Believe it or not, it's getting better

It's unfortunate that the Hoosier football team had to end its season on a loss, but what's more devastating is the fashion in which it lost. The team practically stood by and watched as Purdue rolled up 763 total yards and 63 points with the utmost of ease. The Boilermakers were able to gain 250 offensive yards before the first quarter was over while the score at halftime was 42-10.\nThe Boilermakers scored on their first three possessions and never looked back. In fact, the only time the game was "close" was in the second quarter after junior safety Will Lumpkin returned a fumble for a touchdown, bringing the score to 21-10. On the next drive, however, Purdue found the end zone again, eliminating any hopes the Hoosiers had of making a comeback.\nBasically, the Hoosier offense was unable to do much of anything and having their defense on the field seemed like a mere formality as Purdue gained 37 first downs and converted 10 times on third down. One could make the argument the team collectively played its worst game during DiNardo's tenure.\nHowever, as bad as the loss was, let's not forget how much the team has improved. Yes, a 3-8 record is nothing to celebrate, but the Hoosiers were in position to win five of the games they lost this season. Statistically speaking, the defense has not improved much, but they are creating more turnovers and scored five times, which is an IU record. Aided by the play of senior quarterback Matt LoVecchio, the offense steadily improved throughout the year. While offense has not been much of a problem for the Hoosiers in recent years, the team now is able to move the ball more effectively against even the toughest defenses.\nSo ends a third straight season under DiNardo without a postseason appearance. Altogether, IU is 8-27 under the guidance of DiNardo, including a 3-21 mark in conference play. However, as staggering as those numbers are, the fact of the matter is that DiNardo does have this team headed in the right direction. The team is playing harder and was competitive in most of the games this season, with the exception of the contests against Kentucky and Purdue. \nSo while it's unfortunate for the Hoosiers to end their season on such a sour note, it's a little refreshing to know the team is on its way to becoming a solid Big Ten football team. As for the seniors, some will have a chance at the NFL, while the rest will have to move into life without football. The trips have been fun and the games often had me on the edge of my seat, but as somebody once said, "All good things must come to an end"