NCAA Football FanHouse

Indiana Reinstates QB Kellen Lewis, to the Delight of Tens of IU Football Fans

Mark Hasty — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, Indianapolis

Four months almost to the day after he was suspended for the perennial favorite "unspecified violation of team rules," Kellen Lewis has been reinstated to the IU football team. There is still no word on what, exactly, got Lewis sent to Bill Lynch's Naughty Chair, and it's a good bet we'll never officially know.

This is great news for all 34 fans of IU football, who had to endure the departure of the freakishly good wideout James Hardy, now a Buffalo Bill. The recent resurgence of IU football came largely from the Lewis-Hardy connection, who feasted on the bones of defenses that persistently failed to cover the underneath routes. (Not that I'm bitter about that or anything.)

IU now moves into a Hardy-less future, but having Lewis back calling the signals should provide some much-needed continuity for a team that needs leadership. The Hoosiers installed a no-huddle offense in spring practice, all of which Lewis missed. If Lewis can pick up the new system Indiana could make a run at the top four of the Big Ten, which figures to be as wide-open as it ever has been. If not, well, at least the bowl drought is over.

Indiana Reinstates QB Kellen Lewis, to the Delight of Tens of IU Football Fans originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indiana's Turf Troubles

Charles Rich — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:24:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Campus

You know it was some really bad weather in Indiana when a artificial turf surface is ruined. Indiana University's Memorial Stadium switched to AstroPlay turf in 2003. You know, to save money and allow the field to be used for more activities.

Well after the state of Indiana was buffeted last week by strong wind and heavy rains, there was flooding everywhere. Including Memorial Stadium.

[Indiana Athletic Director Rick] Greenspan said high winds this week drove a "phenomenal amount of rain under the carpet" and created a 10-inch deep sinkhole from the middle of the field inside the south end zone to the fence separating the field from fans.

"When it got down to (the south end), part of the turf just collapsed like one of those landslides you see in California where the foundation just goes out from under it," he said.

IU football coach Bill Lynch said there was a lot of water on the field when the staff arrived Thursday morning. When it drained, there were sinkholes and lumpy sections of carpet.

This picture (sorry, we don't have the rights to show it) shows the turf looking like a funhouse floor. Indiana is still trying to determine whether they can repair or have to replace the whole thing. The costs are expected to be $750,000 to $1 million.

The biggest issue, though, is time. It will take about 4 weeks to replace the turf. Then they have find a company capable of doing the work on short notice. The season opener is August 30, the absolute date it must be repaired or replaced. In the meantime, practices and football camps scheduled to take place on the field have been moved or canceled. Where the football team conducts summer training camp in August is now in question

Indiana's Turf Troubles originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Moments in Big Ten Football History #5: Indiana's 2007 Season

Mark Hasty — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, Bowl Games, NCAA FB History, Indianapolis

To say that there haven't been a lot of great moments in the history of Indiana University football is more than an understatement. In 108 seasons of football the Hoosiers have won exactly two conference titles. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the University of Chicago has seven Big Ten football titles, and they quit playing big-time football in 1939.

Terry Hoeppner looked to be the one who could turn it around. He was that rarest of breeds, a proven college coach who didn't consider a stint in Bloomington to be an act of violence against his professional reputation. Hoeppner arrived from Miami University in 2005 and quickly installed self-confidence in his Hoosiers. He wasn't able to get them to a bowl game in his first two seasons, but anybody who followed the Big Ten had to figure it was just a matter of time.

Time, unfortunately, was running out. Hoeppner had a brain tumor and, following a rigorous course of treatment, the university announced that he would not coach in 2007. A few days after IU's announcement, Hoeppner died.

There are times you just wish the clock could stand still for a few days or weeks. But it doesn't, ever. The Hoosiers had only a little time to grieve for their coach. Most of us quietly wrote off Indiana's upcoming season, figuring the Hoosiers couldn't recover from the tragedy. We were wrong, of course.

Hoeppner's right-hand man was Bill Lynch, a very well-regarded offensive coordinator, but a coach whose previous stint as head coach at Ball State (1995-2002) had rather mixed results. He did lead the Cardinals to a bowl game in 1996 but never had a winning season after that, even enduring back to back 1-10 and 0-11 seasons. So there was yet one more reason to lower one's expectations.

Suddenly it was the first Sunday in October and IU was 5-1. Two more victories would cinch the Hoosiers their first bowl bid since 1993. The stretch run proved difficult, however. IU lost at Michigan State, at home to Penn State, and then again at Wisconsin. A home game with Ball State provided win #6, good enough for theoretical bowl eligibility, but not good enough to guarantee a postseason appearance.

The Hoosiers just fell short against Northwestern, 31-28, making the season closer against Purdue an even more meaningful game than usual. Not long after halftime IU was up 24-3, but Purdue tied the game with 3:39 to go. Indiana drove as far as they could, then, with 30 seconds to play, Austin Starr hit a 49-yard field goal to guarantee Coach Hoeppner's dream of "playing 13" would finally come true.

The Hoosiers went to the Insight Bowl to face Oklahoma State, a team apparently coached by a 40-year-old man. IU lost, 49-33, and it wasn't as close as the score might indicate. All's well that ends well, but even without a Hollywood ending, the 2007 season proved Hoosiers can play sports other than basketball, too.

Best Moments in Big Ten Football History #5: Indiana's 2007 Season originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Has Kellen Lewis Played His Last Snap for Indiana?

Adam Jacobi — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, The Word

Troubling news out of Bloomington today, as incumbent starting quarterback Kellen Lewis was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. Coach Bill Lynch declined to provide any additional details, but it doesn't sound good. One blog (DISCLAIMER: blogs are not to be trusted. Ever.) claims that multiple credible sources assert that Lewis is done, done, done.

If true, the news is devastating; put simply, the Indiana offense needs Kellen Lewis. In his first two seasons at the helm of the Indiana offense, Lewis amassed 57 touchdowns (42 passing, 14 rushing, one receiving) and well over 6,000 yards of total offense. Lewis was a freshman All-American in 2006, and was named to the All-Big 10 second team by both the coaches and the press. Meanwhile, behind him on the depth chart is redshirt sophomore Ben Chappell and, like, a traffic cone.

