Column: Hoosiers need to build on win

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nate Sudfeld took the snap from center, slowly backpedaled and took a knee.

That simple execution of the “victory” formation signified the end to Indiana’s struggle to maintain second half leads. The freshman quarterback and his teammates were able to take a long, satisfying look at the scoreboard at Illinois’ Memorial Stadium, which read, “Indiana 31, Illinois 17.”

The road to earning that moment of celebration was an arduous one, which Hoosiers won’t soon forget.

“We’ve been so close, and you’re like, ‘When is it going to be over?’” senior center Will Matte said.

After emotionally draining games against Ohio State, Navy, Ball State and Michigan State — all games in which Indiana was tantalizingly close to snatching victories — the Hoosiers managed to piece together a full, four-quarter game for their first Big Ten Conference victory since a 34-31 win at Purdue to end the 2010 regular season.

Sure, the end result of Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium tasted sweet, but IU Coach Kevin Wilson has no reason to be overzealous because he has expected this team to win all along.

“We’re trying to be a winning team all the time,” Wilson said. “And it’s not just on Saturdays. We’ve been doing a lot of things right. It’s nice to get a Saturday scoreboard go our way, and we want a lot more of those.”

What Wilson is alluding to is that this victory serves as what will, in the end, be a defining crossroads for his team.

Should the Hoosiers lose their next two games against Iowa and Wisconsin, both of which are in Bloomington, this victory against Illinois during Homecoming weekend in Champaign, Ill., will be considered a fluke.

Flukes are the antithesis of consistency, which is the foundation of successful football
programs.

How the Hoosiers build on Saturday’s victory is paramount and something Wilson isn’t underselling the importance of.

“We have to keep improving, and we have to play better,” Wilson said. “We have to keep getting stronger, and we have to keep pushing. As coaches, we have to keep building this team, keep bringing it every day, and the kids have bought into that.”

The results of that approach are beginning to take shape, and the final numbers are the proof.

Indiana only committed one turnover, an interception from sophomore quarterback Cameron Coffman midway through the first quarter that prompted Wilson to insert Sudfeld as quarterback. He only accrued three penalties for 25 yards against Illinois.

While the statistics provide the analytical evidence, the abstract intangibles were able to paint a more vivid picture of Saturday’s contest.

For the first time this season, the Hoosiers showed a mental toughness that has been lacking during their five-game losing streak that was weighing on their collective conscience entering Saturday’s game. They finally displayed the resolve and resiliency necessary to earn victories and enjoy the satisfaction of doing so.

Junior defensive back Greg Heban knows Saturday’s win is just the beginning for the Hoosiers, though.

“We’re hoping it’s going to snowball,” Heban said. “We’ve got to come out ready next week as well. We’ve got a big challenge against Iowa.”

­— ckillore@indiana.edu