@hoosierdaddy students usually show out.

@thehoosierhuddle Im mostly concerned with bringing recruit visits in for early season G5/FCS. During my time as a student at IU, those who did show up left at halftime. Ive gone back for B1G games but havent seen a G5 game at Memorial since I was a student (hard to justify airfare/hotel for that). 

I wasn't able to get out to a game last year but the stands looked pretty empty on TV until the Maryland game, and weren't fully packed until the Nebraska game. I have no doubt attendance will be great for our home B1G games this year, I just cant help shake the "old Indiana" anxiety for the early/non "sexy" games. 

Sales' would be the biggest recruit in our programs history, its nice we are a serious contender for a recruit of that caliber but I fear its going to be a half empty stadium, while his other visits are going to be the "game of the year" type games for those programs

@hoosierdaddy IU sometimes has no control over when a recruit visits.

@hoosierdaddy Darn.  Agree.

Hopefully he tunes into the Illinois game to see us vs a good opponent.

Not the least bit worried.  Recruits easily understand OD isn't the Buckeyes.  They're not unaware. 

@thehoosierhuddle No, but we do have control over who we play. I've said all along I think it was a mistake to load up on cupcakes and not at least play a decent P5 opponent. With all the crying about SEC scheduling, they just upgraded to a 9 game conference schedule and are requiring a P5 precon game... like we should be doing. You want full stands, you've got to play good games, it's that simple. Amazed how many had no issue with dropping P5 opponents we'd already scheduled. It's always going to make a difference who you play... unless your PSU or ND, and we're not. We're an outsider to the dance, so I think loading up on cupcakes only helps the cause of those who want to keep an IU out.

@kkott IU has done that before and stands were not full (Missouri, last couple years of UK, the Louisville game in LOS had 22,000 fans...playing G5 teams isn't the issue.

Would I love to see IU play Kentucky again, of course. Heck, maybe even Louisville. The program has 714 losses. People are not just magically showing up to see IU-Virginia because it's an ACC school. The problem with attendance is deeper than the who IU plays.

Ultimately, the Big Ten is going follow whatever formula gets them the most teams in the CFP. If that means requiring a P4 opponent in the non-conference, they'll change the schedule. Things are absurdly fluid in CFB, but the one thing that is constant is to give yourself the best chance to win games and make the CFP.

So we'll see. The belly aching over the SEC should be over now. They changed because the Big Ten called them out. It's the Big Ten's turn to respond. 

@thehoosierhuddle You can't compare what has happened with IU football to what's happening now with Cig here. Before, we maybe had a decent season every decade and a half, but now we have a real coach, who could actually have us in bowl games almost every year and contending for a playoff spot every few. The elites of college football aren't going to welcome any new members willingly, so you're going to have to fight and scratch to get into that party. That's why to me, we always should have a P5 team on the schedule. Like you, I'd prefer a rivalry type game with a UK or Lville, but it only stands to reason that if you're struggling to fill a stadium for lackluster teams, a "known" name, like a Lville, UK or yes, even UVA, is going to help. As long as Cig is here, I think conference games are always going to be sellouts, or 95% plus. I think that will also happen with almost any P5 precon games too. Kennesaw St, ODU and IN St? Yeah, won't surprise me if there are 10K empty seats and people leave at halftime.

@kkott I am not shocked that people won’t buy tickets. I’m surprised by the lack of a marketing campaign for the program in general.

it could all change by December 1st

@thehoosierhuddle a lot of scarred fans. IU is lucky they have the support they have and I completely understand the scheduling philosophy. I bet the B1G reinstates the one P4/P5 ooc game. I’d just about bet it will be an SEC vs B1G cross conference game. Too many signs pointing that way.

@thehoosierhuddle yes, yes, yes.... just start winning. Ohio State built their dynasty on beating the Kent States and Rice of the world.   Don't forget there were years and years and years when Woody only played 9 games while the rest of us played 10.  I just don't want to hear the schedule crap any more.

@d-b-cooper The scarring is a real thing.  I drank the LEO kool-aid after the 2020 season and had a complete meltdown after the Iowa game in 2021.  Made a rather embarrassing crash out post on the old Rivals forum for those who may remember.  That experience is why even though I know this is different and real this time I still have knots in my stomach about the upcoming season.  I won’t be comfortable at all until after about week 5….

Better to be nervous than apathetic!

@d-b-cooper They’ll do whatever the CFP dictates is best to make the CFP.

@jj_mcclure love it....