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(09/25/18 3:59am)
Get to know senior golfer Jack Sparrow just a little bit better. We talk about why he wanted to come to Indiana, the story behind the name and we get a putting demo (because everyone could use some tips). Putting demo starts at 5:40.
(09/22/18 12:57am)
To explain how much depth IU has at its disposal, look no further than IU midfielder Trevor Swartz.
Swartz is currently second in the nation in assists. He even led the country for a few days after Sunday’s match. It was his second straight match with two assists. But there have been times throughout the season where Swartz has come off the bench. It isn’t because he’s playing poorly. It’s far from that. It’s just because IU coach Todd Yeagley has so many options, especially in the midfield.
IU’s depth was on full display Friday in Evansville against the Purple Aces as the Hoosiers moved to 7-1, earning a 5-0 road win.
“I think form and a couple of guys haven’t played a lot in the past six months,” Yeagley said. “It created a domino of managing this. It’s a good coach’s problem to have when everyone is full tilt and 90 minutes ready and sharp. That would be tough, but a good tough to have.”
The match against North Carolina is one that sticks out. IU played five field players off the bench against the, at the time, third ranked team in the country. Swartz, the assister, and AJ Palazzolo, the goal scorer, were two of those five players off the bench. On the other side, the Tar Heels played just three players off the bench.
The midfield has seen the most rotation thus far. There are legitimately 10 different players who could play in the midfield or on the wings. With only 90 minutes in a regulation match, it just isn’t viable to get all those players on the field maybe as much as they should be playing.
Some guys are relegated to less playing time. But they know the competition within the squad is stiff and playing fewer minutes will keep them fresher as the season progresses. It also makes it harder on opponents to account for IU’s bevy of options.
“When you play less, your legs are more fresh,” Swartz said. “Especially when you’re coming at teams like Wisconsin, they don’t have as much depth. So a Spencer Glass, Austin Panchot, a lot of the other guys, it’s hard to deal with.”
As the season progresses, it’s up to Yeagley to find that formula of success. There are so many things he has to keep in mind. Matchup, fitness and form name a few. But sometimes it’s just as simple as playing the hot hand.
“We will maybe go with what tactically works in that game to start, and then keep adjusting as we need to,” Yeagley said. “If someone’s hot and feeling it, his minutes will grow in that game, and the guys know that. That’s why the rotation is not predictable. They also know that performance is key and they have to perform.”
The rotation will continue barring injuries. But if there is any team that will be able to combat an injury, it probably is Indiana. They dealt with an injury last year to Jeremiah Gutjahr.
But in 2018, the Hoosiers want to be at full strength to reach the peak of the college soccer world. It’s just about whether they can find the right formula and make the right moves at the right times.
“We’ll keep rotating,” Yeagley said. “There’s no prescribed way, we’ll go into a game with a plan and if someone’s playing really well and playing great, then we’ll stay with them.”
(09/21/18 7:30pm)
Another episode of The Flagship has come and gone. We have our five banner Friday, best thing of the week and what are you watching? Five banner Friday looks at some of the best college football atmospheres in America.
(09/20/18 3:06am)
We're back with another big guest on the podcast. This time, midfielder Frankie Moore joins the pod. We talk about a wide range of subjects from last year's College Cup run to this year's team to doing a mock interview. Take a listen.
(09/17/18 4:14am)
It was September 30, 2017.
There was just over 33 minutes left to play in Indiana’s match vs. Santa Clara. The Hoosiers were up 4-0. IU was well in control and had just cleared a Broncos corner kick.
Every red IU jersey was in the box defending the set piece looking to keep the shutout. Once cleared, it was then-junior Jeremiah Gutjahr who went to try to gain possession back for the Hoosiers.
One Broncos defender headed it up in the air to his teammate. Gutjahr still chased. As the second Santa Clara player kicked it back towards goal, Gutjahr turned his back and then fell.
“He didn’t get up,” Paul Gutjahr, Jeremiah’s dad, said. “When he didn’t get up I thought this was really bad. I’ve been watching him since he was four years old, he always gets up.”
It had yet to be diagnosed, but Gutjahr had just torn his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Jeremiah was on the ground for several minutes. He was carted off after the training staff attended to him. Gutjahr came back to the field for the closing minutes of the game helped by a pair of crutches.
“I went down to the fence, when I saw him crutching,” close friend and former IU soccer player Caleb Konstanski said. “I saw his knee and it was the size of a bowling ball.”
That play would be Gutjahr’s last action of the 2017 season. The Bloomington native now faced a long journey ahead. Maybe the most unfortunate part is, according to his dad, he was just about three minutes away from being taken out. For good or for bad, it was just a freak accident.
