Bucket Bliss & a Look Back....

I didn’t know what else to call it but bliss on Saturday. IU ends a 5 year losing streak to Purdue, Jane Hoeppner hangs the “I” on the bucket, and the Hoosiers solidified their bowl hopes by going 7-5 on the season. Congratulations to all the players and the coaching staff for reaching Coach Hep’s dream to goal 13!

This was a roller coaster of a regular season ended on a high note. The non-conference schedule done exactly what it was designed to due, give IU four wins, and the ability to become bowl eligible with a sub .500 Big Ten record.

This team had every opportunity to be 10-2 (6-2) for the season, and let key opportunities slip through their hands.

The first debacle was Illinois. While the Illini has had a very good season, IU gave this game away. Four turnovers, three in the red zone, one of those in the end zone, and another that led to an Illini score halted Indiana’s chance of starting this season 4-0, and really putting the nation on notice.

Coming off that defeat the Hoosiers got much needed wins, one on the road at Iowa, the other back home against Minnesota. While the win at Iowa seemed lack luster at that point, Iowa went on the finish the season 6-6 (4-4), which turned it to a quality win.

Then came the three game losing streak. At Michigan State, the defense never got off the bus, giving up 708 all purpose yard and the most points scored by a team against us all year. A disappointing lost, but they were still 5-2 (2-2) with 5 games left on the season.

Next they host Penn State for Homecoming, while a close game against a good team, mistakes cost them this game. Penn State was without their all star running back, and still allowed the Lions to gain 192 yards on the ground, yet we dominated them in the air, but the undoing was once again 4 fumbles, one coming on the final drive of the game, when it appeared the Hoosiers were going to be able to move the ball down field, this game hurt knowing we were going on the road to play a very good Wisconsin team the next week.

Wisconsin was another game where the Hoosiers didn’t get off the bus. Coming into this game the Hoosiers were averaging 35.4 ppg on the season, 22.4 points in Big Ten play, yet the offense managed to only score 3 point. This ended up being the most lopsided loss of the season. Things were now looking bleak after starting 5-1 on the season, the Hoosiers were now at 5-4, and bowl hopes were slipping away.

Ball State was the fourth and last non-conference game, and it could not have come at a better time for the Hoosiers. While the final score shows a 38-20 win, at one point this was a 24-17 game, with Ball State in position to really make this a game. Then two more TD’s, it became a 38-17 game at the start of the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers never looked back, and they became bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.

Back on a high after the Ball State win and needing a 7th win to lock up a bowl bid, IU traveled to Northwestern. A high powered spread offense that was very similar to ours by virtue of both former head coaches working together at Miami of Ohio before moving up to the Big Ten. Every chance to win this game was lost by more turnovers and horrible coaching decisions on the sidelines. A 31-28 loss, 6-5 record, bowl eligible but still on the outside looking in for actually getting a bowl spot, questions about Lynch’s future with this team, and the Bucket game would be the stories at hand the next week.

Oh the Bucket game. A beautiful Saturday afternoon, a packed house, the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Big Ten champion and Rose Bowl team, the original team on hand, including the Head Coach John Pont. The only missing member was Terry Cole who was lost to cancer a few years ago. The defense came to play, the coaches game plan in the first half was great, IU jumped out to a 14-0 lead, and a 17-3 halftime edge.

The Hoosiers got the ball back after half, drove the field and went on to a 24-3 lead. At that point, they were no longer calling plays to win, the game plan was not to lose. A couple turnover along with a non aggressive defensive game plan in the second half allowed Purdue to erase a 21 point deficit, and tie the game 24 all. Then came the Hoosiers final drive, moving the ball well, getting down field, and then the drive stalled on the 32 yard line, setting up Austin Star for a career long (tie) field goal attempt from 49 yards out. Coming into that kick, the Hoosier crowd stood silent, the flags on the stadium fell straight down, no wind to fight the kick, no wind to help the kick. A perfect snap, the kick was up, and it sailed through, Hoosiers lead with 30 seconds left on the clock. A deep kick and the return shut down at the 30 yard line. Some extra activity after the tackle resulted in a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty against the Boilers, 1st and 10 from their own 15 with 15 seconds left. The first play was a 13 yard completion up to the PU 28, the next an incomplete pass, the final play was a pass to Greg Orton, which fittingly ended with a Purdue fumble and Leslie Majors recovering. Final score, 27-24, the Ol Oaken Bucket resides in Bloomington, the fans rush the field, and a glance at the play clock shows it stopped at 13. A fitting end and tribute to Coach Hep!

On December 2nd, IU will learn their Bowl fate. As of now it appears they will be heading to Tempe Arizona to play in the Insight Bowl. That’s right, the Hoosiers are bowl bound for the first time since 1993, and Hep’s goal to play 13 has been reached.

One more game, one more chance, one more day to dream awaits the Hoosier nation!

Go Hoosiers! You have made us proud.