Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO NOTEBOOK: ‘It’s Personal’ – IU Aims To Win Back the Bucket
11/26/2019 12:00:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For Tom Allen, this is personal.
Yes, Saturday's Old Oaken Bucket battle with Purdue has all kinds of stakes -- a chance to beat the program's biggest rival for the first time in three years, win back the Bucket and achieve eight victories for the first time in a generation.
"It's personal," IU's head coach said during Monday's weekly media gathering. "It's a rivalry game that epitomizes the state.
"I was raised in this state. I understand it. I've watched many of them over the years. I know how important it is to our university, our fan base, our former players, everybody who is part of IU."
Beyond that, Allen steams about his 0-2 record in this series. The Hoosiers could have gone to a bowl game with a victory both times.
"That absolutely is something that has really bothered me these last two years," he said. "It was a very difficult off-season to have that over your head, in your heart.
"That's being real. That's the truth. That's something we've been setting aside for when the time is right. Now is the time. Our entire focus is on the Purdue Boilermakers."
IU (7-4) heads to West Lafayette bowl eligible. Purdue (4-7) is eliminated from bowl consideration, but not from motivation to beat the Hoosiers.
"Our team and seniors need to understand that we need to do our very best to finish the season off, play with great effort, compete and try to find a way to win," head coach Jeff Brohm said.
*****
Whop Philyor is back.
The Hoosiers' top receiver is set for Saturday after missing the Michigan game in the aftermath of a helmet-to-helmet shot he took at Penn State.
He has 61 catches for 863 yards and three touchdowns.
"Whop should be good," Allen said. "I fully expect him to play. It's great to have him back."
Allen was less certain about running back Stevie Scott III and offensive lineman Matthew Bedford. Both were banged up against Michigan.
Scott has rushed for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's also caught 26 passes for 211 yards.
"We'll know later in the week," Allen said. "It was lower leg injuries for both of those guys. Nothing long term. We're seeing if we could get them back. That would be the hope."
If Scott can't play, Ronnie Walker Jr. (53 rushing yards, 91 receiving yards) and Sampson James (132 rushing yards, 2 TDs) will.
"I have very high confidence in those guys," Allen said. "It would be a great opportunity. Those guys are primed and ready to take off.
"Stevie is getting ready. We want to see him out there."
Quarterback Peyton Ramsey also took some big hits against Michigan, but will be fine for Saturday.
"He's just a little sore," Allen said. "He's fine. He'll be good to go."
*****
Beating Purdue would provide momentum entering bowl preparations. After consecutive losses to Top-15 powers Penn State and Michigan, no Hoosier wants to end the regular season on a three-game losing streak.
"We talked to the team about that," Allen said. "Momentum is big. You have two really tough teams. We fell short. We won't be discouraged because of that.
"We see the big picture. We know the way we're building here. I want our guys to understand that.
"Finishing with a victory to get the Bucket back, get momentum going into our bowl game. Its huge for our program, for what we're building here."
*****
IU will face a Purdue team that will miss playing in a bowl for the first time in Brohm's three seasons.
The Boilers rank last in the Big Ten in rushing, at 74.4 yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry. They are next to last in stopping the run, allowing 193.2 yards.
However, they are second in conference passing yards at 301.0, and tied for second in passing touchdowns with 26.
IU leads in passing yards at 306.1. Ohio State has a Big Ten-best 40 touchdown passes.
The Boilers are second in red-zone offense, having scored on 33-of-35 opportunities.
Injuries have forced Brohm to use his third string quarterback, walk-on Aidan O'Connell. He completes 65.2 percent of his passes for 693 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Veteran Elijah Sindelar started the season, but was finished after four games. He threw for 978 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
Back-up Jack Plummer took over and completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,603 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions before he was injured.
The top receiving target is David Bell, who has 77 catches for 899 yards and six touchdowns. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday after catching 12 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown at Wisconsin on Saturday. It was his fourth award this season.
Bryce Hopkins has 53 catches for 688 yards and five touchdowns.
The running game is led by King Doerue (429 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Zander Horvath (213 yards).
*****
Could disappointment from the Michigan loss fuel extra Bucket Game motivation?
Perhaps.
"It all starts with a good week of prep," Ramsey said. "You learn from (the Michigan game) and flush it. We're locking all of our focus on to Purdue."
Loss or not, IU continues to benefit from its upcoming bowl opportunity with increased fan interest.
"We were at the basketball game the other night," Ramsey said, referring to a brief appearance by Allen, Ramsey and teammates Coy Cronk and Nick Westbrook during last week's Princeton game. "You can tell the way people think and feel about football around here is a lot different."
