Kevin Wilson Sept. 19th Media Monday Press Conference Notebook

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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana head football coach Kevin Wilson met with the media on Monday afternoon to update the status of his team and preview Wake Forest in this weekend's clash of undefeated teams. Here are some of the highlights of today's press conference.

  • Even though this is only the Hoosiers second match-up with Wake Forest, Kevin Wilson and his staff are very familiar with Dave Clawson coached teams saying:

It's the second time we've played this team, but it's five years in a row I've seen them. Because in 2013 we opened up early with Bowling Green, which meant we studied the 2012 Bowling Green team, which was Coach Clawson's team. So we watched the 2012 season getting ready for the opener. And then we played Wake last year, 2015 early, so we watched the 2014 Wake Forest team.

So we've studied this team for five years. We've seen them play a lot of football.

  • Kendall Hinton is officially out for Wake Forest, here is what Wilson had to say about the Demon Deacon's quarterback situation with John Wolford:

Wolford is a solid runner, and they are going to run -- they will run him. He probably spins the ball a little bit more, so there's a little bit more pass. So it's the same offense. I think the emphasis goes a little from, not maybe as much zone read or triple option kind of stuff they do, with a little bit more maybe run pass.

But at the same time, again, we saw Kendall last year, and he threw the ball well on us down the stretch. We have to tighten our pass-D up. I think the scheme stays similar, but things they emphasize are a little bit different because one guy is probably a little bit more of a guy that runs, a little bit more of a throw guy.

  • Indiana has some injuries of their own to deal with after playing the majority of the game against Ball State without guard Dan Feeney and losing Simmie Cobbs to a broken ankle, but the return of Camion Patrick is getting nearer. Here is what Wilson said on the injury front:
 (Camion's) no different than Dan. We're waiting for the doctors to clear him. So he's practicing. He's cleared for practice. And you know, it's not my call. It's those guys determine that.
  • Wilson also mentioned that freshman Kiante Enis is going through concussion protocol as well and there was no update about his return date.
  • Wilson also talked about sophomore Leon Thornton flipping back to receiver from safety. Here is what he said:

We moved Leon Thornton back there today, but it's more for Leon that we need him at receiver.

The defense was doing well, but he's been a little bit moody and just needs to mature and grow up. I said, hey, you know, I don't need you at receiver, but you're not playing defense. So we'll see, maybe that guy gets back in the mix. He was playing a year ago at receiver. I thought that we needed him at DB. Played great over there. Was playing great, had him playing some (buffers) he needs to grow up a little bit but I thought part of his immaturity might be frustration. I said, "Where do you want to play?" Like Chris Covington, where to you want to play?

He said, "I want to play receiver."

"Well, come on back. No guarantee you're going to play." But maybe that helps a little bit.

  • Wilson also called out the fans who leave the games at halftime.
 It is what it is. We just talked about create your own energy. I think our team's close. We don't have  a long way to go but I think we're playing good. It's just, we've got good fans. Those tailgates are still there. If you buy the good enough cooler, that stuff will stay cold for you. Just ride out the second half, man. Just play ball. I mean, we're just -- they're good kids. I'm not complaining about them but the great thing about the home crowd is the energy of the fans, and you love to have second half energy. And at the same time, the football team has to create it. The fans aren't going to cheer if you don't make plays.