Indiana University Athletics
Back In Football Business – IU Aims To Resist Temptation, Play To Potential
9/18/2020 8:33:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Big Ten is back in football business.
Now comes the hardest part:
Resist temptation.
"The biggest thing to me," Indiana head coach Tom Allen says, "is the challenge of (players) staying away from large group gatherings. That's where it has to be disciplined. We've been very straight forward about that."
Wednesday's Big Ten announcement that the league will begin a modified nine-game fall season starting on Oct. 23 was a huge boost for conference players, fans and communities.
The goal was clear -- make it safe, make it meaningful, preserve the entire 2021 schedule.
"I know it has been a roller coaster and a lot of things have happened these last few weeks," Allen says via a Zoom press conference, "but I feel like we have a great plan in place and I feel really good about it."
Medical advances in rapid testing (results can come back in 15 minutes) and protocols (daily testing of players) convinced Big Ten presidents it was safe to have a season five weeks after announcing it wasn't.
"The daily testing piece, the rapid antigen testing that they are now requiring, was a game changer," Allen says. "It has completely changed from where we were five weeks ago when we did not have that in place and were not planning to have that in place for the season."
That's the good news, but it will all fall apart if wide-spread infections occur.
To avoid that, Hoosier players must be mature beyond their years. That means no parties or large gatherings. Social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing isn't optional.
Anyone who tests positive will be out three weeks, including a week of cardiac screening because of the effects of COVID-19 on the heart.
"If (players) care about this team, if they care about wanting to have a season, if they care about wanting to be a part of a great 2020 football year, then they're going to have to make some sacrifices," Allen says.
"They aren't going to be able to go parties. They aren't going to be able to go to gatherings. They can't be around people who they don't know if they've been tested or not. They have to stay six feet apart and they have to be socially distanced, mouths covered up, wash your hands. All those kinds of things.
"These are young kids. That can be a challenge."
The potential reward -- an outstanding season to follow last year's 8-5 break-through effort -- is at stake.
"A lot has been invested in the testing of all this and having players test on a daily basis," Allen says. "Nothing's free in this world. They have to understand a lot of people are doing a lot of things. A lot of time invested. The medical staff has invested so much to help them have an opportunity to play this season. They need to honor those individuals by doing what we ask them to do. We're very strict on that."
While there are no guarantees, following the guidelines will dramatically decrease the risk of infection.
"If you're around a player, if you're around this facility, if you're practicing with us, if you're lifting with us, if you're doing everything here -- you're going to be 100 percent protected," Allen says. "But when you leave the facility, you got to make good choices."
IU began rapid testing on Thursday because it had its own supply of tests. Allen credits athletic director Scott Dolson, who took over for Fred Glass in July, and President Michael McRobbie for making it possible.
"(Dolson) has done a tremendous job working on that," Allen says. "I give him so much credit. It's been a tough few months to come into your job in these situations. He's been great with his communications in a very clear and concise way. He's very open and honest with me about everything."
Players will be tested before every practice and game. Anyone who tests positive will be isolated and contact tracing will begin.
"That gives us a ton of confidence that we can begin this preparation process in the way it needs to be done," Allen says, "and be able to keep a clean, healthy field of guys that we are going to be around every day. It will definitely bode well for our future."
As far as the season, it's set for eight conference games, and then a crossover game between teams from the Big Ten East and West divisions.
The top teams in each division will play for the conference championship. Then the runner-up in the East will face the runner-up in the West, third place against third place, and so forth.
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez says the goal is to avoid rematches in the crossover game.
In other words, don't expect to see an IU-Purdue rematch.
Beyond that, everything is in place for Big Ten teams to be eligible for bowls and the College Football Playoff.
But that's for later. For now, it's about playing to potential.
"I really love our team," Allen says. "I love the toughness we have. I love the way the guys have responded and stayed together and just kept believing."
Preparing for Big Ten battles comes with two major preparation questions -- how much and hard do you hit?
"You have to balance how much is too much," Allen says. "You do not want to beat yourself up and lose guys for games, but if you do not have enough, your kids are not ready to play a Big Ten football game.
"From the first game on, you have to be tackling Big Ten running backs and wide receivers, and blocking Big Ten defenders. That is going to be tough. We have been really creative in trying to find ways to tackle, block and get our bodies ready for that without going against live individuals."
One possibility -- more walk-throughs and mental reps.
"We have to be a great practice team," Allen says. "We have to tackle well without taking anyone to the ground (in practice). It's going to be a challenge, but we welcome it. We are just glad to be back."
Game attendance will be limited to families of players and staff.
"We do not really care," Allen says about the lack of fans. "There is no question that we would rather have a stadium full of people. That is ideal, but we knew that was not going to happen."
Allen says he's talked to coaching colleagues who already have played games without fans, and they say it's much like a Saturday scrimmage or regular practice.
"(Officials will) pump in crowd noise," Allen adds, "but I do not know how loud that will be. I have heard some people say that it is not that loud, that it will not be the same.
"Like I said, we do not care. That is one piece that we have no control over."
Before the Big Ten shutdown, IU seemed poised to have a monster season. It projected to be Allen's most talented team, and perhaps one of the program's best.
It still can be, especially since no player has opted out for the season.
"I think our guys are pretty locked in," Allen says. "They believe in what we are doing. They're excited to get the chance to play together.
"The team that can manage this the best, show the most maturity and stay the healthiest is going to have the best season.
