At times, it’s hard to separate Indiana running backs Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr.
There’s a 1-inch height difference and an 8-pound weight difference. Both came to Bloomington after multiple seasons at other schools. Each was on last week’s injury report, and Richard and Beebe both possess the speed/power combination and productivity Indiana coach Curt Cignetti demands from his ground game. Even their stats are nearly identical.
Either could be a star as a solo act, but this rushing duo seems to be playing better together.
“This is what this game is all about — how you respond,” quarterback Josh Hoover said after Beebe’s breakout game helped Indiana beat Northwestern 29-23 two weeks ago. “It’s not going to be perfect, and you’ve got to have the mental toughness to move forward, keep working and keep putting drives together. It’s going to be hard at times because football is a tough game.”
On a team full of tough guys, though, perhaps nobody is tougher than Beebe or Richard.