Indiana TCY Village Challenge 2038 - a new start

[3ric]

INDIANA: A TCY VC - Year 2038

Previous Seasons:
Indiana VC 2037 - Alf
Indiana VC 2036 – 3ric
Indiana VC 2035 – cthomer5000
Indiana VC 2034 – Alf
Indiana VC 2033 – bigjdotcom01
Indiana VC 2032 – 3ric
Indiana VC 2031 - Cornhuskerly
Indiana VC 2030 - Alf
Indiana VC 2029 – bigjdotcom01
Indiana VC 2028 – 3ric
Indiana VC 2027 - Cornhuskerly
Indiana VC 2026 - Alf
Indiana VC 2025 – bigjdotcom01
Indiana VC 2024 – 3ric
Indiana VC 2023 - Cornhuskerly
Indiana VC 2022 - Alf
Indiana VC 2021 – 3ric
Indiana VC 2020 - Cornhuskerly
Indiana VC 2019 - Alf
Indiana VC 2018 - bigjdotcom01
Indiana VC 2017 - 3ric
Indiana VC 2016 - Cornhuskerly
Indiana VC 2015 - Alf
Indiana VC 2014 - bigjdotcom01
Indiana VC 2013 - 3ric
Indiana VC 2012 - Cornhuskerly
Indiana VC 2011 - Alf
Indiana VC 2010 - bigjdotcom01
Indiana VC 2009 - 3ric
Indiana VC 2008 - Alf
Indiana VC 2007 - bigjdotcom01
Indiana VC 2006 - RPI-Fan
Indiana VC 2005 - 3ric
Indiana VC 2004 - Alf
Indiana VC 2003 - andy m
Indiana VC 2002 - RPI-Fan
Indiana VC 2001 - 3ric

Coaching Performance:

Year  Team                  Record Post Rank Perf Acad Recr TV   Tick Don  Sco 

2037  Indiana               13-2   Yes  12   90   66   6    90   79   66   73  
2036  Indiana               9-2    No   20   81   73   6    67   66   68   67     
2035  Indiana               9-3    Yes  25   69   74   40   83   70   54   66     
2034  Indiana               8-3    No   21   75   75   41   73   68   81   72     
2033  Indiana               7-4    No   34   48   77   20   51   65   28   51     
2032  Indiana               9-3    Yes  23   66   77   17   82   72   50   64     
2031  Indiana               10-3   Yes  14   84   78   52   89   69   67   75     
2030  Indiana               13-2   Yes  10   93   81   56   60   72   54   74     
2029  Indiana               10-3   Yes  21   88   75   36   83   63   81   76     
2028  Indiana               6-5    No   54   31   78   8    16   55   31   41     
2027  Indiana               7-4    No   41   48   79   19   27   57   53   52     
2026  Indiana               8-3    No   31   83   81   89   83   56   74   77     
2025  Indiana               7-4    No   49   55   80   60   60   58   73   64     
2024  Indiana               7-4    No   47   78   79   80   26   56   78   69     
2023  Indiana               5-6    No   60   44   75   78   47   64   16   51     
2022  Indiana               7-4    No   53   43   75   13   42   65   65   54     
2021  Indiana               7-4    No   44   78   72   77   74   58   71   72     
2020  Indiana               6-5    No   59   75   70   98   64   55   74   71     
2019  Indiana               4-7    No   94   65   70   100  77   47   5    56     
2018  Indiana               2-9    No   111  2    70   41   2    39   26   28     
2017  Indiana               3-8    No   82   13   70   66   36   52   74   47     
2016  Indiana               4-7    No   84   12   70   57   74   61   4    39     
2015  Indiana               6-5    No   49   77   69   28   74   55   78   68     
2014  Indiana               3-8    No   90   9    66   5    25   56   2    28     
2013  Indiana               6-5    No   48   57   62   17   6    57   61   50     
2012  Indiana               7-4    No   45   56   62   8    23   60   61   51     
2011  Indiana               6-5    No   46   78   66   25   51   56   57   61     
2010  Indiana               6-5    No   51   77   69   100  78   52   75   73     
2009  Indiana               4-7    No   86   26   71   67   75   46   3    42     
2008  Indiana               5-6    No   71   74   71   100  4    48   75   64     
2007  Indiana               3-8    No   103  72   72   100  74   40   79   70     
2006  Indiana               1-10   No   117  1    73   98   28   36   0    31     
2005  Indiana               3-8    No   95   7    73   25   5    48   76   40     
2004  Indiana               4-7    No   80   14   64   93   76   60   10   42     
2003  Indiana               2-9    No   98   6    70   13   2    65   8    28     
2002  Indiana               6-5    No   45   78   74   45   80   67   74   72     
2001  Indiana               5-6    No   55   30   64   2    14   67   21   37


Post - Post-Season Appearance, Perf - Team Performance Score, Acad - Academic  
Performance Score, Recr - Recruiting Score, TV - Television Revenue Score,  
Tick - Ticket Revenue Score, Don - Alumni Donations Score


Past Rankings:

Year Team	Perf	Acad	Recr	Revn	Tick	Dons	GPA	Avgr	Perc 
                 
2037 Indiana 	16	26	74	13	12	35	2.89	38700	74.0
2036 Indiana 	20	21	52	24	42	37	2.79	37800	72.2
2035 Indiana 	25	21	28	20	31	41	2.98	38300	73.1
2034 Indiana 	21	18	47	28	36	37	2.88	36700	70.1
2033 Indiana 	34	17	25	32	36	58	2.73	37400	71.4
2032 Indiana 	23	16	31	14	36	42	2.78	43400	82.8
2031 Indiana 	14	15	37	17	31	36	3.08	39900	76.1
2030 Indiana 	10	16	54	34	13	39	3.13	37000	70.6
2029 Indiana 	21	18	32	31	27	34	2.80	30900	59.0
2028 Indiana 	54	16	28	77	53	54	2.90	33700	64.3
2027 Indiana 	41	13	22	59	48	38	3.19	34000	64.9
2026 Indiana	31	14 	67	31	53	32	3.21	35300	67.4
2025 Indiana 	49	15	50	74	48	38	3.16	36200	69.1 
2024 Indiana 	47	17	55	81	54	46	3.18	36200	69.1 
2023 Indiana 	60	19	17	74	33	77	3.25	38100	72.7 
2022 Indiana 	53	22	114	75	41	53	3.52	41700	79.7 
2021 Indiana 	44	25	52	74	45	60	3.17	36700	70.1 
2020 Indiana 	59	26	57	90	45	71	3.24	34800	66.4 
2019 Indiana 	94	26	110	99	60	101	3.31	31100	59.4
2018 Indiana	111	26	114	113	76	88	3.03	32600	62.3
2017 Indiana 	82	26	29	73	51	82	3.01	35300	67.4
2016 Indiana 	84	27	65	69	52	105	2.76	44600	85.2
2015 Indiana 	49	30	80	82	52	45	3.01	40000	76.4
2014 Indiana 	90	34	38	103	59	113	3.10	43200	82.5
2013 Indiana 	48	39	67	98	56	51	3.14	42300	80.7
2012 Indiana 	45	33	33	65	54	55	2.72	44900	85.7
2011 Indiana 	46	30	112	47	47	60	2.90	39300	75.0
2010 Indiana 	51	26	26	44	48	64	2.77	34900	66.7
2009 Indiana 	86	25	122	81	58	108	2.80	34300	65.6
2008 Indiana 	71	24	40	103	55	67	2.84	35500	67.9
2007 Indiana 	103	23	95	78	74	108	2.67	35100	67.0
2006 Indiana 	117	22	86	104	76	125	2.91	33800	64.5
2005 Indiana 	95	28	125	100	59	91	2.89	39100	74.7
2004 Indiana 	80	31	22	55	47	104	2.91	45500	86.8
2003 Indiana 	98	26	120	112	39	94	2.51	47500	90.7
2002 Indiana 	45	29	42	38	50	72	2.94	50300	96.0
2001 Indiana 	55	34	117	80	47	96	2.97	50200	95.8


Perf=Performance ranking, Acad=Academic ranking, Recr=Recruiting ranking, 
Revn=TV revenue ranking, Tick=Ticket revenue ranking, Dons=Donations ranking,
GPA=Grade points average, Avgr=Average attendance, Perc=Percent of capacity

[3ric]

In the mailbox

• DT Malcolm Osborne, has left the team due to a lack of playing time.
  
• Vanderbilt QB J.J. McGarrity, Central Michigan RB Clyde Kirsch, Texas A&M WR Irv Sheldon (remember him?), Wake Forest LB Sedrick Clinton and Bowling Green CB Kim Stevens have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame!
  
• Erik Wittich, Ken Sampson, Carl Shannon, and David Schulz have been shafted by their girlfriends. (Ouch! It hurts so good, baby!)
  
• Howard Cash, Herb Bertram, KC Tanner, Duane Nordby and Darren Sanford request more free time for playing Quake 6 on their Pentium8-equipped VR handhelds. (Hey, it's the future!)
  
• Brian Stancil, our SouthWest scout, gives us his letter of resignation.
  
• Defensive Coordinator Xavier Burmbaugh has been hired away by Florida.
  
• Eric Downs of Vanderbilt is Coach of the Year, rightly deserved after Vandy won the championship last year

[3ric]

Staff hiring

I can fill our vacancies, and optionally replace a staffer who's been with us for four seasons or more.

As our Southwest scout, we hire 41-yr old Dennis McConnell, who's Fair with QBs and Poor with kickers, but Pretty Good or better in anything else.

As for Burmbaugh's replacement, I quickly find Byron Mason, who's rated just as high as Xavier. He's Excellent with DL and DBs, Good with LBs and Very Good in injury avoidance. Play calling and congeniality is Decent, and Rehab is Good.

Mason is an upgrade at DB, LB and rehab but a big downgrade in play calling.

