Utah

The Foster Farms Bowl featured #19 Utah from the Pac-10 against the Hoosiers representing the B1G. This would be Indiana Coach Tam Allen's first contest since being named head coach on December 1. The Utes were deemed a twelve point favorite.

Allen's debut started off well when Kyle Fulls fumbled the opening kickoff for Utah and Indiana turned that into a touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Lagow to Mitchell Paige. But the Hoosiers struggled on offense after that. Lagow went 14 for 39 for 188 yards and an interception. The receivers didn't help with several drops but Lagow was often off-target or had passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. The defense kept the game close.

Allen viewed the preparation and bowl game as the start of his first full season in 2017. The Hoosiers will jump right into it, hosting Ohio State in the season opener on Aug. 31.

For the second year in a row IU ended the regular season 6-6 but failed to finish with a winning record following a bowl game. For the ninth consecutive season, the Hoosiers finished with a loosing record.  

IU entered the Foster Farms Bowl against #19 Utah as a twelve point underdog.

Images © Foster Farm Bowl

Construction fence is up

The construction fence is up for the South End Zone Project. 

Foster Farms Bowl

It was announced on Sunday December 4 that the Hoosiers would play in the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, CA against the #10 Utah Utes on December 28.  Utah, the 3^rd selection from the Pac-12 conference will go up against the Hoosiers from the B1G. Televised on Fox Sports The 8-4 Utes enter the game highly favored.

 Images © Foster Farm Bowl 
 © Indiana University Athletics

New Sheriff in Town

Indiana University announced Kevin Wilson resigned his position as head football coach. Defensive coordinator Tom Allen was elevated to head coach on a permanent level. Players were informed of the decision at team meeting prior to the announcement.

Indiana athletic director Fred Glass met with Wilson in his office and accepted Wilson's resignation "based on the philosophical differences we have in terms of leadership of Indiana football program."

Allen who is popular within the program and the department but does not have a deep well of FBS coaching experience and no collegiate head-coaching experience. Wilson recruited Allen to IU from the University of South Florida in January to repair the Hoosiers' long-maligned defense. Allen, a former coach at Ben Davis High School, spearheaded a revival as defensive coordinator, as the Hoosiers led the nation this season in greatest year-over-year reduction in yards allowed per game. That cued a second-straight postseason appearance for the first time since 1990-91.

"I was raised a Hoosier," Allen said at the news conference. "It's hard to believe. This day has been an absolute whirlwind...

Wilson leaves Indiana after his second-consecutive 6-6 regular season, and the program's first back-to-back bowl appearances since 1990-91. Wilson had a 26-47 overall record at IU, and despite his recent success, he never concluded a campaign in Bloomington with a winning record.

"I have a vision to create a culture of accountability, toughness and love," Allen said. "I believe in positive, conviction-driven leadership. And the power of belief. "Our immediate goal is to prepare for the bowl game and keep our staff intact... We have a great staff of coaches... We're going to roll our sleeves up, pull together. "My goal for this program is to breakthrough in 2017. We're very close."

Notes taken from the © Indy Star online

Photos © Indiana University Athletics

First time in a long time

For the first time since the 2001 season both the Old Brass Spittoon and the Old Oaken Bucket remain in Bloomington.  The Hoosiers became Bowl eligible in back to back seasons not since the 1990/1991 seasons.  The result of hard work is starting to pay off.

10.1.2016
24-21

11.26.2016
26-24

Purdue

Devine Redding powered in from 1 yard out with 4:59 left to give the Indiana Hoosiers a 26-24 victory over rival Purdue.

With the win, Indiana (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) became bowl eligible for the second consecutive year -- a feat they last achieved in 1990 and 1991.

The Hoosiers also tied a school record by winning the Old Oaken Bucket for the fourth straight year. That had only happened once previously, from 1944-47.

Sources:
ESPN Sports
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Indiana University Athletics
The Indy Star

Michigan

No. 3 Michigan had its weakest passing performance in 15 years. Playing without Wilton Speight was quite a challenge.

Fortunately for the Wolverines, senior running back De'Veon Smith  had the best game of his career.

Smith ran for two touchdowns in a 3:33 span late in the third quarter and finished with a career-high 158 yards rushing, helping Michigan shake off Indiana for a 20-10 win.

Sources:
ESPN Sports
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Indiana University Athletics

Penn State

The #12 Nittany Lions draw first blood on their first drive. But the Hoosiers responded to keep the game tied at 14 each at the of the first half. The defense stepped up. Five takeaways however  by of offense and special teams did the Hoosiers in the second half. Final score: Lions win 45-31

Sources:
ESPN Sports
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Indiana University Athletics

Rutgers

Four turnovers and an extremely poor kicking game allowed Rutgers to score 17 straight points and take an early lead. The Hoosiers manged to regroup in the second stanza scoring twenty to pull ahead and finish 33-27.  

Maryland

Three players topped the 100-yard mark, five players scored on touchdown runs and the Hoosiers' got back into the bowl hunt with a 42-36 victory over Maryland.

5 different players recorded a rush TD, believed to be first time in program history that has happened!

Sources:
ESPN Sports
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Indiana University Athletics

Northwestern

The Wildcats took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards for a touchdown, as the Hoosiers had no answer for their no-huddle offense. Thorson connected with Solomon Vault on a 17-yard pass to complete the 11-play drive.

Sources:
ESPN Sports

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Indiana University Athletics 

Nebraska

New Candy Stripe Retro Uniforms added for Homecoming 2016

Nebraska scored the first 17 points courtesy of a field goal and two TDs in a 14-second span.

Indiana scored the next 15 and finally got into the end zone on the final play of the third quarter with a 33-yard TD run from Dvine Redding on a fake reverse.

Morgan's TD catch finally gave Nebraska the upper hand and all the Hoosiers could muster after that was Redding's 4-yard TD catch that made 24-22 with with 8:26 to play and the Cornhuskers played keep away the rest of the night. Final scored Indiana 22 Nebraska 27.

Sources:
ESPN Sports
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Indiana University Athletics

Ohio State

Ohio State's usually crisp passing game was mostly shut down by Indiana on Saturday so J.T. Barrett had to get it done on the ground.

Barrett rushed a career-high 26 times for 137 yards and a touchdown and threw for another score and No. 2 Ohio State beat Indiana 38-17. Barrett was 9-of-23 for 93 yards passing. Final score OSU 38 IU 17.

Sources:
ESPN Sports

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Indiana University Athletics 

Game Day v Ohio State

Source:
Indiana University Athletics

Michigan State

Sources:
ESPN Sports

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Indiana University Athletics