Postgame Quotes vs. Rutgers

Postgame Quotes
Rutgers at Indiana
October 21, 2023

Tom Allen | Indiana Head Coach
Opening Statement
TA: Just a very disappointing performance today. Tough loss. Congratulate Coach Schiano. He's done a good job with his football team. They're 6-2 for a reason. Good physical football team.
Just too many mistakes. Special teams just hurt us, sadly, and inexcusable blocked punt. Obviously the points right before halftime, defense played hard up to that point there and did some good things, but
obviously just were on the field too much and then gave up that long run at the end, which was really, really tough.

But just got to keep working. Got five games left. Just got to keep on finding a way to get better every week. Questions?

On how disappointing it was to not slow down Rutgers' run game…
TA: Very. I was concerned about that. That's what they've been able to do.

But just didn't do a good enough job on 1st downs, got too many 3rd and shorts, had a big quarterback gain that we knew they would do, and yeah, just frustrating couldn't get off.

Had a couple drives that I thought we should have, and either there was a penalty or just poor execution and just got to play better. Just really can't do that. I know we've got to be able to get off the field defensively, and cannot give that kind of run game. It just bleeds the clock and bleeds your energy and keeps our offense off the field. Just tough.

On the concern of the guys becoming discouraged by the offensive struggles…
TA: Yeah, that's a concern, there's no question. But at the same time, you just have to -- we've got many games left, and we've got to find a way to improve. Yeah, there's no doubt at this stage after playing this many games, you get guys that get down and get discouraged, and we've got to battle that, without question. That's where your leadership comes in from your players and coaches, as well.

But there's no doubt, very frustrating at the same time. But just got to keep battling, keep fighting.

On the team morale and relying on the identity of this team…
TA: Yeah, I just think that you rely on the character of your guys and your coaches and just be able to stand strong in the face of adversity, self-inflicted or not, however it comes, wherever it comes from. Just to be able to continue to battle and continue to feel the accountability of just being able to come back every day and just keep working for the people around you and the people that you play for.

But yeah, it's definitely a challenging time. This was a tough loss for sure, one that we knew we needed to get. Just frustrating that we have those kind of mistakes.

It's not that they were necessarily forced, just things that we've got to be able to be better at. But once again, hats off to them. Not going to take anything away from them. They ran the ball well and made the plays on special teams they needed to make.

On the steps needed to keep this season from slipping away…
TA: Yeah, there's no question. I don't think I feel it, I think it's a reality that you get to this stage of the year and you've got several losses now in a row. That's a tough reality. That's where you don't hide from it. You've got to address it head on, and you've got to really work hard together to help your guys.

So we've got to do a better job as coaches, make better calls and put them in better position, and those guys got to finish, as well.

It's all of us together, and we're all locked arms, and we're all in this together. It's what we are. It's what we do. You just continue to teach how to handle challenging times and how to handle a chance to put the stake in the ground and change momentum, which is what we need to do.

We've obviously got another opportunity next week, which is what is what we're facing, on the road again, but at the same time, it's about us right now being able to band together and continue to battle. That's what we're going to do. We're just going to lock arms and fight.

On going 2-20 in the last 22 Big Ten contests and what needs to be change…
TA: We've got to execute better in regards to scoring more points. Haven't scored enough points to win games. Keep the defense off the field. The defense has got to get key stops at key times. Special teams can't give up a blocked punt. Those are going to get you beat pretty much every time that happens statistically.

So not a good situation to be in. Not a good place to be, without question.

But it falls on me. I'm the one in charge. I'm the one responsible. This is on me.

On what went into the decision and what you saw to name Brendan quarterback…
TA: Well, I said it was going to be the guy for the rest of the game. We weren't going to rotate them back and forth in the game.

But at the same time, obviously he did some good things. Obviously got to continue to grow and develop. But they're both young, so obviously continue to allow them to play and continue to get better is the key, and I just feel like he had earned the right to have that opportunity.

Did some things that were positive, without question, but still got to generate more in the throw game, which is what we're trying to do. Bottom line is we have ran the football better against a really good defense in the box, but not good enough in the throw game to create points, which is what we've got to do, because when you score points, that energizes the defense, as well, gives them a lot of momentum whether they're on the field or not. It has a psychological effect, without question. It's just the reality of how you've got to win. We know that.

But I do think that continue to build off of what he's doing well and continue to grow this football team.

