2022/23 IUFB Offseason News

[MemphisHoosier 2,040]

Add one more to the portal @Hovadipo; Swinton had promise and with the right QB & offense, I believe he would have delivered for CTA.

[Hovadipo 54,875]

1 hour ago, MemphisHoosier said:

Add one more to the portal @Hovadipo; Swinton had promise and with the right QB & offense, I believe he would have delivered for CTA.

Had that one a couple weeks ago. Definitely showed some promise as a true freshman then just never built on it. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,601]

I mean really not sad about losing any of our WRs. They just weren't good. Have been for a couple years. 

[Hovadipo 54,875]

Charlie Spegal to Ball State. With Carson Strong hitting the portal, he’ll get some touches there. 

[Alford Bailey 12,348]

Spegal was always a good fit at a Ball St. will be interesting to see what he can do.

[MemphisHoosier 2,040]

22 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

Had that one a couple weeks ago. Definitely showed some promise as a true freshman then just never built on it. 

Good stuff, I just saw it pop on the 247 tracker, as usual Hova is on top of the game!

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/Season/2023-Football/TransferPortal/?institutionkey=24040

[Hovadipo 54,875]

18 minutes ago, MemphisHoosier said:

Good stuff, I just saw it pop on the 247 tracker, as usual Hova is on top of the game!

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/Season/2023-Football/TransferPortal/?institutionkey=24040

I did notice that he just popped up yesterday…he must have announced then never got around to actually talking to compliance lol. 

[TTT 880]

Michael Penix and Deboer and Wommack IU football had it but lost it.

when and if there is a next hire for IU football head coach…if he is available and I do not even know who he is…or anything about him…Recommendation:  make it simple and go down to Western Kentucky pay him and hire him as the next IU football coach.

[RaceToTheTop 24,836]

On 12/27/2022 at 5:16 PM, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

I mean really not sad about losing any of our WRs. They just weren't good. Have been for a couple years. 

Agree.  That said, if we address it like we refused to do with our offensive line last year we would downgrade even further.

The one guy that will be missed in the passing game will be Barner as he was at least a red zone option.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,601]

1 hour ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Agree.  That said, if we address it like we refused to do with our offensive line last year we would downgrade even further.

The one guy that will be missed in the passing game will be Barner as he was at least a red zone option.

Player development at the WR position was beyond lacking. You could see potential in dudes as freshmen, and they just wouldn't get any better. And this is a program that has surprisingly had some really good college WRs. 

[OGIUAndy 759]

3 hours ago, TTT said:

Michael Penix and Debord and Womack IU football had it but lost it.

when and if there is a next hire for IU football head coach…if he is available and I do not even know who he is…or anything about him…Recommendation:  make it simple and go down to Western Kentucky pay him and hire him as the next IU football coach.

This is revisionist history. And both DeBoer (not Debord) and Wommack (not Womack) left to become head coaches. So IU should have fired CTA after his successful seasons and hired both of them to be co-head coaches? Like I'm not sure what IU was supposed to do with either situation. In regards to Penix, they obviously saw the talent. He played a lot. But he had a difficult time staying healthy. Was that an indictment on the o-line? Sure. But remember one of those injuries was him running out of bounds (non contact). And don't discount the Big Ten as a conference. It's way tougher (both physically and football wise) than the Pac- 12. So without a doubt playing in the Pac-12 has benefited Penix both physically and statistically. That being said, if and when IU moves on from CTA, they should have some pretty good options because of the previous albeit limited success of KW and CTA. 

[TTT 880]

28 minutes ago, OGIUAndy said:

This is revisionist history. And both DeBoer (not Debord) and Wommack (not Womack) left to become head coaches. So IU should have fired CTA after his successful seasons and hired both of them to be co-head coaches? Like I'm not sure what IU was supposed to do with either situation. In regards to Penix, they obviously saw the talent. He played a lot. But he had a difficult time staying healthy. Was that an indictment on the o-line? Sure. But remember one of those injuries was him running out of bounds (non contact). And don't discount the Big Ten as a conference. It's way tougher (both physically and football wise) than the Pac- 12. So without a doubt playing in the Pac-12 has benefited Penix both physically and statistically. That being said, if and when IU moves on from CTA, they should have some pretty good options because of the previous albeit limited success of KW and CTA. 

Thanks for the correction (spell check on iPhone).  

Actually, my point is I think since realistically who would come to IU or fit IU as next head football coach when or if that time comes (not seeing any successful more high profile coach coming to IU) IU should simply look no further than Western Kentucky.

