In the moments after Indiana's season-ending defeat last November at Purdue, Tom Allen was still processing the abrupt ending to his team's supposed breakthrough campaign.
As he sat inside the visitors' locker room at Ross-Ade Stadium, the IU coach had one eye on the present — the disappointment, frustration and emptiness of falling short. At the same time, Allen knew what was coming next.
"It will be a very important offseason for us," Allen said then. "It's gonna be a very, very important offseason for this program."
With significant questions at quarterback and linebacker, as well as the prospect of replacing eight senior starters on defense, Allen knew there would be lots to tackle in those coming months.