Unknown territory

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- For 43 days, the IU football team has had time to soak in their bowl-clinching victory over Purdue. With emotions riding high, the Hoosiers are anxious to end their extended layover.\nVying to earn respectability for their program, IU coach Bill Lynch will lead his Hoosiers into Sun Devil Stadium in an attempt to bring IU its first bowl victory since 1991. \n“I think for a lot of us, it’s like being little kids again,” said senior fullback Josiah Sears.\nThe success of this year’s team has done more than end the Big Ten’s longest bowl drought. \nFor the first time in years, the buzz on IU’s campus in December hasn’t been about basketball – it’s the football team. Many national media outlets are calling it the feel good story of the year.\n“Walking on the campus with our football gear on, people are coming up to us and saying ‘We’ll see you in Tempe,’” said senior captain Tracy Porter. “It’s just an awesome experience, and to come here and live it out is just that much more exciting.”\nAdmitting the Hoosiers will be a bit rusty adjusting to the speed of the game since they haven’t played since Nov. 17, Sears did say it won’t take long for them to recover and bounce back to form.\nHowever, that rust will have to come off quickly. Already listed as 5.5-point underdogs, bringing bowl hardware to Bloomington will be an arduous task. \nThanks to the dual attack of quarterback Zac Robinson and running back Dantrell Savage, the Cowboys are averaging 33 points per game. With wide receiver Adrarius Bowman healthy, the Cowboys posses one of the most potent offenses in the Big 12.\n “I think the toughest thing about defending (Bowman) and Oklahoma State is the balance they have on offense,” Lynch said. “He’s a great player, but he is a piece of what I think is a great offensive team.”\nRanked No. 68 in the nation, the Hoosiers defense will be tested early and often by OSU’s offense. But OSU coach Mike Gundy’s defense will have to hold off a strong offensive attack of its own, after struggling most of the season. \nRanked 103 of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the Cowboy defense has given up 446 yards and 29 points per game. \nWhile Bowman will present problems for the IU defense, defending junior wide receiver James Hardy is a whole other issue for Gundy.\n“We have a lot of respect for him, and they do a great job of using him,” Gundy said.\nA bowl game may very well be considered foreign territory to the Hoosiers. But the Cowboys have played five postseason games in the last six years.\nDespite the bowl disparity, Lynch coolly played it off during his press conference Sunday. He said it doesn’t matter that his program hasn’t played past Thanksgiving since 1993.\nThe Hoosiers have vowed all year to take their season one game at a time and it appears that mentality has passed the test of time.\n“When it comes down to it, we’re getting ready for a football game,” Sears said. “That’s really the important thing. It’s just another football game.”