackles and co-game-high 10 total tackles versus PSU.
"He probably played his best football game of his career here, I believe," Allen said of Ball. "Excited for him and for his maturity and his growth. "
Chris Gajcak was Special Teams Player of the Week. Scout Team honorees were Joshua Brown and Jordan Jusevitch (defense), Johnny Pabst, Jacolby Hewitt and Luke Shayotovich (offense) and Shayotovich and Justin Berry (special teams).
SOME POSITIVE NUMBERS, TOO
Indiana finished second on the scoreboard Saturday, which obviously matters most. But there were still some positive statistical signs for the home team against the Nittany Lions, now ranked No. 17 nationally.
The 554 yards amassed by the Hoosier offense were the most allowed by PSU since the 575 Southern California put up in the Rose Bowl that followed the 2016 campaign. IU had 100 offensive snaps, just one shy of the program record, set twice.
Indiana now has 13 10-plus play scoring drives this year, which shares eighth nationally.
The IU defense ended PSU senior quarterback Trace McSorley's streak of 34 straight games of throwing at least one touchdown pass.
With an interception and a fumble recovery, the Hoosiers posted their fourth multiple-takeaway game through their 4-4 start this fall. Indiana leads the Big Ten and shares 11th nationally with 16 total takeaways. Freshmen have had a hand in 12 of those, including eight of the last nine.
FIE ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL FRIDAYS
IU heads to Minnesota for Friday's kickoff at 8 p.m. (ET), though Allen has reiterated his preference for leaving the Friday night lights to the high schools.
"I believe Friday nights are for high school football," Allen said. "And I stand by that very strongly.
"It's not my decision. We'll go play, be ready to play, whenever we're asked to play, whether it's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. I just like to protect that (Friday night) – and no matter what state it's in -- for those guys to be able to enjoy that night of the week."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Reakwon Jones was on the phone and heard the screaming.
A tree came crashing down onto his family's house in Lynn Haven, Fla., as monstrous Hurricane Michael raged onshore Oct. 10.
"All the cell towers were down … the only phone service that worked was MetroPCS, so I was able to call my stepdad," Jones, Indiana's standout redshirt junior linebacker, recalled during Monday in Bloomington. "While everything was going on, I would
call them every few hours to check in and see how they're doing.
"While I was on the phone, a tree … fell on the house … and I heard everyone scream. It broke my heart because I couldn't be there and then just hearing them go through that ... my mom told me that my little sister was crying the whole time."
Michael was the strongest storm on record to ever hit the Florida panhandle. Its 155 mile-per-hour peak winds ranked fourth among all hurricanes to ever hit the continental United States. It slammed into short between Panama City and Mexico Beach with record storm-surge.
Heading into this week, Michael's death toll stood at 36, with expectations it would continue to rise.
Jones' family members survived. Their homes did not.
"The hurricane pretty much destroyed the whole city," Jones said. "I think five schools are completely gone. My mom's house is gone. All our clothes and stuff that was in the house … gone.
"My father's house got destroyed completely. I still haven't been able to talk to him because there's not much service or anything in the city, so it's hard to talk. My nephew is still there and the looting, the civil (unrest) ... it's getting bad. I've been praying and trying to find out how to keep up with people and how to help from up here."
Jones, 725 miles away when the storm hit, was unable to help beyond trying to find comforting and supportive words to say whenever the spotty phone service allowed.
"At first, I felt helpless," he said. "I felt really down, because everybody wants to be there with their family or friends when they're going through something tough. To actually hear the pain in their voice when I was talking to them, it hurt.
"But my mom (Tanya Mitchell Broxton) is really strong and she encouraged me, no matter what, if I'm OK, then she'd be OK. That helped me, too, to just be able to go through the day and take my focus off that for a little bit and focus on things up here."
Jones had a football game to play.
He dedicated his play that Homecoming day to his family and his city. But the game against Iowa did not go well. Tears came afterward.
"It was really emotional for me," Jones said. "I went out there and wanted to win that game for my city … I wanted to play as hard as I could for my city. I felt like I went out there and played as hard as I could. I did everything in my power.
