Hoosier Players Ready for Fans to Return in 2021

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The last time fans saw the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium was in a rain soaked loss against the Michigan Wolverines on November 23, 2019. Since that time the Hoosiers have gone 7-3 with major home victories against Penn State and Michigan with nothing but friends and family in the seats. That will change in 2021 as the Hoosiers are opening Memorial Stadium to 100-percent capacity. Hoosier players are ready for 52,929 fans to pack the Rock and they have a message for the Hoosier faithful.

Quarterback Michael Penix, wide receiver Ty Fryfogle and linebacker Micah McFadden all touched on the subject on Friday at Big Ten Media Days.

“It’s great. We are very excited.” Penix said of getting fans back in the stands. “I know the fans are very excited as well. Being off a year, I know the fans weren’t big fans of that, but it was necessary with what was going on. So, as long as we got the opportunity to play it was a great time, but this year is definitely going to be very exciting to have the fans back in the stadium.”

McFadden had a message for the IU fans as well.

““Pack the Rock.” McFadden said. “Get as many people in there as possible. We want to see a lot of people and sell out that stadium for sure. All of these guys are really excited to see all of our fans and we hope as many people can get out as possible”

After playing a season in front of sparse crowds in 2020, the Hoosiers will have to get back to dealing with the crowd noise, something they are not strangers to.

“Our managing staff always does a great job just getting us ready for the noise aspect of things and what we are going to hear in the stadium and the difficulty of communication on the field.” McFadden explained. “I think we are really excited to just hear that noise again. To hear the roar of the crowd and just the excitement of running out to our own fans and we enjoy our away games as well.”

All-American wide receiver Ty Fryfogle does not want IU to get ahead of themselves as they play at Iowa in the season opener, but his message to fans attending the home opener against Idaho on September 11th urged fans to show up.

“Just come out and support (us). I feel like we’re a top football team and we’ll make the university proud and the fans proud. We’ll put on a show on September 11th for the first home game.” Fryfogle said.

The Hoosiers open the season at Iowa on September 4th and return to Memorial Stadium for the home opener on September 11th against Idaho.