‘There was a lot of discussion’: Indiana debated benching Josh Hoover during win over Michigan
· Yahoo Sports
The sixth-ranked Indiana Hoosiers picked up a historic win on Saturday, beating Michigan 13-6 in overtime for their first victory in Ann Arbor since 1967. But quarterback Josh Hoover nearly didn’t get to finish the game.
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After the win, head coach Curt Cignetti revealed that Hoover was playing through an injury, and that the Hoosiers’ coaching staff had a serious discussion about replacing him with backup Grant Wilson in the second half. In the end, Indiana stuck with Hoover, and he scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Gritty Win In Ann Arbor
It wasn’t pretty. Hoover completed just 8 of 18 passes for 81 yards and threw an interception in the third quarter that set up a Michigan field goal, according to the Associated Press. Indiana attempted just two passes in the second half, and the game snapped Hoover’s five-game streak of throwing for at least 200 yards, according to USA Today.
Michigan tied the game with a field goal as time expired in regulation. But in overtime, Hoover hit Brock Schott for a 21-yard gain on the first play, then ran it in himself from four yards out. Indiana’s defense held from there to improve the defending national champions to 7-1.
“Regardless of how pretty it was, it was gritty. It was gritty as hell,” Cignetti said, via FOX Sports.
The win also helped Indiana avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time under Cignetti, after the Hoosiers fell to Ohio State last week. Hoover, who transferred from TCU this offseason, drew criticism after that game for his accuracy.
‘A Lot Of Discussion’
According to Cignetti, Hoover has been dealing with an injury since the loss to Ohio State, and it clearly affected him on Saturday. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Cignetti said Hoover “wasn’t 100 percent today, all week,” and Fox Sports described it as an arm and hand injury that caused Hoover to sail several of his throws.
“He did practice every day, but he was limited a little bit,” Cignetti said, via On3.
With Hoover struggling to push the ball downfield and the offense sputtering, Cignetti admitted that the coaching staff seriously weighed a change at quarterback during the second half.
“There was a lot of discussion because we had Grant Wilson there,” Cignetti said.
But ultimately, Cignetti said that “it’s been Josh’s season,” and that the team decided to “finish it out with him.”
The decision paid off when Hoover carried the ball into the end zone in overtime.
“He responded,” Cignetti said.
Hoover, for his part, said he never considered coming out of the game, even with his arm bothering him and the possibility of a benching hanging over his head.
“There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to finish the game, regardless,” Hoover said. “We found a way today.”
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