Author: Mike Schumann

Their fingerprints were still fresh on the Old Oaken Bucket in frigid West Lafayette. But when I asked Florida natives Nick Westbrook and Tiawan Mullen about the idea of returning home for a bowl game outside the visiting locker rooms at Purdue, their enthusiasm for the idea could not have been more clear. Maybe it was the thought of escaping the weather?  While understandable after spending four hours in the rain and cold, a trip back home to play in front of friends and family means a little more. “It would be very special.  I would be grateful for it,”…

IU capped off a busy recruiting day on Sunday with a commitment from the all-time leading rusher in Indiana high school history. Hailing from New Palestine High School, Charlie Spegal announced that he would be joining the Hoosiers as a preferred walk-on. Spegal broke the news via his Twitter account: https://twitter.com/charliespegal32/status/1203865825310134272?s=20 After playing two seasons at Delta and two at New Palestine, Spegal is in a select group of players nationally with over 10,000 rushing yards and over 1,000 career points for a high school career. According to 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong, Spegal is one of just five high school players…

The balance of Indiana’s 2020 recruiting class is filling out fast. A.J. Barner became the fifth new Hoosier commit this week, and the third on Sunday alone. The Aurora, Ohio tight end announced his decision on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_ajbarner_/status/1203845238583971841?s=20 The 6-foot-6, 225 pound Barner originally committed to Ohio University.  He took an official visit to Indiana this weekend according to a report. A three star recruit, Barner is rated as the No. 56 tight end in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, and he has been moving up that service’s rankings fast after a senior season that ended with him…

Indiana Director of Athletics Fred Glass and head football coach Tom Allen met with the media on Sunday afternoon to discuss the Gator Bowl and Allen’s contract extension.  If you prefer to read the press conference, the full transcript is below. The Gator Bowl announced this afternoon that it had selected IU for its annual game.  Allen’s contract extension was announced by the school on Friday. Indiana (8-4) will face Tennessee (7-5) on January 2 at 7 p.m. ET in Jacksonville, Florida. https://youtu.be/t5XcKKgXdQM Credit – IU Athletics Bloomington, Indiana FRED GLASS: Today is a particularly great day, I can affirm…

Indiana picked up its second commitment of the day as Texas safety Bryson Bonds committed to play for the Hoosiers. The commitment comes on the heels of an official visit to Indiana this weekend that he previously reported via social media. Bonds announced his Indiana commitment via Twitter on Sunday: https://twitter.com/Brysonbonds19/status/1203773779253645312?s=20 The 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety is from Crowley, Texas (Crowley H.S.) An All-State safety in Texas, Bonds was named first team academic All-State as well. A three-star recruit and the No. 69 safety nationally according to the 247Sports Composite, Bonds chose IU over Kansas, Army, Air Force and others. Along…

Indiana added to their stable of running backs on Sunday afternoon. Virginia class of 2020 running back Tim Baldwin, Jr. announced his commitment to Indiana via Twitter. https://twitter.com/timgbaldwinjr/status/1203762422814822401?s=20 Baldwin had previously been committed to Michigan and ultimately chose IU over West Virginia and South Carolina.  He committed to the Hoosiers after an official visit to Indiana this weekend. Playing for Patriot High School in Nokesville, Virginia, Baldwin rushed for 1,367 yards (6.7 per carry) and 23 touchdowns during his senior season according to his MaxPreps page. A high end three-star recruit, Baldwin is the No. 47 running back in the…

NOTE:  THIS UPDATES PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT HAD SUGGESTED A GATOR BOWL MATCHUP AGAINST KENTUCKY.  LAST MINUTE SHUFFLING BY THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE REPORTEDLY LED TO THE LATE CHANGE. IU’s memorable eight win season has been rewarded with a warm weather bowl destination.  Indiana is headed to Jacksonville, Florida to play in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Indiana will face the Tennessee (7-5).  The Volunteers finished the season 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference, finishing the 2019 campaign on a five game winning streak. https://twitter.com/taxslayerbowl/status/1203789112811163648?s=20 This will be the second ever meeting between the programs.  Tennessee defeated IU 27-22 in the 1987 Peach…

Reality check, served.  My how things have changed over the course of just a few days. From unknown, to darling, to disaster, Indiana basketball traveled the complete spectrum this week, and ended up a complete enigma. Junior guard Al Durham got hit in the mouth in the opening minutes in Madison on Saturday as he ran into a screen set by Wisconsin’s Nate Reuvers.  The Badgers continued to deliver figurative shots to the mouth for two long hours, eventually knocking out IU 84-64 in a game that wasn’t even that close. Indiana (8-1, 0-1) must now get back up, dust…

Indiana lost to Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 84-64.  Below are the final stats and highlights from the game. The Hoosiers (8-1, 0-1) return to action on Tuesday night as they travel to New York to face UConn in connection with the Jimmy V Classic. See also:  Wisconsin Woes Continue for IU https://youtu.be/KcIfvudty9Y You can follow us on Twitter:  @daily_hoosier Find us on Facebook:  thedailyhoosier The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly” Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no additional cost to you.

Wisconsin opened the doors to the Kohl Center on January 17, 1998. Just eight days later Indiana waltzed in and beat the Badgers 69-59.  That 1998 win extended IU’s series lead over Wisconsin to 87-47, and Hoosier fans likely thought at the time that their domination of Wisconsin would continue on despite the new 17,000 seat arena in Madison. Perhaps handing Wisconsin their first ever loss in the arena started the Kohl Kurse? Since then the series script has been flipped.  Wisconsin owns a commanding 27-10 series advantage after that 1998 IU win at the Kohl Center. Much of this…