Big 10 Preview 2012

2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW A N I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

6 TEAMS 1 SEASON

FOOTBALL

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEN’S SOCCER

VOLLEYBALL

FIELD HOCKEY

CROSS COUNTRY

New helmet rule among several changes to NCAA regulations.

As Big Ten tourney host, IU hopes to improve its own conference mark.

Find out why only seven Big Ten schools have varsity men’s soccer teams.

The Hoosiers seek to prove that height is no certain indicator of volleyball success.

Despite a loaded Big Ten, IU seeks to improve its road record in 2012.

Five seniors are gone from an NCAA finals team. Can IU reload with younger talent?

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2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW

I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

WOMEN’S SOCCER

REFOCUSING

BY KOURTNEY LIEPELT kliepelt@indiana.edu

The IU women’s soccer team believes this year will be different.

With only two victories and nine losses in Big Ten play last season, the Hoosiers see plenty of opportunity going into their conference slate.

“I think we are an improved team from last year, and our training sessions have been very competitive,” junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy said. “Starting the season, we have been able to post a better record than last year, so we are looking to continue that into Big Ten play.”

The team kicks off Big Ten play at 7 p.m. Saturday against Michigan Ann Arbor, and IU Coach Mick Lyon said preparation so far this season has focused on that matchup.

Challenging, intense games, such as those in California earlier this season, have been learning opportunities to fix mistakes before entering Big Ten play, he said.

“By the time the Big Ten season starts, we know that all the early season preparation

is getting ready for that first game on the road against Michigan,” Lyon said. “It is the best in the country, so if that doesn’t excite you as a coach and a player, then you are in the wrong place.”

The Hoosiers have fostered high hopes going into their conferences matches, with the goal in mind to not only make it to the Big Ten tournament hosted by IU this year but also secure a place in the top half of the conference.

The players have no doubt they will be able to do so.

“If we continue to believe and grow as a team, I know that we will be able to achieve our goals,” senior forward Orianica Velasquez said. “I want to do my best and score as many goals as possible to help the team.”

Still, several opponents within the Big Ten will pose challenges for the team, and the talent coursing through teams such as Penn State and Illinois particularly stand out, Lyon said.

“The task for us will be to find a way to rise up against a tough opponent,” he said.

Nouanesengsy said she

Hoosiers set sights on starting fresh, making at-home Big Ten Tournament

TOP MATCHUPS Indiana v. Illinois 7:30 p.m. Sep. 28 Armstrong Stadium A 4-1 loss last year against Illinois will make this year’s game one to watch. “Illinois seems to have a very good soccer team, and they will be a quality opponent,” IU Coach Mick Lyon said.

Indiana v. Penn State 1 p.m. Oct. 7 University Park, Pa. A 3-0 shutout at home last season against Penn State began a streak of losses for the remainder of IU’s Big Ten play.

TWITTER TALK Kristin Leist @kristinleist Thanks to all the fans that came out to our game tonight especially @czeller40 ! We appreciate the support #IUWS Aug. 24 IDS FILE PHOTO

Senior forward Orianica Velasquez dribbles past a South Florida defender Aug. 24 at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

believes the Big Ten talent is comparable to both Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara, both teams faced earlier this season, and agrees with Lyon’s perspective.

The team simply has to bring its best to each game, she said, and she plans to do what she can to help.

is where the team’s focus remains.

“Our team mentality is different,” Velasquez said.

“All we care about is winning because every player on the team does not like to lose.

So, we are focusing more and more on finding ways to win.”

“I hope to be able to help the team by scoring some goals,” Nouanesengsy said.

“Last year we struggled with that a little in conference play, so we want to turn that around.”

In the end, both players and coach agree that winning is crucial, and that

LAST SEASON Wins Losses Ties

Overall record

1 6

12

2 9 Conference

Highest scorer: Orianica Velasquez, seven of 25 goals

ZACH ATTACK

Hoosier sports give a lot to look forward to in season’s Big Ten competition Big Ten competition has begun, so it is time to look at Indiana athletics and how they should fare this season.

The IU football team is coming off a rough 1-11 season during IU Coach Kevin Wilson’s first year, but things are looking up. Despite the injury to sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson, the Hoosiers are off to a 2-0 start.

Sophomore quarterback Cam Coffman will step in

and lead a young offense with freshman Tevin Coleman at running back. Coleman has received high praise from Wilson and has been compared to Adrian Peterson.

During time, this team will mature, but for now, they’re still in a transitional period and should expect a 4-8 season.

In men’s soccer, the Hoosiers will be relying on sophomore forward Eriq

Zavaleta to be the go-to guy.