Obviously Dexter continues to be a guy that's in the periphery as far as his development and his physical recovery from where he's at. Just want to continue to help give our team the best chance we have to have success on game day.

On the blocked punt by Rutgers…
TA: It wasn't confusing, we were just checking based on what they were showing, and we have a whole check system, so we were just going through our checks.

When they line up a certain way, we leave ourselves enough time on the play clock to do that. But they out-executed us in that regard, in regards to being able to get the call they wanted and us executing what we had called.

But no, we were just checking, checking the call based on their initial alignment.

On if Rutgers did something unexpected to get the blocked punt…
TA: No, but we had worked on it through -- just in those situations we've got to make sure everybody, every single guy, when they're bringing all those guys, everybody has got to make his block.

Obviously I'll go back and watch it on film, but we were working on them doing that. Had different things -- we could have checked to a certain part of it that we didn't which we actually did later on after that kid tipped it to Lou Moore to make sure there was no issue with it.

But at the same time, we felt good about how we had it schemed up. Wasn't good enough.

Indiana Student-Athletes
Aaron Casey |LB | R-Sr.+
On how disappointing it was not being able to stop the run game…
AC: It was obviously not what we wanted. We prepared for it, we knew it was coming. We got to do a better job at stopping it.

On how they can do better to stop the run game…
AC: Execution. Everybody doing their job, straining and doing it for the whole play until the whistle.

On how much the injuries in the secondary affected the defense…
AC: We had the same scheme for the most part. I don't think it changed any of our calls, or how we were doing anything. We just missed those guys being out there.

On improving the morale of the team…
AC: Just go back to work, keep doing our jobs. We still have five games left.

Nic Toomer | DB | R-Jr.
On how tough it is to deal with so many defensive injuries…
NT: We just had to have a next minute mentality. When people go down, that's just the game of football. That is the nature of the game. Everyone has to be ready for when the time comes.

On how the team adjusted with changes to personnel due to injury…
NT: I think everyone was prepared. We work on that during the week, everyone has to be ready to go because injuries do happen. That's just what happens. Obviously, no one likes to see that happen, but when they do everybody has to know their calls.

On how they were getting worn down by Rutgers' game plan…
NT: They're a heavy run team. Defense was on the field for a long time. We just have to lock in on the details, and everybody just has to do their job.

On how they are rebuilding the morale of the team…
NT: Well, the past is the past. We have a big challenge ahead of us, all we can do is focus on the future. We still can make a bowl game. That's our goal right now, so just putting that behind us and going back to work.

Brendan Sorsby | QB | R-Fr.
On when he was able to settle in and feel comfortable in the game…
BS: From the get go today, I felt pretty good. The O-line protected really well. I missed a couple throws that I'm going to want back, but overall I felt like the offense executed. [There were] just a couple of miscues that stalled some drives.

On how he and Tayven Jackson have handled the quarterback situation…
BS: Me and Tayven obviously are close, everybody knows that. We try to be there for each other. Whenever he's playing I'm there for him, whenever I'm playing he's there for me. He was a great teammate on the sideline today, helping me out a lot. I'm just thankful that whenever the roles are reversed, we are always there for each other.

On if he looks over his shoulder and worries about being benched after missing throws…
BS: Yeah, but at the end of the day you can't do that. You can't be looking back the whole time. You got to look forward, and not worry about the next play. If you mess up, you have to go make the next play.

On if there has been any changes with coach Rod Carey since he took over the play calling…
BS: No, obviously Coach Carey has been working with us a for a few weeks now. I feel comfortable with him calling the plays, and I think he's doing a good job.

Omar Cooper Jr. | Wr. | R-Fr.
On If anything has changed with the new offensive coordinator…
OC: With a new offensive coordinator, there's certain things we can't change because we're in the middle of the season. We know what works best. I'd say keeping the foot on the gas, no- huddle, hurry-up offense, I feel like that works best for us. But, we're trying to figure out what else we can add that would help us be better in the future.

On if he feels like the season is slipping away with all the losses…
OC: I'd say we'll never feel it slipping just because there's always a chance. You never know what could happen. We could win the rest of our games and still have a shot at a bowl game. So, we just try to come everyday to practice, prepare and work, Because like I said, you never know what could happen.

On how the QB shuffling has affected the team…
OC: We all have a job to do, so if somebody's not coming to do their best then we just have to keep working. As of right now, the quarterback situation has not been a problem. We just have to figure out what we have been having trouble with and keep getting better each and every day.

