Nine

[Hoos1er]

Based on years of excelling, recent recruiting, program history, coaches, and a myriad of statistics, it seems pundits excel at predicting which sports teams will finish in the top 3 or 4 of most conferences. They are playing it safe in not taking the risk of forecasting a breakout year.

I believe Indiana football goes to another level this season. With a post season bowl victory, 9 wins are likely, falling short against Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota & Michigan.

Most prognosticators will keep their jobs but they will lose their bet on the Hoosiers.

Yes, I have been an IU fan for many years but 9 comes from the head as well as the heart.

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

Based on years of excelling, recent recruiting, program history, coaches, and a myriad of statistics, it seems pundits excel at predicting which sports teams will finish in the top 3 or 4 of most conferences. They are playing it safe in not taking the risk of forecasting a breakout year.

I believe Indiana football goes to another level this season. With a post season bowl victory, 9 wins is likely, falling short against Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota & Michigan.

Most prognosticators will keep their jobs but they will lose their bet on the Hoosiers.

Yes, I have been an IU fan for many years but 9 comes from the head as well as the heart.

I am with you brother.

Our Florida brigade shows out, and our returning OL/RB units play with a chip on their shoulder, and our competing QB's go nuts and we stomp the crap out of FIU. 1-0.

We open the SEZ by TCB re: UVA. 2-0.

Ball State plays with a chip on the shoulder, keeps it close for a half. Running game rolls after halftime and we win solid, but no spectacular. 3-0.

Michigan State rolls in. They return everybody from a 10-3 team, including the cheerleaders. We scare them, but the Fighting Dantonios prevail. 3-1.

Rutgers plays Texas State, then opens their season at whatever is left of Ohio State. They then play at Kansas. They then host Buffalo. Rutgers wants us because we thumped them last year. But we are 3-1 and fighting to finish and breakthrough. We got our mind right. We get a road conference win and folks in quite rooms go hmmm. 4-1

Ohio State plays at Penn State the week before our game. They probably win the Creep Bowl, and slink home overlooking us. We scare them. BAD. After 3 quarters of run-n-shoot, they pound the ball in the 4th quarter and score late to make them still think they are still great. 4-2.

Iowa probably beats NIU to open the season, but then they play 2 rivalry games - Iowa State, then Northern Iowa. Then they face Wisconsin, then a bye, then at Minny, then at us. Even if they take care of business, the NIU, ISU, NIU trifecta, then Wisky will test them, and then they hit the road twice. I think we surprise a team looking to "just get back home." 5-2.

Penn State WILL overlook us. We GAVE them 14 points in 3 minutes last year, then another 7 on a punt fumble. They will also overlook us. We'll have a great chance. But if I have to pick it today - 5-3.

At Minnesota. They play at Maryland, then Iowa, then at OSU and at Nebraska. By the time we roll in, their boat is sinking. They look to us as a reprieve. We stomp out great big gobs of greasy, grimy Go-uh-pher guts. 6-3. Bowling. New contracts.

We owe Maryland. But this will be a mental test. We come off an extra day and a bye week and do we let down after bowl eligibility? Hell to the no. We had them beat last year and let them up. This time put the a stake in the heart. 7-3.

At Michigan. If Harbaugh is still there and they are winning - 7-4. BUT. If they are still struggling a bit, they play Penn State, then start looking at The Game, and see Rutgers and IU as easy marks on the way to The Game. History says 7-4.

POTFB. We finish either 8-4 or 9-3.

The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass every day, but ... its time. We have paid our pennance for firing Mallory. We have invested. We hired a good man who is a good coach and he is building more good men. The crops will be in early, and we are gonna get happy.


























I think.

 

[mushroomgod_1]

I am with you brother.

Our Florida brigade shows out, and our returning OL/RB units play with a chip on their shoulder, and our competing QB's go nuts and we stomp the crap out of FIU. 1-0.

We open the SEZ by TCB re: UVA. 2-0.

Ball State plays with a chip on the shoulder, keeps it close for a half. Running game rolls after halftime and we win solid, but no spectacular. 3-0.

Michigan State rolls in. They return everybody from a 10-3 team, including the cheerleaders. We scare them, but the Fighting Dantonios prevail. 3-1.

Rutgers plays Texas State, then opens their season at whatever is left of Ohio State. They then play at Kansas. They then host Buffalo. Rutgers wants us because we thumped them last year. But we are 3-1 and fighting to finish and breakthrough. We got our mind right. We get a road conference win and folks in quite rooms go hmmm. 4-1

Ohio State plays at Penn State the week before our game. They probably win the Creep Bowl, and slink home overlooking us. We scare them. BAD. After 3 quarters of run-n-shoot, they pound the ball in the 4th quarter and score late to make them still think they are still great. 4-2.