Zavaleta was the only double-digit goal scorer on the team last year as a freshman so big things are expected of him this year.

Senior goaltender Luis Soffner has been reliable in the past and will need to keep up his level of play if the Hoosiers want to compete for their eighth title.

Expectations for this team are not glowing like in past

years, but the Hoosiers haven’t missed the tournament since 1986, so expect them to keep the streak going.

Women’s soccer is coming off a rough 6-12-1 season, going just 2-9 in the Big Ten. The girl to look out for this year is junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy. She posted six goals last year and is off to a hot start this year, scoring five times in the first six games.

Senior Olympian Orianca

Velasquez will also be a big part of this team as its main striker.

Playing for IU Coach Mick Lyon, this team hasn’t seen the brightest days. They have never been a dominant team, but they are never at the bottom of the pack either.

Things are looking up for this team though, so expect approximately a .500 season.

The men’s swimming and diving team ranks preseason

ZACH STAVIS is a sophomore majoring in journalism.

No. 11 and have high hopes with the return of junior Eric Ress. He missed last season due to Olympic trials and his return will be huge. He holds the school record in multiple swimming events and should be the leading SEE STAVIS, PAGE 8

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2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW

I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

FOOTBALL

New rule changes impact college play

BY AARON SIEGAL-EISMAN amsiegal@indiana.edu

“Anything for the safety of the game and the safety of the players, I’m in total agreement, just ’cause you are always trying to eliminate injuries.”

This year in college football brings about three crucial rule changes. With a focal point on player safety, these rules could have a noticeable effect in games.

First, kickoffs are now at the 35-yard line instead of the 30. Additionally, touchbacks have been moved forward to the 25-yard line, not the 20.

The yardage change allows for more touchbacks, which means fewer players will be hit during kickoffs.

IU Co-Defensive Coordinator Doug Mallory said this rule would impact the kickoff game.

“Moving it up five yards, you are not going to see as many returns,” he said.

“It seems like it’s going to take a little away from the kickoff game.”

Second, when a player’s helmet comes off during the game, he must step off the field for the following play.

The player can stay on the field if it happened because of a flag against the other team, such as a facemask.

There have been mixed reactions to this rule, with some in support of the change for player safety and others, like senior defensive tackle Larry Black Jr., realizing this could result in an important player’s removal during a “ crucial play in the game.

“The helmet one is going to cause a lot of stirs,” Black said. “The helmet just comes off when you are going hard. If it comes off and on the ground, then you have to come out a play, and you could miss a key offensive or defensive player.”

College football players have seen this rule in action during its first week

Doug Mallory, IU Asisstant Coach

HOOSIER FOOTBALL PULSE TOP MATCHUPS IU v. Northwestern TBA Sept. 29 Evanston, Ill. Leading off the 2012 Big Ten season, this game will be significant to determine whether IU can win on the road in conference play. It will set the tone for future games.

IU v. Ohio State 8 p.m. Oct. 14 Memorial Stadium During a night game in Bloomington, a postseasonineligible Ohio State team will play an IU team looking for revenge after last year’s loss in Columbus, Ohio. As OSU Coach Urban Meyer’s debut against IU, it should make for a memorable night for the Hoosiers.

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Sept. 12

IDS FILE PHOTO

vvvThen-junior defensive lineman Adam Replogle sacks the Illinois quarterback and forces a fumble on Oct. 10, 2011, at Memorial Stadium. New rule changes for college football will affect linemen by prohibiting low blocking on the field except within 7 yards of the snapper.

of play.

Northwestern junior quarterback Kain Colter’s helmet came off in a play during the fourth quarter against Syracuse.

“I was just watching a little of the SyracuseNorthwestern game, and here they are in second down, and a kid gets his helmet knocked off, and he has to come out,” Mallory said. “Well, then you put in the backup quarterback for a critical situation. So, kids just have to strap their helmets on better.”

Safety is a factor in the Big Ten Conference, as it is one of the toughest in the

country, senior defensive tackle Adam Replogle said.

“The Big Ten is known for physical play, and I don’t think anything is going to change,” he said.

Low blocking is now allowed only for linemen within seven yards of the snapper and for defensive backs in the tackle box.

“Low blocks have always been an emphasis,” Mallory said. “Anything for the safety of the game and the safety of the players, I’m in total agreement, just ’cause you are always trying to eliminate injuries.”

Both Black and Replogle

said these rules are being implemented in practice. This way, issues such as a helmet flying off are less likely to occur during games.

“If a helmet comes off during practice, you are out for a play,” Black Jr. said. “We were doing that all camp, so it’s normal to us now.”

