Big Ten football roundup: Indiana

Kevin Wilson accepted the Indiana head coach position after serving as Bob Stoops' offensive coordinator since 2002.

Football is a little different at Indiana than it is in Oklahoma. So far, Wilson has embarked on installing a new practice attitude -- a "no holds barred" approach -- and a degree of self esteem.

That might be the No. 1 difference between Oklahoma and Indiana. The Sooners are the Sooners. Indiana is a basketball school.

"Try to see if I can get our young men to start having some confidence in their abilities, believing in themselves, having a more positive outlook in the way we approach the game, the way we approach practice, just the way we go about our business," Wilson said. "I think our talent level is reasonable, has been really competitive. I think it's more of a mindset focus than anything else."

Wilson clearly knows what he's doing with quarterbacks. Sam Bradford, Heisman winner and No. 1 overall pick in the NFL 2010 NFL draft, is exhibit 1. Jason White, the 2003 Heisman winner, is exhibit 2.

In his first spring in Bloomington, Wilson is look for QB No. 1.

Dusty Kiel completed 14 of 27 passes for 196 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the game, while Edward Wright-Baker hit on 8 of 10 passes for 82 yards and a score. Wilson as said the job wouldn't be won in a day, but QB might be a make-or-break decision for Wilson in his first year. Teddy Schell and Adam Follett also are in the race, but they all might be in a holding pattern for Tre Roberson, Indiana's Mr. Football last year.

The Hoosiers are coming off Ben Chappell's successful run at the position. The offense was kind of built around Chappell, with a group talented wide receivers, a promising tight end and an O-line that was made more for pass protection than drive blocking.

"The quarterback battle, especially that position, is a position I feel needs to be earned," Wilson said. "It's not given by any means. It's not a popularity contest or a media vote or what the fans think is best. It's someone that is going to lead your team. I think that takes time."

Indiana has four starters return on the O-line, led by senior guard Justin Pagan, so that could give Wilson a great base. This also is where Wilson makes his point on self esteem and soft play.

Redshirt freshman Cody Evers worked as the first-team right guard during the Hoosiers' spring game. Ralston Evans, an early enrollee, was the first-team left guard.

"I don't think they've been here long enough to know how to play soft yet," Wilson said. "They actually play hard. We're just rewarding those guys for playing hard."

Sacred cows are under attack at Indiana. It simply has to be that way.

INDIANA HOOSIERS

• Division: Leaders
• 2010 record: 5-7, 1-7 Big Ten 
• Returning offensive starters (7): RB Darius Willis, WR Damarlo Belcher, TE Ted Bolser, C Will Matte, OL Andrew McDonald, OL Justin Pagán, OL Aaron Price
• Returning defensive starters (6): DE Darius Johnson, DT Adam Replogle, DT Mick Mentzer, LB Leon Beckum, MLB Jeff Thomas, FS Donnell Jones
• 2010 review: Indiana went 4-0 in its non-conference and then took a nosedive in the Big Ten, finishing with a  1-7 mark that spelled the end for coach Bill Lynch. A day after the Hoosiers reclaimed the Old Oaken Bucket from Purdue, Lynch was launched with one year left on his contract. It was the Hoosiers third straight losing Big Ten campaign, so it was probably time for a change. If Demarlo Belcher hangs on to the TD pass that would've given IU a victory over Iowa at Memorial Stadium . . . no, probably not. The Hoosiers will return some pieces for a good offense, but desperately needs to develop playmakers on defense. New coach Kevin Wilson is an offensive guru, but after seeing how things were done at Oklahoma, he knows D is imperative.
• 2011 schedule: S3 vs. Ball State (Lucas Oil Stadium); S10 Virginia; S17 South Carolina State; S24 at North Texas; O1 Penn State; O8 Illinois; O15 at Wisconsin; O22 at Iowa; O29 Northwestern; N5 at Ohio State; N12 OPEN; N19 at Michigan State; N26 Purdue
• Noteworthy: Last year, the Hoosiers sold their souls when it moved their conference game with Penn State to Fed Ex Field in Washington D.C. for $2 million. Bad news for a team that just added on to its stadium. This year's game at Lucas Oil is a little better idea. It's at least in Indiana.
• Quotable: “Again, changing our culture really starts internally with me, our staff, throughout our organization, 200 plus, 250 members of not just our football team, but our training room, our student trainers, our office help. We're working hard to blend a style that's very confident, has a great deal of expectation and belief in what we're trying to do." -- Indiana coach Kevin Wilson