LamarCheeks

Indiana 23 Maryland 14

I haven't seen this many people this excited and so sure about something since Billy Donovan became our coach. LOL!

This is somewhat off this topic, but it is regarding uniforms, so here goes: I understand the original reasoning for uniform numbers ending with a 5 or lower and not going above 55 -- to make it easier for the ref to call fouls. But in this day and age, isn't that thinking a bit archaic? Why not let a kid wear No. 7 or No. 18 or No. 26 or or whatever? I hardly think refs would find this switch all that troublesome. They've been doing it in international ball and in the NBA for years.

Having grown up in The Region, I watched Darius' pop play high school ball a few times ... I remember being a kid and watching this game -- an absolute classic in the annals of Indiana high school basketball. Gary Roosevelt, with Renaldo Thomas (who ended up being a bench warmer on the Phi Slamma Jamma teams at Houston) and Winston Garland, played Plymouth, with future Michigan State and NBA star and coach Scott Skiles. This was back when there was one Indiana champion. Ah, the days ... I also recall one of the times we needed a coach -- either after Davis left or Sampson left -- Skiles' name was being bandied about. He had just left the Bulls and apparently, lived in Bloomington. I remember reading that some NBA gurus considered his offensive sets some of the best in the game, but he struggled to last in jobs because his personality tended to wear on guys after 3-4 years. I almost wondered if that might make him a perfect fit for the college game, since you change personnel every 3-4 years anyway. Then again, if you have a difficult personality, that might not lend itself to successful recruiting.

Since when is blocking someone from the side a penalty?

Michigan State 28, Indiana 17

Thanks for the info. I just watched CAM at the B1G media day and someone asked a question about the IU-PU rivalry being protected going forward. I had no idea what he was taking about. Now, I know ... BTW, if they're gonna worry about protecting traditional rivalries, why not protect the geography around which the B1G was built? The media day in NYC? That's nuts. And the B1G tournament there? Don't get me started. The B1G is primarily and traditionally a Midwest conference -- its events should be held there.

I would've gladly given up the top spot for a win over the Jim Harbaughs.

Why did we lose a game like that -- yet again? To quote Tom Crean: "It's Indiana. It's Indiana."

Damn -- that last play call was awful. Really tired of being close to taking that next step. It's time to take it.

I thought he was. Ramsey just waited too long.

To quote Vince Lombardi: "Grab. Grab. Grab. Everybody's grabbing. Nobody's tackling." Damn, we had him four yards behind the LOS.

The only chance is a big punt return, and Michigan will not give us that opportunity. Does anybody see us moving the ball 60 or so yards in less than a minute?

Regardless of the call, he HAS to be aware of where he is. And I hate to be the voice of dissent, but I think the refs got it right. If he had just positioned himself correctly, we'd have the ball.

And the same thing happened at IU -- for the third time now. It happened with Mike Davis and with Bill Lynch and now with Tom Allen. Davis and Lynch took over at a less-than-ideal time, had a decent run and got the full-time gig, when the smart decision is to say, "Look, we appreciate what you've done, but we're gonna go in a different direction." It was similar with Allen. He was supposedly getting sniffs from good football schools who wanted him as DC. So when Fred decided it was time for Wilson to go, he picked Allen -- because he was afraid of losing him. When the truth is that he 's really not ready to be a Power 5 head coach. A DC? Yes. Head coach? No.

Or maybe try rolling him out? On every pass play, he just drops into the pocket.

No imagination in this play calling. I feel like I'm seeing the same plays over and over again with the same result -- they're not working.

Three good stops. Now, we need to sustain a drive -- or the D is gonna run out of gas.

Return that punt! Nobody within 10 yards. Don't settle for a fair catch.

I'll take it, but I didn't think the hit on Ramsey was anything egregious.

Just can't catch a break.

He clearly slides, but not until after Scales moved in for the hit. It was a very late slide.

Yep. When we were pretty good (late '80s, early '90s), it all started by signing two players that pretty much any team in the country would've been happy to have -- Dave Schnell and Anthony Thompson. For the past umpteen years, it seems we're recruiting against good mid-majors and bad Power 5s. I can't think of the last time we signed a really elite football player.

And you can't be stupid against Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. You can be stupid against FCS teams and get away with it. But not if you wanna compete in a Power 5 conference.

Took all of three plays before a flag. Gotta play a clean game or won't have much of a chance.