Hoosiers at Big Ten Media Days Notebook

Written by Zion Brown (@z10nbr0wn)

Day one of the 2022 Big Ten Football Media Days was Tuesday and Tom Allen spoke on the podium to begin. Here’s what Allen had to say about some hot topics with the team.

On how the team is trying to bounce back from its 2-10 season:

Our team has been working hard since January. The bottom line is things didn't go the way we wanted them to go in 2021, and when that's the case, you do one of two things. You either feel sorry for yourself, or you sit there and do a thorough evaluation of everything that you do, which is what we began in January and had a chance to go through that process, make changes, add some new players to our team, add some new staff to our program, and then allow us to get back to work, and that's what we've done.

Allen on starting the season against a Big Ten opponent again:

I just really feel like it's become a new tradition for us to be able to start the season with a Big Ten opponent, and I think it's become a great, great thing for the Indiana Hoosiers.

On how the quarterback competition will be addressed:

Obviously we'll have a starter named before the opener, but the bottom line is that, once that person is named, he'll be the starter. Not expecting a dual situation, but at the same time, as we saw last year and we learned up close and personal, that things happen, injuries happen, and you'd better have more than one guy that's going to be able to be your starting quarterback in your program. So I feel like we have that with several individuals.

On what will likely decide who starts at quarterback:

So there's some common things you're looking for. I think, as you come off this past year, it's a great reminder of the value of protecting the football. It's such a huge part of our game. We all understand the value of the turnover ratio and how that's such a big part of winning football games, and that quarterback touches it every single snap, so protecting that football is a huge priority.

To me, it's about having a great mastery of the offense and where to distribute the football to the right players per the scheme that we're having and per the call. So I want to find a guy that's able to do both of those at a high level, and you've got to win that locker room. That's what it comes down to. 

On Donaven McCulley transitioning to wide receiver:

I think he's responded well. I will say that he came to me. He wanted to do this. We had a great talk together about that. He's a highly competitive young man and one of the best athletes on our football team, and he wants to be on the field. He wants to be playing. He wants to be involved in special teams and have those opportunities. 

He's got a big, athletic frame, but there's obviously a learning curve to be able to grow. I think to me Coach Henry is taking him under his wing, our new receivers coach, and his NFL experience is tremendous. We coached against each other. I was at Ole Miss. He was at LSU in those three years. We battled against each other there. Just a ton of respect for what he brings.

On replacing Micah McFadden’s production:

So that is a void that Cam Jones has really responded to in a huge way and the leadership piece as well in that linebacker room. I'm a former linebacker myself and coach the position, played the position, and you're only as good as your linebackers and your defense. So you mentioned the guys that we brought in. I think Cam is going to be a big part of it. I think Aaron Casey, another young man that's going to step up and do great things for us this season because of his work ethic and his passion for our program and for himself to be able to be his very, very best.

Bradley Jennings coming to us from Miami, and Jared Casey coming to us from Kentucky, two transfers that I feel give us two Big Ten type caliber players that have already played the position at other schools. To me, that excites me because that position is big for us. Dasan McCullough is another one who's coming in as a freshman that we expect to have opportunity to help us and see his development and see how he responds to playing Big Ten football. 

On being voted last in the preseason Big Ten East poll:

You've got to look at those things a certain way. Last year was the opposite, near the top, and it didn't work out that way, right? So I think to me, when you talk to our players today that are here, you talked about our team, you pick anybody out of there, and they're going to say one thing. It's about September 2nd. That's our focus. That's all we're worried about. We talk about ear muffs and blinders in our program, and that's part of it. 

I get it, we earned it. That's part of the process you go through. I feel like our team understands that we've got a chip on our shoulder and something to prove. 

On David Ellis and Deland McCullough getting medical waivers:

Disappointed for both of them. Met with both of them many times and communicated with their families through that process. That's just a tough decision you have to come to, but it's a medical decision that we as a coaching staff are not a part of in that regard. It's always about the health and welfare of our guys and thinking about their long term health and being able to have a body that's going to be able to not have long term issues.

So respect those guys. Proud of them. Appreciate them. Going to be with them, and they'll stay with us here in a different capacity until they graduate.

On Don Fischer:

I also want to honor a special person as part of our university in Don Fischer. He's being recognized and announced today as the 2022 National Football Foundation Chris Schenkel Award winner for being basically for 50 years -- think about that. For 50 years being the iconic voice of the Indiana Hoosiers and just respect him so much. Well deserved honor that he has and a long list of honors that he's received over the years.