Never has one sporting event been so fresh in my mind one year later, while at the same time seem like it happened decades ago.
My ability to recount the events of November 17, 2007 is so easy because of the sheer joy myself and many others experienced that evening.
There were the emotions, as the Hoosiers fulfilled Coach Hep’s vision by securing their spot to “Play 13”. There was the adrenaline, fueled by Austin Starr’s
game-winning field goal and
rushing the field. And, of course, there was the added benefit of knocking off the Boilers for the first time since 2001.
All of these factors combined lead me to believe that, unless Tom Crean can bring banner number 6 to Assembly Hall, the 2007 Bucket Game will be my favorite and most memorable Indiana Athletics moment as a student. I, and I’m sure many others, will truly never forget it.
However, at the same time, I find it hard to believe that it was only a year ago that the Hoosiers knocked off the Boilers. Gone are the days of a packed Memorial Stadium on senior day, replaced by choruses of boos from a half-empty stadium as the team walked off the field and past The Rock for the final time in the 2008 season. Speculation about which bowl game to make travel arrangements to has been replaced by
cries for coaching changes and fears about losing recruits. The Indiana Football program has gone from a peak to a valley in an incredibly fast amount of time.
Last year, it was 7-4 Purdue at 6-5 Indiana with bowl implications riding. This year, it’s the 3-8 Hoosiers taking on the 3-8 Boilers with last place in the Big Ten on the line. It’s hard to believe that one year ago the Bucket Game was one of the greatest Big Ten contests all year. It all seems so recent yet so far away at the same time.
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