I’ve been watching him since he was four years old, he always gets up
As Gutjahr went in for surgery shortly there after, doctors explained to him that he was fairly lucky, all things considered.
“They rank ACL injuries zero to 10, nine is career-ending,” his dad said. “They said his was an 8.5. He was that close to not playing soccer again.”
It was definitely a blow to both the Hoosiers and to Gutjahr. Earlier in 2017, Gutjahr had played with the United States Under-20 Men’s National Team in a tournament in Costa Rica. He was such an integral part of IU’s midfield.
But the Hoosiers would have to move on without him. Gutjahr would also have to move on without the Hoosiers. The long road to recovery was just getting started.
********
There are lonely days and nights when recovering from an injury as gruesome as Gutjahr’s. Doubt can creep into your mind. Nothing is assured anymore.
But if there was anyone who could fight through all of that, it was Jeremiah. He’s never taken the easy way out throughout his soccer career. When he was choosing where to go to college, he wanted to be on a team where he wouldn’t start as a freshman, where he would have to fight for a position and where he would be pushed.
“Jeremiah’s a pretty special kid when it comes to how mature he is based on most 20, 21 year olds,” IU coach Todd Yeagley said. “He’s got a big picture mentality and it didn’t take much for him to go ‘alright, I’m just going to have to work everyday, control what I can control.’ Easy for him, like easier for him than people his age.”
Mature is a word that comes up a lot when talking about Gutjahr. His dad says he thinks of Jeremiah as “an old soul in a young body.”
This injury though, being his first long-term injury, would push him maybe more than ever before. But he never got too down on himself.
“There was a lot of time alone,” Gutjahr said. “That was mentally taxing at times. Just doing a lot of work on your own. People talk about getting injured, it’s isolating. Just because you’re doing different stuff, you come to practice and you can’t run around, you can’t kick a soccer ball. You’re working to get back on the field, but it’s just different. There’s a different rhythm to it.”
The rehab was long. The offseason maybe felt longer. Gutjahr didn’t practice with the team from the day he got injured until the day before IU’s last exhibition match in August. It was a span of 323 days.
Missing last season was especially tough. Growing up as a Bloomington kid, the ride to the national championship was something Gutjahr hated to miss. He sat in the stands and watched it all unfold. The team embraced him last season when he went down with the injury. They wanted to play “for Jeremiah.”
Watching the championship game in the stands, just gives you chills just thinking about it
With the game being against Stanford, it meant a little bit more to Gutjahr. For one, both of his parents attended Stanford. His final two schools in the recruiting process also happened to be Stanford and Indiana. Being a Bloomington soccer player and watching IU growing up was just the cherry on top of an unfortunate situation.
“You spend your entire life following IU soccer and dreaming about playing in the national championship game and being on the team,” Gutjahr said. “Starting the first half of the season and playing a lot and then watching the championship game in the stands, just gives you chills just thinking about it.”
That may have been one of the toughest parts of his rehab. But when the season was finished, Gutjahr’s work was just getting started. Especially since he went to Bloomington High School North, he has a support group in Bloomington.
He said family and friends reached out, but there was one friend that stood out above the rest.
********
The day after Gutjahr injured his knee, he found himself in a place all too familiar: Caleb Konstanski’s living room.
While Gutjahr’s knee may have still been the size of a bowling ball, as Konstanski mentioned the night before, that day’s host drew upon a Kobe Bryant quote as his message to his close friend. Bryant had sent it to an NBA player who had just gotten injured. Konstanski thought it fit the situation for Gutjahr.
“I sent that to him, pretty much just saying ‘there’s going to be moments when you get really upset and frustrated and you’re going to miss it all, but it just makes you work that much harder,’” Konstanski said. “I continually shared that with him because there were days when he felt that for sure, but he knew he’d come back better than ever and quicker too.”
Konstanski has been a constant in Gutjahr’s life since he was young. He would “babysit” Gutjahr as a kid. But Konstanski didn’t think about it that way. He was 11 or 12 when he started watching Gutjahr and his brother. He considered it just hanging out.
But that grew into something larger. The two have stayed close since then. Them both playing soccer, and both for IU, helped that relationship grow even more.
“We grew up and always stayed in touch and in high school and college we’d do one on one trainings, two or three times a week,” Konstanski said. “It grew into an awesome friendship. I consider him my little brother. He was in my wedding, but I remember talking to him when he was 13 or 14 and he was giving me life advice. He was always mature beyond his years.”