*****
Safety Khalil Bryant's fierce competitiveness makes it clear his measure of a successful season rests with beating Purdue.
"It's a good season, better than what we've had in the past, but our goal is to win every game."
Just because it's Purdue, tight end Peyton Hendershot adds, won't change the preparation effort.
"All year long we've worked hard no matter who we were playing. We come ready to work.
"It's Purdue. We'll work super hard, but even if it were somebody else, we'd work super hard to get better."
IU has lost the last two in the series after winning the previous four.
The Hoosiers, linebacker Raekwon Jones said, are ready to get the Bucket back.
"This is a big game, a rivalry game," he said. "We'll get back to work, focus on our fundamentals, our technique, winning one-on-ones in practice so it translates to the game. Guys will be ready to compete."
*****
IU's goals go way beyond beating Purdue. The Hoosiers want to win bowl games and compete for Big Ten championships. They've won two conference titles – outright in 1945 and shared with Purdue and Minnesota in 1967.
A big key is better defense, which includes pressuring the quarterback with minimal blitzing. That means more production from the defensive line.
"It's a huge priority," Allen said. "That's the next step for us, to be able to run with four (players), to have guys who can win one-on-one battles off the edge and create pressure without having to blitz as much.
"That's recruiting. That's player development. That's the objective, for sure, in this next (recruiting) class."
*****
Improving depth is another point of emphasis.
"We're not where we need to be, depth-wise," Allen said. "We're getting closer, but we're not there yet. It's about recruiting, player development and staying the course. It's perseverance and passion toward what we're trying to accomplish.
"There's no question (IU's depth) gets exposed. This time of year, it gets exposed in games (like Michigan) against this type of talent and caliber of team. We have to stick to the plan and keep getting better."
*****
Brohm is known for using trick plays in games, and almost certainly will have at least one for the Hoosiers. That creates extra preparation work, Allen said.
"It makes for a lot of sleepless nights when you try to get ready for a variety of things (Brohm) might do. I know that's why they do it. I'm sure they have a lot of fun making our lives defensively miserable.
"You have to work on it. You can't obsess about it. It's disciplined eyes and technique. You have to react to what you see, trust your eyes, be disciplined, play fast, physical and with confidence."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For Tom Allen, this is personal.
Yes, Saturday's Old Oaken Bucket battle with Purdue has all kinds of stakes -- a chance to beat the program's biggest rival for the first time in three years, win back the Bucket and achieve eight victories for the first time in a generation.
"It's personal," IU's head coach said during Monday's weekly media gathering. "It's a rivalry game that epitomizes the state.
"I was raised in this state. I understand it. I've watched many of them over the years. I know how important it is to our university, our fan base, our former players, everybody who is part of IU."
Beyond that, Allen steams about his 0-2 record in this series. The Hoosiers could have gone to a bowl game with a victory both times.
"That absolutely is something that has really bothered me these last two years," he said. "It was a very difficult off-season to have that over your head, in your heart.
"That's being real. That's the truth. That's something we've been setting aside for when the time is right. Now is the time. Our entire focus is on the Purdue Boilermakers."
IU (7-4) heads to West Lafayette bowl eligible. Purdue (4-7) is eliminated from bowl consideration, but not from motivation to beat the Hoosiers.
"Our team and seniors need to understand that we need to do our very best to finish the season off, play with great effort, compete and try to find a way to win," head coach Jeff Brohm said.
*****
Whop Philyor is back.
The Hoosiers' top receiver is set for Saturday after missing the Michigan game in the aftermath of a helmet-to-helmet shot he took at Penn State.
He has 61 catches for 863 yards and three touchdowns.
"Whop should be good," Allen said. "I fully expect him to play. It's great to have him back."
Allen was less certain about running back Stevie Scott III and offensive lineman Matthew Bedford. Both were banged up against Michigan.
Scott has rushed for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's also caught 26 passes for 211 yards.
"We'll know later in the week," Allen said. "It was lower leg injuries for both of those guys. Nothing long term. We're seeing if we could get them back. That would be the hope."
If Scott can't play, Ronnie Walker Jr. (53 rushing yards, 91 receiving yards) and Sampson James (132 rushing yards, 2 TDs) will.
"I have very high confidence in those guys," Allen said. "It would be a great opportunity. Those guys are primed and ready to take off.
"Stevie is getting ready. We want to see him out there."
