All things possible for Richard Lagow and Indiana football

By Pete DiPrimio

Richard Lagow is the man.

Understand that.

He is Indiana’s starting quarterback, a guy determined to lead the Hoosiers to the football Promised Land, in this case a winning record and a bowl victory.

Can he do it?

Absolutely.

Will he?

That is the million-dollar question that will determine IU prospects in what is billed as a “break-through season.”

Yes, there are intriguing possibilities if Lagow falters -- can you say redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey or even true freshman Nick Tronti? -- but that’s true of so many backups, who are loved outside the spotlight, criticized within it.

First, a few facts.

The Hoosiers haven’t had a winning season since 2007, and they barely did it then at 7-6. They haven’t won a bowl game since the 1991 Copper Bowl, when they throttled Baylor 24-0 behind quarterback Trent Green and coach Bill Mallory.

No matter. Optimism is high under first-year coach Tom Allen, and a big reason is a defense that, after a generation of misery, looms as a difference maker.

Still, for IU, as it is for every football team at every level, you only go as far as the quarterback will take you.

For the Hoosiers to win big (as in, say, 8-4 or better), they need a big year from Lagow.

Can he deliver? Well, he’s put in the off-season time. That includes his recent participation in the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana.

For those who have spent the last century in Rip Van Winkle mode, that would be Peyton and Eli Manning’s annual quarterback event. The brothers have each won a pair of Super Bowls and just about every honor a quarterback can win at every level. They know the position and know how to thrive at it. For two days they share that knowledge and more.

Lagow was a counselor at the late-June academy. He got the chance to pick the brothers’ brains on what it takes to excel at the highest levels.

Lagow had plenty of high-profile company at the academy, including fellow Big Ten quarterbacks David Blough (Purdue), Clayton Thorson (Northwestern), John O’Korn (Michigan), Alex Hornibrook (Wisconsin) and Tanner Lee (Nebraska).

They worked with high school players during the day and had talk-with-the-Mannings sessions at night. One key message -- the importance of leadership and how to do actually lead and not just talk about it.

The payoff could come this season.

The 6-6, 240-pound Lagow has never had the benefit of playing in a system for years, which is critical to learning the nuances of the offense. Instead, he’s once again learning a new system, this time under new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord.

For better or worse, he’s had plenty of experience at this given he’s previously been at Connecticut, Oklahoma State and Cisco College.

Even at IU he’s faced change. Head coach Kevin Wilson is gone along with his version of an up-tempo attack. DeBord has his version, with new quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan helping to show the way.

Lagow showed flashes last season of big-time production. He set a school record by throwing for 496 yards against Wake Forest. His 3,362 passing yards were the second most in school history. He was second in the Big Ten by averaging 258.6 passing yards a game.

But, he threw 17 interceptions to ruin much of the benefit from his 19 touchdown passes. He threw five interceptions in that Wake Forest game, which IU lost 33-28.

Has he learned and grown from that?

That’s for the season to determine.

Lagow was named spring football’s most outstanding offensive player, and threw a pair of touchdowns in the spring game. He has a pair of game-breaking receivers in Simmie Cobbs (back from injury that cost him most of last season) and Nick Westbrook. Both are 1,000-yard receiving guys.

He understands the importance of preparation, of making good decisions, of not forcing things, of reading the defense and knowing the offense better than the coaches.

If Lagow struggles, consider Ramsey has looked impressive in practice and the spring game, but he has never taken an official college snap, and the Big Ten is famously brutal on inexperienced quarterbacks.

So many things are possible this season, starting with the oh-so-intriguing season opener against powerhouse Ohio State at Memorial Stadium.

It’s the chance for the Hoosiers and Lagow to make a national statement.

Are they ready for it?

For now, all things are possible.

There is excitement, optimism, hope and, yes, experienced talent.

And it all starts with Richard Lagow being the man.