"Then just to see the results in that game, it broke my heart. I broke down after the game. It was just tough. Coach Kane (Wommack, the Hoosiers' linebackers coach) and the support staff here really helped me get through it after the game and continue to help me. It was just great to see that the coaches are there for me and care for me and (that they) tried to figure out how to help me get through this."
Jones expressed his appreciation to his teammates and the broader IU staff, too, all of whom checked in with him and began working on ways to help. Mike Doig and player development director Mike Pechac looked to see if Jones' family had the
wherewithal to drive up for last Saturday's Penn State game.
"We were working all week to figure a way to get them up here," Jones said. "I really needed it and they really needed it, too, just to get away and be able to lay eyes on each other and let each other know that everything was going to be OK."
They laid eyes on each other during The Walk, the traditional passage of the team through fans past Assembly Hall, before the Penn State game.
There they were. His mother. His sister T'yana. His brother Omari. His stepdad Marcus.
"I got to see them at The Walk, which was extremely emotional," Jones said. "I just couldn't believe that they were there. My mom's only been up here one other time. It was when she dropped me off for college. So she hasn't been to Bloomington since then. My brother, my sister and my stepdad have never been here.
"Just to see them in person, in Indiana, was crazy. I knew they were coming, but at the same time I couldn't believe that they were here. I was extremely happy. I felt the same again. I was smiling. It was just a great all-around feeling just to have them here to support me, then I support them."
The Hoosiers sustained another setback on the field, though this time the game was more spirited and competitive from the IU perspective, and the aftermath for Jones was also different than the previous week.
"After the game, I got to hang out with them," Jones said. "They stayed with me because they couldn't afford to stay anywhere else. They stayed with me in my little one-bedroom with my two dogs. We made it work.
"We packed up in there, hung out and had fun, caught up, talked and shared feelings. It was just great. It was really good for me. It's really hard to focus, when you haven't seen your family in forever. Then something like that happens and I was able to see them and lay eyes on them to see that they were physically OK.
"They were excited to see me. My little brother and sister did not want to leave. They were fighting all day yesterday trying to stay longer, the whole week. But it is what it is. My stepdad (needed) to get back to work."
And now Jones has worked a way he can help from afar.
After clearing things with compliance, Jones was able to start a GoFundMe page for his family (who aside from Jones and Mitchell have the surname Broxton) and extended family who lost virtually everything in the storm. The public, including IU students and staff, are allowed to donate.
"I'm not looking for no big donors," Jones said. "Whatever someone can donate. We're grateful for anything that happens.
"We're just trying to find a way to restart and build on and move on in life and put this in the past. No one wants to hang on to this forever."
Here is the donation link, under the name of Jones' mom:
"The hurricane pretty much destroyed the whole city."
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) October 22, 2018
Help @Jones_Reakwon's family get back on their feet: https://t.co/DJk6J1U9dD. pic.twitter.com/bPWnayNplg
Jones is now preparing for Indiana's game Friday night at Minnesota and knows his family, even amidst a tragic natural disaster, remains strong.
"I know they're strong and they're going to get through things without me," he said. "They can and they did."
INJURY SIDELINES PENIX FOR THE SEASON
Adding to the pain of Indiana's 33-28 defeat Saturday to No. 18 Penn State was the loss of true freshman quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to an ACL knee injury during the third quarter.
"It's very upsetting," IU quarterbacking colleague Peyton Ramsey said Monday of seeing Penix go down. "Just to see how far he's come along, especially since the spring, you know, it's hard. It's hard for anybody. So you know it's tough.
"People were there, consoling him. They're there for him. The team's there for him. I'm here for him. I hope he knows that, and I think he does."
Penix will have season-ending surgery but qualifies automatically for a redshirt season, having played just three games while the NCAA now allows participation in four games while retaining redshirt status.
