1 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,040 You're listening to the Back Home Network presented by Home 2 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:21,120 Field Apparel. Welcome back to Crimson Cascade 3 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,880 and Clavio joining you here. It is Thursday the 19th of 4 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:28,560 September and Indiana Football 3 and O on the campaign looking 5 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:32,680 forward to another game this upcoming week as they take on 6 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,560 the Charlotte 49ers at Memorial Stadium and have a chance to 7 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,040 move to four and O for the first time in a while. 8 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,320 And it's been a really exciting last few weeks for this IU 9 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,240 football program. One of the people we wanted to 10 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,040 catch up with about the football program was a guy who was pretty 11 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,440 closely tied to it as a broadcaster. 12 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,560 And then before that, many years ago as a player, Rhett Lewis of 13 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:00,840 the NFL Network and formerly color commentator on the IU 14 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,920 Football Radio Network, now doing sideline reporting for the 15 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,480 Big 10 Network. And always one of our favorite 16 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:13,080 people to talk with as he always has great insights on this team 17 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,000 and on football in general. So we got an interview coming up 18 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:20,080 with him here in just a little bit talking through what he's 19 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,920 seen so far out of this team and just the overall vibe coming out 20 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,520 of that UCLA game as Indiana is still kind of basking in the 21 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,240 afterglow of that five days later. 22 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:32,080 Before we get to that, just a reminder we're brought to you by 23 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,720 Home Field Apparel, your place to go for the finest in college 24 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,960 fashions, the softest fabrics, the coolest designs and just 25 00:01:38,960 --> 00:01:43,200 absolutely, you know, the the best selection of college 26 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,200 apparel out there. 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Also just a reminder were 38 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:23,680 brought to you by Hoosier Game Day Lager. 39 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,240 Brought to you by Upland Brewing Company. 40 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,440 Hoosier Game Day Lager, the official craft beer of the 41 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:35,240 Indiana Hoosiers football squad and certainly the go to for many 42 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,920 people, myself included, in the stands or out in the tailgate 43 00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:41,160 lot, or even just sitting at home watching Indiana football 44 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,080 move towards another victory. You can find who's your Game day 45 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:49,960 logger in the delightful looking candy striped can anywhere that 46 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,400 beer is sold, particularly in central and southern Indiana. 47 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,280 You can also go to any of Upland's fine locations in 48 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,000 Bloomington and elsewhere and pick up a case there. 49 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,080 And of course, if you're at Memorial Stadium, you're going 50 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,640 to find Hoosier Game Day Logger across the stadium in many of 51 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:10,520 the concessions areas. So go get a Hoosier Game Day 52 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:15,080 Logger and enjoy responsibly the official craft beer of Indiana 53 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,800 football. One last quick reminder, we're 54 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,240 on Substack crimsoncast.substack.com. 55 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,440 Please consider signing up for a free subscription, get 56 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:28,320 notifications about when our episodes drop and I think you'll 57 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,840 enjoy the service because it's free and it goes right to your 58 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,280 inbox. So this podcast, many other 59 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:37,120 podcasts get delivered right to your, your inbox and not just 60 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,200 one type. We always try to get links to 61 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,280 the video versions as well as the audio version. 62 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,360 So you can kind of pick and choose how you want to consume 63 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,120 Crimson Cast. There's also a subscriber 64 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,200 option, which is $5.00 a month, $50 a year. 65 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,560 And ultimately, we try to give you some extra things on that, 66 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,160 but really we just appreciate whatever support helps us to 67 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,040 keep the lights on here at Crimson Cast and certainly we 68 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,080 appreciate. All of the folks. 69 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,960 Who are in our subscriber pool now Join me, nearly 1000 people 70 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,560 who have subscribed to Crimson Cast on Substack again, 71 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,320 crimsoncast.substack.com. We'll go ahead and get to our 72 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,640 interview with Rhett Lewis now. And as we move forward, just a 73 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,600 reminder, folks, we will have our normal postgame wrap up 74 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:26,240 podcast taking place on Sunday morning of this upcoming week. 75 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,080 So be sure to tune in for that. We're there the day after every 76 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,240 IU football game, talking through what we saw and giving a 77 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,800 quick preview of the next week. So again, here's our interview 78 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,440 with Rhett Lewis. And be sure to tune in this 79 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:42,640 coming Sunday as we recap Indiana and their game against 80 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,120 the Charlotte 49ers. All right, here we go. 81 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,080 And joining us on the show once again, we welcome him back after 82 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,760 a couple of your absence. But he's familiar to most of you 83 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,480 IU fans if you listen to any games on the radio last year. 84 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:03,760 Rhett Lewis, IU alum, IU football alum and new addition 85 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,920 to the Big 10 Network family of broadcasters. 