Indiana University Football 2021. Can it be salvaged? Lord I hope so.
We had high hopes, didn’t we? Right now the Hoosiers are 0-3 in Big Ten play. Guess who comes calling tomorrow night? The Buckeyes. The first night game on ABC in Memorial Stadium history. Yes, that goofy mascot Brutus and all their silver britches and helmets and white jerseys will be there. I have seen the Buckeyes play the Hoosiers too too many times. Fullback Pete Johnson? I remember. Ray Griffin and the 96 yard interception return with a lateral? I remember. It was misty and it was a cool in Memorial Stadium that October 30th day in 1976.
I was attending the game with my Mom and Dad and a friend of mine I went to church with in Brownstown, Matthew Conrad. God rest his soul.
47- 7. That was the final. How did they score 7? It’s a miracle. When your quarterback throws 5 completions and three interceptions, it is a miracle.
That is where we were in 1976.
In 1988, the greatest game in Indiana University Football history, outside an appearance in the 1968 Rose Bowl, was played in Memorial Stadium in Bloomington that featured lights for the first time in stadium history for a 3:30 EDT kickoff. They installed them before the 1988 season.
Keith Jackson was in the house! You can Youtube some of this. If Keith was on your doorstep, you better deliver. The Indiana Hoosiers did exactly that. The Hoosiers defeated the Buckeyes for the second year in a row. In 1987 it was 35-31 in Columbus. In Bloomington in 1988, it was Indiana, with Keith Jackson in the house, beating the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 41-7. In the parlance of Rudy’s Dad walking on to the look at the field at Notre Dame Stadium (which I have had the privilege to do), this was the most beautiful “football” sight these eyes have ever seen. I was there with my Mom and Dad.
It was sooooo much fun.
Anthony Thompson scored 4 TDs that day! (This photo taken two years ago when I asked AT if he wished he had eligibility for that day’s game against Ohio State, he said, “No.”)
Coach Mallory was the best.
The greatest postscript of this story I can tell is that after the Celebration of Life ceremony was over, I handed this ticket stub to the wife of one of the speakers. Mark Hagen was a Mallory man. Hagen is a college football coach. He has coach for the Hoosiers, the Boilermakers, and the Longhorns. He is currently coaching for the Boilermakers again. Did that defense do some good things last weekend?
Mark Hagen’s wife asked my name. She was taken aback. It was my honor. I told her that I was here. Her husband deserves it because he played in it. Thanks be to God for putting me at the right place at the right time. Amen.
Indiana Football NEEDS this one tomorrow NIGHT against Ohio State.
On to this week’s picks!!!!
Ole Miss beats LSU…The Rebs have the Manning Palooza tomorrow. Arch Manning will be in town and Uncle Eli get his jersey retired and the ENDZONES will be great salesmen!
Indiana beats Ohio State…yes, I AM A HOMER, and I STILL BELIEVE!!!!
The last Hoosiers-Buckeyes tilt in Memorial Stadium was bad.
This one has to be better!
Cincinnati beats Navy…Won’t be close.
Penn State beats Illinois….Home in Happy Valley? Against Illinois.
Michigan beats Northwestern…This ain’t 1995.
Purdue beats Swissconsin…It is time! Look it up! Right, Brian Book?
Pitt beats Clemson…At Pitt? Yes. At Clemson? No.
Minnesota beats Maryland…Goldy is at home and Maryland will be looking around.
UCLA beats Oregon… Wow. How can College Football Gameday visit The Rose Bowl, MY FAVORITE STADIUM IN AMERICA, when I get an email this week like this?
Tickets for $ 19.19 in The Rose Bowl? I’d give 50 bucks just to go in and look at the place! There is too much to do in LA!
I have been there! The kick was good.
Louisville beats Boston College….PRECIUOS MEMORIES! I was in old Cardinal Stadium in 1990 when The Cards beat BC in the last game of the regular seaon before they got their invitation to the Fiesta Bowl. In fact, I was in the press box. A friend of mine was in charge of providing the stats to the media outlets. That afternoon I had speaks in between commercials with Gerad Phelan, the man who caught THE PASS from Doug Flutie against Miami, Fl in the iconic game that thrust Flutie to the Heisman Trophy. I can shook Phelan’s hand. One of the hands that would win Flutie the Heisman. I can still hear Phelan’s voice as he and I were talking about that season, “Those were some great wins.” The game was being broadcast to NESN…The New England Sports Network.
Mississipp State beats Vandy…at Vandy.
Alabama beats Tennessee…Won’t be close!
NC State beats Miami…It should be a good one.
USC beats Notre Dame…Yes. I think the Irish will be reeling and USC will shell the corn.
Hey, have fun tomorrow!
Root on your team and when you need to…speak the rights!
Danny Johnson