By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Every time I hear a TV talking head or read a columnist go on and on about what a remarkable and unfathomable achievement a national championship – in football!– for Indiana University really is, this Ohio State fan has to chuckle.
Folks, unless you live in Indiana, you have no true concept of what Monday’s capture of a football natty by IU really means to Hoosier fans.
It’s like landing on the moon. Like having Jennifer Aniston asking you for a date. Like having the third edition of your book published. Like having the LA Dodgers call you about a contract.
Here’s what it used to be like “in the old days,” pre-2023, for IU football.
As an Ohio State fan who was stymied by the cost of a ticket and the miles-long walk to the Shoe, I would always check the schedule to see when the Buckeyes were playing at IU.
Geez, the tickets were cheap and you could sit almost any place you wanted. Awesome!
And you were always with friends. The IU folks were happy to see OSU come to Memorial Stadium as they could sell way more tickets – Columbus being a couple of hours away – than normal.
And it was long rumored that IU would us the rarity of an Ohio State full house to take photos of the stadium for publicity purposes.
Speaking of a full house, who could forget the time during a game that the O! H! I! O! chant went around the stadium, from one section to another?
The late IU coach Terry Hoeppner was said to be boiling mad that that happened in his home stadium. (Maybe that’s why he had that huge boulder brought in!)
Of course, what should be expected when on one occasion the IU basketball team was introduced at the season-opening football game? (Uh, fans, hang on; it won’t be long before hoops start!)
Then there was the time OSU’s Ted Ginn Jr. ran a kickoff back for a TD. It was negated by a penalty, but no matter – Teddy ran the next one all the way back too.
Also never to be forgotten was the IU fan in front of me in a long line at the gate who was honked off because “they (IU) never add extra ticket takers when Ohio State is here even though they know there will be a big crowd.”
Visiting teams were never too impressed with IU football. After one easy OSU romp in Memorial Stadium, a Buckeye was quoted in a newspaper as saying, “That Antwaan Randle El is a heckuva football player … what’s he doing at IU?”
Anyway, come Oct. 17, the two teams will clash again at Memorial Stadium. But this time, we members of Buckeye Nation know it won’t be the same as those good ol’ days!
Damn!
About the Author
