Ad Disclosure
Tom Allen, IU AD Fred Glass preview Gator Bowl trip, discuss recent contract extension
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Indiana is heading to Florida for its first bowl game since 2016.
The Hoosiers punched their bowl ticket a while ago, but the team officially found out the destination on Sunday. That destination is the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida for a showdown with an SEC foe in Tennessee. It will be the second all-time meeting between the two schools.
Following Sunday’s announcement, head coach Tom Allen and AD Fred Glass discussed the upcoming bowl game. It is Indiana’s first trip to a Florida bowl game in program history.
RELATED: Destinations, opponents for all 9 B1G bowl teams revealed
Zach Osterman with the Indy Star shared the comments:
Fred Glass says IU accepted its Gator Bowl around 4 p.m. First Florida bowl ever. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Tom Allen: "So many of our guys are from the southeast. They wanted a Florida bowl really bad." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Tom Allen on Tennessee: "I know they finished really strong. … That's the sign of a really well-coached team." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Allen says IU will have "a complete cycle" of practices at the bowl site, Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Tom Allen: "We're going there to win." Reiterates preseason goal of winning bowl game. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Allen updated the injury status of a number of Hoosiers. Unfortunately, he indicated wide receiver Donavan Hale is out for the game:
Allen says he feels good about possible return for Matt Bedford to return for the bowl. "Optimistic" but "not a guarantee yet" Stevie Scott will be back. Sampson James should be good. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Tom Allen says Donavan Hale will not be available for the bowl game. Had a lower-body procedure, per Allen. His career is over. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Allen and Glass also took time to touch on the recent contract extension for Allen. Jon Blau with the Herald-Times and Osterman shared the comments:
Fred Glass says Tom Allen's reps didn't ask for provision in the contract that added a year to the back end for every bowl appearance the Hoosiers made.
It avoids, he hopes, questions from recruits of how long Allen will be around. "My expectation is we won't get to that." #iufb
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) December 8, 2019
Tom Allen says new contract makes statement to recruits about his longevity. "That gives parents a lot of peace." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
Allen says he and Glass "both agreed" the extra $500,000 in the pool of assistants "was very important." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
He did not. Sorry for that unnecessary and unimpressive cliffhanger. https://t.co/1gR7r3arll
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2019
For the Gator Bowl, it is slated to kick off Jan. 2 at 7 pm EST. Coverage will be on ESPN.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.