Iowa probably beats NIU to open the season, but then they play 2 rivalry games - Iowa State, then Northern Iowa. Then they face Wisconsin, then a bye, then at Minny, then at us. Even if they take care of business, the NIU, ISU, NIU trifecta, then Wisky will test them, and then they hit the road twice. I think we surprise a team looking to "just get back home." 5-2.

Penn State WILL overlook us. We GAVE them 14 points in 3 minutes last year, then another 7 on a punt fumble. They will also overlook us. We'll have a great chance. But if I have to pick it today - 5-3.

At Minnesota. They play at Maryland, then Iowa, then at OSU and at Nebraska. By the time we roll in, their boat is sinking. They look to us as a reprieve. We stomp out great big gobs of greasy, grimy Go-uh-pher guts. 6-3. Bowling. New contracts.

We owe Maryland. But this will be a mental test. We come off an extra day and a bye week and do we let down after bowl eligibility? Hell to the no. We had them beat last year and let them up. This time put the a stake in the heart. 7-3.

At Michigan. If Harbaugh is still there and they are winning - 7-4. BUT. If they are still struggling a bit, they play Penn State, then start looking at The Game, and see Rutgers and IU as easy marks on the way to The Game. History says 7-4.

POTFB. We finish either 8-4 or 9-3.

The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass every day, but ... its time. We have paid our pennance for firing Mallory. We have invested. We hired a good man who is a good coach and he is building more good men. The crops will be in early, and we are gonna get happy.



.

Pretty good work, and more possible than most people think....

The Minnesota game will be very interesting. Their QBing last year was, along with Rutgers, the worst in the Big Ten. It would not appear that they have solved the problem coming into this year. If not, I like our chances there. If one of their QBs surprises, I doubt we win that game

 

[82hoosier]

We are all fans here but we all could have made a lot of money betting against the perennial Hoosier breakthrough over the past 25 years. This will be my third consecutive year where I will not be disappointed with a 6-6 record. I think there is more upside with this team than any team in recent memory but that is based largely on unproven quarterback play.

 

[UncleMark]

This will be my third consecutive year where I will not be disappointed with a 6-6 record.

Would be for me. The opportunity is here. Need to make it happen. No, I'm not expecting 8 or 9, but 7 wins is where this team should be this year. If not, then I'll be resigned to "same ol', same ol".

 

[YOTHN]

I really was hoping last years defense was going to be veteran and talented enough to allow Lagow to not shoulder the load and a breakthrough was forthcoming. Obviously, that didn't come to fruition.

This year was setup to be a transition year but adding the graduate transfers and the recruiting class, my optimism has progressed a little. I would love to see the defense maintain their performance from last year and the offense improve but I see the defense falling back a notch and the offense improving that notch to equate to the same final product.

If gosh forbid coach Allen's system was/is the primary reason for the success the D has had the last couple of years and the talent was merely a byproduct (meaning we maintain that level of play on D this year), then suddenly that breakthrough season we have waited ever so patiently for, would be upon us. I am hoping the youth combined with Ball and company can make that mark. I'm excited to find out either way!

 

[vesuvius13]

I am with you brother.

Our Florida brigade shows out, and our returning OL/RB units play with a chip on their shoulder, and our competing QB's go nuts and we stomp the crap out of FIU. 1-0.

We open the SEZ by TCB re: UVA. 2-0.

Ball State plays with a chip on the shoulder, keeps it close for a half. Running game rolls after halftime and we win solid, but no spectacular. 3-0.

Michigan State rolls in. They return everybody from a 10-3 team, including the cheerleaders. We scare them, but the Fighting Dantonios prevail. 3-1.

Rutgers plays Texas State, then opens their season at whatever is left of Ohio State. They then play at Kansas. They then host Buffalo. Rutgers wants us because we thumped them last year. But we are 3-1 and fighting to finish and breakthrough. We got our mind right. We get a road conference win and folks in quite rooms go hmmm. 4-1

Ohio State plays at Penn State the week before our game. They probably win the Creep Bowl, and slink home overlooking us. We scare them. BAD. After 3 quarters of run-n-shoot, they pound the ball in the 4th quarter and score late to make them still think they are still great. 4-2.

Iowa probably beats NIU to open the season, but then they play 2 rivalry games - Iowa State, then Northern Iowa. Then they face Wisconsin, then a bye, then at Minny, then at us. Even if they take care of business, the NIU, ISU, NIU trifecta, then Wisky will test them, and then they hit the road twice. I think we surprise a team looking to "just get back home." 5-2.

Penn State WILL overlook us. We GAVE them 14 points in 3 minutes last year, then another 7 on a punt fumble. They will also overlook us. We'll have a great chance. But if I have to pick it today - 5-3.

