11/22/2017 football Edit

IU Defensive Line Coach Mark Hagen Brings Unique Perspective To Bucket Game

Stu Jackson • TheHoosier

Staff Writer

Stu Jackson covers Indiana University basketball, football and recruiting for TheHoosier.com. He also hosts Heard on The Hoosier, the site's official podcast.

A former IU linebacker and former Purdue coach, IU defensive line coach Mark Hagen has a one-of-a-kind view of the rivalry, especially the Old Oaken Bucket game.

In each of those roles, he relished the wins. As a former player, though, the losses linger longer.

"The victories were always sweet, but walking off in 1989, losing a heartbreaker sticks in your gut forever," Hagen said. "It was sad to walk into that locker room and realize (former IU running back) Anthony Thompson was not going to have the chance to play one more football game. At the same time, probably lost him the Heisman Trophy. So that to me, as great as the victories are, that defeat in 1989 epitomizes what this football game is all about."

That year, Hagen and the Hoosiers fell to the Boilermakers 15-14 in Bloomington, Ind. The following year - Hagen's senior year - Indiana avenged the loss and reclaimed the bucket with a 28-14 win in West Lafayette, Ind.

Indiana's current players spoke often of the intensity of the rivalry game standing out.

That hasn't changed from Hagen's playing days.

"As intense as you can imagine, and then some," Hagen said. "Think about the most intense thing you've ever done, then factor it times whatever. The old cliche, you throw out the records, you certainly do that in this game. It's two teams that don't like each other a whole lot. It will be a fight to the end, the bitter end, there's lots of crazy things that happen. It's going to take a full 60 minutes and then some maybe to get it done."

Hagen was a four-year letter winner at linebacker for IU (1987, 1989-91). He also coached linebackers and defensive tackles and coordinated special teams during a decade-long stint with Purdue from 2000-2010, working under the late Joe Tiller from 2000-2008.

Hagen said coaching in the bucket game can be more stressful than playing in it because of being a former player and not being able physically be out on the field helping his players.

"It's intense and it's stressful whether you're playing or coaching in it, but it's fun at the same time," Hagen said. "Those sound like two negative things, but it's a lot of fun at the same time. There will be a lot of passion on the field on both sides on Saturday. We're expecting a dogfight."

When the two teams meet Saturday, they'll be competing for both the Old Oaken Bucket and a bowl berth.

For Hagen, there's nothing more satisfying than leaving either field with the bucket in hand. With Purdue losing the bucket game in each of the last four seasons, he's well aware of the mindset it will have going into the contest.

"They want it back, and the question is, 'How hard are we willing to fight to keep it?'" Hagen said. "It's as simple as that."