Fit To Win
7/16/2020 4:30:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana won the do-it-on-your-own work-out battle.
That was the first step.
Now the football Hoosiers have to win the July challenge.
So far, head coach Tom Allen says, so good.
He's seen his players and staff return to Memorial Stadium's friendly confines. He's watched them get COVID-19 tested and pushed by a new strength coaching staff. He understands the stakes ("Their well-being is at the top of the priority list. No matter how bad we want to play, we're not going to put them at risk.") and the possibilities if the season is played.
Cornerback Tiawan Mullen just made the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which goes annually to the nation's best defensive player. Running back Stevie Scott is a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, which annually goes to the nation's best running back. Whop Philyor made the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, which annually goes to the nation's outstanding receiver.
They highlight a team poised to go beyond last season's 8-5 break-through effort.
"I'm excited about our team and how hard they're working," Allen says.
Take, for instance, Hoosier fitness.
If they aren't strong enough and tough enough and conditioned enough, they have no chance in the brutal Big Ten East.
This much seems clear from Allen's Tuesday Zoom conference – the Hoosiers have given themselves a chance for a special season.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course. Rising pandemic infection numbers could ruin everything, including any sports season.
But for now, IU is in control-what-it-can-control mode, and the assessment from three months of on-your-own workouts (with senior assistant athletic director for football performance Aaron Wellman providing long-distance guidance) is optimistic.
"I thought that as a collective group," Allen says, "they did a good job of staying in good shape."
Players did that by training in garages and parks and backyards for a couple of months. They did it with equipment and without. They did it because they care, because they want to win and excel, because they understood what needs to be done.
"It's never quite the same when you're not with your teammates," Allen says. It's never quite the same when you don't have a coach there with you pushing you.
"Overall, it was positive."
On-their-own training had some players working close to the level they would have if they had stayed on campus. Some took an easier path. Most were somewhere in between.
Allen calls it the "10-80-10 principle."
"You probably have 10 percent that are training at an elite level. You have some of the team that is in good, solid shape and then you got a small group of guys that came back and had too many potato chips and soda. They didn't take care of business, and they felt that early on."
For the last month Wellman -- who joined the staff last winter after spending the previous four years running the NFL's New York Giants' program -- has worked to get everyone at the necessary strength and fitness level.
"I've been very encouraged," Allen says.
"(We were) very impressed with our strength staff and the way they function and how detailed they are and how they do what they do. We thought the (players) looked good. They're working their tails off and that's why I'm so proud of them.
"Amid all the question marks and the things we don't know, the one thing that I do know is that we've got a team that cares, a team that has high expectations for the 2020 season and a bunch of guys that are hungry to get back on the field and play at a high level.
"We know we got a lot more work ahead of us. They're definitely making good progress."
Progress started in mid-June when football players began returning. Then men's and women's basketball arrived, then the remaining fall sports such as soccer and volleyball. Every player and coach was tested.
According to the latest IU numbers, only four of the 299 Covid-19 tests it has administered to players and coaches have come back positive.
Still, given the lack of a vaccine, vigilance is required, Allen says.
"It's a constant challenge to keep healthy.
"Testing is an important piece, and the accuracy of it. We're trusting in that. We're doing everything we can to keep our guys safe."
IU divides players into groups, called "cohorts." Those players stay and train together. Each week those groups get larger, so when fall camp begins next month, the whole team can be together.
"We're not there yet," Allen says.
Players are constantly reminded to wear masks and social distance. They are told to stay away from parties or events where large numbers of people gather inside.
"That's the most dangerous type of environment, we think, to be in," Allen says.
"We follow that when we're here (in the IU facilities). When they're not here, we don't follow them home or hold their hands, but it's constant (reminders)."
Even then, temptation sometimes becomes too strong.
"We've had some situations where we found out they weren't (following the guidelines) and we had to get all over them," Allen says.
"It's about being unselfish. It's about deciding I'm going to put my team and the desire to play this fall (ahead of) my personal desire to have a good time. You've got to make some sacrifices."
The challenge, Allen adds, will be greater once school starts and students return.
