Optimism was not high in Section 29, Row 27 of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
That’s where Aaron Freed, an IU football season-ticket holder since 2013, sat in his designated spot prior to IU's home game against No. 18 Penn State.
He regularly mixes up the cast of friends he brings to fill out the rest of his seats in the row, but this weekend was a family get-together. With him were his father, Danny Freed, brother, Nathan Freed and 15-year-old nephew, Connor Freed.
They consider themselves lifelong IU fans, but they already knew how this game was going to unfold.
Aaron’s friend, Jon Stalker, who had seats about 10 rows ahead of Aaron, spotted him around 10 minutes before the game started.
“I think they’re going to win today,” Stalker said. “You gotta believe.”
"They’ll play with them in the first half,” Aaron said. “That’s IU football.”
Pre-game conversation in Row 27 was full of the usual IU talking points.
Should Michael Penix Jr. be the starting quarterback? Can IU ever win in the Big Ten East?
Is Coach Tom Allen the right guy for the job?
“With IU, it’s all about getting six wins,” Aaron said. “If we bring in a coach that can get six wins three years in a row, we’ll build a statue for him outside.”
A sliver of hope manifested itself at the end of first quarter when the Hoosiers had a 14-7 lead, but it was still the smallest, slightest sliver the Freeds could muster.
“Yeah, at least they’re competing today,” Nathan said.
But the familiar doom didn’t take long to return. When Penix Jr.’s 19-yard pass to Whop Philyor was called back for holding on third down and IU failed to convert the first down on the next play, it was as if air raid sirens went off in Nathan’s head.
“This is where bad stuff starts to happen,” he said.
Just a few plays later, Penn State had a 2nd and 5 on its own 33-yard line. Nathan felt confident in what was about to happen to the IU defense.
“I’m calling it,” Nathan said half-jokingly. “Touchdown on this play.”
He nearly predicted it as Penn State senior quarterback Trace McSorley rattled off a 44-yard run to IU's side of the field, setting up a Tommy Stevens touchdown pass just two plays later.
“We get a lot of moral victories,” Aaron said with a bleak expression on his face as Penn State drilled the ensuing extra point. “But are we ever going to compete in the Big Ten East?”
“I’m 68 years old,” Danny said. “I’m tired of moral victories.”
After the Nittany Lions took the lead with a field goal on their next possession, the Hoosiers responded with a drive that featured a 4th and 1 at the Nittany Lion 10-yard line.
“Go for it,” Nathan said. “What do we have to lose? We’re not going to the Rose Bowl.”
The Hoosiers went for it, but a head-scratching play call ended with Penix Jr. tossing an incomplete pass to junior wide receiver Nick Westbrook in the corner of the end zone.
“If you would’ve told me that’s what we were going to do,” Nathan said. “I would’ve said to kick the field goal.”
Nobody scored the rest of the quarter, but the fourth IU penalty of the half had everybody in Section 29 up in arms.
The sound bites of disapproval toward the referees whisked around in the wind from every angle.
“I’m so tired of this.”
“Come on ref, how can you make that call?”
Aaron has grown accustomed to this.
“Of course Penn State gets calls in the Big Ten,” Aaron said. “They have a chance for a New Year’s Bowl. We’re just happy to be here. Like Ringo Starr, we’re just happy we’re here.”
With IU down 17-14 at halftime, the fans made a mass exodus toward concessions and bathrooms. Stalker was one of them, and he walked back up the stairs, seeking out Aaron. He remained one of the few optimists in Section 29.
“I’m telling you, this is the game,” Stalker said. “We just can’t get a call.”
On the field, the Marching Hundred band played ABBA’s greatest hits.
Aaron’s disapproval showed he was obviously not a fan of 1970s Scandinavian pop.
“Oh, IU football and ABBA,” Aaron said sarcastically. “That about sums it up right there.”
“What song is that?" Connor asked.
“'Dancing Queen',” Aaron said.
It wasn’t 'Dancing Queen.' It was 'Take a Chance on Me.'
As the third quarter commenced and IU failed to score on its opening drive of the second half, Penn State had the ball with a 3rd and 4 on the IU 38.
The fans stood for the traditional clapping like an alligator mouth ritual on third down, something Aaron doesn't like.
“I’m going to stand up and I’m just going to be mad that I did,” Aaron said, inferring that Penn State would get the first down.
He was right. McSorley found Pat Freiermouth for the first down.
Just a few plays later, Penn State was in a similar situation — 3rd and 5 on the IU 24.
“I’m not standing,” Aaron said. “I’m breaking tradition.”
It didn’t matter. McSorley found K.J. Hamler for a first down pass, and the Nittany Lions went on to kick a field goal to make it 20-14.
IU answered with a Stevie Scott touchdown run to take a lead, but Penn State came right back with a 94-yard kickoff return to the IU five-yard line by Johnathan Thomas.
It led to an easy touchdown run by McSorley.
Danny, who had walked up the stairs to stretch and stand up, came back to Row 27 and plopped down in his seat in disgust.
“Well,” Danny said. “We had the lead for 18 seconds.”
As the temperature continued to drop at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Connor started to get cold and asked when they were going to leave.
With IU down just 26-21, Nathan was still holding out for a possible comeback.
“Usually, you don’t see the fourth quarter at IU,” Nathan said. “This is new for all of us.”
Hope made a return when IU got a stop on Penn State’s opening drive, but J-Shun Harris II fumbled on the punt return to give Penn State the ball.
It took Penn State just five plays to make it 33-21.
The sound bites of sorrow whirled in the air again.
“Are you serious?”
“Good god.”
Those were just a few heard from the Hoosier faithful, while Aaron just bowed his head and shook it back and forth.
“You get to a point where you’re not even surprised by it,” he said.
The Freeds left shortly after that score.
They missed the Hoosiers cutting the lead down to five, recovering an onside kick and having a chance to pull out the victory late in the fourth quarter, only to fall short.
But they didn’t need to see it. They knew it was coming.
At one point, Aaron stared off into the distance.
“You know that Charles Dickens novel that said ‘it was the best of times, it was the worst of times,'" he said. "That’s what it’s like being an IU football fan."
