Fourth Quarter Mindset Continues into the Summer For Hoosiers Football Team

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

With the conclusion of the spring game on Saturday, the Hoosiers 15 spring practices are officially in the books and the page turns to summer. It is an interesting time for coaches; after months of spring ball working with their team, they are unable to coach for the month of May until the players return for six summer OTA’s starting on June 1st. Tom Allen and his staff have preached the continuance of their spring mindset – a fourth quarter mindset – extending into the summer months.

“You know, we talk about fourth quarter mindset,” said Allen. “It's been our focus all spring long. It's part of the mental toughness piece, physical toughness piece. That has to be built, and that's over the summertime. We talk about May mattering even though it's a time away for them. They have to still continue to train and work like a professional because that's what the pros have to do when their time is away.”

This is even more important this summer, as Indiana will see major personnel changes all over the field. Allen is especially focused on the game’s most important position, quarterback, and the competition he has brewing between Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson. Both are extremely young and have little experience with their teammates around them.

“It's not just the lifting and the conditioning,” added Allen. “It's also the timing of the receivers. Two young quarterbacks. All those timings have to happen together. They have to do that alone.

I really like that room, but they have to come together and get the timing down. That happens during the summertime.”

Allen was non-committal regarding his quarterback situation in the fall at this point in the year. With as much time as there is between now and the season kickoff, that is likely the best move; there are far too many important practice reps to be had before September’s opener.

“I know the summer is going to be huge,” said Allen. “Fall camp is massive. Any time you have two talented young quarterbacks, I think you can see out there they both have skills. They can both throw it, and they can both run it. We'll tell those guys that open and honestly. To name a guy, no, we're not ready to do that yet. I think they have a lot of work ahead of them.”

The Hoosiers open the 2023 season at home against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 2nd.