Tom Allen watched the sun rise from his office on Sunday morning as the head coach of the eighth best college football team in the country.
It’s something that most lifelong Hoosier fans have never even allowed themselves to consider, for a program that has endured much more struggle than success in its existence. But of course, in an unprecedented year where anything seems to be possible, things just had to be different.
For the first time since 1945, Indiana has defeated three AP ranked teams in a single season.
Since the start of the 2002 season, Indiana has only won 15 road conference games. Six of those have come within the last two seasons, with the latest coming on Saturday in Madison.
Three different Hoosiers now lead the Big Ten in three different statistical categories, namely sacks (Micah McFadden), passing yards (Michael Penix Jr.), and receiving yards (Ty Fryfogle).
And the list goes on and on.
Saturday’s victory over the Badgers was just the latest chapter written in an incredible year of firsts for IU, and each time Indiana surprises the country again, the news is quickly traced back to Indiana’s faithful and relentless leader.
Offensive lineman Caleb Jones celebrates during Indiana's win over Michigan in Bloomington. (The Hoosier Network)
Stevie Scott rolls to the right during Indiana's win over Maryland in Bloomington. (The Hoosier Network)
Quarterback Jack Tuttle surveys the field against Maryland. (The Hoosier Network)
Tom Allen during Indiana's win over Michigan State in East Lansing. (The Hoosier Network)
“Everybody in the organization respects Coach Allen,” cornerback Tiawan Mullen said after IU’s win over Wisconsin. “When no one is giving him credit, we give him credit because we see what goes on inside the building.”
Allen quickly earns the respect of Hoosier fans (and his players) for a number of reasons, but right near the top of the list is the path he’s taken. Having spent more than a decade as a coach of multiple high school programs, Bloomington is the 11th home for Allen and his family.
It’s only a small part of a miraculous story.
When Allen’s son Thomas suffered a season-ending injury against Michigan State, IU’s head coach simply couldn’t hold back. Then again there was the season-ending injury to starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr., tearing his ACL for the second time against Maryland just a week ago.
In spite of everything, Indiana is still finding ways to win.
“We have got six players this year that could not finish the season because of season ending injuries and his team just keeps on fighting, keeps on believing, keeps on staying the course,” Allen said. “They just do not blink and that is why I am so proud of them.”
It’s the “don’t blink” mentality that has been preached since the very first time Allen stepped onto the sideline in Bloomington. Four years later, that perspective is finally being seen by a national audience.
With the national praise comes an equal amount of national criticism. For what Indiana Football has (or hasn’t) done over the course of time, the doubters’ voices are still heard – just not quite loud enough to affect what IU is doing now. Once again on Saturday, Allen reiterated to his team the importance of keeping the “earmuffs and blinders” on through all of it.
For the time being, it seems to be working out just fine.
“This year as we continue to win games, they see who the Hoosiers are and who the leader of the Indiana program is,” Mullen said.
Indiana’s leader is as real as they come. The emotion is infectious. The passion is undeniable. And perhaps best of all, Indiana isn’t even close to being done.
