NOTEBOOK: Hoosiers Seek a Senior Day to Remember
11/16/2021 9:57:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana's get-it-right quest comes down to a final Memorial Stadium game.
Senior Day arrives Saturday with a matchup against Minnesota (6-4).
Head coach Tom Allen wants to make it memorable for all the right reasons.
Specifically, play well and win.
"We have a special group of guys," he says via Monday's media availability. "We have a long list of guys that will be recognized. They've earned the right for us to finish strong and play with the level of intensity, toughness, and passion that I know is the standard here and our expectation. That's what I expect our guys to do."
Because of NCAA-allowed pandemic adjustments, players who would normally be playing in their final college seasons could have one more if they want it. That creates a large senior class with uncertainty that will last deep into the offseason.
"The goal is this week to come together," Allen says.
"We understand that this is a special week. This is a senior class that's unique because you've got super seniors from the previous year. It's a really large group of guys. So, you have guys in there that have used up their eligibility. You've got guys that have maybe one year left and they're trying to decide what to do and everything in between.
"But it is for the seniors. No matter how you slice it, it's our Senior Day. There's a lot of people in that group that have sacrificed a lot, given a lot to this program, and helped us be where we are today and built what we've built to this point.
"It's about preparing for (the seniors), playing for them, coming together for them. And that's been the charge and the challenge in talking with our leadership guys about this. And it's going to be the focus.
"That's really what this is about, is how we finish the right way. The last home game for this special group of guys.
"The challenge is to put everything aside, block out all of the negativity of the past few weeks, and come together to play our best football. That's what we expect to do.
"Is that easy? No. But that's where you, once again, fall back on the guys here. We've got to do a great job of blocking out things and focusing on one objective, which is to have our best week of preparation so we can play our best football on Saturday against a really good Minnesota team. When you finish that, you do it again one last time with this group."
IU needs to play as it practices, Allen says.
"Preparation has not been the issue. It's about how we're playing. We've got to come together.
"I expect a different type of performance."
*****
Two weeks ago, Minnesota was positioned for a Big Ten West Division title.
Then it lost to Illinois and Iowa in its last two games.
The Gophers have three running backs who have rushed for at least 461 yards in Trey Potts (552, 4.9 yards per carry, 6 touchdowns), Ky Thomas (520, 5.1, 2), and Mar'Keise Irving (461, 5.2, 3).
Quarterback Morgan Tanner completes 57.7 percent of his passes for 1,540 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
"We welcome in a team that's big and physical," Allen says. "They are well coached. Coach (P.J.) Fleck has done a good job.
"They play hard; they play physical; and they have a lot of discipline in terms of how they play on both sides of the ball and special teams."
*****
Veteran quarterback Jack Tuttle played against Rutgers before injuring his foot. It's not the same foot that was injured earlier, which cost him a couple of games. There's a chance he could play against Minnesota.
"We continue to rehab him," Allen says. "We don't know yet exactly what his status will be for Saturday, but we're obviously trying to get him back."
Is there any chance Michael Penix Jr. could play in the final two games?
"We're going to continue to evaluate that," Allen says. "I hope so, but I don't know.
"Obviously, that window is closing with each passing day. We are going to have a meeting about that to see where we're at with him.
"He practiced last week. We will see how much more he'll be able to practice this week and see how he's feeling. We want him to feel great about it and want him to be 100 percent ready to go if that's the direction we go."
Tuttle and Penix are among the veterans to miss games because of injuries.
"We will continue to try and get some guys back this week," Allen says. "That will obviously be a focus, to get some guys healthy."
*****
Allen's post-season evaluation will include the rash of injuries that hit hard this season. Thirty players suffered significant injuries – 18 were lost for the season, 12 missed multiple games.
Allen says he and strength coach Aaron Wellman will analyze what happened given how much time and energy was spent to minimize injuries.
"We're trying to figure out why those 30 guys have been out."
Injuries were among the reasons for the season-long struggles.
"You lose 30 guys, I mean, that's significant," Allen says. "That's a lot of people and a lot of different roles, a lot of individuals we expected to be part of this and are not."
One way to offset that is by building depth to overcome whatever injuries occur.
"We still aren't to the level as a program where we can absorb all those hits depth-wise," Allen says. "We're making progress in that area. But to handle that many -- and I don't know if I've been anywhere that's had that much depth to handle that many losses."
Allen points to the running back position. Starter Stephen Carr and reserve David Ellis are out with injuries. Tim Baldwin Jr. and Sampson James transferred.
The result -- walk-ons Davion Ervin-Poindexter, Chris Childers, and Charlie Spegal have gotten plenty of work in recent weeks.
"The top four guys that started fall camp aren't there," Allen says. "I don't ever remember that happening.
"There are definitely things to evaluate, and we will. Sometimes you see things and you kind of make a little mental note. It will be a lot of really deep evaluation, without question."
*****
Recruiting will be a big part of a Hoosier turnaround. Allen says most of this year's class will be high school players. Fourteen are expected to sign on Dec. 14.
IU also will utilize the transfer portal to bring in talented veterans.
"That gives you a chance to get some experienced guys that have already played college football.
"The core will be high school class. And then we'll continue to evaluate, meet needs, and find guys that fit with us and want to come here and help us keep building this program."
