PASADENA, Calif. — I’ve enjoyed my time grading. Penciling in a letter next to Indiana football’s position groups each week is the exact type of power trip I imagine my high school teachers got when marking down my unserious essays for being — well — unserious. Jokes on you, Mrs. Castine, you have no control over me now.
But when the Hoosiers exited the field Thursday to a roar of cheers and autograph requests after their 38-3 win over the University of Alabama in the Rose Bowl, I came to a melancholy conclusion. It’s time for me to snatch the apple off my desk, take one last look at my empty classroom and close the door on my grading career.
It’s with a heavy heart that I declare Richards’ Report Card has come to an end.
This is the part where you grab a tissue box and sob while reminiscing on all the time we’ve spent together. I know, my ever-so-reliable series has been a fixture of the Indiana Daily Student’s football coverage all season long. We’ve had so many amazing moments with one another.
Who could forget my suggestion to head coach Curt Cignetti to buy his players ice cream after their 73-0 win over Indiana State University on Sept. 12. Then of course there was my drawn out comparison of the Hoosiers to “The Wizard of Oz” after their Homecoming victory over Michigan State on Oct. 18.
My personal favorite was when I confessed my love for “The Beatles” after Indiana’s Senior Day win over Wisconsin on Nov. 15.
Through it all, there’s been a good reason for me to utilize my grading abilities. Certain position groups have struggled at times. The Hoosiers’ offensive line played terribly against the Badgers. Even redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza — the Heisman Trophy winner — wasn’t immune to the occasional subpar letter grade.
But as I stood on the confetti-ridden field in Pasadena, a mere 20 feet away from Indiana’s Rose Bowl celebration, I thought about what I had just witnessed. I had just seen the Hoosiers hand Alabama its worst postseason defeat in program history. How can that be anything but an A+ performance?
Sure, I could’ve written another one of my traditional report cards where I tell you why each position group earned a perfect grade. But what would’ve been the point of that? We all watched the same game. I don’t need to explain why Indiana was so great because you saw it for yourself.
So, as I wrap up what’s arguably the most self-centered article I’ve ever written, I’ll look ahead to the Hoosiers’ semifinal matchup against Oregon in the Peach Bowl. While Indiana’s season pushes ahead, it will do so without Richards’ Report Card.
If you have any complaints, be sure to take it up with my editors and not me. And while you’re at it, try and get me a raise. But for old time’s sake, here’s one last grade.
Indiana football
Grade: A+
Explanation: Do you need one? The Hoosiers won the Rose Bowl.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
