Soccer Season Shut Down, But Not Title Aspirations
8/21/2020 9:30:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A championship soccer season was lost.
Or was it?
If you believe the Indiana Hoosiers, the pandemic just delayed a ninth men's title.
In fact, whether IU plays in August, September, December, May or whenever, it will be ready, fall shutdown be darned.
"Everyone's mindset each year is that we are working towards December and a national championship," defender Spencer Glass says via a Zoom press conference. "This year, we have to flip a switch and work harder for a little longer, for May or whenever we can hopefully play for that title."
This reflects the title-winning mentality that is part of the Hoosiers' DNA. Besides the eight national championships, there are 16 Big Ten regular season crowns, and 14 conference tourney titles. They've swept both the last two seasons.
Patience is part of the process, especially given the Big Ten's recent decision to cancel fall sports and the NCAA's announcement no fall national championships will be held.
"We realize we are going to have to grind out a little longer," Glass says, "but the message we are telling everyone is that it does not change for us. We are still practicing at the same time and doing the same things. It just might be for a little longer."
Did losing the season hurt?
You bet.
Then resolve kicked in.
"We took a day or two when it finally got decided and that was a little tough to hear," Glass says. "But it's the mindset that it will be a longer, more challenging road to a national championship. We are up for it."
History suggests that's true.
IU has played in 20 College Cups, and finished as national runner-up seven times, including 2017. The dominating program built by Hall of Fame coach Jerry Yeagley and continued by son Todd shows no signs of slowing down.
As for dealing with the disappointment, the Hoosiers have found the perfect anecdote.
Fishing and golf.
"We started a group and called it 'Bass FC.' We have five or six guys that have been bass fishing a lot," midfielder Joe Schmidt says. "Those are the more country boys.
"Then we have the Country Club Boys that go golfing. So, we have a couple of different groups and a lot of fishing and a lot of golfing."
Beyond that, Schmidt adds, "A.J. [Palazzolo] and I have been running through all sorts of movie series, like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. We are just finding creative ways to spend our time.
"Obviously, once school starts, we will focus more on that."
Classes are set to start Monday.
The end of the fall season hasn't caused a drop in training intensity, Glass says. Workouts will likely continue six days a week, along with game-like situations.
"I think it shows the mental toughness of our team," he says. "The message from the older guys was that we knew (Yeagley) was going to fight for us to continue to practice like we are now, so whether (the season) was called two weeks ago or we were going to play one game and get called, we would be ready."
Adds Todd Yeagley: "They are motivated to win, motivated to put more trophies here for IU Soccer. Many are motivated to play beyond Indiana. All of those things together allow us to move forward with a lot of focus."
Just returning to campus was a boost, Schmidt adds.
"It was a really long summer doing everything on Zoom and not being able to see anyone. Everyone was excited to get back.
"On our first day of training, we were riding a high. Then, a couple hours later, it was 'by the way, you guys are not playing any games this fall.'
"That was definitely tough news, but we have to be understanding of it and trust the medical experts who ultimately made that decision."
A spring season is possible, but not guaranteed.
"There has not been any final word on the spring," Yeagley says. "As we have seen in the last five months, everything is fluid and on the table. That's the word of the year -- fluid.
"It is the ultimate challenge to stay focused on what we know. Sometimes we know very little. All we know is that we can prepare."
Hoosier players spent the past spring and part of the summer training at home without coaches or IU facility availability.
Yeagley and his staff could only hope the players did not disappoint.
They didn't then. They won't now.
"The guys came back really sharp and fit," Yeagley says. "That was all on their own. I speak to my (coaching) peers and other people around the country, and they say their kids were not ready. Our kids were ready.
"We have a very competitive group. Our guys are very motivated to continue to train and move forward.
"With the (spring) season hopefully on the horizon, that certainly gives them extra motivation to make sure they are prepared."
Having stronger player leadership helps. That surfaced during the quarantine.
"A big thing that Coach (Yeagley) always says to the older guys is that you lead by example," Glass says. "I think that when you are not with everyone on or off the field and everyone is in different cities, it is kind of tough.
"Having to use technology to reach out to the guys, check in on the younger guys. Just having the team stay in touch.
"We always say how important family is here. Having that family aspect when you are not seeing everyone day in and day out, not being with your brothers, was tough."
The Hoosiers got through it.
"I will give the coaches credit for that," Glass says. "They did a big portion of that."
Meanwhile, the 21st Century has finally found Indiana's soccer facilities.
Imagine the recruiting and championship possibilities from the $7 million Jerry F. Tardy Center.
"This new facility is absolutely incredible," Schmidt says. "It is something that I never thought I would experience while I was here. I think that everyone is excited to slowly start using it more and more."