These rules are for the players’ benefit to keep then uninjured and able to play football for a long time, Black said.

“If it’s anything to keep the players safe, I’m all for it,” he said. “It’s a very dangerous game.”

3

Shane Wynn @SHANEWYNN4 Bout to play madden with my teammates. I love my team nothing like people that love the grind. Sept. 6 Mike Ekeler @crashekeler Allen Iverson was on to something! We talk’n bout practice man, we talk’n bout practice! Not even talk’n bout the game! Almost game time!

Aug. 29

LAST SEASON Wins Losses

Overall record

1

11 8

Conference

IU averaged only 21.4 points per game, third worst in the Big Ten.

Team seeks redemption following 1-11 season CONNOR KILLOREN is a junior majoring in journalism.

After any trying experience, nothing is more refreshing than a fresh start.

The IU football program is no different.

Following one of the worst seasons in program history last year, the Hoosiers have new hope entering the 2012 season.

The team took steps to eradicate memories of last season’s 1-11 mark Sept. 1 after defeating the Indiana State Sycamores 24-17. On Sept. 8., the team beat Massachusetts 45-6 to double their win total from last season. The Hoosiers will face Ball State before entering the inevitable grind of Big Ten Conference action.

As of press time, two of Indiana’s Big Ten foes were ranked in the top 25, No. 10 Michigan State and No. 12 Ohio State. Both will make the trek to Bloomington to face the Hoosiers.

The Buckeyes, Badgers and Hoosiers are in the Big Ten Leaders Division, which will send one of the schools to Lucas Oil Stadium in December. Ohio State and Penn State are each ineligible for the conference championship game.

The circumstances pit Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue and Indiana in a four-team race to qualify for a spot in the second annual title game.

Because the Hoosiers have found themselves in this unique position, it may be enough motivation for the team to make a run at winning six games and qualifying for a postseason bowl game.

SEE KILLOREN, PAGE 7

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I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW

2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW

I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

5

MEN’S SOCCER

5 Big Ten universities fail to provide varsity men’s soccer teams

SHOOTING FOR THE RECORD

BY MICAH MCVICKER mmmcvick@indiana.edu

Zavaleta on track to beat IU goals record

BY JUSTIN SHOCKEY jnshocke@indiana.edu

In 1987, Ken Snow produced 28 goals in 21 games.

Snow’s ’87 season still stands in the Hoosier men’s soccer record books as the most goals scored in a single season.

This season, sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta is on pace to match or break that record with six goals in six games so far.

In Zavaleta’s first three games, the standout from Westfield, Ind., scored five goals.

The streak ended for two games before finally resuming with a sixth goal against Oregon State last weekend.

With 22 more goals to score, the record is still far from reach. But the pace Zavaleta has kept thus far is worth mentioning. “He has been doing really well by stepping up to the plate and helping us in big moments,� senior captain and goalkeeper Luis Soffner said.

Zavaleta was the team leader in scoring and points during his freshman year with 10 goals and 25 points.

At the conclusion of his freshman year, Zavaleta was nominated for and received numerous honors.

In addition to several Player of the Week mentions, Zavaleta was named Big Ten

WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO MAKE HISTORY A look at what it would take for sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta to break Ken Snow’s record for most goals scored in a single season.

In 1987, Snow scored 28 goals in 21 games.

This season, Zavaleta has scored 6 goals in the first 6 games.

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GAME 6

GAME 3

RECORD-BREAKING In the first three games, Zavaleta’s average goals per game was 1.67, higher than Snow’s average during the 1987 season.

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WEEKENDS

GAME 2

GAME 1

Snow averaged 1.33 goals per game

SEE GOALS, PAGE 8

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Last season, Zavaleta made a total of 10 goals in 22 games, just four more than he has already scored this year.

WON’T MAKE IT Zavaleta’s average in the three most recent games was .33 goals per game.

To break the record, he must return to the pace set at the season’s start.

The team will play 18 regular season games this year, one to three Big Ten tournament games and one to six games in the NCAA tournament. That makes for a total of 27 possible games. If the team makes it to the finals in both tournaments, Zavaleta’s current one goal per game average would get him very close to beating the record.

With seven NCAA titles since 1973, Indiana is known as a place for men’s soccer.

However, only seven universities in the Big Ten field varsity men’s soccer teams.

Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska do not participate at the varsity level.

Consequently, all seven teams play in the Big Ten Tournament in November. The regular season conference champion earns a bye.

Sources from each of the five institutions said they don’t expect changes in that format anytime soon, despite revenues from the Big Ten Network.

