'Hoosier Classics' Ends. Football Week with Epic 2007 Bucket Game

Image: Indiana Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana football’s time being featured on ‘Hoosier Classics’ is drawing to a close, but with any finale, the best was saved for last. The final installment will let fans relive the 2007 Old Oaken Bucket game. A contest that the Hoosiers had to win in order to secure a bowl invitation. The Hoosiers had not beaten Purdue since 2001 and the stage was set in front of 50,741 fans in Bloomington for a huge college football weekend.

The fans were into this one early as the Hoosiers raced out to a 17-3 half time lead behind a rushing and a passing touchdown by quarterback Kellen Lewis and a field goal by Austin Starr. The Hoosiers would extend their lead to 24-3 on another Lewis touchdown run early in the third quarter. The party was on in Bloomington.

However, like most rivalry games between fairly even teams, there is always a comeback. After being held to just three points over the first 43-plus minutes Purdue mounted a comeback. After an Austin Starr missed field goal running back Corey Sheets cut the Hoosier lead to 14 on a one-yard touchdown run. The Hoosiers would enter the fourth quarter with a 24-17 lead.

The Hoosiers continued to make mistakes that cost teams football games. With 4:18 left in the game and the Hoosiers hanging on to a 24-17 lead, Hoosier running back Marcus Thigpen, who had a stellar night with 140 yards on the ground, coughed up a fumble that was recovered by Purdue’s Alex Magee. Nervousness had been replaced with down right panic in the stands.

After two plays the Boilermakers were in the end zone again as Jake Staneford took a five-yard pass from Curtis Painter in for a touchdown and the score was knotted up at 24 with 3:39 left.

Purdue would not die easily in 2007, but the Hoosiers took the ensuing drive 45 yards in a methodical 12 plays to set up a 49-yard field goal from Austin Starr, who had missed a 42-yard field goal earlier in the half.

What happened next will be remembered forever by Hoosier fans. Starr’s kick sailed through the air as a hush fell over Memorial Stadium until the ball cleared the cross bar and the crowd exploded as Terry Hoeppner’s widow Jane, lifted her arms towards the heavens in an embrace with her late husband who passed away in June of 2007.. 27-24 IU. 30 seconds was all that was left between IU and the Insight Bowl.

After three plays and a last ditch attempt, the clock hit zero and it was bedlam in Bloomington as the fans rushed the field and players rushed the stands to celebrate one of the greatest wins to top off maybe the most emotionally charged season in IU football history. .