Wiser Tom Allen Building Indiana for the Long Term
7/19/2019 1:13:00 AM | Football
2019 Schedule | 2019 Season Tickets | 2019 Mini-Season Ticket Packages | 2019 Single-Game Ticket Pricing | Purchase Ball State Tickets
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
CHICAGO - Tom Allen is not the coach he used to be, and that could make all the difference.
Year Three found Indiana's head coach in Chicago Thursday afternoon facing a Big Ten Media Day gathering with wisdom gained through, at times, pain. Growth doesn't come easily, not at this level, not against this kind of competition, but it has come.
The Hoosiers are poised to reap the benefits.
"It's been a great opportunity to learn," Allen said, "and you have to learn from the mistakes that you make."
Allen said he's better at game-day decision making, in part because he's no longer the defensive coordinator. He gave that role to Kane Wommack to fully focus on his head coaching duties.
"I felt very strongly about staying in that (defensive coordinator) role the first two years, but I think it was time to step aside and be able to become a better coach of the team and not just the head coach of the defense.
"I think it's going to be big for me to be more involved with the offense. I'm not going to tell (offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer) what to call. I don't believe in that. You hire great people and you let them do their job. But that's an area that I feel more comfortable in, so I'm excited about that adjustment.
"You learn how to plan ahead better because you know what to expect next. It's getting a better feel for our guys and understanding from a motivational perspective what they're going to need throughout a season. I think I'll be more in tune with that (because I'm not) watching so much film to get ready to call the defense.
"I've really tried to read more books and get my mind filled with more leadership aspects rather than what we're going to do on defense to out-scheme our opponents.
"Those were two key areas. And then the whole recruiting piece. I'm trying to become a better recruiter, more involved with that. I want to do a great job of attracting guys who fit with us and want to be Indiana Hoosiers."
The win-or-else nature of college sports hasn't distracted Allen from his goal.
He's building for the long term. He's delivered arguably the program's best two recruiting classes in consecutive seasons. He has a speed-oriented athletic performance director in David Ballou, new offensive and defensive coordinators, revamped offensive and defensive approaches and a firm understanding of what needs to be done.
"I believe in what we are building at Indiana and how we are building it," he said. "It's a process to get where we want to be as a program. Our one word for 2019 is 'Grit.' I define that as perseverance and passion towards a long-term goal.
"We're building this program on accountability, toughness and love. I believe in those things. We're attracting young men that want to come to Indiana and be a part of our program and help us break through and make history. We have our eyes fixed on what we want and what we expect to accomplish."
As far as specifics, Allen wants a more "explosive" team. He wants continued strong recruiting and a tough-minded approach that lasts a full 60 minutes.
"It's about depth, and there's no question about it," he said. "We have to be able to finish quarters, finish halves, and most importantly, finish the end of the game when fatigue sets in. So playing lots of guys on both sides of the ball is key to that. Having more quality players to plug in (during) those key times. It's not going to end. We're not where we need to be yet, but the process is continuing on at a pace that is deliberate and systematic."
If you believe in polls, IU will finish fifth in the Big Ten East.
If you believe Allen, it's bowl time.
Consecutive 5-7 seasons, and enough near misses to ruin a month of sleep (3 losses by a touchdown or less last season), has the Hoosiers full of resolve, poll or not.
For the record, Cleveland.com's annual preseason media poll lists IU behind Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State, and ahead of Maryland and Rutgers, in the Big Ten East.
Michigan was picked as the overall Big Ten favorite with Nebraska getting the edge in the Big Ten West.
Yes, the Hoosiers play Nebraska, as well as all East heavyweights, and if that schedule seems unfairly brutal, well, welcome to Big Ten life.
Allen isn't sweating it. When asked about a possible division realignment, he said, "The bottom line is those are decisions that I have nothing to do with. I've been in multiple conferences when you have cyclical opportunities for teams to rise up and have a certain level of play.
"We play in a great league that is highly competitive and we play teams from both divisions. That's a decision that others might make. If it changes, it changes. If it doesn't, it doesn't. We just play the teams that show up."
Regardless of the challenge, this Cream & Crimson group seems to have the depth -- and the Ballou-directed program -- to handle it.
"I've stated pretty clearly that we had young depth last year," Allen said. "We played a lot of (young) guys who may not have been physically ready to play. I have to believe that that's a big component to what we have to do next.
"(The strength staff does) an amazing job. I appreciate all their hard work and the way the players are responding to them."