86 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,440 Rhett, first of all, great to see you and congratulations on 87 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,480 that. We miss you here and IU 88 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,560 Radioland, but it's great to have you back on the show. 89 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,280 Yeah, I appreciate that Galen. It's it's always great to chat 90 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,160 with you and always, you know, in awe of what you do with the 91 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,280 at the media school and and the great students that turn out. 92 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:27,320 I get to cross paths with a with a few of them in my travels, 93 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,960 both with Big 10 Network at NFL Network. 94 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,400 So I I love that. And on that note, you know, it's 95 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,160 it was really bittersweet to leave the IU radio booth for 96 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,840 sure after two years. But you know, for all the all of 97 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:44,960 your students who might TuneIn and you know being attached to 98 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:50,240 live games in this especially if you want to be in television 99 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,760 being attached to television live events. 100 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,880 Is. Where this business is, it's not 101 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,720 even where it's heading, it's where it is and it's only going 102 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,440 to get more impactful to be a part of live games because of 103 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,080 the shoulder programming, the pre and post it, it's all going 104 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,880 away and I have, I've seen that first hand. 105 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,320 So the more live events and live games you can do in whatever 106 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,840 role I have done TV play by play, TV Color and now TV 107 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:20,560 Sideline. So however I can get there is 108 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,000 where I'm going. It is wild to think about how 109 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,560 much the business is changing. And it's also, I was, I was 110 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,000 trying to tell my, my sports media industry class the other 111 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:35,760 day, you know, in 20 years ago you had maybe 1/3 of the games 112 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,880 were on television in a way that people could watch it. 113 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:42,240 Now, not only is almost every FBS level game on television, 114 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,600 but a lot of FCS level games are on television or streaming or in 115 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,200 some way, shape or form are out there. 116 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:49,720 It's just a completely different business than it used to be. 117 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,280 Totally, totally. And, and so, yeah, I mean, like 118 00:06:52,280 --> 00:06:54,760 when I got into the business, it was all about like getting into 119 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,600 getting a studio job and right. And like, you know, going to 120 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,640 work for a network and which is great. 121 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,920 And some of that stuff is still out there, still exists, but 122 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,040 it's just so much there. There's so few. 123 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,320 There's some like the, the the volume is just so much less now 124 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,840 on that front, so. Well, let's, let's talk a little 125 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,120 bit. I mean, Speaking of things that 126 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:15,160 have changed. Yeah. 127 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,640 Hello, IU football. Where have you been all my life? 128 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,120 Let's let's start with the remarkable events of this past 129 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,240 weekend. Indiana playing in the Rose Bowl 130 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,200 in the building for the first time since 1968. 131 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:36,200 First Big 10 game for UCLA, a game that a lot of people had 132 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,360 decided to install as kind of the barometer of where the team 133 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,600 was at. Because as impressive as the 134 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,520 first two wins were for IU, they were certainly against lesser 135 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,600 competition. IU goes out and just dismantles 136 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,880 UCLA over the course of four quarters. 137 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:56,400 You know, I I first want to get your just reaction to seeing 138 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,840 that take place and you know, as someone who who put on the 139 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,480 uniform and played for this program and has been attached to 140 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,720 this program in other ways, like what were the emotions around 141 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,800 seeing that performance from an IU football team in that 142 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:16,520 environment? Man, it was like holy, you know 143 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,160 what? I can swear on the podcast if. 144 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,600 We can. Wow, holy shit, that was 145 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:27,920 awesome. You know, like I, I, you know, I 146 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,840 was doing a game in Lincoln, NE, which was, you know, pretty 147 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,480 incredible on a number of levels on that front too for that 148 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,159 program that is feels like they are all the way back. 149 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,159 And so we kicked off at the same time. 150 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:45,200 And, you know, I, I was kind of like checking my phone, but down 151 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,440 on the sideline, which, you know, my, where's you know, 152 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,760 where my role for Big 10 network is like it's really hard to get 153 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,160 Wi-Fi to get any cell, to get any coverage. 