The Republic from Columbus, Indiana • Page 21

SECTION portS Sunday, August 19, 2012 Piquet wins in Michigan Page D6 I was guilty when it came to making fun of programs that used the Little Sisters of the Poor college football scheduling theory. Then I started to see how programs used such a strategy to climb out of the basement. Texas Tech was the perfect example of a team that beat up on the dregs of the college football world so it perennially finish at 2-9 or 3-8 after getting destroyed in the Big 12. The Red Raiders started to put three for-sure wins on their record against Namby- Pamby U. and if they pulled an upset or two in conference play, they were nearly .500.

Since a numbers driven society, the recruits started to notice scoring average was going up, along with its passing yardage. In January, you tend to forget who the team scored 63 points against in September. Eventually, Texas Tech joined some of the elite teams. The feeling around the program changed. They were winners.

Football became a priority on campus and their non-conference schedule got tougher because the Red Raiders could handle it. Fast-forward to present day Bloomington, where environment is something akin to skip through football and get right to basketball. Those in charge would love for that to change. sure there has been some grumbling, though, when it comes to Indiana non-conference schedule this season Indiana State, Massachusetts, Ball State and Navy. None of those teams would be considered bad for their level, but they are all the kind of squads that you should squash if you are a major conference team going to a bowl.

Over the years I covered college football, I found that most coaches like the two and one system. That was two non-conference teams on the schedule that you could beat, even on a bad day, and one team that would give you a test and keep the critics off your back. With four non-conference games on the schedule, that has become a three and one system. Beating any of these usual suspects on 2012 schedule raise any eyebrows. Beating all of them would.

Just to refresh, Indiana State was 6-5 last year but Jay Heater ED CHULTZ I NDIANAPOLIS Just over six minutes remained Saturday evening, and all the momentum in Lucas Oil Stadium had shifted to Bloomington North. Columbus East had let a 17-point halftime lead slip away and found itself trailing by four points. But the Olympians marched 80 yards for the winning score and escaped with a 31-28 season-opening victory. (Cowan) brought us together and said we have to said sophomore Markell Jones, whose 40-yard run with 3:19 remaining proved to be the game winner. then on, we knew we had to get it done.

We had to get it in the end zone and swing the momentum back in our East began the pivotal drive at its own 20, but a holding penalty on the second play left it in a second-and-20 from its own 10. Cowan then scrambled for 24 yards and a first down. was actually a busted Cowan said. was supposed to be a screen, but I turned around to fake the ball, and our wide receiver there to get the ball, so I just took off that way just to see what I could Two plays later, the Olympians faced a third-and-7, but Cowan hit Jason Kimmet for 16 yards to the 46. Jones then ran for six yards to set up his 40-yard touchdown jaunt.

was just a straight downhill power run, and we had great blocking from the Jones said. we had JT Voekler come in as a wide receiver, and he made a great back block. After that, it was just me one on one with the safety, and I just had to make a move and get to the end could have folded the tents up when they scored to go East coach Bob Gaddis said. we made a big play on third-and-7 where Alex hits Kimmet on the sideline there for a first down. That was Bloomington North still had a little more than three minutes, but on fourth-and-9 from its own 39, Lorrell Williams threw a deep pass that was intercepted by Brian Wichman at his own 30.

The Olym- pians then ran out the final 1:31. made some mistakes, which is typical in your first Gaddis said. getting the touchdown when we went behind and then making the stop when they had the ball, that was huge. We made a lot of big plays, EAST THRILLER ILL RAVES The Associated Press PITTSBURGH Mike Tomlin is not a coach who impresses easily. Even the most dominant performances by his Pittsburgh Steelers are often met with a shrug of the shoulders and a promise to get better.

Still, even Tomlin help but be wowed at least a little bit by what he saw from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck last week. All the top overall pick in NFL draft did was throw a touchdown on his first pass as a professional and spend his four series on the field lighting up the St. Louis Rams in a 38-3 preseason victory. thought he played really Tomlin said. mean played really well for a rookie.

I thought he played really Period. An encore, however, figures to be tougher today night against the Steelers (0-1). first-string defense played sparingly in the preseason opener against Philadelphia. Expect players like Troy Polamalu, LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons to give Luck a lengthy look at the defense that was tops in the league yet again last fall. be Luck said.

realize every defense is good in the NFL, in my mind. But to have a chance to go against a great historical defense, a great franchise, with a great fan base, will be Just, the Steelers hope, not for long. Though veterans Casey Hampton and James Harrison remain sidelined by injuries, defensive end Brett Keisel is back after missing the opener to be with his wife for the birth of their third child. Keisel, like Tomlin, caught a glimpse of precocious debut. The one thing he noticed was all the time Luck had to make Difficult follow-up ahead for Luck, Colts After big opening, Indianapolis faces new test today against Pittsburgh AY EATER It was one final chance for Columbus East senior Sara Bean to prove her point.

Yes, she is somewhat of an animal when it comes to high school volleyball. East, which hosted a three-team, round-robin on Saturday, led 23-19 in the final game of their three-set sweep of visiting Bloomington North. After a perfect set-up from junior Faith Myers, Bean tomahawked a shot that had a take-no-prisoners quality to it. Pity the poor player who would try to get in front of that one. No one did.

Bean and junior Carly Robertson successfully blocked Bloomington next spike attempt, and the 25-16, 25-11, 25-19 sweep was complete. That came on the heels of a 25-7, 25-12, 25-12 win over Terre Haute South earlier in the day. For a season-opening effort, the Olympians looked sharp and Bean was at her aggressive best. is just an said East coach Faith Wilder-Newland. just let Bean flashed a wide smile when told of comment.

love be- ing the she said. love to be the person who nails the ball into their She hit several such shots on Saturday and finished with 11 kills against Bloomington North, which won its match against Terre Haute South, 15-25, 25-23, 16-25, 2514, 16-14. That five-set thrilled might have sapped Bloomington energy because the Cougars seem to have much until the third game against East. The Olympians, meanwhile, looked excited about starting the season. been working all Bean said.

think we started out well. Our communication was good, and our passing was Time for Hoosiers to handle business Bean powers East to impressive wins A ARON ERGUSON OR HE EPUBLIC Members of the Columbus East volleyball team celebrate after defeating Bloomington North during the Varsity Round Robin hosted Saturday by Columbus East. be fun. I realize every defense is good in the NFL, in my mind. But to have a chance to go against a great historical defense, a great franchise, with a great fan base, will be Andrew Luck On squaring off against the Steelers is just an animal.

She just let Coach Faith Wilder-Newland On Columbus East senior Sara Bean Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) passes against the St. Louis Rams in the first half of a game Aug. 12 in Indianapolis. HE A SSOCIATED RESS Jones busts open late run; Olympians win at Lucas Oil Stadium OMMY ALKER OR HE EPUBLIC Columbus East junior Alex Cowan (6) breaks through the defensive line Saturday during a game against Bloomington North at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis SEE THRILLER ON PAGE D7 SEE EAST ON PAGE D7 SEE HOOSIERS ON PAGE D7 SEE COLTS ON PAGE D7 INSIDE More photos from Columbus East and Columbus opening games. Page D3.