You're listening to the Back Home Network presented by Home Field Apparel. Hi, folks. Welcome back to Crimson Cast, Scott here with you. Excited for this conversation with Connor Onion. But before we get to that, want to give a quick shout out to our sponsors over at Home Field Apparel. As I was getting ready for this, I got an e-mail just a couple minutes ago from Home Field. Sign up for their emails. You get great stuff straight to your inbox.
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as well. And now here's our conversation with Conor Onion. All right, excited to have him back on. He's becoming a regular guest, kind of a preview, basketball and football, and that's awesome. It's Connor Onion of the Big 10 Network. Connor, how you doing, man? Scott, it's good to talk to you again. I think it was right near the the tail end of basketball season the last time we were doing this and time to ramp, time to ramp it up again for the fall.
So I can't wait. Dude, it comes up quick. I'm I'm enjoying looking behind you. You have a great collection of bobble heads and like a cheese it, something on the cheese it bowl, like just some great stuff back there. Yeah, your your listeners probably won't appreciate. Yeah, it's a podcast. It's a great podcast to work just talking about things you can't see. No, that the logo for your Indiana crowd. It's actually from when Purdue played in the Cheez its bowl. Is it the one they got?
Is it the one they got throttled in? Yeah, they played LSU and, and I, I happened to do a game at that stadium like two days later. I had the Under Armour All America High School game there and they they left Cheez its boxes for us on the table. So we got the leftovers from the Cheez, its bowl from 2021 or 2022, whenever that was. My my son would be very, very
jealous. I I don't know why I have an 11 and an 8 year old and Cheez its are like top of the snack list and I've always liked Cheez Its now you're to talk, you know, talk bad about Cheez its, but it's like it is unbelievable how much kids today are into Cheez. Its I don't even think like there's more advertising. It's just something about Cheez. Its man, kids dig them. Yeah, me as an adult, I love
cheeses too. But that box, it's kind of like the the Wheaties, you know, you get the number of Wheaties box and then if you open it up like five years later, sometimes the cereal is like black. I'm I'm a little scared to open up the Cheez its box 'cause that's three or four years old now. Yeah, I wouldn't, I, I wouldn't go with that. It's not, it's not. That'll get you off the air real quick.
Yeah, I, I don't know if they're like the McDonald's fries that if have you ever seen McDonald's fries that have been preserved? No, they they never go bad. I don't know if cheez its are that way or if I'm going to open up like a moldy box of cheez its in a couple. Years it's possible there's a lot of preservatives there. So maybe so so the first thing is, you know, so you're still on Big 10 network, but you're you're moving in football to to Fox, correct, Which is like
congratulations. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Yeah. So last year I was with Matt Millen and Elise Maniker on the BTN crew that had half the Hoosier schedule. Yep. And this year I'm moving over to a Fox package with Mark Helfrich, the the former Oregon head coach and Chicago Bears offensive coordinator. Super excited about it. We're, we're going to do kind of a mix of the Big 10 and the Big 12. And there will be some games on FS1, some games on Big Fox.
And I'm I'm excited to to run around the country and, and still be around the Big 10 a bunch. Do you know, do you know your roster of games for a couple weeks? So we know our first three games, week one, we're at Maryland, and then we get to see Northwestern's makeshift stadium Week 2. That that could be fun. I mean, it's it is we're we're annoyed as IU fans like the the time we're playing there. It's like, I don't know how it could be an advantage.
It could not be and we're not sure, but it's like it feels like it's going to be different out there. It's going to be interesting. It will and, and they had Northwestern actually had me out for a tour last week. It's it's really cool and I, I know people are going to joke it's a 15,000 seat stadium that this is not a big 10 outfit, but it's temporary. It's a two year thing and the
views are amazing. If, if Hoosier fans are going up there to, to tailgate, there's, there's like this peninsula right along Lake MI that has a view of the skyline and you're less than 5 minutes from getting into the stadium. And I, I think it's going to be a really cool experience.
So if you can snag one of those 15,000 tickets for that game in October, I I would because I think it's a unique experience obviously, but the the sight lines are are pretty cool and you're obviously going to be right on top of the action because it's. What's is the wind going to be a factor that that's I think everyone's question is like how, how is the windy going to affect the games?
Oh, yeah, yeah. And, and the big question that I had, and I think a lot of people have is could a punt end up in the lake? And I don't, I don't think it's. Be great. I I don't think it's that drastic because they're putting up a big video board. It's a it's a massive video board on the sideline that is backed up against the lake. So you'd have to get it up into the wind, get it over the stands, over the video board, and then it'd have to skip over like a bike path to get into the
lake. I'm not saying it's impossible with with the winds that will come off the lake, but the wind is probably going to push balls the other way. I love, I love that idea. It's kind of like in in Jerry world in Dallas, like a punt trying to hit the scoreboard. Like if you're great, if you're just like, if you're a high college kid, just go like one punt. Like that's for you, Connor, baby, that was for you.
Like right in the lake. Right, that that would make my season if I'm on the call for a a ball that ends up in the lake. I mean, that's something you got to at least prepare 55 minutes for, like have a call ready to go for, you know, like I, I don't know what you do. Like, it's not Mccovey Cove, but we're doing in Chicago or something. Yeah. That's that's funny you bring that up because I was giving the the Northwestern staff some crap
about that. But they need to put up splash hits like they do in San Francisco. So if a a punt goes in the lake, they they turn it to 01 up on a little scoreboard somewhere that that. 'D be great well, we'll see so looking at IU football, you know the first question I have for you is you you did a good number of games last year. I'm curious, you know, as a, you know, as someone who kind of, I don't say drops in, but you do you do your research, you come in.
Were you able to tell, you know, as as fans, it definitely felt like Alan was losing grip of kind of the team, the situation like just kind of losing a handle of where things are going with a coach who's having struggles like that and ends up getting, you know, let go. Are you able to sense that during the season? Like when you were coming in, were you able to sense that with how things are going? Obviously, you know, you work for the Big 10 networks.
