It's hard to believe that there are only six empty Saturdays remaining before IU's season begins on the Thursday before Labor Day and most everyone else begins two days late. The Big Ten's football media events begin on August 2, and Big Ten-related fireworks may begin on July 26, when the pre-divorce Big 12 begins its final season. Meanwhile:
-
Evaluating the Mechanics of Big Ten Quarterbacks - Ben Chappell (The Rivalry, Esq.)
I have no competence to way in on this analysis one way or another. The notion that Chappell's strengths and weaknesses are well-suited for the offense is encouraging, I suppose. -
Indiana's rapid recruiting surge is by design (Big Ten Blog - ESPN)
"Lynch attributes the surge to several factors: good early scouting by his assistants, getting a lot of prospects on campus with their families for unofficial visits and the school's recent facilities upgrades. But perhaps Indiana's strongest assets are continuity and stability, traits rarely associated with the program in the past 15 years." For all my doubts about Bill Lynch, I certainly hope he can find a way to translate this into wins, because he is doing a great job in many other aspects.
Coming up: Roses (Palladium-Item)
"Indiana University's 1967 season remains a high point in Hoosier football history. Nine wins. A Big Ten championship. The program's first, and so far only, Rose Bowl appearance. That team will be honored July 27 with the Indiana Football Hall of Fame Golf Classic."
Five storylines from early evaluation period (Recruiting Central | The Indianapolis Star)
"Who is next for IU?: Indiana is certainly drawing some attention from out of state prospects, including guard B.J. Young from St. Louis. IU coach Tom Crean has also been zeroing in on several in-state prospects, including Park Tudor guard Yogi Ferrell, Broad Ripple's Ron Patterson and Smith-Rivera in the 2012 class, among others."
Indiana football picks up 20th commitment (Hoosiers Insider | The Indianapolis Star)
"Bloomington North running back D'Angelo Roberts committed to the IU program." Those in the know seem pretty excited about the decision of Roberts to stay home, moreso than his three-star rating would suggest.
Key stretch: Indiana (Big Ten Blog - ESPN)
"Key stretch: Arkansas State (Oct. 16), at Illinois (Oct. 23), Northwestern (Oct. 30). "
What's Up With The Hoosiers? (Lake The Posts - Northwestern Football Blog)
LTP has become positively obsessed with the positive developments in the IU program, namely regarding our stadium improvements and attendance/night games. I answered some questions for him on those and other issues.