BLOOMINGTON - Don't tell Bryan Payton he's a backup, an afterthought, a bit player in a football season of near misses.
Indiana's fifth-year senior tailback faces the end of his college career finding reward in whatever opportunities come his way. Ask him to spend most of the games on the sidelines and he deals with it. Ask him about his future and he sees no limits. Ask him to handle special- team duties and he commits body and soul to it.
“Special teams is not a step down,” the former Concordia standout says. “It might be the toughest thing to do. That's where the men are.”
The men gather at Memorial Stadium's spacious new weight room. Quarterback Ben Chappell hobbles from a bruised right knee wrapped in ice. Defensive end Jammie Kirlew, safety Collin Taylor and receiver Terrance Turner and others evaluate the latest IU heartbreak, this time against Wisconsin.
Payton feels the pain while understanding the big picture.
“This is what we do, but it's a game. It's not life.”
Payton started the season as the leading returning rusher, but knew that guaranteed nothing. Talented redshirt freshman Darius Willis was ready to star; swift senior Demetrius McCray was healthy; bruising junior Trea Burgess had the power role. That left few carries for Payton. In the first eight games he had 70 yards in 20 carries. He never knew when or if he'd get a running chance. No matter. His attitude never wavered.
“That's Bryan,” coach Bill Lynch said. “It's a credit to who he is. He's such a team guy. I never have to worry about him being ready.”
Readiness surfaced in the second half of Saturday's 31-28 Wisconsin loss. Willis was knocked out of the game with a leg injury two plays into the third quarter. Payton replaced him and rushed for a season-high 48 yards in a season-high eight carries.
“I prepare as if I'm the starter,” Payton said. “I've got to be ready. I'm no stranger to this.”
Payton has not been the man since high school (1,600 yards as a senior with a school-record 365 yards in one game). He's spent his college career as the backup or the backup to the backup (he's never had more than 90 carries in a season; he has less than 900 yards in four years), and soon that career will end. He plans to intern for a magazine, ideally in New York City. He has interviewed with Men's Health. He's written about everything from sports to fashion.
“I know I've got two games left in my career, hopefully one more if we go to a bowl. It's weird to think about. The end is unavoidable. It's something I'm prepared for. I know it's coming, but I get emotional thinking about it.”
Emotion was raw in IU's locker room Saturday. Flash to halftime and the Hoosiers trailing Wisconsin 24-14. The Badgers had buried IU four straight times, including by a 55-20 score last season. Nobody wanted a repeat. The coaches' message was clear, Payton said.
“Man up! You can either take a beating or fight back. We fought back.”
Now the fight goes to Penn State (8-2). The Nittany Lions have morphed into pussycats. They've played two decent teams — Iowa and Ohio State — and lost to both of them, at home. They are not the unbeatable foe.
Yes, the Hoosiers won't be favored (they are 0-12 against Penn State), but stranger things have happened.
Like what?
Like Navy beating Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium two straight times. Like Purdue over Ohio State and Michigan in the same season.
The 4-6 Hoosiers refuse to give up the bowl dream. Win the last two games, become bowl eligible and see what happens.
“We're focused,” Chappell said. “We know what we have to do. Now just do it. We have to have a sense of urgency. It's now or never.”
Payton put it more concisely.
“You fight through adversity. You stay strong. We can do this.”
