Indiana University Athletics
‘Toughness’ is Key Word for Hoosiers
1/30/2023 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Words matter. One word matters more. Tom Allen understands that. Indiana's head football coach is determined to get his program back on track, to win the winnable games, and perhaps more.
Recruiting, coaching, strategy, and talent all factor into it, but a defining theme can put you over the top; it can help drive players through off-season challenges and adversities sure to come.
Allen has three pillars to his program -- accountability, toughness, and love.
For this upcoming season, he chose to return to one of those foundational roots.
Toughness.
"This was a chance to emphasize the thing I thought we needed to emphasize," he says. "You get what you emphasize every year."
IU was tough in last season's first three games, rallying late to beat good Illinois and Western Kentucky teams, dominating out-gunned Idaho.
Then it slipped away.
The Hoosiers had fourth-quarter opportunities to beat Rutgers, Maryland, Nebraska, and Purdue, and lost them all. There were multiple reasons, but ultimately, the toughest teams find ways to make the plays that matter most when it matters most.
"Mentally and physically, I wanted us to close out those fourth-quarter games," Allen says. "We had four games that came down to the fourth quarter, maybe even the final drive.
"How do you close that gap and create a different outcome? To me, it's mental and physical toughness."
Allen and his staff work to build that now, through mandatory training and players doing extra work, so that it's ingrained by the time next season starts.
"Who's coming in on Saturdays to do extra work when it's a discretionary day?" Allen asks while knowing the answer.
"We have five days a week of required workouts. Everybody in America is doing that."
For Allen, motivation to get that extra work requires an extra word. In his case, it's "gimper."
There are multiple definitions, some religious, some street slang.
For Allen, it describes a person who is committed and passionate, who has no use for mediocrity or anything less than the best.
"A gimper is someone who always does more than what's required or expected," Allen says. "I've challenged this team -- players and coaches -- to be a team full of gimpers."
That means doing more all the time, from January until the start of August practice.
"That's the mental part of it," Allen says. "It's that continual mental toughness piece."
That connects with the physical part, Allen says, the lifting, running, film work, and everything else associated with consistently delivering elite-level performance. That's critical when the margin for error is so small.
"We have the hardest or one of the hardest schedules in the country every year," Allen says. "That's okay, but you'd better be physically and mentally tough to embrace that challenge."
Allen wants a program that thrives on it.
"The toughness piece never goes away. I love it. I've always wanted this to be a physically tough, mentally tough team. This gives us a chance to re-emphasize it."
Allen continues to evaluate the offense and defense, seeking ways to improve units that struggled far too much. He also continues to work with the strength and medical staffs to devise ways to minimize the injuries -- including quarterback and linebacker -- so costly over the previous two seasons.
"It's a never-ending process trying to figure out how we can prevent those and not have so many key guys out," Allen says.
That includes quarterback Dexter Williams II, who is rehabbing back from his second significant knee injury.
He had just won the starting quarterback job last season (in 4 games throwing for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns, running for 165 and 1 TD) when he was hurt in a non-contact play. He'd shown the dual-threat ability crucial to maximizing the balanced offensive attack Allen wants and offensive coordinator Walt Bell has devised.
There's no guarantee Williams will be ready for the start of next season. Doctors projected a 12-month recovery, which could mean October or November.
"He's attacking his rehab," Allen says. "He's doing everything he's asked to do all day."
Allen says Williams has told him he'll do whatever he can to help the team -- on or off the field.
"He's that kind of guy," Allen says. "This team is important to him. He wants us to be great."
One thing is clear – "When his body is ready," Allen says, "he'll get a chance to get back out there."
Recruiting, coaching, strategy, and talent all factor into it, but a defining theme can put you over the top; it can help drive players through off-season challenges and adversities sure to come.
Allen has three pillars to his program -- accountability, toughness, and love.
For this upcoming season, he chose to return to one of those foundational roots.
Toughness.
"This was a chance to emphasize the thing I thought we needed to emphasize," he says. "You get what you emphasize every year."
IU was tough in last season's first three games, rallying late to beat good Illinois and Western Kentucky teams, dominating out-gunned Idaho.
Then it slipped away.
The Hoosiers had fourth-quarter opportunities to beat Rutgers, Maryland, Nebraska, and Purdue, and lost them all. There were multiple reasons, but ultimately, the toughest teams find ways to make the plays that matter most when it matters most.
"Mentally and physically, I wanted us to close out those fourth-quarter games," Allen says. "We had four games that came down to the fourth quarter, maybe even the final drive.
"How do you close that gap and create a different outcome? To me, it's mental and physical toughness."
Allen and his staff work to build that now, through mandatory training and players doing extra work, so that it's ingrained by the time next season starts.
"Who's coming in on Saturdays to do extra work when it's a discretionary day?" Allen asks while knowing the answer.
"We have five days a week of required workouts. Everybody in America is doing that."
For Allen, motivation to get that extra work requires an extra word. In his case, it's "gimper."
There are multiple definitions, some religious, some street slang.
For Allen, it describes a person who is committed and passionate, who has no use for mediocrity or anything less than the best.
"A gimper is someone who always does more than what's required or expected," Allen says. "I've challenged this team -- players and coaches -- to be a team full of gimpers."
That means doing more all the time, from January until the start of August practice.
"That's the mental part of it," Allen says. "It's that continual mental toughness piece."
That connects with the physical part, Allen says, the lifting, running, film work, and everything else associated with consistently delivering elite-level performance. That's critical when the margin for error is so small.
"We have the hardest or one of the hardest schedules in the country every year," Allen says. "That's okay, but you'd better be physically and mentally tough to embrace that challenge."
Allen wants a program that thrives on it.
"The toughness piece never goes away. I love it. I've always wanted this to be a physically tough, mentally tough team. This gives us a chance to re-emphasize it."
Allen continues to evaluate the offense and defense, seeking ways to improve units that struggled far too much. He also continues to work with the strength and medical staffs to devise ways to minimize the injuries -- including quarterback and linebacker -- so costly over the previous two seasons.
"It's a never-ending process trying to figure out how we can prevent those and not have so many key guys out," Allen says.
That includes quarterback Dexter Williams II, who is rehabbing back from his second significant knee injury.
He had just won the starting quarterback job last season (in 4 games throwing for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns, running for 165 and 1 TD) when he was hurt in a non-contact play. He'd shown the dual-threat ability crucial to maximizing the balanced offensive attack Allen wants and offensive coordinator Walt Bell has devised.
There's no guarantee Williams will be ready for the start of next season. Doctors projected a 12-month recovery, which could mean October or November.
"He's attacking his rehab," Allen says. "He's doing everything he's asked to do all day."
Allen says Williams has told him he'll do whatever he can to help the team -- on or off the field.
"He's that kind of guy," Allen says. "This team is important to him. He wants us to be great."
One thing is clear – "When his body is ready," Allen says, "he'll get a chance to get back out there."
Players Mentioned
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