The Quest for Indiana University Football Glory – Illinois Immersion

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Quest for Indiana University Football Glory, written by Hall of Fame sports writer Pete DiPrimio, takes an unprecedented look at the Hoosier program thanks to exclusive access to practices, meetings, players, coaches and more. In this chapter, coach Tom Allen talks about why L-E-O (Love Each Other) is such a cornerstone of his program, and what that could mean for the future.

Illinois Immersion
Tom Allen bent a knee.

Before the game that would determine, for one week at least, if Hoosier bowl hopes would survive, before a post-game celebration that would include players giving him a game ball for his first Big Ten victory, Allen moved away from everyone to a corner of the small visiting locker room at Illinois' Memorial Stadium to pray and reflect.

Faith mattered. Belief mattered. Beyond strategy and effort and resilience, it came down to being a part of something bigger than yourself. It's how Allen connects to players and people, how he determines what has true meaning for them. He doesn't push or preach religion, but he also is true to himself.

So before competitive battle, he takes time for faith.

In a few minutes, Allen would talk to the players one last time before hitting the field amid win-or-else pressure.

But first ….

The Hoosiers (3-6) had to sweep their final three games -- Illinois, Rutgers and Purdue -- to become bowl eligible for the third straight season.

If they couldn't beat the Illini, which, like IU, was 0-6 in the Big Ten, their postseason hopes were over.

Keys were simple -- generate more takeaways (IU only had seven, the fewest in the Big Ten; Illinois had a conference-worst 19 turnovers); kick start the Big Ten's worst rushing attack (the Hoosiers averaged just 114.5 yards a game) against the league's worst run defense (Illinois allowed 205.7 yards) and exploit the Illini's man coverage preference by getting the ball to superstar receiver Simmie Cobbs (he had 15 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns in his previous two games).

Oh, and win.

The Big Ten road can be a brutal place to do that, even against a team as young and beat up as Illinois.

What is it like to make a trip and find previously elusive success?

Let's begin.

*****

A winter-like cold swept into Bloomington the Friday before the game, but at least it was clear and sunny, unlike, say, Northwestern, where snow pounded Evanston.

Players began with 8 a.m. treatment, then breakfast. There was a 10-minute team meeting, a 30-minute special teams meeting and half-hour meetings with the offense and defense. Then there was a 70-minute practice followed by another treatment session, and then lunch.

Five buses gathered in a Memorial Stadium parking lot. There were two buses for offensive players and coaches; two for defensive players, specialists and coaches; and one for staff and guests.

Getting to Illinois was more complicated because of the seemingly never-ending I-69 construction north of Bloomington. The plan was to take Hwy 46 west to Spencer, then go north on Hwy. 231 to Crawfordsville before getting on I-74 for the final leg to Champaign, Ill. A police escort ensured the buses could cruise through intersections, stop signs and stop lights.

After a three-hour drive, the team arrived at Hawthorne Suites, which was a 10-minute walk from the Illinois' version of Memorial Stadium.

There was no settling in time. Players got off the bus and gathered in a hotel hallway, where drinks and light food were available. If you went hungry or thirsty, it was your own fault, and would put you in strength coach Keith Caton's doghouse.

"Make sure you hydrate," Caton said in a voice that could bend steel.

The original plan was to give players 25 minutes to settle into their rooms before doing a stretch/walk-through session. That was scrapped. Players quickly went outside to the back parking lot for the walk-through.

The sun was setting. Pink and gold colored the sky. And it was cold. A brisk wind provided an uncomfortable edge.

No matter.

Players divided into offensive and defensive groups, and went through a half-hour walk-through session. A police officer provided security.

At that point it became clear -- senior Richard Lagow would start at quarterback.

An injured Peyton Ramsey, who had become the starter a month earlier, couldn't go, although that hadn't been announced. He hadn't practiced all week. You could get away with that if you were, say, offensive lineman Coy Cronk, who had barely practiced in recent weeks because of his own injury (Allen called him a warrior who refused to not play), but the quarterback position was too complex to play without practice, especially for a young quarterback.

So Lagow, who had started the first four games and who had come off the bench in recent weeks because of Ramsey's knee injury, would run the offense.

After the walk-through, the players gathered in a ballroom for a special teams meeting. A large video screen flashed images. No, it wasn't the trailer for the newest Star Wars movie.

"We're locked in!" Allen shouted. He wanted players mentally engaged. The stakes were too high for them not to be. "Focus. Focus. Focus."

The first video involved kicking extra points and field goals. Offensive line coach Darren Hiller ran it. A series of short clips provided Hoosier keys on what to look for and what to do. "Jacob," he said to defensive tackle Jacob Robinson, "do you see this on the edge?"

"Yes, sir."

Later, Hiller addressed a couple of other players on what to look for.

"You guys good?"

"Yes, sir," they said in unison.

Then it switched to punts. Safeties coach Noah Joseph took over.

"Shock and snatch, and then free to the ball," he said.

Then came kickoff coverage with linebackers coach William Inge.

"When you have a chance to make a play, make it," Inge said. "Make it happen."

Just before the game, Allen addressed the Hoosiers. The locker room was small, so not every player could see him.

"If you can't see, make sure your ears are open," he shouted. "I've been saying all week about a sense of urgency. Time creates that -- in life and in football. That's a fact. When that becomes real to you, it changes how you do what you do. How hard you play. It changes things for the better. You embrace it! You embrace that mindset.

"I chose that word for a reason. For A REASON! For such a time as this."

His voice rose and grew hoarse.

"Focus on the very next play in front of you. That's the now. That's being in the moment.

"I want to play OUR football. That's physical football! That's tough football! It's relentless football for 60 minutes and beyond. Whatever it takes! I want an edge all game long from this team. An edge! That's a clenched fist and a set jaw ready to smack somebody in the mouth for 60 minutes. That's who we are. That's when we're at our very best. That's what the seniors deserve. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir!" the Hoosiers said.

IU won 24-14.

EDITOR'S NOTE: To purchase a copy of The Quest for Indiana University Football Glory, go to this link via Indiana University Press: https://bit.ly/2kvZXjH

The Quest for Indiana University Football Glory – Illinois Immersion

Players Mentioned

Coy Cronk

Peyton Ramsey

Jacob Robinson

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