Redshirt freshmen ready for Big Ten season

The RS on the roster stands for redshirt, a concept that can be confusing for some sports fans. The roster says the student athlete is a freshman, though the player has actually been at IU for two years.\nFor Hoosier fans, all they need to know is that the IU football team's class of redshirt freshmen is contributing when it counts. As early as last spring, IU coach Terry Hoeppner expected big things from his "rookie" class.\n"Honestly, 17 or 18 of them are going to play (next season)," Hoeppner said last spring. "They're inexperienced, but they're talented. They can play football." \nFour games into the young season, Hoeppner's prediction has come true with his class of redshirt freshmen contributing on the offensive and defensive ends of the ball.\nHeading into the Big Ten this weekend after a disappointing 2-2 nonconference season, IU has come to rely on the efforts of this group of players on a weekly basis. Freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis leads the Hoosiers with 530 passing yards and two touchdowns, while freshman safety Austin Thomas paces IU's defense with 27 tackles, 18 of them solo.\n"We're trying to bring enthusiasm," fellow redshirt freshman Andrew Means said. "Obviously, being young, we try and come out, just bring a lot of energy."\nPlaying in three of IU's four games, Means has developed into one of the team's go-to receivers. The 6-foot receiver has seven catches for 107 yards, including a touchdown in the win against Western Michigan and a key 32-yard reception during IU's second half comeback against Ball State.\nAs true freshmen coming into the 2005 season, it was a difficult transition getting used to standing on the sidelines and being unable to play while the Hoosiers struggled through a tough 4-7 season, but even when they were forced to sit, it was beneficial overall.\n"Before the season (last year), everybody came in wanting to play and expecting to play," freshman Josh Bailey said. "Then, as the season progressed and the teams got bigger, you realize redshirting is nothing but a positive because it gives you another year to get bigger."\nAlong with the difficulty of having to sit out, Means thinks that besides an additional year of getting bigger and stronger, redshirts get the chance to improve in the mental aspects of the game.\n"I think it helps from the aspect that you've gotten your mental reps, just watching the game and knowing what kind of adjustments you've got to make to do well in this league," Means said. "You've just got to be mentally ready because the (Big Ten) is a fast league."\nAfter struggling through their nonconference schedule and after a year of sitting out, the redshirts' hard work continues tomorrow in the Big Ten opener when the Hoosiers host Wisconsin at Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for noon and will be broadcast on ESPN2.\n"I've been waiting my whole life to get this game going," Means said. "It's the Big Ten. What else can you say about it? Every kid dreams about playing in the Big Ten"