24 Sports 1 Team

IU Athletics

To be blunt, I would not be here without Indiana University athletics. Both of my parents went to IU in the 90s. My mom lived here for her entire life and basically had no choice but to attend IU. My dad was from Illinois and was the youngest from a big football family. He had several offers from different schools but he chose IU because of the coach they had at the time, Bill Mallory. We have been here ever since.

Living in a college town, I’ve always had some kind of college experience, especially with sports. Whether it is tailgates, traffic, ice cubes fights, angry fans or partying students. There is never a dull moment.

Football was my biggest experience with IU. I have gone to almost every game. I wouldn’t say I loved it as a kid but it made a huge impact on who I am. I saw fun and exciting wins but then several losses. Recently, I’ve gone to games as a student for the first time and that experience is much different from everything else. The students are loud and excited and even if we are losing they stay. Sometimes they get a bit too excited and pull out a bleacher a few times.

Being a basketball state, Assembly Hall is always packed during the Winter. Basketball is iconic with IU banners, the Bob Knight legacy and the most catchy song of my third grade year “This is Indiana”. When the game starts you feel the energy surge through the building. The lights go out and spot lights race across the stage while the IU mop lady sings “Indiana my Indiana”. It’s absolutely thrilling and you can not get that experience anywhere else. When IU has a good team as well, it’s even better. When IU women’s basketball won the 2018 Women’s National Invitation Tournament, I remember the whole town was so excited!

There is so much to IU athletics besides football and basketball however. Overall IU has 24 sports. From wrestling to golf to rowing, all these sports have one thing in common, we are a team over everything else. It doesn’t matter if we win or we lose, we are all there for each other and that includes everyone else that’s a part of the IU family.

With our newer coaches like the volleyball coach, Steve Aird, football coach, Tom Allen, and mens basketball coach, Mike Woodson, they all make a big impact on their players and fans on and off the field or court. I think Tom Allen sums it up really well when he says LEO, Love Each Other.

Written by: Reilly Smith