BottomLine

I’ve felt the same way, but this is a new era and you can throw out the history books. Soft parity has finally arrived in college football, and if you’re “in the club” conference/financially, which IU definitely is, then you have a decent chance at being competitive more often than not. We should be viewed as an underdog from an NFL standpoint and not an 83-20 CFB schalacking standpoint. 
If Zander Diamont and Tevin Coleman can lead 2014 OSU in the 4th at the Shoe, then this team can go into Autzen and win.

At 77, I've seen a lot of bad IU football. These past two years have been a revelation about what can be. Honestly, I don't think we are quite there yet, but we are on the cusp. Keep giving Coach Cignetti the resources he needs to build IU football and we will compete with andand at the top tier of college football. Cig is that good. We are good enough now that we can win on any given Saturday. Maybe this next one. Maybe not. But if we stay with the process, we will get there.

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life.  Graduated from IU in1969.  Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000.  Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers.  For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue.  After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level.  That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally.
But guess what.  These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble.  They believe in themselves and their coach.  They believe they can beat anyone.  The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking.
We can lose this game.  But we can also win it.  If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game.
 
Indiana       5 TDs = 35                                    Total  35
Oregon        3 TDs = 21     1 FG = 3                Total  24

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life.  Graduated from IU in1969.  Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000.  Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers.  For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue.  After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level.  That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally.
But guess what.  These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble.  They believe in themselves and their coach.  They believe they can beat anyone.  The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking.
We can lose this game.  But we can also win it.  If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game.
 
Indiana       5 TDs = 35                                    Total  35
Oregon        3 TDs = 21     1 FG = 3                Total  24

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life.  Graduated from IU in1969.  Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000.  Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers.  For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue.  After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level.  That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally.
But guess what.  These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble.  They believe in themselves and their coach.  They believe they can beat anyone.  The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking.
We can lose this game.  But we can also win it.  If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game.
 
Indiana       5 TDs = 35                                    Total  35
Oregon        3 TDs = 21     1 FG = 3                Total  24

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life.  Graduated from IU in1969.  Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000.  Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers.  For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue.  After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level.  That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally.
But guess what.  These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble.  They believe in themselves and their coach.  They believe they can beat anyone.  The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking.
We can lose this game.  But we can also win it.  If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game.
 
Indiana       5 TDs = 35                                    Total  35
Oregon        3 TDs = 21     1 FG = 3                Total  24

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life.  Graduated from IU in1969.  Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000.  Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers.  For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue.  After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level.  That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally.
But guess what.  These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble.  They believe in themselves and their coach.  They believe they can beat anyone.  The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking.
We can lose this game.  But we can also win it.  If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game.
 
Indiana       5 TDs = 35                                    Total  35
Oregon        3 TDs = 21     1 FG = 3                Total  24

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life.  Graduated from IU in1969.  Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000.  Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers.  For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue.  After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level.  That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally.
But guess what.  These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble.  They believe in themselves and their coach.  They believe they can beat anyone.  The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking.
We can lose this game.  But we can also win it.  If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game.
 
Indiana       5 TDs = 35                                    Total  35
Oregon        3 TDs = 21     1 FG = 3                Total  24

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life.  Graduated from IU in1969.  Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000.  Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers.  For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue.  After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level.  That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally.
But guess what.  These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble.  They believe in themselves and their coach.  They believe they can beat anyone.  The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking.
We can lose this game.  But we can also win it.  If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game.
 
Indiana       5 TDs = 35                                    Total  35
Oregon        3 TDs = 21     1 FG = 3                Total  24

If we lose, I'll take the hit. Not picking against our guys.
Cigs - 31
Waterfowl - 17

us- 52
Them- 21

I figure the Hoosiers left at least 28 points on the field last Saturday.  Coach Cig can't be happy about that and I look for improvement this week - or else!
I have some feeling for the Owls since I grew up a Seymour Owl, but not much.  Figure they should be good for about 6 points but I can't imagine them hitting two field goals.  So I'm going to pick them for a TD.
I hope fewer stops on the goal line and fewer dropped TD passes this week.  Seven scores feels about right.  I'll make that 5 TDs and a couple of FGs.  Worried this could turn into the 2024 Western Illinois game.
Hoosiers     5 TD = 35      2 FG =6     Total = 41
Owls             1 TD = 7                           Total = 7

Congratulations to cbp4iu for being the first to hit the TRIFECTA (bonus for picking the winner , bonus for picking a score correctly, and bonus for being top dog for the week).  Yes, I have a horseracing background.

