- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 413,483
- Reaction score
- 43
BLOOMINGTON — It wasn’t a sellout, but it sure felt like one to then-Maryland running back Roman Hemby.
Hemby’s early glimpse at Indiana football’s remarkable turnaround under coach Curt Cignetti was a catalyst for him joining the Hoosiers as a transfer.
The talented running back had 10 carries for 117 yards when the Terps visited Memorial Stadium on Sept. 28, 2024 — his 75-yard rushing touchdown was the only run of 50-yards or more IU’s defense gave up until the first-round of the College Football Playoff — but his standout effort wasn’t enough.
Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak in the series and remained undefeated at 5-0 with a 42-28 win in front of 48,323 fans.
The raucous atmosphere at the stadium through the final whistle — Cignetti urged fans in the days leading up to the game to “Pack the Rock” — was nothing like what Hemby experienced in his previous visit to Bloomington back in 2022.
More: Indiana football WR E.J. Williams Jr. didn't want to leave 'powerhouse program' in the making
“Nobody left,” Hemby said after Tuesday’s practice. “It was an ugly type of game, the rain was cold and coming down sideways. It was a little chilly, but as the game went on, the fans were still engaged and it was a really good atmosphere.
“I feel like it gave IU an edge in the game. We weren't able to create momentum. When we had a little sliver of hope, it was taken away.”
Indiana’s upgraded roster also made an impression on Hemby.
Cignetti signed more than 30 transfers after taking over to overhaul a team that combined for only three wins against Power Five opponents from 2021-2023. Hemby started for Maryland in all three of those games at running back and was blown away by IU’s remade defensive front while studying them on film.
The matchup only reinforced his high-opinion of their talent level — Indiana sacked Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards five times, had 27 quarterback pressures and eight tackles for loss.
More: ‘I see progress’: Indiana football’s offensive line not letting injuries derail spring practice goals
“It was very tough,” Hemby said of facing Indiana. “Their front was very challenging, the speed and talent on the backend. Just a well-rounded defense. We knew we were going to have trouble with them.”
The game gave Hemby more information about IU's new coaching staff and roster than any recruiting visit ever could.
"You know what a program stands for when you have to face them, me being on the other side of things, and seeing the morals and standards of this program and culture that showed up,” Hemby said. “The close-knit brotherhood and the way the coaches believe in their players, I was able to see that from the outside."
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: How facing Indiana football put RB Roman Hemby on path to joining Hoosiers
Continue reading...
Hemby’s early glimpse at Indiana football’s remarkable turnaround under coach Curt Cignetti was a catalyst for him joining the Hoosiers as a transfer.
The talented running back had 10 carries for 117 yards when the Terps visited Memorial Stadium on Sept. 28, 2024 — his 75-yard rushing touchdown was the only run of 50-yards or more IU’s defense gave up until the first-round of the College Football Playoff — but his standout effort wasn’t enough.
Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak in the series and remained undefeated at 5-0 with a 42-28 win in front of 48,323 fans.
The raucous atmosphere at the stadium through the final whistle — Cignetti urged fans in the days leading up to the game to “Pack the Rock” — was nothing like what Hemby experienced in his previous visit to Bloomington back in 2022.
More: Indiana football WR E.J. Williams Jr. didn't want to leave 'powerhouse program' in the making
“Nobody left,” Hemby said after Tuesday’s practice. “It was an ugly type of game, the rain was cold and coming down sideways. It was a little chilly, but as the game went on, the fans were still engaged and it was a really good atmosphere.
“I feel like it gave IU an edge in the game. We weren't able to create momentum. When we had a little sliver of hope, it was taken away.”
Indiana’s upgraded roster also made an impression on Hemby.
Cignetti signed more than 30 transfers after taking over to overhaul a team that combined for only three wins against Power Five opponents from 2021-2023. Hemby started for Maryland in all three of those games at running back and was blown away by IU’s remade defensive front while studying them on film.
The matchup only reinforced his high-opinion of their talent level — Indiana sacked Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards five times, had 27 quarterback pressures and eight tackles for loss.
More: ‘I see progress’: Indiana football’s offensive line not letting injuries derail spring practice goals
“It was very tough,” Hemby said of facing Indiana. “Their front was very challenging, the speed and talent on the backend. Just a well-rounded defense. We knew we were going to have trouble with them.”
The game gave Hemby more information about IU's new coaching staff and roster than any recruiting visit ever could.
"You know what a program stands for when you have to face them, me being on the other side of things, and seeing the morals and standards of this program and culture that showed up,” Hemby said. “The close-knit brotherhood and the way the coaches believe in their players, I was able to see that from the outside."
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: How facing Indiana football put RB Roman Hemby on path to joining Hoosiers
Continue reading...
