Notebook: Western Kentucky Week
9/21/2021 4:30:43 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen is adamant -- Michael Penix Jr. remains Indiana's starting quarterback.
"I believe in him with 100 percent of my heart," the Hoosier head coach says, "and I know our team feels the same way."
Yes, Penix has struggled in his return from season-ending injury for the third-straight year. He's completing 48.3 percent of his passes for 448 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.
However, he entered the season with a 10-2 record as a starter and was the second-most-accurate passer in school history behind Peyton Ramsey. He has four 300-yard passing games.
"We're going through this together," Allen says, "and that to me, if you falter in times of trouble, how little is your strength? That's a proverb that I believe in, and I think it's more true right now than ever.
"You've just got to stay together. You've got to be strong, and you've got to be tough and believe in who you are. You've got to keep watching the film and addressing things honestly and openly and working hard every day to fix them. That's the key."
Penix has never had an interception problem before. He had 25 touchdowns against eight interceptions before this season.
"He threw one interception his whole senior year of high school, so that's not been something that he's had an issue with," Allen says. "You've just got to go through it. It takes a lot to be in these positions. You have expectations and then those aren't met and you have to stand up and give account.
"That's not easy to do, but it's part of growing up."
Allen says he tells quarterback recruits the head coach and the quarterback get too much credit for the good times and too much blame for the bad.
"That's part of it. That's the reality being in that position. You've got to accept that when you are in that role.
"I'm no different. I've got to stand here and give account, and so does he. That's the reality of playing quarterback. That's what you've got to do."
Allen's loyalty only goes so far. Penix can't continue throwing interceptions (3 each against Iowa and Cincinnati, with two pick-6s). Penix has to perform at a high level if the Hoosiers (1-2) are to turn the season around, starting Saturday night at Western Kentucky (1-1).
Some of Penix's problems are due to inconsistent blocking and dropped passes (standout receiver Ty Fryfogle dropped 3 during Saturday's Cincinnati loss) as well as his own poor decision making.
Allen is determined to give Penix every opportunity to work out of it.
"You have to be confident in who you are and you cannot let circumstances and things around you cause that to waver," Allen says. "That's what we're going to challenge him to do. But once again, we're just teaching him and growing with him and helping him through this because he's still growing and maturing, too."
*****
Coming off a bye week gives Western Kentucky an extra week to prepare.
That's not the Hoosiers' biggest concern.
Stopping the pass is.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe completes 74.7 percent of his passes for an average of 429.5 yards per game. He has 10 touchdowns against two interceptions.
Receiver Jerreth Sterns has 16 catches for 278 yards and four touchdowns. Mitchell Tinsley has 10 catches for 151 yards and two TDs. Malachi Corley has 11 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
No Hilltopper has rushed for more than 42 yards.
Under offensive-minded head coach Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky averages 47.0 points and allows 29.5. It opened with a 59-21 win over Tennessee Martin before losing 38-35 to Army.
It has shown vulnerability against the run, allowing 270 rushing yards per game.
"I know it's going to be a good environment," Allen says. "They'll have a great crowd there.
"They are a very good team. They are the No. 1 passing offense in the country, and are No. 1 in third-down conversions. Those two (statistics) go together.
"They throw as well as anybody in this country. They have a very talented quarterback, receiver corps, new offensive coordinator, and are very athletic on defense."
This is the first of two-straight road games. IU will play at No. 6/8 Penn State (3-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 2.
*****
The defense will get a boost from the return of All-Big Ten safety Devon Matthews. He was injured during the Iowa game and didn't play against Idaho and Cincinnati.
"Monster (Matthews) is progressing well," Allen says. "We expect him to play. He practiced with us (Sunday night), which is great. It will be great for our secondary."
*****
Is it time for college football to change the targeting rule, and fast?
Yes, Allen says.
IU lost All-America linebacker Micah McFadden in the first half against Cincinnati when he was ejected for targeting.
The rule, passed amid concern over concussions, is designed to eliminate brutal helmet-to-helmet hits that can lead to serious injury
Allen says the rule should be changed, perhaps to how basketball does with Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 fouls so helmet-to-helmet contact doesn't automatically lead to ejection. Intentional targeting shouldn't be treated the same as unintentional.
"I'm all about player safety, so that to me is totally the focus and should be," Allen says, "but there's no question (the rule should be changed). There's a lot of agreement (among coaches) that the rule needs to be evaluated.
"The ejection for something like that is not what it needs to be. So if they want to go Targeting 1, Targeting 2, I think that needs to be. It needs to be done soon because you can watch multiple games, not just our game, where that keeps happening, and it's just not the way it should be."