154 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,640 So I'm like, you know, every now and then something would pop up 155 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,960 my phone and I'd see it. Like my dad would text me, 156 00:08:58,360 --> 00:08:59,520 right? So Mike, I'd wait. 157 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,560 My dad, who's also an IU alum and was on the Rose Bowl team as 158 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,720 a student athletic trainer. The last time we were at the 159 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,520 Rose Bowl, which was kind of fitting, he, he had texted me 160 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,280 first at like 7, nothing. And I was like, oh, awesome, 161 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,520 great start. And like, I didn't hear from him 162 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,760 again. I didn't get the text that came 163 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,400 in for like another 30 minutes. And then it was like all of a 164 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:24,000 sudden it was, it was 20 or 14, whatever the 21 to whatever it 165 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,280 was at that time. I was like, oh, what happened? 166 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:28,960 Well, it turns out it was 14. Nothing in a blink of an eye. 167 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:31,520 And this is what I was saying going into the game. 168 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,240 Coach Signetti is a professional head coach. 169 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:38,880 That is not to say that he is an NFL head coach. 170 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,600 It is that he is a professional at being a head coach. 171 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,480 He has done, we have talked about his success and his track 172 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,800 record and it matters. It matters. 173 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,480 Look at what happened at, you know, look at UCLA right now. 174 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,400 Desean Foster is a legend in that program, but he is a rookie 175 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,200 head coach and they're guys watching the tape, especially on 176 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,720 defense. I haven't gotten into a ton of 177 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,200 the offense, the IU defense tape yet. 178 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:07,640 That's on the docket today, but their defense looked confused to 179 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,160 me, like they didn't know. I I'm seeing them pointing at 180 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:11,040 each other. They're moving. 181 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:15,360 I mean, like there's Indiana was so well prepared for this game. 182 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,920 And that's not to say that, you know, UCLA didn't do a good job 183 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,200 of preparing. I just think that IU takes it to 184 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,600 another level. This the coaches that coach 185 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,920 Signetti has hired are just fantastic, sharp football minds 186 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,520 and they know how to get these guys ready to play and to put 187 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,160 them in the best positions to succeed. 188 00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:36,720 And that's what we're seeing. So the guttural reaction, all 189 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:40,720 that was, you know, wow. And I texted that to a number of 190 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:45,400 the coaches this weekend. I was just like, this is UCLA is 191 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,800 not a good team, but they are the best team that IU has faced 192 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:52,200 this year by far. And so to win that convincingly 193 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,240 is is pretty big. We've tried to talk about this 194 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:56,960 on the show like the point you just made. 195 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,160 And it's it's tough because it's it's not. 196 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,320 I don't know that you can effectively explain the results 197 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:08,040 of the first three games for IU without pointing to the 198 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:12,640 difference in the way the team prepares and the way that the 199 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,040 players feel prepared. And we were noticing this even 200 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,560 in talking with players in the offseason, like they know there 201 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:21,760 was always this this kind of interesting shading where it's 202 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,800 like we, you know, we love Coach Allen and that staff, but we 203 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,280 feel like we are being better prepared for what we're going to 204 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,080 be facing in game situations. And I got I was thinking about 205 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,400 it. It's like IU maybe wins that 206 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:39,480 game against UCLA, even with last year's team and staff in 207 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,800 place in as much as as you said, UCLA, well have they have 208 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,640 talent, but they clearly are not well organized. 209 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,200 And that was that was present on both sides of the ball. 210 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,400 But it's a close game. It's a game that looks like a 211 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,640 lot of other games that IU played over the last three 212 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,920 seasons where it it comes down to 1 possession and you're you 213 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,400 feel kind of lucky afterwards if you came away with it. 214 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,480 It didn't feel, I mean, we were a little nervous around halftime 215 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,280 when UCLA scores at the end, we. Had 13 or something. 216 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,200 It was 21. It was 21, seven UCLA drives 217 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:11,800 down the field, scores at the end of the first half. 218 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,320 They get the ball to start the second-half. 219 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,880 They kick the field goal and you know, I've seen that scenario a 220 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,920 bunch of times as an IU fan and, and you've seen it as well. 221 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,560 And you're, you know, in the back of my head, I'm like, I've 222 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:25,000 been talking to Big game about Signeti and his staff and how 223 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,320 prepped they are. This will be a great test. 224 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:31,880 And they just came down the field as if it didn't matter, as 225 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,120 if nothing had changed from what they were planning. 226 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,400 And in a blink of an eye, it's 2810. 