Indiana football is transforming its identity and reigniting enthusiasm among fans in Bloomington. Once regarded as an afterthought, the team has sparked a new wave of supporters who are traveling in large numbers to see their team succeed.
Bill Murphy, a dedicated season ticket holder for 66 years, reflects on his journey as a fan. With 55 losing seasons behind him, his commitment has been unwavering, despite missing only a handful of games. One notable absence was during the 1968 Rose Bowl, where Indiana faced O.J. Simpson and the USC team that later became national champions. At just 15 years old, Murphy”s parents were reluctant to send him to California alone, a decision that would lead to a prolonged bowl drought for the Hoosiers.
After making their first bowl appearance in 1979 and again in 1986, Indiana fans have endured a long wait. Now at the age of 77, Murphy never expected to witness a resurgence in his lifetime. He even devised a backup plan: “I told my wife, son and daughter, “If I die before we go to the Rose Bowl again, I want you to take my urn and buy a program, buy a seat, set the program and urn on the seat, and I”ll be there with you guys,”” he shared.
Murphy”s sentiments resonate deeply with longtime fans, though he admits that there may not be many like him. Growing up in a community that rallied behind a championship-winning basketball team, Murphy remained loyal to a struggling football program. Recently, however, there has been a shift in excitement, with football garnering more attention than basketball.
The Hoosiers are preparing for a major showdown against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, a game that could ultimately lead to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Under the leadership of back-to-back AP Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti, Indiana has seen unprecedented success, shaking off the title of the losingest program in the history of the Bowl Subdivision.
Completing the regular season as Big Ten champions with a perfect 13-0 record, the team is now led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the school”s first Heisman Trophy winner. Longtime fan Kevin Harrell recalls his excitement about attending the Rose Bowl, having previously visited the iconic stadium during a game against UCLA. Harrell expressed that the current level of confidence in the team is “beyond my wildest dreams.” He stated, “We have always expected the worst. We could always find a new way to lose the game. It”s been kind of weird how quickly I”ve gone from that way of thinking to expecting to win.”
The enthusiasm surrounding Indiana football has resulted in a surge of new fans. Memorial Stadium has seen sellouts for all four home conference games for the second consecutive year, with chants of “Heis-Mendoza” echoing throughout the venue. Airlines have responded to the increased demand by adding additional nonstop flights from Indianapolis to Los Angeles ahead of the Rose Bowl.
Murphy noted, “People get excited because people like winners. There are not a tremendous amount of people like me that will go support their team win or lose, and I”ve seen a lot of losing football over the years.” Now, nearly six decades later, Murphy is finally poised to make up for the game he missed. “Fortunately for me, I get to go this year and actually sit in a seat and see the game,” he said. “I”m still pinching myself, trying to make sure I”m not dreaming.”
