GRAHAM NOTEBOOK: Used to Managing
8/28/2018 8:39:00 PM | Football
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Matt Stauder is a manager in more ways than one.
Stauder, a senior from Westfield majoring in sport management and marketing, has served as an IU football manager for three years now.
He's also had to personally manage while helping his family deal with the sudden loss of his father to a heart attack last season.
And then came his own cancer diagnosis for Hodgkin's Lymphoma last April.
But he's managing that, too.
Stauder met with the media Tuesday after having completed his ninth treatment Monday at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis.
And after having completed his football duties at practice. Stauder hasn't missed a single practice session when there wasn't a direct conflict with a treatment appointment.
Stauder could share some encouraging news following Tuesday's practice.
"The CT scans came back and said that the tumor site has decreased by two-thirds," Stauder said. "So I just have one-third to eliminate. I have three more treatments left after yesterday. So hopefully that does the job.
"I'm feeling absolutely great, to be honest. Even at practice, I feel great. Throughout this entire treatment process, I haven't experienced any symptoms, really. I've been feeling just like my normal self. Actually, I've put on about 20 pounds, which is hard to believe."
Hoosier head coach Tom Allen, a believer, was asked about his team's response to Stauder's situation during Tuesday's weekly Big Ten coaches' teleconference.
"Boy, it's been heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time," Allen said. "Heartwarming from the perspective of he's such an awesome young man and it's neat to see our players come to his support. Ricky Brookins has kind of been the leader of the group with all of that, but it's not just been Ricky. It's been everybody. They love him because he loves this program and he's so unselfish.
"It's heartwrenching because you know he's a young man that's battling cancer and has a tough road ahead of him, but he's so resilient. When you're trying to teach things that matter way bigger than football, it's great to see your young men step up and show that they're listening, No. 1, and they care about others, No. 2. They don't just talk about it, they do it."
Brookins was looking to help and, at the suggestion of IU running backs coach Mike Hart, spearheaded a GoFundMe page for Stauder (https://www.gofundme.com/MattStauder) that had raised just over $24,000 as of Tuesday evening to help defray expenses.
Stauder and Brookins are neighbors and pals.
"Past few weeks, we've been hanging out every day basically, sitting on his porch, talking about whatever, playing XBOX and stuff," Brookins said. "I try not to talk about treatments too much because he's already positive about that and it's going well, so let's just go on with life as normal and be buds.
"He's here (at football) every day. A few weeks ago, I think he had two types of treatments and showed up to practice in the same day. We were like, 'He's dedicated.' It's like we want you to rest, but if he's enjoying it and loving being out there, let him do his thing.
"I think it's crazy how he never felt bad for himself or wanted sympathy from anybody. He just acted like, 'Yeah, I'm going through something, but I'm still here. Nothing's really changed about me.' I think that shows what type of person he is. Because I don't know how I would react in a situation like that. I'd probably feel down and not want to show up a couple days. Someone like him inspires a lot of people."
Stauder is inspired by and grateful for the support he's received.
"My mom knows the exact cost on it, but she has told me (the GoFundMe) has helped tremendously," Stauder said. "We cannot be more thankful for everybody and anybody that has ever donated to my page. We're still overwhelmed about the numbers that were produced.
"Ricky's an amazing guy. He went out of his way to set up a GoFundMe for me and my cause. He would be texting me like, 'Dude, we're at this much money already.' I was like, 'Oh, my gosh!'
He kept telling me he had to raise the max amount on the GoFundMe because we just kept on exceeding it."
And the least Stauder could do in response, he felt, was keep doing his job for IU football and showing up every day he possibly could.
"Just what everybody has done for me at this program," he said of his reasoning for that. "From coaches to players to administrators, just reaching out to me and showing their support. I just wanted to get out here and show my gratitude and pay homage back to them.
"… (And Ricky is) definitely one of my closest friends on the team, to say the least. He's actually a neighbor of mine, so we've become pretty close. It's special."
Special.
That would also seem to describe Matt Stauder.
BE OUR GEST
Hart stood 5-foot-9 and played at around 205 pounds while amassing Michigan's career rushing record of 5,040 yards.
It wasn't only hard to tackle him. It was hard, sometimes, to find him.
