With just days left before Indiana takes the field, anticipation is building in Bloomington — and nowhere is that energy stronger than in the Hoosiers’ locker room. On Tuesday, linebacker Aiden Fisher met with the media and made it clear he’s more than ready to line up against someone other than his own teammates.
“I’m so excited. I’m kind of running out of words to say to our offense,” Fisher admitted during his interview. “I don’t really know other trash talks to say to them, but it’s always good to just better ourselves all throughout camp. But you kind of get sick of it, and now it’s all of us fighting towards one common goal, and I think we’re all really excited for it.”
After weeks of intense camp battles, Fisher is eager for the chance to finally square off against another offense. The Hoosiers will host Old Dominion this Saturday, and while the Monarchs enter with an underdog mentality, Fisher and his teammates know they’ll need to match that edge. For him, it’s simple: football comes down to which team fights harder — and Indiana is ready to prove it.
Fisher echoed many of the same points head coach Curt Cignetti emphasized a day earlier, breaking down Indiana’s defensive priorities heading into Saturday. With Old Dominion’s offense built to stretch the field and a mobile quarterback leading the charge, Fisher said the key will be keeping him contained in the pocket and not letting him break free.
The linebacker’s energy was infectious as he spoke, his anticipation for Saturday’s clash written all over his face. “I can’t wait,” Fisher exclaimed. “Looking back at the FIU game last year and the difference for our first game this year. It’s going to be night and day, and I think that we’re going [to] put a great product on the field, and the fans are really going to want to be a part of that. It’s really exciting to see.”
Last year’s Week 1 matchup against FIU was a subdued start, with fewer fans than expected and many leaving early. This year, Fisher is fired up for a fuller house of Hoosier faithful ready to roar from kickoff to the final whistle. More than anything, though, he’s eager for fresh competition. After weeks of trading barbs in practice, Fisher joked that he and offensive lineman Pat Coogan have run out of trash talk. Now, both are relieved to finally line up against someone new.
This season, Fisher and the Indiana defense are determined to set the tone early and often. Speed has become a cornerstone of their identity, and Fisher believes it could be the X-factor in 2025.
“I think we have a little bit more speed this year,” Fisher claimed. “I know a lot of guys put an emphasis on speed training all throughout the offseason. Every year we have a really fast defense and a physical one. But this year it feels like at every position we have a guy that can really take the top off if needed. Chasing somebody down, fill in the alley, covering someone. I think speed’s going to be the difference this year.”
That confidence radiates from Fisher, who has complete trust in the playmakers around him. Come Saturday, expect him and the rest of Indiana’s defense to fly around Memorial Stadium, delivering big hits, creating chaos, and setting the tone for the season ahead. Fisher isn’t just ready — he’s fired up to take care of business.
Fisher and the Hoosiers look to finish the job when the season opens on August 30th.