As for the optional replacement, the following scouting positions can be considered for change: Deep South, Southeast or the Great Lakes Region. Neither of these positions had a candidate that would have been an improvement for our staff.

[Alf]

IU, IU !!

[3ric]

Scheduling

We get home games vs both #124 Nebraska and #48 Iowa State.

  Week  Opponent                   
2       (48) IOWA STATE                                                         
3       at (29) North Carolina State                                     
4       NEBRASKA                                      
$$6     IOWA                                                         
$$7     MINNESOTA                                                      
$$8     at Michigan                                           
$$9     at Penn State                                                        
$$10    at (9) Northwestern                                                
$$11    (1) WISCONSIN                                                   
$$12    (43) MICHIGAN STATE                                                   
$$13    at Purdue                                                       

[3ric]

Freshman class

2038 Indiana University Football Incoming Freshman Player Ratings
   
  Player                 #   Pos  Elig  Curt  Futr  Ranking (Last Season)
             
Stone, Luther           23   RB    Fr    21    59                  
Donohoe, Aaron          84   WR    Fr    23    54                  
Bergmann, Butch         31   CB    Fr    9     50
Kirchhof, Dennis        46   S     Fr    19    64                  
Gillespie, Lee          88   TE    Fr    19    51                  
Proffitt, Darryl        40   S     Fr    16    83                  
Barker, Jerry           35   FB    Fr    18    86                  
Toombs, Vinny           78   DT    Fr    17    89
James, Bryan            65   T     Fr    0     55                  
Marzullo, B.J.           3   QB    Fr    22    100   
Rhodes, Bert             2   WR    Fr    12    58                  
**Tracey, Donnell       43   ILB   Fr    6     61                  
**Tornberg, Donnell     73   G     Fr    0     55                  
Bronson, Jesse          94   DE    Fr    19    78                  
**Trammell, Gino         6   P     Fr     5     14                   
Gray, Mercury           93   OLB   Fr     2    54                  
Vrabel, Kyle            71   C     Fr     7    81   
   
   Player with ** in Front of Name  =  Walk-On

• WR Donohoe is already a superb big play receiver, with a fearless "over the middle" attitude.
  
• QB Marzullo display nice touch on all sorts of passes and a coolness under pressure that cannot be taught.
  
• RB Stone is a tough guy with good short yardage ability.
  
• TE Gillespie is a marginal talent, maybe backup at best.
  
• DE Bronson looks very good, despite his small frame. With some extra bulk he should be a superb pass rusher.
  
• S Kirchhof has nice hands and is strong against the run.
  
• FB Barker should be a starter soon with several green bars in the 80-90 range.
  
• DT Toombs should be another component of an excellent defensive line in two years as a classic runstopping tackle.
  
• S Proffitt combine prototype size with terrific talent, should start as a junior.
  
• WR Rhodes look headed for a career as a 3rd- or 4th-string WR.
  
• CB Bergmann has very good pass intercepting ability, just as the other DBs in this class.
  
• C Vrabel is low in endurance, but has good talent in the basic skills.
  
• OLB Tracey is very raw, but should reach 65-70 ratings across the board in the best-case scenario.
  
• P Trammell is just a filler. I've seen walk-ons better than this.
  
• OLB Gray display great talent in zone defense and should be pretty good overall.
  
• G Tornberg has massive size and looks like a future starter.
  
• T James has that crucial talent in a future star tackle: pass blocking. Very nice size, but very green.

[3ric]

Roster

*Vallery, Kurt           13   QB   Jr*   73                100                 
 Gaines, Charlie         14   QB   Sr    67                77                  
 Clayton, Larry          12   QB   So*   31                82                  
-Marzullo, B.J.          3    QB   Fr    22                100                 
 Farrell, Sean           9    QB*  Sr    20                61                  

Vallery is an excellent starter, and Gaines his very good backup.

*Wittich, Erik           21   RB   Sr*   83                83                  
 Niklos, Archie          41   RB   Sr*   56                56                  
 England, Eugene         36   RB   Jr*   47                81                  
 Rison, Matt             29   RB   Sr    42                50                  
-Stone, Luther           23   RB   Fr    21                59                  
 
*Kaplan, Ethan           48   FB   So    54                100                 
 Sampson, Ken            30   FB   Sr*   35                99                  
-Barker, Jerry           35   FB   Fr    18                86                  
 Libby, Rodney           38   FB*  Jr*   27                63                  

Wittich is a superb RB, and has worked very hard to keepin his fumbles low this season (he had 10 last year). Kaplan will probably start at FB as Sampson hasn't realized his potential.

*Jeffries, Nick          89   TE   Sr*   81                81                  
 Bell, Terrance          95   TE   Jr*   60                60                  
 DeLay, Norman           86   TE   Sr    53                98                  
-Gillespie, Lee          88   TE   Fr    19                51                  
 Bergen, Nathan          85   TE*  Jr*   21                26                  
 
*Blades, J.B.            80   WR   Sr    76                76                  
*Bertram, Herb           8    WR   So*   48                90                  
 Shannon, Carl           82   WR   Sr*   33                69                  
 Donohoe, Aaron          84   WR   Fr    23                54                  
 Husted, Michael         87   WR   So*   17                33                  
-Rhodes, Bert            2    WR   Fr    12                58                  
 Baker, Quentin          4    WR*  Jr*   42                58                  

Jeffries is a stud at TE, while Blades and Bertram form a deadly tandem at WR. We have capable backups behind Jeffries, but good wideouts are more scarce.

*Godfrey, Mitchell       57   C    Jr*   82                100                 
 Gullett, Charles        56   C    So*   46                79                  
 Pritchett, Scottie      55   C    Sr*   26                81                  
-Vrabel, Kyle            71   C    Fr    7                 81                  

*Abate, Joe              62   G    Sr*   76                78                  
*Huang, Warren           79   G    Sr    65                65                  
 Hancock, Tito           76   G    Sr*   41                100                 
 Alston, Gilbert         69   G    Jr*   23                66                  
-Tornberg, Donnell       73   G*   Fr    0                 55                  

*Carter, Les             66   T    Sr    49                67                  
*Tanner, K.C.            75   T    So*   36                43                  
 Stump, Clay             70   T    So*   25                67                  
 Oldham, Nicky           68   T    So*   2                 32                  
-James, Bryan            65   T    Fr    0                 55                  
 Cucina, Les             60   T*   Sr*   15                23                  
 Menendez, Shane         67   T*   So*   6                 19                  
 Richard, Terry          61   T*   Jr*   4                 21                  

Godfrey man the center position with Abate and Huang flanking him. Carter at left tackle gives us our fourth excellent starter on the O-line, with the other tackle position as the only question mark. Sophomore Tanner will be kept under close scrutiny there.

*Floyd, Wesley           1    P*   Jr*   22                23                  
 Trammell, Gino          6    P*   Fr    5                 14                  

*Cash, Howard            16   K    Jr*   54                73                  
 Kanu, Karl              7    K*   Sr*   10                10                  

Floyd is a poor punter, and Cash is decent. Not one of our strong suits this year.

*Cox, Reggie             96   DE   Sr    70                83                  
*Horoszowski, Donnell    91   DE   Jr*   67                68                  
 Farmer, J.C.            72   DE   Sr    50                59                  
 Bronson, Jesse          94   DE   Fr    19                78                  
 Monroe, Morris          92   DE*  Sr*   33                33                  
 Donaldson, Jeremy       64   DE*  Sr    7                 24                  

*Cabrera, Malcolm        99   DT   Sr*   65                83                  
 Schultz, David          74   DT   So*   33                78                  
 Nordby, Duane           77   DT   So*   30                50                  
 Joseph, Bubba           97   DT   So*   24                58                  
-Toombs, Vinny           78   DT   Fr    17                89                  

Cox, Horoszowski and Cabrera should form a terrific defensive line with Farmer or Schulz an optional fourth man.

*Whalen, Lorenzo         52   ILB  Sr    80                80                  
*Fleming, Barry          58   ILB  Sr    75                75                  
*Baker, Earnest          51   ILB  Sr    59                86                  
 Ellis, Tom              98   ILB  Sr*   34                43                  
 Holliday, Marcus        54   ILB  So*   18                49                  
 Bleess, Carlton         47   ILB* Jr*   42                61                  
-Tracey, Donnell         43   ILB* Fr    6                 61                  

*Jeans, Robert           53   OLB  Jr*   72                82                  
 Marcus, Randal          50   OLB  Jr*   27                73                  
 Wasserman, Myron        59   OLB  Sr*   21                49                  
 Gray, Mercury           93   OLB  Fr    2                 54                  
 Ferguson, Antoine       90   OLB* Jr*   13                45                  

Whalen, Fleming and Jeans are sure starters but there's a noticable gap in talent between them and Baker, the 4th LB.

*Banks, Jerome           49   CB   Sr    77                94                  
*Sonnier, Jared          26   CB   Sr*   62                74                  
 Kitchens, Marvin        45   CB   Sr*   45                54                  
 Crane, Jeff             25   CB   So*   41                72                  
 Sanford, Darren         22   CB   So    38                63                  
-Bergmann, Butch         31   CB   Fr    9                 50                  
 Vuong, Deron            42   CB*  Sr*   11                11                  
 Kratky, Brad            24   CB*  Sr    6                 20                  
 
*Dorrough, Chad          44   S    Jr*   79                79                  
*Brignac, Lamar          28   S    Sr    66                76                  
 Drudge, Tom             33   S    Sr    65                71                  
 Jarvis, Jorge           34   S    Sr    60                64                  
 Sample, Brant           20   S    So*   52                62                  
 Gordon, Charles         37   S    So    27                42                  
-Kirchhof, Dennis        46   S    Fr    19                64                  
-Proffitt, Darryl        40   S    Fr    16                83                  

Banks, Sonnier, Dorrough and Brignac should start but Jarvis (with 38 starts) and sophs Crane, Sample are likely to see much playing time as well.

True freshmen Donohoe(WR), Bronson(DE) and Gray(OLB) will suit up to provide depth at their positions.