Purdue, for example, has never fielded a varsity team.

Tom Schott, Purdue associate athletics director, said he thinks the Boilers have, other than or the same as Northwestern, the fewest sports of any Big Ten athletic department.

He said when Morgan Burke became athletics director in 1993, Purdue was not at the NCAA allotment in all sports. While not explicitly referencing Title IX, it is a factor, he said. “We would love to have more programs, but obviously financial considerations have to be taken into effect,� he said. “We very much understand the popularity of men’s soccer. To add a men’s sport, we’d have to add a women’s sport. While we’d love to and probably will at some point, men’s soccer certainly is one we would consider.�

Instead, the Boilers have upgraded current facilities. “We had to make sure we take care of the sports we

“Obviously, Indiana has a tremendous program.

It would be a great and natural rivalry. Hopefully, that day will come at some point.�

Tom Schott, Purdue associate athletics director

have,� Schott said.

He said Purdue has one of the smaller football stadiums, and the university has “undergone massive and major facility upgrades the last 15, 20 years that have taken a lot of our resources.� “We are at the low end in the Big Ten,� he said. “That hurts us nationally in the Director’s Cup. Obviously, Indiana has a tremendous program. It would be a great and natural rivalry. Hopefully, that day will come at some point.�

IU Coach Todd Yeagley agreed and said he would love to see more conference schools add the sport.

However, he is taking advantage of the current situation by playing regional rivals each season. It allows for balance and quality midweek opponents, he said. “We certainly enjoy the current format,� Yeagley said.

Nebraska’s situation is unique, as the Huskers joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2011.

Their former conference, the Big 12, had no men’s soccer teams. “In order to comply with Title IX, if we added a men’s soccer team we would undoubtedly have to add a couple of women’s sports,� Huskers Athletic Director Tom Osborne said in an email. “We are not in a financial position to do so at the present time.�

Minnesota Director of SEE SOCCER, PAGE 8

2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW

I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

5 Big Ten universities fail to provide varsity men’s soccer teams

ECORD

BY MICAH MCVICKER mmmcvick@indiana.edu

Zavaleta on track to beat IU goals record

BY JUSTIN SHOCKEY jnshocke@indiana.edu

In 1987, Ken Snow produced 28 goals in 21 games.

Snow’s ’87 season still stands in the Hoosier men’s soccer record books as the most goals scored in a single season.

This season, sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta is on pace to match or break that record with six goals in six games so far.

In Zavaleta’s first three games, the standout from Westfield, Ind., scored five goals.

The streak ended for two games before finally resuming with a sixth goal against Oregon State last weekend.

With 22 more goals to score, the record is still far from reach. But the pace Zavaleta has kept thus far is worth mentioning.

“He has been doing really well by stepping up to the plate and helping us in big moments,” senior captain and goalkeeper Luis Soffner said.

Zavaleta was the team leader in scoring and points during his freshman year with 10 goals and 25 points.

At the conclusion of his freshman year, Zavaleta was nominated for and received numerous honors.

In addition to several Player of the Week mentions, Zavaleta was named Big Ten

WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO MAKE HISTORY A look at what it would take for sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta to break Ken Snow’s record for most goals scored in a single season.

In 1987, Snow scored 28 goals in 21 games.

Last season, Zavaleta made a total of 10 goals in 22 games, just four more than he has already scored this year.

This season, Zavaleta has scored 6 goals in the first 6 games.

RECORD-BREAKING In the first three games, Zavaleta’s average goals per game was 1.67, higher than Snow’s average during the 1987 season.

PORTRAITS BY CAITLIN O’HARA | IDS

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Get your copy of the book.

Your years at IU will fly by. And a few years from now, you’ll want your Arbutus.

Contact us to order today or bill it to your bursar when you register.

Find it at the bottom of the fees list.

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GAME 6

GAME 3

GAME 2

GAME 1

Snow averaged 1.33 goals per game

SEE GOALS, PAGE 8

5

WON’T MAKE IT Zavaleta’s average in the three most recent games was .33 goals per game.

To break the record, he must return to the pace set at the season’s start.

The team will play 18 regular season games this year, one to three Big Ten tournament games and one to six games in the NCAA tournament. That makes for a total of 27 possible games. If the team makes it to the finals in both tournaments, Zavaleta’s current one goal per game average would get him very close to beating the record.

With seven NCAA titles since 1973, Indiana is known as a place for men’s soccer.

However, only seven universities in the Big Ten field varsity men’s soccer teams.

Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska do not participate at the varsity level.

Consequently, all seven teams play in the Big Ten Tournament in November. The regular season conference champion earns a bye.

