A matter of perspective

A win is a win is a win is a win, or so the philosophers say. Of course, the philosophers also say other things, being philosophers and all.

Things like, "A win is a win only if you win a lot."

Things like, "And when you win a lot, you say 'a win is a win' because this time you jacked around and almost lost."

Things like, "A win is a win? Not here, brother."

"Here" being Bloomington, Indiana, where your Hoosiers played a game of football under the lights Saturday night and cast poor Northwestern into outer darkness, 34-3. It was Indiana's fourth straight Big Ten win, its longest conference winning streak in 26 years. The Hoosiers are now 7-2; it's the first time they've won seven games in 12 years.

So one thing they haven't done since the Clinton administration, and the other thing they haven't done since the George W. administration. To put in presidential terms.

That's a long thirsty spell even for Indiana football, whose record, Dan Jenkins once famously wrote, is right up there with Germany's record in world wars. So, no, a win is not just a win these days --, no matter what they were saying up in South Bend a few hours earlier.

There, the sons of Notre Dame were saying a win was a win, after, yes, jacking around and almost losing to unranked Virginia Tech. It took an 18-play drive in the last three minutes for the Irish to scrape  past, 21-20 -- a not-exactly-inspiring response to getting de-pantsed at Michigan last week.

Still, the Irish are 6-2 to Indiana's 7-2, even if they seemed a bit defensive about it after the fact Saturday. This will happen when you are Notre Dame, and used to winning. Losing a couple -- even winning one by the skin of your teeth -- feels like failure. Or if not that, at least starts up that old Domerville staple, Coach Slobberknocker Is Never Going To Win Us A National Title.

Meanwhile, Tom Allen loses a couple in Bloomington, and the statuary is on order. Because even though 7-2 doesn't look much different than 6-2, there is a vast difference in the sightlines. Which is why "We're 7-2!" sounds a lot different in Bloomington today than "We're 6-2!" sounds in South Bend.

Maybe Notre Dame needs to lose a few more, just for perspective's sake.

Kidding, Domers! Kidding.