Looking Back

 

Before looking forward to a new season is might be interesting to look back at recall some of IU's gridiron greats. 

■ Jade Butcher, defensive back, Bloomington, Indiana
■ Harry Gonso, running back, Findlay, Ohio
■ John Isenbarger, quarterback, Muncie Central, Indiana

Historically, freshmen had been ineligible to play on Big Ten or NCAA varsity teams. For the first time, in 1966 Big Ten schools were permitted to have freshman football and basketball teams and play brief schedules: two games in football. The first for Indiana was at Ohio State. And — shock of shocks, first of the wave that was to come — IU won!

At career’s end, all three dominated the all-time IU record book. And what an acronym, Butcher-Isenbarger-Gonso. BIG.

Big as in Rose Bowl, where the team they led played — for the only time in school history — after finishing as Big Ten tri-champions at 9-1, the capper a 19-14 upset of maybe the best Purdue team ever.

Almost every Hoosier team since has exceeded the 19 on offense. No IU defense since has held teams anywhere close to a 14-point average.

And no player in IU history has made a personal sacrifice comparable to captain Doug Crusan, high on pro draft lists after two years as an outstanding offensive tackle, shedding more than 30 pounds and excelling at defensive tackle, and/or fellow senior Terry Cole, a two-year star at running back who selflessly moved to fullback and primarily a blocking role while the backfield spotlight shifted to Gonso and Isenbarger — until Pont twice caught Purdue over-conscious of the Gonso-Isenbarger option threat and broke fullback Cole wide open up the middle for long, touchdown-producing plays.

Most Influential IU Football Players by Position 

 🏈Offense 🏈

Quarterback – Antwaan Randle El
Years: 1998–2001
Why: Electrifying dual-threat QB and the first player in NCAA history to pass for 40 TDs and rush for 40 TDs.
Legacy: Went on to win a Super Bowl with the Steelers and brought national attention to IU Football. A true program icon.

Running Back – Anthony Thompson
Years: 1986–1989
Why: Two-time Big Ten MVP, 1989 Maxwell Award winner, Doak Walker Award winner, and Heisman runner-up.
Legacy: Still holds multiple IU rushing records. Statue-worthy legend in Bloomington

Wide Receiver – James Hardy
Years: 2005–2007
Why: IU’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions (36).
Legacy: Dominated the Big Ten, gave IU a dynamic deep threat it hadn’t had in years.

Tight End – Ted Bolser
Years: 2010–2013
Why: IU’s career leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns among tight ends.
Legacy: Reliable, physical, and a leader during the Kevin Wilson rebuild.

Offensive Lineman – Dan Feeney
Years: 2012–2016
Why: Four-year starter, All-American, and key part of one of IU’s most explosive offenses.
Legacy: NFL success with the Chargers and Bears; a rock up front.

🏈 Defense 🏈

Defensive Line – Adewale Ogunleye
Years: 1996–1999
Why: IU’s all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss.
Legacy: Had a long, successful NFL career and was a feared force off the edge.

Linebacker – Tegray Scales
Years: 2014–2017
Why: Led IU in tackles, sacks, and was the heart of a tough defense under Tom Allen.
Legacy: Helped put IU back on the map defensively.

Cornerback – Tracy Porter
Years: 2004–2007
Why: Ball hawk in college, Super Bowl hero in the NFL (pick-six off Peyton Manning).
Legacy: Major impact on and off the field—one of IU’s few household names on defense.

Safety – Eric Allen
Years: 1981–1984
Why: Versatile and instinctive defensive back.
Legacy: Key part of IU’s secondary during the 80s and a longtime pro.

 🏈Special Teams 🏈

Kicker – Pete Stoyanovich
Years: 1985–1988
Why: Big leg, clutch kicker, went on to a standout NFL career.
Legacy: Helped stabilize IU’s special teams when it mattered.

Punter – Chris Sigler
Years: Early 90s
Why: Consistently pinned opponents deep; all-conference honors.
Legacy: Kept IU competitive in field-position battles.

 Overall, Most Influential Hoosier Football Player: 

Anthony Thompson (RB)

No one left a bigger mark on IU football history. He put Indiana in the national spotlight, won nearly every award a college player could win, and continues to represent the program with pride.

Source:

Bob Hammel column: John Isenbarger helped turn around Indiana football

IU Football Facebook group 

Media Day

 

The Big Ten Media Day was held in Las Vegas July 22-24 Indiana coach Curt Cignetti's brash nature was on display. After leading the Hoosiers to an 11-1 regular season record and the most surprising College Football Playoff berth on record. 

Humble and Hungry

Cignetti had a clear message. "I get questions, how are you going to sustain it? We're not looking to sustain it. We're looking to improve it...Consistency is huge so that we can play fast, physical, smart, disciplined, poised, not affected by success, not affected by failure, and never ever satisfied until the game is over."

"The theme of this year really is humble and hungry versus noise and clutter. If you are humble and you are hungry and you got that fire burning inside your belly, and you're committed to high standards then you're going to reach your full potential." Said Cignetti, "I'm really good at keeping the main things the main thing and being a watchdog for complacency and stomping it out." 

SEC scheduling philosophy

Cignetti was asked about the Hoosiers canceling a home-and-home series with Virginia in 2027 and 2028 in favor of adding an extra home game against a lower-level opponent.  The coach pointed out that 12 of the SEC's 16 teams play three games against Group of Five or lower-level FCS teams each season. "We figured we would just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy, you know." Cignetti said. "Some people don't like it. I' more focused in on those nine conference games."

Purdue's Barry Odom

The Hoosiers' scheduling philosophy recently became fodder in their rivalry with Purdue. On a radio show last week, new Boilermakers coach Barry Odom took a jab at his foe to the south. "It's so important to have games that fans are excited about." said Odom, whose team faces Notre Dame in nonconference play this season. "I could take the approach of one of the other schools in the state, cancel games and do some of those things, but the schedule is what it is." Cignetti shrugged it off. "Did I think about it Not much. That would be an overstatement." he said, before winking. "I saw it. It was a flicker in my brain, and it was over." 

Representing the Hoosiers for media interviews were Aiden Fisher (Linebacker) Mikail Kamara (Defensive end) and Elijah Sarratt (Wide receiver). 

Indiana put a pair of players on the 15-man preseason All-Big Ten team in cornerback D'Angelo Ponds and defensive lineman Mikail Kamara. 

This season, IU faces three teams in the top 11 ESPN's early rankings in Oregon, Penn State, and Illinois. The media picked the Hoosiers to finish sixth in the Big Ten with a 9-3 overall record 6-3 in the Big Ten. 

sources

Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette's Dylan Sinn

Image The Big Ten Network