DIPRIMIO NOTEBOOK: Ranking a Launching Point for Ultimate Program Goals

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen pushes perspective, not euphoria.

One week in the national football rankings is nice, but not the goal. It's a start, but not an ending.

For the Indiana coach, it's about building a power where there has almost never been one before.

So now that the Hoosiers (7-2) are Top-25 material in the AP and coaches polls, a feat last achieved in 1994. This could soon be the norm and not the exception.

"It doesn't do anything for you on game day other than you have a little number by your name," Allen says. "At the same time, to whom much is given, much is required. You learn how to handle the expectations that go along with it."

Cracking the Top-25 didn't generate a coaching celebration during a Monday team meeting.

"I said, 'Guys, you're doing what I expected you to do,'" Allen says.

"At the same time, we had to work, get better every week, do things after the first few games, improving this, improving that, change this, change that. You always have to do that."

Now comes a trip to Penn State (8-1). It's a place where the Hoosiers have never won. They are just 1-20 against this traditional national power, with the lone victory coming 44-24 in 2013 at Memorial Stadium.

But IU, which has won four-straight Big Ten games, has never appeared so ready for an upset in Happy Valley.

The ranking suggests it, but doesn't guarantee it. That's a message Allen delivers with firm conviction.

"Just because you get ranked doesn't mean all of a sudden you've arrived. It's an acknowledgement of what you're doing, the foundation you're laying.

"Some people will choose to be satisfied with it. Then it goes away if that's what you choose to do.

"How do you handle the success? Man can be tested by the praise he receives. Do you let it cause you to intensify your hunger, or does it cause a satisfaction and a let up?

"Our desire is that we build off the success we've had. We keep growing and getting better, realizing we have a lot of hard work ahead of us."

Work comes via a bye. The Hoosiers have had time to heal, recruit and prepare for Saturday's opportunity. That includes the chance to tie the program record of five-straight conference wins that has happened only once -- the 1967 Rose Bowl season, when they went 9-2, shared the Big Ten title with Purdue and Minnesota, and finished with a No. 4 national ranking.

"We want to make sure we're enjoying our time together," Allen says. "No one is guaranteed anything for the future. This group will never be together again. The group next year will be different.

"So, enjoy the moment, but have zero satisfaction that we've accomplished anything yet.

"We've got a lot of things ahead of us. Our goals are still out there. We've got to work hard to accomplish them."

*****

A national ranking hasn't impacted IU's Class of 2020 recruiting.

Yet.

"It sends a strong message to the recruits, to what you're saying," Allen says. "Everybody talks about what we're building when recruiting. But everything we said, we're living it out. That's critical. To be able to say that and show that.

"You've got to have a vision. You've got to see the big picture and what you think you can accomplish, and then go do it.

"Now it's up to us to build off of that. To make it a foundational launching point rather than just a destination."

Specifically, the Hoosiers figure to sign less than 20 players for 2020, with a focus on the offensive and defensive lines, and some skill positions.

"Other than that, we won't have room," Allen says.

"We're a young team. There's always natural attrition. Things happen. But I think the guys enjoy being here, enjoy the way we do things. They're able to develop as young men, student-athletes and football players. They're challenged in all three of those areas."

*****

The Minnesota loss dropped Penn State to ninth in the AP poll and 11th in the coaches poll.

Still, the Nittany Lions are an impressive offensive and defensive force.

They rank third in the Big Ten in scoring (37.1), points allowed (12.0) and sacks (31). They are first in rushing yards allowed at 74.2.

Quarterback Sean Clifford leads the conference in passing yards (252.3). He's thrown for 21 touchdowns against six interceptions.

The top receiver is K.J. Hamler (44 catches, 739 yards, 8 touchdowns).

"They are very athletic on both sides of the ball," Allen says. "It's the best line-of-scrimmage play I've seen out of them since I've been here. It's the best speed as a group."

That speed is a big concern.

"Speed is what everybody wants," Allen says. "The game is played in so much space now. They stretch you out, try to create those one-on-ones and win those.

"Hamler is as quick as you're going to see. He makes a lot of people look silly in space. You'd better have more than one guy there, or it's going to be a long day."

*****

IU is a better team for its September 51-10 loss to powerhouse Ohio State.

Could that make a difference on Saturday at Happy Valley?

We'll find out.

"It was tough," Allen said. "We didn't perform to the level I expected us to. I also thought it was the best Ohio State team we've played. We ran into quite the buzz saw.

"After that, you look in the mirror. Evaluate what you're doing. We made changes, adjustments, even some positional things.

"We chose to get back to work and get better."

The Hoosiers are used to facing Top-10 teams. This will be their 13th such meeting since the start of 2015. That's tied for the fifth-most nationally with Ohio State. That trails Alabama (18), Michigan State (15), Auburn (14) and LSU (14).

Indiana University Athletics

DIPRIMIO NOTEBOOK: Ranking a Launching Point for Ultimate Program Goals

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