Focus the Key as IU Opens with FIU
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Center Mike Katic has been here before, seen and played in so many Indiana football season openers -- it will be six when the Hoosiers host FIU Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium -- that he has become a virtual Hoosier fountain of wisdom.
What advice does he give a Hoosier team that has 54 newcomers -- including 30 transfers -- on the roster, one that has been rebuilt to new head coach Curt Cignetti’s win-now specifications?
“Just stay focused. There will be ups and downs in games; there are ups and downs in practice. Just flush it and move on.”
Katic has done that during his 39 career games, including 27 starts, while playing multiple offensive line positions.
“I'm a super level-headed guy throughout the game,” he says. “I never get too high; I never get too low. That's what I've kind of been telling the guys and I think they're taking that pretty well.”
Defensive lineman James Carpenter hasn’t been here before, not as a Hoosier. One of 13 James Madison transfers, he’s played with 40 career games and 37 starts over five seasons.
A two-time all-conference player, he has 141 career tackles, 28.0 for loss, with a pair of interceptions and two recovered fumbles.
He says he’s anxious to test himself at the Power 4 Conference level and restore the winning to a program coming off three-straight losing seasons after two consecutive bowl appearances.
“I want to help bring Indiana football back, be part of this rebuild and new era,” he says. “There has been a lot of talk in the offseason, a lot of things here and there. Being able to go out there and play is something I’m excited for.”
Carpenter was a big reason why James Madison went 11-2 last season. He hopes to bring that winning mindset to the Hoosiers.
“It's that mentality of never backing down, having that confidence, that aura about you, that we’re going to win,” Carpenter says. “Coach Cignetti is all about that.”
A Saturday victory would come against a FIU program that went 4-8 last season. The Panthers also have more than 50 new players on the roster. They are led by quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who threw for 2,414 yards last season as a freshman, and by linebacker Reggie Peterson, who had a team-leading 104 tackles. They return eight starters on offense and six on defense.
FIU is 5-17 all-time in road openers.
“They've got a deep stable of receivers,” Cignetti says. “They are returning two or three receivers, and added more guys from the transfer portal. I’m impressed with their running backs.
“They are experienced in the secondary at safety and corner. Their leading tackler returns. Their linebackers and specialists are good.
“It will be a challenge. We'll have to play well. I want to see us play fast and physical, as well as smart, disciplined and poised. There's a fine line there.”
The Hoosiers seek a significant offensive improvement from last year’s 22.2 scoring average. After an offensively sluggish first scrimmage, quarterback Kurtis Rourke organized a meeting to address the issues. That led to a much better second scrimmage, running back Ty Son Lawton says.
“We have a lot of transfers, and we didn’t know how to speak to each other. In the meeting, we got to know each other. That was a step forward in our process.”
Under Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, James Madison averaged more than 30 points. They seek similar results at IU.
“I feel good about our offense,” Cignetti says. “We have a lot of veteran players. We have a veteran quarterback. I think we have a chance to be a good offense and defense and special teams.
“As a coach, you've always got concerns. I've never had a team I didn't have concerns about something. But my focus right now is on preparing these guys and help them be as successful as possible Saturday. I feel good about the pieces we have in place.”