A few thoughts on the season....

[Nesquik1]

....Heading into the season finale against Purdue. Some of these I honestly do not know the answer to (any help greatly appreciated). Here we go...

1. It has been a REALLY long time in watching IU football in which I'm more comfortable with the defense on the field than the offense.

2. Speaking of the struggles on offense, Lagow not nearly as good and I had hoped for and expected.

3. On that point, why can not IU recruit a at least decent QB prospect? Up until this year we've had a dynamic offense, you play against the best this conference has to offer every year, etc. Really hoping King or Ramsey can win this job next year because Lagow or Diamont just won't cut it.

4. Holy crap are we loaded with injuries. Just off the top of my head, guys who should have been playing this week and didn't: Cobbs, Harris, Knight, Camiel, Gest, Patrick (half the year), Majette, Williams, Fuchs. That's offense alone.

5. Few players who were figured to be important this year....looking for a heads up on what the heck happened: Jayme Thompson, Marqui Hawkins, Wesley Green, Clyde Newton, T.J. Simmons, Jacob Robinson, Ian Thomas, Isaac James.

6. Assuming we don't have too many guys leave, next season we should be pretty damn good. I think a large part of this means making the QB situation better than what it is. We get Michigan and Ohio State at home which is a huge plus.

7. Griffin Oakes was B1G kicker of the year last season. This year he may have been the worst. Small things like getting him back to the former mean a bunch. Plus getting Gedeon to not have his punts blocked helps.

8. Beat Purdue

 

[ElMeson]

Depth is what we are lacking. That takes time. We have a good 50 ish but talent wise we wear down in the 4th quarter against better opponents. It's a process and Wilson is on his way but to think it's going to happen over night, with 3 of the top 8 teams in the nation in OUR OWN division I'm happy with were we are!! This is fun!!

 

[Bowlmania]

Depth is what we are lacking. That takes time. We have a good 50 ish but talent wise we wear down in the 4th quarter against better opponents. It's a process and Wilson is on his way but to think it's going to happen over night, with 3 of the top 8 teams in the nation in OUR OWN division I'm happy with were we are!! This is fun!!

Fun? It's downright intoxicating!!!

 

[RBB89]

I keep seeing a lot of talk about next year. You guys realize we're likely headed to another bowl, right?

 

[Bowlmania]

I keep seeing a lot of talk about next year. You guys realize we're likely headed to another bowl, right?

While going 6-6 (again) and having an extra game in December to look forward to certainly beats the alternative, and it's nice that IU is likely going to consecutive bowls for the first time in 25 years, I'm not sure I share the unbridled joy over this development that you've expressed in this and other posts. With 80 of 128 FBS teams playing in bowl games, selection for a bowl isn't quite the distinction it once was.

There are more than a few fans who are disappointed about the missed opportunities this year and last that would've resulted in a W/L record that exceeds what we've achieved. Many are (again) looking forward to next year with the hope, and perhaps realistic expectation, that we'll end up somewhere north of 6-6. I'm not sure why that's surprising and/or difficult to grasp.

 

[82hoosier]

I eagerly looked forward to every game this season because the Hoosiers had at least a legitimate slugger's chance in every game. To me that's a reasonable expectation for a season.

 

[UncleMark]

I eagerly looked forward to every game this season because the Hoosiers had at least a legitimate slugger's chance in every game. To me that's a reasonable expectation for a season.

It's also a substantial change from the not so distant past.

 

[Bowlmania]

I eagerly looked forward to every game this season because the Hoosiers had at least a legitimate slugger's chance in every game. To me that's a reasonable expectation for a season.

I'm not looking to argue; I'm genuinely curious as to your view. Will this (a slugger's chance in every game) also be your expectation for next season? In other words, competitive games with no serious concern for the W/L record? Will improvement in the W/L record ever be expected and, if so, when? Or will 6-6 seasons continue to be fine?

 

[82hoosier]

For the time being competitive games will be fine. Anything else is a bonus.

IU probably averages 25,000 - 30,000 in the second half of home games. MSU does about 75,000. Penn State does 96,000. Michigan and Ohio State over 100,000. And Northwestern is the great mystery of life that nobody can figure out. And each of these schools out recruits IU.

I submit that anyone who resigns themselves to disappointment if IU does not crack the top 20 is perhaps being a little overly optimistic. Other examples: David Hinkley hoping he could date Jodie Foster. Saddam Hussein thinking he could win either of the Gulf Wars, Charlie Brown kicking the football, the Libertarians winning a national election, Fort Wayne beating the Hoosiers.... Well anything is possible. I just would not build hopes into expectations.

 

[Tegray1]

I think the OL wasn't near as good this year as last and that hurt Lagow. We were not as good at C and LT this year and running game wasn't as good. No break away WR or RB.

Also Andre Brown and Jameel Cook? Ian Thomas has been playing a lot as has Robinson.

....Heading into the season finale against Purdue. Some of these I honestly do not know the answer to (any help greatly appreciated). Here we go...

1. It has been a REALLY long time in watching IU football in which I'm more comfortable with the defense on the field than the offense.

2. Speaking of the struggles on offense, Lagow not nearly as good and I had hoped for and expected.

3. On that point, why can not IU recruit a at least decent QB prospect? Up until this year we've had a dynamic offense, you play against the best this conference has to offer every year, etc. Really hoping King or Ramsey can win this job next year because Lagow or Diamont just won't cut it.

4. Holy crap are we loaded with injuries. Just off the top of my head, guys who should have been playing this week and didn't: Cobbs, Harris, Knight, Camiel, Gest, Patrick (half the year), Majette, Williams, Fuchs. That's offense alone.

5. Few players who were figured to be important this year....looking for a heads up on what the heck happened: Jayme Thompson, Marqui Hawkins, Wesley Green, Clyde Newton, T.J. Simmons, Jacob Robinson, Ian Thomas, Isaac James.

6. Assuming we don't have too many guys leave, next season we should be pretty damn good. I think a large part of this means making the QB situation better than what it is. We get Michigan and Ohio State at home which is a huge plus.

7. Griffin Oakes was B1G kicker of the year last season. This year he may have been the worst. Small things like getting him back to the former mean a bunch. Plus getting Gedeon to not have his punts blocked helps.

8. Beat Purdue

 

[td75]

A few things need to happen for our program to continue with forward progress. We absolutely must beat Purdue and go to a bowl game. I also think iu needs to win the bowl game. Winning a bowl game should turbo charge recruiting and that's desperately needed.

As for next year, I think there should be high expectations surrounding the program. The team will have a ton of experience in key positions. Lagow will have a ton of experience under his belt along with a quality WR corp. The running game should be formidable with Redding and Patrick back. The defense could be one of the better units in the Big Ten...did I type that!!!

I think IU will finally pound a big boy or two next year...that'll be great fun...

 

[82hoosier]

I am thinking that they will be looking to transform Natee into a stronger and much lighter player - say 250 lbs

 

[travlinhoosier]

I hope Redding becomes a much better runner by next year. A few times he's overcome the get-touched-and-fall down habit and the run-where-I-started-even-if-there's-a-pileup-there habit, and made some good runs. But he's got a long way to go. I also hope one or two of our other runners develops a lot.