We got our tickets for the current IU basketball season a few months ago, and a particular date has been etched into my mind ever since: January 27, 2007. On the ticket for that date, it included my seat assignment in the very first row of the student section. These seats shared space with the same floor the Hoosier basketball team would be playing on, meaning I was mere inches from all the action on the court. I imagined it would be great, but it out did all expectations I had for the entire experience. We did our best to enjoy it to the utmost, and I must say we accomplished this.
Before heading to Assembly Hall, the group of guys I go with decided we should paint up to show our support for the Hoosiers. It also helped that the game was being televised on ESPN nationally, and this would help our chances of being shown on the broadcast. We had eight guys, and it just happens that you can spell Hoosiers with eight letters. So, that is what we did. I was the R.
Walking out of the tunnel on to the court as the teams warmed up was amazing. All of the excitement of being at a Hoosier basketball game was intensified by being so close to the action. The sounds, the movement, all seemed larger than life. We took our spots on the bleachers and began preparing ourselves for the tip. Before the tip. however, I have been told and seen that we made our cameo on the broadcast. Lucky you all, whoever got to see me.
The game was awesome. The Hoosiers led the entire way, and they played well and in exciting fashion. There was plenty to cheer about including the 13-1 run to start the game that happened right in front of where we were sitting. We chanted, cheered, and just plain enjoyed the rest of the experience. I don't know if it will happen again, but this time was the best experience I have had since coming to college.
Hopefully the Hoosiers can keep it going as we march towards March. It would be gret to watch the Hoosiers play even into April. Wednesday we have Wisconsin and there is a plan to have a White Out. Whiting Out Wisconsin for a win over the #2 team would be wonderful. And it would jumpstart the homestretch of the season.
Go Hoosiers!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Look for Me!
I'm in the very first row for the game today on ESPN! The Hoosier are playing Michigan an noon. Turn it on, you'll probably see me at some point.
Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!
Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!
Friday, January 12, 2007
It's College Dude, and Mine for that Matter
There is an article today in the Indiana Daily Student titled "Student led chant draws critcism". The article tells how complaints have been lodged in response to a cheer students chanted at Wednesday's basketball game directed towards the alumni donors sitting in the seats located behind one of the baskets. The chant which resounded through the arena stated "Stand Up, Old People", and was started due to the lack of enthusiasm shown by the fans sitting in those seats. This wasn't just any game. It was a rivalry game against Purdue, that Indiana dominated throughout eventually ending in a 27 point bruising. There are a few things that irked me about this article.
First off, it is rediculous that the administration is speaking out against this chant when the problem that is now facing the university rests sqaurely on their shoulders. The chant, as we all can assume, was began out of frustration by the students who feel as if they are being shafted in the process of season ticket allotment. This is just the latest development in a series of events that have grown since the university decided to take the 500 seats in question from the students, and give them to alumni donors so they can make up debts that have accumulated. Not only did they take most of the students best seats, but they made the worse seats we are getting more expensice, raising season ticket prices per game from $11 to $15. Now they are chastising us for speaking our opinion on the matter. In fact, it could be said that the chant is another example of how passionate we are about Hoosier basketball. We want the place to rock, so its an atmosphere our opponents can rarely win in.
I'm not saying that if you come to a game you should have to cheer or being enthusiastic. I don't know why you would come to the games if you weren't going to do these things. First, our teams deserves your entusiasm when they are playing good basketball. Secondly, the fans who are trying to support the team deserve better. On my last check, Indiana University is still a university. Without students, there would be no university. This is my university, and part of my decision to come here was based on the athletics, namely the tradition of Hoosier basketball. Seeing as how I am paying even more monry to purchase basketball tickets, on top of my outrageous tutition, I feel as if I deserve better seats. If not for this, they should give students back the seats behind the goal because that is where we work our magic. It is how we turn the arena into OUR HOUSE. Many, many other colleges understand this idea, and Hoosier students are tired of cherering their asses off in the balcony, while the University continues to suck in money as the donors fail to support our Hoosiers as well as the students could.
This is my University, and I feel as a paying ticket owner I deserve the best opportunity to support my school on the basketball court. And yes, I will continue to fight for it until something happens. And yes, I wil chant and cheer how I see fit. You can be sure its not how the alumni donors behind the basket cheer.
First off, it is rediculous that the administration is speaking out against this chant when the problem that is now facing the university rests sqaurely on their shoulders. The chant, as we all can assume, was began out of frustration by the students who feel as if they are being shafted in the process of season ticket allotment. This is just the latest development in a series of events that have grown since the university decided to take the 500 seats in question from the students, and give them to alumni donors so they can make up debts that have accumulated. Not only did they take most of the students best seats, but they made the worse seats we are getting more expensice, raising season ticket prices per game from $11 to $15. Now they are chastising us for speaking our opinion on the matter. In fact, it could be said that the chant is another example of how passionate we are about Hoosier basketball. We want the place to rock, so its an atmosphere our opponents can rarely win in.
