IU Focused on ‘Playing Its Best’

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Cream & Crimson world knows one victory separates Indiana from bowl eligibility.

Does it top coach Tom Allen's priority list?

Not a chance.

For Allen, making a bowl isn't the point.

Winning a bowl, which IU hasn't done since 1991 by beating Baylor 24-0, is.

"At the beginning of the season, we set a goal that we want to win our bowl game," Allen says. "The players came up with that goal."

Setting a goal is easy. Achieving it is not.

The Hoosiers are program-changing close.

With a 5-2 record, they are off to their best start since opening 5-2 in 2007. That team finished 7-6 -- the last time they had a winning record – and played in the Insight Bowl.

They lost to Oklahoma State, 49-33.

That hurt.

IU has reached five wins in Allen's first two seasons, but couldn't get to six.

That, too, has hurt.

The Hoosiers head to tradition-rich Nebraska (4-3) on Saturday with a chance to end the pain. The goal is to not let that become a victory-costing distraction.

"You talk to any of our players," Allen says, "and there's no mention of winning six."

What there is mention of is, "Playing our best football in Lincoln."

And then do it the next week, and the week after that through the end of the season, including ending the program's four bowl losing streak.

"If we continue to focus like that, then (winning) takes care of itself," Allen adds.

"That's the mental toughness it takes to be great."

******

Nebraska rates among the nation's winningest football programs, with five national championships and a 901-391-40 record.

Yet, the Hoosiers lead the series between the teams, 9-8-3.

Could win No. 10 come on Saturday?

Why not, Allen asks.

He has pushed against the here-we-go-again mindset from the moment he arrived in Bloomington as defensive coordinator in 2016, and he's expanded that approach since becoming head coach.

"I want to change the way this program is viewed in the lifetime of our current players," he says. "I want to create that change.

"Opportunities like this, to play in places like this, is why our players come here. We have recruited these guys to make history for our program to do things and reestablish things that haven't happened in a while. Our guys embrace that.

"You have to have tremendous focus. You have to stay locked in. How can we get better? How can we play our best football in this environment? That's the key. Just to be at our best."

*****

Injuries haven't robbed the offensive line of its production. Blocks are being made, running holes opened, passing lanes provided.

Veteran left tackle Coy Cronk was lost with a season-ending injury and the Hoosiers adjusted.

Fifth-year senior center Hunter Littlejohn was sidelined with an injury and they adjusted again.

During last Saturday's win at Maryland, Harry Crider moved from left guard to center. Simon Stepaniak switched from right to left guard. Mackenzie Nworah got his chance at right guard. Left tackle Matthew Bedford continued his rapid growth.

Offensive line coach Darren Hiller blended it all together. The result -- IU rushed for 184 yards, passed for 334 more and scored 34 points. Running back Stevie Scott III had his second-straight 100-yard rushing day with 108 yards and two touchdowns.

"That's a tribute to them and to Coach Hiller and the job he does," Allen says.

"Matthew continues to progress. All those big runs Stevie was having in the second half was (Bedford) just caving in the defensive line and creating a lot of movement.

"Harry did a great job snapping. That's a dynamic you forget about until you have a bad snap. He's just a good center. He really is. He's got a good base; he's strong; he's smart."

Allen says coaches rotated offensive linemen to different positions during fall camp, and the benefits are paying off.

"We did it for several practices in a row," Allen says, "and I think that really paid off. You never know what might happen to the offensive line. Having guys who can play multiple spots helps them for their future, because that's what the NFL is looking for.

"They want guys who have versatility to play multiple positions because of the number of linemen they have on their roster and how many they carry to a game each week."

IU coaches push that hard during recruiting.

"That's a big selling point," Allen says. "Coach Hiller did a great job of that."

Littlejohn is expected to play Saturday.

*****

Nebraska is coming off a bye following a 34-7 loss to Minnesota.

Dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez missed that game with a left knee injury.

Will he play against the Hoosiers?

Stay tuned.

In six games, Martinez is completing 60.3 percent of his passes for 1,245 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He's also rushed for 341 yards.

Back-up Noah Vedral threw for 135 yards against Minnesota.

"Martinez is a special player," Allen says. "It all runs through him. He's extremely athletic. He can throw it, run it. He understands their offense.

"You have to affect him. You can't let him be comfortable. You've got to disrupt him."

Nebraska's running game is led by Dedrick Mills (350 yards, 7 touchdowns). Wan'Dale Robinson, who was recruited by IU, has 214 yards.

"Robinson is a very, very special player," Allen says. "He's so dangerous in space."

Allen says Nebraska has a "very dangerous offense. They can put up a lot of points."

Defensively, the Cornhuskers allow 27.6 points and 5.9 rushing yards per carry in conference games.

Still, Allen says Nebraska is "big up front and very physical. They play hard. They're going to try to keep you off balance."

******

If the game comes down to kicking, you have to like IU's chances.

Logan Justus is one of just six kickers nationally who are perfect on the season. He is 9-for-9 on field goals and 27-for-27 on extra points.

This isn't a surprise. He's 24-for-27 and 59-for-60 for his career.

*****

Will it be Michael Penix Jr. or Peyton Ramsey at quarterback against Nebraska?

We'll know Saturday.

Allen calls Penix's availability a game-time decision. He suffered an injury at Maryland and Ramsey led the Hoosiers to a victory.

"The plan is to have Peyton ready to roll," Allen said. "We'll do everything we can to get (Penix) back if at all possible. But that remains to be seen."

Players Mentioned

Matthew Bedford

Harry Crider

Coy Cronk

Logan Justus

Hunter Littlejohn

Mackenzie Nworah

Michael Penix Jr.

Peyton Ramsey

Stevie Scott III

Simon Stepaniak

Related Videos