Old Friend

Your outlook is simply sad. Way more bad than good? That's idiotic. And completely devoid of reason or any semblance of foresight or understanding. Beat my chest? Block out the bad? You clearly don't know me or my history very well, and to those who do, you're now not only negative and idiotic; you're also ignorant. You let me know when you see and point out the good in anything...BEFORE you've had to eat crow. Until then? You're a rube pot calling the kettle black making accusations of blocking one thing out in favor of another. Educate yourself before making idiotic comments....especially about me. You have no idea what you're talking about and don't understand what you see. Unless you're choosing not to see it, and it's one or the other. Let's start there.

Why? Why is this year the key year? The general trend of the program is more positive than it's been in years; and this is only the second season any of his players have played at Indiana. I think they WILL make the tournament and surprise a lot of people, but Holtmann and Mack walked into different situations than Archie did, and if we agree (and many did) the best strategy for Archie and his system is to get old and stay old, doesn't it make some sense to let his roster GET old first?? This "win now or else" thing is exhausting. He'll win....some of you may just have to be a little patient before you get what you want.

You are so full of your own bullsh*t, I think there's no argument with you. You have zero sense of context, no grasp of reality, and you have no basis for your opinions except raw data that requires zero thought or application. I'm more than happy to argue about it with you because you have no ability at all to accept or apply the "why" to anything. You're clearly someone who uses the abstract of what hasn't happened yet to make you believe you're right until you're proven wrong. You moved right from "Fire Tom Allen" to "Archie isn't good enough" even after your "Fire Tom Allen" stance was blown to crap because you were proven wrong.....after you used the same garbage arguments about HIM because ______ hadn't happened yet and you had no ability to actually see or understand what was happening. I told you 4-5 weeks ago to open your eyes and you obviously didn't. Maybe you have now, but you've moved on even after being proven completely idiotic. The same is true here. Do yourself a favor and also one for everyone here and use some circumstantial application. Show some comprehension of the situation. Your negativity is poisonous and it's also pathetic. But your lack of situational awareness is actually comical. Edit : Here. I posted this earlier and I know you saw it. Consider this pointed directly at your berth. More and more, I see people here who have zero ability to see what's going on and base opinion solely on numbers from the past without taking truth and circumstances into consideration. I hope you're not sales people who have an explainable bad quarter...you'll lose your own job, and your words here would completely justify it. In fewer words, I see some people who don't know what they're talking about. Same guys who said "FIRE TOM ALLEN!" 3 games into this season. That didn't age well...and I haven't seen one of those bozos say they were wrong. Same here. Fire Archie? Fire Glass? Before everything plays out? They have no idea what they're talking about.

So you're going to ignore a month of good play in March last year, but base your current opinion of him on one bad decision after not playing for a month? Got it. My God there are so many people here who expect perfection on every possession and jump on players, coaches, and administrators when not every single thing goes perfectly. It's exhausting. In IU's last 5 games a year ago, he had 18 assists, 9 turnovers, and 26 rebounds. By the way. Maybe don't post much about him for a few weeks.

The sky was falling the other day with some questioning IU's medical staff and wondering why Archie "practiced them so hard." This board frequently becomes comedic relief.

What he said. When did we start expecting failure? Surely, you ALL can't be closet Purdue fans or Cubs fans? More and more, I see people here who have zero ability to see what's going on and base opinion solely on numbers from the past without taking truth and circumstances into consideration. I hope you're not sales people who have an explainable bad quarter...you'll lose your own job, and your words here would completely justify it. In fewer words, I see some people who don't know what they're talking about. Same guys who said "FIRE TOM ALLEN!" 3 games into this season. That didn't age well...and I haven't seen one of those bozos say they were wrong. Same here. Fire Archie? Fire Glass? Before everything plays out? They have no idea what they're talking about. Sorry if that offends those who want to fire everybody every season, but that's how I see it. There are some facts or at least some loose facts here....which are either being missed or ignored : Archie took over a bad team and had no impact freshmen. Crean left the cupboard bare. Fact. Archie installed a system almost 180* different than Crean's, and didn't have the athletes yet to succeed in that system. Fact. In year 1, not a single recruit of Archie's played even a single minute. Fact. In year 2, Indiana dealt with significant injuries to key players all season. Fact. (And still beat Michigan State twice, so I'd say that constitutes at the very least "hope.") In year 2, Indiana played all season with some level of expectation for showcasing a single player (Romeo) who sat the NIT out with a mysterious back injury. Fact. In year 2, Indiana had little depth in the front court, and whose best and most experienced player was 6'7".. A problem which has definitely been addressed. In year 2, Indiana had significant dead weight on its roster; all of which has been jettisoned or graduated. Fact. (Moore, Forrester, McRoberts - who I liked, but who was hurt and ineffective all season, and Fitzner are all gone along with Romeo) Replaced by Jackson-Davis, Brunk, Franklin, and Hunter. That's a net gain by any measure. I would submit and stand behind this is really year 2 for Archie. Many gave Crean a pass for 3 seasons, and I will never understand how some think it's so easy to "win right away" when a new coach is hired. I wonder if some really understand what they're saying or college sports in general. I doubt many saw the on-floor growth in Indiana last season, but at the end, it was obvious if you really looked. Assuming health, I think Indiana will surprise a lot of people this season, and next season, when we have depth and talent all over the floor (more so if we get Garcia), the trend really goes up. I am very bullish on Archie.

