Indiana University Athletics
No Question, IU Seeks To Have Fun Against No. 4 Penn State
9/29/2021 9:05:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The question resonates with Cream & Crimson possibilities:
How can Indiana win where it's never won before?
Let Michael Penix Jr. explain.
"We have to continue to push each other to be great," the redshirt junior quarterback says. "It's everybody being for each other. That's the difference. Playing for each other and having fun."
The Hoosiers (2-2) head to No. 4 Penn State (4-0) Saturday night with a chance to right the wrongs from the Iowa and Cincinnati defeats. Doing so will mean a huge step in their quest for a Big Ten title.
If the odds don't favor IU, players don't care.
"Trust in the game plan," Penix says. "Trust each other. Know we can compete with anybody."
Beyond dealing with the talented Nittany Lions (they've already beaten Auburn and Wisconsin), a 100,000-plus crowd at Beaver Stadium awaits.
"It will be a great atmosphere," linebacker Micah McFadden says. "It will be a great crowd.
"Coming off last year, they will be looking for a little revenge. It's up to us to have a great week of practice and get everything lined up to perform. As long as we do that, we can match up well."
Last year's victory over Penn State proved that.
"It shows this team has a lot of grit," Penix says. "We have a lot of people who want to be great.
"We have to handle business on our end. It's staying locked in, keying into the details. Control what we can do today to make sure we're prepared and physically and mentally ready (for Saturday)."
Then Penix morphs into football philosopher.
"We're not focused on the outcome; we're focused on making sure the outcome is what we want. Dial in on the simple things. Focus on the details. Play free and have fun."
Fun will come amid eardrum-bursting decibel levels at one of college football's most raucous stadiums.
"It will be rocking," Penix says. "It will get loud on big downs and early in the game. Make sure we over communicate.
"They are a good team, but we can compete with anybody as long as we execute, play our football, not worry about any outside noise, and stay locked in."
Penix has learned from his early season struggles. He's put in the practice time and beyond. He's studied film by himself and with his coaches. He's faced the heat from opposing teams, passionate coaches, unhappy fans, and his own expectations.
"Those were mistakes you don't want for the team at all," he says. "You always learn from it. They helped me see things differently."
Different comes with this over-riding priority:
No turnovers.
Penix threw three interceptions each against Iowa and Cincinnati, none against Idaho and Western Kentucky.
Not surprisingly, IU lost to Iowa and Cincinnati, and beat Idaho and Western Kentucky.
Penix hopes to extend his one-game interception-free run against a Penn State defense that has intercepted five passes.
"Make sure I protect the ball," he says. "Play free, have fun out there. Not try to make every play. Get the best out of the play that's being run."
And then, to reinforce the point, "I have to protect the ball. I have to continue to have trust."
IU will face a pass-dominated Penn State offense that averages 31.5 points and 423.8 yards under new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich, who had run the offenses of Texas, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State in the previous eight seasons.
"They're explosive," McFadden says. "They have a lot of dynamic guys outside. They will make plays on the edge."
One potential Nittany Lion vulnerability -- they have struggled to generate a consistent rushing attack, averaging less than three yards a carry against Auburn, Wisconsin (which has the nation's best run defense), and Villanova, 3.5 yards overall.
"It will take our guys up front doing their job, stopping the run early and force them to throw," McFadden says. "After that, we'll do our job on the back end. It's everybody doing their job and locking in."
The focus will be on quarterback Sean Clifford, a senior having the best year in what has been an excellent college career. He's coming off his first-ever 400-passing-yard, four-touchdown game in a win over Villanova, earning him Big Ten co-offensive player-of-the-week honors. He's thrown for 1,158 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Clifford runs when necessary (he's rushed for 87 yards), scrambles effectively, and buys time for potential big pass plays.
"He's a great quarterback," McFadden says. "A real experienced guy. He's not normally a runner, but he can use his legs, extend plays, scramble, and get out of the pocket. We're going to have to do a good job of containing him up front and locking onto guys in the back. Make sure we don't come out of coverage to corral him. As linebackers flow with the ball and track him down."
Pressuring Clifford is a big key.
"He's quicker getting the ball out (under Yurcich)," McFadden says. "Whatever we have to do, blitz patterns up front, getting back there faster, create opportunities for guys to get to the quarterback. That's what we'll have to do. He can extend plays and get the ball down the field. The big job for our defensive backs is to make sure they don't extend plays."
As for the IU offense against a defense that allows 15.5 points, Penix says, "Take care of the ball. Execute the plays at a high level. It's understanding the game plan, understanding what we need to do to get a win. Continue to fall back on our preparation.
