IU crushes Central Michigan 41-10; only 11 more wins needed to become national
champions
Defense delivers in a dream debut
Unknown freshman Porter picks off 2 passes, scores TD
By Terry Hutchens, IndyStar.com
September 5, 2004
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana
University's best-kept secret is out of the bag. Tracy Porter is no longer an
unknown.
Despite not appearing on IU's depth
chart, the true freshman from Port Allen, La., started Saturday night at right
cornerback and was a difference maker.
He had two interceptions, including a
96-yard return for a touchdown early in the third quarter, to help the Hoosiers
to a 41-10 victory over Central Michigan before 36,041 at Memorial Stadium.
Not bad for a player who wasn't
originally in IU's recruiting class but signed with the Hoosiers in March. Not
bad for a young man who had played only two years of organized football before
coming to Indiana. Not bad for an obscure player who chose the Hoosiers over
Oklahoma State and two junior colleges.
"This is unbelievable, just a dream
come true," Porter said. "I didn't find out I was starting until three days ago.
I've just been spending as much time as I could studying the playbook and trying
to learn as much as possible. I was just happy to be able to help our team win."
The 31-point victory was the most
lopsided win in coach Gerry DiNardo's three seasons at Indiana, and was IU's
largest margin of victory since a 35-point win over Northwestern in 2001. The
last time Indiana won a season opener by more than 30 points was a 40-6 victory
over Toledo in 1996.
There were several keys to IU's
victory. Indiana's offense made enough plays to keep the pressure on the
Chippewas. BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown, and
quarterback Matt LoVecchio threw a 46-yard touchdown pass late in the first half
to Travis Haney. LoVecchio was 9-of-14 for 121 yards.
IU's special teams were strong, too.
Kicker Bryan Robertson put five kickoffs out of the end zone for touchbacks.
Punter Tyson Beattie had both of his punts roll inside the Central Michigan 5.
And kick returner Lance Bennett consistently gave IU good field position.
But the story Saturday was Indiana's
defense. Junior linebacker Kyle Killion had 10 tackles, including 3.5 tackles
for loss, two of which were sacks. Defensive tackles Jodie Clemons and Russ
Richardson also had one sack each, and as a unit the Hoosiers had nine tackles
for loss.
Still, the defensive catalyst was
Porter.
On Central Michigan's first
possession, Jake Powers put a big hit on quarterback Grant Arnoldink in the end
zone, and Porter came up with the interception at the Central Michigan 18-yard
line. He stumbled, and fell at the 16, or he might have scored a touchdown on
that one.
"I read the quarterback's eyes, broke
on the ball, and when I got the ball in my hand, I was thinking touchdown. I
guess my feet got caught up with each other and I fell," Porter said.
It was a great rookie performance,
but DiNardo cautioned reporters about filling out Hall of Fame ballots just yet.
"He had a good play, but he has a lot
to learn," DiNardo said. "Troy Douglas, who coaches him, thought he was ready to
play. But your opponents will find a freshman corner. They probably didn't know
that he was playing, so everything gets different once you get on tape."
Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly,
in his debut as the Chippewas coach, tipped his hat to the Hoosiers for
executing in the opener. He also felt that Porter's return for a touchdown was
the play of the game.
Trailing 20-3 at halftime, Central
Michigan had driven the ball to the IU 4-yard line on its first possession of
the third quarter. A delay penalty put the Chippewas back at the 9, and that's
when Porter stepped in front of an Arnoldink pass and returned it 96 yards for
the score.
It was the second longest
interception return for a touchdown in IU history. The longest was a 97-yarder
by Alfonzo Thurman against Miami of Ohio in 1994.
"It's clear that the interception for
a touchdown really took the wind out of us," Kelly said. "We are trying to find
ourselves as a team. We are trying to find and establish a quarterback."