Take, for instance, the offensive line. It is, in so many ways, the most crucial key to success.
"We know that the offensive line, as we say, big men lead the way in our program, and they have to do a great job this fall," Allen said.
Seniors Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn and Simon Stepaniak are set to deliver big-time leadership and play, which is what you'd expect from three guys whose combined weight surpasses 900 pounds.
"We challenged those guys from the very beginning of the summer and even prior to that about how critical their role is going to play in the success of our offense," Allen said. "Coy and Simon and Hunter are three seniors, big, strong, physical guys that have taken ownership of this football especially on the offensive side of the ball, and it starts up front. So I'm really excited about those young men."
Excitement comes despite the loss of three key offensive line veterans in Wes Martin (now with the NFL's Washington Redskins), Brandon Knight (Dallas) and Nick Linder.
It helps to have plenty of talent beyond Cronk, Littlejohn and Stepaniak. That includes one of the Big Ten's biggest players in 6-8, 360-pound Caleb Jones.
"Obviously we've got to have other guys step up," Allen said. "You need about seven or eight guys that you can count on consistently every week to play on the offensive line, and we're going to play our best five guys, however that plays itself out.
"We brought in some freshmen that I believe have a chance to give us some immediate depth, and we've got some redshirt freshmen and some redshirt sophomores that have been training and working, so that depth is going to be big.
"Caleb Jones, who will be our starting right tackle, had a great spring. He's had an even better summer. Coy Cronk is going to take him under his wing and really help mentor him. And that's what I expect.
"We did a big leadership development with our guys in this offseason, more than I've ever done before, and we're really excited about the way our upperclassmen have responded to that. Have guys from all different grade levels with that group, and a big part of that is being able to become stronger verbal leaders and being able to bring guys with you, to help us change this culture and be where we want to be."
IU's improved recruiting comes from a number of reasons, including facility upgrades. The latest is the multi-million-dollar Terry Tallen Football Complex, which will add a new locker room and training area, plus a players' lounge, to Memorial Stadium.
"We're really excited about the commitment that (director of athletics) Fred Glass has made to Indiana Football, and continues to make," Allen said.
Beyond that, "We do a really good job as a staff of targeting young men that fit who we are and what we're trying to accomplish.
"We recruit the entire family. I'm a big relationships person. My faith and family are the two most important things to me, and I think that resonates with recruits.
"They know that we're going to mentor them, we're going to love them more as a person than as a player, but we're also going to hold them accountable to high standards in the classroom. They're going to learn to develop character and leadership and become the men I believe they were created to be.
"I think the key is finding guys that fit that, that want that, that want to get a world-class education and want to play the highest level of college football in the Big Ten. We've found guys that fit that mold and we recruit our tails off to get them. It takes a lot of energy, a lot of effort, and right now we're winning those battles."
In football, success usually centers on strong quarterback play, and IU has more quarterback depth than it's had in years with returning starter Peyton Ramsey, redshirt freshman Michael Penix Jr. (coming off knee surgery) and Utah transfer Jack Tuttle.
"Peyton has done a tremendous job," Allen said. "As the returning starter, he's the guy they've got to beat out.
"I believe in Michael Penix, who's worked extremely hard. He's fully healthy and ready to go.
"Jack Tuttle is a great young man. He's worked extremely hard. He has tremendous arm talent and an ability to lead our team."
All that talent leads to the obvious question -- could IU use a quarterback rotation?
"We don't plan to run a two-quarterback system," Allen said. "It's happened in the past, and it's been successful other places, but the plan now is to pick one and let him be the man.
"We'll go into fall camp and make those decisions, but I really believe in each one of those individuals. They all have their unique skill sets and strengths. And they're all a little bit different, but they all have the ability to throw the football and extend plays, which is a key ingredient to what we're trying to accomplish offensively.
"So that's something that we will unfold throughout fall camp, and we'll make a decision before Game 1."
The Hoosiers open the 2019 campaign with a noon ET kickoff against Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Tickets for IU's six home games are available by clicking here, by phone at 1-866-IUSPORTS or in person at the Assembly Hall Ticket Office. IU will welcome Eastern Illinois (Sept. 7), Ohio State (Sept. 14), Connecticut (Sept. 21), Rutgers (Oct. 12 – Homecoming), Northwestern (Nov. 2) and Michigan (Nov. 23) to Memorial Stadium.
