NOTEBOOK: Rocking Memorial Stadium; Wrestling for Toughness
9/14/2021 7:02:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Memorial Stadium will rock on Saturday.
That's guaranteed.
As for everything else, well, let the anticipation begin.
IU (1-1) hosts No. 8 Cincinnati (2-0) with a sellout already locked in. It's a nationally televised chance for the Hoosiers, winners of seven of their last eight home games, to make the season-opening Iowa loss irrelevant, an opportunity to likely shoot back into the national rankings after starting out No. 17 and put the juice back in their Big Ten title prospects.
Head coach Tom Allen, as you might imagine, can't get to kickoff soon enough.
"There's a sense of urgency," he says. "There's no question that's what this situation creates.
"It's about earning it every week. When you play such a (tough) schedule like we do, then you are blessed with the opportunities to be able to play elite teams consistently.
"So, no matter what happened in the past, good or bad, you've got to flush it and you've got to get ready for the next opportunity. That's what this one presents. This is one we want to make sure we're fully ready for."
IU drew 47,000-plus in last Saturday's home-opening win over Idaho, and will soar over 50,000 this Saturday. The program hasn't generated that kind of back-to-back attendance since the late 1980s' glory days of head coach Bill Mallory.
In a nod to that, the Hoosiers will wear retro uniforms from that era.
"We're excited for our fans to be there in full force," Allen says. "It means a lot that the fans are getting behind us."
That includes the students, who often have been no-shows in the past.
"You create a culture," Allen says. "That's just what our student section looks like. That's what the student section looks like when you come to a game at Indiana. That hasn't always been that way in the past, but they have been awesome (this season), and I appreciate that.
"I don't want them to ever think that we take any of that for granted. Our players talked about it; they were interacting with them too on social media about it, just showing their appreciation and thankfulness.
"It's the energy that they bring pre-game and during warm-ups. Everything that goes into that, to the psyche of our guys. It's important. We are excited for it to continue the rest of the season."
Nobody projected this game's national implications when it was scheduled in 2014, which was two years before Allen arrived in Bloomington.
IU was in the midst of an eight-year-drought between bowl games. Cincinnati had success with a high-powered offense, but was not a Top-10 team.
The Bearcats are now.
"They've elevated their program," Allen says, "and we've elevated our program. So definitely different than what it would have been projected when it was contracted all these years ago.
"That's what makes it awesome and exciting and a great opportunity for both programs to be able to play in these types of games. That's how you build your program. You get those opportunities. And when those come, you've got to take advantage of it."
*****
IU recruited for impressive secondary depth, and benefits are showing given the early injuries.
Safeties Devon Matthews and Jonathan Haynes missed the Idaho game with injuries. Haynes is expected back Saturday. Allen says Matthews, who spent time in an Iowa City hospital after getting hurt against Iowa, will return at some point. He expects to have a better idea about when later this week.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming cornerback Christopher Keys is out for the season after tearing his ACL against Idaho. He played the third cornerback spot (behind Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor) because Jaylin Williams was also hurt against at Iowa.
"Every year, it seems like there's a certain position that has a little more challenges than others," Allen says. "(The secondary) seems to be our spot this year. But guys are working really hard. They will be huge this weekend."
With Keys out, safety Noah Pierre will move to cornerback.
"That's just part of going through the season," Allen says. "Getting (Williams) back will be big for us. We have to continue to develop our younger guys. That's where it's going to be big.
*****
Cincinnati has dominated Miami (Ohio) and Murray State, averaging 45.5 points while allowing 10.5.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder completes 72.3 percent of his passes for 538 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. That's a strong follow up to last year's numbers of 2,296 yards and 19 touchdowns, plus 595 rushing yards and 12 TDs.
"He's a special player," Allen says. "He's a long guy, 6-foot-4. He's big. He's 215-plus pounds. Runs a lot and runs really effectively. That puts challenges on a defense.
"His passing just keeps getting better. You go back and watch in years past, which we've done that … we spend a lot of time studying over the summer as well and look in previous years and see his growth as a quarterback. He throws the ball down the field with a lot of accuracy now and has a really talented receiver core.
"He's a very good football player. Definitely a future NFL guy. You have that kind of guy leading your team, that's a very good formula for a lot of success."
Ridder's top target is Tyler Scott, whose five catches have produced 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Tailback Jerome Ford, a transfer from Alabama, has rushed for 234 yards and four TDs.
Luke Fickell, the former Ohio State defensive coordinator and, briefly, head coach, runs the Cincinnati program. He's 37-14 in five seasons, 33-6 in the last three. His defensive coordinator is Mike Tressel, the nephew of former national-title-winning Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, a connection to long-term elite success.
