Indiana University Athletics
Reality, Mentality and IU Football Prospects
6/12/2023 12:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen paces. Indiana’s football coach is, always, a man on the move.
Today it’s in front of a large gathering of IU faithful at the annual Huber’s Orchard and Winery event in southeastern Indiana.
Allen is talking football, which is what you’d expect, and opportunity, which took an unexpected twist.
IU opens its season on Sept. 2 by hosting national power Ohio State. It’s the second time the Hoosiers have done so during Allen’s seven-year head coaching run. The first time came in 2017. IU led deep into the third quarter before the Buckeyes surged to victory.
This year, Ohio State is a national title contender while the Hoosiers are coming off consecutive losing seasons, Allen doesn’t care.
“I understand reality,” he says. “I also understand this. Before there’s reality, there’s mentality. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anybody else?”
Allen believes in his players, his coaches, his program. IU flirted with greatness in 2020 with a 6-1 regular season record (yes, the only loss was to Ohio State).
And, Allen insists, it can come again.
“I have big dreams for this program. We’re going to keep battling, keep fighting. We’re going to persevere.”
Allen tells a story from his high school teaching and coaching days. There was a student uninterested in going to class or school in general. He didn’t do anything necessary for success. It reflected a rough home life and other challenges. He was on the verge of getting kicked out. His mother, desperate to keep him in school and somehow keep college hopes alive, asked him to take the SAT. He did, and got a 1,480 score. It was an exceptional score, normally seen from only the best students, far better than anyone would have expected. It suggested enormous untapped academic potential.
When the student saw that, he began applying himself. He went to class, did his homework, studied and eventually worked his way into junior college, then a four-year college, and then an Ivy League school for his master’s. He’s since had a successful career as a magazine entrepreneur.
That SAT score, and his response to it, turned his life around.
Then came the twist.
Twelve years after graduating from high school, the student got a letter from the national exam board. It said he was sent the wrong score, that his correct SAT score was actually 740, which was what anyone would have expected based on his previous academic record.
Allen’s point is that the student didn’t suddenly become smarter, but changing his habits, focus, and attitude fueled a lifetime of success.
“Wherever you’re at, if you want to change who you are, you change what you do every day,” Allen says. “Don’t ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do something.”
Allen’s overall Love-Each-Other philosophy hasn’t changed. He gives and demands a lot.
“I care about family. I care about people. I love our players. I invest in them. I want them to be special men and players. I want them to represent the university in a first-class way in everything they do.”
As for the upcoming season, Allen says he gets lots of questions. They center on the quarterback battle between Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby, and the do-it-all skills of Jaylin Lucas (he earned All-America status last year after averaging 28.1 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns, plus rushing for 271 yards and two TDs, plus catching 16 passes for 82 yards).
“People ask about getting Jaylin the ball,” Allen says. “I get it. I agree. He’s special.”
As for the quarterback competition, Jackson and Sorsby are the top contenders with veteran Dexter Williams II still recovering from knee surgery (he’s not expected back until October) and true freshman Broc Lowry still learning the college game.
Jackson transferred from Tennessee. Sorsby saw limited action last year for the Hoosiers. Nothing was decided in the spring. A decision won’t come until fall camp.
“I can’t tell you who will be the starter,” Allen says. “I don’t know, and I wouldn’t tell you if I did know.”
Last year, IU opened 3-0 and finished 4-8. A struggling offensive line, an inability to win the fourth quarter, and a lack of takeways from the defense were the biggest reasons.
“Our word for 2023 is ‘Toughness,’” Allen says. “It’s the ability to persevere mentally and physically.
“Last year, eight games were decided in the fourth quarter. Our whole focus this year is the fourth-quarter mindset. We’ve got to finish in the fourth quarter. We have to do those necessary things when the game is on the line. Execute. That allows you to be great in life, and in the game.”
