Hamdan named starter

Coach Gerry DiNardo announced at a press conference yesterday that senior Gibran Hamdan would start Saturday against Kentucky. Hamdan and senior Tommy Jones had been ensconced in a quarterback competition prior to the season, but Jones started the Hoosier's first two games. \nJones missed practice Tuesday with a concussion he suffered during IU's 40-13 loss to Utah. DiNardo would not say how much Jones' health played into the decision.\n"I am going to play Gibran. We are going to start Gibran (Hamdan)," he said. "Tommy (Jones) can't practice today, and I don't know that Tommy would be ready for the game. So obviously that plays into it, but Gibran (Hamdan) is going to start in the game."\nHamdan played Saturday in relief of Jones and threw for 212 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw three picks. DiNardo said he couldn't evaluate Hamdan on only that performance.\n"I mean he had a couple of turnovers, one he definitely could have avoided," Dinardo said. "But we made some third down conversions; he seemed to have command of the offense. But no I don't think you can evaluate a guy under those circumstances. You're not really playing the game like you were earlier in the game." \nDiNardo said while a starter generally can't lose their position to injury because Jones only started two games, it didn't necessarily apply. \n"In general I think that is true, but I don't pin myself down that way," he said. "I don't make an announcement in front of the team that you can't lose your position though injury."\nThe Kentucky game kicks off at 6 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.