Indiana University Athletics
Bouncing Back – Indiana, Penix Aim for Idaho
9/6/2021 8:56:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Cream & Crimson sky is not falling.
Repeat until you believe it.
Yes, Indiana played poorly in its 34-6 season-opening loss at No. 18 Iowa that will cost it its No. 17 national ranking.
Yes, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. struggled as he rarely has as a Hoosier.
It will get better.
Repeat until you believe it.
The first chance to prove it comes Saturday night when the Hoosiers (0-1) host Idaho (1-0).
"The bottom line," head coach Tom Allen says, "is how you respond to this kind of situation. That's going to be the focus.
"I love our guys. I believe in them. I am excited to see them learn from the things that happened on Saturday and press on and move forward."
To do that, Allen adds, "You get your mind right and get your focus on the next opponent, which is really most important."
Focus starts with Penix, whose difference-making ability was a huge reason for IU's 6-2, No. 12 final-ranking success last season.
He's coming off a torn ACL, his second as a Hoosier, along with a broken sternum -- three season-ending injuries in three seasons that would rock anyone.
Last Saturday Penix played like a guy trying to find his rhythm against one of the Big Ten's best defenses, completing 14-of-31 passes for 156 yards and three interceptions. Two of the picks were returned for touchdowns, both by cornerback Riley Moss.
Guess what? Similar struggles happened at the start of last season.
While Penix was clutch in the final two drives of the season-opening overtime win over No. 8 Penn State, he struggled for most of the game against a defense not nearly as good as the Hawkeyes'. He was 19-for-36 for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
In the next game, against Rutgers, Penix was 17-for-26 for 238 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and thrived from there.
While that's no guarantee that will happen this Saturday, and beyond, "I have to be better," Penix says. "It's a game to build off of.
Penix will build. History shows it. Team success demands it.
"We didn't execute when we needed to," Penix says. "A lot of plays were left on the field. Make sure we get that corrected and keep pushing forward.
"Every week we look to improve and build on the week before. We have to make a lot of corrections. We will make sure we're prepared and execute at a high level."
Then Penix switches from "me" to "we."
"The guys will be confident going into the game. That's how it is every game. Eliminate the bad football and go out and play football. Play hard. Play for each other. Execute at a high level, every play."
In so many ways, the Hoosiers will go as far as Penix carries them.
"He wasn't himself," Allen says, "but, there is no wavering whatsoever within him. He just needs to continue to work through that process, the confidence in that. He's definitely 100 percent, in regard to the knee, and just being able to play that way.
"That's the process you've got to go through. He's going through it with us, and we're going through it with him. Everybody is in this together."
Togetherness has offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan taking responsibility for Penix's mistakes.
"He can play a lot of better," Sheridan says. "I shoulder the burden on that. I didn't prepare him well enough for the moment. I didn't put him in positions to be successful. He will play better. I will coach him better."
That's a combination of fundamental work and game-plan preparation.
"His fundamentals can improve – the footwork, the drops, the timing, the follow through to the finish," Sheridan says. "We'll work on that."
Work will come without the "live" practice component. IU's scout team can't duplicate game intensity and physicality. Rigorous film study and fundamental work, plus attention to detail, can make up for it.
"In practice," Allen says, "you can say what it is: you're not live, and you're not going to make it live. There's no way you can ever do that. But, until (game action) is live, it's really not the same."
And so you have struggles.
Take some of Penix's high throws.
"That's just getting comfortable in the pocket," Allen says.
Adds Sheridan: "Some of the fundamentals within the moment could be better. Sometimes it's just a foot. That's the difference between a completion or an incompletion or a tipped pass.
"I need to coach him better, make sure he has a good base. Even if there is duress (heavy pass rush), we still have to execute those plays. He has done that before. He will do it again.
"The margin for error is small. Some of those instances I can coach him better."
Although Iowa managed just one sack, it consistently pressured Penix. While that demands better offensive line play, Sheridan says he will, "Make sure the protection schemes are friendly for Michael and the offense."
Penix forced some passes when running was the better option. Did that reflect hesitation because of the knee injury?
"You've got to be open and honest about things," Allen says, "and (Michael and I) had good conversations. It's something he's got to keep working through. There's no doubt about it.
"We all know the history and you've got to work through that. That's part of this process. We all know how we have to play this game. He understands that.
"Every day, every game, every rep, everything we do, you continue to gain confidence. We've got to get to that point."
One of Penix's interceptions came when he forced a pass rather than run or throw the ball away.
"I thought about running," he says. "That was a bad decision. I have to throw the ball away."
Penix says he will continue to try to practice with game urgency.
"Make sure I'm taking game-time reps in practice. Make sure I go full speed so I'm comfortable and relaxed, and have confidence in my body and all the work I put in.
"It's about having fun and playing free. This is a game I love playing. Make sure I perform at a high level."
Fair or not, quarterbacks and head coaches get the bulk of the glory after victories and criticism after defeats. Sheridan counters with the exceptional plays Penix has made before, and will again.
"I'm proud of Michael. He is a great player. He will respond well. The response he will have will continue to inspire people."
Adds Penix: "The team has my back. We stay together. We didn't point fingers after the game. We know we have a lot to work on, get ready for Idaho, and play our best game."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Cream & Crimson sky is not falling.
Repeat until you believe it.
Yes, Indiana played poorly in its 34-6 season-opening loss at No. 18 Iowa that will cost it its No. 17 national ranking.