"It will continue to be a point of emphasis and something we can't quit talking about."
Allen expects the season to start on time.
Coaches are planning what they'll do if multiple players test positive at the same time.
Allen says that means building depth like never before. It means having three players ready for every position.
Yes, that includes quarterback.
"Before you wanted to work hard to get two guys you felt confident playing," Allen says. "That has to expand to three."
It could be three different players or two, with another player able to handle multiple positions. Allen calls them, "swing guys."
"That's probably the first thing you do."
IU continues to try to keep players in the same position separated. You don't have, say, all three quarterbacks working together so that if one gets sick, they all are exposed and forced into quarantine.
"We've talked about keeping guys separated as much as we can," Allen says, "but there's a point where you can't do that. That part is very important to protect."
The pandemic challenge extends to coaches. If offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan or defensive coordinator Kane Wommack get sick, who will call the offensive and defensive plays? The same is true if Allen gets sick, or any assistant coach.
"We will have a backup for every coach," Allen says. "Whatever your role is, everybody has to have somebody ready to take his place if you can't go a certain week.
"There will be protocols in place. They aren't totally set yet."
The medical staff, led by Andy Hipskind and Larry Rink, is devising that plan, as it has for everything in this return-to-campus setting.
"We're relying on them heavily," Allen says. "The advice they'll give us and how we travel and all the things we'll go through. That will allow us to maintain and finish our season."
Another challenge -- if a coach is out for a while, can another coach -- more like a graduate assistant -- be moved up to take over until the coach can return? Allen said the compliance department is working with the NCAA to determine what will be allowed.
"We have a lot of guys on our staff who are very capable of being full-time coaches," Allen says. "I'm hoping we have that flexibility. It would make sense to have that one-year temporary exception because of the circumstances.
"Those are real-life things we have to deal with. We've got to prepare for everything."
A big point for Allen is that everyone -- including the public -- needs to work together if college sports, and the rest of the country, are to move forward under pandemic conditions.
"Just want to encourage everybody to wear masks, socially distance and do everything we can to help keep those around us safe, and we'll be able to do the things we love to do."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana won the do-it-on-your-own work-out battle.
That was the first step.
Now the football Hoosiers have to win the July challenge.
So far, head coach Tom Allen says, so good.
He's seen his players and staff return to Memorial Stadium's friendly confines. He's watched them get COVID-19 tested and pushed by a new strength coaching staff. He understands the stakes ("Their well-being is at the top of the priority list. No matter how bad we want to play, we're not going to put them at risk.") and the possibilities if the season is played.
Cornerback Tiawan Mullen just made the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which goes annually to the nation's best defensive player. Running back Stevie Scott is a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, which annually goes to the nation's best running back. Whop Philyor made the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, which annually goes to the nation's outstanding receiver.
They highlight a team poised to go beyond last season's 8-5 break-through effort.
"I'm excited about our team and how hard they're working," Allen says.
Take, for instance, Hoosier fitness.
If they aren't strong enough and tough enough and conditioned enough, they have no chance in the brutal Big Ten East.
This much seems clear from Allen's Tuesday Zoom conference – the Hoosiers have given themselves a chance for a special season.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course. Rising pandemic infection numbers could ruin everything, including any sports season.
But for now, IU is in control-what-it-can-control mode, and the assessment from three months of on-your-own workouts (with senior assistant athletic director for football performance Aaron Wellman providing long-distance guidance) is optimistic.
"I thought that as a collective group," Allen says, "they did a good job of staying in good shape."
Players did that by training in garages and parks and backyards for a couple of months. They did it with equipment and without. They did it because they care, because they want to win and excel, because they understood what needs to be done.
"It's never quite the same when you're not with your teammates," Allen says. It's never quite the same when you don't have a coach there with you pushing you.
"Overall, it was positive."
On-their-own training had some players working close to the level they would have if they had stayed on campus. Some took an easier path. Most were somewhere in between.
Allen calls it the "10-80-10 principle."
"You probably have 10 percent that are training at an elite level. You have some of the team that is in good, solid shape and then you got a small group of guys that came back and had too many potato chips and soda. They didn't take care of business, and they felt that early on."