Adds Yeagley: "To finally see it finished, I thought everyone did a great job of minimizing the exposure of the facility so it was really a surprise. It was so cool to see them get really excited for what this does."
The Hoosier men already land talent to rival any team in the country, a big reason why they are perennial national contenders.
Yeagley and his staff did that with a stadium that was 20 years past its prime, harnessing the program's rich tradition with elite coaching and player development, although training often came at multiple locations.
Now, it's all centered at Armstrong Stadium. The Tardy Center is a two-story, state-of-the-art facility that includes a 900-square foot indoor warm-up room with turf, more than 1,500 square foot locker rooms for the men's and women's teams, coaches offices, interactive video displays featuring great moments in program history, an athletic training facility, and the Pfau Champions Lobby, which highlights great moments in program history.
The Tardy Center also includes an 840-square-foot second-floor VIP suite that overlooks Jerry Yeagley Field, a 2,800-square-foot outdoor terrace, plus accommodations for the Little 500 bicycle race
The facility is named for Jerry F. Tardy, the former IU Alumni Association President and a huge supporter of the soccer program before passing away in 2001. The lead gift was provided by Jeff and Margaret Jones.
The fact that it took years to become reality only made the project's completion all the more satisfying.
"I am excited for our seniors, who finally get to be in the facility," Yeagley says.
"It gives us a home, one location for us. We can be in one spot. Our athletic trainer, our offices, the lounge, their locker room, a warm-up space, a beautiful turf room for them to get touches when they want pre- and post-practice.
"It has been a long time in the workings for this. A lot of hard work went into putting this together."
Because of the pandemic, the work isn't complete.
"Obviously, we are not using it in the same capacity as we would be if it were a non-COVID-19 time," Yeagley says. "We are very pleased for them. The smiles on the guy's faces when they toured the facility for the first time said it all."
It was a big boost after the cancellation of the season.
"There has been a lot of disappointment in the last four to five months," Yeagley says, "and we need more days like this, days that are just pure excitement and appreciation."
It reflects all the hard work put in by so many.
"We spoke often about it," Yeagley says, "that we would not be in this beautiful new facility if it were not for the groundwork laid by so many people that are important to the program, whether that is the players and staff that helped build this into what it is today to the friends and supporters that invested so much into our program. This was all privately funded through friends of the program and people that really care deeply about Indiana and about IU Soccer. We are very fortunate for that."
@IndianaMSOC
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A championship soccer season was lost.
Or was it?
If you believe the Indiana Hoosiers, the pandemic just delayed a ninth men's title.
In fact, whether IU plays in August, September, December, May or whenever, it will be ready, fall shutdown be darned.
"Everyone's mindset each year is that we are working towards December and a national championship," defender Spencer Glass says via a Zoom press conference. "This year, we have to flip a switch and work harder for a little longer, for May or whenever we can hopefully play for that title."
This reflects the title-winning mentality that is part of the Hoosiers' DNA. Besides the eight national championships, there are 16 Big Ten regular season crowns, and 14 conference tourney titles. They've swept both the last two seasons.
Patience is part of the process, especially given the Big Ten's recent decision to cancel fall sports and the NCAA's announcement no fall national championships will be held.
"We realize we are going to have to grind out a little longer," Glass says, "but the message we are telling everyone is that it does not change for us. We are still practicing at the same time and doing the same things. It just might be for a little longer."
Did losing the season hurt?
You bet.
Then resolve kicked in.
"We took a day or two when it finally got decided and that was a little tough to hear," Glass says. "But it's the mindset that it will be a longer, more challenging road to a national championship. We are up for it."
History suggests that's true.
IU has played in 20 College Cups, and finished as national runner-up seven times, including 2017. The dominating program built by Hall of Fame coach Jerry Yeagley and continued by son Todd shows no signs of slowing down.
As for dealing with the disappointment, the Hoosiers have found the perfect anecdote.
Fishing and golf.
"We started a group and called it 'Bass FC.' We have five or six guys that have been bass fishing a lot," midfielder Joe Schmidt says. "Those are the more country boys.
"Then we have the Country Club Boys that go golfing. So, we have a couple of different groups and a lot of fishing and a lot of golfing."
Beyond that, Schmidt adds, "A.J. [Palazzolo] and I have been running through all sorts of movie series, like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. We are just finding creative ways to spend our time.
"Obviously, once school starts, we will focus more on that."
Classes are set to start Monday.
The end of the fall season hasn't caused a drop in training intensity, Glass says. Workouts will likely continue six days a week, along with game-like situations.
"I think it shows the mental toughness of our team," he says. "The message from the older guys was that we knew (Yeagley) was going to fight for us to continue to practice like we are now, so whether (the season) was called two weeks ago or we were going to play one game and get called, we would be ready."
