Old Oaken Rivals

Hoosier fans clad in black and red stormed the rain-soaked Memorial Stadium field after the game. They leapt out of the stands and made their way to one of the goalposts, pushing and tugging away at it in a mass of celebration. With a 13-7 victory, IU was able to weld its bronze block "I" onto the chain of the Old Oaken Bucket.\nThat was four years ago.\nThe Hoosiers have failed to bring the bucket, which goes to the winner of the rivalry game every year, back to Bloomington since that victory in 2001. The storied rivalry will continue Saturday at Memorial Stadium, something IU coach Terry Hoeppner is still trying to grasp.\n"I am trying to learn as much about (the rivalry) as I can," Hoeppner said. "(I'm) trying to learn all of the nuances and the little asides as well as the stories over the years. I am going to talk to the team about it, so I want to make sure I have as much knowledge about it."\nIU has come up empty in its last four matchups with Purdue, most recently losing 63-24 in West Lafayette last year. The recent struggles in the rivalry are something many Hoosier players have not forgotten.\n"It's a huge rivalry," senior offensive lineman Isaac Sowells said. "It's especially big for me being a senior. We're focused."\nSowells and many of the other IU seniors, including linebacker Kyle Killion, have yet to take hold of the Old Oaken Bucket. But unlike several past meetings, the Boilers will enter Saturday's game with the same overall record as the Hoosiers, 4-6.\n"It's a really emotional game," Killion said. "We know how deep-rooted the tradition is. It's cool to be a part of it. The coaches make sure that we know that."\nThe intensity of the rivalry has stretched beyond the field of play, though. Killion recalled an incident with Purdue fans that stands out in his mind.\n"One time at Purdue, the students started throwing pennies at us," Killion said. "It was crazy. We didn't appreciate that. That's just one of several memories."\nBesides Killion, other IU players are well aware of the rivalry's history and importance.\n"We want to win one for everybody," junior defensive back Will Meyers said. "We want to win one for IU and for our seniors knowing it's their last game."\nThough he has been part of several rivalries throughout his coaching experience, Hoeppner said he is still trying to grasp that of the Boilermakers and Hoosiers.\n"I get emotional just thinking about it," Hoeppner said. "I know I am not going to be able to sleep Friday night. I didn't sleep last night."\nAfter picking up their sixth loss of the season and failing to clinch a bowl berth, Hoeppner said the Hoosiers were left disappointed and dismayed. Despite his team falling short of its "ultimate goal," Hoeppner said he hopes to give his team and especially his seniors a chance to change history.\n"It is almost good for us that we have a game of the significance in the Bucket Game," Hoeppner said. "I don't know that it will salvage (the season), but it will be part of (the seniors') legacy if they can get the Bucket back. I know it would be very rewarding for them"