BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WDRB) – The Indiana University football team isn't going to line up and knock you into October. They don't have the beef for that job. Guys who are big and nasty and mobile have not made a tradition of playing for Indiana.
So Indiana must find another way to win, the way the Hoosiers outlasted Indiana State, 24-17, Saturday night. It was a night when a Louisville guy, Ballard grad Drew Hardin, recovered a fumble and led Indiana in tackles. This is the way that IU coach Kevin Wilson has chosen:
Playing fast.
How fast?
By the time you read these first five paragraphs, Indiana just ran five plays. Zip. Zap. Boom. Bam. Pop. The only place you'll see the Hoosiers huddle is around the training table. They attack as if the play clock is set on four seconds, not 40.
It's more than a gimmick. It's a determined push to create an advantage. The opposing defense can't substitute.
Does it work?
The system has worked for other schools trying to win with lesser personnel. Texas Tech comes to mind – and Seth Littrell, IU's new offensive coordinator, worked with former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. It worked Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
But that wasn't Michigan State, Ohio State or even Kent State the Hoosiers were playing. It was Indiana State. The Sycamores are an FCS program that won six games last season. They're still known as Larry Bird University. Indiana State played two FBS opponents last season. They lost to Penn State by 34 and beat Western Kentucky by 28.
"We need to be better," Wilson said. "But I feel a lot better today than I did last night. Because last night I didn't know. A year ago, the way we played we would have found a way to lose that game. Today, with a young crowd, we found a way to have a reasonably solid start, a reasonably quality win."
Here is my one-game analysis: Indiana is better on offense. They should be able to score easily against a dreadful Massachusetts team next Saturday. And considering how Navy, Penn State and several others on IU's schedule looked on opening weekend, Indiana could win three or four. Three or four wins were unthinkable last season when IU finished 1-11.
Tre Roberson played like a quarterback, not a halfback who can throw. He completed 21 of his first 25 passes and then finished 26 for 36 for 280 yards. He had one touchdown pass and another called back. The Hoosiers lost three more points when a Mitch Ewald field goal attempt from 42 yards hit the left upright.
The running game looks upgraded, too. Stephen Houston ran for more than 800 yards last season and now he looks as if he could be the team's third best back. Tevin Coleman, a true freshman, averaged nearly seven yards on seven carries.
And by playing fast, Indiana ran 83 plays, averaging better than 5.4 yards per snap. Ten different receivers caught passes – and IU's best receiver, Kofi Hughes, missed the game with a suspension.
"We were watching film of last year and we just looked clueless out there," said Ted Bolser, IU's tight end. "This year we know what we're doing and the tempo is a lot faster. As you can see, we know how to do it and the other team gets tired. A lot of the time, the defense didn't even get lined up. If they're not lined up, we're going to get some yards."
But even with high-powered binoculars it was difficult to see improvement on defense. IU had to bat down a "Hail Mary," pass in the end zone on the game's final play. The Hoosiers couldn't stop Indiana State from running the ball. Shakir Bell, the Sycamores' tailback, ran for 192 yards, averaging a dazzling 8 yards per carry.
If you can't stop Indiana State, what is going to happen against Wisconsin, Ohio State or Michigan State? I think you know. They need help at defensive end and linebacker.
The defense was saved Saturday night by Drew Hardin of Ballard. Hardin recovered a fumble late in the third quarter as Indiana State was driving for touchdown that would have tied the game at 24.
When fall camp opened, Hardin was not expected to start. He was listed as a second team safety. Not only did Hardin start and recover a fumble, he was the Hoosiers' top tackler with eight.
"The coaches just wanted to see me compete more," Hardin said. "For me to show them that I wanted it more than whoever was in front of me. I think I give the team energy. Sometimes when I see us getting tired I can give us the extra spark."
Hardin provided that spark against Indiana State. And Indiana won a game it would have lost last season.
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Ballard grad Drew Hardin led Indiana in tackles and recovered a fumble.
