Do what we do

Part 1:

Chuck Noll once said, "Champions are champions not because they do anything extraordinary but because they do the ordinary things better than anyone else." This quote is the Tony Dungy's book, Quiet Strength, and it starts chapter 9. The title of this blog is a line that Tony Dungy uses all the time, and it's one that I heard Coach Lynch use right after his hiring to Head Coach was made official. It's pretty simple, but what does it mean for IU now, and in the future.

Coach Lynch isn't a "sexy" hire in terms of big names. He will be paid well, but not in the 7 figure range that coaches demand when going to Michigan, Alabama, Florida State, LSU, etc. However, as we all know Coach Lynch has still been around the block, probably more times than any of the coaches at the above mentioned schools and he knows what it takes to win ball games and bowl games. So when Coach Lynch addressed the team after the first bowl practice, and then again to the media, he used the line "we'll just do what we do".

To expect anything unusual from IU during the Insight Bowl on Monday night will probably leave you disappointed. The Hoosiers will throw, they will run, they will look to make big plays with Hardy, they will rotate in RBs in an attempt to have fresher legs in the 4th quarter, and they will blitz the heck out of the Cowboy OL and QB. Oklahoma State's offense will look pretty familiar to IU, because they run pretty much the same kind of offense, with the same type of players. Their main running threath, Dantrell Savage has run for over 1100 yards this year. He's a 5'9" scat back type, just like IU's Thigpen and McCray. The Cowboys also have a real big weapon at WR in Adarius Bowman. He's a 6'4" big time, play making WR that is rated right behind Hardy and Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma) as the top WRs in college football. The Cowboys also have pretty good depth at WR as well in Dez Bryant a True Frosh that is just a budding star in the making. To make matters even more similiar is Oklahoma State's QB, Zac Robinson. A true running/passing QB, he's also the teams second leading rusher.

One of the reasons that IU got chosen for this game, according to insiders with Insight was the fact that our offense will score against anybody, but our defense isn't as advanced and will allow this game to go into the 40s for both teams. Oklahoma State has a lot of Offensive talent, but their defense wasn't much to shout about this season. The Cowboys averaged 33 pts/game on offense, but gave up an average of 30 pts/game also. This game has the makings for a real western shootout in the desert on Monday Night.

Now, with all the hype, the fan excitement, the anticipated high scoring affair staring Coach Lynch in the face, he calmly walks to podium and says "we'll do what we do". It such a small line, that probably no one caught but yet to me, it means a whole lot. It shows me that Coach Lynch is keeping this team grounded, that though the kids will have fun, there's business to attend too. Sure, Play 13 was the season motto, but there are a group of Seniors that want to win their last game that still want to prove that IU is just starting to grab a hold of a winning/bowl game tradition. Most "experts" expect a lot of scoring, but in favor of the Cowboys. In fact some sports writers in Big 12 country have went overboard in their predictions and think nothing of the bball school that also plays fball in Big Ten land and that's okay. That's the way Coach Lynch wants it. Overlook us, brag about the other team playing in football saturated Big 12, downplay the ability of the Big Ten conference to win bowl games, please keep it up. And while you are flapping your jaws and patting the backsides of the Cowboys, we'll just be working hard, getting better, and do what we do, better than you can do what you do.

I honestly believe, after speaking with several of the players, a couple coaches, and a couple of administrators, that this team will go out on Monday and prove a very large point. You cannot overlook IU football any longer. Sure, it's just the Insight Bowl, but the foundation has been laid, the recruits are beginning to come, the fans are believing, and IU is winning more football games than they are losing.

Part 2:

Thanks to 98IUGrad, I've finally been able to line up a correct scholarship roster. Before I list it, we are currently sitting at 86 players committed to 85 with at least 1 or 2 more kids expected to come. So what does that mean? Well 1 of 2 things is going to happen to get IU down to that magicial 85 number. First, someone could very well transfer, or second a few of our signings will be greyshirted.

