Watched most of the 2002 replay of IU beating Wisconsin in Bloomington after trailing big. Really enjoyed how hard the team played. Makes me wonder what would have happened with Dinardo if IU beat Penn State.
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If you blow a lead in that many games i feel like it comes down to coaching. Thats why im wondering how the falcons coach still has a jobThat '04 season was one of great frustration for fans, and I'm sure GD and his players. Was very close in so many games, just couldn't get over the top.
An unlikely win at Oregon, followed by an underwhelming performance at UK, that looked winnable. Blew a 20-7 halftime lead vs MSU. A real great effort at NU that IU led most of the way to lose in double OT in only a way IU could. Blew a 19-0 lead at Illinois where IU scored on first play from scrimmage and led for 59 minutes, of course with another IU occurrence, losing Lovecchio to injury when he was having his best game ever. Then the cherry on top vs Penn St, when 4 cracks late inside the 2 yard line were so poorly play called, it seemed that would be it for GD. The next week at PU was a disaster.
He didn't have a QB. Matt Lovecchio was just not good. Nothing against him personally, but the QB position let us down that year (and the year before).The amount of nfl talent vs wins he had his final year was rediculous. He should have had 5-6 wins minimum.
He was Dinardo's boy. He came from Notre Dame.He didn't have a QB. Matt Lovecchio was just not good. Nothing against him personally, but the QB position let us down that year (and the year before).
I remember being on the 5 against Purdue on a play that would win the game. Receiver was wide open (I think it was a TE?). MLo overthrew him by 10 yards. We lose.
Yep. And no way Dinardo WOULDN'T start him. That's why I don't feel to sorry for Dinardo - he wouldn't site MLo when he needed to. He's stubborn, as evidenced by his play calling vs Penn State.He was Dinardo's boy. He came from Notre Dame.
I didn't care for his coaching decisions at all, but he did recruit fairly well in his short time at IU. Benjarvis Green-Ellis and Chris Taylor at RB, Tracy Porter at cornerback and John Kerr and Kyle Killion at LB were all talented.
I was like 15 when he committed...I still remember that ordeal. 😆Let's not forget PIMA STUD
I was there. Homecoming attendance: 22,000. I’ll never forget that.I think he was facing an impossible task . He was in a no-win situation from the very beginning. He was hired too late to recruit anyone his first-year. The year he was fired attendance averaged 28,400.
Hats off to the 28,000 that hung in there during that era.
He was Dinardo's boy. He came from Notre Dame.
I was there. Homecoming attendance: 22,000. I’ll never forget that.
Michael McNeally was the name of the AD who hired GD...and he was a disaster. He and GD had coached together under McCartney at CU. McNeally came to IU from the San Diego Chargers. I believe he was out as AD after only 16-18 months (on a 5 year contract IU had to eat). Not even sure he was around at the end of GD's first season. There was a revolt against him amongst several coaches in other sports.
The IU Administration at the time was just so inept, they seemingly couldn't get anything right.
Michael McNeally was the name of the AD who hired GD...and he was a disaster. He and GD had coached together under McCartney at CU. McNeally came to IU from the San Diego Chargers. I believe he was out as AD after only 16-18 months (on a 5 year contract IU had to eat). Not even sure he was around at the end of GD's first season. There was a revolt against him amongst several coaches in other sports.
The IU Administration at the time was just so inept, they seemingly couldn't get anything right.
DiNardo didn't endear himself to anyone when he locked the stadium preventing all other sports from accessing training table for meals.
He also had staff and managers use rakes to remove newly sown grass seed off the Memorial Stadium turf because he didn't want a grass field.
If you blow a lead in that many games i feel like it comes down to coaching. Thats why im wondering how the falcons coach still has a job
Let's not forget PIMA STUD
I saw him at the IU pep session in Atlanta at the 2002 FF. That arrogant SOB looked like he was President of the United States, with his entourage and nose in the air.I'll never forget seeing McNeely tailgating at the 2001 Bucket game (appreciative tip of my cap to Martin LaPostalle). It's pouring down rain and the guy is in a suit, tie (not an IU tie) and he's using a Titleist umbrella. You figured he was a temp after seeing that little display of school spirit.
Ya, Kerr made All Big Ten Freshman team and Honorable Mention, I think, and then sat on the bench the next 3 years at O$U. I think he finally played his Senior year - not sure he was ever a starter.Green-Ellis and Kerr were barely here. They bolted at the first opportunity.
