High Hoosier Hopes Start with Fitness
6/15/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - New normal looms and Indiana football aims to make the most of it.
Yes, the schedule is brutal – a trip to national power Wisconsin is added to the already formidable Big Ten East lineup -- and pandemic-caused separation kept players away from campus for nearly three months.
Still, they're back now to fuel optimism that Indiana can be even better than last season's 8-5 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl team.
The Hoosiers return eight starters from an offense that averaged more than 30 points a game, including quarterback Michael Penix Jr., 1,000-yard receiver Whop Philyor and bruising tailback Stevie Scott III. They also have nine starters back from a defense that held opponents to 24.4 points with a pair of shutouts.
Now the work really starts.
"The focus is on us physically getting in the kind of condition that we need to be in to have the kind of season we want to have," head coach Tom Allen says.
"It's another process-driven approach. We're not going to shy away from expectations. We're excited about the season.
"Getting them back in June is probably sooner than some thought. That's a positive thing."
The players' return comes via a science-based plan to maximize safety along with training.
Because it's never been tried before, no one is sure how it will all work.
"Progressing in this process is going to look different than any summer I've ever been part of in my coaching career," Allen says. "That's all the more reason to focus on the things we can control.
"There's no question we have a lot of players back from last year who have played at a high level. I expect our team to be ready to play their best football early because we have to. We play the Wisconsin Badgers in game No. 1. That's the focus."
One big question entering that Sept. 4 opener -- how much time is needed to get ready for the season?
"There are a lot of unknowns on what it's going to look like in July," Allen says. "No one has the answer to that. They're proposing different models on how you get your team ready.
"I think we all agree six weeks is the standard-bearer to be physically and mentally prepared to play a game.
"If it's a normal July, then it will speed up that process. If it's not, then we'll have to make some modifications."
In terms of plan specifics, Allen calls it a "gradual progression."
"You'd have a couple of weeks of walk-throughs. Then a week of continuous fall camp, and then you have your game week prep before you play your week one opponents."
In a normal year, IU coaches would know the team's fitness and strength level.
That's not true this summer. Players spent months working out on their own, some without any weight training equipment.
"That's the part that's very unique and challenging," Allen says.
"We had very detailed workouts for them to follow that they've done on their own. We weren't able to monitor that in any way officially. It was just by word of mouth with them saying, 'I'm doing this, I'm doing the workouts you're sending me, I'm lifting this many times. I'm running.'
"The biggest difference could be the equipment. Some of these guys have been doing push-ups and sit-ups and things in their house the entire time.
"The amount of work they put in is on them. We're going to find out who has and who hasn't."
This is the first time players have worked out face to face with new strength coach Aaron Wellman and his staff. He had just been hired in March when the pandemic hit and players were sent home.
"It's going to be a lot of changes," Allen says. "Just the structure, the discipline, the running and everything you do together. Making sure you're getting the right meals and everything is being done correctly in your (position) room meetings. It's a completely different situation."
Playing at the right weight is especially important in football. Players managed weight gain or loss on their own.
"Some guys are trying to gain good weight, some are trying to lose bad weight, and we'd do it differently if we were all together," Allen says.
Weight verification had players taking pictures of themselves on a scale. Allen understood accuracy wasn't a given.
"Whether there's somebody behind with a toe on the scale, or whether someone else is on the scale, who knows? That's the reality of the world we've been in.
"It's crazy, but it's trust. You create a culture where these guys love each other so much, that you trust each other to do the right thing. Coaches are counting on them to do the right thing.
"I'm not naïve. It's not the same as them doing it with us. There are some things we're going to have to make up for. That's across the board for the whole country."
Ultimately from this summer, Allen says, he wants to see growth physically, emotionally and mentally.
"We want to help our guys in those three areas and help them continue to move through this."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - New normal looms and Indiana football aims to make the most of it.
