Ball State 27, Indiana 20.
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Sep 3, 2011 10:20 PM EDT
in Indiana Hoosiers Football
Email
PrintWell, this was not the debut we were hoping for. I have not seen the game and probably will not see any of it until Monday. From the stats, what stood out was the ability of Ball State to run the ball so well with a bunch of guys who had never carried the ball in college. Edward Wright-Baker seemed to have been reasonably edge tube in the first half. We all knew this could be a long season in the Big Ten, but I did not expect to lose this one. More later. Meanwhile, any input from those who made the trip to downtown Indy or who watched online would be appreciated. Negatives other that those I listed? Positives...other than lulling Virginia into a false sense of security?
11 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It was Ball State’s ability (or the Hoosiers inability) to get a push on every single offensive snap. I was there for the first half and I don’t believe Ball State had a single play for negative yardage. The Cardinals O-Line just dominated IU. I also felt like IU got too fancy at times, but that’s more of a personal preference. I left after the half because my daughter needed a bottle, I’m glad I didn’t stick around for that mess. Hopefully they can use this as a learning experience.
GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!
by hoosier3 on Sep 3, 2011 10:50 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Everyone needed a bottle after that one.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Sep 4, 2011 11:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Unlike hoosier3, I witnessed every play of this debacle. I echo his thoughts exactly on the performance of the front lines. The way in which BSU’s offensive line seemed to win the battle on every snap was remarkable. I’m accustomed to being pushed around by the likes of a bruising Wisconsin team, but I’m having a hard time diagnosing the reason we were so outplayed by a team of this ilk in the trenches. I’m an IU graduate who actually grew up in Muncie, and I don’t think the little brother analogy can be overstated here. They wanted this game badly and treated it like the super bowl, complete with coach’s Gatorade bath at game’s end. (Yeah, that really happened.) Ball State simply played better. When they weren’t rushing for 5 yards a carry, their quarterback played flawlessly, finding wide-open receivers all over the field. Meanwhile, Wright-Baker proved his inexperience. While he never turned the ball over, he doesn’t yet have the knack to know when to tuck and snatch the 6 yards we need for a first down or when to have confidence in the play and find his target. In other words, I was waiting for him to take command of the offense and the game, and despite flashes of his athleticism and a nice TD connection with Belcher, he never really did. Though it would have taken a performance for the ages to overcome the poor defensive showing or the number of offensive line breakdowns leading to either sacks or forcing him out of the pocket.
Tough way to ring in the Kevin Wilson era. The “Win Today” highway billboard provided an awfully different sentiment on the way home than it did on the way there.
The info about the line play is interesting. As I said in my preview, Ball State has a small but experienced line. Sounds like they played well.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Sep 4, 2011 11:50 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Getting mowed over by Wisconsin’s line is explainable: IU is almost always giving up a size and weight advantage. Being dominated by Ball State’s line is just dumbfounding. Also the offensive scheme left a lot to be desired. It didn’t take long for Ball State to figure out that nearly every play called would involve Wright-Baker rolling right and looking for a deep pattern.
I am not a Leader, and I am not a Legend.
by Aaron Go Bragh on Sep 4, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I also watched the whole game (ESPN3). My daughter is a freshman at IU, and so I am new to following IU. I am a Floridian with a degree from FSU, and in Florida football is almost a religion. With that said I would say I have seldom seen a defensive line so thoroughly beaten as IU’s was last night. It was late on the snap, had zero penetration and was constantly on its heals on almost every play. The comentators stated that Ball State had pushed its weight program and the lines had made great improvements in size and strenght. It showed. It will be interesting how they will rebound for the UVA game next week.
New to following IU?
The first Indiana football game I watched in person must have been in 1981 or so. Some advice, having watched four decades of mostly complete gridiron futility: keep emotionally detached!
The emotional detachment is key to survival,
but I’ve got to wonder what will happen when Indiana starts winning more (and I do say “when” and not “if”. It will happen in my lifetime, I know it). When there is something actually at stake, will we see the evolution of Indiana football fans, from rational, somewhat-jaded observers, to purely emotional beings? I picture a journey not unlike the stargate sequence from 2001, ultimately leaving us transformed into interstellar SEC fans.
For God and country—Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo
No greater love, no sweeter sin, than red hot brass and ice cold gin.
by LoneStarHoosier on Sep 5, 2011 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the advice. I am relatively new to IU football. I have followed it in term of wins and losses because my mother (1950s) and grandfather (1920s) went there. My first in person game will be freshmen parents weekend when they play South Carolina State. If they do not win that one I would appreciate some suggestions on a good place to go to have a few cold ones to forget about the game (it must also have a TV so I can see the Seminoles crush Jokelahoma.)
Nick’s is the classic IU bar and is worth a stop at some point, although I don’t believe your freshman would be allowed in. One place you might consider for postgame is Yogi’s, which is at the intersection of 10th and Indiana, 7 blocks due south of the stadium. It’s an easy postgame walk, minors can get in, and there are plenty of TVs.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Sep 7, 2011 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