Recruiting priorities:
backup QB, RB, WR, Gx2, T, P, DEx3, DT, ILBx2, OLB, CB, S (16)

[Rich1033]

Nice to see the village challenge back up and running!

[tucker342]

yay it's back!!!

[3ric]

Top 25

Overall Rankings
   
  School                Record  Conf  Comp  Poll  Loss  Sched Total Rank  
Wisconsin               0-0     B10   1.00  1.00  0.00  0.80  2.80  1       
Florida                 0-0     SEC   2.00  2.00  0.00  2.04  6.04  2       
Boston College          0-0     EST   4.00  4.00  0.00  1.32  9.32  3       
Rice                    0-0     WAC   3.00  3.00  0.00  3.44  9.44  4       
Army                    0-0     USA   5.00  5.00  0.00  2.88  12.88 5       
Southern California     0-0     P10   7.00  7.00  0.00  1.92  15.92 6       
Idaho                   0-0     SBT   6.00  6.00  0.00  4.20  16.20 7       
Northwestern            0-0     B10   9.00  8.50  0.00  0.64  18.14 8       
Vanderbilt              0-0     SEC   8.00  9.50  0.00  2.24  19.74 9       
Air Force               0-0     MTW   10.00 9.50  0.00  2.52  22.02 10      
Texas A&M               0-0     B12   11.00 10.50 0.00  1.24  22.74 11      
California-Los Angeles  0-0     P10   12.00 12.00 0.00  1.88  25.88 12      
Stanford                0-0     P10   13.00 13.00 0.00  1.84  27.84 13      
Tulane                  0-0     USA   14.00 14.00 0.00  3.20  31.20 14      
Syracuse                0-0     EST   16.00 16.00 0.00  1.48  33.48 15      
Barrow                  0-0     SC8   15.00 15.00 0.00  4.76  34.76 16      
Baylor                  0-0     B12   17.00 17.00 0.00  1.08  35.08 17      
Mississippi State       0-0     SEC   19.00 18.50 0.00  2.48  39.98 18      
**Indiana               0-0     B10   18.00 23.00 0.00  0.44  41.44 19      
California              0-0     P10   22.00 20.50 0.00  1.72  44.22 20      
Central Michigan        0-0     MAC   20.00 21.50 0.00  3.96  45.46 21      
Utah                    0-0     MTW   23.00 24.00 0.00  2.76  49.76 22      
Virginia Tech           0-0     EST   27.00 24.00 0.00  1.56  52.56 23      
Notre Dame              0-0     IND   26.00 23.00 0.00  4.56  53.56 24      
South Florida           0-0     IND   21.00 30.50 0.00  4.60  56.10 25      

[3ric]

Week 1

We have only one in the state of Indiana who idolizes us, and he's rated a 12. Not interested.

Scholarship offers:
RB Harold Walker, Irvine, KY, #133 (#9 RB), 72+, 66 ath prep. Fit score 88.
WR Albert Buvinov, Le Roy, IL, #43 (#3 WR), 94+, 55 ath prep. Fit score 83.
WR Rod Lester, Elgin, IL, #276 (#25 WR), 79, 42 ath prep. Fit score 93.
G Stephen Wilson, Cincinnati, OH, #152 (#16 WR), 69, 83 ath prep. Fit score 89.
G Wesley Bensen, Greenville, KY, #656 (#65 G), 68, 33 ath prep. Fit score 87.
T Marshall Lane, Hillsboro, IL, #153 (#24 T), 59++, 86 ath prep. Fit score 89.
P Travis Hughes, Whitehall, OH, #417 (#5 P), 81, 49 ath prep. Fit score 88.
DE Carl Brennan, Martinsville, IN, #352 (#33 DE), 82, 16 ath prep. Fit score 92.

Results
North Texas 48, Illinois 45.
Louisiana Tech 41, Minnesota 14.
Northwestern 47, Oregon State 7.
Navy 42, Ohio State 16.
UNLV 20, Penn State 10.

[3ric]

Week 2

Scholarship offers:
DE William McIntyre, Watseka, IL, #44 (#2 DE), 94, 34 ath prep, 84 fit score.
DT Pat Marshall, West Union, OH, #411 (#26 DT), 62, 52 ath prep, 87 fit score.

Iowa State (0-1) at #34 Indiana (0-0) (-11)

38.500 faithful has arrived to Bloomington for the season premiere despite the rain, and we begin play with a Wittich 2-yd run off left tackle. We punt from their 45-yd line after being stopped behind the line of scrimmage on successive downs. We hold them from getting a first downs and get the ball back at almost the same place as before. But we don't get more than a failed 41-yd FG attempt. We sack the Cyclones' QB and try again, starting with a 22-yd pass by Vallery to TE Jeffries. Vallery then find WR Bertram for 21 yds and we have a first down on their 25. Wittich can't find any holes, but Vallery keeps the drive alive with a 10-yd scramble, and then finishes it with a 13-yd TD pass to Bertram! 7-0, Indiana, at 14:55 in the 2nd quarter!

Iowa State get a first down for the first time today, but on the next play QB Davis throw the ball away, into the sure hands of ILB Whalen, at our own 39. We move 61 yds in 3:31 and extend our lead to 14-0 on a 6-yd pass to WR Baker. Iowa State move to midfield, from where they punt to our 13-yd line. Vallery hits Bertram as the Cyclones defense expect a run, and our WR beats the man coverage and takes it to the house - an 87-yd TD pass! 21-0, Indiana, at 5:31 in the 2nd quarter. With a minute remaining we go up to 28-0 when Wittich get what must have been his first long run today - a 22-yd TD up the middle. At halftime, we have 15 first downs, 120 rushing yards (thanks to 2nd-string RB Niklos) and 232 passing yds. Iowa State has 3 first downs and 30 offensive yards total.

Wittich get his second TD today at 10:23 in the 3rd quarter, on a 4-yd counter, and our lead is 35-0. The Cyclones' RB Hitchcock get a 47-yd run which leads to a field goal for the visitors and the score 35-3. At the beginning of the 4th quarter we get another interception through OLB Jeans, and Vallery complete passes of 20 and 13 yds to Bertram and Vallery's 4th TD today. 42-3, Indiana! Cash kick a 32-yd FG at 7:15 and we have a 45-3 lead which also is the final score.

Indiana Individual Statistics

Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	23	61	2.6	22	2	11	0
41 Niklos	14	67	4.7	17	0	3	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
13 Vallery	25	19	404	16.1	87	4	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
8 Bertram	7	178	25.4	69	87	3
89 Jeffries	4	79	19.7	29	25	0
80 Blades	3	66	22.0	11	26	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
52 Whalen	6	0	1.0	1	0	0
72 Farmer	4	0	1.0	0	0	0
91 Horoszowski	3	0	1.0	0	0	0

Injuries
ILB Barry Fleming, doubtful, abdominal strain, 2 weeks.

Results
Iowa 38, Bethel 3.
Juneau 17, Michigan 3.
Michigan State 62, Missouri 14.
California 34, Ohio State 16.
Pittsburgh 23, Penn State 20.
Notre Dame 64, Purdue 17.
Army 21, Wisconsin 16.

[ShagVT]

3ric, coudln't you start G Hancock at T? He has so much upside, even as a redshirt junior.

[RealDeal]

WOOT. TCY saved!

[Alf]

Was bertram nominated in PLayers of the Week ? Must not be too far from school record on yards recevied on a single game.

[tucker342]

Great win in your first game! Keep it up

[3ric]

Good call on the Players of the Week, Alf - I always forget to check it out. Turned out that both Vallery and Bertram was nominated - and Vallery won "Offensive Player of the Week" !! WooT!
Bertram's receiving yardage was 8th all-time for the Hoosiers, and Vallery's passing yardage total was only 15 yds behind the IU record.

Tucker, RealDeal: Thanks!

ShagVT: good idea, but Hancock is a redshirt senior with 29/90, 41/100 while Tanner is a soph with 20/67, 34/96... I'm not sure that marginally better ratings will translate to a better performance when playing out of position. He's certainly the best backup at both G and T, that's for sure.

[3ric]

Week 3

Scholarship offers:
T Jamie Harden, Williamstown, WV, #572 (#66 T), 68+, 17 ath prep, 92 fit score.
DT Colin Cobb, Gate City, VA, #279 (#14 DT), 63+, 46 ath prep, 83 fit score.
ILB Clay Hutton, Northbrook, IL, #316 (#14 ILB), 68+, 83 ath prep, 97 fit score.
ILB Austin Huntley, Southhaven, MI, #128 (#9 ILB), 88, 22 ath prep, 78 fit score.
OLB Rich Bunnell, Brazil, IN, #285 (#11 OLB), 72-, 90 ath prep, 89 fit score.
OLB Warren Romig, Greenville, IL, #362 (#17 OLB), 64, 89 ath prep, 96 fit score.

#15 Indiana (1-0) (-4) at North Carolina State (0-1)

We score on the first drive of the game despite several penalties. Vallery converted three third-and-long situations, and we gained 107 yds on the drive! Niklos, the 2nd-string RB, ran 10 yds for the score, 7-0, Indiana! The Wolfpack demonstrate that they have a good offense, gaining two quick first downs before Horoszowski forces a 4th down on a sack. We start on our 31 and it's nice to see our running game clicking today despite the rainy conditions. Cash has to step in and kick a 21-yd FG after Wittich was stuffed for no gain on their 3-yd line. 10-0, Indiana, at 12:22 in the second quarter.

Our next drive is only 57 yds, 9 plays, but it's enough for 7 points as Vallery scores on a quarterback sneak from the 1. 17-0, Indiana! NC State tries to get into FG range before the first half ends, but a penalty and then a Schultz sack give them a 3rd and 37 at midfield. They gain 16 yds on the 3rd down, but yield a sack by Cabrera and Horoszowski on 4th down, ending the half. The teams step off the field for some rest. We have 17 first downs, 76 rushing yds and 175 passing yds while keeping the Wolfpack from getting more than 7 first downs, 29 rushing yds and 67 passing yds.

