Indiana University Athletics
Seizing the Moment
12/1/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana's Michael Penix Jr. will be back.
Understand that right away.
The redshirt sophomore quarterback's season-ending torn ACL, the same injury to the same knee that ended his first season, will not stop him.
"Michael is a special player and an even better person," coach Tom Allen says. "He will be a great leader on the sideline, in the film room and all of the ways he can continue to help this team be great on game day."
New starting quarterback Jack Tuttle is a Hoosier for this kind of opportunity.
He will handle the challenge.
Expect to see that Saturday at No. 18/19 Wisconsin (2-1), and beyond.
"We have a lot of confidence and faith in Jack," offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan says. "We are excited for him to have this opportunity. We know that he will do a great job."
In this pandemic-distorted season, when Allen's "Don't Blink" message resonates as never before, adversity can't change this fact:
The No. 10/11 Hoosiers (5-1) still have a shot at a Big Ten title.
"The bottom line is that setbacks and adversity are part of this life," Allen says. "We told the team, it is about how you respond to these challenges that define who we are.
"This is a great opportunity for (Penix) to grow amidst the difficulties he has been put through. I am excited for the opportunity that this presents for our team to come together and rely on our defense, the run game and Jack Tuttle to come in."
It's the third-straight year Penix has had a season-ending injury (last year it was sternoclavicular surgery). It reeks of unfairness, but life often is unfair.
"It attacks the core of who you are," Allen says. "How are you going to respond to things that happen that do not seem fair when there is no good answer? That is the case here. You fall back on what you believe in. You fall back on your faith, your family, all the people that care the most about you, and you battle. You fight. You do not back down."
The choice is clear -- overcome or surrender.
Penix ain't surrendering.
"Michael has some big-time, long-term goals," Allen says. "It is going to take tremendous grit to fight through this. It is going to create more character, toughness and resolve inside of him than you could ever get if you do not face adversity."
Penix was having a monster season, including the season-opening, diving two-point conversion that beat Penn State in overtime, a play that rates among the best in IU history, or any program's history, for that matter.
He shredded Ohio State, a team rich in NFL-caliber talent, for 491 yards and five touchdowns. He threw with power and accuracy; he played with poise and toughness; he led with vision and understanding.
In six games, Penix threw for a Big Ten-best 1,645 yards and 14 touchdowns, against just four interceptions. He also ran for two TDs.
His last play came on Saturday's third-quarter scramble against Maryland. He was pushed out of bounds and crumpled to the Memorial Stadium turf.
For the third-straight year, Penix faces grueling rehabilitation. His family has come up from Florida to add their support to that of Hoosier coaches, players and medical staff.
"We will support Michael in every way possible, through prayers and physical encouragement, to help him through this process as he will have a chance to overcome another hurdle in his life to grow closer to meeting his full potential as a man and as a player," Allen says.
IU has recruited for this kind of adversity. Tuttle, a redshirt sophomore from California, and Georgia true freshman Dexter Williams II, take over an offense that averages 32.8 points.
The 6-4, 215-pound Tuttle only threw 11 passes last season, completing six for 34 yards. The 6-1, 208-pound Williams was a dual-threat all-state player, throwing for 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns, rushing for 984 yards and 14 TDs as a senior.
"These guys have dreams, too," Allen says. "When the opportunity presents itself, you step up and seize those moments. That is what great teams do.
"This is a football team. It is offense, defense and special teams. All of the other areas need to step up. That is what happens when you lose a special player."
Tuttle's 4-star recruiting status -- throwing for over 5,400 yards and 54 touchdowns in his last two high school seasons -- wasn't built on mirages. He showed flashed of it against Maryland, when, despite not throwing a competitive pass all season, went 5-for-5 for 31 yards and completed a tough two-point conversion pass shortly after entering the game.
"He made a great first throw right out of the gate for the two-point play," Allen says. "He has worked extremely hard and prepared at a high level.
"I know that he has not played a lot here, but he has a big-time arm and has tremendous football instincts and football IQ.
"He is extremely bright, but his greatest quality is his work ethic. He was the first guy to our walk-through this weekend. He did not even know if he was going to play a snap."
Adds Sheridan: "We have a lot of confidence in Jack. He works really hard. He prepares his tail off. He has a lot of talent and he is ready. We know he will do a great job."
Tuttle, who spent a year at Utah before transferring to Indiana, will face the Big Ten's stingiest defense. The Badgers allow just 11.7 points and 166 passing yards a game. Both totals lead the conference. Quarterbacks complete just 48.4 percent of their passes against them.
Allen insists Tuttle is ready.
"He was a highly-recruited player out of high school and has a lot of arm talent. He just needs to understand that he has a lot of talent around him.
"He has a great receiving corps, tight ends, running backs, an offensive line and a great coaching staff that is going to support him. He needs to go out there and relax, just play football. He needs to help lead this team.
"I am excited about giving him a chance to prove who he is as a player. This situation has presented itself to him and he needs to take it on."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana's Michael Penix Jr. will be back.
