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Tom Allen took over the Indiana program going into their Foster Farms Bowl game last season. At Big Ten Media Day, Allen said the home opener against Ohio State would be the “biggest home opener in history of IU”
The last time Indiana opened their season at home against a Big Ten opponent was in 1982 against Northwestern. The Hoosiers won the game, 30-0, but remember: it was Northwestern they were playing against, and those Wildcats ended the season 3-8.
Ohio State, especially with Urban Meyer at the helm, are a completely different team compared to the Wildcats of the 1980s. Since Meyer has been coach, the Buckeyes are 5-0 against the Hoosiers. While OSU has won big at home against IU over the past five seasons, the road games in Bloomington, Ind., have been one-possession wins.
It’s awesome that Allen is taking the role as hype man for the Hoosiers’ start of the season, but let’s be realistic with how that crowd turnout will be for their first game. Columbus is just a few driving hours away from Bloomington, so expect there to be a huge contingent of Scarlet and Gray.
Some members of the media also sounded off on Allen’s comment:
Tom Allen is going to be disappointed when the "biggest home opener in history of IU" has a vast majority of Buckeye fans in the house.
— Dave Biddle (@davebiddle) July 24, 2017
Indiana coach Tom Allen is early leader for most impassioned opening remarks at B1G Media Days. New head man ready to start season.
— Evan Bland (@EvanBlandOWH) July 24, 2017
If Indiana coach Tom Allen gets just a little more fired up, he'll tip over the podium at the end of his time on stage at B1G Media Days.
— Jim Naveau (@Lima_Naveau) July 24, 2017