Staying ‘Sharp’ – IU Making Best of Tough Football Situation
8/25/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – What do you do when you're Tom Allen and you coach the best Indiana football team of your life, and you won't get a chance to prove it in the fall?
Allen, on a recent Zoom press conference from his Memorial Stadium office, explained his approach amid Covid-19-caused misery.
It comes down to this:
Keep it simple, positive and forward thinking.
"The bottom line," he says, "is we can all benefit from these next several months of developing our bodies, getting our minds sharper and getting our skills sharper so we can be a better football team when we take the field.
"When we are told it is safe to play, whenever that might be, we will be ready. That's the goal."
Let others criticize and complain. Allen is too focused on a bright future -- see last season's 8-5 record as proof of that. Present disappointment is just a means to an end. He's faced it before, in different forms, and will again.
"This was a season I looked forward to. We had gotten the program to a point where there was a lot to be excited about. A lot of guys played last year. We had a lot of guys back. This was a season I've looked forward to for a while. To get it pulled out from under you was tough. It was very frustrating."
The potential to watch other conferences play while Big Ten teams don't adds to it.
"That's tough to swallow," Allen says. "It would be hard to watch when you're supposed to be playing.
"I could not allow myself to stay there. I had to flip a switch. How do we make the best of this situation? How do we continue to build the program?"
The answer finds Allen drawing inspiration from Abraham Lincoln, perhaps the greatest President in our nation's history. He overcame a Civil War catastrophe far greater than this.
Lincoln's quote, "If I were given six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four sharpening my axe," resonates with Allen's prepare-and-work message.
In truth, if the Hoosiers are to overcome powerhouse programs such as Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan that they face every year, their preparation has to be at an elite level. That's true for 2020, and beyond.
"It's all about improving the tools you work with and getting them to the highest level possible," Allen says.
Doing that starts with football director of sports performance Aaron Wellman, who joined the program last winter. Allen calls him the best strength coach in America.
"I'm excited about him developing our guys."
Per NCAA rules, the Hoosiers have 12 hours a week to work, and they will maximize it to the fullest over the next several months, especially in the weight room
"This is a very, very important period," Allen says. "Twelve hours is the number (the NCAA) has given conferences that are not playing in the fall. That includes weight training, conditioning, running, meeting time and some skill work.
"There will be a heavy emphasis on the weight room. We will sprinkle in skill development, technique development and film study to keep the program moving forward and to keep our guys growing and developing."
There is a push to play in the winter/spring, and then next fall. As far as what makes the most sense, Allen says, "I think there are three things that need to be accomplished in order for us to make a decision.
"Number 1, no matter when it is, is it safe for our players to come back and play? What has changed? What standards are we able to meet that we have not met in the past that kept us from playing?
"From a health and safety perspective, we have to make sure that we have all of those things answered from a testing perspective, contact tracing and all of the different issues that were brought up to cause us to be delayed.
"Number 2, there has to be a quality experience for our guys. Whatever window we feel is best, we need to have a quality season that can be a quality experience and allow our players to feel that this is a great thing to do and be a part of.
"Number 3, I do not want to see us negatively impact the 2021 season. I think that is a big variable involved to make sure we are not putting too much of a workload on the body. That is where the later (a spring season) goes, the less I feel good about it.
"I have seen some people talk about having a shortened spring season and a shortened fall season of 2021. I would not be in favor of that. I want to see us keep 2021 secure and do the best we can within the other parameters to create a good scenario for this winter or spring."
Meanwhile, there is no guarantee the SEC, ACC and Big 12 will play football this season. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has suggested that if his conference doesn't play football, it might cancel all sports for the entire 2020-21 academic year.
The uncertainty of everything has Allen locked into his control-what-you-can-control message.
"A lot of things are very fluid," he says. "There are a lot of things that we do not know.
"As I have met with our guys, met with our players, coaches and everyone that is a part of our program, it is what do we know and what can we control?"
One thing IU can control is recruiting. Its 2021 class will be smaller than usual because of projected minimal turnover, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in impact. Allen says the class, "Is pretty close to being full at this point."
Coaches are still targeting offensive line, defensive line and, perhaps, defensive back, Allen adds.
"And you're always looking for a play-maker on offense."
Could not playing in 2020 hurt recruiting, especially if other conferences do play? Allen calls that a "concern."
"Does it affect the 2021 season? As long as we can keep it contained to the 2020 year, I see that not being affected as much. Obviously it's not going to help."
Allen isn't dealing with this in a vacuum. It starts at the top with director of athletics Scott Dolson, who took over the job from Fred Glass in July under unprecedented conditions. The cancellation of last spring's NCAA Tournament, and now fall football, creates huge financial challenges. Iowa, for instance, just cut four sports. Stanford eliminated 11 earlier in the summer.
Allen praises Dolson's communication through it all.
"Just his willingness to keep me involved in everything. We're always on the same page. It's a tough job he's been put into. I know he has a lot of tough decisions ahead. He's handled it in a great way."
