Hoosier breakdown with Crimson Quarry

The Indiana Hoosiers are headed into Happy Valley this week, for Penn State's annual Senior Day fodder. One of the most snake-bitten teams in college football this season, Indiana has been just two or three plays away from a winning record and a bowl bid. But the breaks haven't fallen the Hoosiers' way. In this week's Q&A, we welcome John from Crimson Quarry, the best (read:only) Indiana blog in the land, to talk about the Hoosiers season and the game on deck.

ZN: Indiana was screwed out of the chance to win at least two more games this season (Michigan, Iowa). Granted, the Hoosiers had other opportunities to become bowl eligible. However, can this team not only become bowl eligible this season (need to beat either PSU or Purdue), but actually land a bowl bid at 6-6?

CC: Actually, since IU is now 4-6, the Hoosiers need to beat both Penn State and Purdue, which obviously is quite unlikely. Still, as you note, a 6-6 record would not be a guarantee of a bowl bid this year. As you know, it's not all that far-fetched to think that the Big Ten could have eight or nine teams for seven slots, and likely will have only one BCS bid this year. In the unlikely event that IU becomes bowl-eligible, I really wouldn't mind if the Hoosiers ended up on the open market. Ending up in Boise or Albuquerque or Toronto would be preferable to the mind-numbing spectacle of playing a MAC team in Detroit. That's not a bowl game. It's called "September." I have been waiting for IU's fifth win before digging deep into bowl projections, and I don't think that win is going to come.

ZN: What's been the biggest surprise this season?

CC: I knew that Tandon Doss was a talent, but I did not expect him to emerge as IU's clear #1 receiver. Doss ranks 16th nationally with 65 catches and 843 yards (second in the Big Ten to Purdue's Keith Smith in both categories). IU's program has plenty of problems, but I'm pretty excited about the future prospects of our current skill position players.

ZN: And the biggest disappointment?

CC: I have been most disappointed in the defense. IU has a very experienced defense, two outstanding defensive ends, and a bunch of multi-year starters. IU pressures the quarterback well and has forced a bunch of turnovers this season, but the overall defensive numbers are as bad as ever. This defense continues to be less than the sum of its parts, and if this year's experienced defense couldn't be even average, it makes me shudder to think about next season.

ZN: Who can really cause headaches for Penn State this week, on either the offensive or defensive side of the ball?

CC: Tandon Doss is IU's top receiver, and receivers Terrance Turner and Demarlo Belcher also warrant some attention. Mitchell Evans has been productive as a receiver and as IU's Wildcat quarterback. Freshman RB Darius Willis has shown some glimmers but struggled against Iowa and Wisconsin. On defense, ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton are dangerous, and safety Austin Thomas has four interceptions.

ZN: What's is your biggest concern about facing this Penn State team?

CC: What concerns don't I have? IU often struggles with physical teams, we've been horrible in late-season road games for the last decade, and we haven't really played a competitive game in Happy Valley since 1993. My hope is that IU can continue to win the turnover battle, but unlike in games against Northwestern, Iowa, and Wisconsin, can take full advantage. But in a straight-up, relatively mistake-free game, IU has little chance.

ZN: And finally, what's the overall perception of the program, from within the Hoosier community? Is Bill Lynch on any sort of a hot seat, or is the program showing enough progress that he's not going anywhere?

CC: I think there is quite a bit of disagreement within the IU fan base about the program. Bill Lynch recently was given a vote of confidence by AD Fred Glass. Essentially, it was a flat guarantee that Lynch would be the coach next year and came close to saying that he would be back in 2011, too. Many fans were not thrilled about the decision to give Lynch the long-term job after his interim season of 2007, and are even less thrilled that the administration is treating Lynch, who was hired only because of the supposed continuity he would bring after the death of Terry Hoeppner, is going to get the full five years. I'm not convinced that Lynch is a sufficiently remarkable coach to turn the losingest program in the Big Ten into a modestly successful program, but it seems that he's going to get plenty of time to prove me wrong.

Many thanks again to John, and good luck to the Hoosiers... though, not too much luck.