Hoosiers' losing streak has now spanned 17 games

Nov. 21, 2001.\nThat was the last time the Hoosiers won a Big Ten road game.\nAlmost five years ago, the IU football team upset then-No. 21 Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., 37-28. Heading into Saturday's game at Illinois, the Hoosiers are still looking for that next Big Ten road victory.\nIt is a losing streak that spans 17 games over four seasons and takes two coaches -- Cam Cameron and Gerry DiNardo -- in its wake. \nFor its first Big Ten road game of the 2006 campaign, IU (2-3 overall, 0-1 in conference) realizes how big a win would be in Champaign, Il.\n"(A win) would be huge," senior safety Will Meyers said. "We definitely need it, just for morale. Everyone's been working hard, and sometimes it's frustrating not getting the results."\nThe Hoosiers won their one road game -- at Ball State Sept. 9 -- so far this season but are in the midst of a three game losing streak, all of the losses coming at home. The most recent loss came last weekend in the Big Ten opener, a 52-17 defeat at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers.\n"As a coach, I have never been on the receiving end of a game like that," IU coach Terry Hoeppner said. "I've been on the other side quite a few times. I know this, I don't like it and I don't intend of it ever happening again."\nInstead of dwelling on the loss as IU prepares for its Big Ten road opener, fifth-year senior defensive back Troy Grosfield thinks the team needs to move on and focus on the remainder of the season, wherever the game may be.\n"It was obviously three tough losses," Grosfield said. "We've just got to pick it up, home game, road game, any game. We've got to play our game and go out and get a win."\nIn Saturday's loss, Grosfield was one of the few bright spots on the IU defense, totaling 15 tackles and recovering a Wisconsin fumble, running it in 15 yards for a touchdown.\nIf IU plans to snap its 17-game Big Ten road losing streak against Illinois, the Hoosiers catch the Illini at the worst possible time. On the road at Michigan State last Saturday, the Illini evened up their Big Ten record at 1-1 when kicker Jason Reda hit a 39-yard field goal with 10 seconds left, lifting Illinois to a 23-20 victory against the Spartans.\nDuring its current Big Ten road losing streak, IU has played two games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, resulting in a 45-14 defeat in 2002 and a 26-22 loss in 2004.\n"We know what we're up against," Meyers said. "They look like a good team, so we're obviously going to have to play a lot better than we did (last week)."\nEven with the road struggles, Grosfield and the Hoosiers realize it only takes one game to turn it all around.\n"Any team can beat another team on any given day," Grosfield said. "It happens all around the country, so we've got to come out and play every game like it's a home game and get a win"