Indiana University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Urgency, Pride, and Substance In Play for Hoosiers
9/8/2021 3:40:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Fortitude is Indiana's football word of the week.
It means calm or courage, attributes the Hoosiers (0-1) embrace as they prepare for Saturday's home opener against Idaho (1-0)
Words, of course, mean nothing without substance, and head coach Tom Allen pushes to get it, from himself, his staff, and his players.
"Game day's coming and the clock's ticking so we have to have a sense of urgency," he says.
The Iowa loss burns, and not just because it knocked IU out of the national rankings. A talented, veteran team needs to play to its potential, and it won't happen by wishing for it.
"It's continuing to go through the process that we've got to get where we want to be," Allen says. "Everybody knows that (the loss) wasn't what anybody wanted and it's my responsibility. The buck stops with me. I have to own it, and I do. It's my responsibility to get it fixed. That's where we're at."
Because of the pandemic, it's been nearly two years since IU played in front of a large Memorial Stadium crowd. Saturday night's game, Allen says, has the players pumped.
"We are excited for our guys to be able to have the opportunity," he says.
"You've got to be able to respond. You've got to look yourself in the mirror, and be able to make honest assessments and evaluations, and you've got to fix them.
"There's a lot of pride in this team. A lot of guys have worked extremely hard, but we've got a lot of work ahead of us. We're excited about the opportunity to get back out there and represent our university."
*****
Does the offensive line need fixed?
Its performance certainly does, and returning to full health is a big key.
Against Iowa, it didn't help that offensive line starter Luke Haggard and veteran lineman Zach Carpenter were out with injuries, although it went beyond that, Allen says.
"We just didn't block good enough. Just call it what you want. We didn't sustain our blocks. We were working with the right people most of the time, but just not able to stay on them.
"It was receivers; it was tight ends, O-line. It's everybody; quarterback carrying out his fakes. All the little things you've got to do. That wasn't to our standard. We have to get better and it's being addressed and will be addressed."
Haggard was a starter all camp until a practice injury sidelined him.
"Unfortunately, Luke got dinged up," Allen says. "We've got to work through that and hopefully get him back.
"We were hoping to get him ready for the game and he was there on an emergency basis, but even going through warmups, he didn't feel like it was a good idea. It's nothing long term or serious. We're hoping to get him back.
"And then just get Zach, just bring him along, too. We're definitely looking at all options. Those guys are going to be (in the mix)."
As for who will be the starting offensive linemen moving forward, Allen says, "You have to get the best five out there. Whoever those best five are, whatever combination it is, we're going to figure it out and that's who we're going to go with.
"We're going to have competition there. I don't know if it's open for every position, but we're always trying to find the best combination. I want guys that are going to play physical and that are going to execute and that are going to finish."
*****
Leadership has its responsibilities. Linebacker Cam Jones understands that. He's a senior with his first co-captain honor, sharing it with receiver Ty Fryfogle, tight end Peyton Hendershot, quarterback Michael Penix Jr., husky Marcelino McCrary-Ball, and linebacker Micah McFadden.
Sharing doesn't diminish the role or the challenge.
"Having a leader like Coach Allen, there's a lot of pressure being a captain," Jones says, "because of the type of coach he is. He's a very passionate and fiery coach.
"Having him and his mindset motivates us to be better leaders and show leadership. That will continue to grow every day."
Allen saw this leadership potential when Jones arrived as a two-time all-state linebacker receiver out of Memphis, Tenn.
"As a freshman I wasn't very vocal," Jones says. "Coach Allen challenged me. He told me he believed in me and wanted me to talk to the group as a whole, that I had earned that opportunity."
Year by year, Jones continued to earn until achieving co-captain status. Now, in the aftermath of the Iowa loss, that leadership will get its biggest test.
"We talk. We get things figured out. (Allen) expects that out of the leaders.
"We have a lot of leaders. All the problems we had, we can find solutions because we are an experienced group."
*****
Weston Kramer continues to play to his full-throttle rep.
The senior defensive lineman was a heavy effort guy during his time at Northern Illinois, and if anything, he has raised that level as a Hoosier. His seven tackles against Iowa (tying defensive end Ryder Anderson for the team lead) reflect that.
"I mentioned him to our whole team because of how hard he plays," Allen says. "I mean, just his effort. He's that way every day. I don't know if I've ever seen a kid at this level practice as hard as he does every day.
"To me, that's infectious. It's contagious and I love it. I want it to infiltrate everybody.
