IU football's wild turnaround sparks belief and hope
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Lindsey and friends at the IU vs. Michigan State game in 2021. IU lost 15-20. Photo: Courtesy of Lindsey Erdody
Let's talk about what it's like to be an IU football fan right now.
The big picture: It's weird. The Hoosiers have a real chance at a national championship — that's something I never expected to say, unless about our basketball team.
Flashback: When I arrived at IU in fall 2008, I quickly learned we were a basketball school, not a football school.
- The football team had losing records every year I was there (my senior year, under Kevin Wilson, we went 1-11).
- Meanwhile, the basketball team upset Kentucky with the famous "Wat Shot," and fans thought a sixth banner was in sight.
During the pandemic, my IU friends and I joked about how we were better without fans at the games.
- The Hoosiers went 8-5. Best I'd ever seen them. But we still lost in the Gator Bowl, and the next year, we lost in the Outback Bowl.
See the pattern? IU had become good enough to get fans talking every year about whether we could win enough to qualify for a bowl game, but kept losing. Again. And again. And again.
State of play: When IU hired Curt Cignetti in 2023, I actually felt bad for him. Cignetti had such an impressive winning record throughout his head coaching career at James Madison and other smaller schools, and all I could think was: The Hoosiers were going to ruin that for him. Poor guy.
Reality check: Cignetti apparently can win anywhere. IU's past didn't matter.
- We went 11-2 in his first year, the most wins in any IU season.
- He followed it with a perfect 12-0 regular season, Big Ten Championship title, Heisman Trophy winner and second consecutive Coach of the Year award.
Yes, but: No matter what Indiana did this season — including an impressive win at Oregon — observers (myself included at times) didn't believe in the Hoosiers, who for years held the title of losingest team in college football history.
What they're saying: When quarterback (and Heisman winner) Fernando Mendoza was asked on a recent "60 Minutes" if the football program still has imposter syndrome, he said: "I think that we believe. We believe."
- On the same show, Cignetti talked about reviving the program — and belief from the fans.
- "I had to see if the fans were dead or just on life support. I had to wake 'em up, and set an expectation, and create some buzz and excitement."
What's next: The Rose Bowl, where IU will face Alabama at 4pm on New Year's Day.
- If they win, it's on to the semifinals on Jan. 9.
- The national championship game is Jan. 19.
The bottom line: I was one of those fans on life support, with plenty of doubts, even this season. But I'm wide awake now, and I believe. Go Hoosiers!