It is time to get to the theater. The theater that is Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. You may have thought you have seen this movie before. 1985 perhaps? The Hoosiers begin the season 4-0 a year after going 0-11. Then the ’85 Hoosiers proceed to lose the 7 games left. Are we really still that weary? Is that why Memorial Stadium is looking like the home of a contender-pretender? Can we just say that folks can’t really believe what they are seeing from this team? I am here to assure you that you have not seen this movie before. Why not, you ask? Sit down.
No one has been tougher on new Indiana Football Coach Curt Cignetti since he got here than I have. Why? I’ve seen the movie. I have spent my falls having my heart broken. Whether it was Rob Lytle and Rick Leach running behind a behemoth of a Michigan O-Line in 1976, or Scott Bonnell pulling a short field goal to the left in 1989 leaving the Hoosiers turning over the Oaken Bucket without a bowl and AT without a Heisman Trophy. 2015 when Ezekial Elliott runs the # 1 Ohio State to a 34-27 win in a game some of us started to think might be our time. That’s the problem. In my lifetime, all 56 years of it, IU Football has not had an “our time” team. Until now. And just typing those two words “until now” makes me nervous. Am I really going to see one of “those” seasons? The answer is yes. And I know some are still skeptical. This is IU Football, right? Not really.
Look, that 2015 team began the season 4-0. Those wins included beating Southern Illinois 48-47, beating FIU 36-22, beating Western Kentucky 38-35, and Wake Forest 31-24. This year’s Indiana Hoosier Football team is, after four games, outscoring the opponent by an average of 50-9. First Downs? Indiana has 110 to 50. The Hoosiers have punted 5 times in 4 games. Total yards average? 514-199 per game in favor of the Hoosiers. Most importantly, the Hoosiers have yet to turn the ball over to the other team. There is not a team stat, save two more penalties, that does not favor the Hoosiers.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has hit 75% of his passes. We all know Myles Price is going to bust a punt return wide open sooner or later. Four receivers have 12 or more receptions. Wideout Donaven McCulley has only caught one pass due to injury and timing. He will make his presence known when conference play is in earnest. Defensive Coordinators will be losing sleep knowing this Indiana team has done all it has without McCulley.
The one stat that rings true for me more than any other is that 14 different Hoosiers have scored a touchdown so far this season in only four games. There is no Burger King on this team.
I was there in 1988 and 1989 when putting 50,000 fans or more in the house was not an uncommon sight. I was also there at Memorial Stadium in 2002 for a homecoming game that had less than 23,000. The Hoosiers beat a #24 Minnesota team that game. Times change. TVs are bigger. Games are ubiquitous on TV.
Look, Indiana will get those crowds again and soon. I give the credit to Coach Curt Cignetti. I am delighted he is not in an Indiana football culture that once refused to accept a bowl bid (Coach Mal). Times change.
My secret wish was that one-day Mike Leach would make his way to Bloomington. That dream is over. But guess what? Indiana got the next best thing. Coach Cig reminds me of Mike Leach. His looking off in the distance when he answers a question. His ability to interrupt a question. His attention to detail that he knows his team must adhere to. If we were casting this movie, John Wayne would probably make a good Coach Cig.
I have had a great seat for the first three games. The reception I have gotten from my writing and reporting has been meaningful. This week, during the game, I got some words from Dave Kornowa and that humbled me. I interviewed Dave in 2020, and he said:
“I told my folks I wanted to play for the Indiana Hoosiers because they had a chance to play in the Rose Bowl. My folks laughed at me and told me if I was planning on playing in the Rose Bowl I better try to get on at Michigan or Ohio State.”
He made good on that. Dave kicked the field goal to give the Hoosiers their 3 points that day on January 1, 1968, in The Rose Bowl when the Indiana Hoosiers played the USC Trojans and lost 14-3. To date, this is the only Rose Bowl the Hoosiers have played in. I am always delighted to hear from Dave Kornowa.
Speaking of a humbling experience, before the game Saturday, I was at the soft drink dispenser at the top of the press level on the other end from where I sit. I looked to my left and standing beside me was Don Fischer, the Voice of Indiana University. Don is in his 52nd year of calling Indiana Football and Basketball. The man is a legend. I looked over at Don, and simply said, “In 1987, you wrote me a nice letter about how a young man of 19 might find his way into the broadcast booth one day.” He gave me a wry smile. Of course, he didn’t remember. It was a time in my life when I was enrolled in a second college in less than a year and not enjoying any of it. Don and I shared a few more words and he was gracious. I did tell him that I did eventually call games on radio for a number of years before the station decided to split the broadcasts between two teams and not just my team. I told Don I couldn’t do that. He told me he did not blame me. We walked on to our break of stairs. I said, “Have a good call.” Don Fischer nodded, and said, “Thank you, sir.” I looked around and wondered if I should just go home now. No, there was another great Hoosier Football game to cover.
This is a new movie. The one we never thought we would see. That is why the theater is slow to fill. But, that theater will be full soon.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson