Transcription:
Homecoming statistics rosy, but tie leaves wilted feelings
By Dave Benner
ids Staff Writer
Football statistics usually show which football team was better than the other one during a particular game.
Saturday in Memorial Stadium, the I.U. football team, according to the statistics, was better-much better-than it’s opponents, Michigan State. According to the scoreboard, there was no better team, just a 13-13 Homecoming score and a feeling of futility.
“Mentally, it’s like we haven’t done anything all day,” Hoosier quarterback Scott Arnett said. “It’s like coming to the stadium for practice. It’s a blah feeling. It doesn’t really help in the standings.”
What the Hoosiers did all day was practice moving the football against the Spartans. Arnett was splendid, hitting 19 of 32 passes for 233 yards, including one to wingback Marcus Hardy for I.U.’s only touchdown. Tailback Ric Enis, fullback Tony D’Orazio and Arnett combined for 234 of the Hoosiers’ 265 yards rushing. I.U. had 30 first downs compared to 14 for MSU. In total offense it was 498 yards compared to 255, in favor of the Hoosiers.
But there was one statistic showing the difference-or a lack of difference-in the game and expressed the futility of it all: fumbles. I.U. dropped five balls, all were recovered by the Spartans. Michigan State dropped two, losing one.
One Spartan recovery perhaps was the most damaging play of the day. With a first and goal at the I.U. one yard line, and the Hoosiers leading 13-6, MSU tailback Steve Smith took a handoff from quarterback Ed Smith and made a plunge for the goal line.
The I.U. defense stopped Smith short, causing a fumble that popped up in the air, over the goal line and into the hands of offensive tackle John Malinosky for a touchdown. Hans Nielson added the extra point, tied the score, and with 1:57 left in the game, gave I.U. little time to salvage a victory.
“On their touchdown, our whole line nosedived and pushed back the line of scrimmage like we were supposed to do,” senior middle guard Russ Compton said. “We tried to make them fumble and we did. Only they recovered it.”
“That fumble went right up in the air and, so help me God, the guy didn’t even have to move,” I.U. coach Lee Corso said. “It dropped right in his hands. I said to myself, ‘Oh my God, I don’t believe this.”
Even harder to believe was Enis’ ball-carrying problems Saturday. The usually reliable senior saw the ball slip away from his grasp three times, two of those inside the Michigan State 40-yard line.
“It was a slick ball,” Enis said. “I was real embarrassed. It got to the point where I was thinking about it, wanting to hang on to it and things got worse. After the second fumble, I didn’t know what the heck was going on.
“I’d start running, see the hole and, whoop, it would slip right away. I just lost it.”
Enis topped all rushers with 143 yards in 24 carries, but the day for individual excellence belonged to senior split end Keith Calvin.
Calvin set I.U. and Memorial Stadium records for the most receptions in a game-11-breakign the old I.U. mark of 10 set by Bill Couch in 1966 and Jade Butcher in 1969. Cincinnati’s Jim Curry held the Stadium record of 10, set in 1963.
In addition, Calvin moved past Trent Smock to the No. 3 position on the all-time I.U. reception list with 103 catches so far. He is just 13 catches short of Butcher’s career record of 116.
“Calvin is a good football player. He always has been,” Corso said. “He should be all-Big Ten. It’s my personal opinion that he’s a better football player than Gibson (MSU wide receiver). Gibson catches a lot of passes but he doesn’t do everything that Calvin does. Calvin does everything we ask and he’s all-Big Ten.”
But for Calvin, the records were tarnished without an I.U. victory.
“It’s an honor,” Calvin said of the records. “But you don't’ look at records-just whether you won or lost. I’m disappointed we didn’t win but I’m happy with our performance. I thought we played really well.”
Corso especially was pleased with his team’s play.
“We played like crazy,” Corso said. “We were denied a helluva hard-earned victory. I’m proud of the way our guys played. Would you say that was a big-league football tem out there in the Red?”
The statistics said yes. But the final say came from the scoreboard-no decision.