You can't come there and just slam a coach for 2 1/2 straight hours during the broadcast. But as you come in, are you able to sense that versus other programs that are kind of going the better? Direction, yeah. I mean, it's it's always the elephant in the room when there's job pressure when you're doing these games. And that that really ramped up last year when Coach Allen made coordinator champion. He did. Yeah. Well, well, I was the
coordinator early in the year. And then then Rod Carey finished out the year. So it it was you could feel it in our meetings. And I think if Coach Allen were sitting here, he would tell you that he was feeling it. How could he not? Yeah. I mean, we we didn't harp on it too much in those meetings because, you know, Coach Allen was the eternal optimist and not that not that he was intentionally trying to steer us away from feeling what was very real, that the entire staff was
coaching for their jobs. But but he always came at it from a, you know, this is the week we're going to turn it around. This is going to be the game where where things get right. And, you know, I, I think he's, he's one of the most positive people period, I've ever.
I would agree, yeah. And a lot of people that I've talked to around the game have have echoed that I'm, I'm pumped that he, he landed on his feet quickly in a good situation at Penn State is the DC. And it, it is a little bit of a shame that Penn State's not in the Indiana schedule this year because that obvious storyline they're, they're like a, there are a couple near misses on Indiana's schedule this year,
right? It would be playing a game against your former head coach with Penn State and then the Boer and Pennex Washington was on the schedule, but it's one year too late. So when I look at the Indiana schedule, those are the two things where I'm like, man, if if we could have figured out a way for the Boer and Pennex still be there and have Penn State on the schedule, those
would be made for TV storylines. When we we had that for a while with Kevin Wilson, when he went to Ohio State as the OC, it's like we just our, our coaches just can't get out of the Big 10. Like once they're in, they're just in. Right, right.
But I mean, for for coach Allen, he's going into a situation now where it's it's not the same job pressure, but it's like there's there's definitely some pressure on Penn State now at the expanded playoff to to be in. Yeah, I, I, I would venture to say, I mean, I don't want to harp on Penn State, don't get on Penn State too much on IU podcast, but I, I would say you you might have a similar pressure as a coordinator at Penn State versus head coach in Indiana.
I mean, there was definitely pressure and he was not, you know, there were some issues going on at IU football, but IU football just, I don't think has the media glare that even Penn State does. So I I think there's a real argument to be made that there's probably as much pressure as DC at Penn State as there is a head coach in Indiana, as crazy as that sounds. Yeah. And there's there's less in the way of CEO responsibilities.
And I think that'll help free up Coach Allen and your fans know how good of a coordinator he was when he was just focused on one of kind of that silo. And as as head coach, they they went back and forth several times with, you know, I'm calling the defense, the coordinators calling the
defense. And I think that's going to be a really good spot for him, obviously, because the, the caliber of athlete that Penn State gets, you know, you got Abdul Carter coming off the edge and couple other NFL guys on that defense. And I I think that's going to be, it's going to be a really good situation for Coach Al.
Well, and that's that's a great Segway because that's one thing that got a lot of us, myself included, fired up about coach Signetti that, you know, the coach we now have because you know, and sometimes it works. Guys going from coordinator to head coach can can work. It obviously is a is a path a lot of people have gone through, but there's always a learning curve. Like I, I think no question, Kevin Wilson knew new offense and knew how to run, you know
how to do a program. But it's it's always tough going from coordinator to head coach because especially when you're such a good coordinator, you have to realize head coach is just a totally different job and you have to kind of take your hands off a lot of that coordinator stuff. And it's so it's such a crutch to come and be like, well, I know your Wilson. Like I know offense. I'm just going to I'm going to step in and do that. It's like as a head coach, you've got to be high level.
And that's the thing. This thing that I like about Signeti is, you know, he has experience running programs. I'll be at a different level than a Big 10 school. But you know, you see guys like, maybe not the best example, but you know, like Urban Meyer did it at Bowling Green, they did it at Utah, they did it at Florida. It's like there are guys that if you can do it and you know how to build a program and you have an identity, which I think no question Signeti has and has has
in his history. A lot of that does translate. And then for someone in your position, you know, for IU fans, it has been so refreshing having a coach come in with kind of the attitude of Signetti. But from a media point of view, he's got to be just an awesome coach to be in the Big 10.
Because it's like, here's a guy who who brings something like this is somebody who has something to say, who I know is going to give me some sound bites and something to talk about on on Saturdays. It is not bland, it is bold and, and you're right, it is exciting. I, I can't wait. I, I hope I get a Hoosier game
at some point this fall. I can't wait to be in a meeting with him because you know, we, we get these closed door meetings with usually offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, head coach and maybe some players before we do our telecast. And if he's if he's as bold as he is in front of a sold out crowded assembly hall making his proclamation that produce stinks of Ohio State, Michigan stink
too, right. I I can't imagine some of the tea that maybe we might get in some of those production meetings that we have before our telecast. Well, in the Big 10 media day, it was almost like him doing stand up comedy. I mean it was like the coach Sigour like he was, he was on one. He was great to watch. I know, I know, I, I think that's going to be a really entertaining half hour or whatever we get with them because of exactly what you mentioned. It's, it's funny, but there's
some substance to it too. It's not just, it's not just fluffy stuff. And he he does have a record as a head coach that can back up what he's saying. Like you said, it's, it is a different level, but whether it's been Division two FCS or going to the Group of Five level, he's, he's won everywhere. And, and you know, the, the expectation of maybe beating Michigan and Ohio State year one.
I, I don't know if I'm ready to go there like he did, but this team can, can certainly make a bowl from what I've seen in the spring game And, you know, just watching some tape on some of the James Madison guys that he brought over. I, I don't think, I don't think getting back to a bowl game is, is unrealistic. And then, you know, maybe you maybe you surprise one of those teams.
I know Michigan has to reload, but they're coming to Bloomington. I think this team will will definitely be improved this year. I don't. I don't know to what extent, but. What was so funny about those comments and just kind of his attitude is how so many other people around the Big 10 kind of reacted to it as IU fans. You know, we've I've been of IU football fans since the mid 80s. So I've been kicked in the teeth numbers of times.
