I have now attended two home games in the last two years - Nebraska last year and UCLA last week. On the long drive home on Saturday I started thinking about all the IU games I attended in my 4 years in Bloomington and how much has changed. It got me thinking so I looked back at some old seasons results.
I went to IU during the football seasons from 1981-1984. During that time IU won 9 Big10 games (losing 27). The combined margin of victory in those nine games was 81 points. The last two games I’ve attended IU won by a combined margin of 99 points.
I am so spoiled now and loving every minute of it.
(Side note - I did get to see a NCAA basketball championship in 1981 so it wasn’t all bad😁)
The script has completely flipped, hasn't it. The Football program is now one of the best in the country, and the coach is coveted by every school. The basketball program hasn't done anything of note in years and is starting over yet again with another new coach.
Scott has done an outstanding job with football and now that it appears he’s got control of the bball program, I think he’ll get that in better shape, though it will take 2-3 years. But honestly, I don’t care much about CBB anymore.
These are good times for sure.
I’ve always disregarded the labels of “football school” or “basketball school.” There is no law against being good in both. The top-25 basketball list is loaded with schools that have always seemed to lean heavily toward football. And, their fans still pack the gym to watch their basketball team.
It’s been a lot of fun for IUFB. I think SD has figured it out. He was built for the NIL era as well.
After CMW tanked fan support, CDD has a pretty big hole to dig out of with the fan base and that seems to be a point of emphasis with the department.
I have like what I’ve seen so far from the BBall team in terms of playing a modern game, effort and just being likable. It would be a nice foundational piece to get to the NCAA tournament this year.
As far as being a CBB fan, I will always root for IU and tune into the games, but I’m rarely watching the random game until maybe January. I love the NCAA tournament, but many of these big matchups early just don’t have the juice for me.
@thehoosierhuddle I tune in when I can. Basketball, like baseball, just has too many games for me, and any given game rarely has much weight to it until you get late into the season. Ive always preferred college football over everything though... Not like the NFL where you can go 9-7 (or now 9-8) and still maybe make the playoffs. Every game is do or die for big post-season hopes, and despite most thinking bowls are dead, I still enjoy the bowl games a lot.
@thehoosierhuddle Im a bears fan. I watched us make the playoffs with 8 wins a few years ago, and then watch our QB run out short of the sticks on 4th down because he didnt want to get hit.