Bowl Dream Coming True for IU’s Scott

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Stevie Scott III is pumped.

Can you blame him?

Indiana's 6-2, 231-pound powerhouse of a running back is oh, so ready for Ole Miss in Saturday's 35th Outback Bowl game.

For one thing, Scott has never played in a bowl before. An injury kept him out of last season's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl loss to Tennessee.

For another, the Hoosiers (6-1) haven't won a bowl game since 1991, which was nine years before Scott was born.

"I definitely am very excited," he says. "I cannot wait. It is like a dream come true for me playing in a bowl game."

IU has lost five-straight postseason games, including last year's one-point heartbreaker. You'd better believe players are aware.

"Possibly being able to make history and get a bowl win, would be an amazing feeling," Scott says.

Senior center Harry Crider calls it a "statement game."

"There are a lot of things in play," Crider says. "I am sure you have heard a lot about how long it is been since we have won a bowl game. That is obviously a huge motivating factor for us."

The Hoosiers have other motivators, including the fact they have only won three bowls in a program history that started in 1885.

"The energy levels are high because we know what is at stake," safety Jamar Johnson says. "We know that this program has only won a few bowl games, so we are taking it upon ourselves this time to do what we have to do to make sure we get a win."

Then there's the fact IU blew a double-digit lead in the final minutes against Tennessee.

"That game was really important," Johnson says. "It gave us an extra chip on our shoulder to finish. We made it a big emphasis this year that we were going to learn how to finish games.

"People said Indiana is always close, but they can never come out with a win. Everybody did everything they needed to do to make sure we finished these games. We have had that chip on our shoulder and we are ready to redeem ourselves."

IU has spent the season shattering tradition and perception (highlighted by wins over Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin, achieving a No. 7 national ranking), and if the task is far from finished, the progress has been remarkable.

"I remember coming to games when I was maybe a sophomore in high school and coming here to play football was not even in consideration," Crider says. "I remember coming to games and (the score) was just never really even close. The stadium was half full. There was not a lot of pride around the campus for the football team.

"Where we are now is crazy. I am so glad to have been a part of it, building that foundation my first couple of years here. Then, thriving as we are now. It has been special. It means a lot more being from Indiana. Just seeing the growth that it has made throughout my lifetime."

Now comes a 4-5 Ole Miss team that won with offense (40.7 points a game) and struggled with defense (40.4 points allowed).

"They have a great team and have the No. 1 offense in the country," Johnson says. "They have great receivers that are fast and can catch in space. They have a good running back and quarterback.

"All we have to do is keep doing our thing like we have been doing. Play our game, and everything should be good."

Players Mentioned

Harry Crider

Jamar Johnson

Stevie Scott III

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