iu2win

True Hoosier described it perfectly for me: Spoiled. I sent a text to my brother's after the game saying how spoiled IU fans (myself included) have become; we expect every throw to be spot on and the D to shut out everyone other than maybe OSU or Oregon. What a time to be a Hoosier football fan. My take regarding Cig's different demeanor at press conferences: he has mentioned multiple times how this is a new season, with new players, and a team with its own unique make up. He knows what he has to do and he may be a bit annoyed that some IU fans still do not have faith in his ability to build his team. I mean, if we could put ourselves in Cig's brain he is likely thinking . . . "really, I build a national champion and some of these folks think I don't know what I'm doing 4 games into the next season". haha. I think I'd be extra cranky too.

Home Jersey beat me to it . . . 35 -17 good guys!

21 seems about right. NW abused Colorado's secondary throughout the game. IU must improve the level of pressure on the QB on Friday night or NW will hang in there by taking advantage of our inexperience at DB and extend drives to kill clock. Hopefully, Harris is back and that could make a huge difference. On the other side of the ball, I expect Turbo to run all over the NW defense; Colorado ran at will against them but turned the ball over 4 times; mostly on their own side of the field.

Regarding Mich vs Western: one of the ESPN prognosticators claimed, "this is how conspiracy theories get started". I beg to differ; that game and that incident is yet another confirmation that Michigan has received favor in similar circumstances for years . . . this is how conspiracy theories are proven!

As several others have pointed out, NT was stacking the box to stop the run. IU could have exploited their backfield by throwing all day long but I'm guessing Cig wanted to continue pounding the ground game to give the RB's a workout. Once they closed the gap to 11 (3rd quarter), IU released the passing game and it was goodnight NT.

I'm going with 10-2 as the floor. Remembering how poorly IU played at Iowa and Penn State makes me think they might not get so fortunate this year. Also, Mendoza threw a pick in each of those games. The course of a season is very long and strange things happen. Another perfect regular season is asking a lot. Even Ohio State, in their best years, managed to cough up a game or two . . . see their Michigan game two years ago. That one never should have happened but it did.

There absolutely MUST be consequences for Sorsby (or any other college football player who bets on his own team). Any way you slice it, he had to be knowledgeable enough to realize he was risking his college playing career when he made that first bet. Likely didn't bet on himself becoming worth millions and now has regret over it. He should never again play college football. An NFL team willing to risk Sorsby making more poor choices in the future is on them. I hope for the best for the young man. Hope he can learn from his mistakes, move on to a pro team who will have him, and keep things within the rules moving forward.

It seems to me Bailey is a bit Jekyll and Hyde; when his is passive he even has trouble hitting the easiest of layups, but when he is assertive his play is more like last night. Granted, some of it has to do with the level of opponent but last night I noticed he really got after it and good things happened. His decision-making was better too; passing the ball when doubled and going strong one-on-one.

Like many/most Hoosier basketball fans, I was prepared and of the mindset that this season would be a total rebuild and likely a tough season. I had hoped for an NCAA tournament bid as a first-year step; that is looking like a long shot but still a possibility. The jury is certainly still out for our new coach and he deserves an opportunity to build his system with players he chooses beyond one year. Still, watching the game last night, I fail to see a large improvement in this group throughout the season and that is the most concerning thing from my standpoint. Fundamentals??? Marinelli is a talented player but he strolled down the lane untouched on several occasions last night and not a single IU player stepped in to even attempt to draw a charge. It just seems, once the initial IU defender is beat, there is little to no help. It is as if this team is determined (and confident to its own peril) in terms of outscoring the opponent despite numerous defensive deficiencies. Shouldn't there be signs of improvement in terms of fundamentals at this point? Setting screens, blocking out, keeping your feet on D, etc.

I was a bit uneasy about Coach DD and this team a couple of weeks ago. However, I began thinking back to Archie and Woodson's first year for comparison and this team is far and away better. No big losses to Indiana State caliber teams. Wish there were no home losses at this point but still comparing first year achievements, this team is much better and therefore I think the future is much brighter than under either of the previous two coaches at IU.

I'm a traditional unis type of guy and I love that Cig didn't mess with the standard IU football uniforms (with the caveat that the block "I" is truly the tradition in football I suppose). Still, DD messing around with black unis is a distraction from the traditional power that "was" Indiana basketball during the glory years. I see it similar to the IU Oval in football during the Antwaan days. Also, reminds me of Nebraska wearing the black unis and getting it handed to them by Tom Allen's Hoosiers in their own stadium. Stick to tradition and leave the ugly black to the Toiletmakers.

Stampede = Winners Tropical Storm = Losers

That's because IU just hits harder and "It Just Means More". Bwaahaaaaaa

Spent a short time reading some comments on the Miami U forum. Seeing all of the typical comments Hoosier fans have been reading from the arrogant "blue blood" programs: OSU, Alabama, and now Miami. I've copied a few of my favorites and you will notice they resemble what IU fans have heard all season long. (My favorite is the last one; "Mendoza is a one-read guy; rarely has to go through his progressions", hahaha, no clue.) Here's believing the results of the game match those of all the other arrogant posters who thought their team was going to be "the one" unlike any IU has played before. Indiana only plays 13 players on defense. Wear them out. We play a similar style game to Indiana but we just have better athletes. They're bullying Oregon on both LOS, they won't be able to do that to us. They have not played trenches like ours. I was really nervous for our last three games but im not nervous at all about Indiana. I think we handle them easily The Ole Miss O is superior to Indiana's. Mendoza rarely has to go through progressions, it's not even a thing in the IU system. He's a one read guy.

Anyone else notice how effortlessly these tv pundits throw out transverse ideas; particularly regarding IU. Today, I heard two different guys from different affiliates state unequivocally that Miami has a better DL than IU and better DB's. How can these guys possibly watch that conference championship game and make that statement? Who has Miami played (outside of the one game against A&M) that in any way proves what these fools are saying. Good News, they just keep finding ways to doubt IU and I firmly believe IU will prove them all wrong.