I would agree Allen is like Hep, to a point. But there was no LEO that I saw under Hep. Hep was all about being responsible for your performance, and if he didnt think you were living up to your potential, he let you know about it.Getting Hep was a god send for IUFB but in true IUFB tradition we lost him too soon. Coach Allen seems to be another Hep and I hope the team continues on its climb gaining more wins in the coming years.
I saw him at the IU pep session in Atlanta at the 2002 FF. That arrogant SOB looked like he was President of the United States, with his entourage and nose in the air.
I remember pointing out that he'd never even been an AD at a school with a football program (Pacific) and everyone on the old Peegs site assured me his experience in the front office of the Chargers made him qualified.
He was qualified to be a jackass and that's about it.
I always rooted for DiNardo and I thought (and still think) he was a very good football coach. That said, he was a bad fit for IU at the time. Coming on the heels of Cam Cameron - who ran the program like a summer camp - it was inevitable that there would be player backlash against strong discipline. IU also needed someone with patience and an optimistic outlook, neither of which would ever be used to describe GD. Add to that the fact that DiNardo had to deal with an administration that did not bring him here, and did not have a true commitment to investing in football, and it's no wonder the frustration boiled over into bad relations with the rest of the athletic department - not that I'm excusing him. He by all accounts was an ass to a lot of people, and that's inexcusable.GD also didn't endear himself to a lot of people, including boosters, by indirectly taking a shot at the BB program (by implying how out-of-whack it was for IU--or any school--to have a basketball program that was "bigger" than its football program)
as for McNeely, IMO his only positive contributions were 1) starting the whole discussion about athletic facility improvements, and 2) hiring Ray Looze
Dinardo was absolutely spot on regarding the bball program....I didn't know he ever said that but his stock just went sky high as far as I'm concerned...GD also didn't endear himself to a lot of people, including boosters, by indirectly taking a shot at the BB program (by implying how out-of-whack it was for IU--or any school--to have a basketball program that was "bigger" than its football program)
as for McNeely, IMO his only positive contributions were 1) starting the whole discussion about athletic facility improvements, and 2) hiring Ray Looze
I always rooted for DiNardo and I thought (and still think) he was a very good football coach. That said, he was a bad fit for IU at the time. Coming on the heels of Cam Cameron - who ran the program like a summer camp - it was inevitable that there would be player backlash against strong discipline. IU also needed someone with patience and an optimistic outlook, neither of which would ever be used to describe GD. Add to that the fact that DiNardo had to deal with an administration that did not bring him here, and did not have a true commitment to investing in football, and it's no wonder the frustration boiled over into bad relations with the rest of the athletic department - not that I'm excusing him. He by all accounts was an ass to a lot of people, and that's inexcusable.
Indiana is a job that requires someone who can be publicly affable at the same time as being demanding on players. That was Bill Mallory. Lee Corso was great as the public face of IU football, but wasn't demanding enough (though when you look at his record vs. the schedule and the lack of program investment back then, his tenure looks better in hindsight). Cam Cameron was a bit lacking in both categories. Hep had affability and toughness and sadly we will never know what might have been. He did have a reputation for being a bit soft in the discipline department, and that bit Bill Lynch with James Hardy and Kellen Lewis.
I think Tom Allen is proving to be a great fit and will find a level of success here that would have eluded Kevin Wilson. He has the ability to be demanding without being obnoxious, and a sincere enthusiasm. The culture he has created seems to be really appealing to enough high-level recruits to keep us competitive. This season is going to be a bit of an anomaly and I am reluctant to put too stock into using it as any kind of predictor of the future, but I like the general direction so far.
agree that GD was right, but it didn't sit well with some people--admin. & boosters--who were perfectly happy with BB>FB, especially as long as IU had (at least in their eyes) an "elite" BB program.Dinardo was absolutely spot on regarding the bball program....I didn't know he ever said that but his stock just went sky high as far as I'm concerned...
That game was my last straw. After having the ball 1st and goal, We ran the same play 4 straight times. A run up the middle. His offense was boring and predictable. Those 4 plays summed up Dinardo's tenure for me.Watched most of the 2002 replay of IU beating Wisconsin in Bloomington after trailing big. Really enjoyed how hard the team played. Makes me wonder what would have happened with Dinardo if IU beat Penn State.