227 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,840 They stopped them on the next. Drive to 2813. 228 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:40,320 And then it's essentially game over. 229 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,480 It's just there's such a marked difference in the little things, 230 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,960 in the details, in the way that IU approaches, plays, a lot of 231 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:49,800 those. You know, it was clear UCLA was 232 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,440 selling out to stop the run because that had been the bread 233 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:54,880 and butter of IU for the first couple of games. 234 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:56,520 And IU was like, hey, here's our. 235 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,520 Passing attack that we haven't. Had to use in the last couple of 236 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,680 games and by the way we have 6 people. 237 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:03,400 We can throw to what? Are you going to do about it 238 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:06,520 like that? That was so invigorating for me 239 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,680 as a fan and as someone who observes this team because I the 240 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:11,720 last. Time I can remember. 241 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,320 Feeling that way was when Caitlin de Boer was the 242 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:19,320 offensive coordinator and and that that felt so different. 243 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,680 And it's like, wow, that flavor has returned to to IU football. 244 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,360 That's a good way to put it that does that does summon back some 245 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,720 of those feelings where the now head coach of the Alabama 246 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,920 Crimson Tide, who just put a 42 on the on Wisconsin and Madison 247 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,440 was the Indian offensive coordinator and the Alabama 248 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,840 defensive coordinator was the IU defensive coordinator and the 249 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,360 Alabama offensive coordinator was the IU quarterback coach and 250 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,560 the IU strength coach. You know, like we go on and on 251 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:53,720 about the Alabama connections there, but I, I think a lot of 252 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,240 this comes down to Curtis Rourke's comfortability. 253 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:59,720 It is he, you can just see it on tape. 254 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:04,920 His comfort level is just quick. I mean, so rapidly rising in 255 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,360 this offense. And, you know, I, I think it 256 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:08,920 took some time. I mean, like they've been 257 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,040 drilling on on a lot of this stuff since the spring and then 258 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,520 you go into the summer and then fall camp, you know, I don't 259 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,760 know if it was there yet. And then, you know, like the 260 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,560 scrimmages weren't like overly impressive. 261 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,280 And then you get into FIU looks OK, looks good. 262 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:25,520 Certainly service. I mean, like, obviously Western 263 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:29,280 Illinois, you know, not again, not a great squad, but I mean, 264 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,040 IU did what IU had to do, right? It was IU versus IU and they won 265 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:37,040 in a big way in that one. And then this one man, I I 266 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,120 recall a drive in the second-half that I want to say 267 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,600 ended with that Miles cross catch, another incredible one 268 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,360 that went for a score. But it was it was a drive in 269 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:54,360 which they Curtis had a play that just a bad decision. 270 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,240 It should have been picked off, should have been picked off. 271 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,000 And then I think it was maybe 2 plays later, he comes back with 272 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,680 what in my mind was the throw of the day. 273 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:07,480 He takes he takes a blitzing a blitzer's hit to his like upper, 274 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:13,320 you know, his lower thigh knee area and that beautifully layers 275 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:17,840 a ball over the flat over like the curl defender to a crossing. 276 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,200 I want to say it was it was Keyshawn. 277 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,960 I can't remember exactly. I mean just laid it out 278 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,600 perfectly and just gets back up, shakes it off Bam. 279 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,160 Next play. Next play I think is big for 280 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,040 Curtis. And so I think he is a low 281 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,560 blood, low blood pressure player in the pocket right now where he 282 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,760 is calm, he is collected. He is ready to move on to the 283 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,160 next thing, good or bad, and that is really going to serve IU 284 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,320 well. And so like, the the more I look 285 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,960 at this thing, you know, it's the team that won what, 9 games 286 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:53,080 the last three years? I feel pretty good about being 287 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:54,640 halfway to bowl eligibility through three. 288 00:15:54,640 --> 00:16:00,280 Games I, when I watch Rourke, I, I feel a lot of Nate Sudfeld in 289 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:05,120 terms of presence, you know, and and that's not Peyton Ramsey was 290 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:06,800 great. Michael Pennix was great to have 291 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,680 back there, but you know, they, they were such scramblers that 292 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,080 you know, they would often times default to if it if stuff broke 293 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:15,600 down, they would try to make a play for themselves. 