Oaken Bucket Bound -- IU Prepares for ‘Physical and Competitive’ Purdue
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Riley Nowakowski and D’Angelo Ponds get it, this Indiana-Purdue football rivalry transcends records, that brings passion and punishment beyond the norm.
Even though Nowakowski, a tight end transfer from Wisconsin, and Ponds, a cornerback transfer from James Madison, didn’t grow up living Old Oaken Bucket rivalry lore, but they are aware of what will happen Friday night at Ross-Ade Stadium when second-ranked Indiana (11-0 overall, 8-0 in the Big Ten) faces Purdue (2-9, 0-8) in the 100th Bucket Game.
Nowakowski got much of his insight from fellow IU tight end James Bomba, a six-year player from Bloomington whose father and grandfather were Hoosier players who faced Purdue.
“(Bomba) was raised down the street,” Nowakowski says, “and having him in my room, I talked to him about it and hear what he has to say. This game really means a lot to him. He's been born and raised in this rivalry. I'm new to it, but I hate Purdue just as much as him. We're one team.”
Overall, this will be the 127th meeting between the teams, a series that dates back to 1891. It rates among the nation’s fiercest rivalries, and just because it will be Nowakowski’s first Oaken Bucket Game, it doesn’t mean he’s immune to the emotion.
“It helps you bring that edge, that intensity,” Nowakowski says. “This might not be the team that I was raised on, but it’s the team that somebody else was raised on. I understand that passion, that feeling, just as much as everybody in the locker room. I’m definitely bringing the intensity on game day.”
“I think everybody that's playing is banged up,” he says. “I think the entire organization was a little tired. I could feel it, sense it, Penn State week and Wisconsin week. It came at a really good time.”
Rivalry or not, the Hoosiers will maintain their next-game-up approach, Nowakowski says. They won’t think ahead to what comes next, in this case, a potential Big Ten title game in Indianapolis, and then the playoffs after that.
“We can't play tomorrow's game; we have to play today's game,” he says. “That's really been the message. Every day we come in focused. Intensity has got to be high every time because in college football, you can get beat on any given Saturday. You see it all throughout the season that a team thinks it has an easy game, and it doesn't end well for them.”
While Purdue comes in on a nine-game losing streak, it has been fiercely competitive in several of them, including close losses to Minnesota (27-20), Rutgers (27-24), and Michigan (21-16).
It also has a knack for upset victories. It has beaten seven ranked teams over the last seven seasons, three against top-three teams, one of the biggest being a 29-point win over No. 2 Ohio State in 2018.
The Boilers are a much better team than the one IU beat last year at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, Ponds says.
“They're more physical. They're a very competitive team, even though their record probably doesn't show it. They're a good team. We don't take them lightly.”
The Boilers outscore opponents 62-48 in the first quarter and are even with them (60-60) in the fourth quarter.
Quarterbacks Ryan Browne and Malachi Singleton complete 59.5 percent of their passes for 2,354 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Singleton has rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown. Browne has run for 193 yards and four TDs.
As far as preparing for a two-quarterback system, Ponds adds, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines will have the Hoosiers well prepared.
“It is something different,” Ponds says. “They're two different guys, so we treat them two different ways. Coach Haines has a perfect plan for them.”
While the plan remains secret, Haines’ aggressive, deceptive approach is not.
“He confuses quarterbacks,” Ponds says. “That's what makes us so great. Quarterbacks really don't know what they're seeing out there. He's great at what he does.”
Greatness includes holding teams to 11.6 points and 82.5 rushing yards per game, both of which rank among the nation’s best.
While Purdue is coming off a 49-13 loss at Washington, IU had a bye week after playing six-straight weeks. The Hoosiers needed the break, head coach Curt Cignetti says.
“I think everybody that's playing is banged up,” he says. “I think the entire organization was a little tired. I could feel it, sense it, Penn State week and Wisconsin week. It came at a really good time.”