Still two days later, the 42-24 loss at Iowa is still hard to take. I hate to pin games on officials but after the Michigan, Northwestern, and now Iowa game, it is clear they have got it wrong. For the life of me, I cannot understand what the referee saw in the replay booth. Demarlo Belcher clearly picked up the yardage for a first down. however after review, the ball is spotted just short. Then Terrance Turner caught a 11yd pass in the end zone which was initially called a TD. But wait. Just as the ball was snapped for the extra point, head referee Ron Torbert said the play was under review. After review, the TD was reversed and ruled as an incomplete. Are you kidding me?
I thought first and foremost, you always go with the call on the field unless indisputable evidence proves otherwise. It wasn’t exactly clear that Turner got his foot down because his black cleat on black turf made it difficult to see the rubber fly up. Despite clear evidence, the call on the field was reversed. Thus Bill Lynch and the Hoosiers were forced to attempt a 28 yd FG, only to be missed by Nick Freeland…talk about a momentum swing! It was at this point Hoosier fans think things cannot get any worse…but they do.
The Hoosiers went on to a flat 4th quarter really unable to get anything going. Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi threw 5 INT, and still won. Unbelievable right. This was by no means a game many Hoosier fans expected to win. But it was one that if called fairly, IU comes away victorious, and is the story all across college football. Another disappointing game. Another disappointing outcome. Another disappointing loss.
The Hoosiers now sit at 4-5 frustrated. Take away a couple of big plays or controversial calls, and this Indiana team is 7-2; however, a couple calls in the opponents favor, they are just as easily 2-7.
Fred Glass last week came out and did the right thing, issuing his full confidence in second year head coach Bill Lynch. That’s what the program needs. And it’s what Coach needs. To instill a confidence so that he does not have to worry about his job based on each and every move. Glass also said, “contracts are going to mean something again at Indiana.” Indiana University continues to pay off previous head coaches, and athletic directors that were fired before their contract expire which has proved costly to the athletic department. So Bill Lynch is the guy…for at least two more years. This Hoosier team has many bright spots including a potent offense.
Losses are one thing. But “indisputable evidence?” Are you kidding me…
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Bill Lynch commented on his weekly radio show Monday that “We’ve made contact with the Big Ten and we are certainly confident that it will be handled appropriately.”
More to note. Indiana will be without DB and kick returner Ray Fisher Saturday vs. Wisconsin. Lynch said that after an MRI today, don’t expect Fisher to play “unless something really strange happens.”