As the clock was running down to its last second in West Lafayette, Indiana, reality began to settle in for IU football and its fans.
The time rolled to double-zeroes while IU players began to jump up and down and smile, families lined up along the sidelines to run onto the field and Twitter displayed tweets of fans cheering for IU Coach Kevin Wilson to be voted president and celebrating the Hoosiers “going bowling.”
IU had defeated Purdue, 54-36, claiming the Old Oaken Bucket for the third consecutive year — a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 1947 — and clinched a berth to a bowl game for the first time since 2007.
“At 12 o’clock we don’t have the bucket anymore,” Wilson said. “That bucket’s off the dock and someone’s going to get it.”
Coming into the game against the Boilermakers, the Hoosiers boasted a 5-6 record, picking up their first win in seven weeks against Maryland. A win against Purdue was mandatory for IU’s bowl hopes.
But with junior running back Jordan Howard injured and sophomore safety Chase Dutra — who has been called the leader of the secondary — out with an injury, the chances for IU to win the game were decreased dramatically.
The absence of sophomore defensive back Chase Dutra was evident, as Purdue quarterback Austin Appleby threw for 332 yards, the most he has thrown all season. But the secondary was an issue for the Hoosiers all season, as the secondary allowed six of the 12 quarterbacks it faced to have season-high yardage totals.
The subtraction from Howard in the running game was the biggest fear, but the running back by-committee that IU learned to employ in Howard’s absence this season found success.
Sophomore running back Devine Redding ran for a career-high 144 yards and one touchdown, junior Andrew Wilson ran the ball 15 times for 52 yards and a touchdown and freshman Ricky Brookins ran for 64 yards and a near-touchdown that he fumbled short of the goal line.
“We feel really good about the guys that run the ball for us,” senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. “We missed Jordan. He’s a heck of a player, but those guys did a great job.”
The Hoosiers had built a lead as large as 17 in the third quarter, but the Boilermakers scored two quick touchdowns with drives lasting less than two minutes to pull within one score, 44-36.
Where IU would usually surrender the ball on a punt or a turnover to give the opposition an opportunity to tie, Sudfeld found senior receiver Andre Booker along the right sideline for a 72-yard touchdown to pull IU ahead, 51-36 — a lead that the Hoosiers would maintain through the final 10:15.
Sudfeld claimed the top spot on the all-time IU passing yardage list with that touchdown pass, but he would only talk about Booker when asked about the play.
“I’m so proud of him,” he said. “To be on scholarship and then to not be. He’s what this program’s about — guys who don’t get as much recognition but still fight and play as hard as they can.”
When Sudfeld and junior receiver Mitchell Paige were asked how it feels to clinch a bowl berth, they both said that there’s one more game to win. Paige even said that it’s still not good enough to get to a bowl game — the Hoosiers need to win it.
When Wilson was asked what bowl he thinks IU will be selected for, he looked at his watch and said that there are still games to be played to help determine the answer, but he hopes for a marquee opponent and that the players and coaches can represent IU the right way.
Regardless of the bowl IU is invited to, the players grouped together for their third straight picture with the Old Oaken Bucket after the game and IU fans are cheering for the football team once again, and Wilson said he likes it.
“We want those kids to taste some of the rewards for their time and energy,” Wilson said. “They always have high esteem in my world — win, lose or draw. I’m just glad to spend a few more weeks with them and practice into the holidays.”