Making the suspension even worse is the early departure of superfreak wideout James Hardy, who will likely be taken in the first round of next month's NFL draft. With those two, the Indiana offense was a terror last season--Indiana topped 30 points in eight of their 13 contests. In light of the suspension, the Hoosiers now look positively toothless.

Has Kellen Lewis Played His Last Snap for Indiana? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Damage Report: Big Ten

Brian Cook — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:38:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Michigan Football, Michigan State Football, Ohio State Football, Penn State Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Illinois Football

Tuesday was the deadline for underclassmen to declare their entry into the NFL Draft. Below, a look at the damage done across the Big Ten in the NFL Damage Report. Yes, the NFL is still interested in the occasional Big Ten player.

Ohio State
Gone	DE Vernon Gholston
Back	WR Brian Robiskie, LB James Laurinaitis, LB Marcus Freeman CB Malcolm Jenkins, OT Alex Boone
Damage	Gholston will be a major loss. The Detroit junior was a terror all year long -- if OSU hadn't busted three coverages at the wrong time he would have made an enormous impact on the national title game -- and perhaps the best defensive end in the Big Ten since Simeon Rice. OSU has a lot of talent, but guys like Gholston are rare no matter how many hyped recruits you've reeled in. But the unfortunate reality for Big Ten fans is that OSU got off easier than everyone expected. Jenkins and Laurinaitis have been projected in the top half of the first round by most draft services, but elected to return. A few likely first-day picks in Robiskie, Freeman, and Boone elected to stick around, as well. Despite the loss of Gholston OSU is a big winner here.

Michigan
Gone	WR Mario Manningham, WR Adrian Arrington, QB Ryan Mallett (transfer)
Back	DT Terrance Taylor, DE Tim Jamison
Damage	Manningham's departure was assumed from last summer, but Adrian Arrington's dynamite Citrus Bowl might have been the decisive factor in his decision to enter early; both departing leaves Michigan thin and young at wideout. Third WR Greg Mathews comes back, but he seems a steady possession type in the mold of Jason Avant, not a gamebreaker like Manningham was and Arrington was developing into. Mallett's departure will mean little to Michigan fans if Rich Rodriguez can reel in uberrecruit Terrelle Pryor. Meanwhile, a couple defensive linemen who could have gone somewhere on the first day return; Michigan brings back every contributor from a pretty decent defensive line from a year ago. They'll have to make their returns count for Michigan's defense to keep what looks like a shaky-at-best offense in games.

Wisconsin
Gone	CB Jack Ikegwuonu
Back	TE Travis Beckum
Damage	Ikegwuonu was quietly a superb performer over the past couple years. Wisconsin had the aid of a soft, Ohio State-free schedule and a full blast of the Ryan Mallett Experience against Michigan, but #1 in pass efficiency D is #1 in pass efficiency D, and that was greatly aided by Ikegwuonu's shut-down capabilities. Counterpart Allen Langford, toasted frequently as a sophomore, was capable this year but isn't likely to match Ikegwuonu's contributions in his final year. Getting Beckum back is a major bonus for new QB Allan Evridge, though. Beckum is a matchup nightmare in pads who should be the slam-dunk Mackey winner unless Evridge is a complete disaster.

Penn State
Gone	CB Justin King
Back	LB Sean Lee
Damage	King seemed a superstar in the making after a superb sophomore season and was well on his way to the first round of the draft when he ran into Indiana's James Hardy -- about whom more later -- and got owned. Owned hard. He then failed to live up to admittedly lofty expectations the rest of the year. His departure leaves Penn State's secondary looking shaky. PSU blog Run Up The Score: *Scared for 2008?* Totally. Penn State's cornerbacks are now A.J. Wallace and Lydell Sargeant, neither of whom were overly impressive while fighting for the starting spot opposite King. Another possible option is moving Tony Davis back to cornerback, but that just creates another gaping hole elsewhere in the defense. For a secondary that tended to fall apart at critical times in 2007, this is bad news for 2008. Getting Sean Lee, the latest in PSU's recent string of late-first/early-second OLB/MLB hybrids, back is a nice boost for a defense that looks stout up front. The other side of the ball? Well... I'm sure JayPa will get a guy above the median in passer efficiency one of these years.

Indiana
Gone	WR James Hardy
Back	None
Damage	Weapons like James Hardy just don't come around that often when you're Indiana. Hardy's projected as a second-rounder many places; the last time IU had a second-rounder in the NFL draft it was Antwaan Randle-El six years ago. The damage here is severe, albeit to the Hoosier's chances to repeat as bowl participants and little else.

Michigan State
Gone	WR Devin Thomas
Back	RB Javon Ringer
Damage	In the richest tradition of Michigan State wide receivers, Thomas talked big about beating Michigan, did not, and fled to the NFL. He takes with him every ounce of big-play ability MSU got from its passing game a year ago, but there are a couple promising youngsters on the way in rising sophomore Mark Dell and incoming freshman Fred Smith. Either could emerge into a suitable replacement, or MSU could fish out another JUCO. The WRs for erratic (read: bad) QB Brian Hoyer will probably be substandard. However, if MSU was forced to lose one of its offensive stars they would probably have picked Thomas over RB Javon Ringer, a talented runner held back by frequent injury and pounding power back Jehuu Caulcrick the past couple years. His most notable highlight last year was a zig-zagging cutback run against Michigan that spanned 70-some yards vertically and 50 horizontally before Shawn Crable dragged him down. Ringer averaged 5.9 YPC last year in front of a meh offensive line; he's good. The Spartans moved from John L Smith's spread offense to a traditional pounding ground game under Mark Dantonio; with a full, healthy year from Ringer he will press Chris Wells for All-Big Ten and possibly All-America.

Illinois
Gone	RB Rashard Mendenhall
Back	None
Damage	Mendenhall will vie with Gholston for the title of the Big Ten's single most damaging departure. While Illinois figures to fill the gap with promising JUCO transfer Daniel Dufrene, -- get busy livin', kid -- Dufrene can't match Mendenhall's NFL combination of speed, power, and moves. For my money, he was the top running back in the Big Ten a year ago, better than Ringer or Hart or Wells, and Illinois will miss him dearly. The offensive burden now falls more heavily upon junior-to-be Juice Williams, who may have improved radically as a sophomore but mostly because there was nowhere to go but up.