But you know, it's it's funny because he he said, and again, we're taking one little sound bite, but he came. It's just so abnormal for a football coach at IU to act that way. And he said that. And you know, you you saw like Michigan and Ohio State, people kind of bristle like what's come on Indiana, what do you expect? But it's like as an IU fan, it's like, well, what do you want us to do? Just we're going to lose every
game. Like we're a Big 10 member, like we are in the Big 10. Like, yeah, that's our goal is like, yes, we want to beat everybody and we haven't been good enough the last couple of years, but it can't it can't just be a fait accompli every single year that we're going to lose to Ohio State at some point we're going to be I mean, knock on wood, at some point we will beat them. Hasn't happened in quite a while.
But but the idea that it's like it's not we're not allowed to also want to beat Ohio State is kind of a wild thought. And I I I just, I like the new approach. It was just interesting seeing other fan bases kind of bristle at that is like, well, what are you doing Indiana? What do you think? Who do you think you are? It's like, well, yeah, I'm not saying we're going to go undefeated next year and make the the College Football Playoff, but like, shouldn't every team in the Big 10 expect
to beat everybody else? You know, I'm not just planning on being the 12th team in the Big 10 every year. Right, right. It's it was a major poke of the bear. Yeah, but but they've been kicking our butt for 30 years. Like that's the other thing is like like, oh, you poked Ohio State. It's like, what are they going to do, beat us another 30 years in a row? It's it's not like, by the way, they're probably going to not pay attention to us in the
schedule anyway. We are definitely a game they're not going to pay attention to. And I doubt that's really going to be something that's going to fire them up more. Right, right. It yeah, you're, you're right. There might be other things that are more top of minds for Ohio State, for example, a Michigan game right after the Indiana game where it maybe that doesn't become the bulletin board material that you would think it would be.
But I'm sure that's going to come up because that that gauntlet in in November for Indiana is basically the the litmus test of the Signetti address. He named, he named Michigan, Ohio State and Purdue. I know the schedule was already out at that point, so I don't know if that was intentional. But those are the three games in a row in November. And those are the three teams that he called out in his in his speech at Assembly Hall during that basketball game. That's dude, that's why you're
the best. If I moved to Fox the Litanya test of the Signetti address, that is fantastic stuff. That somehow that just that that just. No, but you're right. But it is. It is. Exactly the teams. And exactly the teams that he laid out, we've been really positive about Signetti here. I think there's a lot of things to be excited about as you see it. What would you say could be some of the things if if he struggled or Indiana does not reach what we think this year's potential
could be? Where do you think those struggles could come from in the first year with Signetti? Yeah, I I still want to know how this offensive line is going to look. The the Nick Kidwell injury last week. I don't think is is insignificant. The projected starting right guard ruled out for the season. That's, that's a question I
have. I'm I'm really fascinated in how they use Donovan McAuley. I, I loved him on the single side last year, especially in that shootout game against Illinois. Our crew had that and that the amount of times I, I turned to my right and Matt Millen just had his mouth wide open because of a contested catch that that McAuley made. Hard to count how many times that happened, how they use him. The running back situation.
I know we're focusing a lot on offense here, but the running back situation is interesting too. Are they going to run four guys out there? That's that's kind of what it seems like at this point is that we could see a mix of Lawton, Black, Green, Ellison, maybe all in one game. And, and I think that's that that's going to be at least a three running back mix watching James Madison this offseason quite a bit.
They they mostly use Lawton and Black, but there was always a third back that they mixed in there. So Mike Shanahan, the offensive coordinator is used to doing that. And I think they have four guys that that they can rely on to do that. As long as is, that group of guys stays healthy. Yeah, well, you, you mentioned McCauley. He's one that. I'm really interested to see because he came in as a quarterback and then got moved
to wide receiver. And then, you know, he has, he had some pretty big NIL offers from my understanding after Allen left. And I, I think it was like Notre Dame and Michigan, like he was getting called up by by high level schools. And you know, money's one thing. I don't think I don't see IU being able to match an NIL offer from those other schools. But then also it's like you have
a new coach. And so this is where I again, I'm, I'm probably a little bit too bullish on Signetti, but it's like Signetti had to have a story to tell that would keep a kid like that in Indiana, which I think is is is is good. Yeah, yeah. And I, I read the story that that went up on the website the other day about how Coach Signetti's coaching him hard. And, you know, it's, it's not really common that a coach might go out and publicly say, you know, we need more from this guy specifically.
But it sounds like Donovan has been pretty receptive to that. What, what I'm excited for with him is that you kind of mentioned it, Scott. He, he was a quarterback at first. So then he transitions to a new position And and then last year it was two coordinators and two quarterbacks. It was Walt Bell, then it was Rod Carey, it was Taven Jackson and Brendan Sores be going back and forth. It it sounds like Curtis Rourke is separate, has separated himself.
Yeah, I mean. He, he came in, I think he was brought in to be the starter. So it does feel like he's it. It is Rourke's job, yes. Yeah, yeah. So one coordinator, one quarterback, one position for Donovan Poly. He can, he can just kind of be in his tunnel of knowing his job and knowing the people that are going to be around him. I I can't imagine, no matter how the start of the season goes that there's going to be any type of coordinator change. So I would hope not.
No, I think things would. Have to be going very wrong exactly for for that to happen. So, so I think he can kind of get tunnel vision and I I think we're going to see the the best season that Donovan McAuley has had as a Hoosier. Taking a quick break from our conversation with Connor, we'll be back to it in a second. Just want to take a moment to talk to you about the Indiana University Athletics official craft beer, the Hoosier Game Day Lager.
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I have a whole stock of it. It's fantastic and I'll be drinking it every time I use on a road game. And if they're on a home game, I will be at Memorial Stadium drinking their beer. Not mine, but it'll be. Who's your game day Logger? Upland Brewing Company reminds you to drink responsibly and to go Hoosiers. And now back to Connor. You mentioned this earlier in the podcast. You know your expectations for IU this season. So you think a bowl is is on the
horizon. I would agree with you, but I want to hear your logic and I'll give you mine. OK, so you look at the schedule, three out of the first four games are gonna be wins. Yeah, I think I again, I was there for the Akron game last year. I don't need to bring up the scars of the past. I know there are no automatic wins, but as long as FIU can overcome the presence of title sponsor Pitbull Dale, yeah, they they should win that game. Should beat Western Illinois.