294 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,320 And I've been so impressed with Rourke and his ability to stick 295 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,520 in the pocket and, and, and go through his progressions and not 296 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,280 get really bothered. And I was wondering I mean 297 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,200 because again you're not facing high level defense against FIU 298 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,520 or Western Illinois, but but that UCLA defense, I mean 299 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:34,640 according to some rankings last. Year were really good. 300 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,640 Yeah, they were like top 25 in terms of talent levels and 301 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,880 things like that. And it's interesting because 302 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,720 I've now seen people start to discount that day, the UCLA win, 303 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:45,120 because it's like, well, they're not very good. 304 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:46,840 That's like, how many goal posts are we planning on? 305 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,320 Moving we also made them not very good. 306 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,520 That's right. Yeah, You know, But I I'll say 307 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,760 this, and Rourke is a great example of what I've really been 308 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,200 impressed with so far from the coaching staff, other than what 309 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:04,520 we've already discussed, which is how well they made decisions 310 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,880 in the offseason about what players to target and bring in. 311 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,000 Because it's not just Rourke, but Rourke is probably the best 312 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,720 example of it. But you look at it, the leading 313 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,119 tackler is Aiden Fisher, who they brought in and knew could 314 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:20,520 play at this level. The running back quartet now is 315 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,400 all from elsewhere. The, you know, the receiving 316 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,520 core. Omar Cooper has certainly, I 317 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,920 think demonstrated that he could be the breakout star of the guys 318 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,320 that was here. But Serat and Horton and 319 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,920 Williams and Craw, I mean, it's like this whole collection of 320 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,640 players that either were were very lightly utilized or came in 321 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,360 from elsewhere and are brand new, hey. 322 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,240 Hold on one second, Galen, because we haven't even really 323 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,880 seen EJ Williams or Donovan McCullough yet, right? 324 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:48,400 Like, think about that for a second. 325 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,720 It's, it's why, and I'm what I'm so impressed by is not just the 326 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:55,720 talent evaluation and the idea that these guys could play at 327 00:17:55,720 --> 00:18:00,400 this level, but I'm also really impressed at how interchangeable 328 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,840 the players are in the scheme and what you know, and, and 329 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,320 where it's like, yes, there are players that do certain things, 330 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,200 but we've seen a different player step up and have a big 331 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,240 game. It feels like in every game so 332 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,960 far. And you're seeing players like 333 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,760 Mccully, who's been more of a decoy, hasn't gotten into the 334 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,280 action that much. He's out there celebrating with 335 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:20,920 the guys that are making the plays. 336 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,000 Like it feels like people have bought in, in the running back 337 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,640 room, in the wide receiver room to this idea that they are a 338 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,760 collective and that collectively they're fitting into this 339 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,600 offense. And, and I think on defense, 340 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,440 you're seeing a similar thing where the who's leading in 341 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,440 tackles, who's getting pressure on the quarterback. 342 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,880 It's shifting a bit from game to game, but they've instilled this 343 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,880 more collective effort. And they've also got all of 344 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,160 these pieces that if one guy isn't, you know, getting the 345 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,000 maximum level of production in a game, somebody else has stepped 346 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,360 up and is doing so. Yeah, and that's what 347 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:55,280 competitive depth is all about. And that's something that, you 348 00:18:55,280 --> 00:19:00,720 know, IU has has lacked in, you know, really since the, the 349 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:05,000 COVID year where they they were able to replace guys that year 350 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:09,400 and even back in 1819 too. You know, Penix goes down, you 351 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,560 got a quarterback who can lead you to a bowl game, you know, 352 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,400 twice, right? I mean, you've got you've got 353 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,080 guys in the secondary that were rotating through and picking off 354 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:20,760 passes that that really wasn't the case these last three years 355 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,880 because you felt like there was a drop off. 356 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:28,200 Like frontline talent wise, I use 5I use kind of always been 357 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:30,880 OK. But man, if somebody goes down, 358 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,000 it's like the, you know, the drop off is big. 359 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,520 And that's what you see with middle tier big 10 teams is that 360 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,320 you know, yeah, sure. They're not, you know, Ohio 361 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:43,120 State talent level, but certainly serviceable enough to 362 00:19:43,120 --> 00:19:44,520 find yourself into the postseason. 363 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:47,480 How many teams are at Ohio State's talent level in the Big 364 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,800 10, in the Big 10 too, right? You know, maybe Oregon if you 365 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,520 want to, unless you're counting Oregon as the second team. 366 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,920 I mean, it's, you know, and, and this is I think the important 367 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:01,080 thing. It's like if you look at IU and, 368 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,480 and there's still a lot of work to do. 369 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,600 There's still a lot more to be proven. 