Media Thursday: Ball State Week

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana will open the 2019 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis against Ball State. The game is set for a noon EDT kickoff and will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Head coach Tom Allen met with the media on Thursday.

Opening Statement…
"Did a wrap-up of the week. Finished our last on the field practice just now. We have a walk-through tomorrow on the field for about an hour. Feel good about our preparation, obviously a lot has gone into this, a lot leading up to the season opener. Excited to see our kids play. Ready to cut them loose and hit somebody else."

On Michael Penix Jr. embracing the role of starting quarterback…
"Obviously it's the first time he's had the role here. I think he's handled it well, just dealing with the media and being able to be in those situations. Get yourself mentally ready from film-study perspective, getting all the checks and adjustments, all the stuff you are going to do for a game. I think in some ways, when you pick the guy, it almost takes a lot of pressure off from the competition part. I think in some ways he's more relaxed once we made the decision and he knew he was the guy, he just has to go play ball. Obviously, game day is going to reveal all the preparation, but I think he's done a good job."

On the build up to the first game of the season…
"We even talked as a team, we talk about the first game and why there's so much excitement. There's so much build up because it's been so many months since you last played. That's for everybody, there's no preseason games, we don't do anything against anybody else all spring or summer or fall camp, so you just want to see your guys play. Obviously with the new offensive system, everybody is anxious to see what's going to be different. I've tried to keep that at bay as much as possible. Obviously we haven't made radical changes, there are going to be conceptual things that are similar, but there will be differences for sure, and they'll see those in the next couple days."

On letting go of the defensive reins to Kane Wommack…
"As it gets closer to kick off, yes. The biggest thing for me is managing my time because so much was spent watching film. Even last night or what would have happened the rest of today. So just trying to do a really good job of trying to transition from all of that. Your adrenaline gets pumping when you're calling it, it's a different feel right now. I do actually have a little bit more of a calmness to myself because I'm not. There are other things that make you on edge but at the same time, I've done that for so many years. I've always said ask me after we've had several games how it really feels because that's going to be the true test. At the same time, when you have confidence in the people around you – and I have tremendous confidence in Kane and the job he's doing and the preparation he's put in and our defensive staff so that makes it a whole lot better. At the same time, I'll let you know how I feel during game day."

On if they have moved the offensive line around with Penix Jr. becoming the starter…
"No, we've kept it the same. We've done some different combinations, but bottom line is that we've kept that part the same because there's a lot of familiarity with the guys with the side they play on. But we try to create flexibility. I want multiple options for our guys and be able to get the best five in there eventually and wherever that may be. And sometimes that's not necessarily the five that start the year, but it may be. But at the same time, we've got some guys like Coy (Cronk) who can play inside and outside. We've had Caleb (Jones) play left and right and different things and trying to get Matthew Bedford ready and bring him along. There's a lot of guys that are being developed, so those are just different combinations. At this point, we've kind of kept it the same and I think it will be good."

Indiana University Athletics

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Matthew Bedford

Michael Penix Jr.

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