IU 91 Gannon 58

Statements like this make me question whether or not some people truly understand what college sports are. A minor hamstring problem and a lower abdominal issue which could be anything from the stomach flu to a pulled muscle. These are not "injuries," and they have nothing to do with practicing kids too hard or anything having to do with coaches. This is college sports. These are fast, strong athletes with 5% body fat. Sometimes, muscles tweak. Sometimes, kids sit out because their bodies don't need to play against Gannon in an exhibition game and have a little problem that could use some rest. Sometimes, bodies get nicked up. Ask Purdue football. And people are panicking about it?? Questioning the medical staff (although there is one doc on the staff about whom I'd agree completely) AND the coach because we have two very minor injuries after 3 weeks of practice??? If we were talking about multiple concussions or multiple broken bones, I'd get it. But these?? Do you have any idea how hard you have to work and practice to even compete at the Big Ten level? It's a hell of a lot more than layup lines and "knockout." You should go to a college practice sometime. In ANY sport. Are you guys serious??? I'm not saying they won't linger and I'm not saying there's no need to worry. But questioning why kids practice so hard?? That's ridiculous.

You're the only one who can't see it. Does that make the problem everyone else's or.....yours?

Disagree with your first comment. Penix's arm allows Indiana to do a lot more offensively. The ball arrives faster and defenses don't get to the receiver as quickly. Ramsey's YPA is still low in comparison (about half a yard less even with a higher completion %), which is driven by his below average arm. Now....everything else? Ramsey is very close. I think he played well today, yet I still say he's limited. And the offense doesn't have those limitations with Penix. Penix is also faster and averaging a full 3 yards more per carry than Ramsey. Even as I completely agree Ramsey made a couple of great plays today. I just think Penix allows the offense to do much more than Ramsey does.

Taking the job from Penix at this point would be suicide for Allen. He gave the job to Penix who has done nothing to reliquish it. Ramsey has been really good, but not better than Penix. If the job were taken from me and I were Penix? I'd transfer. And it would send a horrible message to recruits. Indiana is better with Penix than with Ramsey, and it should remain Penix's job. I know Allen is loyal to Ramsey and I get it. But the ceiling is higher with Penix and the floor is no lower.

Mods, feel free to move this if needed; but the consistently horrible team discipline, especially by our defense is sickening. There is a lot to like about IU football right now, but personal fouls, face masks, chirping, and the countless stupid penalties are becoming a real thorn in the team's side; and I'm personally sick of it. Of all the reasons people have to be upset with Tom Allen, discipline is at the very top of my list. I'm convinced a penalty cost us the Michigan State game, and a completely needless face mask cost us momentum on the road at Nebraska. Time and again, needless and frequently stupid penalties cost this football team; and THAT is on Tom Allen. For all of his antics, he should really take a hard look at the way his team (and especially his defense) plays. It is sometimes embarrassing and frequently stupid.

I'll give the kid credit. He is a terrific backup quarterback. He's far from perfect and the decision to start Penix was the right one; but Ramsey made a few critical plays today (his run for a 1st down was huge late), and he's a valuable part of the program. Happy for him...just hope Penix can eventually stay healthy.

He is 16-17 and has the highest winning % in the history of Indiana Football.

Don't call Indiana "we." Your act is so damned tired. 3 weeks ago, you couldn't stop whining and wanting Tom Allen fired without any real justification except you don't like him. Stop acting like all of a sudden Indiana is your "we" again because they've had success. Until your concession speech, I doubt anyone really wants to hear from you.

All in how you define chirping, I guess.

Chirping is not fine. There is indeed a fine line, and I understand; but that crap is exactly what I'm talking about, and it's been constant under Tom Allen. Taunting, unsportsmanlike conduct, late hits, bad decisions....fundamentally unsound. I'm on board with ALL criticism of that stuff.

Yeah, and that's true too; but it's not a new problem, which is why I said - while I disagree with some of the criticism of Tom Allen - this stuff? Squarely on him.

In my opinion, we are fundamentally unsound (which is why the facemask is a problem) and we make way too many mental mistakes. Ramsey's pass that just got picked off? Horrible decision. as an example. And horrid execution. How you throw behind a guy from 4 feet is beyond me, but I digress. Late hits, which seem to happen at least once a week. Blocks in the back on every decent special teams return? A facemask on 3rd and 17 on a tackle for loss? To me, there is a consistent lack of discipline.

Is it wrong that I am disappointed we EVER have to have a strategy to recruit against Memphis? I don't care who their coach is....Memphis is in a shitty conference (and I know there's decent basketball, but it's also Kelvin Sampson's conference; and the bottom is just awful), has no meaningful history, isn't a college town, is really doing not much more than playing up the NBA angle, and plays in an NBA building. Completely different program than Indiana and a completely different experience. Not sure why kids would have the same two schools on their lists. I have about as much use for Memphis as I do for Kentucky.

We are absolutely remotely close. Michigan State made it and we beat them twice. Hell, Purdue almost made it a year ago, and beat Indiana by a point. We're not nearly as far off as many think; and I'll take what we gained over what we lost any time. Even though I love Juwon Morgan.

IU 30 Neb 24

To be fair, he was hardly the only one calling out LeBron and others for their stance, or lack thereof on the China situation.

WAY too into pop culture for me. On Twitter, calls everyone he disagrees with a "dumbass," and I don't think he knows much. When he has Rick Venturi on, it's must listen radio; but by himself? I just don't care at all about small towns in southwest Indiana or the seemingly 50% of his time spent on non-sports stuff. I agree he's a nice guy most of the time. So are most people...including Dakich. That said, every show in Indy....to me....has serious holes. Big Joe? A complete buffoon. They let him talk entirely too much. Query and Schultz? Too much "schtick." Dakich is what Dakich is. I can't disagree with many of the complaints anymore; but I still agree with him more often than not. I think the radio here is generally "company line" except Dakich; which may be why he's suspended.

If you find that in Indianapolis, let me know.