That's paid off in an aggressive defense that has forced at least one turnover in 21 of the last 22 games. Cincinnati intercepted three passes against Murray State.
The Bearcats, a member of the American Athletic Conference, are moving to the Big 12, joining Houston, Brigham Young, and Central Florida as that conference restructures in the wake of Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC.
They have one more challenging non-conference road game, playing at Notre Dame on Oct. 2.
*****
Wrestlers gotta stick together.
Consider Fickell and Allen are both former wrestlers (Fickell was a three-time state of Ohio state champ; Allen thrived at the high school and collegiate levels).
"I have a lot of respect for him," Allen says. "He's a wrestler. That's one of those guys -- a lot of respect for that. I love that."
Like Allen, Fickell built his reputation as a tough-minded defensive coach.
"But he's just tough," Allen says. "Those kids play hard. They're physical, disciplined. Everything that we (are teaching), as well.
"When you've got defensive-minded head coaches that are former wrestlers, you get that same toughness emphasis and guys are going to play with a lot of grit and fight and just be relentless.
"Those are the things that I see from their defense."
*****
Allen wants a defense that wins games no matter what the offense does. He saw a little of that at Iowa, more against Idaho.
The Hoosiers rank fourth in the Big Ten in total defense, allowing 282 yards per game.
"The defense made a lot of growth in some areas (from) Week One to Week Two," Allen says. "Because of that, (linebacker) Micah McFadden and (defensive end) Ryder Anderson were our defensive players of the game.
"Their leadership and production continue to be at a high level.
"We've got to continue to get better. I know we will because our guys are really, really motivated. We've got a great staff."
*****
The offensive line remains a work in progress, and there is progress, especially now that the unit is healthy.
"It's a group that continues to mesh," Allen says. "Teams are made during the season. Every week, the work that you put into it and everything we do in practice."
That includes having the first-string offense work against the first-string defense.
"The one thing we're doing a lot more of this year is we're doing more good on good during practice to be able to create a better look for each side of the ball to be able to do a good job of preparing our front. That's the key on both sides to be able to work against high-level guys that can give you the proper resistance, proper movements.
"You have to execute technique at a high level to be able to get that. That's something we're working hard on. The O-line needs to keep coming together. They have to play well because it starts and stops with them."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Memorial Stadium will rock on Saturday.
That's guaranteed.
As for everything else, well, let the anticipation begin.
IU (1-1) hosts No. 8 Cincinnati (2-0) with a sellout already locked in. It's a nationally televised chance for the Hoosiers, winners of seven of their last eight home games, to make the season-opening Iowa loss irrelevant, an opportunity to likely shoot back into the national rankings after starting out No. 17 and put the juice back in their Big Ten title prospects.
Head coach Tom Allen, as you might imagine, can't get to kickoff soon enough.
"There's a sense of urgency," he says. "There's no question that's what this situation creates.
"It's about earning it every week. When you play such a (tough) schedule like we do, then you are blessed with the opportunities to be able to play elite teams consistently.
"So, no matter what happened in the past, good or bad, you've got to flush it and you've got to get ready for the next opportunity. That's what this one presents. This is one we want to make sure we're fully ready for."
IU drew 47,000-plus in last Saturday's home-opening win over Idaho, and will soar over 50,000 this Saturday. The program hasn't generated that kind of back-to-back attendance since the late 1980s' glory days of head coach Bill Mallory.
In a nod to that, the Hoosiers will wear retro uniforms from that era.
"We're excited for our fans to be there in full force," Allen says. "It means a lot that the fans are getting behind us."
That includes the students, who often have been no-shows in the past.
"You create a culture," Allen says. "That's just what our student section looks like. That's what the student section looks like when you come to a game at Indiana. That hasn't always been that way in the past, but they have been awesome (this season), and I appreciate that.
"I don't want them to ever think that we take any of that for granted. Our players talked about it; they were interacting with them too on social media about it, just showing their appreciation and thankfulness.
"It's the energy that they bring pre-game and during warm-ups. Everything that goes into that, to the psyche of our guys. It's important. We are excited for it to continue the rest of the season."
Nobody projected this game's national implications when it was scheduled in 2014, which was two years before Allen arrived in Bloomington.
IU was in the midst of an eight-year-drought between bowl games. Cincinnati had success with a high-powered offense, but was not a Top-10 team.
The Bearcats are now.
"They've elevated their program," Allen says, "and we've elevated our program. So definitely different than what it would have been projected when it was contracted all these years ago.