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
CHICAGO - Tom Allen is not the coach he used to be, and that could make all the difference.
Year Three found Indiana's head coach in Chicago Thursday afternoon facing a Big Ten Media Day gathering with wisdom gained through, at times, pain. Growth doesn't come easily, not at this level, not against this kind of competition, but it has come.
The Hoosiers are poised to reap the benefits.
"It's been a great opportunity to learn," Allen said, "and you have to learn from the mistakes that you make."
Allen said he's better at game-day decision making, in part because he's no longer the defensive coordinator. He gave that role to Kane Wommack to fully focus on his head coaching duties.
"I felt very strongly about staying in that (defensive coordinator) role the first two years, but I think it was time to step aside and be able to become a better coach of the team and not just the head coach of the defense.
"I think it's going to be big for me to be more involved with the offense. I'm not going to tell (offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer) what to call. I don't believe in that. You hire great people and you let them do their job. But that's an area that I feel more comfortable in, so I'm excited about that adjustment.
"You learn how to plan ahead better because you know what to expect next. It's getting a better feel for our guys and understanding from a motivational perspective what they're going to need throughout a season. I think I'll be more in tune with that (because I'm not) watching so much film to get ready to call the defense.
"I've really tried to read more books and get my mind filled with more leadership aspects rather than what we're going to do on defense to out-scheme our opponents.
"Those were two key areas. And then the whole recruiting piece. I'm trying to become a better recruiter, more involved with that. I want to do a great job of attracting guys who fit with us and want to be Indiana Hoosiers."
The win-or-else nature of college sports hasn't distracted Allen from his goal.
He's building for the long term. He's delivered arguably the program's best two recruiting classes in consecutive seasons. He has a speed-oriented athletic performance director in David Ballou, new offensive and defensive coordinators, revamped offensive and defensive approaches and a firm understanding of what needs to be done.
"I believe in what we are building at Indiana and how we are building it," he said. "It's a process to get where we want to be as a program. Our one word for 2019 is 'Grit.' I define that as perseverance and passion towards a long-term goal.
"We're building this program on accountability, toughness and love. I believe in those things. We're attracting young men that want to come to Indiana and be a part of our program and help us break through and make history. We have our eyes fixed on what we want and what we expect to accomplish."
As far as specifics, Allen wants a more "explosive" team. He wants continued strong recruiting and a tough-minded approach that lasts a full 60 minutes.
"It's about depth, and there's no question about it," he said. "We have to be able to finish quarters, finish halves, and most importantly, finish the end of the game when fatigue sets in. So playing lots of guys on both sides of the ball is key to that. Having more quality players to plug in (during) those key times. It's not going to end. We're not where we need to be yet, but the process is continuing on at a pace that is deliberate and systematic."
If you believe in polls, IU will finish fifth in the Big Ten East.
If you believe Allen, it's bowl time.
Consecutive 5-7 seasons, and enough near misses to ruin a month of sleep (3 losses by a touchdown or less last season), has the Hoosiers full of resolve, poll or not.
For the record, Cleveland.com's annual preseason media poll lists IU behind Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State, and ahead of Maryland and Rutgers, in the Big Ten East.
Michigan was picked as the overall Big Ten favorite with Nebraska getting the edge in the Big Ten West.
Yes, the Hoosiers play Nebraska, as well as all East heavyweights, and if that schedule seems unfairly brutal, well, welcome to Big Ten life.
Allen isn't sweating it. When asked about a possible division realignment, he said, "The bottom line is those are decisions that I have nothing to do with. I've been in multiple conferences when you have cyclical opportunities for teams to rise up and have a certain level of play.
"We play in a great league that is highly competitive and we play teams from both divisions. That's a decision that others might make. If it changes, it changes. If it doesn't, it doesn't. We just play the teams that show up."
Regardless of the challenge, this Cream & Crimson group seems to have the depth -- and the Ballou-directed program -- to handle it.
"I've stated pretty clearly that we had young depth last year," Allen said. "We played a lot of (young) guys who may not have been physically ready to play. I have to believe that that's a big component to what we have to do next.
"(The strength staff does) an amazing job. I appreciate all their hard work and the way the players are responding to them."
Take, for instance, the offensive line. It is, in so many ways, the most crucial key to success.
"We know that the offensive line, as we say, big men lead the way in our program, and they have to do a great job this fall," Allen said.
Seniors Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn and Simon Stepaniak are set to deliver big-time leadership and play, which is what you'd expect from three guys whose combined weight surpasses 900 pounds.