Let's address the transfer stuff first: We know Matt Moses and Sean Edmundson are not returning. They went through Senior Day against Purdue and will graduate and move on in life. I somehow had missed all this, but 98 set me straight. I've heard a couple of names as rumors, but I'm going to wait until after the bowl game to mention anymore names. They are not any starters or projected starters, but kids that are upperclassman that are buried on the depth chart.

As for the greyshirt, only one name I've even heard that could be considered is Chad Sherer, however, this is a fairly new development because he recently reinjured one of his knees and will need surgery, in fact, he may have already had it by now. However, the last report I had on him was he probably wouldn't be ready for Fall Practice anyway, so a greyshirt was a possibility.

One things for sure, even if we don't get anymore verbals, we will have to have at least 1 transfer or greyshirt. There's no way around it.

This will be the roster come the Spring:
QB
Adam Follett-True FR
Teddy Schell-RS FR
Ben Chappell-RS Soph
Kellen Lewis-RS Junior

RB
Shane Covington, Alex Hunt, Darius Willis-True Frosh
Zach Walker-Davis-RS FR
J.T. Owens-Junior
Bryan Payton, Demetrius McCray-RS Juniors
Marcus Thigpen-Senior

WR
Tyler Adetona, Tandon Doss, Charles Love III, Marquelo Suel-True Frosh
Matt Ernest-RS FR
Terrance Turner, Aaron Burks-RS Sophmores
Ray Fisher-Junior
Andrew Means, Chris Banks-RS Juniors
Brandon Walker-Roby, James Bailey-Seniors

TE
Max Dedmond-RS RF
Brad Martin-RS Soph
Troy Wagner-RS Junior

OT
Marc Damisch-True FR
Josh Hager, Andrew McDonald-RS Freshmen
James Brewer, Mike Stark-RS Sophmores
Roger Saffold-Junior
Kenny Love-Senior

OG
A.J. Thompson, Justin Pagan-True FR
Dennis Ziegler-RS Soph
Cody Faulkner, Jarrod Smith-RS Juniors
Pete Saxon-Junior
Kyle Thomas-Senior

C
Will Matte-TR FR
Alex Perry, Jeff Sanders-RS Sophmores

K
Andrew Starr-Senior

P
Chris Hagerup-RS FR

DT
Nick Sliger, Mick Mentzer, Larry Black-True Freshmen
Jeff Boyd-RS FR
Deonte Mack-RS Soph
Kevin Burrus, Keith Burrus, Emile Bass-RS Juniors
Greg Brown-Senior

DE
Kyle Kozak-TR FR
Eric Thomas, Fred Jones-RS FR
Greg Middleton-Junior
Brian Zematis, Jammie Kirlew-RS Juniors
Ryan Marando-Senior

LB
Chad Sherer-TR FR
Ian Reeves, Darius Johnson, Dane Conwell-RS FR
Tyler Replogle-Soph
Will Patterson, Matt Mayberry-Juniors
Justin Carrington-RS Junior
Isaac Price, Geno Johnson-Seniors

CB
Donnell Jones, Chris Adkins-RS FR
Richard Council, Adrian Burks-RS Sophmores
Bruce Hampton-RS Junior
Chris Phillips, Rayshun Calhoun-Seniors

S
Peter St. Fort, Cortez Smith-TR Freshmen
Jarrell Drane-RS FR
Mitchell Evans-Soph
Austin Thomas, Nick Polk-RS Juniors
Brandon Mosely, Joe Kleinsmith-Seniors

Current Total:
Offense: 44
Defense: 42

Senior: 13
Junior: 22
Sophmore: 15
RS Freshmen: 17
TR Freshmen: 19

Finally Part 4:

Predictions for the end of recruiting:

If Johnson commits: IU will take an athlete that projects as a CB
If Johnson doesn't commit: IU will take an athlete that projects as a CB and sign either Mossbrucker or Freeland

Either way, I see us take at least one more and probably 2.

Go IU!! Do What We Do!