Midway through the third quarter we get the first turnover today when Whalen and Brignac hit the intended receiver, who fumbles the ball which Dorrough recover on their 44. That leads only to three downs and a punt, however. We stop them, and get another score on our next drive as Wittich finds a hole and runs 68 yds for a touchdown! 24-0, Indiana, at 4:40 in the 3rd quarter! NC State answer with a big play of their own - QB Gallegos hit WR Jennings for a 65-yd TD pass. 24-7, Indiana. We threaten to score on the followig drive, but Vallery gets a pass picked off on the home team's 2-yd line.

At the beginning of the 4th quarter Brignac intercepts a Gallegos pass on our own 24, and we move to their 39, where a 4th-down conversion fails. Nothing much happens for the rest of the game, however, the Wolfpack manage to squeeze in a touchdown on the final play of the game to narrow the deficit a little, and the final score is 24-14.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	29	168	5.7	68	1	6	0
41 Niklos	9	52	5.7	12	1	2	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
13 Vallery	29	19	273	9.4	27	0	1
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
21 Wittich	5	51	10.2	34	14	0
8 Bertram	5	97	19.4	20	26	0
48 Kaplan	4	46	11.5	17	14	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
44 Dorrough	5	1	0.0	0	0	0
52 Whalen	4	2	0.0	0	0	0
53 Jeans	4	0	0.0	0	0	0

Injuries
ILB Barry Fleming, questionable, abdominal strain, 1 week.

Results
Kansas 55, Illinois 6.
Iowa 27, Iowa State 24.
Michigan 31, Louisiana Tech 23.
Utah 45, Minnesota 7.
Army 45, Northwestern 10.
UCLA 31, Ohio State 6.
Penn State 35, Oklahoma State 14.
Cincinnati 28, Purdue 25.
Wisconsin 59, Oregon 7.

Army looks good this year - last week they beat Wisconsin, and now they whup Northwestern 45-10!

Next week:
Nebraska at Indiana on TV4.

[3ric]

Week 4

Scholarship offers:
CB Josh Howe, Lexington, KY, #819 (#56 CB), 61+, 15 ath prep, 82 fit score.
CB Herb Myers, Sidney, OH, #136 (#13 CB), 75+, 58 ath prep, 85 fit score.
S Korey Orta, Gaston, IN, #715 (#42 S), 72+, 19 ath prep, 92 fit score.
S Vinny Blumer, Chicago Heights, IL, #638 (#35 S), 51 ath prep, 94 fit score.

Nebraska (0-1) at #16 Indiana (2-0) (-11)

We score right away on the opening drive to go ahead 7-0 after 4:15. Horoszowski sacks the Cornhusker QB on their first offensive play and forces a fumble, which is recovered by Cox on the Nebraska 8. Kaplan goes in for the score, and it's 14-0, Indiana! The Cornhuskers run one play for -1 yds before attempting a pass which is intercepted by Whalen and returned 17 yds for a TD - 21-0, Indiana, and the Nebraska team is shocked to its core by this early domination by the Hoosiers! Next time the Huskers has the ball they can run a couple of plays, but their offensive line is very porous - and they are fumbling it again on a Cabrera sack - the defender recovers the ball himself on the 3-yd line.

Vallery passes to Wittich for the score and 28-0 at 7:20 in the first quarter. Nebraska complete a 30-yd pass and seems to have settled somewhat in a rhythm. We stop them at midfield through consecutive sacks, however. The punt is fielded on our own 7, from where we go 93 yds and finish the drive with a 17-yd TD pass to Bell. 35-0 at 11:03 in the 2nd quarter. We have already pulled Vallery and are letting Gaines take some snaps. Nebraska complete two passes for 30 and 26 yds and suddenly threaten to score - but a sack where the offense loses 17 yds force them to settle for a 31-yd FG and 35-3 at 3:24 in the second quarter. Wittich gets some long runs to set up a Cash FG as time expires in the first half. 38-3, Indiana, and we have 16 first downs, 88 rushing yds and 143 passing yds. The Cornhuskers have 4 first downs, -46 rushing yds and 124 passing yds.

Nebraska's string of bad luck continues - they fumble the opening kickoff in the second half, and the Hoosiers' Rison recovers on their 6-yd line. Gaines find Shannon for a 6-yd TD pass and we're leading 45-3. Our next drive is for 72 yds and ends with 3rd-string RB England running in from 1 yds out. 52-3 at 6:41 in the 3rd. Nebraska get another FG at 6:03 in the 4th quarter, making the score 52-6. Niklos, the 2nd-string RB, is relishing the opportunity he has today to get lots of carries - and scores on a 15-yd run off left tackle. 59-6, Indiana, with 0:29 left to play.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
41 Niklos	16	84	5.2	15	1	1	0
21 Wittich	16	88	5.5	24	0	3	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
14 Gaines	15	9	94	6.2	21	1	0
13 Vallery	13	10	119	9.1	22	3	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
8 Bertram	4	61	15.2	30	22	0
4 Baker		3	41	13.6	4	21	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
20 Sample	7	0	0.0	0	0	0
99 Cabrera	4	0	1.0	0	0	0
45 Kitchens	4	2	0.0	0	0	0

Injuries
T Les Carter, questionable, stretched knee ligament, 7 weeks.
RB Archie Niklos, probable, concussion, 5 weeks.

Results
California 65, Illinois 14.
Iowa 23, BYU 14.
Notre Dame 45, Michigan 14.
Michigan State 31, San Diego State 24.
Baylor 44, Minnesota 21.
Colorado State 35, Purdue 14.
Wisconsin 40, East Carolina 13.

Next week:
Bye week.

[ShagVT]

Always good to see a team RUTSing Nebraska. Payback, I suppose.

[tucker342]

Great start, keep it up

[3ric]

Week 5

Visits:
G Bensen, CB Howe, S Orta.

Scholarship offers:
WR Joel Jones, Salem, WI, #238 (#23 WR), 81+, 52 ath prep, 87 fit score.
T Cory Pritchett, Baltimore, OH, #269 (#39 T), 67-, 83 ath prep, 87 fit score.
DE Isaac Page, Bowerston, OH, #233 (#21 DE), 73, 27 ath prep, 85 fit score.
CB Martin Greer, La Grange, GA, #724 (#44 CB), 65, 48 ath prep, 86 fit score.

Results
Illinois 20, Ohio State 17.
Michigan State 24, Iowa 21.
Wisconsin 69, Michigan 7.
Northwestern 42, Minnesota 14.
Penn State 38, Purdue 21.

Next week:
Iowa at Indiana

[3ric]

Week 6

Emails:
P Hughes chooses Utah.
DE Brennan chooses Notre Dame.

Visits:
T Harden, CB Greer.

Scholarship offers:
P Desmond Ingersoll, Natrona Heights, PA, #428 (#6 P), 83+, 17 ath prep, 89 fit score.
DE Irv Horn, Harrison, OH, #557 (#51 DE), 64, 48 ath prep, 83 fit score.

#47 Iowa (3-1) at #14 Indiana (3-0) (-5)

Horoszowski get a sack on the first play from scrimmage, which leads to a punt which we field at midfield. Wittich run for 20 yds, and Vallery hits Blades for 27 yds before finding Wittich with a 5-yd TD pass. 7-0, Indiana! On their next drive they remain trapped in their own half, giving us good field positions and a short field to work with. Wittich run a couple of times before Vallery throws a 14-yd TD pass to Bertram. 14-0, Indiana! We get our third scoring drive in a row when Vallery again completes a TD pass to Bertram, from the 27-yd yd line. 21-0, Indiana, at 14:52 in the second quarter.

The Hawkeyes get some yardage after that and manage to punt it to our 9-yd line. We respond with a 91-yd drive, and Vallery gets his fourth TD pass on a 9-yd pass to Wittich. 28-0, Indiana! Iowa manage to get in a FG and three points 10 seconds before halftime, 28-3. We have 14 first downs, 122 rushing yds and 137 passing yds. Iowa has 4 first downs, -3 rushing yds and 71 passing yds. We open the second half with an 80-yd drive where Blades catch a 11-yd TD pass from Vallery. 35-3, Indiana at 10:02 in the third quarter. Then Niklos get a 21-yd TD run on our next drive. 42-3 to us, ho-hum.

Iowa has switched QBs and string together a good drive where they score their first TD - a 7-yd TD pass. 42-10, Indiana, at 4:39 in the 3rd. At the beginning of the 4th quarter we go up to 45-10 on a 22-yd FG by Cash. Kitchens recover an Iowa fumble on their 22-yd line which lead to another FG, 48-10. Vallery's still in the game and get his sixth TD pass today on a fabulous 49-yd bomb to Blades. 55-10 at 8:37 in the fourth quarter. We run out the clock during an uneventful and time-consuming drive in the final 5 minutes.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	26	87	3.3	20	0	8	0
41 Niklos	12	70	5.8	21	1	1	0
13 Vallery	8	54	6.7	16	0	2	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
13 Vallery	26	22	352	13.5	48	6	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
80 Blades	5	123	24.6	27	48	2
21 Wittich	5	55	11.0	64	26	2
89 Jeffries	3	43	14.3	8	26	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
52 Whalen	5	1	1.0	0	0	0
91 Horoszowski	3	0	2.0	0	0	0
99 Cabrera	3	1	1.0	0	0	0

Injuries
T Les Carter, questionable, stretched knee ligament, 7 weeks.
RB Archie Niklos, probable, concussion, 3 weeks.

Results
Michigan State 9, Illinois 6.
Purdue 24, Michigan 17.
Minnesota 14, Ohio State 11.
Northwestern 33, Penn State 6.

Notes:
QB Kurt Vallery receives his second "Offensive Player of the Week" award this season.
His TD-interception ratio this season is 13-1.
IU are tied for 8th in pts/game and 6th in points allowed.