I'm not saying that if you come to a game you should have to cheer or being enthusiastic. I don't know why you would come to the games if you weren't going to do these things. First, our teams deserves your entusiasm when they are playing good basketball. Secondly, the fans who are trying to support the team deserve better. On my last check, Indiana University is still a university. Without students, there would be no university. This is my university, and part of my decision to come here was based on the athletics, namely the tradition of Hoosier basketball. Seeing as how I am paying even more monry to purchase basketball tickets, on top of my outrageous tutition, I feel as if I deserve better seats. If not for this, they should give students back the seats behind the goal because that is where we work our magic. It is how we turn the arena into OUR HOUSE. Many, many other colleges understand this idea, and Hoosier students are tired of cherering their asses off in the balcony, while the University continues to suck in money as the donors fail to support our Hoosiers as well as the students could.
This is my University, and I feel as a paying ticket owner I deserve the best opportunity to support my school on the basketball court. And yes, I will continue to fight for it until something happens. And yes, I wil chant and cheer how I see fit. You can be sure its not how the alumni donors behind the basket cheer.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Look How Far I've Come, I'm Far Away
The temperatures are falling, but the second semester is heating up as quickly as DJ White and the mens basketball team. I've returned to Bloomington after a relaxing and exciting Christmas vacation. This time there was no welcome week, just classes and new people and teachers before we reach what should be a well received long weekend to kick off the year.
- If you missed it on Sunday, the Hoosiers made a step in the right direction as the get deep into conference play with a 22 point pounding of the ranked Spartans. It is some stellar play that we have been looking for all season, and makes me believe we will be very competitive in the Big Ten this year. Tonight, I will get the chance to see if it holds up in our rivalry game against the Purdue Boliermakers tonight in the Assembly Hall.
- I am taking an Art History class this semester, and first off it looks like its gonna be very easy. The point ,however, of this rambling is to tell a story I was thinking about while we were looking at the map of Egypt today. The first half of the course is about Ancient Egyptian art, and I was lucky enough to go over there a few summers ago and see alot of it for myself. But this story is not about art either. As I looked at the map, I realized and remembered how much distance seperated the cities of Cairo and Luxor, to of which we visited on our trip to Egypt. To get from one destination to the other Theresa, Greg, Jeff, and I had to board an overnight train. This was a miserbale ride that was uncomfortable, only beaten out by the bus ride we took that was 10 hours long, in a bus without and air conditioning, and a loud Bollywood movie playing the entire ride. From that moment on I was very tahnkful I could drive a car back here, and if I had to take the bus it would not be so horrible. Never ever complain about TARC or the Greyhound ever again.
- I also thought about my snorkeling adventure we took in the Red Sea. It was harrowing trip at times, especially since it is hard to trust a bunch of Egyptians who just want your money and barely speak the language I understand. So, when the told us we were going to snorkel out in the middle with large waves we were weary. But as we took a closer look, we notice there were large swarms of jellyfish all around us. We questioned if this was safe, and they replied that they could not harm us. Then, one of the funniest discussions I have ever heard ensued, when we ask them to show us that they were not dangerous. One of the men picked one up to show us and then he handed it to us to check. But as he handed it to Kate, she replied, "We know what happens, we have seen Finding Nemo." We all busrt out in laughter as one of the men laughed and spit out his coke. To say the least, they didn't sting but it is still a horrible experience to have to swim through and be surrounded by a swarm of jellyfish.
Next time, I guess I'll pay a little more attention to class.
- If you missed it on Sunday, the Hoosiers made a step in the right direction as the get deep into conference play with a 22 point pounding of the ranked Spartans. It is some stellar play that we have been looking for all season, and makes me believe we will be very competitive in the Big Ten this year. Tonight, I will get the chance to see if it holds up in our rivalry game against the Purdue Boliermakers tonight in the Assembly Hall.
- I am taking an Art History class this semester, and first off it looks like its gonna be very easy. The point ,however, of this rambling is to tell a story I was thinking about while we were looking at the map of Egypt today. The first half of the course is about Ancient Egyptian art, and I was lucky enough to go over there a few summers ago and see alot of it for myself. But this story is not about art either. As I looked at the map, I realized and remembered how much distance seperated the cities of Cairo and Luxor, to of which we visited on our trip to Egypt. To get from one destination to the other Theresa, Greg, Jeff, and I had to board an overnight train. This was a miserbale ride that was uncomfortable, only beaten out by the bus ride we took that was 10 hours long, in a bus without and air conditioning, and a loud Bollywood movie playing the entire ride. From that moment on I was very tahnkful I could drive a car back here, and if I had to take the bus it would not be so horrible. Never ever complain about TARC or the Greyhound ever again.
- I also thought about my snorkeling adventure we took in the Red Sea. It was harrowing trip at times, especially since it is hard to trust a bunch of Egyptians who just want your money and barely speak the language I understand. So, when the told us we were going to snorkel out in the middle with large waves we were weary. But as we took a closer look, we notice there were large swarms of jellyfish all around us. We questioned if this was safe, and they replied that they could not harm us. Then, one of the funniest discussions I have ever heard ensued, when we ask them to show us that they were not dangerous. One of the men picked one up to show us and then he handed it to us to check. But as he handed it to Kate, she replied, "We know what happens, we have seen Finding Nemo." We all busrt out in laughter as one of the men laughed and spit out his coke. To say the least, they didn't sting but it is still a horrible experience to have to swim through and be surrounded by a swarm of jellyfish.
Next time, I guess I'll pay a little more attention to class.
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