When time stood still: IU wins in Kalamazoo

Saturday night’s game was similar to the song everyone hated as a grade-schooler: It was the game that would never end. The Hoosiers were able to get up early, and the game ended late. \nThe soggy, lengthy battle at Western Michigan’s Waldo Stadium lasted more than four hours, during which there were more yellow flags than on a Sunday at the Masters. The game was drawn out by a painful 23 total penalties for 204 yards. Before Western Michigan was even able to get off its first offensive snap, it was whistled for two false starts. \nThe game also seemed to be interrupted at will by referees deciding to take a second look. If four-hour games are the cost for college football using instant replay, then I am against it like I’m against Kirk Herbstreit talking. College football would be better without both of them. Watching the Hoosiers’ game Saturday night was like watching the director’s cut of Medellin. \nNeither team could establish a consistent running game. And in the second and third quarter, Western Michigan couldn’t establish much of anything. The Broncos did their best Jamaal Tinsley impression and turned the ball over on five consecutive possessions. They went through three different quarterbacks in the first half, and on top of that, threw two picks to one of IU’s former quarterbacks, freshman safety Mitchell Evans. \nThe Hoosiers’ second-half offensive play calling was the real killer. In the third quarter, the Hoosiers drove the ball to Western Michigan’s one-yard line. On second down, they tried a quarterback sneak only to get stopped short. On third down, the Hoosiers went to Lewis again only to have the middle plugged by beefy Bronco defenders.\nAnd if you didn’t watch the game on ESPNU, you’ll never believe this – the Hoosiers called Lewis’ number again on fourth down and ran the same play. Lewis was stopped at the goal line and the Hoosiers turned the ball over due to their inability to gain an inch. It was like watching “Tin Cup,” except Kevin Costner was wearing a headset and demanding that his quarterback “run it again.” \nIt also seems as if the Hoosiers have fallen in love with the shotgun formation. The personal favorite formation of Mike Martz and anyone who ever plays video games doesn’t work well when you’re trying to run out the clock.\nInstead of handing off the ball to Josiah Sears or Marcus Thigpen to make the game shorter, the Hoosiers continued to line up five-wide into the fourth quarter. This didn’t end up being much of a factor in the score, but it did give Western Michigan a few additional opportunities. \nI literally aged a year during Saturday’s game (my birthday was at midnight), but it felt like much more. I guess these are the kinds of things fans of good football programs complain about. It feels good to dwell on the length of the game rather than the outcome. \nPredicted: Indiana 27, Western Michigan 20\nActual: Indiana 37, Western Michigan 27