(2026) - Anthony Thompson to O$U

[Pagoda]

Great posts everyone.  Enjoyable reading, thanks.

I think Aaron makes some good points about our fans, even if they’re tough truths.  I’ve kinda noticed it over the years.

As for football support, I suspect some of that can also be attributed to the program generally getting limited attention/interest/resources from IU and the AD.  I don’t know.

But, we are in a new strata with football.  Big university support and a great coach.  Every traditional power had a stretch of years where they became a “football school” or at least one with a big fan base.  These moments were many decades or even a century ago.

Perhaps for IU our moment came later… starting in 2024.  We’ll see how well our fans embrace what’s happening.  So far it’s been good, but it has a ways to go.  If we make the B1G champ game it will be interesting if we can get close to 50/50 with the OSU fans.

Peyton transformed the Colts fan base in about five years and we still see the impact of that today.  It can happen.

 

[JimmerNoe]

Well, at least I can stop refreshing the threads so much now that Thompson, Allmond, and Taylor are off the board.

Bring me Karvala for a bargain this fall and let’s go beat some people on the court so the portal/spring recruiting are much easier to sell.

[CSP]

1 hour ago, Pagoda said:

Great posts everyone.  Enjoyable reading, thanks.

I think Aaron makes some good points about our fans, even if they’re tough truths.  I’ve kinda noticed it over the years.

As for football support, I suspect some of that can also be attributed to the program generally getting limited attention/interest/resources from IU and the AD.  I don’t know.

But, we are in a new strata with football.  Big university support and a great coach.  Every traditional power had a stretch of years where they became a “football school” or at least one with a big fan base.  These moments were many decades or even a century ago.

Perhaps for IU our moment came later… starting in 2024.  We’ll see how well our fans embrace what’s happening.  So far it’s been good, but it has a ways to go.  If we make the B1G champ game it will be interesting if we can get close to 50/50 with the OSU fans.

Peyton transformed the Colts fan base in about five years and we still see the impact of that today.  It can happen.

 

Cignetti and school choice are going to turn this state on it's head!! 

[Rico]

4 hours ago, Scotty R said:

I think roster construction is the most important aspect in coaching today. Last 4 years shows you that you can't just put a team of talented players but don't fit together and expect to win big.

 

The last 4 years have taught me that I really, really miss vintage Bobby Knight.

[ebridges24]

DId we recruit anybody outside the top 40 other than PAM?

 

Seriously, did we?!?!

[8bucks]

21 minutes ago, Rico said:

The last 4 years have taught me that I really, really miss vintage Bobby Knight.

Anyone, like me, that went to school in the 80's just had it too good.  NCAA champions and even with the season on the brink we were always relevant.  Soccer was great.  Football had the best Mallory years and then AT followed by Dunbar and usually a bowl game.  I think the girls were prettier too!

[Rico]

12 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

Anyone, like me, that went to school in the 80's just had it too good.  NCAA champions and even with the season on the brink we were always relevant.  Soccer was great.  Football had the best Mallory years and then AT followed by Dunbar and usually a bowl game.  I think the girls were prettier too!

Back then I thought those days would never end.  Boy was I wrong.

[Scotty R]

41 minutes ago, Rico said:

The last 4 years have taught me that I really, really miss vintage Bobby Knight.

Me to but we would be called old timers who can't get over our past. When I want to see what I used to be I go to YouTube and watch old games.

This will also make me old school or Grandpa yelling at the clouds. I don't like recruits on their visits putting on an IU uniform and posting pictures of it on social media. Those uniforms are for players who are on the IU basketball team and wants to be part of the program.

[Stuhoo]

38 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

Me to but we would be called old timers who can't get over our past. When I want to see what I used to be I go to YouTube and watch old games.

This will also make me old school or Grandpa yelling at the clouds. I don't like recruits on their visits putting on an IU uniform and posting pictures of it on social media. Those uniforms are for players who are on the IU basketball team and wants to be part of the program.

YOU'RE NOT THAT OLD!! 

;)

[IUCrazy2]

3 hours ago, ebridges24 said:

DId we recruit anybody outside the top 40 other than PAM?

 

Seriously, did we?!?!

I think unless it is a kid from Indiana, I don't know how much value you get out of kids outside the Top 40 anymore.  They don't want to wait to develop, you might as well go portal at that point.

[ebridges24]

1 hour ago, IUCrazy2 said:

I think unless it is a kid from Indiana, I don't know how much value you get out of kids outside the Top 40 anymore.  They don't want to wait to develop, you might as well go portal at that point.

So coach picked out a handful of hignly ranked players and if he didn't get any of them, no worries, I've got the PORTAL, And, not bothering to have a plan b on HS kids. Make sense.

[Scotty R]

4 minutes ago, ebridges24 said:

So coach picked out a handful of hignly ranked players and if he didn't get any of them, no worries, I've got the PORTAL, And, not bothering to have a plan b on HS kids. Make sense.

Let the kids rated 70+ go to mid majors and let them develop a couple of years and then get them in the portal 

[Scotty R]

I wonder if OSU has another bad year and not make the tournament if Dieblers job will be in jeopardy 

[ebridges24]

1 hour ago, IUCrazy2 said:

I think unless it is a kid from Indiana, I don't know how much value you get out of kids outside the Top 40 anymore.  They don't want to wait to develop, you might as well go portal at that point.

He recruited PAM and he was well outside the top 40.

[ebridges24]

12 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

Let the kids rated 70+ go to mid majors and let them develop a couple of years and then get them in the portal 

I get all that

[Uspshoosier]

8 minutes ago, ebridges24 said:

He recruited PAM and he was well outside the top 40.

He recruited Brown and Jackson and they were out of the top 40.   Brown went to Vandy and Jackson went to VCU 

[ebridges24]

Just now, Uspshoosier said:

He recruited Brown and Jackson and they were out of the top 40.   Brown went to Vandy and Jackson went to VCU 

Thank you USPS, i figured there had to be at least a couple.

[IUCrazy2]

On 10/21/2025 at 8:26 PM, ebridges24 said:

He recruited PAM and he was well outside the top 40.

Cool, he doesn't agree with me.  Sounds like we are likely to land at least one of the Top 40 kids he was looking at if internet chatter is accurate.

The ball hasn't really even bounced on the season yet and our team is 100% different than it was last year.  Teams are bringing in G League guys.  Recruiting misses just don't hit like they used to.  YMMV I guess.