No Fear – Blidi, IU Have Something to Prove at No. 2 Michigan
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Perspective finds Indiana defensive lineman Philip Blidi in a Henke Hall setting, a bye week in his rearview mirror, Saturday’s trip to No. 2 Michigan looming.
The Hoosiers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) seek a defining victory. Beating the Wolverines (6-0, 3-0) at Michigan Stadium, where IU hasn’t seen a lot of success, would certainly qualify.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Blidi understands the stakes, and the mindset it will take to win.
“It’s a big game because it’s the next game,” he says. “It has nothing to do with who we’re playing. I respect every opponent we play regardless of who it is -- Power 5, Non-Power 5, I respect them. But I don’t fear any opponent.”
The Hoosiers will have multiple challenges on Saturday, including facing the nation’s stingiest defense (6.7 points a game allowed) at the nation’s largest college football stadium (107,601 capacity) coming off a disappointing performance at Maryland.
Again, Blidi offers perspective. IU began the season with winning-record, earn-a-bowl-bid goals. With seven games remaining, they all remain possible.
“It’s the next step for our team. We have a lot to prove. Everything we want is ahead of us. It’s taking that next step.”
Given IU has only won once in the last 27 meetings with Michigan, it would be a huge step.
“It’s Michigan,” Blidi says. “That’s the focus. A win would mean a lot to us. That would take our team to the next direction we want to go to.”
That direction includes better starts, which have been a problem for IU in recent weeks. Three years at Texas Tech, which included 40 career tackles, 6.5 for loss, prepares Blidi for this challenge.
“It starts with practice,” he says. “We have to start practice fast. Finish fast. Come out with high energy. Keep energy the whole practice. How we practice is how we’ll play. That will be very important.”
Coach Tom Allen says coaches have tweaked the practice structure to help generate better starts. He met with team captains to get their input.
“We’ve got to take ownership of that as coaches. That’s on me as a head coach.”
The result is more drills involving starters against starters, although the scout team still has a role.
“We’re trying to create the intensity and the look we need to get,” Allen says. “We have to get that urgency going right away. It’s critical we play well for four quarters.”
Blidi, who has 12 tackles, one for loss this season, and the Hoosiers are all in.
“The things we’re doing will help us during games,” he says. “That’s getting us game ready. It’s putting us in game situations. It’s allowing us to compete more. Those are the things that will help us into the next game.”
Blidi’s responsibilities go well beyond football and classwork. He and his wife, Emma, have two children -- 2-year-old Amara and 1-year-old Brooks. The bye week gave him more family time, as well as a chance to rejuvenate his body and reset for the season’s second half.
“It was something that was needed,” he says. “We’ve been going for weeks and weeks and weeks. That puts a lot on your body. The mental aspect was important, as well. And we got an extra week on our opponent. All of those aspects made it a great thing.”