From honeymoon to heartbreak and back again

Have you ever been dumped? \nThings were going great. You hit some rough patches in the beginning, but once they were conquered, it seemed like the two of you were destined for greatness. Nothing, and certainly not the problems that ended your previous relationships, could stop what can only be termed as a "great love." \nThis is what we call -- in the business of love -- a honeymoon period. \nAnd so was the story for the first three weeks of the season. But after a 41-24 thrashing from a nationally-ranked Wisconsin opponent and IU's first loss of the year, it will be interesting to see how the team rebounds from honeymoon to heartbreak. All the side effects of a separation are relevant. Those glass-half-full types believe true love and winning can once again reign. Doubters have voiced their opinion that the times will never be as good as when the Hoosiers were 3-0. It is the doubters who remain halfway on the bandwagon, while the cynics have jumped. They believe those past problems with relationships will continue to plague them. To them, nothing will change. And to them, the Big Ten conference has caused more problems, delivering more blows and bruises to IU than a young Ike Turner. \nI guess it is time to ask: Which one are you? \nBut rather than spend time on you (let's face it -- the column is called "Playin' it Shaffe," and it does wonders for my ego), I am going to tell you what I think. So please ... do not pee on this column. \nIf the Hoosiers' hopes are the Titanic, then I'm a part of the band. And the band goes down with the ship. \nA case of puppy love was inevitable when a first year coach goes 3-0 for the first time since 1905. But the Hoosier spanking last Saturday might have been just the disciplinary action necessary to turn a team with a rejuvenated attitude from a pound of puppies into a pack of wolves. \nOf course, the Hoosiers losing a game was inevitable. It is just one of those certainties in life, like growing old or ending up face first in a toilet on your 21st birthday. But along the way to a quick 3-0 start, the Hoosiers picked up steam for the future and a lot of fans in the process. I haven't seen a bandwagon fill up this quickly since the Cubs played in the 2003 National League Championship Series. \nNow that half the campus has just stopped reading this column, let me continue. \nA pack of wolves like IU should destroy a pitiful 2-3 Illinois squad. After an impressive comeback win against Rutgers and a gimme game over San Jose State University, the Fighting Illini have done anything but fight -- losing three straight games by a combined score of 131-41. \nWhat the game will amount to when the clock reads 00:00 is whether Hep's Hoosiers can rebound from their first loss or whether they'll remain hindered by heartbreak after passing the honeymoon period.\nSo for those who don't believe, get off the wagon, or rather, the ship. As for me? I'll be staying and holding on for dear life to those Titanic dreams with Kate and Leo because true love only comes along once. \nI just hope the Hoosiers don't break my heart.