BLOOMINGTON -
Home never seemed so sweet for Bill Lynch.
Two trips away from Memorial Stadium produced two gut wrenching losses, ones that have put a major dent in the Hoosiers' 2009 bowl hopes.
Two wins in their final three games are needed just to be bowl eligible, but two of those are in Bloomington, the first being this weekend against Wisconsin.
So here are three things to look for when the Badgers and Hoosiers step onto the turf at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
1. Fourth and Only-
You know how players like to put four fingers in the air at the end of the third quarter? Its a cliche sign by a team that the fourth quarter is theirs. For Hoosier fans, its should be the signal to take their seats. Its been in these final 15 minutes that the Hoosiers have gone from having a 6-3 record to a mark of 4-5, as the Hoosiers have watched leads against Northwestern and Iowa evaporate. None was painful than the Iowa ending, where the Hoosiers were outscored 28-0 while burned for touchdowns of 92 and 66 yards. These late issues sometimes point to lack of depth, which the Hoosiers had last Saturday especially in the secondary. It will be interesting to see how two consecutive collapses change either the strategy or personel for the Hoosiers.
2. A Break Please, Mr. Referee?
The officials can only take so much blame in a loss, but after last week, Lynch might think of assesing at least a decent percentage to the men in the white and black stripes. IU had a significant amount of momentum taken away in the third quarter when Terrance Turner's touchdown was called back after a review. What made it peculiar was that replays showed Turner's foot dragged in the endzone while he had possession, which seemed to confirm the original ruling of the call. Officials saw it differently, and the touchdown was overturned, the next field goal attempt by the Hoosiers was missed, and the collapse was in motion. Indiana fans might remember a similar scenario that unfolded against Michigan, when a late interception went against them that led to their loss in the Big House. So its this one big conspiracy against the Hoosiers? At the very least, Lynch asked the Big Ten for an explanation of the Turner touchdown call. Wonder what the response from this week's officials will be.
3. Home Advantage?-
This stat is a little tricky. IU this season is a very solid 3-1 at home in 2009, but there wins have come over Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, and Illinois-hardly the cream of the crop in Division-I football. Against Ohio State, the Hoosiers were average but overmatched in what has turned out to be their only defeat this season. That means that the home record is decieving, considering the Hoosiers barely made it out alive against their first two non-Big Ten opponents. Coming home only figures to help the team because at least at Memorial Stadium they figure to catch a few more breaks. But here's another thing to watch for: The other team in red. Wisconsin fans travel as well as anyone in the conference and could produce a Buckeye-Type crowd for Saturday's game.
Two trips away from Memorial Stadium produced two gut wrenching losses, ones that have put a major dent in the Hoosiers' 2009 bowl hopes.
Two wins in their final three games are needed just to be bowl eligible, but two of those are in Bloomington, the first being this weekend against Wisconsin.
So here are three things to look for when the Badgers and Hoosiers step onto the turf at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
1. Fourth and Only-
You know how players like to put four fingers in the air at the end of the third quarter? Its a cliche sign by a team that the fourth quarter is theirs. For Hoosier fans, its should be the signal to take their seats. Its been in these final 15 minutes that the Hoosiers have gone from having a 6-3 record to a mark of 4-5, as the Hoosiers have watched leads against Northwestern and Iowa evaporate. None was painful than the Iowa ending, where the Hoosiers were outscored 28-0 while burned for touchdowns of 92 and 66 yards. These late issues sometimes point to lack of depth, which the Hoosiers had last Saturday especially in the secondary. It will be interesting to see how two consecutive collapses change either the strategy or personel for the Hoosiers.
2. A Break Please, Mr. Referee?
The officials can only take so much blame in a loss, but after last week, Lynch might think of assesing at least a decent percentage to the men in the white and black stripes. IU had a significant amount of momentum taken away in the third quarter when Terrance Turner's touchdown was called back after a review. What made it peculiar was that replays showed Turner's foot dragged in the endzone while he had possession, which seemed to confirm the original ruling of the call. Officials saw it differently, and the touchdown was overturned, the next field goal attempt by the Hoosiers was missed, and the collapse was in motion. Indiana fans might remember a similar scenario that unfolded against Michigan, when a late interception went against them that led to their loss in the Big House. So its this one big conspiracy against the Hoosiers? At the very least, Lynch asked the Big Ten for an explanation of the Turner touchdown call. Wonder what the response from this week's officials will be.
3. Home Advantage?-
This stat is a little tricky. IU this season is a very solid 3-1 at home in 2009, but there wins have come over Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, and Illinois-hardly the cream of the crop in Division-I football. Against Ohio State, the Hoosiers were average but overmatched in what has turned out to be their only defeat this season. That means that the home record is decieving, considering the Hoosiers barely made it out alive against their first two non-Big Ten opponents. Coming home only figures to help the team because at least at Memorial Stadium they figure to catch a few more breaks. But here's another thing to watch for: The other team in red. Wisconsin fans travel as well as anyone in the conference and could produce a Buckeye-Type crowd for Saturday's game.