No matter what happens this fall, Allen will continue handling it in a way that works best for the program. It comes down to this:
"Sharpen your axe. Develop our minds and our skills. Find a way to improve in every way."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – What do you do when you're Tom Allen and you coach the best Indiana football team of your life, and you won't get a chance to prove it in the fall?
Allen, on a recent Zoom press conference from his Memorial Stadium office, explained his approach amid Covid-19-caused misery.
It comes down to this:
Keep it simple, positive and forward thinking.
"The bottom line," he says, "is we can all benefit from these next several months of developing our bodies, getting our minds sharper and getting our skills sharper so we can be a better football team when we take the field.
"When we are told it is safe to play, whenever that might be, we will be ready. That's the goal."
Let others criticize and complain. Allen is too focused on a bright future -- see last season's 8-5 record as proof of that. Present disappointment is just a means to an end. He's faced it before, in different forms, and will again.
"This was a season I looked forward to. We had gotten the program to a point where there was a lot to be excited about. A lot of guys played last year. We had a lot of guys back. This was a season I've looked forward to for a while. To get it pulled out from under you was tough. It was very frustrating."
The potential to watch other conferences play while Big Ten teams don't adds to it.
"That's tough to swallow," Allen says. "It would be hard to watch when you're supposed to be playing.
"I could not allow myself to stay there. I had to flip a switch. How do we make the best of this situation? How do we continue to build the program?"
The answer finds Allen drawing inspiration from Abraham Lincoln, perhaps the greatest President in our nation's history. He overcame a Civil War catastrophe far greater than this.
Lincoln's quote, "If I were given six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four sharpening my axe," resonates with Allen's prepare-and-work message.
In truth, if the Hoosiers are to overcome powerhouse programs such as Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan that they face every year, their preparation has to be at an elite level. That's true for 2020, and beyond.
"It's all about improving the tools you work with and getting them to the highest level possible," Allen says.
Doing that starts with football director of sports performance Aaron Wellman, who joined the program last winter. Allen calls him the best strength coach in America.
"I'm excited about him developing our guys."
Per NCAA rules, the Hoosiers have 12 hours a week to work, and they will maximize it to the fullest over the next several months, especially in the weight room
"This is a very, very important period," Allen says. "Twelve hours is the number (the NCAA) has given conferences that are not playing in the fall. That includes weight training, conditioning, running, meeting time and some skill work.
"There will be a heavy emphasis on the weight room. We will sprinkle in skill development, technique development and film study to keep the program moving forward and to keep our guys growing and developing."
There is a push to play in the winter/spring, and then next fall. As far as what makes the most sense, Allen says, "I think there are three things that need to be accomplished in order for us to make a decision.
"Number 1, no matter when it is, is it safe for our players to come back and play? What has changed? What standards are we able to meet that we have not met in the past that kept us from playing?
"From a health and safety perspective, we have to make sure that we have all of those things answered from a testing perspective, contact tracing and all of the different issues that were brought up to cause us to be delayed.
"Number 2, there has to be a quality experience for our guys. Whatever window we feel is best, we need to have a quality season that can be a quality experience and allow our players to feel that this is a great thing to do and be a part of.
"Number 3, I do not want to see us negatively impact the 2021 season. I think that is a big variable involved to make sure we are not putting too much of a workload on the body. That is where the later (a spring season) goes, the less I feel good about it.
"I have seen some people talk about having a shortened spring season and a shortened fall season of 2021. I would not be in favor of that. I want to see us keep 2021 secure and do the best we can within the other parameters to create a good scenario for this winter or spring."
Meanwhile, there is no guarantee the SEC, ACC and Big 12 will play football this season. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has suggested that if his conference doesn't play football, it might cancel all sports for the entire 2020-21 academic year.
The uncertainty of everything has Allen locked into his control-what-you-can-control message.
"A lot of things are very fluid," he says. "There are a lot of things that we do not know.
"As I have met with our guys, met with our players, coaches and everyone that is a part of our program, it is what do we know and what can we control?"
One thing IU can control is recruiting. Its 2021 class will be smaller than usual because of projected minimal turnover, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in impact. Allen says the class, "Is pretty close to being full at this point."
Coaches are still targeting offensive line, defensive line and, perhaps, defensive back, Allen adds.
"And you're always looking for a play-maker on offense."
Could not playing in 2020 hurt recruiting, especially if other conferences do play? Allen calls that a "concern."
"Does it affect the 2021 season? As long as we can keep it contained to the 2020 year, I see that not being affected as much. Obviously it's not going to help."
Allen isn't dealing with this in a vacuum. It starts at the top with director of athletics Scott Dolson, who took over the job from Fred Glass in July under unprecedented conditions. The cancellation of last spring's NCAA Tournament, and now fall football, creates huge financial challenges. Iowa, for instance, just cut four sports. Stanford eliminated 11 earlier in the summer.
Allen praises Dolson's communication through it all.
"Just his willingness to keep me involved in everything. We're always on the same page. It's a tough job he's been put into. I know he has a lot of tough decisions ahead. He's handled it in a great way."
No matter what happens this fall, Allen will continue handling it in a way that works best for the program. It comes down to this:
"Sharpen your axe. Develop our minds and our skills. Find a way to improve in every way."
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