There’s going to be moments when you get really upset and frustrated and you’re going to miss it all, but it just makes you work that much harder
Their relationship is unique. Paul says he can say things to Jeremiah, but Konstanski is able to relate more. He mentioned Konstanski being a laid back, optimistic guy, which can be a good thing for Jeremiah who is a bit more serious by nature.
Aside from Konstanski, being from Bloomington was a plus in this situation for Gutjahr. Friends and family reached out. He was able to go home when he needed. There was an extra level of comfort being in the place where he grew up, a place he feels a great loyalty to.
“I had a lot of people reach out, which was very supportive,” Gutjahr said. “I’m from Bloomington, so family being here, friends, that was incredible. A lot of great friends just super supportive, encouraging. I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, friends, the whole support group, it was incredible.”
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It’s always said in situations like these that when players get hurt, there’s always a chance they come back better.
Gutjahr has hit the ground running in 2018. Getting back to full fitness for a midfielder like Gutjahr can be tough. He runs maybe more than anyone on the field for IU. But thus far, the returns have been good.
Konstanski tries to get to as many games as he can, and he says Gutjahr hasn’t lost a step, especially in one area.
Once you have an injury like that, I think every time you play, you’re grateful that you’re playing
“One thing I’ve always told him since he was 10 years old was that I wanted him to be more physical on defense and hit a few people,” Konstanski said. “It’s something that when we talk after every game through high school and college, I say ‘you played well, you should hit more people.’ That’s something that definitely could have dropped off coming back from injury, but it’s been fun seeing him play more physical and hit people. There’s no timid aspect in his play and it’s the best soccer I’ve ever seen him play.”
Gutjahr has already been an integral part for IU in 2018. Yeagley says everyone knows IU’s best teams have Jeremiah in them. He’s added taking corner kicks to his repertoire and complements Francesco Moore nicely in the midfield.
It took Gutjahr some time to get over the fact that he missed last year’s College Cup run. But now back on the field his dad sees him get a little more of his “mojo” back.
“I think he doesn’t take it for granted,” Paul said. “Once you have an injury like that, I think every time you play, you’re grateful that you’re playing.”
Gutjahr knows he’s fortunate his knee injury wasn’t worse than it could have been. He’s becoming more confident day by day and game by game. As a senior, this is his last chance to play in Bloomington, the place where he grew up.
But just like anyone coming off a serious injury, he’s just happy to be back playing the sport he loves.
“I think it’s a different, new perspective,” Gutjahr said. “People say that all the time when you come back from an injury, you have a new appreciation for being back out there. Such a great group of guys, so being able to get another round with them, another chance of playing, it’s a lot of fun every time I go out there. Just very thankful.”
(09/17/18 2:39am)
On this episode of The Flagship, we basically talk about anything on our minds. We have our best thing of the week and our new segment, Five Banner Friday. Take a listen to find out what our category is this week. Everyone starts the pod, but not everyone finishes it...
(09/16/18 10:45pm)
Indiana opened up its 2018 Big Ten slate with a commanding 3-1 win over Wisconsin.
Cory Thomas opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Andrew Gutman followed up with two more. The Hoosiers had a 2-0 lead and looked like they were coasting until Wisconsin made it 2-1. Gutman then extinguished all Wisconsin hopes with his second goal in the 78th minute, sealing a win for the Hoosiers.
Winning on the road in the Big Ten is always tough, but Wisconsin didn't pose much of a fight throughout Sunday's match.
Now for three takeaways from IU's 3-1 win.
Andrew Gutman the goal scorer
What else is there for Gutman to do? Sunday was another stellar outing for the Indiana left back. Gutman scored IU's second and third goals of the afternoon and was arguably the best player on the pitch. It's not often that a left back can make such an profound impact game in and game out, but Gutman has found a way to do just that.
Gutman now leads the Hoosiers with five goals this season. He had seven all of 2017 and still has 10 games left in the regular season, plus the postseason. This could turn out to be a very special year for the IU left back if things continue like this.
He also showed his versatility by playing higher up in the formation in the midfield while Spencer Glass slid back into the left back spot. IU coach Todd Yeagley said there are some tactical advantages they can get by doing that. Don't be surprised if that happens more moving forward.
Lineup Versatility
Much like Gutman playing the midfield, Yeagley experimented with his starting XI Sunday. Trevor Swartz played an advanced role on the wing, Cory Thomas slid into the midfield and Griffin Dorsey played on the left at times. With such great depth, this is something Yeagley can afford to do.