[3ric]

Week 7

Emails:
RB Walker chooses Rice.
T Harden accepts our invitation!
OLB Romig chooses Cincinnati.

Visits:
P Ingersoll.

Scholarship offers:
RB Devin Chauvlier, Nelsonville, OH, #287 (#23 RB), 84-, 23 ath prep, 83 fit score.
OLB Al Shockley, Winnetka, IL, #235 (#8 OLB), 78+, 76 ath prep, 87 fit score.

Minnesota (1-4) at #16 Indiana (4-0) (-27)

Vallery get off to a rough start, misfiring on his first four passes, but then he shapes up by first connecting with Wittich for 19 yds and then with Blades for a 24-yd TD! 7-0, Indiana, at 11:47 in the first quarter. Our next drive go for 81 yds but we stop at a 4th and goal on the 2, and send in the kicker for a FG. 10-0, Indiana. In the beginning of the second quarter we score for the third drive in a row, on a Wittich 18-yd run. 17-0 at 13:27 in the 2nd.

We go up to 24-0 after Vallery complete two passes to Wittich, the first for 33 yds and then for 6 yds and the score. Minnesota's Maloney hit a 28-yd pass but is intercepted on the next play by Banks. At halftime we have 14 first downs, 54 rushing yds and 227 passing yds, while Minnesota has 5 first downs, 8 rushing yds and 81 passing yds. Starting the second half we get busy right away as Dorrough intercepts a Maloney pass and return it 57 yds for a touchdown and 31-0, Indiana.

Five minutes later it's 34-0 as Cash kicks a 23-yd FG. At 14:03 in the fourth quarter we move to 41-0 on a 21-yd TD pass by Vallery to Baker. Our next score is a Niklos 1-yd run for 48-0 with 6:59 left. 2nd string QB Gaines enter the game with three minutes left when Vallery suffers an injury.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	19	73	3.8	18	1	5	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
13 Vallery	31	21	344	11.0	33	3	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
21 Wittich	7	106	15.1	41	33	1
8 Bertram	5	94	18.8	28	32	0
48 Kaplan	3	35	11.6	31	13	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
52 Whalen	5	2	0.0	0	0	0
91 Horoszowski	4	1	2.0	0	0	0
28 Brignac	4	1	0.0	1	3	0

Injuries
QB Kurt Vallery, out, sprained back, 7 weeks.
ILB Tom Ellis, doubtful, hip pointer, 6 weeks.
T Les Carter, questionable, stretched knee ligament, 6 weeks.
RB Archie Niklos, probable, concussion, 2 weeks.

Results
Wisconsin 51, Illinois 0.
Iowa 20, Penn State 7.
Northwestern 45, Michigan 10.
Michigan State 38, Ohio State 10.

Next week:
Indiana at Michigan

[ShagVT]

Egad! Is Gaines a very good backup? I seem to recall him being a very highly rated recruit, but it's been a while.

Also, it seems like Wittich is really struggling this season. If you take out his 20 yard gain against Iowa he was 25-67 - not very good at all. Today he was 19-73. By my count, he has been stuffed 28 times in 5 games, which is a crazy number. The Hoosiers have kept rolling on Vallery's capable arm, but with him gone, the running game is that much more critical.

How is the O-line doing, especially our worrisome tackles?

[Alf]

How can the coach let our star QB play in the 4th quarter when we have a 34 points lead... That injury should have never happened ! Damn it !

[cthomer5000]

And now his Heisman hopes are garbage... damn.

[3ric]

The top 5 passers in the nation:

Passing Statistics
   
  Player              Pos Team  GP GS Att  Cmp  Pct   Yards Avg   Lg  TD   Int  
**Vallery, Kurt       QB  INDI  5  5  124  91   73.3  1492  12.03 87  16   1      
Treadwell, Al         QB  B.C.  5  5  105  70   66.6  1171  11.15 77  13   4      
Stewart, B.J.         QB  BAYL  5  4  113  75   66.3  1262  11.16 84  13   6      
Leska, Kennedy        QB  WISC  5  5  96   62   64.5  1089  11.34 52  8    0      
Vickers, Cary         QB  EMIC  5  5  115  72   62.6  1131  9.83  66  17   5      
 
  Player              Pos Team  Sck  Yards Rating  
**Vallery, Kurt       QB  INDI  8    47    215.4     
Treadwell, Al         QB  B.C.  6    38    193.5     
Stewart, B.J.         QB  BAYL  4    28    187.4     
Leska, Kennedy        QB  WISC  12   70    187.3     
Vickers, Cary         QB  EMIC  11   66    185.2     

Screenshot of Gaines attached. He's pretty good, but untested.

Wittich has 477 yds on 113 carries, a 4.2 average, and 4 TDs. As a receiver he has caught 21 of 22 passes directed his way for 256 yds and 4 TDs. He has been stuffed 33 times, though!

The sophomore at tackle, Tanner, has a 55.5% key blocking percentage and has allowed 3 sacks, one less than the incumbent senior on the opposite side...

[Alf]

Gaines has always been stuck behind excellent starters. Poor guy.

[ShagVT]

Well, I really like the "avoid interceptions" rating. And adjusting the playbook to take advantage of his deep ball might help loosen up the running game.

All is not lost!

[Alf]

A Big10 Standings table would also be very much appreciated by the fans

[tucker342]

Damn!!! Tough injury!

[3ric]

Standings through week 7:

2038 Season Standings, Big 10
   
  School                 W  L  T  Pct   PF  PA  W  L  T  Pct   PF  PA  Streak  
Michigan State           5  0  0  1.000 164 75  3  0  0  1.000 71  37  Won 5       
Northwestern             4  2  0  .666  200 106 3  0  0  1.000 120 30  Won 3       
**Indiana                5  0  0  1.000 231 33  2  0  0  1.000 103 10  Won 5       
Wisconsin                4  1  0  .800  235 48  2  0  0  1.000 120 7   Won 4       
Purdue                   1  4  0  .200  101 182 1  1  0  .500  45  55  Won 1       
Iowa                     4  2  0  .666  139 127 1  2  0  .333  51  86  Won 1       
Penn State               2  4  0  .333  116 131 1  2  0  .333  51  74  Lost 2      
Illinois                 1  5  0  .166  91  245 1  2  0  .333  26  77  Lost 2      
Minnesota                1  5  0  .166  70  231 1  2  0  .333  28  101 Lost 1      
Michigan                 1  5  0  .166  82  223 0  3  0  .000  34  138 Lost 4      
Ohio State               0  6  0  .000  76  179 0  3  0  .000  38  72  Lost 6 

[3ric]

Week 8

Visits:
QB Barnes, RB Chauvlier, WR Jones, WR Lester, G Wilson, DE Horn, DE Page, DT Cobb, ILB Huntley, ILB Hutton, OLB Shockley, S Blumer.

Chauvlier is visiting Ohio State and three other schools, Jones is visiting North Carolina State, Lester visits Central Michigan and three others, Wilson is visiting Vanderbilt and Boston College, so he's probably gone. G Bensen visits Kansas State as well, P Ingersoll visits hometown Pittsburgh U, Horn visits Kansas, Page visits OSU and Cincinnati, Cobb visits Virginia Tech, DT Marshall visits Cincinnati too and hasn't said he's visiting us yet.

Hutton visits Notre Dame, Huntley visits Air Force, Shockley is visiting Stanford which doesn't bode well for us. OLB Bunnell considers us, but is visiting Notre Dame and Syracuse. CB Greer is visiting Georgia, and Blumer visits Georgia Tech. This review seems to indicate that outside linebacker and offensive guard can be problem spots in the recruiting effort.

#15 Indiana (5-0) (-18) at Michigan (1-5)

Gaines complete two passes of 28 and 27 yds to Blades on the first two plays of the game! Woot! Five plays later Gaines finds Kaplan for a 2-yd TD pass! 7-0, Indiana, with our QB being 5-of-5 for 65 yds on the drive. Our next drive is just 3 plays, 64 yds with a 48-yd pass by Gaines to Bertram and a 12-yd scoring pass to Jeffries. 14-0, Indiana! The Wolverines piece together a good drive where they go 72 yds in 17 plays and score a touchdown on a 5-yd pass. 14-7, at 12:53 in the second quarter.

In response, we get a 40-yd kick return by Brennan and then a 41-yd pass by Gaines to Jeffries. A botched run leads to our left tackle, Carter, getting seriously injured and carted off and we have to be satisfied with a 24-yd FG by Cash for now. 17-7, Indiana. At 4:08 Gaines has what I think is his first incomplete pass today. Wittich set up his own 10-yd scoring run with a 17-yarder earlier. 24-7, Indiana, at 2:16 in the 2nd.

At 7:45 in the 3rd quarter we go up to 31-7 on Wittich's second TD run today from the 5-yd line. Michigan start to take some chances downfield with deep passes and are stacking up pass rushers defensively to curb our aerial attack. Gaines is flushed out of the pocket and scrambles for 12 yds. Next time they are coming with two blitzers he's prepared and finds a wide open Bertram for a 68-yd TD pass! 38-7, Indiana!

At 1:14 in the 3rd quarter Michigan close the margin by a 35-yd TD pass and the score is 38-15 as they make the 2-point conversion as well. We are trying to run to waste time but Wittich is getting stuffed all the time. At 3:28 we finish a drive where we mostly could keep running the ball, through a 19-yarder by Wittich and a 15-yd reverse by Bertram. Cash steps in and kicks for three and the score 41-15.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	27	124	4.5	19	2	6	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
14 Gaines	18	14	309	17.1	68	3	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
8 Bertram	4	148	37.0	46	68	1
89 Jeffries	3	65	21.6	22	41	1
80 Blades	2	55	27.5	29	28	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
53 Jeans	8	2	0.0	0	0	0
52 Whalen	5	2	0.0	0	0	0
44 Dorrough	5	1	0.0	0	0	0

Injuries
DE Donnell Horoszowski, out, dislocated shoulder, 6 weeks.
QB Kurt Vallery, out, sprained back, 6 weeks.
ILB Tom Ellis, questionable, hip pointer, 5 weeks.
DT Malcolm Cabrera, probable, bruised sternum, 2 weeks.
T Les Carter, probable, shoulder tendonitis, 9 weeks.
RB Archie Niklos, probable, concussion, 2 weeks.

