Lewis named starting quarterback

Four days before the IU football team s­tarts its season, IU coach Bill Lynch named junior Kellen Lewis the team’s starting quarterback.

Lewis, who last year led the Hoosiers to their first bowl game since 1993, lost the job after being suspended in the spring for breaking team rules. He beat out Bloomington native sophomore Ben Chappell after rejoining the team late in the summer.

Lynch also announced Tuesday that star defensive end, junior Greg Middleton, and three other players are suspended for the team’s season opener against Western Kentucky on Saturday at Memorial Stadium for breaking team rules.

Lewis, who was relieved to regain the starting title, said he was disappointed in his teammates.

“Obviously going through what I went through this past spring,” Lewis said, “I was hoping guys wouldn’t make the same mistakes that I did of making bad choices.”
Lewis rejoined the team when training camp opened on Aug. 4 and battled with Chappell, who had led the team in Lewis’ absence.

“(Chappell) is a tough kid, and he knew how to run the offense,” Lewis said. “I saw enough and heard enough of him in the spring (to know) that he wasn’t going to come in, lay down and say ‘Kellen’s back, so he’s obviously the starter.’”

As Lewis sat, Chappell worked with the first team offense and gradually improved to the point where Lewis’ job was in jeopardy. It was Chappell who first worked in the no-huddle offense, a new scheme the team has implemented since the spring.
Lynch said he chose Lewis because of his experience.

“I was always hopeful because I knew deep down inside that Kellen wanted to be the quarterback here at Indiana,” Lynch said. “If you take that out of the mix, I knew how well Ben had played in the spring and how hard he had worked and knew how ready he would be.

“It has been a very, very good competition, and we’ve got two guys that we feel really good about, that we can win and win in the Big Ten with.”

As he prepares for his first game of the season, Lewis said he has to avoid a sense of complacency because he believes if he slips, it can open the door for an in-house quarterback controversy.

“Obviously if I go in the first game and throw three interceptions with a fumble, there’s no reason not to bring in Ben Chappell,” Lewis said.

But as Lynch officially welcomed back Lewis to his old job, he announced Middleton and three teammates will serve a one-game suspension.

Middleton led the nation in sacks last year with 16 and is part of IU’s formidable pass rush. Freshman defensive lineman Kyle Kozak, senior safety Brandon Mosely and junior tight end Troy Wagner will also serve suspensions.

Lynch also detailed the Hoosiers’ initial depth chart without making any surprise announcements.

Only three to four true freshmen will play this year, and highly touted running back Darius Willis might not be one of them. Lynch said Willis, a graduate of Indianapolis’ Franklin Central High School, could red shirt.