During the third-and-10 play, McFadden blitzed, hit Cincinnati right guard Lorenz Metz and then right tackle Dylan O'Quinn, who tried to shove him away from quarterback Desmond Ridder. The crown of McFadden's helmet hit Ridder's facemask.
McFadden didn't launch himself at the quarterback. Ridder wasn't hurt. It was inadvertent contact and the call wasn't made on the field, but in the replay booth.
"I knew we connected helmets on the field," McFadden says. "I think somebody mentioned on the sideline, 'I think they're reviewing this for targeting.' I told them I thought it might be because of me. It happened on the field, but I didn't think they would see it or call it because it was so fast. But once they said they were reviewing it for targeting I knew it would be me."
Allen didn't think the play warranted a targeting call and says IU has turned it into the Big Ten office.
"I totally disagree with the call. It wasn't targeting. You can go through and evaluate it. It's not targeting."
*****
IU is getting impressive receiving contributions from tight ends Peyton Hendershot (9 catches, 86 yards, 1 touchdown), AJ Barner (2 for 78 yards, 1TD) and Matt Bjorson (1 for 8 yards).
Look for that to increase in the coming weeks.
"(Hendershot has) worked extremely hard to get better," Allen says. "He looks faster and he's in great shape. He's worked hard on improving his blocking, and with AJ Barner and Matt Bjorson, those guys are our top three.
"I love that (tight end) room. They're guys we can count on. We trust them. They've shown they can make plays.
"The tight end is a huge part of our offense. I want it to be. I'm not bashful about telling our guys that. I know what that does to a defense and how that affects the run support."
*****
IU suffered a big blow with the passing of Dr. Andy Hipskind, the athletic department's chief medical officer.
Hipskind, 48, was a key member of the IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group and the COVID-19 Operations Team that formulated the department's response to the pandemic.
He had been part of the IU medical team, and the football team physician, since 2003.
A former Hoosier cross country and track runner, he was recently awarded the IU Distinguished Service Medal, one of just 45 people to be so honored.
"Continued thoughts and prayers with Andy Hipskind's family," Allen says. "Such a huge loss to Indiana University. He meant so much to so many people.
"I don't know if I've ever met a more selfless individual -- kind, compassionate, and just awesome in every way.
"My heart breaks for his wife, Angie, and their family, and continued support for them. That (support) will never stop. He will always be remembered here for all that he gave to his university."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen is adamant -- Michael Penix Jr. remains Indiana's starting quarterback.
"I believe in him with 100 percent of my heart," the Hoosier head coach says, "and I know our team feels the same way."
Yes, Penix has struggled in his return from season-ending injury for the third-straight year. He's completing 48.3 percent of his passes for 448 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.
However, he entered the season with a 10-2 record as a starter and was the second-most-accurate passer in school history behind Peyton Ramsey. He has four 300-yard passing games.
"We're going through this together," Allen says, "and that to me, if you falter in times of trouble, how little is your strength? That's a proverb that I believe in, and I think it's more true right now than ever.
"You've just got to stay together. You've got to be strong, and you've got to be tough and believe in who you are. You've got to keep watching the film and addressing things honestly and openly and working hard every day to fix them. That's the key."
Penix has never had an interception problem before. He had 25 touchdowns against eight interceptions before this season.
"He threw one interception his whole senior year of high school, so that's not been something that he's had an issue with," Allen says. "You've just got to go through it. It takes a lot to be in these positions. You have expectations and then those aren't met and you have to stand up and give account.
"That's not easy to do, but it's part of growing up."
Allen says he tells quarterback recruits the head coach and the quarterback get too much credit for the good times and too much blame for the bad.
"That's part of it. That's the reality being in that position. You've got to accept that when you are in that role.
"I'm no different. I've got to stand here and give account, and so does he. That's the reality of playing quarterback. That's what you've got to do."
Allen's loyalty only goes so far. Penix can't continue throwing interceptions (3 each against Iowa and Cincinnati, with two pick-6s). Penix has to perform at a high level if the Hoosiers (1-2) are to turn the season around, starting Saturday night at Western Kentucky (1-1).
Some of Penix's problems are due to inconsistent blocking and dropped passes (standout receiver Ty Fryfogle dropped 3 during Saturday's Cincinnati loss) as well as his own poor decision making.
Allen is determined to give Penix every opportunity to work out of it.
"You have to be confident in who you are and you cannot let circumstances and things around you cause that to waver," Allen says. "That's what we're going to challenge him to do. But once again, we're just teaching him and growing with him and helping him through this because he's still growing and maturing, too."
*****
Coming off a bye week gives Western Kentucky an extra week to prepare.
That's not the Hoosiers' biggest concern.