Results
Iowa 52, Illinois 14.
Wisconsin 59, Michigan State 3.
Minnesota 31, Penn State 7.
Purdue 23, Ohio State 14.

Next week:
Indiana at Penn State (2-5)

[Alf]

Nice to see Gaines produce a solid game 14/18 on passes

[3ric]

Week 9

Emails:
WR Jones accepts our invitation!
DE Brandon chooses Notre Dame.
DT Cobb chooses Virginia Tech.
OLB Groce chooses San Diego State.
CB Greer chooses Kansas State.
S Orta chooses Ball State.
S Blumer accepts our invitation!
T Richard has committed a violation of the team rules and is suspended.

Visits:
OLB Rich Bunnell.

Scholarships:
DT Justin Meadows, Lawrence, MA, #297 (#16 DT), 78+, 13 ath prep, 82 fit score.
DT Corwin Caldwell, Lexington, VA, #162 (#8 DT), 83++, 30 ath prep, 97 fit score.
CB Maurice Newsome, Kingsville, TX, #586 (#36 CB), 82, 5 ath prep, 88 fit score.

J.C. Farmer is the new starter at DE.

#14 Indiana (6-0) (-21) at Penn State (2-5)

We don't get our first score until 1:10 in the first quarter, a 28-yd FG by Cash. 3-0, Indiana. The Nittany Lions are playing inspired football on defense and also make some plays offensively which is keeping the game close. However, we get lucky as OLB Jeans make an interception at our own 5-yd line and races 95 yds for the touchdown! 10-0, Indiana, at 10:35 in the second quarter. On Penn State's next drive they get a big play on their own - a Salley run for 42 yds and a touchdown - 10-7, Indiana, at 6:10 in the 2nd.

Gaines and Wittich start to work on a drive which ends in a 38-yd FG by Cash. 13-7, Indiana, at 1:06. At halftime we have 8 first downs, 42 rushing yds and 95 passing yds, and we're actually outgained by the home team, which has 8 first downs, 90 rushing yds and 115 passing yds. A bad punt by Penn State gives us a short field to work with, and we turn that opportunity into 6 points as Wittich was stuffed on the two-point conversion. 19-7, Indiana. Wittich run three times for 45 yds on the next drive and plunges into the end zone himself for another 7 points and a 19-point lead at 26-7 and 5:25 in the 3rd quarter.

But there's still some fight left in the Penn State team - they drive the length of the field and score on a 18-yd TD pass, making it 26-14 going into the final quarter. We make a statement with a 71-yd drive and another touchdown by Wittich which restore our lead to 19 points with 7:43 left to play, 33-14. The Lions' defense has been worn down by the relentless running of Wittich and we're moving the ball easily now. Niklos scores on a 5-yd run and we're up by 40-14 with 2:05 left.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	27	152	5.6	24	2	4	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
14 Gaines	22	15	201	9.1	25	1	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
21 Wittich	5	70	14.0	37	20	0
80 Blades	4	30	7.5	12	14	1
89 Jeffries	3	53	17.6	8	22	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
52 Whalen	8	4	0.0	0	0	0
28 Brignac	7	5	0.0	0	0	0
99 Cabrera	5	0	1.0	0	0	0
53 Jeans	5	2	0.0	1	95	1

Injuries
DE Donnell Horoszowski, out, dislocated shoulder, 5 weeks.
QB Kurt Vallery, out, sprained back, 5 weeks.
ILB Tom Ellis, questionable, hip pointer, 4 weeks.
DT Malcolm Cabrera, probable, bruised sternum, 1 week.
T Les Carter, probable, shoulder tendonitis, 8 weeks.
RB Archie Niklos, probable, concussion, 1 week.

Results
Minnesota 35, Illinois 25.
Wisconsin 44, Iowa 13.
Michigan State 38, Wyoming 17.
Northwestern 58, Purdue 7.

Next week:
Indiana at Northwestern on TV2

[3ric]

Week 10

Emails:
QB Barnes accepts our invitation!
G Wilson chooses Vanderbilt.
P Ingersoll chooses Pittsburgh.
DT Caldwell chooses Virginia Tech.
OLB Bunnell chooses Notre Dame.
CB Newsome chooses Texas.

Visits:
DT Meadows

Scholarships:
G Harvey Rheams, Woodstock, CT, #615 (#58 G), 53+, 60 ath prep, 85 fit score.
P Bryant Perry, Flushing, NY, #670 (#14 P), 63+, 94 ath prep, 92 fit score.

Preview of the Northwestern Wildcats:

12th in Rushing yards (1398) (IU 23rd, 1243 yds) 
73rd in Passing yards (1287) (IU 12th, 2096 yds)
20th in points per game (36.8) (IU 8th, 44.5)
79th in 3rd down conv (32.9%) (IU 6th, 50.5)
47th in turnover margin (+2) (IU 1st, +17)
7th in rushing yds allowed (459) (IU 5th, 404 yds)
5th in passing yds allowed (929) (IU 19th, 1123 yds)
25th in points per game allowed (16.1) (IU 3rd, 8.8)
14th in 3rd down conv allowed (25.7) (IU 25th, 28.2)
QB Gardner, 89 completions for 1207 yds, 12 TDs, 9 ints
RB Ellard, 169 rushes for 910 yds, 7 TDs
WR Jarvis, 26 catches, 506 yds, 6 TDs 

#13 Indiana (7-0) (-4) at #15 Northwestern (5-2) on TV2.

The Wildcats win the toss and receives. They run for -6 yds on the opening drive, but gain two first downs on passes in 3rd down situations before we stop them at their 29th. Gaines get sacked on the first play and we punt from our 38. Ellard get two long runs and they move rather easily to midfield, but then OLB Wasserman get our first interception and return it 23 yds. Wittich runs for 6 yds to give us our first positive gain offensively, but later we punt anyway and still don't have a first down at 2:26 in the first quarter.

Our next drive is a little more successful, however, and we gain 2 first downs and 26 passing yds before going deep on a pass - which is intercepted in the end zone. With 1:16 left of the first half we see Northwestern's first scoring opportunity, a 39-yd FG attempt, sail wide right. This titanic battle is still scoreless at halftime, and we have only 5 first downs, 13 rushing yds and 80 passing yds. Luckily, the Wildcats aren't much better off with 8 first downs, 47 rushing yds and 72 passing yds.

This game could end either way - probably on a single big play. Gaines throw his first interception of the season - and IU's second ever for the season - at midfield which gives NW just 29 yds to go. But after 12 plays they're still no further than at our 6-yd line and settle for a FG which gives them the lead, 0-3, at 0:33 in the 3rd quarter. Time are running short - after being sacked on fourth down we turn the ball over at their 44 with only 5:13 left to play.

We don't get the ball back until 1:48 remains, and we start on our own 27, still down 0-3. Gaines throw three incomplete passes and get sacked once and we turn the ball over on downs again, this time at our own 23 with 1:10 to go. Ellard is stuffed for no gain by Jeans and Brignac, we call our second timeout. Baughman is downed for a loss of 3 yds by Farmer, and we call our last timeout. They take a knee on third down and there's only 7 seconds left... and they kick a 44-yd FG with two seconds to spare, the score is 0-6, Northwestern! The kickoff is fielded by Blades three yards deep in the end zone, he cuts right, follows the wedge past the 10-yd line and is downed at the 18-yd line! Game over.

For the record, we held the Wildcats to just 81 rushing yds (120 yds below their average) and their 6 points is 30.8 points below their previous average... our running game was our undoing as we gained only 9 yds total.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	16	21	1.3	6	0	7	0
  
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
14 Gaines	28	12	155	5.5	35	0	2
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
8 Bertram	4	43	10.7	11	18	0
80 Blades	3	58	19.3	17	35	0
21 Wittich	2	19	9.5	18	10	0
89 Jeffries	2	27	13.5	3	19	0
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
52 Whalen	8	2	0.0	0	0	0
44 Dorrough	8	2	0.0	0	0	0
51 Baker	6	2	1.0	0	0	0

Injuries
DE Donnell Horoszowski, out, dislocated se houlder, 4 weeks.
QB Kurt Vallery, out, sprained back, 4 weeks.
ILB Tom Ellis, questionable, hip pointer, 3 weeks.
T Les Carter, probable, shoulder tendonitis, 7 weeks.
QB Charlie Gaines, probable, sprained neck, 5 weeks.

Results
Iowa 45, Minnesota 28.
Michigan State 21, Michigan 17.
Penn State 16, Ohio State 0.
Wisconsin 68, Purdue 3.

Next week:
Wisconsin at Indiana on TV1.

[tucker342]

DAMN!!! SO CLOSE

[3ric]

Week 11

Emails:
RB Chauvlier chooses Bowling Green.
G Rheams accepts our invitation!
DE Horn chooses Ohio State.
CB Howe accepts our invitation!

Scholarships:
P Skip Riley, Englewood, FL, -- (#29 P), 67+, 33 ath prep, 89 fit score.
RB Jon Gillespie, Woodbridge, VA, #826 (#63 RB), 74-, 7 ath prep, 86 fit score.
DE Walter Tilt, Issaquah, WA, -- (#94 DE), 67, 8 ath prep, 98 fit score.
DE Luke Conway, Jamaica, NY, #801 (#70 DE), 67+, 0 ath prep, 80 fit score.