Adds Todd Yeagley: "They are motivated to win, motivated to put more trophies here for IU Soccer. Many are motivated to play beyond Indiana. All of those things together allow us to move forward with a lot of focus."
Just returning to campus was a boost, Schmidt adds.
"It was a really long summer doing everything on Zoom and not being able to see anyone. Everyone was excited to get back.
"On our first day of training, we were riding a high. Then, a couple hours later, it was 'by the way, you guys are not playing any games this fall.'
"That was definitely tough news, but we have to be understanding of it and trust the medical experts who ultimately made that decision."
A spring season is possible, but not guaranteed.
"There has not been any final word on the spring," Yeagley says. "As we have seen in the last five months, everything is fluid and on the table. That's the word of the year -- fluid.
"It is the ultimate challenge to stay focused on what we know. Sometimes we know very little. All we know is that we can prepare."
Hoosier players spent the past spring and part of the summer training at home without coaches or IU facility availability.
Yeagley and his staff could only hope the players did not disappoint.
They didn't then. They won't now.
"The guys came back really sharp and fit," Yeagley says. "That was all on their own. I speak to my (coaching) peers and other people around the country, and they say their kids were not ready. Our kids were ready.
"We have a very competitive group. Our guys are very motivated to continue to train and move forward.
"With the (spring) season hopefully on the horizon, that certainly gives them extra motivation to make sure they are prepared."
Having stronger player leadership helps. That surfaced during the quarantine.
"A big thing that Coach (Yeagley) always says to the older guys is that you lead by example," Glass says. "I think that when you are not with everyone on or off the field and everyone is in different cities, it is kind of tough.
"Having to use technology to reach out to the guys, check in on the younger guys. Just having the team stay in touch.
"We always say how important family is here. Having that family aspect when you are not seeing everyone day in and day out, not being with your brothers, was tough."
The Hoosiers got through it.
"I will give the coaches credit for that," Glass says. "They did a big portion of that."
Meanwhile, the 21st Century has finally found Indiana's soccer facilities.
Imagine the recruiting and championship possibilities from the $7 million Jerry F. Tardy Center.
"This new facility is absolutely incredible," Schmidt says. "It is something that I never thought I would experience while I was here. I think that everyone is excited to slowly start using it more and more."
Adds Yeagley: "To finally see it finished, I thought everyone did a great job of minimizing the exposure of the facility so it was really a surprise. It was so cool to see them get really excited for what this does."
The Hoosier men already land talent to rival any team in the country, a big reason why they are perennial national contenders.
Yeagley and his staff did that with a stadium that was 20 years past its prime, harnessing the program's rich tradition with elite coaching and player development, although training often came at multiple locations.
Now, it's all centered at Armstrong Stadium. The Tardy Center is a two-story, state-of-the-art facility that includes a 900-square foot indoor warm-up room with turf, more than 1,500 square foot locker rooms for the men's and women's teams, coaches offices, interactive video displays featuring great moments in program history, an athletic training facility, and the Pfau Champions Lobby, which highlights great moments in program history.
The Tardy Center also includes an 840-square-foot second-floor VIP suite that overlooks Jerry Yeagley Field, a 2,800-square-foot outdoor terrace, plus accommodations for the Little 500 bicycle race
The facility is named for Jerry F. Tardy, the former IU Alumni Association President and a huge supporter of the soccer program before passing away in 2001. The lead gift was provided by Jeff and Margaret Jones.
The fact that it took years to become reality only made the project's completion all the more satisfying.
"I am excited for our seniors, who finally get to be in the facility," Yeagley says.
"It gives us a home, one location for us. We can be in one spot. Our athletic trainer, our offices, the lounge, their locker room, a warm-up space, a beautiful turf room for them to get touches when they want pre- and post-practice.
"It has been a long time in the workings for this. A lot of hard work went into putting this together."
Because of the pandemic, the work isn't complete.
"Obviously, we are not using it in the same capacity as we would be if it were a non-COVID-19 time," Yeagley says. "We are very pleased for them. The smiles on the guy's faces when they toured the facility for the first time said it all."
It was a big boost after the cancellation of the season.
"There has been a lot of disappointment in the last four to five months," Yeagley says, "and we need more days like this, days that are just pure excitement and appreciation."
It reflects all the hard work put in by so many.
"We spoke often about it," Yeagley says, "that we would not be in this beautiful new facility if it were not for the groundwork laid by so many people that are important to the program, whether that is the players and staff that helped build this into what it is today to the friends and supporters that invested so much into our program. This was all privately funded through friends of the program and people that really care deeply about Indiana and about IU Soccer. We are very fortunate for that."
@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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