If you're going to say "great, another thread" well... sorry.
As people talked about margin of victory and statistics it got me thinking about the context of certain seasons and a certain number of wins and what the competition looked like (vaguely...)
Since Cam Cameron was hired in 1996, Indiana has had five seasons where we had five or more wins. Whether you think that is a disgrace in itself (it is...) is a separate issue. Of those five seasons, two have happened under Wilson. Three under other coaches.
So, let's examine the three seasons it happened when Wilson wasn't the coach.
2001
@ Wisconsin: As most will recall, one of the more strange games in #IUFB history. Levron Williams rushed for 6 TD's on 20 carries for 280 yards. Very strange game. 63-32. It would have been 66 but we blew 3 XP's in the first quarter.... Odd.
Northwestern: Another blowout. It was 42-0 at halftime. IU won 56-21. Northwestern finished last in the Big Ten with a 4-7 overall record.
@ #22 Michigan State: Again, Levon and Antwaan couldn't be contained. 37-28 win. While MSU was ranked at the time they finished with a 3-5 Big Ten record.
Purdue: 13-7. Driving rain storm. Purdue finished .500
Kentucky: Moved to the last game of the season because of 9/11. UK finished 2-9.
A few notes:
- Indiana played ONE team who was ranked all season. ONE. Michigan State. How bad were the opponents?
Wisconsin finished 5-7
Northwestern finished 4-7 with one of their wins coming over Duke (who finished the season 0-11)
MSU was average, at best.
Purdue finished .500 losing five of their last six
Kentucky only beat Ball State and Vanderbilt. Vandy had two wins including one over Duke.
In summary: IU did VERY, VERY little against super, super average competition. Five wins while playing only one ranked team is... Just not very good.
2006
Western Michigan: IU won 39-20 over a decent WMU team.
@ Ball State: Many will remember Kellen Lewis' heroics in the second-half. A game we probably shouldn't have won against an underwhelming Ball State team who finished 5-7.
@ Illinois: Had a late, nice drive to win the game. Andrew Means a huge play. Barely won (34-32) and Illinois finished a paltry 2-10....
Iowa: While Iowa was ranked at the time and IU won 31-28 (thank you Austin Thomas for the late INT), the Hawkeyes lost six of their last seven games.
Michigan State: MSU finished 4-7 with one conference win and fired John L. Smith
A few notes:
- The three conference wins we had (ILL, IA, MSU) combined to go 4-20 in Big Ten play.
- Against the two really good teams we did play, OSU and Michigan we scored a combined 6 points. SIX... TOTAL.....In 2 games.
2007
Indiana State: ISU went 0-11 and was utterly, utterly dreadful.
@ Western Michigan: I remember going to this game. It took 4 hours and 50 minutes. IU got to a huge lead and held on against an average MAC team.
Akron: Finished 4-8. Weren't very good.
@ Iowa: Finished 6-6. Lost at home to Western Michigan...
Minnesota: Finished 1-11. Absolutely atrocious.
Ball State: Weren't bad. Finished 7-6.
Purdue: Finished 8-5 but had 4 wins over MAC teams (including their bowl game) and wins over Minnesota and Northwestern.
A few notes:
- While this season seems to be what many are compared to recently, #IUFB accomplished an impressive feat: we did not play a SINGLE RANKED TEAM THE ENTIRE SEASON.
I did this because:
1.) I have no life
2.) I think it shows how competitive IU has been this year as we have played four teams ranked in the top-15 and we have a chance to get to 6 wins--- more so than any other season (sans 2007) since 1994. Like I said earlier, that in and of itself is very troubling and sad.
3.) Because going through my memory bank and the media guide reminds me of the older times of IU football--- where we had so little talent, coaching or hope.
Best.
As people talked about margin of victory and statistics it got me thinking about the context of certain seasons and a certain number of wins and what the competition looked like (vaguely...)
Since Cam Cameron was hired in 1996, Indiana has had five seasons where we had five or more wins. Whether you think that is a disgrace in itself (it is...) is a separate issue. Of those five seasons, two have happened under Wilson. Three under other coaches.
So, let's examine the three seasons it happened when Wilson wasn't the coach.
2001
@ Wisconsin: As most will recall, one of the more strange games in #IUFB history. Levron Williams rushed for 6 TD's on 20 carries for 280 yards. Very strange game. 63-32. It would have been 66 but we blew 3 XP's in the first quarter.... Odd.
Northwestern: Another blowout. It was 42-0 at halftime. IU won 56-21. Northwestern finished last in the Big Ten with a 4-7 overall record.
@ #22 Michigan State: Again, Levon and Antwaan couldn't be contained. 37-28 win. While MSU was ranked at the time they finished with a 3-5 Big Ten record.
Purdue: 13-7. Driving rain storm. Purdue finished .500
Kentucky: Moved to the last game of the season because of 9/11. UK finished 2-9.
A few notes:
- Indiana played ONE team who was ranked all season. ONE. Michigan State. How bad were the opponents?
Wisconsin finished 5-7
Northwestern finished 4-7 with one of their wins coming over Duke (who finished the season 0-11)
MSU was average, at best.
Purdue finished .500 losing five of their last six
Kentucky only beat Ball State and Vanderbilt. Vandy had two wins including one over Duke.
In summary: IU did VERY, VERY little against super, super average competition. Five wins while playing only one ranked team is... Just not very good.
2006
Western Michigan: IU won 39-20 over a decent WMU team.
@ Ball State: Many will remember Kellen Lewis' heroics in the second-half. A game we probably shouldn't have won against an underwhelming Ball State team who finished 5-7.
@ Illinois: Had a late, nice drive to win the game. Andrew Means a huge play. Barely won (34-32) and Illinois finished a paltry 2-10....
Iowa: While Iowa was ranked at the time and IU won 31-28 (thank you Austin Thomas for the late INT), the Hawkeyes lost six of their last seven games.
Michigan State: MSU finished 4-7 with one conference win and fired John L. Smith
A few notes:
- The three conference wins we had (ILL, IA, MSU) combined to go 4-20 in Big Ten play.
- Against the two really good teams we did play, OSU and Michigan we scored a combined 6 points. SIX... TOTAL.....In 2 games.
2007
Indiana State: ISU went 0-11 and was utterly, utterly dreadful.
@ Western Michigan: I remember going to this game. It took 4 hours and 50 minutes. IU got to a huge lead and held on against an average MAC team.
Akron: Finished 4-8. Weren't very good.
@ Iowa: Finished 6-6. Lost at home to Western Michigan...
Minnesota: Finished 1-11. Absolutely atrocious.
Ball State: Weren't bad. Finished 7-6.
Purdue: Finished 8-5 but had 4 wins over MAC teams (including their bowl game) and wins over Minnesota and Northwestern.
A few notes:
- While this season seems to be what many are compared to recently, #IUFB accomplished an impressive feat: we did not play a SINGLE RANKED TEAM THE ENTIRE SEASON.
I did this because:
1.) I have no life
2.) I think it shows how competitive IU has been this year as we have played four teams ranked in the top-15 and we have a chance to get to 6 wins--- more so than any other season (sans 2007) since 1994. Like I said earlier, that in and of itself is very troubling and sad.
3.) Because going through my memory bank and the media guide reminds me of the older times of IU football--- where we had so little talent, coaching or hope.
Best.
