Tales from the Oaken Bucket Game

First appeared on November 26th, 2008
in The Lebanon Reporter

Rare is the occasion when two teams awash in a storybook-like greatness take to the same field in a tussle of such epic proportions that generations to come are sure to remember it vividly. Unfortunately such was not the case Saturday in West Lafayette as Indiana and Purdue met in the old Oaken Bucket game once again. Truly-what a difference a year makes as this years match up meant about as much as John McCain forcing a recount in North Dakota.
Last season an Austin Starr kick gave the Hoosier Nation some temporary hope that this football thing might work out. This season’s meeting didn’t begin to approach life or death and thankfully nobody will be playing another game. Many who found themselves in Ross Aide Saturday were overcome by the feeling that these two squads were taking to the field simply because someone had to lose the game.
For those of you who don’t relish sub-par football in sub-zero conditions let us summarize the day now. Imagine being at the infamous Ice Bowl of NFL fame; had that game been played on the most distant moon of the third planet west of Pluto that is (Make that Neptune instead as Pluto is in the process of appealing its recent non-planet demotion). To be clear it was cold.
From the looks of tailgate row, one wouldn’t know the Boilers were struggling however. In the chilled air the aroma of cheesy brats hung amidst the thumping sound of bags on a Cornhole board. Despite the conditions, fans turned out in all shapes and sizes. West Lafayette- where else could one find someone dressed as a Teletubby carrying a conversation on with another fan wearing a Jesus costume complete with curly wig, thorny crown and robe. One paid homage to Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton by wearing his jersey; and shoulderpads, and game pants, and eye black, and Bear game socks, and fake beard.
Not to be outdone one fan came lumbering down tailgate row looking like an extra off the set of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in a Craig Terril jersey, Mohawk haircut, black face paint and golden tassles tied to a pair of bulky arms. Nestled amongst the noisy rattle of generators one could find gas grills, charcoal grills, fire pits, tents with walls, propane space heaters, RV’s, Humvee’s and dozens upon dozens of cold people.
Coming into Saturday both schools stood a dismal 3-8 on the year (1-6 in conference play). IU’s season was a testament to the role injuries can play in derailing your dreams while the Boiler’s season was more living proof that lame duck coaches always coach one too many seasons. Somehow Purdue came in the favorite and, despite the game meaning absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things, there was a palpable tension inside Ross Aide Stadium. Boiler fans could see the vultures circling over the Indiana sideline and Hoosier fans took note of the moving vans parked outside awaiting the chance to swallow up the contents of head coach Joe Tiller’s office.
Despite the season, for one afternoon Purdue fans remembered why they fell in love with Joe Tiller in the first place. For one afternoon it was “basketball on grass” again. For one afternoon they said goodbye to a man who changed football in the Big Ten while also sticking it to the one team they love sticking it to the most. The Joe Tiller era is over and where Purdue football goes from here is anyone’s guess. To be clear Tiller changed the face of football at Purdue. Some see him as a victim of his own success; we view him as yet another casualty in an unfortunate “what did you do for us this season?” culture that pervades college sports today.
At the end of the day the Boilers may have escaped the basement of the Big Ten with the Old Oaken Bucket in tow, but they sent a good coach and even better man on a wagon train west.