Senior Day arrives Saturday with a matchup against Minnesota (6-4).
Head coach Tom Allen wants to make it memorable for all the right reasons.
Specifically, play well and win.
"We have a special group of guys," he says via Monday's media availability. "We have a long list of guys that will be recognized. They've earned the right for us to finish strong and play with the level of intensity, toughness, and passion that I know is the standard here and our expectation. That's what I expect our guys to do."
Because of NCAA-allowed pandemic adjustments, players who would normally be playing in their final college seasons could have one more if they want it. That creates a large senior class with uncertainty that will last deep into the offseason.
"The goal is this week to come together," Allen says.
"We understand that this is a special week. This is a senior class that's unique because you've got super seniors from the previous year. It's a really large group of guys. So, you have guys in there that have used up their eligibility. You've got guys that have maybe one year left and they're trying to decide what to do and everything in between.
"But it is for the seniors. No matter how you slice it, it's our Senior Day. There's a lot of people in that group that have sacrificed a lot, given a lot to this program, and helped us be where we are today and built what we've built to this point.
"It's about preparing for (the seniors), playing for them, coming together for them. And that's been the charge and the challenge in talking with our leadership guys about this. And it's going to be the focus.
"That's really what this is about, is how we finish the right way. The last home game for this special group of guys.
"The challenge is to put everything aside, block out all of the negativity of the past few weeks, and come together to play our best football. That's what we expect to do.
"Is that easy? No. But that's where you, once again, fall back on the guys here. We've got to do a great job of blocking out things and focusing on one objective, which is to have our best week of preparation so we can play our best football on Saturday against a really good Minnesota team. When you finish that, you do it again one last time with this group."
IU needs to play as it practices, Allen says.
"Preparation has not been the issue. It's about how we're playing. We've got to come together.
"I expect a different type of performance."
*****
Two weeks ago, Minnesota was positioned for a Big Ten West Division title.
Then it lost to Illinois and Iowa in its last two games.
The Gophers have three running backs who have rushed for at least 461 yards in Trey Potts (552, 4.9 yards per carry, 6 touchdowns), Ky Thomas (520, 5.1, 2), and Mar'Keise Irving (461, 5.2, 3).
Quarterback Morgan Tanner completes 57.7 percent of his passes for 1,540 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
"We welcome in a team that's big and physical," Allen says. "They are well coached. Coach (P.J.) Fleck has done a good job.
"They play hard; they play physical; and they have a lot of discipline in terms of how they play on both sides of the ball and special teams."
*****
Veteran quarterback Jack Tuttle played against Rutgers before injuring his foot. It's not the same foot that was injured earlier, which cost him a couple of games. There's a chance he could play against Minnesota.
"We continue to rehab him," Allen says. "We don't know yet exactly what his status will be for Saturday, but we're obviously trying to get him back."
Is there any chance Michael Penix Jr. could play in the final two games?
"We're going to continue to evaluate that," Allen says. "I hope so, but I don't know.
"Obviously, that window is closing with each passing day. We are going to have a meeting about that to see where we're at with him.
"He practiced last week. We will see how much more he'll be able to practice this week and see how he's feeling. We want him to feel great about it and want him to be 100 percent ready to go if that's the direction we go."
Tuttle and Penix are among the veterans to miss games because of injuries.
"We will continue to try and get some guys back this week," Allen says. "That will obviously be a focus, to get some guys healthy."
*****
Allen's post-season evaluation will include the rash of injuries that hit hard this season. Thirty players suffered significant injuries – 18 were lost for the season, 12 missed multiple games.
Allen says he and strength coach Aaron Wellman will analyze what happened given how much time and energy was spent to minimize injuries.
"We're trying to figure out why those 30 guys have been out."
Injuries were among the reasons for the season-long struggles.
"You lose 30 guys, I mean, that's significant," Allen says. "That's a lot of people and a lot of different roles, a lot of individuals we expected to be part of this and are not."
One way to offset that is by building depth to overcome whatever injuries occur.
"We still aren't to the level as a program where we can absorb all those hits depth-wise," Allen says. "We're making progress in that area. But to handle that many -- and I don't know if I've been anywhere that's had that much depth to handle that many losses."
Allen points to the running back position. Starter Stephen Carr and reserve David Ellis are out with injuries. Tim Baldwin Jr. and Sampson James transferred.
The result -- walk-ons Davion Ervin-Poindexter, Chris Childers, and Charlie Spegal have gotten plenty of work in recent weeks.
"The top four guys that started fall camp aren't there," Allen says. "I don't ever remember that happening.
"There are definitely things to evaluate, and we will. Sometimes you see things and you kind of make a little mental note. It will be a lot of really deep evaluation, without question."
*****
Recruiting will be a big part of a Hoosier turnaround. Allen says most of this year's class will be high school players. Fourteen are expected to sign on Dec. 14.
IU also will utilize the transfer portal to bring in talented veterans.
"That gives you a chance to get some experienced guys that have already played college football.
"The core will be high school class. And then we'll continue to evaluate, meet needs, and find guys that fit with us and want to come here and help us keep building this program."
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB/KR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballFB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 7 (at Oregon)
Thursday, October 09
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 7 (at Oregon)
Wednesday, October 08
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (10/7/25)
Tuesday, October 07
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (10/7/25)
Tuesday, October 07