"We've got a group of guys who continue to have a 1-0 mindset. We preach it, but it's no good preaching it if you're not doing it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The question resonates with Cream & Crimson possibilities:
How can Indiana win where it's never won before?
Let Michael Penix Jr. explain.
"We have to continue to push each other to be great," the redshirt junior quarterback says. "It's everybody being for each other. That's the difference. Playing for each other and having fun."
The Hoosiers (2-2) head to No. 4 Penn State (4-0) Saturday night with a chance to right the wrongs from the Iowa and Cincinnati defeats. Doing so will mean a huge step in their quest for a Big Ten title.
If the odds don't favor IU, players don't care.
"Trust in the game plan," Penix says. "Trust each other. Know we can compete with anybody."
Beyond dealing with the talented Nittany Lions (they've already beaten Auburn and Wisconsin), a 100,000-plus crowd at Beaver Stadium awaits.
"It will be a great atmosphere," linebacker Micah McFadden says. "It will be a great crowd.
"Coming off last year, they will be looking for a little revenge. It's up to us to have a great week of practice and get everything lined up to perform. As long as we do that, we can match up well."
Last year's victory over Penn State proved that.
"It shows this team has a lot of grit," Penix says. "We have a lot of people who want to be great.
"We have to handle business on our end. It's staying locked in, keying into the details. Control what we can do today to make sure we're prepared and physically and mentally ready (for Saturday)."
Then Penix morphs into football philosopher.
"We're not focused on the outcome; we're focused on making sure the outcome is what we want. Dial in on the simple things. Focus on the details. Play free and have fun."
Fun will come amid eardrum-bursting decibel levels at one of college football's most raucous stadiums.
"It will be rocking," Penix says. "It will get loud on big downs and early in the game. Make sure we over communicate.
"They are a good team, but we can compete with anybody as long as we execute, play our football, not worry about any outside noise, and stay locked in."
Penix has learned from his early season struggles. He's put in the practice time and beyond. He's studied film by himself and with his coaches. He's faced the heat from opposing teams, passionate coaches, unhappy fans, and his own expectations.
"Those were mistakes you don't want for the team at all," he says. "You always learn from it. They helped me see things differently."
Different comes with this over-riding priority:
No turnovers.
Penix threw three interceptions each against Iowa and Cincinnati, none against Idaho and Western Kentucky.
Not surprisingly, IU lost to Iowa and Cincinnati, and beat Idaho and Western Kentucky.
Penix hopes to extend his one-game interception-free run against a Penn State defense that has intercepted five passes.
"Make sure I protect the ball," he says. "Play free, have fun out there. Not try to make every play. Get the best out of the play that's being run."
And then, to reinforce the point, "I have to protect the ball. I have to continue to have trust."
IU will face a pass-dominated Penn State offense that averages 31.5 points and 423.8 yards under new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich, who had run the offenses of Texas, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State in the previous eight seasons.
"They're explosive," McFadden says. "They have a lot of dynamic guys outside. They will make plays on the edge."
One potential Nittany Lion vulnerability -- they have struggled to generate a consistent rushing attack, averaging less than three yards a carry against Auburn, Wisconsin (which has the nation's best run defense), and Villanova, 3.5 yards overall.
"It will take our guys up front doing their job, stopping the run early and force them to throw," McFadden says. "After that, we'll do our job on the back end. It's everybody doing their job and locking in."
The focus will be on quarterback Sean Clifford, a senior having the best year in what has been an excellent college career. He's coming off his first-ever 400-passing-yard, four-touchdown game in a win over Villanova, earning him Big Ten co-offensive player-of-the-week honors. He's thrown for 1,158 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Clifford runs when necessary (he's rushed for 87 yards), scrambles effectively, and buys time for potential big pass plays.
"He's a great quarterback," McFadden says. "A real experienced guy. He's not normally a runner, but he can use his legs, extend plays, scramble, and get out of the pocket. We're going to have to do a good job of containing him up front and locking onto guys in the back. Make sure we don't come out of coverage to corral him. As linebackers flow with the ball and track him down."
Pressuring Clifford is a big key.
"He's quicker getting the ball out (under Yurcich)," McFadden says. "Whatever we have to do, blitz patterns up front, getting back there faster, create opportunities for guys to get to the quarterback. That's what we'll have to do. He can extend plays and get the ball down the field. The big job for our defensive backs is to make sure they don't extend plays."
As for the IU offense against a defense that allows 15.5 points, Penix says, "Take care of the ball. Execute the plays at a high level. It's understanding the game plan, understanding what we need to do to get a win. Continue to fall back on our preparation.
"We've got a group of guys who continue to have a 1-0 mindset. We preach it, but it's no good preaching it if you're not doing it."
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