Indiana

Indiana football: Prepping for new-look UCLA wasn’t an easy task

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2024

Indiana football: Prepping for new-look UCLA wasn’t an easy task

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football didn’t have much film to go on as it prepared for its Big Ten opener this week.

That leaves plenty of unknowns as the Hoosiers head into the Rose Bowl on Saturday afternoon to face a UCLA team led by first-year head coach DeShaun Foster and a pair of new coordinators.

The Bruins had a bye week after beating Hawaii, 16-13, in their season-opener.

“I’m sure that coming off their opener they were happy they won but probably not pleased with the way they played overall,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said. “They did go in shorthanded, minus two offensive tackles, but good program like that, I’m sure they have something to prove.”

More: The Runout: Previewing Indiana football’s Week 3 game against UCLA

UCLA’s new defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe keeping same scheme

UCLA promoted linebackers coach Ikaika Malloe to defensive coordinator in January. He’s the program’s fourth defensive coordinator in as many years and replaces D’Anton Lynn, who left for USC. Malloe told reporters during spring practice he planned to keep the same scheme as Lynn used.

The Bruins had the 10th ranked defense in the country last year (301.5 yards allowed per game), but lost some key personnel including defensive end Laiatu Latu and linebacker Darius Muasau.

“The package is the same with some tweaks,” Cignetti said. “Little more pressure perhaps.”

He expanded on that scouting report during his weekly coach’s show.

“There’s some new stuff showing up,” Cignetti said. “I’ve never gone against a team that’s lined up one d-lineman and five linebackers and five defensive backs, or two d-lineman, four linebackers and five defensive backs, couple different 3-3 groupings.”

The film of UCLA’s opener wasn’t much use to IU’s offensive staff since Hawaii ran a spread offense that relied almost exclusively on four-receiver sets and didn’t play a tight end. The Hoosiers mostly play 11 personnel with tight end Zach Horton on the field for much of the game.

More: Why Indiana football isn’t spending much time in California on UCLA road trip

UCLA’s new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy brings pro style attack to Pasadena

UCLA’s new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy isn’t lacking experience, but he’s spent much of his career in the pros. He’s coming off a brief stint as the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator.

“We actually watched stuff of the Commanders in our cut-ups since UCLA only played their one game against Hawaii,” Indiana defensive end Mikail Kamara said.

The Bruins had what IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haines described as a “disjointed” effort in the opener.

“It’s hard off of one game, I’m looking at what appears to be an NFL-style offense that seems a little bit disjointed at times, but has some real playmakers, some real speed on the perimeter, some talented running backs and a gun-slinger type of quarterback (Ethan Garbers),” Haines said. “…A talented offense that hasn’t quite figured out what they want their identity to be.”

UCLA had 343 total yards of offense in the opener, but most of that production (259 yards) came in the second half. They turned it over twice (a pair of interceptions), ran for only 70 yards and was 4 of 13 on third down. Cignetti was quick to note that the Bruins played much of the game without both their starting tackles — Garrett DiGiorgio and Reuben Unije — who he expects will be back in the lineup on Saturday.

“They struggled up front,” Cignetti said.

Indiana’s focus will be putting pressure on Garbers regardless of who is blocking for him.

“He can really wing it, and he’s mobile, and he’s a very talented guy,” Cignetti said.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

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Indiana

Indiana Republicans Unveil Map to Eliminate Both Dem Congressional Seats

Published

6 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Indiana Republicans Unveil Map to Eliminate Both Dem Congressional Seats

Sen Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, speaks at a rally protesting redistricting at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Republicans in Indiana’s State House released a draft congressional map that could eliminate two districts that are currently held by Democrats.

The state GOP published the map Monday in response to months of pressure to gerrymander from President Donald Trump and weeks of escalating threats and harassment.

The Indiana House could pass the map this week, teeing up a vote in the state Senate when it convenes Dec. 8.

States typically redraw their congressional districts once every decade after receiving new census data. But this year, ahead of the 2026 midterms, Trump has ignited a rare, mid-decade redistricting push across the country, demanding GOP-controlled states create more Republican congressional seats and inciting states run by Democrats to redraw their maps in response.

Lawmakers in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina quickly bent to Trump’s will, rushing maps through shortened redistricting processes and passing them into law despite opposition from voters. Voting rights advocates have fought back with litigation.

But the ultimate outcome in Indiana appears less certain than in many other states.

Indiana Senate Republicans have repeatedly insisted they don’t have the votes to pass a gerrymander.

After Trump released a message criticizing Republicans who opposed redistricting, at least five Indiana lawmakers were targeted in so-called “swatting” incidents, in which individuals submitted false emergency reports about them to local law enforcement. Others received bomb threats.

As threats escalated against lawmakers, Senate leader Rodric Bray (R) announced last week that they would convene to hold a redistricting vote.

While the threats may have succeeded in forcing the vote, it’s less clear whether they will change any lawmakers’ positions.

State Sen. Jean Leising (R) said her home was the target of a pipe bomb threat over the weekend.

“This is a result of the D.C. political pundits for redistricting,” she said on social media, adding that she “will not cave” on opposing redistricting.

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Indiana

Indiana lawmakers in state House to convene session with redistricting top of mind – The Boston Globe

Published

19 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Indiana lawmakers in state House to convene session with redistricting top of mind – The Boston Globe

Indiana House members are expected to push forward Monday with redrawing the state’s congressional districts in Republicans’ favor, increasing pressure on their defiant counterparts in the GOP-led Senate to meet President Donald Trump’s demands.

Republicans who control the House chamber have said there’s no doubt that redistricting will pass that chamber. But the fate of any proposal to emerge remains uncertain in the Senate. Republicans also control that chamber but members of the caucus have resisted pressure to redistrict for months.

Senate leadership recently backed off from previous intent not to meet at all, agreeing to convene next Monday. But it’s still unclear if enough senators will back a new map.

No official map or legislation had been made public by late Friday.

Republicans hold seven of Indiana’s existing nine U.S. House seats. Trump and other Republicans want to make the map 9-0 in the GOP’s favor, aiming to give the party two extra seats in the 2026 elections that will determine control the U.S. House. Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats to overcome the Republicans’ current margin.

Indiana lawmakers have been under mounting pressure from the White House to redistrict like Republicans in Texas, Ohio and North Carolina have. To offset the GOP gains, Democrats in California and Virginia have moved to do the same.

But some Indiana Republicans have been far more resistant. Republicans in the state Senate rebelled against Republican Gov. Mike Braun in November and said they would not attend a special session he ordered on redistricting.

The chamber’s top Republican, President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, at the time said the Senate did not have the votes. A spokesperson for Bray’s office did not respond Friday when asked if that is still the case.

Meanwhile, Trump attacked Indiana senators on social media, particularly Bray. He swore to endorse primary opponents of defecting senators. A spree of threats and swatting attempts were made against lawmakers who either said they do not support redistricting or have not taken a stance. At least one lawmaker in favor of redistricting and Braun were also threatened.

Last week, the House announced plans to convene in Indianapolis on Monday.

“All legislative business will be considered beginning next week, including redrawing the state’s congressional map,” House Speaker Todd Huston said in a statement Tuesday.

The Indiana Senate, where a number of lawmakers objected to leadership’s refusal to hold a vote, then said members would reconvene Dec. 8.

“The issue of redrawing Indiana’s congressional maps mid-cycle has received a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our state,” Bray said in a statement Tuesday. He said the Senate will finally decide the matter this month.

Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan.

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