Should beat Charlotte. That that Akron game was was funny. I think it was Jeremy Irons was like we we did a fun. There's like Irons and and Burnside or somewhere the name of their two quarterbacks and like we were joking. It's like a great like 80s like cop combo. We have like AI come with names like the way you were talking about it, like it, it was insane because our defense basically turned irons into, you know, 1999 Michael Vick and you were just like, man, this, this kids
electric. And then like the next two games he comes out and like throws for 12 yards and runs for six. It's like this, this that that game was so frustrating. Sorry, you just touched the nerve because it's like he you had to call it as if like this guy is unbelievable, but it's like this is not there's no knock on him. It's just we were giving him so much room to work. But it was like you were watching vintage Michael Vick. It, it really did feel like that it and me and Adam Brenneman,
that's who I did the game with. We walked out of the stadium that night and we were both like, man, Akron might be better than a lot of people think in the Mac and they they were not. But it's a it's a wild what I mean it still would have ended the same. But like if IU loses that game, Allen may not have made it through the season. But anyway, let's we're way off topic. Doesn't matter. So go ahead. So. So IU wins three of the first
four I like. Where you're at and and when it comes to the Big 10 schedule, I think a lot of it has to do with who's not on the schedule, right? You look at an 18 team league now five of the seven teams in the big Big 10 pre season poll at the top are not on the schedule. Oregon's not there. Penn State, Iowa, USC and Wisconsin are not on the schedule. I see seven toss up games in the Big 10 outside of Michigan and Ohio State. I think all of those Big 10 games are both winnable and
losable. You know, I, I don't know where the spreads will end up and that sort of thing, but I got to think they're all going to be around a score, give or take. So go win three of those seven quote UN quote toss up games and there you go. You're in a bowl and and I think that's that's very, very doable. I agree.
I, I've, I've wondered, you know, obviously the Alan had a rough year, but I, I think part of the calculus in getting a new coach and maybe part of the calculus insignity taking this team was the schedule this year. We, we've been talking about this pod for two years now. The schedule breaks for a bowl for Indiana as well. And I, I'm with you. To me, it's like it all comes down to schedule. I'm talking to my friends. They think I'm crazy, but I'm
like, I can see 7-8 wins. Not because I think I use going to be unbelievably better. I think we're going to be better than we were. I just look at the schedule and like you said, you take off Ohio State and Michigan, fine, that's losses of all the other teams. You know, UCLA, if you go with the preseason rankings of the Big 10 teams, UCLA, Northwestern, Michigan State and Purdue are all below where Indiana is ranked. Now, obviously that's not going to all even out just automatically.
Those are considered wins. You know, Maryland is right where we are at. But you know, if you win all of those games and you get the toss up against Maryland, you're 8:00 and 4:00. I also look at the way the schedule breaks down just kind of in a, in a, in a flow kind of way. You know, we started so many years, we start the season with Ohio State or just something, we just get completely punched in the gut. It's like, all right, we got to pick up, pick ourselves up from
this. How do we get going? You know, like you said, we have FIU, Western Illinois, but then you're at UCLA, which it's a road game. But as Rd. games go, that's probably one of the easier Rd. games you're going to get in a in a Big 10 schedule. Even if you lose that, you know, you're home for Charlotte and Maryland. Maryland's a toss up, but it's at home. Then you have a road game at Northwestern, which as we talked about, could be punting into the water. But it's it's again, a very
unique Rd. environment. Not sure who that favors, but it's definitely not Penn State, you know, Iowa, Oregon, Michigan. So there's a world where you know this team on If everything goes right, it's not inconceivable this team could be 6 and O hosting Nebraska at home on October 6th on October 19th. No doubt, no doubt. And Nebraska lot to be proven there with a true freshman quarterback Dylan Riolo and I don't think Indiana will be favored in in any in either of those two home games.
Nebraska and Washington, but they're, they're also coming to Bloomington and again, true freshman quarterback for Nebraska, Washington has turned over their entire team. I do think Washington will be better than a lot of people expect. I would agree. I think I'd saw a couple of things this week that had Washington in like the 80s as far as the one through 34 rankings in college football. And I I think they'll still be a top 50 team in the country minimum.
But Michigan State fascinated to see Aidan Chiles and how Jonathan Jonathan Smith gets things going in your one there. I don't know if that's going to be an instant bowl team at at Michigan State. I had their I had their spring game and you know, they're the roster has changed a little bit with some guys transferring out after the the spring portal. But I think the schedule even lines up well with that Michigan and Ohio State part of the schedule because you get the bye
in between those two games. You get a you get a week off in between. Again, the expectation, at least from the outside is, is not that you win either of those games. But having the week off in between, plus having the game on the back end of that for Ohio State could could make things even more interesting than than they otherwise would have been. Especially if Indiana's going into that Nebraska game like you mentioned, undefeated and and has a chance to surprise some
people in the league. Schedule and that's something you know, we we saw it. I'm talking way more about Tom Allen on this podcast that I wanted to, but you you saw it with Tom Allen that what once you kind of got the vibes right and and the feeling right, that team played kind of better than than the collective of its parts. You know, that's something you talk about Michigan State.
I think it's like 2021. I'm pulling up is I'm pretty sure that was Mel Tucker's first year, but that team that that Michigan State team went 11 and two seven and two in the Big 10. No one knew what what to expect out of that team that have said, I think that team had Kenneth Walker like I'm, I think I'm picking the right year. But that was you know, they just kind of got going like they they're at Northwestern Youngstown state, but then they're at Miami, Miami, FL.
They win overtime, Nebraska and southern four and oh, and then it's just like they're just going and now their their schedule was pretty soft. They play Western Kentucky, Rucker, you know, at Rutgers, at Indiana and they they play Michigan. They beat Michigan. It's like suddenly they're seven and O at that point, and it's like now they're off for the races and they're just a freight train. You can't stop.