"He would get lost behind linemen," recalled Mike DeBord, Indiana's offensive coordinator who had that same role at Michigan during Hart's playing days. "Then all of a sudden, you'd see him take off and go."
Cole Gest is slated to take the field Saturday night at Florida International as Indiana's starting tailback, listed at 5-8 and 194 pounds.
And DeBord is starting to see some similarities between Gest and current IU running backs coach Hart.
"Cole's a lot like that," DeBord said when meeting the media Monday. "Similar size, that way, and he gets lost back there. All of a sudden, they can't see him and, bam, he's breaking through."
And when Gest is breaking through these days, he's tending to take it to the house.
"Cole has really improved his speed from last year," DeBord said. "I think that's where his biggest improvement has come from. He's more of a play-maker, now. What I mean by that is that when he breaks through, he has a chance to go.
"(Gest has) got very good power, great speed. He's improved that a lot. Good quickness. Very smart player."
Gest has felt the increased speed – orchestrated through work with IU athletic performance coaches David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea – on the field during fall camp.
"Something that has always been unique to me, and which I believe that is really God-given, is my burst," Gest said of his ability to accelerate quickly. "That's easy to see. But last year compared to this year (the difference is) just being able to get out in the open and then have that breakaway speed.
"I might not have had last year. Whereas, this year, it's going to be pretty tough to touch me (from behind). That's an awesome feeling."
"In practice the other day when I had a long touchdown run, I broke another PR (personal record) and got to 22.7 (miles-per-hour). This summer I had 22.5. It's crazy to see me break it again.
So let's just keep going."
Going into 2018, Gest has carried 103 times for 475 yards (4.6 average gain) and has posted both rushing and receiving TDs while mainly in a reserve role for the Hoosiers.
That role has altered now, especially in the wake of sophomore Morgan Ellison's current indefinite suspension. Gest, who led Lakewood (Ohio) to a pair of state championships, isn't about to shy away from more responsibility.
"Yeah, obviously, without Morgan being here, it's a lot more on me," Gest said. "People are looking to me now. It's something I've always wanted, but with it comes more pressure. At the end of the day, I never fold under pressure.
"I will be ready. And I will not fail. Mark my words."
Another reason for Gest's confidence is that he's seeing healthy holes created by a healthier and stronger IU offensive line this year.
"I think the biggest thing is strength," Gest said of differences he sees in the line. "I think the holes are a lot more easy to see. Credit to Coach Ballou and (Dr.) Rhea for doing such a good job in the offseason.
"All around, they just look stronger. And down in the trenches, strength is the most important thing. I think that's why the holes are easier to see. Reading it is easier. Props to them for that. It's going to be a big year."
Gest is also glad he'll have help toting the ball from seniors Mike Majette and Brookins, redshirt freshman Craig Nelson, true freshmen Stevie Scott and Ronnie Walker Jr., and potentially others.
Scott had some injury issues in fall camp but impressed, anyhow, and is full go now. He packs punch in his 6-2, 236-pound physique.
"Obviously, we have the two older guys in Majette and Brookins who are so experienced and well-rounded," Gest said. "That definitely helps. And Stevie is just a big bulldozer back.
"(Scott) is going to be really good. Freshman, a little young, still learning stuff, but I think he will have some pretty good games this year. I think he could be a supplement to Morgan, kind of a big back to get those harder yards down near the goal line. Having him here and healthy helps a lot."
And it also helps, at times, when opposing defenders can't find you.
"A lot of the guys on defense will be going, 'You're so quick, but we can't even see you sometimes, and that makes it even harder for us.'" Gest said about what he hears in practice. "So I guess it works to my advantage.
"For that position, it really doesn't matter (if you're not particularly big). Coach Hart was a smaller back. Just run hard, man, and leave it up to your skills to do the rest."
TRENCH WARFARE, BUT FEWER CASUALTIES
The staff and players know IU must run the football better and more consistently than it did last season, when the Hoosiers were 12th among Big Ten teams in rushing offense.
"It's a mindset," Majette said. "Running the ball is a mindset. Soon as we come out in the game, we need to start running the ball and push forward. That way we can establish that dominating mindset.
"It starts up front."
Ballou, as a former IU fullback, has an abiding appreciation for the importance of line play and focused on that when he arrived as Director of Athletic Performance in January.
DeBord likes the results of that emphasis.
