Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: 65 Days (Dominic Altimari)

Written by Amanda Pavekla
Height: 6’4”
Weight:  324 pounds

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio (St. Xavier)

Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Position: OL

A little over nine weeks remain until the long-awaited 2019 Indiana football season. The Hoosiers will make their season debut at Lucas Oil Stadium where they will take on the Ball State Cardinals on August 31st in a noon game.

For day 65, it is only appropriate to talk about the man with the plan— Dominic “Tater” Altimari, who will be representing the Hoosiers’ No. 65 jersey in the upcoming season.

Going into his third season at Indiana, the walk-on graduate of the prestigious St. Xavier High School has not had his name called to the college field yet. Redshirting his first year, Altimari contributed to the Hoosiers behind the scenes as a scout team player and was awarded for his job well-done preparing the Hoosiers for the Georgia Southern game in 2017.

Coach Tom Allen is very fond of Dominic Altimari, so much that he gave him a nickname— “Tater.” It was after he was awarded scout team player of the week for his work put into the practices leading up to the Ohio State game, that his nickname was made official in a Media Monday press conference. “You gotta be a special guy when you’ve got a one-name nickname and that’s all that has to be said,” Allen said. “I don’t even have a one-name nickname that they know me as. I got two names. But ‘Tater’ just has one.” 

Whether “Tater” will take his 6’4” 324-pound viable frame to the offensive line this season is unknown, but you can bet he’ll be helping in every way possible on the practice field.

  HUTCH’S TRIVIA QUESTION

In honor of the late Terry Hutchens, we are including a daily IUFB trivia question from his book So You Think You Know Indiana University Football. Hutch is dearly missed and this is our way of keeping his memory with us this season. Please leave your answers in the comments section.

How many different IU players caught at least one pass in the Rose Bowl game?

Yesterday’s Answer: Alvin ‘Bo’ McMillan

 (check back tomorrow for the answer)