"It's not that we didn't play hard. I'm just saying that kid takes it to another level. He's not a massively big guy (6-2, 290 pounds), but he has a massively big motor and that's an awesome thing because he controls that. That's what makes it so powerful because he can't control how tall he is, but he can control how hard he plays and how tough he is.
"That's what I love about him. So thankful that we brought him here and really excited for his opportunity."
Anderson, a grad transfer out of Ole Miss, feels that excitement.
"It's his hard work," Anderson says about Kramer. "He's one of the hardest workers on the team. He brings it every day. He's a guy I can count on every play. He practices that way and it shows up in the game."
****
Consider the roller-coaster effort put in by punter James Evans, a true freshman out of New Zealand playing in his first-ever football game.
Was he nervous? Absolutely. Playing in front of 70,000 boisterous fans in Iowa City added to the tension, and it showed instantly.
His first three punts went 33, 36, and 29 yards.
Let's just say, Allen wasn't impressed.
"His first three punts weren't very good, but it was his first game of his entire career. Others have had that same situation, but he didn't respond very well initially."
However, when it was over, Evans punted eight times for a 42.6-yard average, with a long of 58 and another more than 50.
"I thought the more he kicked, the better he got," Allen says, "which is what you want to see. There's no question that he needed all those reps. I was encouraged by how he responded."
The 6-1, 222-pound Evans' high upside is reminiscent of IU's punter from the previous four seasons, Haydon Whitehead, who was from Australia.
"I feel good about where (Evans is) at," Allen says. "He needed those reps.
"We tried everything we could to simulate the game situation (in practice), live situation, both the crowd noise, pressure, and hitting him with shields and just trying to rough him up a little bit to feel the pressure.
"We are trying to create that environment. He didn't respond as well initially, but then calmed down and did a better job."
Evans got a boost from kicker Charles Campbell, who made both of his field goal attempts.
"Every person is unique in how they find their groove for kicking," Campbell says. "Try to keep it natural. What core thoughts do you fall back on to perform?
"This was James' first ever game. He wasn't shaken after those first few punts. After that, he calmed down.
"James is getting there. I told him to slow down and focus on technique."
Evans rushed, Campbell adds, because he was worried about getting a punt blocked.
"He just got a little fast in his technique," Campbell says. "We talked about it, about exaggerating his form in practice.
"In the second half, he just let loose. He wasn't scared to punt. He averaged like 52 yards in the second half. I think he'll keep that up."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Fortitude is Indiana's football word of the week.
It means calm or courage, attributes the Hoosiers (0-1) embrace as they prepare for Saturday's home opener against Idaho (1-0)
Words, of course, mean nothing without substance, and head coach Tom Allen pushes to get it, from himself, his staff, and his players.
"Game day's coming and the clock's ticking so we have to have a sense of urgency," he says.
The Iowa loss burns, and not just because it knocked IU out of the national rankings. A talented, veteran team needs to play to its potential, and it won't happen by wishing for it.
"It's continuing to go through the process that we've got to get where we want to be," Allen says. "Everybody knows that (the loss) wasn't what anybody wanted and it's my responsibility. The buck stops with me. I have to own it, and I do. It's my responsibility to get it fixed. That's where we're at."
Because of the pandemic, it's been nearly two years since IU played in front of a large Memorial Stadium crowd. Saturday night's game, Allen says, has the players pumped.
"We are excited for our guys to be able to have the opportunity," he says.
"You've got to be able to respond. You've got to look yourself in the mirror, and be able to make honest assessments and evaluations, and you've got to fix them.
"There's a lot of pride in this team. A lot of guys have worked extremely hard, but we've got a lot of work ahead of us. We're excited about the opportunity to get back out there and represent our university."
*****
Does the offensive line need fixed?
Its performance certainly does, and returning to full health is a big key.
Against Iowa, it didn't help that offensive line starter Luke Haggard and veteran lineman Zach Carpenter were out with injuries, although it went beyond that, Allen says.
"We just didn't block good enough. Just call it what you want. We didn't sustain our blocks. We were working with the right people most of the time, but just not able to stay on them.
"It was receivers; it was tight ends, O-line. It's everybody; quarterback carrying out his fakes. All the little things you've got to do. That wasn't to our standard. We have to get better and it's being addressed and will be addressed."
Haggard was a starter all camp until a practice injury sidelined him.
"Unfortunately, Luke got dinged up," Allen says. "We've got to work through that and hopefully get him back.
"We were hoping to get him ready for the game and he was there on an emergency basis, but even going through warmups, he didn't feel like it was a good idea. It's nothing long term or serious. We're hoping to get him back.