"Unbelievable, the change from around Jan. 1 on," DeBord said of the line. "On the offensive line, you see guys who are stronger right now. And they're more physical because of their strength.
They move better.
"That's been a big plus ... just being able to be more physical coming off the ball, playing with better leverage and finishing blocks. Right now, that unit is playing very well and we need them to do that Saturday night."
And, right now, it is a healthy unit.
Majette missed seven full games due to injury last fall and the offensive line was consistently afflicted with injuries, too.
But DeBord noted that since the advent of Ballou and Rhea, IU has thus far almost totally avoided the sort injuries often chronic in fall camp.
"Something that has gone a little unnoticed is that, a lot of times when you go through training camp, you have a lot of what they call 'soft tissue' injuries," DeBord said. "And I think we have one right now."
Hoosier head coach Tom Allen has noted the same thing appreciatively.
"Offensive line is getting push in the run game (and) being able to have a consistent group of guys working together there that we didn't have in the past," Allen said. "So those things I think have helped those guys feel more confident going into week one and feeling good about their execution."
Allen likes what he's seeing from a deep defensive line, too.
"Love that group," Allen said. "(Senior tackle) Jacob Robinson has elevated his leadership. Obviously been here for a long time. I love the way he owns the defense on the field, how hard we practice, how we run to the football, getting the guys together, getting their mindset right. He's a key.
(Redshirt junior end) Gavin Everett is so solid in there, been a huge addition to be able to be a guy you can count on his ability to produce. (Junior end) Allen Stallings IV is another one that's really grown and developed this offseason, his physical strength, stamina.
"On and on. (Redshirt sophomore tackle) Jerome Johnson has continued to develop. He's got to be a play-maker back. (Fifth-year senior tackle) Ja'merez Bowen is another guy I've been encouraged with his growth. I'm anxious to see those guys play. We're going to count on them, rotate them, play a bunch of them. I didn't even mention some of the guys.
"Freshmen are going to play. Just really it's going to be by committee. That's how we've done it at that position the last two years since I've been here. Not going to be any different."
And IU heads into Saturday night hoping to play along the line of scrimmage in a manner befitting a Big Ten team.
"You start on both sides of the ball, big men lead the way," Allen said.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Matt Stauder is a manager in more ways than one.
Stauder, a senior from Westfield majoring in sport management and marketing, has served as an IU football manager for three years now.
He's also had to personally manage while helping his family deal with the sudden loss of his father to a heart attack last season.
And then came his own cancer diagnosis for Hodgkin's Lymphoma last April.
But he's managing that, too.
Stauder met with the media Tuesday after having completed his ninth treatment Monday at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis.
And after having completed his football duties at practice. Stauder hasn't missed a single practice session when there wasn't a direct conflict with a treatment appointment.
Stauder could share some encouraging news following Tuesday's practice.
"The CT scans came back and said that the tumor site has decreased by two-thirds," Stauder said. "So I just have one-third to eliminate. I have three more treatments left after yesterday. So hopefully that does the job.
"I'm feeling absolutely great, to be honest. Even at practice, I feel great. Throughout this entire treatment process, I haven't experienced any symptoms, really. I've been feeling just like my normal self. Actually, I've put on about 20 pounds, which is hard to believe."
Hoosier head coach Tom Allen, a believer, was asked about his team's response to Stauder's situation during Tuesday's weekly Big Ten coaches' teleconference.
"Boy, it's been heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time," Allen said. "Heartwarming from the perspective of he's such an awesome young man and it's neat to see our players come to his support. Ricky Brookins has kind of been the leader of the group with all of that, but it's not just been Ricky. It's been everybody. They love him because he loves this program and he's so unselfish.
"It's heartwrenching because you know he's a young man that's battling cancer and has a tough road ahead of him, but he's so resilient. When you're trying to teach things that matter way bigger than football, it's great to see your young men step up and show that they're listening, No. 1, and they care about others, No. 2. They don't just talk about it, they do it."
Brookins was looking to help and, at the suggestion of IU running backs coach Mike Hart, spearheaded a GoFundMe page for Stauder (https://www.gofundme.com/MattStauder) that had raised just over $24,000 as of Tuesday evening to help defray expenses.
Stauder and Brookins are neighbors and pals.
