11.10.07 Thoughts on college football for November 10
A field goal at the buzzer to win the Monon Bell, the winningest college coach in the state coaches his final game, three teams know they are headed to post season play, and some bad football at the Division I level highlight the day of college football in the state.
It looks like IU made the quest for a bowl game much more difficult with their 31-28 loss at Northwestern. They will play Purdue in Bloomington next week, and Purdue was manhandled by Michigan State 48-31 in West Lafayette. The Oaken Bucket games have lacked a certain passion in the past few years, but I think next week should be one with a different energy level.
Notre Dame could very well be one of the worst Division I teams in the country. Today’s 41-24 loss at home to Air Force solidifies that claim, and statistically, the Irish languish at or near the bottom in a great number of categories. They could very easily only win one game this season, and it is difficult to understand.
DePauw sophomore Jordan Haverford kicked a 47 yard field goal as time expired to give the Tigers a 24-21 win over Wabash in the Monon Bell Game. What a lifetime thrill for Jordan, his coaches, teammates, and fans.
Wabash will still go to the NCAA Division III tournament, as they and Franklin College will find out Sunday who their opponents will be. St. Francis will host a home game in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament next week.
And, finally, Hanover College Head Coach Wayne Perry closed out the most successful coaching career in Indiana College football history Saturday. His Panthers lost 55-14 to Franklin, led by one of Wayne’s former players and assistants, Mike Leonard. They do not come any better than Wayne Perry, and the void in coaching in our state is large. As a teacher and coach, he is tremendous. The number of lives he has positively influenced is amazing. But he is truly one of the finest people you will ever know. Congratulations and best of luck Wayne. You certainly deserve it.
