I'm pretty happy with how the season has gone. I look for progress in the program. Being game to game or practice to practice.
IU football has been near the dregs of the sport for much of the last 100 yrs. Take away a miracle of 66/67 and post WWII and a couple Mallory seasons, and IU has been simply awful. That's not my opinion. It's right there to look at. The players might become world class dads and husbands, businessmen, M.D.'s, and bastions of society. But when on the field against OSU, MSU, Mich, and their Big Ten brethren, they weren't up to snuff.
But the fans want more. Terrific school. Beautiful campus. Why not us? OK. But there's more to it than that.
THERE IS NOBODY ASSOCIATED WITH IU THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT WINNING FOOTBALL. NEVER HAS BEEN.
IU is a business school. IU is a med school. IU is a music school. For decades they never put money into football. IU is like politicians who simply throw money at things and think they'll be better. And when IU does, they do it wrong. Ten yrs ago I wrote that IU "couldn't even grow grass".
It started with Memorial stadium. I was watching the Packers yesterday. Lambeau Field is the perfect football venue. Kinnick stadium, UGA, ND are great football venues. The fans are right there on the field. At IU, the design puts people far from the action. It's like being at the theatre. When IU expands the stadium, do they put the new area close to the field? No. It's half way to Martinsville. There's no sense of intimacy for the fans or players.
Unless they are ND fans, there aren't many folks in this state that know football. REALLY KNOW FOOTBALL. People in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, KNOW FOOTBALL. Whatever knowledge I have in football comes from in depth conversations with a Hall of Famer, coaches, and a lifetime of experience, reading, and watching. I know football theory from reading. I know enough to carry on an intelligent conversation but in the end, do not know squat and know it. I know it. I admit it.
Coach Wilson has done a terrific job upgrading the talent while learning to be a Head Coach on the fly. He's selling a dream at a place that's often been a nightmare.
But while IU's recruiting has gotten better, and the coaches have developed individual talent. IF Urban was recruiting IU's players, Ohio would secede from the conference. IU has gone from getting beat by OSU 55-3 to having a shot to win.
Building something from nothing (IU has had John Pont, Lee Corso, Sam Wyche, Bill Mallory, Cam Cameron, Jerry DiNardo, Terry Hoeppner, Bill Lynch, and now Coach Wilson since my first game.) is not easy.
The INDY media doesn't help.
The fan base doesn't help. (I despise UK anything. But their fans showed up in droves even when they stunk) IU's students...... Never mind.
The administration doesn't help.
You have to crawl before you can walk. But a long way before you're in the Olympic 100 meter final. Coach
Wilson has IU up and jogging. Before he can shut up the idiots on the airwaves, and bring fans in from the parking lot and party he's got to get to bowl eligibility.
Still attainable. I've got big hopes if injuries don't waylay things down the stretch.
My biggest fear is that Coach Wilson wins and leaves for someplace where he's appreciated and doesn't have all the obstacles. Leaving IU once more to fend for herself. Yikes.
IU football has been near the dregs of the sport for much of the last 100 yrs. Take away a miracle of 66/67 and post WWII and a couple Mallory seasons, and IU has been simply awful. That's not my opinion. It's right there to look at. The players might become world class dads and husbands, businessmen, M.D.'s, and bastions of society. But when on the field against OSU, MSU, Mich, and their Big Ten brethren, they weren't up to snuff.
But the fans want more. Terrific school. Beautiful campus. Why not us? OK. But there's more to it than that.
THERE IS NOBODY ASSOCIATED WITH IU THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT WINNING FOOTBALL. NEVER HAS BEEN.
IU is a business school. IU is a med school. IU is a music school. For decades they never put money into football. IU is like politicians who simply throw money at things and think they'll be better. And when IU does, they do it wrong. Ten yrs ago I wrote that IU "couldn't even grow grass".
It started with Memorial stadium. I was watching the Packers yesterday. Lambeau Field is the perfect football venue. Kinnick stadium, UGA, ND are great football venues. The fans are right there on the field. At IU, the design puts people far from the action. It's like being at the theatre. When IU expands the stadium, do they put the new area close to the field? No. It's half way to Martinsville. There's no sense of intimacy for the fans or players.
Unless they are ND fans, there aren't many folks in this state that know football. REALLY KNOW FOOTBALL. People in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, KNOW FOOTBALL. Whatever knowledge I have in football comes from in depth conversations with a Hall of Famer, coaches, and a lifetime of experience, reading, and watching. I know football theory from reading. I know enough to carry on an intelligent conversation but in the end, do not know squat and know it. I know it. I admit it.
Coach Wilson has done a terrific job upgrading the talent while learning to be a Head Coach on the fly. He's selling a dream at a place that's often been a nightmare.
But while IU's recruiting has gotten better, and the coaches have developed individual talent. IF Urban was recruiting IU's players, Ohio would secede from the conference. IU has gone from getting beat by OSU 55-3 to having a shot to win.
Building something from nothing (IU has had John Pont, Lee Corso, Sam Wyche, Bill Mallory, Cam Cameron, Jerry DiNardo, Terry Hoeppner, Bill Lynch, and now Coach Wilson since my first game.) is not easy.
The INDY media doesn't help.
The fan base doesn't help. (I despise UK anything. But their fans showed up in droves even when they stunk) IU's students...... Never mind.
The administration doesn't help.
You have to crawl before you can walk. But a long way before you're in the Olympic 100 meter final. Coach
Wilson has IU up and jogging. Before he can shut up the idiots on the airwaves, and bring fans in from the parking lot and party he's got to get to bowl eligibility.
Still attainable. I've got big hopes if injuries don't waylay things down the stretch.
My biggest fear is that Coach Wilson wins and leaves for someplace where he's appreciated and doesn't have all the obstacles. Leaving IU once more to fend for herself. Yikes.
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