"Past few weeks, we've been hanging out every day basically, sitting on his porch, talking about whatever, playing XBOX and stuff," Brookins said. "I try not to talk about treatments too much because he's already positive about that and it's going well, so let's just go on with life as normal and be buds.
"He's here (at football) every day. A few weeks ago, I think he had two types of treatments and showed up to practice in the same day. We were like, 'He's dedicated.' It's like we want you to rest, but if he's enjoying it and loving being out there, let him do his thing.
"I think it's crazy how he never felt bad for himself or wanted sympathy from anybody. He just acted like, 'Yeah, I'm going through something, but I'm still here. Nothing's really changed about me.' I think that shows what type of person he is. Because I don't know how I would react in a situation like that. I'd probably feel down and not want to show up a couple days. Someone like him inspires a lot of people."
Stauder is inspired by and grateful for the support he's received.
"My mom knows the exact cost on it, but she has told me (the GoFundMe) has helped tremendously," Stauder said. "We cannot be more thankful for everybody and anybody that has ever donated to my page. We're still overwhelmed about the numbers that were produced.
"Ricky's an amazing guy. He went out of his way to set up a GoFundMe for me and my cause. He would be texting me like, 'Dude, we're at this much money already.' I was like, 'Oh, my gosh!'
He kept telling me he had to raise the max amount on the GoFundMe because we just kept on exceeding it."
And the least Stauder could do in response, he felt, was keep doing his job for IU football and showing up every day he possibly could.
"Just what everybody has done for me at this program," he said of his reasoning for that. "From coaches to players to administrators, just reaching out to me and showing their support. I just wanted to get out here and show my gratitude and pay homage back to them.
"… (And Ricky is) definitely one of my closest friends on the team, to say the least. He's actually a neighbor of mine, so we've become pretty close. It's special."
Special.
That would also seem to describe Matt Stauder.
BE OUR GEST
Hart stood 5-foot-9 and played at around 205 pounds while amassing Michigan's career rushing record of 5,040 yards.
It wasn't only hard to tackle him. It was hard, sometimes, to find him.
"He would get lost behind linemen," recalled Mike DeBord, Indiana's offensive coordinator who had that same role at Michigan during Hart's playing days. "Then all of a sudden, you'd see him take off and go."
Cole Gest is slated to take the field Saturday night at Florida International as Indiana's starting tailback, listed at 5-8 and 194 pounds.
And DeBord is starting to see some similarities between Gest and current IU running backs coach Hart.
"Cole's a lot like that," DeBord said when meeting the media Monday. "Similar size, that way, and he gets lost back there. All of a sudden, they can't see him and, bam, he's breaking through."
And when Gest is breaking through these days, he's tending to take it to the house.
"Cole has really improved his speed from last year," DeBord said. "I think that's where his biggest improvement has come from. He's more of a play-maker, now. What I mean by that is that when he breaks through, he has a chance to go.
"(Gest has) got very good power, great speed. He's improved that a lot. Good quickness. Very smart player."
Gest has felt the increased speed – orchestrated through work with IU athletic performance coaches David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea – on the field during fall camp.
"Something that has always been unique to me, and which I believe that is really God-given, is my burst," Gest said of his ability to accelerate quickly. "That's easy to see. But last year compared to this year (the difference is) just being able to get out in the open and then have that breakaway speed.
"I might not have had last year. Whereas, this year, it's going to be pretty tough to touch me (from behind). That's an awesome feeling."
"In practice the other day when I had a long touchdown run, I broke another PR (personal record) and got to 22.7 (miles-per-hour). This summer I had 22.5. It's crazy to see me break it again.
So let's just keep going."
Going into 2018, Gest has carried 103 times for 475 yards (4.6 average gain) and has posted both rushing and receiving TDs while mainly in a reserve role for the Hoosiers.
That role has altered now, especially in the wake of sophomore Morgan Ellison's current indefinite suspension. Gest, who led Lakewood (Ohio) to a pair of state championships, isn't about to shy away from more responsibility.
"Yeah, obviously, without Morgan being here, it's a lot more on me," Gest said. "People are looking to me now. It's something I've always wanted, but with it comes more pressure. At the end of the day, I never fold under pressure.
"I will be ready. And I will not fail. Mark my words."
Another reason for Gest's confidence is that he's seeing healthy holes created by a healthier and stronger IU offensive line this year.
