September dreams

Faithful Blobophiles ("Stop saying that!" you're saying) know that one of the fun things the Blob likes to do occasionally is pop Optimism Balloons. This is a mean thing to do, it acknowledges. But sometimes it also saves over-eager fan bases from the inevitable crushing disappointment.

And so we come to the Indiana University Football Hoosiers, who yesterday handled the Blob's Ball State Cardinals so easily the latter barely uttered a peep, let alone a chirp-chirp.

The final was 38-10, and everyone said that looked pretty darn good considering the Cardinals had given Notre Dame all kinds of fits a week ago in Notre Dame Stadium. Maybe, just maybe, the Hoosiers were That Good. Maybe this was going to be the year they reached the mighty summit of eight or nine wins and invited comparisons to the glory days of Bill Mallory.

No one was heard to shout "Rose Bowl, baby!" But you know at least a couple people were thinking it.

Well, the Hoosiers were pretty impressive yesterday. And they did go down to Florida and beat Florida International handily (38-28) in their opener -- a Florida International team that went 8-5 last year. And then they came home and edged Virginia 20-16 in a monsoon.

So what does all that mean?

Um ... well ...

Probably not all that much.

Hammering Ball State yesterday, for instance, meant hammering a team that was ripe for it. The Cardinals are stupidly young -- they have just nine seniors on the roster -- and were coming off the kind of superhuman effort young teams rarely are able to duplicate back-to-back. Especially on the road against another Big Five conference opponent.

So, take 38-10 for what it was: A win over a team coming off a hugely emotional game that no doubt led to a week of focus-sapping backslapping. Anyone betting they could be the same team in Bloomington they were in South Bend was a fool being swiftly parted from his money.

Truth is, we won't know who or what Indiana is for a month yet. By the end of the day on Oct. 20, we'll know if this is a team capable of great-for-IU things or just another IU team that started 3-0 and then ran into the reality portion of the schedule.

Between now and Oct. 20, after all, they play Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State. one of those (Ohio State) is on the road. Three are at home. And it all starts next Saturday in Bloomington, when Michigan State comes calling.

Until then, slow the roll down there in B-town.

Which, given the ongoing roadwork on the 37/69 extension, isn't much of a task these days.