Notes and Quotes from Tom Allen's Thursday Preview Ahead of Northwestern

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana head coach Tom Allen met with the media on Thursday ahead of the Hoosiers’ matchup with Northwestern at 7pm on Saturday night in Bloomington. Here are some on the notes from his preview of the Wildcats:

Notes:

- Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be a game-time decision

- The Hoosiers will NOT break out black uniforms on Saturday according to Allen

Tom Allen Quotes:

Opening Statement:

"Little chillier out there today, but it was great to be outside and to get a really good practice in with the weather conditions. That's part of this time of year. Thought our guys had great focus and really good work in the weight room, on the practice field and in the meeting rooms. Michael (Penix Jr.) did practice this week, so he'll be a game-time decision, but I think the rest of the guys are in pretty good shape."

On How the weather will factor into preparations:

“I think you just have to deal with them. It is part of being able to adapt to this part of the country. A lot of our guys have goals and dreams of playing on Sundays as well, and you will be playing in these conditions in the NFL. That is part of being nan elite player. You have to adapt to it, adjusting, and knowing how to dress – not putting too much stuff on, but also not putting too little on. It will be important to catch the football whether it is raining, sleeting, snowing, or whatever the weather is, and protecting it. That obviously becomes a variable, but at any level it is like that. You want to get used to it, but you also want it to be a non-issue. That is the key. You just do what you do. Even the wind can be a variable this time of year. It is just part of understanding that. Special teams as well, handling punts, getting the snaps, and all those things that go into handling the football. We wanted to get into it as much as we could to get a lot of reps."

On the opportunity to play at night on Saturday:

“Our kids love it. They were so excited when we got that news. It just has a different feel. For me, being a former high school coach, Friday night football is when you always played. When I first started coaching in college, it was weird playing during the day. I was not used to that. The kids love it and it is a great environment. It adds a little extra juice to the event. We are excited. We are really looking forward to our fans embracing it, coming out, and supporting us. We want everyone to come and cheer on the Hoosiers and give everything they have to help our team continue to do something special."

On avoiding the trap game mentality:

“Well, you know, we've talked about it, you know, from the beginning of the week, but I think the biggest thing is just when you think of the big picture of how we approach each week, and that to me, as well, we've tried to stick with him, and just trying to get these guys to understand that it truly is, you know, it's the biggest game of the season because it's the next one, and that that mindset that how you prepare, don't get caught up in the outside noise.

I people start talking about things and, and I just think that you have to, you know, you do grow as a team, these guys that are they're freshmen right now and they're experienced freshman playing sophomores that are you know, that's their second year here now they get almost a whole another season you know under their belt as well so that maturity needs to start showing up you know and he's still counting over guys to help the younger guys understand how you handle this time of the year and how you stay focused and locked in and both by example and by verbally challenging guys and and making sure their rooms right so I just think it's just a whole team effort as coaches and as the players and the older guys to lead the younger ones dead to understand how you prepare and play you know in these environments and also in these with these expectations as they keep growing.”

On players enjoying practicing despite the foul weather:

“You know, it is just being together. They are just running around and being kids, not grownups yet. It is still a game. Just enjoying being out there with each other and the energy. You can tell when a guy is really dreading it, but no, not with these guys. It was a group effort and it was that way the whole time, coaches too. They follow our lead. It is a different hop in the step when things are going the way they are right now."