And and again, I look to the flow of IU schedule if they're able to cash in that game at UCLAI know it's a lot of ifs and this is where IU fans get into trouble. But these these are not. I don't think these are wild ifs if they're better and they beat, you know, UCLA and Maryland and again and Northwest. But yeah, six and O going into Nebraska could be very similar to that situation where you just now have everyone believing and everyone's playing above their
head. Even if you're 5 and one or even four and two. I think that would give people like a wow, four and two. Like we're we're two wins away from bowl eligibility. We still have Michigan State and Purdue at the back end of the schedule. Now we have a home stand for Nebraska and Washington. Like, let's get to six and two by the end of October. I just, I, I see a world where a couple of early wins could
really propel this team forward. And that's where I think, you know, a lot of people within the Indiana sphere a little bit annoyed at how we're just kind of ranked near the bottom. But, you know, as I know how these things are done, you know, for, for most media members think you pay a little bit closer attention. But I think most media members, it's like you really dig into the top schools and everyone else. It's kind of like, all right,
well, new coach, they suck. I mean, not that you don't do that, but it's like you're not going to you're not going to focus as much on Indiana as you are Ohio State. When you're looking at the Big 10, especially when you're a national reporter, you just can't do that. And I think that's where it's fallen in. But I, I do think, I don't want to say people are sleeping in Indiana because I don't think we're winning the Big 10.
But I, I just, I do see there's a real opportunity for kind of that freight train of like, holy crap, you look up at Indiana's like 7:00 and 1:00. Yeah, yeah, I think even not just from a national media standpoint, I think just from a fan standpoint of college football. Funny, funny story here. This was before you texted me actually and and asked me to come on the podcast.
I was, I I live in Chicago and I was out the other night with some friends just just enjoying a dinner on Saturday night. And we, we ran into a couple people that we knew actually that are from Indiana. And one person came up to me and said, hey, you, you call some of the Indiana games, right? And I was like, yeah, yeah. I'd called like half the Indiana football schedule last year. And and the person goes, oh, oh, oh, no, I don't. I don't care about that.
I just care about basketball. I don't give AI don't I don't give a bleep about Indiana football. And and I was like, well, like, have have you heard some of the talk from the new coach? Have you heard about some of the players they're bringing in? And they're like, oh, no, actually, actually I haven't. Should I be excited? Are you going to get my hopes up? And we we got to talking about Indiana football and they mostly
wanted to talk about basketball. Yeah, but that's but, but I think even from even from a fan standpoint, the point I made to that person was like you, you have a coach that is going to say things that are bold is going to speak to the fan base. I don't know if the the smoker section ended up being dubbed as the student section with with Sig coming in, but I heard some
rumors about that. But but I think changing the mindset of the fan base is also part of the calculus here of getting Indiana football to where everybody in Bloomington wants them to be. Because that was that was a die hard lifelong Hoosier that basically said, yeah, like, I'm I'm kind of checked out. I'm kind of apathetic on Indiana
football. But if, if your scenario Scott comes to play, I'm going to call up that person that I saw the other night and say you guys are 6 and O, You can't tell me you're not, you're not checking in and that you don't care about Indiana football. Oh, yeah, I know if that happens, a lot of people are going to check in.
And, and I think I think it does need to happen for for kind of the casual Indiana football fans to get into it because, you know, that that's something that I always bristle at that, you know, the crowds at Memorial Stadium have not always been what they should be. But you know what's never brought up sometimes when you know, not, you know, announcers are looking at like, man, got a lot of empty seats here. It's like, well, we we've been we've been bad for 30 years.
Like it's been a long time. And it you know, you can't just have two good games and get people there. And then, you know, there was one, you know, in 2021. We come off that 2020 season, 2021, we're feeling good. We're ranked 16th in the country going into the year. You know, I think IU football fans kind of got like their chest puffed up. It's like, all right, all right, this is something real here. Like we could really change the
paradigm. And then you just, I was at that Iowa game and I, I will never forget. I've told the story on the pod before. But like I, I drive out there with my wife, my two sons, they're like 8:00 and 4:00 at the time. Like we're all fired up. We go to Iowa. I mean, it is a first game. I, I've been there. It's a great atmosphere. I mean, they are fired up and I'm telling my kids like, you know, at the end of the first quarter, they do the wave to the hospital.
It's going to be really, really cool. And then, you know, we come out and I think it's like interception, you know, pick six and then we fumble and then Iowa scores and like pick six, it's like 21. Nothing. There's still 10 minutes to go in the first quarter. And I remember telling my wife, like, I think we just like, can we, are we going to be able to stay? It's like of the way, like I never thought I'd be like, maybe we leave in the third quarter.
Like I never thought I'd want to leave before the freaking wave happened, which is the end of the first quarter. But that kind of end of the season so early. And a lot of fans, you know, you brought a lot of people into the tent. You're like, all right, I'm going to give this a try. And it's like, oh man, they still suck. All right, well, I'll peace out.
I'll see you in a couple years. And so I, I think, you know, for, for Indiana to get a lot of those casual fans back or some of those basketball only fans, I do think it's going to take them winning some games and mate, you know, getting a UCLA under the belt and beating Maryland home. And at that point, that's a scenario where I think people kind of like, all right, I'm, I'm comfortable to come back in the tent and this tent isn't going to fall on me again. Yeah, yeah.
And is it with the expectation that they go undefeated, like it when those people come back in the tent or I don't? Think anybody? I don't think anybody thinks that. No, Yeah, right. Because because I think that becomes a different discussion just about expectation, right? If, if you feel like you've you've been let down a lot, which to your point, I'm sure a lot of Hoosier fans feel the same dagger to the heart that that you had that day at Iowa. But I don't know.
