iu2win

Witnessing what Cig and Co were able to achieve with Rourke, I think IU will thrive with Alberto at QB. He has the talent to hone his ability to see the field like Rourke with much greater mobility; keeping the D honest and opening things up down field. If Rourke had not been injured (and had a better rep as a runner) I don't think Michigan, OSU, or ND would have been able to attack the QB with the same level of success. Well, that and an upgrade at OL.

Knee jerk reaction to the second article listed is the danger of tying it to tuition. Is my thinking to shallow or wouldn't this simply incentivize universities to increase tuition in order to increase what they can pay their coach??? Are they also going to cap tuition or is that already a thing???

In a recent interview I recall Cig saying something along the lines of: "The last few calls I've questioned have gone for big gains". Having said that, the fact Cig admits questioning the calls is somewhat telling I suppose.

I agree rayl; their energy level is zero . . . someone needs to give each of them a red bull before the game.

So, I'm boarding the plane (in Tampa) to fly up for the UCLA game, fully decked out in IU gear. The old guy scanning boarding passes looks at me and says, "I got nothing against Indiana but your coach is a stick in the mud". I looked him dead in the eye and said, "He wins . . . google him". I haven't experienced that type comments from total strangers since Bob Knight was coaching at IU; I'll take that as a great sign of things to come.

Got to laugh at UCLA fans posting, "And David pulled a stone from his bag and slung it . . . " not realizing this is not only a scripture but it is also a memorable line from the locker room scene in the movie HOOSIERS !!! LOL

IU in the underdog role is perfect. However, the results AT the shoe and South Bend last season are cause for concern. IF Oregon's ranking is legit it could be a long afternoon/evening for the Hoosiers. Then again, if the ranking is inflated (see PSU's loss to previously winless UCLA and O's needing OT to beat the nits on lions) things could get very interesting in Autzen. I doubt Oregon's OL is better than Iowa's but their DL is likely the best IU has faced all season. IU's OL must find a way to give Mendoza some time in the pocket and/or open up some holes to get chunk yards in the running game. If both can happen . . . Go Hoosiers !!!

Hoosier grad/fan since the 70's and it is unreal we are posting about IU football in the top ten . . . IU FOOTBALL Top Ten. It is so unbelievable and so much fun. Go Hoosier, Pluck the Ducks !!!

Finebaum met his term "SEC" limit years ago.

The early odds are IU +10.5. "$hi+ . . . Never Daunted !!!"

Cig TOLD Mendoza to run to and yes, through the end zone. Mendoza did what he was told to do. Hope there is some sort of explanation from the league regarding the reason the refs stopped the clock despite Mendoza having not yet put his knee down or having been touched by a defender.

Looking forward to the cat and mouse (with regard to last second substitutions by Coach Baby Beluga); he used that strategy continuously against Duke. At one point the official didn't move away from the center until there was only 4 seconds remaining. That rule needs to be revisited. Something tells me Cig will have a plan for it.

Soon there will be a plane flying over the UCLA stadium with a banner calling for the coach to be fired . . . Groundhog Day !!!

Similar to Coach Tom Allen, I believe Coach Deboer to be excellent at his particular coaching niche (Offensive Coordinator) and perhaps less adept at the Head Coach position. This is why I believe he and Allen together were successful at IU; Allen had the D covered and Deboer was fantastic at play calling; together they were very successful (by IU standards). Penix was the difference for Deboer at Wash.

You are so right Artie. It is so unresponsible to give 18-21 year olds access to millions of dollars. There is rightfully a lot of focus on small schools not being able to compete with the big boys but little focus on what this can/will do to the youngsters. What about those that get a million NIL and then do not make the pros; easy for us older folk to believe how we could be set for a long time on a million dollars but I'm guessing someone 18-21 would go through it like water through a sieve.