No (early) departures: Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, Purdue.

The Upshot: Ohio State's claim as the Big Ten frontrunner just gets stronger.

NFL Damage Report: Big Ten originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old School: Corso, Carter, and Ufer, 1979

Brian Cook — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:44:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Michigan Football, Big 10

"Old School" is the College Football FanHouse's irregular look back at the rich history of college football, usually through the medium of embeddable flash video. Check out the Old School archive for more famous plays and infamous hair.

Right, right, done the Anthony Carter thing before, but this clip combines so many awesome things that you're just going to have to watch it. Amongst the things you are going to behold:

A set from a late-70s coaches show, complete with Music of Ultimate Funk.
A play that was immediately ruled illegal after its execution.
A seriously pissed off you guys Lee Corso.
The most stunning finish in Michigan history... well, the most stunning positive finish, anyway.
One announcer who loses his mind and starts rambling about football Valhalla.

Ready, set, go:

The banned play was the audacious clock-stopping lateral that landed in the hands of a red-clad madman. Said red-clad madman was one Lee Corso, then Indiana's coach. Bob Ufer is the man who hasn't been as happy in all his cotton-pickin' 59 years; he also once described Ohio Stadium as "Ten thousand alumni and seventy-four thousand druck drivers". You'll occasionally see "Honk if U-fer Meeeechigan" bumper stickers around the state 27 years after his death.

Michigan went to 7-1 with the victory and would crush Wisconsin 54-0 the next week, but lost its final three games to finish 8-4. Anthony Carter would go on to be pretty good.

Old School: Corso, Carter, and Ufer, 1979 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Win Or Lose, Indiana Had a Successful Season

Tom Fornelli — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, Bowl Games

A few hours from now the Indiana Hoosiers will take the field to play Oklahoma State in the Insight Bowl. Depending on where you look, the Hoosiers are currently considered 6.5 or 7 point underdogs against the Cowboys. It doesn't matter though.

Whether the Hoosiers walk away from tonight's game with a victory or loss doesn't take away from a season that can only be considered a success in Bloomington. After all, the last time Indiana played in a bowl game was in 1993 when we were all singing along to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and Harrison Ford was still looking for the one-armed man.

Indiana would lose that Independence Bowl to Virginia Tech by a score of 45-20.

When you remember that the Hoosiers have done this after losing their head coach, Terry Hoeppner, to cancer in the offseason, their improvement is made that much more impressive.

What's even crazier is that Indiana's basketball team is currently 10-1, has one of the most exciting players in the country in Eric Gordon, and all anybody on campus wants to talk about is the football team.

"Walking on the campus with our football gear on, people are coming up to us and saying 'We'll see you in Tempe,'" said senior captain Tracy Porter. "It's just an awesome experience, and to come here and live it out is just that much more exciting."

The entire state has been turned upside down! Left is right, black is white, and in is out.

So no matter what happens tonight, 2007 was a great year for Indiana football. One that Bill Lynch and his boys should be awfully proud of.

Win Or Lose, Indiana Had a Successful Season originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indiana Keeping Bill Lynch

Mark Hasty — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:46:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Coaching

After five and a half months in interim limbo, Indiana University has decided it can live with Bill Lynch as its head football coach. According to the Indianapolis Star, Lynch has signed a four-year contract to be the head Hoosier.

All the college football world knows IU's story. Former coach Terry Hoeppner died of a brain tumor on June 19 of this year, far too late in the cycle to find another coach before the start of the season. The university tabbed Lynch to get the football team through this season. Lynch stepped up to the plate and continued the momentum Hoeppner established. The Hoosiers went 7-5 this season and will likely play in their first bowl game since 1993.

This was a smart move by IU. Going 7-5 at Indiana isn't easy. Lynch may not have distinguished himself in his prior stint at Ball State (1995-2002) but that was then and this is now. It's important to the future of IU football that this precious momentum be maintained. Switching coaches now just wouldn't make much sense, especially when you haven't gone bowling in fourteen years. It would make the job considerably less attractive to other coaches who might otherwise be interested in the IU job.

Like I said, it's a good move for IU. As a Hawkeye fan I was sort of hoping they'd hire somebody who had no idea what to do with Kellen Lewis and James Hardy.

Indiana Keeping Bill Lynch originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Badgers Roll to Easy Win Over Indiana

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10

So much for a close one in Madison Saturday.

Wisconsin jumped on Indiana early, took advantage of a porous run defense, and rolled to a 33-3 win at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday. The loss keeps Indiana stuck at five wins overall, while Wisconsin moves to 7-2 overall (3-2 Big Ten).

The Badgers took advantage of a very slow start by Indiana to jump to an early lead. Wisconsin drove for an opening-drive field goal, then got a quick punt from the Hoosiers. The Badgers took the ball and drove 52 yards for the game's first touchdown, as sophomore P.J. Hill barreled in from a yard out. That made it 10-0 Wisconsin, and the Hoosiers found themselves being outgained 92 yards to minus-one.

A bad start for IU got worse on their next possession. Josiah Sears fumbled the ball away just short of midfield, and Wisconsin was able to turn that miscue into points when freshman Zach Brown ran for six yards and his first collegiate touchdown. Indiana added a field goal to get on the board late in the first half, but they went into halftime down 17-3, outgained 211-93, and with a run defense that was getting abused for a third straight week. Wisconsin had 136 yards on the ground, making it 696 rushing yards allowed by Indiana in their last ten quarters of football. However, the run game took a hit in the first half, as Hill left the game in the second quarter. A lower leg injury kept Hill from returning to the game, leaving Brown and Lance Smith as the primary running backs for Wisconsin.

After an exchange of third-quarter punts, Wisconsin's Allen Langford made something happen, intercepting IU QB Kellen Lewis. The turnover was the second of the game for Indiana, but Wisconsin didn't keep the ball long, as Tyler Donovan fumbled it back to IU on a scramble. Star Indiana receiver James Hardy fumbled on IU's next possession, and Wisconsin took over near midfield after the third turnover in as many series. The Badgers tacked on a touchdown late in the third quarter to make it 24-3, then added nine more points in the fourth before running the clock out.

