Linebackers provided some magic moments for IU

The linebacker position at Indiana has given Hoosier fans some of their most vivid memories

.Who could forget Joe Huff waving the towel he snatched from a Michigan quarterback in 1987?

Who could forget Van Waiters ripping the ball out of a Purdue quarterback's grasp and going the distance with it later that year?

How about Mark Hagen returning an interception for a touchdown to stun Purdue in the 1990 Bucket Game?

And who could forget Ken Kaczmarek causing a Purdue fumble near the IU goal line in 1967, preserving a 19-14 lead and a piece of the Big Ten championship?

When you start talking IU linebackers, however, you have to begin with Pete Pihos. You already have seen the name Pihos on the ballots for running back and end. He also was a crusher of a linebacker during the great Hoosier teams of the mid-1940s, including the undefeated 1945 Big Ten champions. You know the rest by now. Pihos went on to become a six-time Pro-Bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles and a future inductee into the professional football Hall of Fame.

It is no accident that IUs next Big Ten champs also had a great linebacker or two. Playing alongside Kaczmarek was Jim Sniadecki. Although Kaczmarek led the team in tackles and was named third team All-American, Sniadecki was named second team All-American and played five years in the NFL.

The 1970s yielded Donnie Thomas and Joe Norman. Thomas was a two-time Hoosier MVP and a third team All-American in 1975. He is third on the list for career tackles and second on the list in single game tackles with 25.Norman, a four-year fixture from 1975-78, is IUs all-time leader in career tackles (444), single-game tackles (26) and single-season tackles (199).

Succeeding Norman was Marlin Evans, who made All-Big Ten in 1980 and collected 24 tackles against Ohio State that year.Although Indiana did not win a game in 1984, it had a bright spot in linebacker Joe Fitzgerald, who had 155 tackles that year and made All-Big Ten.

The Bill Mallory teams of the late 1980s produced a trio of great linebackers playing at the same time Waiters, Huff and Willie Bates.

The IU single-season records Waiters set in 1987 for sacks (14) and tackles for loss (24) still stand. He also is second on the career list in those categories. He was third team All-American in 87 and went on to play for the Browns and Vikings.Huff and Bates made All-Big Ten in 1988. Bates is second on IUs career tackle list with 384. Huff is best remembered for the 14-10 win over Michigan in 87 Michigan game.

It was after sacking quarterback Demetrius Brown in the fourth quarter that Huff ripped off the hapless Wolverines towel and wildly waving it to the delight of the blood-smelling Hoosier crowd.

Hagen came along in the early 1990s and became IUs fifth all-time tackle leader. His interception and touchdown at Purdue paved the way for a 28-14 win in 1990.Two more Hoosier linebackers deserving to be on the ballot are Justin Smith and Kyle Killion. Smith made All-Big Ten in 2000 and went on to play a couple of seasons for Tampa Bay. Killion started four years from 2002-05 and is fifth in tackles for losses.

Lewis named Big 10 Player of the Week

One of the most successful weeks for the Indiana football team in recent years continued Monday with the Big Ten naming IU quarterback Kellen Lewis its Co-Offensive Player of the Week, along with Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter.

Lewis, a redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, Fla., completed 19-of-25 passes for a career-best 255 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown in IUs 31-28 win over No. 15 Iowa.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Linebackers provided some magic moments for IU