The Bucket
The IU vs. Purdue Old Oaken Bucket game is important to any Hoosier or Boilermaker fan. There’s a certain pride that comes with beating your instate rival. Of course, that pride has stayed with the Boilers for essentially forever. It’s kinda tough to say it’s a rivalry game when it’s been so lopsided for so long. But, it’s a rivalry nonetheless.
When we lived in Tennessee, I’d make sure to wear an IU shirt the Friday before the game. It’s a bit of a tradition for me. Of course, no one down there really noticed or cared that I was proclaiming my allegiance to my beloved Hoosiers, even though it was very likely that they’d go down in a blaze.
So, keeping with my tradition, I wore an IU shirt yesterday. Didn’t really think much of it. I went to pick up Alyson from school and her teacher said, “You know, I thought you were a really nice guy. And then I saw your shirt!”
Ouch.
A nice little reminder that I’m back in the land where people care about such things. And that’s a good thing.
While I don’t exactly feel confident that IU will win today, I feel better about today’s game than I have since the last time they beat the Boilers (back in ’01). There are hints of greatness with the Hoosiers when Lewis can hold on to the ball. It’s a sellout crowd today, and hopefully the majority will be wearing cream and crimson, not black and gold. Both teams are on a downward trend – it just comes down to which team can stop the bleeding long enough to win the game. My gut says IU could actually pull it off. They’re celebrating the 1967 Rose Bowl team, honoring the seniors, and playing to achieve Hep’s dream of playing 13.
I don’t know, it’s just a feeling.
I won’t make a prediction because all of my predictions turn out wrong. I don’t want to hurt my Hoosiers’ chances.
Of course I’ll have to go to a sports grill to watch since Comcast and the Big Ten Network still can’t agree on anything. Way to look out of the fans, guys! Thanks for nothing.