370 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:10,360 But what I see the way that we're grading other teams. 371 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,720 Nebraska being a good example, they've looked impressive in 372 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,000 their games, but I would argue I use look more impressive if you 373 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:22,680 take their games as a whole and it's it's more brand name than 374 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,200 anything else. And IU, who knows what, what do 375 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:27,120 they end up doing? We predicted eight wins before 376 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:29,080 the season on the podcast and people are like, you guys are 377 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,160 being way too optimistic. But I had a feeling that what we 378 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:36,280 were seeing in practices and the things we were being told, we're 379 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,720 going to essentially flesh out the way that we're seeing so 380 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:41,040 far. It'll be curious to see what 381 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,080 happens over these next three games because as you said, 382 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,560 halfway to bowl eligibility before you get halfway through 383 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:50,120 September, pretty rarefied air for IU football. 384 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,240 And you've got a sequence of three games here that will 385 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,320 really, I think, demonstrate, you know, where in the pecking 386 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,000 order we should be thinking about IUI. 387 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,080 Mean Charlotte, Maryland and then at Northwestern, those are 388 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,240 all games Indiana can win. And when you look at the 389 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,880 relative talent levels, I feel very good about where I use at 390 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,880 because of how organized they look and how badly they've made 391 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,560 each of their opponents look thus far. 392 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,000 Yeah, I mean, like I I was drumming up scenarios where, you 393 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,200 know, you could be talking about a team that's undefeated, you 394 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,160 know, welcoming Michigan, right to Bloomington. 395 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,600 Who who just decided they needed to change quarterbacks going 396 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:29,520 into their biggest game of the year? 397 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,400 It's like, it's hard. I know I've I've had a lot of 398 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,560 conversations with people on the side where I'm like, is the 399 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:36,600 floor like nine wins? I'm like, let's, let's pump the 400 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,560 brakes. A little bit here, but you 401 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,920 deserve we Indiana fans deserve to feel good about this and to 402 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,320 get excited about it. And I think that's that's the 403 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,680 moral of the story here. Like get out there and, you 404 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,320 know, not only pack, but defend the Rock, You know, like make, 405 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:54,320 make make Memorial Stadium, you know, a place to be reckoned 406 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,000 with. And I think that's where 407 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,000 starting off 3 and O getting that first big Rd. win. 408 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:04,040 Hopefully they are welcomed back very raucously at the Rock this 409 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,120 weekend against Charlotte. And then, you know, you get 410 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:09,080 Maryland at home as well, which is big on the road in 411 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:10,440 Northwestern is an interesting 1. 412 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,840 I don't know if there's a decided home field advantage 413 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,080 there other than everything's just a little bit unique there. 414 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,240 And I can't tell you how big of a a difference it'll make taking 415 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,440 on Nebraska in Bloomington as opposed to in Lincoln. 416 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,560 That place is an absolute buzz saw when they are bowling. 417 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,920 So, yeah, I feel you. I mean, like, I I looking at 418 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:30,240 this too. I mean, like, yeah, it looks, 419 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:32,680 all of it looks very doable, but you got to go out and do it. 420 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,840 And I think that's what Coach Cignetti is proving and 421 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,440 preaching to his players right now. 422 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:41,000 And that's what will serve this team well is that he's not like, 423 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,040 all right, we're three and O, you know, I imagine there is no 424 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,640 one who has mentioned there's halfway to eligibility within 425 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:51,040 that building this week. Yeah, What do you make? 426 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,520 You know, it's been amusing watching IU fans kind of wrap 427 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,160 their heads around Signetti and his approach because it is so 428 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,240 markedly different from what we've seen from previous 429 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,880 coaches, not just Tom Allen, but even but Kevin Wilson as well. 430 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:09,880 Like there's just there's this real hyper focus on doing things 431 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:15,440 properly in terms of execution. And you, you hear Signetti's 432 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,640 comments and post game press conferences. 433 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:19,640 You hear him when he's on the coaches show. 434 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,840 And it's funny to a lot of people because it seems very 435 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,560 basic and and very straightforward. 436 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,200 And yet it does seem to be resonating with the players. 437 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,320 So I guess I two questions for you. 438 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,720 I'm curious about your reaction to his approach from what we've 439 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:34,920 seen. And I'm sure you've been Privy 440 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,520 to some things that maybe we haven't seen. 441 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:41,680 But also, as a player, how much does hearing that kind of 442 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:46,640 message play into your building of confidence as you move 443 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:48,280 forward through the course of a season? 