Sources from each of the five institutions said they don’t expect changes in that format anytime soon, despite revenues from the Big Ten Network.

Purdue, for example, has never fielded a varsity team.

Tom Schott, Purdue associate athletics director, said he thinks the Boilers have, other than or the same as Northwestern, the fewest sports of any Big Ten athletic department.

He said when Morgan Burke became athletics director in 1993, Purdue was not at the NCAA allotment in all sports. While not explicitly referencing Title IX, it is a factor, he said.

“We would love to have more programs, but obviously financial considerations have to be taken into effect,” he said. “We very much understand the popularity of men’s soccer. To add a men’s sport, we’d have to add a women’s sport. While we’d love to and probably will at some point, men’s soccer certainly is one we would consider.”

Instead, the Boilers have upgraded current facilities.

“We had to make sure we take care of the sports we

“Obviously, Indiana has a tremendous program.

It would be a great and natural rivalry. Hopefully, that day will come at some point.”

Tom Schott, Purdue associate athletics director

have,” Schott said.

He said Purdue has one of the smaller football stadiums, and the university has “undergone massive and major facility upgrades the last 15, 20 years that have taken a lot of our resources.”

“We are at the low end in the Big Ten,” he said. “That hurts us nationally in the Director’s Cup. Obviously, Indiana has a tremendous program. It would be a great and natural rivalry. Hopefully, that day will come at some point.”

IU Coach Todd Yeagley agreed and said he would love to see more conference schools add the sport.

However, he is taking advantage of the current situation by playing regional rivals each season. It allows for balance and quality midweek opponents, he said.

“We certainly enjoy the current format,” Yeagley said.

Nebraska’s situation is unique, as the Huskers joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2011.

Their former conference, the Big 12, had no men’s soccer teams.

“In order to comply with Title IX, if we added a men’s soccer team we would undoubtedly have to add a couple of women’s sports,” Huskers Athletic Director Tom Osborne said in an email. “We are not in a financial position to do so at the present time.”

Minnesota Director of SEE SOCCER, PAGE 8

6

2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW

I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

VOLLEYBALL

FIELD HOCKEY

Team recruits Hoosiers on factors other than height

BY EVAN HOOPFER ehoopfer@indiana.edu

IDS FILE PHOTO

Senior captain Morgan Fleetwood attempts to jump over a diving Ohio goalkeeper during the Hoosiers’ shootout loss on Sept. 9.

Hoosiers prepare for tough Big Ten season

BY DEJUAN FOSTER dejfoste@indiana.edu

TOP MATCHUPS Indiana v. Penn State 3 p.m. Sept. 21 State College, Pa. Penn State won the Big Ten last year and is off to a strong start this season. This tough matchup for the Hoosiers will air on the Big Ten Network.

Big Ten, but she said they do know which teams to watch out for.

“It’s hard to say because the Big Ten changes so much,” she said. “Right now, Penn State is having a lot of success. Iowa and Northwestern seem to be the teams to beat.”

Robertson also said the team’s youth could work to its advantage against some conference opponents.

“Iowa has a lot of experience, Penn State has a lot of experience, so we’re probably the younger team, but I think that makes us more of an unknown,” Robertson said. “I think there is less pressure on this team, and they have the freedom to just go play instead of big expectations.”

Senior forward Morgan Fleetwood said the Big Ten is always strong and maybe even stronger this year, but she shared her optimism about competing in conference play.

“It’s going to be hard, but we’re gonna keep practicing, get better each weekend,” Fleetwood said. “And the Big Ten season couldn’t start at a

Although it is early in the season, six of the 10 teams in the Big Ten Conference are ranked.

The IU field hockey team will have its first taste of Big Ten action on Sept. 21 as it takes on defending Big Ten champion Penn State on the road, a matchup to be televised on the Big Ten Network.

IU has an all-time record of 23-65 when facing Big Ten opponents. Last season, the Hoosiers had a 2-4 conference record that consisted of a 2-1 record at home and a 0-3 road record.

The two conference wins last year were Sept. 23, 4-1 against No. 15 Northwestern and Oct. 9, 4-2 against Michigan State.

The six ranked Big Ten teams at the time of publication include No. 8 Penn State, No. 10 Iowa, No. 11 Northwestern, No. 15 Michigan, No. 20 Michigan State and No. 23 Ohio State.

IU Coach Amy Robertson said it’s not clear how her team will perform in conference play because of the unpredictability of the

Indiana v. Ohio State 7 p.m. Nov. 17 University Gymnasium Indiana says goodbye to seniors middle blocker Samantha Thrower, rightside hitter Kelci Marschall and setter Whitney Granado. Last season, the Hoosiers got their only win against Big Ten competition against Iowa on senior night.

