Notes and Quotes From Tom Allen's Media Monday (Bucket Week)

Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Media Monday: Bucket Week

Head coach Tom Allen spoke with the media about this week’s Bucket Game matchup with Purdu

Notes

Offensive Players of the Game: Peyton Ramsey

Defensive Player of the Game: Andre Brown, Raheem Layne and Gavin Everett

Special Teams Player of the Game: Logan Justus and Mike Majette

Quotes 

On Having the Bucket Taken From IU Last Season:

“I think that's a very powerful statement. I didn't hear him say that, but it's very, very true. I think especially we won it four years in a row, and when I got here, that was the case, and I was a part of a No. 3 as a defensive coordinator, and then we were not able to finish out the job, to be able to maintain that and to keep it.

And I think that it's a -- you look at the history of the rivalry, it's a tremendous rivalry, it's a tremendous opportunity, and being raised in this state and seeing it played many, many times, and just knowing what it means to each university, and being a part of rival games at other places and the passion that's involved, but it's really, really a big deal here.

So I think when you have it and then you lose it, it changes your perspective, and I think our guys recognize that. I know that we've talked about some of those things today. We'll talk more about it every single day. It's a big emphasis, and making sure our young guys understand what it means. We've got guys from all across the country, some guys that were raised around it, some guys that were not, and so educating them and making sure they understand exactly the history and those that have gone before him and what it means to win this game and how important it is for our university and for everyone that's part of this program and part of our alumni.

So I think that anything in life, when you have it, you take it for granted. When you lose it, you realize how special it really was and really is. I think that can be true of a lot of things for sure, and I think it's definitely true in this rivalry.” 

On Opening Up About the Bowl Situation:

“They did. We went to Michigan to win and to go get bowl eligible, and they've responded. We've got a really neat group of young men that I think have a good mix. I've said this all along, that we've got some good core leaders, a lot of older guys, and we have a lot of youth mixed into that. And so there's a hunger there.

But there's always a point in the season when it gets to be a tough road, and the schedule that we always play, and so I just think that the guys have bought in here at the end and have finished strong, and it's critical that we completely finish the season here with game No. 12 at home, and so, yeah, it's been very -- was up front with them again today. We know what's at stake, and we know that winner gets to go play in a bowl game and the loser gets to stay home, so that's what we're playing for.

“The high ankle sprain was just the nagging. That happened in the Michigan State game. Then that's kind of been the long term. When you deal with those, most people will tell you, it's like six weeks usually. They always want to try to come back before then, and it usually doesn't work out so well.

But then he got another injury, not related to that, so we're trying to deal with that. So it's kind of been a couple things. So just the way it goes sometimes. That's why other guys had to step up and that's what they did on Saturday, so that will not change.”

On the Allegations of IU Playing Dirty Against Michigan:

“Well, our kids play really, really hard, physical, and I know that Simon was called for a personal foul where he shoved the player in the back, and after watching it on film, he should have got the penalty. So we were penalized for that. It hurt us. It was a selfish penalty, and he and I talked about it, and we have an internal way of handling that, and he's dealing with that this week and holding him accountable. We're going to play hard to the whistle, and the whistle had blown and he made a mistake.
But our kids play really hard and really physical, and we don't apologize for that. Within the rules, that's how we're going to do it.” 

On How Important Getting a Win on Saturday is for this Program

It's big. You know, and I think that's pretty obvious. You get extended practice time with your time, you know, for a bowl game, and that's huge for a young team, especially, and you go through and see -- we've stated pretty clearly the youth that we have and how many guys are freshmen and sophomores that are on our team right now, and so that gives you an extra -- almost a whole extra spring in some ways of technique work and development. So that's huge. And then just in recruiting it's a big deal, you know, beating your rival.

So you get it all wrapped up into one. So it makes for a pretty exciting opportunity and atmosphere and a chance to be able to accomplish things that you want to accomplish as we build this program. We want to be in a position where we're climbing and growing every single year, and then that's the objective is we build and keep recruiting and putting class upon class upon class, it's going to be critical. To me and our staff understands this, it's always the No. 1 focus as a staff is about recruiting because we're all a lot better coaches when we have better players. That's the truth. You know, the schemes work a lot different when you've got different kind of guys around it. So it's about getting the right kind of guys here that fit what we're looking for, that want to be excellent young men in the classroom, want to do the right things on and off the field, and love to work and love football.

I think as we have our staff here and intact here for going on our second full season, just trying to continue to build off of that, and really love the group of guys that we have here now, and got to continue to build that. That's this kind of a game and what's at stake creates more opportunities for that to help us, and that's what we're trying to do.

To me, it's a big game regardless, if you take any of that staff out of the mix, but it becomes intensified and even more important when you look at the ramifications for being a bowl.”

On the Challenges that Purdue’s Offense Presents to Indiana: 

Well, their offense, their skill is really impressive. You know, the speed at receiver and the play-making ability of those guys, and they have a really good scheme and the quarterback David Blough is just a really good player. He's played at a high level this season, and he's a guy I respect. He handles himself in a first-class way, and he's a strong man of faith, and just a guy that I just think is a player that has been there and you respect him. He's overcome an injury, and he's allowed them and kind of caused them -- quarterbacks are just such a huge part of everybody's offense, and his play has elevated them. Two talented running backs that run hard and are tough to tackle; big, strong, physical offensive line; two big ol' tight ends, too, that I think are really talented. So complete offense, and they've scored points against about everybody and have done a great job.

I just think just like any team you play you have to take away the things they do really well, and that's tough to do because they have so many weapons. They can stress you a lot of different ways. But we have to play our very best, and takeaways are going to be huge.

I just think you talk about possessions, stealing those possessions and being able to -- only got one last week. It was a big one, but we got one, and we need to get more to be able to continue to play great red zone defense and force teams to kick field goals, but just to be able to tackle really, really well and fly to the football, just live out our core values of our defense, which is takeaways, tackling and effort, and that's going to be a big, big deal for us to emphasize, once again, against the Boilermakers.”

On Purdue WR Rondale Moore:

“Well, first of all, he's really, really fast, so speed is a good thing when you have it. That's why everybody wants it. So that's the first challenge. And as you mentioned he's really strong. You can see it. Power cleans and squats are two lifts that really translate to football, and the fact that he's that strong, it shows up on film. He's hard to tackle. Breaks a lot of tackles. Just runs hard, and they get him the ball a lot, and they should. Just very difficult young man to scheme for, and they try and get him the ball all different creative ways, and special teams, as well. Yeah, he's a tremendously talented young man that will be a big challenge for our whole football team to defend.”