The story of the game was Wisconsin's defense. Maligned for much of the season, they did a great job containing Lewis, and cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu performed remarkably well against Lewis' favorite target, Hardy. The run defense was outstanding, holding Indiana under 70 yards on the ground through three quarters. The Hoosiers haven't been blessed with an outstanding running game, but the mobility of Lewis figured to be a problem for Wisconsin. No dice, as most of IU's 142 yards on the ground came after Wisconsin had built a comfortable second-half lead. IU also committed four turnovers.

On the other side of the ball, Indiana's run defense is a huge problem. They've allowed over 800 yards rushing in the last three games, all losses. Northwestern and Purdue, the Hoosiers' remaining Big Ten opponents, are probably licking their chops. Indiana still has Ball State on the schedule, so the 13th game is likely to be a reality. But the Hoosiers will need to tighten up on defense if they are to avoid a 2-6 Big Ten season. If they can't win another conference game, the Motor City Bowl may be the best they can achieve.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin's hopes for a major bowl rest on the next two weeks. They travel to Columbus to face Ohio State next Saturday, then host Michigan in two weeks.

Badgers Roll to Easy Win Over Indiana originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hoosiers Try For 13th Game

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10

For Indiana football, these are heady times. The Hoosiers haven't qualified for a bowl game since 1993, when Bill Mallory roamed the sidelines in Bloomington, and Trent Green was the starting quarterback. Cam Cameron couldn't generate a turnaround, and Terry Hoeppner died before he could see it through.

In Hoeppner's place, new head coach Bill Lynch, a veteran head coach who most recently was head man at Ball State, has done a marvelous job. His job has been twofold: Get players to play to their potential, and get them to focus in the wake of the death of their beloved head coach.

It's because of that storyline that I argue Saturday's game is much more important for Indiana than it is for Wisconsin. Sure, the Badgers (6-2 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) could win out, finish 10-2 (6-2) and qualify for a really nice bowl game. However, this season has been unsettling in Madison, in large part because the defense just hasn't performed to expectations. And it's not likely that they'll run the table against a schedule that includes Ohio State (road) and Michigan (home) in the next two weeks. Possible, yes, but far from likely.

For Indiana (5-3 overall, 2-3 Big Ten), a win Saturday would be a significant step. Not only would it be their most impressive win of the season (they've won at Iowa, but the Hawkeyes are clearly not as good as in recent years), but it would give them the six wins required to be bowl-eligible. Even if it's the Motor City Bowl, a bowl game would be a big deal for this program.

But is this the week? The Hoosiers don't want to stick themselves in a spot where they are 2-6 in Big Ten play and hoping that they can still get to one of the Big Ten bowl tie-ins. However, the Badgers have a strong offense, and their defense is hungry to prove itself against a solid offense after they destroyed Northern Illinois last week.
For Wisconsin, a big key Saturday will be how they handle dual-threat QB Kellen Lewis of Indiana. Lewis averages over 300 total yards per game, is his team's leading rusher, and has improved greatly as a passer. He has a great rapport with receiver James Hardy, who already has 11 touchdowns and is averaging nearly 100 yards per game.

One positive for the Badgers is that IU doesn't run the ball particularly well, especially if Lewis is contained. The team only averages a shade over four yards per rush, and Lewis is averaging around five. Marcus Thigpen has disappointed as a feature back, hitting for less than 3.5 per carry.

However, Lewis' mobility and arm pose a serious threat to Wisconsin's defense. Their history against mobile spread-type quarterbacks is not good, and it's clear that Lewis holds the key to Indiana's chances on this day.

For Wisconsin, the running room should be plentiful for P.J. Hill. The Hoosiers are ninth in the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing nearly 160 yards per game. IU has given up 560 rushing yards in losses to Michigan State and Penn State the last two weeks. They have to stop Hill if they want to have a chance in this game.

Even if they slow Hill and Lance Smith, Indiana still has to deal with Tyler Donovan. The Wisconsin senior QB has senior receiver Paul Hubbard back after a Week Two knee injury, and he gives a boost to a position that had been relying too much on true freshmen (Kyle Jefferson and David Gilreath). Not only that, but he'll allow the Badgers a viable outside weapon who can take pressure off TE Travis Beckum (50 receptions, more than double anyone else on the UW roster).

In the end, I think Wisconsin wins this game. However, it will be close. Not only that, but IU has a shot to pull the upset if they can tighten up the run defense and control the ball on offense.

And what a win that would be for a program that is due for a good break.

Hoosiers Try For 13th Game originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indiana Still Playing 12

Brian Grummell — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Penn State Football, Big 10

Frustrating home loss for Indiana today, unsuccessfully defending "The Rock".

Knotted up with Penn State for much of the afternoon, a turnover spree cost Indiana dearly. The Hoosiers lost three fumbles, two inside their own 10 yard line and one near midfield that was returned to their 12 yard line. Penn State converted those opportunities into crucial points that proved the difference in a 36-31 victory.

Receiver James Hardy shone bright for Indiana hauling in 14 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Penn State countered with a grinding, up-the-middle rush attack that slowly but surely dominated the Indiana defensive interior. That rushing proved crucial on a back-breaking fourth quarter touchdown drive that put the Nittany Lions up 36-24.

On the game, Penn State rushed 45 times for 192 yards.

Indiana's bowl dreams of "Playing 13" remain idle for at least another week as they stand at five wins. This season has been dedicated to former coach Terry Hoeppner whose mission was to get Indiana six wins and bowl eligibility. Thus the "Play 13" slogan. Unfortunately he was felled by brain cancer this summer.

Indiana Still Playing 12 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 16:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That'll Be All For Iowa

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Iowa Football, Big 10

Any thoughts of contending for a Big Ten title (in a year where Ohio State and Michigan rotated off the conference schedule) appear to have gone away for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes actually put forth a good defensive effort last week in Madison, even though they lost. But a myriad of problems have led to an 0-2 Big Ten start, thanks to a 38-20 loss to Indiana Saturday in Iowa City.

Iowa is banged up, especially at wide receiver, where coach Kirk Ferentz has been forced to play more freshmen than any Big Ten coach usually wants to. Instead of relying on experienced talents like Dominique Douglas (off-field troubles), Tony Moeaki (injured), or Andy Brodell (injured), sophomore QB Jake Christensen had freshmen Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and James Cleveland working as his primary targets Saturday.