"We've got to be that team."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Big Ten is back in football business.
Now comes the hardest part:
Resist temptation.
"The biggest thing to me," Indiana head coach Tom Allen says, "is the challenge of (players) staying away from large group gatherings. That's where it has to be disciplined. We've been very straight forward about that."
Wednesday's Big Ten announcement that the league will begin a modified nine-game fall season starting on Oct. 23 was a huge boost for conference players, fans and communities.
The goal was clear -- make it safe, make it meaningful, preserve the entire 2021 schedule.
"I know it has been a roller coaster and a lot of things have happened these last few weeks," Allen says via a Zoom press conference, "but I feel like we have a great plan in place and I feel really good about it."
Medical advances in rapid testing (results can come back in 15 minutes) and protocols (daily testing of players) convinced Big Ten presidents it was safe to have a season five weeks after announcing it wasn't.
"The daily testing piece, the rapid antigen testing that they are now requiring, was a game changer," Allen says. "It has completely changed from where we were five weeks ago when we did not have that in place and were not planning to have that in place for the season."
That's the good news, but it will all fall apart if wide-spread infections occur.
To avoid that, Hoosier players must be mature beyond their years. That means no parties or large gatherings. Social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing isn't optional.
Anyone who tests positive will be out three weeks, including a week of cardiac screening because of the effects of COVID-19 on the heart.
"If (players) care about this team, if they care about wanting to have a season, if they care about wanting to be a part of a great 2020 football year, then they're going to have to make some sacrifices," Allen says.
"They aren't going to be able to go parties. They aren't going to be able to go to gatherings. They can't be around people who they don't know if they've been tested or not. They have to stay six feet apart and they have to be socially distanced, mouths covered up, wash your hands. All those kinds of things.
"These are young kids. That can be a challenge."
The potential reward -- an outstanding season to follow last year's 8-5 break-through effort -- is at stake.
"A lot has been invested in the testing of all this and having players test on a daily basis," Allen says. "Nothing's free in this world. They have to understand a lot of people are doing a lot of things. A lot of time invested. The medical staff has invested so much to help them have an opportunity to play this season. They need to honor those individuals by doing what we ask them to do. We're very strict on that."
While there are no guarantees, following the guidelines will dramatically decrease the risk of infection.
"If you're around a player, if you're around this facility, if you're practicing with us, if you're lifting with us, if you're doing everything here -- you're going to be 100 percent protected," Allen says. "But when you leave the facility, you got to make good choices."
IU began rapid testing on Thursday because it had its own supply of tests. Allen credits athletic director Scott Dolson, who took over for Fred Glass in July, and President Michael McRobbie for making it possible.
"(Dolson) has done a tremendous job working on that," Allen says. "I give him so much credit. It's been a tough few months to come into your job in these situations. He's been great with his communications in a very clear and concise way. He's very open and honest with me about everything."
Players will be tested before every practice and game. Anyone who tests positive will be isolated and contact tracing will begin.
"That gives us a ton of confidence that we can begin this preparation process in the way it needs to be done," Allen says, "and be able to keep a clean, healthy field of guys that we are going to be around every day. It will definitely bode well for our future."
As far as the season, it's set for eight conference games, and then a crossover game between teams from the Big Ten East and West divisions.
The top teams in each division will play for the conference championship. Then the runner-up in the East will face the runner-up in the West, third place against third place, and so forth.
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez says the goal is to avoid rematches in the crossover game.
In other words, don't expect to see an IU-Purdue rematch.
Beyond that, everything is in place for Big Ten teams to be eligible for bowls and the College Football Playoff.
But that's for later. For now, it's about playing to potential.
"I really love our team," Allen says. "I love the toughness we have. I love the way the guys have responded and stayed together and just kept believing."
Preparing for Big Ten battles comes with two major preparation questions -- how much and hard do you hit?
"You have to balance how much is too much," Allen says. "You do not want to beat yourself up and lose guys for games, but if you do not have enough, your kids are not ready to play a Big Ten football game.
"From the first game on, you have to be tackling Big Ten running backs and wide receivers, and blocking Big Ten defenders. That is going to be tough. We have been really creative in trying to find ways to tackle, block and get our bodies ready for that without going against live individuals."
One possibility -- more walk-throughs and mental reps.
"We have to be a great practice team," Allen says. "We have to tackle well without taking anyone to the ground (in practice). It's going to be a challenge, but we welcome it. We are just glad to be back."
Game attendance will be limited to families of players and staff.
"We do not really care," Allen says about the lack of fans. "There is no question that we would rather have a stadium full of people. That is ideal, but we knew that was not going to happen."
Allen says he's talked to coaching colleagues who already have played games without fans, and they say it's much like a Saturday scrimmage or regular practice.
"(Officials will) pump in crowd noise," Allen adds, "but I do not know how loud that will be. I have heard some people say that it is not that loud, that it will not be the same.
"Like I said, we do not care. That is one piece that we have no control over."
Before the Big Ten shutdown, IU seemed poised to have a monster season. It projected to be Allen's most talented team, and perhaps one of the program's best.
It still can be, especially since no player has opted out for the season.
"I think our guys are pretty locked in," Allen says. "They believe in what we are doing. They're excited to get the chance to play together.
"The team that can manage this the best, show the most maturity and stay the healthiest is going to have the best season.
"We've got to be that team."
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