Greg Schiano | Rutgers Head Coach
Opening Statement
GS: Thank you guys for coming out and covering us. I appreciate it. I'm really proud of our team. We went out and played complimentary football today in all three phases. Something that I didn't make a big deal about because I didn't want our players thinking about it, but that's eight straight weeks. The last two or three teams we have played had byes, and our kids just kept working. You could see that it was taking a collective toll on them, but they just kept going. We tried to cut a little here, cut a little there, but the reality is that they had to get the work. We are not at the point where you can miss stuff and still be good enough to win. I'm really proud of the way that they worked through eight straight weeks and were able to win on the road. It's big.

On the significance of being bowl eligible…
GS: It's a step. You get to be bowl eligible, and that's one step on the journey. We didn't finish the journey last time, so that's the goal. It's going to take time. There are no quick fixes, not at Rutgers. It's hard, and you just work and work and work. But this is definitely a step, and now we get a little bit of a break. Then we have the last third of the season which is quite challenging. We'll enjoy this one tonight and move on to the bye week.

On having big plays from the special teams…
GS: They are really important. I have said many times that special teams and the weight room are the two cultural incubators. I say that because other than the specialists, nobody comes to Rutgers to be on special teams. They come to be a wide receiver, a defensive back, a defensive lineman, whatever it is. That is a sacrifice. But at Rutgers, it becomes an honor to play on our special teams. To be on the punt team is an honor. That and the weight room. Not a lot of guys love to go in there and train and put themselves through the pain of development. When I look at our program and how we develop and who are the guys that we can count on, those are two big areas that I look very closely at. I'm pleased that we are able to do it this week and have two turnovers on teams that played a big part in the game.

On being able to run the ball effectively…
GS: It starts up front. The guys have gotten better every single week. Are we where we want to be? No. But we're just getting better every week, and that's our goal. As long as we can keep the arrow going that way. Kyle Monangai is a really tough guy. Sometimes from my vantage point I'm thinking, "What is it, second and seven? No, it's second and four." He just hits it in there and comes downhill. I didn't know how long Gavin (Wimsatt) could go. That was quite a run. I was so far behind the play that I didn't realize how close he was to the goal line. They said he was in on the headset and I said, "oh my goodness. That was a heck of a play." It really was a great read by him. Everything was done just right by him for that play to work. It's not an easy one to read. He did it all very well. We needed it. I told everybody all week long that this is a really good football team. Before today (Indiana) was 2-4, and the four teams they lost to have a total of four losses. It's Michigan, Ohio State, Maryland and Louisville. This is a good team. This was a tough one to go on the road and win. We're really blessed to be able to do it.

Rutgers Student-Athletes
Deion Jennings | LB | Sr.
On seeing the program turn around during his tenure at Rutgers…
DJ: I'm one of the oldest guys in the program. Seeing the ups and downs of the program has been a wild ride. Coach Schiano has done a lot for this program since he's been back. We've been seeing consistent growth. The leadership of this team started in the offseason with taking control of the team and keeping the guys together.

On the defensive adjustments and improvements in the second half and what it shows about the team…
DJ: It's the resiliency that we have. Coach preaches it everyday, day in and day out, to live in the moment and the results are going to come.

On Coach Schiano talking to Jennings in the early days of his career…
DJ: He was truthful when he first came here. He said it was going to take time, and that's exactly what happened. I'm just happy for Coach Schiano, for this team and for this program.

Gavin Wimsett | QB | Jr.
On the team being 6-2 and bowl eligible…
GW: It feels really great. I remember Coach Schiano recruiting me. This is what I came here for, to try and get him to a bowl game, and to be the quarterback to help him do that. It's just a blessing. We couldn't do this without each other. We've spent hard times together this offseason [...] preparing for this season. To get to this point, it's just really nice.

On his 80-yard touchdown run…
GW: I made a good read and pulled (the ball). It was one-on-one with the safety. I made him miss, and it was off to the races. I didn't know it was 80 yards until I got into the locker room though. I saw green grass and ran. I was pretty gassed at the last five yards.

On the Rutgers' team rushing for over 270 yards…
GW: It wasn't necessarily our game plan. It was whatever we needed to do to win. We knew the ground game was working for us. We felt confident in it, and we stuck with it.

#GoIU

Players Mentioned

Aaron Casey

Omar Cooper Jr.

Tayven Jackson

Brendan Sorsby

Nic Toomer

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