Indiana University Football creates new tradition with George Taliaferro Award
Before Tom Allen answered any questions during his individual press conference Tuesday during Big Ten Media Days, Indiana’s head coach made an announcement. “I’d like to announce the beginning of a new tradition,” Allen said. Starting this season, Indiana will honor one of its greatest trailblazers by wearing George Taliaferro’s #44 jersey as a tribute to his legacy and his impact on the game of college football. Allen would go on to announce that redshirt senior linebacker Aaron Casey, nicknamed “Ace” by his teammates and coaching staff, is the first to earn the new honor.
While at Indiana, Taliaferro was a three-time All-American, excelling at multiple positions and helping to break the color barrier in sports on his way to a 1981 induction to the College Football Hall of Fame. The idea came about when, due to the difficulty with retiring numbers and taking them out of rotation with how things are nowadays, the coaching staff was searching for ways to honor Taliaferro in a more permanent sense in the program. “We thought it’d be a great honor to have someone wear #44 in our program so that the number could be seen out on the field every Saturday,” said Mike Pechac, the Director of Player Development and Academic Advancement in the program
The criteria for the selection isn’t a simple process, however. Pechac says they were looking for someone who is an upperclassmen and has done an “unbelievable” job of representing the program during their time at IU, is a great teammate, a leader in the locker room, works hard academically, and loves their teammates. Casey checked all the boxes. “When coach asked me and we kind of brought it top and talked to coach [Mark] Deal about it, when we said Aaron, we call him ‘Ace’, everybody agreed 100% that’s gotta be the first guy,” Pechac said.
“Honestly, I was kind of shocked at first,” Casey said. “I didn’t really know why they wanted to pick me, but obviously they must’ve saw something in me that I can represent what he stood for and the things behind them. So, I was blessed and honored to represent him with the #44. “To me, he had to fight through adversity so much back in the day to where there’s a lot of discrimination going on in the world. He was able to overcome is and pursue his dreams and become the best he could be in a bad situation. “Being a young black man in the society we live in today and going through that adversity, and I know how much he went through back in the day, just the struggles and tribulations. Having it turned into a positive at the end of the day and looking at it as something great, it just means a lot.”
Future Indiana Hoosier Gabe Cupps gives fans a chance to see him play on ESPN
2023 Indiana University Men’s Basketball Commit Gabe Cupps scored 11 points for Midwest Basketball Club in a 78-67 win over Strive for Greatness in the Las Vegas Big Time AAU Basketball at Bishop Gorman High School in a game nationally televised on ESPN. Midwest Basketball Club is based in Cincinnati Ohio and features 3 Division 1 Commits. Cupps was scored on a nice back cut to basket and had a nice putback after a pass of the glass. Midwest dominated the game with great ball movement. team basketball and intense defense. Cupps plays at Centerville HS in Centerville Ohio and can sign his national letter of intent with the Hoosiers in November.
Reed Sheppard who is bound for the University of Kentucky scored 16 points, dished out 4 assists and had 9 rebounds. Sheppard is the son of former Kentucky player Jeff Sheppard who won 2 two National Championships in 1996 and 1998. Reed’s Mom Stacey played Basketball the University of Kentucky. Rayvon Griffith who is headed to the University of Cincinnati scored all 15 of his points in the first half.
Strive For Greatness is a California based team who features Bronny James the son of Los Angeles Laker LeBron James. Bronny had 7 points and 7 rebounds. Mackenize Mgbako had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Rob Dillingham had 11 points and 4 assists. Welsey Yates had 18 points.
Former Indiana University Football Player Tegray Scales signs with Cincinnati Bengals
Former All-American and IU standout linebacker Tegray Scales signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on. Scales is one of three free agent signings the team made this week, and he will join the rest of the roster for training camp. During his time at IU, Scales became the first Indiana linebacker to earn All-America honors since 1987. During his senior season, Scales was named first team All-Big Ten, named the team’s Most Valuable Player and team captain, and played his way onto 6 different award watch lists (Bednarik, Nagurski, Lott, Butkus, B1G Player to Watch, Senior Bowl). Scales would wrap up his career at IU third on IU’s all-time list for tackles for loss, sixth in sacks, and 10th for overall stops. Scales started 26 of his 48 games at IU, accumulating 13 double-digit tackle performances, four multi-sack games, and 14 multi-TFL outings. He would add 218 solo tackles, eight interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, nine quarterback hurries, and eight pass breakups as well.
During his professional career, Scales had originally signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Rams, and has spent time on the Colts, Buccaneers, Steelers, and Bengals’ practice squads. Scales has played in 5 career NFL games, all with Pittsburgh, but also spent time with the XFL’s Dallas Renegades, CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, and USFL’s Houston Gamblers. The Cincinnati-native will now have a chance to earn his keep and possibly earn some steady time in the league with the AFC Champions from a year ago.
Bloomington Speedway hosts USAC Indiana Sprint Week event
USAC Indiana Sprint week arrives at the Bloomington Speedway on the Red Clay tomorrow evening. USAC Sprints and 305 Racesaver Sprints will be providing the racing action. Pit Gate opens 4pm. Main Gates open 5pm and fans need to enter off of Fairfax Road or the Walnut Pike entrance. Pit Admission is $35/10 & under $15 and General Admission is $30/10 & under free with proof of age. For more information visit www.racebloomingtonspeedway.com
Indianapolis Indians Coverage
Indians Win Series Opener in Toledo
Jack Suwinski launched his first career grand slam and Mason Martin belted his 100th career home run as the Indianapolis Indians earned a series-opening win over the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday night, 5-4. Following back-to-back walks and a single to put the first three batters of the game on base, Suwinski parked a grand slam over the right-field wall to put the Indians (44-47) up early, 4-0. It was his first professional grand slam and his third home run in five games with the Indians. Toledo starter Nivaldo Rodriguez (L, 3-8) exited the game after recording just two outs through 33 pitches.
A home run by Kerry Carpenter in the second, RBI double by Brendon Davis in the fourth and RBI single by Daz Cameron in the bottom of the fifth brought Toledo (46-46) back within one run, 4-3. In the bottom of the sixth, Martin then countered with his 15th home run of the season and the 100th home run of his professional career since being selected by the Pirates in the 17th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. Martin’s homer marked the game-winning run as the Mud Hens then came back with an RBI double off the bat of Josh Lester in the seventh. Following the fifth inning, the Indians pitching staff surrendered just two hits with six strikeouts through the final four frames. Cam Vieaux (W, 4-0) fanned one over one perfect inning and Eric Hanhold (S, 3) surrendered a two-out single to clinch the victory in the ninth.
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