With so many regular season games left to play, there are plenty more opportunities for the Hoosiers to find the right combination. Austin Panchot has started as of late, but Sunday he came off the bench. Expect to see more shuffling around and small tinkering as the regular season continues until Yeagley finds the perfect combination.
Are the Hoosiers coasting?
Indiana has one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. They have been tested and will continue to be tested. But after a long trophy drought, the Hoosiers have their eyes set on bigger prizes in 2018. Sunday at times it felt like IU was so much in control they were just coasting, but that's okay. It was easy for them. They were in total control. There was never a doubt even when Wisconsin scored.
I think of it as LeBron James in the regular season. He knows his team will be in contention for a title when it comes down to it. Indiana knows they will be in a good spot in the postseason if they keep turning in results like Sunday. This year more than ever, a trophy is something this group needs to attain. Last year was successful, but there was nothing to show for it. A physical representation of success would go a long way with this group.
(09/15/18 6:12pm)
Big Ten play gets underway for the Hoosiers in 2018 with a trip to Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers.
The Badgers have been troublesome for the Hoosiers in past seasons. Indiana didn't lose to Wisconsin last year, however it did take overtime to beat the Badgers in the regular season. The two sides also faced each other in the Big Ten Tournament final where Wisconsin won on penalties.
There will no doubt be some revenge that IU will want to exact on the Badgers. IU is coming in hot after a road win at No. 8 Notre Dame. This will be Indiana's second game during a three-game road stretch.
Now let's dive into the Badgers who enter with a 2-3-1 record.
(09/14/18 3:27pm)
We have another guest on the pod, it's IU goalkeeper Trey Muse! The Hoosiers goalkeeper talks about his time at IU, his time on professional trials and much more. We also get into his life outside of soccer. Take a listen!
(09/12/18 3:49pm)
We're back with another edition of the pod, this time without a guest. However, we recap a wild night in South Bend and debate whether the final goal should have been ruled offside. Either way, the Hoosiers got a big road win. We break that down and preview IU's first Big Ten match of the season against Wisconsin.
(09/12/18 2:09am)
Whether it should have counted or not, the Hoosiers got out of South Bend, Indiana with a 2-1 win over the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Irish scored the opener in the 71st minute, but a header from AJ Palazzolo in the 79th minute was the equalizer the Hoosiers needed to send the match to overtime. From there, controversy reigned as Justin Rennicks tapped in the winner after a deflection in the box.
(09/08/18 4:26am)
Pressure is a concept that hasn’t gotten to sophomore forward Justin Rennicks.
Replacing a ten-goal scorer in Mason Toye can be a daunting task for some. But according to head coach Todd Yeagley, that burden isn’t something that has gotten to Rennicks. He’s been the feature striker for IU thus far and coming into Friday’s match, had yet to score.
That situation changed in the 23rd minute Friday against VCU. Yeagley said his goal was a great example of his athleticism, his finishing ability and what he can provide as a striker.
(09/07/18 5:32pm)
The whole crew is back together for The Flagship as Teddy makes his first appearance of the new year. We have another edition of Five Banner Friday ranking our top uniforms of all time. We also talk best and worst things of the week plus a new segment at the end.
(09/05/18 3:31pm)
Assistant coach Kevin Robson joins the podcast to talk all things IU men's soccer. We dive into his role as recruiting coordinator, what Andrew Gutman has done to improve his play in 2018, his St. Louis roots and more. He also tells a great story about Jerry Yeagley from the 2003 season. Robson joins Josh, Michael and Eddie.
(09/05/18 5:19am)
When you think of St. Louis sports, the first thing that comes to mind has to be the Cardinals. After that it might be the Blues and the true St. Louis sports fans might even bring up the late, great St. Louis Rams.
But St. Louis is going through a sporting renaissance of sorts. Soccer has become absolutely massive in the city. USL side Saint Louis FC came into existence in 2014 and has boosted the interest in soccer even more than before.
The club formed a unique partnership with the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club and they continue to churn out top talent. There was already a great history of talent to come out of St. Louis, but this is just another reason for soccer to keep growing.
One school that has benefited greatly from some of that talent is Indiana. The Hoosiers have found their so-called recruiting hotspot and have struck gold throughout the years.
“St. Louis has been a huge part of this program,” IU recruiting coordinator and St. Louis native Kevin Robson said. “You go back to the 70s, 80s, 90s and now the 2000s, you can list off players from all of those schools. The prep schools, the CBC’s (Christian Brother’s College), the Chaminade’s, the DeSmet’s, the Vianney’s. They’ve all produced big time players for this university and it’s been fun to watch and fun to see historically what St. Louis has meant to this program.”
