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This should be easy for the resident representation theory specialists:

Let $F$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$, $G$ a finite group, and $M$ an indecomposable $FG$-module that is a direct summand of $\mathrm{Ind}_{G/H} 1$. Is a vertex of $M$ given by a $p$-Sylow of $H$ or can it be smaller? I am sure that it can be smaller in general (an example would be appreciated). Are there conditions on $H$ that ensure that the vertex is not smaller (e.g. $p$-Sylow normal in $H$; I cannot seem to get Green correspondence to work for me)?

As a reminder, the vertex of $M$ is a minimal subgroup $U$ of $G$ with the property that $M$ is a direct summand of $\mathrm{Ind}_{G/U} 1$. It is always a $p$-group and is well-defined up to conjugation.

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This is false, indeed $k_H\uparrow ^G$ may have projective summands which therefore have vertex $\{1\}$. The vertices of your $M$ are contained in conjugates of $H$, but that's the best that can be said in general.

Example: take the symmetric group $S_4$ in characteristic two. It has two simple modules, namely the trivial module and a 2-d simple. Both have projective cover of dimension 8. To see the non-trivial simple, consider the 4d natural rep on basis elements 1,2,3,4. It has a 3d submodule spanned by 1+2,2+3,3=4 (the "augmentation ideal") which has a 1d submodule spanned by 1+2+3+4. The quotient by this 1d submod doesn't have trivial action, and in fact it is simple.

Let $H$ be the subgroup $\langle (1,2) \rangle$. Then $k_H \uparrow ^G = M \oplus N$ where both $M$ and $N$ are indecomposable, $M$ is projective of dimension 8 (it's the projective cover of the 2d simple module) and $N$ is a copy of the natural module (whose vertex is $H$). Perhaps the easiest way to verify this is with Magma (there's an online Magma calculator if you don't have institutional access).

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    Good point. Thanks!2012-03-30