Understand that right away.
The redshirt sophomore quarterback's season-ending torn ACL, the same injury to the same knee that ended his first season, will not stop him.
"Michael is a special player and an even better person," coach Tom Allen says. "He will be a great leader on the sideline, in the film room and all of the ways he can continue to help this team be great on game day."
New starting quarterback Jack Tuttle is a Hoosier for this kind of opportunity.
He will handle the challenge.
Expect to see that Saturday at No. 18/19 Wisconsin (2-1), and beyond.
"We have a lot of confidence and faith in Jack," offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan says. "We are excited for him to have this opportunity. We know that he will do a great job."
In this pandemic-distorted season, when Allen's "Don't Blink" message resonates as never before, adversity can't change this fact:
The No. 10/11 Hoosiers (5-1) still have a shot at a Big Ten title.
"The bottom line is that setbacks and adversity are part of this life," Allen says. "We told the team, it is about how you respond to these challenges that define who we are.
"This is a great opportunity for (Penix) to grow amidst the difficulties he has been put through. I am excited for the opportunity that this presents for our team to come together and rely on our defense, the run game and Jack Tuttle to come in."
It's the third-straight year Penix has had a season-ending injury (last year it was sternoclavicular surgery). It reeks of unfairness, but life often is unfair.
"It attacks the core of who you are," Allen says. "How are you going to respond to things that happen that do not seem fair when there is no good answer? That is the case here. You fall back on what you believe in. You fall back on your faith, your family, all the people that care the most about you, and you battle. You fight. You do not back down."
The choice is clear -- overcome or surrender.
Penix ain't surrendering.
"Michael has some big-time, long-term goals," Allen says. "It is going to take tremendous grit to fight through this. It is going to create more character, toughness and resolve inside of him than you could ever get if you do not face adversity."
Penix was having a monster season, including the season-opening, diving two-point conversion that beat Penn State in overtime, a play that rates among the best in IU history, or any program's history, for that matter.
He shredded Ohio State, a team rich in NFL-caliber talent, for 491 yards and five touchdowns. He threw with power and accuracy; he played with poise and toughness; he led with vision and understanding.
In six games, Penix threw for a Big Ten-best 1,645 yards and 14 touchdowns, against just four interceptions. He also ran for two TDs.
His last play came on Saturday's third-quarter scramble against Maryland. He was pushed out of bounds and crumpled to the Memorial Stadium turf.
For the third-straight year, Penix faces grueling rehabilitation. His family has come up from Florida to add their support to that of Hoosier coaches, players and medical staff.
"We will support Michael in every way possible, through prayers and physical encouragement, to help him through this process as he will have a chance to overcome another hurdle in his life to grow closer to meeting his full potential as a man and as a player," Allen says.
IU has recruited for this kind of adversity. Tuttle, a redshirt sophomore from California, and Georgia true freshman Dexter Williams II, take over an offense that averages 32.8 points.
The 6-4, 215-pound Tuttle only threw 11 passes last season, completing six for 34 yards. The 6-1, 208-pound Williams was a dual-threat all-state player, throwing for 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns, rushing for 984 yards and 14 TDs as a senior.
"These guys have dreams, too," Allen says. "When the opportunity presents itself, you step up and seize those moments. That is what great teams do.
"This is a football team. It is offense, defense and special teams. All of the other areas need to step up. That is what happens when you lose a special player."
Tuttle's 4-star recruiting status -- throwing for over 5,400 yards and 54 touchdowns in his last two high school seasons -- wasn't built on mirages. He showed flashed of it against Maryland, when, despite not throwing a competitive pass all season, went 5-for-5 for 31 yards and completed a tough two-point conversion pass shortly after entering the game.
"He made a great first throw right out of the gate for the two-point play," Allen says. "He has worked extremely hard and prepared at a high level.
"I know that he has not played a lot here, but he has a big-time arm and has tremendous football instincts and football IQ.
"He is extremely bright, but his greatest quality is his work ethic. He was the first guy to our walk-through this weekend. He did not even know if he was going to play a snap."
Adds Sheridan: "We have a lot of confidence in Jack. He works really hard. He prepares his tail off. He has a lot of talent and he is ready. We know he will do a great job."
Tuttle, who spent a year at Utah before transferring to Indiana, will face the Big Ten's stingiest defense. The Badgers allow just 11.7 points and 166 passing yards a game. Both totals lead the conference. Quarterbacks complete just 48.4 percent of their passes against them.
Allen insists Tuttle is ready.
"He was a highly-recruited player out of high school and has a lot of arm talent. He just needs to understand that he has a lot of talent around him.
"He has a great receiving corps, tight ends, running backs, an offensive line and a great coaching staff that is going to support him. He needs to go out there and relax, just play football. He needs to help lead this team.
"I am excited about giving him a chance to prove who he is as a player. This situation has presented itself to him and he needs to take it on."
Players Mentioned
FB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21