Negate the Noise – Hoosiers Prepare Nebraska Sellout Crowd
By Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Silence might be golden, but it will be nonexistent when Indiana’s offense hits Nebraska’s Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
A sellout crowd approaching 86,000 -- the Cornhuskers (5-0 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten) have sold out 414 consecutive games; the next closest is Oklahoma at 169 straight -- will deliver verbal communication misery every time quarterback Josh Hoover lines up to run a play.
To prepare, head coach Curt Cignetti has cranked up the noise during practice this week, just as he did in preparation for last Saturday’s win at Rutgers.
“It’s very effective,” offensive lineman Joe Brunner says. “They’ve got it blaring loud in (Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium). I don’t know if it can get much louder than that.”
One way to counter excessive noise, Brunner adds, is with the silent count.
“It doesn’t cut off communication,” he says, “but it allows us to get to the silent count and get used to that. It’s super helpful to have that here so we’re not totally blind going into it.”
As far as the quarterbacks, Hoover is the FBS leader in career passing yards with 10,730. Nebraska’s Anthony Colandrea is eighth with 8,684.
Brunner adds No. 5/7 IU (5-0, 2-0) didn’t need a silent count in its victory at Rutgers, using a clap count instead.
“We’ve been working on this since spring ball. It’s nothing new to us. The first time going into a crowd and having to use it like that will be a little different, a new experience for some guys. I think having it at practice helps so much.”
Practice noise also helps the defense, veteran linebacker Rolijah Hardy says.
“We find those things where you've got to be able to signal and communicate very efficiently within the team,” he says.
“From the first play to the last play, we don’t let that (crowd noise) affect us at all. Everybody goes in and does his 1/11th. That’s how we play.”
Nebraska’s home game environment ranks among the nation’s best, which is typical of many Big Ten programs. Brunner played at Nebraska twice while he was at Wisconsin.
“It's an awesome atmosphere,” he says. “It’s a fun place to play. Iowa is also pretty special. Obviously, Ohio State is special. There are a lot of special places in the Big Ten.
“There's nothing like going out there with your 70 guys as a family, with your backs against the wall and play a Big Ten football game. If that doesn’t fire you up, I don’t know what does.
“It'll really challenge us to see who we are as a team right now.”
Noise will add to the challenge of playing a Nebraska team that ranks among the nation’s best in defense. It allows 14.2 points and 265.8 total yards a game.
The Hoosiers will counter with an offense that averages 44.2 points and 490.6 total yards.
As far as the quarterbacks, Hoover is the FBS leader in career passing yards with 10,730. Nebraska’s Anthony Colandrea is eighth with 8,684.
The Cornhuskers get after quarterbacks. They had six sacks against Michigan State and five against North Dakota. They have 16 for the season.
“They have a very talented front,” Brunner says. “They have a lot of athletes on their defensive line. They do a lot of different things. They have big guys who are strong and guys who can move quickly.
“Getting in the film room and seeing what they do is huge for us. Then you get on the practice field and get that repetition to see what they do will be huge. It’s a very talented group. That’s a credit to them. They’re a good team.”
The Hoosiers have only allowed seven sacks this season. Preparation, Brunner says, starts with “studying film.”
“It’s seeing their tendencies and studying their guys and seeing what they do and then practicing your tail off every day and getting better. It’s really knowing what they do well and working on that day in and day out.”
“Our No. 1 job is to protect the quarterback. Josh is a phenomenal player, and any one of the five of us would lay our life on the line for that guy. Our No. 1 job is to keep him healthy, and we'll continue to do that for the rest of the season.”
Pre-snap observation is crucial.
“You can always see on certain defenses what they do pre-snap,” Brunner says. “That’s the benefit of being on the offensive line. You get tips and tells from the linebackers and from safety rotation. Those things will gather throughout the week.”
As far as the quarterbacks, Hoover is the FBS leader in career passing yards with 10,730. Nebraska’s Anthony Colandrea is eighth with 8,684.