"I think the biggest thing is strength," Gest said of differences he sees in the line. "I think the holes are a lot more easy to see. Credit to Coach Ballou and (Dr.) Rhea for doing such a good job in the offseason.
"All around, they just look stronger. And down in the trenches, strength is the most important thing. I think that's why the holes are easier to see. Reading it is easier. Props to them for that. It's going to be a big year."
Gest is also glad he'll have help toting the ball from seniors Mike Majette and Brookins, redshirt freshman Craig Nelson, true freshmen Stevie Scott and Ronnie Walker Jr., and potentially others.
Scott had some injury issues in fall camp but impressed, anyhow, and is full go now. He packs punch in his 6-2, 236-pound physique.
"Obviously, we have the two older guys in Majette and Brookins who are so experienced and well-rounded," Gest said. "That definitely helps. And Stevie is just a big bulldozer back.
"(Scott) is going to be really good. Freshman, a little young, still learning stuff, but I think he will have some pretty good games this year. I think he could be a supplement to Morgan, kind of a big back to get those harder yards down near the goal line. Having him here and healthy helps a lot."
And it also helps, at times, when opposing defenders can't find you.
"A lot of the guys on defense will be going, 'You're so quick, but we can't even see you sometimes, and that makes it even harder for us.'" Gest said about what he hears in practice. "So I guess it works to my advantage.
"For that position, it really doesn't matter (if you're not particularly big). Coach Hart was a smaller back. Just run hard, man, and leave it up to your skills to do the rest."
TRENCH WARFARE, BUT FEWER CASUALTIES
The staff and players know IU must run the football better and more consistently than it did last season, when the Hoosiers were 12th among Big Ten teams in rushing offense.
"It's a mindset," Majette said. "Running the ball is a mindset. Soon as we come out in the game, we need to start running the ball and push forward. That way we can establish that dominating mindset.
"It starts up front."
Ballou, as a former IU fullback, has an abiding appreciation for the importance of line play and focused on that when he arrived as Director of Athletic Performance in January.
DeBord likes the results of that emphasis.
"Unbelievable, the change from around Jan. 1 on," DeBord said of the line. "On the offensive line, you see guys who are stronger right now. And they're more physical because of their strength.
They move better.
"That's been a big plus ... just being able to be more physical coming off the ball, playing with better leverage and finishing blocks. Right now, that unit is playing very well and we need them to do that Saturday night."
And, right now, it is a healthy unit.
Majette missed seven full games due to injury last fall and the offensive line was consistently afflicted with injuries, too.
But DeBord noted that since the advent of Ballou and Rhea, IU has thus far almost totally avoided the sort injuries often chronic in fall camp.
"Something that has gone a little unnoticed is that, a lot of times when you go through training camp, you have a lot of what they call 'soft tissue' injuries," DeBord said. "And I think we have one right now."
Hoosier head coach Tom Allen has noted the same thing appreciatively.
"Offensive line is getting push in the run game (and) being able to have a consistent group of guys working together there that we didn't have in the past," Allen said. "So those things I think have helped those guys feel more confident going into week one and feeling good about their execution."
Allen likes what he's seeing from a deep defensive line, too.
"Love that group," Allen said. "(Senior tackle) Jacob Robinson has elevated his leadership. Obviously been here for a long time. I love the way he owns the defense on the field, how hard we practice, how we run to the football, getting the guys together, getting their mindset right. He's a key.
(Redshirt junior end) Gavin Everett is so solid in there, been a huge addition to be able to be a guy you can count on his ability to produce. (Junior end) Allen Stallings IV is another one that's really grown and developed this offseason, his physical strength, stamina.
"On and on. (Redshirt sophomore tackle) Jerome Johnson has continued to develop. He's got to be a play-maker back. (Fifth-year senior tackle) Ja'merez Bowen is another guy I've been encouraged with his growth. I'm anxious to see those guys play. We're going to count on them, rotate them, play a bunch of them. I didn't even mention some of the guys.
"Freshmen are going to play. Just really it's going to be by committee. That's how we've done it at that position the last two years since I've been here. Not going to be any different."
And IU heads into Saturday night hoping to play along the line of scrimmage in a manner befitting a Big Ten team.
"You start on both sides of the ball, big men lead the way," Allen said.
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