Preview of the Wisconsin Badgers:

17th in Rushing yards (1451) (IU 34th, 1252 yds) 
13th in Passing yards (2318) (IU 17th, 2251 yds)
1st in points per game (50.7) (IU 17th, 39.0)
9th in 3rd down conv (47.5%) (IU 11th, 47.0)
1st in turnover margin (+18) (IU 2nd, +16)
15th in rushing yds allowed (633) (IU 5th, 485 yds)
7th in passing yds allowed (1169) (IU 17th, 1267 yds)
3rd in points per game allowed (8.3) (IU 4th, 8.5)
4th in 3rd down conv allowed (20.9%) (IU 27th, 29.3)
QB Leska, 98 completions for 1714 yds, 15 TDs, 0 ints
RB Uribe, 90 rushes for 510 yds, 9 TDs
WR Kean, 46 catches, 998 yds, 9 TDs 

#2 Wisconsin (7-1) (-3) at #19 Indiana (7-1) on TV1.

Wisconsin start with the ball, and run three times before passing for the first time, and the pass is intercepted by Whalen, who returns the ball 15 yds to their 37! Gaines complete a 19-yd pass to Blades and we're on the 17. A pass to TE Jeffries goes 13 yds in the air and our big guy rumbles all the way down to the 1-yd line! Wittich leaps over the pile and it's touchdown, Indiana! Wo-hoo! 7-0 at 9:32 in the first quarter. The Badgers' offensive leader, Leska, is a superb option quarterback who's just as dangerous on his feet as with his arm. He quickly utilizes his many talents to go down to our 20, where he finds RB Uribe with a touchdown pass! 7-7 all at 3:44 in the first.

After failing to get a first down on the next drive, the Badgers field our punt at our 49-yd line and get a FG after our defense stop them short. 7-10, Wisconsin, early in the 2nd quarter. We get better production out of the offense on the next drive when Gaines get us out of a jam with a 24-yd pass to Jeffries. Wittich run for 8 yds on the next play, but eventually, we don't get anything out of it. Instead can Wisconsin move to our 1-yd line shortly before the halftime break. But an outstanding display of goalline defense keeps our opponents out of the endzone and they have to take a FG for 7-13 with 24 seconds left of the half.

The halftime statline is: 4 first downs, 18 rushing yds and 62 passing yds for Indiana. The Badgers has 12 first downs, 55 rushing yds and 140 passing yds. We get off a great start of the second half with a 28-yd kick return by Blades to our 40-yd line, followed by a 37-yd run by Wittich! Gaines find Baker for 8 yds, and we have a 2nd and 2 on the 15-yd line. Unfortunately we can't convert either on 2nd or 3rd down, and have a 4th and 2. We decide to go for it, and Gaines complete a 7-yd pass to Baker! 1st and goal on the 8. The Badgers' defense steps up and sack Gaines and we move backwards to get a 4th and goal on the 17-yd line. Kicker Cash steps in and aces the 34-yd FG for 10-13.

Leska fires up their highpowered offense once again and move to our 23, where we make a stand and stop them, particularily as Jeans hit Leska behind the line as he veered left. Their kicker manages to hit a 43-yd FG for three and we're down by six again, 10-16 at 4:34 in the 3rd quarter. We can't do much on our next drive and punt it. Wisconsin run twice for no gain, and on 3rd down Farmer forces a fumble as we again stuff their run offense. Dorrough recovers on their 29-yd line! Big play! Gaines to Bertram for 9 yds, Gaines to Baker for 7, Wittich run for 7 and 3 to get us 1st and goal on the 6. Wittich run for 4 yds, but in the end we face a 4th down on their 2-yd line. The field goal is good and we're again just three points down at the beginning of the fourth quarter, 13-16.

Our defense is currently on a roll - we stop Wisconsin from getting a first down on their next drive and a sack by Farmer get them a 4th and 27 on their 1-yd line! They can only get off a 27-yd punt, but Wittich is stopped twice for no gain... but it's a flag on the play... it's a roughness penalty on the defense! First and 10 on the 15! Gaines drop back for the pass, throws it downfield, and Bertram catches it for a 15-yd TD pass! Touchdown, Hoosiers! 20-16, Indiana, with 9:29 left of the game. The Badgers' offense start with Leska to Uribe for 10, Leska to Kean for 18, Leska to Uribe for 34, and Leska to Champagne for a 16-yd TD pass. Damnit! 20-23, Wisconsin, with 6 minutes left.

We are stopped and punt to midfield, and we don't get the ball back until there's only 1:04 remaining. It's about 35 yds to go to be able to force overtime. On both first and second down Gaines get his passes blocked at the line, and then we yield a sack on 3rd down. To make matters worse, the final desperation pass was intercepted at the Wisconsin 17.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	22	73	3.3	37	1	8	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
14 Gaines	17	8	108	6.3	24	1	1
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
4 Baker		3	22	7.3	5	8	0
89 Jeffries	2	43	21.5	17	24	0
8 Bertram	2	24	12.0	17	15	1
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
44 Dorrough	10	0	0.0	0	0	0
58 Fleming	9	3	0.0	0	0	0
53 Jeans	8	4	0.0	0	0	0
52 Whalen	6	2	0.0	1	15	0

Injuries
DE Donnell Horoszowski, out, dislocated shoulder, 3 weeks.
QB Kurt Vallery, questionable, sprained back, 3 weeks.
ILB Tom Ellis, probable, hip pointer, 2 weeks.
T Les Carter, probable, shoulder tendonitis, 6 weeks.
QB Charlie Gaines, probable, sprained neck, 4 weeks.
DE Reggie Cox, probable, influenza, 1 week.

Results
Illinois 17, Purdue 3.
Iowa 48, Ohio State 18.
Penn State 33, Michigan 24.
Michigan State 38, Northwestern 16. (Yeah!)

Next week:
Michigan State at Indiana on TV3.

[3ric]

Week 12

Emails:
RB Gillespie chooses Navy.
P Riley accepts our invitation!
DE Tilt chooses Hawaii.
DT Meadows chooses UCLA.

Scholarships:
DT Gus Shuran, Quincy, FL, -- (#83 DT), 58+, 2 ath prep, 70 fit score.
DE Broderick Briones, Baltimore, MD, 49, 12 ath prep, 97 fit score.

Preview of the Michigan State Spartans:

8th in Rushing yards (1752) (IU 42nd, 1300 yds) 
55th in Passing yards (1801) (IU 19th, 2359 yds)
38th in points per game (29.3) (IU 20th, 36.8)
34th in 3rd down conv (39.4%) (IU 14th, 45.2)
4th in turnover margin (+15) (IU 2nd, +17)
60th in rushing yds allowed (1127) (IU 5th, 551 yds)
51th in passing yds allowed (1708) (IU 24th, 1539 yds)
42nd in points per game allowed (20.4) (IU 7th, 10.1)
52nd in 3rd down conv allowed (33.6%) (IU 45th, 32.5)
QB Browning, 130 completions for 1647 yds, 12 TDs, 6 ints
RB Henson, 263 rushes for 1366 yds, 16 TDs
WR Sheldon, 44 catches, 749 yds, 5 TDs 

#23 Michigan State (8-1) at #24 Indiana (7-2) (-1) on TV3.

We stop the Spartans on their opening drive after 8 yds, and Wittich sets the tone immediately with a 10-yd run. Four plays later it's touchdown, Hoosiers, as Wittich catches an 8-yd pass from Gaines. 7-0, Indiana, at 10:38 in the first quarter. Michigan State goes nowhere the second time either and we get great field position, which becomes even better when Gaines find Bertram with a 25-yd pass! Wittich runs in for a second TD and we're up 14-0 at 6:54 in the first. The Spartans get some offensive continuity and moves past midfield for the first time today, but we stop them at our 44. Wittich help moving the chains with two runs for 19 and 10 yds. A 29-yd pass by Gaines to Bertram gets us to their 15-yd line.

Next pass goes to Blades, who pulls down the ball in the back of the end zone for the score. 21-0, Indiana! The Spartans desperately tries to get in the game with an attempted 62-yd FG only to have it fall way short. Midway through the second quarter we extend the lead to 28-0 on a 25-yd TD pass to Wittich. Three minutes before halftime our running scores his fourth touchdown today on a blistering 25-yd run off right tackle. 35-0, Indiana! The misery for the Spartans continue when they fumble and lose the ball on the following kickoff return. Backup TE DeLay recovers on their 18-yd line, and Cash kick a FG for 38-0.

At the end of the half we have 16 first downs, 106 rushing yds and 173 passing yds, while allowed only 4 first downs, 29 rushing yds and 44 passing yds to our hapless opponents. Backup QB Clayton has relieved Gaines and hit Jeffries for a 6-yd pass. On our next drive, however, he lets a pass get away from him and into the hands of a defender, who returns the ball 25 yds for a touchdown, which spoils our shutout. 38-7, Indiana, at 4:55 in the third quarter. Clayton redeems himself a little later with a 9-yd TD pass to Bertram at 12:15 in the fourth quarter, 45-7, which becomes the final score.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	22	108	4.9	25	2	6	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
12 Clayton	11	6	56	5.0	16	1	1
14 Gaines	10	10	166	16.6	29	3	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
8 Bertram	7	127	18.1	57	29	1
80 Blades	3	31	10.3	14	16	1
21 Wittich	2	33	16.5	16	25	2
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
47 Bleess	4	1	0.0	0	0	0
53 Jeans	4	1	0.0	0	0	0
52 Whalen	4	0	0.0	0	0	0 

Injuries
DE Donnell Horoszowski, out, dislocated shoulder, 3 weeks.
QB Kurt Vallery, questionable, sprained back, 2 weeks.
ILB Tom Ellis, probable, hip pointer, 1 week.
T Les Carter, probable, shoulder tendonitis, 5 weeks.
QB Charlie Gaines, probable, sprained neck, 3 weeks.

Results
Illinois 27, Michigan 10.
Northwestern 22, Iowa 10.
Purdue 30, Minnesota 21.
Wisconsin 45, Ohio State 3.

Next week:
Indiana at Purdue.