Stopping the pass is.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe completes 74.7 percent of his passes for an average of 429.5 yards per game. He has 10 touchdowns against two interceptions.
Receiver Jerreth Sterns has 16 catches for 278 yards and four touchdowns. Mitchell Tinsley has 10 catches for 151 yards and two TDs. Malachi Corley has 11 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
No Hilltopper has rushed for more than 42 yards.
Under offensive-minded head coach Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky averages 47.0 points and allows 29.5. It opened with a 59-21 win over Tennessee Martin before losing 38-35 to Army.
It has shown vulnerability against the run, allowing 270 rushing yards per game.
"I know it's going to be a good environment," Allen says. "They'll have a great crowd there.
"They are a very good team. They are the No. 1 passing offense in the country, and are No. 1 in third-down conversions. Those two (statistics) go together.
"They throw as well as anybody in this country. They have a very talented quarterback, receiver corps, new offensive coordinator, and are very athletic on defense."
This is the first of two-straight road games. IU will play at No. 6/8 Penn State (3-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 2.
*****
The defense will get a boost from the return of All-Big Ten safety Devon Matthews. He was injured during the Iowa game and didn't play against Idaho and Cincinnati.
"Monster (Matthews) is progressing well," Allen says. "We expect him to play. He practiced with us (Sunday night), which is great. It will be great for our secondary."
*****
Is it time for college football to change the targeting rule, and fast?
Yes, Allen says.
IU lost All-America linebacker Micah McFadden in the first half against Cincinnati when he was ejected for targeting.
The rule, passed amid concern over concussions, is designed to eliminate brutal helmet-to-helmet hits that can lead to serious injury
Allen says the rule should be changed, perhaps to how basketball does with Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 fouls so helmet-to-helmet contact doesn't automatically lead to ejection. Intentional targeting shouldn't be treated the same as unintentional.
"I'm all about player safety, so that to me is totally the focus and should be," Allen says, "but there's no question (the rule should be changed). There's a lot of agreement (among coaches) that the rule needs to be evaluated.
"The ejection for something like that is not what it needs to be. So if they want to go Targeting 1, Targeting 2, I think that needs to be. It needs to be done soon because you can watch multiple games, not just our game, where that keeps happening, and it's just not the way it should be."
During the third-and-10 play, McFadden blitzed, hit Cincinnati right guard Lorenz Metz and then right tackle Dylan O'Quinn, who tried to shove him away from quarterback Desmond Ridder. The crown of McFadden's helmet hit Ridder's facemask.
McFadden didn't launch himself at the quarterback. Ridder wasn't hurt. It was inadvertent contact and the call wasn't made on the field, but in the replay booth.
"I knew we connected helmets on the field," McFadden says. "I think somebody mentioned on the sideline, 'I think they're reviewing this for targeting.' I told them I thought it might be because of me. It happened on the field, but I didn't think they would see it or call it because it was so fast. But once they said they were reviewing it for targeting I knew it would be me."
Allen didn't think the play warranted a targeting call and says IU has turned it into the Big Ten office.
"I totally disagree with the call. It wasn't targeting. You can go through and evaluate it. It's not targeting."
*****
IU is getting impressive receiving contributions from tight ends Peyton Hendershot (9 catches, 86 yards, 1 touchdown), AJ Barner (2 for 78 yards, 1TD) and Matt Bjorson (1 for 8 yards).
Look for that to increase in the coming weeks.
"(Hendershot has) worked extremely hard to get better," Allen says. "He looks faster and he's in great shape. He's worked hard on improving his blocking, and with AJ Barner and Matt Bjorson, those guys are our top three.
"I love that (tight end) room. They're guys we can count on. We trust them. They've shown they can make plays.
"The tight end is a huge part of our offense. I want it to be. I'm not bashful about telling our guys that. I know what that does to a defense and how that affects the run support."
*****
IU suffered a big blow with the passing of Dr. Andy Hipskind, the athletic department's chief medical officer.
Hipskind, 48, was a key member of the IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group and the COVID-19 Operations Team that formulated the department's response to the pandemic.
He had been part of the IU medical team, and the football team physician, since 2003.
A former Hoosier cross country and track runner, he was recently awarded the IU Distinguished Service Medal, one of just 45 people to be so honored.
"Continued thoughts and prayers with Andy Hipskind's family," Allen says. "Such a huge loss to Indiana University. He meant so much to so many people.
"I don't know if I've ever met a more selfless individual -- kind, compassionate, and just awesome in every way.
"My heart breaks for his wife, Angie, and their family, and continued support for them. That (support) will never stop. He will always be remembered here for all that he gave to his university."
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