'The Curse' was lifted

Well, I'm stunned. And I wish I went to Madison, Wis., Saturday. \nI decided not to drive seven hours to watch IU lose. \nBut instead of losing, IU walloped Wisconsin. \nInstead of being there at Camp Randall Stadium, I listened to the radio, checked the Internet and watched scores parade by on highlight shows. \nAnd my place in history as the college football curse has been solidified. \nLet me take you through my lazy Saturday of shaking off beer and catching up with the Hoosiers.\nFirst, I flipped on the radio. Don Fischer was yelling and screaming. IU had just forced Wisconsin to punt, blocked the punt and scored. IU 26, Wisconsin 0. Huh? Uh ... Yeah, I darn near jumped out of my car and began screaming myself. \nThen, to verify this near miracle, I checked the Internet. There it was -- IU 26, Wisconsin 0. Then IU 42, Wisconsin 17. Then IU 63, Wisconsin 32.\nSomebody must have screwed up, and Fischer must have been fed some of that home-brewed Wisconsin ale. I needed more concrete proof.\nAs I flipped through the rest of the college football world on television, there it was again -- IU 63, Wisconsin 32.\nI cover the Hoosiers' first three contests, and they lose them all. I leave for one game, and IU wins.\nIf you aren't stunned, you're nuts. And unless you're nuts, you didn't see this one coming. \nI should have. Since covering college football, both at IU and Ball State, I'm yet to write about a victory for the school I'm affiliated with. I was affectionately given the nickname "The Curse" at Ball State. I guess my cohorts in Muncie were right. \nMy record still stands at 0-14. \nBut as shocked, blindsided and amazed as I was Saturday, I was equally proud. Yeah, this is the same guy who trashes the football team twice a week you're reading. But before Saturday, I had good reason to verbally assault the Hoosiers. Now -- though I'm not forgetting that loss to Utah -- I have ample excuses to praise them.\nIU ran. IU passed. IU danced and ate pizza after it won. \nThe Hoosiers deserved it. You have to be happy for these guys -- the same bunch that hadn't won since upsetting Minnesota last season, a streak of seven consecutive losses. \nEven though you still don't want Cam Cameron around next fall, you have to smile for the guy. Despite thinking the Hoosiers were more apt as pansies, you have to give them credit. Even though IU hasn't done much besides what it did Saturday in Madison, pat the Hoosiers on the back. More than once. \nAnd pat me on the back, too. Hey, I took one for the team, forgoing my chance to watch a game in a college football paradise. \nI said last Thursday that I hoped I would wish I went to Wisconsin. Well, I do. And for one week, I'm glad to be an IU football fan. \nForget the losses, the three-win seasons and the constant frustration. The Hoosiers marched up to Wisconsin and punched the Badgers in the gut. \nI'm hoping for a repeat performance this weekend against Illinois. But, again, I ("The Curse") won't see it. My uncle is getting married, and I have to go drink beer and eat chicken at the reception. I'm debating taking a radio to church. \nSo, there you go, Hoosiers. "The Curse" will again be absent from the press box. So go ahead and win again. \nOnce again, I hope I wish I went.