Coming to IU to play college soccer is apparently just the thing to do. Just ask Will Bruin, Chris Klein, Harry Weiss, Pat Noonan or Mike Ambersley. All are former stand out IU players from the Gateway City. Currently, the Hoosiers have five more players from St. Louis in AJ Palazzolo, Austin Panchot, Jack Maher, Daniel Munie and Kyle Barks.
Many of these names have grown up in the Scott Gallagher program. It has grown to new heights, especially since the USL team came to be. The program is a hotbed of talent and the Hoosiers have found some gems. One of those gems is freshman Jack Maher who has already gotten some time with Saint Louis FC.
“The St. Louis Scott Gallagher Club, Saint Louis FC club, they have a lot of good talent, a lot of good coaches,” Maher said. “I mean, just from growing up in that system, you are with the best coaches. Having someone like coach Robson to really be able to get in there and hand pick the best St. Louis guys. I think it does a lot for Indiana and it gives St. Louis a lot to look up to.”
The Hoosiers have stamped their flag in the city and continue to get top talent from the area. There isn’t even that great of a reason for St. Louis to be such a hotbed. Robson said maybe it was just the proximity.
Whatever the reason is, there is no doubt IU has benefited from having a good relationship with the city. Robson said he loves going back to recruit in his hometown. Being a former IU player who won a few national titles has to make it even sweeter for the fifth year assistant coach.
“To see what St. Louis has done to produce top talent like that is really fun to see,” Robson said. “Getting to wear Indiana around to those games has been a dream come true. Watching those players and seeing what they’ve developed into throughout the years has been fun.”
The soccer culture in St. Louis has also been growing. The city nearly landed a MLS team last year, however a vote for a soccer-specific stadium didn’t go their way. Still, USL matches are packed at Toyota Stadium. The city has even hosted the United States Men’s National team for a 2018 World Cup qualifier in 2015 at Busch Stadium, home to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Scott Gallagher program helps no doubt. It’s a city with a strong list of players who are in the pro ranks now. Many are in MLS and some are even abroad. One is a seasoned veteran like Tim Ream who is playing for recently promoted Fulham in the English Premier League. Another is 18-year-old Josh Sargent who is currently playing for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. Both have gotten US Men’s National team time.
Those are just two names. There are many more. Some of them are hoping to make their name in Bloomington. Whoever it may be, Panchot says it’s cool to see Gallagher products doing well.
(09/03/18 8:33pm)
The talent in wide positions for coach Todd Yeagley’s Indiana Hoosiers is special.
That isn’t to say the quality in the middle isn’t great too. Because it is. But let’s focus in on what the Hoosiers have out wide.
Starting in the back, Andrew Gutman and Rece Buckmaster could arguably be the top two full backs in college soccer. They contribute to the attack almost as much as they defend.
Moving farther up into the midfield, Cory Thomas and Spencer Glass contribute on mostly on the left while, Griffin Dorsey, Austin Panchot and even Justin Rennicks spread the field for the Hoosiers and can play on either side.
There are a lot of dangerous variables opponents have to contend with. Should opponents throw more players on the left and leave the right susceptible? Is one side more dangerous than the other? Balancing the pitch is something not only the IU attack deals with, but opponents trying to defend it too.
“We say if you want to take one side away from us, we can exploit you,” Yeagley said.
“I think teams are starting to shift a bit and put more emphasis on our left side. We talk a lot about how we can find our right side in our build up or a late switch and there’s games we use Griffin a little wider, Rece Buckmaster is only going to get more aggressive as the season goes on.”
The left flank has noticeably gotten a bit more attention. It shouldn’t come as that big of a surprise, however, when you have a left back like Gutman. He’s been one of IU’s most dangerous players. But with other left footers such as Thomas and Glass, that flank can get crowded.
(09/03/18 4:24am)
The Indiana Hoosiers close out Classic weekend with a 1-0 win over the UConn Huskies. Hear from Trevor Swartz, Trey Muse and IU coach Todd Yeagley.
(09/01/18 4:14am)
The Indiana Hoosiers opened their home slate with a 3-0 win over the Dartmouth Big Green. Hear from coach Todd Yeagley, Griffin Dorsey and Andrew Gutman.
(08/31/18 7:24pm)
After a long break during the summer, we're back with another episode of The Flagship. We have our normal segments of the best and worst things of the week. But, we have added a new segment! Listen to find out what that is.
(08/31/18 12:27am)
Michael Ramirez and Josh Eastern preview IU's August 31 matchup with the Dartmouth Big Green and what to expect on the pitch.