Allen takes blame for ugly loss to Iowa
In reflecting on a 42-16 home loss to Iowa, Indiana coach Tom Allen wanted to make sure any fingers pointed were at himself.
“It’s my responsibility to get this team ready to play each and every week,” Allen said.
“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.”
There was plenty of blame to go around as the Hoosiers struggled in several facts. The Hawkeyes racked up 479 yards, 320 passing and 159 rushing.
The Hoosiers (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) will need a better showing on both sides of the football when they host No. 18 Penn State (4-2, 1-2) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
“I haven’t really been a part of many games like that,” senior receiver Luke Timian told iuhoosiers.com.
“The vibe on the sideline, it didn’t seem like our team was ready to play. I take that upon myself. Other seniors do, as well. We need to be ready to play and when you’re not, that’s what’s going to happen. It just can’t happen again, bottom line.
“Seniors, really everyone has to do a better job. That’s the next step going forward. If you don’t show up and play, that’s what is going to happen. You’re going to get embarrassed by a Big Ten team.”
Seniors Wes Martin and Jacob Robinson were among the seniors that addressed the team during a team meeting.
“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,” Allen said.
“Just really challenging our guys to respond the right way. 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.”
Allen said he sat back and let the players talk.
“Once I had a good idea what they wanted to say, it was all very necessary,” Allen said. “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.”