"And then just get Zach, just bring him along, too. We're definitely looking at all options. Those guys are going to be (in the mix)."
As for who will be the starting offensive linemen moving forward, Allen says, "You have to get the best five out there. Whoever those best five are, whatever combination it is, we're going to figure it out and that's who we're going to go with.
"We're going to have competition there. I don't know if it's open for every position, but we're always trying to find the best combination. I want guys that are going to play physical and that are going to execute and that are going to finish."
*****
Leadership has its responsibilities. Linebacker Cam Jones understands that. He's a senior with his first co-captain honor, sharing it with receiver Ty Fryfogle, tight end Peyton Hendershot, quarterback Michael Penix Jr., husky Marcelino McCrary-Ball, and linebacker Micah McFadden.
Sharing doesn't diminish the role or the challenge.
"Having a leader like Coach Allen, there's a lot of pressure being a captain," Jones says, "because of the type of coach he is. He's a very passionate and fiery coach.
"Having him and his mindset motivates us to be better leaders and show leadership. That will continue to grow every day."
Allen saw this leadership potential when Jones arrived as a two-time all-state linebacker receiver out of Memphis, Tenn.
"As a freshman I wasn't very vocal," Jones says. "Coach Allen challenged me. He told me he believed in me and wanted me to talk to the group as a whole, that I had earned that opportunity."
Year by year, Jones continued to earn until achieving co-captain status. Now, in the aftermath of the Iowa loss, that leadership will get its biggest test.
"We talk. We get things figured out. (Allen) expects that out of the leaders.
"We have a lot of leaders. All the problems we had, we can find solutions because we are an experienced group."
*****
Weston Kramer continues to play to his full-throttle rep.
The senior defensive lineman was a heavy effort guy during his time at Northern Illinois, and if anything, he has raised that level as a Hoosier. His seven tackles against Iowa (tying defensive end Ryder Anderson for the team lead) reflect that.
"I mentioned him to our whole team because of how hard he plays," Allen says. "I mean, just his effort. He's that way every day. I don't know if I've ever seen a kid at this level practice as hard as he does every day.
"To me, that's infectious. It's contagious and I love it. I want it to infiltrate everybody.
"It's not that we didn't play hard. I'm just saying that kid takes it to another level. He's not a massively big guy (6-2, 290 pounds), but he has a massively big motor and that's an awesome thing because he controls that. That's what makes it so powerful because he can't control how tall he is, but he can control how hard he plays and how tough he is.
"That's what I love about him. So thankful that we brought him here and really excited for his opportunity."
Anderson, a grad transfer out of Ole Miss, feels that excitement.
"It's his hard work," Anderson says about Kramer. "He's one of the hardest workers on the team. He brings it every day. He's a guy I can count on every play. He practices that way and it shows up in the game."
****
Consider the roller-coaster effort put in by punter James Evans, a true freshman out of New Zealand playing in his first-ever football game.
Was he nervous? Absolutely. Playing in front of 70,000 boisterous fans in Iowa City added to the tension, and it showed instantly.
His first three punts went 33, 36, and 29 yards.
Let's just say, Allen wasn't impressed.
"His first three punts weren't very good, but it was his first game of his entire career. Others have had that same situation, but he didn't respond very well initially."
However, when it was over, Evans punted eight times for a 42.6-yard average, with a long of 58 and another more than 50.
"I thought the more he kicked, the better he got," Allen says, "which is what you want to see. There's no question that he needed all those reps. I was encouraged by how he responded."
The 6-1, 222-pound Evans' high upside is reminiscent of IU's punter from the previous four seasons, Haydon Whitehead, who was from Australia.
"I feel good about where (Evans is) at," Allen says. "He needed those reps.
"We tried everything we could to simulate the game situation (in practice), live situation, both the crowd noise, pressure, and hitting him with shields and just trying to rough him up a little bit to feel the pressure.
"We are trying to create that environment. He didn't respond as well initially, but then calmed down and did a better job."
Evans got a boost from kicker Charles Campbell, who made both of his field goal attempts.
"Every person is unique in how they find their groove for kicking," Campbell says. "Try to keep it natural. What core thoughts do you fall back on to perform?
"This was James' first ever game. He wasn't shaken after those first few punts. After that, he calmed down.
"James is getting there. I told him to slow down and focus on technique."
Evans rushed, Campbell adds, because he was worried about getting a punt blocked.
"He just got a little fast in his technique," Campbell says. "We talked about it, about exaggerating his form in practice.
"In the second half, he just let loose. He wasn't scared to punt. He averaged like 52 yards in the second half. I think he'll keep that up."
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