"We challenged those guys from the very beginning of the summer and even prior to that about how critical their role is going to play in the success of our offense," Allen said. "Coy and Simon and Hunter are three seniors, big, strong, physical guys that have taken ownership of this football especially on the offensive side of the ball, and it starts up front. So I'm really excited about those young men."
Excitement comes despite the loss of three key offensive line veterans in Wes Martin (now with the NFL's Washington Redskins), Brandon Knight (Dallas) and Nick Linder.
It helps to have plenty of talent beyond Cronk, Littlejohn and Stepaniak. That includes one of the Big Ten's biggest players in 6-8, 360-pound Caleb Jones.
"Obviously we've got to have other guys step up," Allen said. "You need about seven or eight guys that you can count on consistently every week to play on the offensive line, and we're going to play our best five guys, however that plays itself out.
"We brought in some freshmen that I believe have a chance to give us some immediate depth, and we've got some redshirt freshmen and some redshirt sophomores that have been training and working, so that depth is going to be big.
"Caleb Jones, who will be our starting right tackle, had a great spring. He's had an even better summer. Coy Cronk is going to take him under his wing and really help mentor him. And that's what I expect.
"We did a big leadership development with our guys in this offseason, more than I've ever done before, and we're really excited about the way our upperclassmen have responded to that. Have guys from all different grade levels with that group, and a big part of that is being able to become stronger verbal leaders and being able to bring guys with you, to help us change this culture and be where we want to be."
IU's improved recruiting comes from a number of reasons, including facility upgrades. The latest is the multi-million-dollar Terry Tallen Football Complex, which will add a new locker room and training area, plus a players' lounge, to Memorial Stadium.
"We're really excited about the commitment that (director of athletics) Fred Glass has made to Indiana Football, and continues to make," Allen said.
Beyond that, "We do a really good job as a staff of targeting young men that fit who we are and what we're trying to accomplish.
"We recruit the entire family. I'm a big relationships person. My faith and family are the two most important things to me, and I think that resonates with recruits.
"They know that we're going to mentor them, we're going to love them more as a person than as a player, but we're also going to hold them accountable to high standards in the classroom. They're going to learn to develop character and leadership and become the men I believe they were created to be.
"I think the key is finding guys that fit that, that want that, that want to get a world-class education and want to play the highest level of college football in the Big Ten. We've found guys that fit that mold and we recruit our tails off to get them. It takes a lot of energy, a lot of effort, and right now we're winning those battles."
In football, success usually centers on strong quarterback play, and IU has more quarterback depth than it's had in years with returning starter Peyton Ramsey, redshirt freshman Michael Penix Jr. (coming off knee surgery) and Utah transfer Jack Tuttle.
"Peyton has done a tremendous job," Allen said. "As the returning starter, he's the guy they've got to beat out.
"I believe in Michael Penix, who's worked extremely hard. He's fully healthy and ready to go.
"Jack Tuttle is a great young man. He's worked extremely hard. He has tremendous arm talent and an ability to lead our team."
All that talent leads to the obvious question -- could IU use a quarterback rotation?
"We don't plan to run a two-quarterback system," Allen said. "It's happened in the past, and it's been successful other places, but the plan now is to pick one and let him be the man.
"We'll go into fall camp and make those decisions, but I really believe in each one of those individuals. They all have their unique skill sets and strengths. And they're all a little bit different, but they all have the ability to throw the football and extend plays, which is a key ingredient to what we're trying to accomplish offensively.
"So that's something that we will unfold throughout fall camp, and we'll make a decision before Game 1."
The Hoosiers open the 2019 campaign with a noon ET kickoff against Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Tickets for IU's six home games are available by clicking here, by phone at 1-866-IUSPORTS or in person at the Assembly Hall Ticket Office. IU will welcome Eastern Illinois (Sept. 7), Ohio State (Sept. 14), Connecticut (Sept. 21), Rutgers (Oct. 12 – Homecoming), Northwestern (Nov. 2) and Michigan (Nov. 23) to Memorial Stadium.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ FootballFB: Fernando Mendoza - Illinois Postgame Press Conference (09/20/25)
Sunday, September 21
FB: D’Angelo Ponds - Illinois Postgame Press Conference (09/20/25)
Sunday, September 21
FB: Week 4 (vs. Illinois) - Curt Cignett Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, September 20
FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 4 (Illinois)
Thursday, September 18