[3ric]

Week 13

Emails:
DE Briones chooses Hawaii.
DE Page chooses Bowling Green.
ILB Huntley chooses Mississippi State.
G Huang is on academic notice.

Scholarships:
ILB Leland Derubeis, Gaithersburg, MD, -- (#69 ILB), 64-, 6 ath prep, 90 fit score.
QB Mario Styles, Hardy, AK, #675 (#65 QB), 69+, 1 ath prep, 94 fit score.

#22 Indiana (8-2) (-18) at Purdue (3-7)

The game remain scoreless until 5:17 in the first quarter, when Bertram catches a Gaines pass from the 4-yd line. 7-0, Indiana! Wittich makes it 14-0 at 12:35 in the second quarter on a 25-yd run. Our running back passes the century mark in rushing yardage not long after that. The Boilermakers score with 3:06 left of the first half after we've fumbled away a punt return on our own 26. 14-7, Indiana. However, WR Blades return the following kickoff 103 yds to restore our lead to 14 points, 21-7.

At halftime, we have 17 first downs, 141 rushing yds and 125 passing yds. Purdue has 6 first downs, 14 rushing yds and 37 passing yds. At 2:45 in the third quarter we go up to a 28-7 lead on a 6-yd TD pass from Gaines to Wittich. Gaines pass for his third TD today at 10:41 in th fourth quarter, an 8-yarder to Baker for 35-7. Our defense even gets on the scoreboard when Monroe sacks Purdue's QB and forces a fumble, which Cabrera recovers and returns 18 yds for a TD. 42-7, Indiana, at 6:25 in the 4th.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	27	137	5.0	26	1	6	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
14 Gaines	26	13	206	7.9	50	3	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
21 Wittich	4	49	12.2	26	25	1
89 Jeffries	3	74	24.6	56	50	0
8 Bertram	3	24	8.0	15	10	1
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
72 Farmer	4	1	0.0	0	0	0
58 Fleming	4	0	0.0	0	0	0
99 Cabrera	3	2	0.5	0	0	0

Injuries
ILB Earnest Baker, questionable, sprained neck, 6 weeks.
DE Donnell Horoszowski, questionable, dislocated shoulder, 2 weeks.
TE Nathan Bergen, probable, concussion, 5 weeks.
QB Kurt Vallery, probable, sprained back, 1 week.
T Les Carter, probable, shoulder tendonitis, 9 weeks.
QB Charlie Gaines, probable, sprained neck, 2 weeks.

Results
Northwestern 34, Illinois 7
Michigan State 24, Penn State 23.
Wisconsin 30, Minnesota 14.
Ohio State 35, Michigan 10.

[Alf]

Hopefully, we are going to get QB Vallery and DE Horoz back on time fo the playoffs are'nt we ?

[3ric]

Week 14

Emails:
DT Shuran accepts our invitation.
OLB Shockley chooses Stanford.

Scholarships:
RB Zack Brohm
DE Steven Compton
OLB Mike Young
DT Norm Springer

[3ric]

Week 15

Emails:
QB Kurt Vallery has fully recovered from his injury.
RB Brohm chooses Tulane.
G Bensen accepts our invitation.
ILB Hutton chooses Alabama.
ILB Derubeis accepts our invitation.

Scholarships:
ILB Nathan Benson

Conference Championships results:
Texas 42, Kansas 16.
Florida 58, Alabama 13.
Buffalo 42, Central Michigan 14.

Next week:
Fresno State vs Indiana on TV4.

[3ric]

Week 16, first round of playoffs

Emails:
DE Donnell Horoszowski has fully recovered.
QB Styles chooses South Florida.
DE Compton accepts our invitation.
ILB Benson accepts our invitation.
OLB Young accepts our invitation.

Scholarships:
None, trying to get three walk-ons for the final spots.

#19 Indiana (9-2) (-3) vs #28 Fresno State on TV4.

Vallery complete a 13-yd pass to Kaplan on the first play, and three plays later we go ahead 7-0 on a 58-yd TD run by Erik Wittich. He score a second TD at 4:15 in the 1st quarter with a 10-yd run, and we're up by 14-0. It's great to have big Horo' back on the D-line, he's wreaking havoc in the opposing backfield. Vallery has had an uneven game so far, his timing seems a little off. But when WR Bertram went open on a deep route, there was no hesitation, and a 75-yd TD pass! 21-0, Indiana! With 2:53 left of the second quarter we get a third TD from Wittich as he goes around left end for a 15-yd scoring run. 28-0, Indiana!

Halfway through the game we have 16 first downs, 145 rushing yds and 180 passing yds, while Fresno State has 4 first downs, 22 rushing yds and 111 passing yds. The Fresno State coach must have given a great motivational speech to his team, because they come out firing and score on the opening drive of the second half on a 17-yd TD pass. 28-7, Indiana. Their joy is shortlived, however, as WR Blades return the following kickoff 94 yds for the score and 34-7, Indiana! Early in the fourth quarter it's 41-7, Indiana, as Vallery finds Baker with a 19-yd TD pass. Then a Fresno State running back fumbles the ball as Dorrough tackles him, and Whalen returns it 36 yds for the score! 48-7, Indiana!

On the kickoff return, the same thing happens as the returner develops butterfingers and the Hoosiers' Husted recovers and return the ball 18 yds for 55-7! Fresno State can't move the ball, and a short pass gives us such a great field position we can't help but score again, on a 22-yd pass by Vallery to Bertram. 61-7, Indiana, as Cash bungles the extra point attempt.

Indiana Individual Statistics
 
Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Stufd	Sackd
21 Wittich	27	147	5.4	58	3	8	0
 
Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int
13 Vallery	25	15	286	11.4	75	3	0
 
Receiving	Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
21 Wittich	4	53	13.2	26	16	0
48 Kaplan	4	47	11.7	22	13	0
8 Bertram	3	117	39.0	34	75	2
 
Defense		Tackle	Assist	Sack	Int	IntYds	IntTD
53 Jeans	6	1	0.0	0	0	0
51 Baker	5	2	0.0	0	0	0
58 Fleming	5	1	0.0	0	0	0

Injuries:
ILB Earnest Baker, probable, sprained neck, 3 weeks.
TE Nathan Bergen, probable, concussion, 3 weeks.
T Les Carter, probable, shoulder tendonitis, 6 weeks.
DE Reggie Cox, probable, bruised shoulder, 2 weeks.

Results:
UCLA 37, USC 31.
South Florida 24, Maryland 17.
Vanderbilt 38, Louisiana-Monroe 0.
Central Michigan 33, Rice 27.

Next week:
Florida vs Indiana on TV4.
Central Michigan vs Wisconsin on TV2.

(Edit: forgot the stats from the game)

[3ric]

Week 17, second round of playoffs

Emails:
FB Mueller accepts our invitation to come as a walk-on.
TE Fruth accepts our invitation to come as a walk-on.
ILB Devine accepts our invitation to come as a walk-on.
T Richard commits a violation of team rules for the second time this season! He's already suspended, so there will be no further action taken.

Preview of the Florida Gators:

43rd in Rushing yards (1636) (IU 23rd, 1817 yds) 
3rd in Passing yards (3904) (IU 17th, 3073 yds)
6th in points per game (43.2) (IU 14th, 40.0)
11th in 3rd down conv (45.4%) (IU 13th, 44.3)
51st in turnover margin (+2) (IU 1st, +22)
1st in rushing yds allowed (325) (IU 5th, 742 yds)
17th in passing yds allowed (1917) (IU 16th, 1906 yds)
4th in points per game allowed (10.4) (IU 1st, 9.3)
3rd in 3rd down conv allowed (18.9%) (IU 16th, 27.7)
QB Thornton, 258 completions for 3714 yds, 39 TDs, 10 ints
RB Fleming, 228 rushes for 1215 yds, 11 TDs
WR Feterik, 66 catches, 1029 yds, 6 TDs 

Position-by-position comparison of starters:

QB: Vallery(73) vs Thornton(51). 
Edge: IU, Vallery's talent trumps Thornton's numbers.

FB,RB: Kaplan(54), Wittich(83) vs Peterson(66), Fleming(68). 
Edge: Even.

TE,WRs: Jeffries(81), Blades(76), Bertram(48) 
vs Wentz(53), K.Clinton(94), B.Clinton(83). 
Edge: UF, they have the best WR combo in the nation.

OL: Godfrey(82), Abate(76), Huang(65), Carter(49), Tanner(36) 
vs Iannucci(95), Styles(56), Barton(51), Fields(75), McEwen(67). 
Edge: UF, the guards are slightly better than our tackles.

DL: Cox(70), Horoszowski(67), Cabrera(65), Farmer(50) 
vs Fulton(85), Huffman(73), Kaplan(73), Ballard(52). 
Edge: UF, by a narrow margin.

LBs: Whalen(80), Fleming(75), Baker(59), Jeans(72) 
vs Spencer(77), Tubbs(67), Zeigler(67), Becnel(58). 
Edge: IU, we have the depth and the nation's best ILB pairing.

DBs: Banks(77), Sonnier(62), Dorrough(79), Brignac(65) 
vs Chrisman(73), Varona(56), Holmes(82), Benson(56). 
Edge: IU, Sonnier and Brignac are better than Varona and Benson.

#3 Florida (11-1)(-3) vs #18 Indiana (10-2) on TV4.

Game details coming up next... but it could take a week until next update, since I'm off to Italy the day after tomorrow for a friend's wedding!

(Edit: forgot rankings and the correct point spread)

[cthomer5000]

I think this team has a legitemate shot at the national title. Those two losses we're both extremely close, and those were without Kurt Vallery in at QB. I think he would've been the difference in both games.

[Alf]

Nice impressive win 3ric !

Wedding in Italia. Mama mia ! That sounds like a nice plan. Plus the weather is forecasted to be pretty good for the whole week.

[tucker342]

Those two loses were really tough...

You're looking good for the postseason though

[ShagVT]

Go Hoosiers! (The suspense is unbearable!)