A Team of Destiny: The Unforgettable Story of Indiana’S 1967 Big Ten Championship Season and the Rose Bowl of 1968

By Robert D. Arnold

By the mid 1960s, Indiana University had hired its sixth football
coach since 1945. The Hoosiers reputation continued to erode.
To the other Big Ten teams, the Hoosiers were patsies! And
their new coach, John Pont, despite a good record at Yale and
Miami (Ohio), had started his first two years at Indiana with a
miserable two wins, sixteen losses and one tie.
By the year 1967, Indiana had little thought of competing for
the Big Ten Championship. It would be considered a successful
campaign if Indiana had a .500 record and beat Purdue. What
nobody expected was that Coach Pont and a determined group
of veterans and sophomores would take the college football
world by storm. With sophomores like quarterback Harry
Gonso, running back John Isenbarger, pass catching whiz Jade
Butcher, and a stout senior led defense Indiana would go
undefeated in its first eight games before being surprised by
Minnesota. Still, the Hoosiers went on to win their first Big
Ten championship since 1945, beating Purdue to claim the Old
Oaken Bucket, and play against the mighty Southern California
Trojans in the Rose Bowl

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463417550

Robert D. Arnold

Bob Arnold is a graduate of Indiana University and its School of Law. He worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana where he became Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel. He has followed Indiana University football and basketball his entire life and is well versed in Hoosier history. Upon his retirement he fulfilled his lifelong ambition to write, initially chronicling his I.U. class of 1954 for their 40th anniversary reunion. In 1996 he wrote Hoosier Autumn, The Remarkable Story of Indiana Universitys 1945 Championship Team, a book acclaimed for its depiction of football and race relations following World War II. His next book, The Rivalry, Purdue and Indiana 1925-2004, encompassed the 75 year history of the Old Oaken Bucket game. Bob and his wife, Linda, have lived most of their lives in Indianapolis and have also lived in St. Petersburg, Florida. They presently reside near Zionsville.

Book preview

© 2011 by Robert D. Arnold. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 05/24/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4932-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4931-6 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1755-0 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011906676

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Preface

Foreword by Tom Carnegie

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Chapter 1

Past, Probation and Perseverance

Chapter 2

Here’s Johnny

Time Out!

He’s got the Whole World in His Hands.

Chapter 3

Boos For Colonel Sanders

Kentucky

Chapter 4

Jayhawks Eat Crow

Kansas

Chapter 5

On The Road

Illinois

Chapter 6

Giving Dad His Money’s Worth

Iowa

Chapter 7

The Comeback Kids

Michigan

Chapter 8

I don’t think Indiana’s any good.

Darrell Mudra, Arizona coach

Arizona

Chapter 9

Beware Of Badgers

Wisconsin

Time Out!

In Sports Illustrated, No Less

Chapter 10

It’s Raining In East Lansing

Michigan State

Chapter 11

Errors and Omissions

Minnesota

Chapter 12

Will There Be Roses in the Bucket?

Purdue

Chapter 13

Thar’s Gold In Them Thar Hills

Chapter 14

The Rose Bowl

Southern California

Chapter 15

The Aftermath

Chapter 16

Coach John Pont

A Recollection

The Last Page

missing image file

Hoosier fans storm the field after beating Purdue

Preface

Saturday, November 24th 1967, a beautiful day in Bloomington Indiana. The sun shone brilliantly and even when combined with an air temperature of 45 degrees, created a surprisingly pleasant day for this time of the year. The sky was clear and the multitude of flags over Memorial Stadium were limp and barely moving as 52,770 fans rustled in their seats awaiting the start of a game that would decide the championship of the Big Ten Conference. The Indiana Hoosiers, winners of eight games, losing only to the Minnesota Golden Gophers the previous Saturday, were primed and ready as a favorable outcome would catapult them to Pasadena for the annual Rose Bowl game on January 1, 1968, the so called Granddaddy of all bowl games. Purdue, with a veteran squad, unbeaten in conference play, visited the Rose Bowl the previous year and came away with a victory, 14-13. Purdue also whipped Minnesota this season, beating one of the top defensive teams in the league by the comfortable margin of 41-12. Given Indiana’s close calls during their season and the loss to Minnesota, the Boilermakers were a two touchdown favorite. And, oh yes, the winner would gain possession of the Old Oaken Bucket, the symbol of the rivalry between Indiana and Purdue.

Three hours later it was over. Indiana had pulled it off. The playing field was filled with Indiana fans celebrating their victory. The goal posts shook precariously as a trip to California awaited as did the Southern California Trojans.

And Mutt, Pete, Bullet Ben, Billy the Kid, Corby, the Raven, Goon, Hurlin’ Hal, Hunchy, and all the other heroes that once upon a time toiled relentlessly for the glory of Indiana cheered in appreciation!

Foreword by Tom Carnegie

Long Time Football and Sports Broadcaster

And Voice of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race

Behold! The State of Indiana has a Golden Age of sports. And I can prove it! I was there at each event! It all started at the 1964 World Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. It was another big victory for Doc Councilman’s Indiana University swimming team. The stunning victory on the high dive by Leslie Bush was a standout event. I.U. won more of its share of Olympic Gold.

The Purdue Boilermakers provided the next chapter of excellence on January 2, 1967, a game of football at the premiere showcase—the Pasadena Rose Bowl. There is no finer football classic, win or lose. In their first appearance, Purdue won over USC, 14-13.

Then John Pont took his Indiana football team to a winning season, and the Big Ten Conference sent the co-champion Hoosiers to the 1968 Rose Bowl. This is a football team success story that gifted writer Bob Arnold relates to his readers. His book brings to life the Hoosiers’ season-long victory story. To cap it off, in May of 1968, The Indianapolis 500 was celebrating its Golden Anniversary. Racing’s biggest names were in the field: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford and Bobby Unser, from a New Mexico family that gave us nine winners. World Champion Graham Hill completed the field of thirty-three but it was Bobby Unser who captured the checkered flag.

You will enjoy Arnold’s great salute to the State of Indiana and its sports. Thanks Bob. It was truly a Golden Age.

On February 11th, 2011 Tom Carnegie passed away, silencing the voice that thrilled millions of people during a career that spanned 60 years. He will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.

Acknowledgements

What a great group of guys. Obviously, this book could not have been completed without the cooperation of the players of the Indiana University