Tom Allen looks forward to Cincinnati, recaps Indiana football’s overtime win

Indiana head coach Tom Allen took the rostrum after a 33-30 extra time win over Western Kentucky College on Saturday at dwelling and launched the employees’s award winners from the week. The Hoosiers now flip their consideration to a program that has been on a gradual rise in recent times in Cincinnati. Allen talked about how though the Bearcats had excessive roster turnover, the movie on them speaks for itself. 

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Caleb Murphy obtained the Offensive Participant of the Sport award after coming in on brief discover. Following an harm to junior beginning middle Zach Carpenter, Murphy was tasked with taking part in a hefty variety of snaps. 

“That’s one thing the employees felt strongly about, simply because he wasn’t anticipated to play such a lot of reps,” Allen mentioned. “With Carpenter taking place throughout warmups and permitting him to play all these snaps, he did an important job.” 

[ Indiana football defeats Western Kentucky in overtime after special teams heroics]

On the opposite aspect of the ball, senior linebacker Aaron Casey took dwelling Defensive Participant of the Sport. 

Casey has primarily performed each season of his eligibility as a particular groups member, however he has seen alternatives as a linebacker periodically during the last two years. He made his first profession begin final November in opposition to Rutgers and has been productive since then. 

“Actually pleased with his progress and his improvement as a participant and particular person,” Allen mentioned. “He performed his finest soccer recreation, I consider, since he’s been right here.” 

As for the particular groups choice, the employees determined to separate the honour between two gamers. Senior kicker Charles Campbell sank a 51 yard subject objective to win the sport following fellow senior defensive again Jaylin William’s block of the Western Kentucky subject objective to start out extra time. 

[ Indiana football kicker Charles Campbell takes home pair of special teams honors]

Allen now turns his consideration towards Indiana’s first highway recreation of the season in opposition to the College of Cincinnati. 

“I’d place a excessive worth on the sport with out query,” Allen mentioned. “My strategy— it’s been this manner since I’ve been right here— is that it’s the largest recreation of the season as a result of it’s the subsequent one.” 

Cincinnati is coming off a spotlight season the place they turned the primary Group of 5 convention faculty to make the Faculty Soccer Playoff since its inception. This 12 months, Cincinnati has new gamers all around the subject after their quarterback, operating again, and high cornerback from final season all departed for the NFL. They’ve performed effectively this 12 months with all the brand new faces, however have misplaced a recreation early within the season to Arkansas. 

“Street video games are all the time massive and necessary and arduous,” Allen mentioned. “To play a playoff workforce, it’s an superior alternative.” 

After getting off to a 3-0 begin with some late recreation heroics, Indiana will face a real take a look at in its first highway matchup of the season Saturday.