If Javon Ringer has done as much as any runner in the country this season, Michigan State teammate Otis Wiley has been just as dominant at defensive back.
UPDATE (1:50 p.m.): Ball State wide receiver Dante Love underwent an approximately five hour long surgery in Indianapolis Saturday night into Sunday morning, according to a press release."Dante Love suffered a cervical spinal chord injury fracture which required surgery to stabalize the fracture," said Ball State team physician and orthopedic surgeon Jay Matchett in the statement. "He is currently moving all four extremities."
Memorial Stadium hit its loudest decibel level of the game midway through the second quarter. The IU football team had just had a huge momentum swing, when freshman corner Chris Adkins jarred the ball loose from Cardinal standout wide receiver Dante Love, and the ball was returned for a touchdown, pulling the Hoosiers within a two points at 14-12. But silence instantly overcame the crowd when it became apparent Love hadn’t been moving since the hit.
This certainly isn’t the game for trial and error. No implementation of new arrangements, formations or schemes – nothing out of the ordinary. Look, it’s not like IU is dealing with Western Kentucky or Murray State.
Now the season really begins. Relatively untested in their two wins against Western Kentucky (31-13) and Murray State (45-3), the Hoosiers clash with IU coach Bill Lynch’s former team – Ball State. The Cardinals (3-0) have cruised in similar fashion and come into Memorial Stadium on Saturday as a recognized threat.
Three days remain before the IU football team takes on its first real test of the season. So at practice Tuesday, all was back to normal after the team’s bye week, except for one noticeable absence.
Unlike some members of the IU football team, Mitchell Evans is not an outspoken personality. He just plays the game – wherever that may be. For the last two years, Evans has essentially played the role of utility man for the Hoosiers, the man who can do just near anything when it comes to football. “He is such a good athlete, you can move him around anywhere on the field wherever your team needs him,” senior wide receiver Andrew Means said. And move him is just what the Hoosiers have done.
MUNCIE – Ball State’s offensive game plan is simple and effective. All the Cardinals have to do, it seems, is get the ball to Dante Love.
The first and second teams, including quarterbacks Kellen Lewis and Ben Chappell, respectively, continued taking equal snaps in the Hoosiers’ practice on Tuesday. The only thing different from past weeks’ practices was that the players were in shells – shoulder pads, helmets and shorts.
Last week, it was Kellen Lewis owning all of the yards on the ground. On Saturday, IU coach Bill Lynch split it among a tandem of running backs. The Hoosiers (2-0) easily beat Murray State, 45-3, and commanded the game throughout the evening. Murray State, a Football Championship Series school, was overmatched against an IU team that wracked up 477 yards of total offense.
Tune in to Hoosier Sidelines for a preview of the game.
For a significant part of 2008, Bloomington will get a good look at the future.
Football reporter Lee Hurwitz updates the Hoosiers' week of practice.
Thanks to the legs of junior quarterback Kellen Lewis, the IU football team sprinted ahead of visiting Western Kentucky and never looked back.
The vivid memories of a fan-flooded Memorial Stadium field after IU beat rival Purdue to clinch its first bowl berth since 1993 might seem like they just happened.
No matter how imperfect or seemingly impervious a football team can be, there will always be questions heading into the team’s season opener whose answers will dictate success.
Joe’s Bar may be located in Chicago, but its spacious back room Thursday night was all Bloomington for the Windy City’s IU Football Kickoff.
Bill Lynch has confirmed Andrew Means will return to the IU football team this fall for his senior season. BLOG: Under the Rock
Despite not stepping onto the field, Greg Middleton has already had quite a summer. The junior defensive end was nominated as one of 36 pass rushers named to the preseason Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Middleton earned honors by being named one of eight finalists for the Hendricks award in 2007.
The College Football Hall of Fame enshrined IU’s all-time leading rusher Anthony Thompson on Saturday night at a ceremony in South Bend. Thompson was among 16 players and four coaches receiving the honor.
