This is the way I have approached the 2024 College Football season, a little empty. Honestly, I thought I was making some good strides until Sunday Night when I was watching LSU play USC in, gulp, Las Vegas. Two iconic programs. The Tigers from LSU. Talk about a crazy bunch of fans. USC, the boys from Southern Cal who can play football easier out there than in most places. They are not the only game in town. They are not under the same microscope, albeit scrutinized. I saw a close-up of one of the USC players and on the top right corner of his jersey, below the shoulder pads, I saw The BIG 10 logo on his jersey. A BIG 10 logo on a USC jersey. I swear I thought I was hearing Don McLean tuning his guitar to American Pie. I was reminded that my college football life, all 56 years of it as I know it, is over.
My 7th grade world geography teacher, Mr. Larry Martin, told us change is a constant feature. I try to remember that.
On thing that has not changed is Indiana Football fans’ attendance habits. Fans arrive late and leave early. That seemed to be a sore spot with the new head coach Curt Cignetti. He said so during his post-game press conference. I get it. An empty stadium is a terrible look for recruiting purposes. On the other hand, college athletics have changed too. I am not so sympathetic for a coach who increased his salary 600% over last season or for players who will be paid for playing college football. On that end, I am more inclined to tell them to keep their mouths shut and do their job. The fans bought the tickets. The fans can do what they darn well please with them. Just do your job.
I know, I know what you are thinking all you old purists like me. I was there when 50,000 filled two banks of seats and we stayed to the sweet or bitter end. I had a season ticket when Anthony Thompson was an All-American in 1988 and 1989. That day has come and gone. Those tickets were 16 bucks each. About 40 in today’s market. And that ticket goes for much more today. Watching AT score on the last play of the game against Kentucky in 1988 was a blast, until the Cats held him on 4th and goal in Lexington in the 1989 opener and the Hoosiers lost 17-14. I was there too and it was a hot day let me tell you. That day has come and gone.
Football-wise, the Hoosiers had some bright spots and some not so bright spots on Saturday.
The new QB Kurtis Rourke was rushed by an FIU defensive line on occasion and Rourke did a great job of playing Houdini at times to get himself out of trouble. I hope he can keep that up against a stout defense.
The Hoosiers ran the ball off tackle and beyond well. Running by committee can be a good thing. Fans love a bell-cow who gets stronger with more feeds as the game goes on. Multiple looks with multiple personnel do give the defense more to consider. Elijah Green took for a long one when the FIU defense was in tounge-dragging mode late in the game. Ty Son Lawton, Justice Ellison both also had quality carries that saw them stay upright for many positive yards also. When you have four backs get carries or ten yards or more, something is working. Give that O-line credit too.
The best Indiana stat? No turnovers. Like my old radio partner, Gus Stephenson, and I used to say, field position and turnovers can help turn a ballgame. IU did well here. The worse stat? 9 penalties for 80 yards the wrong direction. This can’t happen against a team that is competitive. Another plus was guys making great plays were not acting like they were running for public office.
Defensively the Hoosiers did a fair job. FIU was held to under 2 yards a carry and that is bringing the wood. The Panthers did complete 20 of 29 passes, albeit most were of the oh no here they come… dink and dunk variety. Amare Ferrell intercepted a Panther pass and returned it 20 yards. The D was solid.
Indiana has potential. What’s new? 18 one-score game losses in the Tom Allen era tells us. The potential is there. But will the corner be turned? Coach Bill Mallory was 0-11 in 1984. In November of 1987, the Hoosiers went to East Lansing to face Michigan State with a Rose Bowl, the real kind of Rose Bowl, on the line. After the game Coach Mallory visited the Spartan locker room and told them to go out to the Rose Bowl and kick their “butt”. This is worth looking up on Youtube.
So Coach Cig, please just do your job. The fans don’t owe you a thing. Wins will take care of what you desire from them. There was no coronation when you were named IU’s football coach. Far from it. This is not the epicenter of college football. Indiana Football can be a special place in the hearts of fans when they have a reason to believe they will no longer be let down. Like the player on the field, you are the ‘next man up’ on the sidelines in the eyes of many. Like you want to the defensive end to stay home and do his job, there is a legion out there wanting, hoping, and praying that you will do your job like you say you can. Believe it or not, like the old song says, I’m all for you!
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson