Glass Houses

Blue Monday

After a depressing Sunday afternoon, it took me a few days to get back in the saddle.  Not to mention, it’s impossible to get motivated with constant snow, wind and freezing temperatures.

At least that’s my excuse.

I learned one thing this weekend.  I’m still a fan.

Why?

I was angry.  No, that’s not the word.  Disappointed?  Nah, sounds too much like a disgruntled parent.

Pissed off?  Probably can’t use that here, but it works.

Just like most IU and Colts fans were at the end of Sunday night.

Angry at the way the Hoosiers just showed up in Evanston.

Disappointed at the way the Colts timidly went about playing a SUPER BOWL.

Smash all of that together and it made for a great Monday.

So, in order, let’s take a look back at Sunday and try to make heads or tails of what went on.

Northwestern 78  Indiana 61

Pretty close to what I expected, but I enjoy being wrong on these sorts of things.

The first pass of the game was a Rivers bounce pass on a straight line from the top of the key to the cheerleader in front row.  21-6  turned into 40-29 at halftime and the Hoosiers were never closer than nine the rest of the game.

I argued last week that Indiana’s closeness was a product of having multiple days of practice leading up to Illinois (six days) and Purdue (five days).  Obviously, the Thursday night, Sunday afternoon turnaround was not an easy task, but the Big Ten is about being comfortable and well prepared.  It’s about playing tough night in and night out.   Sure, the Purdue game was tough and emotional.  You think Northwestern was jacked up as they try to get wins to get them to their first NCAA tournament, all without their best player who was lost for the season?

Unfortunately, the Hoosiers know that now.

But, the frustrating part is the Hoosiers know that, but they have yet to find a way to translate that thought of being tough into action.

Inexperience and youth does this.

2-17 from three point land.

2 players who scored over 5 points.

That won’t beat too many teams in any league.

Super Bowl XLIV New Orleans Saints 31  Indianapolis Colts 17

Wow.

I’m still in shock about this one.

Not about the final score, but rather how the last three quarters of this game developed.

The Saints were doing their best Colts imitation and the Colts, well, looked like the Colts of the early 00′s again.

Dave and I broke down the entire game here so take a listen as I am not going to relive/transcribe that game again.

Sorry, ain’t happening.

Conservative, reactionary, indecisive, were just some of the adjectives that came to mind.

The Colts hoped things went their way.

New Orleans made things go their way.

I would have been happier if:

A.)  Colts were routed and turned it over 100 times.

B.)  Brees goes down the field with the last drive of the game and Colston makes a “Holmes” catch in the back of the end zone as time runs out.

I prefer to get beat than lose.  What team was that on the field Sunday?

It wasn’t a Colts team that I remember seeing this year.

Boo.

It’s good to be angry/disappointed/pissed every once in a while.

That’s what makes us fans.

Coming later:  Indiana v Ohio State preview and prediction