Thank goodness, this season is over. I think the coaches and players are saying that as well.
I have to admit I was not expecting that type of lop-sided game at Purdue. A rivalry should always come down to the bitter end or at least the 4th quarter. But Purdue had it in the bag after 15 minutes of play.
Now, IU sits where it rightfully deserves- at the bottom of the Big Ten. On Saturday, Purdue really set IU apart from the rest of the conference. This season, the Hoosiers weren't a Big Ten team. Heck, they weren't better than 2 MAC teams.
Frankly, 2008 is a total step back. I have no idea how a team goes to a bowl game one year then see-saws the next to last in the conference (mind you, IU lost only 2 top-notch players in James Hardy and Tracey Porter, who are both in the NFL). Now, the team's job is to recruit and nothing else. I have no idea how you can sell a program, who doesn't play 100% all the time and lacks leadership. But Lynch and his coaching staff have to convince high-schoolers that Indiana isn't just a basketball school. He must persuade recruits football is on the rise.
I don't know if it is. I don't know if it will ever be in the next few years. But let me say this again as I so often do- Lynch will be back next season. He won't be fired.
But, at the same time, it seems the media (not just the fans) are going after Lynch. I know many Big Ten network broadcasters have criticized his calls. And today, I heard ESPN2, who was televising the game, often second-guessed Lynch and Canada's play-calling and clock management. I'm interested to here from you guys what your take on that was?
IU will have a new endzone next year whether the team wins a game in '09 or not. Hopefully, the program can use the addition as a recruiting tool because the Hoosiers can't brag about their team's success.
