Sometimes, it’s not about who you are, it’s about what’s around you.
On Saturday, No. 6 Indiana defeated North Texas by a score of 52-16 in the season opener. Josh Hoover, Indiana’s fifth-year transfer quarterback from TCU, made his debut for the Hoosiers.
Hoover stepped into what some suggest is the most difficult job in college football, and without a shadow of a doubt, his first performance as a Hoosier was an impressive one. Hoover completed 13-of-16 pass attempts for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Critically, despite throwing 13 interceptions over the course of his most recent season at TCU, Hoover never turned the ball over on Saturday.
Efficient, productive, vigilant.
“Offensively, we made some big plays. I thought Josh Hoover was sharp,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said after the game.
There were moments of concern, of course, such as a throw on the run and into traffic on a third-and-nine play in the third quarter. Tight end Brock Schott wound up catching that pass for a 25-yard gain, but under duress, Hoover’s throw very possibly could’ve resulted in a turnover.
“Brock (Schott) made a great catch,” Hoover said after the game, “probably not one I would like to try to do a lot of the time, but got away with it right there.”
For the most part, Hoover was awesome. Better yet, he didn’t do it alone. In many moments, but especially in the face of adversity, Hoover referred to his Rolodex of offensive options.
Indiana’s passing game was, as much as anything else, balanced. By the end of the day, seven different Hoosiers recorded at least one reception, and three different receivers reached the end zone.
“They had a problem covering Charlie (Becker) today for sure… Nick Marsh made a really nice play on the first touchdown, Tyler Morris made a few plays, got Davion Chandler involved… so I thought the passing game in general was decent,” Cignetti said.
No matter which trio of receivers was on the field, Hoover always had multiple viable targets to count on. A Rolodex, one could say, of options to choose from.
In terms of pass plays, Hoover didn’t need to make very many decisions. Cignetti’s Indiana has always leaned on its ground game more than its air attack, and that was most definitely true against North Texas. Indiana attempted just 16 passes compared to its total of 30 carries.
Beyond baseline statistical balance and, whether through reliance on the run game or through an expansive arsenal of receivers to target, a relatively easy day for Hoover, the transfer quarterback’s supporting cast stepped up in meaningful moments. It was as if Hoover could simply point to a name on his Rolodex of offensive options and ensure that a positive play would follow his selection.
In the first quarter, a vicious facemask penalty turned Hoover’s helmet nearly all the way around and left him in the dirt, dazed and bloodied.
Hoover didn’t leave the game, and on the very next play, sifted through his Rolodex and delivered a strike to Becker in the end zone, emphatically extending Indiana's lead to 21-3 in defiance of the violence enforced by the other side.
Whenever Hoover stood at the doorstep of the goal line, he pointed to Richard’s name in his Rolodex, and watched from the rear as his running back powered forward and into the end zone.
Under major pressure, Hoover could fling a ball up the field to Schott. With time to operate, he could locate Morris over the middle or hit a running back in the flat. With seemingly no options at all, Hoover could dial up Marsh and trot to the sideline triumphant.
“For me, it’s exciting, because anybody that goes out there can make big plays,” Hoover said.
A few questions exist about Hoover as he embarks on the arduous journey of attempting to match or exceed Fernando Mendoza’s magnificence at the helm of the Hoosiers. For example, the jury is still out on whether Hoover’s aforementioned past turnover issues will extend into his time in Bloomington. Also, Hoover has not yet competed in a matchup quite as consequential as the ones the Hoosiers competed in last year and hope to compete in this year.
One encouraging thought that plays in Hoover’s favor is the fact that, at least based on Saturday’s action against North Texas, the transfer quarterback is very much not alone.
At least against North Texas, in any given moment of chaos or strife, Hoover had a name and number in his Rolodex to call on. Almost across the board, the chosen names effectively executed the tasks requested of them.
Every name in the Rolodex may not be ready to contribute at any given moment, but because of the quantity and quality of options to choose from, it’s likely that someone will be able to step up to fulfill each and every one of Hoover’s athletic requests.
Hoover, inevitably, will face challenges at Indiana and in the Big Ten that he hasn’t yet faced in his career. Whether it’s a crucial third down in a hostile road environment like Michigan’s, a trip to the red zone in crunch time at home against Ohio State or simply his first drive of the season against North Texas, Hoover has a Rolodex of weapons to turn to.
After all, Hoover isn’t alone. At least not at Indiana. What’s around him is as important as who he is.
There’s a Rolodex in Hoover’s pocket, with countless avenues to success present within it.
In a moment of chaos, all he has to do is point.