I, I think you, you, you take a group of Division two turned FCS turned Group of five coaches and you throw them in the new Big 10. And if, if they make some noise this year, I'm not saying it's the same thing as like Leicester City winning the Premier League a few years ago when they had
like 5001 odds. But be be really, really impressive to to have a staff that transitioned the team from the FCS to the FBS less than three years ago come into one of the most powerful conferences in college football and and knock
off some of these teams. So when when you're thinking about setting expectations, I think that context needs to be added into and the fact that a lot of the players you know, not, not not half the roster or anything like that, but several James Madison players have come with and you got a group of five quarterback coming in and trying to prove he can play in the Big 10. I think, I think the expectation should be a bowl game and, and I think 678 wins is is very, very
reasonable. No, I, I, I agree. I'm happy to hear that. I agree with you. The the last thing I'll say on Signetti before I have a couple of kind of larger questions for you. You know, and again, I think every coach is trying to win every game. But like when, when Kevin Wilson came in to IU, there was definitely a feel of like, all right, this is going to take some time. Like he came from Oklahoma and the vibe was definitely Oklahoma. They this is not how football
should be done. And you know, we're, we're going to have to rebuild and let's give it some time. What's been interesting with Signetti is I don't feel that same vibe. And, and maybe it's, you know, he's, he's one of those kind of sneaky older than you expect. Like he's like 6162 and he acts like he's my age, like mid 40s. He's a little bit older. You know, if you're Signetti, it's like he doesn't have time for a 7 year rebuild.
Like he he and I again, I don't I don't think Wilson was coaching to lose games like, but I think it's just that you give that vibe off of like, all right, this is a process. We'll take our time with Signeti. It feels very much like no man, like this is now like and I I do feel that, you know, he's not looking at a four to five year rebuild. It's like, all right, let's get this done now, like let's go to a bowl this year and then look to compete next year for even something more.
Whether we get there, I don't know, but it's. It's again, a very different feel than all of the coaching changes we've had at IU. Even Hepner, who was awesome, he kind of came in like, all right, we got to change the culture. It's gonna take some time, Signet. He's going to come in like, no man, the culture has changed, like change. They all suck and we're going to win. And it's it's just, it's been
really refreshing, you know? But what's exciting is now we're two weeks away from the rubber, really does hit the road because you win the offseason. That doesn't mean anything if you go out and lose to FIU. Sure, sure. I'm going to give you a really boring coach conference answer
here to the point you just made. But I think part of the difference is it's a different time in college football than when some of those coaching changes happened, Which I've I've rolled my eyes plenty of times when we've got that answer in meetings or in interviews and what have you. But it but it is true that like you, you can flip this thing a lot faster than you used to. Now, if you do want to build it from the grassroots and high school recruiting, there's a
reason to be excited there. Because I I covered high school football at the national level for the past two seasons. Indiana was not a part of a lot of our discussions. And then I turned on the first high school football game last Friday night that ESPN put on. And Juju Lewis, the number one quarterback in the junior class is considering Indiana that that didn't happen when when I was on the recruiting beat the last
couple years. And maybe he sticks with his USC commitment and Indiana never gets the full sniff that who's your fans with hope. But he's considering it. And that's a lot more than Malachi Nelson, who was the number one quarterback a few years ago and Jackson Arnold, who ended up at Oklahoma. It's that's a lot more traction in that space then then Indiana had even six months ago.
No, you bring that up and it's it's also interesting just regionally for so long, Indiana and their coaching staff has kind of just seated the best players in the region to Ohio State and Notre Dame and Michigan, you know, even Michigan State to a lesser degree. And you know, Iowa coming and poaching. It's kind of like, all right, well, we can't compete with
those guys. So we're just going to go after, you know, the the Mac type players that are in from the state of Indiana. And that also has changed too, you know, like Tyler Cherry committed Indiana, you know, one of the top quarterbacks in the state of Indiana and a lot of other Indiana recruits, I don't keep up with recruiting as much. But what I hear from, you know, the chatter from Indiana high level recruits is we're at least in the conversation and we're at
least talking to them. And that's we're not going to win it upfront. But it again, it's that mentality shift of like, yeah, we can't just cede all of Indiana to Ohio State, Notre Dame. And like, we're not going to win those battles early on, but at some point you got to stick your foot in the ground. Like, no, like we're going to we're going to recruit Indiana. And if you're a 5 star in Indiana, we're going to go try and meet with you and you might tell us to pound sand.
That's fine. But we keep doing that. At some point we're going to get them, which I think is a better mentality than where we had been, frankly, which is kind of like, all right, well, we'll let the big boys take the good stuff and we'll just take whatever, whatever scraps are left. And then we'll try and go get something in Florida or Alabama. We'll try to go somewhere we're not, we're not there. So I I like that approach as well.
Yeah, totally agree. And you know, a lot of the the big quote UN quote national brands have already recruited nationally. Texas, Florida, Georgia, California has always been a fertile recruiting ground for Michigan and Ohio State and the big boys in the conference.
But maybe maybe the expansion of the Big 10 becomes a diversion in recruiting where maybe there's more focus out West because you've got UCLA and USC out there that maybe eyes and recruiting start going out there a little bit more. And then maybe Indiana can kind of sweep in on the back end and Florida and Georgia, which everybody's recruiting.
So it's going to be hard. But maybe like you mentioned Scott and in the home state there, maybe maybe you find more four and five star guys there that don't have quite the same attention that that maybe they did when the conference was a little bit more condensed. Looking at the Big 10 at a larger, larger scale. Just kind of curious to ask you this question. Everyone's excited. I'm I'm going to go to LA. I'm super excited to see the Rose Bowl. Everyone's excited for some of
the newer matchups. Everyone's talked about the travel being an issue with the expanded Big 10 and the new schools out in the West, the West Coast are Are there things that maybe fans are not noticing that could be a big difference to how the Big 10 kind of operates over the next couple years that you see from your perspective? Logistically or on the field? Just over. I mean, either take it either way you want, yeah.
Yeah, I think, I think Greg Schiano, the Rutgers head coach, brought this up at media day how when they go out West, they're going to play a late night game and then they're going to get back to Piscataway at like noon the next day. Yeah, and and I know he has some experience from the NFL of making those cross country trips, but but that's that's a whole extra day of prep and then you're you're probably sluggish that next day that you get back to the facility.
I don't I don't think that's going to be a non factor. And I think it's being talked about for good reason. You know, I, I had an interesting discussion actually with the Indiana volleyball coach Steve aired about this last year because he had, he had the foresight to schedule a couple of games out West in anticipation of the league expanding this year. And I, I think he described it as, you know, the, the first night was fine.
And then we got into our second match out there and got into the 4th set and it was like somebody unplugged my team. And that, that the way he put that made me think like, OK, I think in football you could get into the fourth quarter where it's, I don't know, 1:00 in the morning Eastern Time. And if your body clock's not right, that's a real human experience that is going to impact these games.