For the last month Wellman -- who joined the staff last winter after spending the previous four years running the NFL's New York Giants' program -- has worked to get everyone at the necessary strength and fitness level.
"I've been very encouraged," Allen says.
"(We were) very impressed with our strength staff and the way they function and how detailed they are and how they do what they do. We thought the (players) looked good. They're working their tails off and that's why I'm so proud of them.
"Amid all the question marks and the things we don't know, the one thing that I do know is that we've got a team that cares, a team that has high expectations for the 2020 season and a bunch of guys that are hungry to get back on the field and play at a high level.
"We know we got a lot more work ahead of us. They're definitely making good progress."
Progress started in mid-June when football players began returning. Then men's and women's basketball arrived, then the remaining fall sports such as soccer and volleyball. Every player and coach was tested.
According to the latest IU numbers, only four of the 299 Covid-19 tests it has administered to players and coaches have come back positive.
Still, given the lack of a vaccine, vigilance is required, Allen says.
"It's a constant challenge to keep healthy.
"Testing is an important piece, and the accuracy of it. We're trusting in that. We're doing everything we can to keep our guys safe."
IU divides players into groups, called "cohorts." Those players stay and train together. Each week those groups get larger, so when fall camp begins next month, the whole team can be together.
"We're not there yet," Allen says.
Players are constantly reminded to wear masks and social distance. They are told to stay away from parties or events where large numbers of people gather inside.
"That's the most dangerous type of environment, we think, to be in," Allen says.
"We follow that when we're here (in the IU facilities). When they're not here, we don't follow them home or hold their hands, but it's constant (reminders)."
Even then, temptation sometimes becomes too strong.
"We've had some situations where we found out they weren't (following the guidelines) and we had to get all over them," Allen says.
"It's about being unselfish. It's about deciding I'm going to put my team and the desire to play this fall (ahead of) my personal desire to have a good time. You've got to make some sacrifices."
The challenge, Allen adds, will be greater once school starts and students return.
"It will continue to be a point of emphasis and something we can't quit talking about."
Allen expects the season to start on time.
Coaches are planning what they'll do if multiple players test positive at the same time.
Allen says that means building depth like never before. It means having three players ready for every position.
Yes, that includes quarterback.
"Before you wanted to work hard to get two guys you felt confident playing," Allen says. "That has to expand to three."
It could be three different players or two, with another player able to handle multiple positions. Allen calls them, "swing guys."
"That's probably the first thing you do."
IU continues to try to keep players in the same position separated. You don't have, say, all three quarterbacks working together so that if one gets sick, they all are exposed and forced into quarantine.
"We've talked about keeping guys separated as much as we can," Allen says, "but there's a point where you can't do that. That part is very important to protect."
The pandemic challenge extends to coaches. If offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan or defensive coordinator Kane Wommack get sick, who will call the offensive and defensive plays? The same is true if Allen gets sick, or any assistant coach.
"We will have a backup for every coach," Allen says. "Whatever your role is, everybody has to have somebody ready to take his place if you can't go a certain week.
"There will be protocols in place. They aren't totally set yet."
The medical staff, led by Andy Hipskind and Larry Rink, is devising that plan, as it has for everything in this return-to-campus setting.
"We're relying on them heavily," Allen says. "The advice they'll give us and how we travel and all the things we'll go through. That will allow us to maintain and finish our season."
Another challenge -- if a coach is out for a while, can another coach -- more like a graduate assistant -- be moved up to take over until the coach can return? Allen said the compliance department is working with the NCAA to determine what will be allowed.
"We have a lot of guys on our staff who are very capable of being full-time coaches," Allen says. "I'm hoping we have that flexibility. It would make sense to have that one-year temporary exception because of the circumstances.
"Those are real-life things we have to deal with. We've got to prepare for everything."
A big point for Allen is that everyone -- including the public -- needs to work together if college sports, and the rest of the country, are to move forward under pandemic conditions.
"Just want to encourage everybody to wear masks, socially distance and do everything we can to help keep those around us safe, and we'll be able to do the things we love to do."
Players Mentioned
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