By Bob Kelly
Feature writer

 It was not long ago that Southside Indianapolis native Pat Kuntz wreaked havoc on the football field as a player, where he enjoyed much success. Now he is helping guide the Indiana University football team to a place that many fans and the entire collegiate sports world never thought would be possible – a national championship.
Kuntz, a former linebacker at Roncalli High School and the University of Notre Dame, did his best to put fear in opponents on the field. As a coach in his second stint with the Hoosiers, Kuntz prepares the players for a game by leading the defensive tackles.
Head coach Curt Cignetti helped guide the Hoosiers to the precipice of achieving Indiana’s second-ever unbeaten season in football. The last time the Hoosiers finished unbeaten was in 1945, when the team finished the season with a 9-0-1 record.
This season, Indiana University has not only won every game on its schedule this season, but it has plowed over its opponents convincingly, including its most recent victory via a 56-22 win over No. 5 Oregon in the semifinals of the college football playoffs.
Kuntz explained how the players approach each game. “It’s a high expectation, and our standard is high for our players up front on the line,” he told The Southsider Voice. “If we can do the things we are supposed to do each week and improve each week, then we will put ourselves in a position to get better.”
One of the mantras used by the Hoosiers for each player is-- do your job or “DYJ.” “This motto is not just for the players, but for everybody,” Kuntz explained. “It is for our trainers, players, coaches, secretaries, and everyone in the program. You have to be 1/11th of the equation on the team, which means if everyone does their job, it will put the team in a position to do something positive.” It looks like everyone has lived up to their motto quite well this season.
Kuntz, who was a four-year letter winner for the Irish, was named lineman of the year in 2007 and 2008. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Roncalli, where he was the defensive line coach from 2010-2013. Kuntz was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2014 and 2015 campaigns in his final two seasons at Roncalli.
Kuntz described what it is like to be part of Cignetti’s staff. “He always talks about how every play is 0-0, and it has a life of its own,” he said. “He trusts the defensive staff to operate and put the players in a position to be successful.”
The defense for Indiana allows only 260.9 yards per game, while linebacker Rolijah Hardy is the leader in sacks with eight, and the tackles leader is Louis Moore. The players can make Cignetti, Kuntz, faithful fans, and others happy if they can deliver their first College Football title on Monday.

Reagan Turk, recipient of the IHSAA 3A mental attitude award, holds awards with parents Erin and Tony Turk at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(PHOTO BY JOHN SMITH)

By Al Stilley
Editor

A tiny area on the Southside easily could be called Libero Row in honor of recent Roncalli High School girl’s volleyball stars.

That list includes senior libero Reagan Turk of the two-time 3A state champion Royals who also garnered the Indiana Farm Bureau-sponsored mental attitude award Saturday evening at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

For Turk, a West Virginia commit, her success becomes part of a small neighborhood in the Gray Fox Woods subdivision.

It’s truly in the ‘hood.

The lineage began a few years ago with defensive specialist Grace Irmer and sister Hannah Irmer, who played college volleyball at Ohio Northern University. They were back row standouts for serve receives and setting up the ball to the setter. They played club volleyball for The Academy.

Then along came liberos Emma Halter (Texas), Allie Kirkhoff (LSU) and Turk (West Virginia). They played club ball for Team Indiana.

Halter is a senior at Texas where she helped lead the Longhorns to back-to-back NCAA championships during her freshman and sophomore years.

“I can’t think of another area where our players come from that was this close together,” Roncalli coach Christina Erazmus said. “It is unusual, and they’re all good players and good students.”

Each student-athlete also came through St. Jude Catholic School.

The icing on the cake was Turk’s reception of the mental attitude award with parents Tony and Erin Turk on the Gainbridge court. A $1,000 scholarship in her honor goes to Roncalli from Indiana Farm Bureau.

“The Roncalli community is amazing,” Turk said. “And it’s even better to go out winning (state) two years in a row.”

One of eight Roncalli seniors, Turk added, “Every single senior played a great role on this team. I’m proud of every one of them.”

She is a multi-sport athlete, including basketball and track & field. She is a member of Roncalli’s Champions Together program, Athletic Leadership Ministry, National Honor Society, and CYO volunteer.
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Turk plans on majoring in business at West Virginia.