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Kills leader: Kelci Marschall, 344 of team’s 1,372 kills

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Then-junior middle blocker Samantha Thrower jumps to hit the ball during a volleyball match against Southeast Missouri State University on Sept. 2, 2011, at the University Gymnasium.

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Seagull, Indiana Keyboards: Yamaha, Korg Amps: Fender, Line6, Laney

Indiana v. Purdue 8 p.m. Oct. 16 University Gymnasium Whenever IU and Purdue get together, it is a big deal.

Volleyball is no exception as the Hoosiers play host to their West Lafayette foes.

Kyle Johnson @KJatIU With 91 this season, @ IUVolleyball’s Jordan Haverly has 1000 career kills. She is the 15th Hoosier all-time with 1000+ kills. #iuvb Sept. 3

Indiana Athletics @OurIndiana Great start to the weekend, @ IUFieldHockey beats Missouri State 5-1! #GoHoosiers #iufh Aug. 31

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Indiana v. Michigan 7 p.m. Sept. 21 Ann Arbor, Mich.

This will be the Hoosiers’ first Big Ten match. Last year, the Hoosiers finished the year 1-18. This will be the first true improvement test of the season.

TWITTER TALK

TWITTER TALK

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Acoustic & Electric Guitars: Taylor, Fender, Washburn,

SEE VOLLEYBALL, PAGE 7

Indiana v. Iowa 3 p.m. Oct. 5 IU Field Hockey Complex Iowa eliminated the Hoosiers from the Big Ten tournament in the quarterfinals last year at State College, Pa., in a 3-2 loss for the team.

SEE FIELD, PAGE 7

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Freshman defensive specialist Kyndall Merritt stands at 4-foot-11-inches tall, an uncommon height among volleyball players.

The shortest Hoosier on the team, Merritt plays in the back row, getting digs to keep the ball alive for her team.

“I’m lower to the ground,” she said. “I have my arms out ready to go and I’m quicker on my feet than most people.”

Her main objective is to get the ball up to the setter, who then sets the ball to the outside hitters or middle blockers.

Being lower to the ground seems to be an advantage, but IU Coach Sherry Dunbar said the ideal

height for a defensive specialist would be much taller than Merritt.

To play volleyball for IU, however, height is far from the first thing considered in recruits, she said.

“We really go after mentalities when we go after defensive players,” Dunbar said. “Players that just are gritty, have some leadership capabilities, get after it on defense and just have that mentality to be aggressive.”

On the flip side of Merritt, there is senior middle blocker Samantha Thrower, one of the tallest girls on the team at 6-foot-2-inches.

Thrower roams the middle of the floor looking for blocks at the net and kills against opponents.

“Ideal height for my

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2012 BIG TEN PREVIEW

I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, S E P T. 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 | I D S N E W S . C O M

» KILLOREN

CROSS COUNTRY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 The Hoosiers have a few opportunities to make their case for a bowl game. Three of the team’s 12 regular season games are at primetime.

The Hoosiers’ week one victory against Indiana State began at 8 p.m., as will home games against Ball State and Ohio State.

There’s reason to believe the Hoosiers could enter their first conference test at Northwestern with a 3-0 record.

Following victories against Indiana State and UMass, the Hoosiers return to Bloomington to meet in-state nemesis Ball State on Sept. 15.

Should Indiana steal a victory at Navy on Oct. 20, the team would need to win only two conference games to reach the required six-win minimum and earn an invitation to a bowl game.

Therein lies the true challenge for IU Coach Kevin Wilson’s squad.

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During conference play, Indiana will battle Northwestern, Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.

Among those eight conference contests, it appears IU could beat both Penn State and Purdue. Penn State began the post-Joe Paterno era in a disappointing fashion, losing in Beaver Stadium to Mid-American Conference challenger Ohio University 24-14. They now sit at 0-2.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Indiana achieve a rare victory in Happy Valley, bringing the Hoosiers to a 5-6 record with a season finale matchup against Purdue.

That game will have postseason implications on the line.

Should the Hoosiers reach a rare six victories, IU Coach Kevin Wilson will no longer be on the proverbial hot seat. He might become a hero to the students of this campus.

— ckillore@indiana.edu

IDS FILE PHOTO

IU Director and Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Ron Helmer walks toward the course before the start of the men's NCAA Cross Country Championship race on Nov. 22, 2010, in Terre Haute.

