There's a moment in the adolescent book, Holes, where the protagonist, who has been assigned to a work camp--in the juvenile justice system--to dig holes, asks, "Which hole is the most difficult?" The more experienced teenage "campers" reply, "The first hole is always the most difficult."
Similarly, in a college football season, the first loss is "always the most difficult"! It reveals, beyond reasonable dispute (including my own crimson-colored glasses viewpoint), the weaknesses of each team. Clearly, the offensive line has improved, but its progress may not be much better than going from a glaring weakness to mediocrity or--at best--solid-to-above average line play.
I used to admire Coach Dantonio, particularly his resolve to defeat the smugness in Ann Arbor. However, I now find him and his teams to have ethical deficits that are contemptible. With that as a preface, Dantonio, to his credit and in spite of his perceived coaching conservatism, regularly takes risks--the fake field goal yesterday being the most recent example. This calculated aggressiveness is evident on our defense, but not elsewhere. This year's Hoosier football team needs to be willing to take a risk (offensively and/or on special teams) to seize victory in the 50-50 games and to have a chance to beat a team in the upper echelon.
Likewise, the first loss also begins to construct a ceiling, which places limits on the season. At this juncture, six or seven wins seems quite plausible. All things being equal, we should win the Rutgers and Minnesota games; they are, however, on the road, the Minnesota game is on six days rest, and the Hoosiers can't take anything for granted. Maryland and Purdue are closer to 50-50 games. We have both teams at home and our bye week late in the season and immediately before the Terrapins come to Bloomington is a significant advantage. Iowa appears likely to be favored at homecoming, but I remain hopeful of beating the Hawkeyes.
While Saturday night was admittedly painful, the remainder of the season is now in sharper focus. We have now a clearer reality. A 9 win season appears beyond our reach, but 8-5 or 7-6 are achievable and worthy attainments for a program that has only had one winning season since 1994.
Similarly, in a college football season, the first loss is "always the most difficult"! It reveals, beyond reasonable dispute (including my own crimson-colored glasses viewpoint), the weaknesses of each team. Clearly, the offensive line has improved, but its progress may not be much better than going from a glaring weakness to mediocrity or--at best--solid-to-above average line play.
I used to admire Coach Dantonio, particularly his resolve to defeat the smugness in Ann Arbor. However, I now find him and his teams to have ethical deficits that are contemptible. With that as a preface, Dantonio, to his credit and in spite of his perceived coaching conservatism, regularly takes risks--the fake field goal yesterday being the most recent example. This calculated aggressiveness is evident on our defense, but not elsewhere. This year's Hoosier football team needs to be willing to take a risk (offensively and/or on special teams) to seize victory in the 50-50 games and to have a chance to beat a team in the upper echelon.
Likewise, the first loss also begins to construct a ceiling, which places limits on the season. At this juncture, six or seven wins seems quite plausible. All things being equal, we should win the Rutgers and Minnesota games; they are, however, on the road, the Minnesota game is on six days rest, and the Hoosiers can't take anything for granted. Maryland and Purdue are closer to 50-50 games. We have both teams at home and our bye week late in the season and immediately before the Terrapins come to Bloomington is a significant advantage. Iowa appears likely to be favored at homecoming, but I remain hopeful of beating the Hawkeyes.
While Saturday night was admittedly painful, the remainder of the season is now in sharper focus. We have now a clearer reality. A 9 win season appears beyond our reach, but 8-5 or 7-6 are achievable and worthy attainments for a program that has only had one winning season since 1994.
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