IU Basketball is IU culture

[theriverpilot 5,824]

My son will be a part of the 2015 freshmen class (I'm one of the older dudes here) and we attended the Red Carpet Day today.

During the panel discussion and other activities, three things seemed to continually resurface as a favorite thing or a selling point of IU.

1. Academics
2. Beautiful/intimate campus
3. The basketball team

Several times, the basketball team was mentioned as one of the best things and the pride and passion towards it and IU. Heck, they're still telling the story of the 87 championship victory and the missing fish from Showalter Fountain during the campus tour!

I can only think of a handful of universities that could sell one of the sports programs as a reason to attend their school.

So to those saying IU basketball is no longer relevant, I saw today that they're wrong. It matters, to the old generations and the new. It's woven into the fabric of the university's culture. Eventually, this thing gets turned around and that's why.

Sorry if this is totally cheesy.

Btw, my son is super stoked for the fall semester. I'm excited for him too.

[Bobman1 2,909]

It'd be tons of more fun if we were championship contenders. That's awesome for you and your son though. Jeez, do we need good basketball at IU.

[Magnanimous 4,655]

It's nice to hear but I actually prefer the opposite. I remember when I was taking my college visits 10 years ago, Penn State wouldn't shut up about "We are Penn State." I didn't learn one thing about the school from being there. It felt like it was a tour and presentation about how if you join us you'll be better, and the whole thing revolved around the football program. I know people ragged on them post-Sandusky for having this mentality, but it did really feel a little "cult-ish," especially reflecting on it.

 

IU on the other hand really gave me a good idea of the school, campus, student life, and how it would personally better me for coming to Bloomington. As much as I love IU basketball, I'm proud to say that there were a million things IU related that meant more to me as a student than the basketball team. Hopefully your son feels the same way when he graduates.

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

I lucked/worked my way into a ton of random IU bucket list tasks (Sang a solo in the auditorium, rode little 500, ran little 50, stormed the court vs KY, been on the floor more times than I can count, and got a pep-talk from CTC)...but nothing tops my opportunity to play on the actual floor at Assembly Hall (Army v Air Force, we got demolished). During warm ups I was so amped up I bruised my forearm on the rim...I was later asked if I was cutting myself.

 

I've already told my fiance that if one of our children goes to IU and the other doesn't, I know which one I'll love more.

[theriverpilot 5,824]

It's nice to hear but I actually prefer the opposite. I remember when I was taking my college visits 10 years ago, Penn State wouldn't shut up about "We are Penn State." I didn't learn one thing about the school from being there. It felt like it was a tour and presentation about how if you join us you'll be better, and the whole thing revolved around the football program. I know people ragged on them post-Sandusky for having this mentality, but it did really feel a little "cult-ish," especially reflecting on it.

 

IU on the other hand really gave me a good idea of the school, campus, student life, and how it would personally better me for coming to Bloomington. As much as I love IU basketball, I'm proud to say that there were a million things IU related that meant more to me as a student than the basketball team. Hopefully your son feels the same way when he graduates.

 

Agree with this too and IU will be an excellent choice for his future, basketball program or not.  I still found it interesting how it's still embedded into the culture.  Nothing wrong with that either.

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Nice post RP - can't believe it'll be 10 years this fall since I enrolled at IU.... Damn that's depressing! Get your boy on here so he can make us feel young again!

[Alford Bailey 12,445]

IMO, the administration wants to use the great basketball culture of the past when its to their advantage but isnt doing "their fare share" to maintain or improve said culture for future generations. Hope they prove me wrong in the next couple of weeks....

[BenzOrBeamer 351]

IMO, the administration wants to use the great basketball culture of the past when its to their advantage but isnt doing "their fare share" to maintain or improve said culture for future generations. Hope they prove me wrong in the next couple of weeks....

That is so spot on

[ALASKA HOOSIER 11,287]

well said Alford!