Purdue President Mitch Daniels told us several years ago that he was pushing to put the Old Oaken Bucket Game in Indianapolis. Obviously, that has yet to happen, but we brought it up with athletic director Mike Bobinski during our visit to West Lafayette yesterday, and he said they have explored it with Indiana.
Here's what he had to say:
The game, unlike other football rivalries like Alabama-Auburn or Oklahoma-Texas, has been played on campus every year in its history, save for 1904 (thanks to Travis Miller of H&R for pointing this out). Since the game moved to after Thanksgiving the past decade or so, the on-campus atmopsheres have ranged from mediocre to non-existent. That said, putting it at Lucas Oil Stadium doesn't guarantee a great atmosphere - not every Indiana or Purdue student gives a darn about Indy - and you have the logistical issue of the IHSAA Football Finals.
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