Cream vs. Crimson

At the conclusion of the annual Cream & Crimson spring game, players from both the offensive and defensive teams mingled with former football players, fans and each other on the field.\nBut the game’s end didn’t bring closure to the Hoosier players. Following the spring scrimmage, players had a lively debate as to who actually won the game.\nThe offense and defensive units were awarded points for various accomplishments such as first downs, touchdowns, interceptions or defensive stops. When the clock expired Saturday, the score read 34-33, with the defense leading. \nBut IU coach Bill Lynch and his staff interjected and issued a final bonus play to end the game. The play resulted in sophomore quarterback Ben Chappell finding junior wide receiver Collin Taylor streaking across the middle for a 10-yard touchdown grab (and three points using the scrimmage’s scoring format), giving the offense a 36-34 victory. \nWhile Taylor praised the defense for the way it played, he still claimed the offense as the victors. \n“The (defense) played well the whole spring, they forced a lot of three-and-outs,” Taylor said. “But we came out on top today and that felt good.” \nBut junior defensive end Jammie Kirlew, who finished the day with two sacks, saw things differently. \n“They know we really won,” Kirlew said. “On the scoreboard it said they won, but they know we really did.” \nAlthough the debate about which unit won the game was still up in the air, Lynch said the defense looked to be the more dominant squad. Lynch said he expected the defense to play well because of the players’ experience and because of the absences of the usual playmakers on offense. \n“Today the defense amped it up,” Lynch said. “Which you hoped they would, playing in the stadium with people watching.” \nThe defense finished the day with four interceptions, Kirlew’s two sacks and only four touchdowns allowed during the five periods of play. The defense had the advantage because starting wide receivers Ray Fisher and Andrew Means were out. Fisher sat out because of an injury and Means missed the game because of baseball season. Junior quarterback Kellen Lewis, who is suspended indefinitely, did not play either.\nSenior running back Marcus Thigpen also did not participate because of men’s track commitments, and several offensive lineman were held out of the scrimmage because of injuries. Lynch said the coaching staff made a decision to let several players on the offense get healthy before the start of the regular season. \n“We knew we weren’t playing Western Kentucky in April,” Lynch said of his team’s first game, which will be played on Aug. 30. “The staff did a good job coaching the guys who were playing this spring.” \nOf the four interceptions for the defense, three of them came from cornerbacks vying for the two open starting positions – a battle which includes several candidates. Senior Chris Phillips, who is favored to be one of the starters, had one, and sophomore Richard Council had one, as well. Council started the game with the first-string defense but said he does not expect a clear cut starter to emerge anytime soon. \n“It will go all the way into the fall,” Council said. “I’m not sure anyone can win the job outright, we all bring something different to the table.” \nDespite not making any predictions on who will be the starting cornerbacks in the fall, Council did give his input on the outcome of the scrimmage. \n“We got hosed,” Council said. “The offense always has to win.”