The Indiana Hoosiers have not been to abowl game in 14 years. With the off-seasondeath of coach Terry Hoeppner, not manypeople expected the trend to reverse thisseason.
But halfway through the 2007 campaign,Bill Lynch has the Hoosiers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) needing only one win to become eligible for a bowl.
Lynch said this possibility has been in theback of the team’s mind since the beginningof the season, but the Hoosiers aren’t letting it interfere with their play.
“We couldn’t get distracted by the bigpicture,” Lynch said. “We had to take care of the little things and the big picture would take care of itself. We’ve really followed that.”
The Hoosiers’ revival has been led bysophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis, whohas thrown for 1,463 yards and 15 touchdowns this season and leads the Big Ten in total offense.
Indiana looks to lock up its sixth win Saturday at Michigan State (4-2, 0-2), the losers of two straight.
Lynch said his defense better be ready.
“(The Spartans) have moved the ball oneverybody and scored a lot of points,” hesaid. “They’re very balanced.”
Laurinaitis Making Opponents Sick
Following last year’s epic title run, manyin the media said that the 2007 version ofthe Buckeyes would not be anywhere near asgood as the team that achieved a perfectregular-season record and a whole multitudeof accolades. But after Ohio State’s 23-7 lambasting of the Boilermakers (4-2, 1-1) last Saturday on national television, those naysayers have all inexplicably disappeared.
Even so, coach Jim Tressel said the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0) are not resting on their laurels.
“We’ve talked at length about just howmuch better we’ve got to get each week,”coach Jim Tressel said. “If you look at ourschedule, we’ve got some of the best teams in the country in front of us.”
Although junior quarterback Todd Boeckman’semergence has been a crucial part ofthe Buckeye’s success thus far (especially in the wake of Troy Smith’s departure to the NFL), star linebacker James Laurinaitis – the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Award Winner -has been the real difference maker. Whileguiding Ohio State to the second best rundefense in the nation (47 yards per game),the team’s leading tackler already has three sacks and two picks.
“When (the defense) takes the field,they’re very prepared,” Tressel said. “Usually when you’re prepared, you feel confident in your ability to go out and complete the mission.”
Illini On Cloud Nine
A wild raucous crowd filling the stands tomake a sea of orange. A well-known, respected football coach barking out plays in a close game. One of the nation’s best running games tearing up the defense of the country’s fifth-ranked team. All of this was a reality, not a dream, during the No. 18 Fighting Illini’s benchmark victory over the No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers (5-1, 2-1) this past weekend.
After going four years with only two conference wins, Illinois (5-1, 3-0) has already turned around its program, transformed its image, and surpassed that total in a matter of weeks.
But coach Ron Zook said all the Illini’sgains could go for nought if they don’t focus this weekend against Iowa (2-4, 0-3).
“If we don’t prepare, practice, move into(the game) mentally like we did the last two weeks, everything that’s happened to us will be for nothing,” Zook said.
