Something Different
It’s the time of year that I have usually fully prepared myself for the upcoming start of another Indiana University basketball season, yet this year there is something different, and that difference is the Indiana University football team. Thats right, the IU football team has captivated me, or at least a part of me, to the point that I am noticing that even with basketball season a mere two days away, my conversations are as much about them as it is about the basketball team.
Let it be known, that is not a complaint. In fact, like a lot of IU football fans, it’s a pleasant surprise and I welcome it. It’s just that it has been awhile since that has happened, and it’s somewhat of a surprise. The football Hoosiers are off to a 7-2 start to the season and are already bowl eligible. Yep, you read that right, the calendar just turned to November and the Indiana University football Hoosiers are not fighting to become bowl eligible, they are fighting to play in the bowl game possible.
Wise or unwise, I subject myself to the Twitter world (@chriscorley_3), as well as message boards and other forms of social media. And I’d just like to say to all of the naysayers in those worlds that keep throwing out that IU hasn’t beaten anyone that is really any good this year, “Who gives a shit?!” They have won numerous games that they would have lost last year. Truth be told, IU could, and maybe even should be, 8-1 instead of 7-2 right now. The Ohio St. game is the only game that they were never really in.
I’ll be perfectly honest here. Mixed with the excitement of the season has been the wonder in the back of the my mind of when it will all implode. When the play calling, the untimely penalty, the big turnover, the playing it safe, or even the seemingly bad luck that has plagued the Hoosiers for what seems like a very long time, would rear their ugly heads. I’m sorry, but past history has instilled that in me. But this team continues to help push those thoughts out of mind. Or at least far enough into the back of mind that during games I would almost be surprised were it to happen, as opposed to the usual waiting for it to happen.
Head coach Tom Allen has been trying to build belief and confidence in the fan base since his arrival. It hasn’t been easy. Building a winning football team isn’t something that happens in one or two years. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes believing. The coaching staff always believed. The players now believe. Recruits are now believing. And now the fans are starting to believe. Well, this one is anyway.
With three regular season games remaining on the schedule the Hoosiers aren’t done yet. #5 ranked Penn St. on the road will be a tough one to add to the win column. #14 ranked Michigan at Memorial Stadium won’t be easy, but it’s also not impossible. Purdue on the road in the Oaken Bucket game should be a win. Although, rivalry games, especially rivalry games on the road, are battles. So, in a perfect world Indiana shocks everyone but themselves and runs the table to go 3-0 and finish at 10-2. In a pretty damned good world the Hoosiers go 2-1 to finish at 9-3. In realistic world the Hoosiers probably win one of the remaining games to finish 8-4. In a piss poor world, IU loses all three to finish 7-5.
I personally think that the Hoosiers leave Happy Valley with a hard fought, tough loss to the Nittany Lions. I think they’ll return home believing in themselves even more and then upset the Wolverines. And I think they carry that momentum into Ross-Ade Stadium and leave with a win and the “Bucket.” Obviously no one knows what the next four weeks are going to bring, but I for one am anxious to find out.
It’s been a long time since I have had to juggle my excitement for the tip-off to basketball season with my excitement for the continuation of football season. Three games of basketball before the Penn State football game so my focus now shifts for a couple of weeks. But it will return in full force on November 16th when I kick the day off with the (@HoosierHystrcs) and (@EatOooWeeBBQ) at the (@thebluebirdbar) in Bloomington. Followed by the Indiana Hoosiers vs. the Penn St. Nittany lions on the gridiron. And wrapped up with the basketball Hoosiers vs. Troy University in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Busy day and busy time of year for Hoosier fans? Yep. Would I have it any other way? Nah. I’ve tried that way too may times. I’d prefer to try this way awhile…It’s definitely something different.
GO HOOSIERS!