Notes and Quotes From Tom Allen's Week Eight Media Monday

Indiana head coach Tom Allen met with media on Monday Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written By Sammy Jacobs

 Head coach Tom Allen discussed IU’s 42-16 loss to Iowa and previewed IU’s next matchup with No. 18/19 Penn State.

Notes

Players of the game:

Offensive: Ty Fryfogle

Defensive: Jerome Johnson 

Special teams: None

Quotes From Tom Allen

On the outcome against Iowa: 

“It's my responsibility to get this team ready to play each and every week. It's my responsibility that they play their very best. We didn't do that. That's on me. I have to own that. I will and I do. We got to play better, we got to coach better.

We got beat by a team on that day that was a better football team in all three phases. I give them credit where credit is due, but also look internally and challenge ourselves.

Had a great team meeting this morning. Players came to me and wanted to meet. We were all in there together, coaches included. They wanted to speak. A bunch of seniors got up and spoke and did a great job of just being leaders, saying what needed to be said in the right way, from the heart. Just really challenging our guys to respond the right way.

You look at the slate on Saturday, seven top 25 teams got beat. Several more could have gotten beat. You better bring your A game every single week. We play at the highest level of college football in the Big Ten, therefore you're going to be playing against the best of the best.

Challenged our guys to be able to respond, to own it, to flush it, press on.” 

On Ramsey’s Struggles Protecting the Ball:

“This last game to me, the two throws he made there in the red zone, chances to score, obviously trying to create something both times, but at the same time got to protect the football, get points. The last one we were trying to score a touchdown, not kick field goals.

He has to protect the football. It's part of his job. I don't think he played very well during the game. We're not bashful about saying those kinds of things. We've praised him when he has played well. He didn't play his best game.

So you always look at all your options with everything you have on your roster to be able to help your team be successful. He obviously has to do a great job. We talk about that position, being a protector of the football, distributor of the football, moving the football team down the field, getting first downs and scoring touchdowns.

Didn't score enough touchdowns and turned the ball over. Have to do a better job. So yes, that will be addressed.” 

On the Players Lead Meeting Monday Morning:

“It was awesome. It was Wes Martin, Jacob Robinson were the two guys that reached out to me. They just said to me, Coach, during our team meeting in the morning can we have a few minutes to talk to the team. I said, Absolutely. We talked some things through. Those guys are just really high quality guys that care a whole bunch about this place, have been here for a long time, seen a lot. They just more than anything wanted to challenge our guys to react.

We got a lot of new guys, young guys, that haven't been through the grind of a Big Ten season. We've had no bye week yet. It's week after week after week. It can be draining on you physically and emotionally, mentally. I think they needed to remind the guys that it's part of the process. You have to own things on film when you get challenged by coaches, you have to own your play, your practice habits, everything that you do, and it's the little things, focus on those little things.

Really neat. Sit back and let the guys talk. I didn't tell them what to say. Once I had a good idea what they wanted to say, it was all very necessary. It was encouraging to see them in their own way, in their own tone, personality, say the things that we've kind of been preaching here since I've been here.

Just being able to let those guys say it, it's always a powerful thing when it comes from a player. They want all the coaches, everybody to be in there. We were. That was really good.

But bottom line is you have to respond. It's a tough league, tough schedule. You got to be a tough guy. I thought those guys stood up and really said some good things that needed to be said.” 

On Toning Down His Antics With Officials:

“I'm an emotional guy. I want to defend our guys. Now, they obviously decided to throw the flag on me on the second one. The first one was another coach. He and I talked that through. But they give the head coach a little more leeway on things, all that. But obviously this guy was not feeling that in that situation. But I take responsibility for that.

My approach is that I want to defend our guys, I don't want to be distracted by the officials. I can't control what they do. But I also want to stand up for our guys. I'm not going to back down from that. I'm going to be who I am. I don't want team penalties. That's on me. That's not acceptable. I don't want that to happen again. That just hurts our team.

But I also want them to know that I am watching, I do care. Our guys matter. I want to defend them, I'm going to fight for them. I have to make sure I do it by not stepping on the field. I literally took one step out. Not supposed to do that, so I got to hold myself accountable. It's part of my passion.”

On Transferring the Aggressive Mindset to Offense:

“I challenged the guys in that regard because I want to be of that mindset the way we attack defenses. I know the scheme has a lot to do with it. A lot of the things they did to us on Saturday made some of that more difficult than it was even the week before.

At the same time I agree. I think that's our approach. I want to push the envelope in both tempo and creating bigger plays, trying to get our guys in position. We went through the beginning of the season, evaluating top guys we wanted to get the ball to, most explosive guys.

Unfortunately, due to various circumstances, those guys aren't here right now. We have to adjust, get Whop dressed, a couple snaps. He could happen to be effective. Got Luke back. Got Whop back. He's a guy that can help create some plays for us, create explosive plays.

You got to be able to find creative ways of trying to do that. To me it's learning to push the envelope in that regard. I'm going to continue to talk through that, want to see it happen. I want to see us be able to put pressure on the defense.”

Injury Updates:

“We're hoping to get Coy back full bore. I think that looks good, promising at this point as of today. I know Devon Matthews is a guy we ended up sitting out, hoping to get him back last weekend, we did not. He needs to continue to get healthier in order for him to play. Then continue to monitor T.D. Roof, see that he's able to get his body back ready to go. Those would be the three guys that we're looking at. Not to mention Whop and his ability to get back. He was out there today running routes. Still the process continues to get him full speed.

I think we have a chance to be healthier this weekend. You always seem to gain a guy or two here or there, lose a guy or two. We had several guys that got some things they had to address, but several of those injuries are able to be cleaned up over the weekend, then continue to rehab them throughout the first half of the week.”