Allen Challenges Fans Ahead of First Ever November Night Game at Memorial Stadium

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Image: Sarah Miller, Hoosier Huddle

Image: Sarah Miller, Hoosier Huddle

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Indiana had just clinched bowl eligibility after winning at Nebraska. The Hoosiers had matched their best eight-game start since 1993. Tom Allen addressed the media and, tears in his eyes, pounded on the podium and pleaded with the Indiana fan base to reward this team with something they don’t typically receive: a true home-field advantage.

“I feel thankful and blessed to be the head coach here. First of all, I want to enjoy this one tonight,” Allen said after IU’s 38-31 victory. “But once that’s over, then all we’re going to focus on is Northwestern. That’s it. I don’t care about nothing else. Focus on Northwestern, they’re coming to town. I want a huge, huge crowd for this football team.”

IU has not had a sell-out since the opening game of the 2017 season when IU hosted Ohio State. That game saw a ton of red in the stands but a portion of that was certainly Buckeye fans clad in Scarlet. IU football fans have known heartache and disappointment and have been reticent to “buy-in” with their time or money. Tom Allen, a native Hoosier very aware of the past, understands that but doesn’t want to hear about the past anymore.

“I get it. I understand the frustration of the past but I don’t care. I haven’t been here very long. All I know is what we’re doing right now. These kids have fought, and fought, and fought, and fought, and I want our fans to come and support this football team,” Allen implored.

Indiana has a chance to guarantee the first winning football season in Bloomington since 2007 and Allen believes they have earned the respect of the IU-faithful.

“Come support this football team. Help these guys do something special. That’s all I can ask. These kids are going to play hard. They’re not going to play perfect, but we’re going to play hard and we’re going to play for 60 minutes and we’re going to find a way to win the stinking game.”

Indiana has an ongoing promotion that reduces the prices for tickets for the Northwestern and Michigan games. The contest will kick-off on FS1 at 7:00pm as IU hosts the 1-6 Wildcats.