Congratulations to cbp4iu for being the first to hit the TRIFECTA (bonus for picking the winner , bonus for picking a score correctly, and bonus for being top dog for the week).  Yes, I have a horseracing background.

Congratulations to cbp4iu for being the first to hit the TRIFECTA (bonus for picking the winner , bonus for picking a score correctly, and bonus for being top dog for the week).  Yes, I have a horseracing background.

So busy commenting that I forgot to put in a prediction.  

Heard on the radio today that the Smellermakers rank 330th in inside defense. Woodson game plans to take advantage by starting Ballo, Reneau and Dallas.
Plan works! We make 29 two point field goals. Unfortunately, Pork Chop has the answer as Dallas’ career IU game of 2 points and 1 rebound can’t negate the 18 threes from PU.
Final score—
Blazin Fletcher Smiths 75
Stuck in the 80’s plodding Hoosiers-72

When I turned the game off in disgust the 72-70 score was still on the screen.   Thanks for the correction.  I feel sooooooooo much better.   Now I don't even have the consolation of a good story.

This season has turned out to be as sad as the football season was happy.
This season is a testament to the fact that players are in the portal for a reason.  In most cases they were not that good in the first place.  There are exceptions but the portal is a hazardous way to build a roster.
Perhaps Woody has finally reached the realization that the best TEAM that he can put on the floor is not necessarily the most talented.  Then on the other hand playing as a teammate is a talent in itself that we often overlook.
IU played well enough at Purdue to win the game and only lost it in the final seconds when Leal fouled out and was replaced by Rice, who promptly decided to go one on one and play hero ball instead of passing the ball to Ballo for a flush.
We usually play terrible in Madison but we can win this. It will depend on our defense because we are only a low 70 point team offensively at present.
 
Indiana     71
Wiaconsin     80 

It depends what he did last night

If that's the standard we may have a bunch of 'step-aways', myself included now and then!    :)

Not going to win this thing this year anyway, so what difference does it make?  Going with my heart and a little bit of my head.
Forecast for tomorrow in South Bend.  High of 34 and low of 22.  Since kickoff is after dark I'll guess the temp in mid to high 20's and falling.  Not good for passers or receivers.  Also forecast for light snow and winds between 11 and 14 mph.  Should help a team that can't pass very well (ND).
Home field advantage to ND.  Well, duh.
Strength of schedule and stats favor Indiana.  ND based on latest top 25, ND has not played ONE ranked team this year.  Only loss was to a MAC team at home when they fell behind and had to throw the ball.  How in the world did they deserve a home game?  Beats me.
IU's best chance is to get an early lead and force ND to play come from behind.  If our balance attack and passing game are working we walk away with this one.  It could actually be a blowout game either way or a rock fight.  IU need to play well and avoid mistakes.  Interception near the goal line and muffed snap to the kicker made the OSU game look a lot worse than it really was.
BottomLine:
Hoosiers      4 TD = 28    +    1 FG= 3        Total 31
ND                  3 TD = 21   +     2 FG = 6       Total 27 

Point differential vs opponents. IU + 29
Home Field. ND + 7
Toughness of schedule ND + 0. IU + 0
Refs. ND + 10
Execution  IU + 3
Intangibles  ND +3
Coaching. IU + 6
Indiana. 38.    Notre Dame 20

Gut check time!  Don't like that this is on the road, actually IUs first road game of the year.  Don't like that it is almost always a rock fight out there.  But, nobody cares what I like or don't like.
Nebraska is probably a small favorite here, but I'm starting to see some improvement from the Hoosiers, and I think we might be able to get over the hump here.  I'm still in the glass is half full mode.  Last bucket wins.
Indiana     76
Nebraska  75

Until we pick a big to start and go 4 out and quit playing Goode and Mgbako together we're going to look like s7it even if we do win. We have zero movement on offense and the big combinations can't defend.