The day is Nov. 13, 2021.
The temperature is 36 degrees fahrenheit in Bloomington. The windchill is 29 degrees. In front of a sparsely populated Memorial Stadium crowd of 40,171, Indiana football runs out of the tunnel to face Rutgers.
The Hoosiers are 2-7 on the season. They have failed to win a conference game in six tries. Positive energy is hard to come by on E. 17th Street.
As Indiana’s first half deficit builds, the crowd wanes further. Any sense of energy and excitement is gone.
Except in one spot: section 19.
In the northeast corner of Memorial Stadium, a gaggle of shirtless IU students grows larger by the minute. In the freezing temperatures, they wave their shirts in the air and scream in support of their 2-7 team that trails 17-0.
“I believe that we will win!” they chant repeatedly, knowing it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Indiana would turn the ball over six times, give up a receiving touchdown to a 305-pound offensive lineman, and lose 38-3. The chaos of section 19 stayed through it all.
Back to the present.
While the commitment and administrative support for the Indiana football program have not always been present, the desire from the student population has. For decades, college football fans in Indiana’s student body have looked at other schools in jealousy every Saturday.
The pageantry, pride and national attention that comes with being a "football school” makes every Saturday an unforgettable experience. It was an experience that Indiana had lacked.
Luckily for Indiana’s student body, head coach Curt Cignetti, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson and President Pam Whitten have turned Indiana into a football school, and a strong one at that.
Indiana fans can wear their cream and crimson with pride. They can make plans every week to enjoy meaningful football with their friends and loved ones. They can tailgate with a desire to walk through the gates of Memorial Stadium rather than go home. They can see their team and school praised in the national media.
Indiana owns its highest ever ranking in the AP-top 25 at No. 2. It has sold out eight consecutive home Big Ten games. Curt Cignetti is 18-2 with Indiana and 13-0 at home. The buzz in Bloomington is palpable.
For the students, each one of the roughly 30 games they can spend in the student section across their four years is the unforgettable experience they once lacked.
The latest instance was no different.
On Saturday, the sky darkened as No. 3 Indiana led Michigan State 21-10 at the half. The stands were empty as fans gathered in the concourses to wait out a severe weather delay. When they emerged from the concourse, one section stood out.
Section 19.
In the northeast corner of Memorial Stadium, a gaggle of shirtless IU students grew larger by the minute. In the pouring rain, they waved their shirts in the air and screamed in support of their 6-0, No. 3 ranked Indiana football team.
“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoosiers!” they screamed as Indiana continued to build its lead.
The group now spanned across three sections in the northeast corner of the stadium.
“Heismendoza!” they chanted repeatedly for their quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, who is the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Times have changed. Fans believe. Students believe. Indiana football is an emerging superpower.
“I believe that we will win!”
Six strong words that a group of shirtless students in section 19 once screamed facetiously. Now, a new group of shirtless students can scream those same words every Saturday with full honesty.
