Spring Is In The Air...Just Not Here

Yes indeed, ladies and gentlemen, spring is upon us despite what Mother Nature wants you to believe. The Cheap Seats yesterday were the free seats on the metal benches of Memorial Stadium, as the Indiana Football Hoosiers held their traditional spring football game. Unfortunately it was cold, it was rainy, and towards the end of the game it was windy. As such, the 5-10,000 people that generally show up to the Cream and Crimson Game decided to stay home and watch anything other than themselves getting pneumonia. Still, the 1,000-or-so people that made an appearance seemed to enjoy the game thoroughly and they were shown some promising things by this Indiana team.

We start, of course, with the offense. When you look at the roster, it's immediately apparent that the offense will have to be this team's strength this year. With redshirt sophomore Kellen Lewis starting under center this year, Josiah Sears and Marcus Thigpen contributing from the backfield, and James Hardy, Ray Fisher, Nick Polk, and Terrance Turner running down the field to catch the ball, this offense is actually fairly loaded. Lewis, of course, contributed yesterday by running the ball out of the pocket in true Michael Vick style. Lewis' speed will provide some exciting plays this year and will befuddle many a defense. The 6'7" Hardy will most likely be the main target again, as he was in a fine rhythm with Lewis for most of the game yesterday. The running game from the actual running backs does seem like it might cause problems again, but Thigpen has a full season in the backfield under his belt, and that experience should help him.

The defense is still not quite up to Big Ten standards, but they seem to be improving. Play in the secondary, last years' weak point, will once again revolve around Tracy Porter. Porter, who will be a senior next year, is still very quick and very athletic and will make a difference in a few games. He could've used the help that would have come from Jerimy Finch, who declined the Hoosiers' scholarship offer to jump on the Florida bandwagon, but I think the secondary will still be alright. The rest of the defense may be somewhat nondescript, but they are solid and did a fine job of stopping the run and keeping the offense on their toes.

I'm still not entirely sure how many wins this team might pull down in the regular season, but this year will be their best chance in a long time to find their way into a December game. The Big Ten's traditional powers, Ohio State and Michigan, do not appear on the schedule this year. There are four non-conference games against teams that IU should beat: Indiana State, Western Michigan, Akron, and a November date with Ball State. The biggest tests will be at Wisconsin, who I believe will contend for the Big Ten this year, and at home against Penn State, who have re-established themselves as something of a power. The Penn State game will be the Hoosiers' best chance at an upset, as the game will be played in front of a nice, big homecoming crowd, and the Hoosiers have not lost a homecoming game in four years. When I look at the schedule, I see seven, and possibly eight wins for this team: the four non-conference games, vs. Illinois, at Northwestern, vs. Minnesota, a possible upset against Penn State, and the Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket against Purdue. Look for the Hoosiers in Tempe, AZ, Orlando, FL, or San Antonio come the last week of December.