Saturday, November 20
Bloomington, Ind.
3:30 PM
Indiana University
vs
Minnesota
It Comes Down To This -- Finish
11/19/2021 9:05:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – What does Tom Allen want from Saturday's Indiana Senior Day battle with Minnesota?
It comes down to one word:
"Finish."
A six-game losing streak leaves IU with a 2-8 record. Minnesota (6-4) has lost two straight.
The Hoosiers can't undo the defeats, but they can end the season with a two-game winning streak. It starts Saturday at Memorial Stadium before ending Nov. 27 at rival Purdue.
Preparations have been "good," Allen says.
"Guys are working hard. We are trying to work through everything and continue to motivate them and have them motivate each other to come together and finish."
Finishing takes extra urgency given this will be the final home game for a group of veterans that helped lead the Hoosiers to consecutive bowl appearances.
"It is a special day for the seniors, recognizing these guys that have come here and done so much for our program. I want to make sure this team finishes well."
Specifically, the seniors helped IU compile a 14-7 record in 2019 and 2020, highlighted by last season's No. 12 final ranking.
"A lot of quality young men, without question," Allen says. "A lot of really good players and guys that are special to me because they came here and believed in what we could build before it happened on the field.
"We had a chance to recruit these guys and help develop them and be a part of their lives. You will miss the relationships, the daily contact with them and being around them.
"It is a lot of really high-quality guys that I have poured my heart in to, and they have poured their hearts into this program. It is pretty special, but that is why we are going to enjoy every step of these last few times together and make sure we don't take any of this for granted."
As far as the game, could veteran quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Jack Tuttle play against Minnesota?
Perhaps, is as far as Allen will go.
"Guys are working through everything, and we are trying to get them ready. Don't know for sure yet on Michael and Jack, but just working and throwing and trying to get them better. We are seeing progress, but we will have to see."
These two quarterbacks, along with starting tailback Stephen Carr and standout cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor, are part of the 30 injuries that have rocked the IU program this season.
That's among the reasons why a team with Big Ten title aspirations has struggled so much.
"I have never been a part of anything like this," Allen says. "It is unprecedented for me. That makes it even harder.
"At the same time, we are just trying to hang together and stay positive and get as many guys healthy each week. It is an unprecedented number of guys that we have lost, then the way the season has turned out, especially with the expectations, I have never experienced anything like it."
Looking past the season, one recruiting dilemma facing every coach is dealing with veteran players who, because of NCAA eligibility rules instituted to deal with the pandemic, have an extra year.
"That's an interesting dynamic," Allen said. "Here is the reality -- if we grant everybody their COVID year, we wouldn't be able to bring in any high school players in that whole class. That's not realistic. No one in the country is going to do that.
"You have to make decisions in who is going to be in those spots, whether you keep a guy for an extra year or do you get a high school player or (grad transfer) to fill that position?
"We have already had some of those conversations. Guys making decisions on their pro careers who have a year left. That will take some time. We have a whole process we go through and that will begin as soon as the season is over. It involves a lot of information gathering, meetings, opportunities for them to get as much information as possible."
Then there are players who aren't pro prospects, but who could return. Add the Dec. 15 signing day and it creates a numbers crunch.
"You are trying to figure out situations and numbers," Allen said. "A lot of conversations will happen after our last game, but you do that while trying to get out and recruit during the contact period, which is very important.
"There's a lot going on. It's about roster management at a level we haven't seen before. It's about taking the information you have now and making the best decisions possible by being open and honest about our guys and where they stand."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – What does Tom Allen want from Saturday's Indiana Senior Day battle with Minnesota?
It comes down to one word:
"Finish."
A six-game losing streak leaves IU with a 2-8 record. Minnesota (6-4) has lost two straight.
The Hoosiers can't undo the defeats, but they can end the season with a two-game winning streak. It starts Saturday at Memorial Stadium before ending Nov. 27 at rival Purdue.
Preparations have been "good," Allen says.
"Guys are working hard. We are trying to work through everything and continue to motivate them and have them motivate each other to come together and finish."
Finishing takes extra urgency given this will be the final home game for a group of veterans that helped lead the Hoosiers to consecutive bowl appearances.
"It is a special day for the seniors, recognizing these guys that have come here and done so much for our program. I want to make sure this team finishes well."
Specifically, the seniors helped IU compile a 14-7 record in 2019 and 2020, highlighted by last season's No. 12 final ranking.
"A lot of quality young men, without question," Allen says. "A lot of really good players and guys that are special to me because they came here and believed in what we could build before it happened on the field.
"We had a chance to recruit these guys and help develop them and be a part of their lives. You will miss the relationships, the daily contact with them and being around them.
"It is a lot of really high-quality guys that I have poured my heart in to, and they have poured their hearts into this program. It is pretty special, but that is why we are going to enjoy every step of these last few times together and make sure we don't take any of this for granted."
As far as the game, could veteran quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Jack Tuttle play against Minnesota?
Perhaps, is as far as Allen will go.
"Guys are working through everything, and we are trying to get them ready. Don't know for sure yet on Michael and Jack, but just working and throwing and trying to get them better. We are seeing progress, but we will have to see."
These two quarterbacks, along with starting tailback Stephen Carr and standout cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor, are part of the 30 injuries that have rocked the IU program this season.
That's among the reasons why a team with Big Ten title aspirations has struggled so much.
"I have never been a part of anything like this," Allen says. "It is unprecedented for me. That makes it even harder.
"At the same time, we are just trying to hang together and stay positive and get as many guys healthy each week. It is an unprecedented number of guys that we have lost, then the way the season has turned out, especially with the expectations, I have never experienced anything like it."
Looking past the season, one recruiting dilemma facing every coach is dealing with veteran players who, because of NCAA eligibility rules instituted to deal with the pandemic, have an extra year.
"That's an interesting dynamic," Allen said. "Here is the reality -- if we grant everybody their COVID year, we wouldn't be able to bring in any high school players in that whole class. That's not realistic. No one in the country is going to do that.
"You have to make decisions in who is going to be in those spots, whether you keep a guy for an extra year or do you get a high school player or (grad transfer) to fill that position?
"We have already had some of those conversations. Guys making decisions on their pro careers who have a year left. That will take some time. We have a whole process we go through and that will begin as soon as the season is over. It involves a lot of information gathering, meetings, opportunities for them to get as much information as possible."
Then there are players who aren't pro prospects, but who could return. Add the Dec. 15 signing day and it creates a numbers crunch.
"You are trying to figure out situations and numbers," Allen said. "A lot of conversations will happen after our last game, but you do that while trying to get out and recruit during the contact period, which is very important.
"There's a lot going on. It's about roster management at a level we haven't seen before. It's about taking the information you have now and making the best decisions possible by being open and honest about our guys and where they stand."
Players Mentioned
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