» FIELD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

IU Coach Helmer rebuilds cross country programs with

new directions

BY BRIAN WALSH bpwalsh@indiana.edu

When Ron Helmer took the lead as head coach of IU’s cross country and track and field teams in 2007, he was ready for the challenge of rebuilding a program.

With the program’s glory days of the 1990s and running legend Bob Kennedy behind it, Helmer was faced with teaching a young men’s team how to win and teaching the women’s team to be consistent.

“It was a challenge to rebuild something, but rebuilding is sometimes easier than building,” Helmer said.

“Somebody at least associates success in cross country and track and field with Indiana University because there

had been success here, which is why I felt this was the challenge I wanted.”

Prior to having success with the Hoosiers, Helmer was already an established coach in the running world.

After being named the high school Virginia Cross Country Coach of the Year twice in the 1980s, Helmer took an offer to help build the women’s cross country team at Georgetown University.

In his 16 years with the Hoyas, Helmer helped the team to 22 top-ten finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a streak of 15 straight, as well as 342 AllAmerica recognitions for his athletes.

“My initial job at Georgetown was to develop the women’s program and it

didn’t have tradition and it wasn’t successful,” Helmer said. “So we took that program from virtually being non-competitive to being a Big East Conference Championship team and seven times in the top four at the National Championship.”

When he took the job in Bloomington, he inherited a men’s team with seven freshmen, including recent graduates De’Sean Turner and Ben Hubers.

Helmer’s attitude helped the young men’s team return to the NCAA Championship for the first time in two years.

He made an instant impact with the women’s team as he instilled the value of SEE RUN, PAGE 8

TOP MATCHUPS Pre-Nationals Oct. 13 in Louisville No. 13 Indiana will go to Louisville attempting to match its seventh-place finish in Nationals last fall.

Andy Bayer looks to improve from his 39th overall finish.

Big Ten Championships Oct. 28 in East Lansing Bayer and fellow Senior Zach Mayhew look to get the Hoosiers the gold this year as they try to better their runner-up finish.

LAST SEASON Men Runner-up in Big Ten Championship, seventh place Nationals Runner to watch: Bayer, senior; All-America 2011 and defending NCAA Champion in the 1,500-meter Women 10th place Big Ten Championship

better time for us.”

Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf said her team would have a better idea of how it will do in Big Ten play after the set of games against Louisville and Ohio on Sept.

7 and 9. The team won 3-2 in the match against Louisville

» VOLLEYBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 position would not be shorter than me,” Thrower said.

“So maybe 6-2 or 6-1, you can be smaller, like Chante (George) is six-foot but she jumps out of the gym.”

Both height and jumping ability are key for middle blockers, and Thrower said she could not chosose which quality is more important between the two.

Freshman setter Katie Gallagher said being taller is always an asset in volleyball.

At a 5-foot-8-inches, Gallagher decides which player gets the chance for the kill.

“As a volleyball player

and lost 2-1 to Ohio.

She also said the experience and new mindset should work in their favor.

“In our first three games, practices and even our scrimmages there is just a different mentality on the team this year,” Volgraf said.

“It is definitely a mentality that will take us further than last year.” everyone always wishes they were a little taller,” she said. “I have to be quicker and have to be able to jump higher as well. But yeah, I’ve just got to fight a little harder.”

Ideally a setter would be taller so she could see the court better, but Dunbar stressed IU does not recruit positions solely on height.

“Some coaches recruit tall setters,” she said. “I want a kid who can set the ball.

It’s not about the height so much for me but if they can do their job when we need them to do it and have the personality that we want that fits into our program.”

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scorer on a team that can compete for the national championship.

Women’s swimming and diving is a different story.

While almost the entire men’s team returns, 61 percent of the points from the women’s swimming and diving team graduated last year.

This will be a transitional year, but there are some bright spots on the team including sophomore Dorina Szekeres, who competed in the 2012 London Olympic Games this summer.

The men’s track and field team is one of the best in PHOTO COURTESY OF MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN years. Two athletes on this Sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson broke his left leg while being tackled Sept. 8 during a game against UMass at Gillette Stadium. IU won 45-6. team stand out.

Senior Derek Drouin won IU should feel confident Despite the graduation of a bronze medal in the high miere distance runner for the shot putter Faith Sherrill, the about athletics this year jump in the Olympics and is a team.

The women’s team was women’s team still has senior and its chances in the Big national favorite in the event.

Also, senior Andy Bayer is impressive last year and Courtney Woodard, a favorite Ten. already establishing himself much of that should hold true to win several events including — zstavis@indiana.edu javelin and shot put. again this season as a pre- again this season.

consistency with the runners.

