Last night’s 52-49 win over 20th ranked Illinois was enormous. In a few years down the road, after the probable future successes, IU fans may look back to January 27th, 2011 as a changing point.
Nonetheless rushing the floor after upsetting a 14-7 team is irrational. I would have rather seen Hoosier faithful rush Ross-Ade Stadium in November after Indiana knocked off Purdue to win their only conference game to close out the season.
These last three years in history have been the toughest years in the history of the program. Nobody could have imagined what they were getting into when Tom Crean took the job in April 2008. But should Indiana fans rush the court of Assembly Hall anytime you win a game against a ranked opponent? Where are the standards?
Storming the court has turned into a fascination for students to celebrate and get on television. Not just at Indiana, but all over the country. It’s turned into a big ordeal about who can do it the best, fastest and loudest.
Where have the students been all year? And even last night there were some empty rows. I will give the students credit for showing up early last night. Many were in line before the doors opened and thousands were in their seats and loud before Illinois took the floor. But it hasn’t always been that way. Earlier in the season, fans were sparse 25 minutes until tip-off.
Seriously, where has this been? Win or lose, on the highs and lows, ranked team and division II matchup, you show up and make a difference. In order to gloat in celebration fans should be torn over losses.
The fans that weren’t in Assembly Hall got the pleasure of listening to Gus Johnson describe the down-to-the-wire thriller. Last night Johnson proclaimed, “Fans if you ever get a chance, make your way to Bloomington and watch a game in the Carnegie Hall of College Basketball.”
That’s what Indiana is known for. The mecca of basketball.
I understand these students were all born after the Hoosiers last NCAA Championship in 1987. And I understand, oh do I, how tragic and frustrating these last three years have been.
Starting from scratch in 2008, Indiana was led by a pair of walk-ons. That’s the argument. None of these students have been around for any big-time, critical wins in their time at IU. The problem also centers around the fact that IU is nearly dominated by people from the East Coast and Chicago. These are fans that jump late into the action, that support their college because they are doing well. And that is it. Many are bandwagon fans anxiously waiting to jump on. I bet most of these students couldn’t name one player on the 1976 team, 2002 team.
There are always the exception. And I am one. I haven’t missed a football game in over three years and I’ve only missed one IU season this year because I was broadcasting an IU volleyball match.
It’s 5 NCAA Championships. It’s 20 Big Ten Championships. It’s Indiana.
Been there. Done that. It’s not a surprise, it’s expected.
Let the players celebrate, and bask in their glory. They are more than deserving. Crean’s celebration too was well-earned and priceless. I’m not going to pretend to know what has gone on inside closed doors these last three years. I’m sure the Creans have had so many rough nights and Coach let it all out following the win.
But fans, many of which I know for a fact were attending their first game of the year, rushing the court after the victory is uncalled for and embarrassing.
“I’m looking for people that are going to understand why we wear the candy-striped pants. I am going to look for people who understand what that uniform stands for, why it says `Indiana’ on the front. It’s Indiana, It’s Indiana.” – Tom Crean
I LOVED Crean’s reaction. It was like all the frustration and misery the last three years had been lifted. Let’s just hope we will see a rejuvenated IU team to close the season.
I hear what you’re saying, but in this ONE instance I disagree. I think it’s been so long since we’ve had something to feel good about, that everyone needed to remember the feeling. Last night did that. It was a reward for everyone for working really hard for 3 years – coaches, players, fans, everyone – to rebuild the program from rubble.
Now, the key is to make sure last night means something. It needs to be a stepping stone to a time when home wins over Illinois are the expectation, not something to get all worked about. But last night, I have no problem with everyone’s reaction. It was natural, it was cathartic, and it was needed.
For the first time in a long time we all had reason to celebrate the glory of ol’ IU.
Did the crowd respond over the top by rushing the court? Probably so.
Did Crean coach a well oiled machine in the likeless of the General? No.
Did IU act like it deserved to be there? Probably not.
Is Illinois playing like a top 25 team at the moment? No
But this was still a huge STEP to build upon. I said after the debacle in Iowa that this game would determine where IU and Crean were headed. And at the end of the day, I like what I saw. These guys have to learn how to win and win the close games. Confidence and grit can translate to some wins we likley do not deserve to get. With no MO, no GMM, and now no VJ3, we had a chance for this season to fall apart. They need to play like this every game and once we add more talent in the next two years we will be back.
The program was in disarray. Players weren’t going to play and were getting in trouble off the court. A nice tough to see the program headed in the right direction…especially in front of commits & recruits.
Though I agree, storming the court was wrong.
I agree with your sentiment. As a die hard student I’ve been to every game this year representing the Crimson Guard. Although we weren’t winning, I believe it is my duty to show up and cheer for my Hoosiers each game.
Crean’s excitement in the south lobby was unbelievable. I’ve never seen a coach mix with fans in the stands. That’s what I will remember about last night. Not petty students rushing the floor because “they deserve it”
To be honest, as a TV spectator, i understand what your saying, but being at that game, being in assembly hall, having the biggest win of the Crean era, i feel the rushing of the courts, although this wasnt their intent, is actually showing Coach Crean that the student are always behind him and his every move, and it showed the players that the fans respected their efforts and a forshadowing of many more (less embarrassing) court rushes to come (say beating some top 5 teams). Again, i know the fans werent thinking “lets do this for the players” but have you ever played a sport? Fans rushing down like that only pumps you up, makes you want to give that extra 10% you dont even have in you for them the next time you’re out. Quit being so self-centered, its bigger than just you and how you feel embarrassed that the fans had their FIRST THING to celebrate in a long time. I came here in 2003, i was present when we won the elite 8 game in 2002, i saw people climbing across the telephone wires from nicks to upstairs across kirkwood…this was the first qulaity win in 3 years, let them celebrate for players. Crean is sculpting the future, this was a big step
The recent storming of the field from Minnesota after they beat Iowa last weekend gas brought this issue up at Big Ten schools as well. Some media are saying it’s poor form by the Gophers to rush the field while others are saying it’s an important rivalry win for a rebuilding program. There’s been a good debate at TC Huddle. I found your article searching for more opinions on the issue.
Thought you might want to check it out. It’s enjoyable if nothing else: http://www.tchuddle.com/2011/10/the-importance-of-the-iowa-win/