To make matters worse, the defense is also nicked. Middle linebacker Mike Klinkenborg and safety Devon Moylan both missed the game with head injuries.

An offense that prides itself on the offensive line isn't blocking consistently well for running backs Damian Sims and Albert Young, and the pass protection for Christensen broke down a few times in Saturday's game. Young's numbers weren't bad in this game, but he didn't get the ball enough before Indiana started to pull away.

With the loss, Iowa has now dropped five straight Big Ten games dating back to last season. The 0-2 start in 2007 is not a good omen for them. Iowa travels to Penn State next weekend, then hosts resurgent Illinois. Following that is a trip to unbeaten Purdue and a home date with current unbeaten Michigan State (on the field against Wisconsin right now).

They could win those home games, but they could also start the Big Ten season 0-6. At this point, it's going to take a road upset to attain even a 3-3 start in Big Ten play.

On the other side of the field, Indiana (4-1 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) was impressive. The Hoosiers didn't run the ball well at all, averaging barely two yards per attempt. However, QB Kellen Lewis was very sharp, completing 19 of 26 passes for 323 yards and two scores. Lewis added a third touchdown when he picked up a fumble by teammate Josiah Sears in the first half and ran 70 yards for a score.

James Hardy went over 100 yards receiving, and Indiana showed much poise in a tough road environment. The Hoosiers led 21-0 late in the second quarter, but Iowa scored on the last play of the first half to get on the board. After Iowa scored in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-13 (the extra point was missed), Indiana responded with an impressive 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to bulge the lead back to two scores. Included in the drive was a superb 24-yard pass from Lewis to Brandon Walker-Roby on fourth down and five. The play got IU inside the Iowa five, and they quickly cashed in to make it 28-13.

After an Indiana field goal, Christensen led a scoring drive to pull Iowa within 11 at 31-20, but the Hoosiers again responded. A 12-play, 69-yard drive ended with Sears' second scoring run of the game to close the scoring.

The Hoosiers have a lot to be proud of. Indiana has four wins on the year, leaving them two away from their stated goal of playing a "13th game" this year, in honor of late head coach Terry Hoeppner, who used "Play 13" as a battle cry last year. Interim coach Bill Lynch is doing an outstanding job so far, and his veteran leadership has stepped up on the field. Lewis looks better and better at quarterback every week. The schedule is still tough, with trips to Michigan State and Wisconsin still to come, along with home games against Penn State and Purdue. However, there are "winnable" games all over the schedule, including next week's clash with Minnesota.

Indiana has a chance to become a great story in this Big Ten season, and I doubt anyone would vehemently complain with all that program has gone through.

That'll Be All For Iowa originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 29 Sep 2007 15:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan, Iowa Struggling With Big Ten Dregs

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Iowa Football, Michigan Football, Northwestern Football, Big 10

No one will accuse Northwestern or Indiana of being among the Big Ten favorites entering this season.

Michigan and Iowa, however, were.

The Wolverines and Hawkeyes are in trouble on this day, however. Michigan (2-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) trails Northwestern 16-7 at halftime. In that game, the Wildcats (you know, the team that lost to Duke) have already gone over 300 yards in total offense. QB C.J. Bacher hasn't been wonderfully accurate, hitting 15 of 26 passes with an interception. However, he's already thrown for 213 yards and run for 23 more. Northwestern's spread offense is causing Michigan fits. Omar Conteh, filling in for injured feature back Tyrell Sutton, ran for 72 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

Meanwhile, Michigan's offense is struggling, and kicker Jason Gingell missed a chip-shot field goal on Michigan's last offensive series of the first half. Mike Hart has been held to less than three yards per rush, and freshman QB Ryan Mallett, who took over after Chad Henne led Michigan to an opening drive touchdown, is just 5-for-11 for 62 yards.

(UPDATE: Henne has started the second half for Michigan. Not sure if this is going to be permanent or if Mallett will play again this afternoon.)

Iowa needed a 33-yard touchdown pass by Jake Christensen on the final play of the first half to get on the board against Indiana. The Hoosiers lead 21-7 thanks to emerging star QB Kellen Lewis, who has already thrown for 198 yards. Lewis also has a 70-yard fumble return touchdown. On that play, Lewis hit Josiah Sears for a nine-yard pass, but Sears fumbled. Lewis picked it up and ran for the rather unusual offensive touchdown.

Outside of that freak play, the stats are virtually even at halftime. Both teams are struggling to run the ball, but Indiana has a bit of an edge because, unlike Wisconsin, the Hoosiers are okay throwing the ball with some regularity. Lewis has been sharp so far and he will need to remain that way, because Indiana's defense is simply not strong enough to hold Iowa down all day.

Michigan, Iowa Struggling With Big Ten Dregs originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hoosiers Halfway to a Bowl

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 09:20:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10

Obviously, they didn't play the most impressive non-conference schedule available. If they had, we wouldn't have nominated them for a scheduling award named after Bill Snyder. The fact of the matter is a non-conference schedule stinks when "at Western Michigan" is the biggest challenge.

However, Indiana has slipped up in the past against easy schedules. Last year comes to mind immediately, as the Hoosiers lost home games to Southern Illinois and Connecticut. A mid-season rally left IU one win away from bowl eligibility, but they never picked up that elusive sixth win.

This year, new coach Bill Lynch is off to a good start, as his team has posted three wins out of the gate. It's exactly how Indiana needed to start this season, and they have done it.

This week, the Hoosiers held off a pesky Akron team 41-24 in Bloomington. They did it by ripping to shreds an Akron run defense that had done a pretty good job the previous week at Ohio State. Indiana ran for 338 yards on this day, averaging almost seven per attempt. Quarterback Kellen Lewis was the catalyst, setting a career-high with 199 yards on the ground. He accounted for all five IU touchdowns (three passing, two rushing).

The defense wasn't stellar, but Indiana posted five quarterback sacks and held Akron's ground game to under three yards per attempt.

The win leaves Indiana halfway to a potential bowl bid as the Big Ten schedule begins next week. Indiana will host Illinois in their conference opener. With the Illini, Minnesota, and a non-conference date with Ball State left on the schedule, along with games at Michigan State and Northwestern, the Hoosiers will have a good shot at three more wins. A thirteenth game - even if it's in Detroit - would mean the world to an IU team still coping with the loss of coach Terry Hoeppner during the offseason.

