Reality Check -- Indiana Is Built For Long-Term Football Success

Reality Check -- Indiana Is Built For Long-Term Football Success

1/6/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This was never just about one game.

It was, for Indiana head coach Tom Allen, always -- always -- about building a consistent winner, a decade of winners, of running a program that wins in the manner of bowl regulars.

The Hoosiers took a big step with this season's 8-5 record. More steps are needed -- the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl 23-22 loss to Tennessee was a painful reminder of that -- but the foundation is there.

"We're building a program that expects to be in these games every year," Allen says. "We've got to stay the course. That's what grit is about."

Grit is crucial for a program that, for more than a century, has faced enough adversity – self-inflicted and otherwise – to send fans running for cover.

While the roster isn't loaded with four- and five-star guys, there is more than enough talent to make eight victories the norm rather than the exception moving forward.

"We were inches away from making tremendous history in our program and being the first team to win a bowl game in 28 years," Allen says.

Critics were everywhere in the wake of the Tennessee loss. It's part of sports, part of having a passionate fan base that desperately wants to feel -- if only briefly -- what a program such as Ohio State does in football.

"It can be invaluable," Allen says of the experience. "Life is a process of learning from the things you go through. We've got to keep developing, keep doing the little things that we've done to get us to this point.

"I felt our guys played hard and competed. We'll grow from this."

The Hoosiers defense did record two shutouts while fielding one of the youngest defenses in the Big Ten.

"We're a very young defense, mostly freshmen and sophomores," Allen says.

As for the Tennessee game, Allen adds, "I thought Coach (Kane) Wommack did a great job of mixing things up," reflective of his faith in his defensive coordinator.

Faith is a huge part of Allen's approach, from football to religion to family and beyond. It's based, not on fantasy, but on fact.

IU has everything it needs as far as facilities, coaches, players and philosophy for long-term success.

Here's why:

Indiana is loaded at quarterback with Peyton Ramsey, Michael Penix Jr. and Jack Tuttle. They combined to produce the Big Ten's second-best passing attack with 3,931 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Plus, the Hoosiers are bringing in Georgia quarterback Dexter Williams II, rated as the nation's No. 34 dual-threat prospect by ESPN. He's part of an 18-player, top-50 class signed in December, with a couple of more likely to sign in February.

Running back is set with Stevie Scott III and Sampson James, who combined for 1,158 yards and 13 touchdowns.

At receiver, IU loses Nick Westbrook (42 catches, 572 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Donavan Hale (22, 373, 3).

Returning are leading receiver Whop Philyor (70, 1,002, 5) as well as Ty Fryfogle (45 604, 3), tight end Peyton Hendershot (52 catches, 622 yards, 4), David Ellis (16, 173) and Miles Marshall (16, 196).

The offensive line has significant rebuilding to do with the loss of Hunter Littlejohn, Simon Stepaniak and DaVondre Love, but returns Matthew Bedford, Harry Crider, Caleb Jones, Mackenzie Nworah, Aidan Rafferty, Britt Beery and Charlie O'Connor. Plus, veteran Coy Cronk might return after missing most of this season with an injury.

Defensively, leading tackler Micah McFadden (61 tackles, 10 for loss) is back at linebacker, as are cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen, Reese Taylor, Jaylin Williams and Raheem Layne, safeties Bryant Fitzgerald, Juwan Burgess and Devon Matthews, huskies Marcelino Ball and Jamar Johnson, and defensive linemen James Head Jr, Alfred Bryant, Jerome Johnson, Shamar Jones, Jonathan King, Demarcus Elliott, Sio Nofoagatoto'a, Michael Ziemba, Allen Stallings IV and Tramar Reece.

At kicker, the Hoosiers lose Logan Justus (17-of-21 on field goals), but return Charles Campbell, who was 2-for-2 with a long of 48 yards.

IU faces an even more challenging schedule next season. Besides the usual Big Ten East gauntlet, it opens at Wisconsin on Sept. 5. It has trips to Ohio State and Michigan.

But that's for later. Fifteen bowl practices have speeded player development that could be invaluable next season, and beyond.

Because while the season goal was to win a bowl game, the overall quest is to win a bunch of them, huge for a program that has only won three in its history.

As Allen puts it, "We've got to learn from the things that happened, and press on."