Quarterback Peyton Ramsey also took some big hits against Michigan, but will be fine for Saturday.
"He's just a little sore," Allen said. "He's fine. He'll be good to go."
*****
Beating Purdue would provide momentum entering bowl preparations. After consecutive losses to Top-15 powers Penn State and Michigan, no Hoosier wants to end the regular season on a three-game losing streak.
"We talked to the team about that," Allen said. "Momentum is big. You have two really tough teams. We fell short. We won't be discouraged because of that.
"We see the big picture. We know the way we're building here. I want our guys to understand that.
"Finishing with a victory to get the Bucket back, get momentum going into our bowl game. Its huge for our program, for what we're building here."
*****
IU will face a Purdue team that will miss playing in a bowl for the first time in Brohm's three seasons.
The Boilers rank last in the Big Ten in rushing, at 74.4 yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry. They are next to last in stopping the run, allowing 193.2 yards.
However, they are second in conference passing yards at 301.0, and tied for second in passing touchdowns with 26.
IU leads in passing yards at 306.1. Ohio State has a Big Ten-best 40 touchdown passes.
The Boilers are second in red-zone offense, having scored on 33-of-35 opportunities.
Injuries have forced Brohm to use his third string quarterback, walk-on Aidan O'Connell. He completes 65.2 percent of his passes for 693 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Veteran Elijah Sindelar started the season, but was finished after four games. He threw for 978 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
Back-up Jack Plummer took over and completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,603 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions before he was injured.
The top receiving target is David Bell, who has 77 catches for 899 yards and six touchdowns. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday after catching 12 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown at Wisconsin on Saturday. It was his fourth award this season.
Bryce Hopkins has 53 catches for 688 yards and five touchdowns.
The running game is led by King Doerue (429 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Zander Horvath (213 yards).
*****
Could disappointment from the Michigan loss fuel extra Bucket Game motivation?
Perhaps.
"It all starts with a good week of prep," Ramsey said. "You learn from (the Michigan game) and flush it. We're locking all of our focus on to Purdue."
Loss or not, IU continues to benefit from its upcoming bowl opportunity with increased fan interest.
"We were at the basketball game the other night," Ramsey said, referring to a brief appearance by Allen, Ramsey and teammates Coy Cronk and Nick Westbrook during last week's Princeton game. "You can tell the way people think and feel about football around here is a lot different."
*****
Safety Khalil Bryant's fierce competitiveness makes it clear his measure of a successful season rests with beating Purdue.
"It's a good season, better than what we've had in the past, but our goal is to win every game."
Just because it's Purdue, tight end Peyton Hendershot adds, won't change the preparation effort.
"All year long we've worked hard no matter who we were playing. We come ready to work.
"It's Purdue. We'll work super hard, but even if it were somebody else, we'd work super hard to get better."
IU has lost the last two in the series after winning the previous four.
The Hoosiers, linebacker Raekwon Jones said, are ready to get the Bucket back.
"This is a big game, a rivalry game," he said. "We'll get back to work, focus on our fundamentals, our technique, winning one-on-ones in practice so it translates to the game. Guys will be ready to compete."
*****
IU's goals go way beyond beating Purdue. The Hoosiers want to win bowl games and compete for Big Ten championships. They've won two conference titles – outright in 1945 and shared with Purdue and Minnesota in 1967.
A big key is better defense, which includes pressuring the quarterback with minimal blitzing. That means more production from the defensive line.
"It's a huge priority," Allen said. "That's the next step for us, to be able to run with four (players), to have guys who can win one-on-one battles off the edge and create pressure without having to blitz as much.
"That's recruiting. That's player development. That's the objective, for sure, in this next (recruiting) class."
*****
Improving depth is another point of emphasis.
"We're not where we need to be, depth-wise," Allen said. "We're getting closer, but we're not there yet. It's about recruiting, player development and staying the course. It's perseverance and passion toward what we're trying to accomplish.
"There's no question (IU's depth) gets exposed. This time of year, it gets exposed in games (like Michigan) against this type of talent and caliber of team. We have to stick to the plan and keep getting better."
*****
Brohm is known for using trick plays in games, and almost certainly will have at least one for the Hoosiers. That creates extra preparation work, Allen said.
"It makes for a lot of sleepless nights when you try to get ready for a variety of things (Brohm) might do. I know that's why they do it. I'm sure they have a lot of fun making our lives defensively miserable.
"You have to work on it. You can't obsess about it. It's disciplined eyes and technique. You have to react to what you see, trust your eyes, be disciplined, play fast, physical and with confidence."
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