"That's what makes it awesome and exciting and a great opportunity for both programs to be able to play in these types of games. That's how you build your program. You get those opportunities. And when those come, you've got to take advantage of it."
*****
IU recruited for impressive secondary depth, and benefits are showing given the early injuries.
Safeties Devon Matthews and Jonathan Haynes missed the Idaho game with injuries. Haynes is expected back Saturday. Allen says Matthews, who spent time in an Iowa City hospital after getting hurt against Iowa, will return at some point. He expects to have a better idea about when later this week.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming cornerback Christopher Keys is out for the season after tearing his ACL against Idaho. He played the third cornerback spot (behind Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor) because Jaylin Williams was also hurt against at Iowa.
"Every year, it seems like there's a certain position that has a little more challenges than others," Allen says. "(The secondary) seems to be our spot this year. But guys are working really hard. They will be huge this weekend."
With Keys out, safety Noah Pierre will move to cornerback.
"That's just part of going through the season," Allen says. "Getting (Williams) back will be big for us. We have to continue to develop our younger guys. That's where it's going to be big.
*****
Cincinnati has dominated Miami (Ohio) and Murray State, averaging 45.5 points while allowing 10.5.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder completes 72.3 percent of his passes for 538 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. That's a strong follow up to last year's numbers of 2,296 yards and 19 touchdowns, plus 595 rushing yards and 12 TDs.
"He's a special player," Allen says. "He's a long guy, 6-foot-4. He's big. He's 215-plus pounds. Runs a lot and runs really effectively. That puts challenges on a defense.
"His passing just keeps getting better. You go back and watch in years past, which we've done that … we spend a lot of time studying over the summer as well and look in previous years and see his growth as a quarterback. He throws the ball down the field with a lot of accuracy now and has a really talented receiver core.
"He's a very good football player. Definitely a future NFL guy. You have that kind of guy leading your team, that's a very good formula for a lot of success."
Ridder's top target is Tyler Scott, whose five catches have produced 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Tailback Jerome Ford, a transfer from Alabama, has rushed for 234 yards and four TDs.
Luke Fickell, the former Ohio State defensive coordinator and, briefly, head coach, runs the Cincinnati program. He's 37-14 in five seasons, 33-6 in the last three. His defensive coordinator is Mike Tressel, the nephew of former national-title-winning Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, a connection to long-term elite success.
That's paid off in an aggressive defense that has forced at least one turnover in 21 of the last 22 games. Cincinnati intercepted three passes against Murray State.
The Bearcats, a member of the American Athletic Conference, are moving to the Big 12, joining Houston, Brigham Young, and Central Florida as that conference restructures in the wake of Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC.
They have one more challenging non-conference road game, playing at Notre Dame on Oct. 2.
*****
Wrestlers gotta stick together.
Consider Fickell and Allen are both former wrestlers (Fickell was a three-time state of Ohio state champ; Allen thrived at the high school and collegiate levels).
"I have a lot of respect for him," Allen says. "He's a wrestler. That's one of those guys -- a lot of respect for that. I love that."
Like Allen, Fickell built his reputation as a tough-minded defensive coach.
"But he's just tough," Allen says. "Those kids play hard. They're physical, disciplined. Everything that we (are teaching), as well.
"When you've got defensive-minded head coaches that are former wrestlers, you get that same toughness emphasis and guys are going to play with a lot of grit and fight and just be relentless.
"Those are the things that I see from their defense."
*****
Allen wants a defense that wins games no matter what the offense does. He saw a little of that at Iowa, more against Idaho.
The Hoosiers rank fourth in the Big Ten in total defense, allowing 282 yards per game.
"The defense made a lot of growth in some areas (from) Week One to Week Two," Allen says. "Because of that, (linebacker) Micah McFadden and (defensive end) Ryder Anderson were our defensive players of the game.
"Their leadership and production continue to be at a high level.
"We've got to continue to get better. I know we will because our guys are really, really motivated. We've got a great staff."
*****
The offensive line remains a work in progress, and there is progress, especially now that the unit is healthy.
"It's a group that continues to mesh," Allen says. "Teams are made during the season. Every week, the work that you put into it and everything we do in practice."
That includes having the first-string offense work against the first-string defense.
"The one thing we're doing a lot more of this year is we're doing more good on good during practice to be able to create a better look for each side of the ball to be able to do a good job of preparing our front. That's the key on both sides to be able to work against high-level guys that can give you the proper resistance, proper movements.
"You have to execute technique at a high level to be able to get that. That's something we're working hard on. The O-line needs to keep coming together. They have to play well because it starts and stops with them."
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