At Minnesota. They play at Maryland, then Iowa, then at OSU and at Nebraska. By the time we roll in, their boat is sinking. They look to us as a reprieve. We stomp out great big gobs of greasy, grimy Go-uh-pher guts. 6-3. Bowling. New contracts.

We owe Maryland. But this will be a mental test. We come off an extra day and a bye week and do we let down after bowl eligibility? Hell to the no. We had them beat last year and let them up. This time put the a stake in the heart. 7-3.

At Michigan. If Harbaugh is still there and they are winning - 7-4. BUT. If they are still struggling a bit, they play Penn State, then start looking at The Game, and see Rutgers and IU as easy marks on the way to The Game. History says 7-4.

POTFB. We finish either 8-4 or 9-3.

The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass every day, but ... its time. We have paid our pennance for firing Mallory. We have invested. We hired a good man who is a good coach and he is building more good men. The crops will be in early, and we are gonna get happy.

I like your season breakdown but would have MSU and UM as close games we might win.


I think.

 

[Sope Creek]

I'm a +1 guy. Build this program slowly, if need be, but build it surely nonetheless . . . .

Last year at 5-7 . . . I'm happy with 6-6 this year. Anything more than that is pure sugar in my tea . . . .

 

[YOTHN]

I'm a +1 guy. Build this program slowly, if need be, but build it surely nonetheless . . . .

Last year at 5-7 . . . I'm happy with 6-6 this year. Anything more than that is pure sugar in my tea . . . .

Right. That is a good realistic approach. I wouldn't like 5-7 but if I were to be honest with myself, I think there's a 50/50 chance of that being the outcome. With that said, I think next years team is likely better than this year and assuming the recruiting at least stays on par, that following years team is better than that. So I wouldn't hang my head too far on TA if we ended up 5-7 this year. If the same thing happens again next fall.....then it would most certainly be time to look upon the horizon. I like the ideology of the foundation that has been laid. Now we are in a 2 year stretch that we will begin to see if its paying off.

I will say this......if IU DOES have a breakout year, it's time to give TA whatever he wants. I would put the success this team achieves, squarely upon his shoulders just as I would the failures. He has everything but the on field success so far.

 

[td75]

I'm hoping we can win 7 games because frankly, last year's team should've probably won that many. After two straight small bowl games in 15' & 16', to go 5-7 with a clunker at Maryland and Purdue, it was a sucky opening act for Tom Allen.

I do think QB play absolutely killed last year's team. It appears that we've got three above average QB this year, even though I think Ramsey is simply a game manager.

For Indiana to win 7 games, they'll have to beat a team or two that Vegas has them as dogs going in. I'm thinking IU really needs to beat Iowa and Minnesota to make it a decent season, along with taking care of business elsewhere.

 

[mushroomgod_1]

Based on years of excelling, recent recruiting, program history, coaches, and a myriad of statistics, it seems pundits excel at predicting which sports teams will finish in the top 3 or 4 of most conferences. They are playing it safe in not taking the risk of forecasting a breakout year.

I believe Indiana football goes to another level this season. With a post season bowl victory, 9 wins are likely, falling short against Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota & Michigan.

Most prognosticators will keep their jobs but they will lose their bet on the Hoosiers.

Yes, I have been an IU fan for many years but 9 comes from the head as well as the heart.

Allen said some interesting things in his PC on Saturday:

When asked what freshmen were standing out, the first he mentioned was Cam Jones. Others were: DBs Devon Matthews & Jamar Johnson, Reece Taylor, Miles Marshall, Steve Scott, and Mike Pennix. No mention of Ronnie Walker, which was somewhat disconcerting.

When he's talking about Reece Taylor, he mentions playing him at multiple positions on O and as a punt returner, and only then says he's also getting a 'core foundation' at CB. It sure sounds like we're going to see him sooner rather than later on O.

When talking about QBs, he mentioned Ramsey first, then Pennix. Said Ramsey had been very accurate in his passing. Said Dawkins had passed well Friday, not so much Saturday.

Said Harris is back playing WR and is making some plays there. No issues so far.

Had praise for Willis and Roof. Based on what the other LBs are saying, I can't wait to see Roof play. They say he's fast and he finsihes, and he's a great competitor.

Edit....One freshman name CTA mentioned that I missed was Nick Marozas, OL from Chicago

 

[IUgradman]

If IU doesn’t go to a bowl this year, recruiting will dry up and the program will regress even further. Recruits want to play for a winning program. Another bad year and we will back to the dark days under DiNardo and Lynch.

The future of Fred Glass should be tied to the success of Allen.

 

[YOTHN]

If IU doesn’t go to a bowl this year, recruiting will dry up and the program will regress even further. Recruits want to play for a winning program. Another bad year and we will back to the dark days under DiNardo and Lynch.

The future of Fred Glass should be tied to the success of Allen.

The sky is falling...