Teams have postseason roles to fulfill

In the heat of the moment, with time running out, the game on the line, all the money in the pot, everything left on the field, athletes are given a chance to be remembered in a moment of greatness that few others will ever be able to achieve. All eyes are on them. \nAs the postseason begins for IU and its Big Ten counterparts, it will be the fans that have the authority to pass final judgment on the actual quality of their teams and the greatness that might be obtained. In Bloomington, definition of a squad is given not only on the fields of play, but also in the dusty corners of Kirkwood Avenue’s finest pubs, where Hoosier nation holds its breath with every play. This Big Ten season, IU teams have been defined by their regular season performances and now are faced with proving to Hoosier fans that they are deserving of bearing the crimson and cream colors. Each team has a reputation to fulfill and expectations to surpass in the late stages of the fall sports schedule.\nThe feel-good story that Hoosier nation takes to the gridiron every Saturday is that IU has just become bowl eligible for the first time since 1994. The challenge of late football coach Terry Hoeppner to play in a 13th game is nearly within the team’s grasp (the Hoosiers are eligible, but not a shoe-in). If IU has the honor of being selected, IU fans will not be pleased unless they can come away with a victory, especially considering that the large national stage has a tendency to attract the best recruits.\nAny good program has at one time had its back against the wall as an underdog. All teams have looked a seemingly unbeatable opponent in the eye and hoped to be able to achieve the unthinkable. The IU women’s soccer team learned this after being dismantled by rival Purdue, which is ranked No. 8 nationally. The Boilermakers spanked the Hoosiers 7-0 in last weekend’s contest. IU put up a better showing against top-ranked Penn State on Oct. 28, losing that match only 2-1. \nWhile the Hoosiers finished the Big Ten season in fourth place (not a horrendous showing), the Big Ten Tournament will be defined by the victims or slayers of the monsters known as the Boilermakers and the Nittany Lions. Hopefully, the Hoosiers can remember that underdogs bite back.\nAnd finally, Hoosier nation has its perennial champions, the men’s soccer team. The pressure on this team might be the greatest of all as it enters the Big Ten Tournament as the top seed and No. 10-ranked squad in the nation. Hoosier fans have come to expect great things from a program that has 13 Big Ten championships under its belt and seven national championships. Fans fully expect the winning tradition to continue. It’s up to the men in crimson and cream not to disappoint.\nNo matter what occurs when the teams take to the playing fields this postseason, one thing is for certain: Judgment is coming and it’s coming straight from the heart of Bloomington. How a team deals with the passion of its own fans can make or break its performance. And Hoosier passion runs deep.