BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Long odds? They just made Lee Corso more creative.

And to get Indiana football its first ever bowl win, the Hoosiers coach seemingly pulled the ultimate ploy:

Divine intervention.

IU clung to a 38-37 lead with 11 seconds left in the 1979 Holiday Bowl, but unbeaten Brigham Young was setting up for a 27-yard field goal.

It was a chip shot for dependable BYU kicker Brent Johnson, who had already connected three times from farther away during the game.

Corso called timeout and turned to Father Jim Higgins, a constant companion on the Hoosier sidelines, and said:

"Father, we need a prayer, and you've got to do your job. It's you versus six million Mormons."

So the St. Paul Catholic Center priest closed his eyes, then opened them and replied, "It's taken care of."

Johnson shanked the kick.

Corso exclaimed, "Thank you, God!"

Higgins said, "You're welcome."

Corso saw BYU coach LaVell Edwards later. "LaVell said that was the most devastating loss he ever had," Corso recalled earlier this month from his office in Sarasota, Fla. "It was one of his best teams ever, and he had a lot of great teams. They were unbeaten and ranked No. 9 and we were fourth in the Big Ten."