Yes, the schedule is brutal – a trip to national power Wisconsin is added to the already formidable Big Ten East lineup -- and pandemic-caused separation kept players away from campus for nearly three months.
Still, they're back now to fuel optimism that Indiana can be even better than last season's 8-5 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl team.
The Hoosiers return eight starters from an offense that averaged more than 30 points a game, including quarterback Michael Penix Jr., 1,000-yard receiver Whop Philyor and bruising tailback Stevie Scott III. They also have nine starters back from a defense that held opponents to 24.4 points with a pair of shutouts.
Now the work really starts.
"The focus is on us physically getting in the kind of condition that we need to be in to have the kind of season we want to have," head coach Tom Allen says.
"It's another process-driven approach. We're not going to shy away from expectations. We're excited about the season.
"Getting them back in June is probably sooner than some thought. That's a positive thing."
The players' return comes via a science-based plan to maximize safety along with training.
Because it's never been tried before, no one is sure how it will all work.
"Progressing in this process is going to look different than any summer I've ever been part of in my coaching career," Allen says. "That's all the more reason to focus on the things we can control.
"There's no question we have a lot of players back from last year who have played at a high level. I expect our team to be ready to play their best football early because we have to. We play the Wisconsin Badgers in game No. 1. That's the focus."
One big question entering that Sept. 4 opener -- how much time is needed to get ready for the season?
"There are a lot of unknowns on what it's going to look like in July," Allen says. "No one has the answer to that. They're proposing different models on how you get your team ready.
"I think we all agree six weeks is the standard-bearer to be physically and mentally prepared to play a game.
"If it's a normal July, then it will speed up that process. If it's not, then we'll have to make some modifications."
In terms of plan specifics, Allen calls it a "gradual progression."
"You'd have a couple of weeks of walk-throughs. Then a week of continuous fall camp, and then you have your game week prep before you play your week one opponents."
In a normal year, IU coaches would know the team's fitness and strength level.
That's not true this summer. Players spent months working out on their own, some without any weight training equipment.
"That's the part that's very unique and challenging," Allen says.
"We had very detailed workouts for them to follow that they've done on their own. We weren't able to monitor that in any way officially. It was just by word of mouth with them saying, 'I'm doing this, I'm doing the workouts you're sending me, I'm lifting this many times. I'm running.'
"The biggest difference could be the equipment. Some of these guys have been doing push-ups and sit-ups and things in their house the entire time.
"The amount of work they put in is on them. We're going to find out who has and who hasn't."
This is the first time players have worked out face to face with new strength coach Aaron Wellman and his staff. He had just been hired in March when the pandemic hit and players were sent home.
"It's going to be a lot of changes," Allen says. "Just the structure, the discipline, the running and everything you do together. Making sure you're getting the right meals and everything is being done correctly in your (position) room meetings. It's a completely different situation."
Playing at the right weight is especially important in football. Players managed weight gain or loss on their own.
"Some guys are trying to gain good weight, some are trying to lose bad weight, and we'd do it differently if we were all together," Allen says.
Weight verification had players taking pictures of themselves on a scale. Allen understood accuracy wasn't a given.
"Whether there's somebody behind with a toe on the scale, or whether someone else is on the scale, who knows? That's the reality of the world we've been in.
"It's crazy, but it's trust. You create a culture where these guys love each other so much, that you trust each other to do the right thing. Coaches are counting on them to do the right thing.
"I'm not naïve. It's not the same as them doing it with us. There are some things we're going to have to make up for. That's across the board for the whole country."
Ultimately from this summer, Allen says, he wants to see growth physically, emotionally and mentally.
"We want to help our guys in those three areas and help them continue to move through this."
Players Mentioned
FB: Week 4 (vs. Illinois) - Curt Cignett Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, September 20
FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 4 (Illinois)
Thursday, September 18
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 4 (Illinois)
Wednesday, September 17
FB: Mikail Kamara Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16