"He'll have surgery here in a few weeks, once that's appropriate," Hoosier head coach Tom Allen said. "And then he'll begin the process of getting back and had a great talk with him yesterday. And I know he's hurting and discouraged and down, but it's one of those things you've got to deal with. He has a great mentor in J-Shun Harris (who has successfully resumed his career after three ACL surgeries) to help him through.
" … It is a very tough thing for him to have to go through and my heart breaks for him … a tough blow for us and tough blow for him, but it's part of this tough game that we play. So thoughts and prayers with him through his recovery and we'll move forward."
Allen hopes to see Penix back for non-contact, 7-on-7 work in the spring and then be full-go by next summer. "(We) set that as a target goal – ready to go June 1, 100 percent full-bore," Allen said. "These are not what anybody wants. He's never had one before.
"But his faith and his family and his strength of character and his mindset will help him through this. He'll be a better player, more mentally tough individual, and he'll have a confidence about his ability to overcome things when this is all said and done.
Not what he wants to hear right now. He's still struggling."
Penix didn't struggle all that much during his limited action this fall. He completed 21-of-34 passes (.618) for 219 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 45 yards (6.4), showcasing talent afoot to go with a strong arm.
"He played well," Allen acknowledged. "So, yep, he's a good quarterback. Even better kid. So I'm glad he's a Hoosier."
Allen added that Reese Taylor – Indiana's prep Mr. Football after quarterbacking Ben Davis to an unbeaten Class 6A state championship season in 2017 and, this fall, has contributed to both IU's offense and defense from multiple positions – will take on backup quarterback duties behind Ramsey.
("Had) already moved him there, got a lot of work there," Allen said of Taylor at QB. "So that will be part of it, and (we will) continue to utilize him and do whatever we have to do to win football games."
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Stevie Scott, who netted his third 100-yard rushing game of the season Saturday (138 yards and q TDs) was named Indiana's Offensive Player of the Game.
Only two other true freshmen in Hoosier history have had more 100-yard rushing games as rookies, Anthony Thompson (1986) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2003).
Scott's current national ranks among freshmen rushers are first in carries (141), second in yardage (695) and fourth in touchdowns (6).
"He continues to play at a high level," Allen said, "And the offensive line did a great job blocking for him."
Sophomore Husky back Marcelino Ball was named Defensive Player of the Game after posting a game-high seven solo tackles and co-game-high 10 total tackles versus PSU.
"He probably played his best football game of his career here, I believe," Allen said of Ball. "Excited for him and for his maturity and his growth. "
Chris Gajcak was Special Teams Player of the Week. Scout Team honorees were Joshua Brown and Jordan Jusevitch (defense), Johnny Pabst, Jacolby Hewitt and Luke Shayotovich (offense) and Shayotovich and Justin Berry (special teams).
SOME POSITIVE NUMBERS, TOO
Indiana finished second on the scoreboard Saturday, which obviously matters most. But there were still some positive statistical signs for the home team against the Nittany Lions, now ranked No. 17 nationally.
The 554 yards amassed by the Hoosier offense were the most allowed by PSU since the 575 Southern California put up in the Rose Bowl that followed the 2016 campaign. IU had 100 offensive snaps, just one shy of the program record, set twice.
Indiana now has 13 10-plus play scoring drives this year, which shares eighth nationally.
The IU defense ended PSU senior quarterback Trace McSorley's streak of 34 straight games of throwing at least one touchdown pass.
With an interception and a fumble recovery, the Hoosiers posted their fourth multiple-takeaway game through their 4-4 start this fall. Indiana leads the Big Ten and shares 11th nationally with 16 total takeaways. Freshmen have had a hand in 12 of those, including eight of the last nine.
FIE ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL FRIDAYS
IU heads to Minnesota for Friday's kickoff at 8 p.m. (ET), though Allen has reiterated his preference for leaving the Friday night lights to the high schools.
"I believe Friday nights are for high school football," Allen said. "And I stand by that very strongly.
"It's not my decision. We'll go play, be ready to play, whenever we're asked to play, whether it's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. I just like to protect that (Friday night) – and no matter what state it's in -- for those guys to be able to enjoy that night of the week."
Players Mentioned
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