Yes, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. struggled as he rarely has as a Hoosier.
It will get better.
Repeat until you believe it.
The first chance to prove it comes Saturday night when the Hoosiers (0-1) host Idaho (1-0).
"The bottom line," head coach Tom Allen says, "is how you respond to this kind of situation. That's going to be the focus.
"I love our guys. I believe in them. I am excited to see them learn from the things that happened on Saturday and press on and move forward."
To do that, Allen adds, "You get your mind right and get your focus on the next opponent, which is really most important."
Focus starts with Penix, whose difference-making ability was a huge reason for IU's 6-2, No. 12 final-ranking success last season.
He's coming off a torn ACL, his second as a Hoosier, along with a broken sternum -- three season-ending injuries in three seasons that would rock anyone.
Last Saturday Penix played like a guy trying to find his rhythm against one of the Big Ten's best defenses, completing 14-of-31 passes for 156 yards and three interceptions. Two of the picks were returned for touchdowns, both by cornerback Riley Moss.
Guess what? Similar struggles happened at the start of last season.
While Penix was clutch in the final two drives of the season-opening overtime win over No. 8 Penn State, he struggled for most of the game against a defense not nearly as good as the Hawkeyes'. He was 19-for-36 for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
In the next game, against Rutgers, Penix was 17-for-26 for 238 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and thrived from there.
While that's no guarantee that will happen this Saturday, and beyond, "I have to be better," Penix says. "It's a game to build off of.
Penix will build. History shows it. Team success demands it.
"We didn't execute when we needed to," Penix says. "A lot of plays were left on the field. Make sure we get that corrected and keep pushing forward.
"Every week we look to improve and build on the week before. We have to make a lot of corrections. We will make sure we're prepared and execute at a high level."
Then Penix switches from "me" to "we."
"The guys will be confident going into the game. That's how it is every game. Eliminate the bad football and go out and play football. Play hard. Play for each other. Execute at a high level, every play."
In so many ways, the Hoosiers will go as far as Penix carries them.
"He wasn't himself," Allen says, "but, there is no wavering whatsoever within him. He just needs to continue to work through that process, the confidence in that. He's definitely 100 percent, in regard to the knee, and just being able to play that way.
"That's the process you've got to go through. He's going through it with us, and we're going through it with him. Everybody is in this together."
Togetherness has offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan taking responsibility for Penix's mistakes.
"He can play a lot of better," Sheridan says. "I shoulder the burden on that. I didn't prepare him well enough for the moment. I didn't put him in positions to be successful. He will play better. I will coach him better."
That's a combination of fundamental work and game-plan preparation.
"His fundamentals can improve – the footwork, the drops, the timing, the follow through to the finish," Sheridan says. "We'll work on that."
Work will come without the "live" practice component. IU's scout team can't duplicate game intensity and physicality. Rigorous film study and fundamental work, plus attention to detail, can make up for it.
"In practice," Allen says, "you can say what it is: you're not live, and you're not going to make it live. There's no way you can ever do that. But, until (game action) is live, it's really not the same."
And so you have struggles.
Take some of Penix's high throws.
"That's just getting comfortable in the pocket," Allen says.
Adds Sheridan: "Some of the fundamentals within the moment could be better. Sometimes it's just a foot. That's the difference between a completion or an incompletion or a tipped pass.
"I need to coach him better, make sure he has a good base. Even if there is duress (heavy pass rush), we still have to execute those plays. He has done that before. He will do it again.
"The margin for error is small. Some of those instances I can coach him better."
Although Iowa managed just one sack, it consistently pressured Penix. While that demands better offensive line play, Sheridan says he will, "Make sure the protection schemes are friendly for Michael and the offense."
Penix forced some passes when running was the better option. Did that reflect hesitation because of the knee injury?
"You've got to be open and honest about things," Allen says, "and (Michael and I) had good conversations. It's something he's got to keep working through. There's no doubt about it.
"We all know the history and you've got to work through that. That's part of this process. We all know how we have to play this game. He understands that.
"Every day, every game, every rep, everything we do, you continue to gain confidence. We've got to get to that point."
One of Penix's interceptions came when he forced a pass rather than run or throw the ball away.
"I thought about running," he says. "That was a bad decision. I have to throw the ball away."
Penix says he will continue to try to practice with game urgency.
"Make sure I'm taking game-time reps in practice. Make sure I go full speed so I'm comfortable and relaxed, and have confidence in my body and all the work I put in.
"It's about having fun and playing free. This is a game I love playing. Make sure I perform at a high level."
Fair or not, quarterbacks and head coaches get the bulk of the glory after victories and criticism after defeats. Sheridan counters with the exceptional plays Penix has made before, and will again.
"I'm proud of Michael. He is a great player. He will respond well. The response he will have will continue to inspire people."
Adds Penix: "The team has my back. We stay together. We didn't point fingers after the game. We know we have a lot to work on, get ready for Idaho, and play our best game."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballFB: Fernando Mendoza - Heisman Trophy Press Conference (12/15/25)
Monday, December 15
FB: Curt Cignetti - Pre-Heisman Press Conference
Wednesday, December 10
FB: Fernando Mendoza - Pre-Heisman Press Conference
Tuesday, December 09
FB: CFP Quarterfinals (Rose Bowl) - Student-Athlete Press Conference
Monday, December 08