Buckeyes add to Hoosiers' woes

"I'm disappointed because we were on ESPN, national TV," DiNardo said after the Hoosiers' 35-6 loss. "I really wanted to move our program ahead today and we lost the opportunity."

It was another miserable chapter in a book filled with them.

Indiana's Big Ten losing streak is 10, its longest drought since a 15-game skid from 1995-96.

One of the nation's best defenses limited Indiana (1-7, 0-4) to 131 yards, its worst offensive performance in more than three years.

Ohio State, which hadn't gained more than 345 yards all season, piled up 603 yards and didn't relent, getting a 47-yard TD pass from backup Scott McMullen to Santonio Holmes midway through the fourth quarter when the outcome was already determined.

Lydell Ross ran for a career-high 167 yards and three touchdowns to put the game away.

Holmes, a backup, also had a career day with six catches for 153 yards. Quarterback Craig Krenzel completed 19 of 26 for 272 yards, one short of his career-high, with a touchdown and an interception

Even when the Hoosiers had a glimmer of hope, with a touchdown in the game's final three minutes, they couldn't celebrate because Bryan Robertson missed the extra point.

It was an exclamation point on a dreary day.

Afterward, DiNardo placed the blame squarely on his own team.

"It's our job to stop them, our job to defend them," he said. "I'm not looking for any mercy, I don't need any gifts. I've got to do it myself."

The question now is where do the Hoosiers go?

Their only victory this season came against Division I-AA Indiana State. Next week, they visit Minnesota, where they haven't won since 1993.

The rest of the schedule looks like this:

--Nov. 8, at home against Illinois, which they're 2-8 against since 1988.

--Nov. 15, at Penn State, a team they've never beaten.

--Nov. 22, at home against No. 10 Purdue, which could be playing for a New Year's Day bowl trip.

There are no gimmes and no indications things are getting better, especially after Saturday's debacle.

By halftime, DiNardo could sense the frustration.

"I thought the third touchdown of the half really hurt us emotionally," DiNardo said. "Our locker room was flat as a pancake at halftime. Their was no excitement, no enthusiasm. That's as bad as it's been this year."

Things could still get worse.

DiNardo tried to quash any talk of a quarterback controversy after Matt LoVecchio had another poor performance and Graeme McFarland completed all six of his passes in the waning minutes, including the Hoosiers' first touchdown pass in four games.

DiNardo's explanation was that McFarland's success came against the Buckeyes' backups.

But McFarland would like more action.

"I could just play without worrying about making mistakes," McFarland said. "Of course, I would like to see more action, but I'll do whatever my coaches ask of me."

What DiNardo will be asking his players, again, is to rebound.

It won't be easy, if they are to change their losing ways -- or the image they can't compete with top-caliber teams.

"The whole issue is Indiana's issue, it's not Ohio State's issue," DiNardo said. "The fact they had more fans, that's not Ohio State's issue. We've got to change that, I've got to change that."

Originally published Monday, October 27, 2003