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Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

sports football

COLUMN: For IU football, almost isn't good enough

Junior wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. runs after a catch against Michigan on Oct. 14 at Memorial Stadium. Cobbs was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list Wednesday. 

If that felt familiar, it should. 

IU lost in heartbreaking fashion against No. 17 Michigan, 27-20, Saturday in overtime, but you could have substituted in any of IU’s close losses against ranked teams from the past three seasons and it would have felt exactly the same. 

Heartbreaking finish after heartbreaking finish. They all blend together. 


In 2015, IU had No. 1 Ohio State on the ropes, nearly beat a top-10 Iowa team and fell in double overtime to Michigan. Last season, IU was a few plays away from beating Penn State and Nebraska, while the Hoosiers kept the game at Michigan close. 

Saturday was just more of the same. 

IU rallied from a ten-point deficit the in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but on the first play in overtime, IU’s defense gave up a touchdown. 


On IU’s offensive possession, the Hoosiers got the ball to the one-yard line, but could not the get in the end zone on four tries. 

More agony against Big Ten heavyweights. 

This year, it was supposed to be different, this was supposed to be the breakthrough year filled with breakthrough moments. 

New coach, new quarterback, same old story for the Hoosiers. 

In the past three seasons, the moral victories have piled up, while victories over ranked Big Ten teams have slipped through IU’s hands like sand. 

This is what IU football has become, for better or worse. The Hoosiers are a team capable of playing with most the teams on their schedule but incapable of securing that long-awaited victory. 

First-year coach Tom Allen was as animated as ever in the post-game press conference. He firmly believes in his teams and its ability to keep fighting. 

“It creates resolve,” Allen said. “It creates toughness and a fight. Stronger and tighter than ever. That’s what it creates. It ain’t feeling sorry for nobody.” 

While that sounds nice, it shouldn’t have taken this game to bring them together. Two seasons full of missed opportunities and anguish should’ve done just that, but they haven’t. 

The Hoosiers are still missing that ingredient that would push them over the edge and help them finally win these types of games. 

“It’s tough for me I know and the rest of the seniors as well coming so close and not finishing,” junior wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. said. “It definitely hit us on the chin.”

The game was right there for the taking, but IU couldn’t make the plays that were needed to win. 

IU had the ball on the one-yard line with a chance to send the game into double-overtime, but they couldn’t gain that one yard. 

With a chance to tie or take the lead in the second half, IU’s offense had five straight three-and-outs. While Michigan has one of the best defenses in the nation, that’s just no excuse for that. 

Toughness and belief don't make up for questionable play calling. 

Make no mistake, this team has the requisite passion and intensity. They believe in what they are doing, but that only gets you so far. Eventually, you have to go out and win games against teams like Michigan. 

IU is an almost program. 

While that might be tough to swallow, it’s reality. 

aphussey@indiana.edu

@thehussnetwork

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