Team of Destiny

By the mid 1960s, Indiana University had hired its sixth footballcoach since 1945. The Hoosiers reputation continued to erode. To the other Big Ten teams, the Hoosiers were patsies! Andtheir new coach, John Pont, despite a good record at Yale andMiami (Ohio), had started his first two years at Indiana with amiserable two wins, sixteen losses and one tie. By the year 1967, Indiana had little thought of competing forthe Big Ten Championship. It would be considered a successfulcampaign if Indiana had a .500 record and beat Purdue. Whatnobody expected was that Coach Pont and a determined groupof veterans and sophomores would take the college footballworld by storm. With sophomores like quarterback HarryGonso, running back John Isenbarger, pass catching whiz JadeButcher, and a stout senior led defense Indiana would goundefeated in its first eight games before being surprised byMinnesota. Still, the Hoosiers went on to win their first BigTen championship since 1945, beating Purdue to claim the OldOaken Bucket, and play against the mighty Southern CaliforniaTrojans in the Rose Bowl