Grant Wilson Didn’t Know he Would Play Today, But Indiana Called, and he Answered

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With 11 seconds left in the second quarter, Indiana football quarterback Josh Hoover took a hit. Entering today’s game, he was listed on the availability report as probable. This hit would sideline him for the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

“Josh obviously took that hit, but I can’t remember the exact moment I made my mind,” Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti said postgame.

Cignetti then decided to turn to seventh-year backup quarterback Grant Wilson to lead the Hoosiers from down 10-7 at halftime.

Wilson is a capable backup. He has lots of playing experience throughout his seven-year career, but he has been on the sideline for most of the past two years. He has also battled through injuries that made what he did today all the more special.

“The first couple years at Fordham were a grind,” Wilson said. “I had four knee surgeries in two years. Then, ODU ended my career there with elbow surgery. So it’s just been tough”.

Wilson never had it easy, and he didn’t have it easy in this game either, as he was thrust into a struggling Indiana offense.

Wilson had put IU’s offense in situations to score points, but on three trips to the red zone in the second half, Indiana’s offense could only muster up six points. Indiana’s defense continued to hold the game steady, holding Minnesota to 16 points in the game.

The score was 16-13, Minnesota. The game clock read 0:19. Wilson and the Hoosier offense had the ball at the 25. Cignetti called four verticals, with the objective of pushing the ball down the field.

“I said to Mike (Shanahan), I said, ‘Look, let’s go three by one open four verts’. Throw the ball to field to Charlie (Becker) because Grant can make that throw,” Cignetti said.

Wilson threw the ball down the field, forcing the ball to star receiver Charlie Becker, and Becker made the grab. It set up the game-tying field goal by Paddy Mcateer, as Indiana forced overtime.

“We had four verts called,” Wilson said. “Let’s just get a ball up there. I mean, Charlie Becker’s best receiver in college football, so just give him a chance, right? He made an unbelievable play”.

Then in overtime, Wilson found Becker again. A one-play, 25-yard touchdown in overtime. This would end up being the game-winner as Indiana’s defense held, and the Hoosiers won 23-16 in front of the homecoming crowd.

It was a spooky Halloween game for Indiana, but Wilson was able to quiet the ghosts. Indiana picked up its first win over Minnesota since 2007. Wilson was ready for his moment.

“It’s just trust in our system,” Wilson said. “I mean, we have the two best coordinators, best head coach, best position coaches in the country”.

Wilson has faith in the Cignetti way. It seems that all of these players have faith in the Cignetti way, as they continuously win games in tight situations. Each of their last four games has come down to the final whistle, and Indiana came out on top in three of those games.

This game, it just happened to be the seventh-year journeyman who came in. Everyone has faith in Wilson when he steps on the field. Even Hoover has the utmost faith in his backup. After the Becker touchdown, Hoover was the first to celebrate on the sideline.

The team just has infinite faith in its process and its brothers. It was a common theme in last year’s Indiana team, and it is seen this year once again. Becker was asked about the confidence that they have in Wilson.

“We were really excited,” Becker said. “We know what Grant (Wilson) can do. He’s a super talented quarterback. We have all the faith in the world in him”.

And Wilson delivered on this faith. He didn’t have a perfect outing, but no unit was perfect in Indiana’s victory. Wilson came through, and that’s what mattered.

“We were really happy and proud for Grant (Wilson). I love that kid,” Becker said.