Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Closing in on ‘Normal’ as Bowl Preparations Ramp Up
12/24/2020 9:41:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Home for Christmas is not an Indiana football option.
Not under pandemic restrictions and Outback Bowl preparations.
The Hoosiers remain in a COVID-19 bubble. Not every player has been cleared to practice following an outbreak that twice cost the No. 7 Hoosiers (6-1) a chance to play rival Purdue.
Some players have begun practicing for the Jan. 2 matchup with Ole Miss (4-5) in Tampa, Fla.
"We are getting closer, but are not back to normal yet," coach Tom Allen said during Wednesday's Zoom media availability. "We have had three practices. We practiced Monday, Tuesday and (Wednesday).
"We will go again (on Thursday), but will not go on Christmas Day."
Allen has said 28 members of the program -- players and coaches -- had tested positive for COVID-19. Not everyone has cleared university and Big Ten protocols to resume full activity.
"It has been a slow progression getting guys back," Allen said. "We had to modify our practice plans and how we do things because of our numbers and the limited numbers that we have. We are still getting back.
"We are hoping to have all our guys that have to clear COVID protocols by Monday. We are not for sure on all of them. We do not know all the answers yet. There are a lot of things they have to go through, testing wise.
"There is no question that it is getting a little bit better every day. It is just part of the process that we go through. I have spent a lot of time with our medical staff and (head athletic trainer) Kyle Blackman continues to do an excellent job for us and leading those guys.
"We have all these guys in different phases with what they can and cannot do with the medical staff, the strength staff and parts of practice. Some guys are doing certain things at practice, but cannot be there for the entire time. We are working together. We feel good about it, a lot better than we did a week ago. But we are definitely not at full strength yet."
Leaving for a quick Christmas trip home isn't an option, Allen added.
"We have protocols we have to follow, so unfortunately we are not allowed to have anybody go outside of our bubble for Christmas. They cannot leave. We are all going to stay here."
Allen said there will be a team dinner on Friday with a "big, old Christmas tree."
"It is one of the sacrifices these guys have to make," Allen said. "It's not easy. I get that, but we are going to be together as our football family."
Per IU protocols, any player leaving the bubble would be out all of next week and not able to play in the bowl game.
"That obviously doesn't work," Allen said, "because you're getting ready to play the game. That's a reality of COVID that we are dealing with. We have to follow these protocols. We have stuck to them for this long. We've just got 10 more days to finish this out."
IU aims for its first bowl win since the 1991 Copper Bowl to wrap up one of the most memorable seasons in program history. It included wins over Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
That came despite a series of pandemic-caused disruptions that nearly cancelled the season.
"I think people from the outside do not understand what these guys have been through and how much they've sacrificed and invested for this program, this university," Allen said.
"They are a special group."
Allen continues racking up national coaching accolades. He is a semifinalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year.
He's also a finalist for the Dodd Trophy, the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award.
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