Illinois loss is a reality check, not a nightmare

James Hardy's body language said it all.\nLate in the third quarter, after one of IU’s 10 failed third-down conversions, Hardy ripped his chinstrap off. He stood with his hands on his hips staring in disbelief into the distance at yet another broken play. He was a 6-foot-7 symbol of frustration.\nA win would have meant the Hoosiers’ best start in 17 years. It would have improved their record to 4-0 and left them only two wins shy of that long-\ndesired bowl game.\nBut instead of stepping on the Fighting Illini Saturday, the Hoosiers slipped. It was the ball that slipped too, three times to be exact. Instead of making the big plays, IU was the victim of them, including a timely punt block and a game-clinching interception.\nAnd like that, the season is over. It was fun pretending to be a football school for three weeks, wasn’t it? The Hoosiers will probably lose out the rest of the season. The only thing that gets you out of your depressing uncomfortable bed in the morning is the fact that the start of men’s basketball season is only three weeks away.\nIf those thoughts have been running through your conscience, I’m not surprised. It’s easy to be frustrated and to give up on a team. But whether you realize it or not, the Hoosier’s loss Saturday has about as much significance as middle school grades.\nI don’t mean to sound like Herm Edwards, but IU is still at 3-1, off to a better start this year than last and has an easier schedule ahead, too. The Hoosiers have six winnable games left this season and need only three to “Play 13.” People who have been following IU football long enough know that a single loss doesn’t derail a season. They still are going to come out and play to win the game. Too far?\nThe important thing to take from Saturday’s game is that IU should have won the game. I think there is a consensus that the Hoosiers didn’t play up to their potential. That’s a significant turnaround from the team that a few years ago had no chance when it came to conference rivals.\nAfter the game, IU coach Bill Lynch decided to downplay his own team’s performance and instead give credit to Illinois. IU’s coach literally gave “them credit” six times in the first two minutes and 29 seconds of his press conference.\nTracy Porter, the senior captain and defensive leader of the Hoosiers, said the team is obviously frustrated by the loss, but is already looking toward next week.\n“Guys are not going to be down and out; it’s only one loss,” Porter said after the game. “We’re 3-1, we have a ton more games to play. We’re going to put the loss behind us like we did the three wins ... and we’re going to come out and look at Iowa this week.”\nOne of the keys to bouncing back from a loss is accountability and pointing out the mistakes from Saturday, he said.\n“You have to go into the film room,” Porter said. “Most people don’t want to do it, but you have to criticize each and every play, the things you did wrong and the things you did right.”\nThere will be plenty for the IU coaching staff to criticize in the film room this week. And there is a good chance you’ll hear plenty of people kick the Hoosiers to the curb. But as someone who has been witness to a lot of Saturday losses, let me tell you that the Hoosiers can still “Play 13.”\nPrediction: Indiana 31, \nIllinois 28\nActual: Indiana 14, Illinois 27