Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Pat Coogan & Isaiah Jones
11/4/2025 7:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– As Indiana Football's Week 11 matchup at Penn State on Saturday (November 8) approaches, redshirt senior Pat Coogan and redshirt junior Isaiah Jones addressed the media inside the Don Croftcheck Football Team Room.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Pat Coogan | OL | R-Sr.
On having opportunities this season to set program firsts...
PC: I mean, it's special, right? It's special from a macro perspective, but at the end of the day, we need to focus on what we need to focus on to be successful. We need to focus on normal down-and-distance, pressures, and stuff like that. Like their third-down packages. All that macro kind of perspective kind of comes later on- comes at a different point. We need to worry about taking care of business because it's going to be a huge challenge for us. Obviously, everyone knows how challenging playing at their stadium is, so we got to prepare for it, and we got to be ready for it. It's going to be a big challenge for us.
On similarities between last year's Notre Dame team and this year's Indiana team...
PC: The ability to take each day as its own, the ability to build on each day and week, the ability to - even though you may have won on Saturday- building and getting better each and every week, no matter what the score said, knowing there is room to improve. Just the guys in the locker room playing for each other. The offense, 11 is one, really playing for a bigger purpose, bigger than themselves. Really just going out there and fighting for each other.
On what areas need to improve...
PC: Just technique-wise. A lot of just sloppy hands and sloppy technique that didn't really show how we truly are, so we got to get back to basics and really get back to playing with great technique and hand placement.
Isaiah Jones | LB | R-Jr.
On his favorite part of his college football journey....
IJ: You know, just the journey itself. I've been in the room with these guys for quite a while, some of these since my freshman year. Just being on this journey with them and being on the journey with the coaches now. They've seen me grow, and they found out what I'm capable of, so I think it's just exciting for everyone, and especially me. It's exciting to do it with the guys who you put the work-in with all summer and all winter.
On increased workload and relaying responsibilities with Aidan Fisher being out...
IJ: That's something that we do all the time in practice; it's something I've been doing the last few years. That's something that I'm fine having on my plate and stepping into that role and having to make the calls. Someone's got to do it, so someone had to step up and it's just me.
On playing at Beaver stadium this weekend...
IJ: You get that when you're in the Big Ten. Some of these stadiums have 100,000 fans. That's something that you try to tune out, you try to stay within the white lines, do the best you can. Definitely has a role, and I think it plays in their favor, but we will see on Saturday.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Pat Coogan | OL | R-Sr.
On having opportunities this season to set program firsts...
PC: I mean, it's special, right? It's special from a macro perspective, but at the end of the day, we need to focus on what we need to focus on to be successful. We need to focus on normal down-and-distance, pressures, and stuff like that. Like their third-down packages. All that macro kind of perspective kind of comes later on- comes at a different point. We need to worry about taking care of business because it's going to be a huge challenge for us. Obviously, everyone knows how challenging playing at their stadium is, so we got to prepare for it, and we got to be ready for it. It's going to be a big challenge for us.
On similarities between last year's Notre Dame team and this year's Indiana team...
PC: The ability to take each day as its own, the ability to build on each day and week, the ability to - even though you may have won on Saturday- building and getting better each and every week, no matter what the score said, knowing there is room to improve. Just the guys in the locker room playing for each other. The offense, 11 is one, really playing for a bigger purpose, bigger than themselves. Really just going out there and fighting for each other.
On what areas need to improve...
PC: Just technique-wise. A lot of just sloppy hands and sloppy technique that didn't really show how we truly are, so we got to get back to basics and really get back to playing with great technique and hand placement.
Isaiah Jones | LB | R-Jr.
On his favorite part of his college football journey....
IJ: You know, just the journey itself. I've been in the room with these guys for quite a while, some of these since my freshman year. Just being on this journey with them and being on the journey with the coaches now. They've seen me grow, and they found out what I'm capable of, so I think it's just exciting for everyone, and especially me. It's exciting to do it with the guys who you put the work-in with all summer and all winter.
On increased workload and relaying responsibilities with Aidan Fisher being out...
IJ: That's something that we do all the time in practice; it's something I've been doing the last few years. That's something that I'm fine having on my plate and stepping into that role and having to make the calls. Someone's got to do it, so someone had to step up and it's just me.
On playing at Beaver stadium this weekend...
IJ: You get that when you're in the Big Ten. Some of these stadiums have 100,000 fans. That's something that you try to tune out, you try to stay within the white lines, do the best you can. Definitely has a role, and I think it plays in their favor, but we will see on Saturday.
#NeverDaunted
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
LB
/ FootballFB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (11/4/25_
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FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (11/4/25)
Tuesday, November 04
FB: Week 11 (at Penn State) - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
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FB: Week 10 (at Maryland) - Curt Cignetti Postgame Press Conference
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