444 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,840 It's huge. You got a coach out there 445 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:58,520 saying, you know, we expect to win and to, you know, fairly 446 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:04,400 boldly proclaim that this team is capable of winning in a way 447 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:08,800 that this town and this fan base hasn't seen in decades. 448 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,440 And it's like, wait, it's like, it's it's almost like a 449 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,120 reminder. It's like this is, yeah, I I get 450 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:15,560 it. It's been a tough run, you know, 451 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:19,480 these last couple of years, you know, had a had a good little, a 452 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,720 good, a good burst, you know, four or five years ago. 453 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:27,000 But it's been bad enough to make it feel like that almost didn't 454 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,320 happen, right? And so now what coach Signetti 455 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,440 has done is completely flipped the mindset where it's it's not 456 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,360 like, man, we're really going to fight and we we hope to win 457 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:40,240 these games. No, it's like the expect, it's 458 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,640 everyone's expectation to win. But the way that Coach Signetti 459 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,720 portrays it is one of such confidence that I think it 460 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,800 really does trickle into the players collective mindset and 461 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,880 into the program's collective mindset. 462 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,280 And while it may rub some people the wrong way, it may not be for 463 00:24:57,280 --> 00:24:59,920 everybody. Right now it's for IU and I 464 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:02,120 think that's that's the best thing that could be said. 465 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,360 It's, it's, it just feels like a huge difference. 466 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:08,040 I mean, you have to have a belief programmatically in what 467 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:11,960 you're doing. And it has often felt that I us 468 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,960 try to run on emotion and, you know, emotions are very 469 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,640 susceptible to the moment. And, you know, I think that was, 470 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,480 again, it's what impressed me the most about the sequence in 471 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,280 the UCLA game where normally that knocks an IU team off of 472 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,920 its pathway. And it feels like in every game, 473 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,640 IU has at the very least maintained, if not gotten 474 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,240 slightly stronger as they've gone through. 475 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,600 And and obviously, as the I well, here's the thing I keep 476 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,760 saying, you know, as the competition level ratchets up. 477 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:43,080 And yet that's not really what happens in the there's the what 478 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:45,680 I'm fascinated by, and we kind of touched on it a little bit a 479 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,200 minute ago. The middle third of the 480 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,480 schedule. You know, you've got you've got 481 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:55,800 at Northwestern in a weird quasi home environment for that, 482 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:57,680 right? You've got a you've got N 483 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,600 Nebraska for homecoming. You've got Washington the 484 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,080 following week, who's who looks pretty up and down. 485 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:07,160 And then you're at Michigan State like that, any of those 486 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,240 games individually, if you're looking at IU right now in the 487 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,960 way that they've played, if UCLA is a decent harbinger as a road 488 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,680 team for what you might get talent wise from those other 489 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:18,080 teams. And I don't think that's too far 490 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:19,960 off. Like none of those teams are are 491 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,040 stocked with any more talent than Indiana. 492 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,880 This is where the preparation and the attitude and the belief 493 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:30,320 can filter through. And I, I think that it's why I 494 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,480 try not to get too irrationally excited because obviously things 495 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,600 can change, injuries happen, things like that. 496 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:40,200 But having that as a core for your program is, is such a a 497 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:44,480 huge potential advantage, especially when you're playing 498 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,240 two of those games at home and the two games you're playing at 499 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,520 home are probably the two most talented teams that you've got 500 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:54,280 in that four-game stretch. Yeah, I think that's that's 501 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:58,000 huge, right? You know, the Maryland one will 502 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,480 be really interesting to me because I think Billy Edwards is 503 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,000 playing some really good football for them at 504 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,240 quarterback. I I don't really know what to 505 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,240 make of them as a team yet. I haven't watched a ton of their 506 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,360 games yet. So I don't know that I can say 507 00:27:10,360 --> 00:27:12,560 for certain how I feel about that. 508 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:14,800 But that is that is in the offing right now. 509 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,760 This will be a good test for Indiana, right? 510 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,000 Because, yeah, I think everybody was on him a little bit, You 511 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,480 know, big win, 77 points against Western Illinois. 