Hoosiers Halfway to a Bowl originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 16 Sep 2007 09:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indiana Literally Giving Tickets Away

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Fans, Indiana

In the same league that houses Michigan (2006 average attendance: 110,026), Penn State (107,567), Ohio State (105,096), Wisconsin (81,368), and Iowa (70,585), sits Indiana University.

The Hoosiers aren't a football powerhouse. They haven't been to a bowl game since 1993. They haven't won one since 1991. While they were a win away from bowl eligibility last year, they managed to lose to a Division I-AA team (Southern Illinois), and they were outscored by almost ten points per game. The result? They averaged 33,063 fans per game in 2006, 69th in Division I-A (thanks, Phil Steele) and near the bottom of the Big Ten.

When you don't draw well unless Wisconsin, Michigan, or Ohio State come to town, it's time to try something different. With that in mind, head coach Bill Lynch announced Friday that all freshmen will get a free ticket to IU's opener next weekend against I-AA stinker Indiana State.

The Hoosiers are expected to at least contend for bowl eligibility this season, but it's not thought that the excitement will draw a sellout crowd to the ISU game next week. It's a good move to get incoming students excited about Indiana football, something that there hasn't been much reason to do over the years.

Strangely, men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson didn't make a similar offer for their home opener at Assembly Hall. Something tells me those tickets are going to sell just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Indiana Literally Giving Tickets Away originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Football Preview '07: Final Wrap

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Iowa Football, Michigan Football, Michigan State Football, Minnesota Football, Northwestern Football, Ohio State Football, Penn State Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Purdue Football, Illinois Football

If you missed any portion of our Big Ten Football Preview, or if you're a masochist and want to read any of it over again, consider this your one-stop shop for the wealth of solid information, mindless speculation, and occasional snark.

Predictions from our lovely FanHouse staff will be coming at the end of August. For now, as you enjoy our other conference previews, here's a look back at what we learned about the Big Ten.

The 2006 season was full of mediocrity, with two top teams proving how overrated they were by getting pounded in their postseason games. Or something. Oh, and it appears that we're really going to miss having John L. Smith to kick around.
Ohio State lost a lot of players. So did Michigan's defense.
Jake Long probably doesn't have any business playing college football this year.
Travis Beckum doesn't get enough press.
James Laurinaitis gets too much.
Wisconsin needs to find a quarterback to not screw this thing up.
Arrelious Benn's nickname is strange.
There aren't too many coaches on the hot seat. What would this list be without a guy named Zook?
No one's non-conference schedule can touch Michigan.
There is a glimmer of hope for at least some of the league's traditional also-ran programs.
How did a 2-10 team make this list?
Can Anthony Morelli help save Penn State's offense?
Will Wisconsin find a decent quarterback?
Can Michigan get enough offense?
Is Ohio State good enough to win the league again?

Big Ten Football Preview '07: Final Wrap originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Football Preview '07: The Dregs

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EST

As we move into previewing individual teams, you'll notice that there are three different categories for teams. It's actually pretty self-explanatory.

First up, we have The Dregs of the league. These are the programs that simply don't have the tradition lately. It's been a struggle to build winning teams, and/or perhaps they have gone through some coaching changes that have set the program back a bit.

I'm not going to make a blanket statement about a team not having a chance to make a bowl game, but for the schools listed among The Dregs, the climb will be the toughest. Essentially, the teams mentioned after the jump are the underdogs of the Big Ten.

Indiana Hoosiers

Last year: 5-7 overall, 3-5 Big Ten

WHY THEY'LL WIN: Inspiration can do strange things to athletes. There is no doubt that the Hoosiers' hearts are heavy after the June death of their head coach, Terry Hoeppner. Not only are they inspired, but this might be the most talented Indiana football team since their last bowl trip in 1993. They were tantalizingly close last year, despite home losses to Southern Illinois and Connecticut. Bill Lynch takes over and finds a cupboard that is hardly bare. 16 starters are back, including dynamic offensive talents James Hardy and Marcus Thigpen. A big key for Indiana will be finding ways to get these guys the football as much as possible. The guy in charge with much of that, QB Kellen Lewis, improved throughout 2006 and will only get better as he learns to better manage the game. The defense, while still nothing more than mediocre, does return seven starters, including senior leader Tracy Porter, the team's top CB.

WHY THEY WON'T: Perhaps hearts will be too heavy for IU to be totally focused on football. While not surprising given his spate of health problems, Hoeppner's passing had to take an emotional toll on these young men. The defense, while improved in many ways, still allowed over 30 points per game a year ago. No matter how much better the offense gets, it won't be enough to keep up unless the Hoosiers can shore up that side of the ball. The offensive line was a mess last year and isn't a lock to be much better this season. Hoeppner was recruiting hard to build a solid line, but the guys he brought in won't be ready to play every down this season.

PROGNOSIS: The schedule dictates that a good start is essential for Indiana. The Hoosiers could easily be 4-0 heading to Iowa September 29, but last year's team tripped early and only managed a 2-2 start. The best-case scenario for the Hoosiers appears to be, believe it or not, somewhere in the area of 8-4/4-4. If focus is an issue, and/or the defense doesn't get any better, the Hoosiers could slip to 5-7/2-6 pretty easily. I think a 13th game is in order for this program this season, as IU will find a way to squeeze out a 6-6/3-5 season and go bowling. Even if it's in Detroit, it's a step in the right direction for a change.

Michigan State Spartans

Last year: 4-8 overall, 1-7 Big Ten

WHY THEY'LL WIN: Well, for starters, Mark Dantonio is not John L. Smith (pictured), whose fate was probably sealed with back-to-back crushing home losses after a 3-0 start. If that didn't do it, the 38-7 home loss to Ohio State would have been sufficient. Dantonio has experience at East Lansing, having worked there under Nick Saban, and his work as a recruiter made him a pretty attractive candidate for Michigan State. There is some talent to work with in the offensive backfield, with Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick leading the way. With any luck, the offensive line will be healthier and more productive. Dantonio gets weaklings UAB and Bowling Green at home to start his MSU career, and that should infuse some confidence into the team before the good teams start showing up on the schedule.

