It would be harder to script a more perfect Hollywood ending to the Hoosiers’ historic season. Indiana traveled deep into enemy territory, defeating the Miami Hurricanes in their home stadium to win their first-ever national championship. For star wide receiver and film enthusiast Charlie Becker, it may be a better story than any he has seen on screen.
Speaking to the media after the game, Becker shared his thoughts on whether Indiana’s title is the greatest story in college football history. He said, “I would like to think so, I don’t know what could compare to it.”
For Becker, he may not have to look far to find a story that compares to what Indiana accomplished on Monday night. A ragtag group of misfits who go deep into enemy territory and emerge victorious is the plot of Star Wars: A New Hope.
After the Peach Bowl, Becker revealed that he and Fernando Mendoza are big Star Wars fans, and the two watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars together. In the locker room after the National Championship, Becker joked, “I think I’m going to be partying harder than they did when they blew up the Death Star for sure.”
Becker may be onto something with his comparison to Star Wars, as Miami wore its all-white uniforms, nicknamed the “Stormtroopers,” on Monday night. When told about this, Becker said, “Oh, really? [Well,] we’re some Jedi out here; we’re some Jedi. But Miami is a fantastic team, and they have fantastic players all over the place, and again, I’m so happy; all glory to God, I don’t have any words.”
It wasn’t just the Hurricanes who had fantastic players, as Becker proved once again why he is an elite receiver while playing in the biggest game of his life. Becker came up huge, making extremely difficult contested catches to help the Hoosiers convert on both a 4th & 5, and a 3rd & 7 late in the game.
“This is stuff you dreamt about as a kid, coming out here in the National Championship, and you’ve dreamt about making these big plays, and I’m just so blessed that God’s been able to lead me and my path has taken me to this spot.” Becker explained.
For Becker, a large part of his ability to make these plays comes from the connection he has with his roommate and quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. One might even say that “the Force is strong between them.”
“We saw what the coverage was, and I knew what route I had, and I knew that Fernando and I had built such a strong enough connection that we were able to make big plays like that.” He said.
But Becker isn’t just satisfied with just one National Championship, as he explained, “This is the standard now. The standard is a National Championship, and the standard is the Playoffs every year. I absolutely have 100% confidence in this team and the teams in the following years that they can do just that.
The Rebels blew up the Death Star in A New Hope, only to repeat that impossible feat a short time later, blowing up the Death Star 2 in Return of the Jedi. With Becker leading the way, there’s no reason to say the Hoosiers can’t also repeat this amazing feat.
As for how Becker is going to be celebrating this National Championship, he grinned and said, “We’re watching Star Wars tonight.”