Indiana football has not won a bowl game in 29 years.
Harry Crider and his Hoosiers teammates would like to change that.
Crider, a Columbus East graduate and honorable mention All-Big Ten senior center, will try to help Indiana break its long drought when it plays Mississippi at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Outback Bowl. The Hoosiers, who lost a late lead in a 23-22 loss to Tennessee in last year’s Gator Bowl, leave today for Tampa, Florida.
“Last year playing an SEC opponent, it didn’t turn out the way we wanted,” Crider said. “This year, we have another SEC opponent, and this group is prepared to make history like we’ve been doing all season.”
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Indiana has had one of its best seasons in school history. The Hoosiers have beaten Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin in the same year for the first time ever.
“The season has kind of been one big highlight,” Crider said. “That (Wisconsin) game kind of solidified the season. But we’ve been making highlights all season. We had a big win against Penn State, got Michigan and Michigan State in the middle there and then finished with Wisconsin. This will be one to remember for a long time.”
That game at Wisconsin, a 14-6 win on Dec. 5, is Indiana’s most recent. The Hoosiers’ annual Old Oaken Bucket game with Purdue, originally scheduled for Dec. 12, was canceled after both teams had players test positive for COVID-19.
The IU-Purdue game later was rescheduled for Dec. 19, but once again was canceled because of COVID concerns.
“It was pretty disappointing,” Crider said. “Obviously, that’s one we circle on the schedule every year. We were going to play them at home, and during my career, we hadn’t been able to beat them at home.”
The Hoosiers finished with a 6-1 record to give them back-to-back winning seasons.
“It’s been a really special year,” Crider said. “The crazy offseason that we had and how COVID affected our spring and our summer and even our season, all that adversity, we stayed committed. This is what we worked for, this is what we expected and we hope to get one more win here in early January.”
Indiana was expected to be selected for a New Year’s Six Bowl Game. But despite their No. 7 ranking in the final Associated Press poll, the Hoosiers were passed over by a few teams ranked below them when teams were selected on Dec. 20.
“There was a lot of disappointment around here,” Crider said. “That Sunday was a pretty wild day. We didn’t quite end up where we wanted, but we’re still in the Outback Bowl, which is a good bowl. Coach (Tom) Allen was telling us it’s the third-best bowl IU has ever been invited to. We still have an opportunity to play another game, and we want to make the most out of it.”
Because of the pandemic, players have been granted an extra year of eligibility, so Crider has the option of returning for a fifth season next year. He also has NFL potential and might consider entering the draft, but he isn’t ready to make that decision just yet.
“I’d like to make that decision soon after the bowl game,” Crider said. “Up until then, I’m just focused on beating Ole Miss.”
Crider has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch list for the nation’s top center. He also has been nominated for both the Wuerffel Trophy and the Campbell Trophy, both of which recognize on- and off-the field accomplishments, and is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
This season, Crider helped lead Indiana to its first top-10 ranking in 51 years.
“It’s been a long journey, but if this is the end, what better way to end it,” Crider said. “My first two years, our team went 5-7, and to do what we’ve done the past couple years, it’s been remarkable, and it’s been an honor to play here with these guys.”
