Columbus East graduate and former Indiana University offensive lineman Harry Crider (57) blocks for former Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix against Michigan on Nov. 7, 2020 in Bloomington.
Submitted photo
The 2019 and 2020 seasons were arguably the best back-to-back football seasons in Indiana University football history.
The Hoosiers went 8-5 in 2019 and 6-2 in 2020, both ending with bowl appearances. The Hoosiers had record-setting offenses, thanks in large part to the efforts of quarterback Michael Penix.
Monday night, Penix will lead Washington into the College Football Playoff national championship game against Michigan. The Wolverines’ backup quarterback is Jack Tuttle, who was a backup to Penix and Peyton Ramsey at IU.
One player who hiked the ball to and blocked for both Penix and Tuttle is Columbus East graduate Harry Crider. Crider was an offensive lineman for the Hoosiers from 2017-20 and was a starting guard in 2019 and starting center in 2020.
“It was pretty incredible,” Crider said. “(Penix is) the most genuine guy ever. I really enjoyed being around him in locker rooms and meetings. He was just a natural leader, always cool, calm and collected. For a guy that went through some pretty devastating injuries and just stuck with it, he’s worked so hard. Whenever he had interviews, he’d always thank his family and teammates. He was a pretty great guy.”
Penix played for the Hoosiers from 2018-21, with all four seasons ending with injuries. He transferred to Washington after the 2021 season and became the Huskies starter in 2022.
This year, Penix has led Washington to a 14-0 record. The 24-year-old was runner-up in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
“Of course, all his seasons at IU got cut short, so we never got to see the full potential get released,” Crider said. “But it was pretty obvious how special of a talent he was early on. Everybody could see that this guy was special. It’s just been so cool seeing him the past couple of years. Unfortunately, with those injuries, we didn’t get to see the full breakout until here recently.”
Columbus East graduate and former Indiana University offensive lineman Harry Crider (57) prepares to hike the ball to former Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix against Northwestern on Nov. 2, 2019 in Bloomington.
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After Penix was injured with two weeks remaining in the COVID-shortened 2020 regular season, Tuttle stepped in and guided IU to a 14-6 win at Wisconsin. The Hoosiers’ Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue was canceled, and Tuttle played in a 26-20 loss to Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl.
“Back up quarterbacks have to be dependable guys, and he really fit that mode,” Crider said. “Stepping up in that Wisconsin game was really huge. He had some injuries, too, and was just a gritty player.”
Columbus East graduate and former Indiana University offensive lineman Harry Crider (57) blocks for former Hoosiers quarterback Jack Tuttle against Wisconsin on Dec. 5, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Tuttle, who began his college career at Utah, went from IU to Michigan as a graduate transfer after the 2022 season and has served as a backup to J.J. McCarthy this fall.
“Talk about hard working and gritty, he was one of the most selfless guys,” Crider said. “He was a great locker room guy. I really liked Jack Tuttle and am happy to see him stick with it and get such a great opportunity. The coaches would go on and on about how great he was.”
Columbus East graduate and former Indiana University offensive lineman Harry Crider (57) blocks for former Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix.
Submitted photo
At Washington, Penix was reunited with Kalen DeBoer, who spent the 2019 season as offensive coordinator for the Hoosiers before taking the head coaching job at Fresno State for a year. William Inge, who is Washington’s assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator, and Huskies tight ends coach Nick Sheridan were at IU when Crider was there.
Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart was in that same position at IU during Crider’s time in Bloomington. Tight end AJ Barner also was with the Hoosiers before transferring to Michigan.
Columbus East graduate and former Indiana University offensive lineman Harry Crider (57) blocks for former Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix against Rutgers on Oct. 12, 2019 in Bloomington.
Submitted photo
So with all of those connections, does Crider have a rooting interest?
“I’m pulling for Washington if I had to pick one,” Crider said. “I got a Washington football t-shirt early in the year. All the connections to Washington, if I did pick, it would have to be Washington with the year they’ve had with DeBoer and Penix. It’s been pretty cool.”
