Three Howard County graduates fill roles with Indiana University Football

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Members of the RedSteppers enjoy the moment after the Big Ten Championship win at Lucas Oil Stadium. Photo from Indiana RedSteppers Facebook

Indiana University (IU) football, under the direction of Head Coach Curt Cignetti, has taken over the nation. Fans are showing their support for the Hoosiers as they continue the task of tackling and taking down top teams in the Big Ten Conference and now the College Football Playoffs.

Three locals -- Mitch Knepley, Andrew Barker, and Danielle Gomez -- have spent the fall filling different roles in their respective programs with the Hoosiers and their quest for a National Championship.

Knepley, a graduate of Western High School, is in his second season as a manager for the football team. The former Panther quarterback was assigned to the quarterbacks crew after his interview for the job. He was placed with the quarterbacks due to his knowledge of the position and remained with that group this year.

Mitch Knepley shows his Big Ten Championship medal. Photo courtesy of the Owens family.

“It’s a fun group to be around,” Knepley said. “They’re a bunch of good guys, a close-knit group.”

He said that through his role with the team, he has been able to grow his knowledge of the game beyond what he came to the program with and that he still feels the intensity on the sidelines.

A lifelong Hoosiers fan, he’s happy to be at field level watching the games up close as one of approximately 22 managers. It’s an important role, helping prepare for game day, and with the work that has been put in by all members of the IU football team, it’s allowed the successes of the last two seasons to shine in the national spotlight.

When asked if there was a point this fall that he knew the team could go big, he said that after watching the returning and new players through spring workouts and into the fall, once he saw them on the field, he felt they would be taking a step forward.

Mitch Knepley working with the IU quarterback staff at the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Photo courtesy of the Owens family.

“(The other managers and I) knew that we were going to have another good year because we knew what we were getting back and we knew the guys coming in were going to be good,” said Knepley. “Once we played Iowa and beat them late in the game and then went out to Oregon and beat a top three team, I knew we could go pretty far this year.

“Everybody works so hard throughout the week to prepare for the game, so when the kick-off happens, take a deep breath and hone your skills as a player, or in my role as support staff, help them achieve what we’ve been able to achieve.”

IU freshman Andrew Barker is also no stranger to game day as a former Kokomo High School standout tight end, defensive end, and punter. The triple threat graduated mid-term and headed for Bloomington to begin his preparation as a member of the Hoosier football team.

Andrew Barker (second left), poses with his brother Evan, mom Kelly, and dad Travis at the Rose Bowl. Photo courtesy of Kelly Barker

“On our official visit over the summer, (the coaches) said staying in high school was fine, they weren’t going to judge us for that,” said Barker. “To me, the second they gave me the opportunity, it’s something I thought was a big deal.”

After discussing his options with his parents, he felt strongly that he needed to get to campus and begin his collegiate career. Barker said that going to Bloomington in the spring allowed him to learn and fail. By going for the spring workouts, he was allowed to learn and grow at a slower pace than if he attended summer workouts with the expectation that he was field ready.

“In high school,” he said, “Our plays were power right and that was it. Here, they’re five or six words, maybe longer, and it was hard for me to get used to. Coming early helped me with that.”

When the Hoosiers faced conference foe Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium, it was the first time he was able to be on that field, something he wished he had the opportunity to do in high school. But his only bid for a football state championship ended when the Wildkats lost a 10-9 heartbreaker to New Prairie in the semi-state game his sophomore year.

Barker made his collegiate debut in the game against Kennesaw State in September but remained on the sidelines and traveled with the team to the Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl. Although he and roughly 15 other rostered players watched the Hoosiers make a statement against perennial favorite Alabama, it didn’t dull the experience for him.

“I was able to feel what the environment was,” said Barker. “Before the game, all I heard that was Pasadena was too far for Indiana fans. There were so many IU fans who showed up. Being able to witness and experience all that, it makes you want to work harder so you can get back to that level.”

Another familiar face for Wildkat and Kokomo Bobkat fans is Danielle Gomez, who is known for her moves on the sidelines of football and basketball games. Gomez joined IU’s famous RedSteppers dance team for her freshman year on campus.

The dance team chose to challenge themselves this season, as their leadership also felt the momentum of the football team was going to provide a big stage on which to perform. She said in past seasons, the team created a new halftime and media time out dance and recycled a previous dance for game day. This year, they performed three new dances for each game, something they had never done before.

“It was really exciting, but also difficult!” said Gomez. “Especially when we had, for the first month of the football season, four back-to-back games. I think it helped that the team was doing so well, and even though we were going through a lot that first month, knowing we were supporting Indiana and they were doing so well, guided us through.”

Moving from a local audience to packed arenas like IU’s Memorial Stadium and the Rose Bowl brought new aspects of performing to Gomez. She said that she likes to reflect on her craft, and this level of exposure led her to realize that now, somebody is watching all the time.

“It has changed my mindset as a dancer,” Gomez said. “There are always people watching and cheering us on, so it’s important to make sure we’re staying positive and staying in support of the team, even if a play didn’t go right or something went wrong. We still keep a smile on our face and cheer for your team no matter what.”

Danielle Gomes, center, and her RedSteppers teammates at the Rose Bowl. Photo from Indiana RedSteppers Facebook.

When the RedSteppers and IU’s marching band, the Marching Hundred, descended upon southern California, they participated in several events leading up to the legendary Rose Bowl Game. Unfortunately, rain fell nearly the entire time the team was there, including for the 137th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade.

“It was really bad weather,” she said. “We all got wet. Our (signature) boots got ruined, but it was so fun! It was an amazing experience seeing everyone supporting IU.”

Although their pre-game and halftime performances got canceled, the RedSteppers still performed them in the stands. Following the game, the team was able to perform on the field and celebrate the Hoosiers’ commanding victory over Alabama.

Gomez shared that she was named Rookie of the Year for the RedSteppers, unexpectedly, and it was one of many moments she will never forget about this incredible season. From her first game at Memorial Stadium to traveling across the country to the various stadiums, the dance team is accompanying the football team to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, January 10, to play in the semi-final bowl game of the College Football Playoffs.

“I think that the Marching Hundred and Red Steppers have always said that we thrive under the unexpected, and Indiana thrives in the unexpected,” she said. “I’m excited to see where this goes!”

The Hoosiers will face Big Ten newcomers, Oregon, for a bid to play in the National Championship against the winner of the Fiesta Bowl, the University of Miami, on January 19, 2026.