And, and I think with with NIL and these guys getting paid and stuff, everybody just kind of wants to brush it off like, you know, they can handle it, they're getting paid big money, go figure it out. But I think it's going to be a multi year experiment for these figure out exactly the right way to make sure that that doesn't happen, that your team isn't unplugged late in the third quarter going to the fourth quarter of those West Coast games. Yeah, no, I I think you're right.
And I think you can see the same thing too. When Washington comes to Indiana or Washington goes to New Jersey, it's like you're going to have maybe they're too hyped to begin or they're, you know, they're too sluggish to start and then get hyped up afterwards. I I agree. And I think it's going to be really interesting to see how it plays out because everyone's kind of just using the NFL or pro sports as an example.
And it's like, well, it's not quite the same because, yeah, I mean, you know, I use not going to fly commercially to to LA, but they're also not flying private the same way that like the Colts are. And again, I, I don't really know the tread like I know how the Pacers, you know, in basketball fly. And they, you know, it's, it's
different than in college. And you know, they, they stay at higher level hotels and the pros that I'm sure colleges are going to, and they're getting different, different setups. And, and they also have, you know, they've been doing it for 5-10 years. They're used to it, You know, even even once we get 5-10 years down the road of this, you know, college kids are only doing it for four years.
So you only have a very small bit of experience versus like we're like, you know, a mixing sports like LeBron James, just he has that muscle memory of like what it's like to go on A5 game road trip on the West Coast versus the East Coast and vice versa. You know, college kids, you're getting four years at it and then you're done. So I, I do think it's going to be a bigger issue is why I agree with you. It's going to be interesting to
see how that goes. And the Big 10 is really, really going to be at the forefront of that 'cause they are stretched, You know, when you get to Seattle, to New Jersey, that is. That is. That's a haul, man. Yeah, I'd say all the Big 10 and then part of the ACC, we'll deal with that. Yeah, no, you're right. Yeah, I forgot. Yeah, I forgot the cow. It's it's what is, is the PAC 12 still a conference? And I mean, they're just, they're just going to run two teams this year, just rolling that.
Way the PAC 2, Yeah, Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State are are playing mostly Mountain West schedule, but they'll still play each other and they're still formally under the umbrella of the PAC 12 leadership. So, so no aggregation here, not not trying to get you to report anything because you work for the network, but just if you could ask, you know, answer just personally as Connor do do you see another round of consolidation with the
conference's going? Because it does, from my perspective, it feels like we're kind of in an incomplete grade point. Like you had all this movement, but then it's like, yeah, like you're not going to have Washington State and Oregon State just stay in the pack too. Like that. That is officially stupid. Like they need to join a conference.
That's going to be something it, it feels like, you know, the big 10 in the SEC or it's like they're just in a Mexican standoff, like who's going to make the next move. You know, it feels like they almost need to each get to 20. And then it's like, all right, this is about as much as we can handle. We can't do more.
I I, I mean, take it however you want if you want to start saying teams, you think, but I just, I look at it as like it feels like we're in a lull period and maybe it's going to come with whatever the next TV contract that comes out there. But I, I, and maybe it's with the ACC and some of these, you know, grant to write stuffs. But it does feel like to me we got in another round of this before maybe the dust settles. But I'm curious your thought being a little closer to it.
Yeah, well, something has to happen with the two the two leftover PAC 12 teams with Oregon State and Washington State either either they get some of the Mountain West to start a new PAC 12 and and they come over those conference lines, which which sounds unlikely, especially with the success that the Mountain West has had in basketball. Because the Mountain West is the last couple years it's been a, you know, a 456 bid mid major basketball conference.
So the, the shares that the conference gets from that as far as the TV money and the payout is, is, is not something that, that I would want to mess with if I running the, the Mountain West. So something has to happen, whether it's those two teams joining the Mountain West, those two teams getting an invitation from one of the other Power 4 conferences between now and in that deadline over the next
couple years. So to answer your question, we're not done and going to the other side of the map on the the East Coast. I mean, it's, it's been reported, I'm not breaking news here that that that Clemson and you know, North Carolina has interest. It sounds like Florida State has interest and, and getting out of the grant of rights in their deal with ESPN.
I, I think that's only going to continue to get messier as lawsuits and court battles play out and, you know, maybe they come to a settlement and, you know, I, I really, really enjoyed my time covering the ACC when I worked for ESPN and there are a lot of really good people there. And, and I hope that I, I hope there is some resolution that is not as ugly as it sounds like it's going to get, because it sounds like we got like 10 years of lawsuits coming and then we
get a resolution. So I don't think, I don't think we necessarily have something that's going to happen like next summer or the summer after that, but more, more of this stuff is is coming down the line. I'm pretty confident in that. Yeah, I I would agree. It's and then you also have like, you know, Notre Dame just sitting out there.
It's like at some point is there single deal with NBC going to be enough to keep it going or is NBC going to keep it feels like that's also another another point. But it's it's it's definitely an interesting time in college sports. It is. It is happening quickly. Yeah, well, the way that Notre Dame it's into the the new College Football Playoff is interesting because Jack Swarbrick, their their former athletic director, was part of designing this new playoff
system. But this year, Notre Dame's best seed they can get in the playoff is fifth because it's the the top four conference champions that get those byes in the first round. But they don't have to play a conference championship game. So I I think that argument is kind of null. If it were me, I would rather play a conference championship game, win it and then have a
bye. But but Notre Dame is basically guaranteeing themselves, at least for now, that they get a bye week essentially no matter what while the other conferences play a conference championship game. So I I know this is not a a Notre Dame podcast, but that. Well, no, no, I mean, I think it's, I think it's, no, it's, it's interesting because as you know, Indiana, we're a Big 10 school. It feels like the natural landing point for Notre Dame is the Big 10.
