Oaken Bucket back after 5 years

The Old Oaken Bucket is back in town. With the 13-7 win against rival Purdue, IU returns the trophy to Memorial Stadium for the first time in five years.\nAnd the win was so good for the Hoosiers.\nFor senior defensive end Kemp Rasmussen, a first-time victory against the Boilermakers was sweeter than beating his younger brother, Kyle Rasmussen, at Michigan State earlier this season.\nFor senior quarterback Antwaan Randle El, getting the bucket back for the first time since he came to IU is what he's waited for and wanted since the departure of the bucket in 1997. \nFor coach Cam Cameron, the best part of Saturday was watching the time tick off the clock as the defense came up with stops that got bigger and more crucial with each passing second. The Hoosiers (4-6, 4-4) allowance of a mere seven points was the fewest Purdue (6-4, 4-4) had ever scored under head coach Joe Tiller.\n"It's fun to watch the guys get the bucket," Cameron said. "I know this senior class, and there wasn't anything that was going to keep them from going across the field and getting that bucket back. When you get in victory formation and you got it down to two or three seconds, there's nothing better than giving your players the opportunity to celebrate."\nBut the giddiness of the Hoosiers following the game was as unmistakable as the emotions that charged IU from its first possession of the game.\nIU's emotions have been running rapid since the week prior to the game. The Hoosiers practices included players dressed in full Boilermaker uniforms, everything from the pants to the helmets.\nDuring team meetings, aside from the normal preparation, the team read an article in which Purdue senior Matt Mitrione told a reporter that senior running back Levron Williams was a "pretty boy" who would be scared of Purdue. \nMitrione also expressed his doubt about how good IU's rush offense would be when up against the Purdue defense. The Purdue defense that ended up allowing IU to rush for 204 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown run by Williams.\n"(Mitrione) was talking about how our offense was soft and we couldn't run up the middle," Rasmussen said. "Well, I think (Saturday), we proved their offense was pretty soft. They had negative eight yards rushing, and they just gave up. They had fourth and an inch on the goal line and they can't bring it. If they're going to talk like that, they got to back it up."\nBut all the talking that took place off the field exploded when the two teams took it out on each other.\nIt took only 16 seconds for the two teams that have been anticipating each other all week to replace words with punches. Following a Randle El completion to freshman wide receiver Travis Haney, the two sides met near the Hoosier sidelines and a mess of fists flying, kicking and yelling ensued.\n"From the first play, you had to put your head on the swivel at all times," junior safety Joe Gonzalez said. "I know one time, I was just standing over the play and I got leveled by a Purdue offensive linemen. That's football. That's part of the fun of the game, but it was definitely a battlefield down there to say the least."\nBut between the trash talking and the five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, Randle El and Williams each scored touchdowns which was enough for the win. Against Penn State, IU was shutout in the second half, but what the Hoosier offense lacked against the Boilermakers, the defense made up for with pivotal stops. \nThese included the fourth-and-goal stop by freshman linebacker Martin Lapostolle, and a fumble recovery and tackle for loss by freshman Herana-Daze Jones.\nAll these factors contributed to the return of the bucket.\n"13-7," Randle El said smiling. "That's all that matters. Yeah, they got us stopped sometimes, but we got the bucket here. What's his name? Mitrione, we got the bucket, buddy. You like that? You want to talk? OK. It took only 13 to win it.\n"As a fifth-year senior, of finally winning it, it means a lot. I can't express how much it means, especially with us not going to a bowl game. We will remember this game more than any other game"