Second-year Indiana University head football coach Kevin Wilson is cautiously optimistic heading into Saturday's home opener with intra-state rival Indiana State. Wilson believes this year's Hoosiers squad is much more prepared to compete following a brutal 1-11 record in 2011.
IU returns 16 starters from 2011, including seven on offense, eight on defense and one on special teams. Sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson will take the reins behind center, and hopes to improve on his passing accuracy. The Hoosiers new offensive coordinator, Seth Littrell, wants Roberson to become more patient in the pocket, looking for open receivers rather than taking off with the ball.
Indiana will hand the ball off to a true freshman, Tevin Coleman, who beat out last year's starter Stephen Houston with an impressive fall camp. Coleman possesses a combination of speed, vision, and running instincts. Wilson expects him to be a "good one" before leaving Bloomington.
A pair of true freshman, left tackle Jason Spriggs and guard Dan Feeney, will be charged with protecting Roberson. Spriggs will get a challenge out of the box, going up against the Sycamores talented senior defensive end, Ben Obaseki. Obaseki collected 7.5 sacks last season, including 14.5 tackles for loss.
The resurgent Indiana State program is no longer looking for morale victories. Trent Miles is in his fifth season as head coach at Indiana State. The Sycamores are coming off back-to-back 6-5 campaigns, marking the first time the program has seen consecutive winning seasons since 1995 and 1996.
ISU returns 14 starters from 2011, including six on offense, six on defense and two on special teams. The Sycamores are multiple on offense and will run a 3-4 base defense.
Indiana State is led by electricfying junior running back Shakir Bell, a former Warren Central product. Bell carried 230 times for 1,670 yards, a 7.3 average and 14 TD's. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).
Bell will pose a huge test for a IU defensive unit which hopes for progress. The Hoosiers could have a formidable defenisve line, if tackles Larry Black Jr. and Adam Replogle play up to their potential.
IU's back seven are a mix of junior college players and returning starters, with juco transfer David Cooper a player to watch at LB.
Extra Points: Indiana kicks off its 128th year of football...The Hoosiers are 35-17 in Memorial Stadium openers. Indiana has victories in nine of its last 10 and wins in 26 of its last 30 home starters. IU has faced ISU three times, all in Bloomington, and walked away victorious each time. Indiana downed the Sycamores, 55-7, in the 2007 season opener and added triumphs in 2003 (33-3) and 1925 (31-0)....IU has only eight seniors on the 2012 roster, tied for fewest in the country.
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