Purdue Fans' Mixed Feelings as Indiana Football Soars

Purdue fans are going through a lot right now. Their biggest rivals, Indiana, are about to play in the national championship game. This is a big deal because Indiana's football team has never been this good before. For years, Purdue has been the better team in the state, especially in basketball. But now, Indiana is winning in football, and that's tough for Purdue fans to handle. Tommy Barrett is one of those fans. He's a Purdue graduate, and he's been a fan for over 15 years. He recently found himself surrounded by Indiana fans at the Peach Bowl. He described it as a "living nightmare. " His wife is an Indiana graduate, and she's loving every moment of her team's success. Barrett even had to watch the Rose Bowl at home with friends, where Indiana beat Alabama 38-3. He knew then that Indiana was on its way to the championship. Barrett's situation is unique, but it's not uncommon. Many Purdue fans feel a mix of emotions. They don't like Indiana, but they also want their home state to do well. Kylee Kleven, a sports editor at Purdue's student newspaper, has had this conversation with her colleagues. She wants to root for Indiana because it's from their state, but she's not sure she can.Matt Connolly understands this rivalry dynamic better than most. He covered Clemson football during its heyday and knows how intense rivalries can be. He said that if this were Indiana basketball, Purdue fans would be even more upset. But in football, it's different. Both programs were historically bad, so people didn't care as much. Now, with Indiana's success, the rivalry is heating up. The coaches who have lived this rivalry know it's intense. Tom Crean, Indiana's former basketball coach, remembers every detail of a game against Purdue in 2012. He said it felt like walking into the Roman Colosseum. He also has a unique perspective on Indiana's current football coach, Curt Cignetti. Crean worked with Cignetti years ago and saw his potential. Now, Cignetti has turned Indiana's football program around, much like Matt Painter did with Purdue's basketball team. Despite the rivalry, Barrett, Kleven, and Connolly all plan to watch the national championship game. They'll be watching with different feelings, though. Barrett will be watching with his wife, Kleven with pained respect, and Connolly hoping for a cosmic trade-off: Indiana wins in football, and Purdue wins in basketball.