WHY THEY WON'T: The passing game needs a rebuild. QB Drew Stanton and his top three receivers are all gone. In their place are new QB Brian Hoyer, who apparently likes to eat, and a bunch of new people who are supposed to catch the ball. The defense was basically a wreck last season, allowing over 28 points per game, and the front seven is undersized. Missing Minnesota and Illinois in the league schedule doesn't exactly constitute a "break", and the slate includes the likelihood of a winless season on the road (Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Iowa, and Purdue).

PROGNOSIS: Meh. Sparty will start 2-0. Well, they'd better. Beyond that, it's going to be tough to rack up a lot of wins. If Dantonio can shape up the defense and find people to catch Hoyer's passes, he could squeeze six wins out of the team. However, another 4-8/ 1-7 season can't be ruled out. Expect Michigan State to miss out on a bowl for the fifth time in six years.

Minnesota Gophers

Last year: 6-7 overall, 2-6 Big Ten

WHY THEY'LL WIN: New coach Tim Brewster is off to a good start. He has gotten around the state, with visits by his staff to each high school in the state. He took over for Glen Mason, who wasn't exactly beloved among Gopher fans who thought he was aloof and not much of a recruiter. The Gophers sent Mason packing after they blew a 38-7 lead in the Insight Bowl against Texas Tech. The defense, shredded during the Tech comeback, returns eight starters, including linebackers/leaders Mike Sherels and John Shevlin. Amir Pinnix went for over 1,200 yards on the ground, and Ernie Wheelwright is a big, powerful receiver.

WHY THEY WON'T: Brewster has never been a head coach or coordinator at any level. New offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar is well-versed in the spread, which requires a transition from the smashmouth offense Mason had the Gophers running. They'll still run the ball, but look for one of the freshmen QBs, Adam Weber or Clint Brewster, to win the starting job by mid-season, if not earlier. Wheelwright has never lived up to his potential, and the secondary was crippled by the arrest and dismissal of top CB Dominic Jones.

PROGNOSIS: The early-season schedule is manageable. A 3-0 start is likely, even in a period of adjustment. A home Big Ten schedule of Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Ohio State probably won't net many wins, and it's hard to expect a mediocre team like Minnesota to be good on the road. It looks like 6-6/2-6 might be the best Minnesota can expect. That may be enough to eke the Gophers into a minor bowl.

Northwestern Wildcats

Last year: 4-8 overall, 2-6 Big Ten

WHY THEY'LL WIN: Simply put, they're better. Second-year coach Pat Fitzgerald stepped into an impossible spot last year, taking over late in the offseason after Randy Walker's sudden death. For much of the season, it looked like Fitzgerald and his staff were still feeling their way through things. They bounced back to win two of their final three games, including a two-touchdown win at Iowa, but it wasn't enough to salvage a bowl bid. This year, the Wildcats have 16 starters back, the entire coaching staff is intact, and there is some talent. QB C.J. Bacher didn't get healthy until midseason but provided the offense with some spark when he did play. Junior RB Tyrell Sutton didn't get the numbers he had as a freshman, but he did top 100 yards in three of his last five games. The defense improved in 2006, cutting a touchdown off their points per game average, and that improvement should continue with all the key players returning.

WHY THEY WON'T: The only serious losses on offense were leading receiver Shaun Herbert and right tackle Ryan Keenan. Herbert will be tough to replace, but the Wildcat coaches like their depth at receiver. While the defense is experienced, it is still quite undersized, and they lack a big-time playmaker in the secondary. Junior safety Brendan Smith is the closest they have, but he's more of a hitter than a "center fielder".

PROGNOSIS: The schedule, like many in the Big Ten, favors a quick start. Northwestern should go 3-0 before visiting Ohio State September 22. From there, wins may be a bit harder to come by, though the league schedule gives Northwestern a break, as Wisconsin and Penn State rotate off. Fitzgerald will likely get this team to bowl eligibility, with a 7-5/3-5 season possible. Expect the offense to improve dramatically on last year's 16.5 points per game average.

Big Ten Football Preview '07: The Dregs originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Football Preview '07: The Schedule

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Iowa Football, Michigan Football, Michigan State Football, Minnesota Football, Northwestern Football, Ohio State Football, Penn State Football, Big 10, Purdue Football, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois Football, Illinois

Much has been made of the cupcake scheduling employed by many ~~Division I-A~~ Football Bowl Subdivision teams for the 2007 season.

In fact, we already chronicled the worst schedules in the Big Ten this season. The best games, too.

For those who are too lazy to click, we present a bit of a refresher. We'll also take a look at the strangest non-conference pairings we could find.

Best schedule: Michigan

The Wolverines have allowed themselves a layup, though it's not nearly the layup that a team like, say, The Citadel would be. Michigan opens with two-time ~~Division I-AA~~ Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State.

The non-league schedule includes a visit from Pacific Ten power Oregon, a team that beat the Wolverines in Eugene back in 2003. Following that game, Notre Dame visits Ann Arbor, and it's likely the Irish haven't forgotten that little 47-21 thrashing they had put on them last year in South Bend. The other non-conference game is what should be a mid-season pasting of Eastern Michigan.

In Big Ten play, the Wolverines don't play Iowa or Indiana. Home dates with Penn State, Purdue, and Ohio State mean that season-ticket holders are likely to get their money's worth this season.

Worst Schedule: Indiana

With all the issues facing IU off the field this season, their Bill Snyder Award is not a high concern. It would be great to see everyone in the Big Ten challenging themselves in non-conference play, but reality is that the mediocre/bad programs are going to schedule some cupcake opponents in hopes of moving closer to bowl eligibility.

The Hoosiers do visit Western Michigan, but the MAC isn't what it used to be, so saying that you're playing one of the MAC's better teams just doesn't ring anymore. The Hoosiers also get visits from MAC teams Akron and Ball State, and they open with FCS also-ran Indiana State.

Best Game: Oregon at Michigan, September 8

Not only did Oregon beat Michigan back in 2003, but they may have a comparable team this year. The Ducks bring a top QB in Dennis Dixon, a high-powered offense, an improving defense, and some ugly threads to Ann Arbor.

