GO HOOSIERS!

There are many things we may not agree on, but celebrating victory by an underdog is something everyone loves. Do you remember when sports commentator, Al Michaels famously asked, “Do you believe in miracles” at the end of the 1980 Olympic Men’s Gold Medal game between the powerhouse Soviet Union and fledgling United States? Against all odds, the US brought home the gold, and the whole country cheered while the US Hockey players collapsed on top of each other in triumph.

Fast forward to now, and the hope for the impossible has taken shape on a new field. Tomorrow night is the College Football National Championship game set to play in Miami, Florida. Indiana Hoosiers are set to compete against the Miami Hurricanes. Normally, I wouldn’t feel compelled to write about such an event, as I realize not everyone is a college football sports fan. However, I do think this is worth a moment. You see, the fact that Indiana University is playing in championship game is nothing short of, in Al Michael’s words, “a miracle.”

Let’s step back for a minute. Prior to the 2024 season, IU owned one of the worst college football programs in history. They lost more games (over 700) than any other team, ever. Think about it. Their culture of losing included a 32-game losing streak to Ohio State. As recently as 2023, Indiana’s record was 3-9. You could call it abysmal.

I remember traveling to Bloomington, Indiana many times to visit two of our kids who attended IU. Game day was fun because tailgates were fun. Not many people attended the games, however if you decided on a whim to go, tickets were cheap at the door. Six dollars would probably guarantee a 50-yard line seat pretty close to the field.

And then, last season, a new coach was hired. Curt Cignetti, a tenured coach with a history of winning games at much smaller schools came to Hoosier land. Cignetti would change the world of Indiana University. Suddenly, the Hoosiers began to win, and then win, and then win again. In Indiana and beyond, Cignetti became a household name.

Tomorrow evening, the Hoosiers come to the national championship undefeated with a 12-0 season. This is a team that has never, ever been part of a winning culture. Now, in one of the greatest resurrection stories in college football history, Indiana is undefeated on the season. Their quarterback, Fernando Mendoza was selected as this year’s Heisman Trophy Winner; the first in Indiana football history.

I may be a bit biased as two of my kids married Hoosiers and are raising the next generation of Hoosier fans. My granddaughter, Amelia is a full out Hoosier fan fanatic (just like her dad). I admit, I’m fully on board. I mean, who doesn’t love such a comeback story. Even the savviest sports analysts are truly blown away by this program’s turn around. Since 2007, there’s only been one winning season for IU, and they’ve lost every bowl game but one since 1991. That’s a long time to habitually lose in the world of any sport. However, this is now a story of the past. No one can call Indiana Football losers now.

The best part is, I think everyone is cheering for the Hoosiers. How can you not? Even here, deep in Ohio State Buckeye land, the enthusiasm for Indiana’s transformation is infectious. Piggybacking on Hoosier joy is a win-win for everyone, except maybe Miami Hurricane fans. Regardless of who wins tomorrow evening, this story of Indiana football will be talked about for a long, long time. Hoosiers, after all, do believe in miracles.