512 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,040 I think there was still, you know, a little bit of all right, 513 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,880 it's an FCS team. Like, let's not get, but now you 514 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,840 go into the Rose Bowl and smash UCLA that way. 515 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,800 I think there's a lot more eyes open. 516 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,080 You've got, you know, Bill Connolly talking about the 517 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,560 College Football Playoff and you know that I and everybody's 518 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,240 like, whoa, whoa, whoa. You got to come back. 519 00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:45,800 You got to come back down and refocus and play Charlotte this 520 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,000 week, OK. Who I don't think is as talented 521 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:53,160 as UCLA, but they may be a little bit better put together 522 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:56,160 as a team right now. So they've got a coach who's, 523 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,400 you know, in his second year, got some really good coaches on 524 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,400 that staff. Dre Bly is on that staff. 525 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,640 Tim Brewster is on that staff. There's. 526 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,160 Yeah. Yeah, exactly. 527 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,840 Former what? Minnesota, right. 528 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:12,680 Yeah. So this will be a challenge I 529 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,640 think, you know, not just on the field, but again, another 530 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,560 mindset challenge. But I I really haven't been 531 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:21,560 given any reason to believe that Coach Signetti won't have these 532 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:23,760 guys ready for both pieces of that challenge. 533 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:29,120 It's a wild spot to be in. This feels like a different 534 00:28:29,120 --> 00:28:31,480 reality that we've been shot into and it's just trying to get 535 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:33,720 our heads wrapped around it. But it's fun. 536 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:39,480 It's been so much fun watching people, I think having had their 537 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,360 mentality switch as fans about what I you could be. 538 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,280 And I am really fascinated to see what the crowd looks like in 539 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:48,240 Memorial Stadium this weekend and especially next week. 540 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,080 And I mean, I think, you know, I'm, I'm hoping that the UCLA 541 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,680 game woke some people up that were still sleeping on them and, 542 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:58,000 and made people say this is really a team worth following, 543 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,480 worth getting behind. I've been going around telling 544 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,560 people let's make the Charlotte game the introduce a friend to 545 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,680 Indiana football game. Awesome idea. 546 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:07,600 I love it. Let's like find a way to get 547 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,040 find a bring a friend, you know, pay for the tickets. 548 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:11,720 There's plenty of cheap tickets still available. 549 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,640 But let's get people in into the Rock noon game. 550 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:18,800 There's no travel excuses. And you know, to me, it's like I 551 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:21,000 want I'd love to. It was such a cool moment. 552 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,560 I can say this standing in the Rose Bowl end zone above the 553 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,680 tunnel at the end of the game, cheering the players as they 554 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:28,680 came off the. Field. 555 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,120 I mean, it was. Such a cool moment. 556 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:35,640 And, you know, I, I, I hope that the players and the coaches 557 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:39,280 realized like, there's a core of really strong support for IU 558 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:41,560 football. And now it's a matter of getting 559 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:44,280 some of the more casual fans who have kept it at arm's length 560 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,040 into the fold and getting them. Because like that, those are the 561 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,160 kinds of things that really do make a big difference when 562 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,400 you're playing a Maryland, when you're playing in Nebraska. 563 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,920 And the crowd might be there. But it's about getting people 564 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,520 really pumped up and excited about what this team's doing. 565 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,200 And I think that they've done enough at this point to 566 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:01,240 certainly warrant. That. 567 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:06,280 Yeah, and look, a noon kick is a great opportunity to, you know, 568 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:10,840 come early but stay late. Like stay all flippin day. 569 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:14,440 Like enjoy the game and then and then go out, back out to the 570 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,560 parking lot after the win. OK, Not at halftime. 571 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,040 At back out to the parking lot after the game. 572 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:23,400 There's great concessions in Memorial Stadium, there's all 573 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:25,720 kinds of beer options. There's no reason to leave at 574 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,320 this point. Exactly right until until the 575 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,160 clock hits zero and the victory flag has been raised. 576 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,320 Well, it's an exciting time Rhett, and it's great to chat 577 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,960 with you on on this. And you know, good luck. 578 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,000 We'll hopefully see you. Maybe you'll swing by. 579 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,120 We're in a slightly different spot, but we'd love to see you 580 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,480 before the game. And for those of you who are 581 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:47,880 going to be watching from home, get to Memorial Stadium. 582 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,680 But if you can't, you'll be able to see Rhett on the sideline 583 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:54,320 this weekend for the game. So Rhett Lewis, NFL Network and 584 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,400 Big 10 Network, we appreciate you joining us here on Crimson 585 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:58,240 Care. Anytime. 586 00:30:58,240 --> 00:30:58,720 Thanks guys.