Indiana QB Josh Hoover turns debut into the defining image of college football's week one
College football's opening weekend has produced moments that define seasons before the rankings have settled, and week one delivered one in Bloomington. Josh Hoover, the TCU transfer making his debut as Indiana Hoosiers starting…
Key takeaways
- Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Josh Hoover, a TCU transfer, played through a blatant facemask penalty against North Texas in his starting debut, bleeding but not leaving the field.
- North Texas defensive lineman Udoka Ezeani grabbed Hoover's facemask and twisted it to the back of his head midway through the second quarter.
- Three plays after the penalty, a bloodied Hoover threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Charlie Becker.
- Hoover finished the first half completing 7 of 8 passes for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Hoover succeeded Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at Indiana, a program coming off a National Championship.
College football's opening weekend has produced moments that define seasons before the rankings have settled, and week one delivered one in Bloomington. Josh Hoover, the TCU transfer making his debut as Indiana Hoosiers starting quarterback, absorbed one of the most blatant facemask penalties the sport has seen midway through the second quarter against North Texas and bled through the rest of the first half without leaving the field.
North Texas defensive lineman Udoka Ezeani grabbed Hoover's facemask and twisted it completely to the back of his head. Hoover bled profusely. He stayed in.
The Fox Big Noon Saturday crew caught it in close-up for a national audience: eyes half open, face covered in blood, looking, in the broadcast's own framing, like a fighter who had gone 15 rounds with Ivan Drago. Broadcaster Gus Johnson delivered the line. "Welcome to Indiana. He bleeds red."
Three plays later
With blood still pouring down his nose and dripping from his chinstrap and facemask, Hoover threw a dart to wide receiver Charlie Becker three plays after the penalty. Becker, arguably Hoover's favorite target in the game, caught it for a 9-yard touchdown. Blood was on Hoover's jersey, pants, and face throughout.
He closed the first half completing 7 of 8 pass attempts for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns. The game account called the line nearly perfect.
The shoes he stepped into
Hoover arrived at Indiana as the direct successor to Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at a program that came off a National Championship. Week one against North Texas was the transfer's first public test of whether he could carry that standard.
He walked off at halftime with blood on his jersey, 100 yards passing, and 2 touchdowns.
Related reading
Source · 來源