Indiana University Athletics
Title Aspirations Remain for Indiana Soccer
4/16/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Pandemic uncertainty can't rock Indiana soccer.
Its culture is too firmly established, its foundation too deeply rooted for the Hoosiers to lose sight of the big picture:
Win right and win big.
So with players and coaches scattered all over the country because of Covid-19-mandated separation, coach Todd Yeagley has Hoosier priorities firmly in sight.
"How can we get better? What can we do to improve? We challenge (players) to experiment and get better."
He pauses.
"We're making the best of the situation we're dealing with."
Would you expect anything less from a program that has won eight national titles -- one by Todd Yeagley, six by his father, Jerry, and one by Mike Freitag?
Major player losses after consecutive College Cub appearances didn't faze IU last season. It went 15-3-4 and won Big Ten regular season and conference tourney titles for the second straight year.
The Hoosiers seem poised for another championship run -- unless the pandemic ruins the season. No one knows when teams in any sport will return to action.
No matter. Yeagley plans for the best.
"How sharp will they be coming into the season," he asks. "Our preseason is not the time to get fit and sharp. It's time to get the team organized and ready to play in two weeks.
"As long as they're fit and sharp as they can be, we can get to work. Everyone will have a bit of a loss of sharpness and readiness as we enter this year."
Summer is usually the time for players to compete in amateur leagues. That likely won't happen this summer.
Still, Yeagley says he expects his players to come to August camp in shape. The big question is "game fitness."
"I don't think physically they won't be prepared," Yeagley says. "But reaction and timing are things you can't create on your own. But they'll be fine if they stay with the workouts we have planned for them."
As far as equipment, Yeagley says coaches are sending players what the NCAA allows.
"We are giving them everything we're able to do. Luckily, equipment-wise we don't need much. They have what they need for individual things.
"It gets back to the team culture. We can't do live, interactive Zoom workouts. We show them workouts and they do them on their own."
Yeagley is convinced no one is skipping on the work.
"I know they're doing it. This is no different than in January when we're in our limited hour time. We give them opportunities to go into (the Mellencamp Pavilion). Guys went after it. They looked like (the coaches) were there.
"Our guys are disciplined and motivated. They want to win and get to the next level.
"We give them workouts and challenges. Tactical things. We have individual meetings with coaches. We share screens. We're doing everything in our power. We try to get them to compete with fun challenges because our guys are so competitive."
Through it all, IU remains a national recruiting juggernaut. After landing the nation's No. 1 class in 2019, it followed with the a second-straight top-ranked group in 2020.
"Last year we had to get the freshmen into the team," Yeagley says. "This year, with the developing of players and (returning starters), we just need guys who can fill some gaps. We don't have to have them ready, but it will be a bonus if they are.
"No one is given anything. They know that. And you don't want to give them too few minutes.
"There are two to three players in this class who could impact with some good minutes. And there are always surprises. It's a great group of kids."
Elite recruiting means balancing signing players who will only be around a year or two before turning pro with four- to five-year guys.
"We have to offset the players that come in with one to two years of potential college before coming out," Yeagley says. "This group will have more of a long scope."
A major upgrade to Bill Armstrong Stadium is on schedule for summer completion. A new, two-story, 21,000-square-foot facility rises on the north grandstand. It includes locker rooms, a lobby, a team room, a warm-up room and coaches offices.
It follows the new playing surface that was installed last year, along with an improved drainage system and new Tahome 31 Bermuagrass.
"Construction is going well," Yeagley says. "Everything is on pace. There are no slow ups with Covid-19.
"We're pleased with where we are. It was already (set) to get completed. The financing was all in place. We should be moving in there in July."
@IndianaMSOC
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Pandemic uncertainty can't rock Indiana soccer.
Its culture is too firmly established, its foundation too deeply rooted for the Hoosiers to lose sight of the big picture:
Win right and win big.
So with players and coaches scattered all over the country because of Covid-19-mandated separation, coach Todd Yeagley has Hoosier priorities firmly in sight.
"How can we get better? What can we do to improve? We challenge (players) to experiment and get better."
He pauses.
"We're making the best of the situation we're dealing with."
Would you expect anything less from a program that has won eight national titles -- one by Todd Yeagley, six by his father, Jerry, and one by Mike Freitag?
Major player losses after consecutive College Cub appearances didn't faze IU last season. It went 15-3-4 and won Big Ten regular season and conference tourney titles for the second straight year.
The Hoosiers seem poised for another championship run -- unless the pandemic ruins the season. No one knows when teams in any sport will return to action.
No matter. Yeagley plans for the best.
"How sharp will they be coming into the season," he asks. "Our preseason is not the time to get fit and sharp. It's time to get the team organized and ready to play in two weeks.
"As long as they're fit and sharp as they can be, we can get to work. Everyone will have a bit of a loss of sharpness and readiness as we enter this year."
Summer is usually the time for players to compete in amateur leagues. That likely won't happen this summer.
Still, Yeagley says he expects his players to come to August camp in shape. The big question is "game fitness."
"I don't think physically they won't be prepared," Yeagley says. "But reaction and timing are things you can't create on your own. But they'll be fine if they stay with the workouts we have planned for them."
As far as equipment, Yeagley says coaches are sending players what the NCAA allows.
"We are giving them everything we're able to do. Luckily, equipment-wise we don't need much. They have what they need for individual things.
"It gets back to the team culture. We can't do live, interactive Zoom workouts. We show them workouts and they do them on their own."
Yeagley is convinced no one is skipping on the work.
"I know they're doing it. This is no different than in January when we're in our limited hour time. We give them opportunities to go into (the Mellencamp Pavilion). Guys went after it. They looked like (the coaches) were there.
"Our guys are disciplined and motivated. They want to win and get to the next level.
"We give them workouts and challenges. Tactical things. We have individual meetings with coaches. We share screens. We're doing everything in our power. We try to get them to compete with fun challenges because our guys are so competitive."
Through it all, IU remains a national recruiting juggernaut. After landing the nation's No. 1 class in 2019, it followed with the a second-straight top-ranked group in 2020.
"Last year we had to get the freshmen into the team," Yeagley says. "This year, with the developing of players and (returning starters), we just need guys who can fill some gaps. We don't have to have them ready, but it will be a bonus if they are.
"No one is given anything. They know that. And you don't want to give them too few minutes.
"There are two to three players in this class who could impact with some good minutes. And there are always surprises. It's a great group of kids."
Elite recruiting means balancing signing players who will only be around a year or two before turning pro with four- to five-year guys.
"We have to offset the players that come in with one to two years of potential college before coming out," Yeagley says. "This group will have more of a long scope."
A major upgrade to Bill Armstrong Stadium is on schedule for summer completion. A new, two-story, 21,000-square-foot facility rises on the north grandstand. It includes locker rooms, a lobby, a team room, a warm-up room and coaches offices.
It follows the new playing surface that was installed last year, along with an improved drainage system and new Tahome 31 Bermuagrass.
"Construction is going well," Yeagley says. "Everything is on pace. There are no slow ups with Covid-19.
"We're pleased with where we are. It was already (set) to get completed. The financing was all in place. We should be moving in there in July."
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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