You know, them going to the SEC. And again, these are all becoming weird marriages of TV convenience, not schools that matter. But Notre Dame has nothing in common with any SEC school. That would be the weirdest connection, even more than Stanford and Cal being in the ACC. So I think it is. And you know, we're in Indiana. A lot of people here are Notre Dame football fans. I just find it interesting because it it feels like for years Notre Dame has just been
like, we're too good for that. We don't need the Big 10, you know, as this continues to change, especially in like basketball. I know they have the deal with the ACC. But like in basketball, you're getting to a point where if you're not in one of the conferences, you're just not going to have teams to schedule because you know, you're going to have 20 games in the Big 10. In basketball, you're already seeing some of these exempt tournaments kind of go away or just lose teams.
And you know, in football it's the same thing that if, if you're Michigan and you're in the Big 10 and you're looking at gauntlet every single year of eight games, why would I want to schedule Notre Dame in one of my non conference? Like, sure, it brings in revenue, but like I'm, I'm already getting a, a bunch of games that are big time games. I've, I've added a game against Oregon and Washington and USC. They're coming in every three or four years.
I, I do wonder if just a scheduling point of view in a couple years, it's like any school in the SEC or the Big 10 is just like, man, I ain't got time to play Notre Dame. Like I got to get some wins to keep my job as a coach and an AD. And I just wonder if that's going to push Notre Dame out. I don't know. I, I look at it from the negotiating point of view, like it feels like Notre Dame is losing more and more leverage as
it keeps going. Because if you're the Big 10 and you get to 20 teams and Notre Dame's not one of them, and then the SEC goes to 20 and Notre Dame's not one of those. It's like, all right, Notre Dame, who are you going to schedule? Like you want to get to the playoff, You got to play some big boys. You know, after weeks 5, they're all gone. Like all those teams you want to play that you need to get there
are gone. And, and if you're the big 10, it's like, all right, man, we can grab, you know, Clemson, you know, North Carolina, Miami, FL, the Florida State, like they're all grabbable and they all would fit in well here. Why do we need you and all your special rules? I, I don't know. I, I think it's interesting and that that's how I see it as kind of this game of chicken. And it feels like Notre Dame might be losing their leverage. It also gets to be there. They're a big enough brand.
They just, they get to do what they want to do and they'll they'll end up finding themselves a spot at the table, which is probably the way it's going to happen. Yeah, Two things on that I would say is to your point about potentially losing leverage if they lose the USC game yearly, I think that could be the thing where they say, all right, that's a big rivalry game. We've got tradition there. Our school is all about tradition. We want to find a way to conserve that.
And if the only way to do that is to join the Big 10, then maybe we have to do it. The the counterpoint to them losing their leverage is that a lot of people watch Notre Dame football and that's that's their biggest leverage. And that's honestly every school's biggest leverage. That is part of this new conference alignment is if people watch your games and you draw a rating, you're you're going to have leverage when it comes to where you end up.
And I think Notre Dame will always have that just because those fans are all across the country and are, are, are still a lot of 1988 Notre Dame fans out there that are, are, are proudly repping the Shamrock. So I, I think, I think the USC thing could, could make it interesting though, if, if, if that rivalry doesn't continue. Yeah.
I mean, the, the last thing I'll say on, you know, you mentioned Rutgers earlier on all of this, this realignment is it, it does feel like Rutgers was the biggest winner of all of this just in timing and in pickup that, you know, they the Big 10 gets Rutgers to try and get the New York media market when you probably could have gone for Syracuse or one of those other
schools. But you get that at a time when media markets still matter, that I think they matter less now with everything kind of going over Internet providers. But I think media markets still matter. But they don't matter like they did when the Big 10 went to go get Rutgers to put them on the Big 10 network. Now is a little more over the top stuff you can do.
It doesn't matter as much. And then all this realignment happens and it's like they're they're they're kind of the the smallest school that got brought into this. Like if if you were just playing NCAA Football 25 and just restarting conferences with a fresh start, I'm not sure they'd be in any of these. Maybe Indiana wouldn't either, But it's just it is. I look at Rutgers as like, they, they timed everything perfectly and they kind of grabbed a seat
at the table. And it's wild to think schools like Clemson and Florida State are kind of struggling to figure things out. And Rutgers is just sitting pretty and as one of the, you know, Top 40 schools. Right, right. With the the Statue of Liberty and the Big 10 maps commercial, Yeah. Exactly. They updated it. For those who haven't seen they updated it, It was fantastic. That was a great drop when they did that.
That was awesome it. Was yeah, but that was always something that I think made a lot of people laugh, was that Piscataway is not really in the same neighborhood, is not in the same neighborhood as the Statue of Liberty. So, yeah, no, in fact, that was the thing that popped up when they showed Rutgers was, was funny. But no, I that that obviously is America's heartthrob when it comes to Big 10 promos. And and I'm I'm right there with it. I I loved it.
Was there was there talk internally when when they got the you know, when when it was announced at Washington, Oregon, you know, the West Coast was it was it like brought up like we got to redo that promo? Obviously it was and they did it, but the internally was discussion like hey, we, we got to change the promo. You know, I that that's way above me when it comes to, to my job. So I, I never had any Intel on this is happening, but that was
a nice little Easter egg. I think August 2nd when the conference officially expanded when, when that got dropped. So I thought that was that was great PR work from from the Big 10 conference giving, giving the people what they wanted. Well, I think the Easter egg is there's a little Memorial
Stadium in that promo. And inside of there is a little Connor Onion you're doing, doing an IU game that you're, you're there just if you zoom in, you keep like one of those Instagram videos, keep zooming in, zooming in, zooming in. It's like there's Connor in the press box waving up doing an IU game. So that that's the way I like to think of that promo that came out.
Oh yeah, I'm, I, I think I'm still paying taxes on the little place I got in Brown County since since I did so many, so many games there last year, so. Well, Connor, hopefully you get to do an IU football game this year. Enjoy the new digs at FOX. Have a great have a great season and we will catch up with you as we get ready for basketball in a couple of months. But man, it's fall, the weather's getting cool, legal start changing and it's football
time. So I really appreciate you coming on to do this promo the the preview for the season and excited to hear you on the call at FOX this year. I appreciate it Scott, always enjoy it and happy to hop on with you anytime. Yeah, my pleasure and everyone out there, thank you for listening. We'll continue doing more IU football previews as we get ready for the season here. And gosh, like less than 12 days I think. So for Connor Scott for Crimson cast, signing off.