Indiana University Athletics
Indiana's Progress Rewarded With Bowl Eligibility
11/28/2015 6:36:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - There was to be no drama. Just three quarterback kneels.
Indiana had sealed its 54-36 win against Purdue well before the final whistle. IU's final possession was more formality than anything else. It was one of the few times the Hoosiers could breathe easy this season.
The players shook hands with Purdue before running toward the Old Oaken Bucket to celebrate with their prize. Players danced around the trophy as they passed it back and forth between themselves as the visiting Hoosiers fans stormed onto the field surrounding the team's celebration.
After posing for pictures with the Bucket, the players headed into the locker room and took a moment to reflect on what they'd just accomplished. Their shouts started to echo out the doors of the locker room: "We're going to a bowl."
Celebration was in order.
"This is why we came here," senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. "Looking back on the season, it's a little frustrating because we felt like we could have a lot more wins. But ultimately, we made it to the postseason, or at least are bowl eligible, which is a huge accomplishment for this program."
This was the jump Kevin Wilson's team needed to make in his fifth season in Bloomington. He told them as much at practice Tuesday.
"Make the next step," Wilson told his team. "You keep saying you're good. Prove it."
The Hoosiers needed all 12 games over three months to prove themselves, clearing their last hurdle with an 18-point win against Purdue in West Lafayette. That feat alone was special for Indiana's program. The Hoosiers hadn't won the Old Oaken Bucket for three consecutive seasons since 1947.
"This is what my class came here to work for," senior defensive end Nick Mangieri said, "to change the program."
The progress wasn't without its share of close calls.
A come-from-behind win against Maryland saw the Hoosiers rally from an 18-point deficit to win their fifth game and snap a six-game losing streak. They were on the other end of the rally in week four, holding off Wake Forest's late charge to pick up their first road win of the season only a week after a three-point win against a 10-2 Western Kentucky team.
Even the season-opener almost ended in heartbreak until freshman cornerback Andre Brown, Jr., broke up Southern Illinois' 2-point conversion try that would have won the Salukis the game.
Those were the types of plays Indiana teams weren't making in the past.
Those were the games that kept the Hoosiers out of the postseason.
Those were the steps this team made.
"To me, you kind of sensed it, but you've got to have some of those results," Wilson said. "They had chances to give in, chances to listen (to negativity), chances to doubt and they didn't…The way that those guys kept battling told me there's a lot of buy-in."
Indiana's six wins are the most the program has had in a single season since winning seven in 2007—the last time the Hoosiers played in a bowl game.
After the game, senior tight end Anthony Corsaro found Sudfeld amid the celebration and told him he loved him. Earlier this week, the two were driving down Indiana State Road 67 together on the way to Corsaro's home for Thanksgiving talking about how surreal it felt that they're careers were coming to a close.
As freshmen, the senior class sat in the commons area at Ashton Residence Center together and talked about being the players that would change Indiana's football program, how they'd turn the Hoosiers into winners.
It wasn't always pretty. It didn't go exactly to plan.
But Saturday, their vision came true.
"It feels like we finally did it," Corsaro said. "It solidifies our work."
IUHoosiers.com
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - There was to be no drama. Just three quarterback kneels.
Indiana had sealed its 54-36 win against Purdue well before the final whistle. IU's final possession was more formality than anything else. It was one of the few times the Hoosiers could breathe easy this season.
The players shook hands with Purdue before running toward the Old Oaken Bucket to celebrate with their prize. Players danced around the trophy as they passed it back and forth between themselves as the visiting Hoosiers fans stormed onto the field surrounding the team's celebration.
After posing for pictures with the Bucket, the players headed into the locker room and took a moment to reflect on what they'd just accomplished. Their shouts started to echo out the doors of the locker room: "We're going to a bowl."
Celebration was in order.
"This is why we came here," senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. "Looking back on the season, it's a little frustrating because we felt like we could have a lot more wins. But ultimately, we made it to the postseason, or at least are bowl eligible, which is a huge accomplishment for this program."
This was the jump Kevin Wilson's team needed to make in his fifth season in Bloomington. He told them as much at practice Tuesday.
"Make the next step," Wilson told his team. "You keep saying you're good. Prove it."
The Hoosiers needed all 12 games over three months to prove themselves, clearing their last hurdle with an 18-point win against Purdue in West Lafayette. That feat alone was special for Indiana's program. The Hoosiers hadn't won the Old Oaken Bucket for three consecutive seasons since 1947.
"This is what my class came here to work for," senior defensive end Nick Mangieri said, "to change the program."
The progress wasn't without its share of close calls.
A come-from-behind win against Maryland saw the Hoosiers rally from an 18-point deficit to win their fifth game and snap a six-game losing streak. They were on the other end of the rally in week four, holding off Wake Forest's late charge to pick up their first road win of the season only a week after a three-point win against a 10-2 Western Kentucky team.
Even the season-opener almost ended in heartbreak until freshman cornerback Andre Brown, Jr., broke up Southern Illinois' 2-point conversion try that would have won the Salukis the game.
Those were the types of plays Indiana teams weren't making in the past.
Those were the games that kept the Hoosiers out of the postseason.
Those were the steps this team made.
"To me, you kind of sensed it, but you've got to have some of those results," Wilson said. "They had chances to give in, chances to listen (to negativity), chances to doubt and they didn't…The way that those guys kept battling told me there's a lot of buy-in."
Indiana's six wins are the most the program has had in a single season since winning seven in 2007—the last time the Hoosiers played in a bowl game.
After the game, senior tight end Anthony Corsaro found Sudfeld amid the celebration and told him he loved him. Earlier this week, the two were driving down Indiana State Road 67 together on the way to Corsaro's home for Thanksgiving talking about how surreal it felt that they're careers were coming to a close.
As freshmen, the senior class sat in the commons area at Ashton Residence Center together and talked about being the players that would change Indiana's football program, how they'd turn the Hoosiers into winners.
It wasn't always pretty. It didn't go exactly to plan.
But Saturday, their vision came true.
"It feels like we finally did it," Corsaro said. "It solidifies our work."
Players Mentioned
FB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21