[Alford Bailey 12,348]

Receivers probably would have looked a little better if we could have got them the ball. Kinda hard to focus on improving when the QB gets crushed half way through your route.

[OGIUAndy 759]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Thanks for the correction (spell check on iPhone).  

Actually, my point is I think since realistically who would come to IU or fit IU as next head football coach when or if that time comes (not seeing any successful more high profile coach coming to IU) IU should simply look no further than Western Kentucky.

I agree if and when the time comes, they should look at Helton. But I think they'll have other decent options. Next year should be very interesting. It's really the make or break year for CTA, but for some reason (blind optimism, naivete?)  I think he can still semi turn it around (get to a bowl). This season was disappointing, but better/more consistent QB play when the line was struggling (they did improve) and we're talking about a 6-6 or 7-5 season. Not benching Bazelak earlier was the main reason the season didn't go well. IU (CTA) can't stick with guys who are not playing well. IU doesn't have much margin for error. You can't ride players out of their funk especially a QB who's not a proven commodity. Like I would never have benched Penix (when healthy) because he was obviously their best option. But Bazelak basically had one good game then strung together a few "questionable" ones. Even if you start him again, you have to bench him "in game" when things are not going well. Many times that's how you find you're next starter or ignite the team.  You have to have the balls to say "next man up". That's how you keep your players motivated and engaged. If it's all lip service, guys will start bailing on you. You can't keep playing guys because they played well at one time or because they're older. You have to give others a fair shot in a game to prove you or them, right or wrong. 

[HoosierAloha 30,024]

I agree if and when the time comes, they should look at Helton. But I think they'll have other decent options. Next year should be very interesting. It's really the make or break year for CTA, but for some reason (blind optimism, naivete?)  I think he can still semi turn it around (get to a bowl). This season was disappointing, but better/more consistent QB play when the line was struggling (they did improve) and we're talking about a 6-6 or 7-5 season. Not benching Bazelak earlier was the main reason why the season didn't go well. IU (CTA) can't stick with guys who are not playing well. IU doesn't have much margin for error. You can't ride players out of their funk especially a QB who's not a proven commodity. Like I would never have benched Penix (when healthy) because he was obviously their best option. But Bazelak basically had one good game then strung together a few "questionable" ones. Even if you start him again, you have to bench him "in game" when things are not going well. Many times that's how you find you're next starter or ignite the team.  You have to have the balls to say "next man up". That's how you keep your players motivated and engaged. If it's all lip service, guys will start bailing on you. You can't keep playing guys because they played well at one time, or because they're older. You have to give others a fair shot in a game to prove you or them, right or wrong. 

That’s not #LEO though

[OGIUAndy 759]

Just now, HoosierAloha said:

That’s not #LEO though

You can LEO and bench players.

[Hovadipo 54,875]

28 minutes ago, OGIUAndy said:

You can LEO and bench players.

Spot on, along with your previous post. Accountability is actually the entire basis of LEO, but people just see “love” and blow it off instead of listening to the actual message. 

The problem isn’t “love”, it’s that he yells about LEO and accountability constantly, but very rarely practices what he literally preaches. Especially when it comes to himself and his own decisions. Can’t have a program built on accountability that doesn’t hold certain players or any of the coaches accountable or you end up with the last 2 seasons of results. 

[OGIUAndy 759]

17 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Spot on, along with your previous post. Accountability is actually the entire basis of LEO, but people just see “love” and blow it off instead of listening to the actual message. 

The problem isn’t “love”, it’s that he yells about LEO and accountability constantly, but very rarely practices what he literally preaches. Especially when it comes to himself and his own decisions. Can’t have a program built on accountability that doesn’t hold certain players or any of the coaches accountable or you end up with the last 2 seasons of results. 

I'm not a big rah rah guy just like I am not a big fan of the overtly macho dickhead stuff. But people bashing LEO are off base. Bashing his inability or probably a better word reluctance to hold players and coaches accountable I have less problems with. He's got enough talent to "win", he just hasn't made enough of the "off-season", "in-game", and "in-season" adjustments to change the tide when things weren't go well the past couple of seasons. Canning the fans #1 scape goat (and supposed best buddy) and hiring a good replacement was at least a start. Is it too late? Time will soon tell. Being the head coach can include using mantras like LEO but you still have to make the tough decisions. Love can also be tough, same with honesty. You have to practice what you preach. LEO is complicated. :) 

[HoosierAloha 30,024]

You can LEO and bench players.

Of course you can but how often has that happened in his #LEO world..?

[Hovadipo 54,875]

1 hour ago, OGIUAndy said:

LEO is complicated. :) 

So true. It’s much easier to row boats and pull ropes and break rocks.