Michigan will have to be on their toes. An upset loss would render the game against Notre Dame the following week practically meaningless. A win over Oregon and a win over Notre Dame, and Michigan should be 10-0 when they roll into Madison on November 10 to play the Badgers.

So, yeah, this is a big game.

Weirdest Game: Minnesota at Florida Atlantic, September 15

It appears that the Gophers are going to be used as a smaller school's way of getting their attendance over the NCAA minimum for the season. Oh, and the same thing happened last year when Minnesota played their opener at Kent State.

FAU needs to average at least 15,000 per game to meet NCAA standards. FBS schools need to average over 15,000 per game every other year to meet the standard, and FAU didn't even make it to 10,000 last year. This game is at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, which seats over 70,000 (FAU's stadium seats around 20,000).

It's too bad, really. Howard Schnellenberger (pictured) has actually done a pretty good job building the FAU program from the ground up, and they could have a Sun Belt contender on their hands this season.

It's quite the mysterious trip for Minnesota. Big Ten schools seem kind of above traveling to play at Sun Belt teams. Not only that, but since most of the BCS schools seem intent on having at least seven home games per season, it seems odd that team from the Big Ten would waste that one road trip on such a lowly opponent.

Honorable Mention: Penn State at Temple, November 10.

at Temple? Huh?

Again, why aren't you playing Pittsburgh, JoePa?

Big Ten Football Preview '07: The Schedule originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indiana Tight End Arrested For Hijinks

Brian Cook — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:24:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Police Blotter

If there's a Guinness World Record for most innocuous college-football-related arrest, it's just been broken:

Indiana tight end Blake Powers was arrested after he threw a water balloon from one car into another, hitting an off-duty police officer. ... According to a police report, Powers admitted that while a car in which he was riding was stopped at a traffic signal, he had tossed a water balloon through the open window of another car, striking the driver in the head.

It was just Powers' luck that the guy he pegged happen to be an off-duty campus rent-a-cop who was pissed off enough to follow the kids home and arrest them for, yes, what can only be described as sophomoric hijinks. The kicker:

All four car occupants tested negative for alcohol use, said IU police Capt. Jerry Minger.

Bloomington: the only city in America too boring to drink in!

Indiana Tight End Arrested For Hijinks originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Football Preview '07: The Hot Seat

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EST

Sorry, there's no Budweiser sponsorship on this one. Unlike that contraption, this is a real hot seat.

In the real world, we know that not everyone will coach forever, like the guy to the right has. The old saying is that coaches "are hired to be fired". These days, you're lucky if you can survive back-to-back years that don't meet everyone's expectations. You could almost argue that everyone is on the hot seat, but we're not going to do that. It's too easy.

When selecting three Big Ten coaches who are on the hot seat, the first thing to do is list the veteran coaches who are definitely NOT on the hot seat:

1. Lloyd Carr
2. Jim Tressel
3. Bret Bielema
4. Kirk Ferentz
5. Joe Paterno

From there, we can eliminate the coaches who were hired to replace fired coaches in the last year. You don't fire a first-year coach that you just hired unless he gets arrested. That would mean that Mark Dantonio and Tim Brewster are "safe", and it leaves us with four candidates for three positions on the hot seat. Join us after the jump to find out who made the cut.

1. Joe Tiller, Purdue

Tiller seems like a nice guy, and he's done a very nice job at Purdue in his ten years there, averaging around seven wins a season for a program that had been struggling before his arrival. He tutored Drew Brees and helped him set records on his way to the NFL.

However, the last couple years have brought their share of struggles to a suddenly spoiled fan base. Purdue started 5-0 in 2004 before the famous Kyle Orton fumble that led to a Wisconsin upset win in West Lafayette. Since that 5-0 start, Purdue is a rather pedestrian 15-17 overall, 10-12 in Big Ten play, and 0-2 in bowl games.

Tiller wouldn't be on the hot seat if his Purdue career had started in 2004, but that Rose Bowl trip and two other New Year's Day bowl trips have set the bar higher than the Champs Sports Bowl. Not only that, Purdue avoided Michigan and Ohio State on the league schedule in each of the last two years, but still managed to disappoint.

Other coaches in the league have some serious success to their credit in recent years, just got their job, or are in very difficult positions. Tiller needs to get the ship righted, or things underneath him will begin to get quite smoky. Seems like a good season to have 18 starters returning, doesn't it?

2. Ron Zook, Illinois

If it weren't for that insane recruiting class, Zook would be on top of this list. But he is building as quickly as he can at Illinois, a program gutted by poor recruiting and even poorer play.

The Illini have eight sophomores listed as starters for 2007, and this is still a really young football team. Their top receiver, Arrelious Benn, is a true freshman. Quarterback Juice Williams played most of last year as a true freshman (and he took some lumps as a result).

While Zook can't afford another two-win season, the bar isn't that high for this year in Champaign. You could argue that he'll get at least one more year as long as the team continues to show improvement. And don't make any mistake, even though the record didn't show it (2-10 after a 2-9 2005 season), the Illini were better.

Last year, it was the defense that showed great improvement. They went from 39.5 PPG allowed to 26.8, 5.5 rush yards per carry to 3.3, and from 67 percent completions allowed to 55.5. This year, the onus is on the offense to hold up their end.

3. Bill Lynch, Indiana

I'm not here to make any light of Lynch's situation. The former Ball State head coach is in the impossible position of taking over for the extremely popular Terry Hoeppner. Hep died in June after two seasons at the helm of the IU program. He was there long enough to get people energized about Hoosier football, though he was not able to lead the team to a bowl game.

In placing Lynch on the "hot seat", we are by no means saying that Lynch is not going to do a good job. He is a veteran coach, and he will provide the program with a steady hand and quality leadership as they attempt to move forward.

However, there is no guarantee that Lynch's hiring is permanent. With that in mind, it makes no sense to leave Lynch off such a list, since he really isn't guaranteed a job as head coach beyond 2007.

The Hoosiers were on the brink of a bowl bid in 2006. It will be hard not to root for IU to finish that journey in 2007, and the schedule is favorable to make that happen. And while Lynch doesn't appear to have any guarantees beyond 2007, a bowl bid would be a giant step in that direction.

Big Ten Football Preview '07: The Hot Seat originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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