Since that season, Helmer has been able to bring the Hoosiers to the forefront of the cross country and track world, making them a constant presence in the NCAA as the men placed 7th overall last year, the best finish in Helmer’s tenure at IU. Senior Andy Bayer, the defending NCAA Champion in the 1500-meter race, said he loves running under Helmer’s leadership.

“He obviously knows what he’s doing,” Bayer said. “It’s pretty easy to be in the program here because you don’t really second guess anything he does.”

As for this upcoming season, Helmer has high hopes for both teams.

With Bayer and senior

» GOALS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Freshman of the Year and Chicagoland Soccer News Player of the Year. He was selected for the All-Big Ten first team, College Soccer News All-Freshman first team and Soccer America All-Freshman first team.

After this successful year, the then-freshman has grown to be the more mature sophomore seen today, Soffner said.

“He’s matured a lot,” Soffner said. “Last year, he was the same size and same speed. But I think mentally his ability to read the game has been 20 times better.”

The maturation has brought honors with it as well.

After being mentioned on the Hermann Award watch list, Zavaleta was placed on the Big Ten players-to-watch

» SOCCER

list. On Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, Zavaleta was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

“He is a great finisher,” IU Coach Todd Yeagley said.

“He is getting good chances while attacking, and we’re able to find him the ball. He has taken his chances well this year.”

With 12 games remaining in the regular season, this record remains distant.

However Zavaleta’s early success shows that past benchmarks are not unattainable for the program and its players.

“I think if he really wanted to achieve that goal, then he needs to just take it game by game,” Soffner said. “As long as he just does his work on the field every match, if he just plays his role by adding a goal here and there, then there’s no doubt in my mind that he could easily do it.”

Athletic Communications Garry Bowman said in an email that by adding a men’s sport, the university’s Title IX numbers would “move out of balance.”

The Gophers have the same men’s varsity sports as IU except hockey and gymnastics.

Bowman said gymnastics has “been here a long time.

It’s a traditional sport that we’ve had here.”

University of Iowa Director of Athletic Communications Steve Roe was succinct.

“At this time we have no plans to increase the number of sports,” he wrote in an email.

A November 2008 story from the Daily Illini newspaper quoted University of Illinois Assistant Athletics Director Kent Brown.

“There’s no question that Title IX plays a part in the status of all varsity sports,” he said in the article. “At this point there are no plans to add a men’s sport, and Title IX does play a part in that.”

That story hasn’t changed, he said.

“We’re continually reviewing the varsity sports that

we offer,” Brown said. “If we are to add a sport at this point, I would assume it would be a women’s sport. If we were to add a men’s sport, we’d have to add a women’s sport. In today’s economic climate, when you start adding sports, you’re talking about a significant jump in your budget. It’s difficult to add a sport unless there would be a situation kind of like at Penn State in regards to men’s hockey.”

Brown also said Illinois has not added a varsity men’s sport for decades.

Revenue from the Big Ten Network, about $7 million per school in 2009-10, cannot be counted on to fund new sports.

“Any time there’s additional revenue, like any institution in the Big Ten, there’s a priority list of projects that need to be completed,” Brown said. “We all feel very comfortable in the number of sports that we offer at the varsity level. It just does not seem to be a prudent economic move to add another male sport considering what we’re offering right now.”

As a result, the Hoosiers’ path to a regular-season conference championship remains at six Big Ten foes.

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Indiana v. Notre Dame 7 p.m. Sept. 26 Jerry Yeagley Field This matchup will feature the current top-ranked teams in the state. This will be the first time IU and Notre Dame meet on the pitch this season. Both should be ranked.

Indiana Men’s Soccer @IUMensSoccer Thanks to our awesome fans who came out to the game today. 1100 people in a steady downpour is nothing to sneeze at! Sept. 2

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Indiana v. Northwestern 8 p.m. Nov. 1 Jerry Yeagley Field Not only is this senior night for the Hoosiers, but it is also the last game of the overall season. The Hoosiers will close out Big Ten play, while looking to gain some momentum for the Big Ten tournament.

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Zack Mayhew returning as the only members of the core group that went to nationals, spots are open for underclassmen to make a push onto the team.

“We’ve got eight to 10 candidates for those three spots and that group has worked harder than any group I’ve ever had,” Helmer said. “The encouraging thing is they’re not just trying to go back and be 7th at the national meet again, they’re trying to go back and find a way to win it.”

While the women have not returned to a national championship yet, Helmer still believes in them.

“We’ve got a couple girls now who have trained for three or four years and it’s time for them to collectively believe in themselves and give themselves a chance,” Helmer said.

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